The Diaspora - African Magazine - 4th Issue

THEDIASPORA

How Afr ican Star tups Raised Investment Funds in 20 20 Amid the Pandemic

AFRICAN MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 -JULY MAY 2021 2021 ISSUE 04

T OP 5 AFRICAN DESIGNERS MAK ING WAVES GLOBALLY

J ane Nwokolo

M odel T h e Su d d en D eat h o f Ch i ef I k e On yeag u c h a A Yo u n g Af r i c an Wo m an Sh ap i n g T h e Fu t u r e o f Af r i c an Sp ac e Exp l o r at i o n

W h at H ap p en s W h en Gl o b al I n f l u en c i al Af r i c an s R et u r n To T h ei r H o m el an d ?

T H E M A JOR I T Y OF T H E H I GH EST R AT ED D OCT OR S I N A M ER I CA A R E N I GER I A N S

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TABLE

OF

CONTENTS

ANGELS INHEAVENAREREJOICING FORGAININGAGENTLESOUL. PAGE14

A YOUNG AFRICAN W OM AN SH APING TH E FUTURE OF AFRICAN SPACE EXPLORATION

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W H Y BIDEN?S PLEDGE OF $4 BILLION COVID-19 VACCINE W ILL NOT BE ENOUGH Th e wor l d can ?t fu l l y r ecover fr om th e pan dem ic or th e econ om ic cr isis it cr eated, u n l ess ever y cou n tr y in th e gl obe join s for ces to ach ive h er d im m u n ity.

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FEATURES

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24 THEINCREDIBLEATTRIBUTESOFMOTHERHOODANDTHEIRSIGNIFICANCEONTHE GLOBALSCALE

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I h el p c r eat o r s D R EA M i t , B EL I EV E i t , A CH I EV E i t M or e

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Pow er o f P r a i se Giving All the Glory to God

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ESDIAC

IN TT EE RR NN AA TT IO NN AA LLCC AA LL LL IN GG AA PP PP&&CC AA RR DD SS IN IO IN

actually a combination of initials of our founder ?s closest family member ?s names.

There?s nothing more important to our founder than family and he wanted to ensure the company?s name was something endearing to him.

Wh at qu alif icat ion s led t o you r posit ion as Head of Com m u n icat ion s at ESDIAC?

ESDIACExecutive Interview

Peter P.Wingsoe, Headof Strategy and CorporateCommunication ?

e are a courageous brand that isn?t afraid to compete with the major telecom companies. Our brand is vibrant and full of features that our customers are enthusiastic about, and we are confident that callers will choose us over the competition when given the chance.? ~Peter Wingsoe

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ABOUT PETER Peter P. Wingsoe is the Head of Strategy and Corporate Communications for ESDIAC. Peter has an impressive track record of building profitable brands and companies from the ground up and specializes in helping brands with growth and international expansion. As an international marketing guru, Board Member, and Co-Founder of several corporations, he has a proven track record and highly effective evaluation process for determining and ensuring a brand?s success in its home territory as well as in international markets.

ESDIAC - THE FREE & CLEAR CHOICE ESDIACis an innovative telecom company providing the most competitive and reliable solutions to consumers and businesses for their international phone calls, instant messaging, and video chat communications.

The company recently went through a total upgrade which includes new, state-of-the-art features to make the user ?s ESDIAC experience second to none.

In our most recent interview, Peter shared with us what makes ESDIAC such a great company and why it is clearly the best choice for ALL of your international calls.

Q&A How lon g h ave you been em ployed w it h ESDIAC? I joined the company a little more than three years ago.

Wh at does ESDIAC st an d f or ?

People often ask this question, ESDIAC is

I?ve been both a co-founder and co-creator of many tech startups. Most notably, they include Tinder and VMoney. I was also the co-founder of Ad.ly, one of the largest in-stream ad networks during its time, plus a managing partner at EFGPR, a communications agency in LA. My resume is pretty long, LOL. I also spent many years in Southeast Asia. While there, I developed several tech companies specifically for the underserved, and, therefore have extensive experience with that demographic.

How w ou ld you descr ibe you r com m u n icat ion st yle?

I would say my communication style is courageous, enthusiastic and confident. I?ve spent years in Asia and though I?m very much the above, I have a deep understanding of myself and usually, I?m in deep inner peace.

This often gets translated into quiet, shy and reserved by Westerners. Asian people often judge me differently and more accurately.

Have you in cor por at ed you r per son al com m u n icat ion st yle in t o t h e cu lt u r e of ESDIAC? Absolutely, all three of the aforementioned characteristics describe ESDIAC. We are a courageous brand that isn?t afraid to compete with the major telecom companies, our brand is vibrant and full of features that our customers are enthusiastic about and we are confident that callers will choose us over the competition, when given the chance.

How im por t an t is com pan y cu lt u r e t o ESDIAC an d h ow does ESDIAC com m u n icat e it s com pan y 's cu lt u r e in t er n ally an d ext er n ally?

Company culture is extremely important at ESDIAC. It is one of our guiding and founding principles. Equality and gender Inclusion are implemented from the top down at our company. Although we are a small and diverse team that comes from very different backgrounds and cultures, we believe every person should be treated equally and respected irrespective of their gender, sexual orientation, nationality, or race.

Wh at ar e ESDIAC?s sh or t an d lon g-t er m goals an d h ow does ESDIAC plan t o ach ieve t h em ?

Our short-term goal was to upgrade our entire platform and service to become a tier 2 telecommunications service provider, which we just recently accomplished. This means ESDIAC can now compete with the AT&T?s of the world.

To some of your readers, this may not mean much, but most pre-paid apps and telecom

companies run using another provider ?s backend and network, meaning they don?t own or control the network. This ALWAYS results in additional costs to the customer and often much slower connections. Our team at ESDIAC agreed that in order to truly become a first-class international calling provider, we needed to have our own network system that we can control.

Now ESDIAC has a better competitive advantage because we control our rates, features, security protocols and can offer our callers far superior call quality than our competitors.

As for long- term goals, we are getting ready to launch our new online dialing portal which is quite exciting for us. The new online platform will allow users the ability to do conference calls, video conferencing and is packed with other great features particularly useful for small businesses.

So far, the company has been self-financed but we?ve come to the point and level that we are ready to seek outside investments. We?ve seen other companies, like Flutterwave and Paystack succeed at gaining traction in Silicon Valley and we believe with our upgraded service, new products and skillful team, we are ready to take ESDIAC to the next level.

How does ESDIAC h an dle cu st om er com plain t s an d is live cu st om er su ppor t available?

ESDIAC offers online support 24/7 via FAQs, email and chat messaging. Live customer support is available to callers via our toll-free number (1-855-373-4222) between 9 am -5 pm (Pacific Time Zone).

Usin g on e sen t en ce, w h y do you t h in k caller s sh ou ld sw it ch t o u sin g ESDIAC f or all of t h eir in t er n at ion al calls?

Simply because we are the best and we will ALWAYS provide the best service to our customers.

Ar e t h er e an y pr om ot ion al of f er s f or n ew cu st om er s w h o sign u p t o u se ESDIAC? Yes, for a limited time, all new callers who sign up will get 60 minutes of free air-time.

ESDIAC understands the challenges and extreme costs sustained to international callers. We are dedicated to making staying in touch with your family, friends and business associates safe, simple and affordable.

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N A TU RA L BEA U TY TANZANIAN M ODEL

A frican Y oungT alented M odel

M OD E L I N G IS M Y P A SSI O N

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

IN N O C IEN T EY ES ZENA_M ODEL 13 The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Angels In Heaven Are Rejoicing For Gaining A Gentle Soul

by Triple Lolo Rose Onyeagucha

TheGreat Bay AreainCal iforniaCommunity MoURNSTHEFal l enIrokeTree and never let go till the Lord called you to glory. Your demise process was fast, but I could still hear your voice whispering ?Mummy don?t be afraid.?

Tr iple Lolo Rose Onyeagucha "As I mourn you, I also celebrate your accomplishments and carry on your legacy".

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o a loving husband of my youth, soulmate, confidant, my best friend, handsome, generous, be

best father, bestbest grandpa and and God-fearing st father, grandpa gentlemen.

God-fearing gentlemen.

I still cannot believe you left me at this time of our married life. I am deeply saddened and devastated, trying to come to terms with what happened. I know I never will, but I wish I could understand.

We had all kinds of plans laid out that now you have retired from work.

The last time I heard your voice, you reassured Th e l a stme t i mby e Isaying h e a r d?Mummy y o u r v o i don? ce , t be y o u Ir am e a ssu r e d mbetter, e , b y say i n g s grace, afraid, getting

by God? ? M u m m y d o n ?t b e a f r a i d , I a m I will be well soon... please stay at home, g e t t i n g b e t t e r, b y Go d ?s g r a ce , I it iswgoing i l l b e to w erain l l soheavily o n . . . p ltonight e a se st as ay a t h o m e , i t i sWe g oprayed i n g t o rand a i n bid h e agood vily forecasted.? t o n i g h t a s f o r e ca st e d . ? W e p r ay e d night to each other and you added as a n d b i d g o o d n i g h t t o e a ch o t h e r always an d ? yMummy o u a d d e Id LOVE a s a l YOU? w ay s. ? M u m m y I LOV E YOU? .

Imagine, even in your sick bed you were protective of me. I am comforted that you were not alone at that critical last minute of your life. You were surrounded by your family members and I held your hands 14

God is the giver and the sustainer of life, so who am I to ask Him Why He called his servant Ikechukwu Nnamdi Onyeagucha so soon to come home?

Angels in Heaven are rejoicing for gaining a gentle soul. I Da d d ys c o ! envisioned how you planned to spend your Ch ief , DR. Am b. Ikech i & Lolo On yeagu ch a retirement with the you mummy, and I love you? the three grandchildren and I, but I'm still forever magic words that can resolve issues in thankful that God gave us 40 incredible any relationship, yet some men don?t say years, blessed us with 5 boys and a it, that makes yo u unique. beautiful daughter, also five handsome grandsons. They will continue from where As I mourn you, I also celebrate your you stopped by God?s grace. accomplishments and carry on your

RIP

Although I was young when I got married to you, but you respected me and really loved me unconditionally. We learned a lot from each other, worked as a team, celebrated and comforted each other in our good and bad times. Our love for each other was so real that friends wonder and ask me if we ever quarrel sometimes like other couples do.

