DEAD PEOPLE VOTING

It is not easy to guess it when you see some of our politicians, but there are wise men in Africa.
I think Birago Diop is one of them. “The dead are not dead” he said in his poem “Spirit”.
He was so true ! If they used to remain in the trembling of the trees, in the groaning of the woods, in the water that runs, our “modern dead” are now in voting booth.
Once again, it happened in Côte d’Ivoire during the legislative elections. This lead to the cancellation of the results in 11 localities.
I think that dead people are not to be blame in this matter. They mean no harm. They are just bothered by the well-being of the living. How can they lie down quietly in their graves when sometimes, the winner of an election is not the one with the best program but the richest ? No fair-play at all ! Blackmail, threat, assault...

Dead people have to intervene to show the way to the living. They don’t need money, or clothes, or food ! They cannot be bribed or threatened! So there is no need to organize another election for the 11 localities as planned ! Because dead people will surely come and vote again. Whether you find an exorcist, or you choose a representative of the dead to sit in the national assembly, so that their voice can be heard ! 

FIRE BREAKS OUT AT PRIME MINISTER'S BUILDING

I heard shacks were burnt when fire broke out at the Prime Minister office.  At the moment, I thought the journalist was talking about some Slum. Because here in Abidjan we used to have our own "Washington", a reknown slum of the capital. But as amazing that it could seem, he was really talking about our own Prime Minister Office. 

This is not the first time this kind of fire is breaking out. Fire here, fire there! Always happening in strategic places. Abidjan is becoming very hot these days. Whether it some markets strangely burning when a big businessman is trying to buy the place, or it is government offices. Finance, Budget, Accounting! Massive loss of evidence or not...according to the great art of pyromania! Of course this is the version of all those people gossiping all over town with their bad mouth. 

We, "good mouth", can only sincerely regret the huge and irreversible damages caused by these fires. 

Investigations as usual are ongoing and those champions of endurance will certainely continue to go their way forever. 

Fire, at the prime minister building, two offices containing records of the Department of State, Ministry of Interior, were totally destroyed. I am even too kind to talk about office. Because as far as this matter is concern we must use the right term of wooden shelter to qualify these offices. Indeed, this is quite good material for Gossips.

In a great country like Côte d'Ivoire, we are keeping our archives in wooden shark? No more cement in town ? We all know that wood is ideal for important documents. Good conservator when you need them, good fuel when you want to get rid of them. 

 Photos: notrevision.net

SHOOT THE MODELS : A GOOD IDEA

Gathering for a day photographers and makeup artists of talent to allow everyone to have professional photos, was the challenge of Franck Baye the 14th of this month. It was during the Event : Shoot the Models, held at AMN Co Working space located in Riviera 2.

I went there to support the father of the website model 225, around 11am. I'll spare you my fight with the makeup artist who wanted at all costs to remove my eyebrows. Lol! The atmosphere was good.

Being a model is not easy. I found so difficult to stay focused. I even needed the help of personal coach (Thanks to Myri Koné) to have  the pictures you see here and on my Facebook page. I have heard that they will be another edition. I think I'll be there again !

Makeup artist: Sylvie Akouba

Photographers: Carlalie Okou and Ulrich Dah

See more photos on my facebook page

#OCCUPYNIGERIA : CELEBRITIES ARE SUPPORTING THE MOVEMENT

Since the announcement of fuel subsidy removal and the increase in the price, Nigeria is knowing disorders. A general strike for an indefine period has been decided. It started yesterday and we can count many deads already. Unfortunately, Police opened fire on unarmed protesters in some areas who in anger, destroyed some infrastructures. All these is happening in a climate of fear due to the threats of BOKO HARAM, which is multiplying the bombing and atrocities against Christians.

Some sites have fallen into the hands of hackers. On Twitter, many hashtags have been created to monitor the strike. These include #savenigeria #occupynigeria #fuelsubsidy. Nigerian celebrities have joined the movement and provide support to the cause via twitter.
You can read some of their tweets below !

 The tension continues to rise and the use of force by the Police does not help. It has an air of déjà vu, this "small" revolt that took away "big" presidents in 2011.

 Let's pray for Nigeria.

THE BATTLE OF CARLALIE OKOU ...THE BATTLE OF ALL CREATIVES

Since the "spectacular" fireworks which was offered to Ivorians for the end of this year, it is another matter, a less glorious one, which is making the entire blogosphere shake. The #carlaliegate. 

The facts 

Carlalie Okou, a young Ivorian photographer, was surprised to see her photos of the event, she had posted on her facebook profile, copied by many newspapers (Le Jour, L'intelligent d'Abidjan, Le Nouveau Réveil, abidjan.net, ...). People could say that Carlalie has no reason to complain because this is an incredible opportunity for her to have more visibility.

But the root of all evil here, is that none of these media had the courtesy to ask permission to Carlalie before using her work. Worse, some of them added insult to injury by erasing her watermark on the pictures, showing that their evil purpose. 

Unfortunately for them, Carlalie  didn't remain silent. Today, the number of member of the ivoriancommunity supporting her is increasing faster and  the campaign for the restitution of her rights to her pictures is on. 

