I was born in Africa, South Africa. I lived there and worked there for most of my life. I have been an African development worker, an Oxfam campaigner, an African UN activist, a South African trade unionist, a South African WTO trade negotiator, a businessman running my own businesses in southern Africa, a founder of non-profits and campaigns to bring Africa to the forefront of action, and a developmental economist working on the role of business in Africa. Why is this relevant? Well, not much really. But it did teach me about how people would like to see us - with their blinkers on, thank you.
Africa and the people of Africa is my Ubuntu - I am because of them. They define me. They made me. I have no choice. They are in my blood and in my bones the same way that I breathe. I don’t think about it - I just do it.
Today I live and work in Boston, USA. (After a few years in London, UK). I have been living outside Africa since 2002. And it has been a ride. This blog is about me being pissed off from an African perspective. And that could be anything - how people see us, how they talk about us, what they miss, how they use us and abuse us, or just something that I read that pissed me off all over again. Sometimes I’ll write a bit about my own experiences in Africa. And sometimes I’ll just write about anything that takes my fancy. But always influenced by my African roots. I hope people will get to know this beautiful and weird place called Africa and how it frames the way we think and act. How it makes me an Angry African on the Loose.
How did I come to the name Angry African on the Loose? I wish I could take credit, but I can’t. A friend of mine was reading my old blog about my life - An Accidental Activist - when she called me an Angry African on the Loose. It struck a cord and I decided that will be my blog about my rants. But it became too much to try and run three blogs at the same time so I merged them all. Angry African on the Loose lives on, but got a few new friends.
My previous work-related blogs done on Make It Better was about my views on my day job - sustainability. I work on business and their role in society and development. How to help them be a little bit better and a little bit more accountable. The views and rants here are more general and not always on Africa. More about business and sustainability, corporate social responsibility and everything that goes with that - from strategy to communications. But I hope you find it at least a little bit interesting. So, not everything on Angry African on the Loose will be about Africa. But rather about an African view on life and work.
The An Accidental Activist posts is about my life journey so far. Bits and pieces of how I got here. Life, not the destination. And my observations along the way. You see, I wasn’t born to be an activist. Not at all. I was born into a family that was the opposite of being activists. But life took a few interesting turns and somewhere along the way I became and African and an activist.
I hope to keep it fun. We believe in fun - laughing at ourselves and always smiling at what life throws at us. It would be great if you could learn something. But you don’t have to - just have fun.
Oh, before I forget. English is not my first language - so please excuse the many mistakes that will litter my blog.
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34 responses so far ↓
Surabaya Stew // February 24, 2008 at 1:15 am
This is sure to be a blog that I will come back to time and time again; keep up the good work! Don’t worry about your English language, as you write very clearly and genuinely seem to enjoy getting your thoughts across.
BTW: I love the picture of Mulberry Street on your banner; it is a view that I see quite often and am quite fond of.
Stephanie // February 24, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hi
My name is Stephanie and I’m a student at Birmingham City University in the UK, studying media and communication. My specialism is journalism and as part of my course I am currently writing about environmental issues affecting Africa and in particular Sub-Saharan Africa. I recently came across your blog which I found very useful and informative. From visiting your blog I wanted to pose the question and ask:
What you think goverments in developed countries should be doing to help Africa and its environment? As Africa is the most vunerable and more likely to be affected by climate change.
Hope to hear your views on the matter.
Regards
Stephanie Grant
Contact: 07920407738
Email: slgrantjj@hotmail.com
Brett // February 24, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Great blog….will be back for more!
Groete.
(ex Jozie oukie now living in Chicago)
Marlize // February 26, 2008 at 2:04 am
I am sure that you know who I am, Yes!!!! Your loving, beautifull, very shy sister from SA. Well done Boet!! You tell the world about us. Miss you lots
Saffer // February 27, 2008 at 10:48 am
Yeah please do tell everyone about our home
50 people murdered everyday (and thats only the reported ones)
Rape of thousands of woman, children and BABIES every year
Corrupt inefficient government…
Failing infrastructure (Eskom anyone? Shutting down the mines? I mean come on!)
Highest AIDS rate in the world
Uncontrolled illegal immigration
That is what all of us should be angry about, not what some yank thinks of our accent, that we all live in huts and have pet lions…
Lefika // March 6, 2008 at 5:43 am
Don’t forget to also write about the racism incidents that are always taking place at South Africa. How some people think their better than others just because of their skin pigmention? How some people think that they deserve to be treated special just because of the “Apartheid Legacy”. How education is a privilege not a right.
