Leymah Gbowee Praises the Value of Traditional African Education

The Liberian activist spoke passionately about carefully returning to traditional African education as a route to economic empowerment.

Liberia’s 2011 Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee spoke before attendees at the Clinton Global InitiativeMonday and bravely stood behind the oft-maligned African traditional schools, calling for a return to their lessons to help today’s African youth learn to make a way out of no way.

“In Africa many years ago, they had something called the secret societies…those were the former schools,” Gbowee said in a tempered tone after prefacing her remarks by predicting they would be “controversial.”

In more recent times, the secret societies or traditional schools Gbowee mentions have come to be thought of as synonymous with the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). However, Gbowee said that FGM is but one, negative part of the traditional schools’ legacy and that African nations shouldn’t be so quick to throw out the entire custom.

“All of the women in my family that went to that school, I have never seen them hold their heads or fold their arms when they fell on hard times,” she said. “Because there was always a skill that they could exploit to make money. Is it cooking? Is it basket making? Is it weaving cloth? They all had that skill.”

Gbowee said the schools taught students basic self-survival skills, including learning a trade or a craft and basic health and nutrition.

“With or without a Nobel thing, I can go in a market and I can sell, and these braids I can do.” Gbowee said gesturing to her hair tucked underneath her colorful head wrap.

She lamented today’s problem of chronic youth unemployment, stating that if schools gave trade or craft lessons in addition to a traditional curriculum, students would have the ability to immediately support themselves after graduation while they wait for a better opportunity.

"Let's not just criticize," she said. "How can we go back and learn?”

Africa Wants Entry to U.N. Halls of Power

South Africa's Jacob Zuma fancies a bigger role for the continent on the Security Council. Will he get his wish?

(The Root) -- South African President Jacob Zuma made a rousing speech last week at the United Nations, invoking Nelson Mandela and praising the virtues of inclusion, democracy and equal representation.

He argued for Africa to be admitted to the United Nations' most powerful body, the U.N. Security Council. In an argument that not so subtly referenced the evils of apartheid -- he led by thanking the U.N. for condemning apartheid and quoting the country's iconic freedom fighter -- he called for four new seats for African nations.

That includes two permanent seats, letting continental states into the elite five-member club occupied by the traditional post-World War II powers: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the U.S., all of which have veto power. He also called for Africa to be given five nonpermanent seats, up from its current three. Zuma also seemed to imply that if Africa had a seat on the council, it would be better attuned to Africa's issues and interests.

"Given its mandate, the council has to be legitimate, democratic and transparent," hetoldtheassembledheadsofstate, who included U.S. President Obama. "Its current composition has a propensity for deadlock and paralysis even in the face of crisis. It remains unrepresentative and undemocratic in both its composition and decision making."

Zuma has claimed he has numbers on his side. He said some 70 percent of the council's agenda deals with the African continent. While that figure is debatable, it is clear that much of the Security Council's work is in the African continent, including many of the past and present U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Read the full story at theroot.com.

President Clinton Mines Solutions From Global Leaders at Annual Summit

The Clinton Global Initiative seeks solutions to critical global issues by engaging leaders who are passionate about making the world a better place.

Former President Bill Clinton is wrapping up the third and final day of the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual summit aimed at bringing together key stakeholders in the nonprofit and philanthropic worlds to find solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues.

On Sunday, Sept. 23, more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, and major philanthropists joined Clinton in New York City to hear the perspectives of their contemporaries on issues ranging from severe weather in Haiti and barriers to educating girls in India and African nations.

Ultimately, the meeting draws commitments from organizations and foundations to back the solutions brought to the conference with much needed funding and support.

“I am inspired by the dedication and generosity of our CGI members whose commitments touch the lives of millions of people around the world,” Clinton said Monday. “This year’s commitments represent not only a deep respect for humanity but also inspire others to transform their ideas and innovation into substantive global action.”

Some of Monday’s commitments included promises to provide affordable green housing, infrastructure and other social services to 1,000 Nigerians and to donate 1 million hearing aids to children in the developing world over the next 10 years.

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