This week’s ToTB: the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone could lead to change, while Liberia has already demonstrated how well that can work. China is confronted with the accusation of racism. And have you watched Inxeba yet? If yes, you’re lucky, because the film has been banned from SA cinemas.

China’s media struggles to overcome stereotypes of Africa

theconversation.com

China was heavily critizised for this year’s Spring Festival Gala shown on CCTV. To celebrate the African-Chinese friendship African performers were dancing as zebras and lions to the song “Waka Waka” and a famous Chinese actress played an African woman – with her face painted black and oversized butt pads. Of course these racist stereotypes are not only a Chinese phenomenon, but the reaction is, as the author argues:

On the unlawful banning of Inxeba (The wound) by the Films and Publications Board (FPB)

litnet.co.za

The South African movie Inxeba was controversial and heavily criticised even before its release. It tells the story of an openly gay Xhosa man who is goes through the isiXhosa tradition of ulwaluko – circumcision. Due to the topic and violence in the film, it was classified with 16LSV rating. But after two weeks in cinemas, the Film and Publications Board changed it to a X18 rating, which is normally given to porn and effectively banned Inxeba from regular cinemas. Former FPB staffer Niq Mhlongo explains why the decision is unlawful and an insult to media freedom.

1. SaloneDecides: Will new parties end Sierra Leone’s two-party dominance?

africanarguments.org

The upcoming elections in Sierra Leone could lead to a change. Until now elections had been a contest between two parties: the APC and the SLPP. But their answers to urgent problems like lacking access to water and electricity don’t offer new thinking nor new ways of solving them. And now there are two parties challenging them: the C4C and the NGC. And more and more citizens are questioning the current policy. Somehow or other 7 March is going to be an interesting day for Sierra Leone.

Liberia’s stress test for democracy

africasacountry

Liberia is the oldest independent republic on the African continent and after long time of war it became peaceful in 2003. Although the latest elections had been a test for the democracy in the country and the author of this text is enthused about how the Liberians passed this stress test.