Issue # 397
INSIDE
T HE
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Rep. Ilhan Omar wins Democratic primary for US Congress
P.4
US plans to invest billions to counter China in Africa
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Atheists in Kenya call for own holiday
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Yemi Alade concert review
A F R IC A N
SEPTEMBER 2018 www.mshale.com
C OM MU N I T Y
N E W S PAP E R
Minneapolis dedicates Samatar Crossing
Samatar Crossing, a new pedestrian and bike pathway, named in honor of the late Hussein Samatar was dedicated by the City of Minneapolis on Thursday, August 23, 2018. Story is at Mshale.com. Photo: Bethel Gessesse/Mshale
Igbofest abounds with culture and tradition By Bethel Gessesse Mshale Afrobeat and Afropop music blared from speakers on a decorated stage, aromatic scents of plantain and spices, clothing vendors and community nonprofits, Igbo women in long patterned dresses and head wraps folded with origami-like precision, Igbo men wearing traditional caps and garments, and children following suit. This was the scene at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park on Saturday, August 11, where an estimated 1,000 people gathered for IgboFest, a celebration of Igbo culture
and heritage. The Igbo hail from south-central and southeastern Nigeria and comprise almost 20% of Nigeria’s population of 196 million (UN estimates). The event, now in its 25th year, continued its streak of good fortune as cooperating weather allowed it to be held outdoors in the expansive grounds of North Hennepin. It is organized each year by Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota. At this year’s festival, food trucks such
Igbofest on Pg. 8
A masquerade at the Minnesota IgboFest 2018 held at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Photo: Bethel Gessesse/Mshale
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September 2018 Issue 397
Ilhan Omar wins Democratic primary for US Congress By Tom Gitaa Mshale
“We are going to Washington,” State Rep. Ilhan Omar shouted at Safari Restaurant as she joined supporters to celebrate her victory in the Democratic primary on Tuesday August 14, making her a favorite join the US Congress come January after the November election. A dearth of Republicans in the Fifth Congressional District makes it a near certainty she will be among members of the freshman class of the 116th Congress. She also most likely becomes the first person born in Africa to join the US Congress. A strong challenge that was widely expected against her from former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the only candidate out of the five to run TV ads, did not materialize as Omar punched her ticket to the November ballot with a convincing 48% of the vote (65,238 votes) against Kelliher’s 30% (41156 votes). The editorial board of the state’s largest newspaper, Star
Rep. Ilhan Omar speaking to supporters at Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis after a convincing win in the Fifth Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Photo: Bethel Gessesse/Mshale
Tribune, opted to endorse Kelliher over Omar who had been endorsed by her party. All of the City of Minneapolis is in the Firth District as is Edina, Brooklyn Center, St. Louis Park,
Fridley, Columbia Heights, Richfield and others. Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey announced early that he would be supporting Omar as did Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton. Omar became the first Somali-
American legislator in the US when she won a seat in the Minnesota House in 2016 and her star has risen ever since. She recalled the
Omar on Pg. 6
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Editorial
Welcoming American dollars back to Africa China’s role on the African continent has been defined by the financing of more than 3,000, largely critical, infrastructure projects, according to the AidData Project quoted recently in a Brookings Institution study. China has extended more than $86 billion in commercial loans to African governments and stateowned entities between 2000 and 2014, an average of about $6 billion a year. In 2015, at the sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping pledged $60 billion in commercial loans to the region, which would increase lending to at least $20 billion a year if that pledge is fulfilled. As a result, China has become the region’s largest creditor, accounting for 14 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s total debt stock, according to Foresight Africa 2018. In Kenya, for example, the volume of Chinese loans to the government is six times larger than that of France, the country’s second-largest creditor. The Brookings Institution recently looked at the enormity of Chinese involvement in Africa and other parts of the emerging markets and it should sober up the United States. President Trump’s distaste for all things China especially when it comes to American competiveness has seen him reach out to key countries in Africa beginning with Nigeria, and as we went to press, a meeting at the White House between president Trump and president Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya. Talks dwelt on trade and security. We have said numerous times on this page why America needs to get serious with Africa in addressing the Chinese takeover of the continent, both from an economic and security standpoint. A 2017 McKinsey study reports that there are more than 10,000 Chinese-
