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	<title>Orijin Culture &#187; Nigeria</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.orijinculture.com/community/tag/nigeria/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community</link>
	<description>A unique &#34;Brand&#34; connecting all African descendants together through culture; Fashion, Music &#38; Lifestyle. Keep the culture Alive.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:35:28 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Orijin Culture: African Caribbean Business Council 2011</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/acbc/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=acbc</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/acbc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:49:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>cadmin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Event]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[African Caribbean Business Council]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ambassador]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Botswana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diaspora]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orijin culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sierra Leone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Togo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trinidad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Western Union]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=5353</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Watch Highlights of the Round Table below..

[PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS]
Orijin&#8217;s Memorable message from the great event:
&#8220;In our minds all of us when we leave this hall, we need to continue to preach the message that Africa is a continent. It is so unfortunate that to this day, in a lot of peoples minds Africa is a Country. But I can also appreciate the fact that in the United States, you look at those divisions between the States and you just transpose it to Africa and say because Africa is all these lines and United States these lines it means it is one. The powerful message however of looking at Africa as one is the solidarity; because that solidarity is important for trade, its important for us as a people&#8230;. How many of us were taught by history that Africa is the dark continent. Today that we know better, you wonder a continent so rich in minerals, in people, in cultures, in beauty,  in tourism, how could anyone ever have said it was a dark continent?&#8221; &#8211; Honorable Tebelelo Seretse(Botswana Ambassador to the US)
]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Remember Me: AFI&#8217;s Africa Fashion Week&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/afis-africa-fashion-week/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=afis-africa-fashion-week</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/afis-africa-fashion-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:57:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>NoelleBonner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fashion & Style]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adama Paris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AFI's Africa Fashion Week]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alexander Koutny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[and South Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Avant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bunmi Koko]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christie Brown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Tiale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Duaba Serwa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egypt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fast Track Collections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foschini]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gloria Wavoumo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Johannesburg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kenya]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kiki Clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kluk CGdt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Laquan Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maki Oh]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marriane Fassler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mozambique]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Senegal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sierra Leone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simon Diener]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soucha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[South Africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanzania]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uganda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zimbabwe]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=4798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Africa Fashion Week in Johannesburg, South Africa organized by African Fashion International (AFI) is one of the most important fashion events in Africa. With the aim of highlighting some of the best in African fashion and creative design, AFI has done a phenomenal job giving designers a platform to showcase and market their designs. Including a unique competition for up and coming designers through their collaboration with Foschini (a popular international women&#8217;s brand).  The Foschini/AFI FASTRACK competition launched in 2011 creates a platform for young designers to kick-start their careers in the fashion retail industry. After showing at Johannesburg Fashion Week and Cape Town Fashion week in front of a panel of judges; the winners are taken through a supply chain internship at Foschini where they are taught the &#8220;in&#8217;s and out&#8217;s&#8221; of the retail industry. All culminating in a collection from the designers thats sold in flagship Foschini stores. AFI is an important and  truly progressive company to be aware of that is intimately involved in the international support and promotion of African fashion.
Held at the Sandton Convention Centre from October 20th to October 23rd, designers from the United States, Zimbabwe, Kenya, London, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, and South Africa presented their Spring 2012 collections. Not all of the designers are featured below, but I believe the strongest and most relevant looks are shown. I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the diversity in style and design of all the collections at this years Africa Fashion Week.
  In my post last week &#8220;The Larger Implications Behind Burberry&#8217;s Use of African Fabric&#8220;, I talked about seeking out African designers until the industry responds to the consumers demands. So take this opportunity to pay attention to the names, styles and designs of the designers below. Remember them, seek out more information about their brands and most importantly buy their designs!
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Adama Paris


