Furnitures 

Kitchen

Photo by Yoknyam Dabale

Strong House structure / architecture

Paintings

©Omar Diaw Chimere

©Augustin Kassi

©Karen Seneferu

© karen Seneferu

Please note, I do not hold copyrights to these images.

And

Have “Pointed Nose” Operations?

Africans early encounters with Arabs and Europeans were mostly catastrophic; these foreigners colonized and enslaved millions of African people. They deemed African aesthetics as ugly. African contributions to world civilization: medicine, traditional religions, arts, science, fashion, etc were labelled inferior. As a result many Africans today are still trying to deal with the psychological impact of these encounters: “internalized self-hate.”

African men and women bleach their skin, perm their hair and wear fake wigs that don’t look like their natural hair, have “pointed nose” surgeries in order to look like their former oppressors. It is their way of fighting for recognition. Mainstream media both in the Middle East and the Western world promote and feature white or lighter complexioned people.

For example, most of the black people that work for CNN are either light skinned or mixed race. They are regarded as the mouthpiece for all black people. An African (black) person with stereotypically kinky hair, dark skin, broad nose, and thick lips, no matter how intelligent and attractive, are rarely allowed to express themselves and represent blackness. When you watch movies from around the world, dark skinned black people are often cast in subservient roles; they are rarely the “good guy.”

As Steve Biko said, “the most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” Unfortunately, even though Africans are no longer colonized and physically enslaved, we are still mentally imprisoned. Africans on the continent and in the diaspora have internalized racist ideas about themselves. Dark skinned black children are often bullied or simply ignored because they look “too African,” “too dark” or “their nose are too wide” etc. “Internalization” is constantly reinforced by an anti-dark skin bias in the social world.

In music videos on the continent and in the diaspora be it in Congo (Kofi Olumide), Ghana (R2bees), Jamaica (Sean Paul) black people with lighter skin are the main characters. Media outlets that are supposed to have wholistic representations of black people such as BET mostly feature mixed race and light skinned blacks who have stereotypically white features. In fact, these media seem to encourage disrespectful remarks about dark skinned black people. For example, a number of black entertainers such as Asap Rocky, Kenya West, Lil Wayne, Ne-yo and Dl Hughley publicly endorsed light skinned supremacy and there was little outcry from the black “community” to their tasteless, self-hating remarks.

What is the Way Forward?

• Black people need mental healing. Seek the counsel of your elders and be part of a sister and brotherhood, where you can have honest conversations
• Promote a wholistic representation of blackness and include dark-skinned black people in every aspect of society, especially in the media
• There should be a public outcry whenever darker skinned blacks are disrespected
• Do not buy or play music of self-hating and disrespectful artists
• Stop reproducing divisive phrases such as: “team light-skin” and “team dark-skin,” or  ”you are pretty for a dark skinned girl,”  ”you have good hair,” etc.
• Support anti-bleaching campaigns such as Nuul Kukk (Black is Beautiful) in Senegal https://www.facebook.com/nuulkukkmoovment not only to decolonize our minds but to save lives. Bleaching creams are dangerous they cause illnesses such as  skin cancer and liver damage. Recent research suggests hair perms caused hair loss and fibroid tumors.
  

Start and/or support campaigns in your community against hair perming, skin bleaching and “pointed noise” operations.

Racist portrayal of Africans/ black / people of African descent in US and other parts of the world, past and present (  books, advertisements, movies, etc).

In the US black doll labelled “lil monkey”

In Ukrainian Africans  depicted in a newspaper as monkeys

Christmas racist tradition in the Netherlands, white people paint their faces black and dress in bright colors ( being Africans/slaves)

Examples of Bleached Skinned, Pointed Nose Operation and Fake Hair 

South Africa-Mshoza

USA – LaToya Jackson

Jamaica- Vybz kartel

Senegal

Ghana

 Dominican Republic-Sammy Sosa ( Bleached Skin)

African Woman

Nigeria - Governor Alao Akala of Oyo State

USA-Wendy Williams

African Woman

Women in SeneGambia 

Nigerian Royal Family of Bleachers 

Side Effects

Skin Peeling

 Skin Cancer and Burn

 Smell 

Stretch Marks

Uneven Skin Tone

Pimples Breakout

Hair loss / Track Alopecia

Additional Information

1.“Study Links Hair Relaxers To Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty In African American Females”...http://blacklikemoi.com/2012/02/study-links-hair-relaxers-to-fibroid-tumors-and-early-puberty-in-african-american-females/

2. ” Skin Bleaching and Lightening as Psychological Misorientation Mental Disorder”…http://www.questia.com/library/1P3-2360188641/commentary-on-skin-bleaching-and-lightening-as-psychological

3. ”Skin Bleaching and Global White Supremacy”...http://www.academia.edu/898612/Editorial_Skin_Bleaching_and_Global_White_Supremacy

4.“Mercury in Skin Lightening Cosmetics”…http://mercurypolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/skincreamhgfactsheet_may31_final.pdf

5.“Nigeria’s Booming Skin Bleaching Market”…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illl92AMxTA

6. Mshoza’s interview on Motswako in South Africa.

7. “Africa Where Black is Really Not Beautiful”…http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20444798

8. “Confessions of a Hair Weave Addict.” A story of an African (black) woman who had self-esteem problems linked to her hair and how she dealt with it http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erikka-yancy/hair-weave-addiction_b_3065875.html

9. “Black Women Lightened Skin and Straightened Hair”  http://www.unbiasedtalk.com/living-and-relationships/black-women-lightened-skin-and-straightened-hair/

10. This is where “human hair wigs/weaves” come from. Poor Indians donate their hair to god and the temple priests sell them to brokers. And from poor white Europeans.

