Newspaper Article

Is Nigeria Ready?

On October 1,1960 Nigeria is granted independence. To prepare for Nigeria’s independence, the British have had a number of conferences to discuss the all new constitution for a soon to be independent Nigeria. Before independence there were three political parties, the Hausa- Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo. The British have ruled for almost a hundred years and for some reason this made Nigerians feel together as one, but Nigeria becoming independent, the question is, would they still have that same unity?. Leaders of Nigeria have decided to keep their same name, Nigeria which was the name given under British rule. Nigeria has created a British- style constitution and people are now seeing a great future ahead of Nigeria. Nigeria is still negotiating on how to govern themselves without the common enemy of the British, who always made them feel as one. Now that Nigeria has become independent, their unity has clashed into pieces. So do you think Nigeria is ready to become independent or do they still need their regular British colonial rule?

Protest Poem

Freedom
by Afzal Moolla

The shackles have been cast off.

Chains broken.

People once squashed,

under the jackboot of Apartheid,

are free.

Free at last!

Freedom came on the 27th day in that April, 1994.

Freedom from prejudice.

From institutionalised racism.

From being relegated to second-class citizenship.

Freedom came and we danced.

We cried.

We ululated as we elected

our revered Mandela.

President Nelson Mandela. Our very own beloved 'Madiba'.

Black and white and brown and those in-between,

All hues of this rainbow nation,

rejoiced as we breathed in the air of freedom and democracy.

Today we pause.

We remember.

We salute.

The brave ones whose sacrifices made this day possible,

on that 27th day of April,

18 years ago.

Today we dance.

We sing.

We ululate.

We cry.

Tears of joy and tears of loss.

Of remembrance and of forgiveness.

Of reconciliation and of memories.

Today we pause.

We acknowledge the tasks ahead.

The hungry.

The naked.

The destitute.

Today we reaffirm,

that promise of freedom.

From want.

From hunger.

From eyes without promise.

Today we also wish to reflect

On unfulfilled promises

On the proliferation of greed.

On the blurring of the ideals of freedom.

Today we say

We will take back the dream.

We will renew the promise.

We will not turn away.

Today we pledge

To stand firm

To keep the pressure turned on

To remind those in the corridors of power,

that we the people need to savor the fruits of the tree of freedom.

And till that time,

when all shall share in the bounty of democracy,

We shall remain vigilant,

and strong.

And we shall continue,

to struggle.

And to sing out loud,

"We shall overcome".

Afzal Moolla’s poem FREEDOM is speaking on the topic of Apartheid. He talks about the day black South Africans became free from apartheid. Black South Africans became free from Apartheid on April 27, 1994. In his poem he describes how black South Africans had felt during this time of happiness, “ Freedom from prejudice. From institutionalized racism. From being relegated to second- class citizenship.  Freedom came and we danced. We cried. We ululated as we elected our revered Mandela.  “ There is no surprise why black South Africans would be overjoyed during this time because they were constantly treated unfairly for years until that day of freedom. Black South Africans were always targeted and discriminated against. They were regularly second to white South Africans in citizenship and didn’t have as much privileges as they did, but now they could have that equal authority. Mandela being released from prison gave tremendous hope to black South Africans. Mandela always fought for the rights of his people in a reverent, peaceful manner, with amazing courage and dignity. He was the Moses of his nation. He soon became elected as president.

Living Under Apartheid

by Anna Tolanigadi

I feel helpless and unworthy.

Racism and discrimination surround my life.

In my eyes, I see inequality and unfairness.

I live behind these bars everyday thinking,

When will I be free?

Oh, the struggle is so real,

But I have faith that it will all be over soon.

Hopefully soon.

