Change came to the B.A.D in the Annus Horribilis that was 2016

Queen Elizabeth II called 1992 an Annus horribilis which basically means disastrous or unfortunate year. 2016 was pretty much an Annus horribilis on a global scale; a year full of political shocks and celebrity deaths. 

2016 will be remembered by children of the 80s as the year that saw the passing of many adored icons. There was Alan Rickman, David Bowie, Prince, Muhammad Ali, Gene Wilder, George Michael....just to name a few. There were other musical icons who passed on such as Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Leonard Cohen and of course the Kwaito legend Mandoza. The political surprises seen worldwide in 2016 were pretty spectacular. The conflict in Syria continued and became even more deadly as the year progressed. In early December, the Gambian strong man who has been in power since 1994 was beaten at the polls. Earlier in the year, the United Kingdom opted to leave the European Union which also coincided with the near-annihilation of the opposition Labour party through self-inflicted implosion. Later in the year, to the surprise of many, the US electoral college system voted to make Russia great again. 

Over in the Beacon of African Democracy (the B.A.D), something quite unexpected happened. The opposition managed to beat the incumbent government at the polls without the need for a run-off election.

Some may attribute this electoral feat to the eerie trend in which Ghana has followed the US electoral direction since 1992. The trend is simple; when Democrats win the US Presidential election, the National Democratic Congress wins in Ghana and when Republicans win, the New Patriotic Party wins. There are also supposedly ideological parallels to this. This would make sense if the winner of the 2016 US election was in fact an established Republican as opposed to a Democrat turned Independent turned Republican. However, I digress....

One of the best explanation for why (the soon to be erstwhile) Mahama administration lost the presidential election in 2016 came from a stinging article published in The Economist in November entitled Nkrumah's Heirs. The article coincidentally also refers to Ghana as the Beacon  of African Democracy and was pretty harsh on both political parties. What they had to say about the ruling party was severe but pretty informative:

Patronage, uncontrolled expenditure, burgeoning public debt, insouciance on the part of the President, squandering of oil money, pot-holed roads and incessant power cuts were just some of the factors at play that decided the fate of Ghana's National Democratic Congress. 

So there it is. Ghana will have Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President for the next 4 years. The effect of change has been interesting to witness. Many people appear delighted and some traders dropped prices in the market over Christmas. Cynics may view the latter move as a tad disingenuous...but that is just cynics. Throughout the land, there is an undeniable air of optimism, hope and NO space for complacency from Ghana's new leaders. The Ghanaian electorate has proven once again that it is powerful, discerning and unforgiving. 

New billboard up in Accra of the President-elect of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Farewell to The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, 1925 – 2013

"Barack Obama, interestingly, said in his statement that [Margaret Thatcher] had "broken the glass ceiling for other women". Only in the sense that all the women beneath her were blinded by falling shards. She is an icon of individualism, not of feminism"

- British comedian Russell Brand writing in The Guardian newspaper

Baroness Margaret Thatcher as I remember her 
Source: telegraph.co.uk

For children of the '80s and early '90s, there was nothing strange or pioneering about Margaret Thatcher being a prime minister. After all, this was the world we were born into. In fact, in the dying years of the Cold War, we all remember her as the unrelenting and powerful Iron Lady on the stage of world politics.

The Margaret Thatcher I also recall from the brilliant political satire show Spitting Image.
Shown here with 'Ronald Reagan'

Interestingly, as tributes for Baroness Thatcher pour in, contrasting images are emerging of celebrations on her passing: 

An anti-Thatcher celebration in Brixton, London following
her passing. This was captured by the Dutch daily de Volksrant

Baroness Thatcher was indeed a controversial and divisive figure. Particularly memorable for me were her stances on apartheid South African and Mr. Nelson Mandela. Whether you loved her or hated her, one thing is for certain; she was indeed an unforgettable politician who helped shape the direction of world politics at the end of the Cold War.... for better or for worse.

