A free concert at the Cedar on the Sunday after Thanksgiving on November 25, 2018 will feature Nigeria's Carolyne Naomi, Sudanese-American hip hop artist Amjet Kemet and Eritrean-American singer Temezgen.
A free concert at the Cedar on the Sunday after Thanksgiving on November 25, 2018 will feature Nigeria's Carolyne Naomi, Sudanese-American hip hop artist Amjet Kemet and Eritrean-American singer Temezgen.A free concert at the Cedar on the Sunday after Thanksgiving on November 25, 2018 will feature Nigeria’s Carolyne Naomi, Sudanese-American hip hop artist Amjet Kemet and Eritrean-American singer Temezgen.
The Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis will present an African Diaspora Music Showcase featuring Carolyne Naomi, Temezgen, Amjet Kemet the Sunday after Thanksgiving on November 25. The three were supposed to perform as part of this year’s Global Roots Festival in September but the outdoor show got rained out.
The concert is free and tickets can be reserved online at the Cedar website.
The Minneapolis-based Carolyne Naomi, who was one of the featured artists at last month’s African Awards gala in Minneapolis, where she was well received, is a Lagos born and raised guitarist. She describes her style as a “culmination of different music I grew up listing to over the years: R&B and soul from the ’80s era to present, pop, jazz, gospel, and Afro-beats.”
Amjet Kemet is a Sudanese American hip hop artist and poet and co-founder of Nomadic Expressions Open Mic.
Temezgen, an Eritrean American RnB/Alternative singer-songwriter and producer from the Twin Cities rounds up the showcase.
Liberian-born and Minnesota-raised Mike Elliott defeated a 12-year incumbent to become the mayor of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and also that city's first non-white mayor. Photo: Mike Elliott Facebook age
Liberian-born and Minnesota-raised Mike Elliott defeated a 12-year incumbent to become the mayor of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and also that city's first non-white mayor. Photo: Mike Elliott Facebook ageLiberian-American Wynfred Russell won the City of Brooklyn Park City Council race in the West District on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 to become the second person of color to serve in that city’s council. Photo: Wynfred Russell CampaignLiberian-born and Minnesota-raised Mike Elliott defeated a 12-year incumbent to become the mayor of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and also that city’s first non-white mayor. Photo: Mike Elliott Facebook age
The groundbreaking victory during last week’s midterms by Ilhan Omar as the first Africa-born black person to be elected to the United States Congress commanded the most attention for those outside the cities of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park but in the two Brooklyns, a duo of two Liberian-Americans, Mike Elliott and Wynfred Russell, made history of their own. The two shook things up at the ballot box to overcome previous losses and join the two cities’ city councils.
Mike Elliot, in his second try for mayor of Brooklyn Center beat the 12-year incumbent Tim Willson to become that city’s first non-white mayor. In 2014 when he first ran, Elliott lost to Willson by 145 votes.
Elliot got his spark for politics while still in high school student when he walked to the Brooklyn Center City Hall to get a permit for a car wash to raise money for the senior prom.
“That was my first time seeing local government up-close,” he said. He is now the mayor and has a few things he would like to do for his city.
Speaking with Mshale after the election mayor-elect Elliott said he was elated by his election as it signaled the city residents were ready for a change. He won with a convincing 54% of the vote. One of his priorities will be to focus on the vitality of the business community in Brooklyn Center. He is a small business owner himself.
Members of the clergy and community leaders pray for Brooklyn Park City Council Member-elect Wynfred Russell (left) and Brooklyn Center Mayor-elect Mike Elliott at Ebenezer Community Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota on Sunday, November 11, 2018 after the duo’s historic win at the November 6, 2018 midterm elections. Photo: Milton Massaquoi
“As you know Target is closing its Brooklyn Center store which is going to be devastating for our community,” Elliott said. “I want to see how we can avoid such in the future.”
Target announced in October that it will close its Brooklyn Center store in February for what it called “decreasing profitability.” Elliott is concerned about a domino effect of other businesses closing shop in his city.
“We will involve the community in everything we do to increase the vitality and quality of living of our city,” Elliott said.
The mayor-elect also expressed his wish to see ‘sit-down’ restaurants in Brooklyn Center which will make the city a destination point.
