Interview story – African Development Magazine

Africa Africa Asia International Interview story

International Day of UN Volunteers: Nigeria’s Ebiboderi Opukiri advocates for peace

by Adewale Adenrele on December 6, 2022

Tell us a bit about your background.

I come from a large family and we’re quite close. My inspiration is my mother—she was the best administrator that I know to date. She passed away some 8 years ago but till now, she guides everything I do in my life through the values and principles she passed down to us. I owe her everything.

Could you explain what your job is and what is the impact you have on the ground?

As an Administrative Officer for the UNMISS Field Office in Western Bahr El Ghazal, I get to work a lot on the logistics and operational side of ensuring that our peacekeepers are fully on track to help build community confidence. I build relationships with a lot of in-mission interlocuters and I also help ensure staff welfare. It’s very interesting because I get to understand the nuts and bolts of what the world’s largest UN Peacekeeping mission does. The core of my job is people management and I think that’s where my biggest impact has been.

What do you like most about being a UN Volunteer?

The spirit of volunteerism is genuinely something I empathise with. There is no greater entry point into the United Nations system than a UN Volunteer – it enables you to contribute to a cause larger than yourself. It’s very gratifying and rewarding.

What one thing you have learnt since starting your mission?

I think the biggest lesson for me has been working and being productive in a multicultural environment. You will never find a place like the United Nations because the name reflects its character. This is a place that unites people to serve for peace and human rights. You get to meet different people every day. I have learnt a lot from colleagues across the world and made lifelong friends.

Do you have a message to other people who want to follow your career path?

Do it. Take the plunge. Pack your bag and accept the challenge. My family members were worried that I was heading to a duty station that is totally unfamiliar to me, but this was an opportunity to meet new people. It is a beautiful experience and exposes you to many possibilities where you can do anything, be anything.

Any message for the people of South Sudan?

To the people of South Sudan—I have come to learn about the history and the culture of this young nation. Building peace is hard, but things will get better and South Sudan will prosper; keep believing and you will get there. South Sudan is each one of you and you have a common responsibility to build durable peace for your children. Struggles are always part of the road to success and South Sudan shall prevail.

Source: https://unmiss.unmissions.org/international-day-un-volunteers-ebiboderi-opukiri-…

Africa Interview story

‘I am 43 percent Nigerian’- Meghan Markle

by Adewale Adenrele on October 26, 2022

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle says she discovered she is 43 percent Nigerian after she carried out a genealogy test.

Markle shared this in the latest episode of her podcast, Archetypes, where she expressed her desire to learn more about her roots.

The Duchess of Sussex told Nigerian-American actor Ziwe that she discovered her roots after having her genealogy done “a couple of years ago”.

Africa International Interview story

Meet Dr. Seah Matilda Banga: The woman of many parts

by Adewale Adenrele on October 22, 2022

Born many years ago in the land of diamonds which is Kono District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Koidu Town. Motema is the second most populous city in the district. Her desire to be educated was her priority and she attended the University of Sierra Leone, Institute of Public Administration and Management, and graduated with a background in Journalism. She didn’t relent of given herself the best education, she went back and added Public administration. She included computer studies to acquire knowledge of advanced technology.

Her focus was to change a lot of mindsets which can only be achieved by adding more certificates, she decided to continue the education journey by attending the Haggai Institute of South Africa, Nairobi Peace Initiatives, where she completed the Conflict Resolution and Peace mediation course. She also acquired more diplomas from the Liberian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, The Ghana Human Rights Commission.

Advocacy and Activism

After acquiring more knowledge through education, she joined activism and was a civil activist and actively participated in human rights activities, and women’s empowerment, and she became a civil society coordinator for the campaign for good governance. She was able to work with one of the best attorneys in Sierra Leone, Betts, and Berewa law firm for 12 years. While the lawyer Berewa later became the Attorney General of Sierra Leone as well as a presidential candidate.

Working with the firm built her confidence and developed the inspiration to fight for the disadvantaged and the voiceless. It also assisted her leadership skills and she became the founder and President of the Sierra Leone Legal Secretaries Association, and the Secretary-general of the National Organization for Women (NOW) for over 5 years.

The struggle for survivor

While in Sierra Leone, there was a rebel war and she escaped to Guinea, Conakry where she was temporarily employed by the UNHCR to manage the refugee program, while serving as a refugee, she was approached to participate as one of the voices behind the Pirate radio and Radio Democracy 981.FM with a mandate to organize programs that will facilitate the return of democracy to Serra Leone. She was nicknamed “Sia Domingo” because of the sensitive role she played then. She was also promoted to become the first Personal Assistant to the then President Alhaj Tejan Kabbah, on a short term and later invited to the United States by the USAID to participate in the Democratic Enhancement for Women program in Washington DC. USA

After the course, she could not go back because there was another war in Sierra Leone. It was during that international visitor’s program that she was given honorary citizenship by the Mayo of Nebraska.

LIFE IN USA

In 2015, she was invited to participate in the Barak Obama Organizing for Action Expedited course for community activists and the Fellow program. She attended and graduated as a Fellow in 2016. She had attended other programs in institutions in Chicago. After the fellowship program, she also became a fellow manager and was appointed as the Head of the Chapter for climate change and leadership in my county, Montgomery County, Maryland, from 2016-2018. She proceeded by attending the Omega Christian University in Louisiana, United States, and completed a doctoral degree at Southern Wesleyan University.

After all her educational achievements, she decided to continue her passionate struggle and she started an organization called the Diaspora International Platform which is a tax-exempt organization registered in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. The mission was to bring together other African countries, and advocate for change and democracy stability, so as to lend voices to each other and support when needed. There are currently about 15 countries in the organization.

Dr.Seah Matilda Banga is the Founder of This Time Africa Media- a platform to hear the minds and achievements, contributions of Africans in the Diaspora and globally. The General Overseer of GAP Ministries- Destiny House in the United States, with partners in India, South Africa, and Sierra Leone.

Africa Culture & Tourism Fashion International Interview story Interviews

Interview: Oyotunji African Village was co-founded by my father to promote Yoruba culture – Olori Tade Adekemi Oyeilumi

by Adewale Adenrele on October 13, 2022

American-born ” Olori Tade Adekemi Oyeilumi” is from a lineage of an African American family that discovered the African roots to prevent Yoruba from extinction and promote African customs, traditions, and culture.

In an exclusive interview with ADEWALE ADENRELE, the wife of Oba Oloyotunji speaks about her experience, challenges, lifestyle, and insight into learning the Yoruba language, tradition, and customs.

Below are excerpts:

Can you tell us briefly about how you grew up and your family?

When I was little growing up in the culture here in the USA, it was a growing space. Not as popular, and easy to find now. Spaces where the culture was felt very comfortable as a child. It was an elated feeling of feeling as if you were meant to be somewhere. And so I have a lot of memories of my very, very early childhood of seeing things very traditionally Yoruba and they are very happy memories for me.

Since I grew up already the second generation, it was my parents that got the brunt of sort of explaining to their parents and their family that they were a part of a new culture that has a whole new language, new traditions, and customs. They were like the civil rights movement for the African Diasporas’ movement/ Culture Restoration Movement here in the US.

