The Making of an Empire: Hip-hop King-Kongs across Africa Battling for Supremacy

Say what you may, but I assure you the beef thing between and among our hip-hop King-Kongs are yielding a market  viability.
KaoLastingKingDenero, Sarkordi, Lyrical Joe, Khaligraphy Jones and all those entrapped in this lyrical tug-of-war game are  working on a big project: amalgamating the hip-hop industry and fanbase of Africa for their own good. The diss and lyrical confrontations should be cheered up by fans across the continent. It is helping in widening the listenership of their lyrical proclivities and opening up an industrial space for hip-hop across Africa. This gives a hope to musicians from smaller countries with small fan base compared to those of Nigeria and Ghana. 

Gone are the days when the best selects of our nightclub DJs are Western Hip-hop and R&B songs. Today, more than ever, African artists are touring across the continent. Their hustle is intensifying in the continent. Their followers on YouTube and other platforms are almost matching their counterparts in the West. They are making big featurings and are blending the Caribbean Culture with our culture as well. This fuse of cultures has created what I could refer to as Raggae mutants such as the Dalas Bantan, Stone Boy, Whizkid (Starboy), PatoRanking, Starzee, Timaya, etc... These stars are technically repatriating their African fans. The same is happening in the R&B world (Banky W, Morris, 2 Baba/Face, Tiwa Savage, Adama (Foday n Linda fame), etc...).

But beyond the expansionism and Economic viability this project is going to yield, the Afrobeat is also helping bring to recognition the diversity of culture in Africa. It's no doubt promoting the rich African cultures. The international performances are acknowledging those facts. Our musicians and artists are now more confident to sing and perform in their local parlance and ethnic languages. The world cannot resist the thrilling sounds of Diamond Platinum (Swahili), Drizilik (Krio), Sidiki Diabate (Bambara), Internet man (Themne), Fatako (Fula), Takana Zion (Soso), Sarkordi (Twi), Olamide (Yoruba), etc... They are basically in a renaissance movement to revive the almost dying African cultures. They are also helping break the myths surrounding Africa rustic lifestyle and poverty popularized by Western media. Their musical videos are opening doors to African tourism. They are showing the rising middle-class lifestyle in Africa. They are basically telling the world that Africa is not only about the savannas and jungles and primitive lifestyle. Africa is rising and we should invest our resources to opening more doors.

What can be done to realize the benefits of this project?

Well, DJs, show promoters, and our media houses should follow the trail of the industry and coordinate efforts to organize bigger, more diverse, and truly African entertainment awards to raise the self-esteem of our artists and musicians and create job opportunities for more Africans. The continent is home to approximately 1.3 billion people. The continent is poised to overcome Asia in becoming home to the largest labour force by 2040. No prospect could have shown any clearer. Any delibrate move to invest in this project will naturally lead to a boost in the general Cultural and creative industries (fashion, music, art and craft, film and cinematography), and eventually the tourism sector. Countries and entertainment stakeholders should coordinate efforts to amass these opportunities for the betterment of the continent. The Ecofest Show by Kabaka Multimedia Entertainment (KME) is one such examplary move. Musicians and entertainers from across the continent are giving the opportunity to perform in a single stage. That project should extend to promotion of awards. The political will is utmost in realizing the success of such occasions and projects.

©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
® Fottal Organization

Too many extra-classes, little time to study: How the disregard for self-directed learning process may explain the reason for massive failure in external examinations