In neighboring Brooklyn Park, Wynfred Russell, convincingly won his race for city council in the West District by garnering over 55% of the vote to put behind him the experience of his last run in 2012 when he lost by five votes to the same candidate, he beat last week. The 2012 loss by five votes has since become a motivating factor for other candidates who use it as an example to warn against voter apathy and why every vote counts.
The election of Russell also makes him the second person of color to ever serve on the Brooklyn Park City Council following the election of Susan Pha two years ago.
In a post-election interview with Mshale, Russell attributed his win this time around to a winning coalition that brought together different voices and concerns into his campaign.
“We were able bring together a multigenerational, multiethnic coalition with shared values and concerns,” Russell said. Those issues, Russell said, included affordable housing that includes both renters and home owners.
“We intentionally went out and expanded the electorate by reaching voters we didn’t reach the last time,” Russell said, referring to his arrow 2012 loss.
Russell said once he is sworn-in, he intends to focus on the issues that got him elected.
A fitness and outdoor enthusiast, Russell was animated and appreciative when asked about his reaction to the overwhelming voter approval of a $26 million bond referendum to upgrade the city’s parks and building of new senior facilities and teen centers. The referendum passed with 62% (over 18,000 voters) voting in favor.
“That was a big thing for me as I think it’s going to benefit our people greatly as a lot of the parks, which happen to be in my district, are in bad shape,” said Russell.
Russell said other issues he intends to look into in collaboration with others in the council include youth engagement which ties in with the passing of the referendum. He said the voters overwhelming passage of the bond should make it easier to engage the youth with relevant activities to keep them engaged and active.
“I also intend to focus on the small businesses of which many are run by people of color and do not get the same tax breaks or incentives other big companies get from our city,” he said. “But if we can get some grants to support them, the small business is the backbone of the economy and it will benefit our city if they thrive.”
Russell said the Brooklyn Park Fire Department is understaffed and that it will also be a focus of his “but I will learn more when I get there.”
Swearing In
Mayor-elect Elliott and Council Member-elect Russell will be sworn into office on January 7, 2019 at their respective city council meetings which begin at 7:00PM.
Ilhan Omar speaking to supporters after wining Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District race to become the first Africa-born person to be elected to the United States Congress. Photo: Mshale Facebook
Ilhan Omar speaking to supporters after wining Minnesota's Fifth Congressional District race to become the first Africa-born person to be elected to the United States Congress. Photo: Mshale Facebook
Ilhan Omar, who two years ago made history by becoming the first Somali-American ever elected to a US state legislature, made history again Tuesday when she notched up more firsts by winning the Minnesota fifth congressional to become the first black person born in Africa to be elected to the U.S. Congress.
Along with Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Omar and the Detroit-born Palestinian-American Tlaib will also become the first two Muslim women to serve in the U.S. Congress. Omar is a refugee who spent four years of her childhood in a refugee camp in Kenya. She succeeds Keith Ellison, who was the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress. Ellison opted to run for Minnesota Attorney General which he won, making him the state’s first black Attorney-General.
“I could not standby on the sidelines and see the promise of America not being kept,” said Omar as her husband, Ahmed Hirsi, and their three children stood behind her on stage.
To wild applause, she pledged to take the fight to Washington and also repeated a campaign promise to abolish the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
“Here in Minnesota, we not only welcome immigrants, we send them to Washington,” she told the multiracial crowd that propelled her to victory. She warned them that her victory does not end the struggle against bigotry and that they must stand to defend America’s democracy which is at stake.
“She has always been a smart kid growing up,” a beaming Nur Omar Mohamed, Omar’s father, told Mshale when asked whether he ever dreamed of her daughter ever bouncing a United States congresswoman. “I always knew she will be something but this is something else.”
A sea of international media, from as far as Japan and the BBC’s Nairobi crew were present to capture the historic moment.
Pat Paulson, a realtor, has lived in the fifth district his whole life. During that time, it has been represented by only three representatives, Martin Sabo and Keith Ellison. “It is truly an historic election and I have supported Ilhan as soon as she announced she was running as she was committed to fighting the “politics of fear,” said Paulson.
