Tag: African communities in America

How Asantehene rounded off activities marking 44th Memphis in May festival

BY: Kwame Asare Boadu | Graphic Online

The rich culture of Asante was in full display in Memphis, USA on Saturday, May 7, when a durbar of Asanteman was held to round off activities marking the 44th Memphis in May International Festival.

The durbar featured the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who sat in state to receive homage from Ghanaians including his subjects and other well wishers.

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Kenneth Anga elected Chairman of Ijaw National Congress in North America.

By Ebimo Amungo

Mr Kenneth Ibiene Anga, a longtime resident of Houston, Texas, has been elected Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress in North America. The Ijaw National Congress is the premier socio-cultural organization of the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria. Mr Anga was elected by delegates from across America in an election that was held over zoom on Saturday 7th May 2022.

Mr. Anga would lead a new Executive Committee that is tasked with the responsibilities of directing the affairs of the organization in America and Canada for the next four years.

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The University of Minnesota is conducting research to increase cervical cancer screenings among Somali women


By Ava Kian | MinnPost

Screening rates for cervical cancer are low for first-generation American Somali women in Minnesota, with only about 25 percent to 30 percent of Somali patients participating in cervical cancer screenings in most urban clinics. That’s significantly lower than the national average of 79.9 percent. 

These low human papillomavirus (HPV) screening rates make Somali women at high risk for cervical cancer. Rebekah Pratt, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, is working on an HPV self-sampling method to address the low rates. She is collaborating with certified nursing midwife Nimo Ahmed. 

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Ethiopia’s national dialogue can bring hope to the American Ethiopian community

by WASSY TESFA | New York Amsterdam News

Ever since the conflict in Northern Ethiopia began in November 2020, the American Ethiopian community has felt perplexed and frustrated. We had to watch the conflict unfold with a sense of helplessness at not being able to save our friends and family. Our repeated attempts to clarify the situation and secure attention and support from political leaders in the United States have fallen on deaf ears.

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Rwandan community in US celebrate Women’s Day

By Bertrand Byishimo | The New Times

Hundreds of Rwandans and friends of Rwanda convened in Dallas, Texas on Saturday, March 12 for the celebration of the International Women’s Day which is marked globally on March 8.

The event was organised to celebrate efforts made by women in every sector of the society including governance, business, science and technology among others.

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African Catholics in NYC find community at French Mass

By KWASI GYAMFI ASIEDU | Associated Press  

When Landry Felix Uwamungu Ganza moved to New York from Rwanda last August, the Columbia University freshman searched for sanctuary, a sacred place to carry out his Sunday morning rituals just as he had back home.

He ventured into the nearest Catholic parish, the Church of Notre Dame in his new city’s Morningside Heights neighborhood, and to his surprise, he found the familiar rhythms of Mass being celebrated in French — a language he grew up hearing from the pulpit.

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Las Vegas Ethiopian community protests war on Tigray region

By Mya Constantino  | Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Las Vegas Ethiopian community is speaking out after the prime minister of Ethiopia declared war on Tigray, the country’s northernmost region, on Nov. 4.

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Abdulkadir Mohamed Mursal | veteran Somali journalist succumbs to Covid 19


By IBRAHIM HIRSI | SAHAN JOURNAL

If the Somali-language media landscape had a father, it would undoubtedly be Abdulkadir Mohamed Mursal. For nearly half a century, Abdulkadir brought vivid radio stories into the living rooms of Somalia, established newsrooms wherever he found a home, and trained hundreds of journalists, some of whom now work at radio services including  VOA Somali and BBC Somali.

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What makes Nigerians in diaspora so successful

By Ima Jackson-Obot | Financial Times

Anthony Joshua, world heavyweight boxing champion; John Boyega, Hollywood actor; Pearlena Igbokwe, Universal Studios group chair and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist. These are just a few names in a long list of Nigerians in diaspora who have achieved success on an international scale in a wide range of fields.

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‘End SARS’ Protestors Rally at Dallas City Hall

By Meredith Yeomans | NBCDFW

There is growing outrage over the shooting deaths of peaceful protestors in Nigeria. Nearly 70 people have died during two weeks of demonstrations against police brutality. The unrest set off protests in Dallas last Saturday in a show of solidarity with those fighting a battle they say transcends borders.

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#EndSARS | first-generation Nigerian Americans speak out and protest in Houston

By Re’Chelle Turner | Click2Houston

HOUSTON – More than 50 people have been killed, along with at least 18 security forces, in another deadly day in Nigeria. The violence erupted during peaceful protests that were meant to bring to light rampant abuses at the hands of police. There have been marches and rallies in solidarity with the Nigerian people worldwide.

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Council of Ewe Associations of North America holds virtual annual Convention

By GhanaWeb

The Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) held its 27th Annual Convention from September 4th to September 6th, 2020, virtually for the first time under the theme: “Resolve to Continue the Socio-economic Development of Eweland”. The event was watched by over 45,000 people on YouTube and Facebook around the world.

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Nigerian singer Dice Ailes leads #EndSARS protest in Toronto

By ODION OKONOFUA  | Pulse

Nigerian singer Dice Ailes has led a group of #EndSARS protest in Toronto, Canada. The singer says Nigerians have had enough from the overzealous police officers in the country.

