CAJ International Magazine, published by the Congress of African Journalists, has devoted its main file to Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, an important African personality
Abuja Correspondent
In its latest issue (April 2024), CAJ International Magazine, the monthly published by the Congress of African Journalists, has devoted its main file to chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, who is considered one African personality whose appearance in the firmament connotes immeasurable greatness, unique historical deposit, compassion, stupendous humanitarian disposition and rare humility among politician of her gender in Africa. Jewel of Africa, the immediate former Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, undoubtedly is a blessing, not limited to her country but to the continent of Africa. Her historical greatness permeates the globe as a glittering precious role model in the area of political sagacity, leadership and advocacy for women rights and empowerment. Her records of quantum leaps in many endeavors, be it in politics, academics, zeal and perspective for a progressive Africa defines her uniqueness. Jewel Howard Taylor is a shield for comfort and hope for the despondent and despair beyond the borders of Liberia. As a politician, Madam Taylor’s relevance and strength cannot be easily cut down with razor blame. Her immense possession of wit and wisdom make her foes swallow their own phlegm. The truth about Madam Taylor’s honesty is always found naked in many of her engagement with the press “I am not a perfect person nor an angel. In fact, no human being is perfect. But if i were to think beyond your question, on a scale of 1 to 10; i would give myself an 8. I can say in my own defense that I am a woman with a good heart, who has the fear of God, who because of my belief system has remained in the trenches fighting for women’s’ educational, political and economic empowerment for over 20 years.
Jerromie S. Walters wrote “Jewel’s Legacy, A Trailblazer for Women’s Empowerment” mentioning that as Liberia bid farewell to its outgoing Vice President, Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor, the nation and the world will forever venerate her remarkable achievements as a true trailblazer. Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has left an indelible mark on history as the first woman to serve as First Lady, Senator (twice), President of the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, Deputy Bank Governor, Standard Bearer of a political party, and Vice President of a country, consecutively. Her legacy is a testament to her dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment in Liberia and beyond. Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor’s journey to becoming a trailblazer in Liberian politics began long before she assumed any of her groundbreaking roles. Born on January 17, 1963, in Liberia, she was raised in a modest family. Despite the challenges she faced growing up, Howard-Taylor always aspired to make a difference in her community and break barriers for women.
Environmental Issues in Modern Arabic Poetry of North Africa, by Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Egypt notes that while many critics believe that modern Arabic poetry has left public affairs to express their private lives, he finds this judgment lacking in relevance; we live in an age in which the private and the public come into contact, and are identifiable, until they almost coincide: “If symbols are used to express the parallel of what is implicit, hidden and concealed, the decline of symbols’ use means that the contemporary Arab poet has left the fear of declaring what is implicit, and has become more attached to free expression that is not framed or restricted. Therefore, today, we cannot consider a poet in the Arab countries is in isolation from the issues of the whole world, and these past issues have come to trial, to shape present, and affect tomorrow. The global warming has become – for example – not a scientific issue, or an issue related to a specific geographical area, but rather a matter that affects the masses, and calls for their attention, and their reactions, and poets are not far from all of that. And if we talk about environmental issues, we gradually deal with them according to several stages: awareness of the elements of the environment and their presence in the contemporary Arabic poem, and representing the environmental problems and their embodiment of the contemporary Arab poets. These two points have been represented by a group of contemporary poetic compositions, for several generations and the countries of North Africa, and I found them to be the best selected sample for reading the presence of environmental issues in contemporary Arab poetry in North Africa.”
Ashraf also asks in his 2nd article: “Will Egypt’s Economy Survive for Long?” commenting on the European Union that concluded agreements with Egypt worth 7.4 billion euros over four years. These agreements cover several areas, including loans, investments, and cooperation in immigration to Europe and combating terrorism. For political commentators from the Old Continent, Egypt is an important country for Europe, today and in the future, especially amid a difficult neighborhood between Libya, where tensions do not subside in the west, Sudan, which is waging a civil war in the south, and the Gaza Strip, whose Palestinian population is suffering from ethnic cleansing and genocide carried out by the occupation in the east. The European agreement with Egypt comes after a positive economic movement that included the trilogy of the Ras El Hekma deal with the Emirates, the liberalization of the exchange rate for the US dollar, and the conclusion of the IMF agreement, which represented a positive rescue dose for the collapsing Egyptian economy and its local currency, the pound, which lost – over ten years – 80% of its value against the dollar! In a country that imports its basic and luxury needs, reliance on the foreign market leads to high prices, and perhaps scarcity as well. These three economic measures provided the state with foreign exchange resources that were urgently needed to avoid bankruptcy and inability to repay debts. In the short term, they enabled Egypt to achieve four direct gains: preventing the risk of defaulting on foreign debt, controlling the exchange market, encouraging the flow of investment and its abroad workers’ savings through the banking system, and improving our credit rating. These are all great gains, and their value should not be underestimated.
Dela Ahiawor reviews a new flick ups the ante for sustainable energy in Ghana: “There is no question sustainable energy is the potential game changer that can put Sub-Saharan Africa on the path to universal electricity access. As well, incorporating alternative energy (renewable energy ) in electricity grids can help cut back on rotational load shedding and the persistent power outages, known as ‘Dumsor’ which has become a national headache in Ghana. Given that, renewable energy complements the national grid without generating harmful pollutants make it a real game changer in an era of climate change. In the bid to combat load shedding in Ghana and also avert the worsening climate catastrophe- the need arises to transition to renewable energy now. Not surprising Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions dropped by one-tenth in 2023, due to investment in clean energy solutions, according to reports. To help create greater awareness for renewable energy use in rural Ghana- a new film: “The Renewable Charge” was premiered on Friday, March 8, 2024 to commemorate ‘Solar Appreciation Day’ (A day set aside to tout the benefits of solar energy). 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon (350 G-ROC) and 350Africa.org (www.350.org) released the documentary to highlight the remarkable journey of the Renewable Energy for Communities (RE4C) campaign in Ghana. On (9 and 10) March, the film was screened in Pungu and Nawognia suburbs in Navrongo in Northern Ghana, the location of Ghana’s first Solar PV utility-scale project. The film highlights the origins and achievements of the campaign by 350 G-ROC, which evolved from a volunteer-led anti-coal campaign into a powerful community-centered advocacy movement for renewable energy.
