User:Amiawotoe/sandbox

Article evaluation

 * Almost everything is relevant, but the digital natives and digital immigrants portion seemed a little long for the purpose of the article.
 * The article tries to be neutral, but it essentializes digital literacy and makes digital technology seem new innovative and everything else seem old (even though they are occurring simultaneously)
 * There are a few broken links, and some of the references don't match the material stated throughout the article
 * The section about Global impact needs to either be expanded or deleted as it does not cover very many areas or regions/ doesn't necessarily have world statistics
 * It's part of a few wiki projects mostly pertaining to education and literacy
 * It's rated C-class
 * The way it is talked about is similar to our class, however it seems a little disorganized

Spread of the Movement
Le Balai Citoyen was spread throughout Burkina Faso mostly by Burkinabé youth, as young people (<25 years of age) constitute 65% of Burkina Faso's population. Smockey and SamsK Le Jah were influenced by movements like Y'en a Marre in Senegal and the Black Power movement in the United States. Initially the two artists spread their political messages to the youth through radio broadcasted music. They continued to spread their messages at politically involved concerts with many attendees. Smockey and SamsK Le Jah were able to use their popularity to expand the reaches of their message. Le Balai Citoyen quickly gained public recognition and was endorsed by influential public figures such as Burkinabé lawyer Guy Hervé Kam. This was accompanied by a rise in young figures speaking out against the current political regime. Thomas Sankara was used as a motivational symbol to bring people together for this movement. Smockey and SamsK Le Jah worked hard to further advance the movement by hosting conferences and meeting with influential figures, rural community members, and students from across the country. People were encouraged to participate in their local Balais Citoyen clubs, and learn the purpose of the movement.

Marches and Civic Engagement
Le Balai Citoyen focuses on all aspects of justice and civil rights through community involvement. Directly after it's inception in 2013, members participated in several outreach programs and calls to action. On August 12th 2013, the movement put on a commemoration ceremony to honor Thomas Sankara and Norbert Zongo.

Between May and June of 2014, Le Balai Citoyen held several sit-ins in both Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country. One of the sit-ins occurred at hospital in Bobo-Dioulasso (l'Hopital Sanou Souro) urging officials to renovate the establishment. Another took place in front of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso's electricity provider SONABEL for better electricity services. One more took place in front of Bobo-Dioulasso's town hall.

In October 2014, Blaise Compaoré put forth an amendment to the constitution known as Article 37 and called for a referendum. This amendment would grant him an extension to his presidency. L'inserrection Populaire (English: The Popular Insurrection) manifested between October 27th-31st as the public's response to the referendum. In this period Le Balai Citoyen collaborated with Collectif des Femmes pour la Défense de la Constitution (English: Women's Collective for the Defense of the Constitution), Le Collectif anti-referendum (English: The Anti-referendum Collective), and more to protest in the streets. Individuals from all groups carried brooms and spatulas as they marched, to symbolize the sweeping out of the regime.

Le Balai Citoyen has also participated in many community service ventures. In 2014 they organized a public service cleaning day for a maternity ward in Ouagadougou (Maternité Pogbi) and arranged a blood drive in both Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. They also opened up an international fundraising campaign for Yalgado, the largest public hospital in Ouagadougou. In more recent years, the movement has been focused on expressing solidarity with other African nations experiencing political turmoil.

Slogans
"Our Number is Our Strength!" "Together we are never alone!"

Peer review of Article evaluation by Maddy Thursby

 * add to the talk page (number 2 on guidelines)
 * your sources aren't cited correctly- see the wikipedia training modules (difficult to evaluate the authoritativeness of the sources because of this)
 * I would consider editing the introduction to make it clearer what the exact movement was or include the exact description in your section "spread of the movement"
 * good job being unbiased and stating facts about the movement and engagement with the movement
 * Benefits the article because it provides more information into what the movement is-- could further benefit it by adding how people can get involved (if that is a possibility)

Maddythursby4 (talk) 18:15, 2 May 2018 (UTC)

Marie-Therese Assiga-Ahanda

 * This topic only has a very short stub, and there is sufficient research to create a larger page
 * The history that many students learn in classrooms is European/ general Western history. Although some of these historical African women have wikipedia pages, it is hard to get a sense of their historical context and legacies. It is my goal through this contribution to further increase the knowledge available on powerful African women.

Outline:
Personal life and education

Careers

Chieftaincy

Death

Article rough draft (Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda)
Suggested lead sentence: Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda (born Marie-Thérèse Atangana in 1941) was (who she was)...

