Author: eamungo

Innovative and strategic
Immigration

In Harlem’s ‘Little Senegal,’ West African migrants find community and challenges

By Arya Sundaram | Gothamist

Harlem’s “Little Senegal” has recently become an epicenter for a new wave of mostly young, male West African migrants, who are simultaneously finding community and challenges as well as coming to terms with the harsh realities of living in New York City.

The new arrivals, who are mostly in their late teens and 20s, are a conspicuous fixture on West 116th Street, where they often congregate. They speak in their native Wolof, which is commonplace in Senegal, and are typically seen toting insulated food-delivery backpacks on their e-bikes.

Continue reading “In Harlem’s ‘Little Senegal,’ West African migrants find community and challenges” →
Africa

U.S. museum returns Ghana’s first batch of looted gold regalia


By Maxwell Akalaare Adombila | Reuters

 A U.S. museum has returned a batch of royal regalia to Ghana that was looted by British colonial soldiers 150 years ago, marking the first major return of stolen artefacts to the West African nation.

The Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) said the items, all royal objects from the Asante kingdom, were purchased by an American collector and donated to the museum after his death.

Continue reading “U.S. museum returns Ghana’s first batch of looted gold regalia” →
Enterpreneurship

StorsPay, a Nigerian Decentralized Retail Investing Platform, Raises $320,000 and Gets Accepted into Techstars NYC Accelerator

By KODZILLA | Bit KE

StorsPay, a fintech startup by Nigerian, Sam Alonge, has secured a funding round of US$320,000 and selected to participate in the Techstars NYC accelerator. The accelerator supported by the JP Morgan Accelerator.

The fintech has developed a decentralized platform for retail lending infrastructure which aims to connect small businesses worldwide with retail investors seeking alternative asset investment opportunities.

Continue reading “StorsPay, a Nigerian Decentralized Retail Investing Platform, Raises $320,000 and Gets Accepted into Techstars NYC Accelerator” →
Communities

Ugandans in USA Pool Funds to Support Impressive ‘Young Engineers’ Team at World Robotics Championship

BY JAVIRA SSEBWAMI | PML DAILY STAFF WRITER

DALLAS — Ugandans living in the United States, particularly in Dallas, Texas, have come together and pooled resources to support the Ugandan team representing the country at the ongoing Vex World Robotics Championships in Dallas.

Mobilized by the President of UNAA – Dallas/Fort Worth chapter, Ms. Florence Bazanye, the Ugandans, numbering about 40, have pooled about $2,500 so far, groceries, and free guided tours around the city during their breaks from the competition.

Continue reading “Ugandans in USA Pool Funds to Support Impressive ‘Young Engineers’ Team at World Robotics Championship” →
Festivals

Samini headlines maiden edition of Adonko Ghana Festival Ohio

By Ghana News Agency

Legendary Ghanaian musician Samini will headline the maiden edition of the Adonko Ghana Festival Ohio, United States of America (USA).

The five-day festival themed “Upholding Ghanaian Culture, the Columbus Way” is scheduled for August 3–7, 2023, and is expected to attract over 1000 people around the world.

Continue reading “Samini headlines maiden edition of Adonko Ghana Festival Ohio” →
Arts

Nigerian Artist, Oluseyi Soyege, Wins Another Top U.S. Laurel

By The Independent

Nigerian artist, Oluseyi Soyege, has won another top laurel at the San Antonio Art League & Museum’s 93rd Annual Juried Art exhibition held in Texas, United States of America. 

Soyege’s fabric collage artwork titled “A Peek Into the Future” won one of the six awards given to artists selected out of the 552 works submitted by over 200 artists from San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, San Marcos, Corpus Christi and other cities in Texas. 

Continue reading “Nigerian Artist, Oluseyi Soyege, Wins Another Top U.S. Laurel” →
Uncategorized

Hundreds of Sudanese-Americans terrified for family and friends back home

by DAVID WINTER | WKRC Staff

 There are hundreds of Sudanese-American families throughout America with friends and family in danger back home.

Iglal Kuku knows her mother is holed up in rural Sudan, terrified of the fighting and of starvation. All her daughter can do is send her love and prayers.

