Nollywood Issue

The Arabian Heritage with Mode en La Maghreb

Nollywood Happy 20th Birthday

Ghana’s Sweetheart

NADIA BUARI

STANDS OUT FOR the ALL THE RIGHT REASONs

Let Us Celebrate This year, I have been blessed to be part of the planning of the African Day Parade and Festival in New York. For many reasons, I will always have great memories of this experience. However, one reason stands out to the most- the ability to be present and witness peoples of Africa coming together, celebrating each other has been priceless. I have found that this experience in itself is symbolic of what the year 2013 has presented for Africa. We have seen 2013 as a year of a new promise and a time to forge new visions for the continent. As Africa celebrated the 50th anniversary of the African Union, we are reminded that it is time to take stock of where we are as a continent, and as a people. Thus, it is important to take the moment to reflect on our communities, and our progress. So in this issue, we ask you to revisit Africa. We combine the best elements from our previous issues, and bring them together with a new twist. This is all about celebration!

We celebrate with Nollywood/Ghollwood darling Nadia Buari, as we get a closer look as to why the world now adores her as Africa’s Beyonce. We celebrate the achievements of Africans around the globe and as Nollywood celebrates its 20th birthday, we say YES to Africa’s ingenuity. The issue will also highlight Africa’s innovation with the VMK phone and Africa’s beauty through architecture. The celebration is all about the music, the fashion, and the dance.

Lest we forget the importance of our struggles across cultural boundaries, we present you with a perspective on the immigration debate. Should Africans care about the ongoing discussion? African Services tells you why Africans need to raise their voice in their respective communities in regards to this issue.

One of my favorite articles in this issue has to be the look at the Maghreb’s influence in fashion. Part of this might be because I have had a fashion crush on Yves Saint Laurent, Zhor Rais and Azzedine Alaïa. Seriously, what is not to love? Their clothes make you feel like royalty, their style is impeccable, and it represents a part of Africa that we often tend to forget.

Speaking of other parts of Africa- what about Francophone Africa? Make sure you stop by the interview section of the magazine where you will get a chance to learn more about the francophone community and the strides they are making in our continent.

But lets not kid ourselves- the absolute best article in the entire magazine is the “10 Things You Did Not Know About Burundi” ☺ Okay- I just might be slightly biased on this fact since I am from Burundi after all.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and until next time, always remember EMPOWER, CONNECT, CELEBRATE!

Founder | Graphic Designer Adebowale Folorunsho Co-Founder | Brand Director Michael Ikotun

JUN / JUL / AUG 2013

CONNECT

CON TENTS

23: Re-Discovering African History The names of Zulu, Mapungubwe, Nok, Carthage, Congo/Kongo and Karne-Bornu mean nothing to a lot of people.

These cities and Kingdoms have been forgotten by history writers; and if these cities were mentioned in the history books, they were never given the credit to which they are due.

EMPOWER

13: Something Beautiful For Africa Fr. Peter Obele Abue is a Roman Catholic priest from Ogoja, Cross River state in Nigeria’s eastern region. His 27 years of priesthood have taken him on a transatlantic trail from cavernous rural areas in the Obudu Mountains of Nigeria, to profound locations in the valleys of upstate New York and Pittsburgh. But Fr. Abue is trailing for a cause, a mission he began in 2006, called CORAfrica.

CELEBRATE

25: African Union talks of visions for Africa’s future

The African Union’s

50th Anniversary Forum was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. The year 2013 was declared the Year of Pan Africanism and African Renaisssance by the African Union. The Forum looked back on the past 50 years from 1963, and beckoned us to look forward 50 years into the future, to 2063. .

The Arabian Heritage with Mode en La Maghreb

(R-L) Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, Jamiu Shoyode, Aimee Corrigan meeting outside the classrooms of Nollywood UP.

Nollywood Happy 20th Birthday

ON THE

COVER

Ghana’s Sweetheart!

How Nadia Buari ditch his job, break the rules, launch, disrupt and got funded

Ghana’s Sweetheart

NADIA BUARI

STANDS OUT FOR the ALL THE RIGHT REASONs

VOICE EVERY GENERATION HAS A

ADA AWARDS THE POWER OF OUR VOICE NOV, 30 2013 NEW YORK CITY KEYNOTE SPEAKER

LEYMAH ROBERTA GBOWEE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE 2011

AS SEEN IN THE SPRING 2013 ISSUE OF APPLAUSE AFRICA AA

EMPOWER

Sophia Egbelo

Yinka Ajakaiye

Young, Fearless Ijeoma Genevieve Mbamalu and Lanre Jacobs On The idea of Super Lux

People naturally trust me to tell their stories and that is something that is a gift; it is about being personable and being able to engage people.

Improving access to electricity, building rural roads, and providing water and sanitation, particularly in increasingly crowded urban area are essential for a better Africa... I am leaving you with a sense of responsibility that it’s not just to listen to me, but to take away something, about how you are going to change things on this continent

Disclaimer: Parts of this article were supplemented by Dr Osotimehin’s statement at the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.

/

Sophia Egbelo

Sophia Egbelo

Do you really want to be like

Chinua Achebe?

A literary lion who refused to conform to the ideals of society

Disruptive Innovation

CURRENT AFFAIRS Kenya ‘s President and Vice President Head to The Hague On Tuesday, September 12, 2013, the William

Ruto, Kenya’s Deputy President will face the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of inciting ethnic killings and reprisal attacks in 2007. The trial takes place after Kenya’s parliament votes for the country to withdraw from the ICC. Ruto’s trial will be followed by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s own trip to The Hague to face similar charges. While the two were scheduled to face trial at the same time, Kenya’s constitution does not allow for both the President and Deputy President to be out of the country at the same time. There is fear that due to these trials, old rivalries might rise from Ruto’s Kalenjin tribe and Kenyatta’s Kikuyu tribe.

10 African Countries vying to be the next football Champions of the world Just as E’to calls it quit on his national team,

Cameroon joins Ivory Coast, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Cape Verde Islands for the final leg of the qualifiying games for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Only five African countries can make it to the tournament- who will it be?

Egypt: A Lesson in what not to do for a Revolution?

For a country that has been praised for its

“Arab Spring”, Egypt is now facing an “Arab Winter” as the masses have risen against the chosen President Morsi, and the military has taken over. In a span of two years, Egypt has gone from the role model for African countries seeking change, to being on the “Not-to-be” list. The move to oust the seating president has resulted into Egypt being ceremoniously kicked out of the African Union. In the meantime, the ousted president Mubarak has been released while the Muslim Brotherhood and President Morsi face trial.

Ghana Finally Accepts President Mahama as its president After months of political drama in Ghana,

President Mahama has finally won, as the Supreme Court upheld December 2012 presidential election result. The period of contention had made both the international community and the investors a bit uneasy, but now everyone can rest ease as the opposition accepts the decision with no threat of instability.

Somalia Pledges for 1 million children in school In an effort to end extreme poverty and

instability, the Somalian governement has announced that it will start a campaign to send 1 million children to school. The 3-year Go 2 School initiative includes plans for teacher recruitment and training, construction and renovation of schools and; technical and vocational training for older children. There will also be special programs for pastoralist communities that might not have easy access to schools. Education is the key to a country’s future, and it is to be applauded that Somalia is taking this critical step in securing its future and those of its people.

Winner of Innovation Prize Africa: Agriprotein A farm’s sustainability depends on its livestock.

Livestock need to be provided with care in order for them to be suitable for the market.

However, feeding the livestock is not only expensive, it is unsustainable. In addition to soil nutrient depletion as a result of continuously growing soya without rotation in order to produce feed, fish populations are on the decline as a result of heavy harvesting, where much that is harvested ends up at waste, and thus livestock meal. Additionally farmers, who are not readily near a body of water or soya farm are at the mercy of those transporting shipments of livestock meal. Delays can cost famers a lot of money. South Africa’s AgriProtein technologies analyzed all of these problems, and came up with a solution.

AgriProtien’s main premise is to recycle nutrient. It takes larvae from flies and turns it into meal that can be used to feed chicken. In order to scale, they are looking to use animal blood and human feces to make more larvae.

Although it is not the ‘sexiest’ business model,

it is quite sustainable and green. By using human feces, AgriProtein technologies creates a solution to sanitation problems in densely populated cities. Feces can be collected and sold to AgriProtien who can then use it to not only harvest exponentially more larvae that will be turned into natural, organic livestock feed, but it will also be able to produce neutralized fertilizer. This whole process can be done locally, thus reducing the cost of feed.

VMK Smartphone The tech scene is growing in Africa, with many

home-grown startups as well multinational tech giants taking root in various cities around the continent, ranging from Nairobi to Accra to Johannesburg. One start-up called VMK caught the world’s attention with its claim of producing Africa’s first smart phone.

Congolese entrepreneur Verone Mankou, founder of VMK, wanted to create a product that could be proudly called African. His vision is for Africans to create their own solutions to their own problems. With that goal in mind, he set forth and raised funds for his start-up based in Brazzaville, Congo, whose main industry is in mining and natural resources. Mankou’s goal is to produce a smartphone and tablet that can be used widely not only in African but all over the world. His dream is for VMK to be to Africa as Apple is to the United States and Samsung to Asia. So far, the company has developed two products: Elikia, the smart phone, and Way-C, the tablet.

VMK’s main competitor right now is Blackberry, which is doing well in Africa despite its lackluster performance in the West, and Nokia, which is partnering with Facebook to not only bring more smartphone options to the continent, but to also popularize the online social media site as well. The phone comes equipped with wifi capabilities and four gigabytes of storage.

The main challenge VMK faces are questions to its authenticity as an African product. Although the phone and tablet were both designed in Brazzaville, they are manufactured in China. There have been speculations, an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) created the phone and VMK bought it and branded it as its own. Mankou confirms that this is false, and that these speculations were brought about by Afro-pessimists. The decision to manufacture his products in China is a cost-cutting strategy.

CoNNECT Burundi is in the heart of Africa and Landlocked

French, Rundi and Swahili are the official languages of Burundi.

The Hutu make up the nation’s largest ethnic group (80%), Burundi, geographical, followed by Tutsis (14%) is only slightly smaller than Maryland. and Twa (1%).

75% are Christian, 5% Muslims and the 20% practice a range of indigenous religions.

