20 Yr Old Naija-Londoner Faces Death Penalty

"Miss Orobator was born in Nigeria but lived in south London from the age of eight. Her father lives in Nigeria and her mother and three sisters live in Ireland."

"A pregnant British woman faces death by firing squad if she is convicted of smuggling drugs at a trial in Laos, campaigners have said.

Prosecutors claim Samantha Orobator, 20, was in possession of 1.5lb (680g) of heroin when she was arrested at Wattay airport in Laos in August."

Click here for the full story

Makeup, Wigs and Yankee Accent....

That was a real slap O!

What Does a Mall in Africa Look Like?

Silverbird Galleria, Victoria Island, Nigeria.

Someone asked, so I thought I'll share.

Chief Forest Whitaker & Chief Danny Glover of Imo State, Nigeria

April 6 was a really beautiful day. The people of Nkwerre village in Imo State, Eastern Nigeria might have thought they were just luckky to have a day as nice as this but the reason that day was all shiny and new was because a lost son had returned.

Forest Steven Whitaker,an Academy Award-, Golden Globe-, and Emmy-winning actor, producer, and director returned home to Nigeria.

I was the only journalist that got luckky to be right there as he was welcomed with fellow star, Danny Glover. Right there before my eyes, they were given prestigious chieftancy titles reserved for nobel and well respected men.

Whitaker, sorry chief Whitaker was given the title-"Nwannedinambe Of Nkwerre" meaning "A Brother in Foreign Land" while Chief Glover received the title- "Enyioma of Nkwerre," this means "A Good Friend."

It took me a while to believe I was actually there with world stars in a small village in Nigeria. I have not fully recovered.

I was really proud to be who I am when Chief Whitaker thanked the King for allowing him to breathe the air and feel the wind in a different way. To feel his blood differently. I was moved to tears and filled with mixed emotions when he said "Now I know where I stand, it is the greatest gift anyone can receive."

Chief GLover was also honoured and said this was home for him. We all moved on to the Ayiam-Osigwe family house to celebrate. I took in slowly, the priviledge of seeing them dance to the beats of Africa and savouring every mouth full of Jollof-rice, semovita and egusi soup, our native dish.

For me, a 24 year old Newswatch magazine senior staff writer in Lagos, I would never forget this day. Since I got back to my desk, I have recounted the stories to my colleagues over and over, now I want to tell the world.

I beleive his visit, his new identity, his title, his words and who he is would inspire Nigerians especially those on the road to shunning corruption and believing in hardwork.

Ghana Music Awards - Akon's n' dem cousins?

The MTN Ghana Music Awards is a people's choice awards scheme that seeks to foster the development of the Ghanaian music industry.



This dude is joggling between school and his music career



Campaign video...this dual won "Best Collaboration"

Log on to http://www.ghanamusicawards.com/ for more information

Omotola Baby...

I see some Shakira type moves here O!


Feel Alright (Music Video) 2009 from Ron Hightower on Vimeo

In Concert: Habib Koité & Bamada and Dobet Gnahoré

Thur. Apr 16, 8:00PM
GW Lisner Auditorium presents
Habib Koité & Bamada and Dobet Gnahoré
Double Bill - Two Full Sets

Two stars of 2006’s acclaimed Acoustic Africa tour return for their only double-bill this year.

Koité and his band draw on styles from several regions of Mali, integrating the rock and folk sounds of the Western world, without watering down his cherished roots. His charisma and magnetism translates across cultures.

"His reputation as a guitar player has become almost mythical" -The New York Times

Gnahoré, a remarkable singer from Côte d’Ivoire returns with a group of instrumentalists offering new sounds, ancient traditions, and remarkable music. From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, Ivory Coast ziglibiti to Cameroon bikoutsi, Gnahoré’s pan-African palette blends colorful compositions, jazz-inflected vocals, and unparalleled charisma.