Continue reading “Hundreds of Sudanese-Americans terrified for family and friends back home” →
Enterpreneurship

ONE OF BIRMINGHAM’S BRIGHTEST ENTREPRENEURS, SHEGUN OTULANA, SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $1.2 BILLION

By Darryl Robertson | Black Enterprise

One of Birmingham, Alabama’s most skillful entrepreneurs, Shegun Otulana, sold his company Therapy Brands for a hefty sum, $1.2 billion.

According to Otulana, over the next decade, he plans to create 40 new startups in Birmingham–with an aggregate value in the billions of dollars.”

Continue reading “ONE OF BIRMINGHAM’S BRIGHTEST ENTREPRENEURS, SHEGUN OTULANA, SOLD HIS COMPANY FOR $1.2 BILLION” →
Opinion

Dear Black America: You Should Be Paying Attention to Africa

By Patrick Washington | San Diego Voices and Viewpoints

In the last month of 2022, The United States hosted the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The goal of this summit was to expand relations between the U.S. and the continent of Africa.

Well, really, it’s because China is kicking ass in diplomatic, economic, and virtually every other major area in Africa’s ascension, and the U.S. is woefully underprepared for a world where the world’s largest resources center and the world’s largest manufacturer get along — and the world’s most powerful nation isn’t invited to the cookout.

Continue reading “Dear Black America: You Should Be Paying Attention to Africa” →
Music

CKay becomes best-selling African singer in USA with ‘Love Nwantiti’

By Adegboyega Adeleye | Vanguard

Afrobeats sensational superstar, Chukwuka Ekweani popularly known as CKay, has earned another recognition in his stellar career.

The talented singer, songwriter, and producer has reportedly been named the best-selling African artiste in the United States of America (USA) after his record-breaking international hit song ‘Love Nwantiti’ earned over 1.6 million dollars in 2022 — which is the largest amount ever achieved by an African artiste.

Continue reading “CKay becomes best-selling African singer in USA with ‘Love Nwantiti’” →
Communities

Minnesota Africans United lobbies African Summit in support of Minnesota’s Expo 2027 Bid

By Al McFarlane | News Insight

Minnesota Africans United (MAU), behalf of Minnesota’s Expo 2027 bid, last week lobbied African leaders who were in Washington, DC attending President Biden’s US Africa Leaders’ Summit.

The United States is seeking to host the 2027 World Expo in Minnesota with the theme “Healthy People, Healthy Planet – Wellness and Well Being for All.”  If Minnesota is selected, this would be the first expo in the U.S. in nearly 40 years.

Continue reading “Minnesota Africans United lobbies African Summit in support of Minnesota’s Expo 2027 Bid” →
Policy

African-American Diaspora Engagement at the Core of U.S.-African Relations in Multipolar World

By Kester Kenn Klomegah | Modern Diplomacy

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in Washington has placed African-American diaspora at the core for strengthening multifaceted  relations with Africa. The White House and African leaders have also stressed the importance of Africa’s voices, advocated for incorporating professional Africans distinctively within the institutional structures to deal with various bilateral issues and for making further inroads into Africa.

Continue reading “African-American Diaspora Engagement at the Core of U.S.-African Relations in Multipolar World” →
Education

4,916 Ghanaians schooling in USA

By Graphic Online

A total of 4,916 Ghanaian students studied in colleges and universities in the United States of America (USA) during the 2021-2022 academic year.

This represents a 16.2 per cent increase over the previous year.

According to the 2022 USA Open Doors Report, Ghana sent the second-highest number of students (second only to Nigeria) to the USA among the sub-Saharan African countries.

Continue reading “4,916 Ghanaians schooling in USA” →
Uncategorized

Nigerian-born Amanda Azubuike now Brigadier General in US Army

By Wale Odunsi | Daily Post

A senior officer in the United States Army, Amanda Azubuike, has been promoted to Brigadier General rank.

Amanda, whose father and mother hail from Nigeria and Zimbabwe, serves at a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Continue reading “Nigerian-born Amanda Azubuike now Brigadier General in US Army” →
Festivals

African Diaspora Festival celebrates identity and culture at Underground Railroad Museum

By Valerie Russ | The Inquirer

When rain threatened early Sunday morning, some of the volunteers for the African Diaspora Festival in Burlington County wondered whether they should cancel the event.

But Louise Calloway, the 92-year-old founder of the Underground Railroad Museum in Eastampton, brushed aside the doubters.