Example from Doris Burke: Doris Burke (born Doris Sable on November 24, 1965) is a TV analyst for NBA on ESPN and NBA on ABC games.

Personal life and education
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon in 1941 (Maiden name: Marie-Thérèse Atangana). She was raised as a princess alongside her brother, prince René Grégoire Atangana. She also had one half-sister, Catherine Edzimbi Atangana, and one half-brother, Jean Ndengue Atangana. Both of her half-siblings were from her father's first marriage to Marie Biloa, and they were born around forty years before she was. She was the daughter of Charles Antangana, the paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people. Charles Atangana, also known as Ntsama Atangana (birth name) or Karl Atangana (German name), passed away only two years after her birth in 1943. Charles Atangana always kept friendly ties to both the German and French colonial administrations because his companionship with many of these officials aided in his political advancement. He was also an advocate for the westernization of Yaoundé and Cameroonian culture. His rule has been both criticized and commended world wide. Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda explains her father's legacy in a short biography she wrote on him, but also touches on themes of colonization in Cameroon in some of the other written works (see**below).

Most of her schooling took place in Europe before the 1950s. As a princess, she had access to formal education which enabled her opportunities to explore different disciplines (sentence sounds weird, maybe re-word). It was through her father's loyalty to the colonial administrations, and the power he received through it, that she was able to grow up with this ability these opportunities. The western style education she received was highly influential to her writing as well.

In the early 1970's she married Mr. Assiga, a finance manager from Yaoundé who later held a prominent position at Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale (BEAC; English: The Bank of Central African States). She then moved to Congo with him for some (several?) years before returning to Cameroon. They lived there until she passed away in 2014. She was married to Mr. Assiga for roughly 40 years, and together they had four children and multiple grandchildren. Although they were together for a long time, their marriage was controversial to many. Mr. Assiga was of the large Etoudi family, which was outside of her own clan. Most of this controversy surrounding their marriage was based on questions asking why they were married and if there were any political incentive or gain.

Professional life
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda ventured into many disciplines after receiving her education in Europe and returning to Yaoundé. These would include her career as a chemist, her publications as an author, her time serving as a national assembly deputy, and finally her time as the queen of the Ewondo and Bene people.

Chemist
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda first worked as a chemist in her early life before getting involved in politics. She worked for a few years at the University of Yaoundé in the science department for her career in chemistry. CAN YOU ADD MORE DETAILS HERE? EXPAND?

Author
After working as a chemist for some years (SOUNDS WEIRD), Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda took to writing books and articles. Her main goal as an author was to make her mark in history. Some of her published works include:


 * Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme (1978)
 * Je suis raciste (1982)
 * "Turbulences" in Mots Pluriels (1999)

These works were published after Cameroon's independence in 1960. The novel Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme touches on themes of Westernization and colonialism. It is about a young couple, Mathilde and Vincent, who both lived abroad and received western-education. When they came back to their homeland, they were astonished by the after effects of colonial rule such as post colonial corruption. They later became obsessed with power and found themselves intertwined in the system. Assiga-Ahanda also uses Mathilde to draw upon the theme of sexism in the novel. The main female character's intelligence is highly underestimated and disregarded by most of the authoritative characters. This is said to highlight societal or systemic oppression that most women face, in order to motivate her female readers to improve their situations.

This novel also indicates the importance of individualism and individual rights in combating neo-colonialism. However, this individualistic perspective may come from the influence of the westernized notion of individualism as opposed to collectivism seen in the traditional village system. In other words, through her writing she is using colonial influences to fight neo-colonialism.

Deputy of the National Assembly
After publishing her first two novels, Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda returned to Cameroon where she served as a deputy for the National Assembly of Cameroon for five years between 1983 to 1988 (MIGHT BE BETTER AS TWO SENTENCES). As a previous chemist and author, this was her first experience of political involvement outside of the duties of being a princess. She did however understand politics, corruption, and history through the research she conducted for her novel Sociétés africaines et 'High Society': Petite ethnologie de l'arrivisme. She was able to figure out how the system worked and how to advocate for what she felt would best help the country. Cameroonian president Ahmadou Ahidjo resigned in 1982, and Paul Biya, the prime minister at the time took over. Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda was instrumental in making decisions regarding chieftaincies.

