Preserving Ghana’s Cultural Heritage One Theatre At A Time

((  Written By:  Mia Leheluka  ))  A brilliant award-winning Ghanaian filmmaker with a small cult following, Akosua Adoma Owusu has made the world her stage with films like me broni ba and Kwaku Ananse.  But taking on the role of reviving Accra, Ghana’s dilapidated REX Cinema, may be her greatest accomplishment to date as it symbolizes her indelible mark in the resurgence of Ghana’s creative community.  The REX Cinema was built by Ghana's first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who had a vision of creating a Ghanaian cinema industry that could be shared with the world.  With time, however, the theatre—like many others in Accra—stopped being used as a theater in part due to increasing (bootleg) DVD sales that decreased the cost of movie watching and brought movies to the comfort of the home.

Afronauts: A Tale Of Mars, 10 Cats And A Girl Named Matha

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  According to BBC, “Afronauts” by Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel is a fictional photo essay inspired by the true story of Zambian grade school science teacher Edward Makuka Nkoloso.  Nkoloso started an unofficial amateur space program in his Zambia in 1964, during the height of the Space Race.  The plan was to launch a rocket that would send twelve astronauts and ten cats to Mars.  Unfortunately due to lack of grants, funding and the pregnancy of 17-year-old Matha Mwambwa, who was to ride on the mission, derailed efforts of the program.  Nkoloso hoped to beat the United States and Soviet Union's respective space programs at the height of the Space Race.  As of 2012, United States or Soviet Union has not accomplished a manned mission to Mars.  But Cristina's “Afronauts” has been nominated for the 2013 Deutsche Borse photography prize.

From The Archives: Charity Begins At Home

(( Written By: Mimi Tsiane )) With a mere click of a mouse you can also be part of a catalyst for change; after all charity begins at home. MIMI has identified five notable charities that you can be a part of.

1.  The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.  One of Africa’s foremost civil rights pioneers Nelson Mandela established the Children’s Fund in 1994. The main goal is to develop programs which empower and improve the well-being of children and youth.  Visit www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com.

2.  V-Day.  Based on author Eve Ensler's award winning play, The Vagina Monologues, V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls in 1998.  Cutting edge and unapologetic, V-Day generates broader attention to issues such as rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery.  Visit www.vday.org.

3.  CARE.  Founded in 1945, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to fight global poverty through community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunities and protect natural resources.  CARE's underlying goal is to help people become self-sufficient.  CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives.  Visit www.care.org.

In The Spirit Of Giving

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  I like Ben Affleck; he is low key an okay actor and good to look at.  He became even better looking when I learned of his charity, Eastern Congo Initiative.  In March 2010, the Academy Award winning actor announced the formation of the Eastern Congo Initiative, which he founded as "the first U.S.-based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo."  More information available at: www.easterncongo.org.

From The Archives: Culture Shock: Good Christmas Cheer or Racist Anachronism?

((  Written By: J.B.A.  ))  This will be my first Christmas in Holland, and like elsewhere Christmas celebrations began early with stores selling seasonal items and Christmas lights going up as early as October.  However, I heard that in Holland there is also a special celebration for Sinta Klaas which starts from Mid-November, and I was very interested in finding out more about this.

Dutch legend has it that every year, 4 weeks before Sinta Klaas Day (December 5th), Sinta Klaas comes from Spain with a large troupe of Zwarte Piets (Black Peters) to help him prepare and distribute gifts to the good children.  Those who were bad received lumps of coal from the Zwarte Piets.   Though this story bears some resemblance to the much celebrated Santa Claus, no where in my life have I heard of Santa Claus having little helpers called Zwarte Piets.  I mean, doesn’t he have elves and reindeers?  And doesn’t he come from Lapland or somewhere colder than Spain?   And by the way who are these Zwarte Piets and why are they called Black Peters?