Continue reading “African Diaspora Festival celebrates identity and culture at Underground Railroad Museum” →
Politics

Mana Abdi | Somali American legislative candidate is poised to make history in the Maine Legislature

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — A Democratic candidate is poised to become the first Somali American to serve in the Maine Legislature after her challenger dropped out of the race.

Republican Fred Sanborn-Silvers’ withdrawal last month cleared the path for Democrat Mana Abdi in her bid for Maine House District 95. Another Somali American, South Portland Mayor Deqa Dhalac, is also running for a different House seat.

Continue reading “Mana Abdi | Somali American legislative candidate is poised to make history in the Maine Legislature” →
Festivals

African Street Festival returns to Hadley Park September 16-18

By Cass Teague | Pride Publishing

Annual African Street Festival by the African American Cultural Alliance is on the weekend of September 16 through September 18, 2022 at Hadley Park, located at 1037 28th Avenue North in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s theme is “We Rise To the Beat Of Our Drums.” The upcoming community event will once again honor the legacy of Nashville Civil Rights / Community Activist Kwame Leo Lillard, the founder of the festival and the African American Cultural Alliance.

Continue reading “African Street Festival returns to Hadley Park September 16-18” →
Immigration

U.S. Expects to Use All Employment-Based Green Cards This Year

By Michelle Hackman | Wall Street Journal

U.S. immigration authorities project that they will use up all the extra available employment-based green cards for the fiscal year ending this month, averting the risk that the government would for the second year running let thousands go to waste.

Typically, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency that processes green cards and other immigration applications, hands out about 140,000 employment-based green cards to foreign employees and their families, representing a fraction of demand that results in a decadelong wait for some applicants.

Continue reading “U.S. Expects to Use All Employment-Based Green Cards This Year” →
Uncategorized

St. Louis police shoot and kill Sudanese man after standoff

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis police shot and killed a 61-year-old Sudanese refugee after he reportedly lunged at an officer after a long standoff, authorities said.

The confrontation on Wednesday began when officers were serving felony warrants for assault, resisting arrest and a weapons charge, Lt. John Green said.

Continue reading “St. Louis police shoot and kill Sudanese man after standoff” →
Uncategorized

Biden to meet South Africa leader amid differences on Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will meet with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa this month, the White House announced Thursday, as the administration looks to draw African nations closer to the U.S. at a time when South Africa and many of its neighbors have staked out neutral ground on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Announcement of the Sept. 16 visit comes on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to South Africa last month, in which he said the Biden administration sees Africa’s 54 nations as “equal partners” in tackling global problems.

Continue reading “Biden to meet South Africa leader amid differences on Russia” →
Arts

Artist Oluseye Ogunlesi builds a Black Ark to explore Canada’s colonial history

BY BETTY WOOD | THE SPACES

What looks like the hull of a long-lost ship has appeared at Toronto’s Ashbridges Bay – a haunting installation by Nigerian-Canadian artist Oluseye Ogunlesi exploring Canada’s ‘forgotten’ role in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Dubbed Black Ark, the 12-ft-tall immersive sculptural installation is presented as part of the Luminato Toronto Arts Festival. It’s conceived as a ‘symbolic home’ to commemorate the survivors of slavery, with its form evoking both the pitched silhouette of a chapel and the bow of a ship.

Continue reading “Artist Oluseye Ogunlesi builds a Black Ark to explore Canada’s colonial history” →
Movies

DOES ‘BOUND: AFRICANS VS. AFRICAN-AMERICANS’ HAVE A POINT?

By TeamEbony | Ebony

“Africans owe African-Americans an apology for slavery” is one of the incendiary remarks and fiery cultural topics director Peres Owino covers in her latest no-flex-zone feature-length documentary, Bound: Africans vs. African Americans. Owino, a self-professed hot sample of Kenyan coco, has directed a film that will have viewers question their love of Black culture and historical stereotypes they didn’t realize they held on to day to day. Bound is a straight shot to the cerebral cortex challenge of our approach to race, gender and relations.

Continue reading “DOES ‘BOUND: AFRICANS VS. AFRICAN-AMERICANS’ HAVE A POINT?” →
Uncategorized

Vestine Ncungu survived genocide in Rwanda. Now she is using her experience to help others heal


By EILEEN O’GRADY | Concord Monitor

Vestine Ncungu was 11 when she had to run for her life and hide in the trees to escape militia soldiers who were killing members of her ethnic group during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Most of her family members didn’t make it out alive. She was one of the lucky ones who escaped. She stayed safe with what remained of her extended family and eventually got permission to come to the United States as a young woman.