Burundi

The highest point is Mount Heha and Lake Tanganyika the lowest point Burundi got its independence on July 1, 1962 and was until the mid 20th century one of the only black republics.

Gustave, a crocodile found in Burundi, was the basis of the movie Primeval

Agriculture in Burundi amounts to more than 60% of the country’s GDP

Burundi was among the first three republics to have a female prime minister.

FACE OF

AFRICA

In every issue, Applause Africa profiles a beauty queen. Our Face of African for this issue is Nanie Chioma Memeh. As a kid, Nanie wanted to be an attorney so she could be in a position to stand and fight for justice giving a voice to those in need; however she’s found an even higher calling.

African Union According to

Nanie Chioma Memeh Name:

Nanie Chioma Memeh

Hometown, Country:

My dad is from Imo State, Nigeria while my mom from Bong County, Liberia.

Residence:

I was born in Brooklyn, but lived in PortHarcourt, Nigeria from infancy till my teen years.

I currently reside in Seattle, Washington.

Twitter:

@nanieshow

Current project:

Raising $3000 for 10 Orphans’ education at MacDella Cooper foundation Academy in Liberia.

Education:

I have two Bachelor degrees in Political Science and¬¬ Law and Justice from Central Washington University. I also have a certificate in Fashion Marketing from University of Washington.

I am currently studying for a Masters in International Business, at Walden University (expected graduation: April 2014).

Career Goal:

My goal is to partake in projects that contribute in the revitalization of Africa. I also want to help manage Orphanage homes; and own talk show.

Hobbies:

I find myself always thinking and writing down ways to improve Africa to the point that I’ve exhausted two journals, so it now falls under my hobbies. I also sing in the choir and I love to dance. Designing fashion clothing and modeling are also passions of mine.

Best Assets:

My experiences from my growing up in Africa and then the United States.

It gave me knowledge, strength and faith that can’t be bought.

Ideal man:

He is educated, confident but not arrogant. Respects women and desires to love wholeheartedly and to cherish his wife for he loves the Father above and wants to live a life right by him.

Why I signed up for the Face of Africa beauty pageant: It empowers the youth of Africa in the diaspora and beyond; and promotes the culture and skills of Africans.

If I was the Chairperson of the African Union, I would: Call for an emergency meeting with the heads of member countries of the AU to tell them to prioritize the issue of education, food security and employment.

THE GOOD DOER

Something Beautiful for Children of Rural Africa “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” – Mother Teresa His virtues may liken to his idol, the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta. But don’t tell him that; he may be too humble to admit it, or simply assert that we all ought to dedicate our lives to a cause.

Fr. Peter Obele Abue is a Roman Catholic priest from Ogoja, Cross River state in Nigeria’s eastern region. His 27 years of priesthood have taken him on a transatlantic trail from cavernous rural areas in the Obudu Mountains of Nigeria, to profound locations in the valleys of upstate New York and Pittsburgh. But Fr. Abue is trailing for a cause, a mission he began in 2006, called CORAfrica. “Children of Rural Africa is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a Mission to assist rural children and their families in Africa through education, healthcare, information dissemination, advocacy, training and economic empowerment within a community-based educational structure.”

Fr. Abue dedication to his mission is innate when he says, “I believe by becoming a Priest, I have been called to share my life with others in a more meaningful way because my efforts can add both spiritual and material value to the lives of those I serve. The society I live in is in dire need of change and any sincere effort can make a lot

Life’s good.

Don’t waste it on trivial matters.

Maximize your happiness and spend time to make someone happy, especially those who need you most.

By Sophia Egbelo

of difference.” To this end Fr. Abue commits his time to developing rural communities across local government regions in Ogoja, Obudu and Boki. While his humanitarian deeds are merely an indication of what he has been called to do as priest, his scholastic background as a doctorate degree holder in International Development Studies, attained from Cornell University also counts. With his academic forte, Fr. Abue has implemented strategies that manage and sustain rural development in the areas he serves.

Today, beneficial platforms established by CORAfrica include educational programs that consist of the St Joseph School Systems and the Little Flower School, which provide children and youths with fundamental learning skills at no cost. Other areas include health programs that “focus on identifying threats to the social welfare of rural communities. Including the establishment of the Labre Medical Center that affords free treatment to children in the region. In addition, water and sanitation programs provide mounted bore-holes across schools for clean and accessible water. Financially, micro-credit programs such as the CORAfrica loans ensure economic sustainability for underprivileged families. While agricultural programs aim on teaching children agro-allied ventures and sustaining vigorous farming methods.

Fr. Abue continues to advocate for rural towns in his home state through meetings with government and nonprofit agencies. As such his mission has remained supported through partners such as Abode for Children Inc. as well as home based supporters such as various Cross River State agencies for health and social services, to name a few. Likewise Independent benefactors from around his network continue to support Fr. Peter’s goodwill mission.

Similar to every noble man hankering for change, Fr. Abue hopes his mission will extend beyond the borders of Cross River State and impact other regions that need such aid. His message is clear, “Life’s good.

Don’t waste it on trivial matters. Maximize your happiness and spend time to make someone happy, especially those who need you most. As a priest I do not have any goals than to see how I can do my work well and be happy doing it. My personal happiness and peace of mind matters to me; likewise I’m fulfilled when I see the lives I’ve affected positively, especially children in rural areas.”

And underneath his priestly garb Fr. Peter Abue is just an everyday man who often times takes a jab at himself with his wits.

Albeit, his generosity proves to the world the man he is, he still makes clear the obvious when he retorts “I’m a priest; I want to go into heaven.”

THE DIPLOMAT Serge Tiendrebeogo

Our Diplomat for this issue is Filippe Savadogo, the Permanent Observer of La Francophonie to the United Nations. He presented his letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 9th 2012. Ambassador Savadogo is from Burkina Faso, but represents all 77 countries of the Francophone. Applause Africa was invited to meet with the PAN African Film Festival Visionary Award honoree at his United Nations office, New York.

Backgrounds Yourself and the OIF My professional background is in Media. I attended the Institut Français de Presse at the University of Paris II (Panthéon) and the University of Paris III (Sorbonne Nouvelle).

For 12 years, I headed the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO)– the largest African film festival on the continent. I was then appointed as Ambassador for Burkina Faso to France where I worked for more than ten years, before my latest appointment as the Permanent Observer of the International Organization of Francophone States (OIF) to the United Nations.

The OIF was born in 1970 in the heart of Africa – Niger, with a core purpose of strengthening relations between member states. It was first called the Agency Cultural and Technical Cooperation. As an ambassador to the United Nations representing 77 Francophone States, who have a lingual Franca – French; my experience in communications helps a lot. Beyond a common language, we aim to improve humanist values such as: development, the professionalization of women, and the vision

of sustainable development goals. We are very committed to the eight United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – which range from halving extreme poverty rates to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. Peacekeeping is another area OIF member states work hand in hand with the UN; an example being the deployment of UN forces (MINUSMA) to Mali during their elections. Africa –with some thirty French-speaking countries, is a priority for OIF. We have cooperation agreements with similar organizations, such as the Commonwealth. We also have partnerships with the OAS (Organization of American States) and the United Nations. The OIF-UN resolution is reviewed every two years.

English Is The Dominant Word Language, How is OIF Establishing A Balance?

First of all, being multilingual is beneficial.

When one is proficient in African, American and European languages, it allows for easy exchanges and relationships with others. I don’t

see the French language conflicting with other languages, but it rather complementing them.

We are defending multilingualism at the UN by developing our position and harmonizing our point of view with Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, French of course, and also the Russian and Chinese speaking countries; all the official languages of the UN. One-third of the UN member countries are Francophone, with French as their official language. As the world becomes a global village, it is necessary to be more open to the positive essences of others.

Today, the vision of the United Nations is to make all the world’s languages available and all information about the UN accessible to everyone. The UN, through its Department of Public Information, addresses the world in more than 200 languages. This means that there is an interest in disseminating the ideals of the world in languages that our people can understand. So for us at the OIF, it is all about vision and reach. Also keep in mind that I am an African born in Burkina, I speak four African languages that are spoken in several other countries in West Africa: Fulani, Bambara, Mooré and Gourmantche. To be open to the world, you must be flexible and dynamic.

How Human Capital Can Be Integrated To Meet The Challenges Of Development Firstly, we’ve known for a long time that women are the backbone of the family unit in Africa and they can also lead us to sustainability. Unfortunately, their financial status has never been where it ought to be. Micro financing is helping in this area. Data shows that when we lend money to women to work and repay it, the recovery rate is usually 95%.

“A successful example of the transfer of technology and the capacity to help Africa is the Mo Ibrahim Foundation… Mo Ibrahim recently came to the UN to stress the need to strengthen the processes of technology transfer, because Africa has potential and is the continent of the future.”

The other issue discussed is globalization. No country can succeed without developing a clear vision that relies on values that are outside of its own borders. This is why, in West Africa we have the ECOWAS, the CEMAC in Central Africa, the AMU in North Africa, the IGAD in East Africa and the SADC in South Africa. These visions of integration allow for the easy commercial activities between member states.

Finally, Africans living outside of Africa make up one of the entities that contribute to strengthening Africa’s development. The young African immigrants living in the U.S still interact with Africa. They send money to loved ones, and often go back to aid development in their home country. So migrants are an extraordinary reservoir of development through financial infusion but also through the transfer of technology.

Often it’s graduate students from the United States that are capable of launching startups in Africa. I think that a successful example of the transfer of technology and the capacity to Africa is Mo Ibrahim. Mo Ibrahim recently delivered a paper at the UN, demonstrating why we need to strengthen processes of technology transfer, because Africa has potential and is the continent of the future.

And what we lack is probably not the human capital as we are almost one billion people. It is not ores because we have the minerals that are envied by the world. It is not size either as we have an area of 30 million square kilometers.