To anyone who never met you: My husband will make you laugh, even when you think that you are having serious argument with him, he had good a sense of humor and that makes it hard to be around him without smiling. He knew the Lord and had respect for humanity. You do not hesitate to say ?I am sorry, thank

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

legacy. Like you always said, ?Keep Moving?.

I will keep moving knowing that you are not dead but sleeping in the Lord with the reunion of our deceased two sons.

Daddysco, just as you loved me until your dying day, so too will I love you until mine. You?re everything I could have asked for in a husband and more, and you'll always have my heart. Let your spirit guide and protect us till we meet and part no more.

Your love, Aku diya, Triple Lolo!

Rose Chinenyenwa Onyeagucha, BSN, JP

We ar e s t il l in s ho c k and d eep s o r r o w by Dr. Clifford Eke

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e are still in shock and deep sorrow since since you suddenly you suddenly departed to be with your maker on the afternoon of February 5, 2021. I wouldn?t have believed it if I was not there when it happened.

You married our sister, Lolo Rose Ann Eke Onyeagucha. In our family, we saw you as a big brother. Whenever you visited us in the village, the joy and excitement we all experienced were palpable. You?ve always been supportive, especially with kind words and encouragement.

Despite your laudable accomplishments at a very young age as a very successful Clearing Agent and Exporter, you still worked hard to get more in life for yourself and your family. You traveled to the U.S. to pursue the American dream, just like most of us. You humbled yourself and did menial jobs and other things for survival, untill you finished schooling and attained great heights. In your glory, you did not forget your family but brought them to California to be with you.

Having tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on December 24, 2020, I was with you through the process of your treatment and hospitalization. My grief knew no bounds on that fateful day you lost the battle to COVID-19, since you were already on the 15

path to recovery. During one of my visits, you shared with me your Bucket List of things you planned to do after retirement and Covid which included, traveling with your wife, piano lessons and writing a book. Little did we know that you were amid the calm before the storm.

You helped save so many lives as a retired respiratory therapist during the peak of the COVID pandemic, knowing that the health sector needed more assistance. It is quite an irony that the same thing you saved people from, took you.

Chief Ikechi Onyeagucha was a true humanitarian, philanthropist, community builder, a peacemaker, and a man with a good heart who loved God and people of all ages. We will miss his grand presence at all our events and ceremonies.

One of my favorite quotes says, ?What we do for ourselves dies with us, but what we do for others and the world remains and is immortal?.

Chief Onyeagucha, your good works on earth will always remain with us.

We know we shall see you again when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns!

May God give us the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss.

Adieu, Oga Ik. Adieu Brother me. May your gentle soul rest in peace untill we meet again.

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Clifford Eke, MD, FACS, FICS Founder and CEO, Chima Medical Missions International A n on -pr ofit or gan ization th at pr ovides fr ee gen er al m edical car e an d su r gical ser vices in Niger ia an d ar ou n d th e gl obe.

THE OWERRI CULTURAL ASSOCIATION CON DOLENCE VISIT TO OUR PAST PRESIDEN T Written by Stanley Njoku, OCA Financial Secretary OCAVicePresident Chief Obil or

Signed by Mr. George Eke, OCA President and Chief Adolf Obilor, OCA Vice President

Pr esen t ed M em ber 's ben ef it t o Obin n a On yeagu ch a

T

he Owerri Cultural Association (OCA) on the 29th of May, 2021 paid a condolence visit to Multiple Lolo Rosa Onyeagucha, the former first lady of the late OCA?s former president Chief, Dr. Ambassador Ikechi Onyeagucha at his residence in American Canyon, Northern California.

The late Chief Ikechi Onyeagucha, who died on Friday, February 5, 2021, was a bonafide member of multiple associations and the Owerri Cultural Association (OCA).

OCA is a group of well-bred people from the Old Owerri Local Government residing in Northern California, diversified with rich and notable experts in varying livelihoods, from consultants, lawyers, nurses, and doctors, to successful business people and entrepreneurs.

OCA's unified objective is to promote and maintain the Owerri culture, while enhancing a smooth cultural infusion in the recognition of other cultures.

Until his death, he was a change agent who deployed his expansive network, 16

resources and highly involved in community activities and intellectual assets towards advancing the goals of OCA. OCA?s executive and non-executive members were in attendance to pay homage to the family of the deceased.

Some of the executives include; the president, Mr. George Ekeh, the Vice President, Chief Obilor Adolph, the Financial Secretary, Mr. Stanley Njoku, the Assistant General Secretary, Ms. Lorrita Iwu and other executives including a Board of Trustee, Chief Ike Orji.

The demise of the former president was described as a great loss to the association, as he had set a good legacy before he passed on.

During his tenure as the president of OCA, he organized the most outstanding 21st-anniversary celebration in 2019 to commemorate the existence and charity support to the needy by the association.

Our former president, Dr. Chief Ikechi Onyeagucha was a man who demonstrated the vision of a great

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

leader. You can be sure that the OCA celebration was indeed colorful, fulfilled, and issue-free.

Although about two to three other events were ongoing on the same day, the OCA celebration was the center of attraction for deep-pocketed people in the Bay Area, California, USA. This milestone achievement was a result of the late Chief Onyeagucha's leadership. The event was declared a success by everyone.

His demise was painful as we have lost a dedicated and highly dependable member whose contributions to the growth of OCA won?t be forgotten.

The preaching was outstanding and the choice of music played in the background was phenomenal.

The deceased?s family thanked the O.C.A association for finding time to console with them.

A prayer was said to repose the soul of the deceased and for God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Chief,Dr. Ambassador Ikechi Onyeagucha Tr ad it ional Pr ime M inist er and A haej iag amba 1 of Obinze, Imo St at e, N ig er ia!

Former President, Owerri Cultural Association (OCA) of Northern California, USA.

REST IN PERFECT PEA CE

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Zena - M odel

" M od el i n g Is M y Person a l i t y" A -To w n ( A R U SH A ) , TA N Z A N I A - EA ST A FR I CA .

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HEAD LIN E byauthor

I am al l you r s, ar e you r eady to fl y w ith m e?

A -To w n ( A R U SH A ) , TA N Z A N I A - EA ST A FR I CA .

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

A YO U N G A FR I C A N W OM A N SH A P ING T H E FUT UR E O F A FR IC A N SP A C E EX P LO R A T I O N

Ruvimbo Samanga, a Zimbabwean space law, and policy analyst was announced as one of the winners of the emerging African space leaders 2020, awarded by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).

Samanga was born and bred in the city of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She graduated with a law degree from the University of Pretoria, where she spent time taking part in community service, leadership roles in the United Nations committee and Rotaract Club. She holds a Masters in International Trade and Investment Law from the University of Pretoria and is a resident holder of the Ban Ki-moon Scholarship for Global Citizens.

According to Samanga, her space journey began when she participated with the UP Law team in the annual Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition.

byauthor

Space Legislation regulates space activities, including the use of space technology, damage caused by space objects and the conservation of space. Samanga represents Zimbabwe on the SGAC board, supporting the UN Space Applications Program.

R uvimbo Samanga

The Zimbabwean youth has been immense policy and research support to the Open Lunar Foundation. She has been named one of the top 10 under 30 in the African space industry. In addition to this, she was recently selected in the inaugural cohort of the Space Traffic Management Diverse Dozen by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. She is also the founder of Agrispace, an early-stage Agri-tech startup. The establishment is designed to use satellite data to assist food production and agricultural yields.

Space Law and Policy Analyst | Research Fellow at Open Lunar Foundation | Ban Ki-Moon Global Citizen Scholar | Top 10 Under 30 African Space Industry | Top Talents Under 25 in the World

Her passion lies in capacity-building on the continent through policy, education, outreach and entrepreneurship.

Samanga is a firm believer in youth empowerment. She hopes to be an inspiration to African youths, to make a global impact and seek innovative ways in connecting the world towards a future knowledge economy.

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

THEDWELLINGSPARKLING

J ane Nwokolo

B eautiful and S exy M odel Loves to dance, outgoing caring and compassionate Nationality: Nigeria 21

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE AFRICA PRIZE FOR ENGINEERING INNOVATION

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young African entrepreneur, Charlette N? Gussan, emerged the winner of the 2020 Africa Prize for Innovation hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

services. Though facial recognition isn't new, BACE API specifically uses live images or short videos taken on phone cameras to detect whether the image is of a real person or a photo of an existing image.

N?Gussan, a Cote D?Ivorian technology entrepreneur based in Accra, Ghana received the honor as the first woman to win the award.

N?Guessan?s interest in technology began at a young age. Growing up in Ivory Coast, she was encouraged to focus on science and technology by her father, a mathematics professor. Now running her own tech company, she told CNN that winning the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation has helped to boost her confidence as a CEO leading a technical team of men.

The 26-year-old is the co-founder and CEO of BACE API, a tech startup that focuses on digitally identifying people?s identities through facial recognition and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Our research shows that the software can be integrated into existing apps and systems. It is aimed at industries that rely on identity verification when providing 22

The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, is Africa?s biggest prize

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

dedicated to engineering innovation and has a proven track record of identifying successful engineering entrepreneurs.

Globally, the technology industry is growing, but women-led startups are in short supply with only about 22% founded by at least one woman, according to a report in Disrupt Africa. N?Guessan says she hopes her achievement will motivate more women to consider careers in tech.

Africa is very proud of Charlette N?Guessan and her team. It is essential to have world-changing technologies originating from Africa. Their innovative technology will have far-reaching benefits for the continent.

THE RISE OF BITCOIN CURRENCY

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he cryptocurrency market has continued to witness a boom, despite the global pandemic wreaking havoc

on all significant economies across the globe.

Cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual currency designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses cryptography to control its creation and management.

Bitcoin is currently the leading

a Japanese, who integrated many existing ideas from the cypherpunk community.

Throughout bitcoin?s history, it has

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undergone rapid growth to be a crucial currency across the globe.

Its first price increase occurred in 2020, when the value of a single Bitcoin jumped from around $0.0008 to $0.08.

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In April 2011, the price of one Bitcoin jumped from $1 to a peak of $32 in June, making it a gain of 3200% within three months. Since then, Bitcoin went through several rallies and crashes to reach its current ground-breaking value.

cryptocurrency and is considered a safe-haven asset against market volatility and inflation.

The cryptocurrency market capitalization recently fueled by Bitcoin?s growth crossed the 1$ trillion mark. Out of which, Bitcoin has been on a bull run for quite some time and is responsible for roughly 69% of the total market value.

