African Voice Newspaper issue 600

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015 ISSUE 600

SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R Call for black blood and organ donors to ‘Be There’ for their community SEE PAGE 6

£1.00

New right for parents to request childcare at their child’s school SEE PAGE 4

TIGHTER VISA REGS ‘THREATEN’ LONDON Like us on Facebook facebook.com/africanvoicenews Follow us on Twitter @africanvoice2

By Alan Oakley

London’s status as a hub for global talent is being threatened by the Government’s ever-tightening immigration rules, according to a top UK business group.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has warned David Cameron that stricter rules for employing foreign workers from outside the EU will have detrimental impact on the UK’s capital city to attract international talent.

The group said: “Business requires a UK immigration system that is flexible and supports the recruitment of overseas talent, not a system that hinders this process.”

The MAC, an independent, non-departmental public body that advises the government on migration issues, was asked to consider new measures that would reduce migration to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) following the Conservatives’ election win in May.

Continued on page 2

David Cameron commissioned the MAC to assess the impact of planned measures to restrict foreign workers soon after winning May’s General Election

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Armed Forces’ double win at UK Race Equality Awards

The Armed Forces Muslim Association and the Royal Air Force won awards at the Race for Opportunity Awards last night at the Hilton Park Lane, London.

The Armed Forces Muslim Association (AFMA) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have been recognised for their leadership in creating equal and inclusive workplaces for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees by winning the Race for Opportunity Employee Network Public Sector Award and the Future Workforce Award respectively at the Race for Opportunity Awards 2015.

The Awards are part of Business in the Community’s race equality campaign.

Business in the Community is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business and corporate social responsibility. The awards ceremony, hosted by ITV News presenter Charlene White, took place on the 6th of October 2015 at the Hilton Park Lane and was attended by more than 500 business leaders.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi Managing Editor Alan Oakley News Editor Peter Olorunnisomo Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Milton Tella Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Edward Mirza Accountant Fanla Agboola Chief Correspondent, Nigeria Olubunmi Omoogun London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 3737 3077

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

News

“Mind how you go” when travelling abroad

The FCO highlights guidance to travellers with mental health needs as cases involving British nationals rise by almost 50% in five years* Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is teaming up with the Mental Health Foundation to raise awareness of how British nationals with mental health needs can prepare before travelling overseas, and how the FCO can help should travellers experience difficulties.

From 2009/10 to 2014/15 the number of British nationals with mental health needs requiring help from the FCO increased by 48% globally, making this an area of increasing focus.

Georgina Hollingsworth, Consular Social Work Advisor at the FCO, said: With one in four people in any given year expected to experience a mental health problem, it isn’t surprising that we have seen an increase in the number of people the Foreign Office is supporting overseas. We have been working hard to ensure our staff are better able to understand common mental health needs and recognise signs and symptoms, but we also want to ensure that travellers are aware of steps they can take themselves to help ensure trouble-free travel abroad.

A trip overseas can be immensely enjoyable, but it can also be challenging.

Simple steps such as adequately researching your destination can make all the difference, as well as understanding how the FCO can help if you do run into problems.

So have a look at our advice, mind how you go and, most importantly, have a fantastic trip.

Jenny Edwards, CEO of the Mental Health Foundation

While mental health needs can vary significantly, there are a number of steps people can take before and during foreign travel to help ensure a trouble-free trip:

• take out travel insurance before you go and check your policy covers any pre-existing mental health conditions; if travelling in the European Economic Area take a valid European Health Insurance Card too

• if you take medication, check it is legal and available in your destination and make sure you take enough for your trip (plus some extra to cover any unexpected delays)

• check what mental health services are available in the country and destination you are visiting

• consider who you would contact if your mental health deteriorated while abroad, and ensure you have means of contacting them in an emergency

• research your destination and check the FCO travel advice for the

country you are visiting

• leave copies of your travel documents and itinerary with friends, family or a trusted person

• be aware of how the FCO can help if you run into difficulties overseas Jenny Edwards, CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, said: Many people in the UK with mental health conditions manage them well day to day. However, there are a few extra things to consider when travelling abroad. Check your travel insurance covers pre-existing mental health conditions before travelling and make sure that your medication is legal, available, and sufficient for your trip. Changes to your itinerary or a delayed flight could impact your mental health needs so it is important to travel prepared – pack medication in your hand luggage and keep a record of your mental health contacts in the UK in case you need to reach them. Research your travel destination and locate the local mental health services for that country. By following these simple steps, a relaxing trip can be easily enjoyed.

Cosby up against further rape lawsuit Veteran comedian Bill Cosby has lost his bid to stop another civil lawsuit against him from going forward, but his deposition in the case will be sealed at least until December.

In a hearing in Los Angeles, the judge in the case said questioning of Cosby under oath could proceed as planned this Friday, squashing a motion by the entertainer’s lawyers to throw out accusations against him made by Judy Huth, who says that Cosby forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was 15.

But the judge, Craig D. Karlan, temporarily granted the Cosby team’s request to keep the deposition from being made public. He said he would not decide which portions of the deposition — if any — would be made public until another hearing in December.

“Let’s make it very simple,” Judge Karlan said. “There is to be no mention or discussion of any party’s deposition until we have our hearing on Dec. 22.”

Speaking before roughly 40 people who had gathered in the courtroom Judge Karlan said he was balancing the public’s interest and Mr. Cosby’s right to a fair trial.

He said it would be better to first find out

what Mr. Cosby was asked under questioning before deciding what should be disclosed.

Those were welcome words for Cosby’s lawyers, who have been fighting to keep the deposition private, particularly after events this summer when parts of a deposition in a 2005 case involving another woman, Andrea Constand, were published.

Although the location of Friday’s deposition has not been disclosed, the decision to go forward brings Cosby back into legal proceedings, and the public eye, after months of letting his lawyers do the talking for him.

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Dele Ogun, the Partners and staff at OGUN The Law Firm send their best wishes to all Nigerians on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence.

OGUN The Law Firm 16 Babatunde Kuboye Street Lekki Phase 1 Lagos Tel: +2341 293 1085, Email: law@ogun.com, Web: www.ogun.com

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

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News

New right for parents to request childcare at their child’s school The Prime Minister has announced new measures to help more children get the best start in life: a right for parents to request childcare at their child’s school; and the docking of child benefit for parents whose children play truant and do not pay penalties.

Access to holiday and wrap-around care is a key issue for many working parents and we can use school sites better to help parents get childcare when they need it.

That is why we are giving groups of parents the right to request childcare in the form of breakfast and after-school clubs or holiday care at their child’s school.

Childcare providers, such as childminders, breakfast and after school clubs, and holiday clubs, will have the right to request use of school sites outside school hours.

This will increase the supply of childcare for working parents outside school hours, improving the availability of childcare so

parents are able to work for longer, if they choose to do so.

As well as helping working parents with childcare, we want to ensure parents take responsibility for their children’s actions.

Persistent truancy can ruin a child’s future and we want to do all we can to tackle it.

So new rules will mean that families who refuse to pay truancy penalties and are in receipt of Child Benefit will automatically have their child benefit docked to cover the penalty, significantly reducing local authorities having to pursue payment through the courts. Local Authorities will be under a new duty to pursue these penalties, including from those who do not receive Child Benefit, with unpaid penalties ultimately pursued through the courts.

The £60 civil penalty, which increases to £120 if it goes unpaid for 21 days, will now be mandatory. It will be clawed back through child benefit if it is unpaid after 28 days.

The Prime Minister said: “Ensuring children get the best start in life is at the heart of our plans. We want to help hardworking parents with their childcare plans, so we will give families the right to request that their schools provide childcare for a full working day, before and after school and during the school holidays.

“We are also determined to tackle the harm truancy does to a child’s chances in life. There is nothing responsible about allowing your child to go without an education. So for parents who let their child play truant and refuse to pay truancy penalties, we will deduct it from their Child Benefit.”

Ghanaian man convicted for unlawful immigration advice

Mr. Wisdon Abordo

Mr Wisdom Abordo, 36, a Ghanaian national of Green Street, Enfield, North London, was today sentenced to 26 weeks’ imprisonment. He was ordered to pay £1,300 compensation to 2 victims at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, having pleaded guilty to providing unregulated immigration advice.

Mr Abordo applied to be regulated by the Immigration Services Commissioner in January 2014, but failed to demonstrate the required standard of competence.

Despite this, Mr Abordo traded as Alpha Legal Services, Petronne House, 31 Church Street, Dagenham between Janu4

ary and December 2014.

Upon sentencing, District Judge Mrs Coleman said: “These are extremely serious offences. You set up a business to provide immigration advice when you were not qualified or competent to do so.

“The degree of culpability is high, as is the harm you have caused. You owe a considerable amount of money to individuals and have undermined the immigration system.”

Speaking about the decision, Deputy Immigration Services Commissioner, Ian Leigh, said: “Illegally providing immigration advice is a serious offence, and the sentence handed down today reflects this. Peddling illegal immigration advice ruins people’s lives.”

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Health News

Call for black blood and organ donors to ‘Be There’ for their community This Black History Month NHS Blood and Transplant is urging black people to register as blood, organ and stem cell donors and “Be There” for people from their community who need life saving or life enhancing blood transfusions, stem cell transplants and organ transplants.

Black people are currently under represented as blood donors, with less than one percent* of active blood donors coming from Black African, Black Caribbean or mixed race communities.

There are currently more people living with Sickle Cell Disease than there are active black and mixed race donors.

There are also fewer black organ donors as last year only 20** out of the 1,282 deceased donors in the UK were from the black community. In contrast there are currently around 600 black people waiting for an organ transplant with the vast majority of those in need of a kidney transplant.

Ethnicity can often play an important part in blood transfusions, stem cell transplants and organ transplants. Black donors are more likely to have rare blood and tissue types and black patients are more likely to require these rare types so it is essential that we have more black blood, organ and stem cell donors.

