tag:www.funtimesmagazine.com,2005:/categories/culture-entertainment?page=42Culture + Entertainment Culture + Entertainment | FunTimes Magazine Page 42Celebrating Africa And Its Diaspora2022-11-18T11:08:47-05:00urn:uuid:9dc45c95-1f4a-49af-ab8c-c5adf84e16692022-11-10T11:16:59-05:002022-11-18T11:08:47-05:00Style Influencers Fashion Soirée2022-11-10 12:00:00 -0500Aisha Al-Muid <span><p>What’s the best part of fashion? Dressing up and attending all the soirées, of course. That’s why the best dressed are so hard to decide. I have decided to begin celebrating the return of going-out ensembles. So, I decided to have a monthly pop-up style party where people are invited to come dressed in their best in order to inspire style and fun times. Kicking off my first style-influencers call, I must say that the ladies ruled the evening. Having stylish leading ladies in the place makes the world and party go round.</p><br><p>Bayou Philly hosted Miss Mahogany Philly and the fearless fashion set on a lovely Saturday evening. Did you miss it? Keep watch via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/missmahoganyphilly/" target="_blank">@missmahoganyphilly</a> for announcements and opportunities to show up wearing your fly. Here’s a view of some of the beautiful women who embraced authentic style. This fabulous soiree was captured by the legendary photographer Darryl Savage <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dscanphotos/" target="_blank">@Dscanphotos</a>. Until next time. Don’t be shy and show your style.</p><br><p> MissMahoganyPhilly </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962763/fill/700x0/Devon_20Smith_20at_20Bayou.jpg?timestamp=1668095836">Devon Smith<br><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962765/fill/700x0/Aisha_20__20Nina.jpg?timestamp=1668095948">Aisha and Nina<br><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962767/fill/700x0/Ayinde_20Warren.jpg?timestamp=1668096024">Ayinde Warren<br><br><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962769/fill/700x0/Dallas_20at_20Bayou.jpg?timestamp=1668096654">Dallas<br><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962770/fill/700x0/Dionne_20Ellison_20Vuliwear.com.jpg?timestamp=1668096831">Dionne Ellison, <a href="https://vuliwear.com/" target="_blank">Vuliwear.com</a><br><br><br><br><div class="image-main"><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962773/fill/700x0/Jennifer_20Braxton.jpg?timestamp=1668096970">Jennifer Braxton</div></div><p> </p></div></div></div></div><br></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/942680/fill/300x0/IMG_3459.jpg?timestamp=1668094150"></div><p> Aisha Al-Muid M.Ed. is the columnist behind "Culture Style Influencers". As a youngster she took an interest in high fashion magazines (Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Essence) and had an opportunity to intern at Essence magazine in the late 90’s. Aisha spent time working in retail at Barneys’ New York and eventually she opened a retail boutique, Miss Mahogany in West Philadelphia 2014-2016 featuring stylish fashion accessories. The passion for fashion and style is an intricate part of her life that has driven Aisha to contribute to FunTime magazine as a writer and style influencer since 2015.</p><span><p><br></p><p>Read more from Aisha Al-Muid:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/09/26/412415/swimwear-style-influencers" target="_blank"><img alt="Swimwear Style-influencers" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/951135/fit/80x80/swimstyles.jpg?timestamp=1668094188" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/26/412415/swimwear-style-influencers" target="_blank">Swimwear Style-influencers</a></h4>
<p>So, summer 2022 was simply amazing for me and although it's at its end. I would like to give you a style recap of my most recent swim soiree. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/26/412415/swimwear-style-influencers">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/03/18/393194/miss-mahogany-style-report-spring-forward-top-3-style-trends-of-2022" target="_blank"><img alt="Miss Mahogany Style Report Spring Forward Top 3 Style Trends of 2022 " src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/907896/fit/80x80/power_20suit.png?timestamp=1668094265" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/03/18/393194/miss-mahogany-style-report-spring-forward-top-3-style-trends-of-2022" target="_blank">Miss Mahogany Style Report: Spring Forward! Top 3 Style Trends of 2022 </a></h4>
<p>A person’s choice of clothing can heavily influence the impression they transmit and is, therefore, a powerful communication tool. Having fashion awareness and intentionality can be also ... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/18/393194/miss-mahogany-style-report-spring-forward-top-3-style-trends-of-2022">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:d8a690d0-7a2d-4f02-bf1b-6bdc847858b12022-11-08T11:15:13-05:002022-11-08T14:07:28-05:00Salute to our U.S. Military2022-11-08 15:00:00 -0500Fun Times Magazine<span><div><i><b>FunTimes</b></i><b> Fun Events Education & Entertainment!</b></div><p><br></p><p> “It’s our duty to remember” is a popular military phrase. On Veterans Day this week, we have a perfect opportunity for moments of remembrance and reflection. Here are some events paying tribute to our service communities, plus others highlighting food, music, education and art simply to enjoy the unseasonable fall temperatures. But before venturing out to any of these in-person activities, please respect the ongoing pandemic safety protocols, and check individual event-attending instructions with the organizers. As a general rule: If you feel unwell, please do not attend in person.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962388/fill/700x0/museum_20of_20american_20revolution.png?timestamp=1667919380"></div><p> </p><span><h2>Veterans Day Weekend salute to military</h2><br><b>November 11-13, 2022.</b> On Veterans Day and Veterans Day weekend, help honor America’s veterans and those military who serve now. Enjoy a full lineup of walking tours, gallery talks and more. <b>The Philly POPS Festival</b> quintet will perform patriotic classics as part of its<b> </b>Salute Series, which pays tribute to the military. The Philadelphia Military Academy student color guard will make a ceremonial presentation of the colors, followed by a moment of recognition for those who have served and sacrificed. 11 a.m., Museum admission: $19 and $21; free for kids under 5 and active military, veterans and Blue Star Families. Museum of the American Revolution, 101 S. Third St., 215-253-6731, </span><a href="http://amrevmuseum.org" target="_blank">amrevmuseum.org</a><span>.<br><br><br><br><br><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962460/fill/700x0/veterans_20memorial.jpeg?timestamp=1667934388"></div><p> </p><span><h2>Day of reverence and respect</h2><br><p><b>November 11, 2022. </b>One of Philly’s well-known Veterans Day events is the outdoor military observances at the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Penn’s Landing, where 648 service persons killed in war or listed as missing in action are memorialized. Program guests include First District City Council Mark Squilla and Doris Vallone, a clinical nurse and expert in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Free, noon to 1:30 p.m. ceremony Spruce Street and Columbus Blvd., <a href="https://allevents.in/philadelphia/veterans-day-celebration-time-change/200023589009818" target="_blank">allevents.in</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962395/fill/700x0/image6.jpg?timestamp=1667920349"></div><p> </p><h2><br>Veterans: Forget the mess hall, try this…<br></h2><br></span><span><p><b>November 11, 2022.</b> In honor of Veterans Day, <b>Misconduct Tavern</b> is offering military veterans a free “thank you” lunch – burgers, fries, chicken wings and more -- at any of its three Center City locations indoors or outdoors. Veterans can enjoy one menu selection (up to a $15 value) with proof of military ID. Free, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Misconduct Tavern locations: 1511 Locust St., 1801 JFK Blvd., 3131 Walnut St. RSVP at 215-732-5797 (Rittenhouse Square), 267-928-4297 (Logan Square), or 267-292-4359 (University City). <a href="http://misconducttavern.com" target="_blank">misconducttavern.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962454/fill/700x0/image5.jpg?timestamp=1667933387"></div><p> </p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962397/fill/700x0/image8.jpg?timestamp=1667920473"></div><p> </p><span><h2>Brewing up pickle perfection</h2><br><p><b>November 13, 2022. </b>This is a crafty event. Family-run <a href="https://www.wissahickonbrew.com/">Wissahickon Brewing Company</a> and Penny Pickles are teaming up for <b>Pickle Party</b>, a night of craft beers and gourmet pickle pairings. Say that five times! For the occasion, the innovative Philly-based companies have developed The Wiss Penny, a new spicy, “hoppy” variety incorporating Wissahickon Brewing Company’s international award-winning Devil’s Pool IPA. The pickle palate-pleaser is handcrafted from locally-sourced ingredients. Tickets are $20, includes two rounds of tastings. You even get to pick your pickle. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wissahickon Brewing Company, 3705 West School House Ln. in scenic Wissahickon Valley, 215-483-8833, <a href="http://wissahickonbrew.com" target="_blank">wissahickonbrew.com</a>, <a href="https://wooderice.com/wissahickon-brewing-company-is-teaming-up-with-penny-pickles-for-a-special-pickle-and-beer-pairing-event/" target="_blank">wooderice.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962400/fill/700x0/image7.png?timestamp=1667920813"></div><p> </p><h2>A deep exploration into art</h2><p><br></p><p><b>November 17, 2022. </b>The Art Break program is a great idea offering a deeper dive into the museum experience through the expertise of exhibit curators and guest speakers at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. The museum’s Assistant Curator Zindzi Harley and Program Coordinator Morgan Lloyd delve into the nuances of the museum’s latest exhibition, <b>"Vision & Spirit": Cultivating the Black Family.</b> Explore and discuss all facets of the themes of the Black family reflected in many of the show’s renderings. The program is included in he museum’s admission price, $10 and $14. Noon to 1 p.m., African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., 215-574-0380, <a href="http://aampmuseum.org" target="_blank">aampmuseum.org</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962402/fill/700x0/image2.jpg?timestamp=1667921083"><br><br></div><p> </p><h2>Jazz it up!<br><br></h2></span></span><span><p><b>November 11, 2022.</b> In the mood for some jazz on Veterans Day? Jitterbug over to Second Fridays presented by Guild & CEC and Diva Nation Philly-Women of Music BB, LTD. Take in the smooth sounds of Virjette Lacour & Her Band with special guests Vita Tew & You!, $20 (pay at the door), 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911 or 267-619-6195, <a href="https://www.cecarts.org/" target="_blank">cecarts.org</a> or email to: <a href="mailto: lgadson67@gmail.com" target="_blank">lgadson67@gmail.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/962453/fill/700x0/image1.jpg?timestamp=1667933235"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>Over coffee and open conversation</h2><p><br></p><p><b>November 16, 2022. </b>It can be challenging for parents to guide their kids in the current pandemic era of schooling, especially as it relates to the ongoing issues of equity and inclusion in our schools and communities. Parents, take some tips to navigate the process through a virtual initiative -- <b>SpeakUp!'s Parenting Adult Coffee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion</b>. The insightful conversations are designed to help parents with sharpening their tools to encourage open dialogue with their children; the goal is to strengthen their relationships. Learn from professional facilitators and share experiences with other parents in your community. Free, 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., 610-519-9600, <a href="http://speakup.org" target="_blank">speakup.org.</a> Register at: <a href="https://speakup.org/programs/#parentcoffee">https://speakup.org/programs/#parentcoffee</a>.