 The compensation proposed

 Abidjan.net has simply removed the pictures from its site. L'intelligent d'Abidjan has proposed the following compensation: resumption of the picture with her name in the newspaper but not on the front page, a collaboration to pay her photos and sending for one month the PDF version of the newspaper to Carlalie.  

Carlalie, who made calls to legal counsel can not speak on the subject, but the last time I got her, the other media had not responded to her attempts of establishing communication. 

 My questions 

This situation can happen to any of us, web users and content creators. It is raising several questions: 

1-Is Internet really a "no man's land" here in Côte d'ivoire? Everyone doing what he want ? 

 2-Does an article, a photo, or any other private content published on the Internet, automatically falling into the public domain? So anybody can found one morning, one of the pictures of his Facebook page in newspaper without his consent ? Just because it was published on internet? 

 3-If putting a huge watermark can be a solution for photographers, what can I do as a blogger to prevent such behaviors of the media?  Insert my name every two words? Yehni Djidjii Yehni Djidji? 

I think that the Battle of Carlalie Okou is the beginning of a change. Beyond Carlalie, and any monetary compensation coming or not, there is a real awareness because of the #carlaliegate. 

Journalists, who are becoming too much lazy would do a little more effort to restore the prestige of their corporation. In addition, where an apology and a fair agreement would have been enough, they are letting the matter being worse. How unprofessional! 

On the other side, we, creatives and web users, shoud start learning our right and duties. We must organize ourselves in order to protect our work from dishonest people. We need to be trained. There are organizations related to the Web that exist here Côte d'Ivoire. I am sure they can do a difference in this fight.

Rather than meeting only to talk about contests, technological innovations, or even to eat, they should planned a training in law. It's an emergency. 

The resolutions 

1) Now we must clearly indicate the sources of all photos and content that is not ours, that we take on our blogs, websites and other publications. And I'm starting today. Even if we do not always know the author, the site where we took the picture or the text is still known: DO MENTION! Whe shoud not do to others what we won't like people to do to us.

2) Each of us must undertake research to learn more about our rights and duties as Web users and content creators until an organisation join the battle to help.

3) We need to follow the press closely. Those who are stealing the intellectual work of others should not do so with impunity. 

4) We must be more united, when such cases happen. It is purely a shame to hear people predicting the failure  of this battle, simply because they were once victims of such injustice and that their protests has led nothing. There is always someone from whom the struggle begins. If it is not you, you should not be bitter. You should rather join the movement. We must support each other, unless of course we think that the initiator of the mobilization is wrong! But to give up too early when you know that the person is right is not acceptable! It is time that we see a little further than the end of our flat nose. 

Carlalie keep it up ! All creatives should be full of courage! We will win or we will lose this battle, but in my opinion, the war has just begun. We will no more remain silent over the theft of our creations! 

Another article on carlaliegate: http://www.drogbascountry.com/?p=486

 photo: carlalie Okou http://www.carlalie.blogspot.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

The end of this year was so strange for me. I had no interest in the party.

December 31, 2011 was like the 29th or the day before or the day before. No euphoria, no enthusiasm. I almost did not go to church. I wanted to stay home, just sleep in my room.

The fact is that the past year let a bitter taste in my mouth! I had joy, how can I deny it ? I won awards, I met great people ... But the blows that year inflicted me, when I wasn't expecting it, are like deep scars. I will probably bear them for the rest of my life.

It has eaten souls, the great devourer: more or less innocent,more or less famous, more or less close. I had never seen death face to face. That year, I felt it, I touched it, I looked into its eyes and saw its hideous facial taunt me while I was totally helpless.

No more lamentations! Everyone has probably lived his personal tragedies! 2011 is over! Joys and sorrows, so goes the round of days. I wish us all a new year made ​​of joy, health, success, happiness, love ... LIFE!

2012 is the beginning of a new adventure...

May God bless us! 

image:@ melty.fr

CHRISTIAN MUSIC : EMMANUEL, GOD WITH US

A few days after winning a photo contest, a friend gave me a gift. This time it was not a bunch of flowers, but a Christian album: Emmanuel: God with us, in french "Emmanuel, Dieu avec nous".
The cover is quite impersonal and the nationality of the artists can not be determined from the first glance.
I had to read the names on the back of the album cover to realize that I was dealing with africans. The truth is that even the voices of the singers are not very close to what we are used to hear here.

A good  thing is the presence of a small booklet with the lyrics in the jacket. Few artistes are doing the same. Relying on the fact that they do not even have a website where you can find their texts, the fan is condemned to lie against his will.

Another good point is that the group has a website that, in addition to being beautiful, gives much information about it. All this made ​​me want to learn more and David Oyoua, the mind behind the project, was more than happy to enlighten me.

Emmanuel, the real story of Christmas is originally a musical explaining the birth of Jesus Christ. Therefore there is more than twenty titles exploring the mysteries of the Incarnation, the Nativity and the kingdom to come.

Emmanuel, God with us, is an album of 10 songs, from the musical.

The group's website: http://www.emmanuel-lemusical.com/
They will soon new talent. To preview the songs on their website: excerpts from songs .

 The group's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/EmmanuelMusical?sk=info Thank you to Patrice for the gift! I look forward to the musical.