Additionally black people are more likely to need an organ transplant than people from white communities as they are more susceptible to illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes and certain forms

of hepatitis, all of which may result in organ failure and the need for a lifesaving transplant.

Kidneys are allocated according to many factors, with blood and tissue type amongst the most important. Matching is likely to be closer when the ethnicity of the donor and the recipient are closer. As only a small percentage of deceased donors are from black backgrounds, this can delay a suitably matched kidney being found and black people will often wait a year longer for a kidney transplant than people from white backgrounds.

Sickle Cell Disease is a genetically inherited blood disorder in which the oxygen carrying the red blood cells are more likely to alter their shape and cause

problems such as bone pain. It is most common in the black community. Patients with this condition often require regular blood transfusions. Blood transfusions from donors with a similar ethnic background give the best match and outcomes in the long term.

Some blood types are more common in black and mixed race communities whilst some rare types are only found within these communities.

Stem cell donation can help save the lives of people suffering from leukaemia and sickle cell disease as well as other diseases of the immune system. Around 70 percent of patients have to rely on a matched volunteer donor, identified through the British Bone Marrow Registry.

People from black backgrounds are less likely to find a match than Caucasian patients.

Ian Trenholm, Chief Executive at NHS Blood and Transplant said: “We really do need more black blood, organ and stem cell donors to help support black patients. Many people think that blood is only needed in an accident or emergency situation but people with Sickle Cell Disease often need blood transfusions on a regular basis just to stay alive.

“Blood donations can also be used before, during and after childbirth and for surgical procedures such as life saving transplants.

“In addition, if you require an organ or stem cell transplant you are far less likely to find a match if you are from black or mixed race community, simply due to the lack of black donors on the registers.

“We’re incredibly grateful to those who already donate blood, who have joined the Organ Donor or stem cell registers but it is vital that we encourage more black people to sign up and talk to their family and friends about their decision.

During the month long campaign, NHS Blood and Transplant has a number of exciting initiatives to raise awareness and boost donor numbers.

NHS Blood and Transplant will be working with community and faith groups such as the ACLT and a social media campaign will run throughout the month.

Additionally NHS Blood and Transplant will be undertaking radio partnerships with Capital Xtra, New Style Radio, Premier Gospel and Colourful FM to promote the need for black blood donors.

Lead technologist, agriculture and food team at Innovate UK, Helen Munday

to meet and anticipate evolving consumer preferences, and to help the UK build on its reputation for safe and sustainable food production of the highest standard.

The market opportunity is broad, from niche health products to mass markets such as bread. For greatest economic impact, Innovate UK are therefore looking for a breadth of projects, spanning a variety of food types, from improving heavily consumed, comparatively unhealthy foods to developing new, healthier foods to meet increasing consumer demand.

Innovate UK is also publishing a white paper to accompany the competition to explain its rationale and the context in which it is being launched.

Innovate UK to fund healthier food and drink Innovate UK has launched a £10 million competition to reduce sugar, salt and fat and increase fibre in food and drink.

The Government’s innovation experts Innovate UK have launched a competition to fund up to £10 million in collaborative R&D projects aimed at reducing sugar, salt and fat and increasing dietary fibre in food and drink.

In doing so, Innovate UK aims to stimulate the availability of healthier food and drink choices for consumers and open up new market opportunities for the British food industry.

Lead technologist, agriculture and food team at Innovate UK, Helen Munday said “Innovate UK believes that healthier ingredients in packaged 6

and pre-prepared foods have a part to play in improving our nation’s diet.

This is not the entire answer to poor dietary habits or the obesity epidemic, but the companies that win funding and the innovations and healthier products that they develop will be part of the solution.”

The health profession has specifically cited the need to reduce salt, sugar and saturated fat in food and drink. In the context of preventing cancer, there are also concerns about a lack of dietary fibre.

Leading businesses recognise the need to proactively offer consumers foods that are more nutritionally balanced and, at the same time, appealing to modern tastes. Innovate UK’s competition is designed to help industry to develop innovative products

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News

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Tackling poor customer service in the energy sector The Government will work with Ofgem and Citizens Advice to strengthen the Energy Ombudsman’s role in identifying and addressing systemic industrywide problems where customers are being treated badly by energy suppliers. The most common of these are failing to respond to customer complaints and delays in repaying overestimated bills.

At the moment, the Ombudsman only investigates and resolves individual complaints.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd said:V“As a One Nation Government on the side of consumers, we are determined to keep bills down and I am clear that hardworking families and businesses should not have to tolerate poor service from energy companies.

“We want to see the Ombudsman’s role going beyond simply resolving individual complaints so that it has real teeth and can work with Ofgem to address industry-wide problems that are making life miserable for consumers, as well as deal with repeated failings of poorlyperforming firms. Where companies have developed a pattern of bad behaviour, they will

have no hiding place.

“Bill payers are at the heart of everything we do and they must receive better treatment and get fairer deals, alongside greater energy security.”

Chief Ombudsman, Lewis Shand Smith, said: “Ombudsman Services welcomes today’s announcement to enhance redress across the energy sector. We believe this represents an excellent opportunity to adopt a new, collaborative approach with industry to improving standards and performance across the retail market.

“As the Energy Ombudsman, dealing with over 50,000 complaints annually, we have the experience and the capabilities to make this work for consumers and energy suppliers alike.

“We look forward to working in consultation with industry to improve redress, delivering solutions that benefit consumers and ensure the functioning of a fair, free and competitive market”.

Dermot Nolan, Chief Executive of Ofgem said: “We welcome the Secretary of State’s support for the Energy Ombudsman and their role in identifying systemic customer service and complaint issues across the industry. We look forward to working closely with DECC and the Ombudsman to drive up customer service in the industry”.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Amber Rudd

The Energy Ombudsman recently revealed that 35,309 complaints were received in between January and June this year, up 55% on the same period in 2014.

The Government is taking action to ensure there is a competitive and effective energy market working hard for consumers. There

are now 31 energy suppliers helping to drive competition, up from just six in 2010. We’ve also made switching energy suppliers quicker and easier, with more than 1.5 million people across the country switching onto better deals.

By 2018, consumers will be able to switch in 24 hours.

Bank of England keeps rates steady Bank of England policymakers voted 8-1 to keep rates at a recordlow 0.5 percent this month, and most saw a relatively soft outlook for inflation, suggesting they are in no hurry to raise interest rates.

The central bank said cost pressures in Britain’s labour market were rising too slowly for inflation to return to its 2 percent target, especially given the past strength of sterling, and that inflation would stay below 1 percent until spring 2016.

British inflation fell back to zero in August, but officials had been confident that robust domestic growth and the fading effect of last year’s big oil price falls would cause it to bounce back towards its 2 percent target next year.

Official data last week showed unit labour cost growth jumped to 2.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015, more than double the rate the BoE had previously estimated, but the BoE said this overstated the true strength of cost pressures.

“Increases in unit labour costs remained lower than would be consistent with CPI inflation returning sustainably to the 2 percent target, were they to persist at current rates,” the BoE said.

One of the nine-member Monetary Policy Committee, Ian McCafferty, dissented with the majority outlook and voted for a quarter-point rate rise for a third month in a row, saying inflation would probably overshoot its target due to building domestic cost pressures.

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Financial markets have meanwhile pushed back their bets on when British rates will start to rise to the tail end of next year or even early 2017, on the back of slowing job creation in the United States.

But most economists still think a rate rise is likely early next year, though some are starting to forecast a slightly later move as doubts mount about whether the U.S. Federal Reserve will tighten policy before the end of 2015.

Policymakers were fairly relaxed about overseas developments, saying there was little evidence so far that a slowdown in emerging markets was having much impact on advanced economies, though some thought the outlook was a bit weaker than in the BoE’s last set of quarterly forecasts in August.

Recent revisions to official data suggested that Britain’s domestic economy was cooling slightly after a period of above average growth, which -- combined with ongoing government spending cuts -- “might presage a slightly weaker outlook”.

But the data could also be consistent with existing BoE forecasts for growth to cool slightly as the economy recovered from the financial crisis.

Parts of the labour market were showing signs of skills shortages, but productivity was picking up, neutralising some of the impact of higher wages.

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Theatre, Shows and Musicals

Arts Culture

By Edward Mirza

MEMPHIS Now – Oct 18th

The producers of hit Broadway musical MEMPHIS are delighted to officially announce that multi award-winning recording artist Beverley Knight will star as club singer ‘Felicia Farrell’ when the show comes to London’s West End this autumn. MEMPHIS, winner of four 2010 Tony Awards® including Best Musical has Grammy® Award-winning original score

by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan and book by Joe DiPietro.

Inspired by true events from the underground dance clubs of 1950s Memphis, Tennessee, MEMPHIS follows the fame and forbidden love of a radio DJ who wants to change the world and a club singer who is ready for her big break.

“David Bryan evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of the Temptations and the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period” Charles Isleworth, New York Times.

Directed by Christopher Ashley and with Choreography by Sergio Trujillo, MEMPHIS has Scenic Design by David Gallo, Costume Design by Paul Tazewell, and Lighting Design by Howell Binkley.

Shaftsbury Avenue Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8DP

OCTAGON, BY KRISTIANA RAECOLÓN Now - Oct 17

‘Some poems are better written in flesh...’

After Wall Street and Tahrir Square, after ISIS and the NSA, after Ferguson and Eric Garner: here come the poets.

In a downtown poetry slam with a place on the team to be won, eight young poets prepare to do battle. But backstage it’s all kicking off with love triangles, families to feed and wounds to rip open. And in the end, is it about winning – or finding the words that need to be said?

Director Nadia Latif reunites with American playwright Kristiana Colón for the follow-up to their acclaimed 2012 Arcola sell-out but i cd only whisper.

