The 26th of July 2015 was a historic day for AFRICAN MUSIC LOVERS in the city of London as The Joyful Noise production initiative organised and amazing event- The Kanda Bongo Man Live @RICHMIX – Celebrating 25 Years of JOYFUL NOISE.

We had the pleasure of interviewing one of AFRICA,S GREATEST MUSICIANS Sir Kanda Bongo Man – The King of Kwasa Kwasa who has implemented structural changes to Congolese Soukous Music

Watch this space for the full interview with Mr Kanda Bongoman on TheTony Tokunbo Fernandez Show . Many thanks to Mr Simba Smp another great ambassador and The Show producer for the day
Kanda Bongo Man was also honoured with our Africa4U OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for his profound contribution to AFRICAN MUSIC INDUSTRY and the legacy he continues to create

Toibudeen Olamuyiwa Oduniyi FBCS CITP is a Fellow of the British Computer Society and a Chartered Information Technology Professional. He attended the University of Lagos, South Bank University and the University of East London, where he studied Economics, Finance and Investment, and Business Information Systems respectively. He worked for several blue chip organisations across Retail, Banking and Technology sectors in the UK and Europe on numerous large IT Change and Business Restructuring programs with a focus on Information Security and Risk Management.

Deen is an avid Business Technologist with a passion for exploiting technology in solving our daily living challenges. He is a Digital Entrepreneur and runs Cyborg (UK & Nigeria) – a technology and consulting firm creating compelling online information services platforms and ecommerce channels. Some of their platforms in Nigeria includes 9jatravel, 9jafood, 9jahealth, 9jalegal, 9japroperty are consistently ranked as leaders in their respective sectors.

He launched 9jadiaspora in the UK last year – an online information platform connecting Nigerians globally. 9jadiaspora is a portal where Nigerians living in diaspora can promote their business, find information, share and exchange ideas, get advice and collaborate with each other. 9jadiaspora has proven to be a community champion amongst Nigerians in diaspora.

James Ene Henshaw was born on August 29, 1924 in Calabar, Nigeria. With his first play, ‘This Is Our Chance’, published in 1956 he was the first indigenous African playwright to be published internationally in the English language, preceding Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’ and Soyinka’s ‘The Swamp Dwellers’ both published in 1958.

It has since become one of the classics of African literature, read widely and performed in schools and colleges throughout the English-speaking Commonwealth. A medical doctor by profession, Henshaw, in his words “strayed into writing. Born on 29 August 1924 in Calabar, Nigeria.

He attended missionary schools, Sacred Heart School, Calabar and Christ the King College, Onitsha before going on to read medicine at the National University of Ireland, Dublin and the University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom where he qualified as a chest physician. Back in Nigeria, he went on to an illustrious career in medicine serving as Senior Consultant-in-charge, Tuberculosis Control, Eastern Nigeria (1955 – 68), and finally as Director of Medical Services in the former South Eastern State of Nigeria.

He served in various professional and public service positions, and earned several honours including Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Knight of the Order of St. Gregory (KSG) by his Holiness Pope Paul VI. A prolific writer, he went on to write more memorable plays including Children of the Goddess, Medicine for Love; Dinner for Promotion, and many scholarly articles in national and international journals.

In his later years, he lived quietly in his home town Calabar, receiving writers, scholars and young student dramatists from around the world. Henshaw died on 16 August 2007, while working on his last project, translating Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar into his native Efik language

THIS IS OUR LAND
(Song Of A Native Son)

This divine song of our Tano
And of the mystic hymns of Nile
Have never soften my feet from dancing.
The songs in the rhythms of Adowa,
Of Kete, Kpanlogo, Borborbor, Adgbadza
Have kept me to this fate of a hunter.
I,
In lonesome night
Hunts with a single arrow
Killing wild falcons;
Slaying talons of evilmen
Under the Mighty Oyina.

They say,
This land is of our Masters
That we are mere transient papers
For examinations and certifications.
I looked into the eyes of the Eagle
And hearing flustering calls from the Ancestral-land
I,
Hit my chest with cowries
Shouting till Tutu and Aggrey
Return from Exile…

For, we, bladders of Anokye
We, the claws of Amenfi
We, the sons of Kushi and Agorkoli
Are ourselves reincarnated!
We are the sons of Tohazie
We are the ancient gizzards of Ndewura Jakpa
We are the daughters of Asantewaa
But couldn’t Shaka’s Zulu not have redefined divination?

An,
Enemy has defiled this land
He has poisoned our lakes with Cyanide
Our,
Enemies have infiltrated the shrines
They have spilled excrement to cover the Gods
They lay in helpless solitude
of sanctuaries defiled before harmattan.

They say;
This land is of Barbarians
A land of clowns and cowards
A land where gold is in abundance
Yet we love to worship Whiskey
And castrated Cigarette smokes
That it is in the cup of-Modernity
We ought to intoxicate to folly
That it is in the eyes of the Roman-god
We ought to purify our hearts as Saints
But I ask the winds and the towering sea
Are we not the sons of Oburumankoma
Are we not the brave hearts of Tweneboah Kodua and Agya Ahor?

I,
Weep of Bloody Demagogues
Who oil our drums with lies
I,
Cry of Flying Bullets
Which sing of Midnight coup de’tat in Faso’
I, the son of Tafari’s Abyssinia
Where the songs of Resistance keeps a stare
I, the Grand-son of Musa’s Timbucktu
Where wealth keeps riddles as vows
I, the Grand-saliva of Sunni Ali’s Gao in far away Songhai
I, the son of Freedom not of Justice
Where Kwame declares with tears in 1957
Weep of falling volcanoes…

This land is ours’
Brethren, this vast land of Empires
This land of beautiful lizards
A land where the Savanna breastfeeds the Sahara with dews
It is the land where
We,
Shall go and return through the eyes of Kwasamba..