Alexander Koutny 




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Avant

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Bunmi Koko




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Christie Brown





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David Tiale




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Duaba Serwa





Gloria Wavoumo



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Fast Track Collections




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Maki Oh


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Marriane Fassler

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Kiki Clothing



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Kluk CGdt

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Laquan Smith






Soucha


Photos by: Simon Diener
]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is this REALLY Africa?!: Child Sacrifice and &#8216;Witch Doctors&#8217; in Uganda</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/africa-child-sacrifice-uganda/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=africa-child-sacrifice-uganda</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/africa-child-sacrifice-uganda/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:18:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nekita</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Culturally Misunderstood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[anthropologist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bbc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[child sacrifice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chinese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inca]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uganda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[witch doctors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=4670</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently came across an “investigative” BBC report about the issue of child sacrifice by &#8216;witch doctors&#8217; in Uganda and looked at the video with total disgust! After watching the video, I was reminded of when I went to the store with a friend, who was questioned by the young inquisitive African-American cashier. She asked about the orijin of the bracelet he was wearing and when he responded by stating “Ghana, Africa; you should go there one day,” she looked at him in utter disgust and replied “uh uh… I don’t wanna to go to Africa.” Noticing that he might be from the very place she obviously disapproves of, she changed her tone and attempted to pacify the situation by further declaring that she did not want to leave the U.S.   After watching such a disturbing video, why would anyone want to go to Uganda or anywhere in Africa for that matter?! A place where ‘they’ practice such barbaric and inhumane rituals such as child sacrifices? A place where &#8216;they’ have ‘witch doctors;’ where people with money kidnap and kill children for sacrificial purposes in hopes of attaining wealth and prosperity? WTF is wrong with ‘these’ people?! If your understanding of Uganda or Africa is limited to the scope if this video, then the above response is warranted. If you are well informed about Africa and watched the video with Fela Kuti’s declaration that “99.9% of the information you get about Africa is wrong” in mind, then you will have questions about the detrimental impact it will have on Ugandans and Africans and the extent to which it further exoticizes and perpetuates negative stereotypes of Africans. I am not of the position that everyone is out to “get” Africa and that everything done to question African culture and practices is done out of malice. I am cognizant of the fact that there are certain cultural practices that are inhumane, regardless of their cultural and historical background. However, I do believe that any issue surrounding or criticizing culture should be done in an all encompassing and well informed manner. The bottom line is that the practice of child sacrifice is barbaric and downright wrong. However, in this recent 2011 report by the BBC and the preceding report on the same issue in 2010, I am also disturbed by the fact that: 1) It does not provide any background about the practice of child and human sacrifice and leaves the impression that it is solely inherent to Uganda and for many, by extension Africa 2) The “investigation” is done with the input of a very selective group of people, most of whom who have a lot to gain by exaggerating and simplifying the practice 3) It provides a myopic view of the general issue of child disappearance in Uganda and leaves the impression that all child disappearances are related to them being sacrificed 4) Its limited scope of the practice of child sacrifice and its ostensible rise and prevalence in [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Pride of Nigeria: Naija for life. And you wonder why?</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/pride-nigeria-naija-life/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=pride-nigeria-naija-life</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/pride-nigeria-naija-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:11:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nekita</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nok culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United Kingdom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=4405</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
On October 1st, 1960, Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria, gained its independence from the United Kingdom. Comprised of over 300 ethnic groups and competing religious traditions of Christianity, Islam and traditions African beliefs, which have inevitably brought about some division and conflict, Nigeria has come a long way since independence by becoming one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Being home of the Nok civilization/culture, the earliest ancient and highly advanced civilization in Nigeria who were known for their well ordered economy and good system of government, it should come as no surprise that Nigeria has managed to strive economically despite  being plagued by its noted ethnic and religious cleavages. In addition to growing economically, Nigeria has also taken positive steps in helping to reduce ethnic and religious divisions and has emerged as a positive example for many African nations.
Happy independence Nigeria! A Country embedded with a rich culture and history. Orijin Culture wishes you continued progress and development.