Oga Landlord

President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Book Release and Interview

Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia Book Release and Interview Event as a Featured Guest on the In the Cafe with Mocha Television Show.

President Johnson Sirleaf appears on Friday April 17, 2009 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. The event time is 6:30. Each ticket comes with a signed book and a portion of the proceeds will help to support literacy initiatives in Liberia.


Click here for more details

Pics from Ini Edo's Wedding

Came across these pics, Nollywood superstar Ini Edo tied the knot last month. This na serious marital bliss.




Ini Edo has starred in numerous nollywood flicks...

Put A Ring On It- AFRICAN REMIX!!!

Africas in China

Miss Guinea USA Pageant

The First Miss Guinea USA Pageant is being held in Maryland. Click here for more information.

Cable Series Straight Out of Botswana

As a young girl growing up in the African nation of Botswana, Precious Ramotswe was encouraged by her father to follow her dreams, no matter what. Now in her mid-30s, Precious is doing just that — by opening her country's first and only female-owned detective agency for the benefit of those who need help the most.
The first major film/TV project to be shot entirely on location in Botswana, 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' is based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith and co-written and executive produced by Richard Curtis and the late Anthony Minghella.




Click here to get more online.

African Dance Hall - Introducinf Samini

For dance hall fans out there, meet Samini live and direct from Ghana.

Here is a sample of his work. Enjoy.

Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles

A colleague of mine sent me a link to an interview with Richard Dowden the author of Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles.

Very interesting stuff. Click here to listen to the interview, and if you're gonna read a book, Africa: Altered States, Ordinary Miracles might be one to consider.

Rwanda Rising: A New Model of Economic Development

Excerpt from article:

"Fifteen years after the genocide, the small African country has embraced a new model of economic development. Its strategy: Build a global network of powerful friends to lure private investment -- and market the brand of Rwanda."


Click here to read the full article

First Black Chief Executive of a FTSE 100 Company

Tidjane Thiam makes history as first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company

Tidjane Thiam, the new boss of the Prudential, created history yesterday by becoming the first black chief executive of a FTSE 100 company.

Mr Thiam, a French citizen who was born in the Ivory Coast, is finance director of Britain’s second-biggest insurer and will succeed Mark Tucker in October.

However, the timing of Mr Tucker’s departure astonished the City, raising speculation – denied by the company – that the Pru had been forced to accelerate its succession plans to prevent Mr Thiam being poached by a rival.

There was also speculation that Mr Tucker had gone amid unhappiness at the Pru’s recent decision not to bid for the Asian assets of AIG, the stricken American insurance group.

Full story on TimesOnline

Madagascar's New Leader

I'm pretty sure most of you have been falling with this intriguing story of the rise of a 34 year old former disc jockey to the president of Madagascar.



Opposition leader Andry Rajoelina has taken the presidency of Madagascar after President Marc Ravalomanana stepped down following a power struggle.

Here are key facts about him:

* Rajoelina presents himself as the champion of a new generation of reformists. However, at just 34 and having effectively strong-armed Ravalomanana out of power, critics say his behaviour resembles one of Africa's old "Big Men".

* A former disc jockey and nicknamed "TGV" after the fast French train for his rapid-fire rhetoric and charismatic personality, Rajoelina has led demonstrations against the president since the turn of the year. The protests, triggered by the closure of his Viva TV station at the end of 2008 for airing an interview with former president Didier Ratsiraka, quickly became a mass movement bent on toppling Ravalomanana.

* Viewed as something of a maverick given to sweeping statements and grand claims, Rajoelina won municipal elections in 2007 as an independent, running against Ravalomanana's party. As mayor, he became one of the most ardent critics of the government, labelling it a dictatorship, but was fired on Feb. 3 of this year by Ravalomanana at the height of the protests.

* Army backing was the clinching factor in bringing Rajoelina to power this week. Analysts say, however, that he has close links with the exiled Ratsiraka's camp and may also have enjoyed the tacit support of the French government.

