AS DECEMBER FIRST APPROACHES.

I almost cried yesterday as I found myself reading the blog of an unknown writer who is based somewhere in the UK. Her story was striking and heart rending as I read her story of how she found herself twenty - three and infected. Her story was sad because it wasn't because she was promiscuous or used drugs but rather because she finally decided to give it up to her boyfriend because she was scared that he will stray. As I read her story, I realized that her story isn't peculiar to her but one that rings true for many Africans all over the world. The stats on the crisis isn't a funny one but one that brings fear and sorrow to my heart as I think of how many families will be without a bread winner, child, aunties and uncles because that person has succumbed to the disease. According to the UN-AIDS 2008 report on the global AIDS epidemic, 22 million people were living with AIDS in Africa by the end of 2007, with approximately, 1.9 million people getting affected by the end of the year.

I have often pondered on why the stats are so high for Africans. Is it a result of a lack of information, lack of access - what exactly is our excuse? My answer lies in the simple word, invisibility. A lot of people are living lives without thinking about tomorrow. The common concept is that the universe will take of us. But how can the universe take care of you , if you do not try to take care of yourself. I am not here to preach to you about how to live your lives but rather ask that you live your lives carefully. If you must have sex, then use the condom, if you can abstain (though I believe this isn't realistic) then go that route - that method is 100 percent effective.

I will like to also add that if you find out that someone quite close to you has been infected that you stay by their side because they will need you more than ever now than ever before. As, December First approaches, I hope that we think of all the people that we have lost in this war. I ask that we wear something that signifies our loss on that day. I ask that we participate more in protecting ourselves in our private lives. I ask that African women speak up more about protecting ourselves, and also that we realize that there is no big deal in going to that store and buying the pack. We have to be proactive in our sexual decision making rather than quietly waiting for him to make the decisions. I will end by saying, "no protection no playtime".

Till next time,
Pammy

* Pls, read the interview with Miss Zambia Universe on this issue. You can also respond on my facebook page.

Is It A Crime? I AM NOT THE WORLD'S CHICKEN!! YOU GET??

I missed you guys muah, muah, kiss, kiss. LOL!! A lot of you sent me emails, 'where are you? Are you okay? Are you sick? Someone even sent me a sweet email telling me that if I am sick, he will fly to New York to take care of me'. So sweet!! Well, I had to really prioritize and most people who know me will tell you that I am one of those people that will rather not do anything half hearted, so I closed off a lot of things and focused on some other things. But, I am back at least for 2 months eh.

Well, I want to be the first to say, Happy Birthday Dr. Mandela. A lot of people fought for your freedom. A lot of Africans believed in what you preached and some still do. Happy Birthday - you've lived 30 years more than I intend to live. Happy Birthday!!

Now, the other day - I was watching a disturbing video on youtube about the root cause of Xenophobic violence in South Africa and as I watched it, it hit me that these are the same complaints that other groups of people have about the same group of people. I have to say that I hid my face in shame knowing that I am one of these people. As most people know (as if my skin color and curly hair didn't tell you), I am Igbo and proudly Igbo at that. It seems that Igbo people have been characterised as being 419ers, crack and drug dealers and what have you in South Africa. As one South African said in the video, "we act as though we own everything". Do we really? I think a lot of times, the Igbo man or woman has been misunderstood - the issue really in many cases, is that we REFUSE to be intimidated and for those who are used to intimidating, this could be seen as arrogance.

Who are the Igbos? - These are people who live in the South Eastern region of Nigeria. They are a very proud group of people, known for their love of money (yes, Igbo people I said it), their go getter attitude and their need to achieve in all they do. Beyond this, just like the Jews, the Igbos are GREAT at business. We are known for being business oriented, so we have a reputation for turning non-business ventures into blooming businesses (can anyone say Nollywood?). It is a gift and a curse at the same time.

What is the problem really?
Simple, I think a lot of Igbo people have forgotten that when they are on someone's land, they should act as though they are VISITING (doesn't matter if the land is in Africa or where have you). They have forgotten that everything we do is scrutinized seven times over and as such, we are ambassadors of this heritage that we hold unto so tightly. I am not saying allow yourself to be intimidated and become a yes sir, yes sir person. NO, stand up for yourself but pls, anam a yo gi (I am begging you o), please, can we use our brain cells for more positive things? I am tired of being the chicken of the world. I am tired of the look of despise when I tell other Africans that I am Igbo though I grew up in Lagos. I am tired of the , "my gosh, you people are too smart - let me look through this paper work one more time".

We have earned a great reputation - a LOT of our women are in high levels of power all over the world. A lot of us are working three times as hard to get rid of that smirk of 'up to no good' from outsiders faces. Please, help us! We are a smart people -let us use our brains for good. Like the Aba made industry, these are people who can repair cell phones and other kinds of electronics just by looking once at a diagram, just like our gift for picking languages at the snap of our fingers (when we put our mind to it - it has to be beneficial in some ways), just like those who built some powerful weapons of war during the Biafran war - with almost no manufacturing industry and weapons that are STILL being studied till date with a look of awe as to 'how did these people do it?'. Let us regroup, re frame and clean up our acts.

I AM NOT THE CHICKEN OF THE WORLD! I WILL NOT BE CHASED! I WILL NOT BE KILLED!


come on, you know I call it as I see it.