I am African Get Me Out Of Here!
If the current weather forecast is anything to go by, Cardiff should brace itself for a chilly holiday season. The complaints about the cold weather by a number of Africans in Cardiff is heart-felt. More so for the first years who have never experienced such low temperatures.
We spoke to Lilian Matovu from Cardiff University whose only wish was to get a ticket and spend her holiday in sunny Uganda. “I would like nothing more than a return ticket to Uganda as a christmas present” she said. “Of all the years I have spent in Cardiff, I have never know for it to get this cold.” Our hope is that Santa would make Lilian’s chimney his first stop, hoping that she has been good enough all year round.
If like Lilian you are spending your holidays in town, try to keep warm and make the most out of the situation. British weather is very unpredictable so make sure that you are always aware of the day’s forecast before leaving your house. This will ensure that you are dressed appropriately and help you avoid any surprises and disappointments. BBC weather Cardiff is a useful site for checking local forecasts.
My Cardiff Picture:Bibiana Iraki
Although the situation seems treacherous, it is certainly bearable. Unlike the celebrities in the jungle, you have the option of having stuffed turkey and christmas puddings! The extra added pounds might even come in handy as extra insulation!
Same as last year, the Student’s union will be holding a special Christmas lunch at Stilts Food Court on Monday 20th December. There will be a three course meal, a speech from the Chaplaincy and some carol singing, plus the chance to meet Father Christmas!
Tickets are only £5 from the Students’ Union Reception Desk. Invite your friends. The more, the merrier!
Mugabe’s tyranny: Samantha Christodoulatos gives us more insight into Zimbabwe’s situation
Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe has terrorized white Zimbabwean settlers for a number of years referring to them as non-African and forcing them to leave their homes and land for the ‘rightful’ owners who according to him are the black citizens. The atrocious acts committed on the white settlers because of the color of their skin is horrific.
It is astonishing how someone can still think and act like that in this day and age and get away with it. Mugabe and the white African, a documentary recently aired on More 4 sparked a lot of debate on twitter.
We spoke to Samantha Christodoulatos, a Journalism student at the University of Glamorgan to get a clearer picture and find out if the documentary was a true depiction of the situation in Zimbabwe.
What did you think of the film and has the situation improved in Zimbabwe?
As in the film, race and land are still very important issues in the country. Much of the land is not being used to its full potential and so economically Zimbabwe is still struggling. Many in the rural areas are still suffering and dying of hunger, a stark contrast to what was once the bread basket of Africa before the land reform act.
I think the film is right in showing white farmers to be victims of cruel and unfair redistribution of land. But it doesn’t show how racially biased land was distributed in fist place or explain why and how Mugabe gradually became racist. It is a bit one-sided and doesn’t give a full picture, especially in political context.
Has your family been affected in any way?
Well following the land redistribution the economy collapsed and Zimbabwe battled record hyperinflation. Like many others my family had to deal with food and fuel shortages and power and water cuts. Politics was not something one could openly talk about either out of fear. Everyone had to adapt in some way, it was more a case of who you know and not what you know to get things.
Do you think the world is doing enough to stop Mugabe?
The world is not doing enough to stop Mugabe – too much time has already passed with him in power and thousands have paid the ultimate price. He has shown time and time again that he can get away with anything; elections have been rigged, the media censored, human rights abused, critics silenced and still African leaders and the West continue to watch and not take action.
What do you think about the prospects of Zimbabweans in the diaspora voting?
I think it’s highly unlikely that Zimbabweans in diaspora will be able to vote in next elections. Mugabe barred them from doing so in the previous two critical elections so its clear he doesn’t want outside votes standing in the way of his grip on power.
I voted twice in 2008 in the May and June re-election and there is no doubt that it was rigged. The country can no longer claim to be democratic so whether those in the diaspora choose to exercise the right to vote or not, if even given that opportunity, I believe the results are already predetermined. But one can always hope for a miracle!
Locations Locations!
Dealing with Afro-hair can be a nightmare, and getting your hands on African food in Cardiff tricky – unless you know where to go. Taking into account my first experience and the difficulties I faced with regards to getting hold of African hair and beauty products, food, and places to get my hair done, I have made a map with all the necessary shops you would need. I hope this is as helpful to you as it would have been to me 5 years ago! Enjoy!