Arcola Theatre, 24 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL

MACBETH, TARA ARTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH QUEEN’S HALL ARTS & BLACK THEATRE LIVE Now- Oct 31st

Macbeth is the first production from Black Theatre Live, a pioneering consortium of 8 regional theatres committed to increasing the amount of Black and Ethnic Minority theatre on the touring circuit. Spun together with a blend of Indian music and movement, this brand new production from one of the UK’s leading cross-cultural theatre companies sees Shakespeare’s tragedy reimagined in a contemporary context, as a brew of treachery and ambition sets an Asian family on a road to destruction. The production sees the engineers of Macbeth’s downfall depicted as three Hijras. A strand of Indian society little-known in the west, Hijras are a centuries-old “third gender” community (including transsexuals, transgender people, eunuchs and crossdressers).

Tara Arts Artistic Director Jatinder Verma, who will direct Macbeth said “Spirits in Indian traditions combine vivacity with viciousness. By casting the Witches in Macbeth as provocative Bollywood queens, I aim to explore the dangerously vain ambition driving Macbeth.”

For information on Black Theatre Live: www.blacktheatrelive.co.uk | For information on Tara Arts: www.tara-arts.com .

Tonya Joy Bolton in Holy and Horny

NINE LIVES BY ZODWA NYONI A WOLF IN SNAKESKIN NATIONAL TOUR SHOES Now - Jan 2016 HOLY AND HORNY BY Oct 8 - Nov 14 Presented by Leeds Studio in association TONYA JOY BOLTON Lucian Msamati stars alongside Sharon with West Yorkshire Playhouse Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where D. Clarke in the Tricycle Theatre’s latest FAREWELL TOUR, UK a fresh wave of homophobia threatens his life, world premiere.

Oct 2 - Nov 14 I was raped. I was abused. I survived. Today I celebrate life.

Holy & Horny is an 80-minute-onewoman-show written and acted by incredibly talented Tonya Joy Bolton. The play blends successfully different art forms such as comedy, poetry, drama, and song.

Gifted with exuberant energy, Bolton plays 20 characters gliding effortlessly from one to another (one forgets it’s just her on stage!) She’s in turn disarmingly naïve Sheila, a good Christian striving for holiness; her alter-ego, sensual exhibitionist Eve; an old motherly woman who looks like a tramp and turns out to be Wisdom; Sheila’s hilarious cousin Marcia; her good-for-nothing boyfriend Gary; the Church’s gossipy community; and fiery Preacher Prophet (Profit) Webster (‘for a mere 400 Dollars I’ll pray for your soul’)...

The action’s background is a bigoted, fanatically puritanical Black Church humorously called ‘Cavalry Way’. Many themes emerge – travelling far beyond the play’s initial setting – such as ‘if God has given us a body able to experience deep pleasure, why should it be repressed?’

The Holy & Horny Farewell tour is on October 2 to November 14, 2015

Award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley returns to the Tricycle Theatre following 2014’s critically-acclaimed The House That Will Not Stand. This fresh take on Molière’s Tartuffe, set in a world of fast-food tycoons and megachurches is a wicked new comedy that rocks the foundations of trust, faith and redemption.

Given just days to live, multi-millionaire Archibald Organdy puts his faith in the flamboyant Archbishop Tardimus Toof, a prophet, preacher and part-time masseur who arrives in Atlanta from the deep, deep south.

Toof promises to absolve Archibald’s sins and heal his disease, but his family suspect there’s more to this healer than faith, virtue and snakeskin shoes.

The Tricycle Theatre’s Olivier-Award winning Artistic Director Indhu Rubasingham (Multitudes, Red Velvet, Handbagged, The House That Will Not Stand) directs.

Completing the cast: Adjoa Andoh, Ayesha Antoine, Michelle Bonnard, Wil Johnson, Karl Queensborough and Angela Wynter.

The Tricycle Theatre, 269 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7JR

Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK. Dispersed to Leeds, Ishmael waits to hear his fate, he waits for a new life to begin amongst strangers. Strangers who don’t trust him and don’t want him there. But not everyone is bad… can he find a place to call home again?

Some of us wanted to stop being afraid.

Some of us wanted to find ourselves.

Some of us wanted to belong.

Zodwa Nyoni (West Yorkshire Playhouse/ Channel 4 Writer in Residence 2014) threads together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines.

Oxford Playhouse, Oxford 12 October 2015 The Bikeshed Exeter, Exeter 17 October 2015 Trinity Bristol, Bristol 23 October 2015 The Cube, Malvern 06 November 2015 Upstairs at Western, Leicester 12 November 2015 Cast, Doncaster 16 November 2015 Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford 19 November 2015 Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees 10 December 2015 Brighton, Brighton January 2016 9

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

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Comment

An Open Letter to Prime Minister David Cameron Descendants of the African slaves whose forced labour built Britain are owed reparations D ear Prime Minister Cameron,

I noted your recent generous offer of £25m as a partial contribution for the repatriation of Jamaicans imprisoned in Britain. The problem, as I understand it, is that since Britain is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) so then the appallingly bad prison conditions in Jamaica, if the UK convicts were transferred to a Jamaican prison, would breach the ECHR provisions and amount to cruel and inhumane treatment. Your offer then, being faced with a call for payment of reparations for slavery, is to substitute an offer of increased aid for the Caribbean and avoid reparations payments – is this not your strategy?

Seems less than clever at best and at worst a racist insult. Forget the examples of the Canadian apology to the First Nation natives and reparations paid by the Canadian government; or, the substantial payment to the Jews for a significantly shorter historical time of suffering a crime against humanity; or the apology by the Government of New Zealand and payment of reparations to the Maoris – simply ignore these – right? One really can’t deny that these quite recent precedents do exist – can one? So what makes the Caribbean claim that different?

The figure of £400m to the Caribbean in aid is a paltry sum when viewed in the overall context of the UK’s overseas aid budget being/is more than £11 billion annually, with not much at all coming to the Caribbean as bilateral aid. More importantly, when viewed in the overall historical context of the 300 years of free labour building Britain during the slavery and colonial period, the figure offered as presumably an alternative payment for reparations is simply laughable.

Britain has no problem with the funding; it does, however, have a huge problem with its global credibility if this issue of reparations is viewed with honesty and sensibly with sensitivity and open eyes. It is a drop in the bucket for Britain to address this claim – but it seems as if some have no shame!

Consider your family’s own benefit by inserting the name Cameron to ascertain how much was paid as reparations to the Cameron slave owner family: https://www. ucl.ac.uk/lbs/ Might I also contrast your approach to payment with a reflection on British responsibility in a modern sense, for the care and protection of persons who suffer from mental illness in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). The Islands do not have 10

David Cameron has continually side-stepped and trivialised the issue of reparations, choosing instead to ‘donate’ £25m of Britain’s foreign aid budget to Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller (pictured), to build a prison to which he can send the Jamaicans clogging up his jails

a mental hospital, but instead a section in the Lunatics Ordinance in the TCI requires transfer of the mentally ill to be hospitalised in Jamaica. Indeed the Turks and Caicos finds itself under ECHR jurisdiction.

Yet, to save money the British Governor declared the prison a hospital for the care of the mentally ill. See below, the treatment of a Jamaican schizophrenic inmate, if you doubt me (he died in his cell): www. mentalhealthworldwide.com Might I therefore suggest that for the UK to meet its ECHR responsibility in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the £25m be diverted and applied now as a matter of necessity and urgency to its own British colony for a state of the art mental health hospital. Thus, then the UK meets its ECHR obligations in its own colony of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Prime Minister Cameron, I go further.

It is absolutely appalling the approach that you have taken to this quite serious and important issue of reparations in the Caribbean. I shall substantiate and validate my last comment. It was you who recently referred to the “swarms” of refugees/ migrants into Europe. Do you not understand that it was British policy to support the US in its invasion of Iraq and then, as the whole world sees, made Iraq a ‘failed state’? Then even with that recent miscalculation the UK again was fully committed to the bombing and destruction of Libya.

Tell me – where do the majority of these terrorists and refugees come from? Whose policies bred them; who funded and trained them; and – who now with astounding consistency wants to have the Caribbean abandon its claim for reparations? Who? There

is nothing that you say and/or do that can be wrong – is it not so?

The real legacy and issue in the Caribbean is the lack of inter-generational capital at the end of the slavery and colonial period, which can be discerned by considering the following data: http://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/index.php?db=FM This represents GDP per capita as sourced from the International Monetary Fund. Draw your own conclusions based on reliable sources.

In both a historical and contemporary sense there remains a case for reparatory justice. The way forward will have to be, by your choosing after having addressed the Jamaican Parliament, a case before the international Court of Justice and an assessment of the claim’s total value.

Again, the approach via aid is wholly inadequate. As you well know this is a device to get British companies overseas work; monies not even leaving Britain in certain instances; high end professional jobs and consultancies on construction and other projects for British professionals; and at a disproportionate advantage to the donor country. “Aid” in this sense is false symbolism and not exactly reparations – is it not – and if your approach were to be accepted, you would in actuality be pacifying the Caribbean’s claim for reparations at knock down basement bargain price.

Let’s analyse for a moment. In the 1830s there was a politically motivated prolonging of the emancipation declaration. In fact, there were women’s groups and persons of conscience in Europe well before Wilberforce and Pitt had wanted immediate emancipation. But, what actually happened? The politicians prolonged the process to ensure

that they could pay to the enslavers (and themselves) the spoils of the enslavement and then left the enslaved with not one jot for their centuries of extracted free labour.

Is this not simply disgraceful? Do you not have a human conscience? Look at what the Canadian and the New Zealand governments did – do you not have an iota of equivalent grace and dignity?

When we move forward to the proposed £25m prison ‘contribution’ to Jamaica, are you for a moment in any way aware of what you are saying and doing? You are going back at least two centuries in your approach to this issue of reparations.

