Kenyan Supermarket Chain Faces Competition From Global Giant

In many African countries, an open marketplace is a common destination to get groceries and other wares, regardless of socio-economic class. However, malls and supermarkets tend to be reserved for quickly growing middle class groups in across the continent. Kenya is no exception.

Nakumatt Supermarkets, a rapidly expanding supermarket chain with locations throughout Kenya and some in Uganda and Rwanda, has been doing rather well since it's first store opened in 1987. The stores bring goods from across the globe to East Africa.

A global supermarket giant has noticed the progress and economic growth and potential of several African nations and has decided to first make it's mark by purchasing the South Africa-based retailer, Massmart. Massmart has stores of several of its brands in 13 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda. This monster that is taking over is none other than Wal-Mart.

Atul Shah, managing director of Nakumatt, is actually welcome to the competition. In an interview with CNN International, he sees Wal-Mart's interest as a businesses really seeing Africa beyond the stereotype and as a place where money and investments can be made.

I have to agree with him. Finally, this move and many others (despite what it's outcome could be), shows that this continent is not as in despair as people outside of Africa (especially in the US) may presume. Don't get me wrong, there are dire situation that are occurring in several parts of the continent, but in many other places, there is peace and stability (Ghana and Botswana two of many great examples). Now, what would be the next retailer to come Africa. H & M?

Misconceptions About Africa

Of course, this blog is meant to hopefully break the misconceptions about Africa, but I found an interesting blog post on CNN International that discusses this particular issue. What is more interesting is not the article itself, but the responses.

One response that really caught my eye was that of someone who called themselves "Juan:"

"Africa is the best 1st world country and worst 3rd world country on the planet. There are industries that compete very well with the best there is, and some of the infrastructure is world class. The flip side is also true though, with some Africans living in the poorest of poor conditions with no access to even the most basic amenities.

"To the point about misperceptions – the biggest misperception is that the global economy often regard Africa as a "country" or a United State composition like the US where the reality is that most countries live and function in complete independence and isolation of its neighbours. This generalization fails to draw a distinction between the first world parts and the third world parts with debilitating consequences to both developed and undeveloped Africa.

"African people have a strong sense of cultural patriotism where respect for fellow pan plays a big role. Are Africans over sensitive about world perceptions…. Maybe, but then again maybe these “sensitivities” are nothing more than offenses caused by others who don’t value culture-engrained “respect for mankind” in quite the same way Africans do. The same way personalities differ from person to person, so do cultures. If one wants to “get along” with your neighbour, both of you better understand and respect his/her personality differences."

What is most bothersome is how this person began stating that Africa is a "country" but yet in the very next paragraph said the biggest misconception is that people see Africa as a "country." I don't know if that was a mistype or not, but certainly something does not jive. If it was a mistype, could that mean that this person subconsciously believes Africa is a country and is trying to make him/herself sound more educated? Or was this person trying to make a point, but sadly contradicted themselves?

Dick Cheney is Being Charged for Bribery by the Nigerian Government

Earlier this month, the Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charged Dick Cheney and nine others associated with Halliburton with "conspiracy and distribution of gratification to public officials," according to CNN International. In other words, they allegedly tried to bribe Nigerian officials.

Now, the charges may be dropped based on if an agreement is reached with Halliburton to pay $250 million in fines.

Of course, these allegations are considered a stunt by the Nigerian government since elections are in April. But, then again, Halliburton had pleaded guilty to similar charges in the United States last year.

Regardless of if the Nigerian government seized the opportunity to "act" as if they are cleaning up corruption or not, Halliburton had this coming to them. Check out the whole story and let me know what you think of this hot mess.

What I found most shocking was not that Cheney was being accused of bribery, but more so the picture of how he looks. He is so slim! This was supposedly caused by a hospital summer stay, but I don't know about all that...

African-American Named Top Commercial Star in Japan

Is this Black-Success-Stories-in-Nearly-Homogeneous-Countries Day or am I tweaking? On a CNN International blog, they say that Dante Carver, an African-American actor in Japan was named the top commercial actor in one of the world's most homogeneous countries. Earlier today, I talked about how BBC News stated that a Nigerian was sworn in as an MP in Poland.

Japan is ethnically 98.5% Japanese, 0.5% Korean and 0.4% Chinese and the rest is shown by the World Fact Book as "other," which means black people in Japan don't even make 0.5% of the country. Watch the video from CNN and let me know what you think of today's second triumph by a black person in a non-black world.

Angola/South Africa Love Story

I love it when two countries that have had a shaky relationship for a while make amends. President Jacob Zuma of South Africa visited Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos last year which marked the beginning of a budding relationship between Africa's strongest and largest economy and Africa's second largest oil producer, respectively. BBC reports that this time dos Santos took a trip to South Africa to solidify agreements between the two nations.

South Africa's apartheid regime stifled any good ties with Angola for nearly three decades, even after apartheid ended in 1994. Now, with Angola's economy quickly growing and South Africa's renewed popularity after hosting the World Cup, this may be a relationship that will last for a very long time. Don't you just feel the love?

Nigerian Sworn in as First Black MP in Poland

I told someone this before and I am going to say it again: BLACK PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE. They tend to be in what some may believe as the most unexpected places - Poland being one of them.

BBC News today said that John Abraham Godson, a Nigerian who emigrated to Poland in the 1990's, caused a media stir with his entry into the Polish Parliament.

Poland is a country with a large white majority (97% is ethnically Polish and about 2% is of non-European decent). BBC also reports that racism is still a problem in Poland, so this is definitely a triumph for a person of color.

Because our world is become smaller (thanks to the Internet), I think it is imperative for all of us to become more culturally relative and more knowledgeable about the other countries on our planet and to be well-read on current global issues. Of course, if money were not an issue, I would strongly suggest travelling (and there are ways as a high school or college student to travel on a budget), but if you wallet can handle going to another place, reading is the next best thing.

Korean Pop (K-Pop) Anyone?

I just want to figure out how many people listen to K-Pop. I think my predictions are right, but I have a gut feeling that I am wrong. Please, all of you that are fans of my blog, take this survey and send it to others so I can get some answers. This survey no longer has a deadline. Once the results are compiled, I will definitely share them with you all and give you my thoughts on what I perceived the outcome would be.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Have You Heard of Asa? Well Now You Can!

I seriously this love this Nigerian artist! Listen and watch her and let me know what you think.

Legalizing Prostitution in Botswana to Combat AIDS

As many of you are well aware of, today is World AIDS day. I read an interesting story about the fight against AIDS in Botswana, which has been applauded for their stringent and bold efforts to combat the virus. It's government has reported that 97% of babies born in Botswana from HIV positive mothers are HIV free. However, AIDS is still an issue amongst truck drivers and prostitutes along the truck routes.

