Month: March 2020

Uncategorized

Mathew Knowles, Father of Beyoncé And Solange, Invests in African Music Streaming Startup MEPLAYLIST

BY MURRAY STASSEN |MUSIC BUSINESS WORLDWIDE

Mathew Knowles, the father (and former manager) of artists Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, has made an undisclosed investment in Nigeria-based music startup, MePlaylist. MePlaylist is a music streaming platform founded by Olakunle Oladehin in 2017.

The service is available across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, as well as the UK and North America.

Continue reading “Mathew Knowles, Father of Beyoncé And Solange, Invests in African Music Streaming Startup MEPLAYLIST” →
Awards

America-based Ghanaian awarded MBL Emerging Entrepreneur Award

Cornerlis Kweku Affre| myjoyonline

An Ghanaian has been awarded this year’s Emerging Entrepreneur Award by the Metropolitan Business League in Richmond, Virginia.

Bismark Agbemble was given the award for hard work in developing three signature products in the area of Education, Entertainment and E-Commerce to solve problems through innovation, efficiency, and ease of use through their WebRTC platform.

Continue reading “America-based Ghanaian awarded MBL Emerging Entrepreneur Award” →
Africa

Coronavirus epidemic: Kenya Vows to Block Medical Professionals from Moving to the US for Work

By John Wanjohi |Mwakilishi.com

The Kenyan government has vowed to block Kenyan medical practitioners from moving to the United States amid the Corona virus epidemic. This comes a day after the US government, through the Department of State, Consular Affairs urged foreign medical professionals willing to work in the US to seek visa appointments with their embassies.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Continue reading “Coronavirus epidemic: Kenya Vows to Block Medical Professionals from Moving to the US for Work” →
Embassies & High Commissions

Morocco’s Ambassador to Canada: Moroccan Community’s Safety is Priority

By Safaa Kasraoui |Moroccan World News

Morocco’s ambassador to Canada, Souriya Otmani, issued a solidarity message to the country’s Moroccan community. In a video posted on the Moroccan Embassy in Canada’s official Facebook page, Otmani warned expatriates, also known as MREs, about the danger of the pandemic and its rapid proliferation across the world.

Continue reading “Morocco’s Ambassador to Canada: Moroccan Community’s Safety is Priority” →
Immigration

America lures medical professionals to U.S. fight coronavirus

By PMnews

The United States is luring medical professionals all over the world to come to help fight COVID-19 pandemic. A country that had hitherto shut its doors against migrants has now rolled out the red carpet to welcome them.

In a Twitter post , the State Department put out an invitation to medical professionals all over the world, and that will include, we guess, professionals from countries the Trump administration has banned.

Continue reading “America lures medical professionals to U.S. fight coronavirus” →
Immigration

African Immigrants Are Being Deported At High Rates

by Ann Brown| Moguldom

Under the Trump administration, African and other Black immigrants have been deported at higher rates than other immigrants, and no one is paying much attention. In 2015, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported 1,293 African immigrants, according to data from the Department of Homeland Security. Since the 2016 election, raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Black immigrant communities has revved up. That number has since gone up.

Continue reading “African Immigrants Are Being Deported At High Rates” →
Uncategorized

Forget Berkshire Hathaway: This South-African Investment Company Has the Ideal Coronavirus Portfolio

By Billy Duberstein  The Motley Fool |NASDAQ

U.S. investors may not be familiar with Prosus (OTC: PROSY), one of the largest and newest European tech stocks. Prosus is a new company formed last September when South African media and investment firm Naspers (OTC: NPSNY) spun off its global internet investments from its core South African media and e-commerce operations into a stand-alone company.

Continue reading “Forget Berkshire Hathaway: This South-African Investment Company Has the Ideal Coronavirus Portfolio” →
Arts

Congolese refugee launches American art career with help from Refugee Assistance Partners of N.J.

By Brenna Holland | For NJ Advance Media

When Muyambo Marcel Chishimba was referred to the Refugee Assistance Partners of New Jersey (RAP), he expected to be helped in his effort to navigate the government, housing and school systems in his new home of Elizabeth. What Chishimba did not expect was that RAP would be the organization to help jump start his career as an artist in the United States.

Continue reading “Congolese refugee launches American art career with help from Refugee Assistance Partners of N.J.” →
Uncategorized

Egyptian-American doctor helps to develop new COVID-19 test kit

By Al-Masry Al-Youm

Johns Hopkins University announced earlier in March that it had made a breakthrough that would allow testing 1,000 people for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) per day, reducing pressure on laboratories and allowing governments to better isolate those infected with the respiratory illness and control its spread.

Two specialists in microbiology developed the new test, one of them is Karen Carroll and the other is Egyptian-American Dr. Heba Mostafa.

Continue reading “Egyptian-American doctor helps to develop new COVID-19 test kit” →
Uncategorized

Kenyan-born artist appeals for support in tattoo magazine competition

By Kirsten Kanja |SDC.co.ke

Wakenya Clewis, a Kenyan-born art enthusiast has appealed for support in her bid to become the next cover girl for Ink Magazine, a lifestyle magazine covering tattoo culture. According to the ‘Kenyan Hippie’, getting on the magazine’s cover would achieve more than just showcasing her art.