A Typical Day of the Permanent Observer to the UN of the Francophonie A routine day as the Permanent Observer to the UN begins with reading the journal of the UN that announces upcoming events and information, past and future. We are (in September) currently preparing for the General Assembly. We are working with the States’ members of the Francophonie to be well prepared in an acute and precise manner to face the General Assembly. For example, we have a letter that we send to all the Ministers of Foreign Affairs to inform them of a consultation meeting on the eve of the General Assembly. So

we participate in technical meetings on language and other issues that will be held this month. We also have work to do to adopt a resolution on multilingualism and this resolution is the result of the contributions of 90 States members, most Francophone, who sponsored it. But beyond the Francophonie, multilingualism is a reality. Thus, for example in NY, there has been an increase in the number of bilingual schools. More and more parents, Anglophone or Asian, enroll their children in these French-English schools because they want them to learn a language other than English. This does not mean that English is not important, but diversity is needed. We have room for dialogue and consultation and we organize ourselves to meet the expectations of each State in the UN and the United States in general.

The Similarities and Differences between the OIF and AU That is an excellent question. The main difference between the two organizations is that the OIF is not a regional organization but global one.

We are in five continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Europe. We are a supra-regional international organization. The OIF is similar to the Commonwealth than the AU. In order to show the international dimension, the OIF Secretary-General, Abdou Diouf uses this phrase: The sun never sets in the Francophonie.

On Engaging The Diaspora OIF is committed on engaging its diaspora. My office (here in the U.S.) often organizes an event for young immigrants, in partnership with a U.S. based association called the French Heritage Association. The event is for those who have lost the use of the French language simply because they do not have the opportunity to use it. These young people come from diverse backgrounds so we are not sectarian either. We are not just working to promote the French language, but to promote the values of Francophone. If you speak French and your values are not humane, you wouldn’t belong.

Many people think that Ambassador Savadogo is an avatar of France who works for French interests.

This is not the case because the Francophonie is a platform that allows us to discuss our problems. If you feel that the Francophonie is an expansion of colonialism, then what about the Commonwealth?

You must agree that democracy is an essential criterion that every member must obey amid the risk of exclusion. We speak not only of English as a language but also of its values. We cannot push our agenda if we are not organized. Finally, I would first like to thank Applause Africa for the work they do to strengthen the image of Africa. I read the magazine avidly, and from one media professional to another, I am truly impressed by the quality and depth of your publication.

South Africans and Friends celebrates Mandela’s 95th birthday in grand style in New York.

In celebration of the Nelson Mandela International Day on July 18th, The Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations hosted South Africans and friends to an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly followed by a cocktail reception at the consulate office. Figures such as former US President Bill Clinton and the Reverend Jesse Jackson added their voices to the global tributes. “As we extend our best wishes to President Mandela on his 95th birthday, let us also give tangible meaning to our feelings of concern by taking action on behalf of others,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who declared July 18th, “Nelson Mandela International Day.”

go global

African Designers

Designers go global this season, with influences from the African continent and around the world WORDS BY EUNICE OMOLE

JEFFREY KIMATHI The owner of Jamhuri, Jeffrey Kimathi, emerged on the fashion scene in 2003, and since then, he has proven himself as a distinguished designer of t-shirts, hoodies and accessories. His fame can be understood by the fact that celebrities like Jay-Z and Akon have a deep admiration for his work and have beenseen wearing Jamhuri on several occasions. His fashion sense is admired by every age group, and people love to incorporate Kimathi’s style in their clothing. It is amazing that Kimathi has no formal fashion design background. He adopted it as a hobby and worked in MTV and Ecko Unlimited as a stylist at the start of his career. He has been inspired by New York tremendously, and his work reflects this inspiration. Kimathi has brought a sense of realism in his clothing line by incorporating an African-influenced fashion sense. Jamhuri has a boldness that is not found in most other brands, and the originality of the work also gives it uniqueness.

Transform your buggy into a mobile urban safari for you and your baby without even getting on a plane. Bootie Boutique launched a

stylish collection of interchangeable buggy hoods in bold prints. This Africa-chic buggy hood is currently available for the www.bootieboutique.com

KIBONEN NY Cameroonian fashion designer, Kibonen Nfi, is a force that has challenged every other clothing line in the world of fashion. Kibonen has been successful in introducing fashion that is inherent to New York as Kibonen New York. Kibonen NY designs take inspiration from the conventional Cameroonian attire, African textiles and materials, and the vivacious and effervescent fashion scene of New York. KNY surfaced with the ground-breaking and original initiative of recreating Toghu in a more contemporary manner. Toghu was chosen as it is one of the most fragile and complex hand-embroidered traditional garments. Kibonen New York is now renowned for creating a line of clothes that is entirely sensual, along with accessories and footwear for the fashion lovers to fit their up-to-the-minute trendy way of life. Thus, Kibonen New York can be considered both a lifestyle and ethical brand that is making use of the fashion business to help Cameroonians get job opportunities in the fashion industry. Kibonen NY is unique in the sense that the North West Region’s rich culture has been freshly fused here with New York’s inspired contemporary styles, fabrics and trends (“Kibonen|NY Organizes Fashion Day-Bamenda”, 2013).

WAMBUI KIBUE Wambui Kibue is the famous designer who heads a renowned design house known as Angelsmile. The success of this design house is based on the fact that Kibue has successfully applied the rule of eternal sense by introducing spectacular designs that flatter the true feminine spirit. Her dresses symbolize selfconfidence, poise and assurance. Her clothes take inspiration from the glamorous and beauty that surrounds us. This successful designer started designing clothes at a very early age, and this is the reason why her designs are so special. Quality is uppermost at Angelsmile, and the clothes motivate the clientele to try something new at every visit. Kibue’s dress designs symbolize that she is a very clever tailor who knows that quality must be the first priority in order to keep the brand on top.

Her work demonstrates that her visualization is rather brilliant, and this is why her clothing line has always something new to get people inspired to grab a piece. It’s clear that Kibue loves colors, and she’s not afraid to play with colors unlike others in the industry. Most of her dresses have shades of purple, giving them a royal look. The best thing about her clothing line is that even though it is simple, it is stunning.

ADÈLE DEJAK Adèle Dejak started designing clothes as a typographic designer in England and Italy.

In 2005, she moved to Nairobi, Kenya, and started to focus on designing accessories.

The natural beauty of the horn of Africa inspired Adèle so much that she developed creation techniques involving unique shapes. This experimentation resulted in the creation of fashioned pieces. Her stylishness, elegance and flamboyance were recognized, and soon she established a shop where unique shapes were created for exceptional accessories. Being a Nigerian by spirit, Dejak admiringly amalgamated the Nigerian styling sense with European style and got started on her inexhaustible mission for the vital objet d’art, creating wonderful pieces that reflect soul. Her brand, also known as Adèle Dejak, has been creating handmade fashion accessories for the contemporary, stylish and urbane woman. The accessories reflect their inspiration from Africa, and the work done by the designer on the clothes is a perfect reflection of traditional African techniques. The pieces also symbolize the soaring fashion statement designs. The collections at Adèle Dejak are the true expression of heightened and sensitive admiration for the fabrics that are made in Africa. The most distinctive materials used at Adèle Dejak

are Kuba cloth and kitenge (wax print).

The designer also uses recycled materials for creating unique accessories. If truth be told, one gets exceptional quality at Adèle Dejak, where only the best materials are employed for producing unique pieces.

Adèle Dejak is the perfect place where different styles and substance are united that invites people to own their style in an unapologetic manner.

Keep cool, look HOT in this unisex woven Trilby hat with African trim detail OHEMA

OHENE leaders in contemporary African fashion. African print trilby Hat-kwadu is made with TLC in OHEMA OHENE studio in London. The Hat-kwadu is a perfect summer accessory for any outfit, matching item available, in bow ties and snoods. www.ohemaohene.com

ADAMA PARIS Recognized as the multicultural dress designer of the new millennium, Adama Ndiaye is the designer who is responsible for launching and running the brand, Adama Paris. Senegalese by birth, Adama’s association with Zaire Kinshassa is reflected in her work as she has been able to integrate multiculturalism and a number of different techniques in her dress designs. Her brand embodies urban fashion as she has lived in several cities, including Los Angeles and Paris. It is not just a way of dressing that Adama Paris reflects; it is also a mirror to the essence and character of the modern woman. At Adama Paris, the other cultures (African, in particular) are open to every single woman who simply turns down submission to a reductive image that is mostly typified by a single culture or brand.

In her own words, Adama reveals that, “Adama Paris was born from my desire to share my passion for fashion as well as fulfilling my will for displaying diversity” (as qtd. in Meisel, 2011). It is also important to mention that a number of fashion events have been founded and produced by Adama, including Afrika Fashion Awards (popularly known as Trophies of the African Fashion), Black Fashion Week and Dakar Fashion Week.

IMM

F E R N O I T A R IG

N A L P ORM

IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE FEAR OF NON-PROFIT IMMIGRATION LEGAL SERVICES ATTORNEYS

By Olubunmi Segun and Jessica M. Greenberg, ASC Staff Attorneys

Eighteen months ago, I sit at my desk across from a gentleman in his mid-fifties. Twenty-five years ago, he landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport and passed through U.S. Customs Services without incident using a “black market” passport. The man laughs as he recounts his entry into the United States, claiming that he looked nothing like the photograph of the passport’s owner, but he was desperate.

I explain that unfortunately it does not appear that he has a means of adjusting his undocumented immigration status to a lawful immigration status, like Lawful Permanent Resident. At the end of our meeting, the man asks whether I believe immigration reform is possible. I respond in the affirmative, clarifying that if the newly promulgated immigration regulations and policies are an indication, the reform will be harsh. As we stand shaking hands, the gentleman tells me that I am incorrect: comprehensive immigration reform will happen and it will be good.

It is too early to declare, but I am willing to concede that I was perhaps wrong. On June 15, 2012, President Obama issued an Executive Order granting Deferred Action to Childhood Arrivals (with credit to Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, activist, and undocumented immigrant Jose Antonio Vargas), which allows undocumented immigrants under the age of thirty to receive Employment Authorization if specific criteria are met. In late January 2013, eight U.S. Senators released the Bipartisan Framework for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the

first objective of which is “[c]reating a tough but fair path to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants living in the United States . . . .” The following day, at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, President Obama emphasized the need for “common sense immigration reform.”

