Monthly Archives: August 2016

African women in Europe on the move

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 …

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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 …

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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. …

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‘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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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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