In about four weeks time, our students in Anglophone West Africa would be commencing the WASSCE. Some for the first time, and many others for another turn. So far, the last results were awful and worrisome, to say the least. Some critics argue that it's the worst result since after the Civil War that officially ended in 2002.   In attempting to give possible explanation as to why the state of education (in terms of promotional rate) is retrogressing, analysts have propounded several conflicting and yet convincing theories. Most of whom blaming the lack of trained and qualified teachers; and others (call them conspiracy theorists) politics. While both proponents put up convincing points, the subject of lack of self-directed learning, I can say, has been given less attention. Knowles (1975, p. 18-- as cited by Bear A. A. G., 2nd November, 2012) suggested that self-directed learning as a process takes place when: "Individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others, in diagnosing their learning needs, formulating learning goals, identifying  human and material resources for learning strategies, and evaluating learning outcomes."
We all need a guide/teacher to decode certain information. That's why we go to school and spend up to 5 hours in class almost everyday in highschool. But in the journey to acquiring knowledge, the greater task is left with the learner. The school introduces us to concept and walk us through key principles. It's then left with us the individual learners to explore further and understand them well- to ensure they stick with us either in verbatim or in concept. Learning goes further than accumulating notes and listening others teach. A student must take his/her extra-time to self-direct their learning process. It's an absolute betrayal by teachers to normalize extra-classes for students when they have all the time to give their best to students during normal school. In order to extort parents and their students alike, they deprived the  students quality teaching in normal active schooling hours just so they could persuade them to attend extra classes for a sum that will never quench their thirst for illicit money.
On the students side, here is what extra-classes can do to them:
1. It deprives students of their right to leisure: Leisure (adult play) is essential in reliving stress and promoting wellbeing of students (playing can stimulate the release of endorphins or feel-good chemicals in the body). Adult play can also help improve brain function and stimulate the mind and enhance creativity through puzzle and task solving. We need to encourage our students to have time for leisure after school. We are not training robots. Too much academic stress can lead to health complications and poor concentration of adult learners (see: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/benefits-of-play-for-adults.htm); and
2. Extra-classes can kill the reading skill of students: students spend most of their time in extra-classes taking notes rather than reading the notes they have already accumulated since JSS 1 or (as in the case for those in Senior high) SS1. Teachers would succeed in confusing the students the more by giving them the same notes they had being giving in normal Schooling hours by different teachers along the line to JSS3 or SS3. They will copy the same notes they had in previous other classes over and over again without grasping a thing from them. They would spend one fourth of the night taking notes in these extra-classes, and get back home exhausted and stressed up for sleep. No time to study or revise on their own. They would hardly read accurately. In many instances, these students cannot read a whole paragraph without getting stuck several times along the way by simple jargons. If they finally reach the finish line, they would not make out what they read. We simply are not allowing them to have time on their own to read. As per the principles of self-directed learning, they should spend more time to identify the learning tools and methods on their own than relying completely on someone to aid them. Aiding should come at a point where they need clarification. But unfortunately for our own students, they literally spend 90 per cent of their time taking notes and lectures rather than self directing their learning process. It's when you are allowed to read enough that your reading and writing skills will improve virtually further (see:https://theboar.org/2019/02/reading-improve-writing-skills/). Their is no way our students can write sense or give something back they didn't not read. Listening alone is not enough for examinations. In order to give good performance in examinations, one has to be a good writer too. And the beta way to enhance your writing potentials is to read widely. You may already have all the notes you are chasing after, but you just can't figure it out because you don't have time to read. You are busy taking notes instead of studying the few you have. You stand a better chance when you master the few notes you have than accumulating it all and knowing none.

So I argue that in order to boost the performance of our students in the external examinations, we need to permit the students to have enough time to leisure and self-study under our supervision and aid. Teachers who call for extra-classes in normal Schooling weeks are not only extorting Students and parents, but they are also draining our students the energy they should save for self-directed learning at home whilst also killing the students' learning potentials. Extra-classes are in fact more detrimental to girl-pupils who are apportioned greater responsibility in carrying the house chores after school. As though that's not enough to exhaust them, they will be forced (technically) to attend extra-classes to make up for the quality lecture the teacher deprived them in school just for little sum. The need for extra-classes should only come about in the weekends to revise notes taking throughout the week for students' benefit. The ministry of education has a role to play in identifying teachers involved in these practices and taking the right actions against them. They are simply killing our students' learning opportunity and their future.
#My_Opinion

©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation

Menstrual Pads/tampons are a Need and not a Want for Girls and Women!!!

