a r e t h o s e o f t h e a u t h o r s a n d d o n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r e f l e c t t h e v i e w s o f A f r i k a n P o s t . A l l c o m m e n t s a n d s u g g e s t i o n s a r e w e l c o m e
The late Queen Elizabeth II tasted the favourite Ghanaian dish thanks to a young Ghanaian chef, Elijah Amoo Addo
Elijah received a surprise invitation from the Queen to cook for her during a brief event at the Buckingham Palace
As the world mourns the Queen's passing, Ghanaians can take consolation in the fact that she loved Ghana and her foods
The late British monarch tasted a favourite Ghanaian cuisine thanks to a young Ghanaian chef, Elijah Amoo Addo Elijah disclosed after he was invited to cook for Queen Elizabeth II that he was pleasantly surprised Elijah received the invitation on 2017 when, along with other young achievers, he was hosted at the Buckingham Palace for a special award New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡ find
Waakye is a Ghanaian dish of cooked rice and beans with gravy and black hot pepper sauce, commonly eaten for breakfast or lunch
"The most fascinating of it all is having to meet the Queen and for the Queen to ask me if I'll love to cook for her which obviously I said yes I'm going to cook one of our favourite dishes in Ghana, Waakye," he said in an interview after receiving the award “
https://yen com gh/ghana
On Sunday, July 23, 2022, Her Excellency Hajia Alima Mahama honored an invitation by the lead ership of the Church of Pentecost in Virginia to assist in cutting the ribbon for the dedication of a multimillion dollar building constructed by the Church.
The Church of Pentecost (Ghana) in Northern Virginia was started about 30 years ago in Alexandria, Virginia However, over the years, the Church moved from multiple locations between Maryland and Virginia until it finally constructed its own auditorium at Lorton, Virginia to meet the needs of its growing congregation.
At Sunday’s dedication service attended by over 1200 faithful’s, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Ghana, Apostle Eric Nyamekye implored the congregation to maintain the facility and commended the members for their commit ment and determination that had resulted in the construction of the magnificent edifice
On her part, Ambassador Hajia Alima Mahama expressed her admiration for construction of the new church building and commended the congre gation for making it possible. She urged the Church to make the auditorium available for use by other faiths for events if need be at least for a fee.
The Ambassador commended Ghanaians in the U S for being law abiding, respectful, and support ive of each other.
She advised them to support the President’s initiative of constructing a National Cathedral just like the one in Washington DC befitting the nation which would serve not only as a multi faith center where national events would be held but also as a tourist attraction
Later, Ambassador Mahama accompanied the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, Apostle Agyeman Amoako, Head of the North America Branch, Apostle Andrews Donkor, Head of the Virginia Branch , as well as Regional Heads and Pastors of the Church from all over the United States to cut the ribbon for the official commissioning of the multimillion dollar facility.
The building which was completed in early 2022 has two huge auditoriums each capable of seating over 600 people In addition to the various classrooms that serve as Sunday school for the various age groups, the facility also has a huge multipurpose hall for social events with a seating capacity of 900
Her Excellency Hajia Mahama was accompa nied to the ceremony by Mr. Ernest Amporful, Minister and Head of Chancery, and Ms Janet Koranteng, Head of Finance at the Embassy.
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Alima Mahama, paid a working visit to Worcester, Massachusetts from Thursday, July 14, to Saturday, July 16.
During the visit, she met Mr Barry M Maloney, President of Worcester State University, and both dis cussed a possible collaboration between the University and universities in Ghana by way of stu dent exchanges and early college courses for Ghanaian students as well as in research in the areas of information, biotechnology, public health, etc
She also met with the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, Ms. Karyn Polito, who praised Ghanaians in Worcester for being intelligent, smart, hardworking, and respectful citizens of the communi ty In this meeting also the two discussed collabora tion between Ghana and Worcester in healthcare, edu cation, trade, and investment A similar meeting was held with Congressman James McGovern, represent ing Massachusetts’s 2nd congressional district
The mayor of Worcester welcomed the Ambassador and presented the Key to the City of Worcester with a citation to her the during the visit
She also visited some Ghanaian owned businesses in Worcester, Massachusetts where Ghanaians make up the highest percentage of foreign born residents It is estimated that there are around 50,000 Ghanaians in central Massachusetts
She was accompanied by some staff of the Embassy including Mr Amidu Mohammed Karande, Minister Counselor and Head of the Consular Section, Mrs Laila Heward Mills, Minister Counselor for Political Affairs, and Mrs Cynthia Djokoto, Minister Counselor in charge of Trade and Investment
Since assuming office a year ago, Her Excellency Alima Mahama has traveled to various states in the United States to hold town hall meetings and met with Governors of these States to discuss areas of mutual interest to Ghana and the United States Among the States visited include Texas, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Ohio, Arkansas and Massachusetts
On Saturday, July, 16 Her Excellency Hajia Alima Mahama attended a town hall meeting organized by the Ghanaian Association of New England and had the opportunity to interact with the community and also to address various concerns raised by them. The Ghanaian community in New England presented a plaque expressing their appreciation to the Ambassador for her ongoing commitment and dedi
COVID 19 Update (September 1st, 2022)
All international passengers including those from the ECOWAS region, intending to fly to Ghana, will be required to be fully vaccinated
All International passengers including those from the ECOWAS region must complete a Port Health Declaration Form at https://www ghs hdf org before embarkation of flight to Ghana
a At the point of embarkation must provide evidence of full vaccination sta tus to the Airline prior to embarkation. (Airlines that board non Ghanaians without evidence of full vaccination will be considered to have violated the Covid 19 guidelines for Ghana and shall be fined $3,500 00)
b Travelling to Kotoka International Airport (Accra, Ghana) with fake or forged vaccination certificates shall be quarantined and returned to the point of embarkation at their own cost.
c Complete a Port Health Declaration Form at https://www ghs hdf org before embarkation of flight to Ghana.
“All Arriving passengers will undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and Covid 19 vaccination certificate verification as required”
Upon arrival, Ghanaians and foreign residents entering Ghana shall go through the following processes:
a All passengers, 18 years and above heading to Ghana will be required to provide evidence of full vaccination for a Covid-19 vaccine at the point of embarkation and upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA)
b. Fully vaccinated will be exempted from pre-departure Covid-19 PCR testing from point of embarkation
c. Fully vaccinated will be exempted from Covid 19 testing upon arrival at the Airport
d. Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will be required to present a NEGATIVE 48hrs PCR test result to the airline before embarkation and upon arrival
e Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will undergo Covid 19 testing at the Airport upon arrival in Ghana
f Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated will undergo Covid 19 vaccination at Airport upon arrival in Ghana
a. Children under 18 years (Ghanaian and non-Ghanaians) who are unvaccinated are exempted from pre departure COVID 19 testing and COVID 19 testing upon arrival at the Airport in Ghana
b Airline crew are exempted from the pre departure and arrival COVID-19 testing and should follow the Airline policy for testing
c. Passengers who arrive under emergency circumstances such as diverted flights will not be required to undergo test ing if they do not leave the airport or remain in isolation at their hotel
d For a medical exemption, a formal request must be made through a letter to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service indicating the reason for your exemption and a request for consideration In that letter kindly copy the Director of Public Health
Emmanuel Obuobi, popularly known in the Ghanaian Community of Virginia, United States as ‘Coach Aberga’ was honored with a community service award at the African Community Service Awards (ACSA) held on September 4, 2022, at the Mark Center Alexandria Hilton hotel
Accepting the award at the ceremony, he said “first of all let me say congratulations to everyone that got nominated for an award. It shows how hard you have all been working and your impact on the community.”
