Reading the Ceiling
Gambian writer Dayo Foster’s book Reading The Ceiling is about Ayodele, a young woman faced with a life changing decisions on her eighteen birthday. Her choices lead her to leave the only home she has ever known and travel across the globe in search of a better life for herself.
She decides to attend a university in Europe, where she experiences both the joy and heartbreak of falling in love. She becomes a globe-trotter, traveling around the world in an attempt to make sense of her life. The story takes many twists and turns, and Ayodele eventually finds herself back in African as a wife and mother trapped in a polygamous marriage. Ayodele’s story teaches us to be careful about our daily decision making, for a single unevaluated decision might cost us the rest of our lives. » Read more…
Soul Name
There are so many myths and misperceptions about Africa that Africans are often forced to become roving ambassadors, correcting and educating people about their customs and culture. When Naana Kyereboah encountered cultural ignorance at the Virginia elementary school where she taught English, she responded like a true teacher, taking it upon herself to expose her students and fellow teachers to African culture by organizing programs where she brought in maps, clothing, food and art works from different African countries, including her native Ghana. Her book Soul Name is the impressive outcome of her desire to impart an understanding and appreciation of Ghanaian culture. She says, “It has always been my dream to be a writer. The book let me combine my love of writing with what I was doing anyway – teaching people about Africa.”
Measuring Time
Measuring Time by Helon Habila is a novel about LaMamo and Mamo, twin brothers whose mother died in childbirth. After their mother’s death, the boys are raised by their aunt and their heartless father. The brothers separate when LaMamo runs away to become a solider in a West African civil war and Mamo stays home, too sickened by sickle cell anemia to join his brother. The brothers stay in touch through LaMamo’s letters from the warfront as Mamo goes on to become a brilliant student, defying expectations that he would not live long. » Read more…
One Hen
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference, by Katie Smith Milway, is a children’s book that teaches an important lesson to anyone interested in the seemingly gargantuan task of eradicating poverty. The book ingeniously uses the story of Kojo, a young boy in Ghana, to teach the concept of microfinance. Microfinance is an innovative concept of providing small loans to poor people who can’t qualify for loans from large banks so that they can use the funds to start their own businesses. In One Hen, Kojo is given a small loan by the people in his village, which he uses to buy one hen so that he and his widowed mother will have eggs to eat. An enterprising young man, he begins to sell the extra eggs and uses the profits to pay his school fees. He buys more hens and soon has a thriving business which allows him to take care of himself and his mother and to hire others in his village to help take care of the hens. Using the money from his eggs to finish school, Kojo is able to obtain a bigger loan from a bank with his small poultry business as collateral. With the bank loan, Kojo becomes a successful poultry farmer who loans money to others so that they too can start small businesses. » Read more…
China Keitetsi -Liberated Child Soldier
China Keitetsi was born in Uganda to Rwandan parents. She lived with her father and his girlfriend until she was 8, when she ran away with her sister to try and find her mother. Unfortunately she ended up with the National Resistance Army (NRA) where she became a child soldier and was given the name China (because of the slant of her eyes). She was raped repeatedly by her superiors and bore two children. » Read more…
Ode to Lata - The South Asian Gay Experience
Ali is a banker by day and an active socialite by night. Although it sounds like a normal life, it is anything but that. He is a gay Asian male running away from a background that includes a Hindu mother in postcolonial Kenya who had him watching Hindi cinema; an emotionally abusive bisexual lover; and the haunting memories of the death of his fatherat the hands of his mistress. » Read more…
Gift of Incense
Jamati was in attendance at The Culture Shop in Washington D.C. as Sierra Leonean owners Valentine and Mona Davies hosted a discussion of the book Gift of Incense – A Story of Love and Revolution in Ethiopia by Judith Ashakih. The book is the personal memoir of Eritrean composer, musician and singer Abubaker Ashakih, as told to and written by Judy, to whom he was married for thirty years until his death in 2002. After an enjoyable evening of literature and fellowship, we sat down with Judy to talk some more about the book and the story behind the book. » Read more…
No Future Without Forgiveness
Desmond Tutu is an activist and Archbishop in the Anglican Church in South Africa. » Read more…
The Mrs Club
The Mrs Club is a book by Ekene Onu, about the lives of three beautiful, successful, and strong willed Nigerian women located in America. Of the three women, one is married, one is in search for Mr Right, and the other is still exploring her options whilst trying to convince herself she is single. » Read more…
African Folktalkes for the Entire Family
Kiddie Folk Tales by Anita N. Eboka is a unique book with two stories that kids of all ages will love. The stories teach about staying focused and about team spirit, lessons that we can all use. The story The Ant Squad is about an ant named Tito who loves to go to school and is a straight ‘A’ student. Sometimes it seems to his friends that he takes school too seriously and might come across as quite boring. Tito’s friends love to play and have fun round the clock but Tito thinks differently. Find out how he succeeds in motivating his friends to stay focused, and the big reward that follows.
The King Finger is an exciting story about the five fingers that will delight children of all ages. The fingers want to have a King, and each finger thinks he should rule. A big fight breaks out and they stop playing together and talking to each other. Realizing that the conflict is not good for any of them, the fingers decided to work together to resolve their problems. The story teaches important lessons about cooperation as Peter Pointer, Patrick Pinky and Tommy Thumb each make their case for why they should be King. » Read more…
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
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October 16, 2008
ROLL BOUNCE 2 at Orchards SkateLand
USA - North East
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October 2, 2008
Hip Hop Colony Screening
UK
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September 26, 2008
VJB Live at the Archway Island
UK
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Youth Voter Registration Party during the Obama McCain Debate at the Viking Center
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