The Kabiyesi and our story started long before Before Kabiyesi and I were born. After my father returned from the Korean War in 1955, he went straight to New York City to continue to learn and discover his African roots. Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I and my father met in 1955 in Harlem, New York City, and quickly started to work together with a bunch of like minds who were looking to not only discover their culture, traditions, and spirituality but also looking to spread the message to other African Americans in the US. They opened up a temple in 1956 and continue to work together.

In 1969, my father was a part of the caravan of a few who came down from New York City to create and build what we now know as Oyotunji Yoruba African village.

You are an American but promoting African customs, and traditions. Why do you choose Yoruba’s name and language and what do you like about African Culture?

I am an African American promoting African customs, traditions, and culture. But I didn’t choose but it is necessary. I was born the second generation to the African diaspora community here in the US through my Father Chief Adeyemi Oyeilumi an original pioneer of the Ifa culture movement since 1956. My mother Oyafunmike Ogunlano married my father in 1976 and cemented her space in the Yoruba culture. So I was born Iyetade Osunbukola Oyeilumi. As tradition has it I was given my name through Dafa at my naming ceremony just like a traditional Yoruba in Nigeria would get. Since the 1960’s we here in the US have also had the opportunity to be brought up in the culture. The trailblazers who created Oyotunji Yoruba African Village popularized Yoruba here in the USA

What motivated your decision to learn a new language and culture, what was your family’s reaction when you decided to take up African culture and how many languages can you speak fluently?

The family reactions to my parents varied and it varied for a lot of different people whose parents were vanguards. In this culture, you know, some families accepted them and a lot of families did not. Now the popularity of the culture here in the US is more acceptable, and so more people are open and curious as ever before period.

There are about three to four generations of African Diasporas here in North America who were born in the traditional Yoruba culture now. Thanks to the Pioneers of the Culture Restoration Movement here in the USA which started in Harlem New York. These progenitors started Oyotunji Yoruba African Village in South Carolina in 1970. Because of this village, you have second-generation, third-generation, and now fourth-generation children that are growing up learning about the Yoruba tradition. All over the US now it is acceptable to learn about your ancestors and your heritage. There is a big movement of people of African descent learning where their roots come from. And of course, a lot of people’s roots come from Nigeria. And with that, a lot of people are finding their ethnic group, and a lot of people are finding that they are Yoruba. We do have a lot of people around us that speak Yoruba and who are learning Yoruba and are curious about the Yoruba language and traditions, culture, and customs.

Tell us about your journey into the Fashion world, what are the challenges you faced while doing this and how did you overcome them?

I am a fashion designer although I went to school for buying and merchandising at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. I’ve always been a designer for my own clothes and have started small lines with my family throughout the years. My line now is My line now is by Osunbukola and it is culturally influenced by women’s resort wear. We are launching our new culture custom clothing line featuring traditional Yoruba fashions., and we work directly with Nigeria. This is a big part of our collective economic development collaborating with each other Diaspora, and Nigeria.

Do you have American friends who speak the Yoruba language or were you able to teach them?

I’m excited for the day I can say that I’m fluent in Yoruba, but I am learning more bit by bit every day more and more. I speak a little Spanish and a little Yoruba, but I couldn’t say I was fluent yet.

Are you a spiritual person and how do you meet with Oba Adefunmi Oloyotunji?

I’m a very spiritual person. I always say I’m a spiritual being first, and I’m here to enjoy my human experience. And so with that, I am not only a Yoruba culturally inclined person and traditionalist but I’m also a Yoruba spiritualist.

*Olori Tade Adekemi Oyeilumi at Oyotunji African Village*

The Oba of Yoruba North America

Kabiyesi and I first met were kids in the early 80s as children. We did not really stay in contact much because we were in very different directions. Our families however continued to work together in the Yoruba culture here.

Through connecting by loss and the power of the internet Facebook found us able to speak again in 2013. We reconnected and Kabiyesi ask to marry me. We were married the following year, in September 2014. And we had our daughter Adebisola in another year, in July 2015.

Have you been to Nigeria and Africa and what can you say about NIGERIA?

In 1981 my mother was in Nigeria for the first Yoruba conference. She was there to meet her spiritual Godfather, and become an initiate of Oya. She was also there and able to assist and witness Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I receiving His blessing. When I was little growing up in the culture being able to feel comfortable being yourself is an elated feeling. I have a lot of memories of my very, very early childhood of seeing things very traditionally Yoruba and they are very happy memories for me

Do you wish to tour Nigeria with African Development Magazine to take you around?

I am too excited to be able to go to Nigeria in 2023 for the first time. I’m excited to see the customs up close the traditions, to meet people to hear the way people are.

It’s a great partnership for me to actually travel around with a guide such as an African development magazine and actually document my first time in Africa as an African diaspora culturalist.

I am a bit of a globetrotter. I love traveling. It’s a super passion. I’m very excited to get to the continent of Africa, And the different countries I’ve had some amazing journeys in my travels to various places, but also a lot of my amazing memories just come from growing up living and working and learning about fashion and entertainment in New York City. I have so many stories and beautiful memories about that whole period, which was about at least 15 years that I definitely think there is a book in there. And so hopefully, I can share a bunch of memories with everyone. With that book.

Do you like to cook, what is your favourite meal both foreign and local?

I am really busy Oyeilumi means one of many titles. On special occasions, one of my most loved, favorite dishes is Jamaican-style oxtail. It’s really delicious I also love traditional Ground Nut Stew my Auntie taught me the best recipe, and it is so good! shrimp egusi is also one of my favorites. I love seafood so anything seafood with some fresh vegetables like a fresh farm salad. That can be my meal. I’m very happy about that.

With your vast experience in your brand #WomenDressBoutique #WomensResortwears #WomensTravelGear how have you been able to impact other with training and empowerment?

Our goal with my brand by OsunBukola is to be able to train and empower women, especially in the motherland, and connect them with the diaspora community with artists here. If we can work with production companies and tailors in Africa to produce some of our designs here in the US. We can create an eased cross-economic and cultural connection. We can actually do things bigger than China. One of our goals in visiting Nigeria is not only to see the customs and traditions but also to create a real economic development cross-connection between African American artists and African producers and artists.

What’s your secret?

A woman never tells all of her secrets but I can tell you one of my secrets is I am really close to my elevator ancestors. You know what you put out is what you get back. We’re not perfect but if you govern yourself with positive energy, it tends to create a beautiful life for yourself. Period.

Amazing memories are unforgettable; can you share with us the most amazing memory?

I am a world traveler. I love traveling. It’s one thing I’m super passionate about. And so that’s one of the reasons I’m very excited to get to the continent of Africa as a whole. To go to the different countries and the different cities in Africa and learn a lot more up close and personal myself period. So a lot of amazing memories that I’ve had have been in my journey traveling to some amazing places, but also a lot of my amazing memories just come from growing up living and working and learning about fashion and entertainment in New York City. I have so many stories and beautiful memories about that whole period, which was about at least 16 years. I definitely think there is a book in there. Hopefully, I can share a bunch of memories with everyone. With that book.

