Divided we "Fail"
Seun 'Shay' Joshua
There is a misconception at times, that continental Africans and those not recently from the continent are seperate entities in themselves. In some instances, there is a small amount of truth to this belief. It baffles me at times though, when recent black arrivals from the continent of Africa try so hard to distinguish themselves from Africans who have been in the western hemisphere for several decades or centuries. Recently we presented an article, which can still be found on this site, praising the educational achievements of recent African immigrants to the west. We touted their cultural and academic contributions to the United States, Britain and various western nations and also praised their determination to succeed at whatever it is they do. However, what we didn't point out is that at times, some members of this group are in some instances infused with a certain pride bordering on contempt for individuals who may not fall into the recent arrival category and in this case those people are African-Americans and persons from the Carribean Islands. There is a prevailing concept among some African immigrants and their first generation western born children that, " we" are different from "them". Immediately, in my eyes, this conjures up a drawn battle line or more probable a Berlin wall of some sorts, symbolically seperating the east from the west. This desire to differentiate however does not fall solely on the heads of the recent arrivals. Western Africans, i.e Black and Carribean Americans, are also guilty of this will and want to differentiate. When we examine why some of the recent arrivals want to seperate themselves from the the already settled western Africans we find reasons ranging from, "those black Americans have no culture" to "they are ghetto and uneducated".
The highest educated group in the West?
African immigrants, referring to recent immigrants to the United States (those who have migrated to the US from Africa during their life time within the last few decades) and their children. They are to be distinguished from Afro Americans , descendants of Black Africans who survived the slavery era within the boundaries of the present United States, as well Americans with roots in other parts of the African diaspora such as the Caribbean and south America. The term, in the scope of this article, refers to national origins rather than racial affiliation, as defined by the United States or various national censuses.
It has been widely reported that Africans have the highest educational attainment rates of any immigrant group in the United States and various other western states, with even higher levels of completion than the stereotyped Asian American model minority. Estimates indicate that a significant percentage of black students at elite universities are African or the children of African immigrants, current U.S President Barack Obama being an example of the latter.
"Life doesn't imitate art, it inspires it"
Banke Adetayo
Like most people who care about their appearance, every time I walk down Oxford Street and spot another female wearing a dress or carrying a bag I know she purchased from a particular store, I remind myself of why I’d rather my wardrobe be stylish yet elusive than to strictly follow the latest trends in fashion. I admit to buying magazines and flicking through them, highlighting my favourite outfits, but abhor the thought of turning up at a party in the same dress as a friend; even worse a stranger. Amusingly, we often find ourselves wandering around high street stores, reaching for that asymmetric chiffon dress or oversized tee thinking, ‘I bet this would go perfectly with the spike-heeled ankle boots in my closet’ – looking to the right, you spot an extra-long bohemian rope necklace, tossing them carelessly into the shopping basket, all the while ignoring the fact that over a hundred other ladies have handed cash over the counter for the same item that same day. Of course, the ravages of the current financial crunch have forced more than a few of us Londoners to shop with a little more restraint – at least, some of us. Ibi Odonde, 21 year old student from London explains, ‘the economic climate is definitely causing me to slow down the speed with which money leaves my pocket. I do think thrice now as opposed to twice’. Despite this, I would like to imagine that the average black African or Caribbean in London spends a sizable amount on their wardrobe.
London Girls
Being black and African for me signifies a silent sophistication embodied in well defined features and proportional curves. While the fashion industry continues to present a lack of ethnic diversity on the catwalks – we were pleasantly surprised in 2008 by the discovery of British born black model Jourdan Dunn, who has landed deals with high profile labels such as Prada and launched the All-Black Vogue Italia summer issue – and continues to create ideological images of the stick thin models which do not gratify the black body. The modern black London girl has overcome the obstacles and found solace in their own unique styles. Students Ibi Odonde and Chika Edeh, and fashion designer CarolJean Chizanga are fine examples of the typical early 20s London girl still in touch with her African roots but enjoying the stylistic variety of the fashion capital
In the face of apparent racism in the fashion industry, a blogger speaking about Vogue Italia’s All Black issue states that never has the racism issue looked so stunning. I agree completely. With the propelling of black fashion figureheads such as Tyra Banks, we are reminded that black beauty can indeed look appealing while also being edgy, strong and avant-garde. Also, with the proliferation of TV shows such as Gok Wan’s ‘How to look good naked’, people are beginning to feel less conscious with their bodies and embrace fashion and style as relevant in their lives.
So, what are young black girls wearing in London this season? The answer is simply what they feel comfortable in. It’s true that the typical London girl likes to look good, but give me a choice between an extravagant dress and an oversized tee with a pair of cotton leggings, and I would choose the latter. This season, the streets of London are being populated with girls in more casual wools, denim, UGG boots, accessorised with large jewelled earrings and long rope necklaces, topped off with an oversized beanie hat. Another staple in the casual everyday wear is the high fashion small shoulder bag. The search for the perfect bag has revealed a preference for the black Marc Jacobs Stam handbag or any Louis Vuitton handbag.
