EDITORIAL
Pan African exponent and first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah said “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa”. In this scenario the independence of Africa will be meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of all people of color around the globe hence, we are here! The Pan Afrikan Times magazine is unique, linking businesses, arts, and culture of all Africans around the globe. This magazine is here to share knowledge and inspire us to learn from one another in a genuine spirit of oneness. The magazine will also facilitate and network African businesses with counterparts in the Diaspora. Pan Afrikan Times is here to celebrate achievements of heroic Africans at home and abroad. The magazine prides itself on illuminating the world with the luxuriance of Africa’s variant cultures far and wide; the likes of which never gains prominence through the channels of western media, such as CNN and BBC. This is a grassroots magazine for the people, by the people, and of the people. It is unequivocally the voice of the voiceless, the voice of the masses.
TEAM
Managing Editor Kwadwo Gyan-Apenteng aka Kojo Sankofa Business Executive/Editorial Assistant Saesha M. Nix Supervising Editor Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng Associate Editor. Prof. Ofori Bekoe
CONTENT
EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITORIAL
BUSINESS TIMES
Editorial Consultant Lavon Petit Nicole Visual Artists/Graphic Designers David Muhsin Ernest Camel Website Administrator/Social Media Editor David Muhsin
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
•South African Airways
•African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce
Cover Stories
Akon Lighting Africa Obama’s Return to Kenya
Profile
Zambian President Soars
Remembering The Times
George Washington Carver
Fashion Focus
Senegalese Fashion
The Arts
•Janelle Monae
•Art Loft
•Africa Week in Vienna
•Dr. Dre •Pan African Youth Orchestra
Around the World
•Botswana
Yaw’s Diary
•Baby vs. Beau
Column
•deAFRICAtriot
Sports
OTHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Saphia Ngalapi, Zanzibar, Tanzania | Salim Henry, Lusaka, Zambia
•Tia Norfleet NASCAR
BUSINESS TIMES
BUSINESS TIMES
SOUTH AFRICA EXPANDS FLIGHTS IN WEST AFRICA TO NORTH AMERICA South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline, launched new nonstop service between Washington, D.C.-Dulles International Airport and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport on August 3, 2015.
With the introduction of this new flight, SAA will
provide the only nonstop flight between Washington D.C. and Ghana, while being the only 4-Star rated Skytrax airline service with world-class quality from North America to the West African region. South
African Airways’ airline partners, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Virgin America, also offer convenient connections from over 50 markets in the U.S. and Canada via Washington D.C.-Dulles. “This is a major development and achievement for the airline as part of our strategic growth on the African continent. With an expanded presence in West Africa, in the form of nonstop services to both Accra and Dakar from Washington D.C., our customers will soon have access to more destinations in the region,” says Nico Bezuidenhout, South African Airways’ Acting Chief Executive Officer. South African Airways’ flights to Accra is available four days a week with continuing service to Johannesburg, South Africa, operating on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. SAA will reduce its
current flights from Washington D.C.-Dulles to Dakar, Senegal and onwards to Johannesburg, to three days a week, operating on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. “We are delighted to launch the only flight from Washington D.C. to Accra, as we are continually committed to offer convenient service and our unique blend of African hospitality between North America and Africa,” said Marc Cavaliere, Executive Vice President for South African Airways in North America. “Ghana is quickly becoming a strong international business destination in Africa and this new route is going to make travel to the region easier for many travelers from North America. We look forward to welcoming them on board and offering our award-winning service.” SAA flights are operated on wide-body Airbus A340600 aircrafts, featuring 42 full-flat 180 degree beds in Premium Business Class and 275 seats in Economy Class, ergonomically designed with adjustable headrests and industry-leading legroom of up to 34” for long-haul travel. Customers traveling in both Premium Business Class and Economy Class enjoy an extensive menu of, freshly prepared meals, complimentary bar service featuring award-winning South African wines, and on-demand audio and visual entertainment options. This new route is part of SAA’s continued expansion in North America, where the airline is the only carrier to offer daily nonstop service from New York-JFK International Airport to Johannesburg, South Africa. All in all, South African Airlines has begun to provide a most prestigious and increasingly convenient pathway for Africans and those of the Diaspora to network and connect more expansively.