Botswana, one of Africa's most stable nations and economies, is now considering legalizing prostitution as a way to control the spread of the virus. For example, even though condoms are free at any health facility in the country, sex workers have reported that police men confiscate their condoms because the police say what they are doing is illegal. With measures in place, police men would not have an excuse to take condoms away from sex workers.

Of course, I believe that it takes two for prostitution to exist and if you really want to stop prostitution, you would need to have strict laws and consequences for the johns. But in this case, since it doesn't sound like that is being done, maybe implementing laws that protect the sex worker in order to keep the virus at bay may not be a bad idea. Read the story and let me know what you think.

Shuga - Episode 3

I don't know who all has been watching this, but it has definitely been heating up!

Shuga Episode 3 from mtv staying alive on Vimeo.

Would This Alter Hyper-Masculinity in the African-American Culture?

Overall, if you haven't noticed yet, the mainstream culture of the United States is is caught up on masculinity and defining what is a man. More so, African-American culture has and is dealing with hyper-masculinity, an exaggerated stereotype of being masculine. I don't know why African-American men are so caught up in being the ideal African-American male, but it is evident in many predominantly African-American arenas, especially those that are educational institutions.

Early last month, when I brought up the new dress code policy at the HBCU Morehouse, I was going to talk about homosexuality in African-American culture. Just when I thought I was going to lose people since it has been a month since I have said anything, the question of repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" clause in the army came about and I stumbled upon this video from CNN.

After watching this video, consider the following:

• What is masculinity to you? Why do you define it as such?
• Apart from Anthony Woods stating his sexual orientation, would you have thought he was gay? Why or why not?
• Does sexuality determine one's level of masculinity? How?

A Fight in Chinatown

About a week ago, some friends and I finished a delicious lunch in Chinatown and were headed back to the South Loop. For those of you that are not familiar with Chicago's public transit system, the CTA, Chinatown is literally two stops south from the South Loop, so about a 5-minute train ride at most.

Anyway, we got on the platform and waited for the train to pull up and as the doors opened, a group of about six guys were in brawl that moved onto the platform. Stunned and rather curious, I moved back in shock and watched to interpret what was going on.

As the fight unfolded, I noticed that the fight ratio was 5-1 and the subway train remained stalled and the doors ajar. The lone guy screamed and begged for help and eventually a woman from the train yelled for the assailants to get off of him. The victim was helped onto the train and the assailants ran off.

I later came to understand that the altercation took place because the five assailants were trying to steal the victim's iPad. Luckily, they did not succeed and for the most part, the victim is okay, and one of my friends called the police.

Typically, I would not share stories like this all the time because I think it could give people the wrong image, but this was important for the purposes of this blog. The assailants were young black men; the victim was a young white man. Even though I did not jump in to help (I regret that and even though this does not excuse my "bystander-ness" I was in shock for the whole time), I was rather irritated with the situation.

As a black person, I feel it is imperative for me show that I am more than my race and the diversity within myself to break down the stereotypes and misconceptions of black people (the main purpose of the blog, if you haven't noticed). Of course, this blog would not exist if there was not widespread ignorance within American society and in many places abroad, but also exist because of the black men that assaulted this white man that help perpetuate the negative stereotypes of black people.

These men are luckily a small facet of black people in this country. This image of barbarism is commonly applied to black people in American media, but is not the reality. This is what I want everyone to understand. More so, to the black readers of this blog, we need to encourage our youth who are engaged in this kind of behavior to understand that not only do they make black people on the whole seem barbaric, but they self-title themselves as hoodlums - a title that takes a lot of time and effort to remove from one's self. I personally do not care what people think about me because I know and understand the image of myself I portray and I really don't care who or what likes it, but one thing I have gained is respect from the right people who will get me to where I would like to be in life. If I was labelled as a hoodlum, I wouldn't have that respect at all.

So, please, spread this story to everyone you know so they can understand these two things:

• Not all black people are violent and dumb (because these boys were definitely violent and dumb).
• The way you view yourself will be the image you project to others, so make sure its positive to gain the right kind of respect.

The End of the LRA? Finally?

Usually, when I talk about Uganda, I refer to the horrible and deplorable Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 (which is still up in the air), but here is another sinister and deadly issue that (thankfully) the Ugandan government has been paying more attention to instead of finding a way to kill (suggested) homosexuals.

The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is a militant rebel group that is notorious for abducting children in Central Africa as young as 5 years old to transform into lethal child soldiers. The group started in Uganda earlier this decade and has spread to neighboring nations. The have forced thousands from Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo to flee since the began their ruthless terror campaign on Christmas 2008.

Now, based on the efforts of US President Barack Obama and others in the international community, there is a conscious effort to disarm the LRA. YAY! I am hoping this initiative works.

Groups like the LRA piss me off, and I hope they do the same for you. For a group that shouldn't have been around to begin with, they have been the part of hindering Africa's progress as a continent, let alone the nations they directly affect. They perpetuate the images of danger in Africa due to whatever selfishness they have by stealing children and turning them into killing monsters when these kids should be in school to become the future of a cultural and mineral rich continent. I have another story coming up later today, that is more personal that aligns kind of with this issue, but talking about things that I had witnessed last week on American soil that pissed me off just as much.

Anyway, to learn more about efforts to end the LRA's terror campaign and to see how you can contribute, go to: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/

Scandal, Witchcraft and Cheaters - OH MY!

The stuff I am reading today is serious off the chain. I mean, some of this stuff sounds like a storyline for a Lifetime movie.

In short, a 47-year-old South African woman had an affair with a South African rugby player by the name of Deon Helberg who was dating her daughter. Because the Deon called off the affair, she plotted with Nigerian "crooks" to kill the him. However, her plan backfired because the "crooks" immediately informed authorities of her plot. She supposedly dabbled into witchcraft and visited witch doctors. I think we should all read the whole article and I will give you updates on this madness as it come around.

I have a problem with this crazy lady on many levels (as I am sure many of you do after reading the story). First of all, why were you sleeping with your daughter's boyfriend? That is some low level stuff that a mother should not be doing. Secondly, I know the stereotype of Nigerians on the continent is that they are crazy and crooked, but not all of them are like that, which was shown here (however, since she paid them, they may have taken the money then told the authorities, something I would have done, LOL). Lastly, she's visiting witch doctors and experimenting with witchcraft? Was this rugby player that good that you had to get into the supernatural? She has lower herself and it is sad.

The people I wonder about is the rugby player, Deon Helberg, and his now ex-girlfriend. Of course, Deon was stupid and weak, as many of us know, but how would this affect his career? And the girl...how would she look at her mother now? As this story continues to develop, I will have more information. I can see this being a made-for-TV movie within the next year.

