Belinda Allan, who was a founding Director and Trustee of Fahamu, died in June this year at the age of 77. Belinda was a strong supporter of all the things that Fahamu stands for – social justice and human rights. Victoria Britain, in an obituary in the Guardian Newspaper (14 July 2013), refers to Belinda’s 'early days of Amnesty International, [as a co-founder in] the successful launching of refugee studies as an Oxford University discipline, to years of active support for Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the grim camps in Lebanon’.

Belinda was unassuming in character, but had a strong presence in any audience, partly due to her commanding stature and colourful dress sense. Belinda resigned as a Director and Trustee in 2010, but remained a loyal friend of the charity, such that when Fahamu started to experience difficulties in 2012 and she discovered that her resignation had not been, as presumed, made official, she returned to support the organization, despite the diagnosis of a life threatening illness. During this difficult time she only wanted good news and was cheered whenever she was told about the determination of the staff to ensure the survival of Fahamu. Not all the current Fahamu staff had the chance to meet her, but those who did write about her generosity of spirit and her welcoming home.

Her support is sadly missed by all.

* Dr Patricia Daley is the Chairperson of Fahamu Board.

For 50 years, we’ve been campaigning for human rights wherever justice, freedom and truth are denied. We’ve reshaped policies, challenged governments and taken corporations to task. In doing so, we’ve changed thousands of lives for the better. Join Amnesty at our new Secretariat office in Johannesburg and you will too.

UNEP accused Shell of not properly cleaning up oil that had leaked from its pipelines and from other facilities

The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people campaign for their rights. To remain effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to adapt to that change. That’s why we’re opening a regional office in Kenya. And why we need you to lead it.

At the forefront of human rights, Amnesty International works tirelessly across the world to fight injustice and help those affected by it. Amnesty International believes that through the building of our global movement we will have a greater ability to create positive changes in the global Human Rights situation. To achieve this in Africa we need a talented Regional Growth Coordinator to strategically build our movement in the region.

The mobile revolution. Geopolitical power shifts. A radically altered global economy. The world is changing, and so is the way that people campaign for their rights. To remain effective, Amnesty International’s (AI) International Secretariat needs to adapt to that change. That’s why we’re developing our presence in Senegal. And why we need you to lead the way.

They say the documentary breached journalistic ethics and exposed sex workers to possible hatred and violence at a time when sex workers have been targeted for attack in Kenya

If Ghana be the land of my roots,
Then I'll celebrate the early scholars -
Resplendent in my ancestry.
Let me start with Muhammed al-Gamba;
The first imam of Kumasi.

The founder of Koranic education,
Deep in an Akan heartland -
The city of the Ashanti.
Service of prayers and amulets;
Trusted advisor to the royalty.

Respected representative,
Of the eminent ones -
The elders of northern Ghana.
He was known as 'Baba';
Son of the imam of Gambaga.

Some were born in Mamprugu,
Gonja or Dagomba.
Others came from Timbuktu,
Bonduku and Katsina.

Muhammed al-Katsiniwa came,
From that city of the Hausa.
Soloman Bagayogo came also;
Bringing scholarship to the Dagomba.

Let us go now,
To the town of Salaga -
Of kola nut and of slavery.
To meet a pupil of al-Hajj Umar;
The poet Muhammed al-Salghawi.

He wrote of celestial activity,
The recording of a comet -
Salaga of Islamic study.
Praises to al-Hajj Umar;
A poem to al-Tijani.

He wrote of conflict also,
The civil war that bloodied his town -
The exile of the scholar.
Born in beloved Salaga;
Dying in distant Accra.

© Natty Mark Samuels, 2013.
Some were born in Mamprugu,
Dagbon or Gonja.
Others came from Timbuktu,
Bonduku and Katsina.

Muhammed al-Katsiniwa came,
From that city of the Hausa.
Soloman Bagayogo came also;
Scholarship to the Dagomba.

Now we have spoken of the pupil,
Let us speak of his teacher -
Of al-Hajj Umar.
In the Salaga constellation;
He remains the shining star.

Born in Kano,
Great city-state of Nigeria -
Family migration to Gonja.
He wrote on diverse subject matter,
From corruption to influenza.

Founder of the first mosque,
And Koranic school -
In the district of Kete-Krachi.
He wrote of mosque construction;
And the social effects of poverty.

Some were born in Mamprugu,
Dagbon or Gonja.
Others came from Timbuktu,
Bondoku and Katsina.

Muhammed al-Katsinawa came,
From that city of the Hausa.
Soloman Bagayogo came also;
Bringing scholarship to the Dagomba.