During his State of the Union address, the President reiterated that “real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship . . .” On February 16, 2013, the White House immigration reform plan was leaked, detailing an eight-year path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

It is essential to note and then reiterate that the above is certainly a step in the right direction, but each (with the exception of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) is merely a proposal. It is absolutely meaningless until proposed as a bill, which must pass through the House of Representatives before referral to the Senate, when the bill is then presented to the President where he will either refuse to sign, veto

ACCORDING TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT, 130,000 AFRICANS MIGRATE LEGALLY TO THE US EACH YEAR.

West Africa:

573,791

ETHIOPIANS

The African immigrant groups with the largest presence in the United States as of 2010 were Nigerians (219,309), Ethiopians (173,592), Egyptians (137,799), Ghanaians (124,696), and Kenyans (88,519)

EGYPTIANS GHANAIANS KENYANS

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF AFRICAN FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION AND TOTAL U.S. POPULAtion, Age 25 & Over African immigrants

16.1%

U.S. population

10.4%

Graduate Degree

24.2%

17.7%

Bachelor’s Degree Only

27.7%

28.9%

Some College

20.0%

28.5%

High School Diploma

12.1%

14.4%

No High School Diploma

The U.S Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census reports that

33% 27% 27% STATISTICIANS COMPOTER

88,711

Northern Africa:

280,280

Southern Africa: Eastern Africa:

79,914

475,832

AFRICAN FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION BY REGION OF BIRTH

TOP COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN FOR AFRICAN FOREIGN-BORN POPULATION

NIGERIANS

Middle Africa:

41%

of Fortune 500 companies were founded by an immigrant or child of an immigrant

OCCUPATIONS OF AFRICAN FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS AGE 16 & OVER

African immigrants make a big impact on the U.S. economy.

48%

of America’s top 50 venturebacked companies, as ranked by Dow Jones VentureSource, have at least one immigrant founder

Management, Business and Science

37.7%

Production and Transportation

14.4%

18%

Service

of all small business owners in the U.S are immigrant

24.8%

5.2%

Sales and Office,

19.8%

is the percentage of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. workforce

Construction and Maintenance

3.3%

OF ENGINEERS OF MATHEMATICANS OF PHYSICAL

SCIENTISTS

SCIENTISTS

ARE IMMIGRANTS

Source: Department of Commerce, Bureau of The Census, 2010 American Community Survey, www.immigrationpolicy.org, Partnership For American Economy/ National Foundation For American Policy/INC. 500 CE0 SURVEY, TIME.

As comprehensive immigration reform continues in the forefront, undocumented immigrants are coming out of the woodwork seeking advice and assistance.

It is my fear, and the fear of my colleagues, that these individuals will seek advice from unethical attorneys or non-attorneys particularly because of the misconceptions regarding the reform as concrete. the bill (returning it to the House), or sign it, becoming a law. Because immigration is under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security, the law will be unenforceable until the pertinent agencies (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Patrol) determine the means of administering and applying the law. The process is extensive and a bill may stall in Congress without recourse.

Unfortunately, there is no immigration reform, yet.

Immigrants are an exceptionally vulnerable population for a myriad of reasons. And, it is this vulnerability, coupled with the attention immigration reform is receiving, that is of very real concern and fear to immigration services providers, like us at African Services Committee.

The fear is not unfounded -- immigrants regularly fall prey to immigration services fraud with both significant financial and immigration-related consequences.

The Office of the New York State Attorney General classifies immigration services fraud into five distinct, yet intersecting categories: (1) misrepresentation of legal credentials; (2) unauthorized practice of law, whereby an individual holds himself out as capable of providing immigration services, yet lacks the pertinent credentials (which is a criminal offense); (3) false (i.e., illegal) promises to expedite immigration processing time; (4) misleading and/or false information and promises regarding the ability to adjust immigration status; and (5) utilizing community ties, whereby an individual targets members of his own ethnicity or nationality.

My colleagues and I meet daily with prospective

clients who have been victimized. Last week, I met with a woman who is unable to adjust her immigration status from undocumented to Lawful Permanent Resident for various reasons, yet an immigration attorney promised her otherwise in exchange for $10,000. A few years ago, I worked with a client who, fifteen years earlier, was referred by a friend to a reverend for immigration assistance and without his knowledge the reverend filed an asylum application on his behalf and charged him thousands of dollars; an immigration judge later ruled that the application was frivolous and the client is barred for life from all immigration benefits without recourse.

The Department of Justice permits only individuals who are either attorneys licensed to practice in the United States or are Board of Immigration Appeals accredited representatives (who work at recognized non-profit organizations) to represent or assist in immigration matters. Certainly, as illustrated above, immigration attorneys too often are scam artists. But, if an unethical attorney victimizes an immigrant, recourse may be available.

Yet, this recourse is unavailable to immigrants who receive assistance from non-attorneys. Rather, the government faults the immigrant for retaining or receiving assistance from a non-attorney.

Particular to the African Diaspora is hiring immigrant consultants or specialists (who otherwise work as paralegals) to perform immigration related services. A paralegal is not an attorney. A paralegal is rarely an accredited representative. Thus, a paralegal cannot and may not assist with legal services unless under the direct supervision of an attorney. If a paralegal is working under the direct supervision of an attorney, the client is unlikely to have significant contact with the paralegal that is not ordered by the attorney.

Because immigration consultant/specialist advertising is word-of-mouth, it is somewhat understandable to question the necessity of retaining an attorney, especially when an acquaintance received the desired outcome. Aside from the above (discussing unauthorized practice of law and available recourse), the answer is simple: immigration law is very difficult to understand. In Hernandez v. Mukasey, 524 F.3d 1014, 1018 (2008), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals wrote “we have observed that the proliferation of immigration laws and regulations has aptly been called a labyrinth that only a lawyer could navigate.’ ” As comprehensive immigration reform continues in the forefront, undocumented immigrants are coming out of the woodwork seeking advice and assistance. It is my fear, and the fear of my colleagues, that these individuals will seek advice from unethical attorneys and/or non-attorneys particularly because of the misconceptions regarding the reform as concrete.

To protect both undocumented and documented immigrants and their families, African Services Committee launched low fee immigration services in early 2013. The purpose is to provide quality immigration legal services at a nominal fee that is approachable to the hard-working immigrant. The immigration clinic is staffed by attorneys who are well-versed in the intricacies and complexities of immigration law.

Whether you come to us, or source an attorney on your own, we urge you to do your research and ensure that the legal services that you are procuring, are legitimate and that the attorney is certified. Too often we see cases in which that isn’t the case, and too often the result of those situations is irreversible.

For more information about African Services’ low fee legal services, please call (212) 222-3882 or email immigration@ africanservices.org.

Divine Muragijimana

Re-Discovering African History

The names of Zulu, Mapungubwe, Nok, Carthage, Congo/Kongo and Karne-Bornu mean nothing to a lot of people. These cities and Kingdoms have been forgotten by history writers; and if these cities were mentioned in the history books, they were never given the credit to which they are due. Black history in general has been written and re-written favoring a metanarrative that is acceptable to Europeans.

For example, years have been spent on trying to disprove the existence of blacks in Ancient Egypt while at the same time attributing the Ancient Nubian and southern kingdoms to the influence of foreigners. To this you find that Africa is a land of a people with a history that is rich, colorful, and much more advanced that it is credited for. The European narrative that was imposed on Africa is that of a people who were primitive, uncivilized, and poor; portraying the Europeans as their saviors. The truth however contradicts this view.

Pre-colonial Africa boasted of thriving cultures with scholarly centers, trading cities and knights who ruled vast wealthy empires. Europeans were fascinated by stories they heard from traders since the 5th century and the Portuguese traders confirmed these stories for the Europeans. The kingdoms of Mali, KarneBornu, Songhai, and Ghana were major trading centers. Timbuktu, situated in the middle of the Kingdom of Mali, was a sophisticated metropolis that harbored intellectuals, impressive architecture, and trading centers that catered to the locals and foreigners alike. In South Africa, the Ndebele and the Zulu were resilient and built impressive kingdoms. In Ethiopia, we trace the earliest Christian History with stories of the nine monks, and the lasting impressions that King Lalibela left with his ten churches in Roha. Moreover, the Trans-Saharan route not only enabled trading caravans to go inland, but also made it easier for European traders to have access to goods not readily available at the coastal ports.

Africa has a very rich diversity in culture, traditions, languages, history, and ideas. However years of colonization destroyed any hope of Africa building their societies fully, and their history was rewritten to fit the European narrative. If we can learn anything from all this is that as Africans we need to learn about our history, and realize that our mark in the world is much more lasting than what mainstream media has tried to portray. It is to this that Africans need to find meaning and pride in our collective history if there as we continue to build our communities. Our history is our foundation. As Kwaku Awuah and Nana Poku of 54 Kingdoms always say, “to understand where we are going, we have to understand where we are coming from.�

AFRICAN UNION TALKS OF VISIONS FOR AFRICA’S FUTURE “If a tree has to grow, it must first honor its roots” -African proverb

Solwazi Afi Olusola

The African Union’s 50th Anniversary Forum was held June 26th at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

The year 2013 was declared the Year of Pan Africanism and African Renaisssance by the African Union. His Excellency Ambassador Teto Antonio, Permanent observer of the AU to the UN, gave an introduction of the session, and relayed a message of changing the African narrative from one of being the victim, to one of unity and self-reliance for the Mother continent from the chairperson of the AU, Her Excellency Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. Dr. Zuma’s message asserted that we should never accept oppression, and she shared that “Self-reliance and independence is still important, but elusive.” Dr. Zuma said “our greatest resource is our people, especially our young people.” The Forum looked back on the past 50 years from 1963, and beckoned us to look forward 50 years into the future, to 2063.

H.E. Mr. Roble Olhaye, Permanent Representative of Djibouti to the UN, opened up the talk, and introduced the keynote speaker- renown scholar and distinguished professor of Africana Studies at Cornell University, Dr. Ali A. Mazrui.

Dr. Mazrui spoke of the progress and setbacks that the African Union (formerly the Organization of African Unity). including the different models of transition from leaders who have “overstayed their welcome” in what he called the “Afro-Arab Spring”. He included the judicial solution to oust, as demonstrated with Hosni Mubarak in Egypt; voting a leader out like was done in Ghana; exiling a former leader, as with Zain Abideen Bin Ali of Tunisia; and finally the “Lynch the Leader” model carried out in Libya.

