₦airaland Forum

@igbo2011: I think the Arabs invaded North Africa as a direct consequence of the  Islamic crusade. However, the result of the first generation of  cross-breeding in that region resulted in what are known as the Moors (comprising of Berber, Black and Arabian people). The Moors went on to become a dominate force in that region and not only continued the Egyptian dominace but conquered many parts of Southern Europe. Although it wasnt the Arabs that conquered southern Europe, historians still knowingly credit it to them. Although i'm still fascinated with the story of the Berber people unravelling this would make clearer much of North Africa's recent history.

Btw, that alien video was quite informative; many European/White American historians either know the truth but will not tell it or are simply ignorant. The only extras that were living in that era were our ancestors. They were extra-intelligent IMAO

@Egbon Olu: Yes o, ACTION is what we deserve. All the corrupt politicians must be ousted and replaced with citizens that have the betterment of their countries at heart. We dont expect politicians to grow into supermen or superwomen (although that would serriously help  ) but atleast we dont ask too much if we expect them to have the Nation's development  (and NOT their pocketss) as their number one priority.

Its time to discard away with wishful thinking like "one day things will change" (and substitute with raw ACTION) things like this dont change overnight, rather,  they have to "be" changed. We are the ones that needs to change so that we can  work towards bringing  about the [b]change [/b]we deserve.

@kasiem [url]http://www.facebook.com/amujale
[/url]

stmarc32:
The only way Africa will change is when we start to love ourselves and not aspire to be western. Take a look at the Kalahari bushmen, Pharmaceutical companies pay royalties to this tribe yearly to study how they live , what they eat e.t.c to further use to exploit others, but Africans have no interest in this , they'd rather buy panadol and neurofen because its been inculcated in them that the African way is uncivilized and barbaric,

I hear you, and you are absolutely right; what we take for granted is what other societies would kill to have even an ounce.

stmarc32:
I hope African women also wake up because i think they r the key to any change that will happen in Africa, they should start to see Christianity for what it really is and inoculate in their kids  African culture, history and hatred for western ideologies that have undermined our very existence

Totally! We all need to wake-up, man, woman, old & young; we have been lied to and their lies have been exposed. It's no wonder why Europeans hate black Africans; they used to worship the ground that we walked, we were so advanced that they thought we were super-human. All the ancient civilisations depict black Africans as the dominating force and the Europeans languishing in the background.

The question that always arises is why or how did we loose our iron grip on the rest of humanity; the answer is that black Africans never had an iron grip on humanity, we lived a "simple life" our ancestors didnt feel the need to bully the Europeans just because we were stronger and more advanced than they were. Most modern day historians conclude that our ancestors were complicit, they never believed that they could be surpased; that is why there still remains a burning question as in, what really happened during the melt down of an era of advanced beings depicted during times that pre-date the Egyptian dynasties.

This is why we need all the stolen artefacts that has been scatered all around the Western museums, they hold many of the answers that remain unsolved. And hopefully we will continue to find sites that contain data and fossils from those early days.

Be in no doubt thes guys were advanced, they could circumnavigate, they had the capability to determine specific astrological data (a feat that took NASA the best part of 20years to achieve); they knew how to forge tools out of 100% steel e.t.c. We even came across a model of some sort of flying machine somewhere in the continent (although it was in its experimental stages and was never actually launched) that the ancients were working upon.

Another thing is that modern Egyptians are not the real Egyptians, they are imposters that migrated from the middle east (Moor + Berber = Modern Egyptian). Ancient Egyptians were chiefly black. The first Egyptian pharoahs was black, so was the second and the third and fourth, and the fifth alike,  In those days the land was called Kemet (which translates to land of the black).

redsun:
Do you really know there is crunch?All the bullshit and what have you are about the oppressors striving so hard to maintain the status quo that is already out of their grips.It is about the rich trying to main the disparity between the rich and poor.

Africans are not in any crunch,they are just rising.This is the crunch for the rich and the elevation of the poor.

redsun:
Do you really know there is crunch?All the bullshit and what have you are about the oppressors striving so hard to maintain the status quo that is already out of their grips.It is about the rich trying to main the disparity between the rich and poor.