BUSINESS TIMES
AFRICAN CARIBBEAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SET TO EXPAND IN AFRICA The African Caribbean Chamber of
Commerce of Michigan, U.S.A, is set to expand in Africa and the Caribbean in the coming years. The progressive business fraternity looks forward to networking and fostering trade, not only locally but internationally, especially in Africa and in the Caribbean islands. The African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is organized to advance the business activities and prosperity of its members. The organization’s vision is to be a driving force that will create synergy to empower and elevate African and Caribbean businesses. At a monthlly meeting, philanthropist, business mogul, and President of the ACCC, Errol Service, hinted that the chamber is looking to expanding membership to the motherland - Africa, as well as the entire African Caribbean Diaspora. The organization is also looking to connect and facilitate businesses between African, Caribbean, and Diaspora companies and its members. The Chamber has members from Guyana, Ethiopia, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Uganda, Nigeria, Benin, Ghana, and the United States of America, among other countries. Business professionals such as engineers, doctors, and lawyers from different African, Caribbean, and American heritages are among members of this ethic chamber.
The ACC and Detroit City council are making plans to set up an international community and hub for Brightmoor, one of the city’s enterprising neighborhoods. This community and hub will attract and encourage Africans and Caribbean in the Diaspora to set up businesses and cultural centers. The African Caribbean Chamber of Commerce’s contribution to community development, locally and internationally, is remarkable. Over the past years the organization has offered free business consultations, links, and start-ups to some of its members and the community as well.
COVER STORTY
COVER STORTY
AFRICA EMBRACES AKON LIGHTING PROJECT
Internationally renowned, artist, business mogul, and humanitarian, Akon, concluded his African road show dubbed “Akon Lighting Africa” in Benin, West Africa. By Kwadwo Gyan-Apenteng
He
was given a rousing welcome by the citizenry. His solar electrification project has received tremendous appreciation and support from its participating countries and all well-meaning people around the globe. In the wake of Africa’s growing demands in the energy sector, citizens and communities in Africa have welcomed the solar electrification project by Akon’s main partner, Solektra International, as a beacon of hope for greater things to come. It is the long term objective of Akon and Solektra International, to use energy from the Sun to drive education by introducing solar connected tablets and gadgets. Akon asserted that “The solar power we are providing can be used to connect all sorts of devices, telephones to communicate, fridges to keep food so why not power computers too. We presented the outline of a new project we hope to launch within a few months to supply learning devices and to set up smart schools”. “Akon lighting Africa” unveiled solar powered tablets in Benin to be used primarily for education and information technology. The Prime Minister of Benin, Lionel Zinsou, and the three co-founders of the initiative, Akon, Thione Niang, and Samba Bathily, inspected
the new street lamps installed in the district of Pahou, near Benin’s capital Coutonou amidst pageantry and celebration. A few months ago, Solektra International won the tender to install 1500 solar lamps and 2200 solar kits in 124 localities in Benin. Akon and his team started the road show in Kenya attending the much touted Global Entrepreneurship Summit, and continued to Rwanda, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Niger, and Benin. “Akon Lighting Africa” used the tour to explore, build, and learn firsthand from communities, stakeholders, and policy makers in Africa. This has given Akon and his team an opportunity to have productive discussions with international and local agencies, to identify and deploy solar solutions offered by Solektra International. Solektra International has hinted that various authorities in Africa have shown interest in the solar initiative and has proposed a prefinancing business scheme. Akon Lighting Africa and Solektra International are hopeful to reach 25 African countries by the end of 2016.
COVER STORTY
OBAMA RETURNS TO KENYA By Velma Kiome
Photo by: The Star Newspaper
When “Obama Returns” was officially announced on May
20, 2015, Nairobi residents who were fortunate enough to be mobile announced that they would ‘Obamigrate’ to avoid the resulting inconvenience of traffic jams and limited movement. In a city where nearly fifty percent of residents walk to and from work (largely due to prohibitive cost of transport) day-laborers lamented the threat of arrest for not carrying identification, as it would leave room for police harassment and undue detention.
COVER STORTY
Photo by: The Star Newspaper
US President Barack Obama pays his respects after laying a wreath of flower at the 7th bombblast memorial park on Saturday,July 25 in remembrance of those killed during the 1998 terror attack.
On July 21, after much speculation on social media about whether that day would be dubbed an ‘Obamaholiday’, my boss requested that I inform all staff of the impending closures of the major roads that would inconvenience commuters. To citizens, especially those running small businesses, the disruption to normal transport, restriction of pedestrian movement along major highways and within the Nairobi Central Business District, meant that they could not sell their wares. Many reported low earnings throughout the three-day Obama visit. In particular, the passenger motorcyclist service providers were entirely prohibited from operating. With threats of arrests looming large, they heeded. It would therefore be left up to individual staff to decide whether to report to work or not. Other speculation revolved around the disruption of communication, as had happened during United States’ Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Kenya.
