African history is filled with experiences of people shooting their way to power and then splintering into factions, like in Somalia and Liberia.

Personally, I regard myself as an intellectual 'rebel,' kicking against the 'old colonialism-imperialism paradigm' which has landed Africa in a conundrum.

The election of Senator Barack Obama brought jubilation across Africa, where millions celebrated him as 'one of their own.'

Dictators are allergic to reform, and they are cunning survivors. They will do whatever it takes to preserve their power and wealth, no matter how much blood ends up on their hands. They are master deceivers and talented manipulators who cannot be trusted to change.

The only good dictator is a dead one.

There's a belief that since Africa got a raw deal from the colonial West, then the Chinese must be Africa's best friend. But the evidence doesn't show that, and the main criticism is that they are building infrastructure in exchange for Africa's resources in deals that are structured to favor China.

Hippos kill more people in Africa annually than any other wild animal.