Summaries
Yemisi is founder and president of the IACI-Network (Integration of African Children in Ireland). IACI’s mission is to serve as a networking information forum for all African children living in Ireland by networking and consulting with African children on a local, regional and on a national level. In addition, IACI works to challenge stereotypes and emphasise positive images of African children and hopes to be able to educate both Irish and African youth about understanding and appreciating cultures other than their own.
Yemisi is active in the day-to-day running of IACI and has organised and has coordinated workshops, seminars, outings, weekly activities with children and their families. She is also on the board of management of Tallaght Intercultural Action.
AkiDwA is a national network of African women that aims to address the existing and changing needs of African women in Ireland irrespective of their ethnic / national backgrounds, traditions / religious beliefs, socio economic, political or legal status. Salome has volunteered tirelessly for this network and hopes to see it grow in the coming years.
In 2001 Salome Founded AkiWdA and was its chairperson for 3 years. In 2003 she was honoured with the RTE /Metro Media award for her positive contribution in promoting multiculturalism in Ireland.
Salome is a native of Kenya married and resident in Ireland with her husband and two daughters. She holds a qualification in Social Work from her native Kenya, along with a qualification in Women Studies and Equality Studies from UCD. She has over 15 years experience of working with disadvantaged and marginalised groups especially with women and young people, in Kenya, Uganda and Ireland.
In 2007 Salome was nominated to the Board of the Equality Authority.
Nobuhle Ncube, originally from Zimbabwe, has been living in Ireland since 2000 and is a founder member and Women’s Development Officer of AkidwA, a national African and migrant women’s network. From her work experience and as an African parent in Ireland, Nobuhle discovered a strong need to actively facilitate integration in the education sector by raising cultural awareness and promoting active intercultural dialogue between Irish and African children. Most primary schools in Ireland now have a significant number of African/Migrant children. Though culturally enriching, this poses significant challenges to Irish teachers and students alike.
“My vision is to live in an Ireland where all children relate to each other as equals and work together in promoting a positive learning environment despite cultural differences.”
Through the Lifeline Africa Foundation, Nobuhle plans to initiate an intercultural dialogue project between two primary schools in Ireland and two primary schools in Nigeria. This project will exchange intercultural learning and will enable students from both continents to engage in class projects and gain knowledge and understanding of each other’s cultures.
Marie N’Diaye became the first black women to win France’s top literary prize, the Goncourt Prize, reported Agence France yesterday. While the prize comes with a token of 10 euros, the winners of the Goncourt go on to obtain celebrity status in the Francophone world.
“I am very happy to be a woman receiving the Goncourt,” the elegant young woman, hair pulled back in a chignon, told reporters at the award ceremony in a Paris restaurant. “The book’s success was already a miracle of sorts.”
“This prize is an unexpected reward for 25 years of persistence.”
–Marie N’Diaye
N’Diaye won for her novel Trois Femmes Puissantes (Three Powerful Women), which tells three stories set in Europe and Africa. Trois femmes puissantes (Three Powerful Women), weaves together the stories of three women: Norah, who arrives at her father’s home in Africa; Fanta, teaching French in Dakar, who is forced to follow her partner back to a miserable life in France, and Khady Demba, a young, penniless African widow who is trying to join her distant cousin Fanta in France.
“It’s a novel which speaks of the moral decay, the baseness of humanity, of suffering humanity, but which suggests, in the depths of misery, the possibility of redemption.”
–Le Monde
At Social Entrepreneurs Ireland we believe that new and innovative solutions exist to the myriad social and environmental challenges we face today. We believe that these solutions will be most effective when driven by ‘unreasonable people’; individuals who are not prepared to accept the status quo and who adopt a highly entrepreneurial approach to igniting social change.
Our aim is to identify, invest in, and support these social entrepreneurs and the organisations they launch.
Throughout the world, regardless of geography, the lack of women in political leadership positions is a common theme. In Ireland, the percentage of women elected into Dáil Eireann in 2007 was just 13% and the percentage of women elected into local councils in 2009 stands at around 17%. Ireland ranks only 23rd out of the 27 EU countries for the percentage of women in parliament.
The difficulties that women still face in politics are real, with few women role models and limited mentoring opportunities or support. The Women in Leadership Network will prepare women to run in future elections to boost the number of women in public office. With the right mentoring and training, Benedicta aims to provide women with the supports and skills required to succeed and stay in the male dominated world of politics.
“There is no true democracy unless women are given the opportunity to take responsibility for their own lives.”
Benedicta has personal experience of Irish politics as a candidate in the local elections of 2004 and 2009. She is working to develop a non-partisan political training resource that will be used for training, mentoring and supporting young women to take the leap into active citizenship, political participation and leadership.
The Black Women in Europe™ Blog is proud to announce that we are a media partner of the World Diversity Leadership Summit Europe taking place in Vienna Friday, March 12, 2010
The World Diversity Leadership Summit-WDLS brings together global diversity CEOs, policy and decision makers, corporate practitioners, academics, media, etc. to share their experiences, research findings, strategies and best practices on global diversity and inclusion.
Founded in 2004 in Prague, Czech Republic, the WDLS has grown to be one of the top annual global diversity conferences in the USA (www.wdlsummit.com). Past speakers have included global CEO’s, authors, educators, journalists, global maestro, lawyers, consultants, government leaders, diversity executives, business executives, and non-profit leaders.
The WDLS–EU summit is designed to provide powerful information and trends on business, research, education, media etc., which relate directly to market trends, global competition, sales and marketing. This conference also provides a forum for face-to-face networking between diversity thought leaders, potential strategic partners, prospects and customers.
The WDLS-EU is taking place from Thursday11th – Friday 12th March 2010 in Vienna, Austria.
WDLS-EU Panels
O Recruiting and Managing Diverse Talent by 2020
O Leveraging diversity in a demographically changing environment
O The hidden power of global supplier and marketplace diversity
O Comparative advantages of changing affinity groups
O Leveraging of European and Global Diversity and Inclusion by 2020
O The power of social networks in corporate recruitment and Retention by 2020
WDLS-EU 2010
WDLS-EU is focusing on regional and global strategies aiming at integrating diversity and inclusion to combat poverty and social exclusion in the “EU year of the eradication of poverty and social exclusion 2010″. Managing an ever aging population and a growing number of ethnic minorities is no doubt one of fhe greatest challenges of the European Union, its institutions and business in the 21. century. What strategies and tools are CEOs, management and the European Union envisaging at regional and global level to ensure equal opportunities through recruiting, managing and retaining diverse talents by 2020?
Sponsorship Opportunities
WDLS- EU provides conference sponsorship opportunities as well as conference event sponsorships. Within the conference, companies can sponsor specific events such as cocktail parties, luncheons, and other social activities – and utilize their own marketing strategies to make them a success and to maximize the sponsor’s recognition. The WDLS –EU conference provides powerful business research, education, and information, which relate directly to market trends, global competition, sales and marketing. This conference also provides a forum for face-to-face networking between leaders, potential strategic partners, prospects and customers. For information on sponsorship and other marketing opportunities, please contact:
Beatrice Achaleke, WDLS Conference Manager, +43 1 9660 425 or diversitysummit@wdls.eu
Call for Speakers
Speakers are still being accepted for review. WDLS-EU-international-call-for-speakers.doc.
Please send your request, along with your press kit, to:
AFRA, Event Office for WDLS-EU,
Pelzgasse 7/1-2, A-1150 Wien
Registration
Registration fee includes participation in the conference sessions, split up sessions, conference materials, meals and both opening and closing receptions. Please make your payments by credit cards! Electronic receipts for registration fee are sent before the conference. For registration fee paid at the conference, receipts will be available at the conference registration desk.
Black Filmmaker (bfm) International Film Festival (IFF) is the leading and longest running platform for Black World Cinema in the UK.
The 11th bfm IFF will take place between 6th – 10th November 2009 at the BFI Southbank, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Rich Mix and Shortwave Cinema.
bfm IFF 2009 will feature narratives, documentaries and short films from the UK, Africa, the Caribbean, the US, Canada and Europe. We will open with the European Premier of Chris Rock’s much anticipated Good Hair and close with the much anticipated Shorts Awards.
I am truly blessed with my choice of career because I pride myself on making people smile and feeling good about themselves.
As an artist I see make-up as a form of fine art. Whether I work on a model for a photo shoot, stressed out models on the runway or nervous brides to be, it is always a new challenge. The versatility is what makes my job interesting.
I am a professional make-up artist based in Sweden and the US.
I specialize in make-up for photo shoots, fashion, print, commercial bookings, runways, music videos, editorials, make-overs, etc.
I believe in the power of good make-up!
- Sabina
In association with the Legacy Media Institute (LMI), bfm International Film Festival for the first time will offer one scholarship to a UK filmmaker. The opportunity will be based in Virginia, USA and commence in early 2010.
The Legacy Media Institute is a 501(c) 3 organization that was established by Tim and Dapne Reid out of their desire to create a legacy project that will advance the art of media production and cultivate independent artists who will make a positive impact on society. Legacy Media Institute is modeled after the initial vision of Robert Redford’s “Sundance Institute” which focuses on the support and enhancement of the creative talents of those who aspire to build a career in the media business. Legacy Media Institute, in collaboration with the community, regional universities, and local organizations, will present programs, seminars, and hands-on production opportunities for its participants. LMI will operate this innovative artist cultivation center on the campus of New Millennium Studios.
The Legacy Media Institute in partnership with bfm IFF are looking for motivated and talented up and coming filmmakers who want to move forward more significantly in their careers.
The six week scholarship is education focussed and would consist of the opportunity to attend workshops and seminars along with other participants from various colleges and universities in the US. The opportunity may be extended to incorporate production work on a documentary project. More
We are looking for applicants who are;
- passionate and creatively daring
- flexible
- able to show initiative
- able to cover a portion of their personal expenses
Application Method
Please send your resume, DVD copies of your work and a statement (no more than one page) stating how you would benefit from the scholarship and why you should be chosen for the attention of Nadia Denton to Suite 13, 5 Blackhorse Lane, London E17 6DS or alternatively e-mail nadia(at)bfmmedia.com
Deadline for applications Monday 26th October 12pm 2009.
Click here to download the PDF with further information.
BEFFTA AWARDS- Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television and Arts Awards took Place at Hilton London Metropole on 17th October 2009
And the ladies in Europe who won are:
Entertainment Category
>Music
Best Female Act: Leona Lewis
Best Female UK-African Act: Shady Black
>Comedy
Best Female Comedian : Glenda Jaxson
Best Comedy Entertainment personality: Jocelyn Jee
Best Comedian Newcomer: Miss London
>Event promoters
Best Female DJ of the year: DJ Candice McKenzie
Fashion Category
>Fashion Designers
Best Female designer: Gisella Coutoure
Best Young Designer: Samata Angel
>Hair Stylist
Best Hair Stylist: Verona White
>Best Make-up Artist
Best Make-up Artist : Eryca Freemantle
Best Make Up Consultation: Pretty Flawless
>Models
Best female model: Jasmia Robinson
>Beauty Pageants
Best Beauty Pageant: Miss Zambia UK
Best current Beauty Queen: Andella Chileshe Matthews
Best Former Beauty Queen: Rosemary Chileshe
Film
Best Actresses: Gugu Mbatha
TV
Best Actress: Freeman Agyeman
Best TV Show: Sisterhood TV
Best TV personality: Trish Adudu
Best TV presenter: Rhoda Wilson
See the full list of BEFFTA winners.
WASHINGTON—The countries of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) need to improve their reporting of hate crimes and other acts of discrimination within their borders, the leaders of the U.S. Helsinki Commission said today at a hearing on tolerance.
U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) chaired the hearing, “Promoting Tolerance and Understanding in the OSCE Region,” the first hearing of its kind to bring together the three OSCE Personal Representatives who separately monitor discrimination against Muslims, Jews, and Christians and other religions.
“We have witnessed a resurgence of various forms of intolerance and discrimination in the OSCE countries, included in our own, and it is up to all of us to stand up against it,” said Chairman Cardin, referring to a 54-percent increase in hate groups in the U.S. since 2004. “There is renewed urgency to the work of the personal representatives as we face a global economic downturn that wrongheaded hate groups have already used and will continue to use to scapegoat individuals based on their race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or immigrant status. “
“There is almost a denial that these problems persist in the OSCE countries,” said Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL). “We are making some progress, but in comparison to the problem, the progress is too slow. Too many acts of hatred still fill our headlines, which is why we need the OSCE personal representatives to work more cooperatively to shine a light on the xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and other forms of discrimination that continue to feed off one another.”
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The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.
MyAfricanDiaspora.com is looking for fiction that is unique, stories with characters they’ll remember, plots that leave them thinking. The contest is open to anyone, any race, any country, any continent. The only caveat? The main character must be of African descent.
Rules
The contest runs from October 1 – December 31, 2009, winner announced February 1, 2010
Entries must be 1500 words or less;
The entry fee is $10 (via paypal or money order payable to DreamDeep LLC.)
Address:
DreamDeep LLC
9360 W. Flamingo Rd.
#110-117
Las Vegas, NV 89147;
Main character must be of African descent;
Story must be previously unpublished.
Submit entries to info @ myafricandiaspora.com, with the words “Short Story Contest: (input genre and name of your short story)” in the subject line. Ex. Short Story Contest: Mystery My Story. Copy & Paste into the body of the email. No attachments.
Be sure to include your contact information and word count with submissions.
There will be one overall winner and one winner from each of the following genres: Literary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery, Romance (we prefer stories without gratuitous sex or violence)
Prizes
First Place: $500 Genre Winners: $25 Borders Gift Card
Each winner will have their story and a feature article published on myafricandiaspora.com.
The winners and top three entries in each genre will have their short stories published in a short story collection (with royalties) at the end of the year.