“I will also love to say a big thank you to the organizers of this great event, even as I also seek a special blessing from God to the one who did this great honor unto me by nominat ing me to be considered for this award,” he continued.
“Today I am dedicating this award to my lovely wife Mrs. Gifty Obuobi as her birthday present Her birthday falls on the 14th of September so this couldn’t have come at a better time,” added Coach Aberga dedicating the award to his wife.
The coach came to the United States (U.S.) in April 2012, having served prior to that as a soccer coach with the Airforce in Ghana He also served as Assistant Coach for Adansi Praso WAECO FC under coach Ebenezer Sefah
Coach Abega scouted for many soccer clubs both in the lower and primier divisions
Coach Emmanuel Obuobi works as a mechan ic and also gives training to high school students on a voluntary basis as apprentice mechanics in order to keep them out of the street in their leisure hours.
Coach Aberga holds a Confederation of Africaine de Football (CAF) license C from Ghana and a coaching license in the United States as a soccer coach.
to have a semblance of connection with their ancestors, which explains their visits to historical sites in Africa
In 2019, the President of Ghana Nana Akufo Addo launched the year of return initiative in line with the mark of 400 years since slavery. He encouraged and called on all black people outside of Africa to take a journey back home and visit the sites where colonization and slavery took place and also learn about the culture and life of the African people
The initiative saw a lot of people from the diaspora troop in including the likes of Boris Cudjoe, Michael Blankson, Steve Harvey, Idris Elba and so many more
Eventually, beyond the return, people from the diaspora now yearn to make the trip down to Ghana and other parts of Africa to connect with their ancestors and learn more about the history of their ancestors
The African continent is made up of African indigenes who although have different cul tures are united with their similarities like food, clothes, music and most importantly, slave trade and colonization
Over the year, indigenes have been displaced due to migration, the slave trade, and brain drain, however, in a bid to keep all persons of African descent united, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOW AS) named the communities of Black Africans in various European and American countries the diaspora and named it the sixth region of Africa leaving Africa to comprise of the east, the west, the north, the south, central Africa and now, the diaspora
The sixth region, the diaspora, was estab lished in 2003 to promote participation among Africans with roots outside of the continent
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has 15 members, is the region with the most nations
The diaspora makes up about 170 million people who are not of African descent but just about anyone who is willing to push the African cause and help build the African Union
Every day, we hear the phrase ‘those in the diaspora’ and when George Floyd died, a funeral was even held in his honor as a result of ties with the diaspora, but as to who makes up the diaspora and where exactly they are located no one really knows
The over 170 million people in the diaspora are spread across different continents; Europe, North America, Asia, but they are predomi nant in Europe and North America
Over the years, the diaspora has ceased to just
exist by staying outside of Africa Persons of the diaspora troop in and out of Africa on a daily basis. What started as a journey every now and then and during occasions and festivities has now turned into people coming to Africa and staying months unend ing
While they are recognized and seen as the diaspora and join the continent in celebrating it is important to know their culture and how to identify them
Communities have spread over the globe, either as a result of forced migration or for other historical reasons, leading to the emergence of diaspora cultures Diaspora communities symbol ize and uphold a culture distinct from that of the nations in which they live, frequently maintaining close relationships with their actual or imagined country of origin, their own culture, and other groups of a similar origin in order to keep that culture alive This is primarily a cultural phenomenon and is not always connected to migration
People of the African diaspora have an array of things they con nect with that have now become their culture When it comes to food, music and even clothing, you can easily identify them by the streaks of African pieces you see them wear, their excitement when afro beat and afro beats are played and the sheer excite ment they feel when talk of African food comes to play
People in the diaspora can be seen adorning themselves in African inspired and designed jewelry, attires like the popular Dashiki or the now very common Ankara design.
It is also culture for them to speak passionately about Africa and they are quick to dispel ignorant notions about Africa being home to ‘monkeys’ and people leaving on trees and not houses
Another predominant culture among the African diaspora is the spiritual connection they practice with ancestors Often times they could be heard saying something along the lines of ‘I just want to connect with my ancestors’ or ‘that’s how I connect with my ancestors ’ They own who they are so much that they yearn
While the world knows about Africa and what the people are about, because of the ‘scattered’ nature of people in the dias pora their cultures are most often not regarded as one, but all the things listed above are ways to identify a person who pushes the African agenda and is a supporter of the African Union
The sixth region of Africa continues to be the fastest growing region of Africa and its people, the most exciting and those who are just eager to make a trip back home and learn a thing or two
Many of them who returned for tourism and the sheer excite ment of getting to know more about Africa have continued to stay on and have found themselves migrating back home.
Whether or not they fully partake in indigenous African cul ture or not, just like any other region in Africa their culture is distinct, and rightly so.
https://face2faceafrica.com/
August 13th has been designated as Igbo Day in Minnesota by Governor Tim Walz fol lowing an official proclamation by the Governor and the Minnesota Secretary of State, Steve Simon
Evidence of the proclamation has been archived in the State of Minnesota portal for public referencing.
Prior to the announcement, August 13 was commemorated in Minnesota as IgboFest, a cultural festival that originated from Southeast Nigeria
The ceremony attracts thousands of spectators from around the world annually, and atten dees are always required to put on the traditional Igbo attire
The festival is organised and hosted annually by the Umunne Cultural Association of Minnesota nonprofit group in Minnesota in August at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park According to the organisers, there are also other Igbo organisations in the State, for exam ple the Igbo Women League of Minnesota, a non profit organization in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
The organisation aims to bring together, identify, educate, and promote the socio cultural and economic development of Igbo women and their families who live in Minnesota while also improving the lives of women and children in Nigeria
The organisers of IgboFest have dedicated their group to sharing Nigeria’s rich cultural legacy with the local population in Minnesota
The association is a group of Nigerians who speak Igbo and reside in Minnesota Its mem bers are drawn together by a common interest in promoting and preserving the rich Igbo culture
According to their website, the “Umunne Cultural Association strives to accomplish its mission through organized cultural events, including IgboFest; community based educa tional programs; member volunteer activities; and by establishing relationships with other Minnesota based organizations that share in the cultural diversity mission of the state of Minnesota ”
“They also work to educate Igbo students to build successful careers and professions so that they may become substantial members and positively contribute to the communities in which they live ”
The U S Women’s National Team defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2 1 in a second leg match, trailing their 4 0 first leg victory against the Falcons on September 3, to extend their home win ning streak to 71 games.