11. Unfortunately, black people don’t even have control over their haircare.The African/black haircare industry is dominated by Koreans.Black people spend billions of dollars each year to buy other people’s discarded hair that looks nothing like their real hair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpZSWi3TKpk

12.Mr. Vegas sings “Black and Proud” (Nah Bleach)…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTNuwV7NFHM

13. Vybz Kartel sings about light skin supremacy and how it gives one access to women, job etc.. “Cake Soap”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwfooWHxymk

14. Kendrick Lamar  explains the importance of casting dark skinned black women in music videos. He took it further by asking for a dark skinned woman to be the lead character in his music video ” Poetic Justice”.
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhRkiRaOy3B65UnGlO

15. Fela on Skin Bleaching “Yellow Fever”

16. Watch Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry’s documentary “Dark Girls” It would help you have a better understanding of the plight of dark skinned black people especially women in the US, and it is also applicable to Africa/Black people worldwide.

officialdarkgirlsmovie.com/

Please note: I do not hold copyright to any of the pictures and videos.

So how, you might ask, did I select the artists?

• Respect for musical predecessors (Ancestors) and local traditions
• They do not restrict themselves to the language of their colonizers (e.g English, Spanish etc) instead they speak and make good music in their native African language
• For those in the diaspora they have always look to the motherland (Africa) for inspiration (Afrocentric)
• They promote unity amongst Africans and people of African descent globally
• They are deep thinkers, and have maintained pro-Black consciousness in their work over the years.
• Entertainment at its best!

I hope they inspire us all to not give up on our dreams, to not forget where we come from, and to always pay respect to our Ancestors who made the way for us. Enjoy!

1.Thandiswa Mazwai ( South Africa )

2. Sorie Kondi (Sierra Leone) 

 or

3. Rokia Traore (Mali )

4. Salam Diallo ( Senegal)

5. Simphiwe Dana (South Africa)

6.King Ayisoba (Ghana)

7.Fatoumata Diawara (Mali)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFzItUctMf8

8.Lonnie Plaxico ( African America)

http://www.lonnieplaxico.com/home.html

9. Sherifa Gunu (Ghana)

10.Chiwoniso Maraire ( Zimbabwe)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhTg13iXSMM&list=RD09gx_mpQBRHMw

11. Wally Badarou (Benin)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhtiKtLPsRI

12.Suzanna Owíyo (Kenya)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbccuKHYyCg

13.Teddy Afro (Ethiopia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZURkGvHNjOA

14.Cheikh Lô ( Burkina Faso)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv5QLN8T4fg&list=RD090zoagR8fupo

15.Sona Tata Condé (Guinean Conakry)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9X9hAeWbTs

16.Geoffrey Oryema (Uganda)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKD1fAKh8IU

17.King Sunny Ade (Nigeria)

© Variety Playhouse

18.Doussou Bagayogo (Mali)

19.Khadja Nin (Burundi)

20.Tunde Jegede (Gambia)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPf-0NqisJI

21.Ngoné Ndiaye Guéwel (Senegal)

22. Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IdzL0top7s

23.Joaquin “Joe” Claussell ( Cuba)

http://afrocubanlatinjazz4.blogspot.com/2011/05/joaquin-clausell-caribe-usa2011-320kb.html

24.Kasai Allstars ( Congo)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my7-WqbCWw8

25.Mamou Sidibe (Mali)

26.Konono No.1 ( Congo)

27. Jill Scott ( African America)

28. Semini aka Batman ( Ghana)

or http://nigeriansounds.com/archives/16228

29. Baloji (Congo)

30.Erykah badu (African America)

31.Saida Karoli (Tanzania)

32. Lupe Fiasco ( African American)

33.Ndiolé (Senegal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ofh0b0eV5k or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9FBW9IOEk

34.Estelle ( Afro British)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUuEYM9vjlw

35.Lauryn Hill (African American)

36.Coumba Gawlo (Senegal)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lti0MYpMDFQ

37. Nas ( African American )

38. Seun Kuti (Nigeria)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YED4sf6b9r4&playnext=1&list=PL93E52EB8F92A9738&feature=results_main

39.India Arie (African American )

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Zbn7Khv8zM

40. Natalie Stewart aka the floacist ( Afro British)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0s5sERqf0M

41. Obour (Ghana)

42. Mestre Gildo Valu ( Afro Brazil )

43.Oliver Mtukudzi aka Tuku ( Zimbabwe)