Publisher’s description:
In 1974 Hannah Pool was adopted from an orphanage in Eritrea and brought to England by her white adoptive father. She grew up unable to imagine what it must be like to look into the eyes of a blood relative until one day a letter arrived from a brother she never knew she had. Not knowing what to do with the letter, Hannah hid it away.
Guardian Bookshop Notes:
A funny, personal memoir that tackles big ideas, and a heartfelt investigation into the identity and the effects of adoption. A story of one life, two families and two very different cultures.
“I feel as proud to be Jewish as I feel to be black”.–Sophie Okonedo
Okonedo was born in London, England, the daughter of Joan Allman, a pilates teacher, and Henry Okonedo, who worked for the government. Her father is Nigerian and her mother, an Ashkenazi Jew, was born in the East End to Yiddish-speaking immigrants from Poland and Russia; Okonedo was raised attending synagogue.
Okonedo trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and has worked in a variety of media including film, television, theatre, and audio drama. She performed in Scream of the Shalka — a webcast based on the BBC television series Doctor Who — as Alison Cheney, a companion of the Doctor. As well as providing the character’s voice, Okonedo’s likeness was used for the animation of the character.
Okonedo played the role of Jenny in the Paul Abbot series, ‘Clocking Off’. Okonedo also played the part of Ms. Tulip Jones in the movie Stormbreaker (2006) and Nancy in the 2007 television adaptation of Oliver Twist.
She was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress in 2004 for her role as Tatiana Rusesabagina in Hotel Rwanda and nominated for a Golden Globe for a Lead Actress in a Miniseries for her work in Tsunami: The Aftermath.
She played alongside Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, and Dakota Fanning as May Boatwright, a woman who struggles with depression, in the film The Secret Life of Bees (2008). This year Okonedo is set to portray Winnie Mandela in the BBC drama Mrs Mandela.
Naomie Harris has appeared in television and film since she was nine, including a stint on the remake of the science fiction series The Tomorrow People. She became internationally well-known in 2002 with her lead performance in Danny Boyle’s post-apocalyptic film 28 Days Later, opposite Cillian Murphy. In the same year, she starred in the television adaptation of Zadie Smith’s White Teeth.
Since then, Harris has been cast primarily in supporting roles in big budget films, such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, and Michael Mann’s Miami Vice. She also did a comic turn in Michael Winterbottom’s well-regarded indie ensemble piece, A Cock and Bull Story, and appeared with Josh Hartnett in the 2008 release of August. She starred in Channel 4’s adaptation of the novel Poppy Shakespeare which was first shown on 31 March 2008.
More of her work:
Television
Simon and the Witch (1987–1988), Joyce
Erasmus Microman (1989, 1 episode), Millie
Runaway Bay (1992–1993), Shuku
The Tomorrow People (1994–1995), Ami Jackson
Trial & Retribution V (2002, miniseries), Tara Gray (part 2)
White Teeth (2002, miniseries), Clara
The Project (2002, miniseries), Maggie Dunn
Dinotopia (2002–2003), Romana
Poppy Shakespeare (2008), Poppy Shakespeare
Small Island (2009), Hortense Roberts (not yet released)
Films
Crust (2001), Receptionist
Living In Hope (2002), Ginny
Anansi (2002), Carla
28 Days Later (2002), Selena
Trauma (2004), Elisa
After the Sunset (2004), Sophie
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Tia Dalma
Miami Vice (2006), Det. Trudy Joplin
A Cock and Bull Story (2006), Jennie
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), Tia Dalma/Calypso
Street Kings (2008), Linda Washington
August (2008), Sarah
Morris: A Life with Bells On (2009), Sonja
Ninja Assassin (2009), Mika Coretti
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (2009), TBA
In an article for The Guardian’s Hannah Pool explains Why blacking up is the worst kind of fashion crime.
If the images are supposed to be an artistic form of social commentary, they have pitched it badly wrong.
she says and goes on to ask:
If they were after a young gun, why not use Chanel Iman or Jourdan Dunn instead of painting Stone, a white woman, black?
Read Hannah’s story and determine for yourself if this is indeed a crime against fashion.
She is currently staring in Tismée at the Queen Blanch Theater in Paris through November 21st.
From the ITV website:
Charlene is a South Londoner born and bred, and has worked at ITV London since 2008. She’s had a varied career before landing on our doorstep — working at ITV Meridian, lots of jobs at the BBC and even lived in the USA writing for the New York Post. The strangest feature she wrote was ‘How To Pick Up a New York Fireman’ which meant finding the best place in Manhattan to meet single firemen. As she says, “Gosh it was a tough assignment”. She’s also covered the July 7th bombings, riots in Paris and interviewed Jay-Z – “I’ve ended up in some truly dodgy situations working in this job, but I can’t lie… I love it. I’ve interviewed some weird people, some inspirational people, and been told some incredible stories.” When she’s not being a news geek, Charlene can be found feeding her clothes and shoes addiction in Bromley, or wandering aimlessly around Lewisham market.
Vers la Vérité
In an exclusive appearance, for one night only, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and ex-MEP Giulietto Chiesa will be speaking about politics, the media, the war on terror, 9/11 and much more.
Programme
Fri 9 Oct :
10:30 – Press conference with Cynthia McKinney
2nd District Town Hall
8 rue de la Banque
75002 Paris
Tél: 01 53 29 75 02
20:00 – Café L’Etincelle, Casual meet-up
Café L’Etincelle
42 bis rue de Rivoli
75004 Paris
Tel: 33 (0)1 42 72 09 76
Metro: Line 1 “Hôtel de Ville”,
“St Paul” or Line 7 “Pont Marie”
Sat 10 Oct : La Bellevilloise, The Main Event
La Bellevilloise
19-21 rue Boyer
Paris 75020
Tel: 33 (0)1 46 36 07 07
Metro: Line 2 “Ménilmontant”
or Line 3 “Gambetta”
19:30 – Doors open
20:00 – Introduction, Annie Machon
20:10 – Film “American Blackout” (excerpts)
20:25 – Presentation, Cynthia McKinney
21:30 – Giulietto Chiesa, ZERO, Q&A
23:15 – Surprise
Sun 11 Oct :
11:00 – “Truth action”, Place du Trocadéro
Ronke Phillips is a correspondent for ITV’s ‘London Tonight’ and has worked for more than 20 years in print, radio and television journalism, including various roles at the BBC and GMTV. She recently won a Ochberg Fellowship for 2009 and will participate in a programme to improve her coverage of violent and traumatic events.
The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, part of Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism, but with offices around the world, awards fellowships to mid-career journalists looking to improve their understanding of emotional trauma and improve coverage of violence, conflict and tragedy. A week-long fellowship program is designed to provide journalists with expertise in the ‘many dimensions’ of trauma and to meet like-minded colleagues from around the world.
African Odysseys Screenings: Playing Away + Introduction by Horace Ové (TBC)
When: Sat 10 October 2009, 14:00
Where: BFI Southbank, SE1, NFT 1
Adm: Matinee tickets £5 (free for seniors)
Inspiring films from the hip-hop youth of Dakar to the cinematic infuence of Spike Lee.
UK 1986. Dir Horace Ové. With Norman Beaton, Robert Urquhart. 100min
In this funny and poignant drama, a West Indian cricket team from Brixton plays an away match against a local team in a suffolk village.
Tickets 020 7928 3232 / www.bfi.org.uk
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An open debate on the Black Arts: “There is a thin line between love and the BLACK ARTS”
When: Thursday 15th October 2009, 7 – 9PM
Where: Original Gallery, Hornsey Library, Crouch End, London N8 9JA
Adm: Free
Artists and creative people from the community are invited to an event presenting solutions to the issues that are facing young and up-and-coming artists who choose a career in the fine arts.
The evening will include a presentation of selective artwork.
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Black British Perspectives: Music
Date: Tuesday 20 October
Time: 2-4pm
Venue: The Venue, Leeds College of Music, 3 Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7PD
Tel:0113 222 3400
http://www.lcm.ac.uk/info/maps.htm
Music and arts critic Kevin Le Gendre asks guests, singer Sheila Chandra and music manager, Kwame Kwaten (formely of D’Influence), how hard have black and other multi-ethnic British artists had to struggle to be recognised over the years, in order to break through in the mainstream on their own terms? Are there still enough Black powerbrokers in the music industry and media to ensure that original Black voices are given a platform to do what they feel is progressive without pandering to expectations from ‘inside’ and outside their own community?
Rsvp by 16 Oct
kadijageorge(at)gmail.com
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Word Power: International Black Literature Festival & Book Fair – Voices of the Diaspora
When: 24th – 25th October 2009
Time: 3-6pm
Where: Ocean, 270 Mare Street, Hackney London E8
Adm: Free
Dozens of Authors, hundreds of readers, thousands of Books. All under one roof.
Featuring leading writers, historians, poets, publishers, distributors, book sellers dealing with African Caribbean literature from all over the world.
Bonnie Greer, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing (author of The Isis Papers), Dr Haki R. Madhubuti (Founder and editor of Third World Press), Nia Reynolds, Paul Ifayomi Grant, Wayne B. Chandler, Dr Marimba Ani, Anthony T. Browder, Sister Nzingha Assata, Jacob Ross, Dr Robinson Millwood, Onyeka, Paul Simons, Nathaniel Agbahowe, Debii Mckoy, Charles Emeka, Anton Marks, Dan Obachike, Dr William ‘Lez’ Henry plus many more.
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Lecture: Dr Frances Cress Welsing
When: 31st October 2009
Time: 6.30 – 10pm
Where: Centreprise, 136 Kingsland High Street, London E8, 2NS
Adm: Tickets £12 adv – £15 on the door
A lecture by Dr Frances Cress Welsing, author of The Isis Papers, the Keys to the Colors
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Hat tip: Afro-Europe Blog
Joyce Sylvester (43) is acting mayor of the Dutch city of Naarden. She is the first black woman to serve as mayor in the Netherlands. Sylvester is born in Amsterdam and is of Surinam descent.
“Yes, I’ am a woman and I have a colour, so what? I have experienced no limitations because of that.” But during her first position as acting mayor she saw that gender and colour did matter. “You notice the signals from the organisation. You can’t escape the fact of being seen as role model.”
Listen to the full interview with Joyce Sylvester in Dutch.
Read Mayor Sylvester’s full C.V in Dutch.
Den viktigaste boken i år!
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Time: 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Location: Folkoperan
Street: Hornsgatan 72
City/Town: Stockholm, Sweden
Email: cecilia.garding(at)afrosvenskarna.se
Description”Afrosvensk i det nya Sverige” är en ny gymnasiebok som kan användas i både Svenska, Samhällskunskap och Historia. Boken behandlar Afrika och Europas gemensamma historia samt beskriver hur det är att vara ung och afrosvensk i dagens samhälle. Detta är den första boken av sitt slag i svensk historia där Europas relation med Afrika tas upp från ett objektivt och spännande nytt perspektiv.
Detta är också den första boken som berättar om hur afrosvenskar lever sina liv i Sverige och hur de ser på sin framtid här. Genom publiceringen av denna bok har 23 nya författare med afrosvensk bakgrund blivit till. Detta har dubblerat antalet afrosvenska författare i Sverige. I dagens mångkulturella samhälle behöver vi fler böcker som berättar om de ungdomar som lever i Sverige samt berättar något om deras bakgrund. Vi behöver även böcker som stärker ungdomars möjligheter att motverka rasism som sätter ord på deras erfarenheter.
Black Women in Europe™ Blog and Social Network Anniversary
The award winning Black Women in Europe™ Blog launched in 2007 and the Black Women in Europe™ social network grew out of the blog in 2008 with currently over 600 members. We would like to celebrate our 2nd and 3rd anniversaries by giving gifts to our website visitors and social network members.
Call for sponsors
Adrianne George, founder of the Black Women in Europe™ blog and social network is requesting businesses and individuals who provide products or services of interest to black women to sponsor the anniversaries.
http://blog.blackwomenineurope.com
http://blackwomenineurope.ning.com
Benefits to sponsors
During the period 3 September 2008 to 3 October 2009 the Black Women in Europe™ blog had over 30,000 unique visitors and more than 72,000 page views from Northern America, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, Western Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Southern Asia, Eastern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, South America, Australia and New Zealand, Western Africa, Southern Africa, Central America, Northern Africa, Eastern Africa, Middle Africa, Melanesia, Central Asia, and the Micronesian Region.
Your business will be advertised in the press release announcing the anniversaries, on the Black Women in Europe™ blog and social network and listed on a newly created “Friends” page with your logo linking to your website.
Deadline and contact information
Please send in your offer by 2 November 2009 to secure your sponsorship. Email Adrianne with any questions and your offer on contact@blackwomenineurope.com. Include your logo and website address.
December 18th – 20th MINT (Marche International de Noel Tropical – International Tropical Christmas Market) will be held at the palatial venue – Halle de la Villette in the heart of Paris – with over 150 exhibitors and over 20,000 visitors expected during the three day event – it’s something not to be missed.
To find out how you can be part of the ACBN Business Village join them for an information session and reservations at the French Embassy in London, and find out how you may qualify for a discount. Contact ACBN for more information.
Black History Month has been celebrated across the UK every October for over 30 years, each year growing from strength to strength. Black History Month is a time when we highlight and celebrate the achievements of the black community and uncover hidden history about our communities.
The BHM site will provide you with a comprehensive guide to all the activities which are taking place throughout Black History Month and keep you updated throughout the year with information relating to Black History, Education, Arts and Culture.
