Fela Anikulapo Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also professionally known asFela Kuti, or simply Fela, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the Afrobeat music genre, human rightsactivist, and political maverick.[1][2] He has been called "superstar, singer, musician, Panafricanist, polygamist, mystic, legend."[3]During the height of his popularity, he was often hailed as one of Africa's most "challenging and charismatic music performers."[4]
Sunday, 7 January 2018
Birni-N'Konni
Birni-N'Konni (also Birnin-Konni or shortened to Konni/Bkonni) is a town in Niger, lying on the border of Nigeria and the Kori River. It is an important market town and transport huband the 2001 census had a population of 44,663. The town is the historic centre of the small pre-colonial Hausa state of Konni. The name is Hausa language for "Walled Town of Konni", and many Hausa towns (such asZinder) designate the old citadel neighbourhood the "Birni".[1]
Konni is known for its vernacular architectureincluding traditional granaries and is regarded as a centre for smuggling between Niger and Nigeria, in which some suburbs of the town are officially located. Birni-N'Konni's contemporary importance rests on the surrounding agricultural lands and its place on the N1 highway, the main east-west highway linking Niger's capital Niamey and the nation's main eastern cities of Maradi andZinder. It also sits astride one of several main routes between the Hausa populated territories of southern Niger and northern Nigeria, with the Nigerian transport and trade centre of Illela, Sokoto State just 18 km to the south.
The town was also the site of a majormassacre on 8 May 1899 when the FrenchVoulet–Chanoine Mission attacked the region.
Egyptian revolution of 2011
The Egyptian protesters' grievances focused on legal and political issues,[25] includingpolice brutality, state-of-emergency laws,[1]lack of free elections and freedom of speech, corruption,[2] and economic issues including high unemployment, food-price inflation[3] and low wages.[1][3] The protesters' primary demands were the end of the Mubarak regime and emergency law, freedom, justice, a responsive non-military government and a voice in managing Egypt's resources.[26]Strikes by labour unions added to the pressure on government officials.[27]
During the uprising, the capital Cairo was described as "a war zone"[28] and the port city of Suez saw frequent violent clashes. Protesters defied a government-imposedcurfew, which was impossible to enforce by the police and military. Egypt's Central Security Forces, loyal to Mubarak, were gradually replaced by military troops. In the chaos, there was some looting by gangs which was instigated (according to opposition sources) by plainclothes police officers. In response, watch groups were organized by civilians to protect neighbourhoods.[29][30][31][32][33]
International reaction has varied, with most Western nations condoning peaceful protests but concerned about the stability of Egypt and the region. The Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions have influenced demonstrations in other Arab countries, including Yemen,Bahrain, Jordan, Syria and Libya.
Mubarak dissolved his government, appointing former head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Omar Suleiman vice-president in an attempt to quell dissent. Mubarak asked aviation minister and former chief of Egypt's air force Ahmed Shafik(who ran for presidency later) to form a new government. Mohamed ElBaradei became a major opposition figure, with all major opposition groups supporting his role as negotiator for a transitional unity government.[34] In response to mounting pressure, Mubarak, in another attempt to contain the crisis, announced he did not intend to seek re-election in September.[35]
On 11 February 2011, Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak would resign as president, turning power over to theSupreme Council of the Armed Forces(SCAF).[36] The military junta, headed by effective head of state Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, announced on 13 February that the constitution would be suspended, both houses of parliament dissolved and the military would rule for six months (until elections could be held). The previous cabinet, including Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik, would serve as a caretaker government until a new one was formed.[37]Shafik, seen by the masses as another Mubarak figure, resigned on 3 March, a day before major protests to force him to step down were planned, and was replaced by former transport minister Essam Sharaf.[38]On 24 May 2011, Mubarak was ordered to stand trial on charges of premeditated murderof peaceful protesters and, if convicted, could have faced the death penalty.[12] On 2 June 2012, Mubarak was found guilty of complicity in the murder of protesters and sentenced to life imprisonment, but the sentence was overturned on appeal and a retrial ordered.[39]A number of protesters, upset that others tried with Mubarak (including his two sons) were acquitted, took to the streets.[40]Mubarak was eventually cleared of all charges on 29 November 2014,[41] although Egypt's prosecutor general announced he would appeal the verdict.[42]
After the revolution against Mubarak and a period of rule by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the Muslim Brotherhood took power in Egypt through a series of popular elections, with Egyptians electing IslamistMohamed Morsi to the presidency in June 2012.[43] However, Morsi's government encountered fierce opposition after his attempt to pass an Islamist constitution that followed extreme Islamist views. Morsi attempted also to change laws granting himself unparalleled powers like no other president in Egyptian history. It sparked general outrage from secularists and members of the military, and mass protestsbroke out against his rule on 28 June 2013.[44]On 3 July 2013, Morsi was deposed by a coup d'état led by the minister of defense, General Abdel Fattah El-Sisi[45] as millions of Egyptians took to the streets in support of early elections.[46] El-Sisi went on to become Egypt's president by popular election in 2014.[47]
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