Let this song reach the wet bird
Let this song rhyme on uneven lenses
That someday, before miles shorten…
I, am the native son
The son of Aselfi
whose liver milks the sun
And dances to the chants of the sea
Shall come home from the mind of battle
Reminding these marked imprints that
I am the seed of this land.

© Nana Arhin Tsiwah

LET IT NOT BE
.
Let it not be
That after my struggle under the scorching sun
I depart, for my soul to dine with everlasting torment.
.
Let it not be
That I live with great visions embedded in me
But kiss the dust, unfulfilled.
.
Let it not be
That memories of my existence,
Would be a thorn in the flesh of men
.
Let it not be
That when the Son of Man returns in glory
My garment would be found filthy.
.
Let it not be
That when I sow good seeds on fertile land
I live not, to reap its bountiful harvest.
.
Let it not be
That my enemies triumph over me and
Cast my destiny into absolute darkness.
.
O, let it be
That I live a blessed life pleasing God,
loving my neighbours as myself,and at last,make Heaven.

WRITTEN BY THERESA OGUCHE GLITTS

KENYA LEAGUE UK PRESENTS
>>>>>>>>>KENYA IN THE PARK 2015<<<<<<<<<<<<<
HOSTED BY MALAIKA DANCE UNIQUE

Join us on this wonderful August Bank Holiday Weekend as we gather Kenyans and friends from all corners of the United Kingdom in One Festival. Kenya in the Park 2015 is aimed at bringing Kenyans in UK to experience what they have been wanting for a long time. We will also be Launching the first ever Kenyan Online Radio Station TAIFA RADIO UK on this day.

VENUE
…East London Rugby Club
…Holland Road
…London
…E15 3BP
(Next to West Ham Tube Station)

TIME
✘ From 11AM to 8PM
✘ Early Arrival Encouraged for Maximum Muenjoys

ON THE DAY
✘ Prayers
✘ Kids Fun Games
✘ Food & Drinks
✘ Cultural Dances & Live Performances
✘ Local and International Artists & Djs
✘ Stalls selling Africa Attire
✘ Talent Show
✘ Fashion Show
✘ Launch of Taifa Radio
✘ Speeches from Distinguished guests
✘ Advice from Legal Representatives
✘ More Food & Drinks
✘ Businesses Marketing
✘ Media Coverage
……Plus many more

CONTACTS
✘ Main Enquiries: 07853 207075
✘ Book Stalls / Exhibitions: 07403 159285
✘ Taifa Radio: 07889 395578
✘ Volunteers: 07746337461

ONLINE:
WEBSITE: WWW.KENYAINTHEPARK.COM
EMAIL: kenyainthepark@gmail.com
FACEBOOK: KENYA IN THE PARK
INSTAGRAM: KENYA IN THE PARK
TWITTER: @KENYAINTHEPARK

>>>MORE INFORMATION TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Lady B Bless is the CEO of Arcanovi Enterprise USA, a international marketing and consultant company, with over 20 years of experience in marketing, sales, project management & development, she is also a small business consultant, specializing in rebranding and restructuring of small companies.

Over the years she has worked on projects in Africa, UK and The USA. She is the Marketing Director for The Africa Gas Association (TAGA),

The Africa Gas Association is the leading voice of the natural gas and energy industry in Africa. It has become one of the most influential and respectful organizations in the global natural gas and energy industry. She is the Founder of Afro Carib Radio – Bridging the Gap – Africa to the Caribbean, an online radio station specializing in clean and positive music from new and upcoming artists in Africa and the Caribbean.

A humanitarian she is the CEO/Executive Director of The Be Bless Foundation advocating for better education for children in undeveloped & disadvantaged areas. As a Radio Personality on Afro Carib Radio, her show The Lady B Bless Show – Bridging the Gap ~ Africa to the Caribbean runs Mondays to Fridays at 9am EST, her fan base extends from The USA to The UK from Africa to the Caribbean giving her 29,000+ fans on facebook, over 10,000+ followers on Twitter and over 4,000+ instagram followers, her shows are downloaded worldwide via hulkshare, podomatic and Itunes Lady B Bless is Bridging the Gap – Africa to the Caribbean

Lady B Bless Social Media Information

Official Site – www.iamladybbless.com
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/QueenLadyBBless
Fan Page – https://www.facebook.com/ladybblessmhandoyepamusoro
Podcast – http://ladybbless.podomatic.com/
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/LadyBDub
Twitter – https://twitter.com/iamladybbless
Soundcloud – http://soundcloud.com/iamladybbless
Instagram – http://instagram.com/iamladybbless
Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/iamladybbless
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladybbless
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/+LadyBBless
Tumblr – http://iamladybbless.tumblr.com/
Hulkshare – http://www.hulkshare.com/IamLadyBBless
iTunes – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lady-b-bless-podcast/id448046537

DEAR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FANS,

LAST NIGHT I RECEIVED THE SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FOR PEOPLE AND LITERARY DEVELOPMENT AT THE BUSINESS DINNER & PREMIUM RECOGNITIONS ORGANISED BY Marketing Ministers UK AT THE RIPPLES CENTRE, BARKING, EAST LONDON.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS MY 8TH AWARD, IT FELT LIKE THE FIRST