You can visit them through this link: http://www.blackhistorymonthuk.co.uk/
Highlights of Black History Month 2009 for London, England:
•Black History: Green History Series, British Museum, 17 Oct (free)
Short films, documentaries and talks on climate change, poverty and sustainability in Africa and the Caribbean, plus sustainability awareness in the UK
•Family Day: Black History Month, Sutton House, 25 Oct (free)
Black music, art, food and dance for all the family
•Black History Month Trail, Sutton House, 1 Oct-31 Nov
Follow the trail to learn about the lives of influential black Londoners
•Black History Month – Struggles for Black Community, Rich Mix, 24 Oct
Colin Prescod, Chair of the Institute of Race Relations, presents two seminal documentaries on contemporary Black history plus a Q&A session
•In Conversation with… Diane Abbott, Museum of London, 21 Oct (free)
MP Diane Abbott, the first black woman elected to Parliament, shares her defining memories of London
•The Price of Sweetness, Museum of London, 24 & 27 Oct (free)
Interactive workshop of poetry, rap and sugar bowl-making with rap artist BREIS
•Black History Month – Family Workshops, Imperial War Museum London, 26-30 Oct (free)
Hands-on, drop-in session where you can learn about African, Asian and Caribbean servicemen and women in the Second World War
•Writing Africa: Marking 10 Years of the Caine Prize, British Library, 10 Oct
Celebrate 10 years of Africa’s highest literary award with Booker Prize Winner Ben Okri Brian Chikwava, Chika Unigwe and Binyavanga Wainaina.
•”Here’s One”: Roland Hayes, British Library, 27 Oct
Remembering Roland Hayes: son of former slaves and the first African-American man to gain fame as a classical singer throughout the world, with Michael Harper
•Football Workshop, Westminster Academy, 7 Oct
Talk to professional players and try out your skills, with Paul Canoville, Chelsea Football Club’s first black player, and London Tigers
•Historical Boat Trips, departing from Tate Pier, 13 & 20 Oct
Learn about life in London during slavery on a guided Thames boat tour
•Mary Seacole Play, Beethoven Community Centre, 14 Oct
Cleo Sylvestre performs a play about the life of Mary Seacole, followed by a chance to meet Mary in full costume and ask questions
Get more information from the Visit London website: http://www.visitlondon.com/events/detail/4733701
Not to be outdone by London, Liverpool offers a full schedule of events. Here are just two:
Destination freedom
Based upon the true story of William and Ellen Craft, this performance follows their personal journey from enslavement to freedom.
Suitable for all visitors
Dates
Next date : 2pm and 3pm – Sunday 11 October 2009
International Slavery Museum
International Slavery Museum visitor information
——————————————————————————–
Great African women
The second in a series of three informal Sunday School lectures by Dr Mark Ledwidge, dealing with different aspects of Black heritage, politics and culture.
You do not need to attend all three sessions but places are limited and open to 16s and over. Please email Sam Turner to book a place.
Suitable for adults / seniors
Dates
Next date : 1-3.30pm – Sunday 11 October 2009
International Slavery Museum
Lecture theatre, 4th floor
International Slavery Museum visitor information
View the full schedule for events in Liverpool: http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatsonnet/eventseries.aspx?sid=7
I just found out about an online food store, My American Market for Americans craving a taste of home and anyone else across Europe that likes American food products.
Hopefully, If you’re an African American living in Europe, you are enjoying more slow food, less processed food and seasonal fruits and vegetables than you may have allowed yourself at home, and maybe don’t even miss what is so readily available in the States.
But a sister from the States in the Mediterranean mentioned to me the other day that she still has a hard time eating pancakes without maple syrup. Luckily I can find maple syrup in Stockholm. But if you need boxed cornbread mix…
Use coupon code “BEXPAT21″ until the end of October to get 10% off your order shipped in France and EU+Switzerland.
Happy shopping, eating, baking, etc!
Beatrice Acheleke, founder and leader of the Black European Women’s Council was honored at the 2009 World Diversity Leadership Summit this month in Washington, DC. Ms. Acheleke is a mother, executive director of AFRA, a non-profit, non governmental self-organisation and NGO of Black Women with headquarter in Vienna, Austria, and an inspiration to Black women everywhere.
Previous honorees include Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic and leader of the Czech Velvet Revolution against Communist Rule.
The World Diversity Leadership Summit conference is the world’s leading gathering of senior corporate executives, leading experts and policymakers focused on global and local diversity best practices. Conference partners included some of the largest and most respected companies and media outlets n the world.
The Black Women in Europe Blog and Social Network is proud to know Beatrice and have her as a member of our community! We salute you and congratulate you!
For 45 years, Democrats Abroad has been a home-away-from-home for the voices and votes of the millions of U.S. citizens living overseas.
From humble beginnings in London and Paris, we’ve grown into a truly global organization — with members in more than 150 countries, voting in every state in the union.
Join Democrats Abroad around the world — from Sao Paulo to Hong Kong — to celebrate 45 years of going the distance for our Democratic Party.
Democrats Abroad Sweden
cocktail mingle
Sunday, October 4, 2009 4-7 p.m.
Scandic Hotel Anglais
Humlegårdsgatan 23, Stockholm
Host Committee
The Executive Committee of Democrats Abroad Sweden
Robbin Battison
Bill Borden
Brad DeLange
Cyndee Peters
Come celebrate 45 years of Democrats Abroad with Democrats Abroad Sweden on Sunday, October 4, between 4 and 7 p.m., in the downstairs lounge of the Scandic Hotel Anglais. It is a chance to meet other members and guests, with live music, two complimentary drinks (wine/beer or soft drinks) or one cocktail, and light food.
Tickets cost SEK 500:- each and may be purchased by U.S. citizens at: https://www.democratsabroad.org/contribute/. (When making your donation, please select “Sweden 45th Celebration Event” from the drop down menu titled “Is this donation payment for a specific event?”)
*Americans may purchase tickets for non-American guests. Proceeds will go to Democrats Abroad and its global voter registration efforts and overall mission to advance the principles of the Party.*
Please purchase your tickets soon to confirm your attendance.
We look forward to seeing you and your guests there to celebrate this historic event.
Come party with Putumayo, the record label that has given you great world music compilations for 15 years. UrbanLife.se, the site for black culture in Sweden, will be your host.
Get more information about tickets!
Urbanlife presenterar:
Putumayo Nights & Faunafest
Urbanlife bjuder i samarbete med Putumayo in till en festkväll arrangerad av Faunafest, en kväll i överraskningarnas tecken.
Putumayo har i 15 år presenterat musik från världens alla kulturer till över 50 miljoner lyssnare runt om i världen. Putumayo har bland annat gett oss samlingen Brasiliero och den fängslande ”Cantos Das Tres Racas”.
En kväll arrangerad av Faunafest kan bäst beskrivas som en kväll “Där gränsen mellan scen och salong upplöses… Publiken integreras om än omedvetet, i en pågående föreställning. Scenformer sammanstrålar i slutliga fusioner. En oförglömlig fest.”
Urbanlife har nöjet att erbjuda ett begränsat antal biljetter till rabatterat pris, exklusivt för våra medlemmar. Så om du inte redan är medlem, registrera dig på hemsidan www.urbanlife.se så missar du inte möjligheten att få uppleva en kväll där vi hyllar mötet mellan världens olika kulturer och musikstilar.
Vinn två biljetter!!
Om du är medlem på Urbanlifes hemsida så kan du vinna 2 biljetter till detta evenemang. Svara på den här enkla frågan:
Hur många år har Putumayo gjort musik?
E-posta ditt svar senast den 25:e september till competition@urbanlife.se och skriv ”Putumayo” som ämne/subject. Inkludera även ditt namn och mobilnummer.
Vi ses på Fasching!
Datum: fredag 2 okt
Tid: 20.00 – 04.00
Plats: Fasching, Kungsgatan 63
The 2009 BlogWorld & New Media Expo will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, beginning with the exclusive “Social Media Business Summit”(TM) conference on October 15th and continuing with the BlogWorld & New Media Expo and Conference October 16th-17th.
This is first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of new media including: Blogging, Podcasting, Social Media, Online Video, Music, TV, Radio, Gaming, Entertainment and Communities.
In addition to the only industry-wide new media industry exhibition, BlogWorld & New Media Expo features the largest new media conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business.
If you are currently blogging, podcasting, vlogging, producing other forms of new media content, entering the new media industry, or researching ways to leverage new media for your large or small company, then you need to be at the only comprehensive new media convention–BlogWorld & New Media Expo. Located in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center at: 3150 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
Save 20% NOW on BlogWorld and New Media Expo 2009 registration with the code “BWESEP20″
Hat tip: Angela Shaw
CALL FOR FILMS: 2010 *France Noire – Black France* Film Festival
June 3-5, 2010 – Paris, France
The *France Noire – Black France* (FN-BF) Film Festival, a showcase for films focusing on the historical and contemporary Black presence in France, invites independent film entries of any length devoted to our core theme, *The Black Presence in France/La Présence Noire en France.* Two shorts and one feature length film will be selected by a jury process for featured public screening and recognition during the festival, and the filmmakers will be invited to discuss the film in a public forum. Filmmakers do not have to be ‘Blac k,’ but films should include a significant amount of content involving people of sub-Saharan African descent in France. A $500 film award will be given to filmmakers whose work is accepted and screened. You will be notified by email if your film is accepted. All genres/subject areas are welcome. Please include a self-addressed postage paid envelope if you want your work returned. All preview copies must be marked with your name and contact information.
Deadline: December 15, 2009. All footage – including music and other referenced video pieces – must have all rights cleared and secured. If you have signed a contract with any other entity for this film that includes EXCLUSIVE rights to this film, please review prior to submitting to our festival. We do not ask for exclusive rights. Submissions must be sent to us on DVD and programmed to play as a DVD Region 0 (region free) or Region 1. Please note that the following formats will not be considered: VHS, CD-R (QuickTime MOV or MPG files) or mini-DV. We will not accept emailed submissions or links to watch online. We must have a physical copy of the film.
Contact Information:
In France:
Professor Trica KEATON
Columbia University Institute for Scholars at Reid Hall
4, rue de Chevreuse
75006 Paris
France
Email: trica.d.keaton@vanderbilt.edu
In the USA:
T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting
Professor of French & Italian
Director of W. T. Bandy Center for Baudelaire and Modern French Studies
Director of Program in African American and Diaspora Studies
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Box 351516
Vanderbilt University
—————-
Appel à Contributions de Films: Festival du Film 2010 “France Noire-Black France” du 3 au 5 juin 2010 à Paris
Le Festival de film “France Noire-Black France” (FN-BF), qui se veut être un tremplin pour les films qui traitent de la présence historique et contemporaine des Noirs en France vous invite à soumettre des travaux, de toute longueur, consacrés à notre thème central : « La Présence Noire en France/The Black Presence in France ». Deux courts métrages et un long métrage seront sélectionnés par un jury et feront l’objet d’une projection publique et d’une reconnaissance dans le cadre du festival. Les lauréats seront invités à discuter de leur film dans le cadre d’un forum public. Les cinéastes ne doivent pas nécessairement être « noirs » mais les films doivent consacrer une part significative de la trame narrative à des descendants d’Afrique sub-saharienne en France. Une récompense de 500 dollars sera attribuée aux cinéastes dont le projet sera retenu et projeté. Si votre projet retient l’attention du jury, vous serez notifié par voie électronique. Nous vous prions de bien vouloir joindre une enveloppe affranchie à votre adresse si vous souhaitez que votre travail vous soit retourn=C 3. Toutes les copies doivent faire figurer votre nom et vos coordonnées.
Date butoir : 15 décembre 2009. Tout enregistrement, y compris la bande-son et autres éléments vidéo référenciés, doivent avoir obtenu tous les droits préalables. Dans l’éventualité où vous auriez signé un contrat pour ce film avec un tiers qui stipule des droits EXCLUSIFS au film, nous vous serions gré de vous assurer des termes du contrat avant de soumettre votre projet au festival. Nous ne demandons pas de droits exclusifs. Les projets doivent nous parvenir sur support DVD (DVD 9 ou zone 1). Veuillez noter que les formats suivants ne seront pas pris en compte : VHS, CD-R (QuickTime MOV ou MPG files) ou mini-DV. Nous n’accepterons ni les projets envoyés pas voie électronique ni les liens pour des visionnements en ligne. Il nous faut recevoir une copie matérielle du film.
Coordonnées :
En France :
Professeur Trica KEATON
Columbia University Institute for Scholars at Reid Hall
4, rue de Chevreuse
75006 Paris
France
Email: trica.d.keaton@vanderbilt.edu
Aux Etats-Unis
T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting
Professor of French & Italian
Director of W. T. Bandy Center for Baudelaire and Modern French Studies
Director of Program in African American and Diaspora Studies
2301 Vanderbilt Place
Box 351516
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37235-1516
Email: t.sharpley-whiting@Vanderbilt.Edu
When: September 21th 2009
Where: Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris
More information: http://www.lestaac.com/
Nominees include:
Artiste de l’année
Patrick Saint-Eloi
Tanya Saint-Val
Davy Sicard
Rokia Traoré
Meilleur groupe
Baster
Amadou et Mariam
Magic System
Ti Kabzy
Révélation de l’année
Erik
Medhy Gerville
Jessy Matador
Sandra Nkaké
Album de l’année
Madagasker – Ziskakan
Victor Démé – Victor Démé
Ouvrir mes ailes – Medhy Custos
Inspiration information vol 3 – Mulatu Astatké
Background:
On January 20, 2009, Michelle Obama became the 44th First Lady of the United States. Unlike previous First Lady’s she is distinguished not only as the most educated First Lady but the first African American First Lady. Her rise to this position was extraordinary. Throughout the nearly two-year presidential campaign, Michelle Obama demonstrated intelligence, grace under fire, tenacity, perseverance and indefatigable spirit.
Wanted:
Follow up letters to the book Go, Tell Michelle, African American Women Write to the New First Lady. New submissions are requested from Black women living in Africa, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin American, the Middle East, and South America addressed to Mrs. Michelle Obama.
We are especially interested in your reactions to this historic event in African American history; the public response to Michelle in your community; your perception of how Michelle has changed the image of Black Women around the world; public reaction when she visited your part of the world; your hopes and dreams for the First Lady; treatment of Michelle by the American and foreign press and your fears, cautions and hopes.
