Sunny Okosuns dies of diabetes

Sunny Okosuns, popular musician, dies of diabetes
By David Ajiboye - 26.05.2008
RENOWNED evangelist and gospel musician, Evangelist Sunny Okosuns, is dead. He died in a United States hospital on Saturday evening.
A former president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Okosuns had been wheelchair-bound for almost six months and sources said he died of diabetes.
No official statement has been released by the family, but close associates confirmed his demise. The late Okosuns was the founder of House of Prayer Fellowship located at 10 Yaya Abatan Street, opposite Excellence Hotel, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos.
The late gospel musician is survived by an aged father and many children, including Sidney, Michael, Adesua and Ebony, the product of a sizzling romance he had with another musician, Stella Monye.
The late Okosuns performed in several concerts all over the world and released more than 20 albums in a career spaning 40 years. Speaking on his demise, Evang. (Dr.) Bola Are, President of Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN), described the late musician as someone who accepted Jesus Christ before his demise.
“I saw him at the airport on his way to the United States a few months ago, I was shocked because he had emaniciated beyond recognition. He was even on the wheelchair. All GOMAN members in the country will miss him.
“I pray that God grants the family and the children the fortitude to bear the loss,” Are said. Meanwhile, the Edo State governor, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, has commiserated with the family of the late Okosuns.
In a press statement, he described the death as a great loss to Edo State, the nation and the music industry.
http://www.tribune.com.ng/26052008/news/news3.html

WarChild Rapper - Emmanuel Jal

Emmanuel Jal: Behind the Warchild

In Issue 1052, Evan Serpick profiled Emmanuel Jal, an MC who grew up in Sudan and became a soldier in the country's vicious civil war at age seven. After escaping five years of battle and unimaginable atrocities, he trekked to Kenya, where he began to channel his emotions and experiences into rhymes. Jal, the subject of new documentary War Child, also spoke about African rap battles and his unique perspective on 50 Cent.

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Welcome ChinAfrica

China Invades Africa.

This is a very eye opening article about China's quest for resources in Africa, particularly the players, both winners and losers, in this growing phenomenon.



While America is preoccupied with the war in Iraq (cost: half a trillion dollars and counting), and while think-tank economists continue to spit out papers debating whether vital resources are running out at all, China's leadership isn't taking any chances. In just a few years, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has become the most aggressive investor-nation in Africa. This commercial invasion is without question the most important development in the sub-Sahara since the end of the Cold War -- an epic, almost primal propulsion that is redrawing the global economic map. One former U.S. assistant secretary of state has called it a "tsunami." Some are even calling the region "ChinAfrica."

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A Taste of some Kenyan Hip hop

Seun Kuti Tours U.S., Issues Debut Album

Enter another Kuti progeny, youngest son Oluseun “Seun” Anikulapo Kuti, whose self-titled debut reclaims his father’s urgent, horn-drenched art form. The album will be released June 24 on Disorient Records and Kuti will embark on a full North American tour with the all-star Egypt 80 band. His forthcoming album, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, is described as “a ravaging pamphlet against the corruption, ignorance, malady, sadness, pollution, and the many others ills that ravage contemporary Africa.”

Dates
06/20 Los Angeles, CA: Grand Performances
06/21 Los Angeles, CA: El Rey Theatre
06/22 San Francisco, CA: Stern Grove
06/23 Redway, CA: Mateel Center
06/25 Vancouver, CA: International Jazz Festival
06/27 Victoria, BC: Jazz Festival
06/28 Seattle, WA: The Moore
06/29 Chicago, IL: House of Blues
06/30 Alexandria, VA: Birchmere
07/02 Toronto, ON: Harbourfront
07/03 London, ON: Sunfest
07/04 Detroit, ON: Comercia Festival
07/05 Philadelphia, PA: World Café
07/07 Washington, DC: 9:30 Club

Whales Wash Up on Dakar Beach

The bodies of at least 20 whales have washed up on a Dakar beach and residents say as many as 100 swam right up to the shore.
Villagers living nearby said the whales were spotted late Tuesday night, veering closer and closer to the shore. By Wednesday morning many of them were beached. An Associated Press photographer counted at least 20 bodies, each the size of an adult man. It was not immediately known what type of whales they were.


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Video: Esau & Radioclit & Marina Having FUN

Just saw this the other day. Esau claim to be the "Phil Collins of Africa.

Nigeria demands $2bn oil arrears

2 billion dollars is a lot of money right? ...as Oil tops $130 a barrel


President Umaru Yar'Adua has ordered Nigeria's state-run oil company to demand nearly $2bn in arrears from two major oil companies.

The government say Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil have not paid taxes and production sharing costs they owe on two offshore oil fields

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Donors pledge $4.8 billion in aid for Sudan

This is a tremendous step in the right direction. African nations should be able to rise out of poverty with such aid...right?



Donor nations pledged a preliminary $4.8 billion in assistance to Sudan on Wednesday, aiming to help bolster a 2005 north-south peace deal in the east African country still torn by violence in its western Darfur region.

Sudan had said it needed $6.1 billion up to 2011, on top of $2 billion in humanitarian aid, but a deadly aerial bombing in Darfur three days ago cast a shadow over the Oslo conference.

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