Month: June 2020

Movies

Official Trailer for ‘Runner’ Doc Film About Guor Marial a South Sudanese Olympian
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by Alex Billington | Firstshowing.net

“Inside of me, my heart is always on fire…” 

An official trailer has debuted for a documentary titled simply Runner, about the world famous Olympian named Guor Marial. When he was a child, he fled from Sudan and escaped its oppression in America. Years later, ready to compete in running, he had to fight the IOC to be an independent runner for South Sudan but eventually was given the chance to compete in the marathon event in the 2012 Olympics. 

Continue reading “Official Trailer for ‘Runner’ Doc Film About Guor Marial a South Sudanese Olympian” →
Movies

Guor Marial: From Sudan To New Hampshire To The Olympics, ‘Runner’ Recaps An Incredible Journey
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By Erin Trahan | wbur

About seven years ago, Bill Gallagher was sipping an afternoon coffee, casually flipping through the news. One story grabbed his attention: Marathoner Guor Mading Maker had qualified for but declined a 2012 London Olympics bid because he couldn’t represent the newly formed nation of South Sudan.

Continue reading “Guor Marial: From Sudan To New Hampshire To The Olympics, ‘Runner’ Recaps An Incredible Journey” →
Opinion

From African American freedom to Ethiopia’s war against fascism
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By Zecharias Zelalem | Quartz

The uproar from the horrific murder of 46-year old African American George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25 continues to reverberate globally, as African Americans continue to take to the streets in a stand against racism and police brutality. But in Ethiopia, public expressions of solidarity with marchers in America are few and far between.

Continue reading “From African American freedom to Ethiopia’s war against fascism” →
Music

As Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz gets 1 billion views, a look at Africa’s most popular YouTube Stars
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Diamond Platnumz joins Africa’s biggest YouTube stars which include Senegalese-American rapper Akon, Malian-born singer Aya Nakamura, Morrocan Saad Lamjarred and Egyptian Hamo Bika. But Nigerian Trio of Davido, Burna Boy and Wizkid and catching up quickly.

By Lucy Fleming | BBC News

Continue reading “As Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz gets 1 billion views, a look at Africa’s most popular YouTube Stars” →
Uncategorized

Suspect in killing of Tallahassee activist, Oluwatoyin Salau, arrested in Orange County
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By KATIE RICE | ORLANDO SENTINEL

A 49-year-old man suspected in the killings of two women in Tallahassee, including 19-year-old activist Oluwatoyin Salau, was arrested Sunday in Orange County, according to records. Aaron Glee Jr. was arrested by the Orlando Police Department on warrants out of Leon County for homicide and kidnapping, according to the Orange County Jail.

Continue reading “Suspect in killing of Tallahassee activist, Oluwatoyin Salau, arrested in Orange County” →
Uncategorized

Oluwatoyin Salau, Black Lives Matter activist found dead in apparent homicide
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By Giulia McDonnell Nieto del Rio | The New York Times

A 19-year-old Black Lives Matter activist whose disappearance this month led to a desperate search after she sent a series of tweets describing a sexual assault has been found dead in Tallahassee, Fla., the police said Monday.

Oluwatoyin Salau seems to have Nigerian heritage.

Continue reading “Oluwatoyin Salau, Black Lives Matter activist found dead in apparent homicide” →
Uncategorized

Zain Verjee: The Kenyan-born former CNN anchor who is passionate about changing the representation of Africa in the media.
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By Ebimo Amungo

Zain Verjee is African, she wears her African identity with pride as she navigates the world as a journalist and media tycoon. And as she works to promote corporate brands and organizational reputations through her eponymous media group, one mission remains at the core of her essence, a determination to change how her beloved continent is represented by the global media.

Continue reading “Zain Verjee: The Kenyan-born former CNN anchor who is passionate about changing the representation of Africa in the media.” →
Entertainment

Ramy Youssef opens up about portraying the titular protagonist in ‘Ramy’
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‘He’s who I’m afraid of becoming’:

by Razmig Bedirian | The National

“Ramy is me without a passion, without perspective,” Ramy Youssef says as he ponders the differences between himself and the titular protagonist of his TV show Ramy. “He’s me with a family that talks less.”

Continue reading “Ramy Youssef opens up about portraying the titular protagonist in ‘Ramy’” →
Immigration

American dream — Even amid the turmoil this immigrant believes. Here’s why
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By Michael Youssef | Fox News

I was born into the ancient Christian community in Egypt during a time of great social change, but I was also an American in my heart long before I ever became a citizen. Why did I — and why do countless others around the world — dream of coming to America?

Continue reading “American dream — Even amid the turmoil this immigrant believes. Here’s why” →
Appointments

United States appoints Damilola Ogunbiyi to Advisory Council of Development Finance Corporation
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The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors has approved the first members of the agency’s inaugural Development Advisory Council of which Nigeria’s Damilola Ogunbiyi is one.