First, the idea of paying not the group descended from the people who worked and laboured but the ones who by force, violence and torture had labour extracted for free over centuries is nothing short of disgraceful. Indeed that was then, and you, no doubt will say that this is now. But the British response as then is being replicated now. Why so? Well – you are offering to pay just about nothing and you are ensuring that yet again Britain takes all the lucre, but pretend that the UK is doing some great good for the Caribbean. Not so?

Your motive and approach is fully understood. However, weighing the horrors and contemporary consequences of slavery, is it you as Prime Minister or is it Britain as a country that is so shameless and blameless? Just consider the recent case of the Kenyan claims for compensation for being tortured in concentration camps during the Mau Mau period. The UK went as far as hiding some of the official records and files from the claimants’ lawyers, until discovered and released under court order.

Thus, here we go again. But, isn’t it now time that we address this reparations claim in a mutually respectful, honest, dignified and just manner? No less should be sought; no less is deserved to the Caribbean.

Prime Minister Cameron, truth be told, I am a “nobody human rights lawyer”. You are perfectly free to ignore my correspondence – or – you might from your high office begin to consider the quite substantial issues I have raised. Myself, a humble person, not in the least with any state’s resources at my disposal.

But – again - truth be told – I have my mind, my heart, my conscience and, I would like to believe, the capacity of any other human being who believes that the cause that I have here defended and supported is a worthy and perfectly justifiable cause, and can now say ( to yourself Prime Minister Cameron) – why not so?

Respectfully, Courtenay Barnett (a supporter of the reparations claim)

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

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Nigeria @55 19th African Film Awards Friday 13th November 2015 Stratford Town Hall, London E15 4BQ

Red Carpet 6pm, Film Show 7pm, Comedy & Awards 8pm

Organised by

Supported by

NIGERIA HIGH COMMISSION LONDON African Film Awards, the most prestigious African film industry awards will hold in London on Friday 13 November 2015 celebrating excellence in Nollywood, Comedy Night, Best of Black British Films and Nollywood UK. A list Nollywood stars and the Best of Black British actors and actresses as well as a host of other celebrities have attended in the past and also will be attending the glamorous awards evening now in its 19th successive year.

The event featuring comedy show, film show and an award ceremony will take place at the historic Stratford Town Hall, 29 The Broadway London E15 4BQ. Time: 6.00pm prompt.

Over the years, African Film Awards also known as Afro Hollywood awards have served the purpose of promoting and advancing the dynamic growth of Africa’s Film and Arts in Europe, especially in the United Kingdom uniting the Africans and Caribbean communities.

Since the awards inception in 1996, popularity of African films has grown in leaps and bounds. Today, there are at least 6 channels dedicated to African films on Sky digital network with several others broadcasting online.

Exploring opportunities, seeking collaboration and funding for prospective filmmakers are the main trust of this year’s African Film Awards as over 250 industry practitioners has received the awards till date.

The 19th African Film Awards has “Tourism in Africa & the film industry” as its theme. The event will showcase some of the great destinations in Africa.

The African Film Awards is organised by African Voice, Britain’s N0.1 African Newspaper. Reaching over 500,000 readers hardly reached by other mainstream publications. Serving the Diaspora community since 2001.

For further information, please contact Golda John UK Event Director on 07814 234 376 or email: marketing@africanvoiceonline.co.uk or golda.john@gmail.com or visit our website: www.africanvoiceonline.co.uk/africanfilmawards 11

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

News

Ghana

More judges suspended in bribery scandal The bribery scandal surrounding Ghana’s judiciary plunged the legitimacy of the West African nation’s legal process into deeper crisis on Friday when seven high court judges were suspended.

The latest sanctions come weeks after 22 circuit judges and magistrates were suspended, and 12 high court judges were placed under investigation, after they were accused of taking bribes in a ‘sting’ filmed by an undercover journalist.

“On the advice of the judicial council, the Vice President, Kwesi Bekoe AmissahArthur...on Friday, October 2, 2015 suspended from office with immediate effect, seven out of the 12 justices of the high court on grounds of stated misbehaviour,” the judicial service said in a statement.

It said the vice-president had acted on the order of President John Dramani Ma-

How Justice Ajet Nassam collected a Ghc16,000 bribe

hama, who was on a visit to France.

The president asked the country’s chief justice to establish a prima facie case against the judges after the alleged corruption was exposed by a local

newspaper. The newspaper claimed that court officials and judges were accepting money from clients for everything from giving appointments to ruling in their favour.

consultation calls for the existing cap on the number of foreign workers to be ended and recommends leaving Tier 2 visa intracompany transfers uncapped, while keeping the current Tier 2 salary thresholds at the same level.

Referring to recent examples of businesses in the capital unable to obtain Tier 2 visas for graduates, London First said: “The Tier 2 visa cap is putting UK-based graduate initiatives at risk.

“Companies will be forced to relocate these initiatives, many of which are planned well in advance, outside of the UK should access to international graduates not be guaranteed. As a consequence, the positions of UK native graduates involved in these initiatives would be affected.”

Nick Rollason, head of immigration at Kingsley Napley, comments, “The concerns of business leaders regarding a local skills shortage have been widely reported.

Many global businesses have the chance to base themselves here or abroad. It is time for the government to embrace Tier 2 and international skilled migrants rather than putting obstacles in their way.

“The numbers are small fry in the scheme of our immigration intake yet the economic benefits of this small pool of very high skilled people are clear,” Non-EU skilled migrant labour accounts for a fraction of the UK’s incoming immigration (approximately 7.5 per cent) according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures. According to the Kingsley Napley report, companies that use such labour include:

• An engineering firm which relies on global talent because the UK produces insufficient numbers of home grown skilled engineers.

• An architecture firm which needs international individuals with country knowledge or language skills to service their many contracts and projects in China and elsewhere in Asia.

• A law firm which uses the Tier 2 scheme to bring in foreign (mostly US) qualified lawyers to advise UK based clients on non-English jurisdiction matters.

• A finance organisation which cut back on graduate recruitment during the recession and is now suffering a skills shortage at a certain level.

In fact 75 per cent of the companies Kingsley Napley surveyed indicated a restriction of the Tier 2 migration scheme would “highly” or “severely” impact their business.

One proposal the MAC is apparently considering is to restrict the Tier 2 route to highly specialised or shortage occupations. This would affect firms’ ability to train recent migrant graduates and for international firms to move junior staff around its global office network for career development, the report says.

With regard to the Government proposal to introduce an Immigration Skills Charge (ISC), payable by employers who sponsor migrant workers under Tier 2 and which would go towards apprenticeships and local upskilling schemes, Kingsley Napley called for a balanced and fair approach.

“This should take into account the

On September 22, hundreds of Ghanaians flocked to watch a three-hour public screening in Accra of the incriminating footage shot by the journalist. Some of the judges implicated reportedly tried in vain to block the broadcast.

Some of the judges have denied wrongdoing and filed a challenge in court, saying their suspension had no legal basis because documents relating to the video that were submitted by the journalist were not made available to them.

In 2013 the Supreme Court dismissed an election challenge by the political opposition, which had sought to annul the re-election of President John Mahama the previous year.

The ruling, which followed months of testimony, was accepted by the opposition and the case and its outcome was viewed as a testament to the judiciary’s authority.

Tighter visa regs ‘threaten’ London ...Continued from front page

In particular, the Committee was asked to look at increasing the salary threshold for skilled foreign workers on Tier 2 visas.

The MAC was specifically asked to consider the impact of: • Increasing the minimum salary thresholds for Tier 2 (General), Tier 2 (ICT) for the short-term and long-term categories to a level that better aligns with the salaries paid to highly-specialised experts or individuals filling skills shortages skilled to NQF Level 6 or higher.

• Increasing the Tier 2 minimum salaries for experienced workers per occupation.

• Increasing the Tier 2 minimum salaries for new entrant workers per occupation.

Following a consultation by London law firm Kingsley Napley LLP, the resulting report advised against such a rise, suggesting: “The government should ‘think twice’ before taking steps to increase thresholds, which currently stand at £20,800 per year for new hires and £41,500 for long-term, Tier 2 intra-company transfers.”

A further excerpt from the report, read: “There’s little doubt that an immediate implementation of a salary threshold at this level would receive strong opposition from employers. Additionally, it would lead to serious problems across many industry sectors.”

A second consultation, the results of which are to be released in December 2015, is currently underway and is expected to give a more detailed view. London First’s submission for this second 12

significant commitment and investment some employers have already made to apprenticeships, internships, social mobility programmes and graduate schemes available to resident workers.

“In addition, employers should not have to pay both the Apprenticeships Levy (due to be rolled out in 2017) and the ISC-one should be offset against the other,” Nick Rollason says, adding, “The MAC has significant competing pressures to weigh.

On the one hand, the government has set ambitious immigration targets for political and public opinion reasons.

“On the other hand the message from businesses is clear – internationally skilled migrants are vital to a thriving UK economy. We can only hope the MAC makes a sensible judgment call on this Tier 2 issue.”

Kingsley Napley’s submission to the MAC also deals with the issue of dependants of Tier 2 migrants and minimum salary levels.

Kingsley Napley interviewed over 30 Tier 2 sponsor clients and conducted a wider survey in compiling its submission from sectors spanning legal, oil & gas, engineering, pharmaceutical, digital & creative, architectural and financial services.

The Migration Advisory Committee, made up of a chair and 5 other independent economists, is responsible for providing transparent, independent and evidence-based advice to the government on migration issues.

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Spain

Spain’s princess charged with tax fraud Princess Cristina de Borbón, the younger sister of Spain’s King Felipe VI, will stand trial on taxfraud charges starting January 11 next year, a local court has said.

The 50-year-old princess and her husband, 47-year-old Iñaki Urdangarin, were formally charged late last year following a four-year corruption probe, dubbed the Nóos Case, which caused significant damage to the monarchy’s public image.