Ever since the first lady announced her move to support girls with menstrual Pads in schools, we have seen a barrage of complains and misinformation on the matter. Some unpatriotic individuals have  even gone to the extreme to download and circulate pictures of some unfortunate circumstances that happened somewhere outside Sierra Leone missinforming people to say the health complications are the result of the menstrual Pads the government would be distributing. Their actions are tantamount to betrayal of the state, and especially for girls and women whose very existence depends on how much knowledge they have and care they give to menstrual hygiene.
What is wrong in giving free sanitary pads to girls? There are times Sierra Leoneans' actions amuse me a lot. We can mix politics in everything. We hardly know what we want from our leaders. When it comes to free condom distribution, the complains are few. But ever since it came to menstrual pad distribution, people have been complaining. But sex is a choice (so condoms should be sold). Menstruation is not a choice (menstrual pads are to be given free to girls). Women experiencing menstruation or menarche are undergoing a lot of pains or mental pressure. They can skip school or be restricted into certain religious and social gathering because of menstruation. Certain girls who cannot afford enough to buy pads would have to use a single pad for the rest of the day or use some unsafe material for leakage control where they catch infections that will cost them a lot of money to treat. In some cases, these infections have cost some women their womb. It puts them in difficult position to bear children safely. Why are we so so blind to understand that girls need these things. How many of our parents or relatives would care to give extra money to our sisters to buy menstrual pads every month?
We should not be blinded to politics to the extent of not understanding our needs. Menstrual pads for girls is a need not a want.
Similar lies were created about the free soaps the previous government were distributing to households during the Ebola period to promote hand wash and personal hygiene. I can still recall how my neighbors refused to accept the soaps saying they are the carriers of the virus. I requested the person distributing them to give it to me and I will convince them later to accept them. I did try but most of them refused. At the end, I benefited a lot from the loaf of soaps. I could go for months without buying soaps. Their ignorance and naive behavior cost them their money. I used the soap and I am still alive and kicking. It saved me few bucks, too. We should learn to think. Let's be critical of posts we read or listen to on social media. We have a lot of unpatriotic individuals bent on only sabotaging good things for their selfish political gains. They would politicize everything.

©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation
® Students Analysts and Writers Network

One Belt, One Road Initiative: A Familiar Pathway for Africa?

By Amadu Wurie Jalloh

Introduction

2013 was a phenomenal year in the discuss of international trade and political cooperation. President Xi Jinping of China announced his country’s ambitious but yet strategic plan for a “Silk Road Economic Belt” and a “21st Century Maritime Silk Road” that will formally be dubbed as “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI). The BRI will run through Asia into Europe extending to Africa (Mukwaya and Mold, 2018). Meanwhile, the Sino-African bromance had started since April 1955 Bandung (Asian-African) Conference where government officials from twenty-nine Asian and African states met in Bandung, Indonesia to deliberate the role of the Third World in the Cold War and the promotion of Peace, economic prosperity, and decolonization (Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State, n.d.). The aim of this paper is to assess the development implications of China’s BRI to Africa with a particular focus on pointing out the arguments for and against the policy drive.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), what is about?

China, over the past three decades has progressed from being a more traditionally agricultural dependent economy into an inward -looking state, and today into a global economic and tech-producing giant close to the United States (Cheung & Lee, 2015—as cited by ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). In order to secure its stature in the international system and enhance its full economic potentials, China’s president Xi Jinping could in 2013 reestablish 2100 years old Han Dynasty’s ‘Silk Road’ initiative that aimed to encourage trade and cultural interchange between China, Asia, Africa and Europe covering 7000 km at around 206 BC to 24 AD (Li et al., 2015—as cited by ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016 ). Meanwhile, the new “Silk Road Economic Belt,” débuted as ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) imitative or Yídàiyílù encompasses two symbiotically and unified principles that connects China to 67 foreign countries across Asia, Europe and Africa through the following means: the ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ comprising of network of roads, railways, power grids and gas pipelines that flows over land from mainland China in Xi’an, through the capital Shanxi Province and onward to Central Asia, down to Mosco, Rotterdam and Venice, which interconnectivity is dubbed EURASIA . And the Maritime Silk Road (MSR) that entails erection of network of seaports in the South China sea, Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean that will basically link South East Asia, Oceania, East Africa and North Africa through the Mediterranean. It will basically target 4.4 billion people in those 67 countries representing 63% of the global population. According to Varlare and Putten (2015—cited by ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016, p. 11) the central pillars of the BRI are “promotion of policy coordination, facilitating connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people to-people bonds.”. Kenya, Djibouti and Egypt are the BRI’s main target in Africa (ZiroMwatela and Changfeng, 2016). The initiative has two main sources of fund: the Asian Infrastructural Investment Bank (AIIB, USD$ 100 billion) and the Silk Road Fund (SRF) with a funding portfolio of USD$ 40 billion to be bankrolled entirely within the belt and road (Cheung & Lee, 2015—cited by ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). An additional fund from China’s foreign exchange reserve (USD$ 7 trillion) and its sovereign wealth fund (USD$ 220 billion) are also going to be utilized. Meanwhile, its biggest committers are the China Development Bank and the Export Import Bank of China (Exim Bank) with USD$ 1 trillion commitment made.

