Tag: African culture

People

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.

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Culture

‘Taste of Africa’ slated for Rusk library
  • By Jo Anne Embleton

RUSK – Arts, crafts and delicious cuisines from the African and African-American culture are the focal point of “A Taste of Africa Arts and Culture” exhibit, slated from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Rusk Public Library, 207 E 6th St.

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Arts

Buffalo Museum of Science exhibits ancient Egyptian artifacts

By: Mustafa Marie 

The Buffalo Museum of Science in America dedicated a dimmed room to display ancient Egyptian mummies alongside their unique coffins and gold-plated bandages.

The curators at the museum said that the mummies date back to the Greco-Roman era. They further stated that the Egyptian artifacts displayed at the museum span back to the year 332 BC.

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Culture

African culture celebrated at Heritage Fest Miami

The Black History Month event was held S at the Arsht Center.

Sheron Williams, sales director of Concerned African Women Inc., shed some historic light on African head-wrapping to show Black women have been “fly” for centuries.

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Entertainment

CBS’s ‘Bob Hearts Abishola’ Rings True To These Nigerian Viewers

By ISABELLA GOMEZ SARMIENTO

“There’s a white man at the door.”

In the new CBS comedy Bob Hearts Abishola, those words cause a flurry of concern for an immigrant Nigerian family living in Detroit.

“Tell me, when has that ever been good?” demands Auntie Olu, played by Shola Adewusi.

The white man she’s referring to is Bob — a stocky, 50-year-old guy played by Mike & Molly actor Billy Gardell. He’s come to Olu’s house in search of her niece Abishola, portrayed by Nigerian actress Folake Olowofoyeku. At first, Olu and her husband assume something has gone terribly wrong. But their worries are soothed when they realize Bob is interested in asking Abishola out.

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Culture

Diaspora Showcase brings African culture to Tucson

By Rogelio Mares

The history of African Americans in Tucson is rich, full of names, dates and titles.

During segregation if you were black you could only learn that history at the Dunbar Academy.

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Festivals

Houston is set to celebrate 7th African festival

By Kelly Martins

A festival celebrating what it means to be of African descent is coming to Houston and it’ll have food, music, arts, and more. Houston African Festival, or Houston Afrifest, is back in the city for their 7th annual celebration.

On Saturday, September 14 you can spend all day at Houston Baptist University enjoying African arts, culture, and entertainment in the best possible way. From 12 to 8 p.m. Entry into the festival is free for children, students, and seniors, and just $5 to anyone else. Cheap fun is just how we like it.   

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Culture

African Festival of the Arts Celebrates 30th Anniversary This Labor Day Weekend

By Angel Idowu

“Africa is here and it’s a good thing,” says Patrick Saingbey-Woodtor, founder of Chicago’s African Festival of the Arts, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this weekend in Washington Park.

The festival was initially created to bring attention to Saingbey-Woodtor’s Window to Africa shop and Hyde Park’s Harper Court. It has since grown into an annual weekend celebration that draws crowds from across the country with live music, fine art, food and more.

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Communities, Culture, News

Separate festivals honor African, African American heritage, culture

Separate festivals honor African, African American heritage, culture

By Eric Lagatta


Columbus has long been home to African Americans who have contributed to the city’s rich tapestry. For decades, the neighborhood now known as the King-Lincoln District has buzzed with African American business owners, musicians and artists. And throughout the city, African immigrants are bringing their own cultures to Ohio’s capital.

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Communities

The Fabric of Nigerian Weddings

By Adenike Olanrewaju

The color and flair of traditional ceremonies give brides and grooms a way to express a vibrant cultural heritage.

Dola Fatunbi Olutoye, 25, was ecstatic after becoming engaged last November to Dr. Yinka Olutoye, 26. She knew she wanted a traditional Nigerian wedding, but needed help executing the cultural elements of the ceremony, which took place on May 25 in Houston.

Mrs. Olutoye, a pharmacy student from Houston, and Dr. Olutoye, a recent medical school graduate, are both Nigerian-Americans who are part of the Yoruba ethnic group, which is heavily concentrated in the Southwest region of Nigeria.

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Communities

Ghanaians in Columbus, Ohio celebrate culture and community at annual family picnic

With highlife legend Abrantie Amakye Dede and entertainer Kwadwo Nkansah (Lil Win) as special guests, Ghanaians resident in Columbus, Ohio recently marked the 18th GhanaPic, an annual health and wellness community festival.

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Communities

5 Canadians honored at Igbo Day 2019 in Saskatchewan

On August 3, Nigerian-Canadians living in the prairie regions of Canada celebrated Igbo Day of Arts and Culture in style. Sponsored by the Igbo Cultural Association of Saskatchewan (ICAS), with support from the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan (MCoS) and SaskTel, Igbo Day offered a blend of cultural and artistic displays, beautiful costumes and Nigerian cuisine.

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Communities

IgboFest holds in Minnesota

Nigerians in Minnesota will this weekend have a fun-filled celebration as Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota, holds its annual IgboFest Day anniversary with the theme, Rising above the challenges. Guests expected at the event include Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his deputy Peggy Flanagan, City Brooklyn Park Mayor Jeffrey Lunde, Senator Dean Philips and former auditor-general Anambra state, Sir Christopher Akuanyionwu(rtd). 

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Culture, News

‘It’s very important to share our culture’: Folklorama’s 1st-ever Egyptian pavilion takes flight

A sold-out show and a colourful, high-energy vibe set the tone Sunday at Folklorama’s first-ever Egyptian pavilion — an effort organizers say was years in the making.

More than 400 people packed into the University of Manitoba’s University Centre Multi-Purpose Room to take in performances of Egyptian dances, snack on traditional foods and a view a photography display from select parts of the north African country.

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Culture, Education

Indiana University starts course to teach Rwandan national language, Kinyarwanda

If you are living in the United States and wish to learn Kinyarwanda – Rwanda’s vernacular, your destination has been unveiled.

Indiana University (IU) in the United States will start offering a course in Kinyarwanda, making it the 8th African language the university is teaching under its African Studies Program.

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