* Rajoelina says his first and biggest challenge is to improve standards of living for the Malagasy, many of whom live on less than $2 a day. On the international stage, he will have to convince doubters of his legitimacy given his unconstitutional rise to power several years before the next presidential election was due.

* Rajoelina will also have to control some dissent in the military, where diplomats say some officers opposed his rise but were quashed by more powerful voices.

* He is expected to continue his predecessor's free market economic policies, welcoming foreign investors in the key mining and oil exploration sectors, while also trying to cut down on waste and put more emphasis on social policies.

* Rajoelina has displayed supreme confidence throughout the months-long crisis, only disappearing into hiding once when Ravalomanana's security forces came to arrest him. At rallies, he exuded certainty that he was on the verge of power. During Tuesday's extraordinary turn of events, he actually walked into Ravalomanana's office and announced his plans as president before the military formally conferred power on him.

SOURCE: REUTERS

The Ultimate Hair Do...

The First Lady of Cameroon showcases the native hairstyle...

A Dose of Humor

S'il vous plaît rencontrer Corneille

Originally from Rwanda, Cornielle sings about overcoming guilt from surviving the genocide and finding love. His English debut album dropped this week.



Here is a sample of some of his work:

Pictures from ChinAfrica

Do opportunities abound for professionals and entrepreneurs in the African continent? This is really something to consider...

Check out the full photo gallery from TIME Magazine

Introducing Zaki Ibrahim

Born to an exiled South African father and Scottish mother






Check her out on myspace http://www.myspace.com/zakiibrahim

Zaki will be performing at the 10th Annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Nigerian Trainee doctor sues college for £300,000

And no be say the young doctor no fine O! So whetin the handsome one go come experience now...



A black medical student is suing her college for £300,000 after claiming it was 'institutionally racist' in failing to stop alleged bullying by fellow medics.

Virginia Jibowu, 25, claims that fellow students at King's College medical school refused to eat or share a shower room with her.

She is suing the college - part of the University of London - for harassment, race discrimination and victimisation.

Miss Jibowu enrolled on a six-year medical degree course for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in 2002.

She said students on her course had to wear a special badge, which led to them being bullied by those on the regular five-year degree.

She shared digs with five others, including Richard Pinder, a leading Young Conservative.

In legal papers submitted to Central London County Court, she said: 'Mr Pinder asked me if black men were less intelligent than other people.

'He also said that he had stopped contacting a mutual friend because he had become 'too black'.

Miss Jibowu claimed three other white flatmates - including one called Emily Bowen - were 'hostile' during her hospital placement in Hastings, East Sussex, in 2006.

She alleged: 'The group refused to share the shower room with me and discussed rotas for the only other shower. Emily stated, 'We should introduce a virus into Africa to wipe out the continent and kill off all the black Africans so that we can move in'.'


Miss Jibowu had passed the first five years of study without failing an assessment and was due to start work last August as a doctor at Gwent Hospital in Wales.


She claims the college deliberately failed her from final exams and, without telling her, told the hospital she would not be taking up her post. It then wrongly insisted she should re-sit the whole of her final year, she added.

In the court papers, she said: 'The college disregarded my complaints and graduated all students complained about.

'All the alleged racists are now practising as doctors in the NHS. This can only ingrain the problem of institutional racism within the medical practice.

'At no point has the college accepted it was at fault for allowing an institutionally racist and hostile studying environment to exist.'

Miss Jibowu, of South Lambeth, South London, is demanding £300,000 for loss of earnings, aggravated damages and injury to health and feelings.

If she fails to qualify from the course, she is expected to sue again for the loss of her career.

The college, Dr Pinder and Dr Bowen all strongly deny her claims.

The case will be heard later this year.

SOURCE: MAIL ONLINE

Kanu's Commercial - For True Soccer Fans

For the real African soccer fans out there check out this commercial starring Kanu Nwankwo and his son...