Africans are not in any crunch,they are just rising.This is the crunch for the rich and the elevation of the poor.

Totally!

Eventhough it might sound like i'm shooting myself in the foot, i must agree with OP, many Nigerian newspaper columnists based overseas have lost sight of reality. 

They'll rather spend most of the time blabbing on about music awards or showbiz; journalists abroad are supposed to be our eyes in the country they are based, if they can break into the white house to find a meaningful story then so be it; thats what we want to hear about are all the skeleton in the closets of the countries they are in. How our country people can gain from it e.t.c Thats what modern day journalism's all about

igbo2011:
I just watched a video on Youtube, :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAW4XpCgvY4

we must go deep into Afrian history.  We must have a year dedicated to ancient Egypt because it was so para mental to the world we live in today.  Also years dedicated to the other great kingdoms around Africa.  We need to focus less on European and American history.  The only thing we teach the children are the atrocities that they did around the world. This will stop making blacks look up to whites.  We should o world history too and talk about how the Japanese made it to be big and what China is doing now.

We must also stop doing Christianity and expel missionaries. Most of them look down on Africans and want o enslave our minds.  The enslave of a mind is almost worse then physical slavery.  Now most blacks on't even know we are enslaved. The Japanese were bombed (physical) but they bounced back and they are a world power.  We are mentally enslaved and we just kill each other instead of working with each other.

Yes, igbo2011, i think  its ignorance with a twist, many Africans adore Europeans and White Americans when in actual fact they (Europeans and White Americans) in turn hate black Africans with a passion.

When you talk to some black Africans about slavery they go on about how many slave traders where Africans.
Yet, the crimes that took place in the 16-18th century had little to do with TRADE but everything to do with CRIME. European crusaders sent missionaries to spy on us and they found we were living in complete WEALTH.

When the crusaders touched down they created a false story (one that is being told till today) of how they met animalistic and unintelligent entities living on trees. These were the lies they wrote down and kept as records, the records that we had in the form of artefacts were stolen, some were destroyed on the spot, some were confiscated and some were hidden away never to be talked about again,  Well untill NOW, we have been working extensively on a grand black African research database that will be preserved for future referencing (this is not for the here and now) and our hope is that the next generation will inherit this and carry it through. All the artefacts that are scattered around in different museums are meant for one place and one place only,  HOME. These are the missing links to black African history, because we have found a great deal that we can quite easily say that black Africans were the first ever civilisation in the world.

Ancient Egyptian technology was influenced by black Africans, they were called the Kemets (and they werent even the first civilisation)

Also the notion that the first black Africans to set foot on American soil were passengers on a slave ship is utterly and completely wrong. Because we now have sufficient evidence that puts black Africans trading with the communities in the Americas during dates as far back as 3100 BCE.

igbo2011:
This conversation is making me want to get into the book business.  I can manufacture books in Nigeria about the true history of Nigeria.  I can also translate books into hausa, igbo, or yoruba. This will create jobs and give people knowledge of their own history.  Even get language books so people can learn their language.

Totally! Go for it! We all need to do our part

Neither

We are neither cursed nor are the cause.

However there are arguments that suggest that we may be the cause, my point of view is that we stop pointing accusing fingers at eachother when the real enemy of progress are the same people we adore.

Its crazy ignorance with a twist, its actualy worst than the relationship between the prisoner and the jailer. Many Africans adore Europeans and White Americans when in actual fact they hate black Africans with a passion.

We are not the cause and we should stop pointing accusing fingers at each other when are enemies are just accross the shores. When you talk to some black Africans about slavery they go on about how many slave traders where Africans. Hello!

Wake the BLEEP-UP! The crimes that took place in the 16-18th century had little to do with TRADE but everything to do with CRIME. European crusaders sent missionaries to spy on us and they found we were living in complete WEALTH.

