tag:www.funtimesmagazine.com,2005:/categories/history?page=30History | FunTimes Magazine Page 30Celebrating Africa And Its Diaspora2021-10-23T10:41:36-04:00urn:uuid:686065c6-11a8-48ab-8f8a-617a356e4acc2021-10-23T10:40:40-04:002021-10-23T10:41:36-04:00Celebrate Zambia’s Independence with these 7 Zambian Dishes2021-10-23 14:00:00 -0400Oga Africa <span><p>Happy Independence Day, Zambia! On October 24th, 1964, this Southern African country gained independence from the United Kingdom. To celebrate, we’re exploring 7 of the country’s most delicious dishes. Let’s jump right in!</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861777/fill/700x0/zambian_20women_20cooking.jpeg?timestamp=1634999177">(Zambian women prepare a meal. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bioversity/19525582126/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Image by Bioversity International via Flickr</a>)</div></span><p></p><p><br></p><p>Curried Gazelle is a traditional dish of the country that is made from the rump of a gazelle, and mixed with veggies like onions, chillies, garlic, and spices, as well as coconut milk, cut plantain, tomato paste, and curry. The dish is usually served with white rice.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861778/fill/700x0/nsima.png?timestamp=1634999318">(Nsima with three relishes. Image by (WT-en) Jpatokal at English Wikivoyage via Wikimedia Commons )</div><p></p><p>Nshima or Nsima is a common starch dish in Zambia that is made with maize meal and usually eaten with meat and ‘relishes’, which can be vegetable-based stews. Some relishes may consist of cabbage, garden egg, greens, and fish with veggies or beans. In Uganda, Nshima is known as Ugali.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861779/fill/700x0/ifisashi.png?timestamp=1634999393">(Ifisashi with Nshima. Image by @aricookstheworld via Instagram )<br><br></div><p></p><p>Ifisashi is a dish that is made by cooking mashed groundnuts and green veggies like kale or sweet potatoes. Spices are added to make the dish flavorful, and some versions include fish. Ifisashi is usually eaten with Nshima.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861780/fill/700x0/woman_20preparing_20fried_20dough.png?timestamp=1634999471"></div><p> (Woman preparing a donut-like dish to sell. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Selling_food_in_a_village_in_Zambia_%288%29.JPG" target="_blank">Image by Hanay via Wikimedia Commons</a>)</p><p>Chikanda is a vegetarian cake-like dish, made with chili, wild tubers, baking soda, and spices. It is baked and can be served cold or hot.<br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861781/fill/700x0/zambian_20dishes.jpeg?timestamp=1634999562">(Zambian dishes being prepared. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bioversity/19525576676/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Image by Bioversity International via Flickr</a>)</div><p></p><p>Fish in Zambia are very common due to the many rivers and lakes in the country. Some of the fish eaten in the country include Tilapia and a small fish known as Kapenta.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861784/fill/700x0/outdoor_20cooking_20zambia.jpeg?timestamp=1634999653">(Zambian women cooking outdoors. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bioversity/19525574356/in/photostream/" target="_blank">Image by Bioveristy International via Flickr</a>)</div><p></p><p>Ndiwo is a nutritious vegetable soup that usually includes green veggies such as pumpkin leaves, pea leaves, cassava leaves, and tomatoes, onions, spices, and sometimes meat. This dish is usually served with Nshima.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861786/fill/700x0/cooking_20outdoors_20soup.jpeg?timestamp=1634999807">(A Zambian cooking outdoors. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/cifor/36150510881" target="_blank">Image by CIFOR via Flickr</a>)</div><p></p><p>Delele is an okra-based dish that includes tomatoes, spices, and bicarbonate soda (to enhance the texture). It is commonly eaten with Nshima. This dish is consumed in neighboring countries like Zimbabwe and parts of Botswana and South Africa, where it is known as the same name.</p><p></p><p>What’s your favorite Zambian dish?</p><p><br></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DEi8PSt-Ahvo&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1635002587329000&usg=AOvVaw17HouQrtfXIyhSBCuR83ja">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei8PSt-Ahvo</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/zambia/articles/9-traditional-foods-you-must-eat-while-youre-in-zambia/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1635002587329000&usg=AOvVaw0MNNnH7hbTTsv72IyYFGXp">https://theculturetrip.com/africa/zambia/articles/9-traditional-foods-you-must-eat-while-youre-in-zambia/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-food-in-zambia&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1635002587329000&usg=AOvVaw2E8gYacqtPMIsZbkRJHWon">https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-food-in-zambia</a></p><p><br></p><p>Read more about Zambia:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2020/10/24/332160/zambia-independence-day" target="_blank"><img alt="Zambia Independence Day" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/770125/fit/80x80/zambia_20indep.jpg?timestamp=1634999954" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/10/24/332160/zambia-independence-day" target="_blank">Zambia Independence Day</a></h4>
<p>Happy Independence Day, Zambia! Today we are celebrating this country’s independence from the British, which occurred on October 24th, 1964.