44. Ringo Madlingozi ( South Africa)

45.Pibo Marquez ( Afro Venezuelan )

or http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyeNOf5DXzk

46. Orquesta Baobab (Afro Cuban )

and countless Africans influence in Latin America

or listen to more Rumba here:http://www.myspace.com/orchestrabaobabofficial

or

47.Jimmy Cliff ( Jamaica)

© Katy Batdorff

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIqLsGT2wbQ

48.Patience Dabany aka Josephine Bongo aka Marie Joséphine Kama ( Gabon)

or

49. 2face aka Innocent Ujah Idibia (Nigeria)

or 

or

50. Idylle Mamba ( Central African Republic )

51. R.Kelly (African American)

www.dailymotion.com/video/xfu6yf_r-kelly-medley-live-2010-soul-train-music-awards-bmf_music#.UQ0nfHPjnp4

52.kojo antwi ( Ghana)

53.Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon)

54.Richard Bona aka Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo ( Cameroon )


55.Mounira Mitchala (Chad)

56.Alexio Kawara (Zimbabwe)

or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoUtifgMsfo

57.Stevy Mahy (Guadeloupe)

58.Lokua Kanza ( Congo )

59.Blitz The Ambassador aka Samuel Bazawule ( Ghana/ African American )

or

60.Aida Samb (Senegal)

61.Lopango Ya Banka  aka “House of the ancestors ” ( Congo)

or

62.  Elivava  aka Tina Mensah  (Ghana)

63.Akua Naru ( African American )

©Foxysoul

Giving thanks to Mwari/Kwap Luh (Shona and Yotti/Bali for “Creator”) for blessing Africa with so many wise and gifted voices.

Amenrah! Ashe!

1. Advice on how to handle insults and back biting from others.
(In English) One rainfall cannot destroy the granary.
(In Yotti ) Li Ya nak bini wam binim.

2. Advice/ warning to make plans before jumping to any project.

(In English ) Before a dog barks, it knows the way to escape .

(In Yotti) A zaa sep to dabo kiye nya nu ka.

3. Advice on the importance of team work/ collectivism.
( In English) One stick of broom cannot sweep alone).

(In Yotti) Sele bini yagap sela ting.

4. Advice on judging character/ true colors of others.
( In English) A rolling stone gathers no moss.
(In Yotti) A tale kemle zuwo ma tare si, yakap dori kaba dikudyang.

•  It is better to start up a career overseas as opposed to striving to build one  in Africa
• Earning your degree abroad is easier and the environment is comfortable
• Life is easy
• Money is easy to come by
• Africans are inferior they are unable to build anything without the help of foreign “partners”
• Whites, Arabs etc have African (black) interests at heart
• Arabs, whites  etc treat Africans as equals 
  

Granted there are continental Africans who have achieved status and wealth abroad. But I find the misinformation troubling  because it creates conflict between Africans abroad and their family members at home. I have met a number of Africans living in America who quit school in order to work menial jobs so that they could send money and gifts (iPhones, computers, Louis Vutton bags, bleaching creams etc)  to their overly demanding family members. Some Africans are pushed away from achieving their dreams and get involved in crimes in order to feed their relatives’ expensive taste for material things. Those that I have talked to for the past ten years have agonized over the constant requests that they get from their families back home in Africa.These relatives are less supportive of their long term goals and more excited about getting money to live it up! Mainstream media such as BBC,VOA and CNN also contribute to this unrealistic representation of the reality of things. They paint inviting, peaceful, all inclusive images of countries abroad and put less focus in promoting positive, empowering, success stories in Africa. As a result, many Africans crave fantasy lives in foreign countries.

Below I provide you with concrete examples of the situation on grounds.As you go through these stories, think of the way forward.I would suggest that Africans abroad should be honest about the reality of life in the diaspora and family members should stop pressurizing them into doing things that will create a financial burden.More Africans stay at home and build your continent and African governments should work towards:creating jobs, supporting innovation,providing incentives for quality African teachers and professors etc.These steps would encourage more Africans to stay at home or return home.

1. Israelis attack Africans, calling them cancer  in their country and will do anything in their power to deport them. Black African owned  businesses were destroyed and looted, women with their children humiliated.

a.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxCD_yennwY

b.

c. Ethiopian Women sterilized by Israel …http://www.africanglobe.net/africa/evidence-israel-sterilized-ethiopian-jews/

2. African Student beaten in Indian “ in coma for three months”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL9vfhmk4PM

3. A wonderful twit  summary about Israel’s aim to erase the black race 

3.”Ethiopian Women abused in Middle East (UAE)” The maltreatment of African women in the Arab world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx3m3sAAfU8

4. Couple from Rwanda both trained doctors stranded in rural Russia. They tell their stories of depression, racism, disappointments and strong will etc.