Why: Published in the upcoming book Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women in the Global Diaspora.
What: Submissions can be poems, letters, and other prose and should be between 350 -800 words.
When: Your deadline for submission is October 1, 2009. Submit to: uqi@buffalo.edu (Uncrowned Queens Institute). Send questions to pbertram@gmail.com and bnevergo@buffalo.edu
Visit: Go, Tell Michelle Sisterhood Network at GTMsisterhoodnetwork.blogspot.com on http://gtmsisterhoodnetwork.blogspot.com/
Hat tip: Angela Shaw
STOP PRESS: We are delighted to announce that Baroness Patricia Scotland will give the keynote address.
“The Audacity of Your Authentic Leadership”
13th October 2009
‘Change’ has come to Black History Month
What do Barack Obama, Indra Nooyi, Tidjane Thiam and Patricia Scotland have in common? They are all Factor 8 Different Leaders who have fundamentally challenged the status quo and risen to phenomenal heights by leveraging their diversity as a unique strength to drive outstanding performance and deliver exceptional results.
What about you?
Are you looking for strategies and techniques to uncover and reposition your diversity as a leadership strength?
Do you want to sharpen your leadership ibrand and crack the corporate code?
Looking for new ideas and insights into what it takes to retain and develop diverse talent?
Ready to be inspired by successful Different Leaders of our time from Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia?
Then you need to be at the Different Leaders Annual Global Conference!
13th October 2009
You will gain:
· Inspiration & insight from our keynote speaker, the Rt., Hon., the Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC; Attorney General for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
· Fresh ideas and immediate actions to enhance your career success
· Access to our network of high profile speakers, facilitators and successful Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic participants
Don’t miss out, complete the attached booking form now and return to Yvonne(at)diversitypractice.com or go to http://www.dlaglobalconference.com for further information.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted for the Black Women in Europe™ Blog in the 2009 Black Weblog Award contest! Tusen tack!
The Black Women in Europe™ blog is extremely honored to have won both the judges and popular vote in 2007, and to be a finalist in 2008 and again this year.
Congratulations to the winners in the International category in which we competed:
Ebony Intuition won the Popular Vote and black and (A)broad won the Judges Vote.
Tour the Black Blogsphere by checking out all of this year’s winners.
Hat tip: Angela Shaw
From 19 to 20 November 2009, the European Coalition of Cities against Racism (ECCAR) will organize its third annual conference in Toulouse (France) under the theme: “Cities against Racism: New Challenges – New Partnerships: Shaping our Future”.
The Conference is intended to identify best strategies that cities can adopt to counteract racism and discrimination on the basis of the “Ten-Point Plan of Action” of ECCAR and also by taking into account the international economic and political context.
In order to present examples of strategies and actions implemented by European cities and in order to share experiences and stimulate discussion the following four working groups will be organized :
Working Group 1: Implementation of the Ten-Point-Plan of Action against Racism
Presentation of Practical Examples: Combating Discrimination in Employment and Housing
Working Group 2: Implementation of the Ten-Point-Plan of Action against Racism
Presentation of Practical Examples: Greater Vigilance against Racism – More Participation and Better Informed City Dwellers
Working Group 3: Promoting Social Cohesion in the Context of State Policies on Security: A Contradiction?
Working Group 4: The Global Economic Crisis and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism
Download the programme [PDF, 794 KB]
For more information, please contact Kornelia Guse, k.guse(at)o.org.
Madrid Spain 9th -10th October tribute to Dr Van Sertina
APOLOGY ACT NOW!
Should the Spanish democracy apologize AND REPAIR BLACK PEOPLE BY CENTURIES of slavery and colonialism?
PARTICIPANTS
Rigoberta Menchu Nobel Peace Prize (Guatemala)
Reverend Aaron Buddy Larrie Community activist (Barbados)
Montxo Armendariz Filmaker
Doblehache Field nigger Artist and director of Hip-Hop Nation magazine-(Spain)
Moyo wa Taifa Pan-Afrikan organization Women (London UK)
Margarita Garcia Barranco Profesor University of Granada (France)
MOVIMIENTO CIMARRON (Republica dominicana)
Abuy Nfubea Pan-africanist federation and National Committee for Apoly Act PNL ( Spain )
Javier Laviña Professor of American History, University of Barcelona (Spain)
Mbolo Etofili Luis A. Life Foundation Ecological Group Green and National committee for apology act r PNL (Spain )
Bolekia justo writer and professor University of Salamanca ( Equrtorial Guinea)
Ras Babi Historical Pan-African Freedom Figther in Catalonia (Sudan)
Nzingha Amina Jackson Florida State University (USA)
Jenny de la Torre FEDARO (Colombia)
Jose Muñoz Humanist Movement world march for peace againt violence (Spain)
Inés Cordón Filmmaker (Spain)
Marcos Garcia Montes Lawyer (Spain)
Edmundo Sepa ETANE Badalona with Africa -(Equatorial Guinea )
Manolo Working group derrogatión directive for the return -(Spain)
Lio Nzumbi Association of Relatives and Friends of Prisoners of Bahia (Brazil )
Carlos Ferreyra Núñez Africa Support Committee to the pandemic (Argentina)
Marcelino Bondjale MALEVA- (Spain)
July Balmaseda Sankofa Pan-African Association (Cuba)
UNED UNIVERSITY POLITICAL & HUMANIST FACULTY Lavapies
Escuelas Pias dont forget reparation march 12th october colombus day
REGISTRAT 10€ support campaign we are not alone 20€
INFO : panafricanos@gmail.com
telf 0034696374330
PAN-AFRICANIST FEDERATION IN SPAIN http://www.panafricanos.com/
Dambisa Moyo was born and raised in Zambia, Southern Africa. She completed a PhD in Economics at Oxford University and holds a Masters from Harvard University. She completed a Bachelors degree in Chemistry and MBA in Finance at the American University in Washington D.C.. SHe is based in London, England.
She worked at Goldman Sachs for 8 years in the debt capital markets, hedge fund coverage and in global macroeconomics teams. Previously she worked at the World Bank in Washington D.C.. Dambisa is a member of the Boards of Lundin Petroleum and SAB Miller.
Dambisa is a Patron for Absolute Return for Kids (ARK), a hedge fund supported children’s charity. She serves on the Boards of the Lundin for Africa Foundation and Room to Read, an educational charity.
Dambisa argues for more innovative ways for Africa to finance development including trade with China, accessing the capital markets, and microfinance.
Dambisa has also been offered a contract for another book, entitled How the West Was Lost, scheduled for publication with Penguin and Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 2010. This book examines the policy errors made in the US and other Western economies which culminated<!-- YB: slayers (468x15) -->
in the 2008 financial crisis. And discusses why financial and economic experts missed the signs of the credit crunch. It also explores the policy decisions that have placed the emerging world- China, Russia and the Middle East, in pole position to become the dominant economic players in the 21st century.
Visit Dambis’a website.
November 21, 2009, 18.00-23.00, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham Green, London N15 4RX
The 36 short-listed nominees will then be contacted on the 30th September, and on the 1st October they will be published on this website.
Then it’s over to the public to vote! The 2 nominees with the highest number of votes in each category will go on to be this years winners.
Tickets are now available from the Bernie Grant Arts Centre.
Only £12.50 for the awards ceremony and just £20 for an exclusive three-course dinner and awards ceremony. Please be advised that tickets are VERY LIMITED and once they’re sold there will be no more printed! (Tickets have been reserved for the finalists)
Call Bernie Grants on 0208 365 5450 or BYA 07908 258 681
On January the 12th 2004 the business club Black Business Women in the Netherlands (ZZVN), was established to give the entrepreneurship of black women a new impulse. The establishment had a reliable preparation, because of the continually increasing demand of entrepreneur to a congenial platform The ZZVN is already active for more than 9 years in the Netherlands, as a part of the European Federation Black Business Owners (EFBWBO). The election of the Dutch Black Business Woman is one of its highlights. As from 1997 a Dutch Black Business Woman has been appointed. With a network database of more than 5,000 members, both the ZZVN and EFBWBO try to meet up with the European developments, with the objective to organise the black business women, to realise knowledge exchange and economical growth in the Netherlands.
Contact ZZVN for more information on this year’s October Gala.
Philippa Ebéné, left, Photo from http://www.mut-gegen-rechte-gewalt.de/
From Derbraunemob.de:
Dear friends,
We’d like to bring to your attention something that’s happening at the cultural center called “Werkstatt der Kulturen” in Berlin at the moment.
We ask for your solidarity and support for this case.
In brief:
Philippa Ebéné, head of “Werkstatt der Kulturen”, is under immense media pressure because of her decision to cancel the exhibition “Die Dritte Welt im Zweiten Weltkrieg” (The Third World in the Second World War).
In this blog entry the case is displayed more detailed. There, we are collecting German and international voices of resistance.
Typically, media coverage, Blogs or letters from the “outside” , especially the US and UK are being much more considered in Germany than are the voices and statements of Blacks and PoC in Germany. Your feedback on this could help a big deal here.
Please spread the word, post your statements or write to the Integration-commissioner.
Sincerely,
der braune mob e.V.
media-watch – schwarze deutsche in medien und öffentlichkeit
Une conférence – débat est organisée par la Voix de l’outremer le Jeudi 17 Septembre 2009 à 19 h 30 au Palais Bourbon:
La place des ultramarins dans la sphère politique de l’HexagonePlus d’un million d’ultramarins résident en Métropole. Pourtant, ils sont peu visibles dans la vie politique de l’Hexagone.
Ce constat nous amène à nous poser la question:
Quelle est la place des ultramarins dans la sphère politique de l’Hexagone? Plusieurs spécialistes viendront nous faire partager leur vision et leur expertise:
Dominique REYNIE: Professeur des universités à Sciences Po, il est Directeur Général de la Fondation pour l’innovation politique. Il est, par ailleurs, membre de la commission nationale consultative des droits de l’homme et de l’Observatoire de la décentralisation du Sénat.
Pierre PASTEL: Sociologue, chercheur, professeur à l’université de Paris Saint-Denis
Marie- Dominique AESCHLIMAN: Conseillère Régionale d’Ile de France
Jean- Jacob BICEP: Maire- adjoint du 20ème arrondissement de PÄRIS, Vice-président de l’AMEDOM
et
Nicole BRISTOL: Maire- adjoint de MONTESSON, Présidente de la Voix de l’Outremer
Avec la participation exceptionnelle de M. Patrick KARAM, délégué interministériel pour l’égalité des chances des français d’outremer.
Cindy CHASSAY
Vice- présidente de La Voix de l’Outremer,
http://www.lavoixdeloutremer.com
Inscription obligatoire avant le mardi 15 Septembre 2009, en précisant nom et prénom, par mail (lavoixdeloutremer@live.fr) ou par téléphone au 06 62 80 29 94. Places limitées, carte d’identité obligatoire.
Contact presse + lavoixdeloutremer@live.fr / 06 62 80 29 94
See the best and brightest black stars in the UK at the 1st Annual Black Entertainment, Film, Fashion, Television and Arts Awards Gala.
Get your tickets for the October 17th BEFFTA Award Gala at the London Hilton Metropole Hotel.
See the list of 45 nominees in 6 categories.
Sandrine Joseph will be participating at La Journée de l’Outremer on 4 September in Paris. See which other dynamic Black women will be participating.
L’ambition de la journée Outre-mer Développement est de mettre en contact le monde socio-économique des Antilles-Guyane avec la diaspora des talents Antillo-Guyanais, autour d’une journée de rencontres et d’échanges pour aborder la question cruciale du développement des Départements Français d’Amérique autour de différents ateliers et conférences. A cette occasion, des personnalités du monde de l’entreprise, des politiques, des universitaires et des penseurs viendront débattre et échanger avec le public pour permettre à tous ceux qui s’intéressent à l’avenir de ces territoires de mieux comprendre les enjeux auxquels ils sont confrontés, et les solutions possibles pour un développement économique endogène, équilibré et solide.
Details:
5 septembre 2009
Pavillon Paul Delouvrier
Parc de la Villette, Paris
Entrée (Restauration sur place comprise) :
Tarif Internet : 20€. Évitez les files d’attentes et économisez en payant en ligne.
Normal : 25€. Chèque/Espèce. Paiement sur place.
Étudiants : Gratuit. Sur présentation de la Carte Étudiants.
13th-15th November: Want to increase your profile, make your CV more impressive, increase your marketability, all whilst making a difference and having your voice heard…have you considered being on a publicly appointed board? There are approximately 843 national public bodies in the UK offering in excess of 22,000 public appointments.
Host: Solidarité Africaine de France
Moderator: Sandrine Joseph
Price: 12€
Date: Sunday, September 6, 2009
Time: 12:00pm – 6:30pm
Location: Belushi’s Paris
Street: 159 Rue de crimée Metro CRIMÉ ligne 7
City/Town: Paris, France
Email: soafric@hotmail.fr
Website: http://www.s-af.org/
Au nom de l’association Solidarité Africaine de France , nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à une rencontre excepptionnelle, dont le thème sera: Identité noire dans la République Française ( la place des noirs dans le paysage républicain).
La rencontre se déroulera le dimanche 06 Septembre de 12h à 18h selon le programme ci-après 12h à 13h présentation des participants, de 13h à 14h déjeuner, et de 14 h à 18 débat au restaurant le Belushi’s Paris 159 rue de crimée( en face du canal ).
J’attire particulièrement votre attention sur le fait que notre intervenant, l’historien,écrivain,éditeur Dieudonné GNAMMANKOU, est un des plus grands professeurs d’histoire(enseignant d’histoire Africaine à la Sorbonne), il est aussi l’auteur de nombreux livres et articles.