Speaking to a mobile money transfer vendor earlier this week, it appears there was minimal communication interruption if at all; it was mostly business as usual. Banks announced half-day operations for Friday July 24th via text messages. The Obama visit failed to instantaneously excite the markets, already at an all time annual low, as trading hours at the Nairobi Stock Exchange were cut short, closing at 0900 GMT instead of 1200 GMT. The main beneficiary of Obama’s presidential trip to Kenya was his family. Most Kenyans also viewed his trip as the Presidential homecoming. He has been quoted by his uncle Sidi Obama, as saying, “I did not want to come to Kenya so fast in my presidency because we did not want to appear to be playing favourite.” Some Kenyans viewed his trip as the Presidential homecoming. At the private family dinner hosted with the support of the United States Embassy in Nairobi, President Obama got to meet
COVER STORTY
A man points as his friend finds a clear view of President Obama Motorcade on top of Gedi Street Indicator after President Barrack Obama arrival at the Bomb blast site along the Moi Avenue on July25.
relatives he had never met, while rekindling his relationship with those he had. This visit raised the prominence of the Obama family in Kenya. Obama’s fondness and warmth towards his half-sister Rita Auma, was not lost on Kenyan citizens. She featured prominently in all his engagements and has since gained huge popularity on the ground and on the internet. There were whispers of “Auma for Governor Siaya 2017”on social media, where she garnered eleven-thousand followers, up from onethousand, in less than twenty-four hours. Having overcome the initial anxiety of meeting the relatives of his absent father on his first trip to Kenya, this was a great time to bond with them. When asked why he chose to come to Kenya now, he replied
Photo by: The Star Newspaper
that it was because his step-grandmother, Sarah Obama, had asked him to. “When she says you do something, you generally have to do it.” Made in jest, his response perhaps alluded to his longing to return, if only for the great family ties forged over several trips since he first came as a Harvard graduate. The second beneficiary was the US and Obama himself. Much has been touted by the media locally about the trip being of economic significance to Kenya. This was not a philanthropic exercise. It was an opportunity to advance the United States’ foreign policy. Every USA president has had their angle for US-Africa relations. Obama’s angle, ironically, was shrouded in the same traditional, negative view of Africa as particularly corrupt. As Howard French rightly pointed out in
COVER STORTY
his Democracy Lab article: why would Obama chose to make Africa appear more corrupt than anywhere else, even more than America itself, when the idea was to attract direct investment to Kenya? Besides the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) trade pact with African countries, this was the first solid move that Obama made since he declared that Africa needs “Trade not Aid”. His Speech at the Kasarani Stadium made me wonder, where was America all this time? Where were they while Africans, with the support of other allies, strived to reduce conflict and forge new trade ties with countries like China? His speech, to any listening American, would appear to be painting the image of an Africa in stasis. It’s important to note, however, that this was the very first nation address by a visiting president in Kenyan history. It was Obama addressing his people, further reinforcing the homecoming perspective. Women were the third beneficiary. Obama’s scathing remarks against various African traditions that forbid females from progressing or participating fully in society, helped amplify the work already being done towards raising the status of women across Africa. To reinforce his position on the role of women in driving economic growth, President Obama pledged USD 1 billion towards support for entrepreneurship projects worldwide, half earmarked for women in Africa for centers to be set up in Zambia, Kenya, and Mali. The Obama visit left in its wake, a number of newly born babies with unusual names to commemorate their birth. Coinciding with the landing of the first sitting US president with a Kenyan heritage on Kenyan soil, names like “Beast Owino”, after the extraordinary presidential limousine, or simply “Barack Obama”, were
mentioned on social media. So far, neither of those has been picked, but “Air Force One Obama” was the name given to two baby boys in Kisumu hospital of Western Kenya, where Barack Obama’s father hails. Three baby girls were named Michelle after President Obama’s wife, another Malia after Obama’s eldest daughter, while a third was named Malia Sasha after both of the President’s daughters. In August of 1998, Al Qaeda militants launched simultaneous attacks on the Kenya and Tanzania US embassies. The bombing claimed the lives of twelve Americans and two hundred Kenyans. Thousands more were injured. As details of his itinerary emerged to include a visit to the Memorial Park, citizens craned their necks atop street signs and through the iron gates to catch a glimpse of Obama as he laid a wreath near a normally busy intersection in the Central business district. Kenyan survivors and relatives of the deceased renewed calls for aid on “humanitarian grounds”, but drew no reaction from President Obama. The US embassy had, however, spent millions of dollars helping the Kenyan victims. With limited movement on the roads and a great loss of business, coupled with the overall excitement of Obama’s presence, his visit was bitter-sweet for the people of Kenya. More of an inconvenience than a blessing, the president came and went, leaving Kenyans to return to their everyday lives uninterrupted, and unimpressed.
Velma Kiome
is an arts writer, graphic designer, illustrator, and administrator living in Kenya. She navigates the streets of Nairobi on sheer wheel-power (by bicycle) to get as close to the story as possible.