Continue reading “Kenyan-born artist appeals for support in tattoo magazine competition” →
Movies

Why Nigerians living abroad love to watch Nollywood movies

By Franoise Ugochukwu |Sierra Leone Times

The Nollywood industry – which came to life in the early 1990s – is often seen as a natural heir to the Nigerian TV series which had already produced roughly 14,000 feature films in the previous decade. These video-films of the early years have now become full feature films, and an integral part of popular life in Nigeria. Local audiences appreciate these homegrown productions relating to daily life in the country.

Continue reading “Why Nigerians living abroad love to watch Nollywood movies” →
Uncategorized

If You Want To Connect To The African Diaspora Abroad, Consider Learning This Language

by Dana Givens| Black Enterprise

With the rise in DNA testing, popularity of Afrobeats music, and interest in African culture with movies like Black Panther, there has been an influx of African Americans looking to African countries for tourism, business opportunities, and possibly to relocate. For those interested in doing business across Africa, you may want to consider learning some French.

Continue reading “If You Want To Connect To The African Diaspora Abroad, Consider Learning This Language” →
Uncategorized

Meet Ghanaian-born Dr. Theodore T. Nyame, one of the most highly rated plastic surgeons in America

By Ebimo Amungo

Dr. Theodore Nyame, MD is a Harvard University trained Board Certified Cosmetic, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon. He was born in Ghana and arrived America when he was eight years old. He works at Charlotte Plastic Surgery and is a highly regarded across America.

Continue reading “Meet Ghanaian-born Dr. Theodore T. Nyame, one of the most highly rated plastic surgeons in America” →
Ancestry

After my mother died, I reconnected with her Nigerian heritage through food at Rio Carnival

By Rosie Bell

AS PART OF MY voyage of the heart to heal from the sudden loss of my mother, Grace, I headed far afield to Brazil, a country she loved wholeheartedly yet never visited. During my mission to forget her passing, I encountered many a reminder of her aliveness, the dishes she cooked, and the tales she told of the place she was born: Nigeria.

Continue reading “After my mother died, I reconnected with her Nigerian heritage through food at Rio Carnival” →
Remittance

The African Diaspora Network Gives Africans Living Abroad A Pathway To Invest At Home

By Meghan McCormick |Forbes

Global remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) grew by 10% to $46B in 2018 (the last year for which we have complete data from the World Bank). Remittances, or money sent as a gift typically from family members working in a high-income country to family members living in low- or middle-income countries, are an important part of the global economy. They account for more transfer of funds to SSA than aid from the top 10 donor countries and institutions. The money sent to Africa through remittances is actually larger than many African-country GDPs. Remittances would be the 12th most productive economy in SSA, just behind the Democratic Republic of the Congo and ahead of Côte d’Ivoire.

Continue reading “The African Diaspora Network Gives Africans Living Abroad A Pathway To Invest At Home” →
Education

Ghanaian entrepreneur and Nigerian win MBA scholarship from Boston University

The Questroom School of Business at the prestigious Boston University, USA, has announced the winners of its Master of Business Administration (MBA) scholarship application for 2020-2021 academic year. The 100% tuition scholarship opportunity which is sponsored by Boston University was open to all Ghanaian and Nigerian citizens. Two outstanding applicants were awarded; Miss Helena Jennifer Afordoanyi from Ghana and Mr Olusegun Awobajo from Nigeria.

Continue reading “Ghanaian entrepreneur and Nigerian win MBA scholarship from Boston University” →
Communities

Ugandans in America meet Parliamentary Speaker over rampant land grabs and tedious National ID process

 BY SARAH ACHEN KIBISI

Ugandans in diaspora, especially those in North America, have petitioned the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, over rampant land grabbing, which they say has greatly affected their investments in their native country.

Continue reading “Ugandans in America meet Parliamentary Speaker over rampant land grabs and tedious National ID process” →
Movies

Congolese Director, Tshopher Kabambi’s dream realised with release of ‘Heart of Africa’

As a young man born and raised in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tshopher Kabambi dreamed of making movies. He is the director of “Heart of Africa”, the first Congolese-American production of its kind with a story that conveys Christian themes of brotherly love and overcoming prejudice.

By Trent Toone  

Continue reading “Congolese Director, Tshopher Kabambi’s dream realised with release of ‘Heart of Africa’” →
Uncategorized

Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

By Robert Smith Business School

Seble Alemayehu and Felekech (Fei) Biratu started as high school friends, and after a similar journey through life, a move around the globe and two MBA degrees from the Robert Smith School, they now are proud co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.

Continue reading “Meet Seble Alemayehu and Felekech Biratu, the co-founders of Yenaé, an online-based, high-end fashion jewelry brand.” →
Uncategorized

Ethiopian Jewelers Take US, Europe and Asia Markets

Ethiopian startup Yenaé is building a fashion jewellery brand that offers culturally curated and African-inspired collections to customers all over the world. 

