Awww, this is so sweet. You have made good use of mother’s day and i’m sure your mum will appreciate your gesture. Bless you Beyonce for appreciating all the love and nurture your mother gave to you. Sometimes, we get to appreciate things better when we experience it. Being a mother has changed the way you see your mothers pains, struggles, sacrifices and all she did for you.
Hope Ivy Blue will appreciate you this way someday? All the best!
A Black French flight attendant of Air France is not allowed to wear dreadlocks during his service. The Frenchman of Ivorian origin is now forced to wear his dreads under a wig. But the dress code only applies to men, black women are allowed to wear their hair in dreadslocks.
According to the petition “Hair France, don’t touch our roots” , Aboubakar Traoré was hired as a flight attendant by the Air France in 1999. But he had no idea that such a hairstyle could “harm” the image of the company, considering that not a single of Air France regulations prohibits male flight attendants from wearing dreadlocks. Nevertheless, his managers at Air France went as far as forcing him to wear a wig to hide his hairstyle.
However, Air France’s regulations explicitly allow the wearing of dreadlocks by women, recognizing as such that the hairdo can have strong associations to an individual’s identity.
On May 5th demonstrators protested outside the office of Air France in Paris to protest against the airline’s refusal to change to change rule. They want the company to genuinely consider the ethnic diversity of its personnel, as well of the evolving society, within its regulations. And that the company halt all disciplinary measures being imposed against the flight attendant.
Source: Afro-Europe
Women leaders, activists called to action Kah Walla, president of Cameroon’s People’s Party, talks about her call to action — women have to help elect other women to government.
Kah Walla on MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports
Women in the World 2012 Women World Leaders with Kah Walla
According to her, without political power, women cannot make giant strides for the advancement of women that are needed. Watch as women who hold current political positions explain why it is absolutely crucial for women to hold political office.
The Cameroonian international and Lille defender, Aurélien Chedjou, has been given a match ban for racial insult against Ajaccio’s player Johan Cavalli.
The French professional league (LPF) discipline commission ruled the racial-insult case opposing Chedjou to Cavalli yesterday.
Chedjou was found guilty of insulting Cavalli “sale Corse” (dirty Corse) during a matchday 32 encounter and was given a match ban, which prevents him from playing the last round of the “Ligue” 1.
A Nigerian born Councillor, Kate Anolue is the new Mayor of the London Borough of Enfield in the United Kingdom. Councillor Anolue, who served as Deputy Mayor last year took over from Councillor Christiana During. Councillor Anolue represents Upper Edmonton Ward and was first elected to the Council in 2002.
In an emotion laden voice the new Mayor said, ‘I wish my father and my husband were here today to witness this event, but I know they are up there looking after me. Unfortunately again, my mother could not be here, but I know she is with her Rosary somewhere praying for me’.
The new Mayor said she will use her tenure to raise money for the E18HTEEN Project which supports teenagers between 16-19 in Enfield, Barnet and Haringey who are about to leave care to lead independent lives. She said also that she will be the Voice for sufferers of sickle Cell Anaemia and Thalassaemia will also benefit from the fundraising
Speaking after the ceremony Ichie Damian Ogene who represented the Regent of Nanka said ‘this is a wonderful feat; thank God I am an eye witness to this great occasion and achievement of a remarkable Nigerian. You Nigerians in the Diaspora are indeed making us proud and I wish the media in the Western world report positive news like this’
Councillor Kate, is a widow who single-handed brought-up 4 children who are today gainfully employed. The astute and hardworking Nigerian born Councillor Anolue is a Registered Community/Hospital Midwife and also a qualified lawyer. However, she did not give up her midwifery career rather she became the Royal College of Midwives Steward for North Middlesex University Hospital Midwives; Member, Racial Equality Council, Enfield.
She is a Panel Member of Health Scrutiny, Women officer for Labour Party Group and Governor of two schools in Enfield and Vice Chairman Association of British Nigerian Councillors.
The ceremony which took place in the Council’s Chamber was attended by the Borough Councillors, Alhaji Umar Ahmed Head of Chancery, Nigeria High Commission, London; Chief Sylvester Debe Ojukwu, Mr Christopher Brown, FBN (UK) Ltd Mr Afam Anawana, Ichie Arinze Ezeasor, Prof Joe Irukwu SAN; Hon Justice Anthony I. Igu (rtd), Nze Sympathy Nwosu, Barrister Chiedozie Ezeasor, Chief Aaron Muorah, Dr Eugene Mgbemere, Ichie Damian Okeke who represented the Regent of Nanka, Igwe G. N. Ofomata, Chief Greg Abani, Chief Mike Ndukwe, Ms Megan Clement and other notable Nigerians in the UK and abroad.
Cameroonian scout leader Scott Manyo, who arrived four years ago in Belgium and was locked up in Merksplas, has been released from the detention center. The boy from Boortmeerbeek can now finish his studies in Belgium. That was the Report according to the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Maggie De Block (Open VLD).