The match was played at Audi Field Stadium in Washington D C, United States on September 6, where the Americans earned their second victory over the Super Falcons in four days due to a first half own goal from Nigeria
Then a spectacular header from midfielder Rose Lavelle, who received a flawless pass from forward Megan Rapinoe just seconds after coming off the bench
The match’s first netting came from Blessing Demehin’s own goal against her Nigerian team in the 24th minute. This came after Mallory Pugh intercepted a pass from Emily Fox, a defender, on the left wing, and fired a low cross into the box in response to Lindsey Horan’s advance
Demehin attempted to clear the pass to safety but unintentionally slammed the ball into her own net to start the scoring
50 minutes into the game, Uchenna Kanu scored an equalizer to balance her team member ’s own goal The pass came from Glory Ogbonna’s long shot across the field
Kanu fired a right footed shot into the upper right corner of the net as she controlled the ball, dribbled into the box, and shove the ball past U.S. goalkeeper Casey Murphy. The Americans heat up the game’s tempo after the goal, charging into a 66th minute goal from Lavelle
It came from Rapinoe’s run on the ball at the left side of the box after an attack in the middle of the field. Rapinoe took a stunning touch at the ball before sending it across to Lavelle. Lavelle completed the play with a diving header, diverting the ball from six yards out off the right post and over the goal line to give the USA a 2 1 lead
The match was played in the front of a packed stadium of 18,869 spectators
Source: Oral Ofori
The Africandream net
On August 21st 2021, The Ghanaian Canadian Associations of Ontario (GCAO) held its 4th Annual Youth Leadership Conference in Toronto via Zoom. Due to COVID, this year ’s event was strictly ZOOM. It was attended by youth leaders in the city and moderat ed and hosted by Maame De Heer
The Guest of Honour, The Minister of Youth and Sports Honorable Mustapha Ussif in his address encouraged youth in the diaspora to collaborate and team up with youth in Ghana in joint ventures and entrepreneurship to create wealth and foster cross continental relationships He answered a wide range of questions around the mental health of youth during this pandemic and the upcoming African youth summit to be held in Ghana. He assured the youth in Toronto that his doors are open to assist them when they come to Ghana to explore business opportunities He also hinted that the youth from Canada can participate in service schemes to help the country of their heritage
In his keynote address, Randell Adjei, Ontario Poet Laureate delivered a powerful speech to motivate youth to develop growth and purpose mindset Randell took the participants through how to be resilient in pursuit of their goals in life. He pointed out that uncertainty is an integral part of life and youth should project who they want to be and work towards that goal and keep in mind that the path to success requires hard work, resilience, but it is all
within the realm of possibilities
Various workshops were held around mental health, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Emcee Ebone shared with participants to keep the spirit of entrepreneurship alive despite challenges Youth should not expect to have instant success and that they should keep working at it, be focused and trust in themselves. He intimated that success will be hard to accomplish if youth do not believe in them selves
GCAO extends its gratitude to all speakers who captured the pres ence of youth and dedicated their time to the successful event: Master of Ceremony for the event Maame De Heer encouraged the youth to explore all the opportunities in life to grow and Victor Adarquah in his closing remarks encouraged youth to participate in youth programs and continue to thrive.
A special thank you to all of the GCAO youth leaders who worked tirelessly on the planning committee to put on the successful event.
The conference was adjourned Next conference will be 2022 and hopefully will be in person conference.
https://gcaocanada.org/
Nigeria has taken steps to restrict the use of for eign voice actors and models in its advertising. It said that the need to take appropriate procedures and actions targeted at developing the Nigerian advertising business was a driving force
In a statement on August 23, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) revealed the strategy, claiming that it was in keeping with the government’s objective to “promote local tal ent ”
The law, which aims to encourage more local involvement in the industry and other areas, was revealed last week, making Nigeria, home of 200 million people, the first nation to implement one of its kind.
According to a PricewaterhouseCooper research from 2017 to 2021, Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, would have the fastest rate of revenue growth in the global entertainment and media sector during the next five years
The restriction will apply to any advertise ment targeted or displayed in the Nigerian advertising space, which refers to a market expected to be worth $450 million in 2021.
According to a PricewaterhouseCooper research from 2017 to 2021, Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, would have the fastest rate of revenue growth in the global entertainment and media sector during the next five years
The restriction will apply to any advertisement targeted or displayed in the Nigerian advertising space, which refers to a market expected to be worth $450 million in 2021.
marketing efforts in the country seem
“I think the law is just catching up with national sentiment. As long as maybe eight years ago, you would notice some kind of renaissance in Nigeria,” he told the Times.
“People will tell you, ‘There are about 200 million of us Are you telling me you could not find Indigenous models for this commercial?,’” Babaeko said
On the decision, there has been significant disagreement among some Nigerian social media users
The restriction, according to Steve Babaeko, the president of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, were in response to a “new sense of pride” among young Nigerians who desired representation in the media
“Ten to twenty years ago if you checked the com mercials, I would say they were almost 50 50 in terms of foreign faces and all the voiceovers were British accents,” said Babaeko to UK times
Nigeria has already set a price of roughly $240 for each international model featured in an adver tisement spot, which has started to change how
While some believe it is targeted at white actors, others disagree with the assertion that the prohibition specifically targets white actors, pointing out that the phrase only makes reference to “foreign” talent. And in overall, some believe it is a good devel opment
“An enabling regulation that favours the local industry, espe cially at a time when Nigeria is in dire need of sufficient plat forms for its teeming youth population,” said Segun Arinze, a veteran actor and President of the Association of Voice Over Artistes (AVOA)
Source: News Agencies
Tech giant, Microsoft, has appointed a Nigerian, Kunle Awosika, as the new head of its Africa trans formation office Awosika who has been with the company since 2000 takes over from Wael Elkabbany as the head of the Africa Transformation Office (ATO)
Awosika has held various positions at Microsoft, including being one of the three pioneer team mem bers when Microsoft opened its office in Nigeria.
Reacting to his appointment, Awosika noted that he is committed to helping Africa to tap into its digital potential
“I am passionate about Africa’s incredible potential to become a truly connected continent that exports digital goods and services to the rest of the world I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to meaningfully impact this growth and help unlock the continent’s full digital potential
“I look forward to playing a role in unlocking Africa’s potentials as the ATO develops and steers strategic partnership with governments, international organisations and partners to accelerate digital transfor mation agendas and fuel a knowledge based econ omy,” he said
Thousands of people gathered at the Zulu royal palace in South Africa to witness the crowning Misuzulu Zulu as a new Zulu king King Misuzulu, who ascended to the throne, will wield great symbolic power for over 11 million Zulus. They make up nearly a fifth of South Africa's population, writes Darko Janjevic for Deutsche Welle
A bitter family feud over the throne overshadowed the ceremony. Misuzulu's father, King Goodwill Zwelithini, died in March 2021 after a 50 year reign, leaving six wives and at least 28 children A dispute of over succession of the throne in 2021 saw several members of the Zulu royal family vie for leadership.
Sibongile Winifred Zulu, first wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, claimed she was entitled to 50% of the late monarch's estate. Meanwhile, Queen Sibongile Winifred's two daughters, Princesses Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Ntombizosuthu Zulu Duma, wanted the court to declare King Zwelithini's will a forged document
In the will, the late king nominated his third wife, Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu as the regent Queen Dlamini Zulu who died on April 29, 2021 in turn, wrote her own will in which she nominated her own son, Misuzulu Sinqobile kaZwelithini, as the successor to the late Zulu king Prince Misuzulu's claim to the throne in May 2021 was strongly contested at the time
The Asante Professionals Club USA held its annual conference on August 20 at Springfield, Virginia.
The network of Asante Professionals and loved ones from various parts of the United States gathered to deliberate and explore strategies to make an impact on the socio economic devel opment of Asanteman in line with Otumfuo’s development plan.
