An analysis of African oral traditions

Oral tradition played an important role in Africa's history and it is through this mode of communication, rather than through the written mode, that the stories of the old times and the history of the continent was preserved. Oral tradition encompassed stories, songs and folklore which were related by the older members of the society to the new generation at the end of the day while sitting around a fire. Or they would be performed to give a richer and more expressive way of communication as well as providing enjoyment and entertainment for all the villagers. A lot of the African cultural ways and beliefs were passed on from generation to generation through oral tradition.
 The storyteller (griot) was an artist in himself as he had to make the stories interesting and colourful to relay the message and also to keep the interest of the people who were listening to him. The myths and legends would relate how the world began and the meaning of life on earth. Some of the folktales which were told were meant to teach a lesson to those listening to deter them from making mistakes or behaving in a selfish or mean way as some of the characters in these stories did.

Folk songs were expressive and included animals or some aspect of the African natural heritage in their content. This can be seen in the Zulu song 'Where is the rain?' The song is about a giraffe and an elephant who go for a walk and wonder when it will rain. They describe in detail the dry land just waiting to be watered and then they hear the thunder and they look up at the sky "And heard the black eagle give forth his cry, the rain has come, the rivers will flow; the dry season is over; now the green grass will grow!" This one song gives details of the entire African scenario at that point in time and is both descriptive and informative.
Music also played a large part in African oral traditions and was both an educational and expressive tool in oral tradition. The drum was widely used to pass messages to the people of the village and also to the surrounding villages. The drummer was considered very important because it was his choice of words and the way he composed his songs that would relay the right message to those listening. The drum he would use was considered almost sacred. The phrase "talking drums" aptly describes this method of communication. Dance was also an integral part of the African life, a way of communicating and performing ceremonial rituals.
Proverbs and riddles were also used to teach those listening about the good and bad qualities in human beings and how to judge a good character. A West African proverb goes like this "A large eye does not mean keen vision" which cautions a person not to be too trusting of another and not to take things at face value. Another one says "If you run after two hares you will catch neither." This obviously teaches the listener not to be greedy and to be content with what you have no matter how little.
Oral traditions were therefore a rich part of African history and to this day some of these folktales and stories have been preserved proving that oral literature can be passed on across the generations as effectively as the written word can.

Champions League 2012/2013 Round Of 16

Champions League 2012/2013 Round Of 16

Breaking News : Governor Yakowa Of Kaduna, Former NSA Azazi Dead In Helicopter Crash

Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and former National Security Adviser Andrew Owoye Azazi apparently died in a helicopter that crashed today in Bayelsa State.
Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi, a retired military general who served as chief security adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, were among passengers in the ill-fated helicopter.
Nigeria's National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) had earlier indicated that the agency had activated a search for a crashed helicopter.
Our sources had earlier disclosed that the crashed chopper was carrying “some major political figures.” As at the time of going to press, Saharareporters was unable to confirm the identity of any other passengers in the ill-fated chopper.
Governor Yakowa and Mr. Azazi were among many political figures who reportedly attended the burial of the father of senior presidential aide Oronto Douglas. The funeral event took place in the Nembe area of Bayelsa State earlier today.  Sahara Reporters learnt that the crashed helicopter was one of several helicopters that took some of the well-connected people to the funeral.
The crash comes on the heels of a plane crash on October 25, 2012 that has left Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State brain-damaged. Mr. Suntai was moved to a hospital in Germany where he remains in poor shape, unable to recognize his visitors or to speak.

.......source : Sahara Reporters

Breaking News: Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s Mum Freed

A security source has just confirmed to Saharareporters that the kidnapped mother of Nigeria’s finance minister, Professor Kamene Okonjo has been freed by security forces in Delta state.

Freed At Last: Prof. Kamene Okonjo Reportedly Freed By Security Forces

Professor Okonjo was kidnapped by dare-devil kidnappers from her home  on December 9 2012 while attending to workers fixing her palace gate.
Details as it unfolds later.

Pastors Will Buy More Jets – Bishop Francis Oke

President of the Sword of the Spirit International Ministries and the national vice president of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has condemned the attack on clerics who own private jets in the country, just as he stated that such stand was uncalled for and that more jets from clergy were coming.

