The Yakurr (also Yakö and Yakạạ)

The Yakurr (also Yakö and Yakạạ) comprises five urban settlements in Cross River State, Nigeria. They were formally known as Umor, Ekoli, Ilomi, Nkoibolokom and Yakurr be Ibe. Due to linguistic problems encountered by the early European visitors, the settlements have come to be known by their mispronounced versions – Ugep, Ekori, Idomi, Nko and Mkpani (Okoi-Uyouyo, 2002). In the latter, it is a product of yakpanikpani (a Lokạạ word for "tricks"), a name, which Enang (1980) says was given to them by the Ugep people after being tricked in a conflict.

 Location
Yakurr lies between latitudes 50 401 and 60 101 north of the equator and longitudes 80 21 and 60 101 east of the Greenwich Meridian and 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Calabar, the capital of Cross River State. They are found in the present-day Yakurr Local Government Area and constitute the largest ethnic group in the state. They share their northern and eastern boundaries with the Assiga, Nyima and Agoi Clans of the Yakurr Local Government Area, the southern boundary with the Biase Local Government Area and their western boundary with the Abi Local Government Area.
By 1935, Yakurr had a population of 22,000 and 38,000 by 1953 (1939, 1950, and 1964; Hansford et al. 1976; and Crabb 1969). The population numbers of Yakurr based on the 1991 national census were rejected by the local and state government due to discrepancies. The results of the 2006 census by the Nigerian government about the current population are still pending.

Origins

The language spoken by the Yakurr is Lokạạ, an Upper Cross River language. It is described by Iwara (1988) as one of the major languages of Cross River State, comparable, in terms of number of speakers, with Efik, which enjoys the special status of a lingua franca in the state. According to Ethnologue, it was spoken by 120.000 people in 1989.
The Yakurr exhibits a very high degree of social heterogeneity, but linguistic, political, religious and cultural homogeneity. In the absence of written records, linguistic, political, religious and cultural homogeneous patterns are the most dependable evidences of establishing descent and biological connections.
All Yakurr people share a common tradition of overland migration and ancestry. The ancestral homeland of the Yakurr people is "Akpa", said to be a shortened form of "Lẹkanakpakpa". This area is believed to correspond with the Cameroon–Obudu range as it stands today. The Yakurr cites the Okuni, Nsofan and Ojo people as their neighbours at Lẹkanakpakpa. The traditions of Okuni, Nsofan and Ojo corroborate the Yakurr claim of having lived together at Lẹkanakpakpa, which is referred to as “Onugi” by the Okuni and Nsofan people and Lẹkpamkpa by the Ojo people.
The migration of Yakurr from their ancestral homeland started at about AD 1617, when a misunderstanding between the Yakurr and their neighbours, arising from the violation of a burial custom forced their neighbours to wage a war against them, leading to them being driven from their homeland.
The migratory history of the Yakurr people, as given by Ubi (1986 and 1978) is that, between 1617 and 1677, the Yakurr migrated from that ancestral homeland to look for a new homeland following a military defeat from Akpa. About A.D. 1660, some Yakurr migrants founded new homelands in their present locations. These locations are Idomi and Ugep. Between 1677 and 1707, some other Yakurr migrants founded the towns of Ekori and Nko. Between 1707 and 1737 yet another wave of Yakurr migrants founded Mkpani settlement.
The reasons for the relocation of populations in new settlements by the Yakurr is mainly due to competing demands for land resources, as a result of growing populations in one hand and unresolved conflicts in the other. This development is aided by the patrilocality of marriages and strong patriarchy in the family system. It was thus easy for patriclans to relocate to new settlements. This has produced a slight parallelism in names of patriclans and strong parallelism in names of matriclans in all the Yakurr settlements.

References according to Wikipedia

1. Jump up ^ Ethnologue report on Lokaa.

• Crabb, D. W. (1969) Ekoi Bantu Languages of Ogoja, Oxford University Press, London.
• Enang, S. B. (1980) Mkpani Pre-Colonial History, University of Calabar B. A. History Project.
• Forde, D. (1950) "Double Descent Among the Yakö” in Radcliff-Brown, A. R. and Forde, D. (eds.) African Systems of Kinship and Marriage, Oxford University Press, London.
• Forde, D. (1939) "Kinship in Umor” American Anthropologist, Vol. 41, pp. 530–540.
• Forde, D. (1964) Yakö Studies, Oxford University Press, London.
• Hansford, K.; Bendor-Samuel, J. and Stanford, R. (eds.) (1976) Studies in Nigerian Languages, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Accra.
• Iwara, A. U. (1988) Reading and Writing Lokạạ, Institute of African Studies University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
• Okoi-Uyouyo, M. (2002) Yakurr Systems of Kinship, Family and Marriage, Bookman, Calabar
• Ubi, O. A. (1986) “Analysis of Two Bronzes from a Nigerian Asunaju Shrine: A Rejoinder” Africana Marburgensia xix, pp. 7–8.
• Ubi, O. A. (1978) The Yakurr: A Reconstruction of PreColonial History, University of Lagos PhD History Thesis.

Ede, Nigeria

 According to Wikipedia!

Ede is a town in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. It lies along the Osun River at a point on the railroad from Lagos, 112 miles (180 km) southwest, and at the intersection of roads from Oshogbo, Ogbomosho, and Ife. Ede is one of the older towns of the Yoruba people. It is traditionally said to have been founded about 1500 by Timi Agbale, a hunter and warlord sent by Alaafin (King) Kori of Old Oyo (Katunga), capital of the Oyo empire, to establish a settlement to protect the Oyo caravan route to Benin (127 miles [204 km] to the southeast), a purpose similar to that of other Nigerian towns. Nearby towns include Awo, Iragberi and Oshogbo.

Its traditional ruler is known as the Timi Agbale, popularly referred to as Timi Agbale Olofa-Ina. According to myth, he is the man whose arrows bring out fire.

The present Ede was established by Timi Kubolaje Agbonran around 1817 along with his siblings: Oyefi, Ajenju, Arohanran and Oduniyi, all being the descendants of Lalemo. The former Ede is known as Ede-Ile.
Ede is predominantly Muslim town with about 90% of the population. This can be traced back to 19th century during the reign of Timi Abibu Lagunju as the King of Ede, who is most likely the first Muslim Oba in Yorubaland given the fact that he was already on the throne for a few years when in November 1857, the Baptist Missionary, W.H. Clarke visited Ede. Clarke record thus: This young follower of the Prophet (Prophet Muhammad), a short time since became the ruler of this town in the place of his father (Oduniyi), the deceased, and brings with him into office, the influence of his new religion (Islam).

Historically, Ede was an important town in Yorubaland. Egungun festival is still widely celebrated, like many other traditional festivals, but Ileya (Eid-il-kabir) and Christmas are the main festivals. Throughout Nigeria, Ed-il Kabir is celebrated most in Ede. Many people celebrate Christmas and New Year's Day as well.
The most prominent Timi in recent history is Oba John Adetoyese Laoye. The late monarch is reputed for making the "talking drum" popular. This has made Ede a reference point in the art of drumming, specifically the talking drum. With his group of skilled drummers and poets, the late monarch entertained the Queen of England when she first visited Nigeria and thereafter in her palace in England. He died in 1975.