A Dose of Humor

Nigeria Tops Another List...

The World's Worst Places to Work



No. 1 Lagos, Nigeria

Overall Grade: Very High Risk Location
Severe Problems: Infrastructure, Crime
Major Problems: Pollution, Disease & Sanitation, Medical Facilities, Availability of Goods and Services
Other Problems: Climate, Education Facilities, Physical Remoteness, Political Violence & Repression, Political & Social Environment, Culture & Recreation

There's no more challenging place on ORC's list than the largest city in Africa's largest country. Lagos not only has a severe crime problem and extremely poor infrastructure, the city has inadequate housing, sanitation, and medical facilities. Moreover, according to ORC, "the risk of being caught up in sectarian violence is another concern."

Kenya can boast of the #7 spot on the list and Egypt #18.

SOURCE: BUSINESSWEEK

Africa's Private Sector Flowers

During African Economy week, the BBC's African Perspective spoke to two business gurus about the potential the continent offers for business and for profit.


Click here for the full article

Flogging Teachers in Front of Class!

Tanzanian teacher whipping move

A regional official in Tanzania has been sacked for ordering police to whip primary school teachers as a punishment for arriving at school late.

In a statement, the government said the official had broken public service rules and humiliated the teachers.

Nineteen teachers were caned in front of their pupils after an inquiry into poor exam results at three schools.

The inquiry blamed teachers for being late or not showing up for work and not teaching the official syllabus.

The official who ordered the canings in the northern town of Bukoba, district commissioner Albert Mnali, told AFP news agency that it had been the right way to treat the teachers.

"These teachers often report late for duty and some of them are fond of being absent for several days," he told the agency on Friday.

"They deserved to get corporal punishment."

But Deputy Education Minister Mwantumu Bakari Mahiza called the incident "unfortunate and utterly absurd".

The government asked Mr Mnali to explain his actions and later issued a statement confirming the commissioner had been sacked.

"The government has followed up the issue and heard the explanation from the commissioner," the statement said.

"It has been concluded that Mnali's decision is unacceptable and humiliating to teachers, contrary to public-service regulations."

'Shameful and intolerable'

One of the caned teachers, Ativus Leonard, 33, told the BBC he was now too ashamed to meet his pupils.

Mr Leonard said he had been kicked by a police officer to make him lie down before being beaten.

"He hit me everywhere - my legs, my chest, my arms, my hands. When it was over, I went to the hospital for treatment. I was given medicine but I still have a lot of pain in my chest," he said.

The case comes at a time when parents and human-rights groups in Tanzania have been calling for a ban on flogging of schoolchildren throughout the country.

Before Mr Mnali was sacked, the Tanzania Teachers' Union said it intended to sue him.

"The caning of our teachers is shameful. It's intolerable and it's time the teachers take action against Mr Mnali through the judiciary," Kagera union chairman Dauda Bilikesi told the BBC.

Union officials say the caning happened amid an ongoing row between the union and the government.

Teachers complain that their salaries are often delayed and that they are a denied transfer allowance when they move to a new school.

SOURCE: BBC

Bribe or Business Expense?!?!

In Naija we call it "Egunje" and this is how business is done....or is it? See story below

UK police have arrested a London lawyer accused of moving millions of dollars in bribes to Nigerian officials to win contracts for a US construction firm.

A federal grand jury in Texas charged Jeffrey Tesler, 60, with helping channel money from Kellogg, Brown and Root, a former Halliburton subsidiary.

He was arrested after an extradition request from the US authorities.

It is alleged he channelled money to Nigerian officials, to obtain contracts valued at more than $6bn (£4bn).

The contracts related to the construction of liquefied natural gas facilities on Nigeria's Bonny Island between 1995 and 2004.

Last month, KBR admitted to US federal charges of paying bribes for the contracts. It agreed to pay more than $402m in fines, of which Halliburton, as the former parent company, agreed to pay $302m.

