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Denis Macshane, corruption and the hubris of the British political class
Published on 2012-11-04 20:24:09
By J L Samboma Former Labour MP Denis MacshaneThe resignation of British politician Denis Macshane from the House of Commons, and his expulsion from the Labour party after being found guilty of corruption, may not rank as high on the scale of tragic
A modest discourse on Received Wisdom
Published on 2012-05-25 18:58:44
By J L Samboma Thomas SankaraaIt is inherent in the process of human cognition that we are apt to take a given stimulus, internalise it at face value and then – hey presto! – assume it to be divine truth and subsequently parrot it as our very own origination.
The official premiere of The President’s Pressmen
Published on 2012-05-05 20:56:31
By J L Samboma The re-editing of my video documentary on press freedom and human rights abuses in Sierra Leone, “The President’s Pressmen,” is now completed and has been posted on youtube.
The Hijacking of Libya, an eBeefs documentary
Published on 2012-02-09 19:41:37
By J L Samboma The following is a trailer for a documentary on last year's imperialist assault on Libya, during which a sovereign nation was hijacked by the West and their local henchmen, under the guise of bringing "freedom and democracy" to the country. The project is now in post-production, although a few interviews are pending. The aim of this trailer is to provide a taster and to help solicit funds for production costs.
Bang Bang in Da Manor screening leads to debate on gun and knife crime
Published on 2012-02-04 06:58:46
By J L Samboma Britain’s black community must look inward rather than to the wider society for solutions to the increasing black-on-black gun and knife culture and its growing toll on young lives, according to parents, young people and community activists at the recent screening of Bang Bang in Da Manor, a film on the subject. The screening was organised by A Just Movement for African Unity (AJAMU) and the OMEGA Foundation Society. Speaking after the documentary show, which took place a [..]
Lumumba film screened for 51st anniversary of killing
Published on 2012-01-22 07:55:32
By J L Samboma Patrice LumumbaA documentary film on the death of Patrice Lumumba was screened at London’s Human Rights Action Centre Saturday 21 January to mark the 51st anniversary of the slaying of the Congo’s first post-colonial leader. The event was organised by the Save the Congo group and was well-attended. Arguably the most important political assassination of the twentieth century, the Pan-Africanist leader was killed on January 1961 in a plot involving the USA, Belgium &nd [..]
Prepare to seize the moment for revolution
Published on 2011-10-26 12:14:17
By J L Samboma Our present epoch, the era of neo-colonialism and imperialism, will come to an end but it will only do so when we – the downtrodden in society, Fanon's wretched of the earth – tip it into the dustbin of history. It is difficult for many to accept that this can happen, especially given the recent victory of imperialism in toppling and murdering Muammar Gadaffi and returning Libya back into its deadly embrace. Surely, goes this school of thought, the forces of imperia [..]
Police brutality and political violence in Sierra Leone
Published on 2011-09-28 15:11:47
By J L Samboma Sierra Leone’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Musa Tarawallie (left), has effectively voided a nationwide ban on rallies and other party political activities announced by the Inspector General of Police last week. While many see this as a slap in the face for Francis Munu, the whole incident stinks to high heaven of political corruption and, once again, raises serious doubts about the judgement of the country’s top cop and the probity of the force he heads. The Inspe [..]
The role of independent journalism – my take
Published on 2011-09-24 22:54:36
By J L Samboma The following piece is the outcome of a recent encounter I had on an internet forum. It began after I commented on the role of independent journalism in society. It was the first time I had been forced to define what independent journalism means to me. I say "forced" because it made me dig deep. Ducking out of a response was not an option. I have reproduced it here because I believe it is relevant. Secondly, because I hope to open up the debate to anyone who has a contra [..]
As political violence continues, is Sierra Leone on the road to hell?
Published on 2011-09-17 01:51:50
By J L Samboma The man chosen by Sierra Leone’s main opposition party to challenge President Ernest Bai Koroma in elections next year has been whisked to Ghana for treatment after he was injured a fortnight ago by government supporters ahead of an opposition rally in the southern city of Bo. Sources say Julius Maada Bio (left), a former military officer, left the country for Accra earlier this week. The head injury he sustained during the incident became worse and he opted for further t [..]
The President's Pressmen, an eBeefs film
Published on 2011-09-13 21:53:36
by J L Samboma Earlier this month security personnel attached to State House beat up four journalists in Sierra Leone and left one in a coma. The independent press in the country has for many years been subject to violent harrassment and intimidation by the state. Below is the trailer for a 25-minute documentary - "The President's Pressmen" - on the undeclared war the government is waging on the press in Sierra Leone. The DVD is free, so please place your order before present stocks run out [..]
