Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota’s 5th Congressional district wrote to United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, on Friday, May 15 2015 thanking the Secretary for visiting Somalia, and expressing his concern that he did not bring up the remittance crisis in his remarks in Somalia.
The Honorable John F. Kerry
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Kerry:
I write to thank you for your historic visit to Somalia. Your visit represents the United States’ commitment to a strong and stable Somalia. As your efforts to support Somalia continue, I urge you to address growing concerns regarding remittances and refugees.
Somalia is emerging from two decades of conflict and famine. Much of the success that Somalia has seen is owed to the support of the Somali diaspora who send lifesaving money to their loved ones in Somalia; these remittances account for as much as forty percent of Somalia’s GDP. I am concerned that remittances to Somalia were not addressed in your visit to Mogadishu.
The flow of remittances to Somalia remains an urgent humanitarian and national security issue. I ask for your ongoing commitment to find immediate and long-term solutions to address this crisis. I also urge you to take appropriate steps to ensure that recent horrific events in Kenya do not unnecessarily worsen the situation for Somalis throughout the region.
Following the terrible attack at Garissa University College, the Kenyan government wants to take decisive steps to increase security. This is a necessary and justifiable response, however it is important that the response from the Kenyan government target the terrorist groups that committed these acts of violence and not the entire Somali community.
Last month the Kenyan government suspended the licenses of thirteen money transmitters serving Somalia. This is having a disruptive impact on Somali refugees in Kenya and many aid organizations have been left scrambling to find ways to maintain uninterrupted finance-related support for their humanitarian operations. The suspension of these licenses, along with the call for closure or relocation of the Dadaab refugee complex, could have a devastating humanitarian impact. I ask that you work with Kenya, the United Nations, and other international partners to avoid actions that would further destabilize the region.
The closure of Somali money services businesses in Kenya and the limited service to Somalia from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia has created a perfect storm to drive back the recent gains in Somalia and the fight against Al Shabaab. Just last week, one of the few remaining U.S. banks serving Somali money services businesses (MSBs) closed all of its Somali MSB accounts.
In your remarks to the Somali people in Mogadishu last week you said Somalia is rebounding and, “…new life has returned to the streets of Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, and Garowe, and elsewhere. New businesses have opened and diaspora communities are returning to take advantage of new economic opportunities and to help rebuild their country.” With your leadership we can help Somalia continue on this track to greater prosperity, peace, and stability; but if the remittances lifeline remains closed it will threaten the progress the Somali people have fought so hard to make.
Please make the restoration of the remittances pipeline a top priority of your agency. I stand ready to work with you to improve the humanitarian and security situation in East Africa and to continue efforts to provide the vital remittance lifeline to the Somali people.
The 10th prime minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, will be in Minnesota on Memorial weekend as chief guest at the Twegaite International Convention.
The 10th prime minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, will be in Minnesota on Memorial weekend as chief guest at the Twegaite International Convention.The 10th prime minister of Uganda, Ruhakana Rugunda, will be in Minnesota on Memorial weekend as chief guest at the Twegaite International Convention.
Ugandan Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda, will be in Minneapolis this weekend as chief guest of the annual Twegaite International Convention that kicks off here on Thursday, May 21. He is the 10th prime minister of Uganda.
The four day convention program lists him as keynoting the gala dinner on Sunday May 24.The conference focuses on topics of interest to the Busoga region of Uganda.
Also attending the convention is the leader of the Ugandan opposition, Phillip Wafula Oguttu, according to convention organizers.
About 500 attendees from around the world are expected for the four day convention, according to Anthony Isubikalu, Organizing Committee Chair.
The Twegaite convention comes exactly 10 years since Minnesota played host to a major Ugandan convention after the successful Ugandans in North AMerica (UNAA) convention held in Minneapolis in 2005. UNAA is the largest formal association of Ugandans in the Diaspora.
Source of the Nile 5K
Isubikalu, is especially excited about the Source of the Nile 5K run which is one of the highlights of the convention “This could be first East African or even African run in the cities,” he said. The 5K run is organized in benefit the Jinja Hospital Cancer Unit Uganda.
Other highlights include a boat ride Saturday evening.
The full convention and 5K run schedule can be found at TwegaiteMN.org
Sauti Sol of Kenya 2014 winner of MTV Africa Best Act will kick off their US tour in Minneapolis on May 21, 2015. Photo: Courtesy Sauti Sol
Sauti Sol of Kenya 2014 winner of MTV Africa Best Act will kick off their US tour in Minneapolis on May 21, 2015. Photo: Courtesy Sauti SolSauti Sol of Kenya 2014 winner of MTV Africa Best Act will kick off their US tour in Minneapolis on May 21, 2014.
If you haven’t already heard of Kenya’s Sauti Sol, get to know them now. Because on Thursday May 21st, the group will be bringing their music to fans in the diaspora, as they kick off their five city U.S Tour in Minnesota at C’Est La Vie. A show that is sure to set the stage and expectations for the rest of their tour as they head to D.C., Dallas, Atlanta, and Seattle.