Princess Cristina, who will be the first Spanish royal ever to be tried, faces up to eight years in jail while Mr. Urdangarin, with a wider array of charges against him, could be sentenced to up to 19 years if found guilty.

King Felipe VI succeeded his father, King Juan Carlos, after he abdicated last year, partly as a response to criticism related to the case and other missteps that led to soaring republican sentiment in the country.

He has managed to rebuild his popularity and make the republican movement

Princess Cristina faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty

USA

lose momentum with a series of steps, including a decision in June to strip Princess Cristina, one of his two sisters, of her title as duchess of Palma de Mallorca.

He had previously removed the princess and her Mr. Urdangarin from the royal family’s official functions. Princess Cristina remains sixth in line for the throne, a right only she can relinquish, and people familiar with the situation say she has often privately stated that she doesn’t intend to do so.

The princess and her husband are alleged to be at the centre of a kickback scheme uncovered after the construction of a stadium in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the wealthy Balearic Islands, off Spain’s east coast.

An investigating judge said he found evidence that the couple had funded a lavish lifestyle by diverting millions of euros in public funds destined for Mr. Urdangarin’s not-for-profit sports consultancy into their real estate and asset-management firm.

Princess Cristina and her husband have denied any wrongdoing.

Philippines

Boy, 11, guns down Island resort kidnap 8-year-old neighbour suspect held

Maykayla Dyer and the trailer park where she was gunned down

A boy of eleven is facing a first-degree murder charge in custody in Tennessee after he allegedly shot and killed an 8-year-old for not letting him see her new puppies.

Maykayla Dyer was with two friends as she walked past the boy’s parents’ trailer.

The boy, whose name has been withheld, asked from the window of the trailer to take a closer look at the dogs, but when Maykayla refused, the boy retrieved his father’s 12-gauge shotgun and shot her in the chest.

Jefferson County sheriff GW “Bud” McCoig said optimistically: “It is a sad, sad situation. We hope this don’t ever happen again.”

The boy, who attends the same elementary school as his victim, was initially held in police custody at his home in White Pine, a town of about 2,200 people about 42 miles east of Knoxville, Tennessee.

The girl’s shattered mother, Latasha Dyer, told reporters this wasn’t the first time her daughter had trouble with the boy who would be her killer.

“When we first moved to White Pine, the little boy was bullying Maykayla,” she said.

“He was making fun of her, calling her names, just being mean to her. I had to go the principal about him and he quit for a while, and then all of a sudden yesterday he shot her.”

Two Canadians, a Norwegian hotel manager and a Filipino woman were kidnapped by gunmen from the Holiday Oceanview Samal resort

Philippines authorities have arrested a suspect in the abduction of four people from a yacht marina in the country’s south, amid fears about the region becoming an Asian nexus for attacks by extremists linked to the Islamic State.

Suspect Pandajar Adona, was identified through security camera footage at the Holiday Oceanview Samal, an island resort where 11 gunmen seized the sailors late on September 21, Rodrigo Duterte, the lawand-order mayor of nearby Davao City, told local media. A second suspect has also been identified, he said, but no group has yet stepped forward to take responsibility, and no ransom demand has been made.

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

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CRIME

Prolific pickpocket jailed A prolific pickpocket has been jailed for 12 months and be been given a seven-year Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Warren Spencer, 53 of Friary Estate, Southwark, SE15 was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, 30 September after pleading guilty to eight counts of theft and possessing cannabis at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 19 August.

From 18 October 2014 to 26 July 2015, Spencer stole from men and women aged between 21 and 37 years who were travelling on buses in Lambeth, Hackney, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and Tower Hamlets. He would target passengers waiting in large crowds to board buses and steal their mobile phones, purses and wallets.

His first victim was a 26-year-old woman travelling on a night bus in Tower Hamlets from whom he stole a purse.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, which is part funded by Transport for London (TfL), launched an investigation, which led to Spencer being identified, arrested and charged with the offences.

Warren Spencer

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 19 August and pleaded guilty to five thefts and possession of cannabis. He then re-appeared the following day and pleaded guilty to three thefts and was remanded in custo-

dy to appear at Southwark Crown Court, where he was sentenced.

The CBO prevents Spencer from: - Boarding, attempting to board, queuing to board or travelling on any bus, tube, train, tram or river bus operated by, or on

behalf of Transport for London without being in possession of a valid Oystercard with sufficient credit to travel and registered in his name and at his permanent address.

- Being in possession of any mobile phone or digital device that is not registered to warren Spencer or to be without proof of ownership.

Detective Superintendent Adnan Qureshi, of the Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “This was an excellent result which has seen a thief who targeted people travelling on buses receive a significant jail term thanks to the Roads and Transport Command.

“We urge the public to ensure they keep their possessions safe and secure and always to be aware of their surroundings.”

Steve Burton, TfL’s Director of Enforcement and On-Street Operations, said: “Thanks to the great work of the Roads and Transport Policing Command this prolific thief was caught and subsequently jailed. Crime on our bus network is now at it’s lowest ever level. However, we are not complacent and continue to work together with our policing partners to ensure the safety and security of our travelling customers.”

Three guilty of falsely imprisoning a 15-year-old schoolboy

Three men who forced a 15year-old school boy into a car because they believed he was a member of a rival gang have been found guilty of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment.

Brothers, Arber Syla, 21 and Liljan Syla 19 along with an associate, Delston Galloway, 21 all of Aldriche Way, E4 were all found guilty today, Tuesday 6 October at Snaresbrook Crown Court following a three week trial.

On Tuesday, 7 April at around 08:00hrs the victim was waiting for a bus on his way to school when he was approached by a car.

Three suspects got out of the vehicle and grabbed hold of him; forcing him into the car and driving off.

The victim was assaulted in the car and taken to an unknown location where he was held for around 10 hours by the suspects who interrogated him, believing he was a member of a rival gang.

The victim was later released after the suspects realised that they had taken the wrong person.

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Liljan Syla Police were called by the victim but he was reluctant to provide a statement or assist police with their investigation through fear of reprisals.

Despite this, detectives managed to gain the victim’s confidence and that of his family and he eventually spoke out, naming the suspects involved.

Arber and Liljan Syla were arrested and charged on Friday, 10 April.

Arber Syla Galloway was to be identified later as the third suspect involved and he was arrested and charged with kidnap on Wednesday, 15 April.

All three will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, 27 November.

Detective Constable Stephen Eyres, Investigating officer Waltham Forest CID said:

Delston Galloway “The victim was put through a horrific ordeal and was so frightened that at first he was unwilling to speak to us as he feared he and his family would be subject to reprisals. I am pleased that the Syla brothers and Galloway have been found guilty today and this verdict should demonstrate that we will do everything within our power to bring violent criminals to justice.”

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Motown Broadway show coming to West End

Berry Gordy Jr has been in the capital this week promoting the UK premiere of the Broadway musical Motown The Musical.

The legendary producer and songwriter shared the stage with director Charles Randolph-Wright and producer Kevin McCollum while Lenny Henry interviewed him about his past.

The 85-year-old explained how he had set up his first record label up in 1959 with the help of $800, donated by his family. He had an “epiphany” one day in the gym and decided to switch, aged 19, from being a boxer, to being a record producer: ‘’...the fighters I saw looked 50 but they were 23, the musicians looked 23 but they were 50. That was the day I made the decision.”

“I wanted to tell the story of what Motown was about,” Gordy explained to an audience of people from the theatre industry about why he wanted to do Motown The Musical.

“I was a failure of everything until I was 29,” Gordy said, explaining how he overcame the reluctance of “white DJs to play black music” back in the early 1960s.

Motown The Musical follows the story of Gordy and the artists and musicians he has worked with since the 50s, which include Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5. “It was a family from day one,” Gordy said.

Artists famously contributed to label-mates’ recordings and were schooled in etiquette, deportment and their signature choreography.

The show will squeeze 50 of the classic Motown songs into the two hour production. “When I first got the script I thought it was going to be Nicholas Nickleby.

Four whole evenings of music,” joked Randolph-Wright.

The UK cast will include Cedric Neal as Berry Gordy and Lucy St Louis as Diana Ross. “[Motown] has had a love affair with the UK since we started,” Gordy said.

Junior Gong bowls them over in California Though an impressive line-up of artists — including Morgan Heritage, Tarrus Riley, Black Am I, and Jo Mersa — performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl’s Catch A Fire Tour show last week, as soon as headliner Damian Marley emerged, he made it unmistakably clear that he owned the stage for the night.

The venue seemed to settle temporarily when Damian’s older brother Stephen played a touching tribute to their late father Bob with “Three Little Birds,” but the Bowl quickly revved back up when the main act came bouncing out to his 2012 hit “Make It Bun Dem,” a collaborative single with EDM producer Skrillex.

His musical assault on the audience’s eardrums lasted a little over an hour, but by the end of the night, even Damian’s floorlength dreadlocks hung tired and eager for a respite. Despite being the youngest of the Marley offspring, his genre-warping knack for innovation and relentless energy provided a welcome change-up to the opening acts’ run-of-the-mill reggae.

The Bowl show and encompassing tour have served as a commemoration to what would have been Bob Marley’s 70th year of life. It has been 35 years since the Jamaican legend last performed live, but his descendants have definitively gone the extra mile to honour his legacy with their sustained success and ambition.

L-R: Aisha Jawondo (who plays Martha Reeves), Berry Gordy, Lucy St Louis (Diana Ross) and Cedric Neal (Berry Gordy)

Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Bob Marley’s son with Jamaican former Miss World, Cindy Breakspeare, is the youngest of the Wailers legend’s sons.

Towards the end of his set, Damian briefly brought back all the openers to share the stage once more before closing the night with his 2005 singles “Road to Zion” and “Welcome to Jamrock.” As a true master of ceremonies, he relinquished the spotlight at choice moments to allow the crowd to experience all the nuances and varieties of reggae music.