“After a long conversation with the Director-General of the Immigration Department, Freddy Rose Mont, we decided it would be best for Scott to be allowed to finish his studies in Belgium, given his special situation and his file,” said De Block.
Ojong Scott Manyo came to Belgium four years ago. He is currently following a course at the Centre for Learning and Working Technical School Mechelen. The boy is the leader of the capons at the scouts in Boortmeerbeek. A position he has held for the past two years. Scott was picked up from the Merksplas by his step-parents.
A Nigerian woman, Bola Adebisi, set an unenviable world record for the amount of ingested heroin ever recovered when she tried to smuggle five pounds of heroin in 180 pellets into the U.S. The previous record was four pounds of heroin ingested in 100 pellets.
Airport authorities at the Dulles International Airport, say that 52-year-old Bola Adebisi ingested an incredible 180 thumb-sized pellets filled with heroin.
Airport officers became suspicious when she was questioned after arriving on Ethiopian Airlines flight 500 from Adis Ababa.
Adebisi claimed she was visiting her brother in the U.S., but she was unable to give details of her “brother” and his address. A routine pat-down showed that her belly was suspiciously rigid, and an X-ray revealed to astonished officials that she had in her stomach 180 thumb-sized pellets with a total weight of five pounds.
Steve Sapp of the Customs and Border Protection, said: “We were kind of shocked and surprised at the sheer number of pellets she ingested. We usually see men twice her size ingest about half of what she did.”
According to International Business Times, Adebisi broke a previous record for ingested drugs set on March 30, 2011, by another Nigerian man.
The 46-year-old Yomade Aborishade of Lagos, Nigeria, was arrested for ingesting four pounds of heroin in 100 pellets. The lady was taken to the hospital where overnight, she passed out all the pellets containing heroin worth an estimated 150,000 pounds.
Christopher Hess, director of Customs and Border Patrol for Washington D.C. said: “The amount of pellets and heroin this woman ingested is incredible, a serious health risk, and very troubling if these numbers become the new normal.”
ALSO SEE: Nigerian Couple Jailed For Money Laundering And Human Trafficking.
Authorities say drug mules often attempt to smuggle heroin and cocaine, and sometimes ecstasy by swallowing latex balloons, often condoms or fingers of latex gloves or other special pellets filled with the drugs and later recovered from faeces.
It is a medically dangerous way of smuggling small amounts of drugs and a mule can die if packet bursts or leaks before exiting the body. Statistics from 2003 show over 50% of foreign females in UK jails were drug mules from Jamaica, with Nigerian women making a large contribution to the balance.
Adebisi, according to MSNBC, will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
A new film showing the contribution of black actors and musicians throughout Britain’s theatre history will be premiered in London on 11th May 2012.
“Margins To Mainstream: The Story Of Black Theatre In Britain” is a charity-funded film produced by 20 young people from London and Birmingham.
It examines the history of black British theatre through interviews and unseen footage.
The hour-long documentary film features black actors, producers and playwrights who have contributed to the British theatre tradition, including playwright Courttia Newland, actor Javone Prince, actor playwright and broadcaster Kwame Kwei-Armah and director Patricia Cumper.
The film looks at landmark performances and highlights the struggles and triumphs faced by black actors in British theatre.
“Margins To Mainstream” has been produced as part of a youth project helping participants to develop skills in media and film-making and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Notting Hill Methodist Church, and led by the Octavia Foundation, in London, and Nu Century Arts, in Birmingham.
Gabrielle Tierney, head of community initiatives at the Octavia Foundation, said: “Our young film-makers are always looking for new opportunities to train and flex their media muscles. We have a history of supporting talented young people to tell untold stories, and the story of black theatre in Britain is most certainly a hidden gem.”
“Margins To Mainstream” will be premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, in London, followed by a question and answer session with some of the young film-makers and contributors.
It will then be screened in London and Birmingham, where the young film-makers are from.
Foreigners in UK
Africa in Motion (AiM), one of the UK’s largest African film festivals, now in its seventh year of existence, is currently accepting submissions – features, documentaries and shorts – for its 2012 festival edition, which takes place from 25 October to 2 November at Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, under the theme Modern Africa.
AiM is focusing its programme for 2012 on films and events that represent Africa as part and parcel of the modern, globalised world; and will be seeking to discover and explore – through film and other popular culture manifestations – how modernity manifests in African cultures.
The festival regards ‘modern’ not as belonging solely to the ‘West’, and through the festival organisers want to emphasise Africa’s important role in the modern world – to unearth the urban, the new, the provocative, the innovative and experimental. As such, the festival will primarily deal with manifestations of African cultures in the contemporary era, moving away from the stereotypical view of the continent locked in ancient traditions and superstition.
AiM will celebrate African creativity and the rich diversity of African cultures in their contemporary manifestations through showcasing films covering themes such as the role of African Diaspora; Africa’s current political and economical position(s); how the digital revolution is affecting the continent; modern arts expressions in African cultures – i.e. dance, modern street fashion, conceptual art, etc. – and how modern life has affected African traditions.