Created in 2009, Bitcoin was invented by the presumed pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto,

With the rapid growth of bitcoin and other digital currencies, there are many factors within the

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mainstream economy that continue to make Bitcoin rise in value. Which include;

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Pushing through extremely volatile peaks making investors believe it will continue to rise (In June 2019, it was $14,000. In February 2021 above $20,000) Easy access to the public as crypto platforms like CoinSwitch are making crypto investing more accessible Rising Inflation and the potential for even more changes Increased adoption from payment applications, like Paypal, will give far more people easy access Publicly traded companies purchasing Bitcoin

Although there is no certainty in the future of cryptocurrencies, the industry continues to flourish.

Bitcoin has created vast opportunities and possibilities and its full potential is yet to be reached.

Predictions for the future value of bitcoin vary according to who makes the estimate. However, according to the June 2020 Crypto Research Report, Bitcoin could go over $39,000 by 2030. The magnitude of such strength clearly shows one thing - Bitcoin has come to stay.

A mak a N j ok u

THE INCREDIBLE ATTRIBUTES OF MOTHERHOOD ANDTHEIR SIGNIFICANCE ON THE GLOBAL SCALE

BEAUTIFUL MOTHER And THE BEST WIFE IN THE WORLD

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Mother s play a cr itical r ole in human existence and ar e power ful for ces for social cohesion and integr ation Nothing beats bringing a new life into the world. To guide that new little being along the way of goodness and decency, sometimes requires the patience and forbearance of an angel.

From all the people to pick from as heroes-presidents, humanitarians, legends, coaches, etc., it?s not surprising if mothers are chosen as number one heroes. Mothers meet people?s needs and nurture them into their best selves more than any other set of people in comparison.

There are many mothers in unique situations: some are widowed, some are single mothers, some are in conventional family structures, some are stay-at-home moms, others go to work, etc. It?s necessary to emphasize the importance of 25

accepting all forms of motherhood, as there is no perfect way of being a mother.

Mothers also have unique skill sets and challenges. Their children are also. All of these situations are valid.

The important thing is that a mother ?s role is to love her children irrespective of their various quirks.

Scientifically, famous psychologist Abraham Maslow proposed his hierarchy of human needs, spanning the most basic biological needs to the pinnacle of realizing one?s potential.

Mothers are masters at helping their children meet this full range of human needs: from physical nourishment and safety, love and affection, all the way up to supporting emotional and spiritual growth. A good mother feeds you, protects you, loves you, helps you connect with others and encourages you to become your best self.

In Africa, motherhood is perceived as a God-giving role and for this reason, considered sacred. Being an African mother in the diaspora can be very challenging, especially because she will have to battle with her own cultural values in raising a child and that of the foreign land.

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

In a typical African system, parenting takes a lot of forms to be able to lead the child to be a responsible adult, specifically in the reinforcement aspect. They employ different methods in punishing a child who defaults and applauding one who acts right.

In most Western countries, some of these methods might be frowned upon. Irrespective of the cultural clashes, the Diasporan African mothers manage to raise their kids uprightly.

Women don?t instantly become saints when they have a child.

Certainly, there are plenty of women out there who don?t fit into these stereotyped descriptions. Despite any flaws, the desire to honor a typical mother is unmatched.

As social norms change, fathers are taking on the role of nurturers more than in previous generations.

However, the emerging science of heroism helps put to place why many people reserve a special place in their hearts for their mothers.

Mothers?Day is not supposed to be a one day in a year celebration. We celebrate our mothers all days of our lives.

WHY BIDEN?S PLEDGE OF $4 BILLION COVID-19 VACCINE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH

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he Biden administration had pledged $4 billion to Covax, a global effort founded to fund and deliver Covid-19 vaccines around the world, especially to lower-income countries.

The announcement came during President Joe Biden?s attendance at the Group of Seven (G7) meeting of the world?s biggest economies.

The $4 billion funding and commitment is a welcome development, since it will fix the gap for real funding shortfalls in the purchase of the vaccine doses.

However, uncertainty arises if the funds alone will be enough to fight the virus globally, since many of the wealthier countries are in a hurry to inoculate their own populations.

secure their own doses.

Africa is one of the continents that will most benefit from the Covax-funded vaccines since most of its countries are considered low-income. If not supported, they may not afford the vaccines and the virus will take a toll on them before help finally comes.

Irrespective of the free support, many Africans have expressed skepticism in regards to vaccines.

These countries are securing doses for their citizens irrespective of cost and purchasing far more doses than they need, while the rest of the world, especially the lower-income countries, are left out of the loop.

Covax was set up as a financing instrument to ensure that all countries, irrespective of financial capabilities, have equitable access to the vaccine. Higher-income countries contribute to the fund, by giving free vaccines to 92 lower-income countries. Although many rich countries joined Covax and pledged funds, some buoyant individuals still made individual pre-purchase agreements with pharmaceutical companies to

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Some believe the Coronavirus does not exist. They think the vaccines are aimed at controlling the population and could affect fertility. While the rest believe in the existence of the virus, they doubt their governments will be transparent enough in

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

administering COVID-19 mass vaccination.

They have the notion that corrupt officials will seek to profit from the vaccination exercise, like it was previously reported in many countries where companies and government officials wrongly benefited from the inflated supply of protective equipment and food supply.

As production capacity increases and more vaccines become available. The aim is to vaccinate at least 20% of Africans, by providing up to 600 million doses by the end of 2021.

The U.S. and its companions making notable commitments to Covax is a vital step towards putting an end to Coronavirus. However, the world can?t fully recover from the pandemic or the economic crisis it created, unless every country in the globe joins forces to herd immunity.

new sources of financing for investment to supplement traditional domestic and external resources.

AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA TO INVEST THEIR INFLOW REM ITTANCE IN AGRICULTURE TO

For instance, Uganda has reiterated calls to the diaspora to invest in agriculture. This appeal was heard by Andy Agaba, based in Cambridge, MA, USA. He invested in Africa by founding a coffee-making company called Bantu Coffee. Bantu Coffee invests its coffee sales profits in rural farming communities. it is now the only African brand to compete with a national coffee brand in the US.

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ELIM INATE STARVATION Over the last decade, there has been a consistent increase in remittance flows from the diaspora communities to their countries of origin.

According to a 2016 World Bank report, remittance flows into African nations are more than three times that of official development aid.

They also tend to be more stable than other kinds of external capital flows,

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quality of life in the continent.

The global diaspora sends home over $450 billion in remittances to their homeland every year. With these remittances invested in agriculture, the

Data reveal that households spend remittances sent by the diaspora in the most needed sectors, with food topping the list. Although the funds used for agricultural purposes in rural areas are estimated to be relatively small- 5% of total diaspora remittances-this still represents four times the global official development assistance that goes to agriculture.

Although there is a clarion call for diaspora engagement in agriculture and rural development, we can?t ignore the fact that their interference is being limited due to the challenges associated with the investment.

These include a lack of expertise in agriculture, lack of information, lack of government support, the remoteness of rural areas, limited networking, and finally, partnership interaction between rural institutions and the diaspora association. If these issues could be solved, most Diasporans would have little to no reason not to invest in agriculture.

such as private investment or development aid.

Studies have shown that remittances can reduce the depth and severity of poverty, increase household spending on health, education and improve the

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diaspora organizations can play a key role in alleviating poverty and eliminating starvation in Africa.

The idea of putting diaspora capital to higher productive use has been further amplified by the necessity to explore

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With the backing of the government and agro-friendly legislation, agriculture could benefit from this substantial source of funding and expertise. If there is a significant investment in the agricultural sector, long-term economic growth, poverty reduction, and food security enhancement can be achieved in Africa.

WHA T HA PPENS WHEN GLOBA L I NFLUENTI A L A FRICA NS RETURN TO THEI R HOM ELA ND? are more likely to be bringing back with them considerable experience and different business acumen to stimulate economic activity back on the continent.

In reference to experience, Africans in the diaspora can provide opportunities in Africa having garnered the Western mindset and experience.

Some Africans haven?t yet discovered some ventures that are lucrative and some that have been discovered are being ignored.

Using a Western perspective, diasporans can create a platform that African residents will use as a source of livelihood, on the other hand, also improve the continent?s economy.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 4.0 Philip Emeagwali - A Nigerian American who invented the world'sfastest computer .

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growing number of Africans in the diaspora are making notable contributions to the global community. Their track global community. track record of record ofTheir success and success and achievements are quite achievements are quite lengthy. lengthy.

It brings to the consciousness, what Africa will be like if those making waves across the globe returned home to channel their energy and resources?

There is no easy answer to this question as there are many variables to consider and Africa itself has been undergoing some extraordinary changes.

There are over 8.8 million African migrants living in Europe, North America and Australia.

A small but increasing number of Africans are also starting to carve out a life for themselves in Asia and the Middle East, taking advantage of the changing economic centers of gravity.

However, there has been a sharp rise in 28

the number of people returning to Africa, since as business opportunities on the continent continue to increase.

According to a study by the Migrations between Africa and Europe project (MAFE- Senegal), one in four Senegalese emigrants returns to Senegal within five years, and more than two-thirds are back within a decade. Some returnees may just want to be close to their loved ones live among their people, while some may decide to come home to invest in their countries.

If we fpcus on what the situation of the continent will be when the Diasporans playing critical roles across the world return home, we have to think about their Intellectual and economic power and what impact it will make.

Africans in the diaspora tend to be wealthier than resident Africans, making them more likely to have the means to invest in their homeland.

After living several years overseas, they

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Looking through an economic development lens, diasporans represent an important pool of potential entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of economic growth and job creation.

It creates new companies and jobs, opens up new markets and nurtures new skills.

Nevertheless, it will be misleading to portray moving back to Africa as an easy decision because it isn?t.

There are several considerations one must make, prior to making the leap.

For example, is there a safety net of some sort to cushion the landing?

Is there a specific opportunity in-hand or focused pursuit? Is there any available support network to provide guidance, since you have been away for some time?

While these questions must be carefully weighed, moving back home will still be an experience of a lifetime.

The opportunity to drive change, make a considerable impact and add to the building blocks of a developing country can be extremely fulfilling.

DISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC TRUST, COHESION AND SECURITY

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he menace of fake news can no longer be ignored, since it has become a problem of the modern modern world.world.

Disinformation Disinformation can dividecan society, incite violence divide society, inciteand violence anddemocracy. undermine undermine democracy.