“She not only understands the social issues that face our society but I am also a relator and businessman and Ilhan has shown a good grasp of the issues that face small business in our district,” Paulson said.
“This is history for all of Africa,” a smiling Abdulrahman Kahin said. Kahin, an immigrant from Djibouti said going forward those born in Africa like him will now have a voice in Washington.
Four US colleges have sued the Trump administration's latest restrictive student visa policies.
Four US colleges have sued the Trump administration's latest restrictive student visa policies.Four US colleges have sued the Trump administration’s latest restrictive student visa policies.
Four US colleges, which depend heavily on foreign students including those from India, have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s recent changes in the student visa policy, saying it would impact America’s standing as a center of global education.
The lawsuit — filed in a District Court in North Carolina by Guilford College International Club in North Carolina, The New School from New York City, Foothill-De Anza Community College District in California and Haverford College — alleges that the latest move would make it difficult for foreign students to come to America.
It also said that the changes by the Department of Homeland Security in August to non-immigrant visas could make it easier to bar international students from the US for periods of three or 10 years if they fall out of status.
“The new policy’s use of a backdated unlawful-presence clock will render tens of thousands of F, J, and M visa holders subject to three- and 10-year reentry bars without any opportunity to cure.
“This policy is intentionally designed to impose tens of thousands of reentry bars on F, J, and M visa holders each year,” the colleges, which heavily depend on foreign students including those from India, said in the lawsuit.
F, J and M visas are normally issued to students and research scholars.
According to the lawsuit, foreign students under the new policy are given 180 days from the time it is determined their status violation began, instead of the previous practice of 180 days when they received the notification of unlawful presence.
As a result, the new policy will result in the three- or 10-year banishment of untold numbers of international students and exchange visitors acting in good faith, it alleged.
The lawsuit said that for those students and visitors who have chosen to teach or work in the US, imposition of a three- or 10-year reentry bar will fundamentally and irreparably injure their lives.
“It also imposes a financial harm on institutions in terms of lost tuition dollars and local communities in terms of foregone discretionary expenditures by bias holders,” the lawsuit alleged.
Of the four colleges, New York City-based The New School has more than 3,600 international students on F-1 visas. It also has roughly an additional 900 F-1 alumni currently completing optional practical training. The school has approximately 100 students on J visas and roughly an additional 38 J-1 scholars.
According to the lawsuit, recently, because of the August 2018 Policy Memorandum, a student of The New School left the US in order to take the correct action to regain her status but subsequently took a semester-long leave of absence out of fear of accruing unlawful presence time under the new policy.
“That fundamentally disrupted the student-university relationship, and The New School lost tuition as a result. But for the August 2018 Policy Memorandum, the student would not have stopped her education with The New School,” it said.
Another student at The New School, a doctoral candidate, had an I-20 with a programme end date of June 30, 2018. This student has been at The New School since 2012 and because of financial constraints, the student was unable to extend the I-20, as the Designated School Officer was unable to determine that the student could support themselves.
“To avoid accruing unlawful presence under the August 2018 Policy Memorandum, the student was required to travel in order to restart the I-20, which came at significant cost,” the lawsuit said.
As a result of the new policy direction, the lawsuit said Haverford recently was required to ask two international students to leave the campus based on potential status violations that, prior to the new policy, would not have disrupted their studies.
“This upsets the crucial student-university relationship with these students and has irreparably disrupted these students’ educational plans, and Haverford has lost tuition as a result,” it added.
Cover photo for “African Heat” section of Afro Hub. Photo: IR Insider
Cover photo for “African Heat” section of Afro Hub. Photo: IR Insider
Cover photo for “African Heat” section of Afro Hub. Photo: IR InsiderCover photo for “African Heat” section of Afro Hub. Photo: IR Insider
Spotify recently launched its Afro Hub initiative as part of its Global Cultures Project. “It’s our mission to uncover every layer of this ancient, expressive and rhythmic musical culture which is an important component of today’s mainstream, modern music,” the popular music streaming service said.