The bishop stated this in a release made available to Tribune Church. “We are being criticised for buying jets! But they forgot that before we started to buy jets, we were winning souls in thousands and millions, turning men and women from darkness to light. We were transforming lives, giving them beauty for ashes. We were empowering people, equipping them with the revelation knowledge of God’s word that lifts men out of the pit of poverty, to the pinnacle of grace and dominion! We were empowering the poor, not only giving them fish to eat but also teaching them how to fish. We were building schools that were giving quality education to the people, empowering them mentally to become prominent (these include those throwing stones at us now!). We were building universities. We were transforming our society, and changing our nation, one soul at a time,” he said.

Oke wondered what Nigeria would have been if not for the efforts of Pentecostalism in the country. “They have seen a few jets. They ain’t seen nothing yet! More of us will yet buy and maintain our jets, because, by the mercy of God, we have been given the wisdom to do so. And we are willing to teach the nation, if they will listen to us, rather than throw stones.

“However, our critics should know that the jets mean nothing to us! They are just tools to do the work that God has given us in a more effective manner. Or how can an Adeboye who has churches in over 160 nations of the earth cope with his pastoral and apostolic responsibilities without some private jets! He does not need just one. He needs some!

“How can an Ayo Oritsejafor, who has to minister around the globe, pastor a very large congregation in Warri, and still attend to critical national matters in Abuja, if he has to keep waiting at the airports, in a system where nothing is predictable? Our critics should, please, note that more of us are following the trail of the like of Adeboye, whose wealth and affluence has never stopped him from being a true shepherd of the poor and downtrodden, in true humility, simplicity and godly sincerity, a shining example of true Pentecostalism and Charismatic wisdom,” he said.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/news2013/index.php/en/business-package/2012-10-29-11-36-27/taxation/item/755-expect-more-jets-wale-oke-lashes-out-at-critics

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ABORTION...social and ethical issues

Abortion, termination of a pregnancy before birth, resulting in the death of the fetus. Some abortions occur naturally because a fetus does not develop normally or because the mother has an injury or disorder that prevents her from carrying the pregnancy to term. This type of spontaneous abortion is commonly known as a miscarriage. Other abortions are induced—that is, intentionally brought on—because a pregnancy is unwanted or presents a risk to a woman’s health, or because the fetus is likely to have severe physical or mental health problems.

Induced abortion, the focus of this article, is one of today’s most intense and polarizing ethical and philosophical issues. Modern medical techniques have made induced abortions simpler and less dangerous. But in the United States, the debate over abortion has led to legal battles in the courts, in the Congress of the United States, and state legislatures. The debate has spilled over into confrontations, which are sometimes violent, at clinics where abortions are performed.

This article discusses the most common methods used to induce abortions, the social and ethical issues surrounding abortion, and the history of the regulation of abortion in the United States.

a]  Drug-Based Abortion Methods

 

Drug-based abortion, also known as medication abortion, typically requires that a woman take two types of drugs within the first weeks of a confirmed pregnancy. In one method, a pregnant woman first takes the drug mifepristone, also known as RU-486, which blocks progesterone, a hormone needed to maintain the pregnancy. About 48 hours later, she takes another drug called misoprostol. Misoprostol is a prostaglandin (a hormone-like chemical produced by the body) that causes contractions of the uterus, the organ in which the fetus develops. These uterine contractions expel the fetus.

Another type of drug combination that induces abortion is the use of misoprostol with methotrexate, an anticancer drug that interferes with cell division. A physician first injects a pregnant woman with methotrexate. About a week later, the woman takes a pill containing misoprostol to induce uterine contractions and expel the fetus.