Sauti Sol, who released their first album in 2009 have witnessed the kind of success most artists can only dream of, and collected an impressive list of accolades along the way. But the four man afro-pop band comprised of Bien-Aime Baraza, Willis Chimano, Polycarp Otieno and Savara Mudigi, truly found their niche in 2014. This was the year that they set the internet ablaze with their raw talent, killer moves, and some bare chests, transforming them into a household name, from Dar-es-Salaam to Nairobi and Johannesburg to Minneapolis.
The group has grown so popular that securing an interview with them is a near impossible feat that this reporter can attest to after failed attempts at getting the group on Skype for a pre-tour interview. Twice, Sauti Sol’s publicist promised an interview with the group, and twice this reporter sat at her computer listening to the birds chirp, as daylight broke in Minneapolis and the afternoon wore on in Nairobi. The metaphorical phone never rang. But such is the price of fame, when one is wanted and needed everywhere at the same time.
With fame too, comes a wider audience and a platform from which to share one’s beliefs with the world. Enter Sauti Sol’s newest song ‘Nerea’; a song whose anti-abortion message told from a father-to-be’s perspective has ignited debate surrounding reproductive rights in Kenya. The song, and its accompanying video, which feature fellow musicians Amos and Josh, is a plea to the woman who the song is named after, to keep the baby she is pregnant with.
The artists wear white in the video and impose images of a young Lupita Nyong’o, Wangari Maathai, Barack Obama, and Nelson Mandela, among others, implying that the unborn child Nerea is carrying might some day be as famous a figure as these legends. In interview after interview, the members of Sauti Sol have defended their right to artistic expression, in the face of what others see as an attack on women’s reproductive rights. The members argue that the message presented in the song represents their own personal beliefs and is not meant to be divisive, and that ultimately the choice is the woman’s.
Sauti Sol insist that ‘Nerea’ is an acknowledgement of a man’s role in creating unexpected pregnancies, and the need for men to “step up” to the plate and become fathers when this happens. Yet for many women, and advocates for women’s rights to reproductive health services, ‘Nerea’ means something different entirely. It represents an attempt to shame women, and demonize them for choosing an abortion, by implying that the unborn children they carry may some day become Nobel Peace Prize winners, or Presidents. This group argues that when abortion, though constitutionally allowed in certain cases, is already frowned upon by society, a song such as ‘Nerea’ only exacerbates the stigma surrounding the right to abortion for a woman, while ignoring all the socio-economic reasons a woman may choose to have an abortion.
Whatever side one sits on, or whether you straddle the line between pro-life and pro-choice, the fact remains that Sauti Sol have inspired a needed discussion surrounding reproductive health and men’s role in preventing and dealing with unexpected pregnancies. And done so, while providing a quality song, vocally and instrumentally. This, is Sauti Sol’s greatest feat; providing great entertainment with everything they touch and every appearance they make. With their third studio album Live and Die in Afrika due out this year, catch them live to get a sneak peek of what to expect as the group continues to soar in popularity.
Sauti Sol U.S. Concerts
Thursday, May 21 – Tour launch in Minneapolis, MN@ C’est La vie
Reigning Miss Uganda, Leah Kalanguka, is coming for the Source of the Nile 5K Run in Minnesota on May 23 and will receive an Achievement Award at the Twegaite International Convention happening at the same time.
Reigning Miss Uganda, Leah Kalanguka, is coming for the Source of the Nile 5K Run in Minnesota on May 23 and will receive an Achievement Award at the Twegaite International Convention happening at the same time.Reigning Miss Uganda, Leah Kalanguka, is coming for the Source of the Nile 5K Run in Minnesota on May 23 and will receive an Achievement Award at the Twegaite International Convention happening at the same time.
The reigning Miss Uganda, Leah Kalanguka, is among Ugandan celebrities jetting in from Uganda to grace the the Source of the Nile 5K run happening next week on Saturday, May 23 at Mount Lake Normandale Park in Bloomington, Minnesota.
The 5K run is organized in benefit the Jinja Hospital Cancer Unit Uganda. The run is being held on the sidelines of the Twegaite International Annual Conference which starts on May 21. the conference focuses on topics of interest to the Busoga region of Uganda.
Ugandans in the US launched a fundraising effort early this year to put up a cancer radiotherapy machine at the hospital which is the second largest in the country according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
Head of the hospital’s cancer Institute Dr. Fred Okuku was quoted in press reports at the fundraising launch by the Uganda diaspora as saying “Having a cancer unit in Busoga will relieve us a big burden and simplify a lot of things.” Cancer has been on the rise in the country, between 300 to 400 women are diagnosed with breast cancer at the institute annually.
Conrad Nviri, Organizing Secretary of Twegaite Minnesota, urged Minnesotans to register for the run to help the people of Uganda tackle the rising incidences of cancer. “It is going to be a great run and hope they come.”
Also scheduled to attend the conference is Uganda’s prime minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Leah Kalanguka, the reigning Miss Uganda, will receive an Achievement Award from Twegaite International.