Continue reading “Vestine Ncungu survived genocide in Rwanda. Now she is using her experience to help others heal” →
Immigration

Why Nigeria is the only African country excluded from 2023 DV-Visa Lottery

By Biodun Busari | Vanguard

The United States has excluded Nigeria from its 2023 Diversity Immigrant Visa programme which is also known as the green card lottery.

Nigeria’s exclusion from the programme makes it eight years in a row that the US ignored the most populous African country in the world among immigrants entering via DVL.

Continue reading “Why Nigeria is the only African country excluded from 2023 DV-Visa Lottery” →
Uncategorized

Uchenna Nicholas Opara |This Nigerian student mopped floors to pay for his Canadian degree

By RYNNAAS AZLAN | Study International

When the sun goes down, most Canadians are already warm in their houses, eating dinner and unwinding from a long day at work. For Nigerian student Uchenna Nicholas Opara, it was time to clock in and start mopping floors at an office complex for 14 Canadian dollars an hour.

Continue reading “Uchenna Nicholas Opara |This Nigerian student mopped floors to pay for his Canadian degree” →
Giving Back

Dr. Phillip Ozuah| New York based Nigerian doctor donates 1M Dollars to University of Ibadan

By Ebimo Amungo

A Nigerian-born physician who is based in New York has donated one million dollars to his alma mata, the University of Ibadan in South West Nigeria. Dr. Philip Ozuah made the donation to the school during a fundraiser organised by the university.

Continue reading “Dr. Phillip Ozuah| New York based Nigerian doctor donates 1M Dollars to University of Ibadan” →
Obituary

In-Memoriam: Professor Fassil Nebebe

By Paulos Milkias| borkena

An unsung hero, a great Ethiopian, Professor Fassil Nebebe, suddenly passed away in Montreal, Canada on August 23, 2022. As citizens of Ethiopia by far control,  Dr. Fassil and I started to teach at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada at the same time, in 1986: he in Statistics and I in Political Science. Because of his gregarious nature, it did not take me time to befriend him. He immediately became a trusted comrade, a brother in spirit, and a trustworthy advisor when I needed him. 

Continue reading “In-Memoriam: Professor Fassil Nebebe” →
Policy

The Good and Bad Continuity of Biden’s New Africa Strategy

The Biden strategy document fails to take a “whole of Africa” approach that Africans themselves embrace and instead reverts to the Obama-era billing of a “Sub-Saharan Africa” focus.

by J. Peter Pham Samuel B. Millner

The Biden administration’s new U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, unveiled during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent swing through the continent, reflects little more than a commitment to the status quo. Despite the White House’s attempt to spin it as a “new vision for a 21st Century U.S.-African Partnership,” Africa watchers on and off the continent will note that much remains unchanged, both for good and for ill.

Continue reading “The Good and Bad Continuity of Biden’s New Africa Strategy” →
Uncategorized

United States Enters into Agreement with Nigeria to Repatriate Over $23 Million in Assets Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator

From USJF

The United States, through the Department of Justice and FBI, forfeited approximately $23 million traceable to the corruption and money laundering of former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and his co-conspirators. This money will be returned to the Nigerian people through an agreement between the Governments of the United States and the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Nigeria) signed today in Abuja, Nigeria, by U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard. This repatriation will bring the total amount forfeited and returned by the Department of Justice in this case to approximately $334.7 million. 

Continue reading “United States Enters into Agreement with Nigeria to Repatriate Over $23 Million in Assets Stolen by Former Nigerian Dictator” →
Music

Algerian rapper Soolking plays Harlem’s Apollo during debut US tour

New York (AFP) – As his merengue-inflected single “Suavemente” once again topped France’s songs chart, Algerian rapper Soolking was stateside, delighting fans and wooing new followers with his blend of rap and Maghrebian folk music.

Already acclaimed in the Francophone world, the Algerian rapper Soolking this year set his sights on North America, where he played historic venues including New York’s Apollo and the Globe Theatre in Los Angeles.

Continue reading “Algerian rapper Soolking plays Harlem’s Apollo during debut US tour” →