5. African students share their experience of racism in Russia and how the government ignores their cry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEe0vPth2K4

6. Racism Against  African football (soccer) players in Europe is on going. 

Marco Zoro and Adriano
© Getty Images

“Zoro suffers more racist abuse” read his story here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4476412.stm and “Racism still a reality in European football”http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/football/06/18/racism.europe/index.html

7. Nigerian Immigrants joined Italian mafia they murder innocent people,  sponsor drug dealers and prostitution rings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xi3agZ52yY

8. African immigrants in China tell of their experiences

9. Whites encourage  Somalis to abandone their African culture and are blamed for crimes in Maine etc
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19548520

10. An outstanding one of its kind program on Al jazaar called “Surprising Europe”.  It tells the stories of some Africans  who dream of leaving the continent and how some of them take risks inorder to make it to Europe. Once they get there they often are stranded with no job, put in detention camps, and live in abject poverty, but afraid of going back home to Africa because of pressure from their family members that are dependent on them.

11. Racism against people of African descent in Ecuador, 92% of them are ignored by the government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCCRCcw9MrY&list=PL6D9A9FC0B19145B9

12. Sundown  Town ( white populated towns), black people are not allowed after 6:00pm, if they stay they get killed by racist whites, this practice still goes on in America.Work by James W. Loewen you can order it here..http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sundown-towns-james-loewen/1110781095?cm_mmc=googlepla-_-book-_-q000000633-_-9780743294485&cm_mmca2=pla&ean=9780743294485&isbn=9780743294485&r=1

You could listen to Dr. Loewen’s talk on C-Span about the book.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/AHid

13. 1,000 Nigerian muslim women in Saudi Arabia maltreated on hajj/ pilgrimage
www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/world/meast/saudi-arabia-nigeria-pilgrims/index.html

14. In Brazil racism against people of African descent is deeply rooted in the History of the country, making it difficult for blacks to accomplish their goals.  Helena Oliveira Silva explains in an interview how Brazilian media continues to promote racist images of black people in Brazil.
http://www.blackwomenofbrazil.com/2012/11/media-plays-decisive-role-against.html

©National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Ribbon

I am tired of listening to my fellow Africans blame victims of HIV and AIDS as prostitutes and godless people. This view is rampant in our communities. It is also preached on the pulpit by many religious leaders (especially amongst Christians and Muslims in Africa) who lack the understanding of how HIV/AIDS is contracted and spread. The so-called religious leaders waste much of their time and energy promising futuristic blessings to their congregants in heaven instead of dealing with a problem that is here and now by working with knowledgeable people in their community–such as researchers, traditional healers, and medical doctors–to provide real solutions for the epidemic that is causing avoidable destruction in our communities.

Granted, in recent years, there has been a significant drop in new cases of HIV/AIDS infections in Africa, but we still have a lot of work to do. And this work requires everyone of us from all walks of life to participate.

Ancient African spiritual systems teaches us that life cannot be compartmentalized, everything physical and spiritual has importance and a role to play in order to keep the universe balanced (Ma’at). As an individual, our existence, our talents and work is important for the development of the communities in which we belong. Therefore we should have a deep sense of responsibility for our communities. We must work together and share basic ideas on how to avoid contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS.

What is Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( HIV/AIDS)?

HIV is a virus. it gets into the human body and tries to prevent the body from fighting sickness. When you get infected and it is caught early, you can get medication to help your body’s defenses. But if the virus is not caught early and you stop taking your medicine it can become full-blown AIDS. When this happens you get killed from treatable diseases such as malaria, yellow fever etc.

Below is an image that illustrates how HIV attacks the body.

How you can get infected with HIV/AIDS

1. Sharing used and unclean razor blades (for example, shaving blades at barber shops).

2. Having “skin to skin sex” (not wearing condoms).

3. Doctors using unclean needles and operation tools.

4. Doing drugs and sharing used needles.

5. Exposing your wound to infected person that has wounds.

6. Having more than one girlfriend or boyfriend and having sex with all of them without using condom.

7. Getting tattoo where they use unhygienic tools.

8. Blood transfusion

Ways to prevent contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS

1. Always clean used needles, razor blades etc with alcohol or lemon.

2. Get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Once you know your status, make sure you use protection every time you have sex.

3. Do not have sex at an early age. Focus on your education or trade, but if you do have sex make sure you (or your partner) wears a condom at all times.

4. Be honest in your relationship whether you are married or simply dating. If you cheat on your wife/wives, husband, boy/girlfriend and don’t wear condom, you can get infected with HIV/AIDS and infect your partner/s.

5. Always wear a bandage on your wound. If you live in a village and don’t have access to bandages, you can do what I used to do by covering your wound with a clean piece of cloth then wrap a clean plastic around it.

6. Do not listen to your religious leaders that discourage you from wearing condoms, all they are doing is sentencing you to death (especially your Catholic priests that are against condom/contraceptives). I cannot stress this enough, always wear condoms to save your life and your partner’s life.

7. Encourage others in your community to protect themselves.

8. Show compassion towards those that are infected with the disease and support families that have HIV/AIDS infected family members.

