Abdi Salah becomes a senior policy aide to newly elected Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey. Salah formerly was a senior policy aide to Council Member Abdi Warsame. Photo: Submitted
Abdi Salah becomes a senior policy aide to newly elected Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey. Salah formerly was a senior policy aide to Council Member Abdi Warsame. Photo: Submitted Abdi Salah becomes a senior policy aide to newly elected Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey. Salah formerly was a senior policy aide to Council Member Abdi Warsame. Photo: Submitted
New Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey was sworn in last week and his office has announced the appointment of Abdi Salah as his Senior Policy Aide.
A rising star at Minneapolis City Hall, Salah first came there to work as a senior policy aide to Council member Abdi Warsame. Salah’s former boss was a strong supporter of Mayor Frey in the November elections where Frey ousted first term mayor Betsy Hodges. Warsame, the first Somali-American elected to the Minneapolis City Council, this week took over as the chairman of the powerful Ways and Means committee.
According to a statement from the mayor’s office, Salah’s new elevated and expanded role at the mayor’s office will include working on employment, training and supporting local businesses.
“Salah will also work on a number of economic development functions with a focus on advancing the mayor’s policy priorities,” the mayor’s statement went on to say.
Salah’s appointment signals the growing influence of the Somali-American voting bloc in Twin Cities politics. He is however well prepared for the new challenge as his previous position as an aide to Warsame had his hands full working on initiatives that included training and after school programs. Salah, while working for Warsame, was a key player on behalf of his boss in efforts that led to the creation of the celebrated Cedar Riverside Opportunity Center.
“Working for the 6th Ward and Council Member Warsame these past four years has been a great honor. I am excited that I will be working for Mayor Frey and I am looking forward to partnering with him in the effort to improve the lives of the citizens of Minneapolis,” Salah told Mshale.
David Oyelowo in 'Selma.' The British-Nigerian actor is slated to keynote the 28th annual Martin Luther King Holiday Breakfast in Minneapolis on Monday, January 15, 2018. The breakfast is organized by General Mills and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and proceeds go towards college scholarships.
David Oyelowo in 'Selma.' The British-Nigerian actor is slated to keynote the 28th annual Martin Luther King Holiday Breakfast in Minneapolis on Monday, January 15, 2018. The breakfast is organized by General Mills and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and proceeds go towards college scholarships.David Oyelowo in ‘Selma.’ The British-Nigerian actor is slated to keynote the 28th annual Martin Luther King Holiday Breakfast in Minneapolis on Monday, January 15, 2018. The breakfast is organized by General Mills and the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) and proceeds go towards college scholarships.
David Oyelowo, who played Martin Luther King Jr. in the acclaimed ‘Selma’ movie, will be in Minneapolis on Monday to deliver the keynote address at the 28th Annual MLK Holiday Breakfast on Monday, January 15. The theme for this year’s breakfast which will be held at the Minneapolis Armory is “Building Bridges for a Bold Dream.”
The breakfast serves as a fundraiser to raise scholarship funds for area students through the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). The organization awards scholarships to more than 10,000 annually totaling $100 million. The annual breakfast is organized jointly by General Mills and UNCF and usually sells out quickly and this year was no exception. Those without tickets can however watch a live broadcast on Twin Cities Public Television at 8 a.m. CST.
UNCF Area Director, Laverne McCartney Knighton, of the UNCF Minneapolis office told Mshale all students of color are eligible to apply for the scholarships. Knighton also called attention to the UNCF national annual Empower Me Tour which normally kicks off every year in Minneapolis each September before it travels the nation. She described it as a “free, traveling college and career readiness road show” which brings together over 1,000 students of color from around the Twin Cities to make them excited about the college and give them face time with college recruiters from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Knighton’s Minneapolis area office covers Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North and South Dakota and focuses primarily on fundraising as do the other 21 area UNCF offices around the country.