Now we'll go further north,
To meet Muhammed al-Mustapha -
The imam of Gonja.
From the Kamaghate lineage;.
Of those known as Wangara.

The main writer of the chronicle,
Known as Kitab al-Ghunja -
From the mid-eighteenth century.
It tells of kings and Muslim clerics;
Of Asante and it's dynasty.

© Natty Mark Samuels, 2013.
A much respected figure,
Within the Gonja ulama -
Great historian of the Volta.
Served the Asantehene;
As well as the Yagbongwura.

Some were born in Mamprugu,
Dagbon or Gonja.
Others came from Timbuktu,
Bonduku and Katsina.

Muhammed al-Katsinawa came,
From that city of the Hausa.
Soloman Bagayogo came also;
Bringing scholarship to the Dagomba.

© Natty Mark Samuels, 2013.

.

Mango are bringing their NGO money management training to Pretoria in July and still have some bursary (scholarship) places available for small, local NGOs and CSOs. Their training is specially designed for all NGO staff, not just finance people, and is very practical and enjoyable. For more information and to apply, .

Yash Tandon’s was launched on 21 June. It is the beginning of the digital repository of his life's writings.

Tandon, who has contributed more than 40 articles to Pambazuka News, is from Uganda and has worked at many different levels as an academic, a teacher, a political thinker, a rural development worker, a civil society activist and an institution builder. He was involved in the democratic struggles in Uganda and was member of the interim Uganda Parliament (1979-80).

Sierra Leone is emerging from a decade of civil war and although education and training opportunities for young people are expanding, there is a clear gap in enhancing job candidates' chances of success upon applying for a position

Oxfam has been making a difference in Chad since 2004. But as food prices continue to rise and conflicts both in neighbouring Sudan and Chad itself take their toll the situation has become even more serious. That’s why we’re refocusing our strategy and partnering with the Regional Centre, Oxfam International affiliates and other NGOs to offer a more coherent approach. And we need you to deliver it.

He spent his life struggling for democratic reforms in Kenya and suffered much for it, spending long years in prison under the Moi dictatorship. His commitment should inspire new generations of revolutionaries

The following statement by three members of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) laments the doctoring of the Land Chapter by the Office of the President. The authors point out ‘the irony of a Commission dedicated to truth, justice, and reconciliation suppressing the voice of a minority in clear violation of agreed upon procedures.’

Pambazuka News is planning a special issue on ‘YOUTH IN AFRICA AND THE DIASPORA’

We would particularly like to receive articles from young people on this topic whether they are in organisations or not

As we reach an audience of approximately 26,000 subscribers weekly, we are calling on our readers and writers to submit articles for this special issue to cover any of the following themes (or a theme or issue of your choice):

• The problems and issues young people are facing in Africa and the Diaspora
• The role of youth in society
• Positive contributions of young people in society
• The future of youth in society and the world
• Youth organizations in Africa and the Diaspora – tell us what your organization is doing
• Any other topic/subject of your choice

ARTICLE LENGHT: Texts must be between 1000-3000 words

DEADLINE: is 13h June 2013 for submission

Your name and a two line bio must be submitted at the end of the article

Texts must be submitted to: or [email][email protected]

THE EDITORS

Africa is undergoing an artistic renaissance that could be a part of the African Union’s approach in communicating the aspirations of Africa and Africans, engaging Africans in critical discussion and representing the potential strength in the diversity of the continent

The American immigrant rights movement has failed because it allowed itself to be influenced by the paternalism and conservative politics of the liberal non-profit industrial complex and the interests of the Democratic Party

The Adilisha Program will be holding a movement building boot camp for activists’ from social justice movements and organisations in Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.The boot camp being held in Lusaka ,Zambia from May 12 -17, 2013 will facilitate activists' consciousness of their context from a deep analysis and connect what they are doing to the bigger picture or vision of social change they seek to achieve.

Participants will critically analyse their organising strategies and tactics to develop alternative strategies for effective and creative organising.It is also expected that the participants will derive approaches for educating political education and elevation of the voice and leadership of their constituents.

This will also be a space to examine, reflect and learn why social movements occur, who joins or support social movements, how social movements are organised, what they do and what change social movements bring about. It is expected that this will inspire the participants to embrace strategies that build collective action.

The spiritual transition of Cde Gqobose to his Creator and to the ancestors is not to be mourned, but to be celebrated with gratitude to God who lent Gqobs to this family and to South Africa and indeed, to humanity as whole

Saferworld is an international non-governmental organisation working to prevent and reduce violence conflict and promote cooperative approaches to security. We believe that everyone should be able to lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from insecurity and violent conflict. We work with governments, civil society and international organisations globally and in over 15
countries in Africa, Europe and Asia.