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]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Where and when did you find your Orijin ?</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/find-orijin/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=find-orijin</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/find-orijin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:46:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Zack</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christians]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drunk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Edward Echwalu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[famous]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lady gaga]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Muslims]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non-descript]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Orijin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rich]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sober]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uganda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[white]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=4242</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
There is a moment for a lot of us. For some it passes with but a whisper. For others it thunders through them like a herd of zebra on the Serengeti Plain. For others still, it is somewhere in the middle; A sort of delicate mix between the serenity of an African sunset and the explosion of color and noise that typifies a downtown market in any African city.
It is that moment when the world goes from being an abstract place that you visit from time to time and becomes a tangible place. Like that picture on the wall that always looked like it was missing something and then one day you recognize that the missing piece was you. Like that moment of déjà vu where you are convinced that you have been in a place before and all that is missing is that one person to walk into the room to complete your mental image.
My “moment” came as a lot of my epiphanies come, with all the forewarning of that visitor who always shows up as your family sits down for dinner and with all the subtlety of Lady Gaga costume.
The setting was the Namboole national football stadium where Uganda was set to play Nigeria during the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup. The streets were lined with people and flags. The radio stations and newspapers were filled with predictions about who would start and what tactics the then head coach Lazlo Czaba would have to employ in order to get a crucial result against the Super Eagles.
In essence, Uganda has fallen head over heels in love with her national football side again and Namboole would be the venue for the wedding vows.
Eager not to be left out of the potential blockbuster of a reception, I made my way down to the stadium. This was to be the first time that I watched Uganda play live and the buildup that the game got in the national press only served to further whet my appetite for the upcoming spectacle.
Arriving at the stadium, I made my way in: past the masses of people that were trying desperately to con their way in with tickets that their “cousin” had procured for them.
Wandering about the stadium with my cousin, I was struck at how many people from all walks of Ugandan society were represented in the crowd. There were Muslims, Christians, rich, poor, famous, non-descript, sober, drunk, white, black, Indian and somewhere in between, all rubbing shoulders as they dashed about looking for the best angle to watch the game.
I put this down to the power of football to create a spectacle that draws people in and didn’t think much of it beyond that.
We finally found our section and made our way up the stairs. Now, for those unfamiliar with the layout of the stadium it would be worthwhile to note that one cannot see the pitch or the stands without first ascending a flight of stairs. The stadium is shaped like a [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>“Things Fall Apart” for 50 Cent: Chinua Achebe Blocks Movie Title</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/fall-50-cent-chinua-achebe-blocks-movie-title/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fall-50-cent-chinua-achebe-blocks-movie-title</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/fall-50-cent-chinua-achebe-blocks-movie-title/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 17 Sep 2011 18:35:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nekita</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[50 Cent]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[africa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[African Literature]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chinua Achebe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[roots]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things Fall Apar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=4240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
My university years were characterized by my internal struggle to find myself. Who knew that choosing courses was more than just ‘getting’ an education and a good job? This internal struggle was caused by a yearning to learn more about myself and my culture.
I remember this ‘white’ girl talking to a classmate about Africa and African development and most of the things she spoke of were unknown to me. I remember sitting there looking at her in amusement then a sudden sense of guilt came over me. I started to question why I, a person &#8211; while not directly African but visibly African by orijin,  did not possess the knowledge about my ancestral homeland; yet a ‘white’ person, who visibly looks more far removed from African than myself, knew so much more about the continent than I did? (I should clarify that I recognize my ignorance in having such a myopic view of this girl as there are ‘white’ Africans and that this person by all accounts could have been ‘more’ African than me- a person whose personal and parental roots are in the Caribbean.)
Despite my noted ignorance, I decided to embark on a path to learn about my roots and culture. This then propelled me to sign up for an African literature course where the professor, who also happened to be ‘white’,  enabled me to not only have a better understanding of Africa and it’s culture, but also fostered a love of African life and culture.  On the first day, the professor gave us the course syllabus and cautioned us to promptly make our way to the bookstore as the first novel on the list, Things fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, was to be read by the next class. Usually, I never ran to the book store the first day, let alone the first couple weeks of classes. It was too congested, the line-ups to cash out books were too long, plus like Adele said, “I have a fickle heart” and this meant that I often changed my mind and courses. However, ‘me been dey pan a mission’ and wanted to have that same and even higher level of knowledge about the ‘motherland’ as the aforementioned girl.
