" I am a coloured?"

“SKIN” is a movie based on an extraordinary true story of a colored girl born to two Afrikaner South African parents during the apartheid era. In 1955 Abraham (Sam Neill) and Sannie Laing (Alice Krige) shocked the world when brought into the world a dark skinned baby with nappy hair named Sandra Laing. Shocked at the discovery, and unprepared for the battle ahead, the Laing family fought tooth and nail to have they daughter classified as a white person instead of a black person in order for her to receive better treatment.
Nothing could have prepared the family for the level of unfairness the white people showed to them. After being thrown out of school and isolated because of her skin colour, Sandra felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. She ran away from her own people into the arms of a black man who later became the father of two of her four children, and her husband.
Sandra, haunted by her past and struggling to define her sense of self, endured physical and mental abuse from the man who she thought was her warrior. She took off to a town where she now resides with her current husband and enjoys a new life that she doesn’t take for granted.
The movie, which stars British actor Sophie Okonedo, Sam Neil, Alice Kridge, Tony Kgoroge and Ella Ramangwane has been raising a big buzz and is already claiming titles under its belt including the Best Narrative Feature (AFI Dallas International Film Festivel 2009) and the winner of a Jury Award. This movie is a moving and very emotional window into South Africa’s past. (Jamati.com)

As I watched this preview to SKIN, I realized almost forgot it is based in the 1950's. This could have been shot in today's South Africa. Over the past few months, I have had several encounters with so called "coloreds" in South Africa and Swaziland. I have found the level of self hatred to be disturbingly high amongst people of color. I guess this is no shock considering the oppressive history of this region. When you ask them about there roots they simply and proudly state "I am a coloured". There also is a strong sense of pride amongst the coloured population. Many are very proud of the "lighter" side of their heritage if it is known. Some will proudly announce " I am Scottish".

Swaziland was a haven for many South Africans living under the apartheid regime. It was illegal to have sexual relationships with black women during this time. So many simply crossed the border into Swaziland to have sexual encounters with Swazi women. This largely resulted in many coloureds being produced and abandoned. Many Swazi coloureds were raised by their black "gogo" (grandmother) . After making these observations, I can't make a claim that the western world is any better. Sadly, I think there will always be color divide amongst Africans.

Manzini Nights

So enough already with the negative press about Africa! I just finished reading the NY Times and was appaled an all but dismal Africa Although I have touched on the host of problems Swaziland has, I am determined to also highlight it's majestic beauty. I find the simplest things beautiful here. From the Mozambican teenagers roasting maize on the corner, to the endless afro-house music. I consider myself to be a very liberal persom Last night, I discovered a disco called Cafe de Fleur. It is located about 25km from Mbabane, in Manzini ( affectionately termed "Manzi").

The Grass is Greener?

Finally feeling a bit settled after 7 days in Swaziland. I'm finally over a furious case of jet lag...lsing 6 hours will do anybody in. I guess the first couple out in Manzini didn't help either ;-) Its strange but it feels as if I never left this kingdom. If you talk to any foreigner in Swaziland they always speak of the instant comfort you feel here. But the feeling is bittersweet afetr hearing the sobering facts about the declining population.

With a population of a mere 1,123,913 people, population estimates explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2009 est.)

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. A constitution came into effect in 2006, but political parties remain banned. The African United Democratic Party tried unsuccessfully to register as an official political party in mid 2006. Talks over the constitution broke down between the government and progressive groups in 2007. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known HIV/AIDS prevalence rate.

READING, WATCHING, LISTENING...

I'm currently reading Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid. It has stirred up quite a bit of controversy, due to her striking condemnation of developmental aid. I have long wondered how so much aid seems to have done little for infrastructure in developing countries. She does an excellent job of outlining various reason why Africans must look inward and not West or East! Great Read.


For the past week, WALSHY KILLA mixtape has been on heavy rotation on my i-pod. Check it out!

http://www.thefader.com/articles/2009/3/4/ghetto-palms-walshy-killa-notch-esco-collie-buddz-mavado-back-to-jamaica


Ok, my name name is Ama and I'm addicted to Nollywood movies...The first step in getting help is admitting you have a problem! Nigerians and Ghanaian are really beginning to step the production level up a couple of notches in entertainment.

Let's Try this again....

So admittedly I did a really bad job of keeping up with my post when I departed for Ghana back in 07. I really got caught up in all the campaigning excitement. To update you all...my sister ran for parliament in Ghana and won last year. She is a constant source of inspiration for me. I learned so much from the campaigning experience in Ghana. Politics is such a dirty game. I became a bit disillusioned after having the insider view of Ghanaian politics. Many of the systems ills are perpetuated through politicians personal and professional actions. (I will go into further detail in a series of upcoming post)

As I get ready to embark on another journey, I am fully committed to documenting life's happenings! I am heading to Swaziland on April 14th to begin work. I am full of the typical jitters before a major life change. However, this time I have a profound sense of clarity about my future.