Political Animals

Not sure if it is the stellar cast, riveting storyline or the politicking angle that made the US television series Political Animals so enjoyable for me. Unlike many who proudly declare that they "hate politics" or "don't do politics", I'd be the first to admit I really enjoy politics as practiced under democratic dispensations anywhere in the world. The jostling for power, shady deals, the compromises, broken promises, the neverending scandals, the manipulative nature of good politicians and of course the collective amnesia exhibited by electorates everywhere.

I am not sure if what makes Political Animals so good is the way it blurs the line between fact and fiction. By the way, is there some literary device for basing fictional characters and events so closely to real people and events but cleverly making slight deviations? 

See for example, the plot synopsis for Political Animals on IMDB:

"A divorced, former First Lady, is currently serving as the Secretary of State. She deals with State Department issues, while trying to keep her family together"

I should also add that this former first lady was married to an affable fictional President of the US in office in a fictional 1990s when he lied about an affair. This former President has a strong Southern accent and perchance for cigars.

Anyway, like me, some loved Political Animals:

" 'Political Animals' Review: Sigourney Weaver Owns This Delish Washington Soap"

- Maureen Ryan, Huffington Post 

 

Perhaps 'Soap' is the operative word since some were not so in awe:

"What was sold as "The West Wing" comes out looking a lot more like "Dallas." Not necessarily a bad thing, if you can lower your expectations" - 

Timothy Goodman,The Hollywood Reporter

Speaking of Dallas, I'm still reeling from the fact that its back after a 21 year hiatus. The theme song should be on the soundtrack of my life. Well, probably not as prominently featured as the themes for other fine soaps such as Santa Barbara, Bold and Beautiful, The Young and the Restless and of course Days of Our Lives. One day I will blog about how the Young and the Restless was broadcast on South African TV for years dubbed in Afrikaans during the dark days of apartheid. One day somewhere in 1990, around the time apartheid was collapsing all around, we turned on the TV to find the Young and the Restless was inexplicably in English. I kid you not. Alas I digress.

As a kid I cramped my big sister's style when she tried to secretly trying to watch Dallas and Dynasty after our bed time by plugging earphones into the TV.  I must admit that despite pestering her to explain what was going on, I understood absolutely nothing about the 'complex' Dallas storylines.

Main Dallas cast then:

Source: imdb.com

Main Dallas cast now (it really does still revolve around JR):

Source: tnt.com

But isn't real-life politics like a soap opera anyway? Aren't they all about money, power and respect and much more? Anyway, the bottom-line for me is that Political Animals is worth a watch. Oh and so is Dallas.....I'm sure.

Occupy [Insert City]: Global 'Spring' of Discontent or Universal Boredom Spawning Rebels without a Cause?

An iconic Time Magazine cover depicting the spirit of the Cold War in the 1980s
Source: time.com

It was about 20 years ago that the Cold War officially ended. For those of you too young to remember the Cold War, all you have to know is that it made for some great James Bond films. On a more serious note,  I am sure there are history books out there with glossy chapters about how the epic Cold War ended with Western Democracy/capitalism victorious over the evil menace of Eastern Communism /Marxism. However, back in 1991, would anyone have predicted that two decades later, the mighty machine that is Capitalism would implode plunging the entire planet into an economic crisis of grave proportions? Moreover, would anyone have known that a global wave of socio-political discontent would lead people of all ages and walks of life registering their disaffection with Capitalism? 

I must admit it is hard to decide whether the Occupy Movement is a real expression of global popular anger and discontent spurred on by the World Economic Crisis and the Arab Spring or just a case of universal boredom spawning masses of rebels without a cause. The latter view comes from listening to interviews with some protesters at Occupy Wall Street many of whom articulated the fact that the protest had no clear-cut goal or targets. Is it all about bank bail-outs and corporate greed? 

Anyway, until this afternoon, I was under the impression that the Occupy [Insert City] protests were restricted to the US. This impression crumbled when I came across two notices.

Occupy Den Haag (The Hague) and Occupy Amsterdam:

This is our land.We occupy these our streets, we occupy them. We are here. We are increasing in number

A global movement has indeed been born and you can follow its activities at www.occupytogether.org. I am still yet to decide what it is really all about but the words of that popular Buffalo Springfield protest anthem  from the 1960s For What It's Worth are ringing in my ears:

"There's something happening here

What it is ain't exactly clear

There's a man with a gun over there

Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Getting so much resistance from behind....."

- Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth (c) 1967

Occupy [Insert City]: Global 'Spring' of Discontent or is universal boredom spawning Rebels without a Cause?

An iconic cover of Time Magazine depicting the spirit of the Cold War
Source: time.com

It was about 20 years ago that the Cold War officially ended. For those of you too young to remember the Cold War all you have to know is that it made for some great movies James Bond films. On a more serious note,  I am sure there are history books out there with glossy chapters about how the epic Cold War ended with Western Democracy/capitalism being victorious over the evil menace of Eastern Communism /Marxism. Would anyone have predicted however that two decades later, the mighty machine that is Capitalism would implode into itself plunging the entire planet into an economic crisis of grave proportions? Moreover, would anyone have known that a global spirit of socio-political discontent would engulfing the world leading to people of all ages and walks of life registering their disaffection with Capitalism? 

I must admit it is hard to decide whether the Occupy Movement is a real phenomenon of global popular anger and discontent spurred on by the World Economic Crisis of 2008/2009 and the Arab Spring or just a case of universal boredom spawning masses of rebels without a cause. The cynical view comes from listening to interviews with protesters at Occupy Wall Street on the BBC. Many articulated the fact that the protest had no clear goals or targets and some had joined just for protesting sake.

Until this afternoon, I was under the erroneous impression that the Occupy [Insert City] protests were restricted to the US. This impression crumbled when I came across two notices:

Occupy Den Haag (The Hague)

Google  Translate: 

This is our land.We occupy our streets, we occupy them. we are here. We are increasing in number

Occupy Amsterdam:

A global movement has indeed been born and you can follow its activities at www.occupytogether.org. I am still yet to decide what it is really about but the words of that popular Buffalo Springfield protest anthem  from the 1960s For What It's Worth are ringing in my ears:

"There's something happening here

What it is ain't exactly clear

There's a man with a gun over there

Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound

Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn

Nobody's right if everybody's wrong

Young people speaking their minds

Getting so much resistance from behind....."

- Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth (c) 1967

Of Bent British Coppers** and Life on Mars

Life on Mars - Sam Tyler (John Simm) in the centre

Back in 2008, I blogged about my  fascination with the UK TV series Life on Mars. Quick recap:  The year is 2006 and the setting is Manchester where a high-ranking police officer (Sam Tyler) gets hit by a car while listening to the David Bowie classic Life on Mars? (great song, horrible video...orange hair and a pastel blue suit? Seriously...like what was David Bowie thinking back in the early 70s?). Anyway, Sam Tyler wakes up in Manchester in 1973, is he in a coma? Has he traveled back in time? He is completely clueless and so are we.

So Sam Tyler is stuck in a 1973 nightmare without the internet, mobile phones or computers. He is also forced to put up with dinosaur police colleagues who are sexist, racist and smoke too much. The best character on the show is Sam's whiskey-swigging wise-cracking boss from hell Gene Hunt; an expert at making sexist comments, planting evidence, carrying out grievous bodily harm and of course taking bribes. Since Sam comes from 2006 where all policing is followed strictly by the book, he feels like he "landed on another planet" [part of the show's tagline],

Modern British policing all strictly by the book? Hahaha!  The recent phone-hacking scandal in the UK revealed (among other things), that journalists bribed several police officers over an extended period of time in order to get information about criminal investigations. As appalled as I was about the revelations, the fact that policemen in a model western democracy took bribes gives me ample satisfaction. Why? Well, over the years, us in the [so-called] Third World have been preached to, patronized, and admonished by the West about our weak and corrupt institutions. Turns out people who live in glass houses.....

However, I cannot be rubbing my hands with glee for too long. One thing I know is that once the problem has been identified in the UK, swift corrective action will follow. Indeed, as I type, heads have already started rolling. Alas, that is the difference between our part of the world and the West. On a few occasions, we actually identify the rot but we are either slow to act or choose to ignore the problem for various reasons. So in the end who gets the last laugh?