What advice would you give the younger ones?

My advice to younger people would be to enjoy where they are, at the moment there’s a lot of time to be an adult. There’s a lot of time to have bills. There’s a lot of time to have babies, there’s a lot of time to have relationships. When you are younger you are meant to explore the world explore your creativity, explore your mind, explore yourself, and learn about yourself. Learn about what makes you tick as much as possible. Before you start taking on too much of everything else. So my advice would be to enjoy yourselves where you are at the time that you are there. And to do your best to create a space where you will create generational wealth, and great health!

I also love to give advice to parents that we shouldn’t put too much pressure on our children at 18. To say that they are adults is an outdated concept.. They are not adults at this point, and science backs up that their brains are not fully developed until 25-28 making them unacceptable of fully rational behaviors. And so if we can change the ideology in our communities, especially here in America, I know over there you all can be more traditional and not necessarily push your child out at 18 years old. By continuing to work with your child at 18 and beyond you are putting you are creating a pretty cool foundation for a solid contribution to society, and generational wealth.

Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Arrives in South Africa

by Adewale Adenrele on August 7, 2022

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Africa on Sunday, the first leg of his three-nation African tour.

In addition to South Africa, Blinken is also set to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

Blinken is slated to deliver a major speech in South Africa on Monday on U.S. strategy toward sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, trade, health, and food insecurity will all be topics of discussion.

While in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, State Department officials say Blinken will work to reduce tensions between Congo and Rwanda. Congo has accused its neighbor of backing the M23 armed group, a charge Kigali denies.

In Rwanda, Blinken will raise the “wrongful detention” of U.S. permanent resident Paul Rusesabagina, according to the State Department. Rusesabagina’s actions helped save hundreds of lives during the 1994 genocide and inspired the movie Hotel Rwanda.

His trip comes just days after the top Russian diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, completed his tour of the continent, where he defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and blamed Western sanctions for Africa’s rising fuel and food costs. The United States has blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for driving up prices.

Political analysts say Africa has again become a battleground for influence and ideology decades after the end of the Cold War.

This is Blinken’s second trip to Africa as secretary of state, after visiting Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya in November.

Africa Culture & Tourism International Interview story Interviews Personality Interview

I promote African culture, tradition and spirituality of our ancestors- Fabunmi, Yeyeoba of Oyotunji Kingdom

by Adewale Adenrele on June 16, 2022

Fabunmi Adefunmi Sands is a scientist 1, licensed phlebotomist, certified orthopedic technician, and Echocardiogram reader who is currently working as an Emergency room technician II, and as a shop steward for SEIU-United Health care workers, a part-time lobbyist who assist with debating on the Capital floor in Sacramento, California, dealing with health care bills and rights for the people of California.

She graduated from American River College with an associate’s in Health and Science with an emphasis in psychology and emergency medicine and Bachelor’s degree in health and Administration with an emphasis in the Emergency room and National.

Fabunmi is a part-time Human rights activist, a peace ambassador for the Black race, an African American Historian who hosts traditional and spiritual educational events, and the Yeyeoba of Oyotunji African Village who practice priestly ways that were learned from her parents and global travels on traditional events.

In this exclusive interview with ADEWALE ADENRELE, the Yeyeoba of Oyotunji speaks about ancestral lineage, spiritual journey in the Sango temple, and African culture and tradition, plus her major role as Yeyeoba of Oyotunji Kingdom.

Below are excerpts:

Can you tell us briefly about yourself, your family and educational background?

I am a Dahomean/ Yoruba diaspora who was born in Black Mecca, you would know it as Harlem, New York. I was born and named “Ifabunmi Olubiyi Adesoji Adefunmi’’ by way of my African naming ceremony, and my American name is Fabunmi Olubiyi Adefunmi’ which was on my American government papers. As the daughter of Oba Adefunmi I and Olori Olubunmi Adesoji, I am a diaspora child of the Oyo and Ile Ife Empire by my diaspora blood line.

I was born to the ruling house of Adefunmi, first Oba of Oyotunji African Village ‘Osejiman Efuntola Adefunmi I, and the first Olubunmi Adesoji the queen of Lukumi and the first Queen of Oyotunji. My parents, who were very strong traditionalist Yoruba priests, were very renowned in the priesthood in North America. I was born to a clan of Obatala priest on my father’s side. My mother’s clans are warrior women / iron women as well as Christian preachers, and Native Indian (Black foot and Edisto) medicine spiritualists.

*Fabunmi riding horse at Oyotunji African Village*

I was raised in the USA with western colonial ideology all around me; I am a grand descendant to Alexander Hamilton, the first treasure to the United States of America, also the grand descent to Robert Smalls, the first freed slave Senator to South Carolina. I am the grand daughter to Roy King who worked alongside the General Marcus Garve to help the Black star liner and assisting with the birth of Liberia. I was at the birth of the beginning of the nation we all now call Oyotunji African Village. I was raised in the Sango temple in New York until I was age 5, where for many nights my Yeye and baba with other priest held bembe’s and called the ancient Orisas to the earth.

Who influenced you the most in life and why?

My mother was the most influential in my life, she made me to be strong and never scared of anyone or anything, she made me very proud of my blackness when in this country call America frowned on the black people. My mother instilled in me the four elements of courage and I have lived by the rules till this day.

You are the Yeye-Oba of Oyotunji Kingdom, a royal princess and an ambassador of the royal crown; At the most simplistic level, an ambassador acts as a representative which you are one, what are your responsibilities and how have you impacted lives with your position?

Yes! I am the mother of King to Oyotunji African Village, I am the daughter of the first king of Oyotunji, I am the eldest sister to the reigning king of Oyotunji. I am in perpetuity to the Royal Crown, West African culture tradition spirituality of Ancient African religions.

I am also a representative of healing of the mind and body when in crisis, which is ruled with the divinity of the creator’s touch. My responsibilities are to work hard to educate and put forth the truth about our people and to help continue pride and proof of the great royals and rulers of great empires before antiquity, before slavery interrupted our ancestor’s time in the Empires of the humblest of humanity. I helped the spiritual children understand what that force is that compel them to want to return to Momma Africa. That force that they cannot understand, for my people in the diaspora, as well as globally, I supervise, manage and negotiate for the betterment for the kingdom of Oyotunji and the nation of the Yoruba and black race.

I hosted Black history events on the west coast of the United States. I promote the Orisa festivals held in Oyotunji African village every month, which is the only authentic African village in North America. I work in collaboration with the chiefs and Egbe’s of Oyotunji African village and villages globally to help promote the West African culture tradition and spirituality of our ancestors in its purest form.

Also, part of my responsibility to the king is to report on my findings pertaining to the family of the Adefunmi and the village of Oyotunji, also to know of the crimes against the Diaspora Africans that were scattered across the world and to make the Diaspora in America and the world to know that you have a home in Oyotunji. I educate on the name of the land called Oyo and Ile Ife, the birthplace of our ancestor. For generation we in North America were never allowed to know the names to return home to. I give the names of the ruling Kings so when they return to momma Africa, they can visit the crown that ruled over our ancestors across the ocean back in mommas Africa’s arms long before the diaspora became diaspora. I educate on how to practice our ancestors’ ways opening without religious persecution. My responsibility is to give hope to our oppressed brothers and sister who are being gun-down in cold blood here in the diaspora on how to spiritually protect them and by shielding themselves with the Orisa.