To be clear, there is usually a misconception between disinformation and misinformation.

Disinformation is the deliberate creation and dissemination of false information to deceive the receiver for the purpose of political, personal, or financial gain. On the other hand, misinformation is not deliberate or with the intention to cause harm.

people consume daily. What makes the matter worse is that a significant part of social media users tend to easily digest content without the supposed critical thinking. Current technologies enable creating artificial videos portraying something different from the original one and it still looks realistic. Synthesized speech that matches the voice of a known person can also be used to claim statements or words never said.

In conclude, the times when something was believed to be true because it was seen on TV, in a photo, or video, are gone.

The threat of disinformation and propaganda is becoming more rampant because the world is increasingly going digital and over 50% of the world?s adult population is online. Social media, online users, websites and blogs are all major contributors to this problem.

The rise in threat and negative impact of disinformation on our society means that we must respond urgently and this should be done while we continually embrace the incredible opportunities available to us to engage with the public in an online world.

False or misleading stories can be easily created and diffused through global networks in just a few clicks.

False news becomes part of the personalized, endless feeds that

What makes the dissemination of false information an extremely difficult issue to tackle is the difficulty in identifying, tracking and controlling unreliable content. To combat this, it

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would require advanced digital technologies, like Artificial (AI) Intelligence and protocols for accessing content.

Facebook, which came under heavy criticism for allowing false news to be circulated during the U.S presidential election period, has taken steps to combat the issue. One of the steps is the enlisting of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN).

Facebook users in the US and Germany can now flag articles they think are deliberately false. These will then go to the third-party fact-checkers signed up with the IFCN. Raising awareness is another solution to disinformation and propaganda, although it would take time and a good amount of resources, it is deemed effective.

Raising awareness would require a global, ongoing program that educates online users to apply critical thinking, when consuming and sharing digital content.

NIGERIA?SIROKOTOFILEFORIPO ONLONDONSTOCKEXCHANGE

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he Nigerian-based online streaming media company, IROKO, plans for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Alternative Investment Market by 2022.

Founded in 2011, Irokotv is a web platform that provides paid-for Nigerian films on-demand. It is one of Africa?s first mainstream online movie streaming websites, providing access to over 5,000 Nollywood film titles.

Jason Nj oku CEO & Co- Founder iROKOt v

The CEO and co-founder of Iroko, Jason Njoku, revealed that the biggest online catalog of Nollywood content across the globe will raise between $20 million to $30 million in IPO and will see the streaming company hitting a market value of about $80 million to $100 million.

Discussions with brokers will begin in a few weeks and Njoku holds a stake of 18% in the debt-free company.

In the previous year, Irokotv had intentions to increase its average revenue per user in Africa from $7-$8 to $20-$25.

The company was perceived to be set in achieving this, until the pandemic hit.

At this point, the consumer spending in Nigeria and other African markets dwindled and

subscriptions decreased by 70%.

However, international subscribers grew by 200% during the lockdown, reaching $25-30 ARPU range.

Jason Njoku says, ?We pulled back to focus on where our economies actually make sense.

Our international business organically grew double-digit in 2020 and we expect it to continue this way for the foreseeable future?.

Currently, Iroko Partners is focusing more on international subscribers primarily in the U.S and the U.K., where it has been able to achieve a 150% price increase without any negative impact.

Aside from Iroko, the only company to have gone public from Nigeria is Jumia.

Iroko seeks a market cap of $100 million, which is typically small for the primary market. This is the reason hence, the reason behind its decisions to list on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the LSE. Irokotv, which is a part of Iroko Partners, remains one of Africa?s leading entertainment companies, housing brands, such as iROKING, an online music platform, and its YouTube website, Nollywoodlove.

W H Y F I N T E C H W I L L F L O U R I SH I N T H E M I D D L E E A ST A N D A F R I C A groundbreaking successes.

To foster a more enabling environment for fintech, financial centers have a key role to play as they help build an environment that enables innovators. A partnership between fintech firms and financial institutions is very effective in expanding access to the formal financial economy.

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n the last decade, the impact of financial technology (fintech) on the Middle East and Africa?s financial sectorsector and other key financial and other sectorskey has been phenom. hassectors been phenomenal.

Though the term fintech has been a buzzword for a few years, financial technology has been around for decades. A few countries across the Middle East and Africa regions have been using the most basic financial technology to solve various socio-economic ailments for several years The Middle East and Africa region is a complex part of the world, home to some of the world?s richest countries, as well as many of the world?s poorest.

The two regions collectively known as the MEA region, have seen volatile times causing much of its skilled population to leave the territories for brighter prospects in more established economies. However,

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today, fintech is challenging old financial models, and it is transforming the financial service sector in these regions for the better.

The pandemic has impacted all aspects of the global economy. Despite its challenges so far, there are some bright spots.

In expat-heavy UAE, its main cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi have developed into fintech hubs within the area, enabling a wider tech ecosystem to develop.

Fintech firms/ startups are focused on growth instead of profit. They earn revenues through subscriptions, third parties, data and advertising.

South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt, Rwanda, and Ghana are often referenced as the key fintech hubs in Africa. These parts of Africa have more evident fintech hubs because of their population. They also use their economic resourcefulness and the growing urban development to attract talent from across skills.

The power of financial technology to deliver financial services to more people, in more places, and more efficiently, is one of the reasons why the MEA regions are working diligently to enable fintech startups to grow from nascent ideas to

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Big Data is a huge asset. More and more fintech and tech companies are taking on this strategy as an income stream.

Fintech isn?t so much disrupting the traditional financial services, as building up a historically underdeveloped industry.

By creating a raft of tech-based products and solutions, including mobile money, online payment, lending, and investing, fintech is mainly filling the gaps that exist in local financial industries.

THE M AJORI TY OF THE HI GHEST RATED DOCTORS I N THE UNI TED STATES AM ERI CA ARE NI GERI ANS Nigeriansare among the most successful and highly educated immigrants in the U.S.

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igerians have accomplished many things in the United States. This is most evident in the field of medicine.

Most Nigerians in the diaspora will tell you that their parents gave them three career choices: doctor, parents gave them career choices: doctor, lawyer, or lawyer, or three engineer engineer.

Nigerian culture has long emphasized education, placing value on pursuing education as a means to financial success and personal fulfillment. According to the Migrations Policy Institute, 29% of Nigerian-Americans have a master ?s degree, Ph.D., or an advanced professional degree, compared to 11% of the U.S overall population.

Dr . Godw in M adu k a A Nigerian American physician based in the U.S. Dr. Godwin Maduka is the owner/CEO and medical director of the Las Vegas Pain Institute and Medical Center, the largest pain treatment center in Nevada.

Medicine is considered a highly reputable occupation in the U.S and Nigerians, who are very intelligent, purposeful, and hardworking people they are have been recognized to be rated as the top-notch doctors in the states. Some of these renowned doctors include:

Dr . Nw an do Olayiow ola

Dr . Olu r ot im i Joh n Bader o A top Nigerian cardiologist based in New York, was as one of the top interventional cardiologists and nephrologists in the United States. Based on the World Remit 2020 list of Influential Africans in America, He has been recognized as the world?s first and only fully trained Cardio-nephrologist (heart and kidney specialist).

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Dr. Olayiowola has been named one of America?s Top Family Doctors by the Consumers Research Council of America annually. She is presently the Chief Clinical Transformation Officer of Rubicon MD, a leading technology company that provides electronic consultations and provides clinical care at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital?s Family Health Care Center.

Dr . Olu yin k a Olu t oye He was appointed the chief surgeon in Nationwide Children?s Hospital in Ohio. The hospital is named among the top 10 best children?s hospitals, according to the U.S News and World Report of 2019-2020.

Dr . Ben n et If ek an du Om alu He is a forensic pathologist and neuropathologist, who became the first to discover and publish findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in American football players. He also became the chief medical examiner for San Joaquin County, California.

There are so many other Nigerian/ African physicians who have shot into America?s consciousness like a bolt out of nowhere. There is no exact way to calculate how many human lives have been saved or improved through the efforts of these medical trailblazers, who not only shouldered the immense responsibility of learning but also had to overcome societal prejudice.

Their contributions to the advancement of medical care must be encouraged, and not taken for granted. The Diaspora Magazine celebrates them and encourages other Africans to tread these reputable paths and keep waxing stronger.

Dr . Sam u el Ach ilef u Dr. Achilefu is a Nigerian-born scientist and medical researcher, who invented high-tech infrared goggles to enable surgeons to seen cancer cells during surgery. He also discovered a novel treatment paradigm for cancer non-pharmacological doses of drugs to selectively trigger cancer cell death without harming healthy tissues.

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Niger ian M ap

T H E SP I R I T O F SO C C E R Experts believe that quality entertainment releases endorphins, hormones that are responsible for feeling good. Interestingly, this is a better way to overcome stress to a certain extent, as since it gives you some time off to relax and prepare your mind for recovery. It is also a period of excitement and or anxiety if it is a competitive entertainment, like sport (soccer).

Soccer season, such as the African Cup of Nations, Olympic, or World Cup, brings a wave of excitement and euphoria to people in Africa or around the world. Soccer lovers around the world still reflect back to their best moment as their country?s national team or their favorite club did very well in the competition or season.

Surprisingly, westerners that love soccer still mention Nigeria's best team performance on the world stage, like 1994, 1998, and 2014 matches, where they reached the second round with fantastic foot display and tremendous dribbling tactics exhibited by Jay Jay Okocha, including other talented Nigerian players, such as Kanu Nwankwo, Finidi George, Sunday Oliseh, Ben Iroha, Stephen Keshi and many more.

The same also applies to Senegalensis, Ghanians and Cameroonians whose national teams also performed very well on the world stage. During each African team realm, the continent of Africa is in full support of any of these nations that advanced through the World Cup stages.

We also witnessed the last World Cup hosted by Russia in 2018, where billions of people across the globe were glued to their screens and 34

declared their unwavering love and support.

Football challenges cultural, religious, and political dilemmas in Africa, citing its ability to unite people of all backgrounds around a common cause. Many describe it as an ?African religion since the sport demands attention, requires devotion and provides excitement.

The love of soccer has its downsides, especially for fanatic club fans. There have been many cases where people have engaged in bloody, fetal fights because someone spoke ill of their team or in the heat of irrational arguments.

People have also bet away their properties and even rights to life?s comforts, whenever their favorite team is in action. However, these incidents haven?t discouraged their love for football.