By the way, someone better tell Sam Tyler that he may be better off staying put in 1973. After all,   things may not have changed that much between then and now. 

**Bent British Coppers= Corrupt British Police officers

The King and I: Reflections on the Brotherly Leader as he hovers on the brink

I have never met Libya's Colonel Muammar Gaddafi  but unlike some, I remember very clearly the first time I heard his name.  It was not during his dramatic visit to Ghana for an African Union summit in 2007 when he led a convoy of 109 cars  across the Sahara desert and set up a tent camp in Accra for the duration of the summit. No. The first time I heard his name was when I  was 8 years old and my family (then resident in Southern Africa) were on holiday in Ghana for Christmas. In the sweltering December heat, we found ourselves stuck in traffic for a few hours all because a certain "Colonel Muammar Gaddafi" was visiting Ghana. It seemed like an eternity in hell. To this day, I'm still not sure why a state visit by Colonel Gaddafi had halted traffic but at the time, the seeds of bitterness and suspicion were firmly implanted in my 8 year old mind.

Over the years since, I caught glimpses of  the eccentric and mercurial Gaddafi as he has drifted through the international news for:

• The Pam Am Flight 103 / Lockerbie Bombing in 1988
• The Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor incident in which foreign medical personnel were  accused of spreading HIV in a Benghazi hospital
• The (in)famous female crack bodyguards
• His aptly-named son Hannibal's brushes with the law in Switzerland
• The release of the 'Lockerbie Bomber' and the ensuing controversy

Curiously, in recent years, Gaddafi has taken a more than active role in African politics. As chairman of the AU, he led a clarion call  for a united Africa.To me his real agenda remained unclear. Was he thinking of a fortified and strengthened Africa? Did he have our interests at heart? Did he envisage himself as the leader of this united Africa? Perhaps a King of Africa?

Gaddafi and Berlusconi in 2010: Both making negative headlines in 2011

Last year, Colonel Gaddafi true feelings about Africa became more  transparent.  In  a state visit to Italy, he called for 6.3 billion dollars a year to stop illegal African immigrants. He was sure to make his case by pandering to base racist elements by calling for a prevention of a “Black Europe”. He tore the last shred of African dignity left by painting a bleak picture of invading and barbaric black hordes assembled outside the pearly gates of Europe. Interestingly, Gaddafi asked for the money not to reduce push factors within African countries that lead to migration but for money to beef up Libyan security.

But that was last year. In 2011, the world has watched  in awe as the once-strong Gaddafi is unraveling before our eyes. His very sudden decline would be more than comical if it was not having such tragic consequences.

Final Stand: Gaddafi in February 2011

Gaddafi is currently waging war against his own people and blaming his current woes on everything from the youth fueled by drugs from the West and now even Al-Qaeda has been fingered. After almost 42 years in power it appears that Gaddafi is confused as to where he ends and Libya begins. He appears to see attacks on Libya as attacks on him. He is promising to go down fighting and wants to take Libya down with him. The world is watching horrified but hopeful.  Are we  going to bid  farewell to the regime of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi? Can I finally cross off the current occupant of the Number 1 spot on the list of African-leaders-still-in-power-when-I-was-in primary-school?

Sign of the Times: Close Elections

Sunday morning and the world woke up to find that the just-ended Australian election was inconclusive with no party likely to emerge with an outright majority. At the moment, the current Prime Minister Julia Gillard is attempting to form a coalition government.

Australian Prime Minister Ms. Julia Gillard (left) and her main contender Tony Abbott
Hmmm Tony Abbott looks mysteriously like Tony Blair in this picture
Source: BBC Online

Interestingly, this outcome was very similar to the British election of 2010 that resulted in one of the strangest marriages between liberals and conservatives that the world has ever seen. Closer to home, the 2008 Ghana election was the closest in Ghanaian history and probably one of the closest in world history.  

The BBC Focus on Africa magazine cover that aptly predicted the outcome of
the 2008 Ghana election

So are close elections the new sign of the time? What do they indicate? Are they a sign of a vibrant democracy or perhaps apathy and ambivalence of electorates across the globe? Food for thought.