You attended the World Obatala Annual Festival 2022 edition held in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria under supreme auspices of the His Imperial Majesty, Oba Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi Adeyeye, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ile-Ife and the leadership of His Divine Grace Oba (Isoro) O.O.O Dada, The Obalesun Obatala Worldwide. What was the inspiration and motivation that drives your spiritualism on the attendance?

Its closeness of defining me, inline that gives birth to my ancestral lineage where I originated from, they made me who ways show me the way back to the creator to better understand the quality of being.

The two-weeks annual festival programme that celebrates Yoruba religion, customs, culture and tradition through spirituality in purity, with the aim to bring together a wider audience of Obatala devotees, traditional worshipers, traditional and cultural institutions. What do you like about African Culture and traditions?

Being a Diaspora African American, my ancestor’s culture is unwavering, I love the ancient customs they still hold to be true. I love the mystic and the beauty of the beginning of humanities manifestation of traditions that survive the birth, death and rebirth of Momma Africa’s children.

Visitors from different parts of the world such as; USA, Brazil, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, Argentina, Cuba and more were in attendance of the festival. Can you share with us your experience?

An awesome experience!!! I lived in America with hundreds of different ethnicities, but to spend quality time with those many different devotees from around the globe was spiritually uplifting, it made my soul feel more of a connection to being home.

The festival continuously engages in by promoting the Yoruba Cultural agenda towards a veritable socio-economic and political emancipation of our people globally as a yardstick towards global development. How would you use your visit and experience to motivate other Americans who are African descent especially Nigerians-Americans to join you?

I use all my experience to educate and give proof and facts that knowledge is power and always seek the truth, my culture; tradition spirituality has been proven through science, throughout time, our ancestors’ ways is that of the ways of divinity that lives in us all.

This year theme for International Women’s Day, is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Can you tell us how to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all?

Women are the ones who give birth to nations, we are the ones that raise the children of that nation, we are the ones who half to have equal sitting at the table of building and sustaining a nation for we are the mothers of that nation.

A lot of African nations are fashioning their democracy after the west, yet we exist in some level of neo-colonialism. Well, is there a way to localize democracy that will fit the African context?

Our ancestors left us a blueprint, remember if you look at the Ogbonis, and the Oba council, they already have what we need but the seed of evil scamming, deceitfulness has manifested, and we must remove it from our DNA. We must know how to remove the corruption tree and we must burn its roots.

Researches put forward a new narrative explaining the variations in African ancestry in the Americas and how these variations were shaped by the transatlantic trade, how has you and many others changing the narrative for development?

African Ancestry in North America, the land of the free the home of the brave, those words where never meant for us Chattel Diaspora , American Africans who built this nation. USA Diaspora who still used as target practice for the white man’s fear prophesy preparation for the last stance of the pure white race. I as a decedent of chattel slaves, has study the reason for the debauchery of my people here in North America. Just the fact that I am allowed to read and write, look a white person in their eye when I speak and not be murdered for it is a gift from the great Brave Black Men and women who came before me.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade took my ancestors humanity for generations, along with millions of ancestral lines. The slave trade took my ancestors language for generations upon generation from us and gave us the oppressors tongue. Still to this day we struggle to learn our ancestor’s original tongue we struggle to go back to Africa for we don’t know where to go, that is until Oyotunji African Village. The strength and resilience of my people brought forth survival tactics to live in this land, first they learned to survive by speaking to one another in an invented language called Geechee talk, , the Geechee talk was invented to help talk about things so the slave master could not know what was going on and used to trade with Indigenous of the North America .

Amazing memories are unforgettable; can you share with us the most amazing memory?

My most amazing memory was with my Yeye and Baba, they both were singing and drumming to SANGO my yeye was singing oriki (Eulogy) while my baba was drumming and me and my sister Fabayo were dancing, best memory ever.

How many languages can you speak fluently?

I speak 2 languages fluently and several others like Yoruba and French I struggle with it . Though the language was spoken amongst the free blacks and the red skin Indians of this land. As a DESCENDANT I speak Gee Chee fluently like I speak English. In America the chattel slaves lost their culture and their spirituality. As their descendants we fight every day to return to our ancestors’ ways.

We had to fight and scratch for every breath we take on this soil which has been fertilized by the blood of my people the Diaspora of North America, time after time. We the awaken generation now know the names of our ancestors lands the names of the kings, the names of the villages, we know the names of our Gods our ancestors’ ways. We know the name and way to Oyo Empire, We now know the name and place of the Ancient Holy city of Ile Ife, we know that we are from the land of the Benin the village of Abomey where my direct royal ancestor was stolen from. We no longer cry for home for we know where she is now…

What advice would you give the younger ones?

I would tell them to never forget who they are and where they came from REMEMBER your culture tradition and your own people’s spirituality

Thank you for sharing with ADM

Thank you. Alaafia o!

ADM 2022

Culture & Tourism

Nepal has the highest mountain in the world Mount Everest 8,848 meters- Bishwombhar Lamsal

by Adewale Adenrele on June 15, 2022

Tourism is the largest industry in Nepal and its largest source of foreign exchange and revenue before the Covid-19 outbreak that claimed lives crashed the economy and affects the growth of tourism. It suffered a setback because millions of tourism workers are jobless due to the pandemic. Even though Nepal possesses eight of the ten highest mountains in the world, Nepal is a hot spot destination for mountaineers, rock climbers, and people seeking adventure.

Bishwombhar Lamsal, a tourism expert, consultant, and founding chairman & counselor, Vraman Holidays Pvt. Ltd shares his view with ADEWALE ADENRELE on “Pandemic and its Impact on Tourism”.

Below are excerpts:

Can you tell us the major attractions in Nepal; how would you educate interested students and potential tourists to visit Nepal?

Nepal is a country that lies between two giant countries India and China. Nepal has been blessed with the youngest and highest mountain on earth also known as the Himalayas. Nepal boasts of having eight the fourteen 8k meters mountains, the highest mountain in the world Mt. Everest 8848 meters is also in Nepal.

Nepal is rich in culture. We have around 125 ethnic tribes living in Nepal and each ethnic tribe has its traditions, customs, and culture. This multi-dimensional heritage combines the varieties of Nepal’s ethnic, tribal, and social groups, and it manifests in music and dance, art and craft, languages and literature, festivals and celebrations, and foods and drinks. With the diversity in altitude ranging from the Terai region to the Himalayan range. The landscape also varies from the lowland agricultural area and deserts to the high-altitude mountain range. Each landscape has its beauty.