In the words of elder Maya Angelous,when…

For additional information

1.”Is HIV still a death sentence in the West?”…health-15853743

2.”Boyfriend stabs his lover to death after she didn’t tell him she had HIV before they had sex.. and leaves body for her two children to find”…Cicely-Bolden-Man-stabs-girlfriend-death-telling-HIV-sex.html

3.”Women more vulnerable to HIV and AIDS”..women-more-vulnerable-hiv-and-aids

4. “Herbal drug [in Africa] proves potent against HIV”..96833.php

5.”How HIV attacks the body” explained by a student in East Africa…this is a great way for students to learn about the disease and also share it with their peers!..

6.”Traditional Healers Address HIV/AIDS in Uganda” An outstanding colaboration between traditional healers with government hospital to provide the general public with information about the disease and also offer care to those infected and affected with the disease.

7. “ZIMBABWE: Men break with tradition to become AIDS caregivers”
ZIMBABWE-Men-break-with-tradition-to-become-AIDS-caregivers

8. “Living with HIV: Andre’s Journey”…

9. “HIV positive? Give yourself a chance. (English voice + English subtitles), Global Dialogues”…

10.”AIDS Was Created At Fort McKinley In The U.S.A.”..18808676

11. “Zimbabwe Parliament Takes A Supportive Stance In The Fight Against AIDS”…zimbabwe-parliament-takes-a-supportive-stance-in-the-fight-against-aids

12. Read Musa W. Dube’s “The HI V& AIDS Bible” This book is one of the most impressive, well researched piece I have read on this topic. Dube discusses how HIV and AIDS is transmitted, its impact on families, community and the world. She provides her readers with suggestions on how to talk about the disease,incorporate it into school curriculum , care for those that are infected etc. It is a must read! Get it here…1589661141

13.

14. Scholarly research by two Zimbabwean scholars Enna Sukutai Gudhlanga and Godwin Makaudze title, “Shona Cultural Aspects and the Fight against HIV and AIDS: The Untapped Reservoir of Shona Proverbial Lore”…read it here:697.pdf

15.An example of things to bear in mind when dealing with others from different culture.Sexual intercourse with animals in Germany…read it here Germany-expected-bring-old-law-prevents-sex-animals.html

16.HIV/AIDS campaign in Nigeria, Shout out to Femi Kuti and the entire Kuti clan!

©The Spiritualism and Political Philosophy of Fela Kuti

17. Ladies on Nigerian campus tell us how many boyfriends they think it is okay to have. Listen to this shocking and painfully troubling narratives.

Nigeria: how many boyfriends can a girl have?

18.”Muslim women constitute a greater percentage of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria”….http://www.womenandaids.net/news-and-media-centre/latest-news/muslim-women-constitute-greater-percentage—ngo-(.aspx

19.German singer Nadja Benaissa, HIV positive slept with a number of men without protection. Listen to her story here…http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYdJjXZdXDA

20.”Strategies for Well-Being: Danny Glover Lends Support to Fight the AIDS Epidemic in Blacks”http://www.zimbio.com/Eliane+Cavalleiro/articles/GoIDKnBnkdP/Strategies+Well+Being+Danny+Glover+Lends+Support

On the contrary the last four years of the Obama administration was far from “enjoyment”.

1. On his first official visit to the African continent, he blasted African leaders,blaming them for the woes of the continent. Yes, he was partly right but he blatantly ignored the role United States of America and its allies constantly play in under-developing Africa. For example America played a leading role in killing our self-less and revolutionary leaders such as Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, Patrice Lumumba of Congo and Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi of Libya etc and support dictators: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of Ugandan, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast etc that work for America’s interests. Everytime Africans try to assert their autonomy, they are undermined by America or other Western powers.

Ghanaian women welcome President Obama

2. Obama uses his black skin and the gullibility of many African people as opportunity to promote American imperialism and recolonization of Africa through the United States Africa Command ( Africom/ USAAfricom).He has deplored to occupy the continent. Any sensible and progressive leader would object to this project. Unfortunately some African leaders like the American ally, the so called first female President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia welcomed this recolonization even though many Liberians and African leaders are strongly against it.

3. War, War, and more War! The Obama administration has imposed it’s “war on terror” on African countries such as Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Mali, Ivory, Libya and Nigeria.

4. Forcing Africans to accept Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) seeds and food,instead of supporting and encouraging African leaders to subsidized their local farmers to grow larger quantity of local organic crops that are much more healthier for the people.

