Blog

Starbucks spotlights child soldiers

Starbucks is making a second book selection this February. On Feb. 15, Starbucks will be selling “A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,” by first-time writer and Sierra Leone native Ishmael Beah. Amazon says: “In A Long Way Gone, Beah, now in his mid-twenties, tells how, at the age of twelve, he fled…
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Apple’s iPhone meaningless to a Masai herdsman

Yesterday Apple debuted another revolutionary product, the iPhone. It has everything anyone would need in a phone. That is unless you’re one of Kenya’s Masai herdsmen. Psfk pointed me to a great article and short film by Paul Mason on how the mobile phone industry is having an enormous economic and social impact in Africa.…
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Zimbabwe failing diamond test

On the conflict diamond front, it’s Zimbabwe who has now come under fire for it’s conflict diamond policies. Reports are surfacing that the African country is among a growing number who has not met the standards of the World Diamond Council’s Kimberley Process initiative. It’s funny to see how the council is suddenly cracking down…
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Oprah leads African girls to success

Over the holidays the media was abuzz when Oprah Winfrey opened her school for girls in South Africa. No stranger to charitable endeavors, this one however struck a nerve with all kinds of people. While many saw the effort as a positive one, others questioned the racial mix of the school and why Oprah chose…
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African style 2007

Happy New Year! Yeah, yeah! Some of you are over the holidays but I’m still recovering. Thanks to all for supporting this blog and my other creative projects. Now let’s get back to “Makin’ Africa Pop!”

Botswana Bushmen win land after DiCaprio appeal

Earlier this week the NY Daily News rang the bell on the newest blood diamond match this time between Russell Simmons and Blood Diamond director Ed Zwick. The director’s critisism comes as the latest part of the fallout from Simmons’ fact-finding African diamonds mission. Since last week’s press conference, Russell has been fending off all…
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Akon nominated for 2007 Grammy Award

So word’s in on the 2007 Grammy Awards nominees and my boy Akon is front and center. These are the categories and which he and other African artists have been nominated in. The awards ceremony will be begin at 8pm EST on February 11, 2007 and will be shown live on CBS * African artists…
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African diamond facts according to Russell Simmons

As I mentioned, yesterday I attended Russell Simmons’ press conference to reveal the results of his fact-finding Africa mission. In attendance was Russell Simmons, Dr. Ben Chavis, Kimora Lee Simmons (Russell insisted she’s still his wife), Rev. Run(Run DMC), the Dipset’s “capo” Jim Jones (again I say, WTF does he have to do with diamonds…
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Russell Simmons returns from African trip

I just got back from Russell Simmons’ press conference for his fact-finding mission to Africa (Mozambique, Botswana, South Africa). All I can say is Jim Jones?!!! WTF does he have to do with anything. More of my reaction later. In the mean time read up on the blood diamond controversy and hear what LA Weekly’s…
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Nas shines on with diamonds video

With a new album nearing release, one of hip-hop’s elder statesmen and baddest lyricists, rhymes about blood diamonds. This video is for the track “Shine On ‘Em” from the Blood Diamond movie soundtrack which Nas is reported to have scored. Good work Nasir. Now you need to let a real Sierra Leonean in on the…
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