Launched by two female Ethiopian-American entrepreneurs, Felekech Biratu and Seble Alemayehu, Yenaé was established in December 2015 but officially launched in November 2018. 

Continue reading “Ethiopian Jewelers Take US, Europe and Asia Markets” →
Embassies & High Commissions

Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah’s Message On Coronavirus To Ghanaians In US

By Kofi Tonto 

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America, H.E. Dr. Barfuor Adjei-Barwuah, has called on Ghanaians in the United States to follow precautionary measures and laid down guidelines by health experts and government officials.

The Ambassador made the call in a statement released by the Embassy on Thursday, March 12, 2019.

Continue reading “Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah’s Message On Coronavirus To Ghanaians In US” →
Entertainment

Davido Is Bridging The Gap Between Africans And Black Americans With ‘A Good Time’

By CHERISE JOHNSON

As this generation’s Afrobeats leader, Nigerian superstar Davido reigns supreme. Fresh out of an electrifying soundcheck for his sold-out Los Angeles show at The Wiltern, the cultural icon touted as the “King Of Afrobeats,” was gleefully surrounded by family, friends and his French Bulldog pup 30, backstage ahead of his performance.

Continue reading “Davido Is Bridging The Gap Between Africans And Black Americans With ‘A Good Time’” →
Uncategorized

It’s Angélique Kidjo’s Birthday, and Her Country’s Too

She is probably Africa’s most widely respected international vocalist, and one of its hungriest synthesizers of culture and ideas.

By Giovanni Russonello|The New York Times

The Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo was born into one of the most hopeful moments of the 20th century. Just two weeks after her birth in 1960 — in Ouidah, Dahomey — her country finally gained independence from France. It was one of 17 African nations to declare independence that year.

Continue reading “It’s Angélique Kidjo’s Birthday, and Her Country’s Too” →
African Food

Third-Culture Cooking: Making Efo Riro With Kemi Seriki

By Joe Sevier|Epicurious

I came to the Bronx to learn how to make efo riro, a stew of leafy greens cooked in a savory tomato-pepper sauce, native to the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. I left with a recipe only Kemi Seriki could have written.

Seriki moved to the States from Lagos, Nigeria, in 1982, to attend college and earn her master’s degree. She intended to move back to Nigeria after school, but she stayed in New York, where she now works as a youth counselor in the New York City court system.

Continue reading “Third-Culture Cooking: Making Efo Riro With Kemi Seriki” →
Communities

Tema Choir USA Inc. thrills at independence anniversary celebration in Washington DC

By George Kwasi Bright

Ghana’s 63rd independence celebration at the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC had a different flare to it with the electrifying performance of the Tema Choir USA Inc.

Continue reading “Tema Choir USA Inc. thrills at independence anniversary celebration in Washington DC” →
American Odessey

African-Americans are just familiar strangers to Africans

Africans who arrive America soon find out that there is a big gulf between them and African-Americans. They only share skin colour, not a lifelong kinship.

By JOYCE K. MWANGI

Continue reading “African-Americans are just familiar strangers to Africans” →
Uncategorized

Evodie Tshipamba Receives Outstanding Black Student Award

by: Emma Fleming

Evodie Tshipamba is a recipient of Parkland’s Outstanding Black Student Award. Tshipamba, an electrical engineering major, was recognized by faculty and staff as an outstanding black student for her academic excellence and involvement in the community. She is one of seven students selected for this award. Tshipamba hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, where she says sense of community is a bit different than it is in the U.S.

Continue reading “Evodie Tshipamba Receives Outstanding Black Student Award” →
Culture

African Student Union celebrates heritage, mental health awareness at University of Georgia

By Mikaela Cohen

To embrace African heritage and ignite a mental health discussion, the University of Georgia’s African Student Union showcased a series of traditional African dances weaved through a story of a modern African family facing mental health issues during the “African Night”

Continue reading “African Student Union celebrates heritage, mental health awareness at University of Georgia” →
Communities

Becoming American: How refugees become US citizens in Las Vegas

By Feven Kay

The number of people around the world who have been driven from their homes is at a record high. Refugees are forced to leave their native countries, escaping violence, war and persecution. Thousands have resettled here in Las Vegas in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

Continue reading “Becoming American: How refugees become US citizens in Las Vegas” →
Uncategorized

Minnesota teen beats the odds, dreams of building a school in her native Ethiopia

By GAIL ROSENBLUM

Zubeda Chaffe, 18, is a typical high school senior in many ways. She played soccer, basketball and ran track, participates in City Wide Student Council and works at the Hennepin County Library with the Teen Tech Squad. But those examples belie the extraordinary effort required of Chaffe to get to this point. At 7, she and her Oromo family fled Ethiopia fearing for their lives. She started school knowing only her name in English. On March 19, Chaffe will be one of five honorees at the 28th Children’s Defense Fund-MN Beat the Odds celebration. A full-time PSEO student at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, she shares childhood memories, her take on American kids and her goals after college.

Continue reading “Minnesota teen beats the odds, dreams of building a school in her native Ethiopia” →