Baule dignitary, N’Goran Koffi, with his linguist and elders.
Kouassiblekro, Ivory Coast circa 1972.
Trailer Addict
Most celebrated among these at this year’s Berlinale is Kim Nguyen’s “Rebelle” (War Witch), for which the young 14-year old Congolese star, Rachel Mwanza, won Best Actress at the festival.It is described as neither simple, nor sensation, a heartfelt story from the straightforward viewpoint of its young heroine, Komona, who is abducted from her village to become a child soldier.
Filmed in Congo, Canadian director Nyugen fuses documentary aesthetics with fictionalized narrative; “the anonymity and total availability of all the performers, who ignore the camera and do not play for its benefit, contributes to the authenticity of the entire project.”
Protests in Senegal Turn Violent
Senegal riot police have fired tear gas and sprayed protesters with water to break up a thousands-strong rally in Dakar demanding that President Abdoulaye Wade drop plans to seek a third term.
Private radio station RFM said a man was run over by the police's armoured-personnel carrier on Tuesday.
Al Jazeera's Tristan Redman reports from the capital Dakar
Senegal: U.S. Legal Firm Helps Wade Fight for Third Term
An Atlanta-based law firm with an extensive practice with U.S. government agencies in Washington has been assisting Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade with his controversial bid to seek a third term of office.
Demonstrations erupted in the capital, Dakar, after the Constitutional Court last week cleared the way for Wade to compete in the February 26 presidential contest on the grounds that term limits were introduced after he first came to office.
The Constitution was adopted after the 2000 election, when the long-time opposition leader won a first seven-year term. He was re-elected in 2007, under the new Constitution, for a five-year term. The court said the constitutional term limit does not apply to him.
Countrywide protests have so far claimed four dead, including a policeman, and several wounded.
Artist Nneka Set To Go on Tour in North America
Soul Artist Nneka is set to embark on her North American Tour this march. The 2012 Soul Is Heavy will touch cities in both Canada and the United States.
Tour Dates:
3/6 Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
3/7 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
3/8 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
3/10 San Francisco, CA – Red Devil Lounge
3/11 West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
3/13-3/17 Austin, TX – SXSW
3/18 Houston, TX – House Of Blues Bronze Peacock
3/21 Chicago, IL – Double Door
3/23 Toronto, ON – Virgin Mobile Mod Club (Canadian Music Week)
3/24 Montreal, QC – Cabaret du Mile End
3/26 Cambridge, MA – T.T. The Bear’s
3/27 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
3/28 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
3/29 Vienna, VA – Jammin Java Music Club & Cafe
3/31 Atlanta, GA – Vinyl
GenerationAfrik
In lieu of Black History Month the Howard University African Studies Graduate Student Association (ASGSA), the African Cultural and Resource Center (ACRC), and the Office of Minority Health Resource Center (OMHRC), will be hosting a discussion entitled "GenerationAfrik''.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 29th, 2012
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Hilltop Lounge at the Howard University Blackburn Center.
The goal of this event is to open dialogue on "hush-hush" topics within the African community and shed light on the challenges affecting African youth in today's society.
The forum will focus on issues surrounding young African people (18-30yrs ) in the D.C. Maryland and Virginia area.
Discussion topics will include maneuvering through culture and tradition, sex/relationships, and defining the "New African".
Amanda Badze' LIVE
Amanda Badze, a Zimbabwean-Born, Alternative soul artist is taking the DC Music Scene by storm!
Her Unique style, and eclectic flavor is raising eyebrows everywhere.
The Conversation: A Speed Dating Happy Hour
Join them as they promote healthy relationships amongst the professional men and women of chocolate city!
Taste of Africa Event
Come join the African Student Association at George Washington University as they come together for the Black Heritage Celebration, African Style. Enjoy a Fashion show, dancers, special performances and authentic African food.
This is an event you will not want to miss.
Up-Coming Artist: Chisom
Chisom Preston Uzosike. 18. Nigerian. Columbia, Maryland
Taste Lounge DC
TASTE | LOUNGE | DC
1812 HAMLIN ST, NE | WASHINGTON DC
(Corner of 18th & Rhode Island Avenue) .
(Corner of 18th & Rhode Island Avenue) .
A Classy, Upscale, Chic African/Caribbean Restaurant and Lounge that has Delicious and Scrumptious Food, Fantastic Service, and a Very Elegant, Stylish Ambiance ..Plus it’s 100% African Owned!