Ede is well known as a hospitable land. Locally made food includes "Eko and Ila". Also sons and daughters of Ede can be found all over the world and works of lives. There are several compounds in Ede towns including Ile Agate, Agboja, Imole, Ile Idigba, Ile Obadina, Ile Alusekere, Ile Yemope, Ile Mogaji, Ile Oluyinka, Ile babanla Pegba, etc.

The name of the present King is Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal (Laminisa 1).

Notable People

• Saka Layonu is the first man from Ede to become Minister of Nigeria.
• Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke: The first Executive Governor of Osun State
• Rafiu Adejare Bello : Eight(8) years Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly
• Rilwan Lanre Babalola: Minister for Power during Umaru Yar Adua regime

The town is currently represented by Tajudeen Adetunji Ajagbe at the house of representative, and Akanbi Adebowale Kamardeen at the state house of assembly.

Jonathan To Obasanjo: Show Proof Of Snipers Or Shut Up

The presidency yesterday took another swipe at former president, Olusegun Obasanjo who last week, accused President Goodluck Jonathan of placing perceived political opponents under the watchful eyes of snipers, It told Obasanjo to show proof in that respect or shut up forever.          
In the same vein, the seat of power warned the All Progressive Congress (APC) to be careful in making inciting statements and unfounded allegations against President Goodluck Jonathan or its members would be made to face charges of treason.
It implicitly told former President Olusegun Obsanjo who had last week alleged the existence of snipers against the president to boldly come forward and provide proof or remain silent forever as a coward he is.
Obasanjo had written an 18 paragraph letter alleging series of corrupt practices against President Jonathan.
But Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati noted in a statement yesterday said,
“President Jonathan is running a people’s government. He does not need any snipers. His legitimacy comes from the people. Those who are alleging the existence of snipers should step forward and provide the evidence or shut up forever and go down in history as spineless cowards, driven by sheer greed and indecency.
“We dismiss the APC’s call for the President’s impeachment as opportunistic, partisan and ill-motivated.
We call on patriots to make the necessary distinction between such reckless violations of civic duty and the urgent need to protect the integrity of the Nigerian nation against those who for selfish reasons have declared their readiness to stop at nothing”.
Abati described as reckless and irresponsible the call by the APC for the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the president.
He reminded the APC that as an opposition party which remains a minority “with doubtful credentials in the National Assembly, knows fully well that its attempt to hector and blackmail a Parliament dominated by loyal members of the President’s party, the PDP, into an impeachment process, will come to nothing”.
Threatening to prefer charges bordering on treason against members of the APC, Abati stated: “In this regard, we have noted the undisguised threat by the APC to foster public insurrection against the Federal Government if pending legal cases go against it. We urge Nigerians to take special note of this boastful indication of an intention to resort to lawlessness. The Presidency warns that the APC and any persons who make themselves its willing tools for the breach of public order and safety will be made to face the full sanctions of the law.
“Those who are threatening fire and brimstone should be ready for consequences of treasonable action.  The APC’s false copy-cat allegation that 1, 000 snipers are being trained by the Jonathan Administration clearly shows that they are now in cahoots with some other elements who are bent on discrediting this administration and inciting the public against it”.
The presidential spokesman said ordinarily, the presidency wouldn’t have dignified the party’s spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed’s “latest vituperations in the service of his paymasters with a response”.
He added, however, the presidency “thought it necessary to warn that the federal government will not standby idly and let the nation be plunged into unnecessary crises and political instability because of the desperation and apparent readiness of the APC spokesman and his gang of power-seeking desperadoes to sacrifice the well-being of the country on the altar of their selfish personal ambitions.
“The Presidency totally condemns the decision by Alhaji Mohammed and his party to move further beyond the bounds of honourable and acceptable political conduct with the senseless call for the impeachment of a President who continues to sincerely devote himself to the discharge of the sacred mandate freely given to him by Nigerians”, Abati noted.
Abati who wondered why the APC “has cavalierly embarked on this outrageous gambit, with scant regard for peace, order, security and political stability in the country” said it was “in furtherance of its dastardly and heinous strategy of over-heating the polity and working to cause public disaffection against the Jonathan Presidency with lies, false accusations and unjustifiable indictments ahead of the 2015 general elections.
“The emptiness and hollowness of the APC’s call for President Jonathan’s impeachment will be obvious to all objective and discerning Nigerians who read through the statement issued by Alhaji Mohammed today. It was long on self-serving rhetoric and falsehoods, but lacked a single clearly defined charge on the basis of which any plausible impeachment proceedings against the President can be initiated”, he added.
The statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday night further reads: “All that the APC could offer in justification of its absurd and hare-brained impeachment call was a rehash of its well-worn litany of baseless accusations against the President, including some for which culpability should be laid squarely at the doorsteps of its own leaders and some of their new friends.
“The Presidency also considers it utterly deplorable that the APC has, in its Machiavellian desperation to seize control of the Federal Government, recklessly assailed the integrity and honour of the Nigerian Judiciary in a callous attempt to pre-empt the outcome of the case legitimately brought against it and some of its new friends by the PDP.
“Alhaji Mohammed’s unscrupulous effort to drag the nation’s judiciary into its murky political warfare and his readiness to intimidate and blackmail members of the bench so as to secure a favourable outcome for his party in the pending case clearly shows that nothing is beyond the pale for him and the APC in pursuit of their quest for power.
“The Jonathan Administration does not need Lai Mohammed or the APC to remind it of its constitutional responsibility for the security and well-being of Nigerians. The President will continue to do his utmost best to achieve positive national transformation in all areas in spite of efforts by the opposition to thwart or disparage the work of his administration.