manufacturing. A majority of these enterprises are small and micro businesses. What took China to Africa is its need for natural resources and job creation for its own people. Africa is rich with natural resources and the continent is famished as far as infrastructure development is concerned. China and Africa thus seemed to be a match made in heaven. In Africa right now, there are hundreds of thousands of Chinese workers deployed on various infrastructure projects financed by their government. This has however come at a cost as some of these projects are not translating into gainful employment for the local Africans. China has imported its own laborers to do virtually everything, which has brought resentment from the locals. This is in contrast to western governments who when they invest or their companies do, do not bring in workers from their countries for even the most menial work. It is with this background that the story we carry in this edition courtesy of the Wall Street Journal that the US plans to invest billions overseas to counter China should be looked at. According to the article, Congress is working to resolve the last barriers to passing a bill that would boost the U.S.’s role in international development. It would combine several little-known government agencies into a new body, with authority to do $60 billion in development financing—more than double the cap of the current agency that performs that function. The measure, supported by the Trump administration, easily passed the House this summer; it faces its biggest test in the Senate. This should be welcome news for Africa as it is advantageous to have more than one large stream of investment dollars. We urge the Senate where it appears the holdup to make the necessary authorizations to make this happen so we can have some balance in Africa as far as overseas investments are concerned.
owned firms operating in Africa today, about a third of whom are involved in
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September 2018 Issue 397
United States to invest billions overseas to counter China By Josh Zumbrun and Siobhan Hughes The Wall Street Journal The U.S. is finalizing plans to double funding for big infrastructure projects around the world, seeking to counter China’s growing influence. Congress is working to resolve the last barriers to passing a bill that would boost the U.S.’s role in international development. It would combine several little-known government agencies into a new body, with authority to do $60 billion in development financing—more than double the cap of the current agency that performs that function. The measure, supported by the Trump administration, easily passed the House this summer; it faces its biggest test in the Senate. The new agency would have broad authority to go toe-to-toe with China in offering countries financing options for major infrastructure and development projects. The bill’s momentum reflects
growing bipartisan concern in Washington about the scale of China’s ambitions to restructure global trade routes so that all roads lead to Beijing. Senators have become especially concerned with China’s global investment plan known as the One Belt, One Road Initiative. China, which has flexed development muscle across the globe since it announced its plan in 2013, is thought to be willing to spend and lend trillions of dollars on projects like superhighways, railroads, harbors and ports.
“People are waking up to what China is doing and see that we have to counter that,” said Rep. Ted Yoho (R., Fla.), one of the House co-sponsors of the bill, which was introduced with bipartisan sponsorship in both chambers, with Sens. Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D., Del.) in the Senate, and Mr. Yoho and Adam Smith (D., Wash.) in the House. Passage is “achingly close,” Mr. Coons said this month. “We are down to just a few holds in the Senate and I remain optimistic that, given the engagement of the White House and persistent work, we will
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Ivanka Trump, daughter and adviser to President Donald Trump, and the President of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Ray Washburne during the third CEO Summit of the Americas, April 13, 2018. Photo: Courtesy SIPA Press
get this done.” The legislation represents a sharp reversal for the agency that currently promotes U.S. investment abroad, the Overseas Private Investment Corp. In President Trump’s first budget in 2017, the agency was proposed for elimination—with the administration saying it provided “unnecessary federal interventions that distort the free market.”
But as trade tensions rose with China, so did focus on the extent—and consequences—of China’s infrastructure binge. The government of Sri Lanka could not make payments on a Chinese-funded super port, and ended up granting China a 99-year lease, giving Beijing a key foothold in the Indian Ocean.
