Glo, Author at 1Africa | Page 18 of 27

Magna Carta: We All Want To Be Free

Glo

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June 17, 2015

This week, England celebrated the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, Latin for ‘the Great Charter’, and this event has been marked by a great deal of pomp and ceremony, even outside of England itself. The document, viewed as a guardian of ancient personal liberties, wasn’t really appreciated much until centuries later when it began to be viewed as one of the foundations of democracy. If you want some in-depth info about the Magna Carta, watch the video below:

One thing becomes very clear, when you hear more about this document and go deeper into understanding what it stands for: we all want to be free. At the heart of every human being is a burning desire to be unchained of everything that holds us back. The shackles that bind us are not always physical. In fact, the greatest chains are the ones in our minds. When we cry out for the establishment and protection of our rights, it’s because we are answering to something deep within us that longs to be all that we were born to be.

Sadly, when we allow ourselves to be held hostage by hate, addiction and other low forms of life, we keep ourselves in a prison that will limit us for as long as we allow it to. And when we come to a place like that, no document – Magna Carta, Bill of Rights or constitution – can set us free. While we celebrate any charter that enshrines our liberties, we need to be humble enough to recognize that true freedom begins from within.

In the Bible, Jesus Christ declares, “you shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” What is this truth that he refers to? Is it attainable in our lifetime? The truth is not religion or any other human exercise. It is something greater and deeper. If you’d like to find out more and find a platform to ask questions, click on the banner below.

Why Did God Make Me This Way?

Glo

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June 16, 2015

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If you’ve never dealt with insecurity in any shape or form, congratulations! You’re one of the ‘lucky’ few. For many people though, the war against insecurity and feelings of inadequacy is one that takes years to overcome. For some, sad as it is to say, it’s a struggle that’s never won, leading all the way to the grave.

Generally speaking, we all want to feel like we are accepted or acceptable. We all, in some way or other, want to feel like we matter or are loved. But sometimes, when we’re at our very worst, we question the validity of our existence and find ourselves in a space where we don’t even make much sense to ourselves. What a place to be. Do you, like the woman in the video below, find yourself asking, “why did God make me this way?”

The road to self-acceptance is a tough one for most. Like we see in the video, even when people try to encourage us with good and positive words, all it sounds like is a pep talk or a ‘God lecture’. It can all seem empty and meaningless.

With everything in life though, repetition and reinforcement are key. Certain messages will never truly sink in unless they are drilled endlessly into our minds. What message is constantly being drilled into yours? Is it one where you are condemned and told that you are not good enough, talented enough or beautiful enough? That’s not the true reflection of who you are. You are no mistake and nothing about your life is an accident. You are uniquely designed for a purpose and that purpose is found when you connect with the one who made you.

The question “why did God make me this way?” is actually a brilliant one, but not when asked with an attitude of self-pity and hopelessness. It should be a soul-searching, positive question, asked with the intention of truly understanding God’s purpose for your life. We want to be part of that journey with you. If you’d like to know more about God and faith, please click on the banner below and check out the video we’ve prepared for you.

Kora 2015

Glo

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June 15, 2015

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If you’re an African musician, or a lover of African music, you would know that the Kora All African Music Awards is one of the biggest events on the African continent not to be missed. Courtesy of Josias Gassesse of africatopsuccess.com, we bring you the latest on this prestigious event taking place in December 2015:

After 10 year journey full circle, the KORA All-Africa Music Awards is back to Namibia for the 2015 edition.

It is a little known fact that the event is actually the joint brainchild of the Namibian President, Dr. Hage Geingob and Mr. Ernest Coovi Adjovi, at that time living in Namibia as Honorary Consul for Ivory Coast.

Conceptualised by the two as a spectacular cultural and entertainment event that would show excellence in African musical culture, the KORA All-Africa Music Awards has since become synonymous with the best that Africa and the diaspora have to offer on the music scene.

Accomplished musical luminaries who have graced the KORA stage over the years include Angelique Kidjo, Kofi Olomide, Miriam Makeba, Thandiswa Mazwai, Michael Jackson, Shaggy, Rihanna, Salif Keita, Oliver Mtukudzi, Bebe Winans and Femi Kuti, among others.

In addition, the Lifetime Achievement and Legendary Award have also been awarded to the late Nelson Mandela, Dr Cheick Modibo Diarra, Kofi Annan and Graca Machel.

Since its inception in 1996, the KORA All-Africa Music Awards has been hosted by South Africa, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. Throughout, it has maintained its status as a major marketing platform for African talent and fertile ground for collaborations and partnerships among African artists. Boasting a live viewership of over 700 million in more than 54 countries worldwide, there is little doubt that the KORA Awards represent a meaningful game-changer in a participating artist’s life and career.

This year, the organizers have upped the ante and have introduced a grand prix of one million US dollars for the ultimate winner of the African Artist of the Year category. On top of that, various category and genre winners will all take home between USD 25000 and USD 50,000 dependent on the category.

All in all, 29 categories are planned for the event whose finale will be held on 13th December 2015 in Windhoek, (Namibia).

For more information on the categories or conditions to participate in Kora 2015, please click here.

Have Some Faith

Glo

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June 15, 2015

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We all go through challenges and difficulties sometimes. Though, when we are in pain and can’t seem to find a way out, it feels like nobody could possibly ever understand what we’re going through, there is nothing that we face as individuals that someone else hasn’t experienced too. We are all bound together by our humanity and our humanness and should never feel like we’re alone.