Mourners stare at the smiling photo of 10-year-old Barway Collins during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/Mshale
Mourners stare at the smiling photo of 10-year-old Barway Collins during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleMourners stare at the smiling photo of 10-year-old Barway Collins during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleSecurity and family escort Louise Karluah (in black headscarf), the biological mother to the late 10-year-old Barway Collins, into Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, for her son’s funeral. The funeral was exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. Louise Karluah had just arrived from Liberia three days prior to the funeral Barway’s father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleLouise Karluah, the biological mother to the late 10-year-old Barway Collins, holds her cheeks during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. Louise Karluah had just arrived from Liberia three days prior to the funeral Barway’s father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleIt was full honors during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015 for 10-year-old Barway Collins, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleThe Metropolitan Boys Choir of Minneapolis/St. Paul sung during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis for the late 10-year-old Barway Collins on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleMourners, including Abdullah Kiatamba (right in grey suit) of African Immigrant Services, stream into Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015 for the funeral of 10-year-old Barway Collins, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleThe hundreds of mourners that showed up to mourn 10-year-old Barway Collins during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleTeachers from 10-year-old Barway Collins’ school on stage talking about their experience with the late young boy during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/MshaleA teacher from 10-year-old Barway Collins’ school shows a drawing the young Barway did at school during an emotional funeral service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis on May 2, 2015, exactly three weeks after his body was found on the Mississippi River on Saturday, April 11. His father, Pierre Collins, was taken into custody two days after Barway was found and charged with the murder of his son. Photo: Kaamil Haider/Mshale
Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the Mshale print edition last week. Pick one for a more extensive photo spread of the funeral service.
MINNEAPOLIS – Well liked, kind, funny, infectious energy, these are just a few of the words used to describe 10 year old Barway Collins at his funeral service Saturday May 2, held at Shiloh Temple International Ministries. Hundreds of community members packed the church to lay him to rest leaving standing room only by the time ceremonies began; yet dozens more people continued to flow in over the next hour filling the front room and the hallways of the north Minneapolis church, as others gathered around the main hall’s doors trying to get a glimpse of the ceremonies. Outside the church, many more people stood in groups speaking and shaking hands. In this respect, Barway accomplished something few us will ever be able to do; uniting an entire community and people from all walks of life in honor of him.
It has been three weeks since Barway’s body was discovered in the Mississippi River after being reported missing on March 18. His body lay in a beautiful white casket at the front of the church, under guard, with a brief viewing at the beginning of the ceremony for family only. There was a visible police presence as well, underlining the ongoing friction over the boy’s disappearance as his father, Pierre Collins stands accused of involvement in his death. But all eyes and hearts for the day were on Barway whose face shined out from blown up photos at the front of the church, and could be seen on t-shirts and on programs throughout the crowd.
A close second in attention was his biological mother, Louise Karluah. Her presence at her son’s funeral was the result of concerted efforts by the Liberian Minnesota community and others to get her to Minnesota as quickly as possible. Karluah, who had not seen her son in 4 years, still lives in Liberia and in the face of tragedy, the community had agreed on two things: one, that Barway should have a funeral befitting of his innocence, and two, that a mother should be allowed to lay her child to rest. Through fundraising efforts led by groups within the community, enough money was raised to fly Karluah to the U.S and cover Barway’s funeral expenses.
Many of the speakers thanked the community for coming together at such a difficult time, each of them stressing the need for unity and support for Barway’s remaining family, particularly his biological mother and his step-mother: both of whom had reached out to each other in the last few days. Bishop Richard Howell Jr. in his welcoming remarks asked for everyone to “put aside our differences and fix our eyes on the smile of Barway,” before handing the ceremonies over to Pastor Harding Smith and Pastor Alexander Collins.
A succession of people involved in Barway’s life as community members, teachers, friends, family, and in the efforts to find him after he went missing all took to the podium, painting the life of a 10 year old boy who had touched many people’s hearts. Representatives from local community organizations spoke about the efforts to find Barway after he was went missing, and how the groups had grown stronger from their engagement around him, stressing the need to continue to be united and build a lasting memory for the slain boy and his mother who will be returning to Liberia at the end of her 30 day visa.
One of the speakers, a woman from the Organization for Liberia Women in Minnesota talked about how a “child sent to America is a big thing,” and all the promise that brings for many Africans for whom America represents a land of opportunity. The tragedy of Barway’s loss at such a young age, had taken from him all the possibilities of doing great things for his home country and the U.S. Cheryl Ray, principal of Evergreen Park Elementary School where Barway attended first 1st through 4th grade also spoke to the crowd on behalf of his teachers and schoolmates, some of whom were in attendance. She spoke of an illustrious boy who had once written in a take home journal, “I want to be a teacher when I’m big,” and who had “so many friends, many staff knew him, he was well known, well liked, he had this infectious energy that everybody around him noticed.” Adding, “He was kind, he was funny, and he had that big smile that everyone will remember.”
