In a banana republic, one might slip on a banana peel but things do work - now and then for the people, albeit inefficiently and unreliably.

The solutions to Africa's problems lie in Africa, not in Live Aid concerts.

The 'Cheetah Generation' refers to the new and angry generation of young African graduates and professionals, who look at African issues and problems from a totally different and unique perspective.

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.

Getting rid of the dictator is only a first step in establishing a free society. The dictatorship must also be disassembled.

Traditionally, Africans hate governments. They hate tyranny.

Africa is poor because she is not free.

Africa's salvation doesn't lie in begging and begging for more aid, and as an African, I find it very, very humiliating.

In the West, the basic economic and social unit is the individual; in Africa, it is the extended family or the collective.

If NATO goes in and solves the crisis in Darfur, when the next one comes along Africa's leaders will just sit back.

You won't find peace with another, until you become one person--not two.

The strength of love is beyond measure.

Dream in a pragmatic way.

I do love email. Wherever possible I try to communicate asynchronously. I'm really good at email.

The choice between starving and being eaten is an exotic one.

You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem.

Gwyneth Paltrow -- she always looks like she's about to cry. I wish someone would just kick her and get it over with. But I loved her in The Royal Tenenbaums.

In music, as I find myself forever saying, things don't get better or worse: they evolve and transform themselves.

What I've found is that stage is very much a foundation of acting. It's where it all began and you're working with that repetition.

The Palestinian Rifle is ready and we will aim it if they try to prevent us from praying in Jerusalem.