Finally!!! African Professionals Have a Venue that Caters to their Needs!!
Finally!!! African Professionals Have a Venue that Caters to their Needs!!
Call 202-269-3335, For more information.
Mango Café
4719 Annapolis Road
Bladensburg , MD 20710301-277-4048
- Hours: Sun.-Fri. 5 p.m.-12 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 5 p.m.-3 a.m. - Cuisine: American, Cajun/Creole, Jamaican, and Seafood
- Meals Served: Dinner
- Reservations: Not Required
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
Mango Café has a cozy, neighborhood vibe with its offerings of international cuisine. They also transform to fit your special event needs. Guests sip on house creations like “the bomber,” and the general manager admits, it’s “loaded with more liquor than you can handle.” Drama queens can bicker over coconut shrimp with their drink of choice: melon drama. Live bands and karaoke nights are showcased, and this summer they will host outdoor concerts.
Weyone Sports Lounge
Landmark Mall, 1st Floor
5801 Duke St.Alexandria, VA 22304
703-256-4454
By day Weyone Sports Lounge is filled with local workers on lunch break and by night, depending on the day of the week, it’s packed with people catching a Redskins or Nationals game or folks looking to mingle and get their groove on. An interesting blend of sports lounge meets casual club, Weyone serves up authentic African and Caribbean cuisine in a modern atmosphere highlighted in red, white and black decor. Flavorful West African dishes dishes like beef kabobs with spicy peanut sauce and smoked fish over steamed white jasmine rice can be found on the lunch and dinner menus, whereas the bar menu has offerings like calamari, quesadillas and chicken tenders. Though not open as late as a traditional club due to its mall location, Friday nights include a DJ spinning reggae, R&B and hip hop.
2Face Idibia Proposes To Annie Macauley
2face Idibia and Annie Macauley just took their relationship several notches higher.
The pop icon who’s had an off-and-on relationship with Annie for over a decade, surprised us all lastnight
when he popped the question, during an outing at Club 10, in Lagos.
when he popped the question, during an outing at Club 10, in Lagos.We’re told Ms Macauley’s close friends were in on the plan, but the actress was completely in the dark. Little surprise she broke down and wept when Idibia proposed.
On Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger, friends are congratulating the pair, with one particular insider saying ‘it’s about time’. Dancer Kaffy tweeted the picture above, with the text ’2baba proposes to Annie!!! woooooooo live at Club 10′.
No further details for now.
Annie Uwana Macauley has a daughther (Isabella) for 2face. But before now, she was, in many people’s eyes, just another baby mama. Sunmbo Ajaba and Pero Adeniyi also have children for the musician – two each. And Pero, who’s now based in the US, is due to deliver her third Idibia baby in March.
Schools to Pilot Social Accountability Project
Rehoboth — Namibian school going children are not achieving as much as the Ministry of Education would like to see and the ministry is trying to identify some of the areas which could be improved for learners to scjeive better results.
This came to light during a sensitisation workshop on Social Accountability and School Governance in the Education Sector in Namibia Project at Rehoboth Primary School on Saturday. To enhance school performance, school accountability and student achievement, United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF)'S Charles Avelino said the world body was mandated by the UN General Assembly to enhance the education programme. "The aim is that when a children go to school they are prepared to be able to contribute to national development when leaving school," he said adding that UNICEF was committed to supporting the development of children and to ensuring that when they attend school they don't spend years in schools without benefiting anything on personal development.
A pilot project with four primary schools, three in Mariental in the Hardap Region, and one in the Ohangwena Region, starts towards the second half of this year. The project, titled Social Accountability and School Governance in the Education Sector in Namibia, will be implemented over a period of three years. It will be coordinated by the Ministry of Education and implemented with regional and national education staff of the ministry, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), learners, school boards and communities. Alvelino informed the meeting that the project will enhance grass roots level engagement in school governance, and sector monitoring at regional and national levels will contribute to quality education and a more efficient and effective education service delivery.
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Kenya: Prosecutors to Be Hired for Gender Violence Suits
Prosecutors from the civil society will be hired to handle sexual and gender-based violence cases, the Director of Public Prosecutions has said.
Mr Keriako Tobiko said that his office will for the first time gazette public prosecutors from civil society to handle the cases free of charge.