Regardless of whoever was holding the microphone at various points throughout the evening, there was an undeniable sense of unity from artist to artist, and you could tell that Bob Marley’s lingering prestige was present. Just before his final song, Damian delivered a few words of warm counsel.

“The road to Zion is full of trials and tribulations, we already know,” said the 37-year-old multiple Grammy winner.

“Continue to take care of yourselves and take care of each other.”

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Gospel

By Michael Adekoya

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

THE REALITY OF HELL

Dan. 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall wake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt”

Dear friend, the topic that is laid on my hearth this week is ‘The Reality of Hell’ so that we can learn some things about it, try to avoid it and to motivate us to help others to avoid going there.

Luke 16:19-31 – The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. This parable is about the choice we all have that affects our eternal destiny. We have a choice – whether we will have God’s heavenly reward or the fiery destruction of the wicked after death. This parable paints us a graphic picture of what Hell is going to be like.

What happens when someone dies?

The Bible teaches that life continues after the physical death of the body. God created man with a natural, temporal body and an eternal soul. The soul of man consists of who we really are. It is the center of our mind, will and emotions. We saw that the Bible teaches that life is eternal, because the soul is eternal, which means we will either spend eternity in Heaven or in Hell.

Dan. 12:2 – “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall wake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt”.

Matt. 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”. The word “destroy” in this setting means to literally give over to eternal misery. It is not talking about the death of the soul but rather giving the soul over to eternal misery.

Matt. 25:46 Hell is the place or state of final punishment of the wicked. It is an actual place, as surely as heaven is. Many like to accept that heaven is a place while rejecting hell as a place. Just as God has a place of happiness for the redeemed who serve Him, so God has a place of punishment for the rebellious who serve the Devil. Jesus the perfect compassionate One, spoke more on hell than all other Bible writers, because

He came to save men from it.

What Is Hell Going To Be Like? It is a physical place - Matt. 13:49 1. Hell is spoken of as a furnace of fire – a place of intense pain. Matt. 13:41-43 2. Hell is a place where the fire there does not cease to burn. Mark 9:43-45 3. Hell is a place meant for the lawless people. Matt. 13:41-43 4. Hell is a place of gnashing of teeth.

For anger and pain. Matt. 13:41-43 5. Hell is spoken of as a place of everlasting fire. Matt. 18:8 6. Hell is a place full of tormenting worms. Mark 9:46. The kind of worm that is spoken of here is the kind that preys upon dead bodies – this speaks of their punishment after death will never cease. 7. Hell is a place of fire and brimstone. Rev. 14:911. It is a place of fire and brimstone where there shall be torment forever and ever with no rest day or night. This is not going to be a pleasant place.

8. Hell is described as a lake of fire.

Rev. 20:12-15.

9. Hell is a place for those people that their names are not written in the Book of Life. Rev. 20:12 10. Hell is a place for those condemned and judged by God according to their works. Rev. 20:13 11. Hell is not originally designed for man and Jesus does not want anyone to end up there.

Matt. 25:41, John 3:17-19, 1Pet. 3:9 12.

­­

Are you looking for a church?

Not settled in any particular congregation?

Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue School, Park Hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches Worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants Club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus Fellowship

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Worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663.

Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), Park Royal Business Centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

Hell is a place where devil and his demons inhabit. Rev. 19:20, Rev. 20:10 13. Hell is a place of outer (absolute) darkness. Jude 1:13 14. Hell is a place chosen by people while here on earth. Hell is a self-chosen and self-inflicted curse, the inevitable outcome of sin.

15. Hell is a place where no prayer of any kind is being answered. But people ‘pray’ anyway at all times for mercy and deliverance.

16. Hell starts as soon as one dies, there is nothing called Purgatory or Reincarnation. Heb. 9:27 17. Hell is a place of no return, no repentance or change of mind.

18. Hell is a place of eternal separation from God. 19. Hell fire is a place where no one can get used to the pain.

20. Hell is a place that the devil wants everybody to go to. 1Pet. 5:8, John 10:10 21. Hell is more terrible than any language can express.

22. Hell is a place where experience is not the best teacher. You can’t come back to share your experience. 23. Hell can be for a whole family, church or a whole nation. Ps. 9:17 24. Hell is a place where most people there did not know they’ll be there 25. Hell is a place where people who go there do so gradually. Nobody backslide instantly. 26. Hell is a place that is being

a Bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel Church - Battersea Chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater Farm Centre, Adams Road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

expanded to accommodate more people daily. Isa. 5:14 27. Hell is a place of no ‘respecter of persons’. No big man! Both rich, poor, educated, Pastors, Bishops, Presidents, Kings, etc are present. Isa. 5:14 Who Are Those That Will End Up In Hell?

A great deal of people will end up in hell. They will come from every background, society, religion, and culture.

Among their numbers will include those who the Bible describes as: 1. Those who do not know God. 2 Thes.

1:8 2. Those who do not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 2 Thes. 1:8 3. Sinners and hypocrites. Isa. 33:14 4. Those that practiced lawlessness.

Matt. 13:41 5. Cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sorcerers, sexually immoral, idolaters, and all liars. Rev. 21:8 6. Homosexuals, adulterers, thieves, covetous people, drunkards, extortioners. 1 Cor. 6:9-10 The Bible says the road to hell is wide and the road to heaven is narrow. Which road are you traveling on?

In conclusion, we have seen, Hell will be a terrible place separate from the presence of God, the rejected Lamb, the holy angels and the redeemed. No light, life, peace, joy righteousness, nor salvation, but only darkness and torment of conscience will be there for those who rejected and despised the grace of God. This is the Hell Jesus Christ died to save us from.

The important thing to keep in mind is that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it. The world was already condemned. Jesus came so that the world would be saved from this awful place of torment. John 3:17-19, 2Pet. 3:9-11 Pray that you will be among the righteous and be a part of the new heaven and the new earth and not a part of the lake of fire and its torment. As long as you continue to follow Jesus your place in heaven is assured. Remain blessed!

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086.

Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm.

Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan Way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forth-

nightly 12am Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners’ Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at 1 Churchill Close, Green Street, Green Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1QE meets Sunday 7.30am, 9.15am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm.

For details call: 01322 292097 Christ Apostolic Church, Surrey Docks District, Solution Centre, 47-47 High Street, Swancombe, Kent, DA10 0DA Tel: 07956 38 38 70 Time of worship: Wednesday Bible study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

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Tunisia

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Africa Newsround

European ministers urge release of imprisoned homosexual Tunisia has been urged to free a 22-year-old man who was jailed for having gay sex.

The man, known only by the pseudonym ‘Marwan’, was sentenced to a year behind bars last month, after an anal examination supposedly ‘proved’ that he had engaged in anal sex. The case comes after a Swedish man was jailed earlier this year in the country for homosexual acts.

MEPs from across Sweden, Germany and Scotland this week delivered a letter to the Tunisian Justice Minister Mohamed Ali Ben Aissa, urging for Marwan’s release and a change to the law. Scottish National Party MEP Alyn Smith delivered the letter alongside German Green Barbara Lochbihler, and Swedish Green Bodil Valero.

Alyn Smith said in a statement: “Tunisia is, in many ways, a progressive, liberal but still fragile democracy, and we are here to support this still new democracy and see what the people of Tunisia need when too many EU and EU member state politicians are more interested in simply extending the EU’s considerable border problems Southwards.

“We can do better than that. We must be more pragmatic, migration

Justice minister Mohamed Ali Ben Aissa has called for Tunisia’s anti-gay laws to be repealed

and refugees are a long-standing crisis and are not going to be solved unless we work with our partners in the region.

“But we can also be vocal on other issues, and on LGBT rights as a gay man myself I find the legal situation in Tunisia unacceptable, and out of keeping with the image and standards Tunisia seeks to be known for.

He continued: “I think with real leadership we could see the offending, offensive and outdated, given it comes from Colonial times, article of the Constitution consigned to history. This would give Tunisia a much deserved position of leadership in the region.

“We have seen some movement with civil society putting in a lot of work, and it seems the Justice Minister is a man we can do business with.

“I hope he will, firstly, release Marwan immediately, secondly, end the practice of such degrading examinations and thirdly, set in train a process whereby Tunisia becomes the first Arab country to decriminalise LGBT life.”

Belgian man Ronny De Smet was sentenced to three years in prison for ‘attempted homosexual seduction’ in 2013, after a police sting operation. He was released three months later.

Ethiopia

Hailemariam unanimously re-elected Hailemariam Desalegn was re-installed as prime minister of Ethiopia for a second term on Monday in a widely expected election result with the ruling coalition holding all seats in parliament.

Hailemariam has overseen a smooth transition in the vast Horn of Africa nation since he took over in 2012 on the death of strongman Meles Zenawi.

The 50-year-old was unanimously elected by the House of People’s Representatives, the lower house of parliament, by all 547-members of the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), who won all the seats in parliament in elections in May. Under the Ethiopian constitution, Parliament elects the country’s chief executive, thus giving Hailemarian 100% of the vote.

“We successfully completed the implementation of the growth and transformation plan… we will continue to deliver the sustainable, rapid, double-digit economic growth, which was registered in recent years,” President Mulatu Teshome said, promising economic growth of “about 11%” for the next five years.

Hailemariam Desalegn became Ethiopia’s first Protestant leader when he succeeded Meles Zenawi in 2012

Hailemariam himself did not speak, but is expected to make a speech in coming days when he names a new cabinet.

Ethiopia, whose 1984 famine triggered a major global fundraising effort, has experienced near-double-digit economic growth and huge infrastructure investment—making the country one of Africa’s top-performing economies and a magnet for foreign investment.

It also remains a favourite of key international donors, despite concerns over human rights, as a bastion of stability in an otherwise troubled region.

