Opinion

Patriarchy in essence is a system of rape, abuse and molest. Patriarchy kills not only females, female energies and qualities seen as feminine. It also wrecks everything possibly positive in qualities seen as masculine. Patriarchy takes without ever giving back.

Caroline Mutoko is one of Kenya's most-famous and most-popular radio show hosts. Her highly critical column on the state of Kenyan media was refused by her newspaper. She published it on her Facebook page instead.

The violence by Boko Haram in Nigeria has become endemic. The Nigerian military does not seem to have the capacity to defeat the terror band. And succesful peace talks are not likely either. Nigerian journalist Ahmad Salkida knows Boko Haram well from reporting in the past from Maiduguri.The root cause of the conflict is ideological.

Africa epitomizes poor or non-existent leadership, dictatorship, clinging to power at all cost leaders and general anarchy and chaos before, during and after elections. Need I give examples Zimbabweans, Kenyans and Ivorians???

Never was there so much optimism for a better future of Somalia. But the challenge is huge.

In the euphoria outside Africa about the economic potential based on minerals exploration of the continent, some falsehoods are being spread. Both on a per-square mile and a per capita basis, Africa lags behind the global average in mineral production and reserves.

The two Sudans are, under international pressure, trying to come to an agreement in Addis Abeba about oil and borders. "Addis Abeba" means a lot for Southern Sudanes: it functions as a warning not to allow themselves to be manipulated once more.

A new book of Chinua Achebe is out. A review by Michael Holman, a piece which will be published in the September issue of the London Literary Review. A book, Holman writes, that risks opening old wounds and reviving old scores.

The predictions were dire soon after South Sudan had closed the pipeline to the North and thus its oil production.