For millions of people in Africa and the world at large, sport is an important dimension of their lives.

Aside from the entertainment aspect, it gives them identity and a sense of belonging.

Many see it as a relief and source of catharsis, since it is an important distraction from the many problems the majority of Africans face.

In literature, it will be termed ?Comic Relief ?. Football is one of the rare places an African child can find African heroes of international standing, Sam Eto?o of Cameroon, Didier Drogba of Ivory Coast, Kanu Nwankwo of Nigeria and so many others.

All these football stars at one point have been the highlight of the major football season, Both World Cup,

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African Cup of Nations, and Club leagues. They gave African youths a reason to aspire.

This is why many have these unwavering expectations for the next Olympic and World Cup season.

However, the structure and the protection of this global sport rely heavily on the shoulders of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) founded in 1904.

As well as organizing international tournaments, FiFa sees its role as protecting and developing the game of football for everyone around the world.

In Africa, thirteen (13) members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have competed at the FIFA biggest event, the Men?s World Cup. Cameroon, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Egypt, South Africa, Senegal, DR Congo, Angola and Togo have all participated in the World Cup and almost everyone looks forward to the performance, if they qualify for the season hosted every four years.

In many countries, football is a safe space, and perhaps the only place free speech can be practiced without fear of retribution. One can criticize the players, the coaches and even organizers, yet go to bed without fear of their safety. Never have there been a situation where security forces raided someone?s home because of football scrutiny.

The Super Eagle Squad - 96 AFRICAN SOCCER HEROES IN T HE HIST ORY OF AFRICAN GAME Africa is a continent deeply divided along ideological, ethnic and territorial lines.

However, football has a unique ability to cross borders and unite people of diverse cultural, political and ideological commitments. ?Football is life,? says Scotty, an A-licensed accredited football coach who has been employing sports for the past 23 years to save the lives of people in conflict and post-conflict zones around the world.

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OLUM O ROCK?S HISTORY

Across the globe, tourism has evolved as one of the most expansive, diverse sectors of our time. It now represents one of the largest and fastest-growing economic sectors in the world.

The African continent is truly adorned with rich diversity and abundance of untouched resources, natural beauty, cultural heritage, and historical sites, wildlife, safaris, beaches, deserts and much more.

Nigeria is one of the African countries with many tourist attractions. It includes everything from the spiritual shrines to the ancient cities of the north, from the river deltas to the Yoruba kingdoms, and the Igbo's stunning environment. The Olumo Rock in Western Nigeria is one of the beautiful sceneries that will be explored attractions in this article. It leaves every visitor breathing hard with suspense and excitement.

Olu m o r ock ?s h ist or y Olumo Rock lies in the center of the ancient city of Abeokuta of Ogun State, Nigeria. The name ?Oluma? means ?trouble and sufferings are all over ?. This meaning is believed to be based on the history of the people with the rock. Its history dates back to the 19th century Oyo Empire. The people of Egbaland, a community in Abeokuta, took refuge beneath the Olumo Rock during the inter-tribal wars. The rock serves as a sanctuary to the people as well as a good vantage spot to monitor their enemies advance. This strategy led to the 36

victory of Egba people.

The rock is nature?s large monument made from indigenous materials. The rock?s history and unique appearance made it the most significant representation of Egba nationalism.

Olumo Rock signifies unity and freedom not just for the people of Egbaland but for all the inhabitants of Abeokuta.

In 2006, the rock went through some remodeling. Some facilities like museums, water fountains, restaurants, and an elevator were developed.

Sign if ican t at t r ibu t es of t h e Olu m o Rock Olumo Rock stands at a height of 137 meters above sea level. Man-made stairs were carved into the rock making climbing fairly easy for tourists. There is also an elevator, in the event that you might want to avoid climbing and take the easy way up, though it comes with a higher cost.

When you get to the peak of the rock, you will be blessed with a view of other significant locations in Abeokuta like The First Church of Nigeria, the River Ogu, the Central Mosque, and also the family house of Late Moshood Abiola.

The rock is known to be a massive outcrop of granite rocks of primitive formation from which the city it sits and got its name Abeokuta, which means ?Under the rock?. It treats you to attractions like natural tunnels, unusual trees, natural cantilevers, and gardens. All along the way, there are significant ancient carvings on the walls of the rock. There are also cowrie-studded statues and the ancient shrine of the priestesses of the mountain deity who lives in the caves.

During a recent tour of the cave, a 131-year-old woman who has lived under the famous rock almost all her life was discovered. The woman?s

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name is Iya Orisa of Olumo Rock (Iya Orisa meaning the mother of a goddess). She explained how she grew up under the rock and how she had witnessed the coronation of four Alake of Egbaland.

Olumo Rock has had a muster tree growing for over 200 years, the surrounding caves are hideous looking.

In front of the Orisa Olumo Chamber which is a shrine in one of the caves, you can spot sacrificed birds on the door of the shrine. Natives believe that the rock is their protector, so they come sacrificing a variety of items at the entrance in order to get protection for their family. Generally, the environment of Rock does not only make you appreciate the wonders of creation, but it also gives you an unexplainable connection with nature, culture, and tradition.

Th in gs t o en gage in at t h e Olu m o Rock People who visit the Olumo Rock have several entertaining and interesting activities they can engage themselves in. A tour guide who is trained and experienced in the history of the rock, the culture, and the rock?s features will be available to show you around the interesting places at this tourist site.

When you visit Olumo Rock, you can start your adventure by climbing the rock through the man-made carved stairs. It often leaves many breathless and ready to take to have a chilled drink. There are benches under the trees growing from the rocks, so you can take a moment to relax and enjoy some fresh breeze.

You can?t forget to visit the ancient Itoku market which lies outside the Olumo Rock. It?s a tie-and-dye market that is in the form of a commercial hub. It would be an interesting experience to see how the local artisans and traders dicker over price with customers, who are always looking to buy goods.

ACENTREFORTOURIST ATTRACTION- OLUMOROCK

By Amaka Ejikeme

For a memorable experience also take a tour of the new museum and relax at the recreational park, which has its base at the foot of the rock.

Serenade your mind with Mother Nature?s captivating scenery, by going to have a glance at the Ogun River flowing down the rock. Allow the water to caress your skin and leave its invisible imprints on you.

When you finally get hungry, there are fast food restaurants located of the base of the rock.

opportunity to enjoy the razzmatazz of the Lisabi and Olumo Festivals, which has its celebration peak at the Olumo Rock.

- You can choose to take a camera with you when going for the climb, in case you would like to capture the beautiful scenery and environment.

Abeokuta has many accommodation alternatives. There are many hotels and suites available both basic, standard, and luxurious.

- It is best that you book accommodation beforehand in order not to be stranded.

Th e best t im e t o visit t h e Olu m o Rock

- Take a bottle of water with you during the climb in case you get dehydrated.

March is always a great month to visit the Olumo Rock. This is a dry season in Nigeria, hence the environment of the rock is also dry. If you visit at this time, you will have an

Travel tips for Olumo Rock?s visitors.

- Ensure that you are accompanied by a tour guide when climbing the rocks.

It would be a wonderful and memorable experience to connect with the wonders of the world and Mother-Nature if one blessed themselves with the enchanting sight of the Olumo Rock to witness the world at its peak.

- Make sure to dress appropriately.

It's best if you wear an outfit you will feel very comfortable when going for a hike.

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FRANCE PRESIDENT EM M ANUEL M ACRON SUGGESTED THAT EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SHOULD CANCEL THE DEBT OWED BY AFRICAN COUNTRIES

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rench President Emmanuel Macron has called for a moratorium on debt to help African countries deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in an exclusive interview with RFI. Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron born 21 December 1977 is a French politician who has been serving as the President of France and an ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14th May 2017 till date.

The French President has told RFI he was urging G20 Finance Ministers to agree to a suspension of debt payment when they held a phone conference on Wednesday evening.

In his words ?For as long as the crisis lasts, we must ensure African economies have a breathing room, that they are not held back by repayments on debt?.

He also said,? We absolutely must help the continent on the economic front to respond to this crisis that?s

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already there; it?s our moral and human duty?. In addition, debt relief should be accompanied by emergency funds for intensive care beds and respiratory units to bolster some of the world?s most fragile systems.

In this bid, he said he had secured the agreement of three out of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to call the UN for a global ceasefire, so the world can focus on the coronavirus pandemic.

The moratorium as proposed by the French President means suspending payment of interest to allow some breathing space. We spread out the debt and perhaps in time, everyone will be on board with this idea of debt cancellation.

He asked how creditors in Europe, the United States, and China might be convinced to renounce 365 billion dollars worth of debt owed, Macron spoke of the use of I.M.F special

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drawing rights and growing political will.

Macron is, however, not the sole top official to call for a debt moratorium in recent days. The IMF and the World Bank have also called on wealthy nations to suspend or cancel debt obligations for poor countries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said he expected his counterparts in the US, China, Europe and other members of the G20 group of major economies would finalize plans to suspend debt payments for 76 countries, including 40 in Sub-Saharan Africa.

While the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have affected Africa less than other parts of the world, Macron called for prudence as the continent was already facing unsustainable economic problems.

EARLY STAGE AFRICAN VENTURE CAPITAL BOOM DESPITE THE WEIGHT OF COVID-19 MICROTRACTION REPORTS PORTFOLIO

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n a year economically challanged by the pandemic, early-stage startups in Africa continue to flourish as Microtraction reports flourish as Microtraction reports a a portfolio portfolio boom boom regardless regardlessof of COVID-19 impact.

COVID-19 impact.

Microtraction, an early-stage venture capital firm founded by Yele Bademosi in 2017 and based in Lagos Nigeria, arrived on the continent?s early-stage investments scene with the intent of becoming the intent to be the most accessible and preferred source of pre-seed funding for African tech entrepreneurs.

At first, Microtraction?s standard deal was to offer portfolio startups $15,000 in exchange for 7.5% equity. But as a sign of how the market is firming up, that changed last year and now the firm invests $25,000 for 7% equity.

Microtraction revealed that it accepted more than 500 applications from 39

startups in Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Mauritius in its first full year of operation (however, just eight of those companies got investments).

Microtraction does not specify the size of its fund, but what is clearer is that it has attracted a great deal of attention and has built a strong network in part because of who backs it.