Shuga - Episode 2

I don't know how many of you have been watching this Kenyan drama, but if you haven't, you probably should start watching it. The first episode was a little slow, but this one definitely picks up a bit.

Shuga Episode 2 from mtv staying alive on Vimeo.

Sitting on the Toilet - Now Mobile in Nigeria

Watching this report from CNN.com definitely brought a giggle, but this is quite a serious issue considering the amount of work by many organizations around the world to end the global "toilet crisis."

The toilet is commonplace in homes and and public places in developed countries, but in the developing and underdeveloped worlds, sometimes a toilet is a luxury (an estimated 2.6 billion people do not have access to a toilet). One Nigerian businessman realized the scarcity of public toilets in Lagos and started the country's first (and right now only) mobile toilet service.

Coffins for All...Even Tools

Ghana has always been an innovative West African nation and has been noted for being one of the safest. today I found something rather cute that made me laugh.

A novelty coffin maker makes grave beds in all shapes, as CNN. com reports. I looked at some pictures of these novelties and saw coffins shaped as crabs, snails, turtles and tools. Now, if you know someone who passed away and was a complete tool for most of his/her life, you got a coffin for them! (Okay, that may have been bad...oops.)

Exclusive Interview - Brought to You by the Columbia Chronicle

As I have been talking about for weeks now, Shannon Kook-Chun was in Chicago and talked about his acting and all that jazz. He sat with the beautiful MTV Africa VJ Fikile Moeti, commonly known as "Fix." I found this interview intriguing and gives those who missed out on his live Q & A a chance to get some answers.

International Education Week at Columbia College = AWESOME

Currently I am tired from the madness that many that are a part of International Student Organization at Columbia College understand as International Education Week. This insanity may be exhausting, but some how, it has been an enlightening experience.

Today was International Fair, which featured the Travel Mobile (which had a lot of decor, courtesy of the student body at Columbia), delicious food, a flamenco dancer and a belly dancer. People who missed this, I feel sorry for you.

This week, there are TWO events the focus on African issues (one more than the other). Tomorrow evening will be a screening of the award-winning documentary, "This is Nollywood." For those of you who are unfamiliar with Nollywood, get familiar real fast and real quick, because it is currently the third largest film industry in the world and it is based in Nigeria. Even though many of the films from Nollywood are close to a fail when it comes to production value, the reason why the industry is doing so well is that it focuses on unique and modern African stories in an African way. The movies can transcend the continent a lot easier than movies from Bollywood or Hollywood. However, it looks like the production value for Nigerian films may begin to change as quickly as Nollywood became a booming industry, since there are a select few filmmakers that are not only maintaining the African content, but also are focusing on the cinematography.

The other event focuses on a rising star from South Africa, who plays Zane Park on the award-winning teen drama Degrassi: the Next Generation, Shannon Kook-Chun. Of course, I have spoken about this a few times, but what is more interesting the buzz that it is getting throughout Chicago. Interestingly, people assume that this event is simply about Degrassi, but it is more so about several cultural/ethnic issues that are important to acquiring a global worldview. If it was simply about Degrassi, any actor from the show could have been chosen, but Shannon was picked for a particular purpose.

Firstly, he is of Chinese and mixed ancestry and was born and raised in South Africa during the infamous apartheid era. What many Americans sometimes fail to understand that the issue of race, especially during apartheid South Africa, is well beyond the "simple" of issue of black and white (or black versus white) and still is in post-apartheid South Africa. Race relations on every corner of the world definitely are much more complex than many can comprehend and South Africa is/was no exception. This is a rare (and FREE) opportunity to ask someone who grew up during and after apartheid (that is not black or white) deep questions about his experience.

Secondly, he plays an openly gay character. This is a two-sided coin that must be explored. For someone who is Asian to play a gay character in a TV show that is shown in North America is almost groundbreaking. As many may have noticed, the depiction(s) of Asian males on many television shows can be rare and limited. Usually, they fit in one of two stereotypes: smart, shy and asexual or a karate master. For someone to play an "unconventional" role helps break the stereotypes of the Asian male and shows the diversity among those that are Asian. Shannon plays Zane Park, a cool, confident gay male. Also, he plays a gay character, helping to break the stereotypes of gay men in the media.

Thirdly, Degrassi is not the only show he is in. He has been able to show his versatility as an actor by being in multiple productions (one of them a feature film soon to be released). In the popular Canadian drama, Duhram County, he plays a gangster (again, breaking the Asian male stereotype). This is informative for aspiring actors for improving their trade.

My point, overall, is that you can't simply judge a book by it's cover (I know, cliche). But you have to dig beyond the surface and see the roots. The whole point of International Education Week is to encourage people to become more aware of how global our environment is becoming. Having this knowledge is key to not only being well-rounded, but being the person who is at the top of the pile for a job (and we all want money in our pockets, don't we?). Putting "Degrassi" in the event title was a marketing scheme to draw fans in, but the real treat is what you learn from the experience. Learning about a booming movie industry outside of Hollywood let's you know what the (potential) competition is on a global scale (or maybe even what market you can tap into to set yourself a part from other filmmakers).

I'll leave you all with this - "Curiosity killed the cat, but at least the cat died after learning something."

Kenyan Drama "Shuga" Focuses on Sex, HIV

I started watching this yesterday and MAN, it is pretty good and fun! I'll let it speak for itself.

Shuga Episode 1 from mtv staying alive on Vimeo.

Wigs and Weaves are Universal in the Black World

As a black person, I am familiar with how wigs and weave are prominent in the Black World. In fact, many people think that it only pertains to the African American community, but CNN International has proven that these hair accessories weave around the world.

This video did bring a lot of questions that many within the African American community about Asians involvement in the sale or process of marketing products targeted to those of the African diaspora. Many within various parts of the African diaspora believe that only black people should be selling black hair products to blacks, not anyone else. But, how many black people ARE selling black hair products and if they are not enough that are, does it matter who is selling the products?

Russell Simmons helps to save Africa's "Most Precious Diamonds"

Earlier today, while in front of an interesting panel of professionals in the media, I learned that entertainment and fashion mogul (who wears many hats) Russell Simmons is the Honorary Event Chair for the Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) November 8 event, Diamonds in the Sky. The event (now sold out) is a fundraiser to improve education for economically disadvantaged people in African countries where diamonds are a natural resource.

Simmons was in Chicago on Thursday, October 28 and mentioned this endeavor while talking at Macy's about the launch of his new collection, Argyleculture. During the panel, I watched the interview with Simmons by one of the panelists, Aleah Burks-Patterson of WCIU's "Fashion Express" and glanced at an interview with Simmons on the blog of another of today's panelist and award-winning fashion journalist, Barbara Glass.