<span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/10/24/332160/zambia-independence-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p></p><div><br></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:af1a7205-5c61-4d88-81c6-0a6667d1aeae2021-10-23T10:20:45-04:002021-10-23T10:21:20-04:00History and Elements of African Art2021-10-23 11:00:00 -0400 Anand Subramanian<span>African art refers to the visual arts of native Africa, which include sculptures, paintings, ceramics, rock art, textiles, masks, personal decorating, and jewelry. The beginnings of African art history predates documented history and have been preserved in the mists of time. Rock art dates back millennia, while shell beads fashioned into a necklace were discovered in a cave in the furthest reaches of South Africa's southern peninsula that is 75,000 years old. Some African art has entertainment value, some have political or ideological importance, some is useful in ceremonial contexts, and some have aesthetic worth in and of itself. A piece of African art will almost always have some or all of these components, and in this article, we will go deep into the significance of art in African history and the elements.<br><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861763/fill/700x0/benin_20mask.png?timestamp=1634998377"></div><p> Figure 2 - Visual representation of African Art. Source - Google</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>African art emphasizes "human figures," which deal with the spiritual and moral elements of human life, to uphold religious ideals. African artisans regarded the human form as having significant aesthetic and religious importance, as well as being linked with genuine beauty. The painters did not intend to represent a certain group of people using human models. They were more concerned with conveying thoughts about life's realities. These depictions expressed spiritual ideas, values, and life concepts. The artists even utilized animal miniatures to convey their messages. Smooth finishes and gleaming, well-polished looks characterize African figure sculptures. A rough and uneven surface, according to African thought, represents ill-favored, ugly, repulsive, and morally tainted imagery. As a result, the artists ensured that their sculptures were properly polished, with no imperfections on the surface, for them to be bright. The human sculptures are also adorned with jewels to add to their allure. Intricate patterns are sometimes added to the artistic works. The most essential aspect of African art is symmetry and balance, which has parallels with Western and other types of art. This refers to the materials utilized in balance and proportion to construct creative creations that fall under the category of technicality, whereas other artworks focus more on culture, religion, morals, and aesthetic qualities. In terms of aesthetic merit, African art pieces typically have a peaceful, cool, and composed appearance. They are constructed in such a way that they appear to be in command of themselves. They exude dignity, self-respect, elegance, and self-esteem.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861770/fill/700x0/nigerian_20statue.png?timestamp=1634998570">Figure 3 - Visual Representation of African Art</div><p></p><p>For a long time, the Western world dismissed traditional African art as primitive and unevolved. Today, African art is being praised as attractive and important, and the world is rediscovering the beauty of this art form, as demonstrated by the growing number of buyers for the distinctive items of art that represent the cultural qualities of many African areas. Part of the shift in view can be attributed to the efforts of current African artists and the diaspora, who have attempted to mix the traditional and modern by employing new creative means to communicate the concepts behind these historical works. The geometric and abstract characteristics of this basic yet sophisticated art style impacted and inspired artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and others. African art shows people's interactions with invisible powers. It aspires to get a better insight and knowledge of the world by integrating the visible and the hidden.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1634998725"></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.</p><p>Read more from Anand Subramanian:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/16/359705/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/829889/fit/80x80/black_20contemporary_20artists.jpeg?timestamp=1634998751" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/16/359705/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference" target="_blank">Top 5 Black Contemporary Artists Who Are Making a Cultural Difference</a></h4>
<p>Every form of art has established rules and borders around its genres in the creative spectrum, but contemporary artists have shattered those borders and redefined the meaning of art. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/16/359705/top-5-black-contemporary-artists-who-are-making-a-cultural-difference">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/06/03/358474/5-historic-african-american-fashion-photographers-you-should-know" target="_blank"><img alt="5 Historic African American Fashion Photographers You Should Know" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827215/fit/80x80/early_20morning_20hugh_20bell.jpeg?timestamp=1634998767" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/06/03/358474/5-historic-african-american-fashion-photographers-you-should-know" target="_blank">5 Historic African American Fashion Photographers You Should Know</a></h4>
<p>Let us honor five historic Black fashion photographers whose work defined Black fashion aesthetics and culture, while also giving voice to oppression. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/06/03/358474/5-historic-african-american-fashion-photographers-you-should-know">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/10/03/370353/the-siddi-people-indias-forgotten-african-tribe" target="_blank"><img alt="Figure 1 - The Siddi Community Source - Google" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/857281/fit/80x80/siddi.png?timestamp=1634998825" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/10/03/370353/the-siddi-people-indias-forgotten-african-tribe" target="_blank">The Siddi People: India's Forgotten African Tribe</a></h4>
<p>In this article, we will look at the Siddi people, who are one example of a heritage buried in the books of Indian history, and we will shine a light on those chapters. <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/10/03/370353/the-siddi-people-indias-forgotten-african-tribe">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><p><br></p><br><br></div><p><br></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:7baa74db-ba31-46d6-8b1c-de9b2e1fb8642021-10-20T10:26:01-04:002021-10-21T12:07:28-04:00From the Clotilde Slave Ship to the NASCAR Cup: Dignity, Shattering Glass Ceilings and Dismantling Racism in NASCAR 2021-10-20 11:00:00 -0400Nana Ama Addo<span><p>On October 4th, 2021, William ‘Bubba’ Wallace became the first African-American racer to win a NASCAR Cup Series race in 58 years. Wallace’s win, the rise of Black ownership in auto racing, and the current changes in NASCAR reflect progressive legacies of Black triumph and indicate attempts to dismantle racism and inequality in the stock racing arena. <br></p><br><p>Racial injustice is embedded in various and interconnected facets of American history. Bubba Wallace was born in Mobile, Alabama, which was the residing place of Cudjoe Lewis, a Benin-born ex-slave who was the focus in Zora Neal Hurston’s novel “Barracoon” and a survivor of the last known slave ship, ‘The Clotilde’. The grievances experienced by Cudjoe Lewis, even after he was emancipated, have the same roots of bigotry that allowed NASCAR officials to deny the talent of Bubba Wallace’s predecessor, the late auto