</p><div><br></div></span></div><p> </p></span><br><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:6b92e36d-d864-404a-b9d2-b893dc60a3992022-11-02T12:06:24-04:002022-11-09T07:36:11-05:00Best African Football Players in 20222022-11-02 13:00:00 -0400Anand Subramanian<span><p>In addition to its share of current and former international stars, Africa has a long history of producing players who have changed the game forever. Professional footballers from Africa are a symbol of the continent's prosperity. The continent, however, also has a plethora of great footballers who might one day write their names into the record books. Some legendary players have come out of it throughout the years, who have gone on to compete on a global stage for elite clubs and set several records along the way. Here are the five finest African footballers of 2022. <br></p><br><br><h2>Wilfried Zaha</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960872/fill/700x0/image1.png?timestamp=1667400994"></div><p><br></p><p>Born on November 10, 1992, Dazet Wilfried Armel Zaha is a striker for Premier League club Crystal Palace and the Ivory Coast national team. Having come through Crystal Palace's youth system, Zaha eventually made it to the senior squad in 2010. A total of 18 of his goals came in his three seasons at Selhurst Park. Manchester United paid an initial sum of £10 million to get him in January 2013. (the most expensive Crystal Palace player sold at the time). For the remainder of the season, Zaha played on loan for Palace as he contributed to their promotion back to the Premier League. Zaha spent most of the 2013–14 season on loan at Cardiff City from Manchester United, where he was ultimately unsuccessful. He returned to Palace in August 2014 for another loan season and signed with them permanently on February 2015. Since then, he has been the club's 12th all-time leading scorer. Although he was born in the Ivory Coast, Zaha has lived in England since he was four. In 2012, he debuted for the England national team in two exhibition games. For the Africa Cup of Nations conducted in 2017, he decided to play for Ivory Coast instead of England after sitting out for four years. The striker born in Abidjan is still a threat to full-backs with his speed and skill, but he has improved dramatically in recent years as a goal scorer. Time is running out for Zaha to appear on the grandest platform since he could not assist Ivory Coast in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.</p><span><br><br><h2>Sadio Mane</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960877/fill/700x0/image3.png?timestamp=1667401199"></div><p> </p><p>Born on the 10th April 1992, Sadio is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for the Bundesliga Bayern Munich and the Senegal national team. Known for his pushing, dribbling, and pace, he is widely considered one of the best performers on the planet and one of the greatest Black players of all time. He began his professional life working for Metz. And then he went to Red Bull Salzburg, where he played for a season before signing with Southampton. When on the offensive, Sadio Mane is deadly. In reality, since 2015, he has scored seven goals in 11 outings for Senegal. His offensive skillset is top-notch, as he can quickly dribble and distribute the ball. Nonetheless, it is his quickness that sets him apart. He can utilize his fast feet to his advantage in attack and defense. What his peak speed is, we don't know. However, it has to be relatively rapid since he may swiftly change sides in the field. And defenders need a lot of effort to keep up with him. As a football player, he excels as well. He also has superb ball control. This means he can aid his side in keeping the ball for extended periods. Mané signed a deal with Bayern Munich on June 22, 2022, lasting until June 30, 2025, to play in the Bundesliga. Depending on playing time and individual/team accomplishments, the stated €32 million (£27.4m) cost might increase to €41 million (£35m). Mane made his debut on 30 July 2022, scoring his first professional goal in Bayern's 5-3 triumph against RB Leipzig in the 2022 DFL-Supercup at the Red Bull Arena. A week later, in a 6-1 win against Eintracht Frankfurt, he scored his first goal in the Bundesliga.</p><p><br></p><p>Read '5 Famous African Soccer Players':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/08/02/407698/5-famous-african-soccer-players" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/940032/fit/80x80/soccer_20players.jpg?timestamp=1667402917" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/08/02/407698/5-famous-african-soccer-players" target="_blank">5 Famous African Soccer Players</a></h4>
<p> Africa has provided world football with some famous players who have created magic for their clubs and countries throughout the years. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/08/02/407698/5-famous-african-soccer-players">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>Thomas Partey</h2><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960879/fill/700x0/image2.jpg?timestamp=1667401284"></div><p><br></p><p>Thomas Partey, a midfielder from Ghana, may not be a household name. However, he has been making waves in the Premier League and beyond. The 28-year-old Partey is a starter for the Ghana national team. In 2013, Partey started his professional career with the Spanish club Atlético Madrid. He then spent time on loan with Mallorca and Almera before returning to Atlético in 2015. In 2018, he won the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with Atlético. With his move to Arsenal in 2020, he set a new record for the highest transfer fee ever paid for a Ghanaian athlete, at £45 million (about €50 million). In Spain, he also plays for Atlético Madrid, where he has had tremendous success. The Spanish club is one of the most illustrious in football history. With Partey leading the way, they are well on regaining their status as a dominant team in their sport. Since he wasn't even a starter before the season began, the fact that he was chosen M.V.P. is all the more impressive. He got his chance when another player was hurt and made the most of it. WhoScored also recognized him as one of the season's top performers. It's no minor achievement that Thomas ranked second in the league in tackles per game and third in successful dribbles per game. Partey was promoted to vice-captain as Ghana prepared for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations & 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns. <i>All or Nothing: Arsenal</i>, an Amazon Original sports documentary series in which Partey had a role, followed the club throughout the 2021-22 season, spending time with the coaching team and players behind the scenes and off the field.</p><span><h2><br></h2><br><h2>Edouard Mendy</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960884/fill/700x0/image5.png?timestamp=1667401424"></div><p> </p><p>To win the Champions League in 2020, Chelsea spent just £22 million for Mendy, who promptly returned the club for its investment with solid play in his first season with the Blues. As a young player, Mendy began his career in his home France, where he competed in the Le Havre academy before earning a professional contract with Cherbourg of the Ligue 3 in 2011. After being dismissed in 2014, Mendy nearly gave up on football until being given a chance with Marseille's reserve team. In the following seasons, he became a mainstay for Reims and Rennes. His rookie year saw him become the first African goalie to play for the club's first squad, and he finished with a Premier League record of 16 clean sheets.Additionally, Mendy helped Chelsea win their second UEFA Champions League title by keeping a clean sheet in the championship game. He finished the season with nine clean sheets, which tied the record. Qualified to play for Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and France, Mendy originally joined Guinea-Bissau in honor of his father but later switched allegiance to Senegal, where he became the first-choice goalkeeper for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, enabling Senegal to a runners-up finish. He also won The Best FIFA Goalkeeper of 2021 and The UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year awards. He was voted the tournament's best goalkeeper in 2021 and helped his country win the Africa Cup of Nations by keeping a clean sheet in the final. The former Rennes keeper is not just an excellent shot-stopper but also a commanding presence in the penalty area.</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Top 5 African Soccer Coaches':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/06/414089/top-5-african-soccer-coaches" target="_blank"><img alt="Top 5 African Soccer Coaches" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/954379/fit/80x80/5_20African_20Soccer_20-_20B.jpg?timestamp=1667402947" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/06/414089/top-5-african-soccer-coaches" target="_blank">Top 5 African Soccer Coaches</a></h4>
<p>Numerous African coaches have made significant contributions to the development of sports worldwide. Let's look at some of the top coaches in African football or soccer over the years. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/06/414089/top-5-african-soccer-coaches">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><br><h2><span>Wilfred Ndidi<br><br></span></h2></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960885/fill/700x0/image4.png?timestamp=1667401515"></div><p> </p><p>Onyinye Wilfred Ndidi is a professional footballer for the Premier League club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team. He was born on December 16, 1996. Ndidi excels both defensively and with long-range shots. A lot of people consider Wilfred Ndidi to be the finest African player of all time. However, he hasn't always had a smooth ride. This season, he has been an integral component of Leicester City's unexpected success, starting every Premier League game and averaging over four successful tackles per game. He has been so successful that Nigeria has included him on its World Cup squad. Ndidi scored his first season goal for Leicester City on January 19, 2021, when they played Chelsea in the league. Leicester finished the game with a 2-0 victory, moving them to the top of the league standings. After the Group Stage of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2021, the Confédération Africaine de Football (C.A.F.) selected Ndidi as a replacement for Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the best team of the tournament. This was announced on January 22, 2022.</p><p><br></p><p>Read ' Philadelphia hosts World Cup 2026 - 5 opportunities for black businesses':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/06/20/403549/philadelphia-hosts-world-cup-2026-5-opportunities-for-black-businesses" target="_blank"><img alt="Philadelphia hosts World Cup 2026 - 5 opportunities for Black businesses" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/930294/fit/80x80/pexels-pixabay-270085.jpg?timestamp=1667402970" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/06/20/403549/philadelphia-hosts-world-cup-2026-5-opportunities-for-black-businesses" target="_blank">Philadelphia hosts World Cup 2026 - 5 opportunities for Black businesses</a></h4>
<p>With an estimated 5 million visitors expected to descend on Philadelphia during the tournament, there will be a huge demand for goods and services. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/06/20/403549/philadelphia-hosts-world-cup-2026-5-opportunities-for-black-businesses">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1667404290"></div><p> Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.<br><br>Read more from Anand Subramanian:<br></p><p><br></p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/08/27/409482/most-powerful-women-in-entertainment-industry-south-africa-edition" target="_blank"><img alt="Most Powerful Women in Entertainment Industry - South Africa Edition " src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/944656/fit/80x80/south_20africa_20women_20entertainers.jpg?timestamp=1667405124" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/08/27/409482/most-powerful-women-in-entertainment-industry-south-africa-edition" target="_blank">Most Powerful Women in Entertainment Industry - South Africa Edition </a></h4>
<p>Let's look at some ladies who have led the road and left their mark in their different sectors. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/08/27/409482/most-powerful-women-in-entertainment-industry-south-africa-edition">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/02/413457/finding-love-in-the-african-diaspora" target="_blank"><img alt="Finding Love in the African Diaspora" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/953253/fit/80x80/pexels-monnivhoir-aymar-kouame_CC_81-2921044.jpg?timestamp=1667405143" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/02/413457/finding-love-in-the-african-diaspora" target="_blank">Finding Love in the African Diaspora</a></h4>
<p>Precisely what is Love? An existential question if we're talking about the present. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/02/413457/finding-love-in-the-african-diaspora">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/29/416242/mental-health-and-young-african-americans-need-for-concern-" target="_blank"><img alt="Mental Health and Young African Americans Need for Concern " src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/959421/fit/80x80/mental_20health_20concern.jpg?timestamp=1667405174" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/29/416242/mental-health-and-young-african-americans-need-for-concern-" target="_blank">Mental Health and Young African Americans: Need for Concern? </a></h4>