One of Barway’s friends, a young boy around 7 years old whom Barway had met when he first arrived in America was invited on stage to speak. Accompanied by his mother and sister, his eyes were downcast as his older sister took to the microphone and stated, “My brother cannot speak right now because he is depressed, (and) so I will be speaking on behalf of my mother and my brother.” In an emotional speech she talked of the friendship between the two boys and how Barway had taken care of her little brother making sure he had lunches and had done his homework after school. His loss she said, was like losing a brother.
Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek who had been involved in the search to find Barway thanked the family and community for their relentless efforts to find him, “I wanted to say thank you to the moms, the friends, (and) the mothers who searched for Barway tirelessly, relentlessly. You never gave up hope. You never gave up the quest for the truth. Thank you for all your effort.” Governor Mark Dayton who was scheduled to attend the event, but could not make it sent his regrets to the family, while a representative from Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office, took to the podium letting them know that Senator Klobuchar is “a friend of the Liberian community.” The representative, Siad Ali, a Somali American, addressed the crowd as an “African brother”, assuring them that the entire African community was grieving with them.
As the ceremonies came to an end, the Collins family and the Karluah family each took to the stage separately for an emotional send off. Yamah Collins, Pierre’s wife and Barway’s step-mother appeared on stage with the Collins family but did not speak. An uncle, Telma Collins spoke on behalf of the family, saying, “Like any family you want to see a child live to his full potential. From all indications, what you have heard here today, the amount of people involved in his life for the past two months, proves that Barway was going to be a great person. It took Barway just 10 years to win the hearts of all of you, and the whole of the country and the world as well.” The uncle also urged the crowd to “pray for us,” before presenting a blanket they had made in his honor to the Karluah family.
The Karluah family took to the stage next, with Louise absent, though she could be heard wailing in the crowd over the loss of her son. Her brother, Emmanuel Monluo, spoke on behalf of the family in an impassioned speech that gave a glimpse into the family’s pain and anger over his death, “Barway was trusted to a person that was supposed to give him the maximum protection. That person has been accused. Get me very clearly, that person has been accused. But I want to tell you, the Karluah family is bleeding. We are bleeding.” He thanked everyone who had worked to bring Louise to Minnesota, noting how Barway had brought the entire African community together and thanking the community for all their work. Above all, he asked for continued support for the family and called for unity, the theme of the day, and the lasting legacy of a brilliant, smiling boy whose life ended too soon.
The Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC staff will be in Minnesota on June 6 and June 7, 2015 during Madaraka Day celebrations and will accept applications from Kenyans for the Kenyan national identity cards.
The Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC staff will be in Minnesota on June 6 and June 7, 2015 during Madaraka Day celebrations and will accept applications from Kenyans for the Kenyan national identity cards.The Embassy of Kenya in Washington DC staff will be in Minnesota on June 6 and June 7, 2015 during Madaraka Day celebrations and will accept applications from Kenyans for the Kenyan national identity cards.
A change in policy by the Kenya government means some of its select embassies have the capacity to issue the country’s national identity cards. Its large Diaspora no longer has to travel back to the homeland to obtain the card, a shift many in the Diaspora have applauded. The change allows Kenyan embassy personnel in key countries like the United States to issue the valued identity cards to eligible Kenyans applying for them.
The process for obtaining the identity cards differs significantly from that of a Kenyan passport. For the identity cards, Kenyans in the Diaspora that wish to apply for one while abroad needs to appear in person before a consular officer.
To facilitate the process for Kenyans resident in the US, the Kenya embassy in Washington has taken to the road to take applications from the Diaspora. The eagerly awaited exercise will take place in Minnesota on June 6 and 7 during Madaraka Day celebrations, according to Geoffrey Gichana, chairman of this year’s Madaraka Day committee in the state.
“We have worked with the embassy and the modalities on the ground are in place to make this exercise a success,” Gichana said. “We encourage all those interested in the IDs to do their homework ahead of time by going to the embassy website to see what they might need to bring to minimize frustration, we want all those who want this thing to get it, (I) hope Mshale can link to the embassy ID page to assist our people.”
In October 2014, the Kenya government announced that starting February of this year, Kenyans can start registering for the new digital national identity cards. Back then Mwende Gatabaki, the director-general of Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service (KCFNMS) was quoted as saying in Nairobi that “We will be issuing the first new ID cards to qualified Kenyans beginning October 2015. In December of the same year, we will stop issuing the old IDs and the digital ones will become the way of life.”
The new ID described by Gatabaki is a sort of ‘smartcard’ that will carry information relevant to the taxing authorities, the registrar of motor vehicles as well as the registrar of persons among others.
Why you need the Kenyan ID
Most in the Kenyan Diaspora are frequent visitors to the homeland whether for business or leisure. The Kenyan Diaspora in North America was responsible for almost 50% of the $US1.42 billion remitted to Kenya in 2014 by the global Kenyan Diaspora through traceable financial channels.
It is much safer to carry the national ID than a passport while visiting Kenya as it calls less attention to one.
Conducting business
The national ID is necessary for conducting certain kinds of business such as in dealings with the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the country’s equivalent of the Internal Revenue Service. KRA does not accept passports when one needs to apply for the much valued PIN (Personal Identification Number) that is necessary in transacting most business in the country.