Impact of GMO in human beings: extreme fatness ( obesity), heart disease, cancer etc. Below is a picture of rats that were fed GMO food…

Top GMO foods

Additional Information

1. “African voices on AFRICOM” ….u-s-militarism-in-africa-humanitarian-missions-or-imperialist-aggression 47047

2. President Obama in Ghana, read and listen to his speech here…A-New-Moment-of-Promise-in-Africa

3.”U.S. Militarism In Africa: Humanitarian Missions Or Imperialist Aggression?”….5303230

4.”African Perspectives on Genetically Modified Crops Assessing the Debate in Zambia, Kenya, and South Africa” …100701_Cooke_AfricaGMOs_WEB.pdf

5. “Horrific Results of New GMO Food Study Reveal Obama Has Abandoned FDA Regulation to Chemical Industry Profits, Says Occupy Monsanto”…horrific-results-of-new-gmo-food-study-reveal-obama-has-abandoned-fda-regulation-to-chemical-industry-profits-says-occupy-monsanto-170364666.html

6.”Obama opens door to Africa for Monsanto”…036008_Obama_Monsanto_Africa.html

7. Website of Africom…www.africom.mil

8. “New Research: GMO Food Far Worse Than We Think” new-research-gmo-food-far-worse-than-we.html

9. “Hungary Destroys All Monsanto GMO Corn Fields” hungary-destroys-all-monsanto-gmo-corn-fields.aspx?np=true

10. “AFRICOM News – US Joins Coalition Operations in Libya”….watch?v=h3kKP9k8dO8

11. “Cynthia McKinney – Oppose Africom”…watch?v=sDGOMY4gNVQ&feature=related

12 What is Africom?…..watch?v=JRCZk8mM1EU&feature=related

13.
14. ” [Kenyan ]Cabinet Wants GMO’s Foods Banned”….5515-cabinet-wants-gmos-foods-banned

14.”Revealed: Monsanto GM corn caused tumors in rats” monsanto-rats-tumor-france-531

15. “America’s Secret War in Africa: Spreading drone warfare throughout Africa” ….5307958

16. “Does Rejecting Obama mean supporting Romney?” by Dr. Kwame Zulu Shabazz…..imperfect-black.blogspot.com

17. Read this classic book by Chinweizu titled, “The West and the Rest of Us”

18.

GMO map

I think parents should expose their daughters to positive empowering images, literature etc. Jill Scott is one of the best twenty frist century poets I find her work profound and inspiring. Scott “Womanifesto” should be the anthem of every daughter of Africa on the continent and in the diaspora, it gives us a wonderful summary of what black women are and what they can be.Below are images, video and lyrics of her work. Be inspired!

Jill Scott Performs Womanifesto at 2011 Black Girls Rock event, watch it here or read the lyrics below.

Jill-Scott–Womanifesto-Black-Girls-Rock

You are a genius, you can be whatever you wish to be in this world!

You are the Queen Mother of the universe, you gave life to humanity, we greet you Goddess.

You are honest because you allowed your ancestors to speak through you

You are strong, athletic

You are beautiful, naturally even when your bones have aged!

You are a scholar, teacher

You are a joy to be with

You an activist, lawyer, former U.S Congress woman, Green Party Presidential Candidate and truth talker like Cynthia McKinney!

You are a midwife/ doula

You are an appreciator of your culture and the roles your ancestors played in shaping it for you

© Gabon / Libreville / Avril 2000

© Festivals Des Divinites Noir

You speak for justice when others stand by and watch oppression

You are Sankofa,because you go back to your roots to inspire and be inspired!

©BBC News Africa

You are a leader, lead like Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

You are strong but sometimes it is alright to ask for helping hands so that you can grow

You are sophisticated, simply blacknificent

You are all of this, homage-to-black-women and then some…

Womanifesto lyrics

Clearly I am not a fat ass
I am active brain
And lip smacking peach deep
Sometimes too aggressive in it’s honesty
And heart sweet
That loves wholly and completely
Whom it may choose
Whom ever it may choose

I am not gonna lie and pacify
I am arms to hold
I am lips to speak
I am a motherfucking “G”

Strong legs that stroll off the 33 bus
Or out of a money green Phantom comfortably
Knees that bend to pray
Clean from Ajax washings
Hair that is thick and soft
Thighs that betwixt
An amazing all expense grand prize

I am eyes that sing
Smile that brightens
Touch that rings
And supplies euphoric release
I am a Grand Dame Queen Beast

I am warm
I am peace
From the roads of Botswana from 23rd Street
From the inside third eye
Ever watching this wicked wicked system of things
I do see

I am friend to pen
And a lover of strong women
A diamond to men
I am curious and interested like children
I welcome the wise to teach
Appreciator of my culture
Thick not just from bone dense and eat

I have a rhythm in my ways
And a practice in my seek
And yes, I do crave the rhythm of my space
With a man that rejoices in God’s Grace

With faith I do hear to listen
Two hands that fist
When forced pushes to shove
And your ego won’t submit

I am gifted
I am all of this
And indeed the shit

Clearly I am not just an ass

© Universal Music Publishing Group

I cautioned myself however, sympathetic towards him as I reflect on the source of this black man’s confession of defeat and self hate. This pattern of thinking is common amongst many Africans and people of African descent in the diaspora. They lack self pride and have internalized the general half cooked stories, negative images they see of themselves, read in “history” books, news papers, magazines etc. “Mainstream” media paints black people negatively and gives one sided stories. In movies Africans, people of African descent are often cast as maids, loud mouths, exotic, clowns, beggars, ignorant,satan, hypersexual, drug addicts, grossly overweight, absent parents, victims, helpless in need of the white savior and almost always play supporting roles even when the storyline is about a black hero/shero.