Personal Narrative

Dearest Sister,

How are you? I miss seeing your smiling face. Just wanted to tell you that I got a new cell roommate. His name is Nelson Mandela. You probably know him. Although we are living in this hell hole, he has become an older brother to me, one I never had. His amazing example makes me want to become a better person. He is such a humble man, never focuses on himself, but always on other people. He always forgives, even when these brutalic officers try to beat him to death. He always talks about how he wants to end apartheid and better South Africa. He always speaks with a sense of passion and soberness, such a calm fella. Life here is not that great on Robben Island. All I have is a raggedy, ant crawling, bed that has been here since the ancient times, and a broken down, gray, tiny bucket that has been urinated from men in the past. With Mandela here things have become better. Officers are a little nicer now. I miss you guys so much, I miss home. I miss the aroma  of mom’s cooking, her famous cassava and yams, just thinking about it makes me cry. I sit here everyday in this cell praying to God, asking him for forgiveness of what I’ve done. I’m trying to change sis and with Mandela here, its become easier to be a better person. Please say hi to all the family and send them my love, especially mama. I know she’s still mad at me for what I’ve done, but just tell her I love her with all my heart and soul. The walls and the floors are all made out of cement and sometimes the officers make you lay on it at night when you don’t behave well. It’s weird cause Mandela is nice to these horrible officers, he’s always kind and courteous. Nelson is also very forgiving. I betrayed Nelson by telling one of his darkest secrets to a friend, which I will not repeat again. He forgave me the minute he found out, with no fight at all about. Nelson, as you can see, is a very good man. He just told me not to do it again. Most people in prison would’ve killed me. No, but not Nelson. Nelson Mandela is a different type of man.

Love,

Zimba

Compare/Contrast Essay

Anna Tolanigadi
May 14, 2014
History AS
Ms. Vosberg



  After Nigeria and South Africa had granted independence, Europeans had left a major effect on western imperialism. The western influence on South Africa and Nigeria had many similar, but different effects.They had social similarities, but religious differences.

  Nigeria and South Africa are two very diverse ethnic countries that have westernized influenced media in their societies. Beginning in the year 1990, Nigeria had formed their own film industry called  "Nollywood", an industry that is widespread across the continent. Nollywood's prime language in most movies are English. The style of how most actors/actresses sing. dance, act, and dress in Nigerian films are influentially westernized. As Nigerians watch this type of entertainment, they become determined to inhabit these westernized actions. In South Africa, they use westernized instruments, like guitars, in addition to their indigenous traditional music,which has shifted people away from listening to their traditional, older, folktale songs from the times of South African ancestry to a more urban and modern tone from the present til now. South Africans have adapted to this new lifestyle of music and have become used to it.

  Nigeria and South Africa may be similar when it comes down to their "westernized media", but when it comes to their religion and beliefs, they are two very contrasting places. Nigeria's dominant religion has always been Islam, considering the fact that Nigeria has a numerous amount of Muslims . They believe in their prophet Muhammad, the prophet of Allah and in his teachings. Although, during the period of apartheid, South Africans were forced to become Christian, they couldn't be any type of African traditional religion, it was forbidden by the Dutch and British. People of the Christianity faith believe in Jesus Christ, his teachings, beliefs and practices.

After the Europeans left, to let Nigeria and South Africa become independent, Nigeria and South Africa have both somewhat been influenced by their influence of westernization. From movies to music in their everyday lives and their own beliefs of Islam and Christianity. Westernization has made a major impact to the people of Nigeria and South Africa.

Political Cartoon Analysis (South Africa & Nigeria)

This political cartoon features Nelson Mandela being portrayed as Moses, from the Bible. He is standing with his arms raised holding a stick in his left hand. Mandela is standing in the middle of an ocean that has been split into two waters,the "RACIAL" waters and the "INJUSTICE" waters which put together spells out "Racial Injustice". At the far end of the ocean,you can see a beaming, bright white light that Mandela is faced upon. Mandela is dressed fairly professional with his blue suit and black dress shoes.

Nelson Mandela served as president of South Africa from May 10, 1994 - June 14, 1999. Mandela had ended racial injustice, by terminating apartheid and granting justice to all South Africans. Moses, a prophet in the Bible, who is mainly known for as the man who had crossed the Red Sea led his people to the land of Canaan. Unfortunately an army had followed and his people became frightened,but as Moses stomped his stick and parted the waters, people saw hope. Now they were able to walk through and the army was now engulfed by the sea. Like Moses, Mandela was a symbol of hope. He was the hope to end racial injustice in South Africa.He was the hope of ending apartheid. He was the hope for the victory of South Africa. Moses Mandela was truly "The Moses of His Nation".




This political cartoon shows Nigeria's new presidential government on the road. There are several vehicles, the Nigerian flag, and police officers.There are also seems to be traffic on the road.

In 1964, Nigeria granted independence. They had a new government system, but still kept their country's name.Their government was a total upgrade from what they were living through before, but more strict. This cartoon shows how professional and improved Nigeria had become.