Continue reading “United States appoints Damilola Ogunbiyi to Advisory Council of Development Finance Corporation” →
Sports

Tega Wanogho: The Nigerian prince who is set to rule American football
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By The Nations

Prince Tega Wanogho left Nigeria largely unknown, but he has become synonymous with quality, mainly in the United States of America where he was recently drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League. His story encapsulates the never-say-die attitude of the average Nigerian athlete, but fate played a crucial role in his becoming a football player as he had left Nigeria to pursue a career in basketball.

Continue reading “Tega Wanogho: The Nigerian prince who is set to rule American football” →
Society

Kenyan economist, Waigwa Wachira, marries his American beau in private wedding
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By Opera News

Dr David Wachira, an economist and public finance specialist at World Bank has officially exchanged wedding vows with the love of his life Cecilie Olaussen. The wedding ceremony went down on Saturday, June 13 in Dallas, Texas although the couple had earlier postponed it due to the COVID-19 situation.

Continue reading “Kenyan economist, Waigwa Wachira, marries his American beau in private wedding” →
Communities

#BlackLivesMatter: How Kenyans in the United States Protested George Floyd’s Death
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By John Wanjohi  | Mwankilishi

Kenyans living in the United States were not left behind as thousands of people poured to the streets in various cities across America to protest the death of George Floyd. The 46-year-old African-American was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota after a white police officer put his knee on his neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds in a disturbing incident captured on camera.

Continue reading “#BlackLivesMatter: How Kenyans in the United States Protested George Floyd’s Death” →
Entertainment

Sam Richardson: Comedy’s hidden gem
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Sam Richardson is a rising star with a dual heritage. Born to an African American father and a Ghanaian mother, Richardson spent his childhood shuttling between the United States and Ghana. In this report by Stuart Heritage in The Guardian Sam Richardson talks about his career and his latest film, HookUp.

Continue reading “Sam Richardson: Comedy’s hidden gem” →
Uncategorized

These are some details and facts about Juneteenth?
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By Derrick Bryson Taylor | The New York Times

Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated by African-Americans since the late 1800s. But in recent years, and particularly following nationwide protests over police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other African-Americans this year, there is a renewed interest in the day that celebrates freedom.

Continue reading “These are some details and facts about Juneteenth?” →
Ancestry

If George Floyd had done his DNA, he was probably from Nigeria
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by  Joseph Omotayo | Legit

A senior government official in Nigeria has said if George Floyd had taken an ancestry DNA test before he was killed, he probably would have found out he was a Nigerian. This was said when two Nigerian agencies joined forces to hold a memorial in remembrance of the slain African-American in Abuja, Nigeria.

Continue reading “If George Floyd had done his DNA, he was probably from Nigeria” →
Ancestry

Ghana Minister Invites African-Americans to Re-settle in Africa If They Feel Unwanted in the U.S.
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BY BRENDAN COLE | Newsweek

The debate about race following the killing of George Floyd has reverberated across the Atlantic Ocean, spurring the tourism minister of Ghana to appeal to its diaspora, including in the U.S., to “leave where you are not wanted,” and return home.

Continue reading “Ghana Minister Invites African-Americans to Re-settle in Africa If They Feel Unwanted in the U.S.” →
Uncategorized

Wines of South Africa USA Launches Industry Podcast and Virtual Tastings to Support Sommeliers
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By wineindustryadvisor

New York, NY, June 11, 2020 – Wines of South Africa (WOSA) USA, the industry association that promotes the exports of South African wine, is proud to announce the launch of two initiatives aimed to offer continued education and awareness of South African wines, as well as support out-of-work sommeliers: the Wines of South Africa Podcast and WOSA Somm Sessions. The latter offers consumers a sommelier-led virtual tasting experience geared to their own tastes and selection of South African wines.

Continue reading “Wines of South Africa USA Launches Industry Podcast and Virtual Tastings to Support Sommeliers” →
Opinion

Now is the time: Black struggle from Sudan to the United States
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By Bedour Alagraa | Towards Freedom

As the protests demanding justice for George Floyd quickly turned into a nationwide uprising with people taking to the streets in all 50 states in America, we are called to study and reflect on the radical movements that came before us. Indeed, we would be remiss if we were to gloss over or ignore both the lessons and pitfalls of the radical uprisings that Black people have launched and sustained around the world.

Continue reading “Now is the time: Black struggle from Sudan to the United States” →
Uncategorized

Philip Adejumo: The PhD candidate at Yale who wants to represent Nigeria in swimming at the Olympics
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by MATTHEW DE GEORGE | Swimming World Magazine

Philip Adejumo’s first post-graduate move didn’t have swimming in mind. Now that he’s chasing an Olympic berth for Nigeria, his second is more considered in the athletic realm. Adejumo wrapped up his career at the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a flourish in 2018: Five gold medals (two individual), two school records and one America East mark at the conference championships.