Impeach Jonathan before Nigeria crashes -APC
But as Abati issued his statement, APC asked the National Assembly to rise beyond partisanship and save Nigeria from imminent collapse by immediately kick-starting the process of impeaching President Goodluck Jonathan for gross misconduct.
In a statement issued in Lagos on yesterday by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it is issuing the call with a high sense of responsibility and the strong belief that the impeachment of the president is a legitimate constitutional option available to the National Assembly not only to protect the nation’s democracy but also to ensure the country’s unity.
But President Jonathan’s party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the call as irresponsible
Regardless, the APC said: ‘’Our country is drifting dangerously and our people are divided now perhaps more than at any other point in our history, with the exception of the civil war period. There is a total failure of leadership, even as insecurity, unprecedented corruption, palpable impunity, massive unemployment and hunger stalk the land.
‘’Since the raison d’etre of any government is the security and welfare of the citizenry, and the present administration has failed to live up to the justification of its existence, there can be no other definition of gross misconduct than that.
‘’Therefore, the time has come for the head of that government, on whose desk the buck stops, to be removed through the provisions stipulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the patriotic thing to do,’’ it said.
APC warned that if the National Assembly fails to act and do so very fast, it will share with the clueless and feckless Jonathan
administration the eternal blame for bringing to naught the hard work of the nation’s heroes past and for crashing and dashing the hopes of millions of Nigerians, especially the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow.
The party said it is necessary for anyone who may say the call for the impeachment of President Jonathan is outlandish to remember that all it takes to torpedo this democracy is for this increasingly-paranoid government to get a pliant Judge to put a judicial stamp on just one of its litany of illegalities, thus setting the country ablaze, adding: ‘’And there are many such Judges as we can see by some recent events, despite our warnings that the efforts of the current CJN to clean up the judiciary must not be sabotaged by a few pliant Judges.’’
‘’One such scenario is the present challenge in court by the PDP of the defection to the APC of five state governors. The PDP has gone to court fully aware of the ruling of the Supreme Court after the party (PDP) attempted to make then Vice President Atiku Abubakar to lose his seat and to also strip him of his privileges following his defection to the ACN.
‘’What then can be the sole motive behind the PDP’s action: To plunge Nigerian into chaos! This is why we issued a strong warning in our statement of Dec. 5th thus: ‘We wish to state unequivocally that should the PDP go ahead with this plan, there will be widespread repercussions as the APC has resolved that henceforth, every act of impunity of the PDP and the Presidency will be met with stiff resistance in the form of a vociferous telegraphing of people power, the likes of which have not been witnessed in these parts’.
‘’We reiterate those words today, and make bold to say that not even the revelation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, that snipers are being trained secretly and that 1,000 people have been placed on political watch, will deter us from saving this democracy, which was watered by the sweat and blood of many patriots, long before this generation of opportunists stormed the political scene,’’ it said.

Call for Jonathan’s impeachment irresponsible - PDP
In its response, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday described the call for President Goodluck Jonathan’s impeachmen as irresponsible. According to the national publicity secretary, Chief Oliseh Metuh, who spoke with Leadership on phone, the opposition APC was scared of losing in 2015, hence their resort to causing confusion in the land.
Speaking further in a statement which Metuh later released, the PDP described the call by APC for impeachment of Jonathan “as irresponsible, immature, self seeking and part of their larger agenda to truncate democracy in Nigeria.
“Upon their realization that they will not win in the 2015 general elections following the failure of their plans to break the ranks and strength of the PDP,  they now seek to use all means to cause confusion in the land.
“The APC knows the implication of the call which is to cause massive turmoil and destroy the unity of our dear nation.
Nevertheless, the PDP is ready, willing and able to stop them in their track.”

Nigeria Will Look Inward To Develop Its Armed Forces – Maku

Nigeria will no longer depend on the developed world in building and developing the capacity and resources of the military since the country now has what it takes to do it.
The supervising minister of defence, Mr Labaran Maku made this known in Kaduna on Tuesday at the Chief of Air Staff Award Night for 2013, attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola S Ibrahim, other serving and retired Air Force officers and their spouses.
“I believe that the country has the resources to support development and research in the armed forces, so that between now and the next 15 years, we can depend more on our local creativity than our foreign supplies.
No nation can sustain its security system by depending on other countries; you need your own ingenuity to run the system.’’ Maku said.
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Africa's Most Dangerous Snakes

Facts and information about Africa's most venomous snakes

Africa has some of the most dangerous and venomous snakes in the world. Get your facts and information about the Black Mamba, Boomslang, Puff Adder, Gaboon Viper, Egyptian Cobra and more of Africa's deadly snakes. Find out what the different types of snake venom will do to the victims body.

Remember, fatalities from snake bites are quite rare and the vast majority of snakes are actually not venomous. Venomous snakes will often avoid humans, and if they bite they rarely inject their full venom load.

Black Mamba

The Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is one of Africa's most dangerous snakes and feared in East, Central and Southern Africa. It's aggressive when cornered and will not hesitate to strike. It can reach speeds of up to 12 mph (20 km/ph). It's the largest venomous snake in Africa with adults reaching an average of 8 feet in length (2.5m). Black Mamba's are not black at all, but brown/olive skinned. Their mouths are inky black which they show when threatened. Black Mambas live in savanna, scrub, tree hollows, and sometimes people's homes. If a Black Mamba encounters prey it can strike up to 12 times, each time delivering enough neuro and cardio-toxic venom to kill a dozen men within 1 hour. Without anti-venom, the mortality rate is 100%.

Puff Adder

The Puff Adder (Bitis arietans) is considered to be Africa's deadliest snake because it is responsible for the most human fatalities. Puff Adders reach an average length of around 1 meter, and they're solidly built with a wide girth. Color patterns vary depending on where they live, their habitats extend throughout Africa except for dense rain forests and deserts. The Puff Adder has large fangs and its venom is powerful enough to kill a grown man with a single bite. Puff Adders rely on camouflage for protection and lie still if approached. Because of this, people tend to step on them and get bitten. Many fatalities occur because bites are not treated correctly, leading to infection and gangrene.

Boomslang

 The Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) is an extraordinarily dangerous snake found in sub-Saharan Africa. Human fatalities are rare, since this snake is very timid, but spectacular. It's venom is haemotoxic, which means that it affects the body’s natural blood clotting mechanism resulting in the bleeding of the internal organs. Sometimes it can take as long as 24 hours before the symptoms of the venom can be felt or seen. Once it gets to work however, a person can bleed to death from every orifice. The Boomslang is a tree-dwelling snake (Boomslang means "tree snake" in Afrikaans). Females are brown, and males are light green with black highlights. The Boomslang reaches an average length of 5 feet. Its fangs are at the back of its head.

Gaboon Viper

The Gaboon Viper (Bitis gabonica) has the longest fangs and the highest venom yield of any venomous snake in the world. Gaboon Vipers can be found in West, Central and parts of East Africa, they prefer forested areas. Adults reach an average length of around 5 feet. While the Gaboon Viper delivers a huge dose of venom, the venom is not as toxic as some of the other snakes on this list. A single bite could kill a man however. Gaboon Vipers are very interesting looking snakes with a huge triangular shaped heads and pretty black, brown and pink markings. Gaboon Vipers are quite passive and rarely bite unless provoked or stepped on (even then they don't always bite).



The Egyptian Cobra (Naja haje) is a deadly venomous snake most commonly found in Egypt but also in other parts of North Africa. The Egyptian Cobra has glands located behind its eyes which produce a deadly neurotoxic venom that's released through its large fangs. The venom of an Egyptian Cobra is so deadly it can kill a full grown Indian Elephant in 3 hours. In humans its venom causes paralysis and death due to respiratory failure. The adults average about 2m in length and are usually yellowish to dark brown with brown cross bands. Egyptian Cobras are aggressive snakes that live in dry to moist savanna and semi-desert regions. It is thought that Cleopatra used an Egyptian Cobra to commit suicide.