PROFILE
EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT SOARS
Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been
Photos by: The Star Newspa-
president of Zambia since January 2015. He served under President Michael Sata as Minister of Justice and Minister of Defense. Following President Sata’s death in October 2014, Lungu was adopted as the candidate of his party The Patriotic Front for the by election in in January 2015. Edgar Lungu narrowly defeated opposing candidate Hakainde Hichilema and took office on January 25, 2015.
President Lungu became acting president during President Sata’s long term illness in 2013 and 2014.
President Lungu was born November 11, 1956 at Ndola Central Hospital. After graduating with LL.B in 1981 from University of Zambia, he joined the law firm Andre Masiye and Company in Lusaka. He subsequently went to the Military Officer Training at Miltez in Kabwe under Zambia National Service. President Lungu returned to practicing law.
After a month of his presidency, President Edgar Lungu forced the head of Zambia’s central bank out of office and promised lower interest rates. He is credited for appointing Zambia’s first female vice president, Inonge Wina. President Lungu also commuted death sentences of 332 prisoners to life in prison in July 2015 and he has condemned the massive overcrowding at the Mukobeko prison calling it “an affront to basic human dignity”.
He joined the United Party for National Development under the leadership of Anderson Mazoka but later switched to the Patriotic Front led by party founder Michael Sata. After PF won the 2011 election, Lungu became Junior Minister in the Vice President’s office. He was promoted to Minister of Home Affairs on July 2012 and became the Minister of Defense in December 2013.
Since his presidency, he has been loved and revered by Zambian citizens for his modesty and transformation of Zambian economy. President Edgar Lungu has also forged many bilateral relations with other African countries and the international community.
REMEMBERING THE TIMES
HISTORIC AFRICAN INVENTOR AND REVOLUTIONARY
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER DYNAMO
BY GISELE JACKSON
An African inventor born a slave towards the end of the civil war; George
Washington Carver defeated all odds and skepticism to become one of the most innovated and respected persons in his field of study. African inventor, George Washington Carver (1864 – 1943) was kidnapped along with his mother by slave raiders. Moses Carver, Mary’s slave owner, hired a man to find them. The man returned with George, but his mother was lost forever, leaving George and his brother Jim orphans.
Moses and his wife decided to raise
the brothers as their own children. George was sickly due to Whooping Cough and was unable to do the heavier duties his brother did. He was taught how to cook, clean, and do other household chores in his free time. George developed a love for the forest and the plants therein. He grew curious about their names, what made them grow, and how they came into existence. At age ten he left the Carvers for school. After sixteen years of hard work through elementary, middle, and high school, George Washington Carver was accepted into Simpson College and studied art for a year. He transferred to Iowa State Agriculture College becoming the first and only African-American to attend. There Carver was befriended by Henry Ford of the Ford automobile industry. He invented the assembly line, plastic axle grease, and even gasoline. After receiving his masters at Iowa State, Booker T Washington, founder of Tuskegee University, invited Carver to become Director of Scientific Studies of Agriculture. With limited resources at Tuskegee,
he made his on science laboratory. Carver was a visionary. He saw what Tuskegee could become. After the soil had been destroyed by cotton, the south’s most profitable crop, Carver immediately began showing the
African-American farmers how to revitalize the soil by growing specific crops such as the peanut, sweet potatoes, and soybean. To reach as many people as possible he took what he learned on the road and taught farmers in rural areas. He was known to be escorted by a group of young white men from Iowa State, and young African men from Tuskegee. He fondly gave them the nickname, “Carver Boys”. Carver dated a woman during his early years at Tuskegee, but the relationship soon failed because of his dedication and love for plants. Carver never
George Washington Carver
married or had any children but considered his students and plants as a way to fill that void. He always told people “Learn to do common things uncommonly well”. Carver was a very spiritual man saying the Creator gave him the ability to connect with the plants he truly adored. He invented over 300 different uses for peanuts, which is what he is well known for. George Washington Carver was undoubtedly an innovative man, determined to feed his passion for plants, generously sharing his knowledge with everyone he could. He was a gentleman with a beautiful soul and an inspiration to us all.
Gisele Jackson
is a revolutionary/ activist and mother who’s very passionate about the wellbeing of her beautiful people; state side and throughout the world. She realizes the importance of uniting and feels her job is to awaken those who are asleep and elevate them to their full potential. We are blessed to be born with melanin. Embrace your natural self.
FASHION FOCUS KINOWA COLLECTION CAPTIVATES
BY SAESHA M. NIX
“ONE WORLD, ONE LOVE, HUMAN NATION, THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT”
“One world, one
love, human nation, that’s what it’s all about”. Simply put by Senegalese fashion designer, Kine Kebe. She’s 32 years young, a humanist, and just as vibrant as the pieces she creates. Her handcrafted necklaces, made of intense pigments and quality materials, allow buyers freedom to creatively accessorize their ensembles. The Kinowa Collection has begun to create a buzz locally in the city of Dakar.