What is in this for Africa?

So far, 50 Chinese state-owned companies are engaged in 1,700 infrastructural projects across the strategic areas the BRI is covering valued at about USD$ 900 billion (Nantulya, 2019). Xi is also remarked to have highlighted how Africa will benefit from the initiative noting that “inadequate infrastructure is the biggest bottleneck to Africa’s development,” a rhetoric clamored by many of his counterparts in Africa (Nantulya, 2019). By now, 40 out of 55 African States have signed an MOU with China for the BRI with hope to complement their effort in strengthening infrastructural advancement, attract foreign direct investment to stabilize their economies and create jobs, open up to marketing opportunities, and ultimately tackle poverty (Dahir, 2019). Efforts have already been made to upgrade the Mombasa port, and the capital of Nairobi extending to landlock neighbouring countries like South Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Burundi to create a chain of connectivity for business ease (ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). Other remarkable benefit of this programme includes a 2,600 Mega Watt (MW) hydropower scheme in Nigeria; USD$ 3 billion worth of telecom equipment to Ethiopia, Sudan, and Ghana; and badly needed railway connections in Nigeria, Gabon, and Mauritania (Riberg, n.d). In general, the initiative will invest USD$ 170.7 billion into construction activities across sub-Saharan Africa that is hoped to accelerate both interstate and intercontinental trade boom (OECD, 2018). In a survey conducted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, result shows a potential increase in Africa’s exports by up to USD$ 192 million per year (Nantulya, 22nd March, 2019). Meanwhile, China has also taken over the US as Africa’s single largest trading partner as per volumes from a trivial sum of USD$ 1 billion in 1980 to USD$ 200 billion in 2014 stock exchange worth (ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). As at 2017, for instance, China buys 95% of crude oil produced in South Sudan; 61% of mineral export from Angola; 36% from Sierra Leone, to name but a few (Dahir, 2019). Several other sectors have received boost, too. More Africans are gaining scholarship opportunities to study technologically advanced courses in China. Medical expertise from the Republic have also been providing support across the region when needed the most. In general, supporters of the initiative are with the view that this will help redefine global political and international order, and provide Africa its badly needed infrastructural gap to help enhance interstate and intercontinental trade that will ultimately unleash the continent’s full economic and development potentials (Looy, 2006). In a study conducted by Mukwaya and Mold (2018), results shows that BRI can substantially benefit East African countries by reducing the export and imports trade margins by 10%, increasing GDP in the subregion from 0.4 to 1.2 per centage points. They also argued that the initiative would also boost regional welfare of nearly USD$ 1 billion while also increasing net exports of countries in the continent by USD$ 192 million through intra-regional trade.