When the crusaders touched down they created a false story (one that is being told till today) of how they met animalistic and unintelligent entities living on trees. These were the lies they wrote down and kept as records, the records that we had in the form of artefacts were stolen, some were destroyed on the spot, some were confiscated and some were hidden away never to be talked about again,  Well untill NOW, we have been working extensively on a grand black African research database that will be preserved for future referencing (this is not for the here and now) and our hope is that the next generation will inherit this and carry it through. All the artefacts that are scattered around in different museums are meant for one place and one place only,  HOME. These are the missing links to black African history, because we have found a great deal that we can quite easily say that black Africans were the first ever civilisation in the world.

Ancient Egyptian technology was influenced by black Africans, they were called the Kemets (and they werent even the first civilisation)

Also the notion that the first black Africans to set foot on American soil were passengers on a slave ship is utterly and completely wrong. Because we now have sufficient evidence that puts black Africans trading with the communities in the Americas during dates as far back as 3100 BCE.

Its about time!

In the case of Nigerian education, all we need to change is the language in which its taught. It something that should be done gradually and efficiently. It could actually take years to completely overhaul but it will be worth the effort.

Here is a model that could take the place of the present educational system.

Syllables: (Unchanged) Determined by the Ministry of Education with respect to the goals and aims of the given time.
Language:

A: If you reside in areas that have been degnated under this belt, all your classes will be taught in Hausa (including tertiary education)

B: If you reside in areas that have been degnated under this belt, all your classes will be taught in Ibo (including tertiary education)

C: If you reside in areas that have been degnated under this belt, all your classes will be taught in Yoruba (including tertiary education)


Last year in primary school, every pupil living in a designated region must take that subject compulsary; further more they will be given a choice from one of the other two.

e.g Pupil A will take Hausa as a compulsary subject and has to further take either Ibo or Yoruba as an elective.

In the first year up until the penultimate year of secondary school education the same scenario that applies above is implemented.

What you will find with this theory is that, at a certain point, everybody that has passed through the educational system should be able to speak and write in at least two out of the three major languages.

igbo2011:
But the thing is that most Nigerians don't know what whites did to us in the past.  When whites come to Nigeria Nigerians treat them like kings and queens and treat each other like slaves.  This mindset must change.  But we need to get of NL and do something about it.  We need to change this education system.

What is bad about the current education system in Nigeria?  Why is it bad, what do they teach?

About the European scenario, we all have our bit to do, therefore, the next time you see that type of treatment, walk up to the scene and tell them the TRUTH.

As for your question about what is bad about the current education system in Nigeria, well nothing & everything.

Nothing as in Nigeria has one of the highest quality educational sysytem i've ever come across.

Everything as in Nigeria is amongst one of the  only countries in the elite groups of literacy that operates in a foreign language. And this my friend is a very big problem. The arguement that there are too many languages to choose from doesnt wash because India has more language variations than Nigeria and they worked a way out.

What do we teach our children about history?

We teach them lies, lies that we were taught and we transfer these same lies to our children. The problem is simple, Africa doesnt need Europe or America for anything whatsover.  The problem the language barrier creates are humongus and is exasperated over the process that sees the greedy bastards come into our shores to pick-up our talents. There are dozens of Nigerian scientist in NASA if they only spoke and were taught in Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba it would be a different case. All the great powers of the world educate themselves in their local languages it was an ancient form of defence, so that foreigners dont steal their ideas. Today the same thing is applicable.


For more info try reading Blacks in science: ancient and modern By Ivan Van Sertima

cap28:
^^^
every great nation has recognised the importance of shaping and moulding the minds of the youth - they are the future and therefore if you are interested in preserving your culture, language and heritage you must shape and mould the minds of the youth.

have africans done it?

Yes! we did it in the past but we cant even remember anymore because much of the evidence has been stolen, burnt, confiscated and or hidden by the European Crusaders & so-called Missionaries. If you see a missionary that is foreign then you are being fooled, there is no such thing as a foreign missionary because most foreign missionaries are infact either spies or emmisaries.

But i agree with you, we have to do it again. Most of our youth are carried away by insignificant issues that dont amount to much, like sports, money e.t.c When the first building block is nationalism or as black Americans would call it, Africanism.

Respect your enviroment, embrace your culture, embrace your tradition, respect your elders, respect your neigbhours, respect yourself. These are what we need to teach our youth and all other things (money, sports e.t.c) will be born out of these TRUE African values.