Hailemariam—in Ethiopian tradition, known by his first name, meaning “the power of Saint Mary”—is a Protestant, the first to lead Ethiopia, where the majority of Christians follow Orthodox traditions.

In a country long dominated by its major ethnic groups—most recently the Tigray, the ethnic group to which Meles belonged—Hailemariam notably comes from the minority Wolayta people in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region.

17

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Nigerian News

Buhari’s Victory Rescued Nigeria From The Throes Of Collapse….Aregbesola, Ajimobi

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday reiterated that the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election in March was the culmination of the progressives struggles since the independence of Nigeria.

This was even as the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi noted that Nigerians had faced the greatest challenge to their existence in the fifteen years of misrule and maladministration of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and opted for Change to President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election.

The governor stated this while making his‎ remarks as the Chairman of the first distinguished Lecture of the Department of Political science and Diplomatic studies of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State.

Aregbesola stated that most of the sustained attacks against his person and government in the media was because he stopped the political machinations of ‎the PDP in the South-West. ‎The governor commended the University for fulfilling its role of idea generation and dissemination, through the interaction between town and gown.

He stressed that the emergence of President Buhari is an idea whose time has come, saying the president still won in spite of everything done to distract him before and during the campaigns.

The Governor recounted that after the APC lost Ekiti State governorship election last year, the evil machinery of the PDP, working in full tandem with all the security agencies, was moved to Osun for the governorship election.

Aregbesola noted that the calculation then was that if Osun could be seized, the whole South West would have be captured by the PDP. According to him: “There has never been such an assemblage of military armada in a state in the history of Nigeria.

By midnight of the day preceding the election, all notable leaders of our party had been picked up. It was a siege on the entire state.

“After I won the governorship election, it became clear that our party, the APC had become unstoppable and President Buhari would become president.

“We thank God that in spite everything, we are where we are today.” Governor Ajimobi, who was a Guest lecturer at the first Distinguished ‎Personality Lecture at the Department of Political Science and Diplomatic studies of Bowen University, Iwo, observed that the election of President Buhari was the second attempt by Nigerians to crave for change.

18

He stated that the first attempt by Nigerians to vote for change was the June 12 1993 election won by ‎late MKO Abiola, which was unfortunately aborted by the same military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

The Governor argued that for a people to collectively opt for change, the socio-political situation in such a place must have been totally intolerable.

He said the hopes of Nigerians were very high when the country transited to civilian rule in 1999 but shortly afterwards the PDP led administration thwarted the hopes and aspiration of the people by its ineptitude.

According to him, “no sooner had the PDP led administration began governance than the trait exhibited by the potentates of the new government and the ruling party that midwifed the government could be seen as administrative ineptitude, lack of vision, unwarranted angradisement cum corruption.

“However, the last straw that broke the carmels back was the inability of the PDP led government to guarantee safety of live and property. All these boiled down to bad leadership.

“Whereas, without effective and exemplary political leadership, stability and democracy will be elusive”. The governor of Oyo stated.

He added that the current financial crises all the states of the federation are going through was the manifestation of brazen corrupt tendencies of the previous administration at the federal level. ‎The Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Professor Matthews Ojo, in his welcome remark, said the university is strategic to the needs of the country.

He disclosed that as the first Baptist University in Africa, Bowen is paying attention to the academic curricular of the school in order to churn out all-round graduates.

He commended the governor on the way he conducted his election petition tribunal in the most excellent and dignified manner.

The University don thumbed-up the governor for thoroughness in the presentation of his case at the tribunal which later set the record for other election tribunals’ conduct across the country. “‎When we talk of excellence in administrative conduct, Governor Aregbesola epitomises this very well.

“And he demonstrated this during the election tribunal after the governorship election of August 9, 2014, which he won.

The Vice chancellor said Aregbesola’s pursuit of his case has set the standards for future election petitioners in Nigeria.

“This is the kind of excellence that Bowen University is cultivating in its graduates. We pay attention to the socio-economic needs of our society by producing graduates with mental capacity to give Nigeria what it requires to drive it,” Professor Ojo said.

From left- Vice Chancellor, Prof. Matthews Ojo, Chairman of the Occasion, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Akande and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti during the first Distinguished Personality Lecture, organized by the Department of Political Science and Diplomatic Studies, Bowen University, Iwo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola exchanging pleasantries with some of the traditional rulers in the state, during a meeting with the State Council of Traditional Rulers, at Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) discussing with Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, during a meeting of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, at Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Nigerian News

By Olubunmi Omoogun Chief Correspondent, Nigeria

The first time the phrase or analogy ‘Good product doesn’t need much persuasion, it naturally sells itself’ was used on this stable was when we wrote about the erudite, his excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, as a ministerial material.

Comrade Sola Iji: The jigging factor of progressivism in Ondo State

In public service, many people have remained inconsistent with the way they live their lives, speak and interact with people, manage resources and even their subordinates. People in public eye tend to act for a particular gain or have a motive in the knowledge that no matter how things turn out, it will benefit them and only them.

And once they have attained the position they clamoured for, they will abandon the cause they over the years championed. In the unfortunate event that they don’t succeed in achieving their aims, they will automatically abandon the cause and leave their followers stranded and join the winning team. But with Comrade Sola Iji Comrade Sola Iji people in Ondo State can vouch for what he did and what he can do. ‘Comrade’ the nickname ascribed to him in political parlance in Ondo State, generally and to a large extent represents his attributes and virtues as a technocrat and democrat who has proved his worth consistently while serving as the chairman of Alliance for De- Hon. Lawal Opeyemi Kehinde mocracy (AD) during and after the Chief Adebayo. Adefarati government.

As the then state Chairman of the progressive political party, AD and later the defunct Action Congress (AC) he was a resolute, virile and a fearless opposition leader. Even when the PDP government under the Olusegun Agagu regime with heavy spending power sent emissary to him, he resisted in a way to suggest that money can not buy the love I have for my progressive Action Congress. He displayed the fact that he is a very loyal party man to the core. Difficult as the period was, his role then will go down as the one that devoted time and energy in pursuit of happiness for his subordinates, members and humanity.

Worth mentioning is the fact that Comrade Iji is arguably the only known politiComrade Sola Iji cian in that neck of the wood that has rethe ideals of APC. He has proven to all in mained in the progressive party since 1999 Ondo state that he is gifted with leadership when the civilian dispensation crept in. qualities. Little wonder, he was appointed He was there in AD, in AC, in ACN, and on two different occasions to head reconnow in APC, in all these years of transiciliation committees of the party, with the tion he never for one day left the progresmandate to reconcile aggrieved party memsive fold. A feat only very few in Nigeria bers in Kwara State and most recently in can boast of achieving. Another interesting Edo state of which he did successfully. That and striking thing about this disciplined but is why Kwara state today can be an APC humble political giant, is his commitment to

the thoroughness, fairness, integrity, courage and competence of a true party man.

For Comrade Sola Iji, life has taught him never to say fail, but to keep pushing for what is right and surrender everything to God and humanity.

After President Mohammadu Buhari emerged as the presidential candidate of the APC, he personally made available a whole flat of 6 rooms for the Buhari/Osinbajo campaign organisation at a strategic and upmarket location in Akure the capital of Ondo state. In addition to this are several Buhari/Osinbajo branded vehicles. Ondo state for the first time since 2003 fell into the hands of a progressive party, boasting of two APC senators and large chunk of APC House of Representatives.

Iji, a quintessential gentleman,an erudite lawyer, a friend of the people, has demonstrated that he is a man of ability that understands the issues in Ondo state.

He is also a vibrant man that is in tune with the 21st century and believes in the

state. Many observers and party members believe the exemplary way he conducted his duties is due to his legal skills and wisdom coupled with his political sagacity. Twice he heeded the APC National secretariat calls to settle warring factions within the party, twice he succeeded by solving the issues and the party is better today in those areas.

There can never be a better way to measure

Nigerian dream. It’s no doubt that Nigeria needs people that will take it to the path of a greatness.

Comrade Sola Iji is one who feels that the cohesion the APC is enjoying in Southwest today should be credited to the brilliance of the Governor Emeritus, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a master strategist.

19

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A new dawn for South Sudan There are times when sport seems very low on the list of a nation’s priorities, not least in the wake of natural disasters, humanitarian crises and armed conflicts, when the struggle just to survive takes precedence over all else.

Yet, even in times of desperate need, football can be a force for change and good, and give societies the opportunity to show the best of themselves. That is exactly what is happening in South Sudan, the youngest nation on the planet, which is readying itself for its FIFA World Cup™ qualifying debut and dreaming of moving on from its turbulent past.

Starting from scratch South Sudan came into being on 9 July 2011, declaring itself independent following decades of armed conflict and a decisive referendum. It was on that day that a football player by the name of Richard Justin Lado made one of the more important decisions of his life, choosing to leave Sudan, the nation where he was born and had been a citizen of all his life, and to head for the land of his ancestors.

“My family came from South Sudan, so it wasn’t a difficult choice for me,” he told FIFA.com in an exclusive interview. “I just followed my heart.”

On receiving his new passport, Lado promptly became his country’s very first football captain and it was not long before he became a national idol. Just minutes into South Sudan’s maiden international match against Uganda in the capital of Yuba on 10 July 2012, he sent the 22,000 crowd delirious by scoring the Bright

The South Sudan Team

Stars’ first ever goal.

“We didn’t have much when we started out,” said the astute 35-year-old midfielder. “There weren’t a lot of players around and we didn’t even have a coach. We were determined to build a new country, though, and make the fans happy, which is what kept us going. As time has gone by things have got better.”

So much so in fact that the Bright Stars scored their debut win at the 13th attempt just a few weeks ago. Having started out with two draws and ten defeats, Lado and Co unexpectedly beat 2015 CAF Africa Cup of Nations semi-finalists Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in a September qualifier for the 2017 continental finals.