racer Wendell Scott. When Scott, an African-American racer, won a NASCAR top-level race in 1963 by two full laps, his win was undermined, and a White racer, Buck Baker, was declared the winner. Just three months ago, 58 years later, NASCAR awarded Scott’s family with a winning trophy. </p><br><p>The support Bubba Wallace has garnered from NASCAR peers and officials, coupled with the recent social unacceptance of racism and increasing Black ownership, seem to be catalyzing a new era for White consciousness in the auto racing field. This year, Wallace, who was the only Black driver in this year’s NASCAR Cup Series, raced as a member of a team owned by basketball legend turned mogul Michael Jordan, who said that when he created the NASCAR team, he knew that he was “diving headfirst into the teeth of racism.” </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/861252/fill/700x0/nascar_20racism.jpeg?timestamp=1634739709"></div><p>(Tweet by @RheeTweet3 via Twitter)</p><p><br></p></span><p></p><p>In 2020, Wallace, whose mother is Black and father is White, requested for the infamous confederate flags to be banned from the auto racing events. Although NASCAR banned the use of Confederate flags at the races, the totems persist. Wallace faced criticism from NASCAR fans when a crew member reported a noose in Wallace’s car garage, which was investigated by the FBI and later said to be a garage door knot, although the knot in Wallace’s stall was the only one out of 1,684 stalls that were fashioned in the shape of a noose.</p><p></p><p>In recent years, NASCAR has attempted to undergo political changes to encourage inclusivity. The company launched several diversity programs, including the Drive for Diversity program which seeks to encourage racial and gender equality, the NASCAR Diversity Internship Program, and NASCAR Supplier Diversity. However, racist attitudes continue to taint the NASCAR image. In 2008, former NASCAR employee Mauricia Grant sued NASCAR for racial and gender-based abuse, and others have expressed feeling uncomfortable at NASCAR events.</p><p></p><p>Black ownership, representation, and staffing in different facets will continue to play integral roles in dismantling the racism that is deeply embedded in NASCAR and other parts of American society. Only then will the hopes of the enslaved be realized, and Black potential is able to develop and flourish, unhinged.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/culture/bubba-wallace-is-the-first-black-driver-to-win-a-nascar-cup-race-since-1963">https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/culture/bubba-wallace-is-the-first-black-driver-to-win-a-na...</a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/oct/07/bubba-wallace-claims-victory-history-first-black-w/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272618000&usg=AOvVaw1jhZg63GAT2OXkK5kaWAIE">http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/oct/07/bubba-wallace-claims-victory-history-first-black-w/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/28939-diversity-in-nascar-225-million-reasons-theres-none&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272619000&usg=AOvVaw1GlNLA8J0axZsw-4Pwa0ws">https://bleacherreport.com/articles/28939-diversity-in-nascar-225-million-reasons-theres-none</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/28/nascar-presents-trophy-wendell-scotts-family-nearly-58-years-after-historic-win/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272620000&usg=AOvVaw1iSe-_qZfZY8eDoVUsyiNy">https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/28/nascar-presents-trophy-wendell-scotts-family-nearly-58-years-after-historic-win/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2020/09/21/michael-jordan-and-denny-hamlin-launch-new-nascar-team-with-bubba-wallace-as-driver/?sh%3D2ef348cc5018&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272621000&usg=AOvVaw1Z_GdxDCBW9pad7XbQBT_1">https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2020/09/21/michael-jordan-and-denny-hamlin-launch-new-nascar-team-with-bubba-wallace-as-driver/?sh=2ef348cc5018</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nascar.com/diversity/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272622000&usg=AOvVaw2I6fyHYpxkRskvQiV5MNu9">https://www.nascar.com/diversity/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/882481361/nascar-its-history-of-racism-and-relations-with-the-confederate-flag&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272622000&usg=AOvVaw3UKTy9tI4rsM5--rlNERlV">https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/882481361/nascar-its-history-of-racism-and-relations-with-the-confederate-flag</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/22/michael-jordan-bubba-wallace-nascar-team-denny-hamlin&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272623000&usg=AOvVaw2VFruEVI0ecakAx8bYj30X">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/22/michael-jordan-bubba-wallace-nascar-team-denny-hamlin</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/nascar-bubba-wallace-noose-1.5626941&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272624000&usg=AOvVaw3QICFFX0qeol5__QFueA6d">https://www.cbc.ca/sports/nascar-bubba-wallace-noose-1.5626941</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/news/story?id%3D3782115&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272625000&usg=AOvVaw0RLz5ws7j6wMEIjOJozp50">https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/news/story?id=3782115</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/culture/bubba-wallace-is-the-first-black-driver-to-win-a-nascar-cup-race-since-1963">https://www.becauseofthemwecan.com/blogs/culture/bubba-wallace-is-the-first-black-driver-to-win-a-na...</a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/oct/07/bubba-wallace-claims-victory-history-first-black-w/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272618000&usg=AOvVaw1jhZg63GAT2OXkK5kaWAIE">http://richmondfreepress.com/news/2021/oct/07/bubba-wallace-claims-victory-history-first-black-w/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/28939-diversity-in-nascar-225-million-reasons-theres-none&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272619000&usg=AOvVaw1GlNLA8J0axZsw-4Pwa0ws">https://bleacherreport.com/articles/28939-diversity-in-nascar-225-million-reasons-theres-none</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/28/nascar-presents-trophy-wendell-scotts-family-nearly-58-years-after-historic-win/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272620000&usg=AOvVaw1iSe-_qZfZY8eDoVUsyiNy">https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/08/28/nascar-presents-trophy-wendell-scotts-family-nearly-58-years-after-historic-win/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2020/09/21/michael-jordan-and-denny-hamlin-launch-new-nascar-team-with-bubba-wallace-as-driver/?sh%3D2ef348cc5018&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272621000&usg=AOvVaw1Z_GdxDCBW9pad7XbQBT_1">https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2020/09/21/michael-jordan-and-denny-hamlin-launch-new-nascar-team-with-bubba-wallace-as-driver/?sh=2ef348cc5018</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nascar.com/diversity/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272622000&usg=AOvVaw2I6fyHYpxkRskvQiV5MNu9">https://www.nascar.com/diversity/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/882481361/nascar-its-history-of-racism-and-relations-with-the-confederate-flag&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272622000&usg=AOvVaw3UKTy9tI4rsM5--rlNERlV">https://www.npr.org/2020/06/23/882481361/nascar-its-history-of-racism-and-relations-with-the-confederate-flag</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/22/michael-jordan-bubba-wallace-nascar-team-denny-hamlin&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272623000&usg=AOvVaw2VFruEVI0ecakAx8bYj30X">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/sep/22/michael-jordan-bubba-wallace-nascar-team-denny-hamlin</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/nascar-bubba-wallace-noose-1.5626941&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272624000&usg=AOvVaw3QICFFX0qeol5__QFueA6d">https://www.cbc.ca/sports/nascar-bubba-wallace-noose-1.5626941</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/news/story?id%3D3782115&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272625000&usg=AOvVaw0RLz5ws7j6wMEIjOJozp50">https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/news/story?id=3782115</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/790279/fill/300x0/nana_20ama_20addo_202.jpg?timestamp=1634740012"></div><p> Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director, and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.asieduasimprint.blog/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272627000&usg=AOvVaw3roPBP6IvHojU3ik0p41F1"> </a>( <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.asieduasimprint.com&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1634743272628000&usg=AOvVaw0zI78OSUxFKiCD3-vbZFTl">www.asieduasimprint.com</a> )<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Nana