These drug-based abortion methods effectively end pregnancy in approximately 96 percent of the women who take them and are most effective when performed very early in a pregnancy. These methods require no anesthesia. However, the use of drugs to induce abortion has not been widely adopted by women in the United States for a number of reasons. These drugs can cause unpleasant side effects—some women experience nausea, cramping, and bleeding. More serious complications, such as arrhythmia, edema, and pneumonia, affect the heart and lungs and may cause death. Perhaps the primary deterrent is that these drug-based abortion methods require at least two visits to a physician over a period of several days, and these methods are no cheaper than a surgical abortion. 

b]  Surgical Abortion Methods

 

Legal surgical abortion, when done by a trained provider, is essentially 100 percent effective. A number of surgical methods can be used to induce abortions. To end a pregnancy before it reaches eight weeks, a doctor typically performs a preemptive abortion or an early uterine evacuation. In both procedures a narrow tube called a cannula is inserted through the cervix (the opening to the uterus) into the uterus. The cannula is attached to a suction device, such as a syringe, and the contents of the uterus, including the fetus, are extracted. Preemptive abortion uses a smaller cannula and is performed in the first four to six weeks of pregnancy. Early uterine evacuation, which uses a slightly larger cannula, is performed in the first six to eight weeks of pregnancy. Both types of abortions typically require no anesthesia and can be performed in a clinic or physician’s office. The entire procedure lasts for only several minutes. In preemptive abortions the most common complication is infection. Women who undergo early uterine evacuation may experience heavy bleeding for the first few days after the procedure.

Vacuum aspiration is a procedure used for abortions in the 6th to 14th week of pregnancy. It requires that the cervix be dilated, or enlarged, so that a cannula can be inserted into the uterus. Progressively larger, tapered instruments called dilators may be used to dilate the cervix. During the procedure, the cannula is attached to an electrically powered pump that removes the contents of the uterus. In some cases, the lining of the uterus must also be scraped with a spoonlike tool called a curette to loosen and remove tissue. This procedure is referred to as curettage. Vacuum aspiration may require local anesthesia and can be performed in a clinic or physician’s office. Minor bruising or injuries to the cervix may occur when the cannula is inserted.

Dilation and curettage (D&C), performed during the 6th to 16th week of pregnancy, involves dilating the cervix and then scraping the uterine lining with a curette to remove the contents. A D&C often requires general anesthesia and must be performed in a clinic or hospital. Possible complications include a reaction to the anesthesia and cervical injuries. Since the development of vacuum aspiration, the use of D&C has declined.

After the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, abortion becomes more difficult. One method that can be used during this period is dilation and evacuation (D&E), which requires greater dilation of the cervix than other methods. It also requires the use of suction, a large curette, and a grasping tool called a forceps to remove the fetus. D&E is a complicated procedure because of the larger size of the fetus and the thinner walls of the uterus, which stretch to accommodate a growing fetus. Bleeding in the uterus often occurs. D&E is often performed under general anesthesia in a clinic or hospital. It is typically used in the first weeks of the second trimester but can be performed up to the 24th week of pregnancy.

               

SOCIAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

Abortion has become one of the most widely debated ethical issues of our time. On one side are pro-choice supporters—individuals who favor a woman’s reproductive rights, including the right to choose to have an abortion. On the other side are the pro-life advocates, who may oppose abortion for any reason or who may only accept abortion in extreme circumstances, as when the mother’s life would be threatened by carrying a pregnancy to term. At one end of this ethical spectrum are pro-choice defenders who believe the fetus is only a potential human being when it becomes viable, that is, able to survive outside its mother’s womb. Until this time the fetus has no legal rights—the rights belong to the woman carrying the fetus, who can decide whether or not to bring the pregnancy to full term. At the other end of the spectrum are pro-life supporters who believe the fetus is a human being from the time of conception. As such, the fetus has the legal right to life from the moment the egg and sperm unite. Between these positions lies a continuum of ethical, religious, and political positions.

This combination of medical ambiguities and emotional political confrontations has led to considerable hostility in the abortion debate. For many people, however, the lines between pro-choice and pro-life are blurred and the issue is far less polarized. Many women who consider themselves pro-life supporters are concerned about possible threats to reproductive rights and the danger of allowing the government to decide what medical options are available to them. Similarly, many pro-choice individuals are deeply saddened by the act of abortion and seek to minimize its use through better education about birth control, and, in particular, emergency contraception, birth-control methods that prevent pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse.

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