Minnesota’s turn
On Saturday June 6 and Sunday June 7, Kenya’s ambassador to the United States, Robinson Njeru Githae who presented his credentials to president Obama last November will make his first visit to Minnesota. Traveling with him will be the immigration staff at the embassy that will take the Kenyan identity card applications.
Minnesota was officially designated by former ambassador Oginga Ogego in 2007 as the embassy’s official venue for the celebration of the country’s Madaraka Day in the United States. His successor, Ambassador Odembo, continued the tradition and in December 2014 shortly after taking over in Washington, Ambassador Githae pledged to maintain the same.
How to get the Kenyan ID (you might need some documents from Kenya)
Requirements for applying for the Kenyan national identity card are listed on the Kenya embassy website at: https://www.kenyaembassy.com/id.html.
Key items needed are a copy of one’s birth certificate, copy of a valid Kenyan passport, copy of Kenyan passport and/or Identity Card of either parent of the applicant.
Alternative documentation, mostly for naturalized Kenyans, includes a copy of their naturalization certificate. A copy of your unexpired Kenyan passport is still required if using this method.
ID Application venues for June 6 & 7
Embassy staff will take applications from Kenyans in Minnesota during the Madaraka Day celebrations that Ambassador Githae will be officiating. The application form and the full requirements are in the Kenya embassy website at https://www.kenyaembassy.com/id.html to get your paperwork ready.
The following are the two venues where they will be accepting applications for the IDs.
Saturday, June 6, 2015 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Location for Saturday is: 7600 Boone Ave., Brooklyn Park, MN 55428
Sunday, June 7, 2015 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (During the Madaraka Day Family Celebration at the park that will feature nyama choma and other Kenyan food).
Location for Sunday is: West Bush Lake Park, Shelter # 2, 95th St & West Bush Lake Road, Bloomington, MN 55438
Text KENYA to 24587 to be informed of late breaking news concerning this event.
Barway Collins will be buried on Saturday, may 2, 2015 after his biological mother arrived in Minnesota this week.
Barway Collins will be buried on Saturday, may 2, 2015 after his biological mother arrived in Minnesota this week.Barway Collins will be buried on Saturday, may 2, 2015 after his biological mother arrived in Minnesota this week.Louise Karluah, Barway Collins’ biological mother addressing the media. She arrived in Minnesota this week. Barway’s father is in jail facing charges for his murder. Photo: Fox News Screenshot
The funeral for slain youth Barway Collins will take place tomorrow Saturday, May 2 2015 according to Mamadee Sesay, Executive Director, Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) when he released the expense report for the activities of the committee leading up to tomorrow’s funeral in the interest of “transparency.”
The funeral was postponed at the urging of the community to allow for Barway’s biological mother to make it to Minnesota from Liberia. Louise Karluah, his mother, was given a humanitarian visa by the US embassy in Monrovia following intervention from United States Senator Amy Klobuchar’s office. She arrived on Wednesday and this is her first time in the country. She last saw her son four years ago when she sent him to live with his father, Pierre Collins, who is in custody, charged by Hennepin County for his murder.
Wear White
According to details released by OLM, the funeral will be at Shiloh Temple International Ministries located at 1201 W. Broadway Ave Minneapolis, MN 55411.
Richard Moody and 2015 Dandy Adetomiwa Gbadebo at the Dandy Book launch held at Coup d'Etat in Minneapolis. Photo: Kari Mugo/Mshale
Richard Moody and 2015 Dandy Adetomiwa Gbadebo at the Dandy Book launch held at Coup d'Etat in Minneapolis. Photo: Kari Mugo/MshaleRichard Moody and 2015 Dandy Adetomiwa Gbadebo at the Dandy Book launch held at Coup d’Etat in Minneapolis. Photo: Kari Mugo/MshaleAt the 2015 Dandies Project launch at Coup d’Etat in Minneapolis were 2015 Dandy Darren Hayes, 2014 Dandy Amara Kamara and Mohammed Bangura. Photo: Kari Mugo/MshaleSome of the attendees at the 2015 Dandy Project launch in Minneapolis held at Coup d’Etat. Photo: Kari Mugo/MshaleThe cavernous Coup d’Etat in Uptown Minneapolis played host to the 2015 Dandy Project. Photo: Kari Mugo/Mshale
Spring comes in many colors in Minnesota and The Dandies Project latest book launch at Coup d’Etat was truly a spring affair not to be missed. The event brought together members of the art, fashion and business world in a one of a kind networking event at one of Uptown’s new hottest spots. The 2015 Dandies, along with some 2014 Dandies, were also on hand. Many of whom had brought their equally fashionable spouses. While there was no formal agenda, there was plenty to see, eat and do as the event occupied both floors of Coup d’Etat, with the magnanimous back dining room dedicated to a video streaming of interviews with the 2015 Dandies.