Ama Addo:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/05/12/356156/throwing-bananas-lack-of-progress-in-racism-towards-african-african-diasporan-soccer-players-and-redirection-of-focus" target="_blank"><img alt="pImage by Riadhriadh2004Image by Riadhriadh2004brp" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/821862/fit/80x80/Soccer_in_south_africa.jpeg?timestamp=1634740039" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/05/12/356156/throwing-bananas-lack-of-progress-in-racism-towards-african-african-diasporan-soccer-players-and-redirection-of-focus" target="_blank">Throwing Bananas: Lack of Progress in Racism Towards African & African Diasporan Soccer Players, and Redirection of Focus</a></h4>
<p>Racism in the soccer industry is not new to the world. However, its persistence, and the lack of infrastructure put behind reform, begs the question: does the European soccer industry lov... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/05/12/356156/throwing-bananas-lack-of-progress-in-racism-towards-african-african-diasporan-soccer-players-and-redirection-of-focus">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/10/14/371694/journeying-towards-emotional-emancipation-how-to-participate-in-community-healing-day" target="_blank"><img alt="Image by August de Richelieu via Pexels " src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/860398/fit/80x80/chn.jpg?timestamp=1634740133" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/10/14/371694/journeying-towards-emotional-emancipation-how-to-participate-in-community-healing-day" target="_blank">Journeying Towards Emotional Emancipation: How to Participate in Community Healing Day</a></h4>
<p>Happy Community Healing Day! On every third week of October, this holiday is celebrated to designate healing time for Black communities. This celebration was founded by the Community Heal... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/10/14/371694/journeying-towards-emotional-emancipation-how-to-participate-in-community-healing-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2021/10/09/371228/build-back-better-act-event-recap" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/859357/fit/80x80/Build_20Back_2000_20x_20600.jpg?timestamp=1634740145" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2021/10/09/371228/build-back-better-act-event-recap" target="_blank">Build Back Better Act Event Recap</a></h4>
<p>FunTimes partnered with the National Wildlife Federation to create awareness about environmental wellness endeavors that community members can utilize to save lives and stimulate the econ... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2021/10/09/371228/build-back-better-act-event-recap">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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<p> </p><p></p><p></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:d29eac99-bc1f-4f0b-9796-20b7a46f0a952021-10-11T10:56:07-04:002021-10-11T10:56:35-04:004 Films to Watch for Equatorial Guinea’s Independence Day2021-10-11 14:00:00 -0400Oga Africa<span><p>Happy Independence Day, Equatorial Guinea! On October 12th, 1968, this Central African country gained independence from Spain. Because this country was colonized by Spain, it merges Latin and African culture and is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa. Spanish, Portuguese, French, and indigenous languages like Fang are spoken in the country, which consists of a mainland and 5 islands. Here are some exciting Equatoguinean films that will help you to understand Equatoguinean culture and history. <br></p><br><p><i>Paco y Nenu</i> is a 2019 film, directed by Nicky Mayebe, that tells the story of the deterioration of two friends' relationship after one reveals his numerous immoral behaviors, and of money rituals. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsW_hdxa5qs" target="_blank">Watch the 30-minute film, which is offered in Spanish and African indigenous languages, here</a>.</p><br><p><i>Motherland, A Genetic Journey</i>, is a 2003 BBC documentary that explored reconciliation between descendants of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade and Black British communities. Three Afro-Caribbeans with Jamaican heritage living in the UK trace their genetic history, and one of the women, Beulah, traces her relatives back to the Bubi tribe of Equatorial Guinea. She visits the island of Bioko to reconnect with their family members. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMjuzk8vBTU" target="_blank">Watch this journey here</a>.</p><br><p><i>Feguibox</i> is a 2015 film written and directed by Ruben Monsuy, Gabriel Amdur, and Ndong Andeme that explores boxing, the cycle of poverty, and relentless ambition. A boxer, Salvador, grapples to develop and succeed as a boxing star of Equatorial Guinea while battling the poverty that surrounds him. <a href="https://vimeo.com/117365841" target="_blank">Watch the film, which is in Spanish, here</a>.</p><br><p><i>Teresa</i> is a 2010 short film, directed by Juan Pablo and Ebang Osono, centered around 3 friends: Teresa, Rosio, and Yolanda, who have different lifestyles and passions. This film, made by Equatoguinean filmmakers, told a story based on true events. It was produced by the National Library of Equatorial Guinea. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIThmPnb7Qc" target="_blank">Watch the short film, which is in Spanish, here</a>.</p><br><br><p>What’s your favorite Equatoguinean film? Comment below!</p><br><p><br></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/02_february/05/motherland.shtml">https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2003/02_february/05/motherland.shtml</a></p><p><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/41349278">https://www.jstor.org/stable/41349278</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about Equatorial Guinea:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2020/10/12/331615/celebrating-equatorial-guinea-on-independence-day" target="_blank"><img alt="Celebrating Equatorial Guinea on Independence Day" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/767924/fit/80x80/equatoguinean_20annobon_20island.jpg?timestamp=1633964068" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/10/12/331615/celebrating-equatorial-guinea-on-independence-day" target="_blank">Celebrating Equatorial Guinea on Independence Day</a></h4>
