July 2011 ~ DMV Africans

Keinan Abdi Warsame

K’naan born Keinan Abdi Warsame is a Somali Canadian poet, rapper, singer, songwriter and instrumentalist.

Born in Somalia, K’naan spent his childhood in Mogadishu and lived there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991.

Keinan, means “traveler” in the Somali language. He spent the early years of his life listening to the hip-hop records sent to him from America by his father, who had left Somalia earlier. When he was 13, K’naan, his mother, and his three siblings, older brother, Liban, and younger sisters Naciimo and Sagal left their homeland and joined relatives in New York City, where they stayed briefly before moving Toronto, Canada.

K’naan began learning English, partly by listening to hip hop albums by artists like Nas and Rakim. Despite the fact that he could not yet speak the language, the young K’naan taught himself hip-hop and rap diction, copying the lyrics and style phonetically.

African History: July 18 1935

Emperor Haile Selassi tells the Abyssinian parliament in Addis Ababa that it is “better to die for freedom than to live as a slave” and that he would lay down his own life for the country.

“For forty years, Italy has desired to conquer our country, but Abyssinia knows how to fight to the last man to preserve the country’s independence”.

Wael Ghonim

Wael Ghonim, the Egyptian-born computer engineer and Head of Marketing for Google (Middle East and North Africa) used internet activism to galvanize pro-democracy demonstrators that were calling for an end to the Mubarak regime.

He was arrested and detained by Egyptian police for involvement in a Facebook fan page for noted diplomat and scholar, Mohammed El-Baradei.

Angélique Kidjo

Born in Benin, Angélique Kidjo is a Grammy award-winning music recording artist deemed “Africa’s premier diva” by Time Magazine and the Guardian has listed her as one of their Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World.

My Homelang

Hamar tribe, Ethiopia

African Men Rock!

Head Scarf

Sweet Mama

Push Pause

Sudan

African King by Adaobi Nwoka and Edidiong Akpan

MontRose

MontRose is a clothing label that is specifically designed for dope girls who were naturally born with style.

MontRose was founded in Spring 2011 by two best friends Daniele Folivi and Yemi Sofidiya; both ladies love fashion and decided that two fashionable minds are better then one.

MontRose is a fusion between afro- modern, vintage, and chic! It is a versatile label that doesn't follow trends.... it sets them.

MontRose is for those girls that make people double take as soon as they enter the building. It was created for opened minded people who aren't afraid to take risk and raise the bar.

'Like' MontRose ON FACEBOOK HERE

Country of the Day

Liberia

(Republic of Liberia)

Liberia is located in West Africa.

Liberian Flag

Liberian Coat of Arms

Liberian Currency

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Capital: Monrovia

Official Language: English

Demonym: Liberian

Government: Presidential Republic

President: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Independence: July 26, 1847

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Liberia is divided into 15 counties:

Bomi, Bong,

Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru,

Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,

River Cress, River Gee, and Sinoe.

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The ethnic groups of Liberia can be divided into five major groups:

Mel - Gola and Kissi

Kwa - Dei, Bassa, Kru, Krahn, and Grebo

Mende-Fu - Kpelle, Gio, Mano, and Loma

Mende-Tan - Vai, Mende, and Mandingo

Repatriated - Americo-Liberians, Congo, and Caribbean

Nigerian DJ Summer Jam

Super Love

An African twist to the popular children's story 'Cinderella'. It involves a poor orphan who lives with her wicked stepfather and two stepsisters that maltreat her...

Starring: Genevieve Nnaji, Pete Edochie, Ramsey Nuoah

The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo.

It is played by plucking the strings, which may be made of metal or (originally) the bamboo skin which is pried up in long strands and propped up by small bridges made of pieces of dried gourd. The valiha is considered the national instrument of Madagascar.

Intore Dancers

Intore dancers are an indispensable part of the Rwandan culture and tradition. The Intore dancing is also known as “warrior dancing”. The Intore people, who were once regarded as part of the traditional Rwanda army, were not only given military training but also taught the technique of high jumps and dancing. They were known for their outstanding method of jumping with the help of which they could rise up to 2-40 meters from the ground.