We humans like to deceive ourselves when we choose to & choose to deceive ourselves when we want to,

It is commonly accepted that the Almighty operates in mysterious ways , ways which are not comprehendable to human senses. Now, this guy may be gifted in the line of sports,  yet we forget one important point,  he actually may be the real deal, i mean "gifted". I dont care if you are a traditionalist, budhist, sikh, xtian, muslim, atheist or jew;  if you are "gifted" then that is what you are.

If you are waiting for superman to swoop down from krypton in a red & blue cape, then you better get a pair (or new) glasses because he already has in the form of the U.S.A and their cronnies, the difference is that these so-called superman is a bad-arse that doesnt value the life of humans.
To the U.S.A, human beings represent numbers to be crunched for the "better good"; their better good.

HISchild:
Reading anything outside of the holy Bible, (that is, Genesis to Revelations), is a mistake.

Says who?

chy101:
Hausa/Fulani are 40% of lagos pop. so they have right to build their shanties in any part of lagos

Keep deluding yourself!

jerryben12:
Nonsense! Why didn't Fashola provide them a place first before pulling down their structures? Fashola should be questioned.

Now that's a legitimate question; i wonder,

These are bold claims!  

I hope i can establish this as an unshakeable TRUTH so as to add this to my inventory. Sounds like Fashola has to be doing something right.  Please can we have visual proof!

cap28:
my belief is that the only way we africans will ever be able to free ourselves from our current economic and psychological bondage is to do what the japanese did in the mid 19th century and totally and completely overhaul our current system and replace it with a homegrown system which places afrocentricism at the centre of our educational, psychological and economic development.  what does that entail - the complete abolition of our current euro centric educational system and a replacement - the reason i focus on education is because if you can change the mindset of the people, you can also change the actions of the people, we africans suffer from extreme low self esteem in that we bow and genuflect before western ideologies, we do not even harness this western ideology in order to improve our current condition but instead follow slavishly the dictates of western powers who only want to see us fail.

the first thing the japanese did when they began their ascent as an imperial power was to expel christian missionaries from their country - why? because they correctly understood that these people were undermining their own culture, language and religion, the speaking of english language was banned - the training of young people in japanese culture and religion was compulsory - this is why the japanese became a formidable power.  the west were so afraid of the japanese that till today they are not allowed to have their own standing army, the japanese were such formidable soldiers due to years of discipline and training that the americans had to drop two atomic bombs on their nation in order to avoid a ground war with them.

we africans need to observe and learn from these courageous people and stop being puppets, stooges

Yes!, Yes! I Concur!

justcool:
Interesting serious of videos.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLmcbjLVPKc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAUA967ldrU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMJBNYcHbJw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5et696cP50

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f40oAAmeyA

Facts from the videos.
96% of the universe is made up of dark energy and matter, things that we know nothing about.
Science has not directly proven that dark matter particles exist, many suspects but no answers.

Implications for us in the religious forum.
(1) Those that claim that the universe is stricky physical are actually wrong even from the scientific perspective.
(2) It is possible for something which has not be proven by science to exist.

So the fact that science has not proven that God or the non-physcal exist means absolutely nothing.

Thanks

I dont think most atheist i've heard of the aspect of science known as quantum physics

igbo2011:
Good idea, the money is always stolen so we neeed to trade our ioil for factories, power plants, construction materials, etc. Then we can build our economy from that.

Everybody should watch this documentary about Thomas Sankara. He was going to make burkina faso an amazing country. But the west doesn't want that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvBC7tmgFFM

Totally

ababda:
what is your point? they are still worshipping the moon god slim-fit. they probably abandoned the other gods, but they still kept their old moon god very intact. which happens to be allah till this day! did the yoruba transfer their old gods to christians deities? I don't think so. did my ancestors in egypt and northern sudan transfered their old gods to islam or christianity, i don't think so! In fact,there is evidence that mary and jesus in christiandom is actually isis and horus, however that is another issue altogether, since me and you are on the subject about islam. islam is as paganistic as  christianity and hindism. as this article mentioned, muslims still practice what the pre islamic sabeans did before them, and that is a fact that you cannot deny. allah is one of many gods that the ancient sabians believed, they just abandoned the other gods and kept that moon god alive.

