Genocide in Africa: The Past and the Present

Filed under: For Editorial Review — dina November 10, 2007 @ 1:57 pm

by Michael Talbert

There’s no doubt about it: in Africa, horrific things are happening. But what’s going on? What can we do about it? Well, that depends on who you are, and what you mean by “we”. Read on to discover the terrible history of genocide in Africa and current efforts to alleviate the intolerable situations there.

The practice of genocide in modern day Africa began in 1966, perpetrated by clerics, emirs, and politicians of northern Nigeria on the Igbo nation of Biafra. Over 100,000 Igbo were killed or maimed. Over the next forty years and counting, Africa experienced mass genocide, ethnic cleansing, killing fields–whatever term you use it was cold-blooded murder on a massive, national scale. And it’s continuing.

During his reign Idi Amin alone reputedly massacred anywhere from 80,000 to 500,000 Ugandans. His targets were varied: ethnic groups, journalists, judges and lawyers, and students and intellectuals, among others. Today in Uganda children are forced to watch their families being slaughtered, and are abducted to fight as rebel soldiers in the “Lord’s Resistance Army”.

Ethnic Tutsis suffer in Rwanda at the hands of the Hutus in a civil war that now overflows to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Most of the world sits idly by while journalists document the ethnic and tribal cleansing in the Dafur region of Sudan.

In the Western world, some are taking notice. But constant obstacles block the way to peace and often governments’ hands are tied. For others with the greatest potential to enact change, efforts are halfhearted at best.

The United States can do little militarily since it’s armed forces are mired in the country’s own ethnic cleansing war elsewhere. The United States also claims not to engage in nation building, and intervention in Africa would be construed as just that.

We, as the United Nations, can condemn the atrocities, sanction the governments, and send in a UN peacekeeping force–but such actions have little practical effect.

Wealthy individuals consider it ill-advised to mediate directly between warring factions, so philanthropists direct their money at what they perceive to be the root of the problem: education, health, and hunger.

Oprah built a school for girls in South Africa to forward the cause of equal opportunity. Although off to a shaky start, the world knows where her heart is. Warren Buffet gives his money to Bill Gates to invest in positive change through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill just doesn’t give money away; he fosters achievement by investing in better ways to handle heath and hunger in Africa.

Celebrities can and do use their notoriety to promote awareness, and the more affluent among them put their money where their mouths are by starting their own foundations.

U2’s lead singer Bono seems to have become better known as a philanthropist than a rock star. Bono has put his talents to use as a spokesperson, rallying people to establish organizations like DATA, an initiative to alleviate HIV and hunger in Africa through debt relief and trade practices. His most recent initiative, Product Red, recruits companies to display a logo on their products. A percentage of the profits earned go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

We, as the average Joe, have limited means and influence. We have the option of donating a portion of our paycheck to international relief organizations such as the Red Cross or UNICEF, but we really don’t know where or to whom our money goes. It could be directed to other areas in need, like New Orleans–which isn’t a bad thing, but isn’t beneficial to Africa, either.

Alternatively, for the price of admission we can watch a movie and save a child in the war-torn region of northern Uganda.

The award winning documentary WAR/DANCE is opening this week at select theatres around the country. It’s the story of three children who live in a refugee camp in northern Uganda and have witnessed atrocities few of us can even imagine.

Join them as they share their stories while pursuing their dreams of dance and music. Follow on their journey as they prepare to enter the finals of the Kampala Music Festival as representatives of their school in the Patongo refugee camp.

You can view the seven minute theatrical trailer at WARDANCE.org, a joint project between Yovia, Shine Global and THINKFilm. 100% of Shine Global profits (the film’s producers) goes back to charity.

Watch the film–save a life. It’s a way to do your part to combat the horror in Africa. Get involved and know you’re making a difference.

Photo courtesy of THINKFilm Company