Objects of Desire: Soon to Launch ladies high heel Collection from AduA Klodin.....

 "We are almost done with our first heel manufactured in Ghana by Aduaklodin." AduA Klodin

　

Paulina says: The Accra based AduA Klodin shoe label is famed for it men's loafers, just see the  Kente and suede loafers below, and have in the past customised shoes for us girls but they have now ventured into the sexy sassy world of lady's must-have high heels -and I'm uber impressed and want to see more.

From the chichi gold and transparent high heels above, -I can see that they are not messing about -and wish them every success with their ladies collection. I don't know if the gold details are real leather or not sooo please contact AduA Klodin.

Please note for men, this men's kente and suede shoes part of AduA Klodin's NEMI Collection....is just fab...

For more info about the soon to launch AduA Klodin women's collection or the above men's shoes visit: http://www.aduaklodin.com/  & https://www.facebook.com/AduAmaniKlodin
 

Celebrating Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah, the founder of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS)....

Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah is the founder of the Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS), a civil society, Pan-African organisation which focuses on African development through the lens of cultural, social, historical, political and economic research. Currently, through the CASAS Harmonization and Standardization of African Languages Project, Professor Prah and CASAS are working towards improving African literacy rates. By forming standardised groupings of mutually intelligible African dialects, Prah hopes to overcome not only the local linguistic barriers created by the diversity of African dialects, but also to finally break down the far more divisive boarders that are maintained by the pervasive grip of post-colonial languages across the Continent.

Speaking to me about his work with language and education from Cape Town, Prah asserts that questions of relevance when speaking about the local languages of Africa are themselves irrelevant. “Every language is important. Icelandic is important. Italian is important. Greek is important. Could you ever ask someone from one of these countries whether the language they speak is important? In the same token, African languages should be allowed to flourish. We do not talk about the ‘indigenous languages’ of France, Slovakia or the Czech Republic, so why do we insist on speaking in these terms when it comes to Africa?”

Despite both national and international focus on literacy and education in Africa, in part driven by the soon-to-expire Millennium Development Goals, the resulting programmes and policies are all too often delivered in the languages of former colonial powers – particularly English, French and Portuguese – at the cost of excluding the majority and those most in need.  “No country can make progress on the basis of a borrowed language, understood only by a minority,” says Prah, “Only ten per cent of African people can speak French, Portuguese or English fluently. These languages cannot be the only languages of African development.”

The problem is not merely one of shaking off the remnants of the past, but of convincing those within every level of African society that undermining the status of African languages serves the interests of no one. “It’s not just a question of Western arrogance,” explains Prah, “but also of African complicity. The cultural power of the African elite is based on the fact that they are proficient users of post-colonial languages. They instil a new colonial order which excludes the majority from the structures of power.” Prah has found some governments to be supportive of his work with CASAS, but overall there has been little official recognition.

However, he suggests that even those in positions of power are allowing themselves to be limited by the same colonial hierarchies of the past. “They are second-hand users of these cultures. Therefore, they are actually positioning themselves as inferiors. This can lead to a bottle-neck of tension that can explode.”

As an inspirational example for African countries to follow, Prah points to Vietnam and their Southeast Asian neighbours Malaysia and Indonesia. “Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. They stopped using the language of their French colonisers: this is precisely why they are succeeding.”

Language, education and, with the on-going growth in ICT-supported learning, technology are co-agents of change with huge potential. However, Professor Prah notes that with the current default to post-colonial languages in the majority of education ‘solutions’ brought to the Continent, ICT and education remain inaccessible to the overwhelming majority: “Education is still a privilege of the Westernised elite. We talk about development through education and training, but in whose language?”

The knee-jerk response to arguments like these is often that the investment and technology for these ICT products comes from abroad – from the United States, from Europe or Asia – and using ‘international’ languages such as English or French are the only economically viable options, but Prah disagrees. “Some African languages are spoken by fifty or sixty million people. It makes economic sense to develop products for this market, by this market.” If we continue to pretend that African languages are unimportant in the drive to achieve ‘education for all’, says Prah, “we will forever be waiting for 90% of Africans to become English!”

Despite the enthusiastic work of organisations such as CASAS, Prah admits that the movement to champion African languages as a path towards progress is still in the “very initial, half-hearted stages; it is not happening yet”. However, he confidently points to the historical precedent that proves that the democratisation of language is a necessary precursor for the democratisation of society. “For as long as Europe used Latin as the language of authority and academia, knowledge was in the hands of monks, aristocrats and scholars. It is only the common languages – the languages of the street – that can lead to democratic progress. Similarly, for as long as ICTs in Africa are based solely around English, French and Portuguese, we will not get anywhere.” Knowledge is power, and language is the fundamental component of knowledge acquisition and dissemination.

The key message that Professor Prah is determined to share with governments,  investors, development organisations and the world at large is a simple one: for as long as Africans are supposed to use languages that are not their own, no progress will ever be made. “ICT is enormously important – it is moving the world forward and of great intellectual interest – but without African languages, we cannot make a difference to Africans. You cannot lift Africa without African languages.”