I've always had a love for Russell Simmons because of his tenacity, drive and vision. For him to be apart of something to help those in need is not surprising. Plus, this makes me think of the efforts by Invisible Children in Uganda, in which they are trying to educate disadvantaged Ugandan youths (that is only part of the many things they are doing in Uganda and in its neighboring countries).

Africa's Property Boom Boom Boom

While many markets across the world are in a recovery stage, many of Africa's markets are booming - especially in regard to real estate. Despite the turmoil and unrest in some African nations, others have been experiencing economic growth and a growing middle class.

Today, I read something in regard to Kenya's real estate markets and how quickly their middle class is able to upgrade their housing.

I found one example from Al Jazeera, which describes Egypt's housing boom (which has been going on for a few years now). The video is below.

BBC News is having an online discussion today about the housing markets in not only Egypt and Kenya, but also South Africa and Sudan. The NPR also talked about Angola's housing boom. Angola, even though it ranks in the bottom 10% of economies, it is one of the fastest growing in the world, with a slowly developing middle class.

If you have the money, I guess you should buy a home some in Africa (maybe even a vacation home) while the prices are low and properties are easy to obtain.

More Info of Degrassi's Shannon Kook-Chun

I have noticed several blog posts about this, so I will let them explain everything about this free event taking place Columbia College Chicago during International Education Week (I did a couple weeks ago).

http://degrassiblog.com/2010/10/04/degrassis-shannon-kook-chun-to-visit-chicago/

http://degrassi-fans.com/?cat=96

http://degrassination.com/2010/10/01/shannon-kook-chun-is-chicago-bound/

However, some of them have not yet stated where to get tickets (so I'm first, LOL). Go to shannonatccchicago.eventbrite.com for tickets (currently, it is password protected to only allow Columbia students, faculty, staff and alumni). Tickets will be available for everyone on Sunday, October 31, 2010.

Again, why I am talking about this? Well, Shannon Kook-Chun is from South Africa and was raised during apartheid and is of Chinese decent. The experiences of other racial/ethnic groups in South Africa during that period is seldom heard. This is an opportunity to hear this experience (as well as other topics relating to him) first hand.

Another Militant Group Trying to "Unify" Nigeria

This has gotten to the point that I am beyond irritated. These militant groups that are popping out of various corners of Nigeria have been talking about unifying the country or trying to impose extremists views on everyone. What really makes my skin crawl are those groups that kill in the name of God.

The Boko Haram movement, an extremist Islamic sect, which means "non-Islamic education is sacrilege" in Hausa, has killed many in northeastern Nigeria (including other Muslims and Muslim clerics). A story came out today on aol.com focusing on this group and how they have murdered 13 lawmen in the past three months.

Along with them, we have people in the oil-rich southeastern region of Nigeria killing people to make a point. I'm sorry, but your point has not been made. Instead you have cost money, time, and most importantly, lives of your fellow citizens.

A Tale of an HBCU's Discriminatory Dress Code?

It's been a hot minute, but I am back with an interesting story.

This week, there were several things I did that are apart of my usual routine (it does change a bit weekly, since I like a little of variety). Particularly, I watched "Real Housewives of Atlanta" and went to the village luncheon hosted by the Office of African-American Affairs at Columbia College Chicago.

Since I am assuming many of you have at least heard of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta," I'll just explain the village luncheon, which is a lunch in which students of African descent can network with Columbia faculty and staff of African descent over food and lively discussion on hot topics that affect the African-American community at large. This luncheon takes place on a monthly basis.

One of the topics brought up was Morehouse College's new dress code. Morehouse, one of the many historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), is an all-male school in Atlanta that prides itself in molding the "ideal" African-American men. The new dress code prohibits the follow:

• Do-rags, hats, and hoods worn in classrooms or any other indoor venues
• Sunglasses worn in class or formal events
• Jeans at major programs and no sagging pants on campus
• Clothing with derogatory or lewd messages in words or pictures
• Clothing usually worn by women (dresses, tops, tunics, purses, etc) on campus or college-sponsored events

Many of these regulations I understand and I personally do not have a problem with (even though I could argue that there is a sense of "whitening" in some of them, but that's for another posting), but the last one seemed like there was an obvious form of discrimination against gay African-American males (remember how I said I was going to talk about homosexuality in the African-American community?).

Based on what I have seen on "Real Housewives of Atlanta" and also how the Advocate dubbed Atlanta as America's gayest city earlier this year, I know that many of the gay African-American men in Atlanta regularly dress in clothing typically designed for women, not in the sense of cross-dressing. Morehouse College, being an educational institution in Atlanta, must be fully aware of this and for them to make this rule, obviously they have had students that have regularly dressed like this and I assure you most, if not all of them, are gay.

During the village luncheon, one student angrily protested how this rule is discriminatory, while many argued that even though it is discriminatory, Morehouse College has a right to create that rule since it is private.

My question to all of you is, regardless if you think this is discrimination or not, is it wrong for a private institution of higher education to have a rule that may marginalize a group? Would it only affect the institution? What does this say and do to the African-American male that is gay? What positive and negative affects could this have on the African-American community overall?

One Nation Helps Another

Many of us remember the tragedy that struck Haiti earlier this year. Well, the African nation of Senegal is sending a jet to Haiti to pick up Haitian students so they can study in Senegal. Read the touching story to learn more.

Many of you are probably wondering where the "Diaspora of the Week" has been. Currently, it's on hiatus because school and the planning of International Education Week (IEW) has gotten me tied down. For the week before and during IEW, I am planning something special for my Black Adventure and I think all of you will love it.

Arrest Made For Recent Mass Rapes in the DR Congo

Finally. That's the one word I said when I found this out. It looks like the UN is trying really hard to apologize for their mishap that led to nearly an entire village being raped (the count is so far 303 men, women and children that have been raped).

A UN spokesman stated that the man arrested was Lt. Col. Mayele of the Mai Mai rebel group and he was turned in by one of his comrades. This makes me wonder if the group has something up their sleeve for them to turn in one of their own men. I am hoping more is revealed as the investigation goes on. Read the article for more details on this ongoing investigation.

Degrassi Cast Member to Appear in Chicago

Okay, peeps. I am more than overjoyed to share this news with you all. This is seriously going to be something I will continually blog about for the next few weeks.

You may be wondering what Degrassi has to do with Africa or its diaspora. In this case, something big.

For the global holiday International Education Week, Degrassi cast member and South African Shannon Kook-Chun (who plays Zane Park) will be answering questions on Thursday, November 18, 2010 about his background and how it affects him as an actor at Columbia College Chicago. This will be a ticketed event, but all the tickets are free. The tickets are currently not available, but should be within the couple of weeks for Columbia staff, faculty and students, then later for the general public.

