Pariah Nation

After a prolonged period of research and investigation of the controversy surrounding the building of a Military Medical Museum in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, we are excited to announce that the podcast ‘When Tiger Bay Roared’ has now finally released. Throughout the podcast, we managed to clear some of the thick smoke surrounding the events leading to the decision to build a Museum focused on showcasing Britain’s history of military medicine on Britannia Park, the last green space in the surrounding area. This fracturing decision by the Council was met with a vast array of negative reactions from different groups within the surrounding community, while others wholly supported it. By drawing on the views of senior officials working at the Museum as well as community leaders and other interested parties, we were able to bring together a host of contrasting opinions while critically analysing them in the historical context of the British military and the colonial expansion that took place in the late 19th century.

This podcast was made in collaboration with:

New Economy Law: https://www.neweconomylaw.org/ 

and was sponsored by:

The Art/Law Network: https://artlawnetwork.org/ 

In this episode, we asked the question: Are African Leaders the SOLE reason for Africa being where it is today? The answer is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no.... hence the longer podcast. One thing is clear for sure though- that Africa's history in the past 400 years has had a knock on effect that cannot be ignored. This episode looks at the main historical events that have had a considerable effect on Africa's economic and social development today.

Visit @artzen_ke on instagram for some awesome merchandise today if you're from Kenya!

Sources:

Mamdani, Mahmoud (1994) ‘A critical analysis of the IMF programme in Uganda’, in Himmelstrand, Ulf, Kinyanjui, Kabiru and Mburugu, Edward (eds) African perspectives on development: controversies, dilemmas & openings, EAEP, James Currey

Ould-Mey, Mohameden (1994) ‘Global Adjustment: implications for peripheral states’, Third World Quarterly 15 (2): 319-336

Geda, Alemayehu (2003) ‘The Historical Origin of African Debt Crisis’ Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, 19 (1): 59-89.

Eltis, D. and Engerman, S.L. (2000), ‘The Importance of Slavery and the Slave Trade to Industrializing Britain’, The Journal of Economic History, 60(1), pp.123–144.

Williams, E.E. (1964), ‘Capitalism and Slavery’, London: Andre Deutsch, first published 1944

Lenin, V.I. (1969), ‘Imperialism: the highest stage of capitalism: a popular outline’, Peking: Foreign Languages Press, first published 1917

Inikori, J. E. (2002), ‘Africans and the Industrial Revolution in England: A Study in International Trade and Economic Development’,Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Inikori, J.E. (2020), ‘Atlantic Slavery and the Rise of the Capitalist Global Economy’, Current Anthropology, 61(22), pp.159–171.

Shivji, I. (1986), ‘Law, State and the Working Class in Tanzania’, Heinemann.

In this episode we sat down with Maroua from Algeria to discuss the main features of the discourse surrounding North African identity in post colonial racial politics, specifically taking a critical look at the colonial stereotypes that have produced a division between North Africa and Africa South of the Sahara. We also looked at the reasons why some North Africans may deny their Africanity and why some Africans South of the Sahara deny the Africanity of North Africans as well as why their collective reasoning is faulty. Have a listen to the podcast to find out more.

In this episode, we talked about the assassination of Felix Roland Moumie, one of the key anti-colonial leaders in Cameroon's UPC party in Geneva, Switzerland in 1960. The French government took full responsibility for his murder just about 30 years ago, find out why they wanted him and his predecessor Ruben Um Nyobe dead.

Reference list

Brittain, V. (2006). They had to die: assassination against liberation. Race & Class, 48(1), pp.60–74.

Joseph, Richard.A. (1974). Ruben Um Nyobe and the “Kamerun” Rebellion. African Affairs, 73(293), pp.428–448.

In this episode, I discuss my experiences with subconscious racial bias at a hotel in one of Africa's most beautiful holiday destinations: Mauritius. Although my experience with most Mauritian citizens was largely positive, the response I received from the many of the White tourists I came across was less than welcoming...

For lack of confusion, at 18:00, this is a separate event that happened independently of the other incident I was describing.

In the second part of this two part series, Emily and I discussed Race and Power in the West. This week we discussed Race and Power in journalism and the workplace. Despite the fact that effort has been made in the West to recognise Black issues in these areas, Emily and I argue that not enough is being done to get to grips with decolonising these areas. The journey ahead is most definitely going to be an arduous one. Listen to find out more.

Decolonisation is an inherently violent process. It is a process that deconstructs the core of white identity and power. Understandably, such a process is therefore bound to be uncomfortable for many white institutions in the West to participate in. Emily and I, through drawing on our experiences and those of others, bring you this episode discussing the relationship between Race and Power in the West.

In this episode we look at the assassination of Patrice Lumumba. A widely influential figure in recent African history and many contend that his assassination still has implications in the modern and global political spheres. We will also be examining the extent to which the CIA, the Belgian government and other Congolese officials were involved in his murder.

*This episode is based on the research of Bruce Kuklik and Victoria Brittain. Both individuals have looked into this topic extensively, the former being a Historian and the latter, a Journalist.

Soundtrack- Interstellar OST by Slavik Karpiv (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThNGBm3KsMw)

Due to the global power imbalance caused by the colonial project, the Global North has a de facto monopoly when it comes to telling Africa’s story. This dynamic also means that continental African’s have a secondary role in telling their own story, even with a strong and active diaspora. In this episode, Nuura and I take a look at how this impacts the relationship between Africans on the continent and in the diaspora.

* Disclaimer- this podcast, regrettably, wasn’t wholly representative of the views of Africans that have lived outside the continent for long periods of time, however, we will most likely follow this episode up with one that is more representative in due course.

In this episode I looked at the main ways in which racism manifests itself in the UK during University. I drew on the anonymous experiences of students from my campus as well as data collected around the UK to evaluate the problem of racism in Universities as well as how to solve them. Listen in to find out more!