Asli Hassan Abade

Asli Hassan Abade was the first and so far only female pilot in the Somali Air Force. A prominent member of the Somali Air Force, she paved the way for gender equality within the military ranks.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress.

In 1962, he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison. Following his release in 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994.

Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999 and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father). Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

The Hyena Men

Pieter Hugo is a South African photographer, The Hyena Men is at the Yossi Milo Gallery in New York. Photograhs of men and animals surrounded by the barren urban centers of Northern Nigeria.

Sadza

Sadza is the staple food cooked widely Zimbabwe. The most common form of sadza is made with white maize. Despite the fact that maize is actually an imported food crop to Zimbabwe, it has become the chief source of carbohydrate and the most popular meal for indigenous people. Locals either purchase the meal in retail outlets or produce it in a grinding mill from their own maize.

Zimbabweans prefer white maize meal. During times of famine or hardship they resort to eating yellow maize meal, which is sometimes called “Kenya,” because it was once imported from that nation. Before the introduction of maize, sadza was made from millet flour instead.

Preparation is a more complicated process than it may first seem from the appearance of the food. The sadza is usually served in a communal bowl or separate plates and is taken with the right hand, rolled into balls, and dipped into meat, sauce, gravy, or stewed vegetables.

Zanzibar

A jewel of traditional Africa just off the east coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is not just a single island but comprised of two - Unguja or Zanzibar Island and Pemba Island. Unguja, itself surrounded by tiny islets, is the largest of the pair and Pemba lies 50km to its north.

The Assyrians, Sumerians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Indians, Chinese, Persians, Portuguese, Omani Arabs, Dutch and English have all been here at one time or another. Some, particularly the Shirazi Persians and Omani Arabs, stayed to settle and rule. With this influence, Zanzibar has become predominantly Islamic (97%) - the remaining 3% is made up of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. The earliest visitors to Zanzibar were Arab traders who are said to have arrived in the 8th century. The earliest building that remains on Zanzibar is the mosque at Kizimkazi which dates from 1107, and is a present-day tourist attraction.

Free A.C.R.E ticket Riddle

The colors of my flag

Run through your body

Shine in the sky

and owns the sea.

My symbols show my strength

And I use this strength to defend my country.

You can find me in the mouth of Africa.

....what country am I?

Mr. Ibu Parts 1-4

Like father like son so they are, he is a drunk and an unfocused man, so is his son who is very smart and a funny thief, they are both abstract of human nature.

Starring: John Okafor, Osita Iheme, Andy Chukwu, Stephanie Bonam, Jenniefer Nduka

Country of the Day

Malawi

(Republic of Malawi)

Malawi is located in South-East Africa.

Deep in the Trees

Ankara Harem Pants

Look Afrique Now

Severe Drought in Somalia

Somali children stand at a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu. Somalia is affected by a severe drought that has ravaged large swaths of the Horn of Africa, leaving an estimated 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

A woman holds her severely malnourished young child in a camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Mogadishu. Somalia is affected by a severe drought that has ravaged large swaths of the Horn of Africa, leaving an estimated 11 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

A Somali woman hands her severely malnourished child to a medical officer of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

J. Addo ft. Fat Trel - 'First Class'

J. Addo has done it yet again! At 10pm on July 19th the single 'First Class' featuring local DMV artist Fat Trel was released to the public...and all we can do is give them a round of applause.

From the harmonious and enticing instrumentals, to the deliverance of both rap and song; we were impressed by the two collaborating to make a truly memorable track.

...but don't mind us, listen to it for yourself and just begin to nod your head or sway back and forth!

Click HERE to listen to First Class

DMV Africans and Mr. Jalloh

Drums Please!

Sheri Koko Part 1 and 2

A tale that revolves around a young and ill-mannered woman who desires to live life at its best. This reflects on her discourteous behaviour towards the husband including denying him his marital rights. She soon abandons her marriage for school.

Starring: John Okafor, Funke Akindele, Chizzy Alichi, Charles Awurum, and Percy Egbareu.

We'd like to introduce you all to the latest DMV artist that's slowly, but SURELY creating a name for himself. His name? Jeff Addo, but his stage name is J Addo.

Originally born and bred in Silver Spring, MD J. Addo was not only blessed with African roots in Ghana...but he was also given the gift of music.