Le Forum Social Mondial à Nairobi, Kenya.
Témoignage: Eddie Ndahinda, M. Afr
28 Janvier 2007
SILENT VOICES
Sometimes God's voice is silent. Just like the prophet Elijah on mount Horeb God's voice is not explicitly manifest in hegemonic thunders of our social world. But silent voices are not necessarily inactive. In fact effective actions often take place in silence! Like the voices of the poor peoples we have witnessed during the WSF in Nairobi over the last few days, especially the voices of Africa's marginalized women, God's voice is often eclipsed by the socio-economic hegemonies of our world to the extent that many people may find it difficult to envisage a just and peaceful world.
During the WSF in Kasarani - Nairobi, the plight of marginalized women has been strongly highlighted. The silent voices of women became very loud and clear, echoing the quiet agonies and groans of the world we live in, in which they are maltreatment, exploited and oppressed. Paradoxically, it is women who shoulder this same world which subjugates them. It is believed that more than 80% of sub-Saharan Africa's economy comes from the efforts of women and yet these same women can hardly afford to access 16% of it! Indeed, the problem of gender imbalance is not just a women question, but rather a predicament of society as a whole. Can we genuinely have a just and peaceful world where the centre is hanging by the margins?
. 
. 
In the WSF platform at Kasarani, women from all walks of life manifested the fact that given space, women are capable of bringing about change and transformation for a better world. Unfortunately, dominating patriarchal structures still stand in their way, and of course the usual rhetoric seems to control centre stage. But even then, the ambiance has been good and the resilience manifested by women activists from various corners of the world is a sign of hope that indeed another world is possible. But as to who will deliver it and by what means, remains another conundrum. It is at the same time a challenge to all of us engaged to issues of justice, peace and integrity. Where do we stand vis-à-vis these submerged voices? Are we willing to stand up and be counted among their advocates?
. 
We still solicit prayers for and from each other, but even these do not suffice. During the final days of our experience here in Nairobi, we are reflecting and deliberating on the appropriate action plan we intend to carry along and incorporate in our pastoral engagements wherever we live and work. A prophetic voice of a late son of West Africa reminds us that this mission of transforming the world entails some kind of madness:
"You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from non-conformity, the courage to turn your back on old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future." Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso.
Eddie Ndahinda, M. Afr
Photos Yago Abeledo M.Afr. Nairob
The World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
Testimony of Eddie Ndahinda, M. Afr
28 January 2007
SILENT VOICES
Sometimes God's voice is silent. Just like the prophet Elijah on mount Horeb God's voice is not explicitly manifest in hegemonic thunders of our social world. But silent voices are not necessarily inactive. In fact effective actions often take place in silence! Like the voices of the poor peoples we have witnessed during the WSF in Nairobi over the last few days, especially the voices of Africa's marginalized women, God's voice is often eclipsed by the socio-economic hegemonies of our world to the extent that many people may find it difficult to envisage a just and peaceful world.
During the WSF in Kasarani - Nairobi, the plight of marginalized women has been strongly highlighted. The silent voices of women became very loud and clear, echoing the quiet agonies and groans of the world we live in, in which they are maltreatment, exploited and oppressed. Paradoxically, it is women who shoulder this same world which subjugates them. It is believed that more than 80% of sub-Saharan Africa's economy comes from the efforts of women and yet these same women can hardly afford to access 16% of it! Indeed, the problem of gender imbalance is not just a women question, but rather a predicament of society as a whole. Can we genuinely have a just and peaceful world where the centre is hanging by the margins?
.
.
In the WSF platform at Kasarani, women from all walks of life manifested the fact that given space, women are capable of bringing about change and transformation for a better world. Unfortunately, dominating patriarchal structures still stand in their way, and of course the usual rhetoric seems to control centre stage. But even then, the ambiance has been good and the resilience manifested by women activists from various corners of the world is a sign of hope that indeed another world is possible. But as to who will deliver it and by what means, remains another conundrum. It is at the same time a challenge to all of us engaged to issues of justice, peace and integrity. Where do we stand vis-à-vis these submerged voices? Are we willing to stand up and be counted among their advocates?
.
We still solicit prayers for and from each other, but even these do not suffice. During the final days of our experience here in Nairobi, we are reflecting and deliberating on the appropriate action plan we intend to carry along and incorporate in our pastoral engagements wherever we live and work. A prophetic voice of a late son of West Africa reminds us that this mission of transforming the world entails some kind of madness:
"You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness. In this case, it comes from non-conformity, the courage to turn your back on old formulas, the courage to invent the future. It took the madmen of yesterday for us to be able to act with extreme clarity today. I want to be one of those madmen. We must dare to invent the future." Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso.
Eddie Ndahinda, M. Afr