Nepal is famous for Trekking; Peak Climbing; Mountain Biking Tours; expedition; Day Tours; Rafting; Wilderness Trekking; Adventure Sports Activities; Helicopter Tours; Honeymoon Tour Packages and Yoga Meditation Treks/Tours among several others. You define it; we tailor-made it. We have been continuously promoting our tourism/hospitality ventures/products and NEPAL as a whole at nearly all of the major international platforms viz: WTM; FITUR; ITB: OAS; CMT Stuttgart; MTS; VIT to name a few. On such platforms, we not only promote our company’s individual products/services but also NEPAL as a whole. We distribute our promotional materials in flash drives; brochures; websites and ads. This way we not only educate; we compel people of varied professions to come to Nepal at least once in their lifetime for life experiences.

What are the challenges you faced while doing travel and tourism business and how did you overcome them?

Tourism is always evolving and it never remains the same! Because the way we were bound to do business during the 90s/2000s and now has drastically changed! Major challenges at that time were guests visiting destinations on their own and facing problems on their way… We have numerous examples of guests missing/lost and death reports simply because they chose; to travel on their own without the support/assistance from the local experts/authorized service providers. Though problems persist, it has been drastically reduced to a significant degree. We become able in educating our guests about the consequences of traveling alone! We solopreneurs in collaboration with our government entity – Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) – are working for the welfare of our industry.

In tourism, we have aspects of tourism like educational tourism, religious tourism, medical tourism, and cultural tourism, which area is Nepal’s selling point of tourism to the world?

Nepal is diverse and rich in every aspect of Tourism/Hospitality. Nobody will return empty hands/minds once they are in this amazing piece of land! We do outstandingly promote NEPAL as a destination for Education Tourism; (concept broadening) Medical Tourism; Cultural Tourism; Photography & Movie-Shoot Tourism; Honeymoon Destination and many more…

Nomination ceremony as President at home club – Kiwanis Club of Everest, Nepal – of Kiwanis International

A marriage ceremony of company staff organized in Kathmandu at Smart Durbar

Kathmandu Durbar Square in the capital city of Nepal

While exhibiting VRAMAN HOLIDAYS PVT LTD at TIE – Tourism Industry Exhibition; Sydney 2018 with my Tourism Colleague Mr Narayan Neupane

As the founder, chairman, and counselor of Vraman Holidays Pvt Ltd. in Nepal, how long precisely do you think global travel will resume to its normal pace?

Tourism/Hospitality is the HARDEST-HIT industry sector among ALL because of the Pandemic! This is no doubt! And, an amazing part of our industry is – it is capable of rejuvenating at the FASTEST pace among ALL, as well. Let me define this; for instance, people in agriculture, under normal circumstances have to wait several months to have their product being harvested, and we cannot do this all year round! Whereas in Tourism/Hospitality, we can serve our guests all year round! The industry impacts all other sectors! Tourists’ flow means increments in activities; many people get employment; there in consumption in provisions; food, local people are deployed at specific areas as per the needs of tourists. All sectors revive just because TOURISM revives!

Thus, under normal circumstances, I presume TOURISM is the fastest-progressing industry among ALL.

Early 2020 before the pandemic outbreak, global tourism celebrated a record year of travel. Now, it’s decimated and facing a recovery that could take some time. Can you tell us how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the travel and tourism industry?

Words will be insufficient to describe the (global) impact – adverse effect – of the Covid-19 Pandemic on Tourism/Hospitality. This is a service industry and services are meant for luxury. When there arose a situation to choose between luxury and survival; anybody can choose between the ONE. For instance, people need products/goods to survive. But services are for thriving. During the Pandemic, our quest was the SURVIVAL! Thank God, we survived! And, we are confident that now we will thrive at the fastest pace!

The pandemic affects millions of people who depend on tourism and were laid off or furloughed. How do you think tourism can bounce back and survive?

Optimism | Faith | Resilient – we tourism stakeholders bear this trait to the highest degree than anyone in another industry sector! There is no doubt that we – the tourism industry – will be the fastest recovering industry sector among ALL. Tourism/Hospitality is the HARDEST-HIT industry sector among ALL because of the Pandemic! This is no doubt! And, an amazing part of our industry is – it is capable of rejuvenating at the FASTEST pace among ALL, as well.

Let me define this; for instance, people in agriculture, under normal circumstances have to wait several months to have their product being harvested, and we cannot do this all year round! Whereas in Tourism/Hospitality, we can serve our guests all year round! The industry impacts all other sectors! Tourists flow means increments in activities; many people get employment; there in consumption in provisions; food .. local people are deployed at specific areas as per the needs of tourists. All sectors revive just because TOURISM revives!

Many destinations anticipate travelers’ behavior will change in the virus’s wake. What measures have you put in place to sensitize and educate potential tourists/travelers to erase the fear of covid-19?

We are all aware at this point that Covid-19 is no JOKE. Standard health protocols are being deployed everywhere, at least in my country – NEPAL. We are sincere; desperately; in a healthier environment – awaiting our international guests to arrive; enjoy; entertain and thrive!

African Development Magazine would like to partner us with media tour promotion and coverage of tourism activities, would you support this development and give us a chance?

For sure; we are together at every step of your action. Please go ahead.

Thanks for sharing with ADM

Thank you too.

ADM 2022

International

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s Interview with Ronald Kato

by Adewale Adenrele on March 21, 2022

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is the U.S. Representative to the United Nations spoke with Ronald Kato of Africanews, a media outfit on the invasion of Russia in Ukraine and how the economy is affected among other pertinent issues.

QUESTION: Welcome to this special interview on AfricaNews. So the war in Ukraine is happening far from Africa, but its consequences are being felt on the continent. From skyrocketing fuel prices to difficulties importing food, countries in Africa feel caught up in a conflict they thought they had nothing to do with. To hear more about the ramifications of the Ukraine war for African countries, I’m joined by the U.S. Representative to the UN Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. Ambassador Greenfield, thank you very much for your time. Are you concerned that soaring food prices in Africa could drive social unrest or another upheaval?

AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you, Ronald, and it’s really great to be here with you. We know that the impact of this war of aggression that the Russians initiated in Ukraine will have an impact on the world. Ukraine has been one of the major exporters of wheat to Africa for example. I think the figures I have is about $2.4 billion in 2021 of trade between Ukraine and Africa. But it is the war that has led to this, and this is why Africans need to be part of the solution to bringing this unconscionable war to an end. The impact is not just being felt in Africa. We’re seeing oil prices increase in the United States. We’re seeing food prices increase in the United States. It is because of Russia’s aggression that this is happening.

QUESTION: Ambassador Greenfield, this is a major international event. When things like this happen, African countries tend to be on the periphery. We heard last week the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, saying he had been approached to try and mediate a way out of this crisis. What role can African countries do to bring this war to an end, for peace to prevail in Ukraine?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: The voice of every leader, every country, calling on the Russians to end this war, I think, is is important. No voice is too small. No president is unimportant in this effort. And this is why in New York, in the General Assembly, the African vote is so important. So that we can say to the Russians they have no allies in this war of aggression against Ukraine. That we all stand with the Ukrainian people with this attack on the integrity of their borders, this attack on their sovereignty and their independence, this humanitarian crisis that is being created by the Russian actions in Ukraine. So every country is being impacted by this, and every country ought to stand against this aggression.