This year’s breakfast keynote speaker, Oyelowo, is British-Nigerian. In 2016, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for his distinguished service to drama. Michael L. Lomax, UNCF president and CEO described Oyelowo’s performance in Selma as “masterful” and that he looked forward to the actor sharing his experience embodying and paying tribute to such an historic figure. Oyelowo has attributed his opportunity to play Dr. King in ‘Selma’ to God.
“I always knew that in order to play Dr. King, I had to have God flow through me because when you see Dr. King giving those speeches, you see that he is moving in his anointing.”
Knighton said the breakfast originally started as a community celebration put together by General Mills and UNCF to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. but “has evolved and now emphasizes the fundraising for the scholarships while still honoring that legacy.”
This will be the breakfast’s 28th year.
What: Annual MLK Holiday Breakfast When: Monday, January 15, 2018 @ 7:00AM CST Where: Minneapolis Armory, 500 South 6th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Tickets: $50 @ www.MLKBreakfast.com Live TV Broadcast: Twin Cities Public Television at 8 a.m. CST. Livestream:Go here.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Ordway in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, February 23, 2018 as part of their US tour. The group spoke with Mshale recently about their new music. Photo: Courtesy of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Ordway in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, February 23, 2018 as part of their US tour. The group spoke with Mshale recently about their new music. Photo: Courtesy of Ladysmith Black MambazoLadysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Ordway in St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, February 23, 2018 as part of their US tour. The group spoke with Mshale recently about their new music. Photo: Courtesy of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Perennial Ladysmith Black Mambazo takes the stage for a two-night performance at the Ordway in St. Paul this coming February 22nd and 23rd, 2018. Evergreen and enduring describe their performance and their material. This next year marks the beginning of their fifth year without their founder Joseph Shabalala. Instead, his four sons have shared leadership and inspiration.
Nominated for two Grammys this year, but claiming none since Joseph Shabalala held position as creator, 2018 could be a defining year. A Grammy win, however, would not change the caliber or intention of their music. Audiences have come to expect a jubilant performance both on stage and from the band’s studio output.
Mshale spoke with band member Albert Mazibuko recently by phone. From his home in South Africa, Mazibuko explained how they assembled the selections for their album “Songs of PEACE & LOVE for Kids & Parents Around the World, which received a nomination for Best Children’s Album 2017.
“We chose [these songs] because [they] speak of peace, love, and living peacefully with others. We believe if we give these messages to the young ones, they grow up to love one another,” Mazibuko said.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo recognizes the myriad challenges to families as they struggle to remain intact and supportive. He concluded, “We know firsthand how hard it is to raise children in a world of conflict, in a world where kids need positive role models and words of encouragement. We hope our songs can be an important part of the lessons of peace and love that all parents want to fill their children with.”
Their second nomination, with the winners announced January 28, 2018, is for an album that revives their first internationally released thirty years ago, which also netted them their first Grammy in 1988, Shaka Zulu Revisited in the “Best World Music Album 2017” category.
By re-recording the songs from their original album, they present these new versions for both longtime fans as well as people who have only recently become acquainted with the group’s music. Joseph’s son Thulani Shabalala says, “Shaka ZuluRevisited encompasses so much history for us. By re-recording the original album and having the Recording Academy deem Shaka Zulu Revisited one of the five ‘Best World Music Albums of 2017,’ this becomes an amazing moment for everyone involved with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, both past and present.”
A daunting tour schedule featuring only music from their two recently released, Grammy-nominated albums, has them performing over forty shows in sixty days. Mazibuko assured Mshale, “The music gives you the power that you don’t even realize you had. I know as long as we’re going to do our music right, it’s no problem, we’ll enjoy ourselves. Right now my mind is prepared, my spirit is prepared. We will warm you up and bring the sunshine from South Africa.”
Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Concert (St. Paul, Minnesota)
When: Friday, February 23, 2018 Where: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts
345 Washington St., St. Paul, MN 55102 Tickets: $22-$58. Buy here.
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix takes part in a ceremony in Dar es Salaam honouring Tanzanian peacekeepers killed on 7 December in an attack on UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) Company Operating Base at Semuliki in Beni territory. Photo: UN
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix takes part in a ceremony in Dar es Salaam honouring Tanzanian peacekeepers killed on 7 December in an attack on UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) Company Operating Base at Semuliki in Beni territory. Photo: UNUnder-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix takes part in a ceremony in Dar es Salaam honouring Tanzanian peacekeepers killed on 7 December in an attack on UN Stabilization Mission (MONUSCO) Company Operating Base at Semuliki in Beni territory. Photo: UN
Despite a particularly deadly year for United Nations peacekeepers – with more than 60 ‘blue helmets’ killed in hostile acts – the Organization in 2017 completed its peacekeeping objectives in Côte d’Ivoire, refocused its work in Haiti and will soon complete its mandate in Liberia.
“We do protect civilians every day. We do save lives every day. We often do it under very difficult and stressful circumstances,” Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in a recent interview with UN News.
He added that “many lives were saved” because of peacekeepers’ actions this year in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, South Sudan and other places.
“I think it’s more than warranted to pay tribute to them and their achievements,” Mr. Lacroix said. “But certainly we have to work hard to overcome the challenges we are facing.”
Challenges in 2017
One of the challenges facing UN peacekeepers, as they operate in increasingly complex and dangerous areas, is the need for better training and equipment, particularly when it comes to intelligence gathering and enhancing situational awareness.
This includes the use of modern technologies, such as unmanned aerial services, radars and tethered balloons.
The head of the UN Department of Field Support, Atul Khare, said the UN is also looking to borrow or purchase more equipment related to security reinforcements, accommodations, vehicles and communications tools, among others.
In Mali, for example, one out of four military hospitals is without staff or equipment, and in the Central African Republic, one in three, he said.
The needs also extend to gaps in working closely with local communities, which means that in some areas more peacekeepers are needed who speak French.
“We must do even more on the side of prevention and risk mitigation when seeking to protect our colleagues. Providing for the safety and security of deployed personnel in volatile environments is an absolute necessity,” Mr. Khare told UN News.
Sexual exploitation and abuse
One of the main challenges in peacekeeping operations has been grappling with allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers.
Earlier this year, Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled his strategy for eradicating the scourge, and appointed Jane Connors as the first Victims’ Rights Advocate.
“It is about dignity for the victims, compassion, a real feeling of empathy, a feeling that they are not forgotten,” Ms. Connors said in early December. “That their hurt, their pain is acknowledged, and we do as much as we possibly can do to make their situation better.”
Ms. Connors made the comments during a visit to South Sudan, where four of last year’s 103 allegations were filed. This year, the UN recorded 54 allegations – roughly half the number.
“This is a result of the many robust efforts put in place to train our personnel, raise awareness among communities on the risks associated with SEA [sexual exploitation and abuse], promote and enforce the zero-tolerance policy and partner with Member States,” said Mr. Khare.
The new UN strategy to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse puts more pressure on governments to investigate and prosecute wrong-doing. In addition, 17 countries volunteered some $1.8 million for a trust fund to aid victims get medical, psycho-social, legal or socio-economic support.
“We can see that information about allegations are coming more with less obstacle than before,” Mr. Lacroix said. “At the same time, we need to do more to fully implement the policy and it has to have strong awareness at every level.”
Protecting the environment
UN peacekeeping is also managing its impact in another way within the countries that host its operations – by preserving natural resources and not damaging the environment during the physical deployments.
“’Do no harm’ must include both communities and the resources upon which they depend: water, land, cultural heritage,” Mr. Khare said.
Plans to reduce the peacekeeping footprint and energy consumption also saves time and resources, allowing peacekeeping missions to focus on implementing their core mandates.
All UN peacekeeping operations this year launched Environmental Action Plans which have, for example, led to 80 wastewater treatment plans being installed in peacekeeping operations.
“We are constantly looking into keeping our own house in order, and leave the place better than we found it,” said Mr. Khare.
Looking ahead to 2018
If the year 2017 brought ambitious reform, then 2018 must be the year that these reforms are implemented, Mr. Lacroix said.
He noted that this will be particularly important in the field, where colleagues must be informed and empowered to act.
