Thirteen million children are infected with AIDS worldwide, and 95 percent of them are living in Africa. African children have other pressing concerns as well; children across the continent are serving as soldiers. Emmanuel Dongala, Congolese novelist-in-exile, discussed these issues last Thursday, in a lecture titled "The War on African Childhood: Young Soldiers and AIDS Orphans as the Future of a Continent."Thirteen million children are infected with AIDS worldwide, and 95 percent of them are living in Africa. African children have other pressing concerns as well; children across the continent are serving as soldiers. Emmanuel Dongala, Congolese novelist-in-exile, discussed these issues last Thursday, in a lecture titled "The War on African Childhood: Young Soldiers and AIDS Orphans as the Future of a Continent.""It's really the children who are bearing the brunt of all the terrible realities," Dongala said in his lecture.

Dongala said that African children as young as seven become soldiers, due to peer pressure, desire for food and shelter and coercion.

"The advantages for those who recruit (children as soldiers) is that once a child is weakened psychologically, they're willing to take the most dangerous step and make barbaric killings," Dongala said. He added that children soldiers are often the most atrocious killers. He said this can lead to them being ostracized for their immoral practices and shunned by the community.

The AIDS epidemic does not help the African children's plight either, according to Dongala. "The impact of the AIDS catastrophe goes beyond the economy," Dongala said. "It threatens the path of African society."

Other problems threaten African children as well, according to Dongala. Such issues include working "like slaves" in cocoa plantations, which he said can hinder the efficacy of African children's education.

Dongala said he thinks education should be a top priority for Africa's future on an international level. "Africa is left behind in the global economy and if we don't educate the kids (Africa) can't take part in the global economy," he said.

Professor Jane Hale (COML) said she extended the invitation for Dongala to speak at Brandeis after reading his novels, and deciding to make his works a part of her curriculum.

"I just wanted Brandeis to get to know him and we're thrilled to have him here," Hale said.

Students in attendance said they felt Dongala's lecture was both educational and enlightening.

"I was totally floored by what he had to say and see how dire the situation is," Elyse Seener '06 said. "I think we need to come up with real solutions.