Month: November 2018

Meet Dr Trebi-Ollenu, the Ghanaian-born team lead of NASA InSight space rover on Mars

On Monday, November 26, 2018, InSight, a spacecraft belonging to America’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed the on Mars. Since the landing Africans in America, especially those with affiliations with Ghana, have also been celebrating.

This is because at the heart of the historic landing on Mars is the remarkable work of Ghanaian-born engineer, Dr Ashitey Trebi-Ollennu, who is the team lead for InSight at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Dr. Trebi-Ollennu builds robotic components for planetary exploration, a dream that began as a young child in Ghana. He is in charge of the InSight mission’s robotic arm and hand.

Born in Ghana, Dr Trebi-Ollennu has been working at NASA since 1999 and has risen to become the Chief Engineer of Robotics at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Continue reading “Meet Dr Trebi-Ollenu, the Ghanaian-born team lead of NASA InSight space rover on Mars”

Gambian-born Howard University Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang

By Dr. Tijan M. Sallah

The news of the passing away of Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang at the United Medical Center in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 12, 2018 came to me as a stab in the back. It was sad, disconcerting and painfully unbearable.

Professor Nyang was more than a friend to me; he often told me he was the only child of his mother and therefore considered me his blood brother and I felt the same way towards him. Although he had other half-sisters and brothers (one of the closest to him being Baboucarr Nyang, better known by his nickname, Papa Litty), Dr. Nyang was a generous man who had a large circle of friends and admirers, who were his ‘honorary’ relatives. Continue reading “Gambian-born Howard University Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang”

Eulogy Gambian-born Howard University Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang

By Dr. Tijan M. Sallah

The news of the passing away of Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang at the United Medical Center in Washington, DC, on Monday, November 12, 2018 came to me as a stab in the back. It was sad, disconcerting and painfully unbearable.

Continue reading “Eulogy Gambian-born Howard University Professor Sulayman Sheih Nyang”

From Ghana to Canada, goalkeeper Kayza Massey looks to make a difference

Canada coach Rhian Wilkinson is proud of the diversity and accomplishments of her Canadian team at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay. The team includes 17-year-old Ghana-born goalkeeper Kayza Massey, adopted as a baby by Ottawa nurse Karen Massey. Kayza, who played for Ghana as a 15-year-old at the 2016 U-17 World Cup, switched international allegiance this year and is now wearing the Maple Leaf.
Continue reading “From Ghana to Canada, goalkeeper Kayza Massey looks to make a difference”

The Tale of Two Sisters: A Journey to West Africa

By Helen Frazier

My sister and I traveled to the continent of Africa and visited the nations of Liberia and Ghana. Since this was my first trip visiting the “motherland”, I had no idea that it would take my sister’s knowledge after visiting twice per year for 15 years to keep me safe. Upon our arrival at what I didn’t recognize as an airport, I was met with bribes by security personnel. If it had not been for my sister’s knowledge on how to navigate traveling to another country, I might have missed the opportunity to realize the full benefit of experiencing a culture so different from that of my own.

Continue reading “The Tale of Two Sisters: A Journey to West Africa”

Muslim immigrants from Africa keep proving the American dream is still here for all

The streets of Little Senegal in Harlem, New York and the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis share a common trait: they are both home to thriving African immigrant communities from west and east Africa, many of whom practice Islam. From halal meat stores to restaurants, fabric stores and shops selling religious articles, these buzzing enclaves offer a telling portrait of Islam in America. This review  by  Abdi Latif Dahir of Lekan Oguntoyinbo’s book in QUARTZ AFRICA tells more of the accomplishments of this community in America.
Continue reading “Muslim immigrants from Africa keep proving the American dream is still here for all”

Obama Foundation selects ex-Ghana footballer for leadership program in Chicago

The Obama Foundation has chosen nine African youths including  ex-Ghana midfielder King Osei Gyan to be part of the Leaders Africa program in Chicago. The nine were part of a group of 200 who met with the former president at a conference in South Africa recently.
Continue reading “Obama Foundation selects ex-Ghana footballer for leadership program in Chicago”

Trump set to announce South African-born bag designer as ambassador to SA

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to nominate luxury handbag designer Lana Marks as the new ambassador to South Africa, the White House said, almost two years after the last ambassador left under Barack Obama. The nomination comes at a time of frayed relations between the two countries after a tweet in August in which Trump asked his secretary of state to study South African “land and farm seizures”.
Continue reading “Trump set to announce South African-born bag designer as ambassador to SA”

Ugandan wins Musical award in North Carolina

The Share America Foundation Inc. recently announced another 2018 scholarship winner at Ringgold’s Patriot Hall. Musician/singer King Turyananuka, of Wake Forest, N.C., was selected as a Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship winner. He received a $1,000 scholarship. Turyananuka is originally from Uganda and is in the United States studying traditional worship music. This report from northwestgeorgianews.com gives more details

Continue reading “Ugandan wins Musical award in North Carolina”

More Africans seek education in America. Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana lead the pack

The 2018 Open Doors report on international education has revealed that the United States hosted 1.09 million international students during the 2017/2018 academic year.This marks a 1.5 percent increase over the prior year. The number of Sub-Saharan African students hit a record high at 39,479, marking a 4.6 percent increase over the prior year. This report from modernghana.com gives more details
Continue reading “More Africans seek education in America. Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana lead the pack”

From Nigeria to Toledo, Richard Olekanma has lived quite a journey

American college football might as well have existed in another universe for University of Toledo senior linebacker Richard Olekanma. Like many kids growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Olekanma simply was worried about his next opportunity for ice cream, and his athletic aspirations were dominated by the Nigerian national pastime of soccer. The report by BRIAN BUCKEY in The Blade.