The neocolonial undertone of the initiative

Despite the assurance of non-interference on political affairs of partner states given by China (as opposed to the Marshall Plan of the West), critics of the initiative are showing no hesitation to declare the BRI a neocolonial drive to advance China’s military and political expansionism agenda that will further destabilize economies in Africa whilst leaving the region entrapped in debt burden to China. For instance, the decision to establish a military facility in Djibouti (East Africa) where major powers like the US and France are also based, have raised concerns over the genuineness of the intent of China’s initiative (Dahir & Kazeem, 2018; ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). The Red Sea being a doorway to accessing the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal through which 30% of world shipping activities take place, critics cannot quite push the power struggles as being the hidden agenda for global powers such as USA, France and now, in a conning manner, China to establish military presence in the region (ZiroMwatela & Changfeng, 2016). Security partnership has underpinned global order since 1945 (The Sun, 22nd August, 2016). In effort to seek recognition as a major global power, China now deploys peacekeeping forces in South Sudan, Mali, Liberia, and Democratic Republic of Congo—making Africa a playground for flexing its muscular capability (Dahir & Kazeem, 2018). A French newspaper called Le Monde also released a document in 2017 accusing China of spying on the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia through a computer networking system that it gifted and programmed for the Union in 2012 (Dahir, 30th January, 2018). Critics also fear that China is luring Africa into the so called ‘debt trap.’ They have used the experience of Sri Lanka who in 2017 had to transfer ownership of Hambantota Port to Chinese state-owned companies on a 99-year lease for failure to payback infrastructural loan. Pakistan were subjected to similar treatment on a 40 years lease with Chinese partner retaining 90% of its revenue (Nantulya, 22nd March, 2019). In 2019, for instance, following a warning by Ugandan Auditor general over huge external debt distress incurred by the country and the risk that circumstances agreed upon for loans place on the country’s sovereign assets, neighbouring Kenya’s parliament opened an investigation into the conditions under which strategic Indian Ocean port of Mombasa would have been used as collateral for loan granted to its government by China’s Exim Bank to construct the Mombasa to Nairobi railway (Nantulya, 22nd March, 2019).

Conclusion

Like any other development intervention, we can see that the gives and takes of the BRI are quite compelling a political and economic debate. In conclusion, with critical examination, one could see a bit of a discord between the rhetoric regarding the BRI and the agenda to provide Africa with an alternative pathway to genuine development different from its experience with Western hegemonic powers that has reduced the continent to barely resource producing and loan seeking and debt accruing continent with no sovereignty.

 Reference

Dahir A. L. (2019). These are the African Countries not signed to China’s Belt and Road Project, retrieved from: https://www.google.com/amp/s/qz.com/africa/1718826/the-african-countries-not-signed-to-chinas-belt-and -road-plan/amp/ (16th February, 2020)

 Dahir A. L. & Kazeem Y. (7th March, 2018). China is pushing Africa into debt, says America’s top diplomat, retrieved from: https://qz.com/africa/1223412/china-pushes-africa-into-debt-says-trumps-top-diplomat-rex-tillerson/ (13th February, 2020)

Looy J. (2006). Africa and China: A Strategic Partnership? , ASC Working Paper 67

Mukwaya R. & Mold A. (11 September, 2018). Modelling the economic impact of the China Belt and Road Initiative on East Africa, ResearchGate, retrieved from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327572478 (15th February, 2020)

Nantulaya P. (22nd March, 2019). Implications for Africa from China’s One Belt One Road Strategy, African Center for Strategic Studies, retrieved from: https://africacentre.org/spotlight/implications-for-africa-china-one-belt-one-road-strategy/

Office of the Historian, Foreign Service Institute, United States Department of State, n.d.). Bandung Conference (Asian-African Conference), 1955, retrieved from: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1953-1960/bandung-conf (13th February, 2020)

OECD (2018). China's Belt and Road Initiative in the Global Trade, Investment and Finance Landscape, OECD Business and Finance Outlook, sourced from: https://www.oecd.org (15th February, 2020)

Risberg P. (n.d.). The Give and Take of BRI in Africa, Center for Strategic and International Studies, retrieved from: https://www.csis.org/give-and-take-bri-africa (17th February, 2020)

Wang M. (n.d.). China’s Strategy in Djibouti: Mixing Commercial and Military Interests, retrieved from: https://www.cfr.org/blog/chinas-strategy-djibouti-mixing-commercial-and-military-interests (12th February, 2020)

ZiroMwatela R. & Changfeng Z. (December, 2016). Africa in China’s‘One Belt, One Road’Initiative: A Critical Analysis, IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), Volume 21 (12), Ver. 1, p. 10-21, available at: www.iosrjournals.org

No Shortcut to Development: The Drone Corridor is not Viable a Development Project