Egyptian Cobra

 

 

 The Saw-Scaled or Carpet Viper (Echis genus) are small, bad tempered, highly venomous snakes found north of the equator in Africa. Adults vipers reach an average length of just 20-30 inches. Their venom is hemotoxic and very virulent. This means the venom causes spontaneous internal bleeding, sometimes days after the bite has occurred. The Saw-Scaled viper is named for the sound it makes as its scales rub together producing a warning sound similar to a "sizzle". These venomous vipers are active after dark and that's when most of their victims are bitten.

Saw-Scaled or Carpet Viper

 

Cape Cobra

The Cape Cobra (Naja nivea) has a powerful venom and is one of the deadliest snakes in Southern Africa. Cape Cobras grow to an average of around 4 feet. Cape Cobras are particularly dangerous because they tend to be nervous and aggressive. Without treatment, the mortality rate in humans is 60% and death normally occurs 2-5 hours after being bitten, usually as a result of respiratory failure due to the onset of paralysis. The Cape Cobra is a beautiful looking snake some are yellow, some copper/mahogany colored and some are purplish/black. The Cape Cobra loves to hunt for rodents and can climb trees to raid weaver bird colonies. The Cape Cobra is common throughout dry regions in Southern Africa.



The Eastern Green Mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps) is a venomous snake related to the highly dangerous Black Mamba. The Green Mamba is less aggressive and smaller than the Black Mamba, they average around 6 feet. The Green Mamba's venom is also significantly less toxic, however a single bite could certainly be fatal to a human. Green mambas are highly arboreal and almost never touch the ground. They are generally found in south-eastern Africa. Like their name, Green Mambas are a lovely grass green color, but yellow when born. 

Eastern Green Mamba

 

 

 

 

Snake Venom and What it Does to its Victims

Depending on the species of snake, there are 5 types of venom that have been identified. Each venom acts differently inside the body of the victim:




Neurotoxic venom - Cobras and Mambas - attacks the central nervous system, and starts to affect movement, breathing, swallowing, speech and sight  Haematoxic venom - Boomslang - affects the blood by using up the clotting factors so it no longer coagulates leading to extensive blood loss into the tissues
Cytotoxic venom - Puff Adders - attacks the body cells or tissues, this bite is extremely painful, with much swelling and marked symptoms of shock. 
Myotoxic venom - sea snakes - attacks the muscles and can lead to death from kidney and heart failure.

Source: Eco Travel Africa

Christmas in Africa. How Africans Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is celebrated throughout the African continent by Christian communities large and small. There are approximately 350 million Christians in Africa. On Christmas day carols are sung from Ghana on down to South Africa. Meats are roasted, gifts are exchanged and family visits made. The Coptic Christians in Ethiopia and Egypt celebrate Christmas on the 25th of December in their calendar, which is the 7th of January for most of the rest of us. Kwanzaa is not celebrated in Africa, as it's an African-American holiday. And unless you're in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, there's little chance of anyone enjoying a white Christmas in Africa.
Even in some of Africa's predominantly Muslim countries, Christmas is still marked for celebration. In Dakar, Senegal's capital, hawkers are happy to sell plastic trees and inflatable santas. "While secularism may mean elsewhere that each person is free to celebrate his or her own holidays, many in Senegal have interpreted it to mean they should celebrate all holidays." (Mail & Guardian).

Gift Giving

Those who can afford it will generally give gifts at Christmas but the holiday is not nearly as commercial as it is in Europe or the Americas. The emphasis is more on the religious aspect of celebrating the birth of Jesus and singing in church, than it is on gift giving. The most common thing bought at Christmas is a new set of clothes to be worn to the church service. Many Africans are too poor to be able to afford presents for their kids and there aren't too many toy stores in rural Africa to shop at anyway. If gifts are exchanged in poorer communities they usually come in the form of school books, soap, cloth, candles and other practical goods.

Christmas Dinner

As in most Christian cultures, celebrating Christmas dinner with friends and family tops the list after attending church. In most countries Christmas is a public holiday and people take the opportunity to visit friends and family. In East Africa goats are quickly snapped up at the local markets and roasted on Christmas day. In South Africa the sun is hot and the beaches are full of families enjoying braais (bbq's) or traditional Christmas dinners with paper hats, mince pies, turkey and plum pudding (a vestige of the British colonial legacy.) In Ghana Christmas dinner is not complete without fufu and okra soup and in Liberia rice, beef and biscuits are the order of the day. Zimbabweans make sure there's plenty of bread, jam and tea to eat along with their goat meat.

Church Services and Caroling

The history of Christianity in Africa dates back to the 1st Century AD. What every missionary has found since that time is that Africans are very spiritual people. (Besides Christianity, the other main religions are Islam and indigenous beliefs). Going to church is generally the main focus of Christmas celebrations in Africa. Nativity scenes are played out, carols are sung and in some cases dances are performed. One of my earliest Christmas memories in Malawi is watching groups of young children go door to door to perform dances and Christmas songs dressed in skirts made of leaves and using home made instruments. They received a small gift of money in return. In many countries the processions after the Christmas Eve church service is a joyous occasion of music and dance. In the Gambia for example, people parade with large intricately made lanterns called fanals in the shape of boats or houses. Every country has their own unique celebrations no matter how small their Christian population.

Christmas Decorations

Decorating shop fronts, mango trees, churches and homes is common throughout African Christian communities. You may see fake snow decorating store fronts in Nairobi, palm trees laden with candles in Ghana, or oil palms loaded with bells in Liberia.

How to Say Merry Christmas

In Akan (Ghana) Afishapa
In Zimbabwe Merry Kisimusi
In Afrikaans (South Africa) Geseënde Kersfees
In Zulu (South Africa) Sinifisela Ukhisimusi Omuhle
In Swazi (Swaziland) Sinifisela Khisimusi Lomuhle
In Sotho (Lesthoto) Matswalo a Morena a Mabotse
In Swahili (Tanzania, Kenya) Kuwa na Krismasi njema
In Amharic (Ethiopia) Melkam Yelidet Beaal
In Egyptian (Egypt) Colo sana wintom tiebeen
In Yoruba (Nigeria) E ku odun, e hu iye' dun!

White Rhinoceros Images

White Rhinoceros

The African rhinoceros is a very large animal, with a heavily armoured body and a distinctive horn. There are five separate species of rhinoceros' in the world. The main two species are African rhinos and Asian rhinos. In Africa, there are two species of the rhino, the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros. Asia has the remaining three species, the Indian rhino, Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino.
The white rhinoceros has two horns. Despite its name, the rhino is light grey in colour. They weight about 2 and a half tonne, stand about 1.7 metres tall and 4 metres long. The white rhino often live in groups, which can range from any number up to about ten. They feed on grass and leaves. These animals are highly endangered, and have been a protected species for many years.

White rhinos are found in the grasslands of South Africa and also north Zaire. They have no natural predators due to their size. Humans however can be a predator to these beautiful creatures, by illegal hunting and poaching.

Rhinos mark their territory with urine. They enjoy bathing in mud to cool down on hot days.