Jaqueline // March 6, 2008 at 8:26 am
And also don’t forget to tell them that although we have spent a fortune on educating our kids, they can’t get acceptable work because they are the wrong colour.
As well, mention that according to the news yesterday, 35,000 out of the 60,000 farmers that have had their land taken away have moved out of the country or are planning to go. They predict that we will be importing food from the neighbouring states within 5 years.
That this used to be a 1st world country, and is now worse than a 3rd world one, and is referred to on international sites as ‘a developing nation’, whereas before 1994 it was perfectly developed.
And that the way to treat things that are not working because there is no electricity is to set them alight, like the trains near Pretoria, then they complained that they had no transport to get to work. They had wrecked every train that went that way, as well as the tracks and overhead wires.
And that during the time the electricity is off, the cable theft is rampant, they know they can’t get electrocuted then. So how is it helping the electricity problem, stealing the cables? It’s going to make it worse because they have the missing cables to replace as well now.
random_monkey // March 6, 2008 at 11:20 am
yeah! blame it on the white crackas!
George // March 12, 2008 at 2:46 am
Dont forget the racist policies of the ANC, AA, BEE, BWE. Oh and if youre a whitey and you need a job, forget it they just tell you the skin colour is wrong. This applies to kids who were babies when aparthied was disbanded.
shan - Green Party // March 13, 2008 at 8:56 am
What about genetic engineering? This madcap ’science’ is being justified on the grounds that it will ‘feed the world’ when in fact it will feed big corporations and impoverish farmers (eg they will have to buy seed instead of saving it). Any views on this please from an African perspective?
Kevin // March 14, 2008 at 9:22 am
Why don’t you go back to africa and take about 25 friends with you.
poetik // March 16, 2008 at 4:03 am
i always find defenders of white supremacy in South Africa (in every disguise, call it neo-conservatism or new-liberalism, or South African liberalism) quite amusing. for me a lot of South Africans of European origin always attempt to excuse apartheid South Africa, but couching that within a language of patriotic concern for the state of South Africa. the ANC is no angel, but most South Africans are better off under the ANC than they were under any other government before. those South Africans may not be you, a white conservative, but unfortunately for you, they are in the majority. their current voting of the ANC shows that, notwithstanding its numerous limitations, it is still their best hope for an equitable socio-economic life as far as they are concerned. Not the DA and not anyone else.
the legacy of apartheid cannot be discounted just because a black government has been ruling for the last two decades or more. and any other nostlagic arguments about past versions of South Africa, are nothing but expressions of apartheid apalogisms. Any farmer who feels that land redistribution is against them and he feels he wants to leave for the West where his heart lies, let him do so. You cannot have reconciliation without reconstruction. whites may love reconciliation but they will have to contend with affirmative action because the social condition of black people will have to improve before they really see the benefits of reconciliation.
Keven Bennett (53_2) // March 18, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Thanks for the intro on the Swampland blog. I enjoy the humer and lighthearted way you lend to discussions on these issues. It lends a little enjoyment to what is usually othewise a very angry, disheartening, and sometimes tiresome task of defending one’s views. Refreshing!
Your blog is pretty much in line with some of the things I’ve learned from my in-laws, mainly, that one will get a heart attack if one doesn’t learn to roll with the punches!
Thanks!
Marlize // March 20, 2008 at 6:25 am
This one is for the ones above that have nothing positive to say about SA!! Yes we do have a high crime rate and yes, we do have some corrupt government officials and all of the above, but what do you expect. Did we give them a change to gain experience before they took over. NO, we chucked them in jail for opening their mouths about what we were doing to them. I am surprised that they (our government of today) don’t hate us for that. It is their change now, and yes the whites do suffer because of what our parents and forfathers did, but someone has to pay. Our government is still a baby, I mean really two decades of ruling a country is nothing. Give them a change and let them learn through their mistakes. It is because of people like you that transformation and reconsiliation is going to take longer and longer. I believe that someday SA will be a better place because of people like Madiba. Our children can now play together and grow up together in the same areas. Not like in the past where I could not even invite my friends to my wedding. I had to sneak out of my own wedding reception to be with my friends. Our children will make this country a country to be proud of. Not that I am not proud to be a SA citizen, because I am. And I will gladly stand back for those who were discriminated against by my father and your father. And do you blame them for taking back their land, NO NO NO. We took it from them in the first place. People like SAFFER should be hung from the nearest tree, the @@@@%% traiter. It is people like that who makes my blood boil. And if you knew Angry African, you will realise that he does not have one racist hair on his body, and I want to thank him for standing up and speaking out about it. One day we will look back and see that all the “sacrifices” of today was so worth it. I am here to stay, I will not run away. And the AA, BEE, BWE is necessary, and will be for quite some time still. This should be an oppertunity for our kids today to think outside their comfort zone, where mommy and daddy do everything for them. Be an entrepreneur and start something. Use your brain for something else than watching TV and playing computer games. But I suppose GEORGE and SAFFER don’t have a brain, shame I really feel sorry for you. Well you can always come and work in my garden.
