Two Twitter trends, one continent

Twitter seriously has become my number one social media connection, especially since I have decided to phase out my Facebook page (which I seriously have found to be the hottest mess of ads and unnecessary "improvements"). What makes it even easier to use - the trending topics. Two kind of stood out to me this week - Kony 2012 and What I Love About Africa.

The Kony 2012 trend was started by Invisible Children, a very well known activist group famous for it's work in Uganda to end the abduction of children that are turned into soldiers by the infamous leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), Joseph Kony. It looks like Invisible Children (also the name of their first documentary that revealed the atrocities of the Lord's Resistance Army) have created another film titled Kony 2012. You can watch it below (yes, it's on YouTube, legally, by Invisible Children).



Overall, this is well done, well marketed and well targeted. This is a movie for disenfranchised white middle class people who only think of Africa in the sense of war, famine and disease. This is for them to give their money and other kinds of support to end Joseph Kony's power in Central Africa. This is, again, another failed opportunity to educate people about an African nation (in this case, a region) that has some issues but also has some serious strengths. This is why Ugandans are generally upset and disappointed with this film.

Before I continue and before someone sends me some hate mail, let express that I do support the efforts of Invisible Children. What Joseph Kony is doing to innocent children in Central Africa is a grave crime against humanity and he must be stopped. Anyone reading this SHOULD support this cause. Secondly, not all white middle class people are disenfranchised from what's going on outside of their white bubble, but a lot of the ones in the United States are (let me not get started on why). I am also not saying that Ugandans shouldn't be upset. Hell, they need to get mad to make it standard to show the world what Uganda is REALLY about.

This was what the What I Love About Africa trend was all about - showing the realities of a continent that sadly is the most misconceived.  The trend was started by Diaspora African Women's Network (DAWN) founder and executive director, Semhar Araia (Twitter ID: @semhar).

What I love about Africa is people don't play passive aggressive - they're assertive aggressive. Kony 2012 (the film, not the movement) pissed them off because they know that there are many more layers to the story that the film did not address. There are stories from many people in Uganda and neighboring countries that have lost family and children to Joseph Kony's nonsense. They want them to be heard. I'm also sure that those who have watched the movie in the United States do not know that humongous oil reserves have been found in Uganda and the country's economy has seen substantial growth in the past decade like many other African nations.

Other things I love about Africa: innovation seems to never stop, having a conversation face to face is highly revered and opportunities seem to be endless (the European colonizers and the United States noticed that and currently so does China). I'm glad so many people hashtagged this trend and celebrated the many great things about such an amazing continent. I also like the people that treated the hell out of those ignorant fools that said the loved that everyone in Africa is black. NEWSFLASH: not everyone in Africa is black. Go read a damn book.

Both of these trends brought some buzz to Twitter and hopefully opened some eyes to the good, the bad and the ugly in Africa.

"Chop my money...because I don't care"

I'm definitely not talking about my money; my wallet is on lock and chain. P-Square and Akon, however, have explicitly stated they want women spending their dinero in their new song cleverly titled "Chop My Money."

Of course, all of these guys are pretty much ballers (SURPRISE! Not everyone in Africa is poor and helpless) and they are not afraid to flaunt it...in the music video that was released today.



Even though the song's melody and chorus feel kind of average to me, the overall music is well done. Kudos! Despite all of this, I could not get past thinking of another music video starring a popular Nigerian comedian, Nkem Owoh.

Columbia College Hosts Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony

Black History Month is already in full swing with events happening everywhere. One in particular I had a chance to attend and partake in was at Columbia College Chicago, the country's largest media arts university, and also where Degrassi's Shannon Kook-Chun made his first trip to the great Midwest. Here's a look what the Columbia Chronicle (the school's award winning newspaper and currently the best weekly college paper in the state of Illinois) put together.



I touched on an Ethiopian coffee ceremony in the past, and it's a pretty ceremonious, yet non-religious and mostly cultural. The important thing is that there is evidence (maybe not concrete) that Ethiopians (yes, Africans) were the first to create and drink coffee. You know, that globally famous beverage that Starbucks made over $11 billion last year from?