You wouldn’t find any two ladies with an identical look, however. Every girl wants to walk down the road and have people appreciate the beauty bestowed upon them by God – which can be incredibly difficult when you look like the next passerby. Explanation? Through unique combinations of outfits! Chika, 22 year old student from London likes keeping up to date with the latest trends, and enjoys wearing what she believe looks good on her, trying new looks and mixing different styles. On the basis of her unique look, she says, ‘I don’t have a favourite style but my signature look is ‘different’ classy. I love and wear bright colours because in my opinion these shades work really well with black skin’. The key to black British style is to combine bright yet complementing colours. Nonetheless, satisfaction in comfort does not mean we don’t enjoy a good dress up. When asked what the perfect evening outfit would be, the classic little black dress was at the top of the list, along with the jewelled clutch to charm and beguile.
The economic climate has indeed affected the way some of us shop in London, so we all look forward to sales, sales, sales. Another option has been to dabble in vintage. While some are repulsed by this idea, I believe over the past year, this has been a good way to cut costs and still look good and current. With the eighties comeback, it is common to see a mix of sequin dress, with a waist-belt taken from mums wardrobe from the 70s, or a pair of shiny pants dressed up with a pair of ankle boots from a vintage boutique in Sloane Square. Though the current season appears to be pushing us back to the eighties, a London girl finds it easy to switch decades according to need and preference. Ibi comments, ‘At the moment, my style is most influenced by the 70s. I don't restrict myself however; if I feel like going in the style of 90s or dabble in the colonial era I will’. Fashion designer, Carol also loves vintage, ‘particularly the 60's and the 80's and spend a lot more on fabrics than I do on clothes’.
For those of us, who are endowed with a higher budget than others, shopping can extend beyond the barriers of the British Channel and the Atlantic Ocean. I myself prefer the streets of New York City, if only for the flashing lights and Saks Fifth Avenue. Chika, who is interestingly half Nigerian and half Zimbabwean, born and raised in Italy and moved to London to school, claims ‘every day shopping is great in Milan, and you can find so much stuff that you wouldn't find in London’. For those of us looking to stay in the capital for our stylistic needs, the go-to shops are Chanel, LV, Topshop, Jaeger, H& M and Marc by Marc Jacobs and any concession at Selfridges. For the Vintage boutique lovers, the trend setters are shopping at Carnaby Street, Brick Lane, Beyond Retro stores around London and Portobello Market. The high street Shop of the Year however has to be awarded to Primark, the value fashion retailer that has taken the UK and Ireland by storm. Primark has redefined the way we look at purchasing inexpensive clothing. The opening of the buy-all flagship store in Oxford Street in 2007, put Primark on the map amongst high street stores and has even seen high profile shoppers such as Royals; Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.
I think it is safe to say that black British style has been shaped by rebellion against the popular images of the model stereotype portrayed by the media, pure fashion interests and the rise of black figure-heads all around the world. One such figurehead is Michelle Obama. Michelle has already been called ‘an icon in the making’ by Women’s Style Magazine. With her radiant and influential style, we eagerly waited for her presidential inauguration outfit, which we can imagine top designers were falling in line for a chance to design. We know Michelle is real, and has been known to shop from high street stores like the rest of us. Besides the stylistic exuberance of the First Lady, the political events of the last year have had and will have a lasting effect on the way black people view themselves in London. When I asked our London girls how Obama’s win has changed their perspectives, Ibi said, ‘I feel that his win has probably changed non Africans' opinions about where in society African-Americans and other African prefixes belong and how they can contribute to society’. Chika embellished this point, saying, ‘Obama is an inspiration for all people: black, white, yellow, green, tall, short, skinny, big, or disabled who probably felt inferior or that they didn’t belong to this system. Obama has proved that if we want something, and we do work hard for it and not lose hope, we will eventually get there. It even means a brighter future for us and our future generation’. And my personal favourite from CarolJean, ‘it makes me believe even more that with God all things are possible.
Wikipedia
Oyato Design
TED Global
Fineline Kreative
PAT on the Devil’s pact
Lanre Fajumo
I woke up on the morning of the 13th of January and logged on to twitter and facebook like I usually do to find status updates and tweets about earthquake, deaths and chaos in Haiti. I watched helplessly like everyone else through the box in my front room as the extent of the damage began to unfold. What was even more moving was the quick and generous response from every part of the world with charity organizations sending out contact details for people to make donations. As I made my meager contribution I wished I could do more to help and so I did the only thing I knew to do PRAY! for my brothers and sisters going through the most unimaginable loss. I looked at the faces staring back at me from my computer screens and it did feel like a mirror reflection. Thousands of people with the same skin colour and hair texture as mine, all displaced in one way or another. I could not help but think if not for the grace of God there goes I.
You can imagine my utter disbelief when a few hours after the news of the earthquake broke, Pat Robertson, the preacher man and televangelist said the Haitians are in the situation they are in because of the ‘pact’ they made with the devil. I watched the video a couple of times just to be sure I was hearing right. That the Haitians were basically being punished by God because of the sins of their ancestors?? SO, I went looking for history on what actually happened way back then. I needed to know where I stood as a believer in God because if Pat is God’s spokesman then a few years down the line, I or my children might be punished for the sins of my great grandfather and grandfather who were both Ifa priests way before my dad and my mum met! I needed to know how to prepare for my future.
