MINNEAPOLIS – A Nigerian-born Minnesotan scholar called on Nigeria’s newly elected President Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to step down and call for fresh elections to save face and clear the mystery surrounding his nomination.

Addressing fellow compatriots in Minneapolis on a Saturday Oct. 6 celebration to mark the West African country’s 47th year of independence, Anthony Okubue, a professor of Environmental Science at St Cloud State University, asked Yar’Adua "to do the honorable thing" and resign from office to prepare for a fresh free and fair general elections for the benefit of all Nigerians and the African continent at large.

"I personally admire the Yar’Adua family,” Okubue said. “They are good people and have played a pivotal [role] in the country’s political history, but what I am simply saying is that why remain in office when you confess publicly that the elections were fraudulent?"

Yar’Adua of the ruling People’s Democratic Party won the presidency following the April elections, which were condemned by local and foreign observers, who alleged widespread vote rigging. Before assuming office Yar’Adua served as governor of the remote northern Katsina state since May 1999 and was little known in national politics.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo surprised many Nigerians when he chose Yar’Adua as his successor.

Yar’Adua comes from a prominent political family. His father was a minister in the first government after independence and his late elder brother was an army general who served as deputy to Obasanjo during his military rule in the 1970s.

Okubue emphasized the need for politicians to preach the gospel of unity among Nigerians. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced consistent ethnic and religious chaos that threaten to tear the country apart. In 2000, more than 1,000 people were reportedly killed in Kaduna Province in violence related to the introduction of Sharia laws in the state.

Okubue also decried the rising levels of corruption in the country, calling it an "incurable ailment." Commenting on the recent media highlights exposing growing number Americans falling prey to Nigerian conmen, the don said all the parties engaged in the fake dealings were greedy individuals who would stop at nothing to enrich themselves. While he said he sympathized with anyone who might have been duped in the scandal, Okubue equally blamed successive Nigerian Federal Governments for not doing enough to revamp the country’s economy to counter the surging levels of unemployment, which he said led to the rising numbers in crime. He was, however, quick to add that not all Nigerians were tricksters.

"In every society there are bad apples and Nigeria is surely no exception," Okubue said.

The Independence Day ceremony was organized by Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development (MIND). It gave an opportunity for Nigerian nationals residing in the Twin Cities metro area to intermingle freely and chat with personnel from the New York-based consulate, who offered passport renewal and other services onsite.

The provisions contained in a document distributed to the audience unveiled plans by the Nigerian government to issue ID cards to its citizens living in the United States. The government claimed the objectives were to enable the consulate to come to the aid of its citizens in the event of natural or man-made emergencies, and to unite Nigerians and their businesses to enhance their unity and cooperation, rather than competition. The document also cited efforts to consider approving absentee voting using the New York office as a pilot centre, as one of the potential benefits of the ID card system.

But a spot check by Mshale revealed that many Nigerians were skeptical about plans by the embassy to conduct a headcount on them, saying that their businesses and associations were already registered in the United States.

Gladys Igbo, the vice president of MIND, termed the move unnecessary and wondered what its motive was.

"I have been living in the United States for many years legally and see no reason why I should carry around a Nigerian identification card now,” Igbo said. “It’s simply not important."

Okubue also expressed his reservations of the move, saying he didn’t quite understand its goal.

"Everybody knows I am a Nigerian and living legally in the United States,” He said. “So what’s the need of giving me a number? Am I a cow?”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The loud screams of people riding the Mall of America’s roller coasters were almost inaudible as Africans danced and drummed at the mall’s rotunda to celebrate African Day.

The celebration was the last day of the recently-concluded Pan African Trade and Investment Summit, which started on Oct. 4 at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affair. The summit presented an opportunity for Minnesotan companies to learn about the growing African economy and the numerous opportunities for investment.

Saturday’s event celebrated African culture by showcasing various aspects ranging from fashion, to art and crafts, to music and dance. Roxane Battle, a former news anchor with Minnesotan local television station KARE 11, was the MC of the historical African Day. Battle marveled at the energy of the participants and attendants.