Although Ms. Kebe’s jewelry is African-inspired, it is her goal to provide visual enrichment to all cultures, reflecting and acknowledging the beauty inherent in nature, and the earth on which we live.
ARTS
ARTS
JANELLE MONAE’S
“SAY HER NAME” TOUCHES EVERY NERVE Renowned
rhythm and blues singer Janelle Monae, rallied in Portland in memory of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager who was shot down by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri last year. Monae taught several hundreds of activists, some of whom are associated with the local group ‘Don’t Shoot Portland’, her new song. Her song is a warrior chant, a spiritual cry in reverence of the ancestors. She sings for the voiceless against racial discrimination and injustices in black communities. The power of the song is exhilarating and fortifying, striking every nerve with the sound of music. “Say Her Name” lists names of several AfricanAmericans who have been murdered by police. Those names include Michael Brown and Emmett Till, and more recently, Sandra Bland, an outspoken activist who mysteriously died in Police custody three days after being pulled over for a traffic stop in Texas. In the wake of numerous killings of AfricanAmericans in the United States, there have been several protests and many outcries for justice putting an end to police brutality. Janelle Monae stands for what she believes in; stands for those who have fallen, and stands in place of those who chose to sit and allow injustice to continue. Through her purposeful music, she has created a spark that has begun to ignite and call to action, those who truly believe that black lives matter.
ARTS
DR. DRE’S “COMPTON” GIVES BACK TO COMPTON C
“ ompton”, Dr. Dre's third official album, arrived on telephones coast-to-coast this week. Ushered in through Apple Music, the company Dr. Dre once remarked had made him hip-hop's first billionaire, the album has a conviction that upends expectations of a 50-year-old who has spent more time over the past decade in board rooms and bulking up than releasing music. Dr. Dre is donating all proceeds of the album to Compton, his hometown, helping to build a new performing arts and entertainment facility for children in the city. The legendary producer and rapper said he has been working with the mayor, Aja Brown, “to do something special for Compton”. Dre disclosed that as the film “Straight Outta Compton” celebrates the story of N.W.A, the album “Compton” is like many Los Angeles hip-hop records these days by young and old alike, steeped in the city's long history of hip-hop. It's busier than his earlier, more stripped-down records, and built upon the sound of a contemporary, more bohemian Los Angeles music scene. Nonetheless a true Dr. Dre release, from the chip on its shoulder to the occasional shock-misogyny to his incomparable pop instincts, a lineage that has placed him at the center of American song. Even if this album doesn't make it to that center-after all, times have changed. Compton is proof that this unifying sensibility remains at the center of his art. The album features Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, The Game, Ice Cube, and many collaborators from Dre's past and present.
PAN AFRICAN YOUTH ORCHESTRA STUNS MAYORS SUMMIT
By John Owoo
Performing at the Accra International Conference Centre
as part of opening ceremonies for the mayors’ meeting, the group surprised the visitors with a dramatic combination of varied traditional instruments out of which produced complex rhythms. Armed with recompositions by the late Ghanaian musicologist / composer, Nana Danso Abiam, who was inspired by nationalistic movements that arose during the 1960s, the group charmed the audience with neo traditional tunes that clearly revealed the power and capabilities of African instruments. Conducted by Kweku Kwakye (aka Kweku Breaker), rhythms from a vast array of traditional instruments including giant fontonfrom drums, xylophones, atentenben flutes, talking drums and a variety of shakers / bells sent the audience on a musical journey that was definitely on the contemporary tip but with its heart and soul firmly embedded in Africa. Delivering new forms to traditional Ghanaian music, the group appeared to be recreating tradition within
(Accra International Conference Centre) The Pan African Youth Orchestra overwhelmed dozens of mayors who gathered in Accra for a summit with re-compositions of traditional music into orchestral versions.
tradition while showcasing conventional music in an orchestral disposition that recalled the authenticity of indigenous African music and compositions. Without doubt, compositions by Abiam, which were performed in an irresistible rendition, are similar to open landscapes that have been continuously rocked by expansive / specific climaxes of sound. Hailed for his use of contrasting sounds alongside compositions with tremendous emotional power, depth and sensitivity, the legacy of Abiam will forever revitalize the music scene in Ghana as these talented young artists continue to showcase his work. Undeniably, it was an unscheduled concert in the memory of a legend, who raised the bar for high quality compositions in Ghana and managed to place the country on the orchestral music map of the world. Other groups and artists who performed during the threeday summit include Amandeba Brew, flute magician Dela Botri and Noyam African Dance Group among others.
John Owoo
is an international journalist from Ghana, West Africa. He is the editor of artghana.org.