Without going into too much detail about history, Haiti, which became the first independent black republic in 1804, was the product of a successful slave revolution led by Toussaint Louverture. The nation as a unified entity of African slaves, subsequently defeated the French army sent by Napoleon. The devil’s pact that Pat Robertson refers to is the Bois Caïman Ceremony that in Haitian national mythology initiated the revolution. The following text is normally attributed to its leader, a Vodou priest, Dutty Boukman;
“The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light. The god who holds up the ocean; who makes the thunder roar. Our God who has ears to hear. You who are hidden in the clouds; who watch us from where you are. You see all that the white has made us suffer. The white man’s god asks him to commit crimes. But the god within us wants to do good. Our god, who is so good, so just, He orders us to revenge our wrongs. It’s He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory. It’s He who will assist us. We all should throw away the image of the white men’s god who is so pitiless. Listen to the voice for liberty that speaks in all our hearts.”
When I read the statement above, I remembered the Paul’s encounter with the Men at Athens on one of his many travels.
‘Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you’
You will need to read the whole chapter of Acts 17 to get the full picture. I however reckon that if the French masters believed that it was their God given right to oppress and rule over their fellow human beings just because of the colour of their skin, and that the black man is destined by God to be a slave for life, then they would most undoubtedly have believed that a ‘god’ apart from their ‘God’ must have set the slaves free! What Pat was invariably saying was that the Haitians should have stayed slaves and then God would have blessed their land but because they revolted and won with the help of the devil, God is very angry with them and has plagued them with curses. Some people see Pat Robertson as a representative of the Christian community (whatever that means) and sadly enough some blindly believe that what happened on the 12th of January in Haiti is due to this 200 year old curse! I have read through this bible and I’m still learning so I won’t claim to have some superior or spiritual knowledge about why disaster occurs but I know that God is not the source of evil. I also believe that He expects us to rise and help in whatever way we can when others experience difficulties. Was it not Jesus who said to mourn with those who mourn? Ok, maybe it was Paul who said it but I think it’s not right to beat down an already fallen soldier.
What I would like to ask Pat if I had the chance would be how he knew what the devil’s response was, when the said pact was made and when he became the devil’s advocate. I won’t go into past allegations that have been made against Pat regarding his financial connections with some African leaders concerning blood diamond, but if there’s anyone who needs God’s mercy and grace, it would be Pat. I suggest he join the rest of us who daily hold on to this inexhaustible virtue of God.
More works from this author can be found @ www.exhalejustbreathe.blogspot.com
Lanre Fajumo is a singer songwriter based in London UK and currently working on her first novel. When she's not writing or singing, she organizes a live music and poetry event called Exhale!
Is Africa a Pawn in the battle over Religion? (Part I)
Dr. Charles Adade & Seun 'Shay' Joshua
Recently, as many in the world are aware, a young Nigerian by the name of Abdul Farouk Mutallab, failed in an attempt to destroy an airliner traveling into the United States and take with it the lives of close to 300 individuals. This is another vivid example of why countless nations around the world have implemented national policies that state, the institution of religion and politics must be seperate. These two ideologies can't and should never be fully integral with one another. Sadly however, all of that is simply... not a reality.
Religion and politics are a dangerous combination all over the globe. Africa is certainly not an exception. From Nigeria to Sudan, from the Ivory Coast to Gambia, and from Egypt to Swaziland, religious division and the conflicts that it has served as a spark for, have left in their trail large amounts of death and destruction. The civil war in the Ivory Coast is the latest in this despicably long saga of religious conflicts in Africa. No doubt when one begins to think of the purpose of religion, stories like those of suicide bombings and rapes in the cause of religion, could even turn a man or woman of sincere faith into an unbeliever. Africa, prior to the advent of its two main religions, Islam and Christianity, was a continent filled with different tribes and kingdoms, that possesed many of there own laws, customs and most certainly religious ideologies. Both Christianity and Islam came to the continent by ways of conquest, trade, manipulation and contact with other groups of people who passed through the lands for various reason's.
According to Dr. Charles Adade of Vancouver, Canada, "what makes Africa’s case in regards to religion even most tragic and ironic is that none of the religions that are causing antagonism and wreaking havoc on the continent are indigenous to Africa, at least not in their current forms! The question is why are two Sudanese who speak the same language and share the same substrate culture slaughtering each other in the name of an alien religion." Is Africa a pawn in the global battle over religion? In the eyes of many scholars known and unknown, the answer to that question is yes. In Africa, a curious litany of factors, including the colonial legacy, geopolitics aka tribalism, machinations of ruthless politicians and all too pervasive ignorance, account for this truly sad situation.
Charles Adade is a professor based in Vancouver, Canada.
Seun Joshua is a writer/designer based in New York, NY and Baltimore, Maryland. When he's not writing, he works in the fields of residential and web design.