OPIC on Pg. 7
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September 2018 Issue 397
Her Excellenc y Dr. Ar ik ana Chihombor i- Q uao, Afr ican Union Ambassador to the U.S. H is Excellenc y Dr. Bafuor Adjei-Bar wuah Ambassador of Ghana to the U.S. Her Excellenc y S anta M ar y Laker K inyera, D eput y Chief of M ission, Embassy of Uganda H is Excellenc y Car los dos S antos, Ambassador of M ozambique to the U.S. H is Excellenc y Edward Y. S awerengera, Ambassador of M alawi to the U.S. H is Excellenc y Lois Lewis Brutus, Ambassador of Liber ia to the U.S.
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Omar from Pg. 2 history making moment of 2016 and said she was excited that once again voters were choosing to make history. The man she will be replacing, Keith Ellison, was the first Muslim to be elected to the US Congress and now Omar along with Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, will become the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress. Tlaib won the Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District of Michigan, and will be running unopposed in November. Ellison on Tuesday won the Democratic primary for Minnesota Attorney General. An emotional Omar teared up as she paid tribute to her grandfather who died five years ago. “He would have enjoyed seeing his daughter partake in the democracy he loved so much,” Omar said. She has talked often in the past how, as new refugees to the United States, her grandfather would take her to caucus meetings and have her translate for him. Her father and husband had to make their way to the crowded stage to comfort her. “Together we can organize around the politics of hope and make sure that not only do we have the America we believe in but the America we deserve,” she said to deafening cheers. In November, Omar will face off against Republican Jennifer Zielinski
Members of the media and supporters crowd the stage as Rep. Ilhan Omar addresses them at Safari Restaurant in Minneapolis after a convincing win in the Fifth Congressional District Democratic primary on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Photo: Bethel Gessesse/Mshale
who also won her party’s primary day. You can watch Ilhan Omar’s entire victory speech here on the Mshale Facebook page (facebook.com/ mshalenews). New Somali-Americans to join Minnesota House In two other races that Mshale has been tracking, Mohamud Noor won the Democratic primary for
Minnesota House 60B with almost 40% of the vote (2,909 votes) in the overwhelmingly Democratic district. 60B is the seat Ilhan Omar vacated to run for Congress and is where she beat Noor in 2016 to join the House. On the Republican side, where a paltry 283 votes were cast, SomaliAmerican candidate Fadumo Taani got 93 votes to the winner Joseph Patino’s 190 votes. In 62A, which is in South Minneapolis, Hodan Hassan, staved off a stiff challenge from four other
candidates to punch her ticket to the November ballot. In 62A, three of the five candidates vying for the Democratic nomination were SomaliAmericans. In both 60B and 62A, Noor and Hassan will be facing token opposition from Republicans and are thus virtually guaranteed to be elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives. Bethel Gessesse provided additional reporting on this story.
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OPIC from Pg. 4 Pakistan, with $62 billion in Belt and Road projects, is seeking out bailout options to manage its payments. Officials on the White House’s National Security Council and in the Office of Management and Budget decided to throw White House support behind a new development agency, and the president’s budget released in February 2018 put forth a proposal for combining and beefing up U.S. development finance. The main body of the new agency would be OPIC, founded by President Nixon in 1971 to help American businesses invest in developing and emerging markets in order to further U.S. foreign-policy goals. The new agency would also take over several programs run by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the biggest of which is known as the Development Credit Authority.