On the Topic of Libya

Dr. Mazrui mentioned that Nelson Mandela had regarded Gaddafi as one of the greatest fighters against apartheid. He retold the story of Mandela in his interview with Ted Koppel, Mandela refused to criticize Gaddafi, because Unlike those people interviewing him, Gaddafi had fought against apartheid. In a particularly fiery portion of his talk, Mazrui asserted that the African Union made a number of attempts in Libya to try to get contending parties to talk to each other and find a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but that NATO made it impossible for a peaceful resolution to be reached.

This raised questions from the audience as to how the African Union could then recognize the regime that lynched a legitimate leader of an African country. Another panel member chimed in that NATO intervention in Libya, an attempt to stab African unity in the back, and a result of the African Union going back on the

rules in it’s charter that state that it doesn’t support the invasion by any European powers on African soil.

Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, the Executive Director of the Institute of Security Studies in Tswane, South Africa, relayed to the forum the State Fragility in Africa. The median age of the population of Africa is 19%/. Cilliers projected that 7/10 of the countries with the highest population will be in Africa by the year 2063.

The audience was then treated to a special presentation of historic photos of great and powerful Pan African Leaders of the past, such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Robert Mugabe, Colonel Muammar Ghaddafi, Patrice Lamumba, among many other great leaders in African history.

Ms. Awa Dabo, Team Leader Africa Team Bureau for Crises Prevention and Recovery UNDP, gave a compelling gender perspective to the condition that Africa is in, and asserted that without empowering women, Africa as a whole cannot be empowered. “52% of the world and african population are women. the other percentage also comes from women.”

The last speaker weas Professor Horace Campbell from the Maxwell school of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syraacuse University, who addressed the forum in the spirit of the desire for autonomy from colonization and European powers for Africa. He reminded the audience of Haiti, where in 1804, when Jamaican slaves would hi-jack ships to escape to Haiti and the British government would demand their slaves back, they were told that they could come to Haiti to retrieve their ships, but were told that every African person in Haiti is free. Rather than the term “African

Diaspora”, a term used by colonial powers to address Africans around the world, Professor Campbell suggests the phrase “Global African Family” to emphasize the neessity for unity in Africa. He quoted: ““without unity in Africa, we cannot have peace and transformation in Africa””. He also quoted Marcus Garvey when he said: “If you are stong, you have justice on your side. if you are weak, you are at the mercy of the dispense of justice” The Question and Answer Portion was absolutely riveting, with people at times interjecting, erupting in cheers, and shouting words of affirmations. Comments ran the gamut from cautions against the neocolonization of Africa

by European powers and weak African leadership, to concerns for the empowering the youth as the adults and leaders of the future, the need for economic unity and autonomy in Africa, the fact that the transatlantic slave trade has not been recognized as a crime against humanity yet, and Chinese and Indian involvement in the African economy.

On the Relationship between China and Africa

There is so much that we can teach the Chinese. For example, we can teach them about environmental repair, bureau standards in Africa, and being autonomous as workers, among many, many, other lessons. It was said that to study the future of Africa, one must also closely follow the direction in which China is going.

Closing remarks ended with the word of the scholar Sheik Ante Diop- “intellectuals have to study the past to derive lessons from it”

THE AU @ 50 AFRICA DAY CELEBRATION Africa Day 2013 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, which gave way for the establishment of the African Union.

On June 26th, the 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration for Africa Day was held in New York, co-sponsored by the African Group and the African Union in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation and the United Nations African Ambassadors Spouses Group. The theme for this year’s Africa Day was “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance.”

African dance is stimulated by rhythm, singing, hand clapping, and shouts accompanied by foot and body tapping.

Shakira Atitebi and Tosin Tosinger

AFRICAN NEW RELIGION The Transformation of the African Dance

Watching on TV, the backup choreographers and dance routine of Chris Brown, the American pop star at the recent BET Awards show; I couldn’t help but observe the dance moves that I have become oh so familiar with from my African culture. African dance is an all engaging bodily and spiritual movement. Energy, passion, entertaining – these are words that define the act of African dancing. The angled bend of the arms, stomping legs and fluid torso movement; the shoulder and hip gyrations; hopping, somersaulting, are all part of African dance. It is not an exaggeration to say African Dance has very much influenced other types of dances and music all over the world like the traditional dances of Cuba – the Rumba

(also called the Afro-Cuban Dance), the Conga, the Tango; dances of the Caribbean (Dancehall music, Reggae etc.)

Folk dances, African American Step dancing and even Beyonce and Shakira’s popular hip swerves among others. Cuba in particular is a notable reflection of the African culture through dance because a significant proportion of the population is of African origin.

African dance is stimulated by rhythm, singing, hand clapping, and shouts accompanied by foot and body tapping.

This rhythmic complexity has been said to form the basis for music genres such as Jazz and Rock’n’Roll. African music is dominated and mostly driven by sounds of percussions (drums) and vocal sounds (voice of singing or shouting) In the contemporary world of today, dance crazes are a phenomenon.

African dance has evolved into different variations and nomenclature. The most popular of recent is the Azonto dance,

which originated from Ghana and is fast becoming widespread among the young generation. Specific dances usually accompany specific songs/music made popular by the music artist for example the ‘Alanta’ dance spread like wild fire in 2008 when a Nigerian musical duo called “Artquake” came out with a musical video “Alanta” , in 2011; the ‘Oliver Twist’ dance

by Award winning African International star – Dbanj became a fan obsession.

Others include the ‘ Soukous/Lingala’ (Congo, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) ; ‘Coupe Decale’ (Cote D’Ivoire, Congo), ‘Kizomba’ (Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe)‘Yahooze’ by Nigerian singer, Olu Maintain which Colin Powell, the former US Secretary of State is said to have displayed the move publicly; the ‘Shangaan Electro Dance’ of South Africa and many more.

African dance creations are fun, entertaining and sometimes a spectacle of amusement. More importantly, African dance is a reflection on cultural identity, and some of the African dances have been able to take the world by a storm.

One such dance is the Kizomba, Azonto, and Makosa

AZONTO Africa, a continent three times the size of the United States, is ethnically and culturally the most diverse on the planet with people of different shades, language and cultural traditions. The most prevalent tradition that is performed in many African cultures as a form of emotional expression, social interaction, spiritual performance, storytelling, or even just for plain old fun is called dance.

the beginning, it was not recognized by the elders of the community. The lyrics were profane and the dance movements were sometimes risqué.

Eventually, Kapanglogo was acceptance by the seniors. Nowadays, it is enjoyed by all played at both informal gatherings for pleasure as well as at Ga funerals and political settings.

Though similar themes may be found throughout dances across the many countries and landscapes, each has its own history, language, song, background, and purpose.

African dance is a type of art that generally involves movement of the body and is a custom that also brings different African cultures together. Let’s take for example one of the most popular African dance moves today called Azonto. This dance originated from Ghana but has made its way to the Nigerian culture frequently performed by almost every Nigerian music artist. Azonto has even broken through to the European and the American music scene.

The dancer responds to the tune in their individual style, usually two dancers at a time (opposite sex), working off each other in a teasing sexual style. During holiday time, the dance becomes congregational.

Many people are seen dancing at the same time. Kpanlogo ultimately evolved in to the groovy dance Azonto.

Azonto is known to have its roots from a traditional dance called Kpanlogo which came in the wake of Ghana’s Independence, from the streets of Accra around 1962. It was music played by the youth, rooted from the spirit of liberty that their newfound independence had brought them. From

Azonto involves a set of hand movements that either mimic everyday activities or are meant to signal an often amusing intention.

It begun with one or two step movements but has been advanced to more complex and almost acrobatic movements. Just like most African dances, knee bending and hip movements are components to dancing it.

The dance has effectively evolved from a few simple moves to embrace depictions of ironing, washing, driving, boxing, grooming, praying, swimming, and even talking on the phone.

MAKOSSA Another popular dance seen on the dance floors of African weddings and clubs is called Makossa. This dance originated from Cameroon. Makossa, which means “dance” in the Duala language, has its origin in the dance called the kossa. Later in the 1960s, modern Makossa developed and became the most popular genre in Cameroon. Makossa is a type of funky dance and music. It was made popular by an African artist named Manu Dibango; whose 1972 single “Soul Makossa” was an international hit. Following Dibango, a wave of musicians tapped into Makossa in an attempt at making this genre more accessible outside of Cameroon.

Makossa involves a set of hip and waist movement performed by Africans of all ages.

During its performances it is evident that the individual dancing is having a great time.

African dance embodies flexibility and a graceful beauty flowing with rhythm. In Africa, there is so much that can be mentioned about the history of African dance such as it is a means of marking the experiences of life, its use for encouraging abundant crops, and healing the sick soul and body, also its use for ceremonial purposes. But to sum up the beauty of dance this day in age, Africans know how to get down on the dance floor.

KIZOMBA Kizomba, translating to “Party” in the Angolan Language Kibundo, is a dance born in the 1980s in Luanda. A partner dance, Kizomba is an extremely beautiful and sensual dance that seduces the soul.

For those knowledgeable dancers, imagine a marriage Kizomba as the Afro-Tango, a marriage between Zouk and the Argentine Tango. The couple is dancing, cheek to cheek. Their bodies lean in towards each other as their feet weave in intimate conversation. The hand of the leader is pressed against her back, tactfully signaling the next move. From a viewer’s point of view, one would think that it was another laid-back revolution of the Tango, except that the music and the way the dancers’ hips sway and their bodies’ rock is unmistakably African.

Kizomba is a dance that developed out of a need for social reform. The dance can be traced back in the 1950s-60s when

Angolans would dance Semba in big parties that were called Kizombadas. The current form of Kizomba that is being danced all around the world appeared at the end of 80’s – 90’s as a rebellious interpretation to semba, the national dance. kizomba is a result of an evolution: young generations, listening to traditional music like semba, felt something was missing - a modern and sensual touch. Kizomba is danced to music of the same name, a fusion of French Caribbean zouk and Angolan semba. Bands like Kassav, a famous French Caribbean Zouk band were the source of inspiration.

Adding an electronic percussion with a slow and extremely sensual rhythm… kizomba was born.

During the passing years kizomba was developed and spread worldwide as a music that catches your ear and as a dance that captivates your soul. Many other related sounds and dancing patterns have

been developing at the same time, not only in Angola but also Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Antilles and has been given different variations like the tarrachinha, coladera, or simply zouk.