My questions were soon to be answered for on the 12th of November while in The Hague I witnessed with complete disbelief a procession of several Zwarte Piets who really were white Dutch men and women who had painted their faces in black grease, with painted red lips, gold hooped earrings and thick curly afro wigs.  Following them was Sinta Klaas dressed in a red robe with his traditional long white beard, looking very much like the Saint Nicholas he was supposed to be.  Children cheered, adults took pictures, and the Zwarte Piets, who looked very much like caricatures of Negros, ran around handing out sweets.  How was it that something which appeared obviously racist to me was being encouraged in The Netherlands?

In The Spirit of Giving

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  No matter what your feelings about celebrities, there is no denying that we live in an era of celebrity.  When the culture of celebrity is used for good, celebrities can bring a lot of attention to the charitable work they do.  Grammy-Winning singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo is one of the many to bring attention to charitable work through her charity, the Batonga Foundation.  Founded in 2006 by the award winning singer-songwriter, Batonga’s mission is to support both secondary school and higher education for girls in Africa.

Phiona Mutesi—The Queen of Katwe

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  I am always inspired
by young talent; namely young African talent. Which is why I was thrilled to read about this young lady.  Raised  in Katwe, a slum in the Ugandan capital of Kampala, Ugandan teenager Phiona Mutesi is a rising international chess star, the subject of a book The Queen of Katwe by author Tim Crothers, and the protagonist in a future Disney movie (the company optioned the rights to The Queen of Katwe).

According to CNN, Mutesi’s father died when she was 3, and the family suffered.  She states, "I was living a hard life, where I was sleeping on the streets, and you couldn't have anything to eat at the streets.  So that's when I decided for my brother to get a cup of porridge."  Robert Katende, a missionary and refugee of Uganda's civil war, had started a chess program in Katwe.  He offered a bowl of porridge to any child who would show up and learn.  Mutesi received food and a new lease in life.

Almost 7 years since Mutesi met Katende she is travelling all over the world and winning chess tournaments.   According to The Queen of Katwe, "By the age of 11, in 2007, Phiona was her country’s junior chess champion and at 15, her country’s national champion. In September of 2010 she traveled to Siberia, just her second time ever on an airplane, to compete in the Chess Olympiad, the world’s most prestigious team chess event. While there, Phiona proved herself to be on par with the greatest players in the sport and her goal is to one day become a gramdmaster, the most elite title in chess, and to blaze a trail out of Katwe that other children in Robert’s chess community can follow."

Former South African President Nelson Mandela Hospitalized

((  Written By: Mimi Tsiane  ))  The former president was admitted on Saturday at the military hospital in Pretoria.  The 94 year old underwent tests at the hospital and a lung infection was detested, presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.  Mr Maharaj added that Mr Mandela is doing well in hospital and there is no cause for alarm.  According to BBC News Mandela was admitted in January 2011 for a serious chest infection.  While in prison in the 1980s, Mr Mandela was also diagnosed with tuberculosis.  Mr Mandela retired from public life in 2004 and has been rarely seen in public since.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the former president and his family at this time.

From The Archives: The 2009 Livingstone Calendar

((  Written By: Staff Writer  ))  In 2008, Chitambala Chiti Mwewa reached out to photographer Charlantoine Marais with a brilliant idea to use fashion as an entry point and gateway into the life and culture of Zambia.  He says, "I said 'Charl, I have an idea for a 2009 Livingstone Calendar.'  As soon as I said that, he quipped 'count us in.'  With those words we began the process of putting together the team for the project.  Mulenga Mubanga was our original model but she was not available.  However, we hired the very talented Namibian model, Venantia Otto [winner of 2006 Nokia Face Of Africa]. She was amazing!"  Shot over four days in Livingstone, the team managed to capture beauty, nature, and style.  See the now iconic photos from the project below. 

Oh Joy!