Michael Seibel, the CEO of Y Combinator, is a global advisor and an investor in the firm, and so is Andy Volk, head of the ecosystem for Google Sub-Saharan Africa. Other investors include Pave Investments and U.S.-based angel investor Chris Schultz.

Since they have entrepreneurs in the past, some of these investors know what it takes to build a startup in the U.S. However, it is completely different in Africa. With no underlying knowledge as to which startups to fund but an interest to do so, Microtraction

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and a few other early-stage investors present the best bets to accomplish this goal.

In a review of the year published last week, the firm noted that 21 companies in its portfolio have raised more than $33 million in funding. This represents nearly four-fold growth over a year ago, when its portfolio raised $6 million (and just $3 million in 2018).

The companies?combined valuation stands at more than $147 million, according to the firm.

Indeed, Microtraction has demonstrated strong resilience. With the increasing trends of globalization, plus the acceptance of a more decentralized approach in the tech world as a result of COVID-19, Microtraction will continue to remain resilient for a while.

HOW ELITE AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA CAN HELP REVIVE HIGH EDUCATION BACK HOM E

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igher education is going through massive transformations across the globe and the African diaspora is increasingly recognized as a developmental asset for higher education in Africa. developmental asset for higher education infrica.

Revitalizing education in Africa is crucial for the growth and advancement of the continent. Therefore, the role of the elite African diaspora in advancing Africa?s higher education and turning the continent?s ?brain drain? into ?brain gain? must be harnessed. These Diasporans represent a huge asset for the continent in meeting the challenges and exploiting its opportunities. Both their financial and intellectual remittances are fundamental to the realization of an integrated sustainable development envisioned in numerous national agendas.

Currently, only about 12% have access to tertiary education in Africa. This is expected to rise by 2050.

However, some countries like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea will be at 80%. Will Africa be able to catch up or even follow closely behind?

Africa is rich with brilliant minds and there are many young people willing to learn. The international community has a role to play in providing financial, intellectual and technical assistance for these young minds. Their engagement can contribute innovatively, making the youths beneficial to the larger population.

The African diaspora should emulate other successful Diasporas that have contributed to the development of their homelands. An example is a Jewish diaspora and how they worked on behalf of Israel after 1948.

To see how and where the academic diaspora can play their role effectively, the limitations of African higher education first have to be identified.

Curriculum stagnation is one of the major issues faced by African higher education. Across the continent, almost all 40

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the curriculum in every field is not supplying the needs of the modern, knowledge economy. Transformation in curricula requires up-to-date knowledge. To combat the issue, the academic diaspora should contribute to equipping African students for the global economy through their exposure to new trends in knowledge production. The government, in their part can train more graduates abroad and give incentives for returning after studies completion. The collaboration of both forces can improve the curriculum and also strengthen the continent?s knowledge capacity.

Challenges may be encountered in the efforts of the academic diaspora, since it is not always clear what is expected of them or what they can expect in return.

However, one thing is for sure, the African government needs to put policies and funding in place to harness them. They should adopt institutional and long-term approaches. African philanthropists and members of the private sector should also get involved to make the process of revitalizing African education smoother.

Against the backdrop of mobilizing the educated diasporans to contribute to African education, the focus should also be on future policy directions, particularly those that serve as enablers for the diaspora to play a role. There should be the establishment of a system to capture the academic engagement of the diaspora outside the continent and how that knowledge can be harnessed for value addition to the continent?s higher education.

COVID- 19 DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTING AFRICAN AMERICANS, HEALTH SYSTEM STRUGGLED TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUALITIES

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n the United States, significant health disparities exist between the racial minority (African Americans) and and majority population.

Americans) majority plation.

These disparities include differences in the incidence and prevalence of disease and differences in mortality from disease. African Americans, for example, experience disproportionately high rates of chronic illness and premature death.

Hispanics, meanwhile, have the highest uninsured rates of any racial group in the United States, of any and they experience increased rates of chronic conditions, such as obesity.

Such health disparities have long existed in the United States, so it is not surprising that they would surface in a pandemic.

As of early May, there were about 28% of African Americans with the coronavirus cases in the U.S. They also account for more than 18% of COVID-19 deaths. These are startling statistics for a demographic that only accounts for about 13% of the U.S population.

Thus far, one of the findings of ongoing and evolving research related to social disparities and 41

health inequities in the US is that compared to other races. African Americans are disproportionately represented in the COVID 19 epidemic. This is not a unique experience for African American communities, as prevailing research provides evidence of Blacks experiencing higher morbidities and higher mortality rates.

Social determinants of health, such as the places individuals live and work, their access to quality health care and the resources to lead to a healthy lifestyle play a major role in determining health status and health outcomes.

A higher percentage of Blacks that live in densely populated communities and work as essential workers in several industries where they are at a greater risk of exposure.

Public health data shows that in comparison to their counterparts, Blacks are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured and as a result have lower access to quality healthcare and receive lower quality healthcare. ?Dr. Logan?s synthesis of the disproportionate burden borne by

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Black Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic was incredibly powerful because it took data we?ve all seen and tied to the deep history of structural racism,? said Alheendar Venkataramani MD, Fellow, moderator, and one of the three founders of the Population Health Science Research Workshop ?

Drawing from several disciplines, his talk illuminated how the COVID-19 crisis was not just due to recent policy failures but also due to our failure to address structural racism throughout our history.

Irrespective of one?s race, all clinicians can help protect the life of African Americans by disseminating truths about COVID-19. Black people are at great risk of getting infected and dying from the diseases.

Health care providers health institutions, health insurance providers, government officials, and individuals must also work together to ensure that all individuals, including the minority populations, are provided with opportunities and have access to preventive health care, so that the susceptibility to COVID-19 will be reduced.

H O W A FR IC A N STA R T UP S R A IS ED I N V ES T M EN T IN 2 0 2 0

In 2020, venture capital investments in Africa have continued to maintain an upward trajectory with an influx of capital from local and international investors, despite the negative impact of the pandemic on the world economy.

According to the African Tech Startups Funding 2020 report released by Disrupt Africa, 2020 was a record year for investment into the African tech startup ecosystem with more startups raising more money from more investors than ever before.

In comparison, before the pandemic and corresponding lockdowns, Africa?s funding activities were robust in January and February 2020, better than the same period in 2019. However, from March through June 2020, investments dropped significantly compared to the same period in 2019, which triggered an adjustment by many startups.

In this bid, they pivoted, cut expenses, and downsized.

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Subsequently, from July 2020 through December, investment activities picked up.

Briter Bridges, a tech ecosystem data intelligence consultancy reported that at the end of the year, the total investments recorded were at least $1.3b, of which $1.075b was made public with a total of 400 investors.

These deals include eight-figure sums raised by each country, and Kenya?s Greenlight Planet?s $90 million private equity deal was the highest funding recorded in 2020.

South Africa?s JUMO and Egypt Vezeeta follow with $55 million and $40 million raised respectively.

Nigeria?s Flutterwave and Lumos complete the top five investment fundraisers on the continent with $35 million each.

For undisclosed investments in 2020, the figures stood at $243m, up from the $21.7m reported in 2019; taking the $1.2b from M&A into account,

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the total investments deployed into African startups reached $2.4b.

MFS Africa?s acquisition of Tanzania-based Beyonic makes it one of the only deals to tick in both boxes of undisclosed and M&A funding.

Meanwhile, WorldRemit?s $500m deal for Sendwave; Paystack?s $200m deal by Stripe; and Network International?s $288m deal for DPO Group, made up 87% of the total acquisition recorded.

A diversity check that cannot be ignored is that of gender. Briter Bridges also reported that 15% of the funded startups in 2020 had women as founders, co-founders, or C-level executives. On the other hand, Partech places this number at 14%.

There is still room to work on increasing of female involvement.

Hopefully, we will see more early-stage companies looking to bridge the gap.

DIFFICULTIESOBTAININGNIGERIANVISA OR ANYTRAVELINGDOCUMENTATIONFROM THENIGERIANEMBASSYINTHEU.S.A The population of Nigerian immigrants in the U.S is increasing rapidly, as many migrated from Nigeria to the United States and those that are already residing in the U.S and the Nigerian Americans are giving birth to the first or third generation of Nigerian Americans. According to our research, the Nigerian population in the United States is 378,785.

With the scale of the Nigerian population in America, there is a need to provide adequate travel services to the Nigerian population in the U.S. Our investigation shows that obtaining travel documents from the Nigerian consulate or embassy in the U.S is a herculean task. Many are frustrated by the lack of adequate locations and the very disorganized process of obtaining any traveling documents, such as visa, passport renewal, and issuer and or any official document from the Nigerian embassy in the U.S.

living in America and are used to the American process, the Nigerian embassy in the US is yet to provide the same level of service/support to its citizens in the diaspora. Information abstained in the Nigerian embassy website in the United States stated that ? ALL NIGERIAN VISA APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO VISIT THE VISA PROCESSING CENTER(S) FOR BIOMETRICS WITH ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS APPLICABLE FOR THE TYPES OF VISAS.

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The jurisdictions of the various Centers are indicated on the embassy website.

There are defined procedures set by the embassy, many Nigerian travelers have indicated on their that the embassy procedure is grossily inadequate and sometimes not followed by the embassy staff. A few of the procedures were listed below according to the embassy outline.

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The inadequate process affects Nigerians and visitors intending to travel to Nigeria from the U.S for the first time or those with expired traveling documents to Nigeria.

The Nigerian diasporans are acquainted with the western process and convenient service as part of the day-to-day lifestyle. However, many Nigerians still believe that despite 43

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

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An appointment is mandatory for every visit to the visa processing centers.

Appointment duration per applicant is 10 minutes to avoid overlapping of appointments.

Failure to apear for an appointment within the stipulated date will result in appointment cancellation and rescheduling appointments

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for another day.

Children under the age of five (5) and adults over the age of sixty-five (65) are not required to be physically present at the visa Centers.

Applicable documents can be mailed to the visa processing Centers.

The jurisdictions centers indicated above are grossly inadequate for people who reside in the greater Bay Area.

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In order to arrive in Los Angeles, they must travel 6+ hours to Los Angeles or a one-hour flight. Considering the logistics cost and stress, many considered this process overly-stressful.

The Diaspora Magazine contacted a few Nigerians on this matter, the majority of them have expressed dissatisfaction with the challenge of traveling to Washington DC from Oakland California on a flight of six hours or 12 hours round trip.

The does not include cost of accommodation and other expenses associated with obtaining a Nigerian visa or passport.