This is a welcome and calculated move by the streaming giant, especially considering the global crossover of Afrobeat — a genre of music that is attributed to West African artist Wizkid and mostly Nigerian artist Davido. The latter’s song “If” was No. 1 on New York’s Shazzam chart on Thursday, Oct. 11, according to All Africa. Wizkid has collaborated with American artists such as Drake and was invited to perform at some of the biggest festivals in the United States, such as Coachella and Made in America. Artists like Tiwa Savage, a Nigerian singer-songwriter, are signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation label. All these factors, as well as a large diaspora of Africans sharing their music, have led to the rest of the world taking notice.
The Afro Hub platform divides the music into regional sections with West Africa featuring “Coupé-Décalé,” which is an upbeat dance style of music from Ivory Coast; “Highlife Fever,” a genre of music typically associated with Ghana and Nigeria; “Afrobeat Essentials,” a genre associated with Fela Kuti, and more. East Africa is represented by “Ethio Pop” from Ethiopia and other nations, while Central Africa is represented by “Kizomba,” which hails from Angola and Mozambique. The hub also features South African rock, Zamrock from Zambia, house music, and more. However, one drawback of Afro Hub is the lack of music from North Africa.
Alec Lomami, a Congolese American-based artist, producer, and DJ, shared his thoughts in an interview with IR INSIDER.
“It’s a good start but I think they should have a more Pan African approach. It seems to be very Nigerian heavy. I know it’s a work in progress and will be continuously updated,” Lomami said.
“I’d like to see more up and coming artists featured too because it’s such a huge platform that would benefit the up-and-comers immensely.”
The Afro Hub section also includes podcasts created by Africans such as the popular “Jesus and Jollof” podcast which is hosted by New York Times Best Selling author Luvvie Ajayi and Insecure actress Yvonne Orji.
Minnesota law allows you to register on Election Day and vote.
Minnesota law allows you to register on Election Day and vote.Minnesota law allows you to register on Election Day and vote.Minnesota law allows you to register on Election Day and vote.
If you are eligible to vote but you are not registered as a voter, Minnesota law allows you to register on election day by doing the following:
a.) bringing your ID that has your current address or if you don’t have one, a permit, passport, school ID, military or tribal ID, student fee statements, a lease agreement valid through election day or most bills or bank statements that also list your address. If you still don’t have the preceding, bring a registered voter who will vouch for you by signing an oath that you live at the address you claim to.
On November 6, polls will open at 7am and close at 8pm.
Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
MINNEAPOLIS – The African Awards, organized annually by Mshale Newspaper, held its glittering seventh African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13 at the World Headquarters of Target Corporation in Minneapolis. This year marked the first time that the African Awards have been held away from a hotel ballroom or convention center, a result of a major commitment at last year’s gala by Target VP for Diversity and Human Resources, Caroline Wanga to host them at Target. The company was also the main sponsor for 2018.
The three-hour formal gala program was preceded by a red carpet walk for attendees, awardees and presenters and a TV interview by WOW Africa and a heavy hors d’oeuvres that featured South African wines. The main highlight of the evening being the honoring of individuals and organizations that have exemplified excellence and distinction in serving the community while pursuing their business or scholarly objectives as defined in the criteria for their respective award categories. All finalists were nominated and voted on by their community.
Before the formal gala program could begin however, local up-and-coming rapper, FANAKA, lunged on to the stage to warm up the crowd with a song to set the tone for the festive evening. He performed throughout the evening his energizing songs, blending traditional African rhythms and hip-hop. In honor of the African Awards, FANAKA released his latest music video, “Naka from the Block.”
After a welcome from Mshale founder Tom Gitaa, who thanked Target for hosting the gala, he invited Target’s Wanga to the stage. Wanga said, “You are here tonight because it is important for Target to tell you that you matter to us.” She went on to say that, her company cares about the African immigrant community. “The investment in this awards are a small token to tell you that we see you, that you matter, are important and that it is not because I am an African immigrant that this came through, but because you are important demographic to a company that makes money and thus we are honored to have you here tonight,” Wanga said.
Wanga went on to breakdown the important demographics of the African immigrant community that are of interest to her company, including the estimated 200,000 plus African immigrants in Target’s home state of Minnesota.
Minneapolis based R & B singer, the Lagos born and bred Carolyne Naomi, delivered a soulful acoustic set during an African dinner prepared in-house by Target.