ARTLOFT
MIDTOWN DETROIT
GRAND OPENING
OF ARTLOFT
MIDTOWN DETROIT In
early August, amidst pomp and celebration, Art Loft opened its third gallery and gift shop in Midtown, Detroit, Michigan. Rachael Adadevor Woods, owner of Art Loft, said intently, “We are bringing art, gifts, and a new wave of culture to Detroit.” Art loft has carved a niche as one of the finest leading art galleries in the Midwest; with galleries in Birmingham and Bloomfield, both cities of Michigan. In stock are a variety of Ghana’s finest colorful kente fabrics sporting different patterns and colors, beads, necklaces, shirts, carvings, paintings, mugs, and assorted gifts.Also in stock are Michigan and Detroit souvenirs such as T-shirts, and baseball hats. Art Loft presents functional art to its patrons in-store and on the web. It is a wonderful place to shop for presents, personal and home accessories. Above all is
the amazing service and attention to detail. Art Loft also offers boutique bridal registry in-store and online. It is notable that patrons always get free gift wrapping and jewelry repair for purchases. The selection of merchandise is an example of how much thought has been put into the items. In stock, there are internationally acclaimed, exclusive, luxurious, museum quality lines like ALESSI - Italia, Carrol Boyes - Cape Town, S.A., Sid Dickens Memory Blocks, Michael Aram, Jonathan Adler, Story People, Votivo Candles, Invotis, Janna Ugone, Pablo Designs, Vinylux. There are fair-trade products and some unique clothing and footwear lines as well, including Sun Kim, Jason, Desigual and Kerisma Knits, and Bernie Mev, Sacha London and Camper shoes. Within Art Loft an assortment of cultural pieces, both domestic and foreign, provide patrons the opportunity to experience the same familiarity of home from far away and collect keepsakes from places they would rather not leave, while discovering the creative works of places they’ve never known.
ARTS
AFRIKA TAGE VIENNA
IN
ARTS
ARTS
ARTS
that catered to children including trampolines, horse and camel riding. Owing to AfrikaTage's unique events and programs, the festival always attracts people from all walks of life. Similarly, artists of various cultures and backgrounds were carefully handpicked to add to the lively atmosphere. Some of the notable artists who rocked this year's celebration included Salif Keita, Jenny Bell, Dr Sley and The Green Soljas, African Royal Ballet, Djiby Kouyate Micael Sene feat Recykle, Raging Fyah, Nish Wadada & Jah Version, Unlimited Culture, Uwe Banton, Sara Lugo, Jamaram, Rootz Radicals, Trancitiv, Passafire, Soja, Rigo Masiala, Freedom Kongo Fighters, Tschebberwooky, Protoje and The Indignation, Soulconnection, Sebastian Sturm and The Exile Airline, Stone and The Banaba Guionia, Celia Mara, Richie Campbell and 911 Band, Souldja , and Jahcoustix amongst others.
Afrika Tage (German for Africa
Amongst the special activities that drew much more of an audience to this year's festival was
The activities for the festival included live
the dexterous Antiguaian born Shurel Reynolds who is currently residing in Vienna. She works as a professional traditional Creole dancer.
Days) is an African Festival celebrated in Vienna, Austria. This year's event marked the 11th edition of this colorful 17 day festival held at the popular Donauinsel from July 31st-August 16th.
concerts featuring various music artists of genres ranging from African Traditional Music to Contemporary World Music. Different cultural expositions and bazaars were represented at this August festival. There were various African dances including special Bele Creol dance art by Shurel Reynolds from Antigua, and drum workshops. There were also thrilling activities
Africa Tage was a success, once again, teeming with enchanting artists and delivering rich cultural experiences to the senses of all who would embrace its festivities.
AROUND THE WORLD
BEAUTIFUL BOTSWANA
Botswana
is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. It occupies an area of 581,730 square kilometers (224,610 sq mi), of which 566,730 km2 (218,820 sq mi) is land. Botswana has land boundaries of combined length 4,347.15 kilometers (2,701.19 mi), of which the constituent boundaries are shared with Namibia, for 1,544 km (959 mi); South Africa 1,969 km (1,223 mi); Zimbabwe, 834 km (518 mi) and Zambia, 0.15 km (0.093 mi). Much of the population of Botswana is concentrated in the eastern part of the country.