Keep up the good work Angry African
Baikong Mamid // March 20, 2008 at 7:37 am
Hi angryafrican,
I really love reading your blog and the passion in it. I would like to ask you to become my first guest blogger - And talks about women since its women’s month. Thanks! *crossed my fingers*
Keven Bennett (53_2) // March 20, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I apologize personally to all of you for the likes of Kevin, who posted above about his desire for a rather small, but select, “mass migration”.
He gives me, another Keven, a bad name. He is, of course, an insult to Kevens or Kevins everywhere. My “Kevenness” has been impugned…
There is one African I know personally, he’s from Nigeria, and he puts Kevin and his ilk in the dirt. He is a single father of four, raised his kids a few doors down from me, went to the University of Washinton, studied to be a pharmacist, finished out at 3.74 GPA, with one daughter going to Annapolis, graduated #2, the other daughter and one son graduating HS with near 4.0 GPA, and the second son not far behind.
Yes, some might say that that’s like the “I know a Black freind” sort of thing some say in America, but I assure you, it’s true…
So to all you “Kevins” out there like this loony, try to put YOUR story up against THAT!
IM1 // March 22, 2008 at 6:57 pm
“go back to Africa and take about 25 friends with you”?
Ugh. Kevin, I’m embarrassed for you.
I can tell I disagree withAngryAfrican on some issues, but skin color/origin/culture has nothing to do with that. Kevin, your garbage is a shame on America. Thanks a lot.
Realist // April 3, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Marlize what planet are you from? It must be like load shedding everyday for you - walking around with your head up your arse!
s sommer // April 6, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Enjoying this blog!
We have a radio host in Seattle who likes to sign off from his show saying something about
“America, the Greatest Country on God’s Green Earth.”
He says it a bit too long & too loudly.
Interesting to read someone lauding the good things about Africa & South Africa.. despite any & all problems.
I am pleased to read about the good!
Just met a man formerly from SA who says he encountered serious crime during his childhood in Johannesburg, and is now relieved to live in the US.
Said he is happy to pay the taxes to do so.
He seems very paranoid & now teaches self defense for a living.
Hmm.
I often read about the high violence rates & high rates of rape in SA.
I suppose others read about the high levels of incarceration in the US & our frequent gun crimes.
Now, we see Chinese defending their govt’s suppression of Tibet.
The Chinese people are indignant, feeling that the Tibetans are ungrateful for the “help” the Chinese have given that “backward” country.
It is interesting to see how citizens can admire & support their own country, no matter its’ true faults.
Loyalty is good.. but, so is objectivity.
Here in America, some people say if you find fault with America, you are not a patriot. How about a balance?
ilovemylife // April 20, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Congratulations on the Roger win. I didn’t know about that tournament. The boys are in Monte Carlo now but I hear it rained out some play on Sunday.
Marlize // May 6, 2008 at 9:24 am
To Realist
I would rather deal with my “load Shedding” than with people like you. I just hope that you are an ex South African citizen. People like you take their bags and run the moment things doesn’t go their way. BBBBYYYYEEE BBBBYYYYEEEEE
If you are not a SA citizen, shut up!!! You don’t know what you are talking about.
Keven Bennett // May 6, 2008 at 12:03 pm
s sommer:
That radio talk show host wouldn’t be John Carlson or Dorrie Monson, would it?
From Renton…
K****r Boetie // May 9, 2008 at 2:29 am
Dis nie ‘n wit ou wat hierdie Blog skryf nie, dis ‘n fokken k****r, word wakker !
angryafrican // May 9, 2008 at 7:34 am
I included the comment by this idiot above. Just to show what kind of people still hang around in this world. And in South Africa. He would get along well with greyrooster who must be him in disguise over here in the US.
For those who can’t read what he says - he is basically saying that I am a N****r and that people shouldn’t read this blog because of that. Oh, he left another message as well saying that we (the K’s) are all barbaric. Decided not to allow that one. One of only two comments I ever deleted. But I do feel it crosses the line. I hope you agree.
And the idiot didn’t leave his email address either. Funny that - those who shout the loudest always do it from behind a wall because they are too cowardly to do it in yor face.