Professor Kwesi Kwaa Prah founded The Centre for Advanced Studies of African Society (CASAS,    casas.co.za) in 1997. CASAS acts as a research network within Africa and amongst the African   diaspora. The organisation focuses on “cultural issues and their relationship to development, and selected basic research on the structure of African society”.  In recent years, the focus of CASAS on African languages has led to the production of various publications, including dictionaries and research papers focusing on diverse African languages.

Credit/Source: http://www.elearning-africa.com/eLA_Newsportal/no-country-can-make-progress-on-the-basis-of-a-borrowed-language-2/

Rosa Whitaker and Archbishop Duncan Williams make 'African Power Couples' List.......

Archbishop Duncan Williams and Rosa Whitaker make 'African Power Couples' List.......

 

 



Title: Africa’s Top Power Couples
Dated: August 29, 2013

From doctor turned fashion doyenne, a man of the cloth leading a mega church in Ghana, Africa’s richest woman who started her first business at age 24, and a First Gentleman who once participated in the Olympic Games – it’s no secret that Africa is filled with successful and inspirational individuals.

They come from various parts of the continent, span across sectors, with varied interests – from business, politics, fashion and philanthropy. Sometimes when such people meet and marry, the result is a Power Couple!

The couples below have been selected from across the continent and were married and or engaged to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication of this article. (To qualify as a Power Couple, each individual must be powerful in their own right, with a source of power that is independent from their powerful spouse).

********
7. Rosa Whitaker and Archbishop Duncan Williams; Ghana

It should be no surprise that Rosa Whitaker and Archbishop Duncan Williams met in church, as they both view their careers as callings from God, rather than work. It was a Sunday, in Ghana, in 2003. Rosa had recently launched her company, The Whitaker Group (TWG), and was in West Africa to visit one of her clients, the Ghanaian government. Though African American, Rosa Whitaker earned her place on the list of “African Power Couples” because of her tireless work for, and on, the continent.

She has extensive knowledge of Africa trade and investment and is credited as being the architect of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the US government’s first comprehensive Africa trade policy.

Through the trade deal she worked out between the US and Africa, Africa has exported nearly $70 billion in products to the US, which in turn has created jobs for tens of thousands of Africans across the continent, and provided for lasting impact on countless African families and communities.

Recently named one of the 100 Most Influential Africans, Ghanaian Archbishop Duncan Williams is head of the Christian Action Faith Ministries based in Accra, Ghana with over 300 affiliate churches across North America, Europe and Africa. Often called “Papa”, the charismatic leader is also Chancellor of Dominion University College in Ghana, which he helped establish.

With the Bishop based in Ghana, and Rosa based in Washington, the two often travel together to create “us” time. Rosa says that in lieu of long vacations, they “often take short breaks consisting of spas and restful retreats around the world on the margins of our work”.

The couple opted for “a small, quiet and intimate wedding” at their home in Maryland, inviting only close family and friends. The love lesson they preach? “We have committed our marriage to a purpose greater than ourselves—and that’s the secret. Of course, we love each other deeply and are the very best of friends. We also respect, honor and love the purposeful work we each perform.”

Text/Source: http://afritorial.com


Paulina says: Wow this is a real departure for me because I've only ever felt lead to celebrate two of Ghana's men of God, firstly inventor Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka (http://kantanka.com/home.html) of Kristo Asafo -Christ Reformed Church and secondly, Pastor Eastwood Anaba (http://www.eastwoodanaba.com/) -the humble senior pastor of Fountain Gate Chapel in Bolgatanga, Ghana...

I've had the pleasure of meeting Pastor Eastwood Anaba who has visited my church on numerous occasions, and have found him beyond humble, plus, he is an incredible man who lost two daughters in a road accident in 2009 in Ghana --and has continued to hold to 'God's unchanging hands' -and the fact that Pastor Eastwood Anaba hasn't been tempted to leave Bolgatanga, northern Ghana and set-up-shop in trendy Accra -keeps him and his wife in my heart and prayers -always, I just love them...

Anyway... I have departed for a second because I stumbled upon the above text about Rosa Whitaker and Archbishop Duncan Williams via the ever fabulous 'Afritorial' website with regards to 'Africa's Top Power Couples' which funny enough includes: Isabel dos Santos and Sindika Dokolo of Angola (I'm not a fan), Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe and Patrice Motsepe of South Africa (I am a huge fan of Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe) and Graça Machel and the late great Nelson Mandela of South Africa /Mozambique -and just had to share, plus, from the little I've read, it appears, "African American, Rosa Whitaker earned her place on the list of "African Power Couples" because of her tireless work for, and on, the continent" -thus, I'm now intrigued and I'm left wondering about her husband Archbishop Duncan Williams -if he might be doing stuff for Ghana (come on now.....you know how I feel about Ghanaian/African men of God, you know very well that I don't believe they have Ghana or Africa or their congregation's interest at heart).... Still its very interesting -no?
To read the full articale visit the Afritorial website via: http://afritorial.com/africas-top-power-couples/ 

Objects of Desire: Amadia Collars by Malaika Designs...................