Ms Barbara Acheampong, the President of APC USA opened the conference on Saturday morning with a welcome address She recog nized the presence of Hon Asenso Boakye, the MP for Bantama and Minister for Works and Housing who is also a founding member of Asante Professionals Club as well as Nana Osei Agyeman Bawuah, Otumfuo Aboafuohene, a patron of APC USA
APC USA is currently focused on the design and implementation of healthcare and educa tional programs, two critical segments of Otumfuo’s Development Plan. It continues to seek opportunities to engage and partner with individuals and institutions to further the pro grammatic goals.
APC USA has initiated conversations with Babson College, a top ranked entrepreneurship institution in the world for collaboration with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on skills development, exchange programs, and other opportunities essential for teaching and learning
There are also long term plans of establishing an Asante Development Bank The group sought to engage various stakeholders in Asanteman on a regular basis to identify critical issues that need to be addressed in Asanteman
The climax of the event was a fundraising din ner dance graced by Her Excellency Hajia Alima Mahama, the Ambassador of Ghana to the United States.
In her speech, she commended Ghanaians in the United States for their commitment to con tribute their quota to the development of Ghana. She urged the APC USA to continue to build on their gains and hopefully such efforts would be extended to other parts of Ghana She
Growing dreadlocks may be inspired by fashion trends or religion if one is a Rastafarian But, in an oil rich region of the West African nation of Ghana, some mothers in Cape Three Point deliberately have their babies grow dreadlocks to scare witch es that are after their lives or to prevent the chil dren from being enchanted
It’s a religious observation where rites are per formed for the newborns and cut with marks to sever any spiritual connection that will claim the life of the child This may be cruel, but, these mothers explain that it is the only antidote to end deaths resulting from supernatural causes
In Cape Three Point, many children hardly survive beyond five years The Western region, where this com munity is located, is the 9th region with the highest infant mortality rate of 37 deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the Ghana Health Service Though the infant mortality rate in the region may not be alarming, residents argue that newborn babies dying regularly at Cape Three Point is a common feature The mothers attribute the death to being bewitched by either relatives or persons envious of the good fortunes they have been blessed with
Agnes Pobi, a resident, who spoke to face2faceafrica.com in a telephone interview said she had an experience where she lost her three children She has vowed to grow dreadlocks on her children to disfigure them to dissuade evil eyes from bewitching her children
These concerns may be genuine, but, there is no gain saying that these calamities are self inflicted The only community clinic in the community does not have beds to deliver expectant mothers when they are due for delivery. What this means is that they have to travel hours to neighboring communities to seek healthcare
While these actions of the mothers at Cape Three Point may be considered crude, researcher Kwasi Atta Agyapong, who authored a book on ‘Witchcraft in Ghana’, said these concerns must be understood in a certain context He said in Ghana deaths are hardly considered natural as well as sicknesses or business failures.
According to him, there is a link between what happens in the physical world and what happens at the supernat ural level which is influenced by witches
Agyapong indicated that the belief of Ghanaians with regards to witchcraft tends to affect the way they live and act and this has a direct bearing on Ghanaian socie ty which is being witnessed at Cape Three Point
He said in some communities witchcraft takes the blame for all misfortunes that happen to people and any attempt to rationalize it will not make sense because people are steeped in their beliefs He explained that that’s why many people often seek higher powers or spiritual persons who will protect them from the witch es who are regarded as life threatening forces
Mothers are under the traditional belief that the dread locks marking the children as directed by the traditional healers will resolve the calamity
https://face2faceafrica.com/
The
The “Forever” hitmaker beat competition from KiDi (Ghana), Amaarae (Ghana), Angelique Kidjo (Benin), Aya Nakamura (Mali) and Nelson Freitas (Cape Verde) to bag the award.
The Afropop singer, an RCA Records signee, was recently presented with a double platinum certification plaque for her debut projects, “Forever” and SEED EP by Sony Music Publishing in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA), the projects have generated over 40,000 units of sales each in the South African Market only
Gyakie has released another project, My Diary EP It currently has the songs ‘Something’ and ‘Flames’ featuring Davido The songs have featured on charts across Africa
The Headies Awards is Nigeria’s biggest and most anticipated music awards show
The Best West African Artist category is for artists of West African descent with the most outstanding achievements and impacts across Africa in the year under review
https://angelonline com
Since then, the industry committed to a less ambitious goal of decreasing child labor by 70% by 2020, which has not neces sarily been fufilled
“Scrutiny is sharpening,” says Nick Weatherill, executive director of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), a non profit based in Switzerland.
“Recent exposures in the media are likely to continue to shine an intense spotlight on the sector In turn, this will undermine the confidence of consumers and regulators in those importing markets, on which cocoa farmers actually depend ”
According to ICI study, farmers earn between $980 and $2,600 a year from their produce Small farms produced a tonne or two of cocoa on roughly 2 5 hectares Only a third of the farm ers could afford basic inputs like fertilisers, which could help them increase output
As a result, many farmers lived in terrible poverty, forcing them to rely on child labor, frequently employing their own children. Only a few of these farmers could afford adult labor or schooling for their children
They call it the future of chocolate It’s edible, melts, breaks, and even tastes like chocolate except it is grown in a food lab facility without using a single cocoa bean
While the production of non cocoa chocolate is still in its early days with only a handful of companies producing it, their assertions of being more sustainable and ethical could one day shake up the chocolate industry.
Given that 70% of the world’s cocoa comes from millions of smallholder farmers in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, what would the mass production of non cocoa chocolate mean for their livelihoods?
Non cocoa chocolate startups and their ambitions “We will have an impact,” says Johnny Drain, co founder of WNWN Food Labs, one of three recent startups actively pro ducing and marketing non cocoa chocolate
Drain, who holds a PhD from Oxford University, sees as part of his marketing plan the need to address ‘vast inequities’ in the bittersweet world of chocolate. The cocoa industry has been infamous for its non sustainable practices, use of child labor and deforestation over the decades
California Cultured, a startup company which uses cell cultur ing to create non cocoa chocolate, is set to “welcome to a new age of sustainable and ethical chocolate ” And continues with “you deserve a delicious chocolate bar without guilt ”
Blue Horizon, an investment company with a mission to quicken the pace to sustainable food systems, has invested in California Cultured earlier this year
Planet A Food, a new food science startup based in Germany states on their website, “We were dreaming about a chocolate for which no trees had to be cut down, no precious water was wasted, no fragile ecosystems were disturbed, and no child had to work ”
A figure exceeding two million West African farmers toil every day to harvest valuable cocoa beans, but few will ever taste the superb chocolate that results The trees that produce these butter rich pods thrive majorly in Africa
Small farmers in West Africa rushed into cocoa farming as if it
were the new gold in the early twentieth century As a result, the region is responsible for the majority of global cocoa production Nonetheless, consumers’ preferences are dominated by Belgian, Swiss, Italian, and other European brands
The selling prices of chocolate benefit the producers the least Only 5% of the world’s chocolate income reaches farmers, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB) Some devel opment experts equate the disparity to illicit money carried out of Africa
Four West African countries, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon produce about two thirds of the world’s cocoa, the pri mary component in chocolate.