Lesson: You are a bigot if you can’t say it in my face. And you are a coward when you have to hide away when you spew your hate.
I don’t mind people not agreeing with me. That’s life. Saffer and myself don’t agree - but you know what? We actually like each other and agree on too many other things. And we are proudly South African. But just have different experiences and don’t feel the need for name-calling. We’ll enjoy a braai and beer together and talk rugby. And even bicker about politics. But we do respect each other for who we are and the fact that we celebrate our differences.
For the guy/girl who left this comment. Aargh! I am not even going to insult you. You are not worth it. I just feel sorry for you. Missing life through your lenses of hate. Goodbye.
a broad // May 9, 2008 at 7:34 am
K****r Boetie should not be given any kind of platform to use words that are so offensive - stars mean nothing, we all know what he is saying and someone that racist and disgusting should not be given the time of day, let alone the right to voice his disgusting opinion.
Pommie // May 9, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Just for the record, are you black or white ?
Baikong // May 9, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I tagged you!
theheaviestfunkintheworld // May 20, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Just found this blog.
Man. Bullseye. You’ve written about many things that I absolutely, utterly get (my dad was in exile for thirty years, ANC and a massive ass to boot).
But I’m glad I share the planet with human beings sometimes.
That Kevin guy’s a dick, though, isn’t he?
hoh // May 24, 2008 at 12:30 pm
refreshing!
come home soon
we need you here!
cheers
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS – SOUTH AFRICA - SHACK DWELLERS STATEMENT « BIZLINKS // May 24, 2008 at 12:41 pm
[...] LINK - Angry African on the Loose [About: Angry African] [...]
Dr. Ethiopia // May 26, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Nobel, is a big word to use, but i must say what you are doing in my view is Nobel.
I find your blog to be very unique, and i must say you are very original in your service of Africa in the Blogsphere.
Learnt about your blog via, The Huffington Post where a fellow blogger, John Liebhardt mentioned your blog and mine, in his post.
I am happy to have stumbled through his post, because of it i am introduced to the “Angry African on The Loose”.
Call me a Life Time Fan.
Cheers!
The Voice Of Reason // June 18, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Sustainability? After reading that joke of a “We eat meat, deal with it” piece I can only assume you have the most primitive understanding of the term.
ROY MADRON // June 29, 2008 at 7:52 am
I am really responding to your comment on Barry Knight´s piece in the Guardian some time ago.
When you say “Maybe we just suffer from having way too many causes…” you have hit a very important political point.
One of the strategies of the current power elites is to encourage the foundation of single-issue NGOs. Joan Roelofs describes the notionally “non-partisan” Foundations (Rockefeller, Carneigie, Pew etc) as “a protective layer for capitalism,” and the global system of NGOs (also known as ” Global Civil Society”
that they fund as “elephantine, serpentine, and Byzantine.”
The Civil Society movement makes no attempt to reverse the process by which the power-elites install their Presidents in the White House or the Elysee Palace, their Prime Ministers in Number 10, their majority in both houses of Congress and the House of Commons, their nominees on the Supreme Court, their members and protégé(e)s in the Cabinet, their technocrats at the head of major national and international agencies, their Mayors and Governors in the key cities and states, their allies in key positions on radio, TV and the print media, their compliant academics in key university posts, and ensure that their values, analysis, ideas, books and articles are given a dominant voice in the mass-media that they own and control.
Thus what formerly provided a vehicle for genuine political dialogue and innovation has become a cul-de-sac.
These are crucial political issues - without understanding their significance the chances of caring, sustainable and just societies is nil.
For more thoughts on these issues go to http://www.gaiandemocracy.net
Tony McGregor // July 23, 2008 at 7:41 am
Hey great blog man. I am also an Angry African not too much on the loose though! I love this country, or maybe like Burgess I should say in paraphrase I love South Africa but I’m not sure I love my country because I don’t know exactly what that means. This country has so much going for it and those who deny that are fixated on the problems so they can’t see beyond them. they are the ones with their heads up their asses. I support the ANC, but not uncritically. I just wish there was a strong, well-organised opposition to them to the left of the political spectrum! Those on the right are mostly whingers and ex-Nats who lament the passing of white supremacy. I grew up relatively privileged with a good education and what I have learnt from that is that no-one is better than anyone else - we each of us have our part to play in making this country and this world better. Some of us will be called to make huge contributions, others of us lesser ones. But we are all in the same boat in the end. If one fails, we all fail. Better let all succeed, hey? Let’s learn to live with less judgement and more acceptance and understanding. And thanks, Marlize, for you comments. Good to know there is another sane one in SA! Just kidding but I feel you know what’s going on!
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