We're joined by Farida Nabourema, a Togolese human rights activist, writer and Pan-Africanist who has fought for democracy in her country since her teenage years. Farida founded the "Faure Must Go" movement in 2011, where she organised Togolese youths to stand against the dictatorial regime of the Gnassingbés. The movement captures the civil resistance movement in Togo, of which Nabourema is one of the most well-known leaders. In 2014 she published her book La Pression de l'Oppression, encouraging resistance from those who are oppressed. In 2018, Time Magazine listed Farida as one of the Four Crusaders Keeping the Dream of Democracy Alive and in 2021, Apolitical named her among the 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy.

In this episode we discuss Farida's lived experience under the Gnassingbé regime, the changing face of social media as a tool for activism and the West's oppressive policies within the African continent.

You can view Farida's TED talk here. You can follow her on Twitter: @Farida_N and purchase her book here

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In our final episode of season 3, we're exploring West Africa during the 13th century and the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita. The Mali Empire was one of the continent's wealthiest and most prominent empires spanning across modern-day Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, Gambia and Burkina Faso. Sundiata's life story is one of overcoming adversity, surviving jealous family members, and conquering the enemy. His story gives a fascinating insight into how oral traditions were kept alive and passed on from one generation to the next.

Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. Pre-order It's a Continent (2022) on Amazon and Waterstones

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Hosts: Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

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Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com

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Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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Sources for further reading:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Mali-historical-empire-Africa

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sundiata-Keita

The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali and Songhay: life in medieval Africa 

Leadership in Pre-Colonial Africa: A Case Study of Sundiata Keita (Mari Jata) C. 1217-1255 and Mansa Musa Keita (Kankan) C. 1312-1337 of Mali

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Ceuta and Melilla are enclaved cities where the European Union has land borders with the African continent, as Spain continues to lay claims within Morocco. What is Spain doing in Morocco in the first place, and what are the wider implications? In this episode, we discuss why the two cities have been described as Europe’s “dirty secret" - the over-surveillance of the walls separating Africa from Europe, and the mistreatment and brutality towards those seeking a better life in Europe.

Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. Pre-order It's a Continent (2022) on Amazon and Waterstones

We're on Buy me a Coffee too: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent

Visit our website: itsacontinent.com

Hosts: Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com

Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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Sources for further reading:

Ceuta and Melilla: why does Spain own two cities in Africa?

Melilla: Europe's dirty secret

World of Walls: The Structure, Roles and Effectiveness of Separation Barriers - ebook

French Morocco (1912-1956)

Alleged migrant smugglers arrested in Spain

Ceuta, Melilla profile

@ProdeinOrg 

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We have a big announcement!!

Pre-order It's a Continent (2022) here:

Amazon

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https://linktr.ee/itsacontinent 

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In this episode, we learn about Africa’s longest-serving dynasties, the Gnassingbé dynasty. They have ruled Togo since the late 1960s. The rise of the dynasty began with Gnassingbé Eyadéma, who forged a successful military career and became the country’s President. Following Gnassingbé’s death in 2005, his son Faure Gnassingbé became President following a questionable set of parliamentary changes, and like father, like son, his rulership has failed the Togolese people. 

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Hosts: Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee 

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx 

Artwork by Margo Designs: https://margosdesigns.myportfolio.com

Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/... Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... 

Sources for further reading:

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The Chagos Islands are located in the Indian Ocean, home to Chagossians. However, the islands' sovereignty remains disputed to this day. The UK continues laying claims to the islands, despite being urged to end its unlawful occupation. In this episode we’ll focus on the expulsion of Chagossians from their home country, and the steps the British government have taken to make it more difficult for Chagos islanders to return home.

Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. We're on Buy me a Coffee too:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent

Visit our website: itsacontinent.com

Hosts:

Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0

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Sources for further reading:

Books: 

Island of Shame - David Lutz

Audio:

Expulsion of the Chagos Islanders - BBC Sounds

Documentary: 

Stealing a Nation - The Plight of the Chagos Islands VS the United States (2004)

Papers:

What If You Can’t Protest the Base? The Chagossian Exile, the Struggle for Democracy, and the Military Base on Diego Garcia - David Vine

Articles:

How Britain forcefully depopulated a whole archipelago

The plight of the Chagos Islanders shows the dark side of the US-UK special relationship

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We're back with a bonus episode before we return to season 3! We discuss the consequences of the trans-atlantic slave trade on the continent with our special guest, Karis. We talk about the notion of Africans selling other Africans into slavery by applying the correct lens to examine a pre-colonial continent, how the slave trade gave way to European colonisation and the importance of education and cultural exchange as a solution to diaspora wars.

You can follow Karis on Twitter: @friedricejim. Check out his blog on black history The Black Republic, as well as his Clubhouse discussion club the Black Republic.

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Visit our website: itsacontinent.com

Hosts:

Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

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Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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In this episode, we're in Tanzania discussing its stint in socialism. The country's first post-independence President, Julius Nyerere, introduced the Arusha Declaration. A vital element of the declaration was the introduction of Ujamaa which means family-hood in Swahili. Ujamaa focused on freedom, equality and unity. He believed that colonialism had brought capitalism and individualistic thinking into Tanzania and across the African continent, and capitalism went against pre-colonial traditional African culture, which was more community-oriented. Nyerere was an iconic figure and was often considered to be Africa's conscience. 

Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. We're on buy me a coffee too: buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent 

Hosts:

Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

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Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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Sources for further reading:

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In this episode we discuss Somalia's socialist government between 1969-1991. This movement was led by Mohamed Siad Barre, a Somali Communist politician. Under the Supreme Revolutionary Council, Barre transformed Somalia into a one-party Marxist-Leninist communist state, renaming the country the Somali Democratic Republic and adopting a concept called scientific socialism, with support from the Soviet Union. Whilst Barre’s rule had initial success: modernisation, nationalisation and anti-tribalism, defeat in the Ogaden War triggered Somali rebellion and dissatisfaction. You can find sources below.

Please excuse any background noise in this episode, recording via Zoom has its challenges!

Follow us on IG: itsacontinentpod and Twitter: itsacontinent. We're on buy me a coffee too:buymeacoffee.com/itsacontinent

Hosts:

Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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Sources for further reading:

“Buried in the Sands of the Ogaden”: The Horn of Africa and SALT II, 1977–1979

Somali Democratic Republic

Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to the United Nations

Siad Barre and Scientific Socialism

Socialist Somalia: The legacy of Barre’s military regime

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In this episode, we discuss France's relationship with its African colonies, specifically Chad. Chad became part of the French empire during the Scramble for Africa and successfully gained its independence in 1960 following the empire's disbandment. France's response to this change was to form alliances with its former colonies in order to maintain some of the political and economic benefits they had garnered during their colonisation. These alliances still stand today, with the French government providing military support, overlooking human rights violations, and influencing Chad's currency. Franco-African relations poses an interesting question, whether France can ever leave Africa?

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Hosts:

Chinny: Twitter/IG: chindomiee

Astrid: IG: astrid_monologuesx

Music provided by Free Vibes: https://goo.gl/NkGhTg

Warm Nights by Lakey Inspired: https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspired/...

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Sources for further reading:

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.