The Movement of AFRIKIN
AFRIKIN presents current culture through art, fashion, talks, food, innovation and performance – ways to connect, communicate and experience the lives and perspectives of our brothers and sisters – our AFRIKIN – in the languages of the people.
We are AFRIKIN!
From the Founder’s Desk
Dear AFRIKIN,
Peace and blessings to you.
The political climate is a mere reflection of the planet’s upheaval and disarray. Can you feel the shift? Our collective energies are at a make or break juncture, with some awakening to the reality of our combined powers, but it seems we are still falling short.
I am highly disappointed in my AFRIKIN for the poor voter turnout in Florida and Georgia that did not make the changes needed. Even as we recognize that the system is orchestrated in such a way to ensure our failure, we must also realize there are ways to mitigate the damages. Electing to office those with our best interests at heart is one of those ways.
We have always been a people of exemplary strength and fortitude, but healthy skepticism has met with the insidious nature of apathy and created true despair. We must recognize the sacrifices of our ancestors and our own role in the current state of affairs with hopes for the future, looking beyond the reality presented in this dimension. Are we not the ones with the power to create rifts in the spacetime continuum?
Where one of us is deficient, our AFRIKIN are strong. Revolution has been defined as “complete constructive change,” and our individual efforts contribute to the revolution we so desperately need. When we act with love in all that we do, love for ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and the environment, only beautiful things can transpire. In that, we must keep faith. We are the agents of change. We are AFRIKIN!
Peace and love,
Alfonso D’Niscio Brooks
Founder
Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow…
| “Art is man’s constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him.” ― Chinua Echebe |
Latest Discoveries
Nigeria’s Royal Museum will open in 2021, and major museums across Europe have finally agreed to return important artifacts back to the African nation…temporarily. The rotating display of artifacts includes the Benin bronzes that were stolen during the Benin Expedition of 1897. The agreement marks a significant step after years of negotiations among European institutions and Nigerian authorities.
The announcement came out of a meeting of the Benin Dialogue Group—which includes Nigerian representatives and European museum officials—in the Netherlands at the beginning of the month. Together, museum leaders from Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Britain agreed to facilitate a display at the planned institution within three years. Further specifics—including which objects will be loaned over what period of time—have yet to be confirmed.
Art
Good as Gold: Fashioning Senegalese Women, the new exhibition running from October 24, 2018 through September 29, 2019 at the National Museum of African Art, is the first major exhibition of Senegalese gold jewelry that focuses on the history of Senegal’s gold, and the complex ways that Senegalese women have used jewelry and fashion to present themselves.
“While most of the objects in the exhibition were made by men, the designs, styles, and names of such works are by women,” said guest curator Amanda Maples in a statement. “Good as Gold reveals the ways in which Senegalese women have historically used jewelry as a means of fashioning a cosmopolitan identity of power and prestige.”
Good as Gold includes gifts from Dr. Marian Ashby Johnson to the National Museum of African Art. Johnson, an art historian, donated more than 250 works of West African jewelry to the museum. She conducted research for several decades in Senegal, where she interviewed teuges, or jewelers.