Before any colonial figures came to that region of Cameroon, the chief of the Etoa Meki village was Essono Ela. When the German colonial administration came in, they appointed Charles Atangana as chief supreme, and imprisoned Essona Ela in front of his people. Essona Ela was considered a rebel in the eyes of the colonial administration. Essono Ela's nephew, Fouda Anaba, became a very powerful and influential individual in politics. He had a strong relationship with president Ahmadou Ahidjo, and allegedly persuaded some of his decisions. Fouda Anaba advocated for getting rid of the position of superior chief of the Ewondo and Bene people as he felt this position was reignited by the German colonial administration. His advocating worked, and this position, along with many other traditional systems, was uprooted. (NEED MORE CITATIONS IN THIS PARAGRAPH)

In 1977 after independence, the constitutional decree #77/609 called for the restoration of these traditional systems alongside the current political system. During her time as a deputy, Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda fought for the reestablishment of this position and adherence to constitutional decree #77/609. If this were to be achieved, she would be throned as chief of the Ewondo and Bene people, as it was her traditional blood right. She was confronted with backlash from many Ewondo people, not because of the colonial ties to her father, but mainly because she was a woman. It was not customary among the Ewondo for women to hold such high positions of power. Along with this, her own marriage caused controversy since she married outside of her clan.(MAKE THESE SENTENCES FLOW BETTER) Because of these two aspects, even members of her own family denounced her title.

Chieftaincy (IMPROVE PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE/CONSISTENCY HERE)
After the decree #77/609 was successfully implemented in the 1990s, most ethnic groups in Cameroon had reestablished chieftaincies. There were three levels of chieftaincies that were described in the constitutional decree. The third degree chieftaincies are representatives of their distinct territories in each neighborhood. Second degree chieftaincies are representatives of groups of neighborhoods in a certain area. The first degree chieftaincies are representatives of entire districts. In Yaoundé there are around 350 third degree chiefs, 7 second degree chiefs, and one first degree chief.

In 1999 Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda was the first female to be throned paramount chief of the Ewondo and Bene people. The official title of Yaoundé's first degree chief(??). She served as the queen of the Ewondo and Bene people of Yaoundé for fifteen years (1999-2014).

Her coronation ceremony took place in Yaoundé and lasted several hours. It was filled with performances, decor, and practices from both Cameroonian and European influences. Hundreds of guests were invited to the event, and many tuned in to local TV and radio broadcasting to experience it live.

As mentioned above, there was much controversy concerning here appointment to this position, mostly due to traditional, gendered, and political concerns. Many people felt that she would not be qualified for the position because of her marriage as well as her status as a woman. She fought for her right to be on the throne, in the process losing much support from not only public figures, but family as well.

She currently has no successor.

Death (IMPROVE FLOW OF SENTENCES)
Marie-Thérèse Assiga Ahanda passed away on February 1st, 2014 at the age of seventy-two. Her health was said to be declining in her final years. She made very little public appearances, and dedicated most of her resources towards the rehabilitation of her father's palace in Yaoundé as a national landmark. Her death was said to be peaceful. It was noted that she was a fairly private individual herself. The public was not given much detail about her death or happenings in the royal home at the time.

Suggestions (Lex)
Some sentences I examined/edited:


 * She also had one half-sister, Catherine Edzimbi Atangana, and one half-brother, Jean Ndengue Atangana. Both of her half-siblings were from her father's first marriage to Marie Biloa, and they were born around forty years before she was.[1]
 * Charles Atangana always kept friendly ties to both the German and French colonial administrations because his companionship with many of these officials aided in his political advancement.
 * As a princess, she had access to formal education which enabled her opportunities to explore different disciplines (sentence sounds weird, maybe re-word).
 * It was through her father's loyalty to the colonial administrations, and the power he received through it, that she was able to grow up with these opportunities.
 * She then moved to Congo with him for some (several?) years before returning to Cameroon. They lived there until she passed away in 2014.[1]
 * Her main goal as an author was to make her mark in history.
 * Assiga-Ahanda also uses Mathilde to draw upon the theme of sexism in the novel. The main female character's intelligence...
 * The official title of Yaoundé's first degree chief. --> need to connect to another sentence because right now it is not complete sentence

I also commentated in certain places within the body and edited a couple word usages. I think the article is very interesting and well-done. It could definitely benefit from some more sources and increased link usage to other Wikipedia articles. Some of my notes included improving paragraph structures and sentence flow because I think those things will benefit the article greatly and make it easier to understand everything. The subject is intriguing, so I think it is really important to establish a strong lead paragraph that draws readers in.