September 2018 Issue 397
Yet OPIC has been limited by a congressional cap on its portfolio size and a prohibition on owning equity stakes in projects—issues addressed by the new legislation. China’s effort faced no such hurdles in expanding its investments at a pace some consider reckless. “Their projects economically don’t make a lot of sense,” said OPIC President Ray Washburne, a former Trump fundraiser who congressional aides say has been crucial in making the case that the agency can put forward a market-oriented American alternative. “It’s a loan-to-own program the Chinese are doing.” Mr. Washburne sees his agency’s model as a sharp contrast. “We come in with projects that make economic sense, because we’re not an aid organization,” Mr. Washburne said. “We’re for the free trade of goods. We’re for private businesses.” The main obstacle to the new agency is in the Senate, where
Photo by © Werner Puntigam
Like many technocratic White House
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budget proposals, which often go nowhere, the odds of passage appeared remote. But the legislation has a number of features with appeal across party lines. Since it would combine several government agencies into a single one called the U.S. International Development Finance Corp., it’s attractive to those who favor streamlining government programs. Another source of the bill’s popularity is OPIC’s track record: It has been profitable every year for the last 40 years and has contributed $8.5 billion to deficit reduction. The agency has a portfolio of $23 billion, with its business consisting of loan guarantees, direct lending and political-risk insurance. Projects it has financed or insured include a toll road in Colombia, a geothermal power plant in Honduras, cellphone towers in Uganda and a nuclear-fuel storage facility in Ukraine. Trump administration officials say they have heard repeatedly that countries in need of infrastructure would rather go with American-led financing, but China has been the one making offers.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) has been spending his time confirming judges and racing to pass spending bills in order to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of September. Because of the Senate’s procedural rules, each such vote can take days, meaning that legislation to take on China, which isn’t a top priority, doesn’t neatly fit into the schedule. The quickest pathway through the Senate is via unanimous consent, a process that would allow the bill to pass on an expedited basis so long as all 100 senators agree. But if even one senator objects, the Senate can’t use that fast-track method. At least one senator— Republican John Barrasso of Wyoming—could upend such a process. Mr. Barrasso was the lone senator to vote against the bill in June, when it was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee 20-1. He declined to comment about his current thinking during a brief hallway interview last week, and his office hasn’t responded to requests for comment.
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September 2018 Issue 397
Igbofest from Pg. 1 as Damota’s Kitchen and Kona’s Ice and other no-name food vendors did brisk business. Political campaigns especially from the DFL party were out in full force with primaries just days away. Mazi Onyeka Tony Osakwe, Chairman of IgboFest 2018 set the tone early with his message to attendees and supporters of his community “I consider teaching our children Igbo language and culture, and the achievement orientation of the Igbo ethnic group of paramount importance and cultural imperative.” To that end, the chairman’s message was put on display in practical ways in the afternoon-long celebration. First to perform was the children’s choir led by the Igbo Women’s League in an acapella Okwute melody. The Women’s League had a hand in many of the performances led by youth, including the Umunne Teenage Girls Dance and Drummer Boy’s Circle. The two masters of ceremonies called group after group including Igbo counterparts from Winnipeg in the Canadian province of Manitoba who have been a consistent presence in Minnesota’s past IgboFest. The Minnesota group returns the favor by visiting Manitoba each year to participate in their IgboFest.
Children performing at the Minnesota IgboFest 2018 held at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park on Saturday, August 11, 2018. Photo: Bethel Gessesse/Mshale
Over twenty groups performed at this year’s IgboFest. The Egba Eze Masquerade and the Anambra Masquerade were one of the main hits at the festival, their multi-colored robes and masks, and surrounding dancers attracting the attention and gaze of most attendees. You can watch Mshale’s livestream of some of the performances on the Mshale Facebook page at facebook.com/
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mshalenews. During each dance, ecstatic members of the audience joined the performers, tossing dollar bills to express their praise. People of all ages danced, sung, and expressed their joy in Igbo culture. The afternoon celebration was followed by Nigerian Afropop crowd
puller, Yemi Alade, in her debut Minnesota concert, in town at the invitation of Umunne for its 25th Anniversary celebration of IgboFest. You can read Mshale’s review of the concert on page 10.
