Month: October 2020

Entertainment

‘The Real Africa Has Not Been Shown.’ How Burna Boy Is Using His Voice to Share a New Vision for His Homeland

By Andrew R. Chow  | TIME

“The real Africa has not been shown. For a long time, the world has only seen videos of little kids and their ribs, asking for donations,” Burna Boy says with a bitter laugh. The Nigerian superstar sits in a London studio, sporting a crisp marbled button-down and immaculately coiffed dreadlocks while serenely holding a cup of Hennessy and Coke, presenting a very different image indeed.

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Opinion

Trump, ‘Get your hands off Somali refugees!’


By Teresa Gutierrez | Workers World

Before being admitted to the hospital for coronavirus infection, Donald Trump spent the last two weeks on yet another vile anti-immigrant tirade.

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Uncategorized

Equatorial Guinea President to receive 400 Years of African American History Award

By EIN Presswire

His Excellency Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea, is slated to receive the 400 Years of African American History Award from the H.R. 1242 Resilience Project in the capitol city of Malabo this week. The award is to recognize an African Head of State that has contributed with building bridges for humanity and the African American Diaspora.

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Music

Diamond Platnumz Talks On Breaking Into The U.S. Market

By Christopher A. DANIEL | GRAMMY.com

When Diamond Platnumz exploded onto the African music scene in 2010 with his debut LP, Kamwambie, his sole mission was to be able to buy food for his mother. He didn’t realize that his sound and vision would go on to transform both East African popular music and the heights its regional superstar talent could reach.

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Opinion

Kelechi Madu |A Worthy Ambassador of Nigeria

Editorial by The Nation Newspaper

HE is a Nigerian-born Canadian leader of whom his country of birth is proud. Kaycee (Kelechi) Madu just made history as the first person of African origin to be appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitor-General of Alberta, a province of Canada. His appointment to that office was not only historic, he has a historic mission and came a long way in his professional career and public service in his country of domicile to attain that height.

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Uncategorized

Moncef Slaoui | Moroccan-born head of U.S. vaccine program expects data readouts in November-December

by | Reuters

The chief adviser for the U.S. government’s Operation Warp Speed COVID-19 vaccine program, Moncef Slaoui, on Tuesday said efficacy data readouts are expected from Pfizer Inc and Moderna Inc between next month and December.

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Communities

Music City Nashville’s ‘Friends of South Africa’ Take on the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge

By Sine Thieme | SAPeople

Almost exactly eight years ago, I found myself stalled on the steep slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro for our group’s final ascent to the highest point on the African continent, writes Sine Thieme. It was the darkest of nights, my hands and feet were frozen solid, and I could hardly breathe. I was sure I couldn’t possibly take one more step, but then something amazing happened: our guides started singing.

Continue reading “Music City Nashville’s ‘Friends of South Africa’ Take on the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge” →
Politics

Egyptians in the heart of the American presidential elections

Trump or Biden: Who will US-Egyptians vote for? The decisive factor is the US foreign policy towards Egypt and the Middle East.

By Marwa Ibrahim | Ahram Online

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News

Ethiopian immigrants launch new restaurant, Mimi’s Cuisine, to bring Ethiopian food to the forefront in Baltimore

By Amanda Yeager | Business Journal

Fikre Mariam Worku spent years as a social worker, first in Ethiopia and then as a resettlement manager for the International Rescue Committee in Baltimore. His wife, Eskedar Abawa, worked as an accountant. But the couple found themselves drawn to hospitality. Friends and coworkers raved about Abawa’s cooking and encouraged the two to open a restaurant of their own.

Continue reading “Ethiopian immigrants launch new restaurant, Mimi’s Cuisine, to bring Ethiopian food to the forefront in Baltimore” →
News

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | Nigerian, South Korean Women to Vie for WTO Leadership

By Reuters, Wire Service Content

Former Nigerian finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee are the final candidates to head the World Trade Organization, ensuring the watchdog will have the first female leader in its 25-year history.

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Entertainment

Mannywellz Bridges the Gap Between America & Africa

By Marcus K. Dowling | DJBOOTH

Mannywellz’ skill as a singer and songwriter connects African music to the thriving space where R&B, trap, and mainstream pop converge. The 26-year-old R&B artist, born in Nigeria and based in Laurel, Maryland, is a second-generation musical creative whose style, sound, and inspirations occupy a growing African-led space in American and global popular music.

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African Food

Tiffaney and Avo Odewale | Husband-and-wife team set to open Jollof Rice Destination in Houston

by Kayla Stewart | Eater Houston

Jollof Rice King, a new destination for Nigerian cuisine, is just about ready to make its Houston debut. Located at 3833 Richmond Avenue, the exciting new addition to the city’s dining scene is set to open its doors on October 13, after multiple delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Entertainment

Why Netflix is a lifeline for African film-makers

The streaming giant’s ambitious initiative Made By Africa, Watched By the World is a welcome platform for the continent’s overlooked cinematic talent.

By Fred Onyango | The Guardian

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Politics

Boni Njenga | Kenyan-born American seeks top position in Minnesota

By The Standard

While the United States is considered to be the land of opportunity, it is not always the same for many immigrants who seek a better life and education from their native countries. But a Kenyan born American, Boni Njenga, himself an immigrant who went to the United States by default 17 years ago is seeking to be the remedy to the problems facing not only the huge immigrant community in Minnesota, but also native Americans in the county.

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Arts

Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe | The Ascent of Young Ghanaian Artist

By Terence Trouillot | Artsy

On a hot summer day this year, I was relieved to speak to the Ghanaian artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe over the phone and not through a screen. Sure, it would have been nice to see him face-to-face, but there was something quite familiar and soothing to just hear (and focus on) the timbre and natural joy in his voice—his friendly disposition signaled by the cadence in his speech.

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Uncategorized

Hisham Aidi | Moroccan academic dissects the relationship between art and politics

Moroccan academic Hisham Aidi, a professor at Columbia University in the United States, won many prizes for his books, in which he discussed the relationship between art and politics.

By yabiladi.com

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Entertainment

Trevor Noah |Comedy Central celebrates 5 years of South African comedian at the helm of the ‘Daily Show’

by Encomium

When late-night titan Jon Stewart announced that he would step down from The Daily Show there was much speculation about who would take his spot. The biggest names in American comedy were thrown around, but no one expected a little known South African comedian to take the helm. 5 years on Trevor Noah is one of the biggest names in late-night television and a household name across the globe. Tune in to Comedy Central (DStv Channel 122) as we celebrate this iconic milestone on The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) at 10:30 PM

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Book review

Maaza Mengiste | Her Booker shortlisted novel choreographs women’s footprints on the battlefield

By Aditi Sriram | Scrool.in

Ethiopian-American Maaza Mengiste’s second novel, The Shadow King, recounts a tumultuous war in Ethiopian history that took the country by surprise, pit locals against one another, and left them scarred for decades to come. Narrating the story is an invisible, omniscient chorus of women, inspired by Mengiste’s own great-grandmother. They alternate between singing, mourning, and rallying the troops into action, never allowing the reader a moment of silence. The result is a visceral story of violence, loyalty and forgiveness.

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Music

Burna Boy Signs Deal With SESAC, Waterparks & Smallpools

by Chris Eggertsen  | Billboard

Singer-songwriter and Nigerian pop star Burna Boy has signed with performing rights organization SESAC for direct U.S. representation. Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy recently released his fifth studio album Twice As Tall, executive produced by Ogulu, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bosede Ogulu.

Continue reading “Burna Boy Signs Deal With SESAC, Waterparks & Smallpools” →