The bookstore was too packed so I decided to go online and check to see if they would have it. To my surprise, the book was everywhere! How could it be? A book about Africa by an African novelist described as a ‘classic’? Chinua Achebe is revered as “the father of modern African literature”? I felt unapprised, ignorant, uneducated, unworldly and all the other superlatives one can think of to describe my level of ignorance. After getting over this initial shock, I ordered the book and it was received within a couple of days. The book was described online as “unsentimental rendering of Nigerian tribal life before and after the coming of colonialism.” It closes by declaring that “Things Fall Apart packs a powerful punch as Achebe holds up the ruin of one proud [...]]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stop speaking Vernacular in Class</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/stop-speaking-vernacular-class/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=stop-speaking-vernacular-class</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/stop-speaking-vernacular-class/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:36:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>cadmin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[African education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stop speaking Vernacular in Class]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[taboo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=3821</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Please teacher somebody is speaking vernacular in class&#8221; Ama said.
&#8220;Hey!!! who is speaking vernacular?&#8221;, the teacher replied. With a smirk on her face, she points her finger at Yakubu. &#8220;Ohh!!! what did I say Ama? I don&#8217;t like that&#8221;, Yakubu replied back; scared and ready for war with his lie. Unfortunately, Olu heard it too and rats on him. &#8220;You said, mi ti paa mi&#8221; (I got a headache)
&#8220;Come here&#8221;, the teacher grabs his cane and viciously whips Yakubu to the ground, with cane marks all over his body. His crime, Speaking Vernacular.
Wait a minute, let us define Vernacular. According to the dictionary, vernacular a derivative of the Latin word &#8220;vernaculus (native)&#8221;, meaning the native speech or language of a place. Wikipedia further explains vernacular as a mother tongue and mother language of &#8220;a population located in a country or in an area defined on some other basis, such as a locality. For example, Navajo is a local language in the southwest of the United States, and English is the state language of a number of countries.&#8221;
Growing up in Ghana, we were not allowed to speak our native tongue anywhere around school. It was more of a taboo, at least in my eyes.The punishment was cane whipping. I never understood the idealogy of why English, which is a foreign language, had more power than our native language, and why it had such a negative connotation. However, I dared not ask why. It was a simple law without an explanation. My assumption was that it was probably a way to help us improve our english.
As I grew older and left home to school in the US, I was always in shock when I heard my Latino friends speak Spanish in and out of class,especially when the professor was around. Anytime they spoke, my heart will jump for a second with an echo in my mind &#8220;stop speaking vernacular&#8221;. What was meant to be my language to embrace became a physiological trauma for me. Gradually it wore off and I began to see the beauty of my language. I would drive by and even play my High Life music and other African music loudly in my car. Some will walk and ask about the music. I will speak broken english with my friends who were from other African countries. My Latino brothers and sisters taught me that it was OK to embraced my culture through language.
Have you ever wondered why it was a taboo to speak our local language in school? Did it somehow make you look down upon your rich language or feel embarrassed when your parents spoke vernacular to you in public?
I can understand the need of learning english which is one of the universal languages out there, but why does that result necessitate the eradication of vernacular in our school systems. The psychological implications it brought and loosing the taste and flair on my language. While in the latter part native language was implemented in our studies and was [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>You need a Fela Kuti in your life&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/fela-kuti-life/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=fela-kuti-life</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/fela-kuti-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:46:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>cadmin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bob Marley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fela August 2nd 1979]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fela kuti]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay-Z]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mos Def]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Swizz Beats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Swizz Beatz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Talib Kweli]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=3810</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
He was born as Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti in Nigeria, (Abeokuta, Ogun State ) to a middle-class family. Growing up under the bosom of a feminist, activist and an anti-colonial mother,  and a Protestant minister /school principal father, Fela was well grounded in his roots, culture and history.
As surprising it may come to others, Fela initially was suppose to study medicine  but dropped out of the program to study music at Trinity College in London in 1958. It was there he started playing the trumpet, composing music and formed the band Koola Lobitos. They played a fusion of jazz and highlife . He moved back to Nigeria in 1963 to continue his music carrier which exposed the realness of dictatorship and corruption whiles living there. In 1967, he went to Ghana for a new approach in music, it was there he found his path to what he labeled &#8220;Afrobeat&#8221;.
To many people outside Africa, Fela was a great singer, the pioneer of Afrobeat who contributed in paving the way for many artist and producers today, especially in hip-hop. Artist and producers of today, especially those grounded into hip-hop such as Nas, Talib Kweli, Mos-def, Jay-z, Swizz Beatz and a few others who studied Fela Kuti&#8217;s life outside music, honor him more than the pioneer of Afrobeat.
In Africa, Fela was seen more as was a politician(If alive in today&#8217;s world where we have seen presidents from various backgrounds, it would not have shocked me if he was elected as president of Nigeria). He was a controversial musician; A rebel or outcast to those who did not accept him or misunderstood him, but a voice and activist who fought for human right through his music to those who followed him. Just as the legendary Bob Marley&#8217;s music still breathes in Jamaica and the world, so does legendary Fela Kuti&#8217;s music breathes in Nigeria and the world.. Fela was a symbol of Freedom of speech when there was no freedom of speech. An Activist who through his music became a weapon to fight against dictatorship, colonialism from the west and corruption in Nigeria and in Africa.
Fela died on August 2nd 1997. We remember Fela kuti as the pioneer of Afrobeat, as a mouth piece for freedom and justice, as a connector of diversity, as an icon by his work and sacrifice for the people, as a story to learn from his mistakes.