Halliburton also agreed with US securities regulators to disgorge $177m in profits to settle parallel criminal charges.

Second warrant

Mr Tesler was arrested at a business address in Tottenham, north London, on Thursday, British police said.

He was taken to a central London police station and appeared before City of Westminster magistrates on Thursday, when he was remanded in custody.

Mr Tesler returned to the court on Friday.

The US also issued a warrant for the arrest and extradition of another Briton, Wojciech Chodan, 71.

According to the indictment, Mr Chodan and other co-conspirators discussed using Mr Tesler to bribe Nigerian officials.

Prosecutors in Houston, Texas, said that both Mr Tesler and Mr Chodan were charged with conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Lawyers representing the two men could not be reached immediately for comment.

KBR is a major engineering and construction services company with operations around the world. It was split from Halliburton in 2007.

Its former chief executive, Albert "Jack" Stanley, pleaded guilty in September to his role in the bribery scheme and is awaiting sentencing.

SOURCE: BBC

Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO)

There is the Oscars and there is is FESPACO.





Log on to http://www.fespaco.bf/ for more details. By the way the site is in French.

Your Weekly Dose of an African Music Video

You Too Can Achieve the American/Nigerian Dream O!

Coup d'etat in Guinea-Bissau?!?!

President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira had ruled Guinea-Bissau for 23 of the past 29 years.



BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau – Soldiers assassinated the president of Guinea-Bissau in his palace Monday hours after a bomb blast killed his rival, but the military insisted no coup was taking place in the West African nation.

A military statement broadcast on state radio attributed President Joao Bernardo "Nino" Vieira's death to an "isolated" group of unidentified soldiers whom the armed forces said they were now hunting down.

The capital, Bissau, was calm but tense despite the pre-dawn gunfight at the palace, which erupted hours after armed forces chief of staff Gen. Batiste Tagme na Waie — a longtime rival of the president — was killed by a bomb blast at his headquarters.

The former Portuguese colony has suffered multiple coups and attempted coups since 1980, when Vieira himself first took power in one. The United Nations says the impoverished nation on the Atlantic coast of Africa has recently become a key transit point for cocaine smuggled from Latin America to Europe.

Following an emergency Cabinet meeting on Monday, military spokesman Zamora Induta said top military brass told government officials "this was not a coup d'etat."

"We reaffirmed our intention to respect the democratically elected power and the constitution of the republic," Induta said. "The people who killed President Vieira have not been arrested, but we are pursuing them. They are an isolated group. The situation is under control."

Click here for the rest of the story.

Your Weekly Dose of an African Music Video

Africans in the Diaspora - Return Home ?!?!

Here is a very compelling piece by Mr. Kilemi Mwiria the Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology and MP for Tigania West, Kenya

We do not need ‘dream team’ to tap Kenyan talent abroad

Often when I encounter Africans living in Europe and America, I get rather disappointed by their complaining about how terrible things are back home. If you challenge them to come home and make things better some say they are not wanted. Others tell us to make Kenya more attractive in terms of competitive salaries, improved governance and provision of relevant infrastructure as a condition for their return.

Some have a point. African governments have done little to attract our best talents back home. We have even failed to take advantage of external initiatives, which support repatriation of African talents by not offering any incentives to potential returnees. But we seem happy with donors paying exceptionally high salaries to a few returning professionals as with "The dream team" during the Kanu days and expensive consultants in government ministries.

There are Kenyans who would give up high profile jobs with international organisations and top private enterprises in the West if we can match what they earn out there. These Kenyans effectively compete with people from all over the world and get recruited for their competence in societies where merit overrides all other considerations, including whether or not your parent is the boss of the recruiting firm. This category has no visa problem; instead they are offered many incentives such as paid holidays to Africa in order to retain them.