Kizomba has spread from Luanda to Lisbon, which is the capital of Kizomba in Europe.

Amazingly, the majority of the kizomberos (Kizomba Dancers) are not African, but European. Outside of Europe, the Haitian community has embraced the dance, and is not only creating social scenes to introduce the dance in the United States, but have become instructors of the dance. The dance remains popular in Angola as Kizomba music artists like Neide Van-Dúnem, Don Kikas, Calo Pascoal and Irmãos Verdades keep the Kizomba culture alive both in and outside of the country.

SCAN AFRICA Shakira Atitebi

Africa’s History Through Architecture Stone Town Tanzania

Stone Town also known as Mji Mkongwe, the Swahili for “old town”, is the ancient part of Zanzibar City, the main city of Zanzibar, in Tanzania. It is positioned on the western coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago. Previously the capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate, and thriving epicenter of the spice trade as well as the slave trade in the 19th century, it preserved its importance as the key city of Zanzibar throughout the era of the British region. When Tanganyika and Zanzibar united to form the United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar kept a semi-independent status, with Stone Town as its local government seat.

Stone Town is a city of prominent historic significance in East Africa. Its structural design, dating back to the 19th century, replicates the various inspirations underlying the Swahili art, music, and literature, with a unique mixture of Arab, Persian, Indian and European components. Therefore, the city was elected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Due to its legacy, Stone Town is also a main tourist attraction in Tanzania, and a large part of its economy rest on on tourism-related events.

Fort Jesus, Kenya

Fort Jesus, built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596 to the designs of Giovanni Battista Cairati to shield the port of Mombasa, is one of the most exceptional illustrations of 16th Portuguese military fortification.

Built over a spur of coral rock, and kept under Portugal’s power for one century, Fort Jesus, Mombasa, exhibits the first victorious effort by Western civilization to control the Indian ocean trade routes, which, until then had remained under Eastern authority. The layout of the fort, with its proportions, its imposing walls and five bastions, replicates the military architectural concept of the Renaissance. Fort Jesus, Mombasa, bears physical witness, in its constructions and subsequent makeovers, also to the interchange of cultural values and inspirations between and among peoples of African, Arab, Turkish, Persian and European origin that fought to gain and maintain their control over this strategic port.

Asmara, Eritrea

Asmara is the capital city and by far the largest city in Eritrea. It is the home to a population of around 649,000 inhabitants. Asmara is located at the tip of an escarpment that is both the northwestern edge of the Eritrean highlands and the Great Rift Valley in bordering Ethiopia.

Its beginnings reach back between 800 BC and 400 BC. Originally, it is said, there were four clans occupying the Asmara region on the Kebessa Plateau: the Gheza Gurtom, the Gheza Shelele, the Gheza Serenser and Gheza Asmae. Inspired by their women, the men united the four clans and overpowered the bandits who preyed on the area. Subsequently, a new name was given to the place, Arbaete Asmara which means, “the four are united” in the Tigrinya language. Eventually, Arbaete was dropped and it has been called Asmara, although there is still a zone called Arbaete Asmara.

The city bears many traces of the Italian colonial era: in its infrastructure, its architecture and some culinary traditions. Dissimilar to many of the other towns in Eritrea, it is comparatively undamaged but has been undergoing a rapid improvement in infrastructure, building repairs, and repainting.

AKsum, Ethiopia

Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia that was the original capital of the kingdom of Axum. It has a population of 56,500. Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from about 400 BC into the 10th century. In 1980 UNESCO added Aksum’s archaeological sites to its list of World Heritage Sites due to their historical value.

The main Aksum monuments in the town are stelae. These pillars are around 1,700 years old and have become an emblem of the Ethiopian people’s identity. The other major structures of the town are the Old and New Cathedrals of St Mary of Zion. The two cathedrals are the center of pilgrimage and valued as the holiest sites in Ethiopia to members of its Orthodox Church.

Other attractions in Axum include archaeological and ethnographic museums, the Ezana Stone written in Sabaean, Ge’ez and Ancient Greek in a similar manner to the Rosetta Stone, King Bazen’s Tomb (a megalith considered to be one of the earliest structures), the so-called Queen of Sheba’s Bath (actually a reservoir), the 4th-century Ta’akha Maryam and 6th-century Dungur palaces, the monasteries of Abba Pentalewon and Abba Liqanos and the Lioness of Gobedra rock art.

Bamako Grand Mosque, Mali

The Bamako Grand Mosque is located in the city center of Bamako. It is one of the tallest structures in Bamako. Constructed on the site of a pre-colonial mud-brick mosque, the existing mosque was built through money from the Saudi Arabian government at the end of the 1970s. With its tall cement minarets built around a square central structure, the structure is stylistically similar to Saudi religious structures than West African. The mosque is noticeable from much of the city and sporadically opened to sightseers. Another center of attraction in Bamako is the BCEAO Tower. It is 20 stories high and the tallest building in the West African nation. The BCEAO Tower is the Malian headquarters of the Central Bank of West African States, which offers development banking and government financial and currency services in various Francophone West African countries. Categorized as Neo-Sudanic architecture, it is modeled on the Sudano-Sahelian architecture of the famous mosques of Djenne and Timbuktu. The building is located between the two main Bamako bridges: King Fahd Bridge a block west and Martyrs Bridge three blocks east. Just to the east of the BCEAO complex, a park and formal garden marks where the diagonally running “Boulevard du Peuple” reaches the river. By contrast, small market gardens and river canoes lie along the river front.

THE CASTLES OF GHANA, GHANA

STONE CIRCLES, SENEGAL AND GAMBIA

The Senegambia stone circles lie in Gambia north of Janjanbureh and in central Senegal.

They are sometimes divided into the Wassu (Gambian) and Sine-Saloum (Senegalese) circles, but this is purely a national division.

Each stone circle contains about 10 to 24 standing stones. All the stones in any given circle are usually the same height, and size, varying between 60 cm and 245 cm high and weighing up to 10 tons. The largest stones, located at N’Jai Kunda, may weigh at least 10 tons. These stones were all made up of laterite (soil rich in iron and aluminum), whose particular property is to harden upon exposure to air, and before exposure, they are quite easy to quarry; they were fashioned with a great degree of sophistication using iron tools.

According to local historians, the circles were built around mounds of kings, chiefs, and later religious Muslim leaders, following royal burial traditions from the ancient empire of Ghana.

The late Islamic scholar Alhaji Kemoring Jaiteh suggests that these were burial sites where the circle represents harmony, the absolute and perfection; the circle implies heaven and eternity. This reflects a prosperous, highly organized and lasting society.

The Castles of Ghana fashioned not only Ghana’s memoir but that of the world over four centuries as the focus of first the gold trade and then the slave trade. They are a significant and emotive symbol of European-African encounters and of the starting point of the African Diaspora.

The castles along the coast of Ghana date back to the 15th Century and were built and occupied at different times by the European traders and adventurers from Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany and Britain to safeguard trading posts. The castles overall remains vulnerable to environmental pressures, development pressure including localized quarrying, and lack of adequate funding for the regular maintenance and conservation of the sites. Today some have been restored and have a variety of uses while some are in ruins.

Most are however open to the public.

ROBBEN ISLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

Robben Island was used at various times between the 17th century and the 20th century as a prison, a hospital for socially unacceptable groups, and a military base. Its buildings, in particular those of the late 20th century maximum security prison for political prisoners, testify to the way in which democracy and freedom triumphed over oppression and racism.

What has survived from its episodic history are 17th century quarries, the tomb of Hadije Kramat who died in 1755, 19th century ‘village’ administrative buildings including a chapel and parsonage, small lighthouse, the lepers’ church, the only remains of a leper colony, derelict World War II military structures around the harbour and the stark and functional maximum security prison of the Apartheid period began in the 1960s.

The symbolic value of Robben Island lies in its somber history, as a prison and a hospital for unfortunates who were sequestered as being socially undesirable. In 1964, Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island where he would spend 18 of his 27 prison years. This came to an end in the 1990s when the inhuman Apartheid regime was rejected by the South African people and the political prisoners who had been incarcerated on the Island received their freedom after many years.

MAKING AFRICA’S

AND THE AWARDS GOES TO....

Kora Awards

Kora is one of the biggest musical events in Africa to date, anticipated by Africans everywhere. This is where music, tradition and the beauty of Africa takes center stage. The KORA Music Awards, born in South Africa, the African cultural event is also known in French as “ Les Trophées KORA de la Musique Africaine”. It is an all African Music Awards that takes place annually, bringing together many celebrities and musicians from across the continent to celebrate the diverse music generated from the talented African Artists. Created in 1994 by, Ernest Coovi Adjovi, a businessman originally from Benin, the ceremony rewards the best artists of Africa and its Diaspora, the KORA Awards is the Pan African version of the Grammy Awards the most viewed on TV worldwide after the Soccer World Cup and the Olympic Games. Over the past ten years since its initiation the KORA Awards have been held in South Africa for the most part, and recently the awards have migrated to different parts of the continent from Nigeria to Burkina Faso.

The 12th edition of the awards took place in Abidjan Ivory Coast on December 29th 2012 at “Palais des Congrès de l’Hotel Ivoire”. Winners included DJ Arafat, Rihanna, Davido, Zahara, Hasna El Becharia, Magic system and Chris Brown. Previous winners included Reggie Rockstone, Thandiswa Mazwai, Usher, P-Square and Fally Ipupa.

The 13th Edition is set to take place this year; the country to host this event has not been confirmed yet. Either way, everyone anticipates another historic event that will bring joy and tears to our hearts.

Applause Africa ’s highlights the brightest talents on the contenet and in the diaspora.

Nana Brenyah

NEA Award

One of Africa’s biggest Music awards known outside the continent is the Nigerian Entertainment Award (NEA).

Started about 8 years ago The Nigeria Entertainment Award has brought together people from all over the continent.