As more details become available, I'll let you all know. International Student Organization at Columbia College (ISO) hasn't put out an official press release yet. Meanwhile, check out ISO's fan page on Facebook for more updates.

Just Found This Out - MTV African Music Awards (MAMA) to be held in Lagos

The announcement for this event was made back in April, but silly old me just found out today. Check out the info for this big event! It is also held on my BFF's birthday this year, so I have TWO things to celebrate!

Nigeria is considered by many Africans as the entertainment capital for the continent. Everything from music to film is most popular from here across the continent and has a growing following in many places abroad.

To find out more about entertain in Nigeria or in other African nations, go to http://www.jamati.com/.

Here's a package from Kenya's Citizen's TV from the 2009 MAMA, held in Nairobi.

Happy Nigerian Independence Day Made Sad

This morning, I woke up from a great deep sleep and realized that it is Nigerian Independence Day. A smile drew itself across my face. Plans for the outfit I am going to wear for the Nigerian Independence party tonight started to materialize. Then I check the news and I find out some party poopers attempted to rain on my parade.

A militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend), has been upset with the conditions of Nigeria. This oil-rich country has the third largest economy in Africa, but yet poverty is suffered by the majority of it's people. I do understand their frustration (I have been irritated by this for a while, too), but this holiday is one for every Nigerian to be proud of. Mend, why don't you become a political party instead and try to make a difference through the government instead of killing fellow Nigerians? Thanks for raining on my parade (and everyone else's). Check out the full story.

Nigerian markets in a "downward spiral"

Into business or a need a project to work on? Here's some lucrative to research and invest your time in.

Diaspora of the Week - Black Irish

This is definitely another loaded term, but I am sure many of you know what group people I am talking about.

The term "Black Irish" can have a different meaning based on context. Here are the main definitions:

1. White Irish peoples with dark hair and dark features.
2. Black peoples who were born and raised in Ireland and a part of Africa's diaspora.

What I am going to focus on is, of course, the latter. Also referred to as Afro-Irish, the Black Irish are primarily of (but not limited to) Nigerian ancestry. Like the Black British, many of the Black Irish (in both definitions) have faced discrimination. Unlike their British counterparts, they are small minority, currently making up only 1.1% of the population of Ireland. Sadly, there are not as many resources about the Black Irish in the African diaspora sense, but below are a couple resources to find out more.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ei.html

http://www.nisranew.nisra.gov.uk/census/start.html

FIFA dubbs South Africa's World Cup 2010 as "great success"

Isn't this exciting! The first World Cup EVER held on African soil was dubbed AMAZING! That plants a BIG smile on my face. I see more coming in the future. But I am happy about the next one being hosted in Brazil. :) Check out the story.

The Investigation of the Four Days of 300 Rapes Continue

It looks like the UN is still trying to explain what has happened - or they are admitting that they failed in protecting people from being systematically raped in DR Congo. This particular monstrous and disgustingly literal rape of pretty much an entire village happened last month and appalled and angered many (myself included).

Rape for a long time has been used a weapon by rebel groups in the DR Congo. Sadly, it has been successful in prolonging guerrilla warfare in this country, intimidating and hurting hundreds, mainly women and girls.

What saddens everyone is the strong possibility that none of the victims will see justice. Read the story for more info.

Bishop Eddie Long's Oratory Off The Pulpit

Bishop Eddie Long has made his parishioners quiver and shake with the Spirit, but supposedly he has made some of them quiver and shake in other ways.

A top trend on Twitter this morning, the bishop of one of Atlanta's megachurches has been accused of having sexual relations with two of his male church members. Read the story to find out more on this fiery tale.

I am not going to comment on this too much today, but I am definitely going to save this for later when talking about homosexuality/bisexuality in the African-American community. But the one thing I will say is he is a married man and if he did do what he is being accused of, he'll be punished accordingly, and if he is innocent, those who falsely accused him will be punished accordingly.

It is a shame that we have yet another sex scandal dealing with a pastor, but this story seems as the investigation goes on, it is going to have the juiciness of reality show on VH1 coupled with a show on the CW. I see a BET movie being made out of this, regardless of the outcome...

Diaspora of the Week - The Gullah

Many of you may think of the TV show "Gullah Gullah Island" when you see that word Gullah, but did you know that the Gullah are REAL group of people? The show "Gullah Gullah Island" was designed to expose the Gullah culture to children, in an effort to end ignorance in regard to the diversity within the African-American culture. The Gullah are a group within the African-American culture that have successfully maintained most of their cultural roots from West Africa for hundreds of years, despite the efforts of slave traders and slave holders to strip all African slaves of their culture.

I found this beautiful and intriguing mini-documentary on the Gullah that you may find informative and maybe even shocking on so many levels. Sadly, I was not allowed to embed this video, but you can watch it here. http://bit.ly/JcY3V

As you're watching, these are the questions I think we should keep in mind:

1. Who are the losers in this piece?
2. Is their actual effort to preserve Gullah culture?
3. What can African-Americans learn about themselves (their past) from the Gullah culture?
4. What can Americans overall learn about themselves from the past and present of the Gullah?
5. Based on this piece, who is benefitting (profiting) from the Gullah and their culture?

Vangaurd's "Soccer's Lost Boys"

If you do not watch Current TV, start watching it. The channel has amazing and interesting documentaries and entertainment shows that I find to be well done and well put.

Tonight, I watched one of their TV Documentary series "Vanguard" and the episode "Soccer's Lost Boys," which I think actually aired towards the tail end or when the World Cup 2010 ended. This gives you a fascinating and almost appalling look into the world of soccer player trafficking, primarily from Africa to Europe. Below is the trailer for the episode. As soon as I find a full version, I will have it up, but meanwhile, check out Current TV on your local listing. If you don't have it, call your cable company to get it real fast and real quick.

An Old Saying Comes to Life

I found this video rather remarkable. We seldom hear about the contributions of wealthy Africans to those less fortunate, but hears one story that brought a big smile to my face.

This video is about a man from Cote d'Ivoire who has invested his time to improve the lives of many in Haiti by following a simple old saying. Take a look.

Highlight from the "New Blood" Art Showcase

Remember when I mentioned a pretty awesome art showcase earlier this month? Well, in case you missed it, here are the highlights (sorry, for some reason it wouldn't let me embed the video).

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks - Round Two

You're probably wondering why I have a Middle Eastern issue being discussed on my blog. I have TWO reasons.

First, these talks are taking place in Egypt (an African nation), so by default, it fits into the theme of the blog.

Secondly, this issue does affect many Africans and its diaspora along with many other groups throughout the planet. I personally believe (along with many others) that this extremely long dispute is more religious than anything else, and there are many Muslims and Jews that live throughout the African continent, some peacefully, some not-so-much.