Fashion
| Designs featured (left to right): Style Temple, Samuel Noon, Omilua, DZYN, and House of Kaya (credit: Simon Deiner – SDR Photos) |
| Lagos’s 8th Annual Fashion and Design Week closed out October in style with amazing collections from designers across the diaspora! LDFW was founded in 2011 by Omoyemi Akerele, Executive Director and founder of Style House, a fashion business development agency which provides a platform for buyers, media and fashion enthusiasts to view collections from leading designers from Nigeria and across Africa. LFDW has also expanded its scope of works, providing advocacy for the industry with government and investors, offering industry master-classes and incubation support for emerging talent and supporting all parts of the fashion industry value-chain to achieve their full potential. In addition to the designers shown above, the weekend event included collections from 8th Wanda, Amede, ATCL, DNA, Eki Orleans, Elie Kuame, Gozel Green, Grey, JohnsonJohnson, JZO, Kinabuti, Loza Maleombho, and Moofa. |
Innovation
| Centre-pivot scheme at the Gurara dam, near Abuja, Nigeria. |
| Farmcrowdy is a new peer-to-peer lending company matching farmers with small investors.Farmcrowdy uses videos and photographs to show off farms to prospective investors, willing to tie up a bit of cash until harvest time and collect a small return, providing farmer clients with expertise as well as fundraising. Its co-founder and CEO Onyeka Akumah says the company has so far helped 7,000 small-scale farmers receive a total of $6 million from 2,000 investors since it launched two years ago with 95 percent of investment coming from within Nigeria. The typical investment starts from around 90,000 naira – $300 – too little to interest many banks but enough to help keep a small farm going until harvest. Farmcrowdy allows investors to choose a farm on the internet and decide how much to invest with returns of around 12-20 percent for investments in soybeans, maize, tomatoes, poultry and cattle. Investors buy a funding stake and are kept updated on the progress of crops. Some $2.7 million had been raised by 1,670 investors for nearly 10,000 farmers since the company’s launch in 2017. |
Performance
The 11th Annual Everglades Awareness Concert at the Fillmore Miami Beach took place on Sat Nov 3 to inspire action on Florida environmental concerns. Performers include Army Gideon, Iko Iko, Spam Allstars, and Tamboka. Learn more about how you can help at https://www.lovetheeverglades.org/
The Dominica World Creole Musical Festival took place October 26-28 at the Windsor Park Roseau Stadium with fantastic performances by Machal Montano (pictured), Mavado, Yemi Alade, Chronixx, Sweet Micky, Kes and the Band and more. The annual event celebrates 40 years of independence.
Prayers Up
| On Saturday, October 20th, Trinidad woke to tremendous flooding in a number of towns and villages. |
| Earthquakes and flooding have ravaged Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago in the past few weeks. Nearby Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Turks and Caicos Islands have also been affected. Our prayers are with our AFRIKIN going through rebuilding, and the safety of all as things settle. |
Talks
Congratulations are in order! Ayanna Pressley is the first AFRIKIN woman Massachusetts has ever sent to Congress, and the state’s first AFRIKIN member of the House of Representatives. Congressman Pressley spoke to NPR this fall about the challenges she faced in running for office as an AFRIKIN woman: “I was told everything from I shouldn’t be wearing my hair in twists, I shouldn’t wear hoops, I shouldn’t be as transparent about my personal hardships. I think that more of us need to feel empowered … to authentically represent our lived experience.” Those people didn’t seem to realize that AFRIKIN women have been pivotal in these elections. Or, perhaps they did…
Congratulations Congressman Pressley!
#BossMoves
| Welcome President Sahle-Work Zewde, Etihiopia’s first female president! (credit: Eric Piermont GETTY Images) |
| Well-respected career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde was elected President of Ethiopia unanimously by members of the Federal Parliamentary Assembly on 25 October 2018. She is the first woman in the position for Ethiopia, and the only woman head of state currently in office on the continent.Born in the capital Addis Ababa, Zewde attended university in France. After graduating, she served as Ethiopia’s ambassador to France, Djibouti, Senegal and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional trade bloc in East Africa.Prior to her appointment as president, she was the UN’s top official at the AU. She is fluent in English and French as well as Amharic, Ethiopia’s official working language.Congratulations! |
Philanthropy
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.
Founded in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y – a community and cultural center in New York City − #GivingTuesday has inspired millions of people to give back and support the causes they believe in. Over $300 million was raised online to benefit a tremendously broad range of organizations, and much more was given in volunteer hours, donations of food and clothing, and acts of kindness in 2017.
If you find yourself low on cash or time, this is a beautiful chance to clean out your home and donate items you’ve enjoyed and offer that same pleasure to another. Donate from a place of love and gratitude, spreading positive energy with every item.
The Screen
Ava DuVernay’s film collective, ARRAY, has acquired its 19th feature: the South African coming-of-age film, Vaya, from Nigerian filmmaker Akin Omotoso, available now on Netflix.
Paying homage to the Tsotsitaal namesake meaning “to go,” the film chronicles the innocence lost by three young South Africans who journey away from their rural homes on a train bound for Johannesburg.