<p>Happy Independence Day, Equatorial Guinea! Today, October 12th, this Central African country gained independence from Spain. Join us in celebrating the country with 7 unique facts. Let’s ... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/10/12/331615/celebrating-equatorial-guinea-on-independence-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><br><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:034a24a0-fb03-4a12-9b1d-7ae0af0b854b2021-10-07T13:25:04-04:002021-10-08T09:43:05-04:00Breaking Generational Curses: Reflecting on Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s ‘Kintu’ for Uganda Independence Day2021-10-08 14:00:00 -0400Oga Africa<p>Happy Independence Day, Uganda! This East African country gained independence on October 9th, 1962. Today we explore the riveting novel ‘Kintu’, by the exceptional Ugandan writer Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.</p><p></p><p>Kintu tells a story of intertwined destiny, generational inheritance, and Ugandan culture and history. The book utilizes the journey of a man named Kintu, and the legacy of a curse that he has unleashed on his bloodline, to depict Ganda customs and Ugandan life from the precolonial era to the present day.</p><p></p><p>Through chronicling the lives of Kintu’s descendants, Nanaubuga Makumbi presents sub-themes of culture as both pride and confinement, tension between traditional Ganda belief systems and Christianity, the blurred line of perception between mental health disorders and spiritual sight, and indigenous Ugandan way of life versus Westernized ideals.</p><p></p><p>Nansubuga Makumbi skillfully crafted real-life events and Ganda belief systems into Kintu. Kyabaggu, an 18th century King of the country formerly known as Buganda, is depicted as a cunning, power-hungry leader who rose to the throne by violence, aiming to conquer neighboring towns. At the beginning of the novel, she describes the vicious cycle of power in traditional Ganda royal lineages, and the role of ethnocentrism in traditional Ganda society. The legacy of British colonialism and Idi Amin is also reflected in the article.</p><p></p><p>Duality is an additional theme presented through the initial matriarchs of the story, the twins and wives of Kintu, Nakato and Babirye. Babirye and Nakato, Ganda names that describe twins, hold power in Ganda society. Ganda tradition dictated that a man traditionally should marry both twins if he desired to marry one. The stark difference and interconnectedness between Nakato and Babyire, and the legacies of twins that followed in their lineages, came to represent the dichotomy between free will and destiny, and individuality and community.</p><p></p><p>Cuisine, an integral part of culture, allows readers to step into Ugandan culture. Matooke, green bananas, grow in abundance in the country, as evidenced in the novel. Matooke is a staple in Uganda, and is steamed and eaten in dishes such as peanut sauce, or fried with tomatoes and onions. Ugandan chapati, Kabalagala or Ugandan pancakes, and the fish Nile Perch are other dishes found in the novel.</p><p></p><p>Order this riveting book, and delve into Nansubuga Makumbo’s testimonial of rich culture and trials, tribulation, and triumph, <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/kintu/9781945492013" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/cuisine-and-etiquette-uganda/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633630803448000&usg=AOvVaw2lhA6Vx33TYoHz3UdsBKR6">https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/cuisine-and-etiquette-uganda/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://storyteller.travel/uganda-food-guide/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633630803448000&usg=AOvVaw1Zncx82E3bRWdnOX5o3mcY">https://storyteller.travel/uganda-food-guide/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ganda-people%23ref51012&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633630803448000&usg=AOvVaw0npbzShJNdjBk0b5mrGqq8">https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ganda-people#ref51012</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more about Uganda:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2020/10/09/331393/exploring-uganda-on-independence-day" target="_blank"><img alt="Exploring Uganda on Independence Day" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/767422/fit/80x80/yoweri_20musuveni.JPG?timestamp=1633627559" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/10/09/331393/exploring-uganda-on-independence-day" target="_blank">Exploring Uganda on Independence Day</a></h4>
<p>On Ugandan Independence Day, FunTimes takes a journey inside the history, struggles, jewels and tribulations that exist in the country.
<span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/10/09/331393/exploring-uganda-on-independence-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div><br></div><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8ee625dc-f66e-4d65-a4cb-f977313a9c3e2021-09-30T15:56:10-04:002021-10-03T12:32:40-04:00Political Strategy, Basotho Resistance, and European Dispossession: The Legacy of King Moshoeshoe I and the Free State-Basotho Wars2021-10-03 14:00:00 -0400 Oga Africa<span><p>For Lesotho Independence Day, we are investigating the diplomacy and legacy of King Moshoeshoe I. <br></p><br><p>Chief Moshoeshoe, named after a Sotho or Sesotho term that translates to ‘The Shaver’, was born in modern-day Menkhoaneng, Lesotho in 1796. Born into a royal Basotho lineage, Moshoeshoe inherited his royal status from his father, Chief Mokhachane of Bamokoteli. </p><br><p>He and his father expanded the Bamokoteli kingdom by conquering other clans in the Southern African region. Moshoeshoe then created his own sept, and became the chief of the group, settling with them at the Butha-Buthe Mountain. He became the founder of the kingdom of Basotho, an area now known as Lesotho, when he and his followers migrated to the Qiloane plateau. Moshoeshoe granted prisoners of war land, and through this political strategy, he successfully united clans. Two-thirds of Lesotho is composed of mountains. Seeing the strategic benefit of the mountains, Moshoeshoe built his home on a fortress atop a mountain. Basotho hats, known as Mokorotlo, commemorate Lesotho’s sacred heritage.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/856342/fill/700x0/sotho_20elder.jpeg?timestamp=1633031631">(A Sotho elder wearing a Basotho hat. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/4615112282" target="_blank">Image by Steve Evans via Flickr</a>)<br><br><p>The British attempted to colonize Lesotho, but they lost the battle to the Basotho Kingdom in 1851 and 1852. After battling with the British, Moshoeshoe wrote letters to British colonial settlers, and they signed a peace treaty. Boer people, Dutch migrants who broke away from the Afrikaaners, migrated to Lesotho to flee from British rule in South Africa.</p><p></p><p>The Free State-Basotho Wars were three series of battle periods between 1858-1868, fought between the Boers and the Basotho people. Moshoeshoe initially granted the Boers stay in certain Lesotho areas, which the Boers called ‘Orange Free States’, and the Boers began to desire more of the land, and sought to colonize Lesotho. Moshoeshoe fended off the Boers in 1848. The wars continued off and on, and in 1865, after prolonged brutal fighting, the Boers took over most of the Basotho kingdom. In response, Moshoeshoe, who utilized politics in a unique way, appealed to the Queen of England, and Lesotho was made a British protectorate in 1868.</p><p></p><p>In 2000, the Kingdom of Lesotho comprised 80.3% of Sotho people.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.landportal.org/news/2021/08/how-two-rivers-tell-story-basothos-land-dispossession-whites&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104202000&usg=AOvVaw1YoLcWU_e5lAeeeKfNK8hy">https://www.landportal.org/news/2021/08/how-two-rivers-tell-story-basothos-land-dispossession-whites</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/basotho-wars-1858-1868&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104203000&usg=AOvVaw2NgJ0EWretPgDB5VfCgXCi">https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/basotho-wars-1858-1868</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.britannica.com/place/Lesotho/The-Sotho-kingdom-1824-69&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104203000&usg=AOvVaw0r7H9EMj4QTeOkcpF1dVUm">https://www.britannica.com/place/Lesotho/The-Sotho-kingdom-1824-69</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DITGfDVzehws&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104204000&usg=AOvVaw3nBMmrKHSbaLXOeEIf2M33">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITGfDVzehws</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3D6zUqc6gC4Vg&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104204000&usg=AOvVaw0QgB37j9RlTXn8ddtpJbzQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zUqc6gC4Vg</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.britannica.com/place/Lesotho&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633035104205000&usg=AOvVaw3avBIt4oFyFX0QFawuAyLk">https://www.britannica.com/place/Lesotho</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about Lesotho:</p><div class="media clearfix">