My hopes are that these talks not only have a peaceful and lasting resolution, but also marks as a starting point for cultural relativity between Jews and Muslims in a general sense. Read the story to find out more.

Diaspora of the Week - Nigerian-American

Many of you may have this question lingering in your head: "Isn't Nigerian-American the same as African-American?" For those who are thinking that, I ask this question to you: "When you refer to a White American as European-American or Irish-American, German-American, etc?"

When that question is posed, the vocabulary usually changes to: "Well, what is the difference?" Glad you asked because that is the very purpose of this entire blog: to give knowledge of Africa and the African diaspora. Like Europe, Africa is very diverse and rich in cultures (in fact, maybe even more so, since Nigeria alone has at least 250 native ethnic groups). So, now, the question is: "Why are African-Americans not referred to as Ghanaian-American, Cameroon-American, etc?"

African-Americans' ancestors arrived to the United States against their will and were stripped of nearly every single cultural and ethnic tie to their countries. Even though many of them did come from West Africa, records show that there are others that came from every region in Sub-Saharan Africa making it almost impossible to trace back their ancestry without any documentation. All in all, African-Americans have been in this country since it's beginnings and developed their culture from what they were able to retain from Africa here in the United States.

Nigerian-Americans, however, refers to Americans whose parents immigrated to the United States from usually post World War Two era until today. There are some distinct cultural difference between African-American and Nigerian-Americans (like foods, vocabulary/dialect, traditional activities), but there are some similarities. Since I am Nigerian-American, there are certain foods I grew up with that are seldom seen in a African-American household. I grew up not only eating typical American foods like hot dogs and french fries, but also egusi soup with pounded yam, jollof rice with plantains, chin-chin and the list goes on. Many African-Americans tend not to hear about these food until they are older. In fact, I didn't really know what soul food was until I was about 9 years-old. Similarly, due to skin color, like African-Americans, Nigerian-American face and have faced discrimination.

Overall, Nigerian-Americans and African-Americans have very different and distinct cultural experiences, but in some cases they can be similar. I found an interesting website made for Nigerian-Americans and Nigerians living in the US. Below are a few others:

http://nigerian-americanchamber.org/

http://namsausa.org/

http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Le-Pa/Nigerian-Americans.html

Here is also a video summing up Nigerian-Americans rather well.

The Nigerian American Community Part 1/4

Soweto Sets the Trend

I learned today that Soweto, an urban township just outside of Johannesburg , is a trendsetting city. Check out this photo essay and see for yourself. Maybe you'll want to take some of these trends.

Cheap and Innovative South African Filtration

I love cheap. Who doesn't? I love cheap more when it is innovative. I love innovation more when it is cheap and could pave the way to solve a global problem. And the icing on the cake is best when it is made in Africa!

South African researchers have developed an amazing cost-effective tea bag filtration system that almost anyone can use to turn non-drinkable water into refreshing yummy good for you water. Considering that a large number inhabitants of Sub-Saharan African countries and many other parts of the world do not have access to clean water, this innovation can change the lives of millions and also improve the lives of those who have drinkable water and make it cleaner. Read more about this awesome yet simple device.

Remember When the UN Pissed Me Off? More on That Story...

So there has been an update to the post/story about the recent rapes in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Should I still be pissed at the UN? You decide.

Here We Go Again...Nigeria's Super Eagles in Another Mess

What words can describe this? Only one: STUPID. After Nigeria's Super Eagles lost to South Korea's team during the 2010 World Cup, the Nigerian government attempted to intervene and punish the team for their performance throughout the group round (which was rather ridiculous until the their game against South Korea). Of course, government intervention in football affairs are against FIFA rules and regulations and the Super Eagles could have faced exclusion from the 2014 World Cup. The Nigerian government quickly backed off.

Now, we got a NEW kind of drama, which is this time (apparently) more internal. Supposedly, some of the coaches for the Super Eagles have stolen a reported $8m during the 2010 World Cup from the team. I heard this and a HUGE sigh of disgust came out of my mouth without any thought.

If they did, each one of them should be ashamed of themselves and deserve jail time. Nigeria's government is notorious for money games like this and you would hope that athletic teams would at least be more honest, especially a national team, in hopes of showing progress.

However, there is a possibility that they did not. As you read the story, the underlying possibility that the Nigerian government is trying to find another way to punish the team for their performance is evident. I am going to keep everyone posted on this hot mess.

Soaps Connecting Nigeria and Brazil

Brazil and Nigeria have had many cross-cultural exchanges for nearly three centuries (mostly evident in Salvador, Brazil and Lagos, Nigeria), and almost all of them have shaped the contemporary cultures and subcultures within those countries. This is definitely a more contemporary example of how two different countries have a lot in common.

Dear Senate, Please Fix This Hot Mess

Here we go again with this same stupid, dumb, low-level, crazy, twisted, racist hot mess. This is one of those games by our U.S. government that seems to me like a form of discrimination on case that is supposed to RESOLVE a past discriminatory measure.

In short, over a decade ago, a case was settled out of court for minority farmers (mostly black) who have been denied farm loans based on their skin color. Each of the farmers who filed claims were supposed to have received their monies based on the settlement back in 1999. However, as CNN.com reports, many of them filed their claims too late and did not receive their piece of the settlement. Too bad, right?

Well, folks, this is where it gets interesting and where I got mad. This video and corresponding article has more details.

Diaspora of the Week - Black British

This is probably one of the most interesting terms that I have heard in a long time. Why? It's various meanings.

In a contemporary sense, Black British refers chiefly to a British resident of Sub-Saharan African decent. However, I have discovered that their all others meaning to this term, and some are still in use today.

Black British can also refer to all ethnic minority groups in UK (which is no longer widely used, but is around, contextually). More specifically, it can also refer to those of South Asian decent along with those of Sub-Saharan African decent.

Now that the definitions are somewhat clear, I found some interesting historical information about some race riots that have occurred in the UK (primarily in England). Most of them usually involved those that are Black British in either the contemporary definition or the definition that includes those of South Asian and Sub-Saharan African decent. Some of them are actually very recent, but not as severe as the ones in the past.

I thought these cases were interesting to bring up since we tend to neglect some of the racial incidents that have occurred in Europe involving those of African decent. I also thought it was interesting since South Asians were/are also a part of the term "Black British."

The questions I have for all of you is:

1. Why were/are South Asians considered "Black" in the UK?
2. What similarities (after reading some of the cases) do the riots have in comparison to those in the US?
3. Why are race riots in the UK not talked about as much as those that occurred in the US and in South Africa?

Moving on from the race riots, there's plenty more. I must discuss the cultural/sub-cultural differences of the Black British (the contemporary definition) compared to the mainstream. In all, it is very similar to African-American culture, but there are some striking differences, based on how the Black British culture developed and evolved:

• Black British English (BBE) is heavily influenced by Jamaican English, mainly because many of the Black immigrants to the UK are from Jamaica.
• Black British music (which it is NOT called, by the way) is heavily influenced by reggae.