Vous avez des idées des propositions d’actions favorisant la diversité et des envies de partager pour agir alors, chaque participant aura la parole entre 5 et-10 minutes pour exposer son idée.
Un modérateur sera présent pour assurer le cadre du débat et reformuler les propositions.
Un repas d’un prix de 12€ à la charge de chaque participant est à payer sur place au restaurant. Toute participation confirmée engage auprès du restaurant le paiement du repas.
Pour de plus amples informations vous pouvez joindre Arsène Olivier NIOMBELA au 06 09 24 81 63 ( responsable de la communication SAF) or Guy Samuel Nyoumsi au 06 98 97 43 61 ( Président de SAF).
Notting Hill Carnival is a spectacular annual event, held each August Bank Holiday with Sunday and Monday being the major carnival days. This year’s event will start at 9am on both Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August.
Download a map of sound systems, attractions, and if you live or work in the area, street closures.
Sankofa: This is a mythical bird that flies forwards while looking backwards with an egg (symbolising the future) in its mouth. Sankofa teaches us that we must go back to our roots in order to move forward.
Events programme
Slavery Remembrance Day memorial lecture
Friday 21 August 2009, 6pm at Liverpool Town Hall
This year’s memorial lecture will be given by Diane Nash, the US civil rights activist who was instrumental in the birth and development of America’s Civil Rights Movement. Her lecture will focus on her life and the legacy of the civil rights struggle in light of Barack Obama’s historic election victory.
Tickets for the lecture are free but places are limited so please call 0151 478 4543 or email learning central enquiries to book in advance (http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/srd/).
The lecture is British Sign Language interpreted.
Family events
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 August 2009, 10am-4pm at the International Slavery Museum, Merseyside Maritime Museum and Piermaster’s House
An entertaining and thought-provoking cultural festival celebrating Black culture and heritage.
Full details are listed in our What’s On section for the weekend but highlights will include;
Live music, performances and talks.
Market stalls trading traditional West African and Caribbean food and crafts.
Libation on the waterfront by the Piermaster’s House. The weekend culminates on Sunday 23 August with this traditional African ceremony led by Chief Angus Chukuemeka. The offering of libation involves the pouring of liquid, which can be water or wine, in a special pattern to remember enslaved Africans and call on ancestors to bless the event.
Listen to “Harriet”.
“Harriet” is a choreopoem by Zhana which explores themes around the sexual exploitation of African American women during enslavement.
“Harriet” tells the true story of Harriet Jacobs, author of Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, and portrays an imaginary meeting between her and Harriet Tubman. Harriet Jacobs hid in a tiny attic for seven years to escape the attentions of her white slavemaster.
Once free, she realized that freedom had always been her birthright, not something she should have to buy.
Greetings!
You are invited to an evening of business and social networking with the official XING Stockholm group at the Scandic Malmen @17.30-19.30 on 16 September.
Below are the details.
1. XING Stockholm September Away From the Keyboard Networking Event: Wednesday 16 SEPTEMBER. 17.30-19.30 @ the Scandic Malmen.
2. Entertainment: Title of Performance: BAR STORIES (selected scene from it)
Description: An ex-disco king (ROCCO) and an ex-disco queen (STELLA) meet years later from the glamorous times of the late 70’s – at a disco bar and discover they have much in common as they each reveal their hidden angst of being betrayed and left behind by the Disco King himself, John Travolta.
Jackie Kleefield is a playwright, director and performer from New York City. She currently teaches Simonson Jazz dance and Integral Hatha Yoga in Stockholm. Visit her XING profile:
https://www.xing.com/profile/Jackie_Kleefield/N3.b46484
3. XING Stockholm has booked a table for dinner at the Mississippi Inn @ 20h00. You must RSVP to Tunde by 13 September. Use XING to either send her a private message or leave one in her guest book:
https://www.xing.com/profile/Tuende_Schuett
Map for Mississippi Inn:
http://tinyurl.com/osfeyh
You MUST RSVP through this link to the event page if you want a pre-printed nametag:
https://www.xing.com/events/xing-stockholm-keyboard-networker-353091
Photo by Photo Agency
Sandy Cane, of African American decent, has been elected the first Black mayor in Italy in Viggin.
A black woman backed by the anti-immigrant Northern League has been elected mayor of the small Italian town of Viggiu close to the Swiss border. Sandy Cane, elected in local elections held across Italy at the weekend, won by a slim margin of only 38 votes.
The 48-year-old mayor will govern the town and surrounding district of Valceresio, on the border of Varesotto and the Swiss canton of Ticino.
The daughter of an American soldier and a woman from Viggiu who emigrated to northern France, Cane was born in Springfield in the US state of Massachusetts.
She told Adnkronos that the Northern League had “welcomed her warmly” and that she “was in love with Viggiu”.
Read more at adnkronos.com.
“I want to think about the elderly and the young,” she said. She regarded as a “joke” suggestions by the Northern League secretary in Milan, Matteo Salvini, that the city should segregate train passengers by race.
Read more at The Independent.
View more photos.
African American women living in Europe are invited to submit a letter to United States First Lady Michelle Obama for an upcoming book entitled Go, Tell Michelle, African American Women in Europe Write to the New First Lady. This is a follow up to the book Go, Tell Michelle, African American Women Write to the New First Lady (GTMsisterhoodnetwork.blogspot.com).
For more information and to participate contact Peggy Brooks-Bertrain on pbertram(at)gmail.com.
A Gathering of Sisters Recap: Honoring Adrianne George, founder of Black Women in Europe™, Women of the African Diaspora Networks and co-editor of Black Expat Magazine
On August 1, 2009 about 15 ladies from the Black Women in Europe™ and Women of the African Diaspora social networks and readers of Evia Moore’s Ezine, at the bequest of Lorraine Spencer, gathered at the home of Katrice N. Jones on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
Sisters were in town from Philadelphia, New York and Stockholm as well as the Washington, DC metropolitan area and were treated to a regional delicacy, crab cakes, fruit, veggies, chicken, sweet and savory patisseries and smoothies.
In between the jovial and robust conversations, among women in a variety of professions, about world travel, autism, and living in Asia, Europe and the United States we were treated to massage therapy by Barbara Hakal of Hakalistics Healing Hands.
And no one left empty handed but instead with swag bags filled with treats including the career book for women, Ambition is not a dirty word, soothing help for high heel wearers appropriately called “Soulmates”, a Pingo calling card and more.
“This is the second time Lorraine has pulled us together as a group. The first time I met some of the sisters from the Black Women in Europe social network was in January 2007. I was in from Sweden visiting my parents in Washington, DC and called Lorraine”, Adrianne George explains. “I put the word out in the network and Lorraine, Didi and Katrice met me at the Washington Marriott. We had a good time. But when Lorraine pulled the network together this past January for ‘A Room Full of Sistahs’ it was magical. So many members were in from Europe for Obama’s inauguration”, says George. “Our August event felt just as good”.
Resources:
Autism: http://www.AutismAnthem.com
Black Expat: http://www.BlackExpat.com
Black Female Interracial Marriage: http://www.BlackFemaleInterRacialMarriage.com
Black Women in Europe™ Social Network: http://BlackWomenInEurope.ning.com
Hakalistics Healing Hands: http://www.hakalistics.org
Women of the African Diaspora Social Network: http://WomenOfTheAfricanDiaspora.com
Sponsors:
Books: http://www.AmbitionIsNotADirtyWord.com
Booklets: http://www.LAForFreeAlmost.com
Book marks: http://www.DivaToolBox.com
Phone Card: http://www.pingo.com
Gift Certificate: http://ImpactLifeCoaching.info
Soulmates: http://www.Soulemates.com
Soul Cities with Nelson George
From the desk of Nelson George
August 1
In October I’ll be officially announcing that I’m editing a new international black travel site. Can’t tell you the name, but can say that there’ll be video, pictures and blogs about traveling while black that cover destinations in the U.S. and around the world. My upcoming trip to Rome, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid are for this web site. I have trips coming up to Toronto, Miami and LA. I’m looking for recommendations for spots to visit in those cities. Remember — always travel black.
*********************************************************
Nelson George is coming to Europe next week and is looking to speak with/interview black expats living in the above mentioned cities. (see hid bio: http://nelsondgeorge.net/?page=bio)
If you would like to be interviewed, please send names/email addresses to pamlew62(at)aol.com.
Shingai Elizabeth Maria Shoniwa is the vocalist and bassist for the UK indie rock band Noisettes. Her first name, Shingai means ‘persevere’ in the Southern African Shona language
Shingai Shoniwa performed in the band called Sonarfly with other Noisettes member and songwriting partner and guitarist Dan Smith. Shoniwa grew up in a South London public-housing estate and the experience, Shoniwa says, absolutely informs her music. “Wanting to escape from reality can inspire the greatest and most trivial creative natures in people,” and “I think escapism is something that connects all of us. Everybody has their own little soundtrack, and I guess I’m trying to make my own soundtrack to my escape plan. I want people to realize that there’s so much more.”
Shingai first wanted to be an actress, and for a while joined the Lost Vagueness crew as a burlesque performer and co-creator of the now legendary ‘Golden Egg Routine’. She studied circus skills at a London youth club as a teenager.
Shoniwa Joined Amnesty’s Make Some Noise and appeared in an Instant Karma! video singing John Lennon’s song, Imagine to help stop the violence.
Shoniwa has been romantically linked with Musician Jack Penate and Eastenders star Mohammed George.
Shoniwa made an appearance on Annie Lennox’s 2007 album, “Songs Of Mass Destruction” on the single Sing. The track, about the fight against HIV Aids, will include 22 other renowned female artists such as Madonna, Melissa Etheridge, Gladys Knight. and Celine Dion.
Shingai Shoniwa has provided backing vocals for different indie rock, electronic, and punk rock artists including, Guillemots with their song “Made Up Love Song #43″ and “Over the Stairs”.
Shingai Shoniwa, along with Patti Smith and Juliette Lewis helped celebrate Jack Daniel’s birthday in Lynchburg, Tennessee on October 13th, 2007. The three joined by The New Silver Cornet Band for the show which took place at the company’s distillery. The show is part of the 157th birthday celebrations for Jack Daniel, who was born sometime in September 1850. The Birthday JD Set opened to specially invited guests and competition winners only.
Visit the Noisettes on MySpace.
Chika Unigwe was born in Enugu, Nigeria, and now lives in Turnhout, Belgium, with her husband and four children.
She holds a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and an MA from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. She also holds a PhD from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, having completed a thesis entitled “In the shadow of Ala. Igbo women writing as an act of righting” in 2004.
Chika Unigwe is the author of fiction, poetry, articles and educational material. She won the 2003 BBC Short Story Competition for her story “Borrowed Smile”, a Commonwealth Short Story Award for “Weathered Smiles” and a Flemish literary prize for “De Smaak van Sneeuw”, her first short story written in Dutch. “The Secret”, another of her short pieces, was nominated for the 2004 Caine Prize. Moreover, her short story “Dreams” was shortlisted for the Million Writers Best Online Fiction in 2005, and “Thinking of Angel” was longlisted for the same award. Her story “Confetti, Glitter and Ash” recently finished third in the 2005 Equiano Prize for Fiction.
Read Chika Unigwe’s full bio on her website, and some of her works online.
Hat tip: Zola Mumford
Africans in Europe in the long twentieth century: Transnationalism, translation and transfer University of Liverpool, 30-31 October 2009
The past few years have seen a flowering of historical research on Africans in Europe and the growth of new networks of scholarship on the subject. Most of this work acknowledges that as colonial or ex-colonial subjects, as migrants, and as members of a global population for whom a common identity and fate were increasingly claimed in terms of diaspora, Africans often moved from one mono- or plurilingual context/contact zone into another. This could be the result of physical relocations, of a transfer of administrative jurisdiction over them from one colonial power to another (as after 1918), or indeed of participation in transnational literary and political networks. But much current research remains limited to particular national metropolitan contexts, their languages and institutions, with the themes of transnationalism and translation addressed largely through triangulations between Africa, Black America and the respective country of ‘settlement’. The purpose of this conference is to bring together new research and provoke discussion around those moments where Africans found themselves at the interface between European cultures, asking about the implications for subjectivity and everyday life as well as for literary and political practice of having to deal with and through different languages and cultural practices. We invite contributions that address experiences in any (or indeed all) European territories, and particularly welcome empirically-grounded case studies which address the problems of methodology and interpretation raised by the project of studying transnational lives. Possible topics might include:
• Africans as language teachers and language learners – formal and informal institutions
• Visual culture: self-presentations
• Multilingual families and generational power
• Communication, power and identity in international organisations and networks
• International milieus within national borders (seamen’s bars and Black neighbourhoods)
• Languages of the shop floor
We anticipate that the conference papers will be published.
Please send abstracts by 31 August 2009 to Eve Rosenhaft, School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, University of Liverpool.
London, UK – The Ghana Black Star Network presents the 2nd Annual Ghana Business & Investment Exhibition on Saturday 19th September 2009 at the Bernie Grants Art Centre, Tottenham, London.
Due to popular demand and a successful launch in 2008; the Ghana Black Stars Network are presenting the 2nd Annual Ghana Business & Investment Exhibition on Saturday 19th September 2009 at the Berne Grants Art Centre, Tottenham, London.
After a peaceful political transition; Oil on its way, growing exports, Gas in the pipelines, Obama’s visit and Sun City heading South…Ghana has to be the next stop for investors, entrepreneurs or anybody who is looking to relocate.
With a strong cedi against the dollar, interest rates going down, a thriving economy, a growing middle class and a pool of opportunities for the business minded, Ghana is on the international platform growing from the seeds that have been sown.
With all industries from Construction to Agriculture to any service industry open for all; The Ghana Business & Investment Exhibition will provide delegates with the opportunity to hear from key industry professionals on Ghana’s development and opportunities. The event is also a chance for business minded individuals to network and share ideas on doing business in Ghana.