<span class="pull-left"><a href="/2020/10/04/330942/lesotho-independence-day" target="_blank"><img alt="Lesotho Independence Day" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/766408/fit/80x80/Prime_20Minister_20Moeketsi_20Majoro.jpg?timestamp=1633031719" class="media-object"></a></span>
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/10/04/330942/lesotho-independence-day" target="_blank">Lesotho Independence Day</a></h4>
<p> Happy Independence Day, Lesotho! Today, October 4th, 1966, this Southern African country gained independence from the British. We are celebrating by highlighting 10 unique facts about Le... <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/10/04/330942/lesotho-independence-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><div><br></div></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:c8ffa6af-d9a2-4fac-b99f-59ccd605108a2021-10-03T12:30:46-04:002023-01-18T10:23:58-05:00The Siddi People: India's Forgotten African Tribe2021-10-03 12:30:00 -0400Anand Subramanian<span><p>Only a handful of Indians are aware that Africans and Indians are not novices to each other: at least 25,000 African-origin ethnic tribes have been living in near-complete obscurity in India for millennia. The Siddis are an African-origin Indian group mostly found in the Indian states of Karnataka and Gujarat. They self-identify as Indians – who communicate native dialects, wear native attire, and follow the same local rituals and traditions – yet due to their physical appearance, they are usually considered as 'foreign people,' and live in tiny groups in rural regions and wilds. In this article, we will look at the Siddi people, who are one example of a heritage buried in the books of Indian history, and we will shine a light on those chapters.<br></p><div><span><br><p>The Siddi are an Indo-African tribal community derived from Africa's Bantu people. Their forefathers were transported to India as slaves by Arabs as early as the 7th century, followed subsequently by the Portuguese and British. Others were free individuals who arrived in India as merchants, sailors, and mercenaries before the Portuguese slave trade took off. Originally, these African slaves were known as Habshis, which is Persian, meaning Abyssinian. Those who progressed through the ranks of the royal entourage were given the title Siddi, which might be derived from the Arabic term for master, sayed/sayyid. Siddis fled into the country's dense forests after slavery was abolished in the 18th and 19th centuries, fearing captivity and subsequent torture.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/857282/fill/700x0/siddi_20children.png?timestamp=1633278129">Figure 2 - The Siddi Children. Source - Google</div></span><span><br><p>Some Siddis continue to live in physical seclusion in forests today, while others have physically blended into towns and communities. Despite their physical African characteristics, they have all achieved socio-cultural integration within broader Indian civilization. Siddis have tremendous hurdles in a culture where persons of lower castes or with darker complexions are frequently discriminated against. The Siddis battled and suffered for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheduled_Castes_and_Scheduled_Tribes" target="_blank">Scheduled Tribe recognition</a>, which was given to them by the Indian government in 2003. Because of this shift in status, many Siddis became eligible for government incentives that served to empower and improve their communities. The most recent Siddi communities to be given Scheduled Tribe designation did so just recently, in 2019. Even though Siddis now have access to more benefits than in the past, pervasive poverty continues.</p><br><p>Most Siddi males work as farmers or day laborers. Farming is the major source of income for many Hindu Siddis. Areca nuts, commonly known as betel nuts, are a valuable crop grown alongside rice by many Siddi farmers. Owning farmland is prevalent among Hindi Siddis, but Christian and Muslim Siddis in Karnataka do not own farmland to the same level. Religious allegiance is frequently linked to the unique experience that each group had after fleeing the western port towns and cities. Siddis values religion, yet it has never been a source of contention among the people. Siddis, regardless of faith, believe that they are all descended from the same ancestors, and many Siddis are connected within a few generations of genealogy. As a result, Siddis from many religions practice mutual respect, a strong feeling of community, and a common identity. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/857283/fill/700x0/siddi_20culture.png?timestamp=1633278238">Figure 3 - The Siddi Culture. Source - Google<br><br></div></span><p></p><p>Siddis first gained national prominence for their athletic talents in the 1980s. The Sports Authority of India anticipated that their African ancestry and natural athletic talents will result in more medals for India in international sporting competitions. Siddi youngsters were chosen for this reason and taught to compete in international contests. The few Siddis who achieved national success in sports also obtained well-paying, dependable government positions. Kamala Mingel Siddi, a well-known Siddi member, is still recognized as one of the top national and international Siddi athletes. Unfortunately, after a few years, the initiative was terminated, and the Siddis were ordered to return to their homes and their lives as outsiders. Several attempts have been made to resurrect Siddi community special sports programs, but none have proven successful.</p><p></p><p>In terms of cultural prowess, dance and music have been essential to their cultural identity. They are well-known for their expressive dance form <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1frbY6AUqY" target="_blank">Siddi Dhamal</a>, which depicts their way of life in the village. When members of the tribe returned following a successful hunt, Dhamal was initially performed as a celebration dance. While women sing a repeating song pattern, males generally establish the beat with the <i>Dammam</i>, a percussion instrument that appears similar to a <i>mridangam</i> but is constructed of wood with deerskin on the sides. While the vocalist begins with a sentence, the rest of the group repeats it in unison, much like a refrain. The Dancers are clothed brightly and decorated with leaves, and their faces are painted.</p><p></p><p>They speak the same languages, dress in the same manner, eat the same foods, and follow the same faiths as the rest of the Indians in the region. To the Siddis, they are just like everyone else, and they have a strong affinity to the surrounding woods and landscapes. Even after living here for generations and calling it home, this group still struggles for societal acceptability. 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<p> </p><span><br><br></span></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:a5550ff5-db60-4296-83b9-e8566b45b1492021-09-30T15:25:07-04:002021-10-01T10:42:55-04:00Guinea Independence Day: Military Faction Assume Governmental Rule after Coup D’etat2021-10-01 14:00:00 -0400Oga Africa<span><p>On October 2nd, 1958, Guinea gained independence from France. Today we are exploring the current state of affairs of the country in light of the coup d’etat the country experienced on September 5th, 2021.