Mshale

ATLANTA, GA - About five years ago, then Kenyan Ambassador to the US, Dr. Yusuf Nzibo, met with the Kenyan community in Atlanta. The Association of Kenyan Professionals in Atlanta (AKPA), an organization that would address Kenyan issues and create an opportunity for Kenyans in Atlanta to network was born. At its inception, AKPA had modest goals. However, over the years, it has developed to become the biggest Kenyan professional association in the United States.

“Until one moves away from the shade provided by a forest, it is impossible for them to know what parts of the forest are shadier than others.” It was not until years later that Mohamed Abdi, a 30-yr old native of Kenya, got to understand the true meaning of this Somali proverb.

A survey conducted in early 2006 with refugee populations in Northwest Hennepin County shows that there is a disconnect between the physical and mental health needs of survivors of torture and war trauma and services provided as victims shy away from discussing their experiences with their doctors. The survey conducted by the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) concludes that refugees did not see the benefit of discussing past traumatic experience with their doctors.

Entertainment gift-wraps a wide variety of messages.  Spirituals map out the path to freedom and Barney the dinosaur dresses up common courtesy in nursery rhymes.  Now there's a South African choir extolling the merits of safe sex.  The singers even add a measure of visual emphasis.  When two of the men wrap a leg around the hip of their dancing partners, the men are theatrically shoved to the ground until they produce, from their pockets, a fresh condom for use in the suggested forays.

Tanzania’s President,  (now Dr.) Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, yesterday assured an audience assembled at the atrium of the University of St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus that Tanzania is the ideal destination for investors and tourists.

Books for Africa completed its move to a new spacious warehouse in Saint Paul’s East side today with the official opening of the facility by Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Cyril August Chami.

Mr. Izooba Mugabi is the new chairman of the Uganda Association of Minnesota (UGAMN). He emerged the winner after easily trouncing his only challenger, Mr. Francis Ssenoga, by garnering over 64% of the votes cast during a general assembly meeting to elect new leaders. All seats were up for grabs. Mr. Ssenoga is the current secretary general of the Uganda North America Association (UNAA).

NEW YORK, September 3 - The ad on the Uganda North America Association’s Web site was enticing. For $95 it promised this year’s convention goers a luxurious cruise around New York with plenty of food and live performances by some of Uganda’s most loved artists like Juliana Kanyomozi and Chameleon.

NEW YORK, September 2 - Pension L. Olerum is not Ugandan but that did not stop him from attending this year’s Uganda North American Association convention in New York. The Greenville, S.C-based Nigerian businessman chose to attend the annual gathering of Ugandans because he heard good things about the country’s real estate industry, he said.

NEW YORK, September 1 - When Marvin Baba looked through the door into the makeshift gallery at the the Uganda North America Association convention in New York, he thought he recognized the art. He had bought a few similar pieces of art but because the paintings were mostly on greeting cards, it never occurred to him that the artist would be big enough to warrant a gallery at the convention.

Nightly updates from the 18th Uganda North America Association (UNAA) will be available on mshale.com starting September 1. The convention runs through September 4.