Continue reading “Philip Adejumo: The PhD candidate at Yale who wants to represent Nigeria in swimming at the Olympics” →
Uncategorized

Kenyan Villagers in Kisii follow kin’s burial in Minnesota via Zoom
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By Capital News

A Kenyan-American, Dr. Thomas Nyambane, who died of Coronavirus in the United States, has been buried in Minnesota with his kin in Kenya following his burial via zoom. Dr. Nyambane’s body could not be transported back to Kenya due to travel restrictions around the world.

Continue reading “Kenyan Villagers in Kisii follow kin’s burial in Minnesota via Zoom” →
African Food

Kenyan-Indian student in Cornell University writes about “Diaspora Cooking”
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By Benjamin Velani | The Cornell Daily Sun

With all the disheartening news, events that give you horrific flashbacks and the nagging feeling that little progress has been made, it’s very comforting to have a nice, hot meal. This Kenyan chicken curry is the product of Indian diaspora into east Africa.

Continue reading “Kenyan-Indian student in Cornell University writes about “Diaspora Cooking”” →
Opinion

What no one will tell you about racism in Canada
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BY SAMUEL OSHO | The Cable

At the climax of dramatic events that have flipped the year 2020 on its head, the inhumane killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer has resurrected a new wave of anti-black racism protests in North America and other parts of the world. Amidst demands for better reforms to obliterate police brutality and anti-black racism, world leaders have been forced to take a knee and repeatedly listen to a legitimate chant: “Black Lives Matter.” 

Continue reading “What no one will tell you about racism in Canada” →
Uncategorized

Gotsoul App Launched To Make It Easier To Find African Restaurants
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Amid the racial protests, the rapid spread of Covid-19 Virus and accelerated unemployment particularly among People of Color, a Chesterfield, Virginia based culi-tech black owned company, Vibrainium Learning, Inc., launches the GotSoul? App. The GotSoul? App is a restaurant guide that features just under 5,000 African inspired cuisine, restaurants and experiences (Cajun, Creole, Nigerian, Gullah, Soul Food, Jamaican, Afro-Brazilian, etc.) across Africa and the African Diaspora, of which 98% are Black-owned.

Continue reading “Gotsoul App Launched To Make It Easier To Find African Restaurants” →
News

Dying Canadian Begs his government to Let Kenyan Wife Visit Him in Canada
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By EDDY MWANZA | Kenyans.co.ke

Patrick Kinsella, a retired youth services manager with the Ontario government, Canada, on June 8, issued a dying plea to his government to have his Kenyan wife, Mary Otieno Atieno, visit him before he passes on. Speaking to the media, Kinsella, who has had seven heart attacks since 2011 due to a hereditary heart condition, expressed his hopes that the immigration officials would grant his wife, and his 10-year-old stepson, Ramsey Dickson, 10, temporary residence visas to spend his remaining time with him in Canada.

Continue reading “Dying Canadian Begs his government to Let Kenyan Wife Visit Him in Canada” →
Music

Here are Africa’s richest musicians
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By DAVID MAWULI | Pulse Ghana

Despite the lockdown around the world which has affected the show business in so many ways, musicians across the African continent are making good use of their creativity and racking in millions. Pulse Ghana has compiled a list of some of the wealthy musicians on the continent at the moment based on their works, endorsements, properties, achievements, investments, and fame.

This list is not ranked or in any order.

Continue reading “Here are Africa’s richest musicians” →
Culture

Odunde, largest African American street festival, goes virtual for 45th anniversary
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BY SINEAD CUMMINGS | PhillyVoice

The largest African American street festival in the country annually takes place in Philadelphia. Typically held on the second Sunday in June, Odunde draws large crowds supporting and celebrating African culture.

The festival’s concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa. Odunde is a Yoruba word that means “Happy New Year.”

Continue reading “Odunde, largest African American street festival, goes virtual for 45th anniversary” →
Opinion

Why were US Democrats wearing Ghana’s kente cloth?
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By BBC

When US Democrats in Congress proposed legislation to reform the police following weeks of protests over the death of African American George Floyd at the hands of a white officer, commenters on social media only wanted to talk about one thing: what they were wearing. Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other Democratic lawmakers were draped in scarves made from a cloth of colourful geometric Ghanaian designs called kente.

Continue reading “Why were US Democrats wearing Ghana’s kente cloth?” →
American Odessey

Elon Musk: South African-born billionaire says ‘America is the land of opportunity – there is no other country where I could have done this’
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By Taylor Locke | CNBC

Growing up in South Africa, Elon Musk  read plenty of books but was especially inspired by science fiction.  The genre motivated him to create “cleaner energy technology or [build] spaceships to extend the human species’s reach” in the future, according to the book “Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future” by Ashlee Vance.

Continue reading “Elon Musk: South African-born billionaire says ‘America is the land of opportunity – there is no other country where I could have done this’” →
Communities

In Minneapolis, Somali-Americans Find Unwelcome Echoes of Strife at Home
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Thousands left political chaos, violence and danger in Somalia. Now, many are surprised and alarmed at the dangers and distress they’re seeing in their new home.

By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura | The New York Times

Continue reading “In Minneapolis, Somali-Americans Find Unwelcome Echoes of Strife at Home” →