Cote d’Ivoire produces about 2 million tons of cocoa beans in 2020, making it the world’s largest producer In fact, cocoa exports account for 40% of Ivoirians’ export revenue, implying that the price of cocoa is extremely important to their national economy
Ghana is the world’s second largest cocoa exporter, with 883,652 tons produced in 2020 Cocoa production accounts for 30% of the country’s export revenue
Nigeria is the world’s fourth largest cocoa producer, with over 300,000 tons in 2020. Cameroon came next as the world’s fifth largest cocoa producer, with 37 percent of the country’s dedicated to producing 295,028 tons of cocoa in 2020
Yet, the plight of many farmers at the bottom of the multibillion dollar chocolate industry underscores a larger issue: why is it so difficult for poor countries to escape poverty by exacting better prices for their raw materials and controlling more lucrative por tions of the supply chain?
The chocolate industry has been accused of doing more than just keeping its farmers poor Chocolate manufacturers such as Mars, Nestle, and Hershey reached an agreement in 2001 to remove child labor from their supply chains in Ghana and the Ivory Coast, where the problem is most severe
Despite this, the US Labor Department reported in 2015 that the number of minors working on cocoa fields had increased to 2 1
As if that wasn’t unfair enough, cocoa production has been connected to widespread deforestation, particularly in Ivory Coast As farmers remove more forest land, the country’s cocoa production has nearly doubled to 2 million tons in the last decade
Following years of discussion, African governments have resolved to take action to strengthen their position in the chocolate sector Ghana and the Ivory Coast stated in July 2020 that starting in October 2020, they will pay a set premi um of $400 per ton over the benchmark futures price.
The major cocoa consumers, including Belgian confectioner, Barry Callebaut, US chocolate behemoth Mars, and Swiss food giant Nestle, have all expressed support for the surcharge However, it is unclear whether the $400 increase would be reflected in consumer pricing
“If you look at OPEC, they are only controlling about 30% to 40% of the global oil supply and they control prices,” says Mahamudu Bawumia, Ghana’s vice president, referring to the oil cartel “If they have OPEC, we can have COPEC ”
So, how does the chocolate sector fare in the future? It’s diffi cult to imagine anything more immoral than child slavery, and since some companies profit from it despite the lack of a moral imperative to change, it’s important to emphasize that there’s also a compelling business case for enforcing radical trans parency throughout the cocoa value chain and restructuring the entire industry to move toward a more sustainable develop ment path
If cocoa farmers continue to be economically excluded, the industry’s long term survival and output will be jeopardized by issues such as low adult literacy, health hazards, and a lack of access to high quality education for children
In short words, West Africa deserves better than it is being offered in the global big cholocate deal
Source: World Economic Forum | LA Times
Written by Grace Tsotsoo Quaye, edited by Arakunrin Lekan
The activities of humanitarians in every country should be appreciated for the fact that these peo ple tend to be saviours for people in need.
They travel to deprived villages and communi ties especially where government officials are not focused, to extend their help to members of those communities or villages Many are helpless and have been saved by their kindness.
August 19th is World Humanitarian Day and I think looking critically at what humanitarians do in their countries and in the international com munity, their works should be appreciated
It is very necessary to acknowledge humanitari ans because they provide life-saving assistance to people affected by conflicts, disasters and poverty. Their humanitarian aids are becoming more vital than before in reducing the impact of crises on communities, helping recoveries and improving preparedness for future emergencies.
One important thing to note about people pas sionate for humanitarian activities is that they have a nonprofit mindset.
Humanitarians believe that there is more blessing in giving than receiving. Many of them devote their entire lives in service of others, achieving the most selfless acts any human can do for another.
Martin Luther King Jr once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?”
As citizens we rely solely on our governments for social amenities, but the question is those who are blessed with riches and have everything, what can they also do to help others who are struggling with their health, social amenities, and among others?
activities and those who are yet to be involved in helping people.
It does not matter the amount of money or items you have to support someone Nothing is too small to assist someone in need. Like Mother Teresa who is the founder of the Missionaries of Charity would also say, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one “
Supporting someone in a small way may look insignificant to the helper, but to the beneficiary, that may mean the world So, no matter what, just help someone
As Friday, 19th August, 2022 marks the World Humanitarian Day, in your own small way you can extend a helping hand to someone by putting a smile on that person’s face #JustMakeSomeSmiles#19/08/22.
Globally we can embrace World Humanitarian Day and make it a memorable one by ensuring that we move out of our comfort zones and celebrate with those who need help in deprived communities and villages.
Collaboratively it’s our social responsibility to ensure that other people have their peace of mind and above all have food, shelter and security at all time, and live a healthy life no matter where they find themselves across the globe
Written by Grace Tsotsoo Quaye, Teaching Assistant, Ghana Institute of Journalism.
Moreover, it is time we all collaborate as citizens to motivate individuals engaging in humanitarian
REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: 275,000 bpd
The Congo expects production to increase steadily as new fields are brought online Following the develop ment of the country’s first deepwater field, Moho Bilondo, Congo has welcomed increased production and renewed interest in producing fields. In addition, Zenith Energy secured a 25 year license to continue operating the Tilapia oilfield in 2021, and as exploration ramps up country wide, production outlook is positive
Following its peak of 370,000 bpd in 1997, Gabon’s oil production has decreased with 2022 levels showing daily output at 195,000 bpd Largely attributed to age ing oilfields and lack of investment, the country is now committed to expanding exploration and increasing pro duction Through revisions made to the Hydrocarbon Code in 2019, which have improved flexibility to the regulatory framework, Gabon aims to attract investment and development.
GHANA: 172,000 bpd
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Monthly Oil Market Report for May 2022 showed that Angola’s oil production is now higher than that of Nigeria
With output measuring 1 16 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, and following production declines in Nigeria, Angola now represents the continent’s biggest producer, despite show ing declines itself
In May 2022, OPEC’s total production was estimated at 28 51 million bpd, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait showing increases while Libya, Nigeria, Iraq and Gabon showed a reduction In Angola, despite declines from 1 18 million bpd to 1 16 million bpd from April to May 2022, the country’s production is now the highest on the continent
With exploration expected to increase following the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuel’s opening proposals for the latest bid licensing round for offshore blocks in the Lower Congo and Kwanza Basins in April 2022, oil production in Angola is expected to see an increase, further reaffirming the country’s newfound position
Up until May, Nigeria stood as the biggest producer with out put estimated at 1 22 million bpd However, due to production declines in legacy oilfields and delayed exploration attributed to post COVID 19 and energy transition capital expenditure trends, the country witnessed production cuts by 195,000 bpd to 1.02 million bpd from April to May 2022. This reduction represents the biggest output decline out of all OPEC member states As exploration ramps up across the con tinent, however, and new fields come online, the competition for the top spot is expected to become even more fierce
Other big oil producers in Africa
ALGERIA: 970,000 bpd
Representing the third largest oil producer in 2022, Algeria is committed to increasing production beyond pre pandemic levels of 1 3 million bpd For 2022, production sits at 970,000 bpd an improvement from 2021 levels of 874,000 bpd With upwards of 12 billion barrels of proven oil reserves the second largest on the continent the north African country is committed to maximizing reserves through the scaling up of exploration and investment
LIBYA: 946,000 bpd
Despite having the largest oil reserves on the conti nent at 46 4 billion barrels, political instability and lack of oilfield maintenance has seen production decline rapidly in Libya. In 2021, the country pro duced approximately 1 17 million barrels per day, however, output has fallen with the deteriorating political situation Production is particularly sensitive for 2022, due to regular infrastructure and export blockades. There is a positive expectation for produc tion levels to accelerate, once political stability is restored
EGYPT: 556,440 bpd
Egypt takes the fifth largest oil producer in Africa spot with production estimated at 556,440 bpd in 2022 As demand increases from European markets, the country is looking at improving exploration, with specific emphasis having been placed on drilling new wells Between 2014 and 2020, the country signed 84 petroleum agreements with international operators, and is looking at increasing exploration even further in 2022
With over 660 million barrels of proven oil reserves, Ghana is the eighth biggest oil producer in Africa The Jubilee and Tweneboa Enyenra Ntomme (TEN) oilfields represent the largest contributors to production, and with rising investment in offshore basins, coupled with new developments such as the Aker operated deepwater Tano Cape Three Points coming online, production is expected to increase by up to 420,000 bpd in 2023
EQUATORIAL GUINEA: 88,000 bpd
Equatorial Guinea’s production sits at 88,000 bpd for 2022 a significant downturn from 2021 levels of 153,000 bpd To address this decrease, the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons is focused on improving exploration and kickstarting production across key basins
In this regard, Trident Energy and partners for Block G have had their production sharing contract extended, maintenance works at the Zafiro, Jade and Serpentina facilities are underway and new exploration campaigns are taking off
CHAD: 68,000 bpd
Despite estimated reserves of one billion barrels of oil, production in Chad has been slow, with 2022 levels estimated at 68,000 bpd a significant decline from 2021 levels of 109,000 bpd. The majority of Chad’s crude is derived from the Doba Basin, with major oper ators including ExxonMobil and Shell continuing to drive progress.