Rwandan genocide through Helen Wilson’s eyes
The saying ‘it is never too late to start’ applies well to Helen Wilson. In her late thirties, she picked up a paintbrush and started communicating with the world how she knew best – using brush strokes on a canvas. Helen Wilson is a black/dual heritage, working class, self-taught, artist whose passion lies in speaking for the voiceless. Her work unlike many artists addresses social and cultural injustices across the world.
It is this passion that led her to pick up a paint brush. Images of the Rwandan genocide broadcast on TV in 1994 compelled Helen to learn more about the situation so that she could educate her children whilst raising awareness of the tragedy that went untold.
An image of a child lying on a mass grave
With limited funding, Helen travelled to Rwanda in 2002 where she met survivors and visited massacre sites. On her return to the UK, she transferred her experiences on large-scale oil paintings which tell a powerful story of personal dignity, courage and survival. She also managed to maintain the beauty of Rwanda and its people with her vibrant colours.
We had a chance to marvel at the power behind her painting skills and her underlying profoundness by visiting her exhibition at the Butetown History & Art Centre at the Bay. Entitled Making Sense: A Rwandan Story, Helen is showing Cardiff the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath through her eyes.
The exhibition is running until the 16th January 2011 and is worth seeing if you have some time.
Stalled sales at Xquisite Africa
On the 12th of September at exactly 12 o’clock in the afternoon, Ms Janet Symmons of Xquisite Africa, a quirky well stocked African shop situated on City road, was frantically called by a friend to witness what had happened to her store in the early mornings. Fire broke out at 4 a.m. due to an electrical fault caused by the freezer. Unable to get in touch with her, the fire brigade did the best they could to salvage what was left, leaving her to pick up the pieces later.
Degree of damage to Xquisite Africa Picture:Bibiana Iraki
Originally from Ghana, Ms Symmons migrated to the UK in 1980 and opened the store 24 years later when she realised that there was a need for Africans in Cardiff with regards to buying hair, food, and beauty products.
The African community had only just started to grow and a lot of people began to complain about the long and expensive trips they made to London or Manchester in order to get African produce and products. Ms Symmons opened Xquisite Africa to cater to those needs once she got a suitable location on city road- one that grew to be the focal point of Africans in Cardiff.
“This was the first major African shop to open in Cardiff” she said. “I started small and humble with a stall at the student union, then at Splott market and finally Xquisite Africa.”
The way the store came to be is what makes Ms Symmons popular among the African community. There was only around five Ghanaians and a couple of Nigerian students in the 1980s. Ingeniously, when Ms Symmons realised that the African population was steadily increasing, she kept a record of all her customers and details of what they expected from an African store. Keeping track of the growing African community and maintaining good relationships with her customers is what drew us all to this shop. “I have formed a lot of relationships with majority of the African community in Cardiff since I started” she said.
To her and many Africans in town, the space was more than just a shop. It created opportunities for people to meet and catch up whilst doing their shopping. Mrs Jebet Okafor a loyal customer and friend to Ms Symmons shared her sentiments. “Life in Cardiff is completely different to that in Africa” she said. “Catching up with friends back home was not difficult. We didn’t work so much so we had time for each other” she exclaimed.
Ms symmons: "We will have our rendevous back soon" Picture:Bibiana Iraki
The closure of the shop is set to affect many Africans as this was the only store that stocked a wide variety of African produce and products. She is however holding sales on weekends to clear the remaining stock that was unaffected by the fire. “We intend to open in February of 2011” she told us. “And this time round, we will be bigger and better.”
The passion and excitement in Ms Symmons voice is contagious. Her heart is undoubtedly African, her warmth that of our African mothers which feel you up with words of wisdom spoken with conviction.
She urged all her customers to be patient with her and promises a grand opening in February. “We will have drums, dancing and African music that will inject colour and life into City road” she said. “I intend to open an African social club that we all desperately need” she added. “One that can allow our children to learn about where they have come from.” After talking to her, Cardiff should expect more than just a shop this time round. Xquisite Africa is going all out and bringing Africa to the heart of Cardiff.
Ms Symmons is also popular in the larger Cardiff community as the woman who led the campaign for Ama Sumani in 2008, a terminally ill Ghanaian woman who was deported to Ghana regardless of her condition and lack of funds to sustain kidney dialysis and cancer care in Accra.