Female rhinos can reproduce at around three years, whilst male rhinos are not able to reproduce until around seven years. After reproduction, usually one calf is born. The new born rhino can stand on its own just one hour after it is born, and feeds off the mother for 9-12 months. The rhino usually stay with the more for a further period of two to two and a half years before gaining independence and living solitarily.

The rhinos horn was much sought after in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Trading rhinoceros horn is illegal all over the world. There are only 2,500 black rhinos left in the world, a minute number considering only a hundred years ago there was almost a million (estimated) black rhinos in Africa.

The African rhinoceros is a very large animal, with a heavily armoured body and a distinctive horn. There are five separate species of rhinoceros' in the world. The main two species are African rhinos and Asian rhinos. In Africa, there are two species of the rhino, the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros. Asia has the remaining three species, the Indian rhino, Javan rhino and Sumatran rhino.

Scientific Name
Ceratotherium simum                  

Common Names
Square-lipped rhinoceros

Classification

 
Close Relatives.

Discover the top ten animals you should see when on safari in Africa. From the Big 5, to the elegant giraffe -- here's my list of "must-see" animals that makes a safari in Africa so worthwhile. Of course, if you get a chance to go on multiple safaris, some of the rarer animals like the pangolin, or African wild dog will offer more excitement than a giraffe or two.

1. Lion

To see a lion in its natural habitat is one of the main attractions of going on safari in Africa. You're more likely to see one snoozing than in active pursuit of dinner since they tend to rest for about 20 hours a day. Lion populations are dwindling, but you will see them in the major parks and reserves including Kruger, Maasai Mara, and the Serengeti. Lions are social and live in prides (unlike other cats) so they are easier to spot than a cheetah or leopard.

2.Elephant

 The African elephant is the largest land mammal on earth and you'll be in awe the first time you see one on safari. Elephants live in woodlands, forests, deserts and savanna, spread across 37 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Elephants are quite peaceful if left alone, but if threatened - watch out. There's nothing quite like being charged at by 12,000 lb's of animal, flapping its ears and trumpeting loudly. Elephants can be over 14 feet tall and 30 feet wide. They drink 30-50 gallons of water every day and are vegetarians.

3. Giraffe

 The giraffe is my favorite animal to spot on safari. They have blue tongues, little 5 inch knobs on their heads and (obviously) outrageously long necks. The giraffe neck contains special veins and blood valves to stop the giraffe from blacking out when it takes a drink. Because the giraffe is the tallest mammal on earth they are quite easy to spot. This is satisfying for everyone on safari since viewing animals when the bush is thick or the grass tall, is no easy task. If you're out camping in the African bush you'll never be startled by a loud growling or grunting from a giraffe, they are very quiet.

4. Leopard

 The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is more numerous than the African rhino in the Big 5 pantheon, but they are just as difficult to spot on safari in Africa. Leopards use trees as observation platforms and for protection, so you have to remember to look up to see this solitary, beautiful cat. Leopards are shy and nocturnal, quite modest for a cat that can climb, swim and live in a wider range of habitats than most other wild cats.

5.Rhino

 There are two species of rhino in Africa, the Black rhino (Diceros bicornis) and the White rhino (Ceratotherium simum). Black rhinos have suffered the most drastic reduction in population in the last 20 years (there are only about 4000 left in the wild) so its rare to see on on safari unless you're in an area where they have been re-introduced. The white rhino is more numerous numbering at over 17,000 and they are heavily concentrated in Southern Africa. Rhinos are large mammals, an adult white rhino can weigh in at 6,000 lb's! Rhinos are shortsighted, a little bad tempered, but magnificent to look at.

6. Cheetahs

Cheetahs are rare and beautiful cats, well known for their incredible speed. While they are the fastest animals on earth and decent hunters, it's difficult for them to stop their kills from getting scavenged by aggressive hyenas as well as lions. Their preference for wide open spaces also puts them in competition with man and cattle. Cheetahs are not easy to spot on safari, only around 12,000 remain in the wild, spread through eastern and southwestern Africa. Your best chance of seeing them is in Tanzania's Serengeti or in various reserves in Namibia.

7.Gorilla

 You have to take a special safari to see the mountain Gorilla because they are so rare and live in a relatively tiny area of East Africa. There are only around 720 mountain gorillas left on earth and when you opt to see them, you are also helping their survival. It's an easy side trip to take if you're on a traditional safari in East Africa.

8. Hippopotamus

Hippos can be found in lakes and rivers throughout sub-Saharan Africa and are easy to spot on safari. One of the best places to see hippos is the Luangwa River in Zambia, pods have numbered over 100 members during the dry season. An adult male hippo can run at speeds of 20mph, not bad for an animal that weighs up to 3.5 tonnes. Hippos are among Africa's most dangerous animals, and responsible for many human fatalities.

9. Nile Crocodile

The Nile Crocodile can be found in almost every major river throughout the continent as well as many lakes. Crocs are easy to spot on safari, you'll often find them sunning themselves on river banks with their mouths wide open. Crocodiles have been around for over 200 million years, and they certainly look prehistoric. Adult males can reach lengths of up to 18 feet. They are responsible for a number of human fatalities every year and are considered to be one of Africa's most dangerous animals.

10. Zebra

Zebra are very common throughout East and Southern Africa although mostly confined to national parks and reserves. They always look healthy, it's easy to see why they're the favorite prey of lions and hyenas. Since they look so much like horses its tempting to want to ride them, but they are very difficult to tame. Zebra are grazers and can gather in huge migratory herds. No two zebras have exactly the same stripe pattern. They're as unique as our finger prints. You can also find out why zebra and wildebeest migrate together.

Ndubuisi Kanu

Rear Admiral (retired) Ndubuisi Godwin Kanu was appointed military governor of Imo State, Nigeria in March 1976 during the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. He was the first governor after the decree that established the state from part of the old East Central State. He was transferred to become governor of Lagos State in 1977, leaving office in July 1978.
Naval career

Ndubuisi Kanu was born in Abia State in 1943 of Igbo origin. Joining the navy, he went to India for cadet training. His naval career included positions in Personnel, Logistics and Training. He obtained honorary Doctorate Degrees from the Imo State University and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

In July 1975 as a lieutenant commander he was appointed a member of Murtala Muhammed's ruling Cabinet, the Armed Forces Ruling Council. Appointed governor of Imo State in March 1976, he brought in town planners to prepare a plan for Owerri.[4] Kanu built roads in Owerri metropolis, expanded that number of Local Government Areas to 21 and founded the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.[citation needed] He later became Rear Admiral and Naval chief.
Post-retirement

After he retired he joined the pro-democracy movement and played a leading role in the agitation for the actualization of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election. He founded and is Chairman of RANGK LTD, a maritime consultancy, is Chairman of the Ohaneze Transition Caretaker Committee (OTC).and was Director of Fidelity Bank PLC. Kanu became a top National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) chieftain and became Chairman of the coalition in 2013.