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Religion
Atheists in Kenya call for holiday By Samuel Smith Christian Post
A group of atheists in Kenya are pleading for their own national holiday in which they can proclaim that God does not exist and hold “godless parades.” The Atheists in Kenya Society released a statement in August in which they demanded that the government declare Feb. 17 as “Atheist Day.” “There is no shortage of religious holidays celebrated every year in Kenya. Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr, Diwali, Eid al-Adha, Easter and Ramadan are just but a few,” Atheists in Kenya Vice President Daisy Siongok said in the statement. “Kenyans who do not believe in god or gods deserve a public holiday too.” Siongok asserted that the fact that atheists only comprise about five percent of Kenya’s population is no reason to exclude them from having a national holiday of their own. Specifically, the group is calling
on Fred Matiang’i, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for interior ministry, to formally make the atheist day designation. As most religious holidays carry with them some sort of significance within the respective religions, the purpose of Atheist Day would be to commemorate the date that the Atheists in Kenya Society officially registered with the government. The group was launched on Feb. 17, 2016. “We will use the occasion to show our lack of faith in Gods, by holding Godless Parades in various Countries and also to increase awareness about atheism in Kenya,” Songok stated. “We believe that this will promote freedom of religion as a human right in Kenya and a strategic national interest, in line with Article 27 of Kenya’s Constitution.” Article 27(4) of the Kenyan constitution explains that the “state shall not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on any ground, including race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, health status, ethnic or social origin, colour, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, dress, language or
birth.” Siongok’s statement concludes by contending that the Kenyan government “cannot ignore the place [of] atheists in Kenya.” “We deserve as much recognition as the other faiths,” she asserted. The atheist group’s demand comes after Matiang’i recently proclaimed Aug. 21 as a national holiday for Muslims called eid-ul-Adha, which marks the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The government leader’s proclamation has received pushback from some Muslims who claim that the holiday should be celebrated on Aug. 22. According to the CIA World Factbook, Kenya is comprised of about 47 percent Protestant Christians, 23 percent Catholics, 11 percent other Christians, 11 percent Muslim, and 2 percent none. The atheist group’s request comes as the first words of the Kenyan national anthem specifically call on the “God of all creation” to “bless this our land and nation.”
Members of the Atheists in Kenya Society pose for a picture that was posted to their Facebook page on July 11, 2018.
pushed for the removal of God from the lyrics of the anthem. “As non-believers, we feel that the National Anthem is not representative of us, and goes against the spirit of the Kenyan Constitution,” Harrison Mumia, president of Atheists in Kenya, said in a statement in 2016. “Removing ‘God’ from the National Anthem will make it inclusive.” Atheists in the United States have led similar efforts to scrub the terms “In God We Trust” and “One nation under God” from currency and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Atheists in Kenya had previously
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Art & Entertainment
No magic at Yemi Alade concert in Minneapolis By Tom Gitaa Mshale The much-anticipated concert by Nigerian pop sensation, Yemi Alade, left a bitter taste in the mouths of her fans in Minnesota, including many who had traveled hours from surrounding states to see her at the Skyway. This was her first time to perform in the state courtesy of the Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota, as part of their 25th anniversary celebration of IgboFest. Her concert last night was for the after party following the afternoon long outdoor festival in Brooklyn Park (you can view our Facebook livestream at this link, Part 2 here and Part 3 here). Alade (full name Yemi Eberechi Alade) is on tour promoting her Black Magic album and typically performs a 70 to 90 minute set. Last night in Minneapolis, she performed for about 13 minutes before the sound was abruptly shut off and fans told to leave. Doors opened at nine pm. Regulars to African concerts are accustomed to artists starting late, and so by 11pm when there was no sign of
Nigerian Afropop superstar Yemi Alade performing in Minneapolis in the early morning of August 12, 2018 during a 13-minute concert. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Yemi, not many were concerned. DJ Dash did his best to keep the crowd entertained with Afropop. Most delayed African concerts start by midnight at the latest. Instead, a collection of local artists started taking the stage to entertain the now restless crowd who had started chanting “Yemi! Yemi!” in hopes of luring her onto the stage. Among those, taking the stage was Carolyne Naomi who quieted the crowd with some soulful ballads and Lady T, the evening’s hard working MC who kept
saying “any minute now we should have Yemi here.” More Afropop from DJ Dash and the crowd swayed to the irresistible beat that genre of music has as the local artists dried up. By 1:15am, the crowd was understandably getting angry and they were not hiding it, but kept it civil. “Bring her out here”, some shouted. By 1:30am, some fans had resigned themselves that she was going to be a no-show and started hurling expletives in low tones.
