Africa
2000
The Mass State
Hitler had ‘Mein Kampf’as his guiding tome (even though
it was slim). Chairman Mao-Tse Tung of China had his ‘Little
Red Book’ Not to be outdone, Libya’s mercurial Muammar
al-Ghadafi has his very own Book of Great Throughts and in his case
its called the little Green Book. This was required reading for
all Libyans from all walks of life and still shapes the basic character
of the nation. The best way to study Libya is to profile its president
as it is difficult to imagine Libya without this commanding and
yes, charismatic personality.
Libya is officially known as the Great Arab Socialist Peoples Jamahariya
(Republic) and in a nutshell, is a leader with a country rather
than the other way around.
The Berbers, who once ruled over much of north Africa, are the original
inhabitants of Libya. Their ascendance was eclipsed in successive
occupations by Hanibals Carthage (a powerful kingdom which was based
in present day Tunisia), Rome, the Vandals and the Ottoman Turks.
Later in its history, it was occupied by first Italy from 1912 to
1941 followed by Britain and France after the Second World War.
Libyan independence came in 1952 when it was established as a constitutional
monarchy under King Farook. The monarch ruled up to 1969 when he
was deposed by a military coup led by young officers of which one
Muammar al Ghadafi was at the helm. By the time the ‘young
Turks’ had assumed control, Libya’s vast and highly
sought after (light and therefore easier to refine)’Sweet’
crude oil had already been discovered. This seemingly inexhaustible
resource has enabled Ghadaffi’s Libya to influence domestic,
regional and international events to a degree that other nations
of its population size can not.
The Lion of the Desert
Omar al-Mukhtar (ca. 1860-1931), national hero of Libya and member
of the Senusy, a religious organization with administrative and
military functions, led the anticolonial resistance in Cirenaica
from 1923 to 1931, when he was captured by the Italians and condemned
to death.
Little is known of Omar al-Mukhtar until the last decade of his
life when he became the undisputed leader of the Senusist resistance
in Cirenaica. Even his date of birth is uncertain, somewhere between
1856 and 1862, in el Batwan in oriental Cirenaica. For eight years
he studied in the koran school of Giarabub, the Senusy’s holy
city. He taught in a Senusist zawiya but also took part in military
operations against the Italians and the allies during World War
I.
When the Italians openly attacked Senusy in the spring of 1923 (at
the end of April the existing agreements were formally denounced)
Omar was among the most competent and active figures in organizing
and coordinating the resistance. In his capacity as representative
of the Senusy he had assumed command of the guerrilla forces that
often baffled and confounded the regular Italian forces.
In the mountainous region of Gebel Akhdar (the Green Mountain) Italian
Governor Mombelli succeeded in 1924 in activating a counter-guerrilla
force that inflicted a harsh defeat on the rebels in April 1925.
Omar then quickly modified his own tactics and was able to count
on constant help from Egypt.
In March 1927, notwithstanding the occupation of Giarabub (February
1926) and the reenforcement of the oppression under then Governor
Teruzzi, Omar surprised an Italian military force at Raheiba. Following
successive clashes in various localities of Gebel, Omar was forced
to withdraw. Between 1927 and 1928 Omar fully reorganized the Senusite
forces, who were being hunted constantly by the Italians. Even General
Teruzzi recognized Omar’s qualities of “exceptional
perseverance and strong will power.”
Pietro Badoglio, the new governor of Libya (January 1929), after
extensive negotiations was able to reach a compromise with Omar
similar to previous Italo-Senusite accords.
Italian sources falsely described the situation as an act of complete
submission by Omar. This attitude was confirmed by Italian leaders,
including Badoglio (who probably supported the misleading statement
hoping to break anti-Italian resistance).
At the end of October 1929 Omar denounced the compromise and reestablished
a unity of action among Libyan forces, preparing himself for the
ultimate confrontation with General Rodolfo Graziani, the military
commander from March 1930. Having failed in a massive offensive
in June against Omar’s forces, Graziani, in full accord with
Badoglio, De Bono (minister of the colonies), and Benito Mussolini,
initiated a strong plan to decisively break off the Cirenaica resistance.
The plan was to transfer the Gebel population (around 100,000 persons)
to concentration camps on the coast and to close the border with
Egypt from the coast at Giarabub, thus preventing any foreign help
to the fighters and breaking up the solidarity of the population.
