◀ AD▲N'▶

I just came back from a visit to the Genocide Memorial Center... it was heavy and full of lessons. I saw a depiction of cold facts through archives, testimonies, showing how such monstrosities could take place under the same sky that we share. And it was displayed with no hatred or grudge or blame. It happened, we learned from it and we're healing... that's the message. But still, how could it happen while the whole world was watching humans slaughtering humans. Once more!?

A scene told by a young survivor who was with his mother and family at a stadium could give us a glimpse of the horrors. They were surrounded by killers screaming and yelling and all of a sudden silence was heard among the trapped victims... who probably had just few minutes to live, accepting inhumanity and almost welcoming death. The mother said to the only survivor of the family, don't cry or scream, if you must die, die with dignity. He never saw his family again. And this is one of the too many stories of these dark days. I left the place feeling very worried about our time. These events did not happen all of a sudden, it was a process that started by division, classification, resentment, hatred,  leading to dehumanisation... then what happened, happened.

From there, the path to what is Rwanda today is nothing else than a miracle. I've seen a country that Africa can be proud of, and the vision of the leadership is felt everywhere. Discipline, abnegation, strong will, hope, hard work, love of the land, respect of nature, embracing their heritage, their scars and wounds - rising for all Africa to see... this is a lesson for all of us.

I m leaving with a lot of food for thought, but also with hope. If they were able to go through that and stand today; no matter our challenges, so can we. And last but not least, we should never let division get the best of our unity. Rwanda showed that's it's by joining hands and standing as one that we can make anything possible.

I hope that 2017 will be the year of freedom of expression and justice. The year in which us people will become aware of our power to finally be heard. In a strong and sound voice and not in a vacuum and fleeing echoes. A voice that triggers an acting verb. An action that leads to a growing, beautiful and bright movement. A brightness that transcends and revives the soul. Souls glowing with hope. A hope that will overshadow our battered being by the constant, repetitive and stultifying injustice. I pray that 2017 will be the year where peace will be found in the battlefields. That our rulers will also find their wisdom and their sense of duty. Our state its objectivity. Africa its Union. Men their Dignity. The World its Purpose. The Heart its Love. And War, Peace. I dare to hope that 2017 will be the year where all dreams are permitted because you never know which will come true. "For Africa, the year 2017 will not be an ordinary year. The reality of our past is unspeakable and yet Africans managed to overcome it. We are the same people, and it's always the same continent. Nevertheless, everything will be totally different because we have changed our way of thinking. What has been, will never be, because Africans will not accept it. “[Quote of Kagame freely adapted where I replaced Rwanda by Africa (thank you Paul)] ... a miraculous prophecy that I dare to dream of ... Finally, I want to tell you that I love you my dear friends and fellow life companions. And from the bottom of my heart (really) with all my gratitude for the moments and memories shared; I wish you a year full of Light to lift you away from the dusty and narrow limits of reality! Health, love, happiness, success, prosperity and love again ... a thousand times!

Pullo . This turban, crowns a shepherd. These patterns and designs, reveal an identity. A statement looking you straight in the eye. "I am the Pullo and grace is my way. I am the Adanyanke and greatness is my aim. If you cannot see it through my eyes. Then point your gaze at my crown and see who I am."

Farmers and local communities in north-eastern Nigeria are losing their livelihoods, as American prisons tycoon turns their land into a profit-making venture under the guise of US and UK aid

According to The International Flag Book in Color by Christian Fogd Pedersen ) the Nigerian National and Merchant Flag and Jack was "Chosen in 1959 from among 2870 suggestions in a competition; it was designed by a student from Ibadan, Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi. The green panels represent agriculture; the white stands for peace and unity." According to Whitney Smith (1975) in Flags Through the Ages and Across the World [smi75b] this flag was first officially hoisted on 01 October, 1960, Nigeria's date of independence. Although the flag was adopted in 1959, it didn't become the official flag until Nigeria attained independence on 01 October 1960.

The current Nigerian flag displays beautifully from home type or residential flag poles, even in minimal breeze conditions. It is an adaptation of the winning entry of a flag design competition that was held back in '59. The winning entry displayed or featured a red colored sun with sun-rays that were placed right at the top of the white vertical band. These features are excluded from the current national flag however. The Nigerian flag's colors have interesting meaning. The color green is said to represent agriculture, which really is the country's chief source of wealth. White symbolizes or represents peace and unity. Interestingly, the coat of arms was adopted back in 1960 as well. Even though not displayed on the national Nigerian banner, it is featured on the presidential flag, which obviously belongs to the country's president.