Tosin & HalleluJazz Project @ Busboys N Poets

Hung out the other night at Busboys N Poets to listen to Tosin & the Hallelujazz Project. Some pics (Tosin is on the drums).

Some more pics from Shaping Destiny's fundraising event.

Click here for more pics. And for more information on Shaping Destiny, click here.

Sarah Hussein Obama laughs in Kenya as she receives congratulatory messages after her grandson, Barack Obama, accepted the US Democratic Party's nomination to run for president.

(picture via BBC)

The 6th London African Music Festival

Comment Tu T'Appelle

Kolo Concert...This Friday

Wives of African Presidents Should Get Salary...Abi?

Kenyan anger at top spouses' pay

Kenyans are outraged by a proposal to pay hefty salaries to the wives of the prime minister and vice-president.

A leaked document says the head of civil service Francis Muthaura has directed that they each be paid $6,000 (£3,000) every month.

But MPs have vowed to shoot down the proposal in parliament, saying it is too expensive for the economy.

Kenyan tax-payers are already paying heavily for the cabinet - the largest ever - with more than 40 ministers.

A government memo leaked to the local media directs that Ida Odinga and Pauline Musyoka, wives of the prime minister and vice-president respectively, will be rewarded for their roles as hostesses.

The pay is also supposed to recognise their role for upholding national family values.

'Over-burdened'

But Eugene Wamalwa, an MP and brother for former Vice-President Micheal Kijana Wamalwa, says the tax-payer is already over-burdened and the allowances are uncalled for.

"The prime minister and vice-president attract one of the highest salaries in the world and that will be sufficient for couples," Mr Wamalwa said.

And former head of the Kenyan chapter of Transparency International Gladwell Otieno said the move is a confirmation that Kenyan politicians are just a greedy caste, looking after themselves at the expense of poor Kenyans recovering from the effects of post-election violence.

The two women will join First Lady Lucy Kibaki, whose allowances increased last year to nearly $8,000 a month.

President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agreed to share power in February after negotiations led by former UN head Kofi Annan to end weeks of violent clashes.

Some 1,500 people died and 600,000 left homeless around the country after last December's disputed elections.

SOURCE: BBC

Victims or Casualties of Greed

Nigerian official: greedy marks as guilty as 419 scammers

People who fall for so-called "Nigerian scams" aren't victims at all—in fact, they're greedy and should be jailed, according to Nigerian high commissioner Sunday Olu Agbi. He said today that Nigeria has gained a bad reputation because of the scams perpetrated by a minuscule number of people, and that those who find themselves involved with the scams are equally as guilty as those running them.

"The Nigerian Government frowns very seriously on these scams... and every day tries to track down those who are involved," Olu Agbi told the Sydney Morning Herald in response to a previous article on Australians falling for Nigerian scams. "People who send their money are as guilty as those who are asking them to send the money."

Out of the 140 million people in Nigeria, Olu Agbi said that fewer than 0.1 percent were involved in Nigerian scams. The scams, also referred to as 419 scams or advance-fee fraud, predate the Internet, but have exploded in recent years thanks to the proliferation of e-mail and instant money transfers. Although the scams can take on many forms—from payments for products sold on eBay or Craigslist, to deposits on houses and purchases of plane tickets for "true love" on the other side of the ocean—they all follow the same general theme.

Scammers send huge checks to unsuspecting victims with some story attached to explain the overpayment, and the victim is expected to wire back the difference immediately. Eventually when the checks are deposited, they bounce and the victim is out a lot of money. Sometimes, victims are tricked into thinking they'll eventually be paid back and continue to participate in this endless cycle of sending money, especially if the scammer is wooing them romantically (which happens more commonly than one might think, to both men and women).

Although this kind of fraud originates from all over the world, it seems to have an unusually high concentration in Africa and, specifically, Nigeria. This has, unsurprisingly, cast Nigeria in a negative light. Olu Agbi said that Nigeria's reputation for being involved with the scams has even hurt the country's ability to land business deals. "[T]hose who want to transact business with us are always very suspicious," he told the newspaper.

Still, Olu Agbi's "blame the victim" mentality won't help Nigeria win any friends, but education on how to spot 419 scams and avoid falling for them can certainly go a long way in curbing their growth. After all, once victims stop blindly forking over cash, scammers will have to figure out some other way to make money.

SOURCE: By Jacqui Cheng | Published: August 22, 2008

What do you think?