((  Written By:  Staff Writer  ))  If Joy Buolamwini's
accomplishments at a young 20 years old, are a predictor of her future accomplishments, then there's no doubt that she is destined to be a leader.  For one thing, the Georgia Institute of Technology graduate's accomplishments read like the resume of a wizkind precisely because, she is one. 

Joy has designed computer games.  She’s built websites for African consulates.  She’s founded multiple startup companies dedicated to gaming, mobile applications, and web design.  She helped develop a program using a robotic teddy bear for diagnostic use in children with autism.  She writes for Newsweek.  She has won a Fulbright for work in Zambia where she will work to expand access to education.  And just last month, she was named a Rhodes Scholar.

As a Rhodes Scholar, Joy plans to pursue her M.Sc. in African Studies at Oxford.  She says about her upcoming studies:  “The heart of computing is humanity, and as a Rhodes scholar, I will have an unprecedented opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of developing nations and global governance while connecting with world leaders who are committed to fighting the world’s fight—making sure each individual can reach her human potential.”

We are looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for Joy and the next generation of young African leaders like Kelvin Doe, who we wrote about on our blog just last week.  If you missed the post, read DJ Focus: A 16 Year Old Genius From Sierra Leone. 

Diaspora Dazzler: Alicia Keys

((  Written By: Staff Writer  ))  While Alicia Keys promotes her new album, Girl On Fire (which has been on heavy rotation on MIMI's playlist since its release last week), we are inspired to launch MIMI's Diaspora Dazzler column and recognize women, who like Alicia are not connected to a particular African country, but who are devoted to representing the continent's Soul.Substance.Style.

. . .  

14-time Grammy Award winner, actress, singer, songwriter, music producer, and entrepreneur, Alicia Keys is a powerful force in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.  In 2003 Alicia Keys and Leigh Blake, longtime AIDS activist and film/TV producer, co-founded Keep a Child Alive, a people’s movement that provides life-saving AIDS medicine and surrounding care to children and families in Africa and India.  Keep a Child Alive also provides support to AIDS orphans left behind to keep the most vulnerable children out of harms way.

DJ Focus: A 16 Year Old Sierra Leonean Genius

((  Written By:  Mimi Tsiane  ))  Kelvin Doe is 16 and a genius—the type of genius that makes you question yourself and some of the choices you made at 16.  The young man hails from Sierra Leone and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is salivating at his very existence—he is the youngest person ever to be invited to MIT's Visiting Practitioner's Program.  Why?  Doe invented batteries and a generator using materials picked from trash bins in his neighborhood.  He also manages the community radio station.  I am loving him.  Firstly because he making technology accessible for Africans everywhere.  Secondly he is self-taught, and how can you not love the confidence in his moniker: DJ Focus.  For all you dreamers, watch Kelvin's inspiring story on YouTube.

((  Photo Credits:  Spectral-Design | Veer  ))

Beethoven In The Democratic Republic Of Congo

((  Written By:  Mimi Tsiane  ))  I was thrilled to pieces when I read that there was a classical symphony orchestra based in Kinchasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste was founded by Armand Diangienda, over 20 years ago.  The group consists of 200 African men and women was featured in the award winning German documentary Kinshasa Symphony.  Nothing, nothing, I mean nothing comes close to seeing an African woman in her "lapa" (traditional dress) slaying some Beethoven.

Highly Endangered: The Maasai

(( Written By: Nani Hapa  ))  In recent years, the Maasai have found it increasingly difficult to maintain their traditional pastoral life due to outside influences of the modern world and environmental degradation that has resulted from drought.  Highly Endangered: The Maasai is a viral campaign that seeks to advocate awareness about the effects of environmental degradation on the Maasai culture through fashion, photography, and design.

Supermodel Alek Wek Revisits Her Refugee Past To Commemorate The 1951 U.N. Refugee Convention

Written By: MIM!—Supermodel Alek Wek recently sat down with National Public Radio's Michel Martin to share her personal story about being a refugee to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention. Listen to her interesting and inspiring story on NPR's website.