Sunshine totals are high all year round although winter is the sunniest period. The whole country is windy and dusty during the dry season. Botswana is semi-arid, due to the short rain season. However, the relatively high altitude of the country and its continental situation gives it a subtropical climate. The country is remote from moistureladen air flows for most of the year. The dry season lasts from April to October in the south. In the north the dry season lasts from April to November. The south of the country is most exposed to cold winds during the winter period (early May to
late August) when average temperatures are around 14 °C (57.2 °F). The whole country has hot summers with average temperatures around 26 °C (78.8 °F The land is predominantly flat to gently undulating tableland, although there is some hilly country, where mining is carried out. The Kalahari Desert is in the central and the southwest. The Okavango Delta, one of the world’s largest inland deltas, is in the northwest and the Makgadikgadi Pans, a large salt pan lies in the north-central area. The Makgadikgadi has been established as an early habitation area for primitive man; this large seasonal wetland is composed of several large component pans, the largest being Nwetwe Pan, Sua Pan and Nxai Pan. Botswana’s lowest elevation point is at the junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers, at a height of 513 m (1,683 ft). The highest point is Monalanong Hill, at 1,494 m (4,902 ft). The country is divided into four drainage regions, which are sometimes indistinct due to the arid nature of the climate.
YAW’S DIARY
YAW’S DIARY
Yaw’s Diary By Yaw Asiedu Kwakye
“Baby vs. Beau”
It was with extreme caution that I held my childhood friend’s baby boy. He was all of three months of age. He blinked at me, smiled, burped, and farted to the adoring cries of “Awww” from all women present. A frown must have creased my brow because my friend turned to me, hands on hips, and coolly questioned, “Something about my baby not meeting your approval?” ‘I’m dead!’ I thought. “No, no! He’s adorable!” I squeaked. “Just look at those chubby cheeks and angel eyes!” I said feebly as the infant let out a horrific wail, which prompted me to jettison him from my arms in shock. God was merciful; my friend had been reaching out to take her baby from me in the same instant. ‘I am on thin ice here,’ I thought, admonishing myself for the reaction. My friend and I had grown up together in Ghana. It was a happy childhood friendship that endures till today and I felt honored to be present in church as the baby’s godfather. We were a church full of happy people who had gathered for the christening of the infant. The baptism had proceeded as expected: to the accompaniment of wailing babies and crooning young mothers. My friend pulled me along to introduce me to her friends. As I was led away, I took a deep fortifying breath, closed my eyes for a moment to gather my wits, opened them – and stopped short. I had blundered into a gang of young mothers with children ranging from a few months of age to three or four year olds. To my chagrin, everywhere I turned my eyes, they fell on bare breasts and suckling infants. I agree that at an intellectual level it is laudable that these mothers were so prompt in responding to their children’s demands, but at the socialembarrassment level for me, the scene was right up there next to my topless-ladies-in-church dream. I was aghast to see my friend joining in the general activity as she too carelessly hoisted one breast out and the greedy little leech dove for it. I almost wished I could do the same (not dive for the breast, but hoist one out) to blend in. My astonishment must have shown on my face – my jaw was nearly hitting the floor. Here was my modest friend from Ghana, who grew up in a traditional Ghanaian society, who never let that veil of modesty slip from her even when she came to London so many years ago, who was raised in a neighborhood where it was common to see women covered from head to foot, and who managed to hold on to that endearing modesty even when she had had too much to drink. Here she was, displaying her assets to strangers with not a thought in her mind, but that her baby was hungry. I didn’t know where to look and found my face turning hot with embarrassment. “Please, would you cover up?” I bleated feebly at no one in particular. “WHAT?” they cried in the sudden silence. “WHAT?” they said again, softly in a tone that had me imagining storm clouds gathering before a fierce storm. “No, I mean…, I mean…” I said even more feebly and thought of the fight-or-flight response. I was man-handled as they collectively herded me into a corner and sat me down. Now began a lecture on motherhood, breastfeeding, its benefits for the infant and mother, its psychological impact on a growing baby, its importance in nurturing a mother-child bond that lasted through life, how it helped mothers to shed the post-pregnancy flab faster, and how it played a vital role in reducing post-partum stress in them. I learned
YAW’S DIARY facts about human milk that I had never known: from the fact that colostrum was a high antibody provider to the new-borns so that they would fight off any infections in their early life, to the nutritive content of milk which made it a ‘complete baby food’. I emerged much, much wiser from that interaction; and more importantly, I emerged in one piece. Much as I respect the response of young mothers to the needs of their babies, I find it disconcerting that the little tots can wield so much power without raising a finger. All they have to do is look at their moms with puppy eyes, or make their lips tremble slightly, or balance tears on their eyelashes, and if nothing else works, to simply begin wailing. This always has the desired reaction with mothers responding like robots just switched on. I can see why my men friends who are young fathers often admit to being jealous of their babies. They grumble incessantly about how the little tykes insinuate themselves into their relationship with their spouse and