Welcome to AfricanOz, your African Australian online resource, with links and info on events, news, music, travel & more. This site is for everyone: whether you're of African heritage, have an interest in Africa, or you're simply browsing the web. Feedback is welcome.

Pictured: Scene from the famous South African Athol Fulgard play 'Sizwe Banze is Dead', looking at the concept of 'identity' during the Apartheid era - now showing as part of MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL - see What's On

No justice in 'anti-African' stance

Community leaders, human rights groups and some political respresentatives have slammed the Australian government's reasoning for slashing the African refugee intake (see stories at right). If you also object, contact Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews (click on name) or your local Federal Member of Parliament, as well as Labor's Immigration spokesperson and newspapers, radio and the internet. Make sure you are enrolled to vote! Check back to AfricanOz for details of an upcoming conference on the issue in November and an online petition.

Earlier, National Race Discrimination Commissioner Tom Calma said, "Australians have long accepted that people should not be treated differently on the basis of their race or ethnic origin and it is troubling that the changes to the intake policy for African refugees seem to do just that."
Human Rights Commissioner Graeme Innes said, "..I haven't seen any evidence of any greater settlement problems for African Sudanese refugees than I have seen for other refugee groups over the years."
Chair of the African Federation Communities Council Abeselom Nega pointed out that African migrants are contributing immensely to Australia's national economy.
A media statement from UNHCR quoted, "UNHCR hopes that the doors will remain open to refugees from any part of the world on the basis of their need for protection, not on the basis of race, religion, nationality or perceptions about their ability to integrate."
SEE LINKS AT TOP RIGHT FOR MORE ON ISSUE

Message from th' Motherland

AfricanOz recently caught up with one of Africa’s newest reggae stars, Shasha Marley from Ghana, now touring Australia with his 8-piece band (pic by Shane Rozario) Below, we asked him about reggae, religion and his love for ‘the motherland’. And see What’s On for concert details.

AfricanOz: What is so good about reggae?
Shasha Marley: The word reggae means people who don't have what they want - the words and lyrics of reggae music, the force behind it is so inspiring. Reggae music by Bob Marely says "Why do you look sad and forsaken... Don’t you know that when one door is closed many are open"... So going through life you always want to hear music like that... It is not the kind of music that corrupts children. It is a music that lifts your soul and gives you hope - and music (that makes you feel) like you are part of society, that makes you feel accepted, cared for... you are somebody... you know.

AfricanOz: ‘Come back home to mother Africa’ is what you sing. But do you think people are ready to return when there is still so much poverty and political instability?
Shasha Marley: Who should make Africa better? We, the Africans, are the ones to make Africa the better place to live. We go out of Africa and work in the West and make Western people rich all the time. It is a good idea to travel - even this is mentioned in the Bible, (But) You have to remember your roots and I am saying that we need to go back home to apply the skills and knowledge we have developed. Zion is a better place to live. Zion is Africa. We have the best continent, we have the best climate. It is the best place to live. There are no two ways about it.

AfricanOz: Most reggae musicians sing about Rastafarianism, not Jesus. What inspired your to change the norm?
Shasha Marley: I grew up in a Christian home. My father was directing the Christian choir and my mother was also singing in the women's ministry in the Catholic Church. I spent days and time in the church. My father sees to it that I go to church and after school I go to the mission house to help the priest clean the house and all that… I spent a lot time in the church… and that influenced me to play this kind of music in reggae. It has come from higher above.

AfricanOz: What were your musical influences when you were growing up in Ghana?
Shasha Marley: I grew up in the western region of Ghana called Kisindi… I grew up in a low class area. There used to be a lot sailors living in that area. Whenever they came from Europe and America they came back home with reggae music like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. We used to go to their rooms and listen to the reggae music - growing up... sort of influenced by the music of reggae.

FOR FULL INTERVIEW link here to AfricanOz Features

Telling the stories of Africans

Pic: Sally Sara with Masinda Mafiano & child in Congo

We recently spoke with former ABC Africa correspondent, Sally Sara - whose new book, Gogo Mama (Macmillan, July 2007) provides a fascinating insight into the lives of 12 African women.

Award-winning Australian journalist & author Sally Sara spent five years living and working as a foreign correspondent in Africa - covering issues and events such as the conflict in Sudan, genocide and HIV/AIDS. Despite these challenges, Sally retains a sense of warmth and hope for the continent. Here she relates some of her thoughts and experiences on both her time as a correspondent and the new book.

AfricanOz: How did Africa change or affect you personally?
Sally Sara: It really changed the way I look at the world. It opened my eyes to vast extremes of joy and suffering. I feel very honoured to have spent five years in Africa. I am determined to ensure the stories of Africa are told. The continent has been ignored for long enough.

AfricanOz: What are some of the biggest challenges and highlights of those years?
Sally Sara: I found it difficult to cover stories of suffering. I think the worst conditions were in Darfur in Sudan, people were so desperate and frightened. The conflict in northern Uganda is also horrific, because of the involvement of so many children. It is horrendous.

On the positive side, there were many highlights. One of my favourite places was south Sudan, the people were so generous and friendly. I spent quite a bit of time with the Dinkas in south Sudan and was overwhelmed by the hospitality and endurance of the people. I always say hello to members of the Sudanese community here in Australia when I see them in the street, I can't help it. I wish more Australians understood what many Sudanese Australians have endured in their homeland.

AfricanOz: In a sense your new book GOGO MAMA is about ordinary African women who have had extraordinary lives. Why did you decide to focus on African women?
Sally Sara: I thought it was important to tell the stories of women, as a way to tell the bigger story of Africa. I wanted to give a voice to those who are often not heard. I was very inspired by many of the women I interviewed, especially Hellen Lanyom who had her lips cut off by rebels in northern Uganda. Hellen is very courageous and I was struck by her story.

For more of the interview with Sally link here
For a review of 'Gogo Mama' link here

PEOPLE PROFILES...
from the AfricanOz Archives

African Impressions is an exhibition of images and artefacts t the Australian Museum in Sydney in September and November. See AfricanOz Arts page. (Pic: Jodi Cobb/National Geographic Image Collection)

Being Heard:
African Australians

What are some of the key issues facing African Australians in 2007? And how can service providers, community leaders, and individuals work together to overcome the challenges, ensuring a better Australia for all?

The 'African Resettlement' conference in Victoria, held earlier this year, tackled such questions and the results are now available online. Conference participants spoke of the need to improve the capacity of African communities to self-settle, and improve services in education, health, employment. Suggestions included providing a more integrated approach from service providers; placing children in schools to suit their educational level rather than age; more efficient skills recognition processes for African qualifications; more culturally sensitive education on issues such as mental health and domestic violence; leadership programs for African Australian youth; and fairer reporting on refugee issues in the media. Read the full report and presentations by linking to www.union.unimelb.edu.au

PEOPLE PROFILES...
from the AfricanOz Archives

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