Anyway, per a question I was asked earlier this week, "Why is Black History Month important?" - this is one of many reasons why. The contributions black people have made to the world is just as great as any other race, but thanks to the dominance of the West, many things about black people are unsung. This month, I hope to expose as much as I can that would make the world very different if we did not have. Seriously, imagine a world minus coffee, even if you don't drink it. The impact Starbucks has made on the world is almost as remarkable as McDonald's. The next time someone asks why Black History Month is important, refer them to this site or even tell them to go to one of my favorite news sources AfricaReview.com.

Real Housewives of Atlanta Visit South Africa

I would be the world's biggest liar if I said I didn't enjoy watching Bravo's highest rated reality TV show "Real Housewives of Atlanta." Seriously, this show never fails at having me laugh either at the silly women (which half of them are not married so I don't know what qualified them as housewives) or the downward spiral of the production value per season.

Anyway, I'm not really going to go into a full fledged analysis of the show (plenty of fan blogs do that rather well already and with Nene Leakes's celebrity status growing, the analyses will not cease anytime soon), but I would like to delve into the most recent episode when the women minus Kim Zolciak plus Marlo Hampton began their ten day excursion in South Africa (or Africa, as they incessantly address as if South Africa represents the ENTIRE continent of 53 countries and 3,000 languages). This excursion is good for African-Americans who have never been outside of the United States before and more so because it's a visit to an African nation. It shows that despite the stories of poverty and disease that seem to almost always come out of Africa (despite this being only one sided) there's also a lot of wealth and prosperity. I stated a while back the value of going abroad, no matter where it is, and the best part is one of the best ways to be educated about the world around you and to better understand your own culture. But this trip for the housewives was not for education - this was for laughs and "good TV."

What's vexes me more than the fact that some of these women are ignorant (Nene) or pretentious (Phaedra) is who REALLY arranged this - and I am sure that Phaedra only brought up the idea, even if she did. All this modern day buffoonery falls into the hands of their executive producer, Vice President of Bravo, Andy Cohen. He probably didn't say "Let's put these animals in their natural habitat" but, like they say, actions speak louder than words.

All the fans know that these women have had a lot of tension since the middle of the previous season and more tension was piled on with the arrival of the guest housewife (who'll probably replace Kim), Marlo. There was bound to be a fight somewhere (and as many are learning about reality TV, producers tend to orchestrate how things will progress) and the animalistic mudslinging between Marlo and Sheree, heightened with strange and eerily exotic noises, is probably just a small glimpse of what is bound to happen next.

We're entering Black History Month and what we have to show for black people again perpetuate black caricatures. This time, they are that of the 21st century. But like in the past, a white man has capitalized on exploiting black caricatures and all Americans have accepted it as okay. And I do not care that Andy Cohen is gay and Jewish. Being a minority in the US and capitalizing on the caricature of another minority does not make it excusable. This episode clearly was an example modern day blackface.

Am I going to keep watching this show. Of course. Should I? Yes. Any medium is worth reading, watching or hearing because it's someone else's viewpoint, even if you disagree with it. In fact, if you do disagree with it, then you have more information to back up your own opinion. Being well informed is the key to success in an ever-shrinking global world. Plus, there's something oddly refreshing about mindless TV after a thought provoking work week.

Zara Opens in South Africa

 The first major (and fashionable) global clothing retailer to hit the African Continent is none other than Spanish retailer, Zara. According to Africa Review, the clothing giant is targeting the growing middle class in South Africa.

This is following Wal-Mart's big purchase of South African retailer Massmart, which has (or had) stores in 14 African countries.

Now, is the world finally beginning to see the growing economies of Africa, especially since now many African nations have economies with growth outpacing those with "developed" economies?

This looks like people are finally beginning to notice, after nearly a decade of sustained growth in several African countries, that this "dark continent" is not really as dark as many mainstream media sources try to make it seem. There is REAL potential on the continent - and now numbers are showing and businesses that are not fairing as well in the developed nations due to several economic woes are looking to places that they may see now (or again) as untamed lands.

There's really no taming to do, but really products to sell with people who are ready (with thick enough wallets) to buy them. Today, I read a few stories about Ghana and it's steady economic growth (which has been for beyond a decade) and the amount of people that have moved out of poverty, even though most of the economic growth is centered southern part of the nation and around Accra, it's commercial, financial and official capital. However, there are talks and things in the works to help even out the growth through the country.