The 2015 Dandies Book, on sale for $30, was available to peruse at the front door, and the Dandy Cocktail which featured a delightful mix of bourbon matched with a honey profile can only be described as liquid gold. Host Richard Moody, of IAmMoody productions, whose brainchild the project is, was at once present everywhere with a hearty smile and a ready hand; eager to introduce the Twin Cities professional community of color to each other, in the hopes of building lasting connections.
I managed to sneak in an interview with Richard, and asked about his inspiration for the project, “The inspiration was working with a lot of young men of color and they all didn’t know each other, and I worked with them in freelance or fashion, or music, or education. I have my successes and I have people who can call me and ask if I can be at this event or the other, and I wanted to give it to the next generation. I wanted Minnesotans to call the next young brothers of color and go, “We need you to host, we need you to support this event, we need you to be on this board.” Then I realized, Minnesotans don’t know these young people and they didn’t know how to get in.”
Richard cites the need for a new generation of movers and doers within the Twin Cities community of color as his initial inspiration, which then merged with the men’s existing style, “They were all well dressed, bow-ties and ties. They were in their 20’s and 30’s, and they obviously were raised right, from good stock and I want to be around ‘good stock’.” While there is a resurgence of ‘dandy-ism’ within mainstream culture, for Richard his project “is about more than dress. It’s about education.” Richard hopes to inspire a new generation of young men of color to aspire for professional and personal success while dressing the part. He also sees the Dandies Project becoming more global in the future and spoke of upcoming collaborations with national and international artists from New York, Chicago, and continental Africa.
This year and last year’s Dandies however, already reflect Richard’s global vision; with Dandies from Nigeria, Liberia and Angola featured in the book. I spoke with 2014 Dandy, Amara Kamara, who was dressed the part, in a flat cap, bow-tie and salmon colored blazer, about his involvement in the project. Kamara, a fitness instructor from Liberia had nothing but praise for it, “There’s nothing I could have done better to give back to my community than being a part of this. It means a lot to me.” When asked what being a Dandy involves, he stated, “It’s about leadership, about presentation, to exemplify what you’re wearing as a person.”
Kamara also spoke of growing up in Liberia and watching African leaders who were well dressed, along with black American thought leaders like Malcom X and Martin Luther King, “I wanted to look like that. Their clothes spoke before they even opened their mouths. As an elder, what you portray is what the kids do, so we want to change that perception and especially the perception of the clothing of a black man and who we are as a person. We are representing our community and doing it with a sense of style. ”
Kamara’s mentee, and dandy-in-the-making, Mohammed Bangura, who I also interviewed agreed with this, “We don’t really have too many strong black males presently, or strong black images that youth can follow. So when you see that, you kind of want to gravitate towards it and see what it’s about.” For 2015 Dandy, jewelry maker, and Angola native, Francelino Henrique Zau, the appeal of being a dandy is about fashion, “When I came here to America, I saw all the people dressed so nicely and I said, “That’s what I want to do, that’s the way I want to dress.” Because when you show people who you are, people respect you more if you know how to pose yourself right.”
It was easy to get wrapped up in conversations about representation of black men in media, and the larger goals and visions of each Dandy and the project itself. I had to remind myself that the reason we were all here was for the book, which photographer Nick Gallop has been instrumental in producing both years. After a meeting with Richard Moody at Handsome Cycles, Gallop agreed to be part of the project and volunteered his studio and time for it. Gallop notes that while the first book featured in-studio photos, they wanted the 2015 book to show the Dandies in “their native environment,” outdoors and with a vintage feel to it. It was Gallop’s idea to take the photos from color to black and white this year, “I think it’s huge. It goes along with the whole idea of the project; to see past somebody’s skin color, and in this way, you take that out of the equation. So you’re seeing the person, not their skin color.”
Gallop and Moody are already looking forward to next year’s project and book feature, which they hope to launch in February 2016 in time for Black History Month. Interested participants would do best to get a copy of last year’s and this year’s book for style inspiration. The 2015 Dandies will now sit on The Dandies Project board and are responsible for vetting next year’s cohort, along with the charity to be supported. Calls for 2016 Dandies go out this fall, so keep your ears peeled and your style flawless.
Ambassador Oliver Wonekha of Uganda will be in the Twin Cities May 7, 2015 for a business forum and an address to the annual Books for Africa luncheon.
Ambassador Oliver Wonekha of Uganda will be in the Twin Cities May 7, 2015 for a business forum and an address to the annual Books for Africa luncheon.Ambassador Oliver Wonekha of Uganda will be in the Twin Cities May 7, 2015 for a business forum and an address to the annual Books for Africa luncheon.
Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States, Oliver Wonekha and the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs at a Minnesota Trade Office organized Africa Forum titled Business and Political Trends in Africa on wednesday, May 7 at the Hubert H. Humphrey School at the University of Minnesota. The forum is hosted in partnership with Books for Africa.
Times are listed as 2:30 to 5:30pm.
The two will be joined by Eric Schwartz, Dean of Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota and Carlson School of Management Sri Zaheer.
U.S. trade to and from Africa has tripled over the past decade and the U.S. exported $22.6 billion in goods and services to the region last year. A recent commentary by Mshale founder Tom Gitaa on the Twin Cities leading metro daily on why the state’s business community needs to do ore trade with Africa has generated a lot of discussion.
