Monday, June 30, 2008

Your Monthly Dose of Nollywood

Misunderstanding, Energy consumption, wife from village, respect me O! etc

Friday, June 27, 2008

Our African Kings

King Goodwill Zwelethini is a descendant of the famous Shaka, founder of the Zulu kingdom



"My father is a king, I'm royalty, our household controls the throne in my village"

Na so we dey talk am when we dey school...especially the oyinbo schools. What significance do African kings play in today's global economy?

One thing I know that still stands is the polygamous lifestyle and sporting the nice one pack aka keg


King of Abomey in Benin

Thursday, June 26, 2008

African Cartoon


Ha ha...Many people have toyed with the idea of opening buffet style restaurants in Africa. It get as it be!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Zimbabwe Opposition Candidate Drops Out | Mugabe Clings to Power


The story of the ongoing political unrest in Zimbabwe is all over the mainstream media. I was holding out on posting anything with the hopes of some sort of favorable outcome. Well, it appears this is not going to be the case.

Is there more to this story, is "President" Mugabe that bent on staying in power, or perhaps he's just "misunderstood"?

Monday, June 23, 2008

Africa's Next Top Model O!

Do you remember the song "African Queen"? It's officially summer here in the US, time for Bar-B-Qs, soccer tournaments, picnics and PARTIES!!!


Sunday, June 22, 2008

A first trip to the dentist - Dentistry in Africa



I ain't gonna lie. I was a full grown adult before I paid my first visit to the dentist here in the US. When I told the dentist how old I was and that this was my first visit to the dentist, she shouted out to her receptionist "Cancel ALL of my remaining appointments, this is going to take a while"

Of course, there are the privileged few back in Africa that visit the dentist regularly but for the most part, many people don't even know such a profession even exist.

Whetin I dey go dentist for when I get pako?!


I mean, check out the 32s of a lot of Nollywood stars...many of the Nollywood stars are my close friends O! but if you think about it, they depict a fantasy world and if their grills are all jacked up, what hope does Toyin Tomato in Mushin have!

So when I came across this article...a sigh of relief followed

A first trip to the dentist

Three UK dental surgeons travelled to the heart of Africa to set up a clinic in an area where tens of thousands of people live in pain with rotting teeth or gums and no one to treat them.

Click here to read the full story

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Afrobeat Throwback



In preparation for the summer, here is a throwback issue of Ariztos Magazine. It’s all about Afrobeat. Stay tuned for details of the "Green Soul Party”

We would love to read your comments as it relates to viewing this issue on the blog and/or any input you might have for the "Green Soul Party”

Enjoy!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa


The ongoing concerns about the environment and climate change are not fads , they are real and serious issues. Here is an initiative launched by Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

For more information log on to http://www.agra-alliance.org/

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Documentary on Nollywood

...appropriately entitled "Welcome to Nollywood"



Where there is will there is a way!

Fashion Designer uses "African Print"

"African Print"...This na Ankara O!


"The lovely Kendra Smalter, operations manager for Z's Smile, modeled one of our favorite styles, the "Femi," a strapless dress with a clever selvedge edge on the pockets."

The "Femi"?


"...the dresses were a bestseller at Barney's, and the new White Label series is a higher-end extension for the boutique."


At Barney's? If there are any fashion designers in the house, lace hasn't caught on yet so you might want to get a head start :)

For the full article click here

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Esau Mwamwaya- video. Just random behind the scenes fun.

just enjoying. i hope you've heard of the star from malawi.

Salif Keita in Concert



Fri. Jun 20, 8:00PM

GW Lisner Auditorium presents
Salif Keita
The Golden Voice of Africa





Click here for details

South Africa 2010



If the title has no meaning to you...not to despair. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is being held in South Africa.

Time to start planning; plane tickets, hotel, food, oh yeah and the game tickets.

For more info click here

See you there O!

Monday, June 09, 2008

African Company: Safaricom worth over $4.5 Billion after IPO

NAIROBI, June 9 (Reuters) - East Africa's biggest initial public offer debuted on Monday with shares in Kenya's Safaricom surging as much as 60 percent to value the mobile phone company at more than $4.5 billion.

Click here to read the full story.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Welcome to the Republic of Seychelles

Have you ever heard of Seychelles?



Some 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Seychelles has the smallest population of any sovereign state of Africa

Seychelles Information and History

Some 115 tropical islands form the Republic of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean—independent from Britain since 1976. An international airport opened in 1971 on the largest island, Mahé, increasing tourism, the economic mainstay. An estimated 88 percent of the population live on Mahé. After 15 years of one-party rule, the first elections in the country's history were held in 1993.

ECONOMY

Industry: fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope.
Agriculture: coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes; broiler chickens; tuna fish.
Exports: canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports).

Text source: National Geographic Atlas of the World, Eighth Edition, 2004

Natiional Flag



Area 455 square kilometers
(176 square miles)
Population:81,000
Capital: Victoria
Languages: English, French, Creole
Religion: Roman Catholic, Anglican
Currency: Seychelles rupee
Life Expectancy: 70
GDP per Capita: U.S. $7,800
Literacy Percent: 58

This is one of Africa's hidden treasures. Through out the summer, we will continue to bring you destination spots in Africa that you rarely hear about in mainstream media.

Stay tuned...

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Coming to a Theatre Near You...


...or maybe not. It was just a matter of time, right?

Starring Jim Iyke, Omotola Ekeinde, and Nadia Buari

Kikwete: 'Africa must invest in infrastructure'



African presidents attending the 8th Leon H.Sullivan Summit in Arusha, Tanzania, have cited corruption and poor infrastructure as major obstacle in efforts to raise the quality of life the continent's people.

“The continent must establish quality road, railway and telecommunications networks without which no significant development can be realized,” President Kikwete said.

Click here to read the full story

Obama's Grandmother Inundated with Interview Requests



"Now his meteoric rise to political fame has propelled the name Barack Obama onto the lips of millions of Kenyans.

He has Kenyan blood coursing through his veins and has been adopted as a Kenyan national hero, who just might become the most powerful man in the world".


His grandmother Sarah Obama still lives in the village where she receives an endless stream of journalists and well-wishers wanting to find out more about the US Democratic super-star.

I was in a queue of three other camera teams when I went to see Sarah Obama. Her family insists on appointments being made.

Read the rest of the story here

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

MTN Durban Fashion Week 2008



Its not too late to get your plane tickets :)

The launch of Durban Fashion Week in 2005 heralded a new era in South African fashion and, following two exceptionally successful years, MTN Durban Fashion Week has found its niche and is now firmly entrenched on the South African fashion calendar. South Africa’s cradle for new, young and emerging design talent, MTNDFW 2007 will take place from 25-28 June 2008 at the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World.

Log on to http://www.durbanfashionweek.com for details

Manchester United to play Pompey in Nigeria


"Our own research has shown Nigeria is home to our fourth largest fan base - some 13.6 million supporters - so this is an opportunity for us to say thank you to those fans."

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp revealed the plan after his side's triumph in the FA Cup.
Click here for the full story

Barack Obama: "the Democratic nominee for president of the United States".


Not that we predicted ;-)

We Africans Love Soccer

Adebayor to receive award in Lome

Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor will receive the 2007 BBC African Footballer of the Year trophy at a special gala in Lome on Tuesday night.

Click here for the full story.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Manu Chao, "Politik Kills (Long Version)"

I just thought this was a cool video. It shows a kid playing "Politik Kills" from a boombox and walking through Monrovia, Liberia one year after their civil war concluded.

Monday, June 02, 2008