East African Swagga
East Africa is not just about Safaris, Mt. Kilimanjaro, the indigenous Masai tribe, or the Primates of Uganda and Rwanda. Neither is it only about the war in Darfur, hunger in Somalia or disease as depicted by the media. Cardiff got a chance to see the other side of East Africa thanks to DJ Peter and his crew.
On the 5th of November, as Indians were celebrating Diwali , East Africans gathered at Pure night club off St. Mary street to show what their youth’s culture was all about – through music.
From Genge, an expressive, poetic type of music that is equivalent to hip-hop, and which originated from one of the poorest areas of Kenya – the term Genge is slung for a ‘group of people’ and was birthed by a gang of young men whose creativity quickly spread throughout East Africa opening doors for a lot of the oppressed youth in that part of the country.
To Bongo flava, a genre developed in the 90’s from the capital of Tanzania known as Dar-es-salaam. This is also Tanzania’s version of hip-hop, with intonations from the more traditional styles such as taarab and dansi. Like Genge, Bongo flava became a popular sound in neighbouring Kenya and Uganda.
Also representing were the beats of Uganda, also known as Lugaflow, which originated from students of Makerere University, one of East Africa’s leading institutions. The Ugandan hip-hop scene also began in the early to mid 90’s and infested the rest of East Africa, like its counterparts Genge and Bongo flava.
There was also some Kwaito from South Africa, Nigerian music, a fair share of hip-hop and RnB, dancehall and funky house which created a perfect mix and provided an environment where everyone could relax,enjoy and feel at home whilst experiencing the beats of East Africa.
From this event, it was clear that hardships faced by the urban youth is similar in all parts of the world. Genge, Bongo flava and Lugaflow were a cultural movement started by the East African youth in the 90’s , and influenced by the American hip-hop scene. Just like hip-hop in America, and Grime in the UK, the youth of East Africa used music to express themselves and create ways out of difficult situations . For many, it has afforded them with financial opportunities that their parents could never dream of.
It was without a doubt a memorable night, and a breath of fresh air from the usual hip-hop and RnB scene in Cardiff. If you missed it, be sure to catch the next session in December when Kenya and Tanzania will be celebrating their independence. Further details will be revealed on the events page so look out for that.
Celebrating African Heritage
Black History month was founded when a study done by Dr. Carter Woodson indicated that history books largely ignore the black American population. In order to change this, Dr. Woodson established the Association for the study of Negro Life and History, and thereafter the Journal of Negro History.
He chose the second week of February in 1926 to launch Negro history week. This week was chosen specifically because it marked the birthdays of two men who worked tirelessly to abolish slavery, namely: Frederick Douglas an American slave who advocated for the abolition of slavery, and Abraham Lincoln, the American president who freed slaves during the civil war.
This culture was adopted in Great Britain from 1987 and is celebrated across the UK in October to commemorate African history and heritage. It was first set up by Akyabba Addai Sebbo who worked at the Greater London Council as co-ordinator of special projects. His intention was to help London and the rest of the UK recognise the contribution of African, Caribbean and Asian people to economic, cultural and political life.
Concerns about the experiences of black children in the UK was the determining factor for choosing October. Being the beginning of a new academic year, it is intended to instil pride and identity into young black learners as they share with their peers about the contribution of black people throughout history.
Cardiff marked this historic celebration on the 30th of October under the auspices of the Wales Millenium Centre in the heart of Butetown. The contribution of black communities throughout Wales was celebrated through dance, music, film, storytelling performances and work shops.
This is the second time for the Wales Millenium Centre to successfully host all of Wales’ regions affiliated with Black History Month. Activities begun in September in various institutions around Wales with educational workshops. The event on the 30th of October marked a close to these events and Black History month.
For more information on Black History Month, here are some useful links:
Time to fight for diaspora voting rights
On the 1st and 2nd of October, Cardiff joined Nigerians in celebrating their country’s 50th Independence day. They were both well organised events with plenty of glamour and music.
Sadly, at the same time, some woman in Nigeria was weeping at the thought of never seeing her husband again. Tragedy struck in the capital on what was meant to be a festive day.
Two car bombs exploded in Abuja during the celebrations leaving 12 people dead and 17 injured. According to a number of sources, the former senior leader of the militant group known as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) was linked to the attacks and has since been arrested.