Source: Energy Capital & Power | OPEC
The Asanteman Association of Massachusetts hosted the 2022 Asante Day Celebration under the auspices of ACONA. The Asante Day is an annual event organized by ACONA, which is the umbrella organization that coordinates the activities of the various Asanteman associations in North America which comprises the United States and Canada
ACONA is a non profit organization whose mission is to bring together residents of North America who are of the Asante ethnic group of Ghana and others interested in Asante culture and traditions, to assist in the socio economic development in the Ashanti Region of Ghana ACONA has been supported by the MANHYIA PALACE since its establishment, which dates back in the early eighties
Asante Day Celebration brings together all member associa tions, Ghanaians and friends of Ghana for a Labor Day week end to exhibit and display the rich Asante Culture and to fos ter unity among Asante citizens all over North America.
The event started on Saturday evening with entertainment and Grand Durbar As shown here, these Chiefs and Queens are the traditional leaders of the various associations They are geared up to capture the opportunity to display their tradition al dancing skills, as they strive to portray the Asante Culture in the Diaspora They would dress up in their elegant tradi tional clothes, like Kente, Adinkra etc, followed by their sub chiefs and sub queens and subsequently, the members of their associations. They exhibit cultural shows and to raise funds. They would enter the hall of the event in an orderly fashion, take the floor one after the other as they dance to the tradition al processional music and drum beats before taking their seats. A highly skilled Ghanaian Traditional Dancing and Drumming group called “Gye Nyame Kete Group" led by Mr Atta Poku based in New York in the United States provided traditional Music and drumming throughout the event
To further underscore ACONA’s determination to contribute to the socio economic development projects in Ghana, especially in the Ashanti region, a Fundraising Dinner Dance in support of a Nursing Training School Project at WadieAdwumakase near Mamponteng was be the climax of the occasion on Sunday, September 4 2022.
Current members of ACONA participating in the Asante Day Celebration are as follows:
The Asanteman Association of Toronto, Canada, the Asanteman Association of Chicago and Midwest, the Asanteman Association of Southern California and the Asante KroyeKuo of Greater Houston, Texas.
The Asanteman Association of Greater Cincinnati, Ohio, the Asanteman Association of the Carolinas, Charlotte, North Carolina, the Asanteman Association of Columbus, Ohio, the Asanteman Association of Tennessee, the Asanteman Cultural Association of Quebec, Montreal, Canada, the Asanteman Association of Worcester, Massachusetts and the Asante Unity Association, Baltimore, Asanteman Adihyeman of Dallas Texas, Asanteman Association of Connecticut, Asanteman Association of Denver Metro, Asante Kotoko Association of New York
The key note speaker was Nana Osei Agyeman
and fall The Hutu households, who were the only ones the king permitted to make the drums, generally guarded these drums in drum sanctuaries
Certain Bantu groups in Africa utilize Ngoma Ngoma, also known as engoma, ng’oma, or ingoma The name Ngoma is derived from the Kongo word for “drum.” In ceremonies held in Central and South Africa, the usage of these drums is primarily intend ed to promote healing. Regular music and dance are a part of the rituals, which can reduce stress and pro mote prosocial behavior. Ngoma typically acts as a way to bring the tribe together and support major life or health transitions. Zimbabwe also uses the Ngoma drum, primarily for festivities and traditional dances.
Acrucial component of the rhythmic family of musical instruments is the drum. Drums are often battered with the hand, one or two sticks with or without padding, or both. Different sticks can be used, depending on the type of drum and the desired sound. They could be brushes, wooden sticks, or even sticks with a plush felt beater at the end.
They seem like instruments that are just employed for music, and eventually for amusement and bringing about enjoyment, on the surface. However, drums have other uses, particularly in African culture and rituals When com pared to western music, the metaphorical meaning of African drums is more profound and singular
They are utilized to honor communal traditions and cere monial events Additionally, they serve as tourist attractions in a number of African nations, promoting and showcasing African history and culture
Djembe or Talking Drum
The talking drum was first used for rites of passage, ances tral worship, rituals, and social dances as early as 500 A D in major communities The Bambara people of Mali claim that the name of the djembe is derived from the proverb “Anke djé, anke bé,” which means “everyone gets together in peace” and describes the function of the drum The Bambara word “djé” means “gather,” and the word “bé” means “peace”
Gbedu
Gbedu, which translates to “big drum,” is an instrument that has historically been employed in Nigerian and Beninese ceremonial Yoruba music. The Gbedu drum is typically utilized on official occasions or in Ogboni cere monies, the illustrious Yoruba secret society. The Dundun/Gangan or talking drum, the Batá drum, and the Sakara drum are the other three families of Yoruba drums.
The Gbedu, also known as Ogido, is one of these families. Drums of various sizes make up each family, with the mother drum (iya ilu) taking the lead role and the other drums providing support.
The Gbedu drum is a symbol of grandeur among the Yoruba The Oba may dance to the beat of the drum during events like the rite of Isagun If anyone else made use of the drum for sedition, they were taken into custody
In the royal courts of the “kabaka,” the tradition al monarch of Buganda in Uganda, East Africa, the “entenga” drum is frequently heard Droughts, prayers, and the exorcism of bad spir its from communities are all traditional African religious practices that have been accompanied by the beat of drums African drums serve to bind and hold together social and political gath erings such as marriages, funerals, weddings, naming rituals, and sorrowful and happy occa sions
The Karyenda, which originates from Burundi, once served as the nation’s primary emblem. It had semi divine status and represented the Mwami (King of Burundi). It is thought that the Mwami could translate the karyenda’s beatings into laws for the realm. These drums were sacred and were typically utilized in rituals and impor tant occasions for the king, such as royal corona tions Weddings were often proclaimed by the drums, and they were also utilized at funerals The sound of the drums also served as a signal for other ritual events, such as the mwami’s rise
The use of drums has increased significantly across the African continent over the past fifty years, to the point where common people are now making their own drums out of love rather than investing a lot of money Numerous popular African musical genres have included African drum rhythms, empowering music and performance in Africa today and provid ing a lesson to be learned
The significance of African drums cannot be ade quately conveyed in a single conversation, but if you take the time to experience it, learn it, and be pas sionate about this art, you will come to grasp its sig nificance on a spiritual level
There are countless additional varieties of drums with deep roots in African culture and tradition, each with a unique sound and significance in people’s lives They inspire something inside the body as they touch the soul and awaken the spirit, from delivering messages to the town’s residents to healing the ill. The drum binds the continent’s inhabitants by tying their hearts together in time with the drumming melodies, which is why it is known as Africa’s heart beat.