<p>When we talk about mental health today, it's clear that it hasn't gone in the right direction yet. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/29/416242/mental-health-and-young-african-americans-need-for-concern-">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:adbe9047-eb0c-453a-8d0f-ba7d418989ce2022-11-01T11:38:38-04:002022-11-01T13:20:33-04:00Find your Zen in the spiritual month of November 2022-11-01 12:00:00 -0400Fun Times Magazine<span><div>It’s said that November is a month of spiritual awakening, magic and mysticism. A deeply spiritual month indeed. It’s a month to practice refocusing and regaining our inner strength. One way to connect is through the gifts and therapeutic enjoyment of the arts and entertainment. This column is not as deep, but if you pursue the event suggestions, can help rebalance you. And remember, before venturing out to any of these in-person activities, please respect the ongoing pandemic safety protocols, and check individual event-attending instructions with the organizers. As a general rule: If you feel unwell, please do not attend in person.<br><br><br></div><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960364/fill/700x0/image3.png?timestamp=1667314361"></div><p> </p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960365/fill/700x0/image5.jpg?timestamp=1667314536">Kimmel Campus Presents Preservation Hall Jazz Band</div><span><br><h2>Jazzing it up for 60 years New Orleans-style</h2><br><p><b>November 11, 2022. </b>Straight from the Crescent City comes Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The jazzy jumbo of New Orleans never sounded so vibrant. And the veteran band has been flavoring this electric stew of music for 6 decades. According to promotional information: “The band’s mission remains focused on initiating audiences into the ineffable, almost religious experience of channeling their ancestors through the music and culture they’ve inherited from them.” 8 p.m., tickets starting at $39, Miller Theater (formerly Merriam Theater), 250 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999, <a href="http://kimmelculturalcampus.org" target="_blank">kimmelculturalcampus.org</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960372/fill/700x0/image4.png?timestamp=1667314734"></div><p> </p></span><span><h2>‘King of Sing’ does her thing at Rittenhouse Square</h2><br><p><b>November 3, 2022. </b>Vibe out to a great concert, Jazz on the Square, near scenic Rittenhouse Square Park featuring the “King of Sing,” Denise King, who performs it all – pop, jazz, blues and gospel. Her style and voice are reminiscent of her idol, Sarah Vaughan. (King is stepping in for Marta who previously was booked for this concert, as promoted here recently). $40, includes a free glass of wine. Opens at 5 p.m., concert: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square. 267-595-9321, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jazz-on-the-square-tickets-424698804557" target="_blank">eventbrite.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960383/fill/700x0/image7.png?timestamp=1667315612"></div><p> </p><h2>Civil rights on stage.</h2><p><br></p><p></p><p><b>November 4 & 5, 2022.</b> Check out a staged reading of Terri Lyon’s new play, When The Truth Comes Out. The piece is about the unsung builders of the Civil Rights movement. Learn about the fictional encounters between nine important leaders: Daisy Bates, Jo Ann Robinson, Pauli Murray, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, Shirley Chisholm, Patricia Harris and Constance Baker Motley. Free. Nov. 4th: 7 p.m. Second Baptist Church of Germantown, 6459 Germantown Ave., 215-849-0257, and Nov. 5th: 1 p.m. Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St., 215-686-5322, <a href="https://www.beacontheatreproductions.org/stagedreading" target="_blank">https://www.beacontheatreproductions.org</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960384/fill/700x0/image6.jpg?timestamp=1667315696"></div><p> </p><h2>Get ready to Rumba</h2></span><span><br><p><b>November 4, 2022. </b>Swing to the sweet and swift Latino beats of salsa, merengue, Reggae, samba, chacha, bolero, rumba and funk at Viernes Calientes featuring De Tierra Caliente. Dine, drink up and dance to live music. Free, 9 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Lounge, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St., 215-222-1400, <a href="https://worldcafelive.com/event/viernes-calientes-dance-party-w-de-tierra-caliente-2/" target="_blank">worldcafelive.com</a></p></span><span><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960385/fill/700x0/image2.png?timestamp=1667315796"></div><p> </p><h2>Online lecture hits high note on America’s Black music</h2></span><span><br><p><b>November 4, 2022. </b>The Spiral Bookcase presents a virtual lecture with Dr. Guthrie P. Ramsey, Jr. -- The Guggenheim fellow, music historian, pianist, composer and Professor of Emeritus of Music at the University of Pennsylvania, who will discuss his recent book,<b> “Who Hears Here?: On Black Music, Pasts and Present.”</b> Dr. Ramsey will read excerpts of his work, followed by a curated conversation with Bookseller Victoria and a question-and-answer period. The book of essays represents one-quarter of century of “commentary and scholarship, diving into America’s Black musical past.” The varied collection looks at Black musical expression from sacred music to jazz and hip-hop. Free. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Spiral Bookcase, 4257 Main St., spiralbookcase.com, <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/s/89268767236#success" target="_blank">Zoom Link</a></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/960386/fill/700x0/image1.jpg?timestamp=1667315963">Sergio Delgado Rodriguez<br><br></div></span><span><h2>Latin composers showcased Astral Artists<br><br></h2><p><b>November 18, 2022.</b> Check out new classical musicians from Astral Arts performing chamber pieces written by Latin-American composers including a world premier from Sergio Delgado Rodriguez. Featured Astral Artists: Beomjae Kim, (flute) Amer Hasan, (clarinet;) Byeol Kim (piano) and Hao Yang (guitar). Social distancing and masks recommended at the event (regardless if vaccinated). In-person and on live stream, $10; free for students and seniors, 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The Teatro Esperanza, Esperanza Arts Center, 4261 N. 5th St., 215-324-0746, <a href="https://www.esperanzaartscenter.us/event/latinx-composers-astral-artists/">https://www.esperanzaartscenter.us/event/latinx-composers-astral-artists/</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><br><br></span><div><br></div><div><br></div><span><br><br><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:790c8709-69a4-4ec6-9bde-093fc18616052022-10-29T15:08:52-04:002022-11-07T14:04:50-05:00PAFA Exhibition in the Era of DEI 2022-10-30 10:00:00 -0400Karen Warrington<span><p>In Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) founded in 1805, has unveiled a 103-piece exhibition entitled,<i> Making American Artists</i>. It presents PAFA’s collection of well-known historic art from 1776 to 1976 alongside “traditionally underrepresented artists.” In the exhibition, the pairing of Charles Willson Peales’s <i>George Washington at Princeton </i>(1779) with James Brantley’s <i>Brother James</i> (1968) is one of the exhibition’s efforts to question what it meant to be an American artist when PAFA was founded and what it meant to be an American artist by the late twentieth century.<br></p><br><p>PAFA President and CEO Eric Pryor says “<i>Making American Artists </i>is an epic collection of American art, featuring some of our most famous images and artists in new conversations with each other.” Pryor, the former president of the Harlem School of the Arts, is the first African American to head up PAFA since its founding. in 1805. Pryor is described as strategic, creative and a collaborative leader with over 25 years of experience in education, museum administration and community building.</p><br><p>But, in the aftermath of the on-camera police killing of George Floyd that triggered sometimes violent protests in cities across the nation, government, corporations and institutions, including arts institutions such as PAFA have come face to face with the recognition that no longer can they ignore systemic racism, injustice and exclusion. The question being posed is, are you part of the problem or part of the solution? </p><br><p>Enter the nomenclature - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). It is defined as a term used to describe policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups of individuals, including different ages, races, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations. Admittedly, that’s a lot for these entities to wrap their arms around. But, hopefully this time of “awokeness” will be more than a moment.</p><br><p>Arts institutions and cultural spaces are among those incorporating DEI mandates as part of their mission. But DEI has to be more than a well-crafted press release or the insertion of Black, Brown and LGBTQ props. Hopefully, DEI’s efforts will reach, affect and benefit the masses of overlooked and underrepresented folk. And, art lovers or those trying to better understand and appreciate what is termed art will check out the PAFA exhibition.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/959426/fill/700x0/IMG_1175.jpg?timestamp=1667070173">PAFA President Eric Pryor</div></span><span><br><p><br></p><p>There are only 11 works by Black artists in the exhibition and a sculpture by world celebrated painter Henry Ossawa Tanner of his father, AME Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner which is the highlight of the exhibition. Henry O.Tanner enrolled at PAFA in 1880 before settling and achieving fame in Paris. The sculpture was a gift of Leslie Tanner Moore and the Tanner family to PAFA.</p></span><span><br><p>The exhibition also includes a self-portrait of Dox Thrash, a prolific and pioneering printmaker who lived in Philadelphia in the 1920s. He became the first African American artist to work for the Fine Print Workshop of Philadelphia that was a branch of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). His imagery captured his life in the south as well as the segregated community he lived in in Philadelphia.</p><p>There was a Dox Thrash mural located near 17th and Girard Avenue in North Philadelphia, but it became partially blocked from view because of construction of an adjoining apartment building. The mural was erased earlier this year.</p><br><p>Also, Ghanaian sculptor, textile designer and musician Saka Acquaye is recognized in the exhibition, but in an easy to be missed location. Acquaye attended PAFA from 1953 -1956. While in Philadelphia he founded the West African Cultural Society, an African dance company that included Arthur Hall, the founder of the Afro American Dance Ensemble and the Ile Ife Black Humanitarian Center. He died in Ghana in 2007 and was celebrated as a “pioneer to the pioneers of contemporary art in Ghana.”</p><br><br><p>President Pryor, who received an MFA degree from Temple’s Tyler School of Art, says, “This exhibition explores PAFA’s impressive collection with a critical eye and emphasizes its transformative contribution to the history of American art.” Pryor has been at PAFA for less than a year and he has demonstrated his community roots that buttress his academic and administrative resume. So maybe, just maybe, going forward PAFA will have that “new” conversation with those who for too long have been overlooked and underrepresented within its historic walls.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/848324/fill/300x0/karen_20warrington.jpg?timestamp=1667070240"></div><span><p> Karen Warrington has had a decades long career as a broadcast journalist, communications professional, performing artist, and documentary filmmaker. She has traveled extensively throughout Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. She is committed to being a voice for the African Diaspora.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Karen Warrington:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/10/414465/why-black-voters-are-key-in-midterm-elections" target="_blank"><img alt="Why Black voters are key in midterm elections " src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/955227/fit/80x80/Black_20Voters_20-_20l.jpg?timestamp=1667070254" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/10/414465/why-black-voters-are-key-in-midterm-elections" target="_blank">Why Black voters are key in midterm elections </a></h4>