Held annually in New York City, the NEA is designed to cater to an audience who although live in the US are still heavy consumers and supporters of African entertainment. The NEA brings together this diverse group to celebrate African Artists with an aim of uniting the Diaspora through music. The annual NEA Awards has been attended by the big names in African entertainment such as Ramsey Nouah, Tuface Idibia, Funke Akindele, MI, Super Model Oluchi, Former Miss World Agbani Darego, Banky W, Wiz Kid, Ice Prince, Davido, Kenny Ogungbe, D1, Juliet Ibrahim and Mr. Olu Jacobs amongst others.

This year the organizers are hard at work to ensure that the 8th edition of the awards is even better than the last. With the 2013 nominees already announced, fans are waiting to hear who the host of this year’s awards will be. During the week of the NEA Awards, organizers organize different events starting on the Friday through to the main the main event/award show on the following Saturday.

Channel O Music Awards

Channel O Music Video Awards, also known as “Spirit of Africa Music Video Awards” is a Pan-African music awards organized by South Africa -based Channel O television channel. The awards was first held in 2003 under the name Reel Music Video Awards. Since 2005 the awards have been held annually. Channel O’s viewers vote the winners across the continent. As one of the main awards focused on Music Videos, Channel O promotes creativity within the African continent. Musicians and producers alike are able to collaborate to produce a visionary medium through which African music can be seen around the world. Music videos particularly supports Africa’s image, because of the positive aspects associated with it, other people around the world see a different side of Africa through these videos. Winners have included 2 Face Idiba, D Banj, Lucky Dube, P- Square, Buffalo Souljah, K’naan, Lady May, Ice Prince and Samini.

Summer fashion brings new styles, light fabrics and bold colors. It’s absolutely refreshing that you simply won’t find bare shoulders, eye-popping slits or sheer panels as La Maghreb brings us back to modesty with an aura of elegance. Unapologetically rich in culture, Maghreb’s history and influences are more than just African, incorporating also Mediterranean and Arabian. This French-speaking region in North Africa spans fashion’s most influential countries and is home to legendary designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Zhor Rais and Azzedine Alaïa.

Despite the traditional religious underpinnings of conservative attire in Maghreb, you’ll also see modern head wraps, caftan dresses and jewelry splashed across the pages of the world’s leading fashion magazines. This acknowledges the profound international impact of Maghreb fashion while staying true to local culture and traditional styles. Popular celebrities and models such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Campbell and Iman were visibly excited about these creations. It is no surprise that the fashion-forward ladies in the movie, “Sex and the City 2,” left New York City on a trip to the world’s most exotic and fashionable place on earth, La Maghreb.

Pushing the latest trends from the small screen to the big screen and from catwalks to Fashion Week, these authentic bold colors and exceptional fabrics accented with beads and embroidery will delight your fashion sense. Strongly influenced by culture, fashion here can be overwhelmingly luxurious and flamboyant with an exotic flare. Here it’s all about dressing well and showing off your personal style and social status. Some may find the attire limiting to self-expression because it covers your entire body, but that’s the essence of its beauty and why it is so exotic and trendy. Let the dress speak for itself! There’s no question there’s a subtle Western influence in the latest designs with lightweight, fluid fabrics and structured cuts, but there’s also a strong traditional feel that makes these designs so appealing.

It’s no wonder when you wear the latest out of Maghreb, you absolutely feel like royalty. Algerian designer, Yves Saint Laurent, said it best: “Chanel freed women, and I empowered them.”

Eunice Omole

“Mode en La Maghreb” Fun Facts!

Yves Saint Laurent (Algeria): Undisputedly one of the world’s greatest fashion designers known for his international fashion label, YSL, St. Laurent was the first designer to use ethnic models for his runways. He was the first living designer to receive a solo exhibition in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1983.

ZhorRais (Morocco): Keeping tradition with a modern twist and hailed as an ‘Ambassador for Kaftans,’ Rais encourages every international woman to have a kaftan in her wardrobe.

Azzedine Alaïa (Tunisia): This fashion icon is famously known as the ‘King of Cling’ for his clinging, figure-sculpting designs. You may remember the scene from the movie ‘Clueless, where Cher, played by Alicia Silverstone, was fiercely protective of her Alaïa. Michelle Obama is a regular Alaïa client.

Hooray Nollywood

(R-L) Tunde Kelani, Kunle Afolayan, Jamiu Shoyode, Aimee Corrigan meeting outside the classrooms of Nollywood UP.

Ololade Siyonbola

Defining and Celebrating the Past and Future of Nigerian Cinema A walk down many a Brooklyn street and the noises of the city are accompanied by the blaring noises of storefronts. Bootleg movies blare from wall-mounted televisions, and Carribbean and American passerby stop in to buy films flown over from the Motherland. Mostly Nigerian films, these stories give an insight into the African continent that this audience would not otherwise have.

Actor Seun Akindele in the kitchen, the weight of the world on his character’s shoulders.

Scene from Tunde Kelani’s New Movie Dazzling Mirage Image By Connor Ryan

“Nolly, who?”

Perhaps it is this image of Nigerian cinema that keeps Africans in the Diaspora viewing these films with less fanfare than other Americans. Fiftysomethings are more likely to be caught watching Nigerian films than twenty-somethings. Why is this? The younger generation, Western-raised on immaculate cinema and television content, is often more distracted by poor production quality than their say, Caribbean-raised counterparts.

“You’re Nigerian?

I love Nigerian movies.”

In a country like the US where the dearth of Black cinema leaves much to be desired, Nigerian films were welcomed with open arms. Blacks living in the States thrive on seeing images of people who look like them. Instead of the images of Black people committing crimes, serving white masters, living in poverty, mostly-naked dancing on poles in music videos; American consumers of Nigerian films get to view Black people with mansions, their own house help, their own businesses, drivers and extended family units. They see the urbanization of Lagos and other African cities, while also being transported into the hinterlands with more traditional stories.

The fact that these consumers have spent millions on Nigerian films in the last 10 years—in spite of language barriers (the accent-peppered English can be an acquired taste for the average American), poor writing and lower production quality than what they are accustomed to—shows that they value the experience of traversal to West Africa more than they worry about film quality. After all, these films present to such consumers the rare opportunity to see reflections of themselves in a relatively positive light.

How old is Nollywood?

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan earlier this year acknowledged the 20th anniversary of the inception of “Nollywood” as we know it with a government-sponsored celebration. This on the heels of Unesco’s declaration that Nollywood, the world’s second-largest film industry and Nigeria’s second-largest employer, required more support.

Some tastemakers and contributors to Nigerian cinema were rubbed the wrong way by the celebration. The $200 billion loan fund and ₦3 billion grant fund recently instituted by Jonathan for development of the film industry is suspected to be targeted only to chosen facets of the industry—the same facets who claim that Nollywood was born in 1993 with Kenneth Nnebue’s film Living in Bondage.

In actuality, Herbert Ogunde and Ola Balogun produced Nigerian films as early as the 1960s.

However, earlier films were not mass distributed in the way that Nollywood films have come to be.

Nnebue’s distribution model set the stage for the straight-to-home-video, cheaply-mass-produced nature for which Nollywood has come to be known.

There is also an element of shame at the high incidence of voodoo rituals used for evil, and the repetition of stories that are core to the most popular films.

It seems that you can always expect an evil mother-in-law, sister or “frenemy” to solve a problem or nine with the help of a voodoo priest. It seems often that life’s problems are explained by someone’s use of a catastrophic spell years and years ago.

While this very well may be the reality for a certain portion of the Nigerian / West African population; while marriage, infidelity, backstabbing, murder may be the central themes in the lives of many a Nollywood contributor; the younger generation seems to thirst for stories that enrich, that edify and that reflect a much broader sense of African-ness. The newer films, focused on a very Western aesthetic and storyline, may be relatively easier for the younger group to swallow, but also have lost a great deal of what made them African in the first place.

The most unforgettable African films are those whose fullydeveloped, intelligent African storylines and characters speak to the humanity of the viewers.

NOLLYWOOD ON AMAZON

Last Flight to Abuja was written, produced and directed by Obi Emelonye, a visionary award-winning UK based Nigerian filmmaker and starring Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Hakeem Kae-Kazim and Jim Iyke – the biggest screen talents Africa has to offer – Last Flight to Abuja is set to thrill global audiences & become the latest blockbuster for fans of new Nollywood cinema everywhere.

The Nigerian movie industry “Nollywood” is the second largest in the world in terms of the annual volume of films distributed behind only the Indian “Bollywood” film industry. Worth $250 Million a year, Nollywood productions are in great demand, especially on the digital platform.

Re-writing the Script Osuofia in London, arguably the most internationally known Nollywood film, was produced with superior digital quality, with a story themed on culture-clash, familial loyalty, unusual perseverance.

Directors like Tunde Kelani still produce films for theatre, films that instruct viewers in the culture of his homeland, advancing the mother tongue. Tony Abulu has more than once bridged the gap from the Diaspora to the homeland through film. Andrew Dosunmu has produced two “visually-stunning” films to sold-out US theatres, with Mother of George also providing cultural education. Most of these would never be considered “Nollywood” films. Granted, there are a whole host of films produced and/or directed by Nigerians and other Africans, telling African stories with Sundance class. But is the new government funding interest focused on these? Or on the mother seeking a Babalawo’s help to restore her prostituting daughter who became mentally ill because of a twenty-year-old curse?

This debate is what spurned the creation of the film True Story Nollywood, a short documentary

by Ihuoma Atanga which explores the authenticity of the stories portrayed in Nigerian films. Atanga is part of a collective producing Happy Birthday, Nollywood, a mini film festival highlighting the best of Nigerian Cinema this Fall. Through Happy Birthday, Nollywood film screenings and panels, organizers hope to encourage a new infusion of interest in Nigerian cinema from writers and producers who believe in the power of film to drastically affect a generation for the better. Giving those city-dwelling film-lovers better buying options in their storefronts and supporting the notion that Nigerians have largely struggled to accept: that of quality over quantity. *** Ololade Siyonbola is the co-founder of the Yoruba Cultural Institute and the author of Market of Dreams, the first multilingual poetry collection by a Nigerian author. Connect with Siyonbola on her blog www.siyonbola.com

A unique collaboration of a Nigerian/British production the movie ’AMINA’, is a psychological human drama featuring Nollywood megastars OMOTOLA JALADEEKEINDE and VAN VICKER alongside top British movie stars WIL JOHNSON, VINCENT REGAN and ALISON CARROLL aka Lara Croft.