SHATTERED SALUTE: Tribute To the Fallen Heroes by Oseni Yusuf Salami, Nigeria highlights the killings of military officers which expose cracks in Nigeria’s civil-Security relationship: “In the words of General Jehangir Karamat, Former Pakistani Army Chief, “Whenever there is a breakdown in… stability… the military translates its potential into the will to dominate.” Is the dominance of security threat creating an endless headache by overpowering the military engagement and tactics in the most populous black nation on earth? The recent killings of military officers in various parts of Nigeria have sent shockwaves through the nation, raising critical questions about the fragile relationship between civilians and security forces. These attacks not only represent a brazen assault on national security but also highlight a deeper rift that threatens the delicate balance between the public and those sworn to protect them. The killings erode public trust in the military, a cornerstone of any stable society. When those entrusted with safeguarding the nation become targets, citizens naturally question the ability of these forces to ensure their safety. This fear can lead to a breakdown in cooperation and information sharing, hindering investigations and emboldening criminal actors.
South Africa Celebrates Human Rights Month as reported by Donald Tlaka: “On the 21st of March South Africans commemorated the Sharpeville massacre which is commonly known as human rights day. This day is historically linked to the events that took place on 21 March 1960 where the apartheid police killed 69 people and wounded 180 people when the crowds were protesting against pass laws. Human Rights Day also honors 35 people who were killed on 21 March 1985 when apartheid police targeted community members after a funeral at Uitenhage/Langa. As part of the democratic dispensation, South Africa observes March as Human Rights Month to promote respect for basic human rights for all and restore and uphold human dignity in line with the Bill of Rights. This period also honors those who fought for liberation, and celebrates the many rights guaranteed under the Constitution, and which are the basis for building a united and inclusive, non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous society.
“MOTIO”: A Rare Traditional Dance Embodying How the Bakweri Defeated the Germans, is highlighted by Clarisse EKOWE in Buea.
The ‘MOTIO’ traditional dance is a rare traditional dance that tells the story of the Bakweri resistance and the subsequent defeat of the German colonial masters by this indigenous Cameroonian ethnic group. The Bakweri people are the predominant ethnic group occupying the areas surrounding Mt. Fako, Africa’s second highest elevation, located in Cameroon’s South West region. Among the several ethnic groups within the region, the rich culture and tradition of the Bakweri remain monumental due to their historical relevance. The Bakweri “MOTIO” traditional dance dates as far back as the 19th century during the reign of Kings Endeley Likenye and Kuva Likenye, some of the tribe’s powerful patriarchs during the German colonial rule. Cameroon’s first colonial master did not find it easy to merge over 250 tribes and ethnic groups in the country under one administration.
The Growth of Citizen Journalism was discussed by José Raimundo (Angola): “Journalism is a subject that allows people to be informed, educated and entertained in the society. It’s not a domain only for seeking fame. Instead, it’s a field to display one’s passion. We belong to different professions: medicine, teaching, etc. But why does everybody claim to be a professional journalist. What’s the real reason for this? Nowadays, since the advent of social media, we realized some people pretend to be journalists, but without any specific knowledge about their real role. They call themselves “citizen journalists”. These “professionals”, who pose as journalists never studied journalism, but think their role is mainly related to disseminating “information” on internet platforms. I said “information”, exactly due to the fact that only journalists, by using media, can disseminate properly new stories, editorials, investigative journalism, among others. For instance, a butcher may be good at cutting meat, but he is not a surgeon. In the same manner, a surgeon operates on someone’s body, but he is not a butcher. Why? The response is equal to the one who has some information and shares it online. Even if it is real, the sender of the message, still being only a “citizen” with his rights, however, is never a journalist.
Charting a Course for Quality Early Education: Tanzania’s Call for Systemic Reforms Amidst Enrollment Surge and Global Inspiration has been investigated by Mutayoba Arbogast: “Tanzania is setting up its younger generation to thrive through Pre-Primary Education in the beating heart of the country’s educational domain, a formidable challenge echoes – an uphill quest for top-tier pre-primary education for hundreds of its young students. Despite a commitment dating back to 1995 to establish these crucial classes that set foundation of children’s education, the journey to collaborate with communities in this initiative faced many constraints particularly limited resources. Welcome to the epicenter of Tanzania’s educational evolution, where the battle for quality pre-primary education unfolds. Over the years, a commended 46% surge in enrolment was recorded following the declaration of fee-free and compulsory pre-primary education. However, recent revelations expose a stark reality: quantity has also gradually outpaced quality. Despite a promising increase in enrolment, which at face value seems like a positive outcome, the Tanzanian pre-primary education system still grapples with glaring deficiencies, as highlighted in the 2022 Pre-primary Enrolment Report.
The CAJ Magazines’ Editor-in – Chief is the Nigerian journalist Michael Adeboboye, the Chairman of the Congress of African Journalists. Vice President Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Egypt was keen to gift the latest issue of CAJ Magazine (March 2024) to iconic literary figures, academics and diplomats who participated in the 1st Congress of World Organization of Writers (WOW) held this month in Abuja, as this certain issue covered the preparation of the international event.
Read: Congress of African Journalists launches CAJ TV
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