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The Fante ethnic group is mainly one of the coastal dwellers in the West African nation of Ghana They were the first inhabitants to have come into contact with European settlers out of which a sustained collaboration between the two led to the construction of the St George Castle by the Portuguese in 1492.
Their association with European traders start ed a cultural revolution of an important aspect of their belief systems and way of life, which became known as the Asafo companies
The Asafo companies were initially created as military organizations comprising of the youth in Fante communities, but, they largely drew inspiration from European organizations, regalia and flags to shape this cultural identity, according to the Asafo flag
The Asafo companies became military groups because the tribe lacked a standing army Asafo in the Fante tribe literally means ‘sa’ which stands for war and ‘fo’ which represents people
Aside from the Asafo group’s role as a citizen vigilante against incursions by other tribes in their trading activity with the Europeans, the various groupings were identified through the Asafo flags The flags, which in the local dialect are called ‘Frankaa’, have since remained a key aspect of Asafo regalia
The flags were used to communicate insightful Fante cultural values and preserve proverbs handed over from generation to generation
In the 18th century, according to scholars, the Fante tribe used raffia or trade clothes as flags which they inscribed their paintings on it.
The creative director of Asafo Flags, Barbara Eyeson, who has been researching the meanings of the flag for over a decade, said the paintings evoked strong visual metaphors because they relied on the use of animals to convey powerful meanings
According to her, creatures in the Fante culture are seen as more powerful than humans in communicating a position
Citing examples, she said the crocodile, for
instance, stands for strength, adding that, the fish and crocodile Asafo flag called ‘hen afu’ tells the proverb of how a fish only grows fat for the benefit of the crocodile who rules the river.
Eyeson indicated that the pepper tree flag also preaches obedience in the sense that if a child wants to pick ripe peppers, he/she should be allowed to go ahead, they will stop after it burns the eye.
She added that the cactus tree flag for example warns that it’s only a brave chicken that will approach a cactus tree given that the pepper and cactus tree is dangerous when eaten raw
The creative director of the Asafo Flag explained that each Asafo company has a cen tral shrine called a ‘Posuban’, which comprises an elaborate concrete structure decorated with brightly colored figures, and which serves as a store for regalia and a focus for sacrifices
She said it’s customary to hang Asafo flags at funerals for company members, annual festivals, shrines and the same is paraded at such landmark occasions
Eyeson stressed that the imagery the Asafo
flag exudes in some respect is linked to the wealth and power they wield in the company and this sometimes stokes challenges between rival groups
Clearly, since the 18th century, the Asafo flags have been one of the effec tive vehicles the Fante tribe has used in preserving its proverbs, its importance and giving other tribes the opportunity to learn from them in the Akan culture
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Silverton Siege is another Netflix movie to look out for Mandla Dube, a South African filmmaker, based his film Silverton Siege on an actual incident that took place in 1980 when three members of UMkhonto weSizwe, sometimes known as MK, an organization founded by Nelson Mandela, held hostages in a bank in Pretoria
Kenya’s Country Queen is a must watch. After a ten year absence, a Nairobi event director visits her village, where she must face her history and a mining corpora tion that threatens to demolish her house. A city girl caught between worlds is forced to return home, confront her traumatic past in order to save her town from an invading mining business, and discover herself in the process
The last few years have seen significant expansion and improvement in the African film industry, from acting abilities to recognition by prestigious film institutions to generating top tier Netflix movies. In addition, there is nothing nearly as enjoyable as seeing a great African movie. You get carried away by the lovely, warm, and clear hues and appreciate the African culture.
In order to guarantee that members receive the best movies possible, Netflix has been providing international films from all over the world, including Africa In reality, Netflix is swiftly tak ing over as the major industry standard for African content creators. Because of this, most producers are making a lot of effort to get their movies on Netflix. We find it exciting that Netflix honors African films for their originality.
This is why we have decided to look at the top African movies of 2022. Netflix has amazing movies from African nations like Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and others. The first on
the list is Blood Sisters Popular Nollywood performers like Ramsey Nouah, Kate Henshaw, Ini Dima Okojie, Nancy Isime, Uche Jumbo, and others can be seen in the short series Blood Sisters. It relates the tale of two friends who kill a man and then end up on the run, fighting for their life. The movie looks at domestic violence and other social vices in society. It was published in 2022 and is only accessible via Netflix.
In Breaded Life, a careless young guy wakes up one day to discover that nobody he knows recognizes him, with the exception of a neighborhood bread vendor. Breaded Life, a Nigerian comedy drama film directed and written by Biodun Stephen, is a sequel to the 2016 film Picture Perfect The movie also included native tongues besides English However, since there are subtitles for the same, there is no issue The movie’s conclusion is when things are likely to take a significant shift.
The 2022 Nigerian film Glamour Girls was produced and directed by Bunmi Adesoye Nse Ikpe Etim, Sharon Ooja, Joselyn Dumas, Toke Makinwa, and Segilola Ogidan are among the actresses who star in this Netflix original film about women who begin opulent lifestyles through escorting While Glamour Girls was first hailed as a remake, it ultimately evolved into a reconstruction of the original tale with new characters and an altogether fresh plot, with certain actors from the 1994 film return ing their roles.
Nigerian movie Man of God is a prodigal son tale featur ing Akah Nnani as the prophet’s son who rejects his fam ily in order to become an Afro jazz artist. If you’re won dering whether faith based films are exclusively American, this film argues that they most certainly are not.
The plot of “The Razz Guy” centers on Temi, an obnox ious senior executive who gets cursed and loses his abili ty to speak good English. He needs to figure out how to break the curse before a crucial business merger agree ment. Along with Broda Shaggy, Frank Donga, and MC Lively, the movie also stars Norbert Young, Tina Mba, Ireti Doyle, Yemi Solade, Nancy Isime, Omotunde Adebowale David, Bucci Franklin, Ibrahim Suleiman, Imoh Eboh, Charles Etubiebi, and Nancy Isime. Savage Beauty is a South African television series creat ed by Lebogang Mogashoa. The screenplays for the series were co written by Mogashoa, Nelisa Ngcobo, and Neo Sibiya, and were directed by Denny Y Miller, Thati Pele, and Rea Rangaka The narrative centers on Zinhle Manzini, a lady who, after experiencing a traumatic past, embarks on a quest to track down and wreak vengeance on the affluent and influential family that wronged her However, innocent people suffer damage as a result of Zinhle’s plan for vengeance, making it difficult and chal lenging This is a must watch
Deborah Dzifa Makafui
out. It’s a shame being told that there is noth ing your government can do,” Chepkemoi told reporters.