<br></p><br><p>The military junction known as the National Committee of Reconciliation and Development (NCRD), led a coup d’etat in the West African country. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who assumed the leadership of the country, announced the coup d’etat was inspired by the human rights violations, poverty, and economic maladministration running rampant in the country. He pledged to restore a union government.</p><br><p>The former president of Mali, Alpha Conde, who is 83 years old, had been taken hostage by the faction, and remains in their custody. In response to these events, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU) suspended Mali from the collective. African leaders have met with Doumbouya to negotiate the happenings of the country and have demanded the release of Conde.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/856321/fill/700x0/military_20guinea.png?timestamp=1633029737">(A military parade in Kaloum, Guinea after the 2021 coup. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coup_d%27état_2021_en_Guinée_1.jpg" target="_blank">Image by Aboubacarkhoraa via Wikimedia Commons</a>)<br><br></div></span><p></p><p>Last October, Alpha Conde won a third presidency term. Citizens expressed outrage over this decision, as there is a two-term presidency limit in the country, and Conde altered this rule so that he could continue to rule the country. During the protests following Conde’s third term confirmation, hundreds were arrested and some were killed.</p><p></p><p>After the coup in September, news stations showed videos of citizens blowing kisses and giving praises to the military faction for disposing of Conde, providing evidence that many Guinean citizens, including those in the country’s capital, Conakry, support the military faction’s coup. Regarding Conde, some citizens stated they want Conde to be released, and others say Conde should be put on trial for his human rights abuses. ECOWAS continues to campaign for the military faction to release Conde. Approximately 80 prisoners who were arrested during Conde’s rule have been freed.</p><p></p><p></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-58498141&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989815000&usg=AOvVaw3wObXcreWLV6QwJXgLkOai">https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-58498141</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-58643493&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989815000&usg=AOvVaw0-mB1llsxdp48Kjx_skdki">https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-58643493</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3Dgj79uONwTp8&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989815000&usg=AOvVaw1YblpKZSE04eKjAkkqjeP1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj79uONwTp8</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54657359&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989816000&usg=AOvVaw1MTW6MBIBdUw2-fTB5JeT8">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-54657359</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58461971&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989816000&usg=AOvVaw0y2Gi9-UAUlUSMH5s5ocqf">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58461971</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DHNJre2HN8c4&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989817000&usg=AOvVaw1sjgfcxIis1zMJn2CGktmY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNJre2HN8c4</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/06/guinea-excitement-tension-greet-conde-s-dramatic-ouster//&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989817000&usg=AOvVaw311SwLSiXHScV_HzM2Z8w2">https://www.africanews.com/2021/09/06/guinea-excitement-tension-greet-conde-s-dramatic-ouster//</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.theafricareport.com/125045/guinea-who-is-mamady-doumbouya-the-man-once-closest-to-alpha-conde/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633032989817000&usg=AOvVaw3ZeoOj0-A04RrTmbGUVbus">https://www.theafricareport.com/125045/guinea-who-is-mamady-doumbouya-the-man-once-closest-to-alpha-conde/</a></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about Guinea:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/10/02/330835/guinea-independence-day" target="_blank">Guinea Independence Day </a></h4>
<p>Happy Independence Day, Guinea! Today, October 2nd, 1958, this resource rich West African country gained independence from the French. We are exploring this abundant country. Join us! <span class="pull-right"><a href="/2020/10/02/330835/guinea-independence-day">Read More »</a></span> </p>
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</p><p> </p><p></p><p></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:0625332d-cce6-400f-81f6-335bb050a36f2021-10-01T10:42:25-04:002021-10-01T10:42:39-04:00From Poor to Prosperous: How Sir Seretse Khama, Botswana’s First President, Developed the Country 2021-10-01 11:00:00 -0400Oga Africa<span><p>Happy Independence Day, Botswana! This country, which gained independence from Britain on September 30th, 1966, experienced rapid economic development after independence. Today we are exploring the South African country’s development, led by leader Sir Seretse Khama, to discover how he achieved this progress, and to investigate duplicatable steps to implement development for other African countries. </p><p>When Botswana gained independence, it had seven miles of paved roads in the whole country and it was experiencing hunger due to drought and crop failure. Sir Seretse Khama, the son of a Bangwato chief of Botswana, founded the Bechuanaland Democratic Party and became Botswana’s first president in 1966.</p><p>Khama made education free for all citizens and leveraged the country’s natural resources of diverse wildlife and diamond deposits to propel the country’s economy. Seretse, and his successor, Ketumile Masire, utilized this capital to improve access to healthcare and clean water, innovate farming techniques, develop public schools, and build roads.</p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/856734/fill/700x0/diamond_20mine.jpeg?timestamp=1633099058"></div><p> (Jwaneng diamond mine, Botswana. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gridarendal/31380852610" target="_blank">Image by GRID-Arendal via Flickr</a>)</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Due to Khama’s popularity, he was re-elected three times, and ruled as president until his death in 1980. After his passing, Ketumile Masire, politician and former cattle herdsman, became the president. Masire, who carried the torch after Khama, continued the development of the country, and maintained the country’s well-being through a drought. In the 1980s, Botswana had become the world’s leading gem diamond-producing country.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/856747/fill/700x0/gaborone.png?timestamp=1633099136"></div><p> (Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gaborone,_Botswana_desde_el_aire.jpg" target="_blank">Image by Shosholoza via Wikimedia Commons</a>)</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>In the last 50 years, Botswana’s per capita wealth has increased over 100 fold. It is currently an upper-middle-income country. The capital, Gaborone, has well-organized traffic, and the streets are orderly.</p><p></p><p>Botswana’s story exemplifies critical aspects of development for African countries, which includes good leaders and efficient use of natural resources and revenue.</p><p></p><p>Although Botswana is currently reeling from COVID-19 exacerbated challenges, like unemployment and income equality. The country is a testament of the potential for African development, which, with good governance, can be leveraged by the natural resources on the continent.