QUESTION: Are you engaging African ambassadors? Are you in touch with the African Union?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I am working with African ambassadors on a daily basis. As you know, there are three African elected members of the Security Council, the A3, Ghana, Kenya and Gabon. I engage with them on these issues regularly. And I meet with and engage with other African permanent representatives to encourage them to speak out on this issue. The head of the AU was in Washington last week, Mr. Faki, and he met with Secretary Blinken and met with others in Washington. And certainly, a number of issues were on the agenda on how we can partner with Africa on a broad range of issues, but Ukraine was certainly one of those areas where we need African engagement, we need African partnership.

QUESTION: Ambassador Greenfield, the global economy is emerging from the pandemic. And now you have rising fuel prices that threaten to scuttle growth. I know that this isn’t primarily your topic, but what is your government going to bring down oil prices?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: We have done a number of things to mitigate the impact of this war and the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia – to mitigate the impact of that on other countries, including our own where we are also seeing oil prices and gas prices skyrocket. The idea is to look for other sources of oil to build up and promote other countries who are oil producers. There are a large number of countries who are oil producers on the continent of Africa. How can we use those resources in a in a more efficient way that will provide support across, not just in Africa, but across the world? Those are all issues that we’re trying to address as we address the impact of the war and helping countries come out of the COVID pandemic.

QUESTION: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. representative to the United Nations, thank you very much for your time.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you very much, Ronald. And I was delighted to be here with you.

Africa Africa Asia Economy Interview story News

Diébédo F. Kéré: First African to Win Prestigious Architecture Prize

by Adewale Adenrele on March 17, 2022

The 2022 laureate of architecture’s highest honor, the Pritzker Architecture Prize is Diébédo Francis Kéré, known as Francis Kéré, Burkina Faso-born architect, educator, social activist, the receiver of the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and designer of the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion. Recognized for “empowering and transforming communities through the process of architecture”, Kéré, the first black architect to ever obtain this award, works mostly in areas charged with constraints and adversity, using local materials and building contemporary facilities whose value exceeds the structure itself, serving and stabilizing the future of entire communities.

“Through buildings that demonstrate beauty, modesty, boldness, and invention, and by the integrity of his architecture and geste, Kéré gracefully upholds the mission of this Prize,” explains the official statement of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Announced today by Tom Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation, Francis Kéré is the 51st winner of the award founded in 1979, succeeding Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal. Praised “for the gifts he has created through his work, gifts that go beyond the realm of the architecture discipline”, the acclaimed architect is present equally in Burkina Faso and Germany, professionally and personally.

“I am hoping to change the paradigm, push people to dream and undergo risk. It is not because you are rich that you should waste material. It is not because you are poor that you should not try to create quality, […] Everyone deserves quality, everyone deserves luxury, and everyone deserves comfort. We are interlinked and concerns in climate, democracy, and scarcity are concerns for us all.” – Francis Kéré, 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner.

*Primary School in Gando / Kéré Architecture. Image © Erik-Jan Ouwerkerk*

Born in Gando, Burkina Faso in 1965 and based in Berlin, Germany, Francis Kéré works towards “improving the lives and experiences of countless citizens in a region of the world that is at times forgotten” as Pritzker explains. The oldest son of the village chief and the first in his community to attend school, the architect’s first sense of architecture stemmed from his childhood classroom that lacked ventilation and light, on one hand, and from the little illuminated yet safe space where his grandmother would sit and tell stories, on another. In 1985, he traveled to Berlin on a vocational carpentry scholarship, learning to make roofs and furniture by day, while attending secondary classes at night. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Technische Universität Berlin (Berlin, Germany) in 1995, graduating in 2004 with an advanced degree in architecture.

“We have to fight to create the quality that we need to improve people’s lives.” – Francis Kéré, 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner.

Younger, Kéré had vowed to one day make schools better in extreme climates, allowing for “true teaching, learning, and excitement”, and in 1998, he established the Kéré Foundation to fundraise and advocate for a child’s right to a comfortable classroom. His first building, Gando Primary School in 2001, was built by and for the locals, who crafted every part of the establishment by hand, guided by the architect’s “inventive forms of indigenous materials and modern engineering”. This project awarded him the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2004, and led to the inception of his own practice Kéré Architecture, in Berlin, Germany, in 2005. Following this success, other primary, secondary, postsecondary, and medical facilities followed throughout Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, and Uganda.

*Burkina Institute of Technology (BIT). Image Courtesy of Francis Kéré*

“I grew up in a community where there was no kindergarten, but where the community was your family. Everyone took care of you and the entire village was your playground. My days were filled with securing food and water, but also simply being together, talking together, building houses together. I remember the room where my grandmother would sit and tell stories with a little light, while we would huddle close to each other and her voice inside the room enclosed us, summoning us to come closer and form a safe place. This was my first sense of architecture.” – Francis Kéré, 2022 Pritzker Architecture Prize Winner.

“A poetic expression of light is consistent throughout Kéré’s works. Rays of sun filter into buildings, courtyards, and intermediary spaces overcoming harsh midday conditions to offer places of serenity or gathering”, adds the official statement of the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Other than schools and medical facilities, Kéré’s work in Africa includes, in progress, two historic parliament buildings, the National Assembly of Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso) and Benin National Assembly (Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin), as well as the TStartup Lions Campus (2021, Turkana, Kenya), an information and communication technologies campus, and the Burkina Institute of Technology (Phase I, 2020, Koudougou, Burkina Faso) composed of cooling clay walls

With an architectural expression deeply rooted in his upbringing and experiences in Gando, Kéré communicated to the world West African tradition, especially the practice of “communing under a sacred tree to exchange ideas, narrate stories, celebrate and assemble”. In fact, for the 2017 Serpentine Pavilion, the architect imagined a structure that takes its shape from a tree, with a detached roof and disconnected yet curved walls formed by triangular indigo modules, the color representing strength in his culture and more personally, a blue boubou garment worn by the architect as a child. Inside the pavilion, rainwater is funneled into the center, highlighting water scarcity that is experienced worldwide. Beyond creating for the African continent, his built works also include structures in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some of his significant works are Xylem at Tippet Rise Art Centre (2019, Montana, United States), Léo Doctors’ Housing (2019, Léo, Burkina Faso), Lycée Schorge Secondary School (2016, Koudougou, Burkina Faso), the National Park of Mali (2010, Bamako, Mali) and Opera Village (Phase I, 2010, Laongo, Burkina Faso).

*Lycée Schorge . Image Courtesy of Francis Kéré*

A visiting professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (Massachusetts, United States), Yale School of Architecture (Connecticut, United States), Francis Kéré holds the inaugural Chair of Architectural Design and Participation professorship at the Technische Universität München (Munich, Germany) since 2017. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (2018) and the American Institute of Architects (2012) and a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects (2009). Additional awards granted over the years include the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine’s Global Award for Sustainable Architecture (2009), BSI Swiss Architectural Award (2010); the Global Holcim Awards Gold (2012, Zurich, Switzerland), Schelling Architecture Award (2014); Arnold W Brunner Memorial Prize in Architecture from the American Academy of Arts & Letters (2017); and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Architecture (2021).