One reason advanced for not tapping such talent is disruption of the public pay structure where new recruits may earn more than their supervisors. Yet, it is never a problem to pay foreign consultants the same or higher salaries than more qualified Kenyans. In any case, there are Kenyans who earn salaries higher than the average top western executive, including MPs, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission employees and some heads of parastatals.

There cannot be more than a thousand Kenyans out there who would require to be remunerated at the same level, so I think we can afford it. If well managed they will be more than worth their pay and we shall get much better value than we do from many political appointees who are best in retirement.

But there are also Kenyan managers who are threatened by the qualifications, experience, work ethic, attitudes and innovative ways of new entrants and often remind them that "this is Africa where we do it this way", thus discouraging many.

Positive values

I believe that we should offer interested Kenyans in the Diaspora at least the barest minimum pay to make them feel wanted. Given their experience with more efficient bureaucracies they can add much value to our Civil Service and parastatals such as universities. We should also go for the thousands of skilled and semi-skilled workers -teachers, engineers, doctors, etc. There is much to learn from Kenyan electricians, plumbers, carpenters and masons based in the West because of their exposure. With the construction boom, there is enough work for them in Kenya.

In addition to job related skills, Kenyans abroad will bring positive values related to honesty, time management, respect for the rule of law and integrity.

Some overseas based Kenyans will not return for lack of relevant certificates and financial resources for decent living or business or because they cannot find a job. A few such cases have come back only to head back overseas when they find age mates they left behind well settled and because they cannot stomach association with failure when crossing seas has always been associated with great success by those left behind. But there are also the selfish and pompous types who exaggerate their superiority by virtue of having lived in the West.

As we search for overseas-based Kenyan talent, we should recognise and reward top Kenyan professionals who have opted to stay home while ignoring better opportunities abroad. They have chosen patriotism in order to make Kenya a better place for all of us.

SOURCE: THE STANDARD

Naija Police in Action - U've Gotta See This

Captions please...

Kenya in sixth spot in the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series Rankings

Kenya on Saturday moved up to the sixth spot in the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series rankings at the end of the New Zealand International Sevens at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.

After an inspired run on the opening day, Kenya edged out Wales 10-7 to reach their only third main cup semi final in the Serie’s 10-year history.

Kenya was outclassed 26-0 by the eventual NZ Sevens winners, England, but collected 12 points from the tournament.

On departure, Kenya had budgeted for 18 points in the two tournaments in New Zealand and USA and are well ahead of schedule going into San Diego.

The talking point of the two-day tournament which was marked by several surprise wins was Kenya’s 22-17 upset of the top seeds and Series leaders South Africa in a Pool A match on Friday.

Rugby fans from USA, among them former players Fred Absaloms, Ernest Waweru and Leslie Mango, said Kenya’s performance only whetted the appetites of their fans in the USA when San Diego hosts the fourth tournament on February 14 and 15 at PETCO Park.

Big day

In an interview with IRB Sevens Radio, captain Humphrey Kayange put the win over South Africa in perspective.

“It’s a very big day for us. Started well, went bad in the second game and the boys really raised it in the last game and look where it took us,” he said

“It’s a big victory for us, there were three teams that we hadn’t beaten and South Africa was one of them so it’s a milestone, something we’ve reached, achieved on this tour.”

Coach Benjamin Ayimba admitted having harsh words for the players after narrowly losing 14-19 to Scotland in a Pool A match.

Early pressure in the quarter-final against Wales saw Allan Onyango’s claim for a try denied in the second minute because the ball was held up. From the resultant scrumdown, Collins Injera stole on the blindside to score.

His brother, Kayange pounced on a lucky bounce to race over for the second try. Although Aled Thomas scored and converted a try for Wales, Kenya held on to win before crumbling 0-26 to England in the semis.

A dashing run by Isoa Damudamu which ended in a try saw England complete a remarkable comeback to beat hosts New Zealand 19-17 for their first ever NZI Sevens title.

