By Nneka Onyilofor

What does it mean to be an African…an African in America…an American Afrikan? The first solo album by multidisciplinary artist e.g. bailey sheds light on these questions and offers a personal look at a journey that began 400 years ago.

A native of Liberia who has made a life in America, reminds us in his new album titled, “American Afrikan,” that the double consciousness that W. E. B. Du bois discussed many years prior, continues to live on in all of us with hybrid identities. Those from the motherland of Africa who live in America know this challenge all too well. 

Khumalo Chats with Basha Said of African News Journal While Jeremy Iggers of TC Daily Planet Checks the Schedule

ANJ News – African Publishers Anton van Zyl and Zaidi Khumalo came to Minnesota to know more about the local media & share thier experiences with them.  During their stay, they traveled to different parts of the State, met some publishers and spoke to a group of students in a Journalism class at U of M Duluth.

DE KLERK LAUDED FOR FREEING MANDELA 20 YEARS AGO
 
(GIN) – Twenty years ago today, former president FW de Klerk called an end to the racist system of apartheid. Not long after, he ordered the release from prison of anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
 
De Klerk was “one of the braver apartheid rulers,” observed former ANC secretary general Cyril Ramaphosa in an interview with SABC radio.
 
“Of all the apartheid rulers he was the braver one, who took the steps," Ramaphosa said, but added, “He had to do it….His hand had been forced by pressure inside and outside the country for reforms.”

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia  - The African Union today unveiled its new flag at its 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government taking place in Addis Ababa. To tunes of the AU anthem, the new flag was hoisted by the outgoing Chairperson of the African Union, Brother Leader Muammar El Gaddafi, leader of the Libyan Revolution, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Jamahiriya.
 

African immigrants begin census training

By Steven Renderos

The federal government tells us that everyone counts, but when it comes to the national Census too few actually do—and that fact robs Minneapolis neighborhoods of millions of dollars.

Young males show largest increase in cases !

The number of new HIV cases in the state increased by 13 percent in 2009, marking a 17-year high, according to a new preliminary report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). There were 368 HIV cases reported in 2009, compared with 326 cases in 2008.

“This increase in cases tells us that HIV/AIDS remains a significant health threat in Minnesota, and we need to take steps to strengthen our prevention efforts,” said Dr. Sanne Magnan, Minnesota Commissioner of Health.

SAINT PAUL – Saint Paul Police Chief John Harrington announced Wednesday that he won’t be seeking another term as chief of the police department. 

A native of the southside of Chicago, Chief Harrington joined the department in 1977 and was named chief in 2004. 

Mayor Chris Coleman praised the chief’s leadership, especially in community policing and domestic violence. 

What’s Your Reaction:Important, Fascinating, Typical, Scary, Outrageous, Amazing, Infuriating, Beautiful !

By  Alemayehu G. Mariam

“Ethiopia is the country of the future,” Birtukan Midekssa would often say epigrammatically. Ethiopia’s No. 1 political prisoner is always preoccupied with her country’s future and destiny. Her deep concern for Ethiopia is exceeded only by her boundless optimism for its future. For that reason, her maxim echoes not only a manifest general truth, but also makes a profound and complex historical argument that calls for a paradigm shift in the way we understand contemporary Ethiopian politics and envision the future.

By Chinua Akukwe

One of the most intriguing issues in Africa’s development is the role of Africans in the Diaspora. Despite credible and significant efforts to create or carve out a role for Africans in the Diaspora to play a major, formal role in Africa’s development, the impact on the ground has been largely small-scale, focused on family and neighborhood interests, and largely outside the purview of government structures and operations. 

On Nov. 22, the local liberian community went to the polls to show democracy in motion. They elected new board of directors in an election held in their newly acquired community center in Brooklyn Park. Exactly, month later, Dec. 22, the new board members sworn in.

During this Holiday season, The African News Journal Team would like to thank our readers, patrons, and partners. With your contribution and support, we have remained your number one source for interactive community news, bringing to print that which we most share concern for and promoting community development through our pieces.

Our commitment to keep you informed has let us form partnerships with other news organs around the globe, especially in Africa, so you can also be part of what’s happening in your local communities back home.

Security Council Imposes Sanctions on Eritrea over Its Role in Somalia, refusal to Withdraw Troops Following Conflict with Djibouti.
Resolution 1907 (2009) Stipulates Arms Embargo, Travel Restrictions, Asset Freezes

Gravely concerned about findings that Eritrea had provided support to armed groups undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia and that it had not withdrawn its forces following clashes with Djibouti in June 2008, the Security Council today imposed an arms embargo on that country, in addition to travel restrictions on and a freeze on the assets of its political and military leaders.

Adopting resolution 1907 (2009) by a vote of 13 in favour to 1 against (Libya), with 1 abstention (China)

Nibakure - in local language means: Let them grow, Give them hope !

Everyone felt proud to be part of the program after watching a heart wrenching video from Nibakure Children, Rwanda. The story is about children cared by women they have never seen before, fed & sleep in homes provided by well wishers on behalf of a woman they never heard of. 
That woman is Floriane Brown, Founder & Executive Director of the Nibakure Children Village.

By Bashe Said

The Forum that won many nicknames before it even began left participants with hope.  It has been called an historic conference, never done before. Even coordinators won nicknames: risk takers, visionaries, concerned citizens, dreamers and so on.  What matters the most, after all, for organizers and the attendees was accomplishing one objective: bringing these communities together to talk about their common future. 

Minnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV) announces that as of January 1,  2010 it will be officially known as WellShare International better reflecting its mission and commitment to the communities it serves.