POIGNANT SHADOWS
Nwaogu Chinenye Cynthia is a young aspiring writer who found her voice in writing and believes the written words are the essence of human life.
THE GH MUSICAL INDUSTRY by ABDUL BASIT ALI
I sleep with yet again another sad reality of the scene in my good Country Ghana. It all got to do with the kind of songs that our Musicians sing that is said to be show casing the Country to the rest of the World. I ask is there no better way of showcasing the Country’s image than through this songs? I hope there is a better way than this in sha Allah. The music industry has been good in relaying the image of the Country before but I bet to differ now. It needs rehabilitation. There is a hullabaloo ongoing with regard to a particular song “One corner” that is said to be misleading the mass majority of the youth especially in the Zongos. I ask is this new to you? Subhaanallah! We have witnessed songs which are very dirty that you will even feel ashamed to hear it…
BROKEN, UNBROKEN: 3, 36, 57
She had always been beautiful, blessed with so much green, covered in a splendor that never had been seen. There were the seas, the landscape, the natural resources, mountains, waterfalls, the fresh breeze… even the houses of mud looked so tearfully beautiful, those roofed with thatched and illuminated by the fire lights where the children gathered to listen. To listen to the stories of Nigeria’s great 3, 36, 57. There are good roads and bad roads, plentiful food even as there was hunger, jobs even though some were unemployed, great schools and not so great schools, thriving businesses and collapsing ones, hardworking people and lazy people, great leaders and bad managers. We have the hospitable, the charitable, the courageous, the selfless, the professional, the innovators, the rich cultures and beautiful costumes. We are rich, with a diversity that transcends time. 36 states, spread across each with her artistic euphoria.…
The Blackness of Eru
Have you read The Blackness of Eru yet?
Ngunan Ioron Aloho is a social activist, an educator, an entrepreneur, a writer, a YALI Fellow, and so much more. Ngunan has fought and sacrificed a lot as a social activist, defending and helping child marriage victims. In the Blackness of Eru, Ngunan will take you on a sad but short journey to witness the life of a young girl who suffers the pain and burdens of early child birth in which she is not prepared for.
We, at Blankpaperz are very proud of Ngunan for using words to tell stories that matter the most.
Just Do It
For some reason I believe that Nigeria can be better than our dreams. Maybe I’m young and naïve or I’m just idealistic but I believe we can get things right in this country not by trading blames or philosophizing but by taking action.
I’m Nwokoma Chimgozirim and I hope to make you resist the status quo one article at a time.
The Youth, Africa’s Problem
Africa can’t be Africa if the effectiveness of the youth can’t be seen! Let’s forget about Africa progressing if the youth are not willing to change for the better!
Take Africa to be a CAR, the youth is the ENGINE!
Take Africa to be a COMPUTER, the youth is the CPU! But hold on…
The better the engine, the more durable the car!
The better the CPU, the better the performance!
The youth, the most energetic with the most developed minds! That’s why the youth is AFRICA’S engine.
But the YOUTH have still remained AFRICA’S PROBLEM.
PEACE!!!
The Problem of the Day and the Sea of Bribery and Corruption
For it was also said “there’s enough for everyone’s need but not for everyone’s greed”, the act of greediness in our society has helped in promoting bribery and corruption. Not only has it promoted bribery and corruption, it has also been the reason for the failure of many talented young Africans! When I say the failure of many young Africans, I mean not to say it’s the fault of theirs, no! But it is as a result of their supposed positions (in education or employment opportunities) being given to others.
It’s a pity! It’s devastating to see the Careers of these young talented Africans come to a halt because they refused to indulge in bribery and corruption. In fact, it’s heart attacking!
Let’s join hands together to bring bribery and corruption to an end in order to solve the problem of the day.
Arise Africa, arise Ghana.
PEACE!
I’m Abdulai Halidu popularly know as ABC.
The Fear of Being Challenged is An Oddly Female One
Balkisu Abdullahi is my name but am nick named Queen B, I am an indigene of Sokoto living at Arkilla
Area Sokoto State. I am a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) majoring in BSC.ED in
Education Biology.
As the treasurer of Illela Local Government Association, I Coordinate and organize Quiz and Debate competitions together with the association members to encourage school drop-outs in Illela Community to resume back to school.
At Least Pray For Them If You Can’t Help Them
My pen ought to stop wishing the happy eid perhaps to gear its ink to seek help from the Lord perhaps Allah will aid them. My ink has trenched the paper with fear and tears of pain cause of the pain that had been inflicted to its brothers and Sisters in Burma, Myanmar. The taste of the meat is tasteless to me, the sky of eid was a bright sky but what happened? I was thinking this day will be a day for the happiness of even the poor one but somewhere in Myanmar is a news of yet another genocide on our Muslim brethren. O Allah help us. I know the media is full of right and also mercy for the world but I never knew it was mercy for some and not for some. One bomb in a known Country was a wake-up call for all the top…
I Need Feminism
I need feminism because I’m tired of hearing pastors and bishops telling women that they are irresponsible for been single at 35 years old
I need feminism because I hate it when my president thinks a woman’s place lies in the kitchen.
I need feminism because my worth and esteem as a human is not and can never be tied to my MASCULINITY
I need feminism because I hate it when the male gender makes choices for the female gender
I need feminism because emotion doesn’t ask or care about your gender
I need feminism because I don’t want to find an excuse to justify rape
Why do you need feminism?
WHY ARE WE HERE?
That same question runs through my mind often. Are we here to eat, sleep, wake up, “catch feelings,” party, work a 9-5 job, get married and have kids, then die? I feel life is more than that. Each one of us was created with a definite purpose and we owe a responsibility to ourselves to live that purpose. I think our existence is for a reason; maybe we were created to cause a change or do something that has never been done. Sadly, sometimes we do not see life that way; many of us have a thousand and one excuses for unfavorable circumstances around us. This life was given to us because we are strong to live it, irrespective of what we face or where we find ourselves. But come to think of it: Have you ever questioned your existence when things are going well? Apparently, the answer is No.…
RAPE AND VICTIM-BLAMING IN NIGERIA BY AMAKA EKEZIE
RAPE AND VICTIM-BLAMING IN NIGERIA A couple of days ago, I was in the midst of some people who were discussing a rape incident that happened the night before. According to them, the incident had so far been reported to the local police and the victim (a 13 year old girl) sent to the community health center for proper examination. However, what struck my attention was the fact that the victim’s mother, upon hearing that her daughter had just been raped, hurled insults at the poor girl saying that her skimpy dresses and refusal to attend evening church services led to her being raped. I cringed when I heard this. This is only one of the very many cases in Nigeria where rape victims are victim-blamed for what they had on when they were raped. In a socially conservative country like Nigeria, rape has become a growing pervasive problem with statistics…
Recovery from Addiction by Josephine Monger from Liberia
As part of the recovery process, individuals are to visit their loved ones in rehab to show them support and love. When my brother was in his third rehab in South Africa, I couldn’t go visit him due to circumstances beyond my control, so I wrote him this letter: July 14, 2016 My Dearest Brother Thomas, When I was asked to write this letter to you, I didn’t know where to start because I have too many things to say to you, so let me start from the beginning. When I first saw you, you were that little brother that everyone wished for; so innocent, intelligent and smart. I thought you were smarter than me, so I pushed myself harder to reach to your level of intelligence and smartness. As we grew older, I noticed that there was something weird about you but I couldn’t figure it out and I…