SOURCE: DAILY NATION

Badagary Historical Resort

Marlon Jackson is involved in a controversial development to turn a former slave port into a luxury resort that will house a Jackson Five museum, five-star hotel and slavery memorial.

A museum for the Jackson Five is to be built in Nigeria, American developers have announced, as part of a $3.4bn (£2.4bn) luxury resort including concert halls, golf courses, casinos – and a memorial for Africa's former slave trade.

The Badagry Historical Resort, located near Badagry's former slave port, will include a multimillion pound memorial, slave history theme park, five-star hotel and Jackson Five museum. The project is supported in part by Marlon Jackson, one of Michael Jackson's brothers.

"The Jackson family had been looking for a place to site their memorabilia collection," explained Gary Loster, chief executive of the Motherland Group, to the BBC. "We visited the site of the slave port in Badagry and Marlon turned to me and said: 'Let's put it here, this is right.'"

The development will cater to the country's growing tourism industry, particularly African-American tourists who wish to trace their Nigerian roots. Visitors will be able to explore the site of the former transatlantic slave trade, honour the hundreds of thousands who died in what were horrific human rights abuses, and then head off for a round of golf or a massage, before gawping at animatronic versions of the siblings who sang ABC and I Want You Back.

By promising to attract 1.4 million visitors in the first year, the Motherland Group has pledged to "enhance the quality of life for millions of people across Nigeria", according to promotional materials. They hope to create more than 150,000 jobs by the end of their fifth year.

"It's such an emotional place, and I think we all felt that it was the right place to have the Jackson family memorial," Loster said.

The developers' plans, which include a lifesize replica of a slave ship, holograms of the Jackson Five and robot versions of 18th-century African musicians, are not without their opponents.

"It is not appropriate from a cultural or historical point of view," Nigerian historian Toyin Falola told the BBC. "Moneymaking and historical memory are allies in the extension of capitalism. You cry with one eye and wipe it off with a cold beer, leaving the other eye open for gambling."

But Loster, Jackson and the other developers have dismissed these criticisms. "We know the problems facing us," Loster said. "We have visited Nigeria several times."

SOURCE: Guardian.co.uk

Howard Univ. Africa Business Conference

Log on to www.howardabc.com for more details.

HBS Africa Business Conference

Log on to http://www.hbsafricaconference.com/home.cfm for more details

South African male choir scoop Grammy

South African male choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo have won their third Grammy Award at a Los Angeles ceremony.

They scooped best Traditional World Music Album for their LP Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu. They have also picked up Grammys in 1987 and 2005.

But another South African group - the Soweto Gospel Choir - lost out in their bid to win three Grammys in a row.

They had been nominated for best Contemporary World Music Album, which was instead won by Global Drum Project.

Global Drum Project is a group of four drummers, including Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead and Nigerian talking drum master Sikiru Adepoju.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo were founded in 1964 by lead singer Joseph Shabalala.

The acapella group came to international attention in the late 1980s after working with Paul Simon on his celebrated Graceland album.

SOURCE: BBC

Another Artist on the Scene

ZamaJobe "Nokunthula"

NigeriaTown

We've all heard of Chinatown even in Nigeria. Well, here's an introduction to Nigeriatown in China.

In this issue of the magazine [New Yorker], Evan Osnos writes about African merchants living in China. Here, Osnos narrates an audio slide show about the economic, social, and religious life of African migrants in Guangzhou.

Click here to get the full story

Suggested Reading

"Confessions of an Economic Hitman" by John Perkins.

It is eye opening

A Story of Forgiveness

Jean Paul Samputu

'I forgive friend who killed my family'

John Paul Samputu's family was murdered during Rwanda's genocide of 1994 by a friend and a neighbour. He still calls him a friend because he has forgiven him.

John Paul is now an ambassador of peace and next month he will take part in an international forgiveness conference in his homeland. The BBC World Service's Mark Whitaker spoke to him:

JP: "In Rwanda we need to heal the wounds of the past. It's now 15 years but when you look at what happened in the genocide people are still affected."