<p>We are fast approaching the mid-term elections and there are critical races whose outcomes will impact Black and Brown people as well as the LBGTQ community in major ways. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/10/414465/why-black-voters-are-key-in-midterm-elections">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/03/18/393196/how-philadelphia-is-honoring-the-legacy-of-harriet-tubman" target="_blank"><img alt="How Philadelphia is Honoring the Legacy of Harriet Tubman " src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/907922/fit/80x80/IMG_0561.jpeg?timestamp=1667070262" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/03/18/393196/how-philadelphia-is-honoring-the-legacy-of-harriet-tubman" target="_blank">How Philadelphia is Honoring the Legacy of Harriet Tubman </a></h4>
<p>“Freedom gives you choices, but education helps you make the right ones”. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/18/393196/how-philadelphia-is-honoring-the-legacy-of-harriet-tubman">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/06/22/403649/c-elebrate-and-support-our-classical-music-artists-as-we-re-define-classical" target="_blank"><img alt="Re-Collective Orchestra Image Source Official Facebook page" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/930568/fit/80x80/re-collective.jpeg?timestamp=1667070293" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/06/22/403649/c-elebrate-and-support-our-classical-music-artists-as-we-re-define-classical" target="_blank">Celebrate and support our classical music artists as we re-define classical</a></h4>
<p> I was super impressed to view and find out about the all-African American Re-Collective Orchestra that served as the musical backdrop to CNN’s Juneteenth TV production. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/06/22/403649/c-elebrate-and-support-our-classical-music-artists-as-we-re-define-classical">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><br><br><br><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:ce5703d3-5b2e-43cd-85e6-8cc02bde10e22022-10-26T13:47:29-04:002022-10-26T14:10:41-04:00Black Women Can Travel Safely to These Places 2022-10-27 10:00:00 -0400Boitumelo Masihleho<span><p>Travel offers the opportunity to experience a sense of calm, serenity or even just the ability to escape from the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our work and personal lives. In 2019 alone, Black U.S. leisure travelers spent a whopping $129.6 billion on domestic and international travel according to <i>The Black Traveler: Insights, Opportunities, and Priorities</i>. Black experiences abroad vary greatly depending on a myriad of factors such as accent, gender, nationality, wealth, skin tone, and features. For Black women, their presence abroad can elicit shock, awe, and fascination in places where a Black woman traveling unaccompanied is seen as a novelty act. Though safety is never guaranteed at any point in time, anywhere in the world, to help you live your best travel life, while staying safe, we’ve curated a list of some destinations for Black women to plan a trip to this year.</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Diedre McLeod: Solo Travel Coach Empowers Caribbean Women to Explore the World':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/05/07/355790/diedre-mcleod-solo-travel-coach-empowers-caribbean-women-to-explore-the-world" target="_blank"><img alt="Diedre McLeod Solo Travel Coach" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/821148/fit/80x80/Profile-Diedre_20McLeod_solo-travel-coach_diedreinwanderland.jpeg?timestamp=1666806671" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/05/07/355790/diedre-mcleod-solo-travel-coach-empowers-caribbean-women-to-explore-the-world" target="_blank">Diedre McLeod: Solo Travel Coach Empowers Caribbean Women to Explore the World</a></h4>
<p>McLeod’s main focus is to empower people, especially Caribbean women, to take the leap and travel. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/05/07/355790/diedre-mcleod-solo-travel-coach-empowers-caribbean-women-to-explore-the-world">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h2>Ghana</h2><p>Ghanaian politicians have also long been advocates of the Pan-African movement and in 2019, Ghana started to invite people of African descent to visit with the promise of easier visa applications and a year-long calendar of culturally immersive events, dubbing it the "Year of Return." When it comes to culture, food, safety, and overall quality of life, Ghana is pretty close. Local tour operators such as <a href="https://www.awunitoursghana.com/">Awuni Tours</a>, offers services for anyone who wants to explore Africa, but feels a special sense of responsibility and pride when welcoming guests of African descent. Even with its imperfections, Ghana continues to offer Black people in America and elsewhere in the diaspora, some of the things our souls crave.</p><p><b><br></b></p><h2>Canada</h2><p></p><p>There’s so much to love about Toronto, especially with its thriving Caribbean culture. Montreal has a strong Afro-Caribbean culture, and is a foodie city with the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada, according to Geos Montreal. Every April, Vues d’Afrique holds the <a href="https://www.paff.org/">Pan-Africa International Film Festival</a> – a celebration of African and Creole culture through film. Music lovers should try to visit in June for the annual Montreal Jazz Festival featuring famous Black jazz musicians.</p><p>Read 'Black-Centered Communities to Visit in Canada':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/09/15/411711/black-centered-communities-to-visit-in-canada" target="_blank"><img alt="Black-Centered Communities to Visit in Canada" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/949522/fit/80x80/Canada.jpg?timestamp=1666806585" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/15/411711/black-centered-communities-to-visit-in-canada" target="_blank">Black-Centered Communities to Visit in Canada</a></h4>
<p>Black communities in Canada have existed for nearly 300 years. They have given birth to many famous Canadians, including singers, inventors, athletes, politicians, and others. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/15/411711/black-centered-communities-to-visit-in-canada">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958552/fill/700x0/image4.png?timestamp=1666806634"></div><p> </p><h2>Puerto Rico</h2><p>Puerto Rico is an amazing island that Black women should explore. The persistently tropical climate, friendly locals, and endless amounts of coquito are just some of the reasons, but beyond that, Puerto Rico has a combination of rich Black history and colorful culture that should pique everyone’s interest. Full of rich culture, flavorful food, sandy beaches, relaxation, adventure, and more, Puerto Rico is a small Caribbean Island that feels larger than life.</p><p><b><br></b></p><h2>Thailand </h2><p></p><p>Thailand has definitely become one of the most popular travel destinations for people of color – especially Black women. There are so many friends and influencers that I see posting pictures of their spa days, beach trips, and visits to world heritage sites in Bangkok. Bali is called the “Island of the Gods” because it’s known for its beautiful natural landscape, captivating cultural scene, and affordability. The natives of the island are also warm and kind, especially to women, and Bali is considered one of the safest places in the world.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958553/fill/700x0/image3.png?timestamp=1666806739"></div><p> </p><h2>Ethiopia</h2><p>Ethiopia, although rising in status as an economic powerhouse for Eastern Africa, still it isn’t one of the more frequently-visited and touristy African nations. Ethiopia is a necessary addition to a Black woman’s bucket list. A visit to the capital Addis Ababa is a must to see the National Museum of Ethiopia, which houses one of the most important collections of art and fossils in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia’s traditional dance is popularized in cultural restaurants where this high-energy dance, “eskista”, is performed by professionals on stage.</p><p><br></p><p>Read: 'Make Ethiopia Your Next Destination':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/24/415610/make-ethiopia-your-next-destination" target="_blank"><img alt="Make Ethiopia Your Next Destination" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958038/fit/80x80/image2.jpg?timestamp=1666806779" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/24/415610/make-ethiopia-your-next-destination" target="_blank">Make Ethiopia Your Next Destination</a></h4>
<p>Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa with very different traditional practices compared to its neighbors. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/24/415610/make-ethiopia-your-next-destination">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><b><br></b></p><h2>Iceland</h2><p></p><p>Known as “The Land of Fire and Ice” due to a large number of glaciers and active volcanoes that call it home, Iceland is a cool destination that Black female travelers can’t seem to get enough of. Iceland’s capital Reykjavík is known for being a very friendly city, with easy accessibility to get around. The locals speak English and are eager to tell you some of their favorites. The Blue Lagoon is undoubtedly Iceland’s most famous tourist attraction and makes for amazing Instagram worthy photos. Take a dip in the lagoon’s geothermal waters for a simple spa treatment that will leave your skin feeling like butter.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958554/fill/700x0/image6.png?timestamp=1666807311"></div><p><br></p><h2>Brazil</h2><span><p>Brazil is known for having one of the highest populations of African people outside of the continent of Africa, with Nigerians topping the list. In Rio, there is a rich and accessible art community that travelers can take advantage of and immerse themselves in.</p><p>Several of the major cities are known for being dangerous at night but during the day there shouldn’t be any issues as long as you stay in well-lit and populated areas; advice that all women sadly have to keep in mind no matter where they travel.</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Meet Alexis Chateau: How This Black Solo Female Traveler is Going Against the Grain':</p></span><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/02/28/391723/meet-alexis-chateau-how-this-black-solo-female-traveler-is-going-against-the-grain" target="_blank"><img alt="Meet Alexis Chateau How This Black Solo Female Traveler Is Going Against the Grain" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/903141/fit/80x80/alexis_20chateau.jpeg?timestamp=1666806671" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/02/28/391723/meet-alexis-chateau-how-this-black-solo-female-traveler-is-going-against-the-grain" target="_blank">Meet Alexis Chateau: How This Black Solo Female Traveler Is Going Against the Grain</a></h4>
<p>Black solo traveler and full-time RVer, Alexis Chateau, says that representation is important to remind people that access to the great outdoors in the solo travel community is not exclus... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/02/28/391723/meet-alexis-chateau-how-this-black-solo-female-traveler-is-going-against-the-grain">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><span><h2>Japan</h2><p>The language barrier may feel intimidating, but Japan is so organized and easy to navigate, from ordering food to using the public transportation system. You may be asked to take a couple of photos with the locals, but that’s just admiration. Japan, especially Tokyo, is known for its love for Black culture. Nightclubs, fashion, and music are all inspired by Black culture, with Japanese B-boys and dancehall enthusiasts can be found in most major cities there.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958555/fill/700x0/image5.png?timestamp=1666807431"></div><p> </p><h2>France</h2><p>France is considered one of the safest places in the world for solo women travelers, especially Black women. Their slow pace lifestyle and luxurious vibe make a trip to France feel like a dream. From the beaches of the Riviera to the cafes of Paris, there’s no better country to practice self-care. Whether you choose to get your sommelier on with a wine-tasting course in Bordeaux, castle hop in the Loire Valley, or simply get swept up in the romance and whimsy of the historical Alsace region, France is where you can relax, unwind, and make everything all about you.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b></b>Read: 'The Most Beautiful Black-Owned Hotels and Resorts You Should Visit':<br></p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/09/414454/the-most-beautiful-black-owned-hotels-and-resorts-you-should-visit" target="_blank"><img alt="The Most Beautiful Black-Owned Hotels and Resorts You Should Visit" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/955226/fit/80x80/Black_20Owned_20Hotel_20-_20B.jpg?timestamp=1666807600" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/09/414454/the-most-beautiful-black-owned-hotels-and-resorts-you-should-visit" target="_blank">The Most Beautiful Black-Owned Hotels and Resorts You Should Visit</a></h4>
<p>Check out this list of incredible Black-owned hotels and resorts in various, beautiful places around the globe.