Mr. Khare echoed the idea that reforms are ongoing, noting that the goal is to “ensure that we are stronger in prevention, more agile in mediation, and more nimble, efficient and cost-effective in our operations.”
He pointed to improved efficiency and effectiveness of peacekeeping, including also by strengthening engagement with Member States and regional organizations to better serve the most vulnerable people around the world.
“We approach 2018 with a sense of hope. We will do our best to successfully implement these reforms and certainly we will do our best to support our colleagues in the field,” said Mr. Lacroix.
CEO of Mdundo Martin Nielsen said there’s a huge demand among African music fans for international as well as local repertoire.
CEO of Mdundo Martin Nielsen said there’s a huge demand among African music fans for international as well as local repertoire.CEO of Mdundo Martin Nielsen said there’s a huge demand among African music fans for international as well as local repertoire.
By Everlyne Mosongo of Music in Africa
Warner Music Group has signed a licensing deal with Mdundo, one of Africa’s leading music service apps, to stream its catalog in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria.
“We are very happy to announce this partnership. There’s a huge demand among African music fans for international as well as local repertoire,” CEO of Mdundo Martin Nielsen said.
Nielsen further added that the deal makes Mdundo more appealing and beneficial to its users, African musicians and the app’s commercial partners. With almost two million monthly users across Africa, Mdundo aims to make music easily accessible to fans and fight piracy, which has been the bane of the continent’s music industry.
US passports now identify who is a child sex offender.
US passports now identify who is a child sex offender.US passports now identify who is a child sex offender.
As of October 31, 2017, US passports now have markers to identify registered sex offenders. On February 08, 2016, President Obama signed into law H.R. 515, the “International Megan’s Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders,” which authorized the Department of Homeland Security’s Angel Watch Center (AWC) and the Department of Justice’s National Sex Offender Targeting Center to send and receive notifications to or from foreign countries regarding international travel by registered sex offenders. The law also requires the Department of State to include unique identifiers on passports issued to registered sex offenders.
The State Department started revoking passports of convicted child sex offenders last month and having them reapply so that new identifiers can be marked on their passports.
The identifier is a passport endorsement, currently printed inside the back cover of the passport book, which reads: “The bearer was convicted of a sex offense against a minor, and is a covered sex offender pursuant to 22 United States Code Section 212b(c)(l).” Since endorsements cannot be printed on passport cards, covered sex offenders cannot be issued passport cards.
The law prohibits the Department of State from issuing a passport to a covered sex offender without a unique identifier, and it allows for the revocation of passports previously issued to these individuals that do not contain the identifier
Operation Angel Watch was initially created in 2007 and is managed by the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit of the ICE Cyber Crimes Center. It is a joint effort with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Marshals Service.
In an earlier press release before the law took effect, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Operation Angel Watch targets individuals who have been previously convicted of sexual crimes against a child and who may pose a potential new threat: traveling overseas for the purpose of sexually abusing or exploiting minors, a crime known as “child sex tourism.”
Through Operation Angel Watch, HSI uses publicly available sex offender registry information and passenger travel data to strategically alert foreign law enforcement partners through its HSI attaché offices of a convicted child predator’s intent to travel to their country. In Fiscal Year 2015, HSI made over 2,100 notifications to more than 90 countries.
Only the DHS/ICE Angel Watch Center (AWC) can certify an individual as a “covered sex offender.” Therefore, any questions by the applicant about such status must be directed to and resolved by AWC, the ICE release said.
Applicants who have questions for AWC regarding their status or believe they have been wrongly identified as a covered sex offender as defined in Title 22 United States Code 212b(c)(1) should contact AWC at [email protected].
In a settlemnt between Western Union and 50 attorney generals, the money transfer company will pay out $586 million to those who were scammed using Western Unioin Services. Claims must be filed by February 12, 2018.
In a settlemnt between Western Union and 50 attorney generals, the money transfer company will pay out $586 million to those who were scammed using Western Unioin Services. Claims must be filed by February 12, 2018.In a settlemnt between Western Union and 50 attorney generals, the money transfer company will pay out $586 million to those who were scammed using Western Unioin Services. Claims must be filed by February 12, 2018.