Just last week the Carlson School of Management hosted a business conference focused on the continent.
When: Thursday, May 7, 2015, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. A Reception will follow. Where: Cowles Auditorium, Hubert H. Humphrey School Conference Center, University of Minnesota, 301 – 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis Fees: $10, or $5 for students–must show a Student ID. Please pre-register to ensure being included in the catering count.
The fee includes refreshments and the reception.
Revelers at a past Kenya Night Minnesota at the Blue Nile dance the night away. Kilimanjaro Entertainment which has hosted the event for over a decade is moving it to a new location. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Revelers at a past Kenya Night Minnesota at the Blue Nile dance the night away. Kilimanjaro Entertainment which has hosted the event for over a decade is moving it to a new location. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleBlue Nile in Minneapolis will no longer host the monthly Kenyan night dance due to city licensure issues. The monthly event moves to a new venue. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleKenyan reggae sensation Redsan is one of the many top Kenyan entertainers that Kilimanjaro Entertainment brought to the Blue Nile. Redsan is seen here performing at the Blue Nile 10 years ago. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleRevelers at a past Kenya Night Minnesota at the Blue Nile dance the night away. Kilimanjaro Entertainment which has hosted the event for over a decade is moving it to a new location. Photo: Tom Gitaa/MshaleGeorge Ndege popularly known as Jojo says the new Kenya Night Minnesota will target a more mature audience. It ended its many years run at the Blue Nile in Minneapolis and has found a new home in Robbinsdale. Photo: Barnabas Wamao/Mshale
For many revelers looking for an authentic Kenyan dance night far from home, Kenya Night Minnesota’s reign at the Blue Nile Restaurant and Lounge, Minneapolis was a monthly guarantee. The long running event, rebranded over time, provided the Kenyan diaspora and larger African community with a place they could gather to hear music that sounded familiar and see faces they could recognize. For many new immigrants, it was also a place they could go to feel at home and discover the Kenyan community in Minnesota.
The sudden and abrupt departure of Kenya Night from the Blue Nile, which hosted its last event at the location in February, left many wondering what was next; both for the Blue Nile a restaurant, an entertainment venue frequented by the African community, and Kenya Night itself.
But as George Ndege (aka “Jojo”) of Kilimanjaro Entertainment, who created the monthly event told me “Kilimanjaro Entertainment will always change with the time and continue to provide entertainment to the community.” For him and his business this is not the first time they have had to rebrand themselves or change venues.
Beginning as Wakilisha (which means ‘represent’ in Kiswahili) in 1998 and first hosted at Twins Motor Inn in St Paul, the event which originally included a 30 minute open mic set along with a deejay brought “Kenyans together from all around Minnesota and even neighboring states,” and “while it was a Kenyan event, everyone was welcome and before long, its popularity turned it to more of an African night. At that time, there was only a handful of African DJs and very few African events so it was a night that people looked forward to.”
The mass appeal of the event could not be denied, however unforeseen circumstances forced Kilimanjaro Entertainment and Wakilisha to take a hiatus in 2002 as they sought a new venue. According to Jojo, the Twins Motor Inn in St. Paul was cleared to make way for new construction and in the mean time his entertainment company focused on concerts and tours as they sought a new location. In 2007 the monthly DJ night found its new home at the Blue Nile Restaurant & Lounge in the Seward neighborhood returning as Wachilia (which means ‘release’ in Kiswahili).
In its new venue, Wachilia flourished, drawing hundreds of party-goers each night with an estimated attendance of 400 at its peak. People I spoke with who attended Wachilia in its early years report how successful the night was; the music was great, there was free parking to be found (compared to downtown venues), the crowd had a good vibe, and the dancing never ceased.
Sarah, a Kenyan living in Minnesota since 2005 recalls “It was the only place I could go to hear music from back home. It felt like being at K-1 (a nightclub in Nairobi).” She and her friends would make the 1 ½ hr drive from St. Cloud, where they were enrolled in college, making new friends at the event and even bringing their American friends. Kay, one of these American friends, laughs heartily when I ask her about her experiences at the Blue Nile. Born and raised in the Midwest she tells me that it was like traveling to another country, “It felt like I was experiencing something few people get to, everyone was welcoming and the music was great. It was so much fun!”
Over the years though, the Blue Nile location began to prove problematic. Cyrus, another Kenyan living in Minnesota had this to say, “It was okay (at first), but the facility sucked, smelly toilets, lack of cooling system, they didn’t take cards, and there was poor service with the bartenders.” Jojo alludes to similar problems with the venue, “Some, especially ladies, complained about the building and furniture that was not well kept.” This coupled with an aging patronage whose interests were moving past late night dance parties saw the night’s popularity begin to decline. But even more concerning was an uptick in violent crime at the Blue Nile, that began in 2013. When asked about the challenges faced at the Blue Nile location, Jojo states, “there was a period when crime went up around Blue Nile, including a parking lot shooting nearly two years ago that scared away some of the customers.” Ultimately this may have been the beginning of the demise for Kenya Night and spelled larger problems for the Blue Nile.