Digital distribution has empowered content created in Nigeria or Ghana to spread across geographic and cultural boundaries. Thanks to new commercial models for distribution as well as international Diasporic networks, there is a wide circulation of Nollywood and Ghollywood content globally. Digital distribution of African content is in demand in United States, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy and Malaysia being the most active markets.

One of the companies providing content across the globe is Black Speech Media, a multi-faceted company with both movie and music production, with subsidiaries in online streaming. Most recently, Amazon.com negotiated a contract with Black Speech Media to provide African content for purchase. This move assures that lovers of African movies have an easily accessible way to will be able to purchase copies of their favorite movies no matter their region of habitation.

“Ties That Bind” Starring Omotola Ekeinde And Kimberly Elise.

“Ties That Bind” is one of the most gripping movies I’ve screened in a long time.” Rick Berman, Executive Producer Star Trek

Based in Brooklyn and New Jersey, Black Speech Media is one of the leading producer, distributor and promoter of Nollywood and Ghollywood movies in the United States. Recently, the company has branched to providing content in the Caribbean and Europe. In their dedication to assure that the media is enjoyed at all ages, the company is committed to providing content with limited adult content for its audience.

In their effort to meet the demand for digital distribution of Nollywood and Ghollywood content, Black Speech Media is not only providing content for Amazon, but also contracts with IPTV companies and online streaming venues such as Enovative TV and TruAfrica. Additionally, the company makes free content available for the public on their YouTube channel, and other online platforms.

Nollywood has been a great tool in telling African stories that other mainstream media and Hollywood have failed in telling. With companies such as Black Speech Media showcasing these stories on a medium accessible for all, Nollywood, Ghollwood and other African movie industries will slowly become strong global luxury industries.

GhANA’S SWeeThEART

Divine Muragijimana

NADIA BUARI

STANDS OUT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASON

Nadia Buari is a Ghanaian actress, philanthropist and an enterprising business woman. She has consistently stayed above her contemporaries in the film industry not just because of her irresistible beauty and sense of humor, but more importantly because of her ambidextrous quality in business coupled with her affable attitude undergirded by her persistent aptitude for excellence.

Many in the media and her fans prefer to refer to her as “Beyonce” which is a name she merited from her lightening lead role she played in the movie titled “Beyonce – The President’s Daughter.” Asked how she feels about being referred to as one of her characters, the actress doesn’t seem to mind the reference. “Beyonce has always been one of the people I look up to, she’s phenomenal, and to have people refer me to someone this incredibly talented and one of the world’s greatest icon. I can only be humbled.” Though a media-shy actress, in front the camera she continuous to thrill the world with her creative acting prowess

Education

Nadia currently holds a First Class BFT Degree in Fine Art. Following her successful basic, elementary and high schools, Nadia enrolled in the University of Ghana, Legon, where she studied Fine Art. Assiduous as she was and still is she played a major role in her school’s theatre and drama club by organising many programs and shows that sought to inspire many in the club to aspire to advance themselves in their chosen careers. “Acting has always been my ardent passion and it’s amazing I’m living my dream. I love what I do and do what I love,” says the actress. Asked about her most memorable performance, the actress says, “I played a demon called Azazi in a movie titled “Agony of The Christ”.

An incredibly challenging role. That’s one role that will be etched in my memory for a long time.”

Family

Nadia is daughter to Mr Sidiku Buari a great composer, actor and a businessman. As the former president and vice president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSUGA) and the International Federation of Musicians (FIM) respectively, Nadia’s father has had a huge influence on his daughter’s career

as an actress. To date, Mr. Buari still plays a key role in the art industry worldwide. As the first of five children of Mr and Mrs Buari, Nadia has consistently placed her family above all her priorities.To Nadia, the source of her strength for doing what she is doing is derived first from her believe in God, support from her family and her passion for assiduousness.

Impact

Having been featured in over fifty movies Nadia is one of the finest in African movies and a great asset to the African movie industry. She has won numerous awards including Best African Actress award by Five Continents, Annual Academy Awards organised by Haitians for two consecutive years and her recent one at Zafaa, an award show organised by the African Community in the UK for Best Supporting Actress.

Aside been nominated severally in various categories at the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), “Beyonce” as she is affectionately known in the industry also has in her custody the award for Best Supporting Actress which she enviably won at both the Ghana Movie Awards in 2010 and the Ghana Movie Awards 2011. For her many accomplishments in the industry and beyond, she became the first actress to be officially honoured by Emklan Showbiz International for her outstanding contributions to the show business in Africa.

Her modesty in success has made her an attraction to the corporate bodies in Africa for marketing their images and products. Beside her various endorsement deals with different giant companies in the sub-region, she is currently the official face of devon, an internationally acclaimed luxury soap.

As a philanthropist entrepreneur and a great leader with the heart of service, Nadia has constantly sought to give back to society through her numerous humanitarian activities. She runs the Nadia Buari Foundation, an NGO that seeks to address the plights of street children by providing them with food, medical care, training and programs that are designed to help them live a better and a meaningful life. “Children inspire me, and as someone who is constantly in public, I believe that I responsibility to pay it forward.” The actress is also involved with several other projects that assist the needy and the less privileged.

Also as the former ambassador of the International Children Games Ghana (ICGG) tasked to unearth talents and raise funds worldwide for the development of these raw potentials into useful skills, she helped many young people realize their dreams to have a fulfilling and productive life. She has also been an ardent supporter of “City Hill Avenue Scholarship Establishment” which provides means for less privileged children to attend It is very obvious that Nadia is not only known for her great skills in the art of entertainment, but most significantly also for her acts of kindness.

Africa House

Mobilizing the Diaspora AnD Opportunities for Engagement

Africa House, a mansion in Tennessee, once served as a plantation to slaves. Ironically the mansion is now owned by Africans.

A Former Plantation Becomes the Hub for Diaspora Engagement with Africa On a hot, Tenessee afternoon, Dr. Arikana Chihombori walked to an auction with no intention of buying the house. It was too big, and while it might have come a cheap price, it carried no significance to her- at least not in the beginning. Out of curiosity, she attended the auction for this house in Tennessee, and after learning of its history, she found herself bidding for it. This was the humble beginnings of what is now known as Africa House.

Born in Zimbabwe, Dr. Chihombori and her Ghanaian husband Dr. Nii Saban Quao have been residents of Tennessee for several years now. It is no surprise to anyone that Chihombori turned the mansion into a place where Africans in the Diaspora can come together and dialogue on how the Diaspora can effectively engage with Africa. The plantation has now become an oasis of African culture in Tennessee.

It is also now a hub of thought and strategic thinking on Africa. To date, Africa House has

hosted dignitaries, beauty queens, ambassadors and other special guests who pass through for the events and dialogue sessions. One of the major events has been the African Forum that was sponsored by the African Union Diaspora where participants from all over Africa and America came to discuss the issue around Diaspora engagement in Africa.

One of the major initiatives that have been launched by Africa House is the Health-care initiative. As the chairwoman of the African Union African Diaspora Health Initiative (AUADHI), Dr. Chihombori has been working in mobilizing health-care workers throughout the African Diaspora in order for them to assist in addressing some of the health care crisis in Africa. “ We started with Health-Care because both my husband and I are healthcare providers and we know this space very well. Eventually, we will be branching to other areas.”

Regular meetings are held at Africa House in order to brainstorm, collect information and strategize on different issues that are affecting Africans in the Diaspora and those in the continent.

In the spirit of Ujamaa (Swahili word for togetherness), Africa House brings the diaspora together, giving them the support they need in order to affect change in Africa. The discussions during meetings at the house are mostly about mobilizing the African Diaspora, and finding areas of synergy with those who are in the continent.

“We are the African Union. Whether we live in the continent or we are in the Diaspora, we are the people that comprise of the union, “ Dr. Chihombori states. “ There is no institution without the people. As the 6th region of the African Union, the African Diaspora should take their place in participating in Africa’s development.”

The Council of Young African Leaders

Africa's Future Leading Today

THE COUNCIL OF YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESENT

3rd Annual

YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM Theme

AU @50: DEFINING YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND EQUAL PARTNERSHIP IN DRIVING AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT October 18-19, 2013 Location: CUNY (TBA) Panel Discussions

1.Lessons Since Independence: The Value of An African Education 2.Innovative Leadership: Becoming a Disruptive Thinker

Workshops

1.Developing a Matured African Mindset: Ways to obtain a larger vision of yourself By 54 Kingdoms 2.Business and Identity: How Afropolitans can impact Africa By Ony Law

Speakers Include: H.E William Awinador-Kanyirige, Deputy Permanent Representative at Ghana Permanent Mission to the UN; Chid Liberty, Liberty & Justice; Milton Almadi, Black Star News; Kwesi Koomson, Co-Founder of Shoerke Foundation; Chelsey Roebuck, President and Founder, Emerging Leaders in Technology and Engineering, Inc. Submit a paper to be presented at the Symposium Three young students (Undergraduate/Graduate) will be present a paper around the Theme of “Youth Perception and their Engagement with Africa” Deadline for Paper Submissions: September 30, 2013 Contact organizers: thecyal@gmail.com

What are your duties as Miss Ghana USA? As Miss Ghana USA, I serve as a cultural ambassador in both the United States and Ghana.

While there are official appearances that I must make on behalf of the organization, I truly have the flexibility to craft the experience according to my preferences.

In your opinion, what is the most important issue in Ghana today? Why? What would you do to change it? I personally believe that the most important issue facing Ghana today is the high unemployment rate among young people, especially senior high school and university graduates. Having the best and brightest of Ghana wasting their talents is an ineffective development and growth strategy for the country.

I think the only solution is to empower young people to create their own jobs through entrepreneurship and technology.

When given access to seed capital and consistent and reliable infrastructure, I know the young people of Ghana can develop innovative solutions to the challenges and business opportunities facing not only our country but Africa and the rest of the world as well.

What will be the next step after you conclude your year as Miss Ghana USA 2013? I truly believe that the young people in Ghana, especially young women, can change their communities, businesses, and country I will continue to advocate and promote them and all young entrepreneurs across Africa after my rein as Miss Ghana USA. I look forward to doing that by advising entrepreneurs and companies as well as telling their stories through the media.