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		<title>Death before wedding bells&#8230;RIP Adefemi</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/death-wedding-bellsrip-adefemi/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=death-wedding-bellsrip-adefemi</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/death-wedding-bellsrip-adefemi/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:51:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>cadmin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[car accident]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greece]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria international footballer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Olubayo Adefemi died]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Super Eagles defender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wedding]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=2749</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Imagine being excited about getting married to a loved one, imagine the anticipation, the flipping of magazines for THE wedding dress, Polaroid pictures in your mind about your first dance and then a call comes in&#8230;
Nigeria&#8217;s, Super Eagles defender Olubayo Adefemi  died from a car accident in Greece.The Nigeria international footballer lost control in his vehicle as he was on his way to finalized details with his upcoming wedding.
You can well imagine how tragic and devastating this news is to his fiance, family and friends.
We ask for your prayers and support for his family.


]]></description>
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		<title>Nigerian Singer Becomes Chinese Pop Sensation &#124; Bridging the Cultural Gap</title>
		<link>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/nigerian-singer-chinese-pop-sensation-bridging-cultural-gap/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=nigerian-singer-chinese-pop-sensation-bridging-cultural-gap</link>
		<comments>http://www.orijinculture.com/community/2011/nigerian-singer-chinese-pop-sensation-bridging-cultural-gap/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 18:41:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Nekita</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fresh Off the Boat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[china]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emmanuel Uwechue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mandarin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nigeria]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pop music]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.orijinculture.com/community/?p=2461</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
We have all recently witnessed the surge of African music in North America and the rest of the world.  However, the story of 33-year-old Nigerian singer Emmanuel Uwechue takes the influence of African musicians to a whole new level.
Uwechue rose to prominence in the Chinese pop world after singing love songs in the native Chinese language of Mandarin.  He learned the language after receiving an invitation from a friend to visit China in 2002. Uwechue has adopted the Mandarin name Hao Ge (pronounced How Guh), which means &#8220;good song&#8221; in Mandarin.
Uwechue started his singing career in China by performing in bars and hotels in Henan and Hebei Provinces.  He later soared in popularity in the country after singing on Xin Guang Da Dao, a Chinese version of American Idol in 2006.  He has performed alongside some of China’s most famous pop stars including Sun Nan, Na Ying and Han Hong.
Ha has been credited as being the first African to have reached widespread success in China and his popularity has led him to perform at some of China’s most important events, such as the wildly popular Lunar New Year Gala, the Chinese equivalent of the Super Bowl and China’s highest-rated broadcast event of the year.
Uwechue is also viewed by many as positive symbol of cross-cultural ties between Africa and China.  China is a major investor in Africa and has a significant interest in oil reserves in Nigeria.  However, some Africans are skeptical of Uweche’s success and China’s role in Africa’s economy because they fear China’s financial power in the region is representative of “another form of colonialism.”
Despite these noted concerns, Uwechue’s story provides as a great example of how music can be used as a medium in helping to bridge racial and cultural division.


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