City of Minneapolis Action
Attempts to reach Blue Nile owner Fahmi Katabay for comment on this story were unsuccessful, however City of Minneapolis documents show repeated incidents of violence at the Blue Nile that threatened it’s operational licenses. In January of 2014, the City of Minneapolis held a settlement conference with Blue Nile owners to address security concerns following a murder in their parking lot. Documents show that the Blue Nile presented a security plan at the time and “explained that the incident was beyond their control since they had shut down the restaurant following the fight inside the restaurant.”
Concerns remained however, as police continued to respond to calls resulting from incidents of crime at the property. Neighboring residents likewise began to grow weary of the Blue Nile’s seeming negligence over the criminal activity happening on and surrounding its property. As the Current Blog reports, the ongoing and recurrent concerns eventually “led to a city investigation that found the Blue Nile had overstepped its original license agreement by hosting DJs and clearing tables on the first floor rather than presenting music on that floor only as background for dining, as the venue had originally planned.” It was these findings that resulted in a new settlement conference in December 2014 in which a public agreement was reached regarding licenses for the venue. The Blue Nile was forced into submitting a new security plan, downgrading its entertainment licenses, and changing its closing hours to 10 pm Sunday-Thursday and 11 pm on the weekends. It was these changes that went into effect in March, that meant it could no longer host entertainment events such as Kenya Night Minnesota.
But fear not, the brains behind the wildly successful and longest running Kenyan dance night in Minnesota already have their next event ready to roll. Repackaged and rebranded, Kilimanjaro Entertainment aims to cater to the older, more sophisticated crowd with their next venture.
New Kenya Night Starts May 2
When asked about the future plans for Kenya Night, Jojo had this to say, “Kenya Night Minnesota returns May 2 at The Lodge 4080 W Broadway, Robbinsdale, MN. This will target a more mature crowd and will start early, about 7:00pm with appetizers and happy hour. It will feature Kenyan and African music.” There are also plans for “a second night at Red Sea in Minneapolis for the 20s crowd with reggae, Afrofusion and Hip Hop.” This event is not slated to begin until June though. For now, find some place for all those warm, hilarious, or frustrating memories of Wakilisha, Wachilia, and Kenya Night at the Blue Nile, and then make some room for the new Kenya Night Minnesota in your calendar.
Barway Collins Funeral Postponed to Allow Biological Mother to Attend
Community efforts to delay funeral arrangements for 10 year old Barway Collins whose body was found on April 11 in the Mississippi River in Brooklyn Center, weeks after he was reported missing have been successful. Family and community members were seeking to delay the funeral scheduled for Saturday April 25th to give his biological mother, Louise Karluah time to make travel arrangements to attend her son’s funeral.
Karluah who still lives in Liberia, had not seen her son in the 4 years before his death, and is scheduled to attend her visa interview at the U.S Consulate today. This will determine if she will be allowed to travel to the U.S. Kare 11 News reportsthat “Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office has become involved in the effort to expedite things and bring Louise Karluah to Minnesota.” Concerns were that even if Karluah was issued a visa on Friday it was unlikely that she would be able to travel in time to make it to the funeral scheduled for 11 am Saturday at Shiloh Temple in North Minneapolis.
Arrangements for the funeral had been made by Pastor Harding Smith, who has been the family’s spokesman since Barway went missing on March 18th, and following his father Pierre Collins’ arrest for the boys murder. Collins’ who is in jail on charges of second-degree murder, transferred all responsibility for the funeral and burial arrangements to the pastor, who insisted that he would like Barway’s biological mother to be able to attend the funeral, but that “Estes Funeral Chapel in north Minneapolis recommends that the ceremony and burial happen soon because of the condition of the body” as reported on WCCO News.
The Star Tribune now reports that the funeral has been postponed following a meeting of community members on Thursday night who “agreed that every effort should be made to allow mother Louise Karluah to attend.” Services for the slain boy are now tentatively scheduled for Saturday May 2nd, with a news conference scheduled for 2 pm today to discuss ongoing events.
In the face of the immense tragedy the focus for the Liberian community has been in getting Barway’s mother here to bury her son, and giving the boy a befitting burial. The community has been raising funds to cover Karluah’s travel costs and the funeral expenses, with Kare 11 reporting that faith groups had managed to raise $2,000 to help cover her airfare. At this reporter’s most recent flight search, airline tickets averaged $2,500 for one a way flight from Monrovia to Minneapolis, and funeral costs are estimated to be upwards of $9,000.
There is a dire need to support Barway’s mother and his family at this time and donation bank accounts have been set up at TCF Bank and Wells Fargo Bank. Donations should be directed to Barway Collins Donation Fund. Signatures to these accounts are noted as Liberia Ministers Association Executive Director, Pastor Alexander Collins, The West African Muslims Community, Imam Mohammed Dukuly and Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) Board Member, Mrs. Victoria Peabody. Any and all donations are welcomed and encouraged.