Western Union customers who might have been victims of scams are now eligible to file claims through February 12, 2018 following a $586 million settlement in January between Western Union and 50 attorney generals. The settlement covers frauds that happened between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you do not need to be a US citizen to file a claim.
“American consumers lost money while Western Union looked the other way,” Acting Federal Trade Commission Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen said in a news release last week in a push to encourage the public to file claims as the deadline approaches.
“Because they chose to ignore the problem instead of implementing policies and procedures to better protect consumers, they are now having to reimburse consumers for these losses.”
During a conference call with reporters last Thursday (Dec. 7), Todd Kossow, Director for the Federal Trade Commission’s Midwest region said “If someone sent a money transfer through Western Union and they lost money to a scam, then they’re eligible to ask for their money back.”
Kossow said Western Union did not do enough to protect the public from fraud and “didn’t properly discipline agents that were facilitating the fraud.”
Important things to know:Even if you do not have the paperwork to prove you were scammed, the Federal Trade Commission is urging you to still file a claim.
You can also file even if you do not have a social security number.
Remittances to Africa from its global diaspora amounted to $39 billion last year according to the World Bank. Those sending money to Africa through services such as Western Union and MoneyGram incur the most cost at roughly 10 per cent per $200 according to the World Bank.
Influenza, also called flu, makes thousands of Minnesotans sick every year. This can cause them to miss work and school. While most people get better, the flu can be dangerous enough to lead to hospitalization, and even death in some cases. You can help protect yourself and your family by getting a flu vaccine every year. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated, but it is especially important for young children, pregnant women, older people and those with long-term health conditions. No one should skip their flu vaccine because even healthy people can become very sick from flu.
Along with a flu vaccine, adults need other vaccines, too. Some diseases are more common or more dangerous as we get older, but vaccines can help keep you healthy. Some adults may not have gotten certain vaccines because they were not available when they were children. Each year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer from serious illnesses that could have been prevented by vaccines. Ask your clinic about the following vaccines at your next visit:
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Td or Tdap): All adults need a Tdap vaccine one time, and then a Td vaccine every 10 years. Pregnant women need a Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy.
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR): Many adults need a second dose of this vaccine to be fully protected against the measles. This vaccine also protects against mumps and rubella disease.
Varicella, also called chickenpox: You may need this vaccine if you never had chickenpox disease.
Human papillomavirus (HPV): If you are 26 or younger, make sure you have been vaccinated to prevent certain kinds of cancer.
Zoster, also called shingles: Older adults may need this vaccine to be protected against this disease. Shingles disease can cause a very painful rash that may last for several months.
Many long-term health conditions like diabetes or asthma place adults at higher risk for problems if they get sick. Even if you usually feel healthy, these health conditions may worsen when your body is fighting another disease like the flu or pneumonia. If you see your doctor for any long-term health condition, ask if you need any of the following vaccines:
Pneumococcal: There are two types of pneumococcal vaccine, ask your doctor if you need both. The vaccines help prevent infections in the lungs, blood, and lining of the brain or spinal cord.
Meningococcal: This vaccine protects against a rare but dangerous infection.
Hepatitis A and B: These vaccines protect you from viruses that cause liver disease.
If you travel outside of the United States, you may need additional vaccines. Ask your clinic what you may need as soon as you know your travel plans.
We need vaccines throughout our life to help us stay healthy. Talk to your clinic about what vaccines you need. If you are worried about the cost of vaccines, talk to your clinic. There are some clinics in Minnesota that offer free or low-cost vaccines for people who do not have health insurance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 during a lucheon following the inauguration of president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya for a second and final term following a disputed election that the main opposition boycotted. Netanyahu skipped the public inauguration. He announced in Nairobi that Israel wants to join the African Union. Photo: Courtesy of Kenya State House.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 during a lucheon following the inauguration of president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya for a second and final term following a disputed election that the main opposition boycotted. Netanyahu skipped the public inauguration. He announced in Nairobi that Israel wants to join the African Union. Photo: Courtesy of Kenya State House.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel speaking in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 during a lucheon following the inauguration of president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya for a second and final term following a disputed election that the main opposition boycotted. Netanyahu skipped the public inauguration. He announced in Nairobi that Israel wants to join the African Union. Photo: Courtesy of Kenya State House.
Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his country’s desire to join the African Union. The premier made the remarks on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi during a luncheon to celebrate the second inauguration of president Uhuru Kenyatta after a disputed election. Netanyahu attended the luncheon with 11 other African heads of state even though he had skipped the public inauguration ceremony despite being in the country. He would have been the only non-African head of state at the inauguration.
According to Kenya’s Daily Nation, Netanyahu said “I hope that we all find a way to have Israel become an observer status in the African Union because we can help, we cannot only observe but we can help build together a better future for Africa.”
Netanyahu said Israel is eager to work with the continent to fight extremist groups such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabab.
“This is a threat to all of us and I believe that we can cooperate with other countries, between us and with others and if we work together we will defeat the barbarians. Our people deserve better, we can provide it for them,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu also told the luncheon that Israel will be joining forces with the United States in former president Obama’s signature initiative for Africa, Power Africa, an ambitious project by the former president to generate 30,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy and connect 60 million new homes and businesses in the continent.
“I have been told a few weeks ago that the United States has asked Israel to be a partner in Power Africa. We would like to work with you and every one of your countries to electrify Africa. We believe in Africa. So for every one of your initiatives there will be an initiative on our part to seize the future to make life better and safer for your people,” he said.
This is Netanyahu’s third trip to the continent in 18 months with two of the three being to Kenya. The prime minister’s brother, Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, who led Operation Thunderbolt mission in Uganda was killed during the military operation also known as Entebbe raid.
Since coming to power Netanyahu has worked diligently to change the 54 African votes at the United Nations which routinely vote in favor of resolutions supporting Palestinians and hence against Israel. However, Rwanda did abstain on a vote for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations in 2014.
New Embassy in Rwanda
While in Nairobi on Tuesday, Netanyahu met with Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame who was in Kenya for president Kenyatta’s second and final term swearing in. The Israeli prime minister took the time to announce his country will open an embassy in Rwanda. Currently, the Israeli embassy in Ethiopia also serves Rwanda. In July 2016, Netanyahu became the first Israeli prime minister to visit Rwanda and this past summer, Netanyahu returned the favor by hosting Kagame during a state visit.
Netanyahu also said his country will consider establishing direct flights to Rwanda, according to The Times of Israel.
“This is part of the expansion of Israel’s presence in Africa and of the deepening cooperation between Israel and African countries,” Netanyahu said.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been noninated for two Grammys in the nomination list released Tuesday, November 28, 2017. They kick off their US tour on Jan. 17 in Washington State and a Minnesota performance at the Ordway on Friday, February 23, 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Ladysmith
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been noninated for two Grammys in the nomination list released Tuesday, November 28, 2017. They kick off their US tour on Jan. 17 in Washington State and a Minnesota performance at the Ordway on Friday, February 23, 2018. Photo: Courtesy of LadysmithLadysmith Black Mambazo has been noninated for two Grammys in the nomination list released Tuesday, November 28, 2017. They kick off their US tour on Jan. 17 in Washington State and a Minnesota performance at the Ordway on Friday, February 23, 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Ladysmith
South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mali’s Tinariwen have made a return to the Grammy nomination list. Grammy nominations were announced on Tuesday and both have been nominated in the same category: Best World Music Album. Tinariwen won the Grammy in the same category in 2012 while the South African group has four Grammys to its name, the last one won in 2013 for Best World Music Album. This year Tinariwen’s Elwan album is what has won them the nomination for Best World Music Album while for Ladysmith it is Shaka Zulu Revisited.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo also got nominated in the Best Children’s Album for their albumSongs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World.
