By Antony Simbowo EAC Magazine East Africa
The era of genetically manipulated foods is here with us. Africa and the Third World must wake up to this realization. Within the decade, there has been an avalanche of agro biotechnology companies spreading their wings to the developing world, especially in Africa, to continue their genetic engineering ambitions unhindered by public outcry and law suits, as is the case in the developed world especially in the United States and Europe.

Each of the nooses in this room at the Apartheid Museum near Soweto represents the execution of a political prisoner. As the history of the struggle against Apartheid fades away in the minds of South African youths, it begets a question: The stories of people like Steve Biko and Albert Luthuli, who struggled for a non-racial and democratic society and suffered brutality, exile, prison and in some cases paid the ultimate price, are being replaced by western celebrity and hip-hop pop cultures, a South African marketing company reveals.

Nigeria's president has died after a long illness, an official at his office has said. Umaru Yar'Adua reportedly died around 2100 local time (2000 GMT) on Wednesday evening at the Aso Rock presidential villa in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Ima Nioboro, a presidential spokesman, told reporters in Abuja that the 58-year-old president would be buried in his northern home state of Katsina as seven days of national mourning begins on Thursday.

Sandra Laing was a black baby born to white parents at the height of apartheid in South Africa. The hatred, rejection and heartache she suffered at the hands of the authorities, her teachers and her family sent shock waves across the world. On the timesonline a story was published about her life, the racial implications of being stuck in the racial middle during the apartheid in South Africa, and about the movie Skin.