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seretse-Khama&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633102365917000&usg=AOvVaw1uuq-A4g954wFbVSkwHbd0">https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seretse-Khama</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37274670&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633102365917000&usg=AOvVaw1NGSgeAk9nOo1h8rTve7G4">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37274670</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ketumile-masire-botswana-president-known-as-model-leader-of-model-african-nation-dies-at-91/2017/06/24/ddab3fa4-5810-11e7-b38e-35fd8e0c288f_story.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633102365918000&usg=AOvVaw0cJCmsSNzQtMzATqryHHXF">https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ketumile-masire-botswana-president-known-as-model-leader-of-model-african-nation-dies-at-91/2017/06/24/ddab3fa4-5810-11e7-b38e-35fd8e0c288f_story.html</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.innertemple.org.uk/who-we-are/history/historical-articles/the-unfortunate-marriage-of-seretse-khama/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633102365918000&usg=AOvVaw0AFOlW3mcmXKD6QfTeB6h2">https://www.innertemple.org.uk/who-we-are/history/historical-articles/the-unfortunate-marriage-of-seretse-khama/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/botswana/overview%255C&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1633102365918000&usg=AOvVaw21qlld-WnzCOEcWuBPAY5u">https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/botswana/overview</a></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about Botswana:</p><div class="media clearfix">
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<h4 class="media-heading"><a href="/2020/09/30/330303/celebrating-botswana-independence-day" target="_blank">Celebrating Botswana Independence Day</a></h4>
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</p><p> </p><p></p><p> <span><br><br></span></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:0e38f6e5-9853-4b29-b393-8f9a0016d10c2021-09-20T09:43:54-04:002021-09-20T09:48:12-04:00Belize Independence Day: Exploring the History and Culture of the Garifuna Tribe, the Descendants of Shipwrecked Ibibio and Carib-Awarak People2021-09-20 10:00:00 -0400Oga Africa<p>Happy Independence Day, Belize! The South American country, which gained independence on September 21st, 1973, is home to a variety of ethnicities and cultures and is seen as the Caribbean because of its creolized culture. We are celebrating the country by exploring the history and culture of the Garifuna, Garinago, or Black Carib tribe.<br></p><p></p><p>This country gained independence from the British and was known as “British Honduras” during colonization. Belize currently has the highest concentration of Garifuna people.</p><p></p><p>The Garifuna are descendants of captured Africans from the Mokko tribe of Nigeria, which is now known as the Ibibio tribe. Some were from other parts of West and Central Africa. In 1675, the captives became shipwrecked at sea, and some were able to swim to an island known as Bequia, in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This population was led to St. Vincent, where they mixed with the Carib-Awarak people and intermarried with them. These mixed people became known as the Garifunas or Garinago.</p><p></p><p>When the British took control of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a result of the Treaty of Paris in 1672, the Carib-Awaraks and Garifunas fought bravely against colonization. Chief Joseph Chatoyer or Satuyer, a Garifuna chief, was the known leader of the First and Second Carib War, which was fought against British colonization, and lasted from 1769 to 1797.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/853742/fill/700x0/chatoyer.png?timestamp=1632145205">(A depiction of Chief Joseph Chatoyer and his five wives. <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Le_chef_des_Garifunas_avec_ses_cinq_femmes.jpg" target="_blank">Image by Bnmanioc via Wikimedia Commons</a>)</div><p></p><p><br></p><p>The Garifunas surrendered in 1797, and the British exiled 5,000 Garifunas to an uninhabited island near Honduras, Roatan. Half of them survived the relocation. Some relocated to Honduras. Others stayed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, or were exiled or moved to other parts of South America, like Belize, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.</p><p></p><p>Garifunas faced persecution in Honduras, and in 1937, under the regime of dictator Tiburcio Carias, 22 Garifunas were forced to dig their own graves and then executed. In response, the Garifunas in Honduras fled to Belize. In 2019, the Britannica Encyclopedia reported that 5.8% of the Belizean population identified as Garifuna. Dangriga, Belize, is deemed the capital of the Garifunas because of the high population of Garifunas in the town.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/853743/fill/700x0/garifuna_20.jpeg?timestamp=1632145297"></div><p> (Woman plays drums in a Garifuna orchestra. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usembassyguatemala/39875717135" target="_blank">Image by US Embassy of Guatemala via Flickr</a>)</p><p></p><p><br></p><p>Garifunas traditionally have cuisines that are based on fish, cassava, plantains, bananas, and chicken. One of the Garifuna dishes includes Hudut, a fufu-like dish made of mashed green plantain and coconut soup with fish.</p><p></p><p>Garifunas have their own language, which is of the same name as the tribe and is a mixture of Arawak, French, English, and Spanish. They have maintained many cultural Africanisms, which can be evidenced through their music styles, which include drumming, griot-style storytelling, and dance.</p><p></p><p>Have you ever had a Garifuna or Belizean dish? Comment below!</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><p><b>Works Cited</b></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://la.eater.com/2020/6/15/21292026/saraba-restaurant-garifuna-food-truck-los-angeles-winston-miranda&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099474000&usg=AOvVaw1LqByfO4DiwJo64lNu9pP7">https://la.eater.com/2020/6/15/21292026/saraba-restaurant-garifuna-food-truck-los-angeles-winston-miranda</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/garifuna-the-mixed-race-descendants-of-african-slaves-exiled-by-the-british-after-revolts&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099475000&usg=AOvVaw0BHEaYcVIXCYq_Llnjrmr_">https://face2faceafrica.com/article/garifuna-the-mixed-race-descendants-of-african-slaves-exiled-by-the-british-after-revolts</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.definingcultures.com/amani-may-interview-an-afro-latinas-journey-as-a-garifuna/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099475000&usg=AOvVaw2E2EbrPi-FonrlZvNxJFm7">https://www.definingcultures.com/amani-may-interview-an-afro-latinas-journey-as-a-garifuna/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://face2faceafrica.com/article/remembering-joseph-chatoyer-the-garifuna-chief-who-led-the-caribs-to-war-against-the-british&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099476000&usg=AOvVaw3iZ-J26q6TLogDdztzOsM2">https://face2faceafrica.com/article/remembering-joseph-chatoyer-the-garifuna-chief-who-led-the-caribs-to-war-against-the-british</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.britannica.com/place/Belize/Climate&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099476000&usg=AOvVaw3ukHlv31kjT3jp7EyQFT1F">https://www.britannica.com/place/Belize/Climate</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.islandexpeditions.com/belize-vacations-blog/cultures-belize-garifuna-people&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1632148099477000&usg=AOvVaw1e46PLVB4gZlIvYMCPDmyV">https://www.islandexpeditions.com/belize-vacations-blog/cultures-belize-garifuna-people</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>