If there is one thing most of our leaders in Africa have consistently failed to understand, it's the fact that there is no shortcut to development. Development is a multifaceted never ending journey. Yet we know one thing for sure, one needs to understand/observe the landscape of any  pathway s/he chooses when s/he journeys out to a far away undiscovered land. At least, not fully discovered. That action to study the landscape of a pathway is what we can refer to being strategic; being systematic; and being visionary. But it's rather unfortunate that most of our leaders (I say most owing to the fact that Africa is host to majority of the developing countries) lack that visionary attribute. This is as a result of many things, one of which being lack of "honesty." Most of our African leaders are not honest. We can debate about the quantifier "most" later. Meanwhile, let's deal with this drone project funded by UNICEF.
Yes the "Drones for Good" project was funded by UNICEF in partnership with the Sierra Leone's Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI). Imagining the capacity of the DSTI, it is safe to say it's fully funded by UNICEF. But why should we be concerned about it, and especially at this time since its launch on 29th November, 2019? Well, because apart from it being a none viable development project, it still has the propensity to deny us the true development we deserve.
According to the WHO (see: https://reliefweb.int/report/sierra-leone/drones-good-corridor-launched-drones-take-flight-deliver-medicine-remote-areas), maternal mortality rate in Sierra Leone is one of the highest in the world with 1,165 per 100,000 live births. And according to a report by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation National Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Strategy 2017-2021, up to 46% of maternal deaths are as a result of blood loss (obstetric hemorrhage). The drone for good corridor is basically meant to facilitate the delivery of medical supply to hard-to-reach areas within 200km square airspace in order to save lives in emergency response actions, especially those related to maternal health care. Other use may include agroforestry and geospatial mapping (that could be later). This initiative is however not new to Africa. Rwanda has had it since October, 2016. It's believed to supply more than 65% of blood outside the capital Kigali. Ghana has had theirs in April l, 2019 (too).
I want us to note few words (like: "most efficient) in the excerpt taken from His Excellency President Bio's speech during the launching of the programme: "It is time for Sierra Leone and other developing countries to take the lead in solving our developmental challenges, such as maternal mortality. My Government has prioritised technology and innovation as an essential part of our solutions package. Using fourth industrial revolution technologies to accelerate our development goals is not an option--it is the only way we can quickly and most efficiently address the huge problems existing for our people." I want to say that's not an accurate proposition. This drones are not most efficient a response to the huge problems existing in those areas. As a matter of fact, they may worsen the appalling conditions of hard-to-reach rural areas.
As beautiful as all the project ideas (especially the one that has to do with maternal health care) may sound, we are forgetting to ask what that will mean for infrastructural development in those areas. Yes, this drone can deliver medical supplies for emergency response, but sure drones cannot transport a pregnant woman in urgent need of better medical attention than offered in those hard-to-reach areas. Sure also the drone cannot facilitate easy access to better hospitals/medical centers for pregnant women in those hard-to-reach areas. And sure the drones cannot facilitate the transportation of needed medical exparts and interventionists to those areas.
It's with no hesitation I say that this project will give our leaders more reasons to relax in delivering the development aspirations of their people. They have a duty to facilitate movement to those hard-to-reach areas by constructing roads. Using drones as development intervention to those areas is equivalent to putting the "cart before the horse."
African leaders should stop seeking shortcut to development and develop the courage to face the problems of their people. Drone use will only be most effective when the areas are cleared from being hard-to-reach areas. Maternal health and maternal emergency response does not start nor end with emergency medical supply. It starts with supplying the needed development requirements in those areas that will improve livelihood and movement. The construction of  roads cannot only help make those areas accessible to medical staff and expart- interventionists, but also expand pregnant women's choice to medical care. With good roads they can choose to seek medical care where they think is safer or more affordable without any fear of accident or danger. With roads they can easily sell their produce to nearby communities and take care of their medical needs and enhance livelihood. With good roads, their communities can attract some of the best medical practitioners and civil servants. What is the use of emergency medical supply when the doctors to administer the drugs to them are stuck on the road to those areas from their visit to a nearby village?
A viable development intervention in the form of emergency medical intervention starts and end with expanding people's choice. Construct the roads and expand their choice to a medical care/attention they need.
Some would argue that, the drones are not bought by the government, they are for free. I would say, yes, but they will give them more reasons to drag their feet in responding to the development needs of especially rural areas. For a more Sustainable Development intervention, roads leading to those areas should be constructed.  UNICEF should instead support in the construction of roads if they truly want to alleviate people's suffering in those areas.
Meanwhile, as a conclusion,I would like to end this piece by recommending that academics consider conducting "research" projects on this. To know the development implications of medical-drone intervention (particularly, with regards livelihood and infrastructure).
#My_View
©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
11/02/2020