You are a genius! You solved this thread and didnt even know it.

Jesus probably did exist as an individual because there is great history behind that  name in the middle east; however your (European and Arabian) ancestors did steal/transfer Egyptian divinities into Islam and Christianity.

A collection of ancient Egptian religious text commonly known as "the book of the dead"  is definately where most of the quaran and the bible got there content from.

Now back on the topic of the Christ, this is the greatest known case of identity theft historians refuses to record; Horus is one of ancient Egypt's (around 1550 BCE to around 50 BCE) popular deities and his mother was known as Isis. I think you can figure where this is going,

Yes you are right, the story of Isis and Horus is (sparing insignificant detail) but a carbon copy of Jesus and Mary or Isa and Maryam.

Infact most of the "revelations" chapter in the king James version of the bible is a direct copy of the text in the "book of the dead"

@op It would be hard to prove beyond doubt that Jesus  was or wasnt born on this particular date or even Horus for that matter, but given all the evidence if anyone was born on the 25th of december my money would be on Horus the son of Osiris.

@op i'm assuming the question was asked out of your genuinely not knowing or i would have given you an epiphany. The answer to your question is NO.

Kobojunkie:
Being Xenophobic is the way to get your African leaders, who you claim are easy to influence, to buck up?? ROFLMAO!!!


Xenophobia is the way to improve Africa . . . .

Yes! Xenophobia could be Africans best friend yet, because whether we like to admit it or not, we are the victims of xenophobia elsewhere, maybe its time to put the glove on our hands NOW. Good point

kasiem:
i've stopped watching foreign leagues, i no longer wear foreign clothes and  shoes( i go by my original aba made stuffs)

Welldone! Ithink that is a very imppressive move, because when the time comes to let loose from the imperialistic strings we are likely to be on our own; like it was before the evil campaign. Europe & America will be barred from doing business with us (unless they accept our T & C's) and we will have to result mainly to local devices.

Here are a few links:

The Iranian Rebublic (this has nothing to do with my school-of-thought) survived their revolution and their capabilities of today.

[flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOCHnRyUUgQ[/flash] [flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLPjTvwHFk[/flash] [flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KsEogzt9Xs[/flash] [flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLWNySSVFlw[/flash] [flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdAdPe1U3vA[/flash]

Brazil (The world's latest Power House)

[flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnEeVpGI4aQ[/flash] [flash=150,150]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXTxsP3YzEQ[/flash]

merge:
What are you guys doing to make this possible?

A very good question, i think this calls for a pschological revolution. Pass the message round; influence your surroundings. Let the TRUTH be told, the more people that know of the reality of things the more will be able to spread the word.

Its the same tactics the venomous crusaders used to spread lies against the oppressed, its pay pack time but only this time we have the TRUTH on ourside.

Kobojunkie:
ROLFMAO!!!

Pull your head out of your basement and OPEN YOUR EYES to what is around you and right in front of you. When you feed your mind trash, cooked up by other trash-filled minds, you vomit trash at the end of the day. You cannot turn trash into truth . . . it does not work at all. It has not since the beginning.

There is so much real information all around you to feed your mind on and spend a life-time processing. This is a case of a hungry man, choosing to ignore the banquet in front of him only to head straight for the trash bin in the back of the room to munch on. It does not make sense. And unfortunately, this is what more and more of the so-called youths of Nigeria engage in. Dumpster-diving for information, believing become more intelligent and enlightened than those who avoid the trash, and go for the known truths, and obvious facts.

So this is supposedly your answer to a simple question (Do you know what these four countries represent?), Wow! And to top it up at no point do i sniff anything that suggest you know what my point was, so please put-up or shut up. We know who you are, you are what is known as a whinde-up merchant; you whinde people up.

Let me give you a little project, add to this discussion, This is a thread titled "Why Are African Leaders So Easy To Influence?"

Alright! you dont agree with the notion behind the title of the thread (TOUGH go and create your own thread) yet we havent heard your arguement! We are waiting, Tell us why you think this notion is inaccurate coupled with the evidence.