In May 2008, Kanu called for a return to true federalism in Nigeria. In an interview in November 2008 he attacked what he called Unitarism, the excessive concentration of powers at the centre, and called for fundamental dialog between the different ethnic nationalities of Nigeria. He attributed the conflict in the Niger Delta to the lack of regional power.[5] In another interview, he pinpointed the second stage of the General Ibrahim Babangida regime as the time when things started to go wrong, with increasingly centralized control.

He was among leaders who spoke in January 2010 at a Lagos rally of the Save Nigeria Group calling for Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan be made acting president during President Umaru Yar'Adua's illness.

Kanu has been married thrice and has ten children - Simone, Audrey, Kelly, Karen, Paula, Jeffery, Vanessa, Samantha, Laura and Stephen.

His current wife is Gladys Ndubuisi-Kanu.

About Kano State

Kano State is a state located in North-Western Nigeria. Created on May 27, 1967 from part of the Northern Region, Kano state borders Katsina State to the north-west, Jigawa State to the north-east, Bauchi State to the south-east and Kaduna State to the south-west. The capital of Kano State is Kano.
The state originally included Jigawa State which was made a separate state in 1991.

Economy and society

Economy and Resources Nigerian economy since the colonial times has been largely driven by export of raw materials. This was one of the aims of colonialism and even subsequent western strategies of neo-colonialism and globalization. Northern Nigeria, especially Kano, was a major producer of groundnuts. In fact Kano produced about half million tons which was about half of Nigeria’s commodities as the main source of foreign exchange and government revenue. The oil boom of the 1970’s made the government to neglect agriculture. Many of the rural dweller rushed to the cities in search of “greener” pastures.


Government at the federal and state levels formulated policies for the revival of agricultural productivity and poverty alleviation, because the survival of the society was threatened, as Nigeria became an importer of food. Among these policies were the Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution , Better Life for Rural Women and Family Economic Advancement Programme. Agricultural practitioners have complained that they have not benefitted from previous programs, hence the present state of poverty especially in northern Nigeria. The federal Government made attempts to encourage industrialization in Nigeria though several programs and institutions such as NIDB (Nigeria Industrial Development Bank), NBCI (Nigeria Bank for Commerce and Industry) and NERFUND (National Economic Recovery Fund).


The people of Kano have been known for the “extensive initiative and perseverance”. Kano merchants have been famous in West Africa some of them were even legendary for example the late Alhaji Alhassan Dantata who was the wealthiest Nigerian at the time he died. Alhaji Aliko Dangote one of the wealthiest African industrialists is a great-grandson of the late Alhaji Alhassan Dantata. Kano businessmen, including Dantata pioneered the first textile industry in Nigeria the Gwammaja Textiles established by the Kano Citizens Trading Company. It should be noted that even the pre-colonial period, Kano “was probably Nigeria’s most celebrated textile exporting center.”


Kano’s products were in high demand even in North Africa and it was rightly observed by Professor Elizabeth Isichei in her book A History of Nigeria that: Almost as far as the Nile, and certainly in Southern Morocco, the blue haiques and burnouse of semi-Arab and Moorish tribes are the products of craftsmen in Kano and Sokoto, and this ‘country cloth’ as it is called, is worth much more along the coast than any turned out in Manchester.


Private investors established most of the industries in Kano. The regional government, during the first republic, established no industry in Kano as it did in Kaduna and Sokoto, which hosted the textile and cement industries respectively. The Federal Government established only one industry in Kano, the National Truck Manufacturers (NTM), a commercial vehicle assembly plant that was never viable because of its precarious foundation and it was closed and later privatized. But in Kaduna, the federal government established a fertilizer plant, a motor assembly plant and a refinery. The last two are all functioning and the refinery is perhaps the most important industry in northern Nigeria.


Most of the industries established in Nigeria during the oil boom era were import substitution-based and with the fall in prices, the value of naira crashed, most of them collapsed because they relied on imported raw materials. The worst affected were those in the North especially Kano. This is because, the transportation cost from Lagos to Kano skyrocketed. Hence, they could not compete with those in Lagos or Otta and since there is no railway, it will be difficult to restore such establishments. Energy supply to Kano has also remained epileptic. The cost of diesel, which is used by generators, has also skyrocketed, especially in Kano. These and other reasons made many factories to close and render their workers unemployed.



AGRICULTURE Agriculture is one of the most important pillars of the State’s economy with about 75% of the total working population engaged directly or indirectly in this activity. The principal food crops cultivated in abundance are Millet, Cowpeas, Sorghum, Maize and Rice for local consumption while Groundnuts and Cotton are produced for export and industrial purposes. During the colonial period and several years after the country’s independence, the groundnuts produced in the state constituted one of the major revenue sources of the country. Kano State is a major producer of Hides and Skins with over 80% of the tanneries located in the industrial estates of the state producing high quality tanned leather ranked among the best in the world, which are exported. Some of the exportable commodities grown in Kano State include Sesame, Soya Beans, Cotton, Garlic, Gum Arabic an Chilli Pepper. Most of these commodities are available at Dawanau Market about 13Km from the Kano city center. Kano State contributes over 20% of Nigeria’s non-oil export revenue.



COMMERCE Commercial activities in Kano received its first encouragement with the establishment of Kurmi market by the Emir of Kano Muhammadu Rumfa in the 16th Century CE. Subsequent leaders made contributions to the emergence of Kano as a leading commercial center in the Sudanic Africa. For example, the first two Emirs of Kano, Ibrahim Dado and Sulaimanu in the 19th century encouraged traders to move from Katsina because of Maradi raid. This was one of major contributing factors that made Kano the richest province in the Sokoto Caliphate. The Jihad leaders of the caliphate encouraged Kolanut trade and kano was the greatest beneficiary with an annual turnover of about $30 million. Kano merchants were also very innovative and they were able to integrate commerce and craft industry during the pre-colonial period this contributed to the prosperity of the province. Kano was producing an estimated 10 million pairs of sandals during that period because of an estimated 10 million pairs of sandals during that period because of economic harmony. Emir of Kano Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi (1953 – 1963) established the Bompai Industrial Estate which was the first of its kind in the state through a loan guaranty that was later used against him by the Northern Regional Government.


Kano State is most important and largest commercial center in Northern Nigeria. With about 10 million people, it provides a stable and continues market for both manufactured and semi-processed goods. The volume of trading activities conducted on daily basis in the markets, notably Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi (Sabon –Gari), Kwanar Singer, Kantin Kwari, Kurmi and Dawanau markets signify the state’s great potentials as a market for various products.


In addition to the large and unique markets, Kano is also blessed with plentiful and various kinds of agricultural products which provide huge raw materials for Agro-Allied industries. Agricultural products like Maize, Guinea Corn, Rice, Cotton and Groundnuts are readily available to serve as raw materials for oil milling, flour and textile industries. Other agro based raw materials are Gum Arabic, Livestock, Hides and Skin, Cowpeas and Citrus fruits.


Similarly, the second Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in the country has been approved by the federal government and the state government is making efforts for its actualization. It is expected to provide additional impetus to both local and foreign investors. Furthermore, the state is one of the three states in the Northern part of the country that serve as a dry port and Inland Container Depot (ICD) for import/export activities of the hinterland shippers.


