Recently in African Category

Madonna adopted an African baby boy, David, from Malawi back in 2006 and the adoption has not been finalized. She says the government is still not used to the concept of adoption. Madonna embarks on a journey exploring the lives of children who have been orphaned by AIDS. This 85 minute film is being shown at the Tribeca Film Festival, and will be available on DVD.

Follow the jump to see the film trailer.

President Bush visited Tanzania and signed $698 million grant package for foreign aid to the country to help improve the infrastructure and combat HIV/AIDS. I guess the dresses worked. Bush Couture...lol, cute.

Photo Credit: Reuters

Y'all, I think I found Whoopi Goldberg's secret daughter...lol, j/k

Udaka (sounds like oo-jogga) is the title of this video and the lead female rapper, Gcina Shange, resembles a young Whoopi Goldberg, and her voice sounds similar to that of a Mc Lyte. Nice beat. Nice video on a limited budget. I didn't know they had outdoor hot tubs in shack settlements. Did I get it right on the looks and sound? Another question, are those brown flasks the women toast to in the hot tub equivalent to 40 ounces here in the U.S.? Just askin'...

I read on another site the word "Udaka" means mud, and she raps about coming from the shack, otherwise known as the hood or ghetto.

The video notes: A music video set in a Durban shack settlement featuring Gcina Shange. Made by From the Well Productions.

If anyone from South Africa can translate the lyrics, please feel free to post them. I recognize only four English words. Thanks

Check out his commentary and real life photos of Rwanda, its absolutely beautiful people, and genocide remnants. Read his entry below the map. Ethnic conflicts are just as bad or even worse than racial conflicts experienced here in America, and elsewhere around the world. http://bachersblog.com/

Adam writes on his blog:

"In April 1994, one million human beings were brutally slaughtered over 100 days in the small African country of Rwanda. This genocide was of overwhelming proportions, orchestrated by a radical political party that seized control of the Rwandan government. The loss of human life was a tragedy in its own right. A second tragedy concurrently unfolded - the rest of the world knowingly turned its back on Rwanda after the genocide began and chose not intervene. It could have been stopped, by the United Nations, the United States, France, Belgium. The genocide went on for three months until a small rebel army, led by Rwanda’s current president Paul Kagami, was able to take control of the country.

Photo: Mamie Manneh, Monkey & Meat from Recipezaar

A few years ago, I watched a PBS special on 'bushmeat' or monkey meat in Africa and how the gorillas and monkeys populations were briskly being decimated, due to the high demand for food in many countries. The meat was sold on the black market and in some places openly. I sat in horror as I watched the meat being sold, and the footage of the dead carcasses, but I did not think for once, that the meat would be the center of a court case here in the U.S.

I know many would argue, including monkey meat eaters, and Koreans who eat dog meat, that their eating of monkeys and dogs is no different from people eating beef, chicken, pork, or fish. Bushmeat can be any wild animal. Okay. I get it. But MONKEY??? LOL. It's still a big yuck for me. I don't condemn those who eat it, but monkeys are too high up on the food chain for me. Next is humans. If you have tasted monkey meat before, and it tastes like anything other than chicken, please let me know in vivid detail what it tastes like. An inquiring mind wants to know. Thanks.

Back to the story. Mamie Manneh, 39, a Staten Island resident and native of Liberia is fighting a federal monkey meat case. She is currently in jail for for trying run over a lady she suspected of sleeping with her husband, according to AP news.

The UK Daily Mail reports:

""I've disappointed you. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," Winfrey told parents after flying into South Africa to attend an emergency meeting in a packed marquee tent on the school premises at Henley-on-Klip.

Winfrey has visited her school at Henley-on-Klip near Vereeniging at least twice in the past few weeks after allegations that one of the matrons fondled a girl and that other pupils had been physically abused.

Referring to the principal, Winfrey said: "I trusted her. When I appointed her, I thought she was passionate about the children of Africa. But I've been disappointed."

According to reports in the United States, the father of one of the pupils responded by telling Winfrey: "It's not your fault. We don't blame you.

"You trusted them. You have more passion for the school and its existence than anyone else in this country, including us parents." Winfrey gave parents the assurance she would do everything possible to ensure that those who had been guilty of abuse would be dealt with." READ MORE...

Photo Credit: AP

AP News reports:

"A dormitory matron at Oprah Winfrey's school for disadvantaged girls in South Africa has been suspended amid allegations of serious misconduct.

No details were disclosed about the alleged offense at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls at Henley on Klip, just south of Johannesburg.

Police confirmed they had been informed of the allegation, but weren't investigating at this stage.

Chief Executive Officer John Samuel said an internal inquiry had been initiated "based on one serious claim of misconduct involving a dormitory parent."

South Africa's Child Protection Services have been notified, and U.S. and South African private detectives have been engaged to investigate, Samuel said." READ MORE...

Sade wrote and performed this song for the DVD Voices for Darfur back in 2005. It was her first recording in 4 years. Keep in mind, this track was not for entertainment purposes. Just to think two years ago, this fundraiser concert was held at London's Royal Albert Hall to raise funds for the victims of the conflict in Darfur, and progress is still slow.

Sade, come back soon. Her last known whereabouts are in London. There are only references to the one child she had with a Jamaican man, but my understanding back in the 80s was she had two young children by her then Spaniard husband. Am I the only person in the world who was under this impression? Looks like her website has not been updated in years, and while asthetically pleasing, it’s not user friendly. If you have patience you can watch video clips or view images.

Reference:

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
http://www.unhcr.org/

Official Sade Website
http://www.sade.com/