MW: "Do you think 15 years is long enough?"

JP: "It's like one year. People still have bitterness, anger and the spirit of revenge."

MW: "You talk about reconciliation and your own reconciliation is perhaps one of the most remarkable that I have heard. Your entire family was killed by your neighbour, someone who was a friend, and you have now forgiven him?"

JP: "Yes I have forgiven him because I didn't have any choice. By forgiving him, I was healed. And me and him together, we are now dedicated to promoting peace and reconciliation."

MW: "Why do you say you didn't have a choice?"

JP: "After the genocide, when I went to my village and I learnt that my best friend was the one who killed my parents, it destroyed me. I couldn't understand why a very good friend would do that. I lost my mind.

"It took nine years dealing with anger and bitterness. I lost my career. I was addicted... drugs. At the end, I realised I was destroying myself."

MW: "You must have wanted to kill him?"

JP: "Yeah - the first time. I didn't see him but I was going to kill him. I have never killed in my life. I decided to forgive him because I wanted to get healing."

MW: "Your friend is a killer. What did he say to you when you said: 'I want to forgive you'?"

JP: "The first time he thought it was a political game. He was thinking: 'How can he forgive me when I can not forgive myself?' It was hard to understand."

MW: "Has he ever explained to you why he did it?"

JP: "Of course. Because now we are together we talk about everything.

"He said: 'You know Samputu, your father was a very good friend. More than you.

"And I asked him: 'If he was your friend, why did you kill him?'

"He said: 'You don't understand. We had the laws of the genocide. In the genocide, the law was that your best friend, your close neighbour, was the one who must be killed by you, because you were close. And I had to kill your father because I was the closest'."

MW: "And that was repeated across Rwanda? Those sort of interpersonal relationships were distorted?"

JP: "Even the husband killed his wife. It was not killing for them, it was working. If you kill many people then you are rewarded."

MW: "Do you think your father will be proud of you?"

JP: "If I revenge or I kill because he was killed, I think he (my father) would not accept that...

"I can't do what they did... If I don't forgive, what do we do to the other children?

"It's a cycle of violence. A cycle of hatred. It's generations. The world, where we live, carries the wounds of not forgiving and future peace depends on what we do with that."

World Cup 2010 - Let the Count Down Begin

Man pikin "had" funds set aside for this monumental event...but it get as it be.

For those going please update us O! Who knows with this $825B stimulus package, it might be a possibility after all.

Superb Artistic Talent by way of the Mothaland

Ariztos meet Nneka, Nneka watch out for those Ariztos especially the one with eye balls like a globe...

Thief Transforms to Goat

This is not the thief...I mean goat...I mean thief in question, but the picture for una whey no know what a goat is.

Do any of ya'll remember goat burgers back in the village?

Newspaper claims suspect transformed into a goat

LAGOS, Nigeria – One of Nigeria's biggest daily newspapers reported that police implicated a goat in an attempted automobile theft. In a front-page article on Friday, the Vanguard newspaper said that two men tried to steal a Mazda car two days earlier in Kwara State, with one suspect transforming himself into a goat as vigilantes cornered him.

The paper quoted police spokesman Tunde Mohammed as saying that while one suspect escaped, the other transformed into a goat as he was about to be apprehended.

The newspaper reported that police paraded the goat before journalists, and published a picture of the animal.

Police in the state couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

Belief in black magic is widespread in Nigeria, particularly in far-flung rural areas.

SOURCE: Yahoo News

Another Made in Africa Model - Kiara Kabukuru

Straight out of Uganda...I no go lie o, Uganda dey produce some fine models o!

Back to School...

Back to school for all the students out there. Here is a small brain teaser to get you warmed up.

2009 U.S. Presidential Inauguration

Truly a historic day. Washington, D.C. is jam packed. Security is off the chain. "Yes We Can O!"