hold it hostage to their whims and fancies until they are old enough to move out; which at the earliest would be eighteen. This seems vastly unjust to me. It is the husbands who take the vows with their wives, to care for them in sickness and in health, for better or worse. The kids are not to know “the worse” and do not cease to make demands “in sickness or in health” of the parents. I can just picture the moms leaping out of bed and rushing to the side of the baby, just when the man is a hair-breadth away from the most intimate moment in a couple’s relationship. No wonder the men feel they have to compete with their kids for the woman’s attention. It’s appalling the way the bundles-of-joy tug and pull aggressively on the things we men touch gently and lovingly. See the tiny creatures suckle greedily - surely it makes the nipples sore, though I don’t see the mothers complaining overmuch. All I see is a profusion of soothing creams, gentle admonitions, even indulgent crooning, topped off by lullabies. I so wish a wife would respond to her husband with the same sense of urgency with which she responds to her child. The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that it is a losing battle for the husbands. We had better face up to the fact that there is little chance that we can score a win over the menace that is a baby. So then, it seems the only way we can get our relationship back and free our spouses from the clutches of these unrelenting creatures, is to do everything in our power to make them strong and capable in order that they leave us alone as soon as possible; as I said earlier, that would be around eighteen years of age. I have made up my mind: when my time comes, I would gladly put the bottle with mother’s milk in it to the baby’s lips; I would change diapers and powder the little bottom with a smile on my face; and also hold the infant to my shoulder in an effort to make it burp; I would clean up the mess in case the burp turns into a spill; I wouldn’t complain even if my back was killing me while carrying the baby around in a harness as we went about; I would sing lullabies to put him to sleep so that I may grab a few hours of bliss with my wife (if she is not already asleep from exhaustion before the baby is); I would teach him to stand, run, ride, fight, wrestle, face up to challenges, take responsibility, learn respect, love, be grateful and kind. I would do all this with the same patience and dedication my wife would show toward her child. I am all set to win this war now. I am determined to have Yaw Asiedu my wife back the day the baby is born. She will never see my insidious design as I seemingly partner her every step of the way Kwakye is an to see my child grow up strong and independent, ready to move international Ghanaian out into the world. writer/blogger who I already long for that eighteenth birthday to arrive, though I am not yet a father. I shall be a proud man, set free! And the icing on the cake is that everyone will pat me on the back for being a good father. Men will yet win the war against their babies! I marvel at my genius!
resides in Troy, MI, USA. He is also a pilot, musician, software engineer, and an entrepreneur who dreams big and builds the same.
COLUMN
COLUMN
Africa in Detroit is represented by more than the DNA of the million
or so African-Americans, Caribbean and African people who live here. Africa in Detroit is brought to life by the arts created by the many Africancentered artists who look to the motherland for inspiration. No Detroit artist better exemplifies the African spirit than Olyami Dabls, creator of prodigious acres known popularly as “Africatown.” Olayami Dabls has worked as a visual artist using a wide range of materials for more than 45 years. He uses his work to tell stories about African people in particular and about Africa’s culture, history, mythology, creation myths, systems of thought and philosophy, while embodying his ancestors. “I see myself as a storyteller, not an artist” Dabls said. “I’m trying to produce art that’s based on traditional African concepts. I internalize how my ancestors would produce that subject.” The sprawling complex includes • The African Bead Museum with bead works dating back hundreds of years, • The MBAD Museum with sculptures, textiles, and pottery from countless cultures throughout Africa • An installation entitled “Iron Teaching Rocks How To Rust” made from various objects • The “Wall of Languages” (a 150-foot wall with 24 African scripted languages), And many other creations that Dabls calls, “packets of information.” The performance stage of Africatown has hosted many artists of every genre of Black music, from African to jazz to reggae to hip-hop. African dancers, drummers, and even stilt-walkers can often be seen at Africatown. When visiting Detroit, be sure to visit Africatown, talk to Dabls, and maybe even buy a few antique African beads.
SPORTS
SPORTS
FIRST BLACK FEMALE NASCAR DRIVER Tia Norfleet is the first ever African
American female to drive a NASCAR vehicle. She is undoubtedly an inspiration to women around the globe and particularly women of color. Certainly Tia Norfleet has set the pace for the youth and generations to come. she started driving their family mini van at the age of eight. Coming from a religious family, Tia is a devout christian, is a preacher and her father Bobby Norfleet, NASCAR driver. Tia Norfleet was born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1986, her interest in racing begun early. At the age of seven, her father doubled the battery power of a Hot Wheels Barbie car to increase its speed. Tia’s racing career started at age fourteen, when she began competing in kart racing events. She pursued a successful career in drag racing at the local and and regional level and won 37 out 52 events. In 2000 Tia Norfleet switched to entry level spec racing competing in Bandolero cars, then moving to late model stock car racing on short tracks starting with the 2004 season. She became the first female African American driver to acquire a NASCAR late model series license.