Culture

King Charles pays private visit to family of Kenyan rebel leader hanged by British colonial masters

Published

1 year ago

November 2, 2023

UK monarch, King Charles III, on Wednesday paid a private visit to the family of a Kenyan rebel leader, Dedan Kimathi, who was executed by British colonial forces for leading a rebellion against oppressive rule.

The family of Kimathi who was hanged by the British administration, had, for several years, demanded an apology and compensation from Britain, along with any information on the whereabouts of Kimathi’s body.

During the private meeting on the sidelines of his visit to Kenya, King Charles expressed what he described as his “greatest sorrow and the deepest regret” for the violence of the colonial era.

King Charles, who with Queen Camilla arrived Kenya on Monday in his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, cited the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed against Kenyans as they sought independence.

In a statement, the British High Commission said the meeting was an “opportunity for the King to hear firsthand about the violence committed against Kenyans during their struggle for independence.”

According to media reports, the violence committed against native Kenyans during the colonial era remains painful for many, and police had to disperse “a couple dozen people” protesting at the foot of a monument to Kimathi in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital.

The protesters were said to be members of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association, an organisation that Kimathi led which staged several acts of rebellion against the British where hundreds of thousands were killed.

Though he did not explicitly apologize for Britain’s actions as many Kenyans wanted, the monarch showed some solidarity by visiting a war cemetery where he laid a wreath in honor of those who fought alongside the British in the two world wars.

He also handed replacement medals to four war veterans who had lost theirs, among them a 117-year-old named Cpl. Samwel Nthigai Mburia.

Others who got replacement medals were Privates John Kavai, Kefa Chagira and Ezekiel Nyanjom Anyange.

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Culture

Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

Published

14 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

Culture

Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.