As far as Lado was concerned, that shock result showed how far the country has come in the four years since independence was gained: “All people spoke

about before was war, but now they’re talking about football too. We’ve shown that we’re ready, that we can bring the country together behind a single objective, behind a dream.”

Football as an example A united country – that is the dream of the South Sudanese, who two weeks ago celebrated news of the truce that has halted the nation’s bloody civil war.

Contemplating the opportunity to rebuild the country, Lado said: “The national team is a great example of unity. The players come from every ethnic group, from all over the country, and we play in harmony. Now that the war is over, more players will come and we can be the best.

We have to make the most of what is happening.”

That means changing the image of a place that had become accustomed to noth-

league victory over Carpi on 26 September, a fixture that also saw strikers Francesco Totti and Edin Dzeko injured.

The Serie A side have stated Keita is making “good progress” on the problem, but have set his recovery period at just over a month after diagnosing damage to a tendon in his right thigh.

Keita, who has made six appearances this season, is expected to miss crucial Serie A clashes away to Fiorentina and Inter, as well as Champions League games home and away against Bayer Leverkusen.

The 35-year-old is also unlikely to be fit for the derby match with Lazio on November 8.

Seydou Keita

ing but bad news, though the Al Malakia player was keen to put things into context: “It has to be said that this isn’t Iraq or Afghanistan. The war didn’t affect the cities too much and people were able to live their lives without fear, although there were soldiers and conflict elsewhere.”

Even so, the unstable situation placed even more responsibility on the players, not least the captain himself: “I’ve spoken a lot to all the players and through those conversations we’ve tried to make football a force for ending all the damage caused by war. It’s something I’m not tired of repeating.”

The time has now come to put that unity into practice on the pitch, namely in Wednesday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifier against Mauritania, a team that lies 89th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, fully 55 places above South Sudan.

“We are ready, totally ready. We know what we have to do and we can spring a surprise,” said the skipper. “Our coach Lee Sung-jea has created a style of play that’s based on defensive discipline and counter-attacking football, and I think we can cause some damage. We need to win, for many reasons, and we will win.”

Win or lose against the Mauritanians, Lado and his team-mates have already scored their greatest victory, as he explained: “The country is tired of fighting.

We want to live in peace and focus on happier things. We are going to talk about football and win this game. South Sudan deserves it.”

Keita ruled out for five weeks Malian midfielder Seydou Keita, who has already been out of action for two weeks, faces another five weeks on the sidelines as he recovers from a right thigh injury, the club have announced.

“Tests revealed there has been significant progress in the healing but he will still be out for approximately five weeks from today (Wednesday),” the club said in a statement.

Keita, 35, has enjoyed spells at Marseille, Barcelona and Valencia, winning two UEFA Champions League titles, three Spanish championships and the French Cup in a glittering career. He picked up the injury during Roma’s 5-1 22

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Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015

Sierra Leone coach names 21-man squad for Chad Sierra Leone coach, Sellas Tetteh has named a 21-man squad for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 First Round qualifier against Chad.

The Leone Stars will play away in N’djamena on October 10 while the return leg will be in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt, three days later. The West Africans are experiencing a home ban due to the outbreak in the Ebola virus, which has claimed thousands of lives.

“This team is full of potentials and after working with the locals for a while, I think it’s important to include more foreign-based players with experience. We are going to Chad to get a very good result that will put us at a vantage point for the second leg encounter,” Tetteh said.

The 58-year old Ghana-born trainer has 11 foreign-based players and 10 locals for the two-legged clash with ‘Les Sao’.

Sierra Leone coach, Sellas Tetteh

The biggest set-back for the Leone Stars is the unavailability of USA-based striker Kei Kamara who announced his retirement from international football few weeks ago.

Shrewsbury Town’s Sulay Kaikai also turned down the invitation, whilst George Kweku Davies and David Simbo withdrew at the eleventh hour due to injuries.

“I’m very much disappointed that Kei had to pull out at this crucial moment. He was

part of my game plan but now that he has made such decision, I have no alternative but to move ahead.

“I have confidence in this squad and I’m convinced they have the potential to do great things. As for those injured, it’s all part of the game. We are moving forward,” he added.

The away leg in N’djamena will be Tetteh’s second game since he took over last August on a three-month deal following an agreement between the Sierra Leone Football Association and the Ghana Football Association.

Last September, Tetteh guided the Leone Stars to hold African champions, Cote d’Ivoire to a barren draw in a Africa Cup of Nations Gabon 2017 qualifier in Port Harcourt.

Meanwhile, a 28-man delegation left Freetown on Tuesday, 6 October 2015 for N’djamena.

Nigeria Backs Mathematical Favourite

Golden Eaglets launch final preparations for Chile

Holders Nigeria has opened a training camp in Buenos Aires, Argentina ahead of the impending FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled for 17 October to 8 November in Chile.

The Golden Eaglets are based at a

training facility called Buenos Aires Fut-

bol, located on the outskirts of the capital and owned by former Argentine international, Matias Almeyda.

Nigeria coach Emmanuel Amuneke

told cafonline.com his team would spend two weeks before departing for Santiago for the World Cup.

The West Africans are drawn alongside

hosts Chile, USA and Croatia in Group A and will start their campaign on October

Continued from back page

17 against USA.

He said: “APFON [would] like to acknowledge Orji Uzor Kalu for his contribution to governance in Abia State, his successes in business and his role with Enyimba when he was governor.

“However, this is [a] football matter that requires a person vast (sic) in the game and its affairs. This time it is not about money.”

Mr. Popo, while admitting that Kalu also has the right to contest for the FIFA top seat, pointed out that Odegbami would not compete for a business or politics-related position with the ex-governor, hence he should “do what is right”.

“Kalu should give way please for the sake of Nigeria, the generations of football players that have served and [are] serving the country and the entire youths (sic) of the country. We appeal to him to give up his ambition and support the man who embodies football through and through,” Popo submitted.

Odegbami, 63, is a former right winger, who rose to fame with Shooting Stars of Ibadan - winning league titles and Nigeria’s first continental club crown. He scored two goals in the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations final when Nigeria won the tournament for first time.

Nicknamed ‘Mathematical 7’ for his precision passing and his shirt number, Odegbami finished second in 1980 African Footballer of the Year poll and skippered his national team at the 1980 Olympic Games. It would be at least another decade before the Green Eagles, named for the national coat of arms, would be re-named Super Eagles.

After calling time on a successful play-

matches against the Argentine U-17 side,

The Eaglets have lined up two test

due to face Australia, Germany and Mexico in Group C at the World Cup.

There are also plans to engage either

the U-20 of Boca Junior or Racing Club

in similar tests to fine-tune for the global championship.

“This facility is good (for our prepara-

tion) since it is out of town and would al-

low for maximum concentration through-

out our camping here ahead of the World Cup,” said Amuneke, a former CAF African Footballer of the Year.

The trainer picked 25 players for the

pre-World Cup camp, out of which four will be dropped. Captain Kelechi Nwakali

and nine others who featured at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations last February in Niger are part of the team in Buenos Aires. ing career with his 1980 Nations Cup final brace, Odegbami became an author, journalist and football commentator.

Of his bid, he says it is high time that FIFA was led by an African.

“The choice of an African, specifically a Nigerian, may look far-fetched in this pursuit, noting the international coverage of FIFA and the historical trend in its leadership reputation,” Odegbami said.

“However, a closer scrutiny of the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change.”

Former Nigerian players Ganiyu Ajide

and Tajudeen Disu appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation to give Odegbami the necessary backing to support his ambition, suggesting his appointment would benefit the country in return.

APFON revealed that they already have Trade Union Congress support and would be writing to relevant government bodies including the Senate, House of Representatives and Presidency in the coming days to further drum up support for their preferred candidate.

FIFA is expected to conduct fresh polls in March 2016 to elect a new president to

FULL LIST: Kelechi Nwakali; Victor

Osimhen, Samuel Chukuwueze, Ebere Osinachi, Kingsley Michael, Orji Okwonkwo, John Lazarus, Halilu Lukman,Udoh

Akpan, Benjamin Amos,Taiwo Alimi, Chinedu Madueke, like Ibe Tobechukwu; Ejike Ikwu; Tochukwu Okoli, Ndochukwu Anumudu; Chiaha Chisom ,

Funsho Bamgboye, Yunusa Abdullahi;

Agor Chukwudi; David Enogela; Michael Edidiong; Samuel Opeh; Joel Osikel, Gavi Thompson.

23

Friday, 9 October - Thursday, 15 October 2015 ISSUE 600

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A new dawn for South Sudan SEE PAGE 22

NIGERIA BACKS MATHEMATICAL FAVOURITE “I see myself fitting into this role,” says Segun Odegbami of his quest to become FIFA’s next president

By Alan Oakley

The Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria [APFON] have called on businessman Orji Uzor Kalu to step aside in his bid to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA President and put his support behind Nigeria’s other candidate, former player Segun Odegbami.

The body, which represents active and retired Nigerian players, argues that Odegbami is better qualified to contest the soon-to-become vacant post, suggesting that all well-meaning Nigerian and Africans as a whole should get behind the former Green Eagles winger.

Kalu, 55, is an entrepreneur and businessman who has served as governor of Abia state between 1999 and 2007. He is currently chairman of SLOK Holding, a consortium involved

in multiple sectors with a focus on oil and gas. He is also chairman of the Daily Sun and New Telegraph newspapers and chairs Gambia’s First International Bank.

APFON Secretary, Austin Popo, told reporters in Lagos that in terms of successes in business and politics, Kalu stands over and above Odegbami but when it comes to football, the former Abia governor is miles behind the ex-Green Eagles skipper.

Continued on page 23

African Voice Newspaper is published by African Voice Communications. Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP. Tel: 020 3737 3077 Registered at the British Library as a newspaper. ISSN 1475-2166.Email: africanvoicenews@googlemail.com