“She is definitely here”, Lady T the MC proclaimed at precisely 1:42am. DJ Dash pumped out some more Afroppop as they apparently waited on Yemi to come on stage, prompting one burly gentleman to shout at the DJ “shut that m***g sh**t down, we are here for Yemi.” 1:50am and two male dancers jump out of the left side of the stage and start dancing. The now agitated
Yemi on Pg. 11
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Yemi from 10 crowd, thinking this are more local artists to occupy their time, start howling in protest unaware that the two were part of Yemi’s crew. Two minutes later Yemi enters the stage and opens with her hit Tumbum, which is part of her sophomore album Mama Africa. Tumbum has to date had about 20 million views on YouTube. The crowd roars their approval with a deafening welcome of screams, shouts, and seem to be forgiving as the self-proclaimed Queen of Afropop belts out the Tumbum lyrics, which speak of a Nigerian chef that serves tasty jollof and fufu. The singer had just finished her second song, and it was now around 2:02am and the microphone suddenly went quiet as she was trying to chat with the fans. Mshale later learnt this ere the venue’s sound engineers signaling it is time to close (State law requires bars and clubs to close at 2:00am). There was a lull of about 5 minutes, which many thought was a technical hitch that should be sorted out soon enough. It would have been an unforgivable sin if Yemi did not serve up her popular Johnny hit and sure enough, she launched into it with gusto after the ‘technical hitch’. The choreography was on point as Yemi,
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backed by two male dancers, a drummer and guitarist worked the crowd. She concluded the song at around 2:10am and by now the venue’s management was getting anxious and they signaled Johnny was the last song. So three songs in, starting at 1:52am and a fiveminute ‘technical hitch’ break, at 2:10am the Yemi Alade Black Magic concert was done. You can watch part of her 13-minute show in Minneapolis at this link. The crowd was not thrilled and they loudly uttered their disapproval with some calling for refunds. Charges were $50 for general admission. They however complied and slowly filed out. When Mshale caught up with the chair of IgboFest 2018, Mazi Onyeka Tony Osakwe, outside the venue, he took responsibility on behalf of his committee for the fiasco in downtown Minneapolis. “There is blame on us and the promoter,” said a crestfallen Mr. Osakwe. He attributed the delay in Yemi Alade starting the concert to the balance of her performance fee not being paid on time. “The person with the money went home after we finished at the festival as he did not know the money was needed. By the time we connected with him it was well past one.” Asked why the promoter who brought Alade was also to blame, Osakwe did not elaborate. The
Nigerian Afropop superstar Yemi Alade being interviewed by Empire TV of Nigeria at her hotel in Minneapolis in the early morning of August 12, 2018 shortly after her 13-minute concert which had been delayed due to non-payment of her fee by the hosts, Umunne Cultural Association in Minnesota. Photo: Tom Gitaa/Mshale
Alade concert outcome seemed to be a cruel way to end an otherwise successful 25th anniversary celebration of IgboFest earlier in the day where hundreds converged in Brooklyn Park to celebrate Igbo culture and traditions (Read separate story on IgboFest here). This was Umunne’s first attempt to bring a big name artist for IgboFest and it backfired. “I brought them the artist, think now Tom how am I to blame? I bring big artists here all the time and there is never a problem with payment,” Larry B of LB Entertainment answered, incredulous that anyone would blame him.
That was little comfort to the few hundred fans that packed the Skyway. “I had so much trouble finding a babysitter today and these stupid people do this to me,” one lady was heard telling her friends. “I drove all the way from Fargo, four hours, and now this! I cannot believe it. What’s wrong with our people?” another one, who would only identify herself as Jane, said. Her sentiment summarized the mood of most of the crowd after the anticlimactic concert by one of Africa’s most beloved artists.
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