Continue reading “From Nigeria to Toledo, Richard Olekanma has lived quite a journey”

Sudanese-American elected into council in Virginia

The number of Sudanese-Americans holding elected public office in the United States has doubled – there are now two. Mohamed Seifeldein won a city council seat on November 6 in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of the capital, Washington. He follows in the footsteps of Mazahir Salih, who was elected to a city council seat in Iowa City, Iowa in 2017. according to this report by John Tanza of the VOA Continue reading “Sudanese-American elected into council in Virginia”

Kassy Kebede: the Ethiopian private equity guru who was married to a super model

By Ebimo Amungo

Kassahun (Kassy) Kebede is founder and Managing Partner of Cepheus Growth Capital, an Ethiopia focused private equity fund started in 2016. He has been a player in the private equity business in New York for over twenty years. He is also famous for the former husband of Ethiopian super model Liya Kebede.

Before Cepheus, Mr. Kebede founded and was Managing Partner of Panton Capital Group, a credit hedge fund that focused on capital structure arbitrage and relative value credit trading strategies, from 2004 until 2015.

Continue reading “Kassy Kebede: the Ethiopian private equity guru who was married to a super model”

Meet Trevor Noah: The most vocal African in America

Since arriving America in 2011 Trevor Noah has risen to be one of the most visible native-born Africans in America as host of  The Daily Show. But his comedy belies his strong liberal beliefs and he has used that global platform to show the world what a gifted intellectual he is, albeit a funny one. This biography  by cutfm tells us more about his years in South Africa and his sojourn in America so far. Continue reading “Meet Trevor Noah: The most vocal African in America”

Thirteen Africans among NBA stars for 2018

The National Basketball Association announced recently that 108 international players from a record-tying 42 countries and territories are on opening-night rosters for the 2018-19 season. Among them are 13 players from Africa.

This marks the fifth consecutive season that opening-night rosters feature at least 100 international players and that all 30 teams have at least one international player.

The record for international players (113) and record for countries and territories represented (42) were set at the start of the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons respectively.

The most-represented countries among the 108 international players on opening-night rosters are Canada (11 players), Australia (record nine players), France (nine players), Spain (seven players) and Germany (record six players), followed by Croatia, Serbia and Turkey (five players each).
Opening-night rosters also feature 13 African-born players and a record 65 European players.

The Dallas Mavericks have an NBA-high seven international players.
The Utah Jazz and L.A. Clippers each have six.
The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers and San Antonio Spurs field five each.
The NBA’s 73rd season started with a doubleheader as part of Kia NBA Tip-Off 2018.

In the opening game, the Celtics hosted the 76ers in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Semifinals.
In the second game, the Thunder visited two-time defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors at 4:30.

A record 26 former Basketball Without Borders campers are on opening-night rosters, including Joel Embiid (76ers; Cameroon; BWB Africa 2011), Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets; Canada; BWB Global 2015), Dario Saric (76ers; Croatia; BWB Europe 2010) and Ayton (BWB Global 2016).
BWB is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach programme that has seen more than 55 former campers drafted into the NBA or signed as free agents since 2001.

In addition to the 108 international players on 2018-19 opening-night rosters, there are six international players from five countries on “two-way” contracts.

For the second consecutive season, NBA teams can sign up to two two-way players to NBA contracts.
These contracts allow two-way players to be with their NBA parent team for up to 45 days, spending most of the season in the NBA G League.

International player milestones and storylines for the upcoming season:
· There are 11 international players on opening-night rosters who have been NBA All-Stars: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks; Greece), Luol Deng (Minnesota Timberwolves; South Sudan), Goran Dragic (Miami Heat; Slovenia), Embiid, Al Horford (Celtics; Dominican Republic), Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies; Spain), Pau Gasol (Spurs; Spain), Kyrie Irving (Celtics; Australia), Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks; Germany), Tony Parker (Charlotte Hornets; France) and Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks; Latvia).

Nowitzki will set an NBA record for most seasons played with one team (21), breaking a tie with Kobe Bryant, who spent 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nowitzki will tie the NBA record for most seasons played overall (21), joining Robert Parish, Kevin Willis, Kevin Garnett and the Atlanta Hawks’ Vince Carter, who is also beginning his 21st season.

As part of the NBA.com 2018-19 GM Survey, Antetokounmpo was voted the No. 1 player with whom general managers would want to start a franchise. Murray was voted the No. 1 player most likely to have a breakout season.
Pau Gasol needs 15 points to pass David Robinson (20,790 points) for 38th place on the all-time scoring list and 105 points to pass Bob Pettit (20,880 points) for 37th place on the all-time scoring list.

