PROFESSOR KOFI AWOONOR

Professor Kofi Awoonor was a celebrated poet and author, a political activist, Ghana's ambassador to the UN, Cuba, Brazil, the head of the committee against apartheid, president of the pan-African writers association, chairman of the council of state, a Pan-Africanist, a traditionalist, a lecturer of African literature in various universities including the University of Cape Coast where he was the head of the English department ... (I could go on)

My first conversation with Professor Kofi Awoonor was at the University of Ghana. He was my lecturer at the English department. I was about to drive out the car park at "Tingis" after a lecture when I heard him ask for a lift to the department, his driver was late. I quickly offered.  I was in awe of the man and didn't want any other student to have that privilege of driving him. My two friends and course mates who were with me in the car were just as excited as I was.

In the car, he asked us our names. I told him I was Maame Ama, my two friends told him they were Maame Yaa and Dokua. He was happy, we all had indigenous Ghanaian names. The interesting thing is, my friends were Herty and Jane.

That was Professor Kofi Awoonor. A man who asked you your name and had you instantly, unconsciously wanting to own your African identity.

If Professor Awoonor taught you, he was not just your lecturer. He was the man who encouraged you to THINK and express those thoughts regardless how much he disagreed with your thoughts (sometimes his class was one big debate with opinions flying all around). I did not go for his lectures because I had to. I did because I enjoyed them.

This is the man who yesterday, while shopping with his son, was shot dead by "Islamic militants" at WestGate mall in Kenya.
Why? because a group of people want some attention.

The tears in my eyes do not fully express the sadness in my heart. That a GENTLEMAN like Professor Kofi Awoonor, for who he is and all his contributions to this society ...
... this is a moment! one of many moments in recent history that show how utterly inhuman the human race is.

THE BUSINESS OF CHARITY

Prince William's wife had a baby. Subsequently, he's left "his job" with the armed forces and announced a new one - protecting African wild life!

Now before we all break into Zulu dances (as I'm sure is expected of "us") let's take a minute to examine motive. Prince William, his Royal Highness, had the whole world to choose from, all the continents at his feet and he chose Africa. Lucky us!

Interestingly, inspite of all the challenges confronting the continent, he chose to extend his benevolence to our wild life. Is it possible that he cares more about the animals than the people of Africa? Or perhaps this has nothing to do with either but simply, a new father's zeal to have a play ground for his son. Far fetched? The man had this to say at a recent interview about raising his new son (sorry if I seem caught up in the fairy tale of a royal delivery, fairy tales are a general weakness :)) "I'll have toy elephants and rhinos around the room ... we'll cover it in lots of bushes ... make him grow up as if he's in the bush."

To be fair, protecting wild life, anywhere, is a good venture and let's face it, where better to protect wild life than the "jungle"? Besides, he doesn't have to do this (his admirers might say) - which is exactly why I'd prefer for Africans to take up the challenge of protecting our own. If this is about a genuine desire to help, Prince William could very easily have assisted those already on the ground undertaking the venture without making this a fun fair.

I liked Prince William. When I was younger, I liked him because he was a good looking prince, the older me continued to like him because he seemed like a nice warm harmless guy and I refused to blame him for his lineage - he had no control over being born a Prince and he certainly had nothing to do with slavery, colonialism or the exploitation of whole continents for natural resources ...

I am not so sure I like him anymore because now, he has alot to do with all I detest - making Africa a charity case, making charity a business and worse, reducing a whole continent's image to a publicity stunt or gimmick.

Thank you, Prince William for your questionable interest in Africa but no thanks, we already have countless royals of our own looking for ways to justify their privilege. Thanks to INDEPENDENCE, we really don't have to tolerate your "benevolence" no more!