The 44th Pritzker Prize ceremony, honoring 2022 Laureate, Diébédo Francis Kéré, will be held at the Great Hall of the newly opened Marshall Building, The London School of Economics and Political Science (London, United Kingdom), designed by Grafton Architects, led by Farrell and McNamara.

Jury Citation

What is the role of architecture in contexts of extreme scarcity? What is the right approach to the practice when working against all odds? Should it be modest and risk succumbing to adverse circumstances? Or is modesty the only way to be pertinent and achieve results? Should it be ambitious in order to inspire change? Or does ambition run the risk of being out of place and of resulting in architecture of mere wishful thinking?

*Startup Lions Campus / Kéré Architecture. Image Courtesy of Kéré Architecture*

Francis Kéré has found brilliant, inspiring, and game-changing ways to answer these questions over the last decades. His cultural sensitivity not only delivers social and environmental justice but guides his entire process, in the awareness that it is the path towards the legitimacy of a building in a community. He knows, from within, that architecture is not about the object but the objective; not the product, but the process. Francis Kéré’s entire body of work shows us the power of materiality rooted in place. His buildings, for and with communities, are directly of those communities – in their making, their materials, their programs, and their unique characters. They are tied to the ground on which they sit and to the people who sit within them. They have presence without pretense and an impact shaped by grace.

Born in Burkina Faso to parents who insisted that their son be educated, Francis Kéré went on to study architecture in Berlin. Over and over, he has, in a sense, returned to his roots. He has drawn from his European architectural formation and work, combining them with the traditions, needs, and customs of his country. He was determined to bring resources in education from one of the leading Technical Universities in the world back to his native land and to have those resources elevate the indigenous know-how, culture, and society of his region.

He has continuously pursued this task in ways at once highly respectful of place and tradition and yet transformational in what can be offered, as in the primary school in Gando which served as an example to so many even beyond the borders of Burkina Faso, and to which he later added a complex of teachers’ housing and a library. There, Kéré understood that an apparently simple goal, namely, to make it possible for children to attend school comfortably, had to be at the heart of his architectural project. Sustainability for a great majority of the world is not preventing undesirable energy loss so much as undesirable energy gains. For too many people in developing countries, the problem is extreme heat, rather than cold.

*2017 Serpentine Pavilion . Image © Iwan Baan*

In response, he developed an ad-hoc, highly performative and expressive architectural vocabulary: double roofs, thermal mass, wind towers, indirect lighting, cross ventilation and shade chambers (instead of conventional windows, doors, and columns) have not only become his core strategies but have actually acquired the status of built dignity. Since completing the school in his native village, Kéré has pursued the ethos and the method of working with local craft and skills to elevate not only the civic life of small villages but soon also of national deliberations in legislative buildings. This is the case of his two projects underway for the Benin National Assembly, in advanced construction, and for the Burkina Faso National Assembly, temporarily halted by the current political situation in the country.

Francis Kéré’s work is, by its essence and its presence, fruit of its circumstances. In a world where architects are building projects in the most diverse contexts – not without controversies – Kéré contributes to the debate by incorporating local, national, regional, and global dimensions in a very personal balance of grassroots experience, academic quality, low tech, high tech, and truly sophisticated multiculturalism. In the Serpentine pavilion, for example, he successfully translated into a universal visual language and in a particularly effective way, a long-forgotten essential symbol of primordial architecture worldwide: the tree.

He has developed a sensitive, bottom-up approach in it

*Xylem Pavilion / Kéré Architecture. Image © Iwan Baan*

s embrace of community participation. At the same time, he has no problem incorporating the best possible type of top-down process in his devotion to advanced architectural solutions. His simultaneously local and global perspective goes well beyond aesthetics and good intentions, allowing him to integrate the traditional with the contemporary.

Francis Kéré’s work also reminds us of the necessary struggle to change unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, as we strive to provide adequate buildings and infrastructure for billions in need. He raises fundamental questions of the meaning of permanence and durability of construction in a context of constant technological changes and of use and re-use of structures. At the same time, his development of contemporary humanism merges a deep respect for history, tradition, precision, written and unwritten rules.

Since the world began to pay attention to the remarkable work and life story of Francis Kéré, he has served as a singular beacon in architecture. He has shown us how architecture today can reflect and serve needs, including the aesthetic needs, of people throughout the world. He has shown us how locality becomes a universal possibility. In a world in crisis, amidst changing values and generations, he reminds us of what has been, and will undoubtedly continue to be a cornerstone of architectural practice: a sense of community and narrative quality, which he himself is so able to recount with compassion and pride. In this, he provides a narrative in which architecture can become a source of continued and lasting happiness and joy.

For the gifts he has created through his work, gifts that go beyond the realm of the architecture discipline, Francis Kéré is named the 2022 Pritzker Prize Laureate.

Interviews

Our aim is to meet the social, economic and health challenges of vulnerable communities- AHC founder, Clarisse Mefotso Fall

by Adewale Adenrele on March 13, 2022

In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022 and celebrating the virtuous, ambitious women with selfless contributions and commemorating the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women across the world.

Clarisse Mefotso Fall is one of the powerful leading women with great achievements, track records, and a multi-award winner. She hailed from Cameroon, a wife, mother, and dedicated professional woman in the field of public health having graduated from Mount Saint Vincent College with a master’s degree in public health in the area of policies and systems, and served in various positions.

In this interview, Clarisse Mefotso Fall shares her experience, challenges, and success stories with ADEWALE ADENRELE

You are the Global President of 1000 African women’s Networks; can you tell us the aims and objectives of this organization?

*Eric Leroy Adams,*
*New York City Mayor with Clarisse Mefotso Fall*

I am the founder and executive director of the African Hope Committee, a non-governmental organization that was founded in 2003, and registered in 2004. And before that, I was a manager in an NGO in New York for 5 years. Which makes nearly 20 years of career in Public Health. AHC is based in New York and more precisely in Harlem. We provide services to the African population and other immigrant groups in the field of social, education, health, and immigration. AHC serves an African community not only locally but also across the United States as part of its immigration services. Internationally, AHC has developed activities in the field of education, health, and the eradication of poverty in French-speaking African countries such as Senegal, Niger, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as English-speaking countries such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Ghana.

What have been the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of leadership for you?

The secret of my success is multiple. From the beginning of my career, I surrounded myself with a committed (dedicated) and competent team with which I shared a common mission and objectives. Supported by a board of directors dedicated to my vision, I have drawn up a development plan for each of the staff who have and work for AHC. As a public health expert, I was able to define and assess the needs and problems within the African community living in New York and developed and implemented social, health, and educational activities there. responding to these challenges. I have continually cultivated professional and cordial relationships with our donors, sponsors, and partners

What are your major responsibilities as DOJ Accredited Representative and how have you impacted your position on the populace and what are your success stories so far?