“Through Vaya, actor turned director Akin Omotoso centers on South Africa’s diverse communities to explore the universal experiences related to coming of age. We’re excited to add this vibrant work to ARRAY’s catalog, and we look forward to sharing its message of hope in the face of adversity with an international audience,” said ARRAY’s Vice President Tilane Jones.
Stirring and suspenseful, Vaya culminates in an explosive moment based on real accounts. Omotoso’s collaboration with first-time feature cinematographer Kabelo Thathe pairs stunning aerial shots with fast-paced images in Johannesburg to intertwine the stories of strangers struggling to survive.
Future Focused
| Liquid Telecom Rwanda unveiled its Cloud partnership with Microsoft Corporation in February, one of many important moves for the future of One Africa. |
| Liquid Telecom‘s One Africa fiber network connecting 13 African countries from Cape Town, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt is now up and running. The announcement was made by Reshaad Sha, CEO at Liquid Telecom, who also who also explained that they had observed a dramatic increase in inter-country data traffic between the various countries connected to the One Africa network so far. So far, the One Africa network connects and cuts across 13 countries, with 9 of these connected directly with Liquid Telecom and the other 4 connect using Liquid Telecom’s partners, like Telecom Egypt. The final portion of the network was concluded when Liquid Telecom signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Telecom Egypt that will allowe them to eventually complete Africa’s first terrestrial fiber network. The One Africa network covers a total distance, in fiber cables, of over 60,000 km and cuts across 660 plus towns and cities. Liquid Telecom have also indicated that the One Africa network will be extended into Central and West Africa and are in the process of establishing fiber crossings between East and West Africa. |
Sounds We’re Spinnin’
Sports
The first, longest-reigning champ of the UFC’s flyweight division Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson has ended his contract with the promotion, moving to ONE Championship, a mixed martial arts promotion that, throughout their seven-year run, has managed to build a roster of around 450 athletes, and 104 of them are world champions across all disciplines of martial arts.
Making the announcement one week after former UFC lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez did the same, this move marks not only a major shift for the fighters, but for the troubled UFC who has seen numbers decline since coming under new management of entertainment powerhouse WME. Fans are tiring of the WWE-like theatrics and craving real martial arts and sportsmanship, values DJ has espoused from the beginning that have caused him to be less popular than the Conor McGregor’s of the sport. With this move, true fight fans benefit.
Despite his recent split decision loss in a rematch with former Olympian Henry Cejudo, Demetrious is widely considered the top pound-for-pound MMA fighter today.
Family Fun!
Enjoy a MUCE art exhibition, live performances, a kid zone, fitness activities, food trucks and a culinary showcase of local restaurants, plus much more! This free, family-friendly event brings a dynamic day of visual art, entertainment, vendors and cuisine to the 7th Avenue corridor at the Arcola Lakes Library Plaza.
The Happenings!
Join the City of Miami Beach for their annual Veterans Day parade on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 11:11 a.m. presented by Miami Beach Medical Group. Honoring our military men and women, the largest parade in South Florida takes route on iconic Ocean Drive from Fifth to 14th streets.
| Draco and Cultura Profética take the stage at El Bayu Fest, Saturday November 17th at the old RC Cola in Wynwood, Miami. |
Days of Note
| October 27, 1979 –Saint Vincent and the Grenadines becomes the last of the Windward Islands to gain full independence, on the 10th anniversary of Saint Vincent’s associate statehood status. |
Great AFRIKIN in History
| Feminist Ntozake Shange poet and playwright died on October 27 in Bowie, MD at 70 years of age. Her treasured play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf,” was nominated for a Tony in 1977. The play has been performed by our beautiful AFRIKIN for decades. |
| “Where there is a woman there is magic.” ― Ntozake Shange |
November 16, 1930, Ogidi, Anambra, Nigeria – Author & professor Chinua Achebe is born.
Famed writer and educator Chinua Achebe’s first novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958 is renowned as one of the seminal works of African literature. The groundbreaking novel centers on the clash between native African culture and the influence of white Christian missionaries and the colonial government in Nigeria and has since sold more than 20 million copies and been translated into more than 50 languages.