Olympic Medal Count for the Motherland

Kenya: 5 Gold medals; 5 Silver medals and 4 Bronze medals for a total of 14
Ethiopia: 4 Gold medals; 1 Silver medal and 2 Bronze medals for a total of 7
Zimbabwe: 1 Gold medal; and 3 Silver medals for a total of 4
Nigeria: 1 Silver medal and 3 Bronze medals for a total of 4
Morocco: 1 Silver medal and 1 Bronze medal for a total of 2
Cameroon: 1 Gold medal
South Africa: 1 Silver medal
Sudan: 1 Silver medal
Egypt: 1 Bronze medal
Mauritius: 1 Bronze medal
Togo: 1 Bronze medal


There you have it...now back to our regular feature presentation

Nigeria Wins Silver Medal for Olympic Soccer

...don't weep for me...just a couple of goals away from a lucrative shoe contract. The Nigerian team played, they were a bit off of their usual game, there is no point in coulda, shoulda, woulda. I know a lot of couch coaches have stacks of notes to give to the players and coaching staff but such is life, particularly in sports.

I hope all the athletes have a hearty welcome upon returning to their home countries.

Cheers!

Showdown for the Gold: Olympic Soccer

Oya O!!! It's on like popcorn. At midnight...Naija vs. Argentina, last chance for Nigeria to repeat what they did in Olympic 1996 in Atlanta.
I've already started discussions with a major athletic shoe company...Naija wins we're gonna be launching the green white green soccer cleats.
I can't watch the game...too much anxiety mehn!
From day one I've been positioning myself to ride this gold wave yo...

PECKHAM FOR LIFE!

Street Credibility- 9ice featuring 2face.

"Street Credibility" 9ice featuring 2face. Hmmm....just when "Gongo Aso" stopped playing over at the 'lab'

Forgot to [publicly] congratulate 9ice and our dear friend on their recent wedding.

Cameroon's Mbango retains women's triple jump gold at Beijing Olympics

"cough"..."cough"...bon jour mademoiselle



BEIJING, Aug 17 (Xinhua) -- Defending Olympic champion Francoise Mbango of Cameroon broke the Olympic record of the women's triple jump at the Beijing Olympics here on Sunday and retained the title.

In her second attempt, Mbango landed 15.39 meters. The previous record was held by Inessa Kravets of Ukraine in 15.33 meters.


Full story

SOURCE: China View

If na to Run...Another Gold Medal

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele won the men's 10,000m gold, creating an Olympic record of 27 minutes 1.17 seconds, as compatriot Sileshi Sihine took silver.

Micah Kogo of Kenya secured bronze, but Ethiopian veteran Haile Gebrselassie could only finish sixth, ending his dream of a third Olympic gold medal.

Bekele, 26, controlled the last lap before powering home by a distance to clinch his second Olympic gold medal.

Full story

SOURCE: BBC

First Kenyan woman to win an Olympic title

Pamela, Anythin' for me...?
See the intensity in this sista's eyes, 18 years old...na wa O!



Pamela Jelimo powered to a brilliant 800m victory to become the first Kenyan woman to win an Olympic title.

The 18-year-old, who only began running the event in April, set a devastating pace to win in one minute 54.87 seconds at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.

Full story

SOURCE: BBC

Ol' Boy Do You Want the Gold or Should I Take It

Kenya athletes chatting on their way to the finish line


Kenyan middle distance runner Brimin Kiprop Kipruto added Olympic gold to his world championship title by winning the men's 3000m steeplechase.

The 23-year-old held off a late charge from Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad of win in eight minutes 10.34 seconds.

Full story

SOURCE: BBC

Nigeria thump Belgium to reach Olympic final

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Nigeria thumped surprise package Belgium 4-1 on Tuesday to reach the Olympic soccer final for the first time since winning the tournament 12 years ago.

Striker Chinedu Ogbuke Obasi scored twice in the second half after Olubayo Adefemi had given the exuberant but erratic Africans an early lead.

Full story

SOURCE: Reuters

Night Life in an African City

Before you read this article and start thinking "this is how I would be living if I was back home in my country"...keep things in perspective. This is like giving an account of the night life in Hollywood, Beverly Hills or the Hamptons.

Interesting account of what's going on in this very expensive African city.
Reader discretion advised.

For the full article click here

FELA: A New Musical

Tirunesh Dibaba wins women's 10,000m

As I predicted in my earlier posting, Tirunesh of Ethopia has won a gold medal for the 10,000 meters race.


BEIJING (Reuters) - Ethiopia's world champion Tirunesh Dibaba won the first track gold medal of the Beijing Olympics in the women's 10,000 metres final on Friday.

From when the 23-year-old hit the front with 300 metres to go, her victory was never in doubt and she crossed the line in 29 minutes 54.66 seconds, an Olympic record.

Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse, who had led for much of the latter part of the race, ran home in second to claim a first Olympic medal in athletics for a Turkish woman in 29.56.34. American Shalane Flanagan took bronze in 30.22.22.

Dibaba and Abeylegesse were only the second and third women to run under 30 minutes for the 10,000 after Chinese world record holder Wang Junxia, who set her mark in Beijing in 1993.)

SOURCE: Reuters

African Soccer Trio Reach Quarter-finals

BEIJING (Reuters) - Nigeria reached the Olympic quarter-finals with a controversial 2-1 win over the United States on Wednesday and fellow Africans Ivory Coast and Cameroon also qualified.