“This is marvelous, there were three tiers of people watching the African culture exposed to everyone,” Battle said.

While many people came to the mall specifically for the event, the festivities caught the attention of hundreds of shoppers who streamed by. Many of them watched from the upper levels of the mall. Holly Anderson was one such shopper. Anderson lived in Kenya for a year and was wearing a Kenyan T-shirt when she coincidentally came across the celebrations.

“It (African Day) made me miss Kenya,” Anderson said.

Abiola Lepe mesmerized the audience with her eloquence in prose. Reciting a poem on her identity as an individual, and then as an Nigerian woman living in the United States, Lepe demonstrated the perseverance of an African woman living in a new land and facing her challenges head on.

“I am a huge fan of Africans getting together,” she said after her performance.

Fashion designer Nyamal Both had a great opportunity to showcase her innovative and vibrant creations. A fusion of African fabric and style, Both’s design offers a contemporary style to Africans and non-Africans as well. Her use of color, an African design characteristic made her clothes striking and appealing.

Many people interviewed after the fashion show commended Both for using African models representing the full spectrum of African women body types with different shades of brown.  

“Extremely innovative, bold and daring,” said Norine Riziki.

Nyapai Kek and Earl Lovelace, both models at the fashion show were delighted to wear Both’s clothes and to showcase her art to the rest of Minnesota.

“I am glad we had an opportunity to give a positive perspective on Africa and Africans,” said Lovelace.

A dance troupe comprising of three young African college students – Ugandan cousins, Samali and Diana Senyana, and Congolese Lidia – entertained with dances from their countries. Their style led them to call their group CU, and abbreviation of Congo and Uganda.

There was more dancing with International dance troupe – Jabali Afrika. Originally from Kenya, Jabali Afrika prides itself in performing African music and presenting it as an art, said Victor Savani, one of the band members.

Karen Sorbo, a professional auctioneer, said she had been looking forward to the event.

“I have always supported the African community,” Sorbo said. “African music and dance, culture has always been in my heart, so my heart gravitated towards this event.”

But entertainment was not the only feature of the African culture on display. Several curio vendors set up camp at the mall, showcasing and selling African arts and crafts. From jewelry to wood carvings, everything was reminiscent of a rich African culture. Other table stands included information on tourist destinations and Books for Africa, an organization that donates and ships books to Africa. A big screen television showed tourist attractions in Kenya.

African ambassadors and Minnesota-based investor echo governor’s call for an improved image of a stereotyped continent.
MINNEAPOLIS – Gov. Tim Pawlenty said earlier today that time was ripe for the upgrading of the image Americans have of Africa, a step he said would enhance investment and trade with the continent.

“The image Americans have of Africa is out of date,” Pawlenty said. 

Pawlenty urged leaders in both government and private sectors to make efforts to dispel the blanket perception that Africa is a continent laden with war, disease and famine. He asked Americans not to overlook rapid growth of African countries, many of which were growing at a rate “well above the rate of the U.S economy.” 

Pawlenty was speaking at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, where business leaders, government officials from African countries and potential investors gathered for the Pan-African Trade and Investment Summit. The three-day conference was organized to be a platform to present trade and investment opportunities that exist in Africa.

Between 2002 and 2006, the United States’ trade with African countries grew by 80 percent to approximately $90 billion. Although the percentage is impressive, the dollar figure is still very low considering the continent’s population of nearly one billion people. Government officials and members of the private sector of African countries have in recent years increased their efforts to encourage developed countries to trade with and invest in Africa. The summit was a continuation of that quest.

Pawlenty said that understanding Africa and increasing trade and investment in the continent were also necessary for the security of the United States and a world that that, he said, was getting smaller.

“There is a basic desire for humans to be secure, but there can be no security without prosperity,” Pawlenty said.

Minnesota, which according to a U.S. Census report released in September saw the population of African immigrants residing in the state rise by 85 percent in this decade alone, was a great place to start the campaign to woo investor to Africa, Pawlenty said. 