The much anticipated annual Short Film Competition continues this year and organisers are also launching a Call for Entries for films linked with the theme of Modern Africa. An Academic Symposium on African Popular Culture will further enhance our festival theme.
All details for film submissions and symposium are available at www.africa-in-motion.org.uk
Screenings at the festival will be accompanied by a wide range of complementary events such as directors’ Q&As and masterclasses, workshops, discussions, music performances and an arts exhibition.
For more information, visit the AiM website.
Nigerian businessman Godwin Patrick took a three-week holiday to the U.K. this month to visit his British-based cousins. It wasn’t the only reason for his trip.
“I’m here to shop,” the 38-year-old said on London’s Oxford Street, clutching bags from Marks & Spencer Group Plc (MKS) and Associated British Foods Plc’s (ABF) Primark containing underwear and trousers for himself, and dresses for his family in Lagos.
Pedestrians pass the entrance to a Debenhams store on Oxford Street in London, U.K. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Patrick is a regular visitor to London, where retailers are fully accustomed to Nigerian shoppers. The African country was the fourth-biggest contributor to overseas tax-free shopping in the U.K. last year, behind only China, Russia and the Middle East, according to tourism services provider Global Blue U.K. A growing Nigerian population in the U.K. and more frequent direct flights between the countries has led to an influx of visitors who have more to spend because of a booming oil-driven economy.
“Nigerian travelers are very particular to the U.K.; you’d never see them as a top-10 nationality in other markets,” said Richard Brown, vice-president of Global Blue U.K., which runs a network that enables foreign shoppers to claim back value-added tax. In total, Nigerians “spend more as a total business than Americans do,” he said. Visitors from the U.S. are the sixth-biggest shopping group.
Retailers in London are particularly dependent on overseas shoppers. Foreigners account for a third of spending in the English capital’s shopping district of Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street and will spend more than 2 billion pounds ($3.2 billion) this year, according to the New West End Co., which represents 600 retailers in the area.
ALSO SEE: 10 Amazing Ankara Short Gown Styles For Ladies.
Spending by Nigerians in U.K. shops rose 32 percent last year, according to Global Blue, which declined to disclose their expenditure. Visitors from the West African country accounted for 6 percent of the U.K.’s foreign retail spending in March, the researcher said.
Unlike most luxury-seeking Russian and Middle Eastern tourists, Nigerian visitors also want to spend their money at mass-market chains such as Marks & Spencer and Debenhams Plc, (DEB) where they can obtain better quality products than at home.
“There is a misconception that they just come here for middle- or lower-value items, but they shop across all brands from the mass-market high street right up to department-store and luxury brands as well,” said Global Blue’s Brown.
Nigerian visitors spend an average of about 450 pounds per individual transaction, compared with more than 1,000 pounds by Middle Eastern customers, Global Blue said.
At Debenhams’ store on London’s Oxford Street, Nigerians provide the biggest source of overseas spending as they seek out perfume and moisturiser gift sets, British-themed products like a 20-pound union jack printed teapot, clothing and shoes, according to spokeswoman Ruth Attridge.
ALSO SEE: 12 Stylish And Trendy Ankara Styles For Teenagers.
Multilingual signs advertising discounts at the store are printed not only in Chinese and Arabic but also Hausa, a Nigerian language.
The popularity of the U.K. as a shopping destination for Nigerians partly reflects the growth in the number of people from the country living in Britain. About two-thirds of shoppers are on holiday or visiting family and friends, while a third are travelling for business, according to Global Blue.
The U.K. Office for National Statistics estimates that 174,000 Nigerians lived in the U.K. between July 2010 and June 2011, the ninth-largest nationality. That’s an increase of 34,000 compared with three years earlier.
Daily flights from Lagos by airlines such as British Airways Plc are also fueling shopper journeys. The London-based carrier allows Nigerian passengers an additional 23-kilogram suitcase compared with the majority of its flights. Air Nigeria plans to start flights to London’s Gatwick airport this month.
Wealth among Nigeria’s elite has increased since the turn of the century as the former British colony has become Africa’s top oil producer, spurring economic expansion. The country gross domestic product grew 7.7 percent in the fourth quarter year over year, according to the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics, compared with the prior quarter’s 7.4 percent gain.
While the African nation may be better off than before it gained its independence from Britain in 1960, its shopping facilities aren’t of a standard to compare with the U.K.
ALSO SEE: 100 Unique And Stylish Skirt And Blouse Styles For African Women.
“In Nigeria, there is very little formal retail,” said Siemon Scamell-Katz, global consulting director at researcher TNS. “So in terms of retail, Primark and Marks & Spencer is quite something if you haven’t come across much retail before.”
That’s true of Patrick, who said it’s “the quality and the pricing” of London’s stores that keep him coming back.
“We don’t have the same standard of retailing,” he said.
