In policy and popular discourse, pastoralism is cast as an outmoded form of production. Despite empirical evidence, pastoralism is seen as a drag on national development. This framing of pastoralism has its root's in colonialism, where the colonialists worked overtime to sedentarism pastoralists. As a result, policymakers even post-colonial have ignored and marginalised pastoralists. Despite the neglect, pastoralism continues to contribute to the national GDP. The Elephant's Abdullahi Boru in conversation with Guyo Malicha Roba, a researcher and expert on African pastoralism and livestock value chain.
Do you consider yourself a Pan-Africanist? Is there an overall grand vision uniting Pan-Africanists in the present time? Listen in on this conversation as we discuss the promise and real test of Pan-Africanism in the 21st century.
As NATO troops leave Afghanistan by 11 September in the face of a Taliban surge, this documentary asks two timely and critical questions: why did the international intervenors fail in their mission to bring stability to Afghanistan, and how might peace now occur?
Despite marginalisation, systemic subjugation and other burdens, women have played active roles in sustaining communities in Somalia. In fact, argues Ruqia Botan, women are paramount to lasting peace in Somalia.
Building Bridges Initiative isn't the process to accomplish Kenya's dreams since its independence as its propagators state. In fact, argues Mutemi was Kiama, the BBI process is a ploy to subvert Kenya's democracy through constitutional means.
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBS) Nairobi Office, in collaboration with the Elephant, cordially invite you to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Judgement Series. This new series seeks to interrogate the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative unconstitutional and what this means to Kenya's constitutional path.
Since its creation, northern Kenya has been marginalised, alienated and dispossessed by both internal and external actors. The region has been underdeveloped by the central government’s failure to allocate adequate resources. Yet, opines Abdullahi Boru, the future of project Kenya may in fact lay in the development of Northern Kenya.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's dramatic move to recentralise governance in Ethiopia has an old and predictable logic to it. Eritrea's leader Isias Afwerki has pushed for it as well. But it has meant Ahmed abrogating the Ethiopian constitution and shredding the underlying political contract between elites from the different regions of Ethiopia. It immediately led to war with Tigray that has literally collapsed Ethiopia's once-mighty military machine. As July ends the Prime Minister has been forced into the dangerous move of mobilising ethnic militias. Matt Bryden argues the only way out is negotiation.
Eritrea is Africa's most closed society and most fiercely authoritarian state. Its President Isaias Afwerki has been president for almost 30 years and is considered one of the continent's most gifted and ruthless strategists. As both Somalia and Ethiopia convulse, the now not so hidden hand of Eritrea's leader has become increasingly apparent as Eritrea very effectively leverages limited resources but deep experience into a disproportionate impact on the entire Horn of Africa. The Elephant in conversation with Matt Bryden.
For the first time in post-independence Kenya, there is a sense of unity among Kenyans drawn from humble beginnings irrespective of their tribe. The hustler nation is a story current state of lives shared by the majority of Kenyans. Dr Ngala Chome explains this shift in Kenya's politics.
Ethiopia seems set to enter a new phase of a brutal civil war. For some of the country's communities, an existential contest between a centralising logic in Addis Ababa and self-determination among the regions has begun. Oromo activist and storyteller, Ms Soreti Kadir, argues that the brutality against civilians in Ethiopia is about to intensify and prospects for the Ethiopian state are bleak.
Kenya's youth demography is made up of over 9.5 million people, more than 20 per cent of the population. Despite being the majority, youth interests have always been overlooked. The Building Bridges Initiative is stipulated to address youth matters. This webinar explores the effects of the historic May 13, 2021 judgment declaring the Building Bridges Initiative unconstitutional and what this means to Kenya’s youth and marginalised.