Tony Parker needs 306 points to pass Bob Lanier (19,248 points) for 50th place on the all-time scoring list.
Yuta Watanabe (two-way player for the Grizzlies; Japan; NBA Global Camp 2018) is seeking to become the second Japanese player to play in the NBA (Yuta Tabuse; Suns 2004-05).

Continue reading “Thirteen Africans among NBA stars for 2018”

Data show Nigerians the most educated in the U.S.

BACHELOR’S AND BEYOND
In America, Nigerians’ education pursuit is above rest Whether driven by immigration or family, data show more earn degrees. This report in the Houston Chronicle using census data sheds more light on the accomplishment of Nigerians in the US.

By LESLIE CASIMIR

Continue reading “Data show Nigerians the most educated in the U.S.”

Obama and the Legacy of Africa’s Renaissance Generation

There was a generation of Africans who went to the western world to get educated. That generation included the father of former President Barrack Obama and a lot of political leaders who led their countries into independence. This article by Aminatta Forna in the New York Review of Books talks about that Renaissance generation.

Continue reading “Obama and the Legacy of Africa’s Renaissance Generation”

Nigerian-born Chika Anyiam elected Judge in Dallas

After surviving a vicious smear campaign full of personal attacks and innuendos, Nigerian -born Chika Anyiam was elected overwhelmingly by the electorate in Dallas. Texas. She joins the growing list of African-born jurist in America. Continue reading “Nigerian-born Chika Anyiam elected Judge in Dallas”

How Nigerians painted New York green during independence celebrations

Ranking as the largest African immigrant community in America, Nigerians made their voices heard recently when they held a parade in Manhattan, New York to celebrate their country’s Independence day. As this report by Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye in Sun newspaper reveals. Continue reading “How Nigerians painted New York green during independence celebrations”

Kenya-Americans investment fuel real estate boom in Kissi

Investment from Kenya-Americans is fueling a real estate boom in Kisii, a city in south-western Kenya. Kisii is the main urban and commercial center in the Gusii Highlands and the South Nyanza region. This report by MAGATI OBEBO in Nation reveals this trend.
Continue reading “Kenya-Americans investment fuel real estate boom in Kissi”

Ghanaians in Chicago Donate to hospital to reduce maternal deaths

A group of Ghanaians residing in Chicago have donated materials and cash to The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the second largest health facility in Ghana, as a contribution to the effort to reduce maternal deaths in the country. This report from ghanaweb.com gives more details.
Continue reading “Ghanaians in Chicago Donate to hospital to reduce maternal deaths”

Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali win in US Mid-term elections

History was made in the US mid-term election when Ilhan Omar, became the  first Somali-Muslim- American  to be elected to Congress. But there were two  other African-born American politicians who also won seats. One from Ethiopia and the other from Eritrea. All three are democrats. Continue reading “Ethiopian, Eritrean and Somali win in US Mid-term elections”

Here are the best African immigrant marketplaces in the US

As of 2015, there are 1.7 million sub-Sahara African immigrants living in the U.S.  The largest numbers of them reside in Texas, New York, California, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Virginia. Each of these states has at least 100,000 African immigrants respectively. These states represents the best markets for African immigrants according to  TONY K ANSAH JR  who used census figures for this report in Face2FaceAfrica.com. Continue reading “Here are the best African immigrant marketplaces in the US”

Bakanal de Afrique brings African diaspora performance to Oakland and SF

Immerse yourself in the underground and emerging arts of the African diaspora via Bakanal de Afrique, a multi-genre festival taking place throughout November in Oakland and San Francisco presented by the Afro Urban Society and Dance Mission Theater. This according to DATEBOOK Continue reading “Bakanal de Afrique brings African diaspora performance to Oakland and SF”

Kenya markets new Nairobi-New York route at New York Marathon

Using the huge Kenya contingent of elite participants and the global platform of the annual New York Marathon, the Kenyan Tourism Board stepped upped efforts to market of the recently inaugurated Nairobi-New York route by Kenya Airways. Continue reading “Kenya markets new Nairobi-New York route at New York Marathon”

South African filmmakers are in Hollywood to boost an industry eclipsed by Nollywood

Hollywood deal-making will hit peak this week as the American Film Market opens in Santa Monica, California. Among the throng of film execs and ambitious producers at the world’s largest motion picture trade event is a group of South Africans who carry more than the hopes of their entertainment industry.

Continue reading “South African filmmakers are in Hollywood to boost an industry eclipsed by Nollywood”

Ghanaian immigrants recount early struggles in America

Every African immigrant to America has a tale of their struggles in the first few months and even years in the USA. In this report, two Ghanaian immigrants recount what they had to do the get by after arriving from Africa. Continue reading “Ghanaian immigrants recount early struggles in America”

Brad Wall apologizes after concerns raised over ‘Nigerian prince’ tweet

Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has apologized after comparing the federal government’s plan to impose a price on carbon to a “Nigerian prince” email scam on social media recently.

Continue reading “Brad Wall apologizes after concerns raised over ‘Nigerian prince’ tweet”