The evening gala, already elegant in all aspects, was taken to another level with the entry of Soweto Street Beat. A world music ensemble based in South Africa and Atlanta, the magic of the drums delivered by the group had almost everyone take out their cell phones to record the performance. “We don’t do this for money but to promote our culture as I love my people,” said Soweto’s director, Peter Ngcobo.
Retired Minnesota judge, Lajune Lange was the keynote speaker. Before speaking, she invited Ngugi wa Thiong’o to the stage to make brief remarks. Thiong’o was in town for the Twin Cities Book festival happening the same day as the African Awards and Gitaa, who hosted him the night before, invited him to the awards as a special surprise for the guests. The author and former political prisoner added to the significance of the evening by noting the pan-Africanism that was on display. Thiong’o was warmly received and he stressed the importance of African languages, a cause he has championed all of his life, he said. Also gracing the evening was the National High School Debating champion, Halima Badri of Apple Valley High School who was invited to the stage by the MC Charles Dennis to greet the guests.
Judge Lange, the founder of the International leadership Institute, told the audience the importance of education and why America and Minnesota in particular, needs to look to Africa on how to get education right. She said when in Africa “When I walk in any school (in Africa) children aged three can read English and write in cursive and it does not matter whether their parents can read or not.”
Lange also revealed to the audience that in the United States, Kenyans have the most PhDs awarded to loud applause. She concluded by saying, “you are part of the future plans of Africa.”
“Remember that song, ‘oh what night’,” Leon Rodrigues, chair of the African Awards Panel of Judges, asked the audience in reference to the spectacular evening as he took the stage and got ready along with fellow judge Miata Getaweh to announce the award winners. First, he asked to audience to join him in congratulating Dr. Getaweh for getting her doctorate recently. Rodrigues said their fellow judge Godson Sowah could not join them at the gala this year as he was out of town.
The evening also featured a video message from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey congratulating the finalists. State Representative Ilhan Omar, a past recipient of the African Awards’ Community Leadership Award, also delivered a video message congratulating the finalists. Omar, who is running for the US Congress and destined to be the first black person born in Africa to be in Congress, said in her message that her winning the African Awards a few years ago is what prompted her to first run for office.
The following are the winners of this year’s African Awards. Each winner, in addition to the coveted trophy that is made by hand in Nairobi, also received a laptop computer and six months of free internet access courtesy of Comcast, which returned for the second year as a sponsor.
Artist of the Year: Yusuf Shalita
Student of the Year: Hajaratu Jaafaru
Business of the Year: Afro Deli
Spirit of the Moran: Abdullah Kiatamba
Community Leadership: Jonathan Rose
Non-profit Organization of the Year: Mercy International Missions
The next African Awards gala will be on Saturday, October 12, 2019.
Hajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleMarcus Mays of Comcast, a returning sponsor of the African Awards, speaks at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshalePeter Ngcobo, Soweto Street Beat Director, introduces his group which is based in South Africa and Atlanta before their performance at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleLiterary giant, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, speaking at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleCaroline Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President Human Resources at Target Corporation speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleLiterary giant, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, a Distinguished Professor of English and Comparative Literature at the University of California, acknowledges applause at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
The evening’s master of ceremonies, Charles Dennis, at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleThe evening’s master of ceremonies, Charles Dennis, invites Halima Badri, a student at Apple Valley High School and the reigning US National Champion in Original Oratory to greet guests at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleHalima Badri, a student at Apple Valley High School and the reigning US National Champion in Original Oratory greets attendees at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleTom Gitaa, Founder and the President of Mshale, speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleFanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleFanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleFanaka, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleCarolyne Naomi, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleConga player, Christian Adeti, at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleCarolyne Naomi, a Twin Cities artist, performing at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleSoweto Street Beat, which is based in South Africa and Atlanta, performs at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018 of which they were the main entertainment act. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleCaroline Wanga, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and Vice President Human Resources at Target Corporation speaking at the African Awards Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2018 in Minneapolis. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleDr. Leon Rodrigues (left) chair of the African Awards Judges’ Panel and fellow judge, Dr. Miata Getaweh, get ready to announce the finalists and winners at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleYusuf Shalita accepting the Artist of the Year at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleAbdullah Kiatamba, executive director of African Immigrant Services, accepting the Spirit of the Moran Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleThomas Fadirepo of Mercy International Missions accepting the Non-Profit Organization of the Year Award on behalf of his organization at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleAbdulrahman Kahin, owner of Afro Deli accepting the Business of the Year Award on behalf of his company at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleDr. Jonathan Rose, accepting the Community Leadership Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/MshaleHajaratu Jaafaru, a student at the University of St. Thomas, accepting the Student of the Year Award at the 7th Edition of the African Awards held at Target Corporation World Headquarters in Minneapolis on Saturday, October 13, 2018. The annual awards gala is organized by Mshale Newspaper. Photo: Richard Ooga/Mshale
Senegal's music titan, Youssou N'Dour performing at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Senegal's music titan, Youssou N'Dour performing at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleSenegal’s music titan, Youssou N’Dour performing at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleSenegal’s music titan, Youssou N’Dour singing Africa at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleA dancer at the Youssou N’Dour concert shows his moves during the music titan’s sold out show at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleSenegal’s music titan, Youssou N’Dour performing at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleSenegal’s music titan, Youssou N’Dour holds the microphone to amplify the tama sound at Carnegie Hall in New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018 during a thrilling sold out show. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleA sign outside Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 20, 2018 tells the public the Youssou N’Dour concert is sold out. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
NEW YORK – “A singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it” is how Rolling Stones once described Youssou N’Dour. Others just choose to describe him as the ‘Voice of Africa’ and with more than 30 albums including the Grammy-winning Egypt (2005), the singer from Senegal proved on Saturday why such accolades are thrown his way with a spellbinding concert at Carnegie Hall.
“Are you ready for Youssou N’Dour?” a band member asks with the audience answering loudly in the affirmative. The sign outside said the concert was sold out in the 2,800 capacity Stern auditorium, described as the most prestigious concert stage in the country. N’Dour performance was Carnegie Hall’s 2018/2019 season opener and there was no empty seat in sight.
A large turnout of the New York based Senegalese community ensured this was not going to be a typical Carnegie Hall concert. Two songs onto the set an it quickly becomes clear that normal Carnegie Hall protocol will have to be dispensed with as ushers give up asking patrons not to record the performance.
Third song in and almost everyone in the main level is standing up. There are couples, young and old, from many cultures, all moving to the sound of Mbalax. There were suits and then there were Senegalese dressed to the high nines in their traditional attire. N’Dour himself wore a white Senegalese boubou with a gold pattern on the chest and arms.
A young woman seated to my left who has never been to Carnegie Hall stands up after marveling at the stage. She grabs a few shots with her phone and facetimes with a friend and does a few selfies.
“This is so good,” she says. “I’ve never been here before and I paid lots for it.” She says her name is Fatimah and has lived in New York for 15 years. This is her first Youssou N’Dour concert in the US. We were two rows from the stage on the main floor so she was right that she paid a fortune – about $80 if you bought them during the window Carnegie subscribers are given first dibs before the general public and more on the resale market. I tell her I don’t know a word that Youssou is singing but I am a fan. She laughs out loud and continues to sway.
“Oh my God the sound,” my wife says about the acoustics that are Carnegie Hall as we both stand to join in the festive atmosphere as N’Dour ups the ante with Set.
The setlist was varied given the broad catalogue he has compiled over the years. There was the power of the drum that was commanding and present but so was the brilliant percussion that when delivered through the outrageously beautiful acoustics at Carnegie was just a thrill to take in. By the time N’Dour was playing his fifth number, the entire audience was on their feet. Some had made their way from the back to the front, creating a festive party atmosphere.
Given that Mbalax music, which N’Dour sings in Wolof, fuses African, pop, jazz, Caribbean and rock it calls for a varied pace with the set. So at one time, actually most of the time, we will be treated to groovy hits like Set and Happy that kept folks standing and dancing, but along the way he will switch to serious reflective tunes like Africa and the in between like Birima. With sweat pouring down their faces, the reflective tunes gave the revelers some time to cool down.
There was also a dancer clad in a Senegalese flag that was part of the entertainment. He will move from one end of the stage to the other with energetic acrobatics that added some great flavor to the show as N’Dour sang. Him and N’Dour made sure to stay out of each other’s way.