Ivory Coast went through when Salomon Kalou gave them a 1-0 win over Australia and a 0-0 draw with Italy was enough for Cameroon.

Brazil and Argentina, who like Italy had qualified already, completed the group stage with 100 percent records by beating hosts China and Serbia respectively.

Thiago Neves scored twice in four minutes in the second half for Brazil after Diego had given them the lead in the 18th minute in Brazil's 3-0 win.

An Ezequiel Lavezzi penalty and free kick from Diego Buonanotte, the smallest player in the tournament at 1.60 metres, gave Argentina a 2-0 win over Serbia, whose goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic saved an Angel Di Maria penalty.

Belgium and their neighbours the Netherlands took the other two places with 1-0 wins over New Zealand and Japan respectively.

Nigeria's match swung their way in the third minute when U.S. defender Michael Orozco was sent off for elbowing Solomon Okoronkwo, who tumbled over despite only minimal contact.

Already struggling with the stifling humidity, the U.S. went behind when Chinedu Obasi skipped down the left and laid the ball off for Promise Isaac to score in the 39th minute.

Substitute Victor Obinna fired in the second in the 79th minute before the U.S., needing a draw to go through, came to life.

Sacha Kljestan pulled one back with a penalty before Charlie Davies headed against the crossbar, then had another effort saved by Ambruse Vanzekin

Source: Reuters


African man...

USA Olympic Soccer Team Represents

...not exactly. Awon Naija boyz. You could hear the Nigerians shouting from stands saying..."Oga America this no be basketball O!"

Final scores 2-1. Nigeria victorious...eliminating the USA Men soccer team from the Olympics. Well, there is still the MLS.

Here are play backs of the Nigerian goals courtesy of our Francophone crew.



2nd Goal

African Power Hour featuring Recruiters from Top African Banks

African Day Parade in NYC

Red White and Blue Representing at the Olympics

I heard the Olympic opening ceremony were fantastic. If your country could only partake in a handful of events...you'll always have the opening ceremony

BEIJING - AUGUST 08: Jangy Addy of Liberia carries his country's flag during the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics at the National Stadium on August 8, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Happy Birthday G Man

To Ariztos' G Man...what a birthday 08/08/08

The Nigerian man who has 86 wives

Sometimes its just so hard to say no.

The Nigerian man who has 86 wives

"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he told the BBC.

He says his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer.

"I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."

Family potrait



For the full story click here

African Athletes at the Beijing Olympics

Let's not deceive ourselves, we already know either the Kenyan or Ethiopian athletes are gonna get all the gold medals for long distance running.

Now for Soccer...It remains to be seen, but African nations should be poised to grab at least one medal. Nigeria usually makes a good run at it. Ghana represented in one Olympic in the past. Can they duplicate and/or even improve on that success?

Now the real koko of the whole Olympic events, swimming. Everybody is focused on USA's Phelps. Aight we give them the men's category, but as far as the women's own O...Toyin Tomato is a shoe in for the gold.



The Olympics kicks off tomorrow...stay tuned, we've been promised a lot of drama

African Muscle Men

Ok...ok...don't ask how I came across this web site. The mainstream media would have you believe everyone is either starving or battling HIV/AIDS in Africa. Well, some guys must have access to prime steak abi na eba?


For more picks of African Muscle Men log on to AfricanMuscle.com

Shaping Destiny

We went to a fundraising event a couple of weekends ago for "Shaping Destiny." We'll have more pictures uploaded shortly.

First Nigerian Gay Church

Is Nigeria becoming liberal and embracing openness to individuals' sexual orientation or is there something in the water?

Check out this news report from CNN by clicking here

Africa Investment - T-Bills

I'm no finance guru, and if there are any readers that are please chime in, but here is some information you might be interested in.

Nigeria to auction $341M in treasury bills

LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria will auction 40.11 billion naira in 91-day and 182-day treasury bills on Wednesday to tame money supply, the central bank said on Tuesday.
The bank said it will issue 5.11 billion naira in 91-day bills and 35 billion naira in the 182-day paper, using the Dutch Auction System.
The results of the auction will be announced on Thursday, the regulator said.
The auction is one of the measures the central bank employs to control money supply, curb inflationary growth and help retail banks manage their liquidity.

Source: Reuters

What nation's flag are these African children displaying in the picture below?

Ghanaian Wins Boxing Title

Representing his homeland,Ghana, Clottey beats Judah, wins IBF title




Joshua Clottey, of Ghana, celebrates his newly acquired IBF welterweight championship. Clottey, who tore his bicep in the early rounds, hung on to defeat Zab Judah by unanimous decision Saturday night at the Palms. The fight was stopped in the ninth round because of a large cut over Judah’s right eye.

For the full story click here