<span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/09/414454/the-most-beautiful-black-owned-hotels-and-resorts-you-should-visit">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<b><br></b></p><h2>Colombia</h2><p></p><p>The South American country of Colombia is known for its vibrant culture, warm and welcoming people, and flavorful cuisine. The country elected its first Black women Vice President this year, so it’s no surprise that it would be a haven for Black women. The port city of Cartagena has a strong African influence. Black culture is acknowledged and celebrated openly with many locals of African descent proud to declare that they love being Black. January through March is the best time of year to visit for great weather and beach time, and use local Black-owned tour companies like <a href="http://experiencerealcartagena.com/">Experience Real Cartagena</a> to help plan the once-in-a life-time experience.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958557/fill/700x0/1-playa-blanca.jpg?timestamp=1666807496"></div><p> </p></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958558/fill/700x0/image1.png?timestamp=1666807524"></div><p><b> Source</b></p><span><p><a href="https://travelnoire.com/safest-destinations-for-black-women-travelers-in-2021">Travel Noire</a></p><p><a href="https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/safest-travel-destinations-black-women/#1221965">Essence</a></p><p><a href="https://bookedbyiman.com/2021/05/25/best-destinations-black-female-travelers-europe/">Booked by Iman</a></p><p><a href="https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-for-black-female-solo-travellers">Lonely Planet</a></p><div><br></div></span><span><div><br></div><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776121/fill/300x0/boitumelo.jpg?timestamp=1666807652"></div><span><p> Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BoitumeloM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel </a>where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/18/415254/the-best-black-owned-brunch-spots-across-the-u-s-" target="_blank"><img alt="The Best Black-Owned Brunch Spots Across the US" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/956904/fit/80x80/image1.jpg?timestamp=1666807682" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/18/415254/the-best-black-owned-brunch-spots-across-the-u-s-" target="_blank">The Best Black-Owned Brunch Spots Across the U.S.</a></h4>
<p>Whether you want a plate of classic brunch eggs benedict with mimosas, these Black-owned brunch spots offer the best brunch food for your own version of Sunday Brunch. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/18/415254/the-best-black-owned-brunch-spots-across-the-u-s-">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/04/16/397450/8-black-owned-handbag-brands-to-carry-you-through-2022" target="_blank"><img alt="8 Black-Owned Handbag Brands To Carry You Through 2022" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/914744/fit/80x80/black_20owned_20handbag.png?timestamp=1666807704" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/04/16/397450/8-black-owned-handbag-brands-to-carry-you-through-2022" target="_blank">8 Black-Owned Handbag Brands To Carry You Through 2022</a></h4>
<p>A handbag can be our most prized possession, a piece of art, or the everyday tote you rely on. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/04/16/397450/8-black-owned-handbag-brands-to-carry-you-through-2022">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/01/21/387856/best-black-owned-breweries-for-a-delicious-beer" target="_blank"><img alt="Best Black-Owned Breweries for a Delicious Beer" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/893791/fit/80x80/metier.png?timestamp=1666807736" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/01/21/387856/best-black-owned-breweries-for-a-delicious-beer" target="_blank">Best Black-Owned Breweries for a Delicious Beer</a></h4>
<p>Several Black-owned craft breweries have opened their doors and kegs to critical acclaim and growing fan bases. Here are just a few of the beer brands that we would happily pour a pint of.
<span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/01/21/387856/best-black-owned-breweries-for-a-delicious-beer">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:771b1e05-ba38-4daa-8ed7-668db29480522022-10-26T10:28:44-04:002022-10-26T10:29:00-04:00Ghana and Jamaica: What Connects the Two? 2022-10-26 11:00:00 -0400Candice Stewart<span><h2>Akwaaba and Welcome<br></h2><br><p>Nestled within the eastern section of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, in the parish of Portland, Jamaica is a Maroon Town called Moore Town. It is known to be the resting place of <a href="/2018/03/08/322691/black-history-month-jamaicas-queen-nanny-of-the-maroons" target="_blank">Queen Nanny Of The Maroons</a>. She is the only female national hero whose effigy appears on the country's 500-dollar bill.</p><br><p>Embedded in community is more than the story of the Maroons; how they came to be and the intertwining of slave rebellions. Another gem exists and that is the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kromantiexperience" target="_blank">Kromanti Experience</a>. </p><br><p>Maurice Lee, CEO and Tour Guide of Kromanti Experience often greets his guests with "Akwaaba" before he officially starts his tours in the Maroon town of Moore Town in Portland. Akwaaba is translated as "Welcome" in the Kromanti Language. </p><br><p>The greeting is a form of expressing that you're home and among friends so there's no need to be concerned for anything.</p><br><p>Started in 2015, the Kromanti Experience is a tour company geared towards education about the Maroons in Portland with their side of the many stories told by colonizing powerheads for many years. The Experience was just a thought three years prior that underwent discussions with trial-and-error moments. Additionally, Lee wanted a different and more positive outlook for visitors to his community. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958459/fill/700x0/image1.png?timestamp=1666793943">Maurice Lee, CEO of the Kromanti Experience |Source: Being Jamaican</div></div><div><br></div></span><span><br><p>"As far as I know, tours about people and communities that have come out of slavery and wars for their freedom often look sad and depressing with shackles and horrible story endings. I felt that it was in part my duty to provide a different perspective. We had warriors and our ancestors were so self-sufficient that they taught us resilience and community building by being resourceful people. The tour is about clearing up any misconception about my people based on the lies of colonizers." the Kromanti Experience CEO tells <i>FunTimes</i>. </p><br><p>"Kromanti is more than just a language to us. It is our dance, our drumming, music - it is embedded in us and ultimately our way of life. The aim is to showcase some of that with the world," he continues.</p><br><p>The Kromanti Experience not only provides a time warp to the stories and legacy of Moore Town and its ancestors including Queen Nanny, it also has a brand that served as an income generator for the community.</p><br><p>"The tour is also a means of economic development for the Moore Town community. Next to that, Kromanti Experience is also about giving back. Proceeds from the tour go directly to schools within the community. The Moore Town Basic and Primary School continue to benefit from the tour proceeds as well as collaborative efforts between Mr. Lee and local and international groups," says the Kromanti Experience CEO.</p><br><p>The Kromanti Experience gives one a walking tour through parts of the Moore Town community. It highlights the endemic flora in the area which get featured in stories of how Maroons would use them medicinally. Key locations that played significant roles in slavery rebellions, are the monuments of Queen Nanny and one Maroon Chief; these are also features of the tour. There is a brief hike that ends at the beautiful waterfalls named after Queen Nanny herself - Nanny Falls.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958461/fill/700x0/image4.png?timestamp=1666794057">Graphic featuring a monument of Queen Nanny of the Maroons erected by the Jamaica National Heritage Trust in Moore Town, Portland Jamaica. | Source: Kromanti Experience </div></span><br><span><p><br></p><p>Read 'Connecting Ghana and Jamaica':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2018/07/23/322659/connecting-ghana-and-jamaica" target="_blank"><img alt="Connecting Ghana and Jamaica" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/746293/fit/80x80/Ghana.png?timestamp=1666793076" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2018/07/23/322659/connecting-ghana-and-jamaica" target="_blank">Connecting Ghana and Jamaica</a></h4>
<p>You are from Ghana? Our people came from there,” the old man said to me. I sat down on the ground next to him and a group of young men sitti... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2018/07/23/322659/connecting-ghana-and-jamaica">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><br><h2>The Kromanti Language in Jamaica</h2><p>from the<i> Jamiekan Langwij Yuunit</i></p><br><p>Within Moore Town is at least one West African language, Kromanti. </p><br><p>Kromanti is an Akan language that is closely related to languages of the Akan language cluster, notably Twi and Fante which are important languages in modern day Ghana.</p><br><p>According to reports, Kromanti survived as a language of normal everyday communication amongst the Maroons up until the early decades of the 20th century. </p><br><p>Since then, its use has receded and it is known mainly by elderly members of the community. It is mainly restricted to the religious and ceremonial life of the community.</p><br><p>There is a ritual ceremony known as Kromanti Play. It is a ceremony used to invoke ancestral spirits, involving dances, songs and special styles of drumming in which the language is used to address the ancestors. The ceremony, inclusive of the linguistic aspects, is the most distinctive feature which distinguishes the Maroons of Moore Town from non-Maroon Jamaicans. </p><br><p>However, it is reported that its survival is under threat. Due to traditions of secrecy, fewer and fewer young Maroons have less knowledge of the language and as a consequence the accompanying cultural heritage associated with it.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958463/fill/700x0/image2.png?timestamp=1666794115">CEO of the Kromanti Experience speaking with a group during one of the tours in Moore Town, Portland, Jamaica. | Source: Kromanti Experience</div></span><span><br><p>It is against this background that UNESCO, in 2003, named the Maroon Heritage of Moore Town (Jamaica), as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.</p><br><p>It must be said, however, that Moore Town is not the only Maroon Town in Jamaica where Kromanti exists. There are also Charles Town and Scott's Hall.</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Ras Haitrm: A Musical Connection between Mozambique and Jamaica':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/06/25/403848/ras-haitrm-a-musical-connection-between-mozambique-and-jamaica" target="_blank"><img alt="Ras Haitrm Photo credits Adam Kroll Bokaap Productions Bruce Carosini Mirko Polo Simon Callahan Sista Irie Photography Tchambalakate Word Sound and Power" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/931108/fit/80x80/image3.jpg?timestamp=1666793128" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/06/25/403848/ras-haitrm-a-musical-connection-between-mozambique-and-jamaica" target="_blank">Ras Haitrm: A Musical Connection between Mozambique and Jamaica</a></h4>