There was one instrument that N’Dour wanted to make sure was heard – the tama. As the tama player feverishly played his instrument, N’Dour went and brought hm to the front of the stage and the music titan then held the microphone to the tama to amplify it for a titillating five minutes that seemed to take the audience to another level given the enthusiastic cheering that followed.
An encore performance turned into a whole show by itself. Fans who shouted for the encore were probably expecting a song or two after N’Dour and his band came back on stage after the loudest calls for an encore I have ever heard. The short break on what was supposed to be the end of the show turned out to be merely an intermission, as N’Dour and his band came back and gave another full blown second half. By the time all was said and done, Youssou N’Dour had played an almost two-hour set.
The latest print edition of Mshale is avilable in newsstands and features a colorful spread of the endorsed candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Election Day is November 6.
The latest print edition of Mshale is avilable in newsstands and features a colorful spread of the endorsed candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Election Day is November 6.The latest print edition of Mshale is available in newsstands and features a colorful spread of the endorsed candidates in the upcoming midterm elections. Election Day is November 6.
The midterm elections are on November 6 and as previously announced, Mshale was going to make endorsements in areas around the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area where many of our readers reside. We reach a global audience through mshale.com and are indeed regarded as an authoritative voice for the African immigrant community in the Americas but a lot of our news reporting and operations still emanate in Minnesota.
How we made our endorsements
As announced in a previous post, we picked some races to make endorsements on. We sent questionnaires to the candidates which most returned. If a candidate did not return the questionnaire we determined they were not interested in our endorsement.
Our determinations were made based on the candidate responses and also what our readers had told us was important to them.
A top concern for our readers was immigration, followed by healthcare and education.
US House Endorsements
Minnesota US House District 3: We endorse Dean Philips.
Asked if he supports the elimination of the Diversity Visa Lottery, Dean Phillips responded “No. Among other things, the Diversity Visa Lottery provides opportunity for African immigrants who may have no other way to come to the United States. ”
On the reduced numbers of refugees since president Trump came to office “While we cannot possibly accommodate everyone who wishes to come to the United States, we have a moral responsibility to provide safe haven to as many of those who – like my ancestors and those of many Americans – are fleeing persecution or violence abroad as possible, without overwhelming our immigration system or jeopardizing our ability to vet them.”
Minnesota US House District 4: We endorse Betty McCollum.
On Foreign Affairs, Congresswoman McCollum responded to our question on how president Trump should eb graded by saying she will give him an F “With regard to Africa, in addition to blatantly insulting our African allies, Trump wants to abandon commitments to improve food security, poverty alleviation, and resettle African refugees in the U.S. The fact of the matter is, with regard to foreign policy, this administration is a disaster”.
McCollum also expressed similar views on healthcare and immigration to Dean Phillips above and Ilhan Omar below and thus earns our endorsement.
Minnesota US House District 5: We endorse Ilhan Omar.
Omar does not support the elimination of the Diversity Visa Lottery. She further says in her response to Mshale’s questions that “Undocumented immigrants need clear and accessible paths to citizenship. This means that we must pass a clean DREAM act in Congress for all DACA and TPS recipients as these programs alone will not be enough for individuals in need. I stand against any increased barriers to citizenship and will advocate for the elimination of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)”.
Furthermore, Omar stated that she opposes moves to eliminate or weaken one of Obama’s signature achievement the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Omar also supports the DREAM ACT for those on DACA.
Mshale has editorialized on similar views as those held by Omar above and thus she earns our endorsement.
US Senate
For the US Senatorial races, Mshale did not send questionnaires to the candidates as the differences between the candidates is clear in their publicly stated and published policies. Opponents to the above two candidates have espoused policies inimical to the interests and well-being of our readers and many recent immigrants. We therefore did not use valuable and finite editorial resources to send questionnaires to candidates running for the US Senate in Minnesota as we did with most others where we are endorsing.
Therefore, for November 6, Mshale endorses Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith in the two Minnesota US Senate seats up for reelection this year.
Minnesota Constitutional Offices (Statewide)
Governor: We endorse Tim Walz.
Attorney General: We endorse Keith Ellison.