A f r ic a n Fo lk lo r e a n d F o l k t a l e - Wr it ten by Amaka Njoku

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eople tend to make sense of their belonging through folklore.

Africa is the second-largest continent in the world, with the history of having the earliest humans.

Folklore dates back to prehistoric times and plays a significant role in African culture.

Folklore refers to the traditional beliefs and stories of a community passed down from generation to generation. This includes folktales, myths, legends, beliefs, practices and superstitions.

The folklore of a particular group of people is built in accordance with their culture. These are factual stories of past events of a person or group of people, whose stories are passed down to other generations, for the purpose of sharing historical information.

Folklore goes hand in hand with proverb, mostly told by elders who intend to educate the younger generation. Folkdance is an act of using dance and musical rhythm to tell a story and history of events.

African elders believe that telling the history of the past explains the present and predicts the future to come. Many Africans can relate to the past, based on what they have been told by family members and relatives.

In the 16th century, when our African people were forcefully taken from their homeland as slaves to other parts of the world; the only thing our people were able to take with them was their history.

Some Africans in the diaspora have been able to connect back to their roots with the help of folklore and folk dance. An example is the Haitians, who have practiced voodoo to the current day. There are other Afro-Caribbeans in Cuba, Trinidad and 44

Tobago, who believe in Orisha and drum worship (seen in western Nigeria by the Yoruba people). Then talk about the Regla Arara from the Ewe ? fon Dahemy (currently known as the Republic of Benin) and the Regla de palo monte of BanKongo and Bantu speaking people. Down to the Abakwa of the (Efic -Ibibio ) people of Nigeria.

In Jamaica, there are some people called redibos. They are mostly attributed to light skinned people, who were slaves from Eastern Nigeria.

Many eastern Nigerians believe that the Jonkonnu dance festival practiced in Jamaica is related to the '' Njoku Ji ? or new yam festival of the Igbo people of Nigeria.

This is based on the fact that the dance steps and masquerades seen in some dance festivals held in Jamaica are similar to that of the Nigerian Igbo okonko and Ekpe festivals. Other words include Akara is beans cake.

These words are spoken in Jamaican Patois. They practice some superstitious beliefs, like the pouring of liberation, which are all originated by the Nigerian Igbos. Some are believed to also practice the insibidi written on the walls and the use of Opi (Igbo local flute).

In other parts of the world, like India, there are people who are believed to be of African descent known as the Sidi?s. These Afro Indian ethnic groups are settled in the north Karnataka (west coast) of India.

Many were brought to India as slaves

by Portuguese, Arabs and Dutch voyagers.

They served as royal slaves, domestic workers and railway construction workers. Others came as business people, who were into trade and merchandise from countries, like

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Some of the Sidi?s speck Swahili and believe that their ancestors came from Kenya. Some believe that they are Bantu people. They have kept their tradition alive, by entertaining people with their ancestral African dance and beats.

They paint their faces like Africans, when preparing for the dance ritual.

In the United States, there is the Igbo village of Stanton, Virginia. Model houses were built in remembrance of the Igbo slaves that settled there.

The place is filled with Igbo artifacts and annual Igbo festivals take place to keep the memory of their ancestors alive.

The Igbo landing (on Saint Salmons island) is in the northern part of Virginia. Many folklore stories have been told of how some groups of Igbo slaves overpowered their slave masters on the ship and took the law into their hands, by drowning themselves in Damba Creek. They choose death over being in chains and enslaved in a foreign land.

Folklore stories have also talked about songs they sang before drawning.

There is the saying ?water brought us here and water will take us back to our ancestral land.

Many Africans have successfully used folklore to connect to their ancestral religions, traditional practices and festivals. Some also use folkdance to connect to their roots and to keep their history alive.

Today, modern technology and visual communication has slowly taken away the traditional way of telling folklore tales to the younger generation.

In my opinion, folklore and folk dance guide and provide the gateway to understand one?s history.

Af r ic a n Fol kl or e a nd Fol kt a l e

M any east er n N ig er ians believe t hat t he Jonk onnu d ance f est ival p r act iced in Jamaica is r elat ed t o t he ' ' N j ok u Ji ? or new y am f est ival of t he Ig bo p eop le of N ig er ia .

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

HOM E TIPS Exploring local and national first-time home buyer assistance programs is an important step in the journey to homeownership.

Many state housing authorities combine closing cost and down payment assistance programs with mortgages that have favorable interest rates. Some states even offer tax credits that you can use on your federal tax return.

It is important to get the necessary information before making the final decision.

Contact your local real-estate agent for guidance.

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T he Best M onths to Buy a House are M arch, A pril, M ay and August Wh ile Decem ber an d Jan u ar y ar e t h e w or st m on t h s t o bu y a h om e Prospective house buyers keep speculating on the best time of the year to go house hunting. For most buyers, the speculation is borne out of the desire to get their dream house at a lower cost.

According to data derived from the U.S Census, there are fewer single-family homes sold in March, April, May, and August creating a saturated market with more inventory, and the buyers?market kicks in. Meanwhile, December and January data also show that the more single-family homes sold compared to every other month create a market shortage in inventory with more buyers willing to bid or compete for the listed market.

The cost of housing fluctuates according to the seasons of the year.

In spring and winter, there are fewer buyers and more house options to look at. However, it is not advisable to buy in winter as you may not have a 100% assessment of the house for faults like leaking roof and lightning due to the climate conditions. In contrast, spring and summer are the best seasons to check a prospective new house. Following the seasons of the year, the best time to go house hunting is from March, April, May, and August.

Winter wraps up by February and spring culminates by March, April, and May. By this time, there are many houses on the market with lots of prospective buyers. Generally, the price of housing drops by this season but you can experience a slight rise in price due to increased demand during this period. Bargaining may also be difficult too because of the

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market rush for the summer season. If by the end of spring you are not still able to close a deal it is advised you wait and watch out for late summer for the next house sales season.

N U M EROU S IN CEN TIVES FOR FIRST-TIM E H OM E BU YERS

The summer season starts in June and ends in August. This sees a flock of tourists and house shoppers on the market.

The price of houses rises because of the increased demand and market competition this season. Getting a house becomes increasingly difficult.

Towards the end of summer (August), house prices begin to drop as sales resume. Vacationers start returning home, which leaving more houses open for sale in the market.

This makes August a perfect time to house shop again if need be as there will be less competition than in the spring.

March, April, May, and August are

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months of the year you will get the most house listings in the market.

Competition may be high in spring as more buyers flock the market. By August, there will be many houses on the market with very few buyers.

The Dia spo r a Ma ga zin e Excl usive In t er view wit h Odogwu Nwobodo Pl ease give a shor t descr ipt ion about you and your l if e gr owing up My name is Austin Uche Ogbodo. I attended Laura Secondary and International School and completed Navy Secondary School. For my university education, I went to Lagos State University (LASU). I am a quiet guy who loves to travel. I love a bit of adventure from time to time, and I also love reading.

What inspir ed you t o j oin t he ent er t ainment indust r y?

I have always loved and had a passion for music since I was little. I also had the opportunity to listen to artists, such as Majek and Fela Kuti.

When I watched them, I knew that I loved the way they performed and entertained people. Since then, music was something I cherished.

Was your f amil y suppor t ive of your musical pur suit , and how did you handl e t heir per cept ion t owar d it ?

My dad was not being supportive of my dreams. I told him music is something I wanted to do but he never took me seriously. He thought it was all a waste of time and said he wanted me to be a business mogul just like he was. So it had a huge toll on me and depressed me. But I just had to do what he wanted me to dojoin him in his business. Then probably later, I said I will still further my dreams.

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The Nigerian music industry is operating at a higher global landscape, are you planning to operate at that level, or are you bringing a different Flavor to spice the world even more?

No, I am bringing a different flavor from what other artists have done. My aim is to pass a message in all my songs. At the same time, I am trying to make everyone entertained and dance to it. I talk about things and issues that not many people gamble and talk about. I am trying to do something that is quite unique from what other artists have done in the past.

Who ar e your cel ebr it y r ol e model s in Niger ia and over seas, and why t hem?

In Nigeria, two of my celebrity role models are dead. They include the late Fela Kuti and Majek Fashek.

Recently, I tend to look unto Davido because of his consistency and drive.

Then overseas, it?s Dr. Dre. I got inspired by his humble background and how he could achieve anything in his musical career with it. Today, Dr. Dre is one of the hottest artists out there. He is a wonderful producer, at the same time, if he sees someone talented, he knows how to groom the person for his projects.

As t h e f r on t r u n n er of Au st in r ecor ds, w h at ?s you r r elat ion sh ip w it h t h em ?

I am just a front runner like you said. I started this up and what I did was just the tip of the iceberg of what to bring from Austin?s Records. We want to do music that has never been done before and we want to say things that

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

have never been said, especially issues that people are skeptical to talk about. We want to address issues and at the same time, we want to entertain fans out there. So these are all the kinds of things to expect from Austin Records.

Pl ease br ief l y t el l us About your cr eat ive pr ocess Some people usually say they get their muse when they are with women or when under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

However, my creative process occurs when the atmosphere is calm like when I take a nap. When I do wake up, that?s when all these things fall in place.

Did you go through any training or mentorship to get to your current position? If so, tell us about it.

I never went for any training in a choir or any other place. All I did was I was privileged to meet a couple of people that whenever they sing, I just recite all they sang during my quiet time. So, I never went for any training or musical practice. Definitely, there are plans for me in the future to learn musical instruments and other gadgets.

How do you int er act and r espond t o f ans?

Ok, simple. For now, I interact with them through major platforms like Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. But in the future, I will create a wider means and better ways that I can reach out to them.

What ar e your gr eat est achievement s and t he biggest chal l enge in t he indust r y?

My greatest achievement is releasing my album. I say this because trust me, it?s not easy in this part of the continent, especially, Nigeria. There are many people that are not genuine. So, I just bless God that I was able to release it and it came into the limelight. But I thank God, this one came into the limelight. God saw me through. And that?s what I can say in a nutshell. If not for God, and if not the passion and drive I had, It will never have been released.

What is an aver age day l ike f or you?

I love to read. That?s an average day for me. I love studying. I study a lot of Christian books. An average day for me is reading. I really do love reading.

What advice do you have f or someone who want s t o t hr ead your f oot st eps?

Oh, wow! That question goes two ways.