Now that Africa is again the New Frontier (maybe that's too early to say), maybe the diversity of the continent will actually be seen.

It's Never Too Late to Say: "Happy New Year!"

After a nice long break, I'm back! There have been SEVERAL things in the news that have been going on in the black world since the last time, and here are a few highlights - some funny, some serious, and some just down right messy.

Obama Sings

All I can say is watch. As many of you may know, I'm not a Obama supporter, but I think all can admit this makes one chuckle at least a bit.



Etta James Dies at 73

The legendary Etta James passed this morning in Riverside, CA from complications with leukemia, according to an article posted by New York Times. Her name is currently a top trend on Twitter, along with her signature song, "At Last."

Promoter for Nas Held Hostage in Angola

Okay Africa posted a suspicious story about a New Year's Eve concert in Luanda which featured Nas. Nas didn't show up and instead was livin' it up in Miami. Apparently, someone is angry and demands the $300,000 payment for Nas's appearance to be repaid, and all additional expenses. Until that is repaid, the promoter (who is Angolan) will be held. Okay Africa has said that the details are kinda iffy, but I am sure they will have an update as soon as all the details are in order.

Zara Opens It's First Store on the African Continent

I have a more detailed analysis of this here, but in short, Zara opened it's first store on the continent in a posh mall in Johannesburg not too long ago, reported by Africa Review.

Pres. Wade Spends Millions to the Arts in Senegal

Arguably, this is a mess. The 85-year-old Senegalese president is has already spent several million dollars on what he's dubbed "Cultural Park." Most recently, the next addition to Cultural Park will be the Museum of Black Civilisations. Good note - this helps bring tourism and spreads awareness of the diversity of black cultures. Bad note - will this help elevate the many in Senegal that are living at or below the poverty level? We'll see. See more at Africa Review.

Ignorance and Kwanzaa

It's that time of year again when Christmas decor line commercial streets, menorahs light up various homes, and every black person in America is wished "Happy Kwanzaa."

Today, I was one the lucky black folk to receive this holiday greeting from a random white woman. Granted she was trying to be nice, but she started off with happy holidays and then remixed to happy Kwanzaa. This was one of those moments in life it was best to keep it simple. I politely told her: "I don't celebrate Kwanzaa." In fact, I am a part of a large group of black people in America that do not celebrate this "contrived" holiday, as my colleague (who's black) called it, and she's pretty much hit the nail on the head.

Kwanzaa was conceived in the 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University, Long Beach, as a way to bring African-Americans together as one in the wake of the Watts riots. It's a combination of several different African traditions (the word Kwanzaa is Swahili for "first fruit") from various African cultures.

Despite the holiday having it's African roots, the holiday is NOT African. My mother told me her first experience with this holiday when she arrived in the United States nearly thirty years ago and  she said people would ask her how she celebrated Kwanzaa. She, being a feisty Nigerian, responded: "What nonsense is that?" People were shocked she didn't know and she was puzzled why people expected her to know. She later found out it was an African-American holiday that has various influences from many African cultures, which changed her response to, when she was later asked (and still asked to this day): "Do I sound African-American to you? Nonsense!"

Back to my colleague, who is African-American, told me she had never celebrated the holiday. In fact, it seems like the number of African-Americans that celebrate Kwanzaa is pretty small, even though there are no official stats.

Now, let's recap everything:

• Kwanzaa is a contrived holiday, meant for African-American unity.
• Kwanzaa is not an African holiday, even though it's influence comes from various African cultures.
• A large majority of African-Americans do not celebrate Kwanzaa.
• Do not ask a feisty Nigerian woman about Kwanzaa, because she'll treat you.

In addition, we know that not all black people in the United States are Christian or Afro-centric. The reason why the greeting "Happy Holidays" is used is to avoid sounding stupid, like the white woman who gave me the Kwanzaa greeting with the biggest smile. Even though she was well intentioned I'm sure, she sounded like an idiot. My mother always says, if you don't know something, it's better to just keep your mouth shut and let people think you're smart. This was, again, one of those moments. Happy holidays, everyone!