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?