The similarities to the African-American community are just as striking, however. The disparities in employment and crime compared to their white counterparts are comparatively as great in both communities (even though the crime rates in the UK are significantly lower than they are in the US). Also, many successful Black Britons are in the entertainment business in some way, just like many of those in the African-American community. (I must note that there are many that are successful in virtually all employment sectors as well in both and all aspects of the African diaspora. Don't get it twisted...)

To learn more about the Black British, I found blackpresence.co.uk to be rather helpful.

Marriage Dance in the Christian Faith

Christianity is a BIG portion of the African-American culture. It has pulled the slaves through slavery, helped the Civil Rights workers pull through the insanity of de facto and de jure segregation, and it has grounded many African-Americans today.

Yesterday, my friend found this video with married couples dancing. I found this to be hopeful for those who wish to be married and beautiful for those who are married. This is I think a Godly way enhance and prolong a marriage because it a loving bonding experience that is being presented to an entire congregation.

Some argued that this is not church appropriate. I would like to hear your thoughts on this aspect of a married couples' ministry and tell me how you feel. I must also point out that this is at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago (the church President Barack Obama used to attend).

I'm Back and Turning the Light on Nigeria

Sorry, peeps. I know it's been a few days since I have posted something, but this week has been INSANELY crazy. I've met many new students this week, from literally every corner of the world, and they all have fascinated me with their personalities and expected contributions to the art community, which was the main solace during the craziness.

Anyway, so today I read an interesting editorial on President Goodluck Jonathan's proposal to improve the power sector in Nigeria (the comments on the editorial were just as great, btw). As many who are familiar with Nigeria's embarrassingly frequent blackouts (Nigeria is the world's 13th largest oil producer), this major problem has been addressed with resolutions that were never followed through. Sadly, the last proposed measure was not followed through due to the former president's ailing health which resulted in his death.

Hopefully, President Jonathan's measure will follow through and keep Nigerians in the light. As many economist have already projected, if Nigeria can improve it's infrastructure while re-diversifying its economy and rejecting its over-dependence on oil, it will be on a light speed track to continuing to be one of the Next 11.

Big Hair

I want big hair. Big enough to make a bold statement. Big enough that it is an extension of my personality. So big that people will say: "Do you know Kevin Obomanu?" And the reply would be: "Oh, the crazy black man with big hair?"

How am I going to make it bigger? I have debated in my mind how I could go about it, and currently I am simply letting it growing, picking it, and moisturizing it. Many outside of the Black World do not understand the science of afro-textured hair; some even go as far to consider it ugly when it is in its natural state (which sadly has been hammered into many of those within the African diaspora as a truth). I disagree.

Calling any part of me "ugly" that is natural in itself is probably the most self-destructive thing I could do. Using terms like "nappy" or "kinky" to refer to my hair I find almost degenerate based on their usually negative connotations. Terms like "curly" and "thick" strike my fancy. It gives me a sense of pride for my hair. Every time I take care of it, I don't wish for it to look like those of my non-African/non-African descent counterparts. Instead, I want it to look even more like that of a Black person. I want my hair to continue to be thick, dark, extra curly. I want my hair to speak for itself. I want it BIG.

Having my hair big will become a physical manifestation of my African heritage. It will show that NO ONE can deter how I feel about myself and the culture(s) and the race(s) that I am apart of. And I feel PROUD.

I've made my decision: I'm going to stick with what I doing now to make my hair big.

***

To learn more about afro-textured hair, Wikipedia has a great entry (maybe not the best source, but a great starting point to excellent sources).

Diaspora of the Week - Afro-Mexicans

I found an interesting article on Afro-Mexicans today. Maybe you all will like it. It's in two parts (good transit reading).

http://www.theroot.com/views/mexicos-hidden-black-history

http://www.theroot.com/views/mexicos-hidden-black-history-part-two

I feel many Americans don't realize that in Mexico there are black people. Back when I attended middle school in Texas, I met a girl who was Mexican and her skin was dark as mine. That was the first time (and so far the last time) that met someone of the African diaspora from Mexico. At the time, I didn't even think they existed, but then I was young and I didn't know how the African diaspora is pretty much EVERYWHERE. Check out this article from TIME magazine in addition to the others to discover more about this group.

50 Years of Congolese Independence

In celebration of the many African nations that have been independent for 50 or more years this year, BBC has put together several memorable and cute interactive things on their website. I am really loving the pictures of these Congolese men and women...so beautiful!

Black Man's Orgy Also Has an Ex-Lovers Quarrel

I laughed. You'll laugh. Please read.

Kenya Has a New Constitution

YAY! After 20 LONG YEARS, Kenya's proposed new constitution has been approved! Now the president's power will be balanced and checked by the other branches of government. Maybe this will stifle government corruption (or at least make it harder). Check out this article from BBC.com.

The UN Has Pissed Me Off This Morning...

Supposedly, the UN has told BBC that they could have not stopped the rapes of nearly 200 women in the DR Congo last week because the did not know about it. That is SERIOUSLY the dumbest answer I have ever heard.

Many people who are familiar with the situation in the DR Congo know that women are raped almost daily in ways unimaginable to many around the world. The UN is no exception. You may have not be able to stop it, but are you saying you didn't know about it?

According to the article, there was some miscommunication somewhere along the line, but please read the article and tell me what you think about this boiling hot cesspool of a mess.

South Africa's Strike is Reaching the Boiling Point

Yep. The strike is full force with more sectors of South Africa's public servants about to join the strike. Read the article from BBC News to see if it'll reach the boiling point.

"The New Blood" Art Showcase - September 4, 2010 @ 7 PM

I am really REALLY excited about this! Some of you may know that I have been working on a TV show since the wee weeks of Summer and pre-production for the show is coming to a close. FINALLY, I will be able to tease everyone with a sneak peak, BUT I am not putting it up online.

That's right, folks. If you want to see the sneak peak, along with other phenomenal great works of art, you need to go to "The New Blood" art showcase at Work Studio, 2137 N. Milwaukee Avenue, in Chicago's hip and artsy Bucktown neighborhood Saturday night, September 4, 2010. Doors open at 7 PM. Work Studio is adjacent to the famous Congress Theater.

Please note that this is NOT a party. I know some of you all are always looking for a party, so you may party afterwards since it is not too far from where all the bars are clustered in Wicker Park, but please have your art showcase decorum on during the showcase. You know I say that with a GIANT smile and serious eyes. :)

If you would like more information, check out the blog for the presenters of the showcase, Final Fight Family. They have been updating it daily with information. The presenters are definitely business friends of mine and I know they are in tune with art and are very receptive to learning about Africa and it's diaspora (some members of FFF are even part of the African diaspora).