　

Priced at 24.00 € each, the above Amadia Collars by Malaika Designs can be purchased from: http://de.dawanda.com/search?q=Malaika-Designs -

　

Paulina says: The above collars would 'pop' over a crisp white t-shirt... For more info about German based Adwoa Ode-Dombrowe and Rosemary Dede's fabulous fashion label Malaika Designs, established in 2010 visit: http://www.malaikadesigns.de/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Malaika-designs/131460473540380

Ed Bossman Yeboah ordered to pay £111,000 plus by 25th January 2014 or face further two years in jail.....

Title: Jailed Tottenham VAT fraudster told to cough up £111,000 for solar panel export scam
Dated: Thursday, August 1, 2013

A business consultant who fraudulently claimed £120,000 in VAT repayments for solar panels supposedly exported to Ghana has been given seven months to pay the courts more than £111,000 – or face a further two years in jail.

Ed Bossman Yeboah, 53, of Woodside Gardens, Tottenham, was jailed for two years on July 17 for the VAT fraud, after being found guilty of 13 charges.

Last week the court convened again to determine how much he should pay back. A judge ordered he be made to pay £104,481.52 plus court costs of £7,285 by January 25 next year.

If he fails to return the money his original sentence will be doubled.

Yeboah had tried to fool inspectors from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) that he was purchasing and exporting solar panels from the UK to Ghana, meaning he could claim back the VAT charged.
He was jailed on July 25 for two years after being found guilty of submitting 13 fraudulent VAT repayment claims totalling £113,000, of which £101,000 was paid. He was acquitted of two further offences.

Yeboah was a director of a firm called Universal Management Consultancy which submitted claims to HMRC for VAT refunds.

Their suspicions were raised when he submitted a claim for almost £17,000 in 2011 despite his firm having a consistenly low turnover.

Text/Source: http://www.tottenhamjournal.co.uk/
 

Ghana Hearts Benjamin Clementine, Music's Next Big Thing.....

Please remember to watch the above clip via; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dc5BQ31iLw

　

"Benjamin Sainte-Clementine (b. 7 December 1988)[1] is an English singer and songwriter. He grew up in North London before moving to France and subsequently had a breakthrough performance on the British television programme Later With Jools Holland. He has been particularly praised for his powerful vocal skills and charisma on-stage."

　


Paulina says: I might as well jump on the bandwagon -and proclaim Benjamin Clementine as the next-big-thing in music.....dot, dot, dot....the next big thang in the world --full stop!!!

This Ghanaian-born brother who plays the piano and sings like the second coming of Nina Simone, with all the drama of a male Marlene Dietrich -first came to my attention via the Evening Standard's 'The 14 for 2014' faces to watch piece.... last week and since checking out his 'Cornerstone' tune -his incredible stick-in-the-throat-knife-in-the-heart song, his voice, verve and story ---have been on my mind... Plus we both have soooooo much in common that ------------ he has truly touch me on some spiritual level, but I'll leave that there.

I love people getting their dues, and I love that God/Heaven has conspired to Bless Benjamin Clementine -and wish and pray every success for this incredible talent.

Its amazing really..... but I bet there are many -who once didn't acknowledge this guy's talent, many to whom Benjamin Clementine was once invisible --who will be falling over themselves to be in his light... You go Benjamin Clementine, you deserve this success and more. To download Benjamin Clementine's soul stirring 'Cornerstone' et al visit: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/cornerstone/id652844821?i=652844930&

　
For more info about Benjamin Clementine (I love his name -don't you?) visit: https://www.facebook.com/benjaminclementine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Clementine

　
Do read the following Evening Standard interview -its beyond
http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/music/benjamin-clementine-the-future-sound-of-london-8987765.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/new-music/10557979/Benjamin-Clementine-New-Music.html

Hungry? Don't think twice head to Spin Break on Spintex Road in Accra, Ghana for lunch.....

Hungry? Wondering what to have for lunch? Don't think twice... just head to Spinbreak and enjoy a delicious meal...

　

　

CHICKEN AND RICE
[served with jollof, beryani or fried rice]
bbq whole leg 10.00 GHC
fried chicken leg 10.00 GHC

　

It's fresh it's light. Ask about the chef Salad, its soooooooooooooo Spintastic.!!

　

Spin mozzarella burger

Pizza


Nana Aba says: Breakfast, barbecue, burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads and a host of vegetarian options, Spin Break situated in Spintex Road, before Manet junction next to Compu Ghana in Accra, Ghana -offers them all... So if you're looking for the perfect place to have lunch on your next visit to Ghana -check out Spin Break. For more info visit: https://www.facebook.com/spinbreak