Over 34,000 persons tested positive of the virus (globally). Death toll is 636 (as at recent report). 41 passengers in a cruise ship in Japan tested positive. The virus infiltrated in many parts of the West and Asia.
Lucky for Africa, no positive case tested in the continent just yet. Taken into consideration the capacity of many states in Africa, and the ignorance/stubbornness of many of its citizenry, I would advise Africa puts a travel ban to/from mainland China or put measures to screen in comers thoroughly to protect its citizens. This will hurt the economies a lot. It already may have started showing symptoms. Business people in Freetown (capital of Sierra Leone) have been accused of blaming the Coronavirus for the incessant increase in price.
Come to think of how it will slowdown supply due to security checks. How it will discourage several business persons to travel to China for merchant. Nation states will eventually start to even scan goods from the country. It will be hard for Africa. But what will be harder than containing a virus that a greater nation like China (economically) itself finds difficult to contain?
There are several undiscovered things about the virus at now. Vaccine development could be difficult if a source is not known. We cannot tell how this virus will perform in the tropics and other regions.
It's not hatred or lack of sympathy, but rather protection of a much more vulnerable people. Many African sates are less equipped to tackle breakouts like this. And our interactiveness in all spheres will create a room for its rapid spread in the community than in any other civilization. We don't know yet how equipped we are with face-mask or other protective gears to prevent its spread. We are prayerful people. We all know the first place our people will flood when such things occur (God forbid), the Churches and Mosques. Places where they will spread easily and rapidly. So please save us the worries. Be proactive for once.
My heart and prayer to China and its loving citizens. God help us all.
© Amadu Wurie Jalloh
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation

Tips to becoming (a Good) Writer

I want to dedicate today's time to answering one of the questions colleagues on both social media and in my community frequently pose to me: how can one become a good writer?
Most times I would dodge the question and switch the discuss to other things. That's because I wouldn't want to assume authoritative or expatriate knowledge of the art of writing. I tell myself I am still struggling to know the art.
But guess what, I would be a  fool to think that a true writer is someone who must have mastered a subject or a topic of discussion. After reading a passage from Furey Robert J.'s "So I'm Not Perfect"(1986) where he did mention about a time in life when he encountered psychologist Dr. Rollo May in a public lecture in St.  Louis, just like Dr. Furey, my writer's block crumbled. After his lecture, Dr. Rollo took his time to entertain  questions from the audience. One question from a young man about anxiety would however have Dr. Rollo pause for a short while before he could deliberate on it. He finished the deliberation with an unexpected declaration (well perhaps unexpected declaration to many begining writers like myself) that there were certain aspects of the issue that still puzzled him. The young man protested, "But you wrote a book about this!"....Dr. Rollo would relax for longer while this time before he could finally argue that: "A man does not write a book when he knows something. He writes a book when he is struggling with something" (Furey, 1986 p. xi).

It's so I would take to introduce us to today's topic of discussion proper. For this, I would like to contextualize everything I say here with my experience as an amateur writer.

1. The Voracious Reader

It was after my narrow escape to pass promotional examinations to class eleven that I realized I was lagging behind. I would ask myself where did it go wrong. One day I sought a counseling from my high school English Literature teacher who advised me to start reading any book I could lay hand(s) on, but especially Literature books. He said literature books will help heal not just my ineptness in the art of reading and understanding, but also help introduce me to characters I can relate to in whatever circumstance(s) I find myself. Thereon I started buying books from street vendors. I could buy and read books that did not pertain my school curriculum (not abandoning the school syllabus). I would end up falling in love with Poetry.
For several reasons, I would advise any would-want-to-be writer to start with Poetry. Apart from its aesthetic and puzzling nature, poetry will teach you write short but meaningful sentences-- that's a good way to start writing.
Reading voraciously will make you start questioning the many things you used to know; provoke you to search for knowledge; and surely humble you to become teachable. You will start realizing you dobnot know everythings; you were/are not right all the time; and most importantly, it will provoke you to start writing down important points. Notice the order of things: realization, humility, and a sense of purpose.
I guess Dr. Rollo was telling us similar things: we don't write because we know. We write because we are struggling to know things. The struggle is marked by search of knowledge: read, travel, and focus on the small things that happen around you.