The impressive infrastructural facilities such as the Malam Aminu International Airport road and Railway links to other parts of the country as well as the excellent road network within the state provide unique opportunities for the steady growth of commercial activities. There are over 100 branches of commercial banks. Similarly, there are several branches of insurance companies and brokerage firms making Kano the leading financial center of Northern Nigeria.


The Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Cooperatives is charged with the responsibility of registration, supervision, inspection and auditing of all types of Cooperative Societies in the state. The Ministry also conducts public enlightenment programs to sensitize the public on the advantages of cooperative organizations.


INDUSTRIALIZATION Kano State is the second largest industrial center in Nigeria and the largest in the Northern Nigeria. There are at present over 400 privately owned medium and small scale industries in the state producing various items, such as textile materials, tanned leather, foot wears, cosmetics, plastics, enamel ware, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, furniture and bicycles. Others include agricultural implements, soft drinks, food and beverages, dairy products, vegetable oil, animal feeds etc. The strategy put in place by the State Government to boost the growth of industries was to provide large industrial areas such as Sharada industrial areas (Phase I, II, and III) the Challawa Industrial Area and Tokarawa Industrial layout. More of such industrial estates are being envisaged in the very near future.


TOURSIM Kano is blessed with abundant tourism resources which include historical monuments and sites, as well as unique places of great interest, such as Kurmi market established in the 15th century is in the heart of Kano City, the centuries-old city wall with some of its gates still standing. The Gidan Rumfa (Emir’s Palace) is the oldest and largest traditional palace in Nigeria. It is the oldest continuous sit of the authority in Nigeria. It was established by Sarkin Kano Muhammadu Rumfa (1463 – 1499) and its has been in continuous use since that time. Although the Sarki’s authority has been transformed to community leadership, his influence is still profound and everyday common people seek solace in his leadership for his intervention in some of their predicaments.http://kano.gov.ng/new/index.php/2012-02-28-03-51-05/ecosoc

Kano's once booming manufacturing sector has been stagnant over the last 15 years. Largely due to volatile power supply. Plans are being considered to build a Nuclear Power Station in the North-Eastern region of Nigeria. The plant is to be fueled from Uranium mined in neighbouring Gombe state and supplied over a rail network.

Local Government Areas
The state is home to 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs):
LGA Name     Area (km2)     Census 2006
population     Administrative capital     Postal
Code
Fagge     21     198,828     Waje     700
Dala     19     418,777     Gwamaja     700
Gwale     18     362,059     Gwale     700
Kano Municipal     17     365,525     Kofar Kudu     700
Tarauni     28     221,367     Unguwa Uku     700
Nassarawa     34     596,669     Bompai     700
Kumbotso     158     295,979     Kumbotso     700
Ungogo     204     369,657     Ungogo     700
Kano Metropolitan Area     499     2,828,861         700
Dawakin Tofa     479     247,875     Dawakin Tofa     701
Tofa     202     97,734     Tofa     701
Rimin Gado     225     104,790     Rimin Gado     701
Bagwai     405     162,847     Bagwai     701
Gezawa     340     282,069     Gezawa     702
Gabasawa     605     211,055     Zakirai     702
Minjibir     416     213,794     Minjibir     702
Dambatta     732     207,968     Dambatta     702
Makoda     441     222,399     Makoda     702
Kunchi     671     111,018     Kunchi     703
Bichi     612     277,099     Bichi     703
Tsanyawa     492     157,680     Tsanyawa     703
Shanono     697     140,607     Shanono     704
Gwarzo     393     183,987     Gwarzo     704
Karaye     479     141,407     Karaye     704
Rogo     802     227,742     Rogo     704
Kabo     341     153,828     Kabo     704
Northern Kano State     8,332     3,143,899         701 to 704
Bunkure     487     170,891     Bunkure     710
Kibiya     404     136,736     Kibiya     710
Rano     520     145,439     Rano     710
Tudun Wada     1,204     231,742     Tudun Wada     710
Doguwa     1,473     151,181     Riruwai     710
Madobi     273     136,623     Madobi     711
Kura     206     144,601     Kura     711
Garun Mallam     214     116,494     Garun Mallam     711
Bebeji     717     188,859     Bebeji     711
Kiru     927     264,781     Kiru     711
Sumaila     1,250     253,661     Sumaila     712
Garko     450     162,500     Garko     712
Takai     598     202,743     Takai     712
Albasu     398     190,153     Albasu     712
Gaya     613     201,016     Gaya     713
Ajingi     714     174,137     Ajingi     713
Wudil     362     185,189     Wudil     713
Warawa     360     128,787     Warawa     713
Dawakin Kudu     384     225,389     Dawakin Kudu     713
Southern Kano State     11,554     3,410,922         710 to 713

Languages
The official language of Kano State is English but the Hausa language is commonly spoken. Ibrahim Ado-Kurawa (2003). "Brief History of Kano 999 to 2003". http://www.kanostate.net/. Kano State Government Nigeria. Retrieved 2009-12-07.

Population
According to the 2006 census figures from Nigeria Kano State had a population totaling 9,383,682. The credibility of the census has been disputed most noticeably by Gani Fawehinmi – a Lagos-based advocate and activist. The Attorney-General of Kano State, Maliki Kuliya Umar, had filed a complaint before the Census Tribual alleging that the figure released by the commission was inaccurate. He contended that Kano’s population should have been 12,257,350 as against the figure released by the commission.

Officially, Kano State is the most populous state in the country.[3] The state is mostly populated by Hausa people.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

AU concerned over South Sudan unrest

Addis Ababa - The African Union said on Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" about events in South Sudan following two days of deadly fighting in the young nation, and urged restraint.

The AU "urges the government and leadership of South Sudan and all other stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and avert any further escalation”, the head of the AU's executive council, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said in a statement.
Gunfire erupted between rival troops in the capital Juba late on Sunday.
President Salva Kiir accused his arch-rival and former deputy Riek Machar of attempting to stage a coup but said it had been defeated.
The AU said it was ready to assist in finding a solution to the crisis.
Dlamini-Zuma urged the rival factions "to seek the resolution of their differences through peaceful means, with due respect for the rule of law, human rights and constitutional legality".
Since independence in July 2011, Kiir has struggled to stem rampant corruption and quell rebellion and conflict in the deeply impoverished but oil-rich nation, left devastated by decades of war.

5 opposition parties form coalition for 2014

Johannesburg - Five opposition parties have formed a coalition to contest the general elections next year, they announced on Tuesday.