I serve as The DOJ Accredited Representative at the African Hope committee. As defined our mission, we provide immigration as well and this came out at the time, we were aggressively creating outreach campaigns on HIV/AIDS in the community. The immigration needs were well demanded. The board saw it as a huge service to provide in the community even if this was to begin by educating families about their illegal and legal status. I was then proposed to join immigration programs that will prepare me to be accredited. I have been accredited for 12 years, being that one must renew its accreditation every 3 years. African Hope Committee ROSE immigration service ( ROSE) Right to Organize for Social Equality. ROSE is my mother’s first name, a woman who likes justice and fairness for all and continues to live her through HOPE and FAITH. I deal with the immigration cases that come our way, namely asylum and refugee immigration applications, family reunification, obtaining immigration visas for students, changing statutes, work permit applications, and more. AHC has been able to meet the demand of the African immigrant community living in New York under this program by assisting them in securing their green cards through some of the immigration programs mentioned above. This is our pride.

With your leadership role and vast experience working with international organizations, accredited organizations on global projects linked to United Nations; what are the needs in Africa? What will it take to build entrepreneurship and employment in Africa? And what are you trying to do to move the needle, especially in Cameroun?

With my leadership role and my experiences working in community health, with the board members, AHC has always aimed to meet the social, economic, and health challenges of vulnerable communities by providing lasting solutions. The African community residing in New York is confronted with problems of integration, health, housing, learning the English language, finding employment, a complete lack or inadequate medical coverage, and faced with unprecedented immigration problems. Unlike in Africa, people are more confronted with poverty in general. The need to build more schools that are adequate to compete with the kids in America or Europe, to build a vocational program that builds our kid’s skills where some can progress to become great entrepreneurs, businessmen, and computer technicians. What we’ll take to build not only entrepreneurship in Africa but programs geared towards building our children’s skills is to mobilize government institutions and continue to address the SDGs 20230. AHC has begun to address programs that build youth skills so they could grow to be independent and this to a country like Cameron, Senegal, The Republic of Congo/DRC, Niger, Nigeria Through our member presidents and vice-presidents under AHC Network called 1000 African Women Network.

*1000 African Women Network members attended the 2019 CSW63 at the United Nations* ??

In the past 20 years, sub-Saharan Africa has achieved some of the most dramatic breakthroughs in the world. The number of female legislators on the continent has increased, would you consider yourself as a politician someday?

This is a question that most people asked me. Currently, I serve as an African Commissioner at the Newark Mayor’s Office in New Jersey. I was appointed in June 2021. I have worked for more than 20 years in the social areas. Our work will never be achieved without reaching out to politicians and partnering with their offices to address issues that affect our communities. The question you asked if I consider myself a politician one Day? We never know where our career will take us. Working in this area of public health does not distance you from working with politicians. I meet, Presidents, Ministers, congressmen and women, Mayors, Deputies, Elected Officials from around the world from these high level social, economic, and political forums, especially during global events such the CSWs, The General Assembly, and during some of the State Address by Assemblymen and member s of the Congress.

In 2009, Former First Lady Michelle Obama recognized your humanitarian work and activities; would you tell us what she told you and the kind of award?

Since 2004, thanks to an effective referral system and the collaboration of our local partners, NGOs, and government institutions, we were able to provide health education and host health summits for more than 7 years consecutively. Reaching women, men, girls, and boys in New York. For example, I have been honored with several awards as well as proclamations from members of the American government, including members of Congress and Former New York City Mayor Bloomberg on 3 occasions in 2006, 2007, and 2008. The most rewarding award was the Awards from The NYPD, where I was the first African Descent woman to receive such an award in New York for caring for the immigrant community. In 2009, we also received The Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s recognition with her own words: “Movement for real and lasting change is sustained by the relationships we build with one another. Thank you for your support. Michelle Obama.” This is simply a recognition of the hard and sustainable work we bring to the community. A lasting effort, durable and lasting. As a humanitarian herself, she understands what it takes to bring a community together to create a sustainable service.

You are the Founder & Executive Director at African Hope Committee, Inc, what motivated or inspired this great concept?

Once again thank you for the opportunity to speak in your journal. My name is Clarisse Blanche Mefotso Fall. With my background in public health, I have developed a great passion for education. My father is a retired educator in Cameroon and had worked all his life in educating kids. I guess I got that from my father with the only difference being that I am in the Field of Health, Public Health and I have obtained a master’s degree in Public health with tracks in policies, systems, and community health.

Attending The C3-Arab Summit during UNGA 2018 - Picture with Honorable Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. UNGA is United Nations General Assembly — *Attending The C3-Arab Summit during UNGA 2018 – Picture with Honorable Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. UNGA is United Nations General Assembly*

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Can you tell us how to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all?

African Hope Committee as an accredited organization with the United Nations ECOSOC Program works to reinforce the UN Women ideas that act to empower women and girls across all its programs and advocacy. We continue to address each year at the CSWs Gender Equality with the hope to make progress towards sustainable development by 2030, leaving no one behind. In 2020, right before CSW64, we hosted a Gender Equality forum in Cameron by reaching out to students and bringing them together at the Ecole Bilingue Wafo in Douala Cameroon. This was a great success in empowering young women and boys with the issues of inequalities. We hope to conduct such a program in Africa by mobilizing government and private institutions to develop a program that will not leave anyone behind in terms of education and employment.

African Development Magazine would like to be part of your team reporting your activities; will you give us this chance and support us?

Communication is key in our society. Social media and marketing are very important in the progress of our society. We continue to build partnerships with news media and social media that will help advance our mission and bring exposure to the work we do. We are honored to build a partnership with your journal to help cover African issues around the globe.

African ethnic groups and tribes have customs and traditions that are unique to their culture. What do you like about African Culture?

African Culture is the most ancient culture starting with Egypt. As we all know, of all the countries around the world, African culture stands out. From its beautiful attire to the languages, food, arts, and nature itself. It is rich and very diverse as it keeps changing from country to country in Africa. Many cultures and traditions are found in the country. And this brings the attraction to many people to visit the continent. People are kind, polite, and very humble in general.

Amazing memories are unforgettable; can u share with us the most amazing memory?

Before talking about some of the amazing memories in my life, are the wonders of life that define me daily and bring joy, pride, satisfaction, and motivation in my life. I am a happy wife and mother of 4 young adults including 3 grandchildren. The best memories are working and guiding young college and high school students to aim high in their lives; to work with men, women, girls, and boys even children to create a positive image of our community around the globe. Imagine bringing together the African Community to partake in the AIDS WALK for over 4 years. Hosting High-Level Health and Social program by mobilizing the international and the local community to partner and participate at the events. To expose members of the international communities at the United Nations, High Level, Social and Economic Forums. To build Ngo’s skills and provide them with more tools that will reinforce that knowledge, especially with the SDGs. To create a global network that brings people from around the globe. To travel to different countries to address public health issues. As an author of a book entitled CLARISSE BLANCHE released on March 5^th, 2019, I get to talk to people about my book which is found in Amazon and other major book stores around the world.

What advice would you give the younger ones?

My advice for young people is that the most important thing is to build faith, hope, and trust yourself. Focus on your education and be positive and stay away from trouble. Respect your parents, your elders, your teachers, and yourself. Invest as soon you begin to work because this one thing lacking especially in the Black and African Communities. We must advise our children to invest earlier to minimize financial stress. Not to be strained financially as you grow older.

Thank you for sharing with us.

You are welcome!

ADM2022