This year’s event is in partnership with the Ghana High Commission UK and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. Media partners include: African Business magazine, New African magazine, Trumpet newspaper, African Caribbean Business Network, Find-A-Job in Africa, Re-Connect Africa, African Voice newspaper and BEN TV.
To contact us and find out more information about the event or GBSN please contact:
Nadia Mensah
nadia@thegbsn.com
0788 6411 661
ISD photo from a previous year.
06. – 09.08.2009 in Helmarshausen
Beim ISD-Bundestreffen
trifft sich jedes Jahr die Schwarze Gemeinschaft in Deutschland.
Im November 1985 riefen zum ersten Mal Schwarze Frauen und Männer bundesweit zu einem Treffen in Wiesbaden auf, um aus der damals erlebten Isolation in einer weißen Gesellschaft herauszutreten. Viele folgten diesem Aufruf. Das war der Anstoß für eine bundesweite (damals vorerst noch die alte Bundesrepublik Deutschland) Bewegung Schwarzer Menschen in Deutschland. Ein Novum im Deutschland nach dem Nationalsozialismus. Vieles hat sich seit diesen Anfängen geändert. Aus einer überschaubaren Anzahl von Kontakten wurde eine vielschichtige Vernetzung. Schwarze Menschen bearbeiten Themen miteinander, schaffen Diskussionsforen, schaffen Wissen, gestalten ihren privaten wie öffentlichen Raum.
Es wird Workshops, Vorträge, Gespräche, Austausch, Infostände, Kinderprogramm und viel Raum zum Selbstgestalten geben. Abends gibt´s Kultur pur, z.B. Filme, Performance/ Lesung, DJ- und Live-Musik. Und natürlich könnt ihr bei Ragga, Soul, Soukouss, Hip Hop und allem was sonst noch Spaß macht, abtanzen. Themen auf den Bundestreffen sind Schwarze Geschichte, Schwarze Menschen in Bildung und Beruf, Schwarze Netzwerke, Schwarze Identitäten in Deutschland, Stärkung der Kinder und Jugend, Selbstbehauptung im Alltag, und vieles mehr …
Get more information about the ISD-Bundestreffen.
Source: Ann Ogidi
Nina Mae McKinney’s (née Nannie Mayme McKinney) career was launched when she was spotted in the chorus line of the theatrical revue Blackbirds (1928). She was cast in a leading role in King Vidor’s musical film Hallelujah! (US, 1929). Billed as “a story of murder and redemption in the Deep South”, Hallelujah! was the first sound feature film with an all-black cast.
In the 1930s she made two British films: Kentucky Minstrels (d. John Baxter, 1934) and Sanders of the River (d. Zoltan Korda, 1935) where she starred opposite Paul Robeson. Unable to fulfil her potential in America, she left the USA for Europe, appearing in theatrical shows and cabaret. In Greece she was known as the “Queen of Night Life”, in Budapest as the “Black Garbo”.
Nina Mae McKinney is credited as the first black person to appear on British television. In 1935 she participated in a one hour GPO film called BBC – The Voice of Britain and in 1937 was one of several artists to feature in a BBC Television Demonstration Film (d. Dallas Bower, 1937).
Sadly Nina Mae McKinney’s death in New York in 1967 (she returned in 1960) went unnoticed in the industry and the media at large, except for a small notice in a local paper. Nevertheless her talents were recognised in 1978 when she was inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame.
Nadja Benaissa is a German singer, songwriter and occasional actress, who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the successful all-female pop band No Angels, the “biggest-selling German girlband to date”, according to the German media. Benaissa is the second child born to a Moroccan father, Muhamed Benaissa, and an ethnic Serbian mother with German citizenship, Sabina.
After a series of commercially successful releases with the group, Benaissa released her solo debut album Schritt für Schritt in 2006. The semi-autobiographical album was entirely recorded in German language, taking Benaissa’s work further into soul, R&B and jazz music, but enjoyed moderate commercial success. She’s currently recording her second solo album.
In April 2009, she was arrested by German police on the urgent suspicion that she had unprotected sex with three men between 2004 and 2006, without informing them she was HIV-positive.
Jessica Martina Wahls is a German pop singer, songwriter and television host, who rose to fame as one of the founding members of the successful all-female pop band No Angels, the “biggest-selling German girlband to date,” according to the German media.
Wahls is the only child born to an African-American father, James, and a German mother, Gabriele “Gabi” Wahls. Her parents separated when she was six month old, and thus, Jessica was raised by her single mother near Bad Nauheim, in the Wetteraukreis district of Hesse. After her parents’ divorce, Wahls had little contact with her father, and her mother worked as a chief secretary to support the family. In 1999, Gabriele married Wahls’ Barbadian stepfather Tosh.
In 2000 Jessica broke off her training as a travel management assistant to join the girl group No Angels, the result of a German version of the international television show Popstars. Two successful years later, Jess became pregnant by boyfriend, choreographer and background dancer Sascha Dickreuter, and consequently she had to leave the band for her baby girl by the name of Cheyenne Jessica.
In 2003 Wahls returned to the music business as a solo artist. Since then she has released four moderately successful singles in English and in German.
Wahls has also worked as a host for several TV shows, most noticeably on the German quiz channel 9Live. Furthermore she can be seen as the spokeswomen for a number of local advertising campaigns.
In January 2007 the No Angels’s reunion was announced and Wahls went back to her roots to release their comeback single Goodbye to Yesterday and a new album.
Visit Jessica’s website.
Hat tip: Afro European
A Berlin street is renamed after the internationally renowned Afro-German poetess, educationist and inhabitant of Kreuzberg, May Ayim (1960-1996).
Ayim fought against ongoing racism in Germany and was active in the women’s movement and she continously highlighted Germany’s forgotten colonial past. “This renaming also challenges people to deal with the close connection between colonialism and racism”, says Luise Steinwachs of Tanzania Network (TNW).
“The renaming of Gröbenufer into May-Ayim-Ufer will not make the topic of colonialism disappear from the map”, emphasizes Joshua Kwesi Aikins from the Black organisation ISD, “but rather it provides a change of perspective in remembrance.”
Read the Wikipedia entry for May Ayim.
The blog Afro Brazil America reported that the Brazilian musical singer Juliana de Aquino is one of victems of the flight 447 Air France disaster. Since 2003 she lived in Germany, where she had a succesful music career
Juliana de Aquino started her musical education at the age of 4. She studied piano and musical singing with maestro Marconi Araujo and classical singing with Aeda Moreira and at Universidade de Brasília. She also took participated in singing workshops with Richard Lissemore and acting workshops with Steve Markusfeld.
After playing many roles in Brasil, Juliana de Aquino had the opportunite to take part at the German production of ” The Lion King” in Hamburg from 2003 till 2007.
In 2008, she played the role of Maria Magdalena in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Austria.
Most recently Juliana de Aquino had been performing in the musical Wicked in Stuttgart, Germany.
Sony records reports that Sade is working on the release to the long-awaited follow-up to 2000s “Lover’s Rock.”
According to Sony Sade is in the studio now, with plans to release an album by the end 2009. A source from the label told Billboard, “She is in the studio and the album will come when it is ready. You don’t wait for years for one and then rush it.”
Sade became famous with the album Diamond Life in 1984. With songs as Smooth Operator, Cherish The Day and Your Love Is King.
In 2002 Sade received the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire, she dedicated the title to all Afro-British woman.
Elections Européennes Marie-Luce PENCHARDUploaded by caraibes_tv. – Watch the latest news videos.
Marie-Luce Penchard was appointed the Minister of France Overseas by French President Sarkozy. She is a Guadeloupean politician aged 50, whose mother, Lucette Michaux-Chevry Senator, was one of the leading figures of RPR in Guadeloupe, and Secretary of State for Francophone.
Madame Penchard was born on 14 February 1959, holds a Master of Economic Sciences, and is an adviser to the presidency of the Republic, and political advisor of the UMP, in charge of the Overseas Territories.
(President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, along with their daughters Malia and Sasha, are greeted by President Medvedev and Mrs. Medvedev at the Kremlin in Moscow Monday, July 6, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
(President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana Medvedeva at their dacha outside Moscow, July 6, 2009. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Amel Bent (real name Amel Bentbachir) was born on June 21, 1985 in Paris, France. Her father was Algerian & her mother was Moroccan. She grew up in Joué-Les-Tours. She was taught music by her cousin, and even if she didn’t take singing lessons, she started to compose songs. At 18, she passed the casting for Nouvelle Star.
Thanks to her voice & her charisma, Amel became semifinalist of the second season. She decided to record her first album Un Jour D’été, released in 2004. Every track was soul/R&B, the first single “Ma Philosophie” became N°1 & Amel received a Victoire De La Musique for this song. In 2007, she released her second album À Vingt Ans, including the successful single “Nouveau Français”.
Hat tip to AfroItaliani
Cross posted from MicroMega:
To European democratic public opinion and the press that keeps it informed
Events in Italy have always – for better or worse – had an extraordinary influence on the whole of European society, from the Italian Renaissance to Fascism.
But, all too often, Europe has not become aware of these events in time.
There is currently a great deal of attention in major European newspapers on some aspects of the crisis that has engulfed our country. But we believe that it is our duty – the duty of all those living in Italy – to inform European public opinion on other alarming aspects that have not elicited such interest, such as the draft legislation proposed by the Italian Government, called the “Security Decree”. If it is not prevented, this legislation runs the risk of disfiguring the image of Europe and dealing a severe setback to human rights worldwide.
The Berlusconi Government, using security as a pretext, has imposed on our Parliament – over which it has total control – the adoption of laws discriminating against immigrants, laws the likes of which we had not seen in this country since the passing of the Fascist Race Laws.
The victim of the discrimination has changed: it is no longer the Jews but the undocumented migrant population, hundreds of thousands of people. But the discriminating measures have not changed: if passed, these new laws may, for example, forbid mixed marriages.
Such a prohibition would prevent a person from exercising a fundamental right, the right to marry without constraints of an ethnic or religious nature. The victims of discrimination would be denied this right simply on the basis of their nationality. Not to mention the fact that Italians would equally be denied their right to marry the person of their choice.
Another norm contained in the decree – even more abusive of human rights and dignity – is the prohibition for foreign women lacking permits (an administrative offence) to recognize their children at birth. Thus, the children born to “undocumented” foreign women, by virtue of a political decision by a temporary majority, shall be for their entire lives the children of unknown parents, they may be removed from their own mothers at birth and placed under the care of the State.
Not even Fascism had gone that far! The Race Laws introduced by the Regime in 1938 did not subtract children from their Jewish mothers, nor did they induce the mothers to abort rather than have their children confiscated by the State.
We would not be addressing European public opinion if the gravity of these measures were not such that it transcends national boundaries, calling for a reaction by all those who believe in our shared humanity. Europe cannot accept that one of its founding members regresses to primitive levels of social organization, contradicting international law and the very principles upon which the European political union is based.
It is in the interest of all of us that this not happen. It would dishonour us all.
European democratic public opinion must become aware of the disease ravaging Italy and act swiftly so that it does not spread further.
We are confident that each one of you will choose an effective way to demonstrate your opposition.
Roma, June, the 29th 2009
Andrea Camilleri, Antonio Tabucchi, Dacia Maraini, Dario Fo, Franca Rame, Moni Ovadia, Maurizio Scaparro, Gianni Amelio
Lenoir was first spotted by Ford Models when she was just 16 years of age. In 2001, Lenoir signed with L’Oréal, and has since appeared in their advertisements alongside supermodel Laetitia Casta and long-term model and actress Andie MacDowell. She has also worked for Victoria’s Secret, Gap, Next, and many others. Lenoir is currently the face of UK high-street retailer Marks & Spencer, and can be seen in various British magazines and billboards alongside fellow models Twiggy and Laura Bailey.
More recently, Lenoir also appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek in the film After the Sunset, as well as in Rush Hour 3, for which she shaved her head bald. In early 2007 she was seen sporting a short bleached haircut.
Lenoir was born in Versailles, Yvelines, France.Her mother comes from Réunion and has Malagasy ancestry. Her family moved first to Gif-sur-Yvette and then to Versailles where she was discovered and started her career in modelling. After a relationship with rapper Stomy Bugsy, she married international football player Claude Makélélé of Paris Saint-Germain. They have a son named Kelyan Makélélé (born 2 February 2005).
Credits:
Rush Hour 3 August (2007) – Geneviève
Gomez contre Tavarès (2007)
Le Doublure (2006) – Karine
Jeff et Léo, flics et jumeaux – Anna (1 episode, 2004)
After the Sunset (2004) – Mooré’s Girl
Gomez & Tavarès (2003) – Gina
Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (2002) – Chamandra
On n’est pas couché – Herself (1 episode, 11 June 2007)
French Beauty – Herself (2005)
Le Grand journal de Canal+ – Herself (1 episode, 2005)
20h10 pétantes – Herself (1 episode, 2004)
Tout le monde en parle – Herself (3 episode, 2000-2003)
She also hosted a show on Trace TV for 2 years.
Aissa Maiga was Born in Dakar and moved to Paris with her family when she was four years old. She later went on to perform in musicals and short films before landing roles in major French films.
