African women from across Europe and guests from Africa gathered recently at the prestigious Maritim Hotel in the western German city of Dusseldorf. The conference with the theme “Leadership and Integration for Change” was attended by more than hundred participants. The meeting was organised by African Women in Europe ( AWE ). Founded in 2008 by Joy Wanjiru Zenz and …
Read More »Monthly Archives: August 2016
Nollywood comes to Frankfurt on 9-10 September!
The German city of Frankfurt will again host the Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Award (NEGA) on 9-10 September. The yearly event, organized by Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V., features Nigerian film screenings, seminars and a variety entertainment show, among other activities. A highlight of the festival this year is the première of a …
Read More »MoneyGram renews commitment to Nigeria
Sequel to the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) allowing only three companies to offer money transfer services to the country, MoneyGram International, Inc. has announced a renewed commitment to its operations in Nigeria. The CBN decision, announced on 2 August, named Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria as the only officially licensed providers of remittance services to Nigeria. …
Read More »‘Big three’ leaders say EU will survive Brexit
The leaders of Germany, France and Italy have vowed that the European Union would survive the UK’s exit. They also urged more co-operation on security and job creation and help for young Europeans in an effort to lay the groundwork for an informal summit on the future of the EU without the UK, which will take place on 16 September …
Read More »London-based Ugandan singer Michael Kiwanuka tops UK Albums Chart
The first single to be released from Michael Kiwanuka’s new album ‘Love and Hate’ is ‘Black Man in a White World’ is now topping the UK chart. Kiwanuka wrote the song based on his experiences growing up in London: “I feel like, ‘Black Man In A White World’ seems to be resonating a bit. Obviously I wrote it for what’s …
Read More »Ghanaians in Germany pray for peaceful elections in their home country
As the 2016 general elections draw nearer the first line of Ghana’s national anthem, “God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong”, is the prayer on the lips of every Ghanaian. And Ghanaians living in Germany are no exception as they look forward to the polls, which are to hold on 6 December. Organised by the …
Read More »German officials re-open investigations into Oury Jalloh’s death
Investigators in Germany have reenacted the death of Oury Jalloh, a Sierra Leonean who police claim set himself alight in a cell while his hands were shackled. Campaigners are convinced he was murdered. After eleven years of campaigning, fund-raising, and at least three independent fire tests, state prosecutors in Dessau, eastern Germany have re-staged the death of Oury Jalloh, a …
Read More »Study: Migrant entrepreneurs provide millions of jobs in Germany
One study has found that entrepreneurs with foreign backgrounds in Germany have created around 1.3 million jobs in Germany. The study said the cliché of migrants owning Dönner shops and kiosks does not reflect reality. The number of business-owners with migrant roots and the people they employ has risen in Germany, according to a Bertelsmann Foundation study released recently. “We …
Read More »German minister calls for Marshall Plan for Africa
On a recent tour of Senegal, Niger and Rwanda, German Development Minister Gerd Müller repeated his call for a Marshall Plan for Africa. But is a post-World War II-style recovery program realistic or even necessary? Gerd Müller makes his way on foot across the arid field in Cayar, a small town in Senegal. After a few steps, he reaches the …
Read More »How Brexit may affect EU migrants
The United Kingdom decided to end its European Union membership at the referendum of 23 June. Actual exit will not commence until the British government invokes Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated this will not be rushed and will not happen this year. Our contributing editor and London-based legal scholar Sylvester …
Read More »Africa Fashion Week holds in Amsterdam
This year’s Africa Fashion Week Amsterdam (AFWA) takes place from 25 to 27 August at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam. Emerging fashion designers from 24 countries will take part in the three-day event, celebrating African and African-inspired fashion, art and cultural heritage. AFWA 2016 kicks off with a press conference on 24 August, providing an opportunity for the media …
Read More »Germany’s anti-terror measures to abolish dual-citizenship
Germany’s interior minister has called for new anti-terror measures. Media report that some of Thomas de Maiziere’s plans could take effect without the approval of the lower house of parliament. German newspapers report that Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere intends to present new measures that he says will and could take effect without the approval of the Bundestag, the lower …
Read More »Uganda’s President Museveni makes case for investing in Africa at the Business Day in Berlin
Afrika-Verein demands more action from the German government as Uganda’s President Museveni makes case for investing in Africa. The federal government must do more to encourage a greater engagement of German companies in Africa, demanded Dr Stefan Liebing, chairman of Afrika-Verein, at this year’s German Africa Business Day in Berlin. He called for the removal of hurdles preventing German companies …
Read More »Old African sounds resurrected on new album
A new charity album, Beating Heart-Malawi, is giving a new lease of life to decades’ old African music. The project began when Chris Pedley became aware that such an archive existed. “I got in touch with the International Library of African Music, which Hugh Tracey founded in 1954, and through the research I found out that he recorded over 250 …
Read More »Why the municipal elections show that South African democracy is working
The news headlines on the recent municipal elections in South Africa have one thing in common: that the governing African National Congress (ANC) lost and hence is losing its dominance of the country’s political landscape. The 2016 municipal elections elected the members of the district, metropolitan and local municipal councils in all 9 provinces, who, in turn, will elect the …
Read More »African Union protection force to deploy in South Sudan
The South Sudanese government has decided to deploy a regional force to protect civilians. The decision comes a month after fighting broke out between rival army factions and the release of a critical UN report. Mahboub Maalim, head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in East Africa (IGAD), said on Friday (5 August) that the government had accepted a protection …
Read More »Nigeria revokes the licenses of all but three money transfer companies
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that only three companies are henceforth allowed to offer money transfer services to Nigeria. The three operators are Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria. The decision was backed by a warning, issued on Tuesday, 2 August, which advises Nigerians at home and abroad to “beware of the unwholesome activities of some unlicensed International …
Read More »Frankfurt’s conference deliberates on promoting greater women political participation in Africa and in the Diaspora
Maisha e.V. hosted the International Conference on Political Participation of Migrant Women in Frankfurt recently. The event, featuring podium discussions and workshops, explored how women of African descent, migrant women in Germany and even refugees could better be involved in the political process to champion their interests. The conference was organised in collaboration with ASA, a programme of Engagement Global …
Read More »International Decade for People of African Descent launched in Germany
The International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015–2024, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly and adopted on 23 December 2013. The theme of the Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”. The Decade highlights the human rights situation of the African diaspora worldwide and aims to fight racial discrimination and create visibility for the contribution …
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