From the beginning of 1931 the measures taken by Graziani took their
toll on the Senusist resistance. The rebels were deprived of help
and reinforcements, spied upon, hit by Italian aircraft, and pursued
by the Italian forces aided by local informers. In spite of hardships
and increasing risks, Omar courageously continued the fight, but
on September 11, 1931, he was ambushed near Zonta. With dignity
and calm he faced up to the immediate situation and accepted his
death sentence with the words: “From God we came and to God
we must return.” The execution of the old fighter—carried
out in the concentration camp of Solluq on September 16—caused
great indignation in the Arab world.
Omar’s implacable adversary, General Graziani, has given us
this physical and moral description, which is not lacking in admiration:
“Of medium height, stout, with white hair, beard and moustache.
Omar was endowed with a quick and lively intelligence; was knowledgeable
in religious matters, and revealed an energetic and impetuous character,
unselfish and uncompromising; ultimately, he remained very religious
and poor, even though he had been one of the most important Senusist
figures.”
In later times author A. Del Boca judged him: “Omar is not
only an example of religious faith and a born fighter but also the
builder of that perfect military-political organization, which for
ten years kept in check troops under four governors.”
The memory of Omar remained alive. Libya, independent, monarchic,
and revolutionary, declared him its national hero. His life was
depicted by Anthony Quinn in the movie “The Lion of the Desert,”
produced by Siro-American Akkad.
Facts and Figures
Location- Central North Africa, Egypt on East, Sudan on Southeast,
Chad on South, Niger on Southwest, Algeria on West, Tunisia on Northwest,
Mediterranean on North
Area-1,759,540 sq km
Topography-Desert and semi-desert regions comprise 92% of the land,
low mountains in north, narrow coastal plain
Population-5,100,000
Distribution-87 % urban
Ethnic Make-up-Arab-Berber, 97%
Languages-Arabic (official), Italian, English
Religions-Muslim (mostly Sunni), 97%
Capital City-Tripoli pop - 2,096,000
Other Cities-Benghazi, pop-912,000
Government Type-Islamic, Arabic Socialist, "Mass State"
Head of State and Government-Col-Muammar al Ghaddafi, since 1969
Currency-Dinar (LYD) = 1.30= $ 1 US
Gross Domestic Product-$ 65.8 bln
Per Capita GDP-$ 11,500
Economy-Oil, food processing, textiles, cement, barley, citrus,
peanuts
Electricity Production-19.4 bln kwh
Literacy-83%
Life Expectancy-74.5 male, 79 female
AIDS Rate-N.A
Airports-60
Ports-Tripoli, Benghazi
Vehicles-700,000 units
Telephones-750,000 lines
Radios-259 per 1000 people
TV sets-139 per 1000.
Daily Newspaper Circulation-14.1 per 1000
Internet-205,000 users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication
and may not necessarily be the most accurate.
A time for Everything
By Kirubel Tadesse
On one of his many tours, he had a special guest whom he didn’t
just call to the stage and let him make a speech; instead he went
down on his knees and kissed the knees of the guest. The guest was
the so-called king of Ethiopian music, Tilahun Gesesse. After leading
the guest on to the stage with great care and love, he said that
he has done little when compared to Tilhaun. After many hugs, Tilahun
said that he sees himself when he sees Teddy Afro. Tilahun added
in tears, “When I see Teddy, I feel like he is my own son
in whom I can see all I that went through in my life. “
The new VCD of Tedros Kassahun, aka, Teddy Afro, is now out with
similar touching and entertaining scenes. Although Teddy Afro has
toured almost all the countries where there are significant numbers
of Ethiopians, only a few states like Illonois, Georgia and Minnesota
are included on his new VCD. I followed his fourth album of two
new songs and nine live performances of songs which he already included
in two pervious albums. This new album is named ‘Gize Lekulu’,
after his new song with both the lyrics and melody done in just
one night. Teddy said, “Everything starting from lyrics to
the composition was completed in just one night. It was done with
the delight and happiness with the news of the release of the political
prisoners of our country.”
Some of Teddy Afro’s fans we talked to on September 9th 10th
after buying his album, said that they were expecting new songs
and were disappointed when they did not get what they werelooking
for. Abu Worke Habte, owner and manager of ABU Video Production,
which is the distributor of Teddy’s album and VCD, told Capital
that Teddy had told all clearly that the new album has only two
new songs. He added,”You can see on the jacket the message
that says two new songs and other live performances’.”
