Highly developed forms of culture, society and political organization were established for thousands of years over the African continent. European colonizers, who conquered most African lands...Show moreHighly developed forms of culture, society and political organization were established for thousands of years over the African continent. European colonizers, who conquered most African lands between 1880 and 1913, sliced up the African continent at the Berlin Conference held in 1884-85. The colonial administrations forced the native diversity of governance, culture and society into an artificial mold to ensure the most effective rule for their new colonies. As a result, African societies are not developed but under-developed, remaining stuck within the artificial tribal construction with despotic chiefs. A ‘First Protest Wave’ of decolonization led to freedom from colonial rule, but not to the abolishment of the colonial structures. Rather, it was adopted by the African elites. As the under-developed situation did not change for most of the African nations, a ‘Second Protest Wave’ followed in the 1980’s, and a ‘Third Protest Wave’ even more recently. This third protest wave is still ongoing. The status quo leads to persistent political instability and a jobless economy. The increasingly growing young populations of Africa have no work and are forced in a stage of ‘Waithood’, a concept used to describe the stage of young people unable to get jobs and thus unable to enter the stage of adulthood. Youth stuck in this waithood have generally three modes of action: 1. survival, 2. use of violent methods, and 3. use of non-violent methods. The majorities of studies about youth in Africa have been focusing on youth coping with their situation of waithood, or when they have used violent methods, becoming agents of destruction (Vandals). This study focusses on the third choice, on how youth could become agents of change (Vanguards) using non-violent methods to escape their waithood. Several youth organizations in Uganda are trying to transform their situation with non-violent methods such as peaceful demonstrations, talent workshops, and changing mindsets. They aim at making the people aware, do it together and work on their futures. However, they are actively contained by a sophisticated dictatorship, who uses an intelligence veil to make sure that there is no freedom after speech. This dictatorship has become increasingly adept in camouflaging its internal oppression to the outside world of donors and investors. The sophisticated dictatorship has been provided external legitimacy even though the government is perceived as illegitimate by its own youth. The Ugandan government makes sure that the Darkness is maintained by containing the possible enlightenment and transformation.Show less
This thesis analyses how prolific musicians of the time Gilberto Gil and Criolo have provided social and political commentary on behalf of traditionally marginalised communities in Brazil, and in...Show moreThis thesis analyses how prolific musicians of the time Gilberto Gil and Criolo have provided social and political commentary on behalf of traditionally marginalised communities in Brazil, and in what way they have been able to provide such commentaries.Show less
Suez is a seaport city which is one of the two gates of the Suez Canal. Most media talked about Tahrir Square in Cairo as the epicenter of the Arab Spring in Egypt. However the truth is that Suez...Show moreSuez is a seaport city which is one of the two gates of the Suez Canal. Most media talked about Tahrir Square in Cairo as the epicenter of the Arab Spring in Egypt. However the truth is that Suez was genuinely the center of the unprecendented uprising, as it was the first city to rise up against Hosni Mubarak. Likewise, Suez was also sadly known for being the city where the first protester was killed in Egypt during the January 2011 uprisings. Therein, Suez was renowned across Egypt for carrying ‘The Flame of Revolution‘. As such, some activists referred to Suez as the ‘Egyptian Sidi Bouzid’.Show less