(Photo Credits: © Printemps)

Today Marks The 51st Anniversary Of Congo's Independence

Written By: MIM!—After more than 70 years of colonial rule, the people of Congo rose up and claimed their freedom with a free and fair election, electing Patrice Lumumba. When Patrice Lumumba was elected he declared, "The Republic of the Congo has been proclaimed, and our country is now in the hands of its own children. Together, my brothers, my sisters, we are going to begin a new struggle, a sublime struggle, which will lead our country to peace, prosperity, and greatness. Together, we are going to establish social justice and make sure everyone has just remuneration for his labor.  We are going to show the world what the black man can do when he works in freedom, and we are going to make of the Congo the center of the sun's radiance for all of Africa. We are going to keep watch over the lands of our country so that they truly profit her children. We are going to restore ancient laws and make new ones which will be just and noble. We are going to put an end to suppression of free thought and see to it that all our citizens enjoy to the full the fundamental liberties foreseen in the Declaration of the Rights of Man. We are going to do away with all discrimination of every variety and assure for each and all the position to which human dignity, work, and dedication entitles him. We are going to rule not by the peace of guns and bayonets but by a peace of the heart and the will. And for all that, dear fellow countrymen, be sure that we will count not only on our enormous strength and immense riches but on the assistance of numerous foreign countries whose collaboration we will accept if it is offered freely and with no attempt to impose on us an alien culture of no matter what nature."

The Baptism of Liberty from Falling Whistles on Vimeo.

This year the Congolese are once again having an election, their third in history. Make this poster from Falling Whistles your profile picture to commemorate our common andcontinuous struggle towards freedom.

(Photo Credits: © Falling Whistles)

Must See Documentary: Taxi Sister By Theresa Traore Dahlberg

Written By: MIM!—With the help of a progressive government initiative supporting female taxi drivers, there are 15 female taxi drivers in Dakar ... that's out of 15,000 taxi drivers. Who’s talking about women's equity besides Senegal's government? Promising Swedish/Burkinabe director and producer Theresa Traore Dahlberg is (photographed above), in her documentary Taxi Sister which follows a woman behind the wheel who grapples with society’s view and expectations on women. Watch the trailer below ...

TAXI SISTER TRAILER from Theresa Traore Dahlberg on Vimeo.

(Photo Credits: © Senay Berhe)

What Will Tomorrow's Cities Look Like If We Don't Care About The Environment Today?

Tomorrow's Cities from Luke Younge on Vimeo.

Profiles In Leadership: Joan Mjomba "Women Are Born With A Very Definite Power"

Written By: MIM!—Luke Younge (of Lucid Pictures) collaborated with the Heinrich Boell Foundation to profile nine women from across the continent, who, under difference conditions, political systems, and in their own way, have tried to use their political platforms to mainstream women's agenda into policy and legislation. Here, we bring you the story of Joan Mjomba, one of the leaders profiled in the series of videos that is sure to leave you inspired.

Joan Mjomba from Luke Younge on Vimeo.

To see more profiles of women you should know about, including Julia Ojiambo and Eddah Gachukia, visit www.LucidPictures.co.za.

EDITED: We initially credited the profiles in leadership project to Harvard Business School, but it is in fact the project of the Heinrich Boell Foundation. For more about the Heinrich Boell Foundation, please visit www.boell.org.za.

Weekend To-Do List: Watch "Skin" Starring Sophie Okonedo (Now Out On DVD)

Written By: MIM!—Skin is one of the most moving stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘‘white’’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is driven out of white society. The film follows Sandra’s thirty-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to define her place in a changing world—and triumphs against all odds. Watch the trailer below, and catch it on DVD now.

SKIN Trailer from Sandra Laing on Vimeo.

For more information, visit www.skinthemovie.net.

(Photo Credits: © Elysian Films)