Sum Shit I Wrote...

I wrote this reflection on Africa a couple of years ago. The site it was on, doesn't exist anymore. Sure, it's a simplistic take on a vast and complex problem, and I invite anyone to correct/improve my assesment. Still, this is one of the very few articles I've written that I can read over without cringing. I feel like I zoned out and zoned in pretty well. So here goes:

Our history has been mired with acts of stupidity and villainy. There are
several reasons for this, the main ones being cupidity, fear, vengeance
(retaliation) or despair. Whether it’s in Europe, Africa or elsewhere, examples
abound. I don’t even need to look further down these past days’ headlines to
validate my point. The hostage situations in Iraq: how can you explain killing
twelve defenseless Nepalese and broadcasting the execution over the internet.
The suicide bombings in Israel: I’d gladly give my opinion on the situation over
there but it’d take a lot of pages. The Beslan nightmare...

But if most of the villainous acts that occur nowadays can be grouped under the umbrella of terrorism, most of the villainous acts in Africa are of another
nature.

Towards the end of the 15th century (1492 to be exact), some dude by
the name of Christopher Colombus stumbled upon the Bahamas. He’s been credited
to have discovered America, the New World - a stupid version of history that is
still being thought today. While he didn’t reach his goals of wealth and power,
others (the settlers) succeeded and then some. The settlers clashed with the
natives who were not as well equipped as their enemy - you don’t bring a knife
to a gunfight. You pick the bad guy, I just wanted to note that there was
ethnocentrism on both sides.

Ethnocentrism has plagued and is still plaguing Africa. The situations in the Great Lakes, Austral Africa, Darfur and Ivory Coast are just a few examples - there are many more cases throughout Africa. Sure, it would be blameworthy to reduce the problems in those regions to ethnocentrism. But it is a starting point.

On the other hand, stupidity is inherent to us humans as red is the intrinsic color of our blood. So it comes as no surprise that Africans (in the governing bodies) may take as many dumb decisions as their European or North American counterparts. But the African populations will hurt more from those "mistakes".

There's a popular story that says an African president once went to visit a European homologue. He observed that his peer was living in opulence and sought counsel. "How did you go about owning a mansion like this?" asked the African. The European brought the African to one a balcony and then addressed him. "You see that highway?", he asked. "For every kilometer I collected a nominal fee." The African, highly inspired by the European’s savvy looked forward to following that example. He invited the European about a year later. The latter was received in palace that was splendid beyond imagination. Infinitely impressed, the European quickly inquired: "How did you go about owning a palace like this?" The African led the European to a balcony and pointed at the horizon. "You see that highway?", he asked to his dumbfounded guest. I’ll let you imagine what the African excellency said
afterwards.

There are many jokes like this that will make me laugh and leave a sour taste in my mouth. Stories of African leaders indulging in conspicuous consumption - corruption if you prefer - at the expense of the ones who "brought them to power" - that is another issue in itself - are not fictitious. On the other hand, African presidents will get much of the blame for their countries’ downward spiral even if they’re not at the root of the problem. Because politics is a funny business. So funny in fact that the Health and Education Minister could have barely made it thru elementary school.

Running a country is a teamwork effort and teams should be put together with regards to competence. Off course, the ethnic diversity should be represented in a proportionate manner (if possible). African intellectuals are not scarce but the governing positions are not really that enviable. And every African had so many problems it gives you a headache just thinking about it.

But now is not time for despondency. Albeit things look very bad, they are starting to change. Progress is minimal. The pace is slow - so slow that it’s mistaken for stagnation. At least we’re not going backwards. Hopefully I’ll live long enough to see a time where stupidity won’t cost us a great deal.

DJ 5Fold's Tape 4 Da Ride I

I'm a DJ at heart. I'm good - I mean really good - at making compilation tapes or CDs. I usually make 'em for my friends so they can have sumthin' to bump in the ride, or sumthin' we can bump when we're playin' ball. Since, I ain't got too many people to send 'em too these days, I'll post them around here. This one was meant for one of my bols in Beantown, but I had left before I could burn it. I've been bumpin this since mid-January. Sorry Isaac! Here's the tracklist.

1. Eric B. & Rakim - Microphone Fiend
2. Jae Millz - Bring It Back (feat. Jadakiss)
3. David Banner - Bloody War (feat. BG)
4. M.O.P. - Big Boy Game (feat. 50 Cent)
5. Paul Wall - They Don't Know (feat. Bun B)
6. The Notorious B.I.G. - Friend of Mine
7. Timbaland - Lobster & Schrimp (feat. Jay-Z)
8. Busta Rhymes - Woo Hah!! Got You All In Check (The Worldwide Remix feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard)
9. De La Soul - The Grind Date
10. T.I. - What You Know
11. Young Jeezy - Trap Star
12. Bubba Sparxxx - The Other Side (feat. Petey Pablo & Sleepy Brown)
13. Chamillionaire - Ridin (feat. Krayzie Bone)
14. Aqualeo - Cadillac
15. Camp-Lo - Coolie High (Paradise Remix)
16. Do Or Die - Still Po Pimpin' (feat. Johnny P & Twista)
17. T.I. - Live In The Sky [sans Jamie Foxx]
18. Jamie Foxx - Unpredictable (feat. Ludacris)
19. Common - It's Your World

Thisisme!

DJ 5Fold don't got no turnatables...yet!
But that never stopped anybody who've wanted to rock a crowd!
I'd like to entertain and put you on to something - hopefully I can.
Music aside, I'll be laying some randomn thoughts around here. I'll also use this space as a brainstorm tool, and cook up some good stuff for my main site: ThaHipHop.Com
That's about it!