"The sexual and gender-based violence prosecutors will handle the cases on a pro bono basis and will operate under the direction and supervision of the DPP," he said.
He added that it was one of the measures being taken to strengthen the DPP's office and ease delivery of justice in view of the acute shortage of public prosecutors in the country.
The DPP was speaking on Monday at a Nairobi hotel during a meeting with civil society organisations to explore areas of cooperation between his office and the civil society.
Mr Tobiko also said that a Bill aimed at speeding up public prosecutions was in its final stages of drafting.
The National Prosecution Service Bill will establish the National Prosecution Service, which will have powers to recruit staff, negotiate terms and conditions of service with them and negotiate with Parliament for its budget.
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Combating Female Genital Mutilation
VOA's health correspondent Linord Moudou discusses female genital cutting and women's rights with Sia Finoh, children and women's right advocate and Comfort Momoh, a midwife at London's African Well Women's clinic.
Bukom Cafe
Washington, DC 20441
Neighborhood: Adams Morgan
(202) 265-4600
- Bukom Cafe was the first West African eatery to appear in town, and it can’t help but stand out from the plethora of Ethiopian restaurants that dot its Adams-Morgan neighborhood. Named after a popular bar-restaurant district in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Bukom is in every way West African in spirit and look.
Bukom Cafe is located in the heart of Adams Morgan, a rich and ethnically diverse district in Washington, D.C.. Please visit us and let our bold flavors and kente-cloth decor take you on a quick visit to the Motherland. Choose from West African classics such as okra soup, fufu, egusi and oxtail stew.
Open 7 days a week for dinner from 4:00pm until 2:00am.
http://www.bukom.com
Activists Lobby for North African Rights
Thousands of people rallied in cities across the world yesterday to demand respect for human rights in the Middle East and North Africa as part of a global day of action organized by Amnesty International.
Scientists Discovers New Species of Ancient Crocodile
The new species nicknamed “Shieldcroc” is the earliest ancestor of modern crocodiles to be found in Africa.
Researcher have identified a new species of prehistoric crocodile. The extinct creature, nicknamed “Shieldcroc” due to a thick-skinned shield on its head, is an ancestor of today’s crocodiles. It is the earliest ancestor of modern crocodiles to be found in Africa.
Its discovery provides scientists with additional information about the evolution of crocodiles and how scientists can gain insight into ways to protect the species’ environment and help prevent extinction. The discovery was published this week in the journal PLoS-ONE (Public Library of Science).
 |
| Missouri University assistant professor Casey Holliday nicknamed Aegisuchus witmeri “Shieldcroc” because of its thick skinned shield. Credit: Henry Tsai |
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Kikanda
50 Cent In Somalia
Curtis Jackson, better known as the rapper 50 cent, recently took a trip to Somalia to begin his initiative to feed one billion people in Africa.
50 Cent recently published photographs of his experiences in Somali through Twitter and shared his mission with followers.
Rest In Peace Whitney Houston
News hit Twitter that the once-great Whitney Houston was found lifeless.
Her amazing voice which moved millions will forever be missed.
Below are some of pictures and songs of hers. Enjoy.
My Azonto Dance Competition
DEADLINE::::::: February 25th 2012
In celebration of Ghana's 55th Independence Day, DMV Africans and Signature StYle Entertainment are hosting the first My Azonto Dance Competition. The winner of the competition will receive a round trip ticket to Africa or a $500 cash prize!
Go to http://www.myazonto.com to enter the contest, see the rules, and learn more about the competition.
Are NGOs fanning unrest in Egypt?
Relations between Egypt’s military rulers and the US government have hit a distinctly rocky patch.
Nineteen Americans are among 43 workers from non-government organizations (NGOs) who have been sent for trial in an Egyptian criminal court over charges of illegally using foreign funds to encourage unrest in the country.
Putting the issue firmly in the US media spotlight, Ray LaHood, the son of the US secretary of transportation, is among the 19 Americans who it is believed will have to face charges.
Sam LaHood heads the Egyptian office of the International Republican Institute, and was among several foreign workers banned from leaving Egypt just over a week ago, after their offices were raided by armed police.
Putting the issue firmly in the US media spotlight, Ray LaHood, the son of the US secretary of transportation, is among the 19 Americans who it is believed will have to face charges.
Sam LaHood heads the Egyptian office of the International Republican Institute, and was among several foreign workers banned from leaving Egypt just over a week ago, after their offices were raided by armed police.