2. If you can read a passage, you surely could write a sentence

Another important step in starting a hobby (or say a career) in writing is the practicality of the art.
It was around 2010 when I started using Facebook. It was new to me, and I guess to many Sierra Leoneans considering the cost of mobile phones and (especially) internet service then in my country. But it was not until 2012 that I started decorating my Facebook wall with opinion pieces. O those were some silly and incoherent write-ups. Anytime Facebook reminds me of them, I would just smilingly choose to press the "hide, don't show" button. Not that I seem them useless, contrary to that, I regard those reminders as  motivation to do better. They expose my mistakes year(s) ago. They show me how far I have come in this. And I take note of the progress and work harder to give my better.
You should start with a sentence a day. Provoke discussions on burning issues by making a short statement (a sentence or two) of your opinion on trending issues. Note: people will attempt to cry you down. They will tell you to go back to school and learn to write. They will basically give you the best advice you need for self motivation. Take note of what they tell you, but don't stop your naive posts. Keep writing and editing your pieces for a better outcome. Gradually you will notice changes. You will see how far you have come. Do not let those criticisms to get at you (negatively). Accept you are never perfect, but you have something to say and a career to build. Also, sometimes no one will read your lines or like your post. Don't let that stop you from writing a sentence or two a day. Someday, somehow your post will make sense to few persons who will start critiquing.

3. Search and Follow up with mentors

Everyone needs mentoring. A mentor is someone you consider examplary, admirable, and exceptionally gifted in any field or career you are interested in; and they could be anyone (other than yourself) with the experience and expertise.
The internet, and to a very larger extent, social Media have made things a lot easier to interact with people you never could have got the chance to see or interact with in your life. Before now, most people could only see or hear and interact with writers through radio discussion or TV programmes, or when the writers are in their region or area to sell their new publications. Today (however) you can be anywhere around the world and connect with any writer or activist from across the world and learn about their moves and skills by simply following them on Facebook or other social media platforms. Some will even gift you their books.
For me, I will not hesitate to say my use of Facebook helped greatly in shaping my writing skills. I follow-up with almost every major news broadcasting institutions/organizations. I search for authors and activists and follow them to learn their skills and moves. I am able to take from them many writing and analytical skills. Facebook is full of good writers and thinkers. You can improve your skills by simply making judicious use of your time on Facebook. Click follow them.
Many of us today do not use our social media platforms to promote our career (dream) nor to learn or transfer knowledge, rather we use it to spur disorder and violence, which is wrong. Use it to build or promote your career and/ or business.

4. Good, better, best, never let it rest until the good is better, and the better is the best.

One bad mistake anyone would make is to assume that they have perfected their skill(s). But worst still are those who would underestimate themselves.
It was some weeks ago I read a piece on intellectual humility shared by a friend. The central lesson is that we should learn to accept that we could not always be correct. You cannot be an all sufficient fountain of knowledge. Nor can you be completely correct on all matters. You should allow for criticism and dissenting views for they will inspire your next piece of writing. Even if your piece is informed by research, it will not capture everything. Hence, let their be room for dissent views on any piece you write. Make your defence when you find them incoherent, but don't drive away your critical followers.
Another thing to also note is, your best is yet to come. Keep exploring. A curious mind is one unique attribute of writers. There is an anonymous (to me) saying that: to fill your cup, you must first empty it. How do you empty your cup? Speak less and listen more. Be curious and learnable. And most importantly, don't rest your pen just yet. Keep writing naively. Someday in the future you shall open to read these words and pieces and smile to yourself for the simple fact that: you have come a long way to this point. A point you always doubted you would ever reach.

And now for a closing statement I say to you that is reading this piece, do not underestimate yourself; and don't allow others low appraisals of you bring you down. Knowledge and intelligence is something we all aquire at different points in life. Some would prove to be intelligent right from their elementary level earning their teachers respect. Others would catch up at a later stage in their educational pursuit. But many of us would have to catch-up later after high school or (even) after university. Meanwhile, no matter the case, just know  that with perseverance we can all develop and become smart.
#Be_A_Curious_Mind

©Amadu Wurie Jalloh
® Students Analysts and Writers Network
®The Emmanuel Ivorgba Foundation