The first podcast of 2012! African Voices, Episode 4! In this episode:
- News and events from the African community in Illinois this month.
- Top news stories from the African continent.
- How to get employment advice from the UAO.
- Africans in Chicago interview with Fatimata Traore, President of Illinois Association of Hair braiders.
- Music from Chicago-based duo Survivors, made up of Johnny T from Rwanda and Jeanri from Haiti.
If you would like to contribute news, events, issues, interviews or music to our podcast, email us: podcasts@uniteafricans.org or call: (312) 949 9980 between 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri.
Click the link below to see the full details of news, events and music featured on the podcast.
MUSIC
This episode features the music of Chicago-based duo Survivors, made up of Johnny T from Rwanda and Jeanri from Haiti. Johnny T was born in Kigali, Rwanda. His parents both died during the Rwanda genocide in 1994. He came to the US as a refugee, accompanied by his brothers and sisters. He moved from Connecticut to Chicago 2 years ago to further his music career. In Chicago he met Haitian musician Jeanri and the two hit it off. Their band, Survivors, is only 9 months old. We play the following Survivors tracks:
- My Story
- We Made It
- Destiny
To find out more about Survivors, visit their website.
ADVICE BOX
The UAO offers employment advice for people of all different education, skill and language levels. If you need help with your resume, applying for a job, practicing for an interview, learning how to search for jobs online, use email or even improve your English, the UAO can help. Call 312-949-9980 and ask for Abang Ogwang. Or email abang.ogwang@uniteafricans.org.
Or come in and see us:
3424 South State Street, Suite 3C8-2
Chicago, IL 60616
AFRICANS IN CHICAGO
We interview Fatima Traore, President of Illinois Association of Hair Braiders (IAHOB). Fatima was born in Burkina Faso but grew up in Mali. She studied architecture but when she moved to Chicago she decided to become a professional hair braider. The Illinois Association of Hair Braiders, with support from the United African Organization, successfully campaigned for the state of Illinois introduce a special set of licenses for hair braiders. The provision of new licenses, written into law in August 2011, means that hair braiders do not have to attend cosmetology school in order to practice their craft professionally and legally.
If you are a hair braider and want to get a license or if you want to find out more about the new licenses, visit the IAHOB website.
NEWS FROM AFRICA
- DRC: Legislative Elections results still delayed. They are supposed to be announced January 26th said the polling body official Matthieu Mpita.These polls were held on the same day as the presidential election which saw Joseph Kabila reelected in spite of cheating accusations from the opposition
- Nigeria: Protests around rising oil prices continue
- French Court inquiry finds pre-genocide Hutu government and military must have shot down the plane carrying their President Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, launching their planned genocide only hours later.
- Death of Guinee Bissau President – Malam Bacai Sanha, in Paris, France January 9th after a long illness. The acting president is the controversial Raimundo Pereira
- Liberia: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf took oath for second term on January 16th, and stressed national reconciliation during her second inauguration ceremony today in Monrovia the capital of Liberia. She said that her country has turned the corner and is no linger a place of conflict, war and deprivation, but a place as the beacon of democracy.
- Côte d’Ivoire: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton official visit to President of Ivory Coast Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday January 17th. She praised the leader of Ivory Coast for progress made toward peace but urged greater dialogue with oppostion
- Senegal: The world famous musician Youssou Ndour announced that he is running for the February presidential election. He’ll be running against the incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade who is seeking a controversial third term.
- Africa – Sport: The 28th Africa Cup of Nations kick off on Saturday January 21, 2012. The games are played in both Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
- Africa – Politics: The election of the African Union Commission President will take place in the end of the month. The incumbent President is the Gabonese Jean Ping. He is running for a second term.
- The Union of Liberian Associations in America has appointed two Illinois representatives, both of whom are local community activists: Gaye Sleh is president and Garcon Morweh chairs the Youth Empowerment Committee.
- To mark the 100th birthday of the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, Reverent Jeremiah Wright gave a sermon on Friday 6 January; Panel Discussion on Civil Rights Movement followed in Chicago. UAO interviewed South African Funeka Sihlali about the centenary on CANTV.
- Ghanaian palm-wine guitarist, Koo Nimo, visited Chicago last week where he played to a packed crowd at the Old Town School of Folk Music
- DreamActivist.org reports that Nigerian student Al Chisom, a senior at Central Washington University, is due to be deported from the U.S. Chisom’s father, a journalist who exposed corruption in Nigeria was assassinated in 1995. After his Father’s death, Chisom and his mother coame to the U.S to seek asylum.
- In January, the Obama administration announced that it would propose a Family Unity Waiver. What does this mean? The waiver would make it possible for some close relatives of US citizens who qualify for legal status to process their applications more quickly and easily. However, the Family Unity Waiver is a proposal and not yet law. For more information on the Family Unity Waiver, go to ICIRR.org.
- UAO Executive Director Alie Kabba is running a radio show on the second Saturday of every month from 2pm-3pm on WVON AM1690. His previous show was on the situation in the DRC.
- UAO commemorates ANC centenary with panel discussion and multimedia presentation on connection between ANC and other liberation movements in Africa.
Date: Saturday, February 11
Time: 3:30pm-6:00pm
Venue: Bronzeville Room on 6th floor of IIT Tower Building: 10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL - African Youth Forum
Date: Saturday, February 18
Time: 3-5pm
Venue: To be announced, check uniteafricans.org for more info - Upcoming Leadership Workshops: The ABC of Fundraising
Workshop dates:
Saturday January 21, 2012 from 9am-1pm
Saturday February 25, 2012 from 9am-1pmFor both workshops, venue is University Room, 6th floor, IIT Tower Building, 10 West 35th Street, Chicago IL. Workshops are free but please email training@uniteafricans.org to register - Upcoming citizenship Workshops:
Date: Tuesday January 24
Time: 9am-12pm
Venue: Devon Bank, 6445 North Western Avenue, Chicago 60659
Date: Saturday February 18
Time: 9am-12pm
Venue: Indo American Center, 6328 N. California Avenue Chicago, IL 60659
