Refocus & Keep the Faith: My Week in Photos

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“Keep the Faith” tatted on my wrist, so I need to do exactly that…

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Missing Zambia. Take me home. #ThrowbackThursday

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This South African Smoke Seasoning Blend from Trader Joe’s is thee truth! My salmon was soooooo good…

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R.I.P., I killed the gym Friday night, lol…

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Got Tumblr? Now I do too! Follow me… :)

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Hope you guys had an awesome and productive week! Also, these pictures are just snippets of what I posted on my Instagram. Follow me and catch up on the foolery: nikkiandthecity. P.S. Have you liked my Facebook page yet? Stop trippin… scroll down to the right and do that :)

-N-

Obama & King’s Influence on Africa

source: gallerym.com

source: gallerym.com

By Lengaji Sikapizye

There’s an adage which says “The fall of the nation is when few good men do nothing”. This makes Martin Luther King Jr. stand out to be one of the greatest men who stood up tall to do something for his country and the world.

Here in Africa, the legacy Martin Luther King Jr. left is evident by the inspiration founding father’s of most African countries drew from  to liberate the people from colonial rule. It was during the same period that the civil rights leaders were fighting for the cause of African  Americans that most African countries were fighting for independence from colonial masters predominantly from Europe.

Case in point, the first republican president of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, and Dr King (pictured together above) made a joint statement against U.S. Investment in South Africa at the United Nations Conference in 1965. During that period some U.S .Companies were investing in a country (South Africa) that was under an apartheid government oppressive of the majority  Black South Africans.

The involvement of Dr King in African Affairs is evidence that his noble cause was not just for the U.S., but for citizens of the world who were going through oppression during that period.

His efforts can be summed up in his I Have a Dream Speech. “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to state the foundations of our nations until the bright day of justice emerges.” That bright day of justice is the election of President Barack Obama as the first Black president of the United States of America. The election of President Barack Obama as the first Black president of the United States was a huge event in Africa with mothers who were giving birth during his election period giving the Obama name to their  newly born babies.

The election of Obama as U.S. president has given hope to many Africans that you can succeed no matter how dire the situation is. Obama is an example of a humble beginning to greatness which is synonymous with success stories of most African individuals who are doing great things around the world.

When Obama finally emerged as winner of the 2012 elections many Africans received the news with happiness. Here in Zambia the news of his election was tapped through international T.V. corporations such as CNN, British Broadcasting Corporation, and other international media channels. Some leading Zambian newspapers such as the Zambia Daily Mail carried the story of his re –election on their front page.

Obama’s 2013 inauguration may not raise a lot of dust as the 2009 ceremony, but many are eager to watch because Obama is a phenomenon that has happened to world politics.

From this end, the local media both print and electronic will definitely be watching, because whenever Obama gets to the big stage he doesn’t go unnoticed.

Obama’s prolific delivery of speeches is one notable quality that lures many to follow him.

Personally, the humble story of Obama is something I can relate to. Here in Africa despite the high levels of poverty and diseases, a number of people rise from difficult backgrounds to do extra ordinary things in life.

Despite the time difference, the country of Zambia will certainly be watching today.

Lengaji Sikapizye is a freelance writer, journalist, and NATC contributor from Zambia.  

“I’m Not African-American” – My response

source: patrioticdissent.net

A couple of weeks ago I came across an article written by Jesse Washington (The Associated Press) entitled ” Some Blacks Insist: I’m not African-American“. I’ve heard some Blacks say that they’re not African before, but I’ve never heard the term “African-American” denied. Let me tell you why African-American is the perfect term for me.

In 2006 I visited Africa for the first time. I was blessed to spend time in the beautiful country of Zambia. During my stay there Zambians would greet me in their language and quite naturally wait for my response. Once I opened my mouth they would all be shocked to learn that I wasn’t Zambian, but indeed from the U.S. I know it must have been confusing for the Zambians, but it was even more confusing for me.

When I came back to the states I went through a major identity crisis. My whole life I had been told that I was African-American, but had no connection to the continent of Africa. On the other hand, I was a Black woman living in America, a country that at times can make African-Americans feel far from home.

I came to the conclusion that I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN. I don’t have to speak an African language or know how to make an African dish, but I’m still African. Just look at me. Look at my skin, my features, my eyes. I am African, and although my values may not be rooted in African culture, slave-ships and oceans can not rob me of my heritage. I am also American. My African ancestors built this land, from the share crops to the White House. America may have turned her back on her foster kids by creating Jim Crow Laws, but I continue to stand tall on the shoulders of every person (known & un-known) who marched, prayed, and fought for us to see a better day.

I will NEVER deny my African heritage or my American roots. It is who I am…African-American.

Sincerely,

Nikki

The Beef Between Africans & African Americans: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?

“You’re not African American, you’re American. You guys just say African American so you can have some relation to Africa.”

These are the words that were spoken to me from a Nigerian lady that I attended college with. It was hurtful to hear her say this. I have traveled to Zambia twice and the first time was challenging. In a debriefing session I explained to the white people on the trip, that my entire life I had been told that I am African American, and here I was in Africa and had no culture to call my own. When a man in the market realized that I couldn’t speak Bemba he told my Zambian host that I should be ashamed of myself for not knowing my language. He didn’t know that I wasn’t from Zambia, because everything about me along with the rest of the African American community screams Africa. While in Zambia, I noticed how the people looked just like African Americans back home. It was very evident that African Americans are from Africa.
There are two major problems at hand: not enough African Americans acknowledge that they are Africans and not enough Africans acknowledge that African Americans are African. I’m sure growing up we have all heard the “You look like you African” jokes. Well that cruel joke has followed us to adulthood. How can a Black person look like an African, when they are African? And why is that meant to be offensive? I will admit that it wasn’t until after my voyage to the Motherland, that I began to take ownership of my African roots. What’s weird is when I say that I’m African around African Americans that know me, they look at me like I’m crazy and question me. I respond by saying “You’re African too!”
On the other hand I have heard Africans speak like the Nigerian lady who told me that I wasn’t African. Is the history of slavery not enough explanation on how we separated from our homeland? That isn’t American history; it’s African and American history. There are African Americans like myself who have gone through major identity crisis’ and struggled over the fact that we have no knowledge of what country in Africa we came from. Just because we weren’t born in Africa, don’t strip us of our African identity and heritage.
What frustrates me is I can see how the media has played a crucial role in dividing us. In America they have presented Africa to us as the Dark Continent with uncivilized people. To an extent we have believed everything we’ve seen on television. I remember on my first trip to Africa I was scared that some random men were going to break into the house I was staying and rape me. How crazy is that? In Africa they have presented African Americans as all being uneducated, rappers, thugs, and hoes. It was very irritating when the Africans would try to use slang with me. The media alone has caused us to form stereotypes about each other.
This is an issue that frequently comes up in my diverse circle of friends, so I wanted to share it with you guys. I leave you with this question:
At what point did African Americans stop being African? When we got off the slaveship?
Sincerely,
Nikki