🔅 Uganda's Cartoon Revolution, Aya Nakamura's Clapback Anthem
Plus, the British Museum's Ethiopian Artefact Controversy & Madagascar's Cyclone Crisis
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Uganda's Online Protest Pioneer: The Cartoonist Who's Shaking Things Up
Meet Jim Spire Ssentongo, the unassuming Ugandan cartoonist who accidentally started a revolution with a single tweet. Last April, he jokingly called for photos of Kampala's infamous potholes, and the response was overwhelming. Ugandans flooded social media with images of craters that could swallow a small car, tagging the city authorities and demanding action.
To everyone's surprise, it worked:
Within a week, the president ordered millions of shillings to be released for road repairs. And just like that, a new form of protest was born in a country where physical demonstrations are a one-way ticket to jail.
Since then, Ssentongo has led six more online "exhibitions" on issues like hospital conditions, corruption, and human rights abuses.
His secret weapon? Humor.
As he puts it, "What could they [the government] do about people simply making fun of the horrible capital city roads? They'd have looked stupid had they tried to use violence on us."
But the path of a digital activist isn't all laughs. Some of Ssentongo's fellow critics have been jailed, tortured, or exiled for their online quips. He's been threatened, smeared in the tabloids, and even summoned to the police station for cyberstalking (the case was dropped).
Still, Ssentongo remains committed to his cause, even as the risks grow with his profile. He's not sure how long the exhibitions will last or if he'll have to flee the country like others before him. But for now, he's determined to keep using his pen and his wit to hold those in power accountable – one cartoon at a time.
Aya Nakamura Claps Back at Haters in New Single
French-Malian superstar Aya Nakamura is making waves with her new track "Doggy," and it's not just because of her catchy beats. The song is a sassy response to the racist backlash she faced after rumours circulated about her potentially covering an Édith Piaf song at the Paris Olympics.
Apparently, the idea of Nakamura, the most listened-to French-speaking artist in the world, paying homage to the iconic 20th-century singer was too much for some narrow-minded folks to handle.
Far-right politicians like Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour's supporters were quick to jump on the hate train, with Le Pen even complaining about Nakamura's "outfits and vulgarity." Because, you know, that's what really matters when it comes to representing your country at a global event.
But Nakamura isn't letting the haters get her down:
In "Doggy," she sings, "I don't have enemies, me/It's them that don't like me … A load of enemies/But I don't even know them." She's also been clapping back on social media, reminding everyone that she's becoming a "no 1 state subject in debates" and that whether people like her or not is their problem.
Despite the racist attacks, Nakamura has the support of many, including France's culture minister and sports minister. The Paris Olympics organizing committee has also expressed their shock at the racist attacks and offered their "total support" to the artist.
So, will Nakamura perform at the Olympics? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: she's not letting anyone dim her shine.
Madagascar's Unwelcome Visitor: Tropical Cyclone Gamane Wreaks Havoc
Madagascar had an uninvited guest this week: tropical cyclone Gamane swept across the island nation, leaving a trail of destruction and displacing more than 20,000 people. The country's National Bureau of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) reported that at least 18 people lost their lives, three were injured, and four are still missing.
Gamane hit the island on Wednesday morning, packing winds of 150 km per hour and gusts of 210 km per hour.
The cyclone slowly dissipated on Thursday afternoon, but not before dumping heavy rain and causing flooding in many areas.
Infrastructure took a beating, with roads and bridges collapsing in the north of Madagascar. BNGRC personnel were seen wading in knee-deep water, helping residents salvage their belongings from flooded homes. Talk about a bad day at the office.
Gamane is the first cyclone to hit Madagascar this year. Last year, cyclone Freddy and tropical storm Cheneso killed at least 37 people and forced thousands from their homes.
British Museum's Secret Stash: The Ethiopian Artefacts They Won't Let Anyone See
The British Museum is in hot water over a group of sacred Ethiopian altar tablets that have been gathering dust in their vaults for over 150 years. These 11 wood and stone tabots were looted by British soldiers after the Battle of Maqdala in 1868, and they've never seen the light of day since.
In fact, they're so sacred that even the museum's own curators and trustees are forbidden from laying eyes on them!
Now, the information watchdog is investigating claims that the museum has been a little too tight-lipped about these controversial artefacts. Campaigners argue that the museum failed to disclose key details of internal discussions about the tabots in response to a freedom of information request, and that the information they did provide was more redacted than a top-secret spy document.
The heart of the matter is that Ethiopia wants the tabots back, and campaigners believe the museum has no legal grounds to keep them.
Since the tabots will never be exhibited or studied, they could fit into a neat little loophole in the British Museum Act that actually allows their return because they are "unfit to be retained."
The museum has remained tight-lipped about the whole affair, but it's hard to justify keeping artefacts locked away in a sealed room. Meanwhile, Westminster Abbey and a church in Edinburgh have already agreed to return their tabots, which has led to joyous celebrations in Ethiopia.
Food for Thought
“Teeth do not see poverty."
— Maasai Proverb