<p>Despite the trauma of war, poverty and a generally negative public image, this south-eastern African country boasts positivity through a son of reggae music. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/06/25/403848/ras-haitrm-a-musical-connection-between-mozambique-and-jamaica">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><br><h2>The Kromanti Origin and Traces Across the Caribbean - Coromantyn</h2><br><p>Similar to Jamaica, other countries within the region have the Kromanti culture. </p><br><p>"Kromanti" originates from a major slaving port on the Gold Coast, modern day Ghana, which was known to the Europeans as Coromantyn. The port was located in the Akan-speaking area of West Africa and was a source for large numbers of slaves of Akan ethnic and linguistic background. </p><br><p>So, as a result of the Atlantic Slave Trade, there are many parts of the Americas and the Caribbean including Suriname, Guyana and Carriacou where Coromantyn and similar labels have been used for ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups with what appear to be of Akan origins. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958457/fill/700x0/image3.png?timestamp=1666794159">Maurice Lee, CEO of the Kromanti Experience smiles while looking at the sign to one of the monuments in Moore Town, Jamaica. | Source: Kromanti Experience</div></span><span><br><p>This was a small look into the Kromanti Experience and how connected it is to West Africa. Though history was not kind to slavery, Coromantyn still exists and our people are still connected to the motherland. If you're ever in Jamaica, make time to visit Moore Town by way of the Kromanti Experience. </p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Childhood Love For Local Exploration in Jamaica Turns Into Tour and Travel Company':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/02/06/345070/childhood-love-for-local-exploration-in-jamaica-turns-into-tour-and-travel-company" target="_blank"><img alt="Childhood Love For Local Exploration in Jamaica Turns Into Tour and Travel Company" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/796793/fit/80x80/farm_20tour_20I.jpg?timestamp=1666793511" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/02/06/345070/childhood-love-for-local-exploration-in-jamaica-turns-into-tour-and-travel-company" target="_blank">Childhood Love For Local Exploration in Jamaica Turns Into Tour and Travel Company</a></h4>
<p>Recently, the principal consultant of Being Jamaican, Teika Samuda, shared details about her company with FunTimes Magazine. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/02/06/345070/childhood-love-for-local-exploration-in-jamaica-turns-into-tour-and-travel-company">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><br><p><b>Sources: </b></p><br><p><a href="http://www.caribbeanlanguages.org.jm/node/52">Caribbean Indigenous and Endangered Languages: Kromanti</a> - Di Jamiekan Langwij Yuunit, UNESCO</p><br><p><a href="http://www.caribbeanlanguages.org.jm/sites/default/files/ciel/Kromanti.pdf">Kromanti</a> - Hubert Devonish, Department of Language, Linguistics & Philosophy, University of the West Indies, Mona</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/891963/fill/300x0/candice2.jpg?timestamp=1666792993"></div><span><div> Candice Stewart is a Jamaican content writer specializing in human interest feature stories. She is a web content writer, blogger, and budding podcaster. <br></div><div>She holds an MA in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change and a BSc. in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (UWI, Mona).<br><br></div><div>Follow her blog at <a href="http://thesuburbangirlja.com/" target="_blank">thesuburbangirlja.com</a>, where she shares stories and life lessons through real-life experiences.<br><br><br>Read more from Candice Stewart:<br><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/25/415611/meet-french-gabonese-visual-artist-nathalie-mba-bikoro" target="_blank"><img alt="Meet French-Gabonese Visual Artist Nathalie Mba Bikoro" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958049/fit/80x80/image2.jpg?timestamp=1666793005" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/25/415611/meet-french-gabonese-visual-artist-nathalie-mba-bikoro" target="_blank">Meet French-Gabonese Visual Artist Nathalie Mba Bikoro</a></h4>
<p>The artist merges installations, sonic radio, live art performances, film and archives. Their work analyses processes of power and fictions in historical archives critically engaging in m... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/25/415611/meet-french-gabonese-visual-artist-nathalie-mba-bikoro">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/09/14/411702/university-of-the-virgin-islands-celebrates-60th-anniversary" target="_blank"><img alt="University of the Virgin Islands Celebrates 60th Anniversary " src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/949447/fit/80x80/Virgin_20Island.jpg?timestamp=1666793018" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/14/411702/university-of-the-virgin-islands-celebrates-60th-anniversary" target="_blank">University of the Virgin Islands Celebrates 60th Anniversary </a></h4>
<p>Nestled in the Caribbean nation of the US Virgin Islands and spread across two campuses of St. Croix and St. Thomas, the University of Virgin Island (UVI) is historically American, unique... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/14/411702/university-of-the-virgin-islands-celebrates-60th-anniversary">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization" target="_blank"><img alt="pDedan Kimathi Waciuri shown at his trial in the Nyeri forest led an armed military struggle known as the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonial government in Kenya 1956 Photo by Authenticated NewsArchive PhotosGetty Imagesbrp" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/942158/fit/80x80/dedan_20kemathi.png?timestamp=1666793046" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization" target="_blank">Dedan Kimathi: His Influence on the Mau Mau and the Connection between, Rastafarianism, Dreadlocks, and the Organization</a></h4>
<p>Dedan Kimathi was one of the top insurgents of Kenya’s armed independence movement, the Mau Mau. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:507b2869-88f1-4477-b004-9fd71fe84f0d2022-10-25T14:04:15-04:002022-10-25T14:07:11-04:00Fear the fright!2022-10-25 15:00:00 -0400Fun Times Magazine<span><h2>The ghouls, ghosts and goblins are lurking out there.<br></h2><b><i><br><br>FunTimes</i> Fun Events Education & Entertainment! </b><p><br></p><p>It’s that time of year for the haunting, howling Halloween madness. Get your party vibe on and make a ghost appearance with your own HPC (Halloween Party Crawl) to explore the area’s kookiest and spookiest fright-fests. Just be ware of the scare! But first, one party that kicks off this column is not frightening. It’s the <b>FunTimes 30th Anniversary Celebration</b>, which is less about haunted and more about history. Check it out! And remember, before venturing out to any of these in-person activities, please respect the ongoing pandemic safety protocols, and check individual event-attending instructions with the organizers. As a general rule: If you feel unwell, please do not attend in person.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958202/fill/700x0/image3.png?timestamp=1666718391"></div><p> </p><div><span><b>October 29, 2022. </b>We never like to brag, but sometimes milestones just make you boastful. <i><b>FunTimes</b></i> is celebrating 30 years as a trusted source of information and engagement in the local and international community. To mark the big occasion, <i>FunTimes</i> will throw a party at ShopRite this Saturday. The get-together will be a showcase of African and Caribbean culture, community and tradition, and includes a special ceremonial program. That’s when we’ll have our anniversary cake – and eat it, too! And that’s not all. Enjoy fabulous small plates, anniversary goodies, African music, plus more surprises and delights. Local elected leaders will be on hand to present congratulatory proclamations to the magazine and Publisher Eric Nzeribe whose vision has made <i>FunTimes</i> a rousing success. Where there is <i>FunTimes</i>, there is unity in the community! Check out the festivities on Facebook Live, from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Free, In-person, from noon to 2 p.m. (Program:12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.). Inside </span>Brown’s ShopRite, 2946 Island Ave., Penrose Plaza Shopping Center, Southwest Philadelphia, <a href="http://funtimesmagazine.com" target="_blank">funtimesmagazine.com</a> or to pre-register: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/funtimes-30th-anniversary-tickets-447110809467?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete" target="_blank">eventbrite.com</a>.<br><div><br> <br><h2>Halloween for the hounds</h2><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958204/fill/700x0/image5.jpg?timestamp=1666721147"></div><p> </p><br><b>October 29, 2022.</b> Who will win best of show? Billed as Philly’s largest Halloween pet costume contest, check out the <b>8th Annual Hound-O-Ween Fall Festival and Pet Costume Contest</b> hosted by the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District partners and <a href="https://www.streettails.org/">Street Tails Animal Rescue</a>. The cutest canines will battle for winnings including a $500 cash grand prize courtesy of Wilson’s Estate Jewelry. All proceeds benefit Street Tails Animal Rescue to help homeless and unwanted animals in the Philadelphia area. Like prized show dogs, costumed pets will compete in five categories including Best Puppy, Best Adult Dog, Best Group and Best Pet and Human Combo. Noon to 5 p.m., registration $30 per pet. 700 Block of N. 2nd St., Northern Liberties, 267-761-9434, <a href="https://www.streettails.org/" target="_blank">streettails.org</a>.</div><br> <br><br><h2>Mt. Airy turns scary in artistic student production</h2></div><div class="image-main"><br></div></span><span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958206/fill/700x0/image4.jpg?timestamp=1666718702"></div><div><span><br><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>October 28 & 29, 2022. Haunted Circus Mansion</b> may be your<i> jawn</i> on Halloween! Check out one of Mt. Airy’s mysterious and century-old properties at the old St. Madeleine Sophie Church. At night, eerie things happen in the long hallways, secret spaces and scary classrooms in the converted school occupied by the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts (PSCA) during the less frightening daytime hours. Explore, if you dare, the 26,000- square-foot school and sanctuary. Take a 10-minute “walk-through” with a small group. If survivors make it to the end of a tortuous odyssey at the church sanctuary, a Halloween celebration of drinks, entertainment, craft making, a haunted circus show awaits. There will be special performances from local youth troupes. 6:30 p.m., $10, kids, $15, adults. Philadelphia School of Circus Arts, 6452 Greene St, West Mt. Airy, $10, kids, $15, adults, 215-849-1991, <a href="https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5576724">brownpapertickets.com.</a></p><p><br></p><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958207/fill/700x0/image7.jpg?timestamp=1666718812"></div><h2> </h2><h2><br>Fundraising Fright Night Halloween Party</h2></span></div></span><span><br><p><b>October 26, 2022</b>. <b>Fright Night with Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden</b> promises to be a Halloween blast with the goal of having “a creepy crawly good time.