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Category: The Torch

Child Marriage: culture, morality and future of society
June 16, 2019
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| Culture, East Africa, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

When a nation turns a child into a bride, it turns its future into a hell. Irrespective of the differences in culture, language, ethnicity, religion and geographical position, child marriage has become a global problem, which is practised in different parts of the world. From Niger, Bangladesh to Iraq, child marriage is a common practice in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and even in Europe. While some might argue that child marriage is an integral part of…

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Child Marriage: Urgent need to act decisively
May 22, 2019
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| East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

Just imagine a bit your childhood years. Do you remember those your childhood dreams, hopes, and aspirations? As a young innocent girl, you had the dreams of having a fulfilled life. You aspired to go to school, become well educated, have a wonderful profession; a rewarding job. You strived to build a beautiful, healthy family with someone you loved….. Suddenly – just unceremoniously – your dream is shattered. Your life aspirations are completely disoriented and forcefully altered in an…

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South Africa: Washing the Corruption-soaked clothes with Omo Detergent
May 17, 2019
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| Illustrations, News, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, World

That the South African ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) won the recently concluded national elections in South Africa is not news. Rather, it is the fact that the party’s victory margin has never been so abominably low. It is a historic loss. The meagre performance in the poll can be attributed to three major reasons: chronic corruption within the ANC ruling cadre, skyrocketed unemployment, unabridged inequality. Sadly, these social problems have given birth to other dangerous and…

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Proverb of the week: The word of a friend makes you cry; the word of an enemy makes you laugh
April 10, 2019
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| Culture, East Africa, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, Proverbs, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

This proverb, which might sound ironic and contradictory to many, is typical of the Tuaregs, a nomadic tribe predominantly found in the central and western Sahara and along the middle of Niger, stretching from Tombouctou to Nigeria. This tribe is present in Niger, Mali, Algeria, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. Amongst the Tuaregs, interpersonal and close relationships are very important, hence the importance of this proverb, which teaches the value of friendship and the need to appreciate the advice from…

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Proverb of the week: A funeral offers the opportunity for reconciliation.
March 31, 2019
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| Culture, East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, Proverbs, The Torch, World

Akavia kakhuanyisivyanga mumasika. (Nyala, Kenya) Mazishi hutoa nafasi ya Upatanisho. (Kiswahili) Le deuil est une occasion de réconciliation. (French) A funeral offers the opportunity for reconciliation. (English) The proverb, which is used amongst the Abanyala group in Kenya, teaches the importance of peace and reconciliation amongst people, which leads to social progress.  Abanyala is one of the dialects of the Luhya (also called Luyia or Abaluyia) ethnic group, which made up about 16% of Kenya’s total population of 38.5…

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Unintended pregnancy in Africa
February 26, 2019
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| East Africa, Economy, Health, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

Unintended pregnancy has become a very serious world problem, which, if not paid any attention to, could turn into a menacing threat to the world population as well as the health of mothers and children. Globally, more than 214 million women who do not want to get pregnant do not use any form of contraceptives such as pills, implants, and condoms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) recent statistics. Furthermore, more than 21.6 million women have unsafe abortions…

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Humor Factory: “Eeee! Not Even Poverty Save Me From Criminals” – Useni
February 18, 2019
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| East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, North Africa, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

Useni has always believed that kidnapping, armed robbery hostage-taking, ransom demands, and other social problems are exclusive headaches of the rich; not until Agama convinced him otherwise. “You can’ look for money inside house of a man who no get cent.” Useni once told Agama. The dialogue continues: AGAMA: I am not sure I understand what you mean USENI: You see, sometimes, me, I happy I poor… AGAMA: You are happy you are poor? Has you brain engine gone…

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Africa: Just Do Like others And Remain Where You Are
February 14, 2019
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| Business, Culture, East Africa, Economy, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, Technology, The Torch, West Africa, World

Aside from corruption, one of the greatest problems facing Africa today is the desire to copy from others, instead of being authentic. Innovation is the mother of creativity. There is nothing terrible about getting ideas from existing concepts and modifying them to fit one’s situation, environment or needs. But copying an existing concept, which is developed to fit a particular environment and using it in a completely different setting only leads to mediocrity because what works for, say, the…

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Africa and Prison Reform: Using jail to save money and avoid loneliness.
February 4, 2019
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| East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

The former anti-apartheid icon and one of the most respected leaders in this century, Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years of his life in the maximum security prison on the Robben Island, South Africa, once said:  “No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” How true is this about Africa and how does the statement reflect African…

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Africa: Euphemism or Problem of Semantics?
January 18, 2019
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| East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

One of the greatest challenges I face in Africa is the ability to understand clearly the difference between the use of euphemism and identifying a semantics problem. Yes, semantics problem; or if you like, the problem of meaning or definition. For the sake of clarity, I will start by defining both terms. Put is a simpler way, semantics is the study of meaning in language, programming languages, semiotic and formal logics, while euphemism is a soft, mild, indirect, or…

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Indiscipline: When Indecisiveness Destroys Your Future
January 8, 2019
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| East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, News, North Africa, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

When Indecisiveness on Indiscipline Destroys Your Future Laws are made and meant to be obeyed. The purpose of making laws is to bring some degree of sanity and coherence in our rather incoherent, chaotic environment. But that is not enough, sanity and coherency go beyond the environmental improvement; they equally affect every part of your life – and your future.  You don’t have to crack your brain further thinking how this is the case. I’ll help explain. Without sentiments,…

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Will You Live Up To Your Dreams and Responsibilities In the Year 2019?
January 2, 2019
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| Culture, East Africa, Featured, Illustrations, Lifestyle, News, North Africa, Piccolo, Politics, South Africa, The Torch, West Africa, World

2018 has come to an end. It is time to count your gains and losses. Time for a sober reflection. More than anything else, the end of the year means the end of a chapter in your life. While New Year comes with new life, it equally, brings one a step to their ultimate end. It means, logically speaking, that one does not have the luxury of time in this world. That calls for an economy of your time….

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