And when the media sees they can’t continue getting away with an all white cast because of protest from conscious blacks they make sure that the person that they cast is “biracial” “mixed with white” or has stereotypical white European features. The renowned movie director Haile Gerima calls it “the formular”, white people’s racists views that they cannot have a great movie without having a white person as the leading cast. The fear of celebrating blacks/Africans in a diverse light pushes mainstream media to white wash blackness in every way possible.

Alongside uplifting white women as the epitome of beauty even when they mutilate their bodies in an effort to acquire African/black features…below I provide you with few examples, as you/we go through these images, lets ask, what is the way forward? I think we need a holistic representation of black people particularly women! In the words of great wise Malcolm X, ” “If you’re not careful..

Movies that insist on focusing on stereotypes and the “formular” about black/ African women

1. The Help, is a movie that glorifies white supremacy and the worship of white women as saviors.

2. Precious, a movie that was praised by white controlled media for demonizing black women, and glorifies grossly fat and overweight black woman as “Percious”

3. The high priestess of soul, Nina Simone’s upcoming Biopic will feature Dominican-Puerto Rican Zoe Saldana a “light skinned”, skinny Zoe Saldana who looks nothing like the priestess. Simone was dark skinned, wore her hair natural. Politically she spoke against racism, honored her African roots, in appearance and in her music. Hollywood ignored all of those important facts. Simone’s daughter disapproved of the movie, thus far they refused to listen to her.

In the picture below Simone is on the left and Saldana on the right…

If you care about how black people are presented and represented in the media.I encourage folks to boycott this so called biopic, don’t watch it!

Listen to Nina Simone below performing one of her classic, politically charged song tiled, “Mississippi Goddamn”

watch?v=TkcuNX4vrS8

4. Harriet Tubman is featured in Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter by Jacqueline Fleming a “mixed” race woman of Danish- German and African descent. Even though This movie is fictional, hollywood could not help but to cast a woman that has stereotypical European features.

Tubman was a dark skinned African woman, with wide nose, thick lips, round face, and natural kinky hair. And most importantly she was an abolitionist and humanitarian.

5. Racist Dove advertisement. Darker skin shade ( black woman) is placed as unattractive while the lighter skin tone as beautiful ( white woman )

6. Beyonce was named People’s Magazine 2012 Most Beautiful but the magazine could not help see Beyonce’s black/ Negro features: thick lips, and light brown skin for that reason they white washed, photoshopped her by lighting her skin and erasing her lips so that they could look more white European.

This is what Beyonce looks like without the blond wig and weave, see the picture below..

7. Miss Universe 2012 is Angolan Leila Lopes, a dark skinned, with black/ negro features. But when white controlled media feature her in their magazines they almost always ease her blackness…

This is Leila Lopes’ real, natural skin tone, the photo below was shot during the Miss Universe contest

watch her video here…

But this is what she is captured as ( see the picture below) this is the cover of Maxim Portugal…

White women with “black features” are celebrated for their beauty but black women with those features naturally are labelled by white media as ugly or simply ignored.

1. Angelina Jolie’s “black lips” have been the talk of mainstream media for years…

2. kim kardashian, Armenia American is celebrated for her curvaceous body “black features”

3. Coco is now a reality t.v “star” for flaunting her “black features” every chance she gets.

For additional information

1. ” 5 Features That Black Women Have, That White Women Pay For” 5-features-that-black-women-have-that-white-women-pay-for.html

2 ” Celebrating the Black Beauty On White Women” celebrating-the-black-beauty-on-white-women

3. ” Are White Women Mutilating Themselves Trying to Look Black? An Analysis” are-white-women-mutilating-themselves.html

4.”Gatekeeper to the legend of Nina Simone, the songstress’ only child speaks on the controversial upcoming bio pic and who she’d like to see portray her mother” 2

5. Video instruction on how to “Get Angelina Jolie Lips Without Getting Surgery”

6. Nina Simone’s Daughter says the biopic set to start shooting October 16 about her mother featuring Zoe Saldana is unauthorized. Read her letter here … nina-simones-daughter-writes-an-open-letter-to-her-fans-about-her-mothers-biopic-movie-casting

7. Racist and Sexist psychologist of Asian descent uses his research to disrespect black women as being ugly, while white women with those features are celebrated as beautiful why-black-women-are-less-physically-attractive-tha

8.”Colorism in the Abe Lincoln Vampire Hunter Film and Why it Does Matter” #

9. ” Bi Racial Actress Plays Harriet Tubman in Movie! Is this Ok or Offensive ?” ?p=9288

10. “Worst Casting Choice for Biopic Ever? Zoe Saldana to Play Nina Simone” zoe-saldana-as-nina-simone

11. “Stir Builds Over Actress to Portray Nina Simone” should-zoe-saldana-play-nina-simone-some-say-no.html