A 2021 report by the foreign affairs ministry stated that 89 Kenyan nationals passed away in Saudi Arabia Majority of the Kenyan nationals who died worked as domestic work ers in the Arab country Brighton Yegon, who is Chepkemoi’s local MP, was part of the peo ple who met her at the airport He said he will propose a motion seeking to ban the exporta tion of workforce to Saudi Arabia
A Kenyan woman, who was allegedly maltreated by her employer in Saudi Arabia, finally returned home on Tuesday after the story of her plight drew outrage in the East African nation. According to BBC, Diana Chepkemoi’s family and supporters emotionally wel comed her when she arrived at the country’s main air port in Nairobi.
“I left Kenya to go to Saudi Arabia with the hope of getting a better life Mine is just a tip of the iceberg, people are suffering I am pleading with the govern ment to do something, help them, they are suffering,” Chepkemoi told reporters
Chepkemoi, 24, said she endured “psychological abuse”, adding that her employer informed her that she had been “bought” and could be subjected to any form of treatment
Clara Cherotich, who is Chepkemoi’s mother, wel comed her daughter ’s return, saying she was “very grateful ” She however said her daughter ’s condition was “critical ”
Prior to her return home, photos of Chepkemoi were circulated on social media throughout the weekend The images showed her looking dull and skinny. Her appearance was said to be the opposite of how she looked before she departed Kenya for Saudi Arabia in June 2021.
Chepkemoi’s condition spurred her family and Kenyans on social media to call for her release, per BBC. In response to the outcry, the Kenyan embassy in Riyadh said the former university student was taken from her employer ’s residence and transported to a leading hospital for evaluation She was ultimately given the all clear at a specialized hospital she was subsequently referred to
“The only difference is that I got the courage to speak
Driven by the lack of opportunities at home, Africa’s young people travel to the Middle East in droves in search of employment Hundreds of thousands of them are now employed throughout the region, many of them as maids
However, reports of mistreatment and abuse of Africans by their bosses has prompted a number of countries to ban the recruitment of their citizens as domestic hires in the Middle East.
Most domestic workers from Africa get their jobs through the kafala visa sponsorship sys tem, which requires migrant workers to seek permission from employers before relocating or changing jobs. The system ties the immi gration status of a worker to the employer, giving the employer the power to repatriate them at will and even stop them from leaving the country
Human rights groups have condemned the kafala system, describing it as a form of mod ern day slavery There have been reports of domestic employees forced to work for very long periods with little or no breaks in between Workers are often deprived of food and other basic necessities while being physi cally and verbally abused
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The Dinka is a South Sudanese ethnic group that has a substantial diaspora abroad. The astound ing height of the Dinka people is well known They are thought to be the tallest people in Africa, alongside the Tutsi of Rwanda.
The Nilotic tribe known as the Dinka lives in South Sudan along the Nile from the Jonglei to the Abyei region of the Ngok Dinka The kingdom of Alodia, a Christian, multi ethnic empire ruled by Nubians, is said to have existed in the Gezira (modern day Sudan), where they are said to have originated They are the largest ethnic group in South Sudan and one among the three tribes that comprised the first settlers
After defending their territory from Ottoman Turks and thwarting attempts to sell them into slavery by slave traders who intended to convert them to Islam, the Dinka tribe spread over the region in the middle of the 1800s The Dinka made up around 18% of the 4 5 million people in South Sudan, according to the 2008 census.
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Cameroon’s President Paul Biya expressed his grief with the words: "The death of Her Majesty ELIZABETH II is felt painfully and affects the Commonwealth
Nations She had a unique stature and played an emblematic role throughout history " Rwandan President Paul Kagame said: "I extend my deepest condolences to His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Consort, and the entire Royal Family, as well as the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth " Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe expressed his feel ings by saying: "The sadness at the passing of Queen Elizabeth II today goes beyond Great Britain and expands to the whole world, as the late Queen was undoubtedly a universal figure of her country's influence and friendship towards peoples worlwide " Ali Bongo Ondimba, the president of Gabon stated: "The Commonwealth family is mourning Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was a great friend of Africa and Africa [loved] her in return. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the British people, to her son, my friend His Majesty King Charles III and family."
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest serving monarch, has died at the age of 96. This year, the UK celebrated the 70th anniversary of her reign and when she died, she had been the second longest ruling monarch the world has known, the longest being France's King Louis XIV who reigned for 72 years
As tributes for Queen Elizabeth II continue to pour in from politicians around the world, African lead ers were among the first to give voice to their sor row
President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, expressed his profound and sincere condolences "Her Majesty was an extraordinary and world renowned public figure who lived a remarkable life Her life and legacy will be fondly remembered by many around the world The Queen’s commit ment and dedication during her 70 years on the throne remains a noble and virtuous example to the entire world," President Ramaphosa said
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo tweeted: "May God bless her soul and give her peaceful rest in His Bosom until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again.” Malawi’s President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera joined world leaders in extending his condolences: "For us as a nation, her inimitable legacy as a friend of Malawi will forever be etched on our hearts and indelibly marked on the pages of our history, a history she positively shaped in more ways than we can put into words.”
Burundi's President Evariste Ndayishimiye mourned the death of the queen "I am deeply sad
dened by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Royal fam ily and the friendly people of United Kingdom. She has been an inspiration for generations around the world and will be remembered for her great leadership,” he said
On Twitter, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema wrote: "We are saddened to learn about the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Our thoughts and prayers are with the Royal family and the people of the UK during this difficult period May God comfort and give them peace, as they mourn Her Majesty May her soul rest in peace ”
Kenyan President elect William Ruto said the Queen was "a towering icon of selfless service" "We will miss the cordial ties she enjoyed with Kenya and may her memories continue to inspire us We join the Commonwealth in mourning and offer our condolences to the Royal Family and the United Kingdom," the new president continued
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari mourned the death of the Queen with following words: "My family and I, and the more than 200 million Nigerians have learned with immense sadness of the passing of the Queen and the end of her unique and wonderful 70 year reign. Her late Majesty was the only British Sovereign known to 90 percent of our population."
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud also tweet ed: "I pass my deepest condolences & that of my nation to the government, people & Royal family of the UK on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen represented her nation & citizens with great honour & dignity at home & on the world stage throughout her reign."
The British Empire was one of the largest empires in the world's history, a significant part of it consisted of British colonies in Africa. Between 1880 and 1900, Britain took control or occupied the lands of contempo rary states of Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Northwest Somalia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi This meant that the British ruled 30 percent of the African people at one time, according to Independent Turkce In the early modern period, British traders brought prod ucts such as weapons to Africa in exchange for raw materials and slaves These traders often were protected by the government through the creation of monopolies, which meant their trading company had exclusive rights to conduct commerce with a certain region or for a cer tain product
British colonialism started to come to an end only with the end of the Second World War because of changes in how people behaved Sudan gained independence from Britain in 1956 Then, in 1957, Ghana became the first country in Africa to regain its independence from Britain Nigeria and Somalia followed Ghana in 1960 In 1961 Tanzania achieved its independence from Britain Kenya followed its neighbor's success in 1963 and Zambia and Malawi in 1964 Gambia gained its inde pendence in 1965.
Countries with settler communities took longer to secure their independence and establish majority rule. Zimbabwe achieved independence and majority rule in 1980, and South Africa was the last country to become free in 1994.
Despite its colonial past, relations between England and its former colonies are at an advanced and harmonious level.