The governor also revealed that his office was looking into the possibility of him leading a delegation to Africa within the next few years.

Speaking immediately after Pawlenty’s speech, Dan Dye, the president of Minnesota-based food and agricultural product company, Cargill, said stereotypes about Africa were a great obstacle impeding attempts to get Americans to invest in the continent. Dye said he had learned a lot from his summer visit to Africa, where Cargill does business in ten countries including South Africa, Ghana, Malawi, Egypt, Zambia, Kenya and Zimbabwe, among others.

Dye said that his company’s experience in Africa had taught him the importance of understanding the continent, and urged potential investors to do more research – rather than rely on stories and pictures alone.

“You have to be on the ground to experience it,” Dye said. “Pictures do not do Africa justice.” 

South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Welile Nhlapo, and his Ghanaian counterpart, Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, also repeated the same call during their lunchtime speeches. Nhlapo said that Asians were already investing in Africa and asked Americans to follow suit.

“I urge you to be careful not to be left behind,” Nhlapo said. “Go and find out why others are going there.”

Bawuah-Edusei said that Africa was in transition from a continent that depended on handouts, to one that was self-reliant. But he said foreign investors could play an important role in making that transformation successful.

“What we need is the opportunity to work ourselves up with our dignity intact,” Bawuah-Edusei said.  “Let’s get over that old Tarzan mentality of Africa. We are open for business.”

The Pan-African Trade Summit continues tomorrow and ends on Saturday with an “Africa Day” of festivities at the Mall of America.

Sept.12, 2006 was a big day for Ethiopians. It marked the beginning of the second millennium according to the Ethiopian calendar, also known as the Ge’ez calendar. Thousands of Ethiopians around the world gathered to celebrate the Ethiopian Millennium—which has also been dubbed the African millennium. 

The Ethiopian calendar is unique because it comprises 13 months. Twelve of the months have 30 days, while the last month has five days, except in a leap year when it has six days. The Ethiopian calendar, which is based on the ancient Julian calendar, is approximately seven years behind the Gregorian calendar that is used by most of the rest of the world.

A festive mood
In several locations around the Twin Cities, cultural celebrations and speeches for a better future were delivered by a hopeful and united Ethiopian community. The largest celebrations, however, were in St. Louis Park where hundreds gathered for a big festival to usher in the new millennium.

The excitement was contagious as friends and families laughed and talked as they ate injera and other traditional Ethiopian delicacies. Reminiscent of a parade, kids ran around with the Ethiopian flags, while teenagers wore T-shirts proclaiming their love for Ethiopia.

This event sees "for the first time in the history of our community, several religious, business and community organizations come together in the celebration of the New Year," said Tadael Emiru, one of the event’s organizers.

Lively traditional dances and songs were the highlight of the event as musicians and poets entertained.

The executive director of the Council of Black Minnesotans, Lester R. Collins called on the growing Minnesotan Ethiopian community to engage in dialog with the larger African community. The council, which was created to address the needs of Minnesotans of African descent, has over the years worked with not only the Ethiopian community, but also other African communities in addressing state and federal government policy issues such as immigration.

Tamene Melkamu, the president of the Ethiopian Community in Minnesota pointed out that while Ethiopians should embrace and highlight the success of their culture, it was also important to explore the future moving towards a “one Ethiopia.”

Yohannes Jejerso, a local Ethiopian musician was excited about the Ethiopian millennium. "This is a unique time in the making of history,” Jejerso said. “It is an opportunity to write a new history for our people."

He urged Ethiopians to think about what they had done as a community and create necessary changes.

In St. Paul, Fasika, a favorite for Ethiopian cuisine lovers, saw many new customers and veterans during the Millennium weekend.

“Although, we were kept on our feet all night, for many of our patrons this was a great way to experience our nation’s holiday with family and friends away from home,” said Atnafu Yeshidagne, the owner of the restaurant.