“ Enjoy costume contests, interactive artwork, a haunted photo booth, witches brews and spooky cocktails.” Wear your best Dracula, Ghostbusters or any reasonable costume that gets you noticed. Suggested donations will be posted for continued drink tickets. All proceeds go to DVAA and Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden: $25 in advance, $30 at the door (includes one drink ticket, food); 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., The Open Kitchen Sculpture Garden, 2241 N Philip St, 267-850-5445, <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fright-night-a-halloween-party-at-the-open-kitchen-sculpture-garden-tickets-392621319937?aff=ebdssbdestsearch" target="_blank">eventbrite.com</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958209/fill/700x0/image6.jpg?timestamp=1666718965"></div><p> </p><h2>Ghouls dance with the ghosts and goblins</h2><p><b><br></b></p><div><b>October 27, 2022.</b> It’s a mouthful: <b>MONSTER MASH Live Not-So-Scary SING-A-LONG +Pictures with Dracula & Friends</b>. It’s advertised as “the Ultimate Halloween Stage Show.” Either way, if it’s anything like the classic “Monster Mash” song, get ready for a kooky, spooky good time. Meet Dracula, Wolfman and Frankenstein. Come in costume and enjoy The Not-So-Scary Spooky Sing-A-Long and get a Count Dracula’s candy bag to die for. 4 p.m., $13-$23, Adrienne Theater, 2030 Sansom St., 215-567-2848, <a href="https://patch.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/calendar/event/20221027/1930635/monster-mash-live-not-so-scary-sing-a-long-pictures-with-dracula-friends-thurs-oct-27-2022" target="_blank">patch.com</a>.<br><br><br><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958213/fill/700x0/fright_20factory.png?timestamp=1666720315"></div><p> </p></div><h2>Whacky warehouse of horrors haunts</h2><br><b><br></b><b>Through October 31, 2022</b>. <b>Fright Factory</b> is in full production in South Philly. Ghouls wander through the hallowed halls of the 120-year-old+ warehouse cellar. It’s 25,000 feet of fright. Props, moving creatures of some unknown origin creep aimlessly. The floors even appear to move. The joint is so scary, it will be used in a real live (or dead) horror film. 7:30 p.m., $30-$50 per person, 2200 S. Swanson St., 215-334-4678, <a href="http://frightfactoryphilly.com" target="_blank">frightfactoryphilly.com</a>.<br><br><br><br><div class="image-main"><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958217/fill/700x0/halloween-nights-eastern-state-penitentiary-flashlight-andrew-garn-1200x900px-1044x781.jpeg?timestamp=1666720582"></div><p> </p><span><h2>Al Capone was a boarder in this joint </h2><br><b>Through November 22, 2022. The Eastern State Penitentiary</b> gets a lot of attention this time of year, and rightfully so. The first real penitentiary in the U.S., dating to 1829, is fraught with fear. Are the ghosts of prisoners’ past looming? Get lost literally in Halloween Nights featuring five impressive haunted houses, a campfire, food, a speakeasy in gangster Al Capone’s old prison crib (let’s call it a “cell reception”) and a beer garden (hey, witches like brews), $34-$60, 2027 Fairmount Ave., 215-236-3300, </span><a href="http://easternstate.org/halloween" target="_blank">easternstate.org/halloween</a>.</div><p> </p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:62612626-f585-450b-bce5-d34eab2930142022-10-24T15:34:15-04:002022-10-24T15:35:12-04:00Meet French-Gabonese Visual Artist Nathalie Mba Bikoro2022-10-25 09:00:00 -0400Candice Stewart<span><p>Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro, whose pronouns are they and them, is a French-Gabonese interdisciplinary and conceptual artist who works with visual arts and live art performance. <br></p><p>They were born in the Woleu-Ntem region of Gabon. Bikoro has an education in Politics, Philosophy and Media Arts. As a child, they lived in France and the Netherlands as well as Gabon. During that time, they survived a 10-year battle with leukemia.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958046/fill/700x0/image1.png?timestamp=1666639179">Interdisciplinary and conceptual artist, Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro. | Source: nbikoro on Instagram<br><br></div></span><span><p>Their fight with cancer has influenced the narrative and methods in which they choose to create. This personal struggle for recovery and return to family pushed her visual language as well as setting goals to develop independent creative initiatives in the arts and culture. </p><p>The artist merges installations, sonic radio, live art performances, film and archives. Their work analyses processes of power and fictions in historical archives critically engaging in migrational struggles. They create environments for untold narratives of resistance movements by African women and indigenous communities. Embedded in their artistic narratives are testimonies of queering ecologies and postcolonial feminist experiences towards new monuments, reacting to the varied tones of societies shared between delusions and ritual. </p><p><br></p><p>Read ' Top 5 Black Contemporary Artists Who Are Making a Cultural Difference in 2022':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/06/17/403190/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference-in-2022" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/929174/fit/80x80/image4.png?timestamp=1666639926" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/06/17/403190/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference-in-2022" target="_blank">Top 5 Black Contemporary Artists Who Are Making a Cultural Difference in 2022</a></h4>
<p>Art preserves a culture's and society's standards, but it may also question our assumptions and impressions of how the world works. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/06/17/403190/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference-in-2022">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958047/fill/700x0/image3.jpg?timestamp=1666639480">One of Nathaie Bikoro's installations. | Source: <a href="http://anguezomo-bikoro.com" target="_blank">anguezomo-bikoro.com</a><br><br></div></span><span><p>Bikoro brings new investigations about the architectures of racism in cities, the archaeologies of urban spaces and economies of traditional systems by exposing the limitations of technologies as functional memory records. Their process also includes conversations of diaspora, migration, identities, titles and culture - to name a few.</p><p>Bikoro’s aims and objectives are reported to include converging arts and sciences into their own practice and research towards developing a Cancer Recovery Arts Centre. Bikoro decided to do this by incorporating creative spaces for interaction for children and adults in Libreville, Lambarene and Bitam in Gabon and by developing educational collaborative community projects. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958049/fill/700x0/image2.jpg?timestamp=1666639539">An installation by Nathalie Bikoro. | Source: <a href="http://anguezomo-bikoro.com" target="_blank">anguezomo-bikoro.com</a></div></span><div><br></div><span><p>Their most significant contributions have been shown in Venice Biennale (2018); Dak'art Biennale Senegal (2012 & 2018); Smithsonian Museum of African Art Washington DC (2013); La Otra Biennale De Bogota Colombia (2013); Tiwani Contemporary London (2012); Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt (2022), Museum of African Art Johannesburg (2011); Michael Stevenson Gallery Cape Town (2011); Tate Britain London (2009); Kalao Pan African Galleries Bilbao (2014); 798 Art District Gallery Beijing (2015); Havana Biennale (2019); Oxford Museum UK (2014); Bedfordbury Gallery London (2010) and South London Gallery (2010).</p><p>Mba Bikoro is the recipient of several awards including TURN Curatorial Fellowship Nairobi (2022), Künstlerische Forschung Artist Award (2022-23), British Arts Council (2016), PRIMARY Artist Fellowship Award Nottingham (2019), Preis Der National Gallerie Award Nominee Hambuger Bahnoff Berlin (2019), Goethe Institute Bahia Salvador (2023) Fondation Blachère and Afrique Soleil Mali for Best Artist awarded at the 10th Dakar Biennale (2012), Best Discovery Award at New York Cutlog (2013), Ercillas Prize for Best Exhibition Award at FIG Bilbao (2014), HANGAR Research Fellowship Lisbon/Angola (2016).</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Japanese-Ghanaian Artist Toshiko Tanaka Shares How a Multicultural Identity Has Shaped her Work':</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2020/07/29/323508/japanese-ghanaian-artist-toshiko-tanaka-shares-how-a-multicultural-identity-has-shaped-her-work" target="_blank"><img alt="Japanese-Ghanaian Artist Toshiko Tanaka Shares How a Multicultural Identity Has Shaped her Work " src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/748273/fit/80x80/toshiko_tanaka_japan_ghana.jpg?timestamp=1666639965" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/07/29/323508/japanese-ghanaian-artist-toshiko-tanaka-shares-how-a-multicultural-identity-has-shaped-her-work" target="_blank">Japanese-Ghanaian Artist Toshiko Tanaka Shares How a Multicultural Identity Has Shaped her Work </a></h4>
<p>We speak to Japanese-Ghanaian artist Toshiko Tanaka to learn about her journey, insight and inspiration as biracial artist in Ghana and America. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/07/29/323508/japanese-ghanaian-artist-toshiko-tanaka-shares-how-a-multicultural-identity-has-shaped-her-work">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><b>Sources:</b></p><p><a href="http://www.anguezomo-bikoro.com/about.html">Anguezomo Mboulou Mba Bikoro</a> – About Mba Bikoro</p><p><a href="https://www.edcrossfineart.com/artists/45-nathalie-bikoro/overview/">Nathalie Bikoro</a> – Ed Cross</p><p><a href="https://africanah.org/nathalie-mba-bikoro/">Nathalie Mba Bikoro</a> – Arena for Contemporary African, African American and Caribbean Art </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/891963/fill/300x0/candice2.jpg?timestamp=1666639861"></div><span><div> Candice Stewart is a Jamaican content writer specializing in human interest feature stories. She is a web content writer, blogger, and budding podcaster. <br></div><div>She holds an MA in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change and a BSc. in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (UWI, Mona).<br><br></div><div>Follow her blog at <a href="http://thesuburbangirlja.com/" target="_blank">thesuburbangirlja.com</a>, where she shares stories and life lessons through real-life experiences.<br><br><br>Read more from Candice Stewart:<br><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/14/411702/university-of-the-virgin-islands-celebrates-60th-anniversary" target="_blank">University of the Virgin Islands Celebrates 60th Anniversary </a></h4>
<p>Nestled in the Caribbean nation of the US Virgin Islands and spread across two campuses of St. Croix and St. Thomas, the University of Virgin Island (UVI) is historically American, unique... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/14/411702/university-of-the-virgin-islands-celebrates-60th-anniversary">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization" target="_blank"><img alt="pDedan Kimathi Waciuri shown at his trial in the Nyeri forest led an armed military struggle known as the Mau Mau uprising against the British colonial government in Kenya 1956 Photo by Authenticated NewsArchive PhotosGetty Imagesbrp" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/942158/fit/80x80/dedan_20kemathi.png?timestamp=1666639903" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization" target="_blank">Dedan Kimathi: His Influence on the Mau Mau and the Connection between, Rastafarianism, Dreadlocks, and the Organization</a></h4>