We are waiting,

[/quote][quote author=Kobojunkie link=topic=777345.msg9297193#msg9297193 date=1318041255]The stupidity of the African man in full display!!! Yes  oooooooooooo, Brazil, Russia, India, China etc loves you and will pamper  . . . . .

Do you know what these four countries represent? And i dont remember saying that we were to go in bed with them, but you just seem to enjoy going on a tantrum

Brazil, Russia, India & China combined are now an economic, military & political force to be reckoned with and their main agenda (in exception of China) is to assist developng countries to stand on their "own two feet". In my opinion it is countries like these that the majority of African countries should be dealing with and certainly NOT the Europeans & Americans.

Kobojunkie:
You are asked to provide evidence that make sense, not only in the conspiracy theory context, and you produce more conspiracy theories?? WOW !!!

Its confirmed, you are brain-dead it will take atleast a dozen boxes of omo to wash the mess thats been left in the cavity you call a brain. Who has done this to you?

igbo2011:
^^This is not a conspiracy theory just because they don't tell you on CNN.  Corporates OWN CNN and they also own the government.  This won't be on MSNBC, Fox news, etc.  You need to read your OWN NEWS.  Read your WON HISTORY.  Look at the way the media portrays Africa.  Most America think all of Africa looks like Somalia and Ethiopia.  The MEDIA IS HUGE!!! Look at the way black americans are portrayed on TV then see why everyone thinks blacks are going to steal. Government hides stuff all the time.  There have been many people who spoke out against itt.  People who used to work for the government.  What do you think the CIA does all day?

Black run countries trust others way too much (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To8j6P3kRAY).  The Japanese kept people at bay and their economy is number 3.  Why is America even in Iraw and Afghanistan?  RESOURCES!!!

Cant you tell that shes a whind-up merchant, i think she's just pulling your leg.

@kobojunkie check these out they might keep you occupied
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IywJ1DGuecY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMg-79AzbI4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgHNNTisQqI&feature=related

Kobojunkie:
Did I not make myself clear? I said NO BRAIN FARTS  . . . only evidence that we can hold and actually argue in a context outside of that which you exist in.

Then go and do some research, instead of making crude asumptions get off your bum like the rest of us and seek out the truth.

People the west has so much influence on Africa because  Africans allow this to be the case, if Africans start behaving like Africans and not trying to emulate the enemy of progress then you'll see great changes. Its like a man trying all means possible to date a woman that has a bazoka aimed at his cranium; it can only end up in tears.

When will we get it! the West are the enemy of Africa's progress. The sooner we realise this the better life becomes. Brazil have done it to the point that they retrieved all their artefacts from around the many museums that they were scattered. And Iran, well you dont need to be told about that country, they built nearly all their defensive capabilities internally.

igbo2011:
REVOLUTION!!!! without a civil war or genocide.

Everybody should watch this documentary about Thomas Sankara.  He was going to make burkina faso an amazing country.  But the west doesn't want that:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvBC7tmgFFM

Also watch this about Patrice Lumumba:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSXDCp-XZuU

People the west has so much influence on Africa because of the resources.  Many people call oil a curse.  look what happened to Venezuela.  Now countries like Ethiopia are having their land bought by foreign government so foreign farmers can farm and export all the food to their country.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiZbcu9Aevc

Forget about the failed cases, regroup and start again Look at Brazil, look at India, look at Iran all these countries started by being bullied by the likes of America and Co; all three are now super powers in their own right.

Nobody said it will be easy, but be in no doubt it is a job that has to be done and it has to be done.

lagcity:
igbo2011, for a leader to stand up for his people against imperialism, that leader has to actually love and care for his people/country. people like Morales that you mentioned have love for their ppl.

Yeah but see what happened to Ghadahfi that loved his people, the rest of his corrupt allies hung him out to dry. The AU were supposed to hold a meeting the day after the bombing campaign began. Tell me they didnt know what was going on; they were jelous that he got his priorities straight and couldnt stand a leader that wasnt interested in keeping only his pockets fat.

Now look what they done to that one time lovely country, bombed back into the stone ages. It is we that have to make things happen, because me and you and you and you, we are the people that you refer to above.