Food
As families gather this month, the battle of dietary choices comes to disrupt dinner. Keep the peace with this vegan dish that will have everyone humming!
INGREDIENTS
- 3.5 pounds sweet potatoes (about 10 cups or 4 large sweet potatoes)
- 2 Tbsp vegan butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 3 Tbsp coconut sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Pinch of sea salt & cinnamon (optional)
Topping
- 1 cup pecans
- ⅓ cup AP flour (or flour of choice)
- ½ cup coconut sugar
- 4.5 Tbsp melted coconut oil
- Pinch of sea salt cinnamon (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel and chop your sweet potatoes into medium size chunks.
- Place in a large pot with water and a healthy pinch of sea salt.
- Bring pot to a boil then lower to medium/high and boil until sweet potatoes are fork tender (about 15 minutes).
- In the meantime prepare your crumble. Add all crumble ingredients to a food processor and pulse a until combined (or you can do by hand just make sure you use pecan pieces). It took me only 5 or 6 pulses. You still want chunks! Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Once potatoes are done, drain and place in your kitchen-aide mixing bowl along with 2 Tbsp butter. Using your paddle attachment mix until smooth. Next add in the maple syrup, almond milk, coconut sugar, vanilla, sea salt & cinnamon. Mix until smooth & creamy. (alternatively you can mash/mix by hand or use a blender/food processor in batches). I recommend using a device if you can because it creates the extra creamy consistency.
- Place your sweet potato mixture into a casserole dish and smooth out. Add your crumble topping so it’s evenly distributed. Optional-add a handful of extra chopped pecans on top.
- Place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve!
NOTES
* You can make this a day ahead of time. Keep sweet potato mixture and crumble separate. Heat up sweet potato mixture in the oven for 20 minutes or until heated through (since it will be cool from being in the fridge) and then add your crumble and cook until golden brown.
Book Club
The AFRIKIN Book Club features downloads for powerful eBooks you may have never read. See what we added to the shelf!
Event Recap
| The inaugural Mélange was a beautiful successful trip into the Future. So as our sister Jah9 sang: GRATITUDE is the fuel for the actions we partake in. so in doing what we love we get to keep it up. ⠀ ⠀ DJ Corey Chase kicked the night off with a great dub set as guests arrived, dressed for a fun evening of peace and love. Jah9 brought the crowd into a space of serenity by leading a beautiful demonstration of Yoga on Dub. June Cole of the June Cole Creative Agency spoke to the crowd about the impetus behind creating Mélange, the crowd cheering at her insistence that “We shouldn’t have to go to Miami for great events. We have so much here in Broward County!” ⠀ ⠀ AFRIKIN’s Monique A. Williams and designer Steez Waves presented an eco-fashion show with dynamic hand-painted pieces and signage reflecting the importance of sustainable wear. The artist Laura Knight graced us with her presence by doing 2 amazing pieces of art and Live painting for the evening. KT The Arch Degree informed the crowd on the magic of the unseen, the effects of foods on a cellular level. Meanwhile, guests were nourished by delicious and unique plant-based bites by Drigo, the Culinary Alchemist. ⠀ ⠀ OSHUN landed the spaceship successfully in Pompano Beach for an eclectic performance of their afrofuturistic sounds. Jah9 and the Dub Treatment closed the show with a beautiful collection of hits and new music that sent everyone home vibrating on a high frequency. ⠀ ⠀ June Cole Creative Agency and AFRIKIN wish to thank our sponsors: Tito’s and Lagunitas for their continued support and to everyone that attended for their love and support. ⠀ ⠀ Check out our gallery for pics of yourself, your friends, and all your AFRIKIN in attendance! |
Coming Soon!
AFRIKIN Radio
We are still fine-tuning our permissible copyright workarounds to bring you the best content that advances the ingenuity and promise of our people across the Diaspora. Check out our live shows and podcasts with new music releases, classics, unbiased news, controversial talk shows, and important interviews. Learn more about your AFRIKIN around the world and enjoy new perspectives.
Until then, check out the vibe on our Soundcloud.
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