Credits:
Actress
1996 : Saraka Bo de Denis Amar : Danièle
1997 : La Revanche de Lucy de Janusz Mrosowski :
1999 : Jonas et Lila, à demain de Alain Tanner : Lila
2001 : Lise et André de Denis Dercourt : Esther
2003 : Voyage à Ouaga de Camille Mouyeké : Loutaya
2001 : Les Baigneuses de Viviane Candas : la sœur de Rita
2003 : Mes enfants ne sont pas comme les autres de Denis Dercourt : Myriam
2003 : Caché de Michael Haneke : Chantal
2004 : L’un reste, l’autre part de Claude Berri : Farida
2004 : Travaux de Brigitte Roüan : la fiancée de Condé
2004 : Les Poupées Russes de Cédric Klapisch : Kassia
2005 : Paris, je t’aime de Olivier Assayas : Sophie (Section Place des fêtes)
2005 : Je vais bien, ne t’en fais pas de Philippe Lioret : Léa
2005 : Une Famille Parfaite de Pierre Trividic : Martha
2006 : Mamadou il est où ? Court-métrage de Khady N’Diaye : Mariettou
2006 : Demba de Slony Sow :
2006 : Bamako de Abderrahmane Sissako : Mélé
2006 : Prête-moi ta main de Éric Lartigau : Kirsten
2007 : L’Âge d’homme… maintenant ou jamais ! de Raphaël Fejtö : Tina
2007 : Il faut quitter Bamako d’Aïssa Maïga : Maïmouna (en projet)
2008 : Bianco e Nero de Cristina Comencini : Nadine
2008 : Les Insoumis de Claude-Michel Rome : Kathia
2008 : Sexe, Gombo et beurre salé de Mahamat-Saleh Haroun: Amina
2009 : Quand la ville mord collection Suite noire de Dominique Cabrera
Director
2007 : Il faut quitter Bamako
Freema Agyeman is a British actress of Ghanaian and Iranian descent who is best known for playing Martha Jones, former companion of the Tenth Doctor in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and its spin-off series Torchwood. She currently holds a lead regular role as court prosecutor Alesha Phillips in ITV’s Law & Order: UK.
Freema Agyeman grew up on the Woodberry Down council estate in the London Borough of Hackney. Her mother, Azar, is Iranian and her father, Osei, is Ghanaian. She attended Our Lady’s Convent, a Catholic school in Stamford Hill and the Anna Scher Theatre School in Islington. She studied performing arts and drama at Middlesex University, graduating in 2000. She has martial arts skills which prompted speculation that she would bring a more physical approach to the role of the Doctor’s companion. The tattoo she has on her upper forearm is symbolic of her ancestry, containing an Iranian word ‘baha’, meaning ‘free’, under an image of a butterfly. She endorses Divine Chocolate, an ethical corporation that helps Ghanaian farmers make a fair living.
Credits:
TV
Acting
Crossroads (2003, TV series) as Lola Wise
Aisha The American (2004), as Shaheen
Casualty@HolbyCity (one episode, 2004) as Kate Hindley
The Bill (one episode, 2004) as Jenna Carter
Mile High (2005, TV series)
Silent Witness (one episode, 2005) as Mary Ogden
The Bill (two episodes, 2006) as Shakira Washington
Doctor Who (2006, episode “Army of Ghosts”) as Adeola Oshodi
Doctor Who (2007-2008, TV series) as Martha Jones
Doctor Who animated special The Infinite Quest (2007, TV serial) as Martha Jones (voice)
Torchwood (2008, TV series) as Martha Jones
Little Dorrit (2008, TV serial) as Tattycoram
Survivors (TV remake) (2008, TV series) as Jenny Collins
Law & Order: UK (ITV series, 2009) as Alesha Phillips
As herself
The One Show (2006)
Doctor Who Confidential (2007-2008, “making of” series)
Totally Doctor Who (2007, children’s magazine show)
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross (25 May 2007)
Richard and Judy (26 June 2007)
The Omid Djalili Show (2007)
Torchwood Declassified (2008, “making of” series)
Bizarre ER (2008-2009, TV series) as narrator
The Friday Night Project (2008)
The Paul O’Grady Show (2008) and (2009)
Blue Peter (24 June 2008)
Film
Rulers and Dealers (independent film, 2005) as Nana
Audio/radio
The Last Dodo (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2007) as narrator
Wetworld (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2008) as narrator
The Pirate Loop (abridged Doctor Who audiobook (2008) as narrator
Torchwood: Lost Souls (Radio 4 Afternoon Play) (2008) as Martha Jones
Martha in the Mirror (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2008) as narrator
The Story of Martha (abridged Doctor Who audiobook) (2009) as narrator
Theatre/stage
Twisted Roots by Emily Nightingale (2001) as Anya Starr
When Snow Falls by Chris Elwell (2001-2002) as “T”
Lords and Ladies by Terry Pratchett (2002) as various
Doctor Who Prom, Live (27 July 2008) as host.
Autobiographical sketch:
I was born on the Caribbean island of Trinidad, in a a small town called Pointe-a-Pierre in 1949. My first memory of that wonderful sun drenched Caribbean island was when I was three years old and I treasure those memories. I came to Britain in 1960 and experienced a huge culture shock because I expected everyone to treat me kindly and with respect, but Britain was cold, unwelcoming, violent and bleak. I had to learn to live in two cultures fast if I was going to survive.
My beautiful mother told all six of her children each day before we went to school that education was our passport to life and to go to school and learn everything the teachers told us. I did just that and loved my time at school because my mum set us that goal!
I always wanted to be a teacher but my parents couldn’t afford to keep me on to do my A Levels so I had to leave school at sixteen. I worked in a bank for three years whilst doing my A Levels at night school, I thought I could be Britain’s first black woman bank manager but I soon realised it was an impossible dream in those days. So I auditioned to go on a national tour of a hit musical. I hadn’t been to drama school so I got the bank to keep my job for me just in case I didn’t like being on stage.
Read all of Floella’s fascinating backgroud.
Credits:
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Drama COMPANY PART DIRECTED BY
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WITHIN THESE WALLS (5 episodes) LWT BARBRA BILL BAIN
CROWN COURT GRANADA JENNY MARSH STEPHEN BUTCHER
DOCTOR ON THE GO LWT NURSE OJIMA STUART ALLEN
SEND IN THE GIRLS GRANADA MELODY ALLAN GRINT
ANANSI (World History Series) ILEA TV JUMBO
ANGELS BBC NURSE YALLOP FIONA CUMMING
MIXED BLESSINGS LWT KAREN DEREK GOODWIN
KIDS (LAURIE) LWT ELLA BUCKLEY BRIAN FARNHAM
WATERLOO SUNSET BBC MARIE LOUISE RICHARD EYRE
THE LADIES BBC CAROL STEEL JAMES O’BRIEN
HOLE IN BABYLON BBC NORMA HORACE OVE
ANGELS (episodes 6,7,8) BBC MARIGOLD LEVATT BICKFORD
THE GENTLE TOUCH LWT GLORIA TONY WHARMBY
MAYBURY (episodes 2&3) BBC KAYREEN RICHARD STROUD
BERGERAC BBC JUNIPER MARTYN FRIEND
STRANGERS GRANADA ROSIE BILL BRAYNE
COMING TO ENGLAND BBC TEACHER KEITH TAYLOR
LINE OF BEAUTY BBC MRS CHARLES SAUL DIBB
RUN FAT BOY RUN MATERIAL ENTERTAINMENT LIBBY’S MUM DAVID SCHWIMMER
RENDITION CIA AGENT GAVIN HOOD
SARAH JANE ADVENTURES SERIES 1 BBC PROF RIVERS CHARLES MARTIN
SARAH JANE ADVENTURES SERIES 2 BBC PROF RIVERS MICHAEL KERRIGAN
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Films
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I DON’T WANT TO BE BORN (WITH JOAN COLLINS) NURSE
BLACK JOY WEST ONE FILMS MIRIAM ANTHONY SIMMONDS
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West End Theatre
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HAIR SHAFTESBURY THEATRE DAVID TOGURI
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR PALACE THEATRE JIM SHARMAN
THE BLACK MIKADO CAMBRIDGE THEATRE BRAHAM MURRAY
THE HUSBAND IN LAW COMEDY THEATRE PATRICK GARLAND
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Pantomime
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PUSS IN BOOTS – STARRING AS PUSS CAMBERLEY CHRISTMAS 1985/86
ALADDIN – STARRING AS ALADDIN STEVENAGE CHRISTMAS 1986/87
ALADDIN – STARRING AS ALADDIN WEYMOUTH CHRISTMAS 1989/90
ALADDIN – STARRING AS ALADDIN SWINDON CHRISTMAS 1990/91
PETER PAN – STARRING AS TIGER LILLY/LIZA EPSOM CHRISTMAS 1994/95
BABES IN THE WOOD- STARRING AS ROBIN HOOD HASTINGS CHRISTMAS 1994/95
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Guest and Celebrity Appearances
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COMIC RELIEF I’VE GOT A SECRET
STAR TURN ALL STAR RECORD BREAKERS
GIVE US A CLUE ALL STAR RECORD BREAKERS XMAS SHOWS
SQUARE ONE PUNCHLINES
ON SAFARI BLANKETY BLANK
VINTAGE QUIZ PAUL DANIELS MAGIC SHOW
IT’S A KNOCKOUT CHRISTMAS PARADE (PRESENTER)
CRACKERJACK RAILWAY CARRIAGES
HERE AND NOW ALADDIN (BBC TV XMAS PANTO)
SATURDAY SUPERSTORE TV-AM WIDE AWAKE CLUB
THE ZODIAC GAME MONKEY BUSINESS 13 eps (TEAM CAPTAIN)
WHERE IN THE WORLD CHILDREN’S ROYAL VARIETY SHOW
BBC BREAKFAST TIME CELEBRITY SQUARES
FAMILY FORTUNES BLUE PETER
PLAYDAYS YOU BET
FULL SWING BIG BREAK (CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 96/97)
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Regular Presenter Channel Comments
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PLAYSCHOOL BBC A LEGEND
WHAT’S INSIDE BBC NOW IN ITS 4TH RUN
FAST FORWARD BBC
PLAYAWAY BBC 3 SERIES, ALSO A LEGEND
SWITCH ON TO ENGLISH BBC
HOW DARE YOU TYNE TEES
ABOUT BOOKS THAMES
LAY ON FIVE BBC WRITTEN BY FLOELLA
FLO’S FROLICS BBC BREAKFAST TIME
BLACK LONDONERS RADIO LONDON
DAYTIME LIVE BBC PEBBLE MILL 2 SERIES 56 SHOWS
A HOUSEFUL OF PLANTS CHANNEL 4 2 SERIES – TOP RATINGS
TREE HOUSE CHANNEL 4 OWN PRODUCTION, 13 SHOWS
THE LORD MAYOR’S SHOW BBC 1985/6/7
PLAYABOUT BSkyB OWN PRODUCTION 131 SHOWS
HULLABALLOO CHANNEL 4 OWN PRODUCTION 26 SHOWS
Sold to 28 countries and was winner of
‘PARENTS CHOICE BEST VIDEO’ – USA
JAMBOREE ITV 4 SERIES OWN PRODUCTON 52 SHOWS
MAMMA MIRABELLE’S HOME MOVIES CBEEBIES 52 PART ANIMATION SERIES
HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE CBEEBIES RADIO 7 (2007) OWN PRODUCTION 42 SHOWS
FLOELLA’S STORY SACK CBEEBIES RADIO 7 (2008) OWN PRODUCTION 21 SHOWS
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Classical Theatre Appearances with
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THE NORTHERN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
THE EAST OF ENGLAND ORCHESTRA
THE WELSH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
THE ULSTER ORCHESTRA
THE DULWICH COLLEGE ORCHESTRA
SCOTTISH OPERA ORCHESTRA
In the three years since she shot to prominence with one of the most successful debut albums of all time, Corinne Bailey Rae has been fêted around the world with critical acclaim and public affection. Hits such as ‘Like A Star’ and ‘Put Your Records On’ helped propel her eponymous album to over 4 million sales and carved her a place in history becoming the first ever-UK artist to debut in the Billboard Top 20, leading the way for the rise of a whole new generation of British female artists to follow.
Her many UK industry awards from the likes of Q, Mojo and MOBO plus her multiple Brit, Ivor Novello and Grammy nominations were followed by her recent Grammy Awards for her work with Herbie Hancock (2008) and Al Green (2009) – further acknowledgment of her position as a shining new light in music. As Stevie Wonder was drawn to say, “As long as I hear songs and voices by new artists like Corinne I know the future of music is safe.”
During this time Corinne has seen many other things beyond record sales, world tours, winning awards and collaborations with some of the biggest names in music. Like many other artists, she has tried also to use her fame in small ways to help establish a glimmer of hope in the world of others less advantaged than herself. Alongside her work as an Ambassador for the Nelson Mandela 46664 charity, Corinne has become a Friend of Children Of Peace, an ambassador for CORD, and played a part in the inaugural Peace One Day and Live Earth concerts.
Read her full bio.
Awards and Nominations:
2006 Nominated BET Awards BET J Cool Like Dat Award General
Nominated MTV Europe Music Awards Best UK & Irelnad Act General
Nominated MTV Woodie Awards International Woodie (Favorite International Artist) General
Nominated UK Festival Music Awards Best Urban Act General
Nominated Premios 40 Principales Mejor Artista Nuevo Internacional General
Nominated MOBO Awards Best Song Put Your Records On
Won Best UK Female General
Won Best UK Newcomer General
Won MOJO Awards Best New Act General
Won Q Awards Best New Act General
2007 Nominated Grammy Awards Best New Artist General
Nominated Record of the Year Put Your Records On
Nominated Song of the Year
Nominated BET Awards Best New Artist General
Nominated Best Female R&B Artist General
Nominated BRIT Award Best British Single Put Your Records On
Nominated British Female Artist General
Nominated British Breakthroug Act General
Nominated Teen Choice Awards Best Female Breakthrough Artist General
Nominated ECHO Awards International Newcomer of the Year General
Nominated Ivor Novello Awards PRS Most Performed Work General
Nominated MOBO Awards Best UK Female General
Nominated Image Awards Outstanding Album Corinne Bailey Rae
Nominated Outstanding Female Artist General
Won Outstanding New Artist General
Won Music Week Awards International Marketing Campaign of the Year General
Won European Border Breakers Awards United Kingdom General
2008 Nominated Grammy Awards Song of the Year Like a Star
Won ASCAP Awards Song of the Year Put Your Record On
Nominated Urban Music Awards Best Neo Soul Act General
Won BMI Pop Awards Song of the Year Put Your Record On
Listen to an interview with Corinne.