The suspicious death of Murdoch whistleblower Sean Hoare
Published on 2011-07-24 09:02:57
By J L Samboma The suspicious death of Sean Hoare, the former showbiz reporter for the News of the World, who blew the whistle about senior Murdoch executives being complicit in phone-hacking at the now-defunct paper, has understandably raised questions about whether he was “silenced” in a bid to pre-empt further revelations into the scandal, which threatens Murdoch’s media empire and Britain’s political establishment.
Hackgate could be cover for the West’s fiasco in Libya
Published on 2011-07-22 03:56:26
By J L Samboma The “Hackgate” scandal, concerning industrial-scale phone-hacking by journalists at Rupert Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World newspaper, could have been choreographed by the London authorities to provide cover for the West’s stalled bid to effect regime change in Libya, a review by eBeefs of information surrounding the scandal has revealed.
Challenge to Playthell Benjamin: Defend Obama’s war on Libya and Africa
Published on 2011-06-21 07:21:15
By J L Samboma As the first African-American leader of the Land of the Free lays waste to the African nation of Libya in league with co-imperialists from the rest of the West, international corporate media from ABC to the BBC are falling over each o
Shats for my Father - a poem
Published on 2011-06-15 05:42:13
By J L Samboma He thundered in promising change To shut Guantanamo, establish a new Jerusalem New beginings, he said, this off-colour Zionist But what we've got are more wars and bombs From a pretty boy adorning imperialism's ugly visag
War on Libya headlines African Liberation Day in London
Published on 2011-05-31 03:36:00
A report on an all-African day, by J L Samboma African Liberation Day (ALD) was commemorated in London Saturday 28 May at North London’s Chestnut Community Centre by progressive African organisations and well-wishers. The occasion was o
Olu Gordon, the philosopher-king Sierra Leone and Africa never had
Published on 2011-04-21 06:42:59
A Revolutionary Life, by J L Samboma A giant has fallen with the death of Olu Gordon. He wore many hats in his 53 years, but above all he was a revolutionary socialist, a Romeo in love with the amorphous mass of the African dispossessed.
Malcolm X, Black Liberation and Pan-Africanism II*
Published on 2011-01-05 23:47:08
By J L Samboma In the previous section of this essay we demolished American SWP leader Jack Barnes’s positions on Pan-Africanism, as espoused in his book Malcolm X, Black Liberation & the road to Workers Power (henceforth Workers Power). These po
Jobless numbers up in UK
Published on 2010-12-16 02:14:45
By J L Samboma Yesterday’s depressing news, that unemployment in Britain had increased yet again, arrived with a dose of comic relief to soften the impact, thanks to the BBC and UK top dog David Cameron.
Better safe than sorry!
Published on 2010-12-10 00:51:17
By JL Samboma I have removed two posts from this blog after advice from a trusted source. They were about personal experiences which informed the plot of a novel I went on to write. Since that novel has yet to be published -- and as you can&rsq
Malcolm X, Black Liberation and Pan-Africanism *
Published on 2010-12-09 00:28:03
By J L Samboma - I am speaking of a ruthless criticism of everything existing, ruthless in two senses: The criticism must not be afraid of its own conclusions, nor of conflict with the powers that be [1]. The new book by Jack Barnes, national
Bankers’ bonuses hit £7bn as austerity bites UK
Published on 2010-11-18 00:15:35
By Julian Samboma As Britain's coalition government slashes spending and jobs in a widely-criticised austerity drive, the nation’s bankers are set to award themselves 7 billion in bonuses this year. There has been hardly a pipsqueak fo
The London student demo, violence and bourgeois hypocrisy
Published on 2010-11-11 04:18:03
By Julian Samboma Conservative co-chairman Baroness Warsi, speaking to the BBC hours after a student demo against the raising of tuition fees, said the violence which erupted outside her party HQ yesterday “certainly doesn't take the debate an
Unemployed to be hit with unpaid work in benefits cuts – the latest from the “nasty party”
Published on 2010-11-07 23:04:24
By Julian Samboma Ian Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary will this week unveil plans to force the long-term unemployed to do unpaid work or have their benefits stopped.
Is Western-style democracy suitable for Africa?
Published on 2010-11-03 18:47:19
By Julian Samboma I was involved in a discussion on the above subject yesterday on the BNVillage discussion board. Following is my contribution to this very important subject: Of course, Western-style democracy is not suited to Africa. That's
Spending cuts, job losses, housing benefit crisis – the “nasty party” returns
Published on 2010-10-31 06:35:21
By Julian Samboma Theresa May (right) lambasted her Conservative party in 2002 for being "nasty"; fast-forward eight years and many people would attach the same adjective to the Coalition she now serves as Home Secretary. Chancellor George Osborne
God, Tony Blair and mass murder
Published on 2010-10-26 16:55:33
By Lahai J Samboma
The news today that Tariq Aziz, Saddam’s former deputy Prime Minister, is to hang brought to mind one yet-to-be convicted mass murderer responsible for his downfall – Tony Blair, the world’s most famous christian