Also nominated on Tuesday is Sweet as Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa. Nominated in the Best Historical Album category, the 15-track mix tape features Somali classics that document the vibrant music era of Somalia before the civil war broke out in 1991. The album captures the voices of prominent Somali singers like Hibo Nura, Nimo Jama, the Waberi troupe, and the Iftin Band.
Tinariwen’s Elwan (Elephants) is their eighth international release and has thirteen tracks. Their music usually focuses on the Tuareg people of northern Mali and their culture.
Ladysmith’s Shaka Zulu Revisited is a 30-year celebration of the group’s first album released worldwide, Shaka Zulu, which won the first GRAMMY Award for the group. In 2014, Ladysmith
Mali’s Tinariwen has been nominated for a Grammy for Best World Music Album. Grammy nominations were announced on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.
Black Mambazo’s founder, Joseph Shabalala, retired, handing his four sons the role of joint leaders. With the passing of his torch, Joseph’s son’s wanted to honor their father and other members of the original group, who have retired or passed away.
Joseph’s son Thulani Shabalala said in a release Wednesday that, “Shaka Zulu Revisited encompasses so much history for us. By re-recording the original album and having the GRAMMY Awards deem Shaka Zulu Revisited one of the five best World Music albums of 2017, this becomes an amazing moment for everyone involved with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, past and present.”
The 2018 Grammy Awards will take place in New York City on January 28, 2018 and will air live on CBS at 7:30PM EST.
Concert Tours
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will kick off their US tour in Olympia, Washington on Wednesday, January 17 2018 at the Washington Center for Performing Arts. On the Grammy Awards day, they are scheduled to perform in Berkeley, California at the Freight & Salvage Coffee House.
Sweet as Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes from the Horn of Africa, a 15-track mix tape featuring Somali classics was nominated for Best Historical Album, Nominations were announced on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 and the Grammy Awards will be held on New York City on January 28, 2018 and will air live on CBS at 7:30PM EST.
Tinariwen concluded their US tour last month and are now on their European tour which concludes mid-December. In the Twin Cities, they last performed in April at the Cedar.
Ethiopian Airlines has once again been named African Airline of the Year by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA). The announcement was made during the association’s 49th Annual General Assembly in Kigali last week (November 14).
Africa’s largest airline, Ethiopian Airlines, was named airline of the year by African Airlines Association on November 14,2017. Photo: Courtesy Ethiopian Airlines
Secretary General Dr. Elijah Chingosho said during an address at the meeting that only Ethiopian, Air Mauritius and Morocco’s Royal Air Maroc and Astral Aviation, a Kenyan cargo carrier were profitable in 2017. Other African airline giants like Kenya Airways, Egypt Air and South African Airways combined for a loss of US$100 million in 2016
Dr. Chingoso also lamented the high cost of air transportation in the continent. Saying that the global average for airfare ranged around $25, in Africa it ranged from $40 to $120.
“This puts African aviation at a huge competitive disadvantage that calls for a policy shift from governments treating air transport as a preserve for the rich as opposed to a means of mass transport that is a major contributor to social development,” he said. He however praised the launch of the African Passport at the 27th African Union summit in Kigali in July 2016 as a move in the right direction.
The Airline of the Year Award recognizes excellence in service delivery, innovation and competitiveness in airlines, individuals and service
African Airlines Association Secretary General Dr. Elijah Chingosho at the 49th Annual Meeting of AFRAA in Kigali. Photo: Courtesy AFRAA
providers in the African aviation industry.
Tewolde GebreMariam, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO said, “As a truly indigenous and home-grown Pan-African airline owned, managed and operated by Africans, we are highly honored to receive this recognition by fellow sisterly airlines in the continent for the 6th consecutive year. I would like to thank AFRAA and sisterly airlines in the continent for recognizing our efforts in nurturing cooperation with other sisterly African Airlines and in availing efficient passenger and cargo networks within, to and from the continent, while registering sound financial performance and record profit in 2016.”
The carrier’s long-term strategic plan calls for it to achieve a $1 billion annual profit by 2025, according to published reports. A larger airport is being built in its Addis Ababa hub which will be able to handle 120 million passengers annually.