Petra Letang was born in London and is a British-Dominican actress, probably best known for her role as Naomi Julien in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Letang grew up in East London, and she attended the Anna Scher Theatre school in Islington, London. She has played Donna Lewis in the five soap Family Affairs in 1999, and the character Pauline in the BBC2 drama Babyfather in 2002. Other television credits have included Jonathan Creek (2004); The Bill (2005) and The Last Detective (2005). She also appeared in the British film Wondrous Oblivion in 2003.
In 2005 she was cast as Naomi Julien—the lesbian lover of Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy)—in BBC’s EastEnders. She left the role in 2007, reportedly because scriptwriters had “run out of ideas for her.” Prior to this, Letang had gone public with her fears that her character would be axed following a “bad public reaction” to the lesbian storyline which saw Naomi break up the marriage of Sonia and Martin Fowler (James Alexandrou).
Letang went on to join the cast of Angie Le Mar’s successful play, Funny Black Women On the Edge. It played at the Hackney Empire, East London in the Spring of 2007.
In March 2007, Letang was one of several television stars who took part in Searchlight magazine’s “Hope Not Hate bus” campaign with the Daily Mirror, which was aimed at spreading a message of goodwill in the build-up to the local elections in May 2007. Letang commented:”This campaign is very close to my heart. We have to make a difference for the young people coming up.”
Tiana Opium Benjamin is an English actress most notable for appearing in the film adaptations of Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire and for playing Chelsea Fox in the long running popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Benjamin was born in Enfield, North London living and is of Sierra Leonean descent. She had a major role in the 2007 21st Century Fox film Wishbaby.
Before appearing in both Harry Potter and EastEnders she had a number of other high profile acting roles. She appeared in two episodes of Dalziel and Pascoe in early 2006 and in 2004 she appeared in The Bill, she auditioned for the role of Darlene Cake in Bad Girls but did not get the role. In 2002, Benjamin appeared as an extra on the video for Lovin’ Is Easy by Hear’say.
She competed in the National Lottery: Big 7 event in 2007 and sang in the 2007 and 2008 Children in Need charity appeal. She recently won the 2008 Screen Nation Award for ‘Favourite Female TV Star’ and was nominated alongside Leona Lewis, Alesha Dixon and Miquita Oliver the awards recognise the best television stars from the British black community. She was nominated for ‘Sexiest Female’ at the 2008 British Soap Awards and is again at the 2009 awards.
Belinda Ruth Owusu is a British actress of Ghanaian and English descent, who rose to prominence in 2006, aged 17, when she won the role of Libby Fox in BBC’s EastEnders.
She became a student at the Anna Fiorentini Theatre and Film School school, which opened in Hackney in 2001. She won sponsorship for a place at the school, which helped her to get a role in the BBC soap EastEnders, in 2006. She has played Libby Fox in EastEnders since May 22, 2006. Prior to getting this role, she had appeared in a pizza advert and had a short part in a Catherine Tate sketch in Comic Relief 2005.
Owusu has also been a contestant in an EastEnders special of The Weakest Link, in 2008. She was the fourth one voted off.
Nina Toussaint-White is an English actress best known for her role as Syd Chambers in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.
Toussaint-White trained at the Italia Conti Academy on the BA Acting course in Clapham before making her television debut in an episode of Casualty in 2007, which was closely followed by an episode of The Bill, released in 2008. She was soon picked up by EastEnders bosses for the part of dog-lover Syd, a new love interest for Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements), making her first screen appearance on 6 February 2009. She has also appeared as a guest character in an episode of Primeval.
Credits:
2008, Television, Syd, Eastenders (Regular), BBC, Various
2008, Television, Melanie, Primeval, ITV, Tony Mitchell
2008, Television, Janice Pool, The Bill, ITV, Olivia Lichtenstein
2007, Television, Bunmi, Casualty “Core Values”, BBC, Robbie Del Maestro
2007, Film, Mirtha, Italia Conti Academy, Mark Street
2007, Stage, Woman and Child, The Possibilites, Italia Conti Academy, Janice Dunn
2006, Radio, Natasha, Three Sisters, Italia Conti Academy
2006, Stage, Hermia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Italia Conti Academy, Chris Leaver
2006, Stage, Lin, Cloud Nine, Italia Conti Academy, Sue Colgrave
2006, Stage, Paula, The Positive Hour, Italia Conti Academy, Alice Bartlett
2006, Stage, Josephine, Under Their Influence, Italia Conti Academy, Ben Thomas
2005, Stage, Mother, The Bloody Chamber, Italia Conti Academy, Sarah Fahie
Parish: ““All black actors want to do is what everyone else does, be a part of telling stories truthfully and representing characters truthfully.” “.Source
Diane Parish is a British actress who was born to Caribbean parents. Her father is from Dominica and her mother is from Montserrat. She graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and worked mainly in theatre, using the received pronunciation she was taught at RADA to extend her repertoire of Shakespeare. She later received some minor television roles including Beth Taylor alongside Ian McShane in Lovejoy, and Lola Christie, girlfriend of Mick McFarlane, the manager of the EastEnders night cafe, in 1998.
Parish has also appeared in television dramas including The Bill and its spin-off M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team, playing DC Eva Sharpe. Before The Bill she starred in Babyfather, for which she received the Royal Television Society’s best actress award in 2001making her the first black actor to win a major RTS award.
Parish returned to EastEnders in May 2006 but this time playing regular character Denise Fox.
Parish: “I’m getting sick of seeing my black contemporaries getting one scene every 15 – there’s no need for it any more, and there’s no need to be afraid of speaking up about it”. Source
Filmography
EastEnders – Denise Fox (2006—)
M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team – DC Eva Sharpe (2005)
The Bill – DC Eva Sharpe (2002–04)
Babyfather – Lesley Bailey (2001–02)
Clocking Off – Sylvia Robinson (2000–02)
Real Women – Rachel (1998)
Picking up the Pieces – Lisa Gee (1998)
EastEnders – Lola Christie (1998)
Holding On – Janet (1997)
Indian Summer – Millie (1996)
The Final Passage – Milkie (1996)
Lovejoy – Beth Taylor (1993–94)
Get a preview of Cecilia’s jewelry.
About Cecilia
Mitt namn är Cecilia Åslund och jag började tillverka smycken som en hobby för knappt 1 år sedan. Fann att jag äntligen hade lite tid över till att skaffa mig en hobby och en vänninas dotter inspirerade mig med smycken som jag fick av henne i present. Tänkte att det kan jag också göra och på den vägen är det. Hobbyn tog överhanden och jag insåg att jag inte själv kunde använda allt jag tillverkade. Började ge bort smycken i present och fick bra feedback på detta, vilket lett fram till ett hobbyföretag på väg upp ur startgroparna.
Cecilia pictured, right
Jag har ett vanligt heltidsarbete och TowD sköter jag parallellt med detta vilket ibland kan komma att påverka tiden det tar innan du får svar på förfrågningar eller leveranstid, men jag kommer givetvis att göra allting så snabbt jag kan.
A World of a Difference
FairEssentials www.fairessentials.com is an upmarket online retailer selling quality African & Caribbean foods and gifts. In addition to a range of everyday groceries, FairEssentials also offers a selection of Fairtrade products from Africa and the Caribbean as well as organic foods sourced and produced in the UK. FairEssentials stock raw beauty products including African black soap, shea and cocoa butters. Also, there will be a collection of clothing due to launch in Summer 2009 featuring childrenswear and Fairtrade cottons from Africa.
Convenient, Quality, Service
Located in South London, FairEssentials was founded in 2008 by Joanne Crossley, an experienced supply-chain professional with a passion for African & Caribbean foods. FairEssentials is aimed at time-poor shoppers and discerning consumers who appreciate fine African & Caribbean products and the convenience of shopping online. FairEssentials presents a variety of gourmet foods, gifts, natural beauty products and clothing from the African Diaspora via an easy to navigate, customer-focused website.
FairEssentials Managing Director, Joanne Crossley says; “Our aim is to become the place to go for discerning customers seeking a quality shopping experience for African & Caribbean products. Many of the products have a fantastic story and a heritage behind them. We believe our customers will appreciate this and enjoy the qualities of the fine products on offer.”
FairEssentials Future
Plans to launch a retail store in 2010 are currently being developed. As well as the diverse range of products and friendly customer service, the retail store will also have a relaxing coffee bar featuring African and Caribbean teas, coffees and cocoa drinks. For more information contact:
Tel: +44 (0)20 3287 2490
Email: jmc@fairessentials.com
Web: www.fairessentials.com
Hat tip: Zola Mumford
Multimedia Research and Documentation of Oral Genres in Africa: the Step Forward.
December 17-19, 2009, Leiden University, The Netherlands
The conference theme relates to the issue how to deal with oral genres in a world where new technologies have become available not only for the researchers, but also for the local populations as well as the groups (of local non-academic scholars of local lore) that mediate between academic scholars, the performers and their audiences. Therefore, a systematic analysis of the concept of ‘authorship’ should be made. The study of oral genres shifted from the recording session (and academic publishing process) to the interaction of the participants from the performers to the researchers – in the performance. In particular thanks to the possibilities offered by new technologies the recording has nowadays a social life in dynamic networks in which often not well defined groups of stakeholders either appropriate and represent the recording or want others to bear responsibility for the recording. The classical anthropological goal of ‘giving voice to’ informants thus has become highly problematic. All these groups need to be incorporated when assessing ‘authorship’.
The organizers look for contributions related to these issues produced by the increased presence of multimedia technologies in the process of documenting oral genres in Africa. The organizers aim to publish all papers that meet general academic standards.
Confirmed keynotes: Paulo de Moraes Farias, University of Birmingham (UK), Russell Kashula, Rhodes University (SA)
Abstracts (300 words): deadline August 31, 2009
Conference Papers (20 minutes, 2500 words): deadline November 20, 2009
Essays for publication (max. 8.000 words): deadline 30 March, 2010
There will be about 50 Euro fees for coffee/drinks/lunches (dinners and hotels not included).
Please check updates at:
http://www.hum.leiden.edu/research/africanliteratures/africaloralliteratures/conferences-and-meetings.html
Convenors:
Jan Jansen, Institute of Cultural Anthropology, Leiden University.
Daniela Merolla, Department of Languages and Cultures of Africa, Leiden University
Address all questions and submissions to Jan Jansen at jansenj@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
This conference is included in the project: African Oral Literatures, New Media, and Technologies: Challenges for Research and Communication an initiative of Leiden University, INALCO (Paris), SOAS (London), University of Hamburg, University of Naples, and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).
Hat tip: Zola Mumford
Interdisciplinary AiM Symposium on the Realities and Representations of Reconciliation in Africa
Hosted jointly by the Centre of African Studies (CAS) at the University of Edinburgh and the Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival
Saturday, 24th October 2009, Edinburgh
Call for Papers
At Africa in Motion 2009 we plan to incorporate a number of screenings and events that confront issues of trauma, conflict and reconciliation. This symposium aims to foster discussion and understanding of old and new research dealing with the various realities and representations of reconciliation in Africa. A number of recent films, novels and other forms of art have sought to represent in varying ways the traumas of conflict and war of the postcolonial African states and the attempts of reconciliation commissions towards peace, truth, justice and forgiveness. We want to touch on the problems and challenges facing artistic representations of these complex topics as well as the different contexts and consequences of it in Africa and in its diasporas.
We are looking for submissions from scholars at all levels (postgraduate students are most welcome) and invite contributions from as wide a scope of research areas and disciplines as possible, including: trauma, war, peace and security studies, film, literature, theatre, art, music, media and journalism studies, religious studies, history, psychology, cultural studies, politics, immigration and geography, migration, exile and refugee studies, slavery studies, etc.
Africa itself transcends strict definitions, and in the same way, we don’t expect papers to fall into single categories. We welcome papers outlining problems and questions to encourage discussions, suggestions and critique in an informal environment.
We invite abstracts of 250-300 words for a 20-25 minute presentation as well as brief biographical details to be sent to the symposium organisers Lizelle Bisschoff, Stefanie Van de Peer and Clare Rossouw at symposium@africa-in-motion.org.uk by 1 August 2009.
To register for attending the symposium, please email symposium@africa-in-motion.org.uk. Registration fees for attending only are £10 for students and £20 for non-students, including lunch and refreshments.
For more information on the Africa in Motion film festival please visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk.
For further information on the Centre of African Studies at Edinburgh University please visit www.cas.ed.ac.uk.
HANDMADE SHOWROOM is an exclusive Art & Designer private sales event in Nantes. The first event is 28 June 2009.
Organized and under the selection of Rajul paris – Rachael Hampton, re-grouping local Painters, Designers & photographers all in a one day event. To discover or rediscover custom hand crafted one of kind unique collections.
Get more information on the Handmade Showroom blog.
I put a call out on the Black Women in Europe Facebook group to find out what my sisters are doing across the continent. Here is a project worth hearing about:
dear adrianne,
in racist italy a group of parents of black and mixed-race children has set up a self-help group. we want our children to grow proud of their identity in a society where their blackness is not celebrated, nor valued and where they are constantly in the minority.
through the group they can meet with other black children at least once a month in a safe, anti-racist environment, learn about their roots, and have as positive role-models other black adults.
we share children books having as main characters black children (we have to import them from the Usa or UK because in Italy there aren’t any, would you believe?) and they can play with multicultural dolls and toys ( in italy in the nurseries all of the dolls are white and multicultural toys are non -existent)
the group is the first of its kind in Italy and has been set up a couple of years ago and has since helped the growth of a black pride and sense of belonging in all the children who have attended.
Please visit the AfroItaliani website and Facebook page and share with your friends in Italy.