"The Awakening" reawakens

Rumor has it that the Chicago gospel show of the 1990s is making a comeback! Popular among many African-Americans in Chicago, this show has its ups...and downs. Watch this clip to see what I am talking about.

Ebonics Translators Wanted

I guess today is the day for AAVE. This article baffled me not because Ebonics translators are needed, but WHY they are needed. This brings another aspect to the debate on the usage of AAVE.

African-American English IS NOT "Bad English"

I've argued with many people in regard to using African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), also known as Ebonics. My argument: It's a dialect of Standard American English (SAE) and the reason why it is considered "bad English" is a way to devalue African-Americans and a distinct aspect of the African-American culture. In other words, it is a systematic and subtle form of racism. Yes, I said it. I am accusing the scholars of the yesteryears (first half of the 20th century and back) that argued for so long that AAVE is "bad English" racists.

AAVE has a distinct structural difference compared to SAE, pointed out by many of the present-era scholars. There are books and journals detailing the differences and what is grammatically correct within this dialect. Here's one from Duke University.

If you agree that it is "bad English," prove to me why after you have read this article from the Center for Applied Linguistics which sums up AAVE (also calling it AAE, African-American English). Please refer to the sources as well.

I would also like to point out that AAVE is not appropriate for all settings. Like for every American dialect, there is a time and a place to use AAVE. I would not recommend to use AAVE when interviewing for a job or speaking to a broad audience (that's when you use SAE). However, it is appropriate in casual settings among friends. Many African-Americans discern when and where to use AAVE and can quickly switch from SAE to AAVE and back almost instantly.

Diaspora of the Week - Afro-Brazilians

Okay, y'all. If many of you did not know, I have a soft spot for Brazilians. They are seriously some of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I have ever been around. I don't know if this is because my host family during my short-term study in Brazil back in 2007 was just amazingly sweet and kind, or if it was because the Brazilians I encountered here in the US were always happy and nice, but so far, I generally have had a very good impression of Brazilians.

While I was in Brazil, I was studying the Afro-Brazilian culture, mostly comparing it to the African-American culture. There are many similarities, but there are some striking differences other than the obvious (like Afro-Brazilians speak Portuguese and African-Americans speak English). I'll try to break it down to the three main ones:

1. The term "Afro-Brazilian" is typically used in the circles of academia in Brazil. It's not in day-to-day use by an average Brazilian.
2. Someone who is Afro-Brazilian typically sees themselves as Brazilian, but still identifying with their African ancestry (unlike African-Americans, who see themselves as African-American and do not necessarily identify with their African heritage). This is because many people of African descent in Brazil can somewhat trace their ancestry to specific countries; many of them are from Angola, Nigeria (specifically the Yoruba peoples), and Mozambique.
3. There's not a necessarily strong subcultural distinction from Afro-Brazilians and other Brazilians, since de jure segregation did not exist in Brazil. Instead, they are just many of the groups of people that contributed to several regional cultures in Brazil, most notably in the state of Bahia (where I stayed).

This may be difficult for many who are American to wrap their heads around, and an excursion to Brazil may be out of your budget. However, below are the sources in which I received most of my information.

http://www.nd.edu/~kellogg/publications/workingpapers/WPS/173.pdf

http://bit.ly/ajcQ3r

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6284806.stm

Newly Discovered Oil Reserves in Uganda

Oil equals money for developing countries like Uganda. Despite the environmental concerns that have not been address, I am baffled by the amount of secrecy surrounding the deals with the government, which, like many African governments, have been accused and cited for corruption. I just hope that the revenues from the oil are used wisely to benefit the livelihoods of Ugandans, and doesn't turn into a story like Nigeria, where for decades the oil revenues have not been used to develop the country and the economy became oil over-dependent. Read the article from CNN.com.

Animal-shaped Cities in Sudan

As part of a rebuilding effort in southern Sudan, on the table are now plans to build cities and towns shaped like animals and fruits that are emblems of the states in the region. Initially I was rather lost with the purpose of having cities shaped in this fashion, but I was more confused with where the funds for these cities will come from and who will be able to live in them. Here's the article:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11019550

I am assuming these questions will eventually have answers.

Strike in South Africa Squashed?

An injunction has been stopping over a million strikers has been granted to the South African government. Follow the link below for deets.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11049666

Ethiopian Student Faces Racism in Israel

I always find it shocking when racists comments are coming from someone who is of a group that has been historically and is presently discriminated against. Let me know if you can comprehend this situation. The link to the article is below.

http://africannewslive.com/?p=7331

Lagos's Power Sector

Argh...this seemingly never ending dilemma in Africa's largest city, Lagos, Nigeria. Working to become Africa's model mega city, Lagos has been having power outages and blackouts for years now, as have many big cities on the continent. This news package explains the problem and shows possible solutions based on Lagos's projected growth over the next decade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlUX_wsas5c

Banky W's Latest Video

Nigeria is definitely Africa's center for entertainment with music being the strongest and best produced. As I wait for Nigerian Pop to find more of an original sound (as in, unique to Nigeria), here's one example of the overall good quality of Nigeria's strong and still booming music industry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiSX5pagz8s

Ancient Skin Color Perception Not So Ancient

That's right. The perception that dark skin is ugly is still around, as shown by Anderson Cooper when talking with some of today's children.

Blackface in Asia

A particular video from a mainstream South Korea show spurred my interest. My question for you is, how do you think this image portrays the African diaspora, especially in countries that are homogeneous like South Korea. I would also like to note that even though this video is from South Korea, this behavior is not exclusive to South Korea and is prevalent in many other Asian countries as well. Also, this does not mean in any way that all Asians think like this. This is mainly to show the images that mainstream media in several Asian countries are broadcasting. Please watch this video then answer the question. Thanks!

NO LOVE IN UGANDA

"Eighty-six must be our secret number To say we are in love among a crowd. We are one whenever we're together, Though we daren't mention it out loud. We giggle at the same idea unspoken And smile in simultaneous disdain, Existing in a single cell unbroken, Two nuclei alike in joy and pain. Outwardly we are just closest friends Because we do not wish to cause distress. But when we're grown, the fairy tale ends As we come out in more authentic dress. Meanwhile we're ourselves in secrecy, Our silence merely adding to our glee"

WHEN FALLING IN LOVE BECOMES A CRIME....

What if you were thrown in jail or given the death penalty for being in love? Well on October 13, 2009 the country of Uganda proposed its anti-homosexuality bill. If the bill is executed, any one involved in a same sex relationship will serve jail time or will be given the death penalty.

Why must there be consequences for sharing love with someone of your choice?