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The United States Must Not Deport People to Cameroon

By Amnesty International

Amnesty International USA calls upon the Trump administration to refrain from deporting people to Cameroon, as the administration schedules deportations this week from Alexandria Airport in Louisiana. The organization is also concerned about the threat of imminent deportation of Cameroonians now being held at the Prairieland detention center in Texas.

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East Orange holds ceremony for Nigerian flag raising

EmilyAnn Jackman | Essex News Daily

 EAST ORANGE, NJ — Honoring a rich culture, the Nigerian community was celebrated in East Orange recently. Recognized by East Orange Mayor Ted Green, the City Council, and the Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, along with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America, East Orange held a Nigerian flag–raising ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, to celebrate 60 years of Nigerian independence.

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Amhara Association of America Supports Bipartisan House Resolution that Condemns Targeted Ethnic and Religious Killings in Ethiopia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Amhara Association of America (AAA) commends a resolution introduced  today in the U.S. House of Representatives that deplores the “targeted violence and destruction of  property directed against ethnic and religious minorities” in Ethiopia.  

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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.

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Four Kenyans die in car accidents in US

By Nairobi News Reporter

Four Kenyans living in the United Sates have died in separate accidents in the past week. On Saturday, two Kenyan men died in a car crash that also killed a third man in Delaware.

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Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia to give two scholarships to female ‘Cultural Ambassadors’ 

The Ghanaian Women’s Association of Georgia for the third year will award scholarships aimed at positioning young women as “cultural ambassadors” for the West African nation.

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Senegal Accused of Not Paying Architect at NYC Project

By Erin Hudson | The Real Deal

Months after the Senegalese government paid $25 million for a bulk condo purchase at a controversial Midtown tower it developed, an architect on the project claims the country owes him millions in unpaid fees. Pape Diedhiou, who is based in New York City, filed a $2.4 million lawsuit following a years-long effort to collect payment, he claims.

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Pilolo African Diaspora Festival set for August 23rd

By GhanaWeb

The Pilolo African Diaspora festival 2020 will be held from August 21st to August 23rd, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the organizers of the Pilolo Festival have adopted a hybrid model with virtual presentations on Zoom and Facebook Live, and a Traditional Ghanaian Durbar and food-tasting event in Rochester, NY.

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Senegalese Community Mourns Denver Fire Victims in Suspected Arson Case

By Voice of America

Senegal’s president sent condolences after five members of a Senegalese family living in the U.S. died earlier this week when a fire swept through their home in Denver, Colorado.

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Controversy Surrounds Govt Grant to Uganda North America Association

By The Independent

Controversy is surrounding the government’s grant to the Uganda North America Association (UNAA). UNAA is an umbrella of Ugandans living and working in the United States of America. The government gives UNAA USD100, 000 (368m shillings) every year with half of this money meant to organize the annual UNAA convention.

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Remittances from Kenyans in North America Reach All-Time High


By John Wanjohi | Mwakilishi.com

Kenyans living and working in North America defied the Covid-19 pandemic to send home a whopping $145.95 million (Sh15.7 billion) in May.

This is the highest ever amount of money received from the region that includes the US, Canada, and Mexico in a month, according to data by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

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Henrietta Wamala – a Strong Start As Leader of Ugandans in Diaspora Amidst Virus Pandemic

By Daily Monitor

In September 2019, Ms Henrietta Nairuba Wamala beat the competition stiff from three other contestants to emerge President of the Ugandans in North America Association (UNAA), the oldest and largest Ugandan diaspora group and arguably most prominent.

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2 Somali-Americans Become Public School Principals In Minnesota For The 1st Time

By SARAH MCCAMMON | NPR

The state of Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, tens of thousands of people, many of whom were refugees from civil war. Today, we’re talking with two of them who are making history. Abdirizak Abdi and Akram Osman are the first Somali public school principals in Minnesota. That’s according to the Sahan Journal, which reports about immigrants in the state. They both just started on the job, which means first figuring out how to do it in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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US Oromos Protest Singer Hachalu’s Killing in Ethiopia

By Tigist Geme | VOA

Only a few weeks after the slaying of a popular singer in Ethiopia, thousands took to the streets in diaspora communities in the United States and elsewhere to mourn his death and peacefully protest the government in Addis Ababa.

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The role Somali-Americans are playing in standing against systemic racism

Home to the largest Somali community in the country, Minnesota Somali-Americans have played a pivotal role in taking a stand against systemic racism in the weeks following the death of George Floyd.

This report by CBS sheds light on their collective action.

Source CBS

Rwandan community in US contribute $47,918.04 towards Covid-19 fund

By Julius Bizimungu | The New Times

The community of Rwandans living in the United States have donated $47,918.04 (approximately Rwf45 million) to the Government-established recovery fund. A copy of the appreciation letter from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to the Chairman of the Community indicates that Rwandans in the US diaspora donated financial resources to respond to the pandemic.

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Somali-Americans share in the grief and pain over George Floyd’s killing

By Rupa Shenoy | PRI

Malika Dahir, a Somali American and mother of three in Minneapolis desperately needed an outlet to talk about George Floyd’s killing and everything that has happened since so she organized a prayer gathering online to process it together. 

Listen to the story.

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