The manager kept the price of the album and the VCD secret, but
confirmed that talk of between four and seven million is very much
exaggerated. Abu Worke Habte added, “There are rumors which
say this million for this price and others like there is another
album coming out soon. All are just baseless rumors. Teddy doesn’t
have any other ready album. All I can say is Teddy did this album
because he loved it and thought that the fans would too. He did
it with his full band and presented it for the holidays to be enjoyed
by fans. “
Despite the fact that Geze Lekulu aims at celebrating the Ethiopian
millennium and release of prisoners with a national spirit of unity
is a hit, Teddy Afro once again, was not on the list of the artists
at the Millennium Hall, as he missed last year’s New Year
celebration at Sheraton Addis. Even if he was not at Millennium
Hall, he entertained many thousands at the national stadium for
free. He went on stage in a car with personal guards and federal
police with cheers from the excited audience. As he stepped on to
the stage, ETV stopped transmissions from stadium. The action of
ETV upset many as they started protesting until ETV got back to
transmission from the Stadium. Teddy promised the audience with
a bigger concert in one month’s time and flew to Jimma where
more than thirty thousand were expected to turn out for his performance
at Jimma Stadium. He flew to Jimma on an Abyssinia Airlines charter
at a cost of more than 35, 000 birr.
Teddy Afro had conquered the hearts of the youth of Ethiopia in
his very first album, Aubgida. His second album to be published
but the first to be done, was very upsetting for Teddy since the
recording company sat on it for years and put it on the market after
Abugida’s success. ‘Yasteseryal’, his third album,
setting the highest record of a million birr, got huge acceptance.
Some of the songs in his Yasteseryal album, which speaks of unity,
political reconciliation and love between Ethiopian and Eritrean
brothers and sisters were not aired on for radio and ETV. many people
agree that that is when all Ethiopians in one voice accepted Teddy.
His very touching singles such as Alhonelhe alenje, which was done
in one night for the Olympic victory of Kenneisa, put Teddy in a
place where no other young talent has reached. Some fans are already
saying that he will surely be the next king of Ethiopian music as
Tilahun Gesesse was for years. On his latest VCD, Tilahun Gesesse
seems to agree with the fans. One more quality he has which seems
to be behind the success of many artists like Shewangaje Hailu is
his lyrical talent. Teddy writes almost all of his song lyrics and
melodies.
Teddy Afro with his unique talent of poetry and composition produces
works that center on the concerns of many Ethiopians. It won’t
be too hard to place him as number one from the last few decades’
of young artists. Whether he will become the next Tilahun Gesesse
or not is yet to be proven in the coming years but one can never
deny that he is really heading there faster than any Ethiopian singer
today.
Africa Unite, screened at
the National Palace
By Andualem Sisay
Africa Unite, a feature documentary chronicling the historic 60th
birthday celebrations of the legendary reggae singer Bob Marley
held in Addis Ababa in February 2005, and reflecting on the history,
visions and directions for the unification of Africa, has premiered
in Addis Ababa on Saturday, September 15 2007.
The documentary opened at the National Palace in the presence of
Girma Woldegiorgis, President of the Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia. Africa Unite, documentary movie is directed by award
winning filmmaker Stephanie Black (Life and Debt).
It hails Bob Marley’s vision of a united African continent
and tells the story that brought multitudes from across the world
to Ethiopia to join the celebrations which included a symposium
on the achievements, legacy and enduring relevance of Bob Marley.
It also contains his music and message to the people of Africa,
both on the continent and the Diaspora. Exhibitions on the life
and legacy of Bob Marley and three concerts including the epic Meskel
Square finale with an historic attendance of close to half a million
persons is also included in the documentary.
“Bob Marley was much more than just
an artist. He was an activist and freedom fighter of the highest
order,” said Girma Woldegiorghis, President of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia.
“Bob was a crusader for the ending the cruel system of
apartheid in South Africa and he became the crowning glory during
the independence celebrations in Zimbabwe.
He encouraged revolution by any means necessary,
but was more interested in the process of re-education and re-orientation
of values and belief systems which would lead to social
transformation over time. His own struggle and resistance was devoid of
guns and ammunition and without the politics of hate. In this way
Bob Marley is a role model for youth and for us all.”
The presentation of the film is part of a series of special activities
intended to increase the awareness of youth about the significance
of the Ethiopian Millennium. It is also intended to share information
on Speak Africa, a communication strategy borne from the Africa
Unite celebrations, designed to empower youth and promote their
participation in the development of their communities by harnessing
the power of popular culture and media.
Africa Unite was organized by the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations
in collaboration with the African Union, the Ethiopian Government,
the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the World
Bank and UNICEF.
At the screening President Girma Woldegiorgis, Ms. Rita Marley,
Chairperson of the Bob and Rita Marley Foundations and representative
of the Marley Family, Mr. Abdulahi Janneh, UN Under-Secretary General
and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission
for Africa and Mr. Bjorn Ljungqvist, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia
have expressed their views about the movie.
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