MEND claims that the government disregards the Niger delta and does nothing to stop the unending poverty in the region – taking into account that it generates majority of the country’s wealth through the oil extracted there. However, its inhabitants were filled with hope when the man who replaced the late President Yar’adua was chosen from this region. President Goodluck Jonathan took office with a lot of zeal and promised his people that the plights of the Niger delta would be of utmost priority in his agenda. However, just like many African seating presidents, he got so caught up in his personal ambitions and self-importance that he forgot his own back yard.
The anger demonstrated by MEND can never be justified. However, the frustration felt by men in the Niger delta can no longer be pushed to the side. The cries of the Niger delta were heard loud and clear on that fateful day.
The question now is how can a people so broken by their own government be reunited? And what about that mother in Abuja who lost her son unlawfully just so a point could be made; how does she learn to forgive?
Courtesy of Daily Mail Online
The only way forward for Nigerians is to use the power afforded to them by the ballot. It is up to the Nigerian people to march out in their masses come election period and select individuals who will work towards healing this strong nation and re-unite its people. Blood was spilled 50 years ago so that the people of Nigeria could have their own voice.
A lot of the Nigerians in Cardiff were angry with the turn of events. Unfortunately, there is nothing they could have done. As an African in the diaspora, I know too well the anger and frustration one feels when negative news about your country is plastered on news channels. In 2008, I watched Kenya burning on the BBC and CNN after a controversial election result led friends and neighbours to turn on each other. It was one of the most difficult things I ever had to endure – going to my safe flat in Cathays not certain whether my family was safe or whether the neighbours (from a different ethnic tribe) would turn on them!
What strikes me most however is that only a dozen African couuntries allow its citizens in the diaspora to vote. When you consider a country like Nigeria and the vast number of its citizens living abroad, it becomes clear why a system like this is important. Although an ambitious task – considering the fact that majority of African countries can barely run smooth elections on their home grounds – it is certainly not impossible and should not be totally discounted.
Our votes can make a difference. But when will our governments start considering their citizens in the diaspora? Africans abroad should start fighting for their rights to vote. South Africa, Burkina Faso and a dozen other nations have managed to do this. The remaining African countries should follow their footsteps. Our voting rights should not be taken away on account of where we are in the world. Events such at this one are a constant reminder of that.
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AfroCarrdifians 
Watered down tongues
Africa is blessed with cultural diversity. Most Africans are fluent in at least two or three languages. Unfortunately, a lot of us take this for granted. You rarely find Africans including their mother tongues or national languages in their CV’s and highlighting their bilingual abilities. We are proud of our culture but shy away when it is most important.
Western culture has inevitably infiltrated into Africa, and although it has its advantages, it also has its down side. Today, we are quick to promote western music and art, and sideline our traditions for fear of appearing primitive. Being African is no longer exotic. We want to walk, talk and act like the Americans and the British at the expense of our values and traditions. One being Nigeria’s 500-year-old dye tradition which is currently under threat.
After interacting with various Africans in Cardiff, I begun to realise the extend to which our ancestor’s traditions and tongues are becoming obsolete. The younger generation is not in touch with their cultural roots – and majority do not seem to care.
Bringing up African children in Wales must be a daunting task. Parents strive to find a balance between the Welsh and African culture so that their kids can relate with their peers, as well as get to know their roots and not forget where they have come from.
Having read Bill Bryson’s Mother tongue and the story of the English language, it became clear how language can evolve from its original form and completely change with time. How safe is African culture, its languages and tradition in this day and age? If the younger Afro-British generation does not care much about their roots, who will drive these cultural values into future generations?
To emphasise my point, I spoke to 15 different Africans around Cardiff from various age groups. They were originally from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Congo and had lived in Cardiff for over 10 years. To get an idea of how much they were still in touch with their roots, I asked a very simple question: ‘Can you sing all the verses of your national anthem at the top of your head?’ Astonishingly, only 3/15 were confident and knew their national anthems by heart! In as much as these results do not speak for majority of Africans in Cardiff, they are an indicator of what is turning into a potentially dangerous trend.
If we forsake our language, how will our children relate with their grand parents and relatives who are not well versed in English? ‘What’s occurring‘ is definitely not an option. And considering the history behind our national anthems and the struggles our founding fathers went through just so we could recite those words, why are they beginning to lose value in our lives? We are slowly loosing touch with our mother land and should act now before it’s too late.
Bassey Ikpi, a renowned American poet talks about her divided cultures and the struggles she undergoes as an African woman living in America. My hope is that her words challenge you as they did me.
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