Secretary of State: We endorse Steve Simon.
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 36B: We endorse Melissa Hortman.
District 40B: We endorse Samantha Vang.
District 62A: We endorse Hodan Hassan.
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners
The Hennepin County Commissioner race in District 4 is the only county level race Mshale is issuing an endorsement and we endorse incumbent Peter McLaughlin. Hennepin County is the largest in Minnesota and home to most African immigrants in our state. McLaughlin is the only candidate that responded to our questions and given that there is not much difference in policy between him and a candidate we very much admire, Angela Conley, we appreciate the fact that he took the time to thoughtfully respond to our questions.
We believe if reelected he will continue to serve the interests of our community in what possibly will be his last time running for reelection, as we believe time is ripe to give way for new blood and energy.
In a proposed new rule published on October 17, the Trump administration wants to limit how long international students on F-1 visas can stay in the US.
In a proposed new rule published on October 17, the Trump administration wants to limit how long international students on F-1 visas can stay in the US.In a proposed new rule published on October 17, the Trump administration wants to limit how long international students on F-1 visas can stay in the US.
The Trump administration on Wednesday published a proposed a new rule to be effective in fall 2019 that will establish a maximum period of authorized stay for international students.
The proposed rule, published on the government website reginfo.gov says the need for such a rule is “intended to decrease the incidence of non-immigrant student overstays and improve the integrity of the non-immigrant student visa.” The proposed rule will undoubtedly unsettle US universities who are already reeling from declining numbers of international students worried that they are not welcome since president Trump took office.
For years, as is still the case unless this new rule takes effect, international students have had their visas have what is called “duration of status” meaning their student visas are valid as long as they maintain their status as students, generally understood to mean they maintain a full course load and do not work without authorization. The type of academic program they are enrolled in thus dictates how long they take to finish their degree.
The Trump administration’s new rule slated for fall 2019 will replace the “duration of status” with a fixed maximum term for F-1 students and other non-immigrant visa holders. The proposed rule on reginfo.gov does not specify how long the fixed term will be but states that there will be “options for extensions, for each applicable visa category.”
There is no guarantee that the new rule will see the light of day but it is the latest assault on international students by the Trump administration even though a new report early this year from the National Science Foundation indicated that the number of international students in the U.S. fell by 2.2 percent at the undergraduate level and 5.5 percent at the graduate level, from fall 2016 to 2017 based on government-held student visa data.
Born in Uganda, now living in the United States, Kinobe is an artist at the cutting edge of contemporary traditional music from Africa. Photo: AfroPop
Born in Uganda, now living in the United States, Kinobe is an artist at the cutting edge of contemporary traditional music from Africa. Photo: AfroPopBorn in Uganda, now living in the United States, Kinobe is an artist at the cutting edge of contemporary traditional music from Africa. Photo: AfroPop
Kinobe is an artist at the cutting edge of contemporary traditional music from Africa. Born in Uganda, now living in the United States, Kinobe has done something rare. In addition to mastering the Baganda traditional arts he grew up with, like playing the deep-toned buzzy endongo lyre and the endingidi one-string fiddle, he has gone beyond ethnic and national boundaries to study a wide range of traditions. Kinobe first heard the Mande korain a concert by Baaba Maal in the Netherlands in 1995, and a few years later he arrived in Bamako, speaking no French or Bambara, but determined to learn to play this unusual harp, which he had fallen in love with. Toumani Diabaté told Kinobe that no Anglo-African had ever come to study with him and his legendary family. Not only did Kinobe come, but he returned, multiple times to learn ngoni, balafon and tama (talking drum), as well as kora. And he is now considered a part of the Diabaté family.
On his second solo album, Kinobe plays all these instruments and also the akogo, a member of the kalimba/mbira family of instruments from eastern Uganda, and the adungu a harp from the country’s north. Over the course of 19 tracks, Kinobe constructs meditative, deeply engaging songs, sometimes featuring a single instrument and his soft, clear voice, and sometimes creating beautiful juxtapositions. Beyond the musical innovations, Kinobe proves himself a soulful songwriter, singing solo and in harmony in multiple languages, including English, and addressing topics of profound importance to Africans and all who care about Africa.
