If anyone still needed evidence that Africa plays its active role in our world, Pambazuka News is the living proof. As an interactive forum for debate, its interventions from many different spheres of life are speaking truth to power without compromising true values of emancipation. Pambazuka News creates and provides access to inspiring reflections and exchanges, to soul searching and agitation, to comforting and unpleasant views. Its weekly posting has become a regular diet, not always easy to swallow or to digest, but painfully missed during the few short breaks it occasionally needs for regeneration.

Over and above being a creative and inspiring platform for explorations into daily struggles, its separately circulated ‘links and resources’ add tremendous value to all those eager to access more information on topical matters of concern and interest. Gender issues and machismo, land grab, contested sexuality, hegemonic and other imperialist interventions, kleptocracies and dictators all get their fair share. Those contributing to Pambazuka News take sides. Not always in agreement with each other, but always thought provoking.

Fascinating debates and politically/intellectually stimulating controversies (such as the recent exchange of arguments over the genocide in Rwanda) are the salt in the soup. A tasty and nutritious soup, that is, which also offers a lot to chew on. Social movement activism blends with scholarly reflections, academia and real life. The result is at times a truly African ownership claiming a say in this world. Pambazuka News has matured into an authoritative and credible voice.

Looking back at the achievements and celebrating our advances, we should also remember those who walked along and are no longer with us to share the fruits of what they stood for. Sadly, they are too many to mention. Two stand out for me. I remember them with special emotions: Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, whose life was taken far too early on the road in May 2009. His Pan-African Postcards were an integral part of Pambazuka News and set standards difficult to match. It was an adequate symbol of respect that Fahamu Books published a selection of his postings and thereby documented the profound depth of his reflections and interventions. In a different way he was what Dennis Brutus stood for with his troubadour politics. After a long life of permanent resistance to any form of oppression and betrayal of ordinary people, Dennis the poet-activist ultimately lost the final battle against cancer in December 2009. During 80 years he never compromised.

Both represented different but complementing faces in the wide panorama of people united in Pambazuka News, sharing the common loyalty to justice and equality, non-discrimination and humanism in respect of those who respect others and their social and political rights to a decent living.

Pambazuka News is an African achievement and represents the present and the future. It is a privilege and honour to be a member of its family. One can get addicted to its stuff. Viva Pambazuka News, viva!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Henning Melber is a member of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation in Uppsala,Sweden.
* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at Pambazuka News.