<p>Dedan Kimathi was one of the top insurgents of Kenya’s armed independence movement, the Mau Mau. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/08/13/408534/dedan-kimathi-his-influence-on-the-mau-mau-and-the-connection-between-rastafarianism-dreadlocks-and-the-organization">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/09/25/412410/sound-and-movement-a-brief-look-at-the-djembe-drum" target="_blank"><img alt="Sound and Movement A Brief Look at the Djembe Drum" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/951114/fit/80x80/Sound_20and_20movement_20-_20A.jpg?timestamp=1666639911" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/09/25/412410/sound-and-movement-a-brief-look-at-the-djembe-drum" target="_blank">Sound and Movement: A Brief Look at the Djembe Drum</a></h4>
<p>The sound of beating drums tends to engulf the air that surrounds you and, in some way, make you feel the need to move to the rhythm and get lost in possession of the tune. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/09/25/412410/sound-and-movement-a-brief-look-at-the-djembe-drum">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:98be3e39-d993-49ef-af9b-2364a77f7a692022-10-24T15:07:43-04:002022-10-24T15:08:03-04:00Make Ethiopia Your Next Destination2022-10-24 15:00:00 -0400Minna Davies<span><div>Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa with very different traditional practices compared to its neighbors. Often called the oldest country in Africa, with good reason, it has a long and fascinating history dating back to the first century A.D. The country is also unique in its geography, with a highland plateau that includes some of the world’s tallest mountains, as well as lowland plains and deserts. Add to that a diverse population of more than 100 ethnic groups, and you have a country that is truly one of a kind.<br></div><p>You might not think about Ethiopia when considering a vacation destination, and that is where you will be making a mistake. There is enough evidence to prove that it is one of the most exciting places we are aware of. The nation is a melting pot of picturesque natural treasures, intriguing history, uncommon animals, and strong cultural traditions. In a nutshell, traveling to Ethiopia is like traveling back in time.</p><div class="image-main"><br>Read '5 Art Museums to Visit in Africa':<br><br><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/01/17/387656/5-art-museums-to-visit-in-africa" target="_blank"><img alt="5 Art Museums to Visit in Africa" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/892916/fit/80x80/omenka.png?timestamp=1666638362" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/01/17/387656/5-art-museums-to-visit-in-africa" target="_blank">5 Art Museums to Visit in Africa</a></h4>
<p> As varied and numerous as the region's various civilizations, museums on the African continent serve as repositories for cultural artifacts and contemporary arts. If you want to be trans... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/01/17/387656/5-art-museums-to-visit-in-africa">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p><br></p></div><span><br><h2>Unique Aspects of Ethiopia</h2><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958039/fill/700x0/image4.jpg?timestamp=1666637623"></div><p> Photo: King Menelik II Statue Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. / Shutterstock</p><span><br><p>Ethiopia is often considered to be one of the most unique countries in Africa. Sometimes called the "cradle of civilization", It is also one of the most unique and fascinating countries on the continent. And while there are many reasons for this, some of the most fascinating ways in which Ethiopia is different from other African countries include:</p><p><br></p><span><h3>Ethiopia has never been colonized</h3><br><div>Ethiopia is one of the oldest autonomous nations in Africa. Like Liberia, it has never been colonized. 125 years ago, a citizen army fought off the Italians on March 1st, allowing Ethiopia to be recognized as an independent state. During World War II, Italy tried for the second time but never gained authority.</div><br><br><h3>Home to the oldest independent Christian church in the world.</h3><br></span></span></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958040/fill/700x0/image3.jpg?timestamp=1666637758">Photo: Lalibela/ Shutterstock<br><br></div><span><p>Ethiopia is home to the oldest independent Christian church in the world. Being the location of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the earliest Christian churches, it has a distinct cultural background. </p><h3><br></h3>Read '5 African Travel Blogs to Feed Your Travel Goals':<br></span><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/03/05/392288/5-african-travel-blogs-to-feed-your-travel-goals" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo by Pepe Caspers from Pexels" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/904994/fit/80x80/pexels-pepe-caspers-3581847.jpg?timestamp=1666638279" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/03/05/392288/5-african-travel-blogs-to-feed-your-travel-goals" target="_blank">5 African Travel Blogs to Feed Your Travel Goals</a></h4>
<p>For many travelers, the opportunity to travel widely over the vast African continent is one of the greatest joys. Africa is a continent full of beautiful people, magnificent scenery, and... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/03/05/392288/5-african-travel-blogs-to-feed-your-travel-goals">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</div> <span><br><br><h3><br>It has its own script and alphabet. </h3><br><p>The Ge'ez script was used in Ethiopia and is the earliest known writings from this region to date back to about 450 BC. The script is thought to have developed out of the Sabaean/Minean script. Inscriptions in the Ge'ez script contain both consonants and vowels, but only started around AD 400.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><h3>Coffee originated in Ethiopia.</h3><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958041/fill/700x0/image6.png?timestamp=1666637831"> Photo: Coffee Image/ Shutterstock</div><p><br></p><span><p> It is best drunk on the street. Coffee was discovered when a goat herder noticed his flock liked a particular type of bush. Quoting "Legends say that the industry took it off from there." This origin story is why coffee is so important to the morning habits of many people.</p><p><br></p><p>Read 'Best Coffee Brands Throughout The African Diaspora':</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/09/30/369927/best-coffee-brands-throughout-the-african-diaspora" target="_blank">Best Coffee Brands Throughout The African Diaspora</a></h4>
<p>These coffee brands have become the biggest sellers, generating huge profits by offering the richest taste and finest flavor to the people of Africa and beyond. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/09/30/369927/best-coffee-brands-throughout-the-african-diaspora">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><h3>The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months, instead of 12. <br><br></h3><p>Many other civilizations have their own calendars that they use, which differ greatly from the Gregorian calendar used in the West. They nevertheless follow the 12-month guideline in spite of this. 13 months make up an Ethiopian year, which is seven years behind the Gregorian calendar. Ethiopians actually maintained using the calendar that the Roman church modified in 525 AD, so they celebrated the new century on September 11, 2007.</p><p><br></p><h3><br>What Rastafarians think of Ethiopia</h3><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958042/fill/700x0/image5.jpg?timestamp=1666637899"></div><p> Photo: Rastafarians/ Shutterstock</p><span><br><p>Rastafarians believe their spiritual home is Ethiopia and that the last king was a descendent of King Solomon and the messiah. Some Rastafarians traveled thousands of kilometers in search of this promised land. In Shashamane, Ethiopia, which Rastafarians around the world consider to be a spiritual home, they reside there as pilgrims.</p><div><br><span><h3>The Blue Nile River</h3><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/958043/fill/700x0/image1.jpg?timestamp=1666638090"></div><p> Photo Nile River/ Wikipidia </p><span><br><p>The Blue Nile River originates in Lake Tana, in Ethiopia. The river, which is also known as the Abay River, flows south then into a canyon about 250 miles from Lake Tana.</p><div><span><br>Read '5 Highest Peaks in Africa':<br></span><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/02/18/390542/5-highest-peaks-in-africa" target="_blank"><img alt="5 Highest Peaks in Africa" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/900603/fit/80x80/Kilimanjaro.png?timestamp=1666638322" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/02/18/390542/5-highest-peaks-in-africa" target="_blank">5 Highest Peaks in Africa</a></h4>
<p>When you think of Africa's geography, the searing desert of the Sahara and the rolling grasslands and savannas of the Serengeti come to mind. But, the African continent, it turns out, has... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/02/18/390542/5-highest-peaks-in-africa">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><br></div></span><div><br></div></div></span><div><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/934785/fill/300x0/IMG_7548.jpeg.jpg?timestamp=1666638141"></div><p> Minna Davies is a creative writer and a thespian with a degree in theatre arts from the University of Lagos. He has been privileged to have some of his works featured on Nigeria's big stages. It is important to dream, but if no one gets to see it, it is as good as dead. <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Minna Davies:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/06/08/402730/fat-is-beautiful" target="_blank"><img alt="Picture of woman after the fattening room " src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/927770/fit/80x80/image2.png?timestamp=1666638158" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/06/08/402730/fat-is-beautiful" target="_blank">FAT IS BEAUTIFUL </a></h4>
<p>It is safe to say that in this era, getting "fat" does not figure on the list of body goals. That is not the case in the Efik/Ibibio clan In Calabar. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/06/08/402730/fat-is-beautiful">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/08/414420/yoruba-gods-that-influence-lives" target="_blank"><img alt="Yoruba gods that influence lives" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/955081/fit/80x80/YORUBA_20Gods_20-_20A.jpg?timestamp=1666638165" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/08/414420/yoruba-gods-that-influence-lives" target="_blank">Yoruba gods that influence lives</a></h4>
<p>The Yoruba people of West Africa have a rich and varied mythology. Their gods and goddesses cover a wide range of topics, from love and fertility to war and death. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/08/414420/yoruba-gods-that-influence-lives">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2022/10/04/413938/althea-gibson-the-first-black-female-tennis-player" target="_blank"><img alt="Althea Gibson The First Black Female Tennis Player" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/954044/fit/80x80/Althea_20_1_.jpg?timestamp=1666638178" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2022/10/04/413938/althea-gibson-the-first-black-female-tennis-player" target="_blank">Althea Gibson: The First Black Female Tennis Player</a></h4>
<p> As an incredible athlete and trailblazer, Gibson was the first African American to win a Grand Slam tennis title who went on to win 11 more. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2022/10/04/413938/althea-gibson-the-first-black-female-tennis-player">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p></div><div><br></div><span><div><br></div><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>