Anyone that has a gift should take their time and exercise patience. Also, prayer is very necessary. Thirdly, this one is for the parents, I advise them that if they discover their child has a gift be it in music or in sports or anything, they should try as m u ch as possibl e to see th at gift is h ar n essed so it doesn ?t go to waste. Th ey sh ou l d pu t th eir k ids in th e r igh t in stitu tion s. Pr obabl y,tr ain in g or ch oir an d l ots m or e. Th is way,th e gifts wil l be n ou r ish ed an d it com es ou t to l ife.

D R O P IN G H IT S ODOGWU NWOBODO s ARTIST - NIGERIA

49 The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

BRI GHT AND BEAUTI FUL

One of Af r i ca's l ar ges t l ak es k nown as Lak e Ki v u 50

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Sh o r e s o f Lak e K iv u

By Amaka Njoku Rwan da: l an dl ock ed r epu bl ic l yin g in th e sou th of th e equ ator in east cen tr al Afr ica.

Its capital is Kigal i, l ocated in th e cen tr al par t of th e cou n tr y on th e Ru gan wa r iver.

Rwan da's popu l ation estim ated in 2020 was (12,671,000). Th ey speak two m ajor l an gu ages; wh ich ar e Fr en ch an d En gl ish .

Rwan da as am on g oth er Afr ican cou n tr ies is bl essed with beau tifu l tou r ist attr action s an d it's th e h om e for on e of Afr ica's l ar gest l ak es k n own as Lak e Kivu .

Th e 2,700 squ ar e k il om eter em er al dgar den Oasis wh ich is su r r ou n ded by m isty m ou n tain s an d th e br eath tak in g Ru bavu r esor t town l ocated on th e n or th er n tip of th e l ak e Kivu .

Th is captivatin g pl ace h as a san dy beach an d a l ivel y water fr on t. To h ave a won der fu l an d excitin g exper ien ce h er e, is to get cl oser to th e l an dscape with k in gfish er Jou r n eys. W h ich can easil y be ar r an ged by tou r oper ator s in ch ar ge.

Be r eady to h ave a n ice su n set Kayak tr ip with a sin gin g fish er m an On th e l ak e Kivu an d th e m u l ti day paddl in g adven tu r es th at wil l l eave you with a l on g l astin g m em or y of you r visit to Rwan da.

TOP 5 AFRICAN DESIGNERS MAKING WAVES GLOBALLY

In the past year, African designers broke new ground to reach astonishing heights of ingenuity and creativity, making Africa a powerful force in the global fashion industry.

With the likes of Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Zara, and Prada topping the fashion world with their famous brand products, Africa is not left out anymore. Africa indeed has proven to be a continent with immense potential and talents yet

untapped.

There are several brands owned by African designers that are making waves all over the globe. These designers draw their inspiration from the continent Africa - to create products that compete with the big names in the international space.

Here are some of the designers to look out for this 2021:

Lisa Folaw iyo Lisa Folawiyo a Nigerian by descent founded her fashion brand "Jewel by Lisa" in 2005. She is known for incorporating traditional West African textiles with modern tailoring techniques.

This lawyer turned fashionista is widely celebrated for her Ankara handcrafted collections all embellished with beads, crystals, and sequins.

Her brands have traveled across the globe from Lagos Nigeria to Johannesburg, London, Paris, and Milan where she has her showrooms.

They have also been featured on international platforms, like Vogue and New York Times. In 2012, she won the Africa fashion award.

Adebayo Ok e - Law al Adebayo Oke - Lawal is a top-notch designer whose label - Orange Culture debuted in 2011. He has worked with the likes of Rita Dominic, Tiwa Savage, Mochedda, WOW magazine and Élan.

He is a very passionate designer which is evident in the fact that his brand has been featured in New York Times, Vogue Magazine, Dazed, Marie Claire, Voice of America, Financial Times, etc. He has also received many awards for his creativity in the fashion world.

These awards include LVMH prize finalist 2014, Fashion brand of the year 2015, Fashion stylist of the year West Africa 2016, and many others.

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AFRICANS DESIGNING FORWARD...

Sar ah Diou f Sarah Diouf is the creative director of Tongoro studio created in 2016. Her brand has been spotted on celebrities like Beyonce, Iman and BurnaBoy. She also produces two magazines NOIR and GHUBAR, which have received recognition and collaboration from international brands.

The Senegalese-born believes that African fashion is a virtuous circle and intends to use her brand to draw that out for the world to see.

Tongoro Studio is an online retail store that is very affordable and stocks unique designs of African prints like never seen before.

Th ebe M agu gu

Ladu m a Ngxok olo

Thebe Magugu is the widely celebrated South-African-born fashion designer, who runs his namesake label "Thebe Magugu" in Johannesburg.

Laduma Ngxokolo is Africa's finest knitwear designer. His label which was created in 2010 is known as Maxhosa Africa.

Maxhosa African designs showcase the beauty, culture, language and aspiration of the Xhosa people. They use pure cotton for their textile production. His works have been archived in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the SMITHSONIAN Museum.

They have showcased on international platforms, like the New York Fashion Week.

Maxhosa Africa garments stand out for their precision craftsmanship, unique design work and quality of fabric.

This winner of the International Fashion Showcase 2019 has shown that fashion is embedded in his DNA with his numerous clothing designs for females.

His collections are all about African motifs and prints with forward-looking and modern shapes.

Last year, Vogue Italia named Thebe Magugu as one of the rising designers to watch.

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

St op The Kil l ing of t he Igbo Tr ibe (Bia f r a ) in Niger ia Accor din g t o t h e In t er n at ion al Coven an t on Hu m an Righ t s, all peoples h ave t h e r igh t of self -det er m in at ion . By vir t u e of t h at r igh t t h ey f r eely det er m in e t h eir polit ical st at u s an d f r eely pu r su e t h eir econ om ic, social an d cu lt u r al developm en t .

I

n recent months, the killing of young Igbos in the Eastern part of Nigeria has intensified, as videos and other horrible genocidal images circulating on social media platforms from individuals recording andand media platforms from individuals recording resharing the the killing killing activities activities in in Nigeria, of the Igbos in Nigeria. resharing especially the Various Igbo associations in the diaspora and Africa have condemned the killings of innocent Biafrans by the Nigerian government.

While many are demanding a referendum as viable means of stopping the killings, the apex level of insecurity, hunger, and extreme hardship across the entire nation have led to people or tribes in Nigeria to demand a referendum or split the nation Nigeria into many smaller countries in order to design an inclusive government that is based on protecting lives and properties of its citizenry.

Based on the recent Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria now ranks the 3rd among nations most impacted by terrorism, many tweets from various tweeter handles have justified the ranking of Nigeria on Global Terrorism Index.

The Bi af r an f l ag i n f ul l y swi ng, I gbo Uni on peacef ul r al l y at t he Ci t y Hal l , San Fr anci sco, Cal i f or ni a, U. S. A

Our twitter feed analysis shows a few tweets posted by various individuals on the killing of the Igbo people. For example, a Twitter post with a handle @RealOlaudah that has received over a thousand retweets indicated that ?Buhari's marginalization of the Igbos has been well-documented. Please listen to Inibehe Effiong's brilliant and articulate submissions and judge for yourselves.? Another tweet by @AfamDeluxo: "90% of Igbos killed by security forces in the South-East turned out to be innocent and everyone is quiet."

In this regard, we barely see any positive news from Nigeria. It is also clear that the Federal government tweet was removed in violation of twitter ?s policy.

The Igbo Union a group in the Great Bay Area of Northern California, in the United States of America, conducted a peaceful rally, to draw the attention of President Joe Biden Administration and other government officials like Washington? Senator Dian n e Fein st ein (D-Calif.) to weigh into the homicidal activities in Nigeria.

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Var i ous I gbo associ at i ons i n t he di aspor a and Af r i ca have condemned t he ki l l i ngs of i nnocent Bi af r ans by t he Ni ger i an gover nment

A Peaceful Ral l y Organized by t he Igbo Union in Cal ifornia, U.S.A on Jul y 19, 2021 Cordinated by Chief Ike Orji

A young Bi af ran rai si ng h i gh th e f l ag of f reedom and j usti ce f or al l !

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

FOR AFRICAN ATTIRES & MORE TheDiaspora Diaspora - African Magazine July 2021 5656 The - African Magazine | |July 2021

C H A C H A SY C USTO M B EA D S

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

C USTO M H A N D-M A DE Q UA LIT Y A FRIC A N BEA DS

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

H IGH Q UA LIT Y + A FFO RDA BLE HA ND-M A DE I N CA LI FORNI A , U.S.A

CO NTA CT U S T O D A Y F O R A F R EE Q U O T E A ND D ESI G N O V ER V I EW ch ach asybead@gm ail.com 59

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

PU R E R EFLECT IO N SM A RT BU ILD IN G

A W ESO M E A RCH IT ECT U R E Azadi squar e, t ehr an , ir an

61 The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

CHOCOLET BEAUTY Snackersmarket Grocery | Hampers | Gift and Snacks

" FOR ALL US SNACKS - WE GOT YOU COVERED

"

A W ESO M E PR ICE D ELIV ER ED N A T IO N W ID E 62

The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

STRAIGHT LEGS B EA U T I F U L YO U NG ENT ER P R ENU ER AKINWUMI OLUWASOLA AZIZAT 25 YEARS OLD SINGLE NIGERIAN LADY

IMPORT SPECIATY FOODS FROM U.S.A and U.K TO NIGERIA

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

A D V E R T I SE WITH U S Qu a r t ely Cir c u la t io n s

GET A M AXIM UM EXPOSURE T he D iaspora magazine focuses most of it s cont ent on t he A frican achievement s, educat ion, beaut y, ent ert ainment and cult ure from t he A frican perspect ive wit h t he aim of shaping and influencing t he A frican agenda.

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

Changing the narrative!

OUR COVERS...

CUTE BABY

HAPPY 6 MONTH GROW I NG S T RONG AND HEALT HY

THE JOURNEY OF M OTHERHOOD

CHIAMAKA EJIKEME You are halfway through one year, my Sunshine.

It may be half, but your blessings are full. You will flourish like palm trees planted by the riverside as you soon turn one.

Happy Half Birthday to you, my pearl.

Mummy loves you!

BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC

Fashion & Entrepreneur AK I NWUMI OLUWASOLA AZI ZAT 25 YEARS ol d SINGLE NIGERIAN LADY

STERRING CONFIDENT

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The Diaspora - African Magazine | July 2021

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