The new Collective for Democracy consists of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Congress of the People (Cope), the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and the United Christian Democratic Party.
"The political dynamics have now changed as the diversity of South Africa is now represented effectively in our Collective for Democracy [CD]," chair Mosiuoa Lekota, also leader of Cope, said.
"We now have an opportunity to bring voters the hope of actual political change instead of giving up on alternatives because the ruling party has cynically manoeuvred its way into all sectors of our society, entrenching its power and corruption."
The parties said they would work to advance democracy and contest the general election with a view to securing enough representation to form a new government.
Lekota said the CD had been negotiated over a number of years with a view to finding common ground.
The agreement centred on the "joint areas of priority", which consisted of 20 points that were negotiated and formally accepted at a signing ceremony on Tuesday.
‘Priority’
The agreed areas included prioritising education and training, referring the protection of state information bill to the Constitutional Court, ensuring strict separation of party and State, and the review of the "bloated" government to ensure efficiency and affordability.
"The Collective for Democracy will soon announce their team of potential representatives that will draw on the best people within the parties while focusing on corruption free, competent, trusted candidates," it said.
ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley of the ACDP said her party had embraced the CD.
"The ACDP has embraced and committed to the realisation of a shared future for all South Africans, and the CD is a demonstration of this commitment to a peaceful and prosperous SA for all who live here," she said.
FF Plus leader Pieter Mulder said: "Coalitions are an important part of our electoral system and makes it possible for voters to vote for the party closest to their values, but still vote against the ANC. Our wonderful country is diverse, and so our future should reflect that."
Other opposition parties were welcome to join the coalition, as long as they committed to the agreed principles, the CD said.

Mandela warned us against ANC - Jim

Numsa members. (Photo: file, Sapa)

Johanensburg - Metalworkers’ union Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said former president Nelson Mandela had warned the labour movement to be vigilant against betrayal by the ANC, City Press reported on Tuesday.

Jim quoted Mandela’s message to Cosatu’s special national congress in 1993, where he said: “If the ANC does not deliver the goods, you must do what you did to the apartheid regime.”

Jim said the union would be following Mandela’s advice when deciding on its road forward at its special conference, which started in Boksburg on Tuesday.

Delivering his secretariat report at a special four-day conference called by Numsa to decide whether it should remain in Cosatu, Jim said Mandela’s death marked “the end of a political era in our journey towards full liberation”.

“If we are to truthfully and fully honour Mandela and his comrades, his passing on must herald the birth of our renewed commitment to intensify the struggle for full economic sovereignty, for complete economic freedom of the working class and the rural poor,” he said.

He said Mandela’s passing should inspire the union to fight for the ideals he stood for. “Not to do so will be to betray him and his comrades,” he said.

Jim told a packed hall of cheering delegates on Tuesday afternoon that the conference was taking place soon after Mandela’s funeral on Sunday, and at a time when a “triple crisis is ravaging the working class”.

This triple crisis is unemployment, poverty and inequality.

The union is set to decide by Friday whether it wants to remain part of Cosatu.

UN launches $6.5bn Syria appeal

United Nations warns that nearly three-quarters of country's population will need humanitarian support in 2014


The UN has launched its biggest ever appeal for humanitarian aid after exhausting funds raised to help Syria this year, and said nearly three-quarters of the country's population will need help in 2014.
It estimates that close to half of Syria's population has been displaced, while the World Food Programme says a similar number need "urgent, life-saving food assistance".
The former British foreign secretary David Miliband, now president of the International Rescue Committee, said large parts of the Syrian population were threatened by starvation.
The UN aims to raise a total of $6.5bn (£4bn) for Syria alone, 63% more than the $4bn target it set during its last appeal in June, which was only 60% funded.
More than 2.3 million refugees have fled to neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and the Kurdish north of Iraq, where many have struggled to find shelter, heating and food.
Lady Amos, the UN undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, said the ever-deteriorating situation was "one of the biggest crises in modern times". She said Syrian refugees "think the world has forgotten about them".
Miliband described the conflict as "the defining humanitarian crisis of this century so far".

After 33 months of ever-increasing savagery, there is no end in sight to the war, which poses a serious threat to the unitary boundaries of Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and continues to raise sectarian tensions across the Middle East.
Once entirely food and water-sufficient, there have been signs in parts of Syrian society in recent months of malnutrition, particularly among the rural poor who have fled homes in the west and north but have remained internally displaced rather than crossing borders.
The UN estimates that more than 6.3 million internal refugees are scattered throughout the country, a number that is expected to rise further by the middle of next year.
Medical agencies complain of limited access to war-torn areas, blaming regime forces and opposition groups for preventing deliveries of medicines and in some cases hijacking convoys.
More than 125,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which has descended into a series of stalemates in which neither side can make meaningful advances.
Daily death tolls across Syria have persistently hovered near 100 or more for much of the past year, making the war more deadly than any point during the height of the insurgency in neighbouring Iraq.
More than 90 people were killed in Syria's second city, Aleppo, on Monday morning after Syrian air force helicopters dropped improvised explosives, known as barrel bombs, on three opposition neighbourhoods. Activists reported that 26 of those killed were children.
Opposition groups claimed that more than 20 such bombs were dropped on the east of the city in the early hours, in the most intense blitz for many months. Aleppo and other parts of the north have also been hit regularly by medium-range ballistic missiles, including scuds, fired from nearby Damascus.
However, single-strike death tolls as high as this are rare.
A doctor in the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, parts of which were flattened by at least two bombs, said his makeshift clinic had been overrun by parents bringing seriously wounded children to him. "It's worse than it has ever been here," he told the Guardian via Skype. "None of the people I saw were fighters. None of them were even adults."
Maria Calivis, Unicef's regional director for the Middle East and north Africa, said: "It is absolutely unacceptable for children to be targeted in this manner, whether through the use of indiscriminate weapons resulting in mass casualties or by any other means."
In recent months communities in parts of Aleppo and its surrounds have increasingly fallen under the sway of jihadist groups, who joined the insurgency to transform the war into an epicentre of al-Qaida-inspired global jihad.
In recent weeks the western-supported Free Syrian Army (FSA) has lost considerable influence due to the rise of the al-Qaida groups and a reconfiguration of many militias in the north who have united under an Islamic banner.
The stated purpose of the new group, the Islamic Front, which is understood to be a force of 45,000, is to sideline the Islamic State of Iraq and Jabhat al-Nusra groups that form the core of al-Qaida's presence in Syria.
However, last week the nascent organisation raided weapons depots of the Free Syrian Army near the Turkish border, sending the FSA leader Salim Idriss fleeing across the frontier and casting serious doubt on his group's continued relevance as a fighting force.
One mid-ranking leader of the new group said militia leaders in northern Syria had grown impatient both with the FSA and the exiled group of opposition leaders who had attempted, with little success, to act as its political wing.
"They couldn't deliver at any point," he said. "They were Europe and the US's proxies, but they were never resourced. It was clear that their backers weren't really their backers at all."
Throughout the past year humanitarian bodies have used increasingly desperate rhetoric to appeal for aid in Syria.
There is concern that the crisis is yet to resonate with parts of the international community fatigued by more than a decade of death and displacement in the Middle East.
"There is a lack of awareness on the part of many about just how desperate conditions are for Syrians," said Miliband.
"We can say that more than nine million people are in need there, but … it's extremely difficult to put human faces on cold numbers.
"We are all working to meet the needs of these most vulnerable, but the numbers are increasing so rapidly now, that current resources just aren't enough."