12. Listen to Nina Simone’s daughter interview on casting Zoe Saldana and how she is not a good fit for her mother’s biopic…portraying-nina-simone-in-a-new-biopic

13. Bad Black Mothers read Dr. Kwame Zulu Shabazz on his blog Thoughts of a Ghetto Intellectual…bad-black-mothers.html

14. Read Kola Boof’s outstanding piece, “Harriet Tubman is Biracial in Vampire Film Abe Lincoln! Shame On You Timur Bekmambetov & Tim Burton!” DOC-813383

15. Read “Celebrity Author & Egyptian-Sudanese Womanist Kola Boof Writes an Open Letter to Nina Simone Director Cynthia Mort About the Erasure of Nina’s Image” …celebrity-author-38-egyptian-sudanese-womanist-kola-boof-045300398.html

16.”India.Arie Speaks Out About Unauthorized Nina Simone Movie”….india-arie-speaks-out-about-unauthorized-nina-simone-movie

17. Dr. Kwame Zulu Shabazz speaks about how important it is for Africans/ blacks on the continent of African and in the diaspora to read, pay attention to their collective and world History.

18. Suggestions by Clutch, “Five Better Picks for the Role of Nina Simone Than Zoe Saldana”
five-better-picks-for-the-role-of-nina-simone-than-zoe-saldana

Please note: Images and videos are not my personal properties. I however, have the copyright to the write up!

1. Wash your vagina,

Whenever you used the toilet (latrine), make sure you wash yourself.Keep rubber kettle or steel bowl in your bathroom for that purpose only so that you don’t spread germs. Use toilet paper only if you are out running errands and the moment you get home wash yourself.

2. Avoid feminine products,

DO NOT use any product beside your bathing soap ( unscented would be best) to clean the outer layers of your vagina. While the inner layer could simply be cleansed with plain water. Just because something is out in the market doesn’t mean you should buy it.Your vagina is self cleansing, therefore you don’t need to douche or use any feminine scented products to distort nature. Research shows those products are cancer causing, because in an attempt to remove odor they kill good bacterias leaving you vulnerable to diseases.

3. Your vagina is supposed to be odorless ( when you are not ovulating and or having your period)

if it smells depending on resources available to you: talk to a female herbalist usually they would provide you with herbs to bath with, seek help from your “modern” doctors, ask for direction from respectable women elders in your community, don’t suffer alone.

4. For yeast infections,dryness especially burning use plain yogurt thrice a day ( to those in Mama Africa, you can get fresh plain yogurt from Fulani, Pël women). If it persists see a female herbalist or “modern” doctor.

5. Avoid wearing extremely tight underwear, it produces heat and causes you to sweat and smell. Wear underwear that is made of cotton, it would allow you to breath.

6. Avoid wearing underwear daily,
if you are a woman of all ladies and know how to sit down gracefully, this is the way out. (Side note, this is great for couple…smile)

7. Instead of soft drinks ( soda ) drink a lot of water daily, if your urine is colorful it means you are not clean and not drinking enough water. Your urine should be clear, not yellow. I drink more than ten large cups ( medium size calabash ) of water in a day.

8.When on your period ( menstrual cycle):

a.Drink a lot of water as usually but this time hot with few drops of lemon or tamarind. It eases cramps/ pains, so you wouldn’t have to take pain killer.

b. Use reusable cloth made with organic cotton for your pad. Yes, you have to wash it but it is better than using “always pads”, tampons etc they are cancer causing, expensive and do not decay. Go back to basics for health, wealth and environmental reasons. It is the way out, be a responsible custodian of the earth!

c. Find time to rest, as my mother would say “you are not made of iron, even iron gets hot”. Take care of yourself,so that you could have more energy to perform your duties effectively.

Photo by Yoknyam Dabale

9. Take bath ( shower) at least once a day.

10. If you are sexually active make sure you wear condom. Female condom or have your partner wear male condom at all times.

Persist on safe sex like the woman in the picture below. I don’t care how much trust you have for your partner, if you are not in a committed relationship insist on condom if he/she refuses, run and never look back. No protection, no sex!

here is a video by a sister teaching us how to wear female condom for those that have access to it

Or, male condom

Photo by Think Stock

and make sure you get tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases ( STDs)

Have a good time…

Photo by Saddi Khali

11. For something extra, wear colorful tiny waist beads like the ones in the picture below. The smaller they are the better because you could have them on permanently and wear your fitted/ body hug dresses without them showing… ( It helps you maintain your figure and or form it esp if you gained weight and lost your shape…) The best quality beads are from Africa especially those from Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe etc.

For further information:

1.Dap at sister Tonya Tko for sharing wonderful ideas to taking care of our Vagina and anus. Watch it here…

2.Yes, Women Should Carry Condoms

3.Feminine Hygiene: Cleaning Up “Down There”

4. So what are the rules of intimate hygiene?

5.Vaginal Candidiasis

6.The Truth About Tampons & Pads

7.Back to Nature

8. How to kill yeast infection naturally….