If this is the case, there must be something that we can learn from those who have suffered pain before and survived. It’s been said that one of the greatest forms of wisdom is to observe the experiences of others – whether positive or negative – and learn from them. Sometimes, we may have to modify what we learn for our own specific situation but, at the end of the day, there is nothing new under the sun.

One of the greatest attributes of many of the heroes of humanity, whether it be Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr or Malala in more recent times, was an unshakable faith that a better day would come. Without that faith in a future that seemed to contradict their present reality, they probably never would have made it through their struggles. Without that faith in the possibility of a positive tomorrow, they would have succumbed to any opposing force that came their way.

Whatever you are going through, have some faith. It may seem like the storm will never pass but it’s your faith that will see you cross the finish line. The ad below, created in support of the US soccer team at last year’s FIFA World Cup, captures the spirit of what this post is about. Sometimes you have to psyche yourself up and repeat what you want until you believe it. Nobody can have as much faith for you as you can for yourself.

Blind faith is not enough. Having faith only in ourselves and in our own abilities is not enough. Even if we do psyche ourselves up, we also need to be humble enough to acknowledge that we need help sometimes. There is a God who cares and who wants us to have a relationship of faith in Him. If you’d like to know more and experience it for yourself, click on the banner below and watch the video that follows.

Stromae Is In Central Africa

Glo

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June 12, 2015

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After Dakar and Abidjan, the Belgian star of Rwandan origin, Stromae will land in Congo on 13thJune within the framework of his African tour started some month ago. The artist knows that he is going to meet a public crazy about him.

Stromae is famous in Black Africa since the release of his title “Formidable” which revealed him in the tropics. His particular style and original video clips make of him a mythical artist in Africa.

After DR Congo, the Belgian star will be in togetherness with his brothers and sisters of Rwanda, his fatherland.

“I am nobody; I am not Stromae but just the little Paul in search of his dad, just a son who wants to resume the dialog with his late father. It is up to me. I am neither a symbol nor a standard bearer. If I say all this, it is also by respect for the million of victims“, the artist nevertheless declared.

Below is his hit song “Formidable” for your listening pleasure!

Content Courtesy of africatopsuccess.com

Time Off

Glo

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June 12, 2015

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This week, one more time, it occurred to me how important it is to take time off to rest or just refresh the mind. It’s been months since I was away from my usual ‘work – home’ routine, and one afternoon this week, I had the opportunity to spend time in various setups different from those I’m accustomed to. It so happened that one of the places I visited was along the sea. I was there for less than an hour but the effect of watching thick waters flow as the sun is setting was priceless. For a moment is felt as if the entire picture of my life came before my eyes, then, all my thoughts got lifted away as I kept staring at that beautiful scenery. Just having that experience did a whole lot good to my mind and when I woke up the next day, I felt more rested than I usually do every morning.

It’s the middle of the year, there is a lot that has happened already from January to June, so give yourself a chance to regroup and get some insight on how to approach the remaining few months. This can be done without involving any costs. It may seem to be something trivial, but I assure you, you will find this to be rewarding.

If you feel overwhelmed by a situation or how life has been for you so far, you desire to have peace but constantly find yourself in state of anxiety, we would like to share with you a message of hope that can reignite your energy and offer you peace and wisdom on how to deal with the most frantic situations. Please click on the banner below. There’s more we’d love to chat to you about.

Abou Diaby Is Released By Arsenal

Culture

Glo

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June 11, 2015

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Arsenal have released the perennially-injured Abou Diaby, after nine years at the club.

The French midfielder made just one appearance for the club this season, playing 67 minutes in the 2-1 Capital One Cup defeat by Southampton in September. He is now out of contract and it has not been renewed.

Back in November, Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger had denied suggestions that the 29-year-old was injury prone, pointing to the fact that the player had fractured his ankle after a tackle from Sunderland’s Dan Smith in 2006, and never truly recovered.

“He [Diaby] is a player that I have an enormous amount of respect for,” explained Wenger.

“Every time he comes back, he has to start from zero with another injury. He was a victim of competition.

“A footballer needs his ankle. He was destroyed by a bad tackle [by Dan Smith in May 2006 that saw Diaby suffer a fractured ankle] at Sunderland six or seven years ago which altered his ankle.

“He is not a fragile player. He was the victim of an assassin’s tackle that went unpunished.”

In total, Diaby made only 124 Premier League appearances in his nine years at Arsenal, as he battled back injury after injury following on from his fractured ankle in 2006.

He played just 16 minutes out of a possible 6,840 in the Premier League since the start of the 2013/14 season.

Diaby could, of course, still be offered a pay-as-you play deal with the Gunners.

Ryo Miyaichi has also been released by the Gunners.

Content Courtesy of independent.co.uk

What I Learned From Kim Kardashian

Glo

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June 11, 2015

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Many say Kim Kardashian has no talent whatsoever and, therefore, does not deserve to be famous. But who, in the world of cyberspace, does not know Kim Kardashian? This name is so popular that when you type “Kim” in Google, “Kardashian” will definitely be one of the first few options you get on the drop down list. Last year, her nude photo shoot for Paper Magazine caused the internet to erupt in a chorus of disgust or delight depending on personal views. And early this year, she got the world engaged in a debate on the colors of a certain dress. Who can forget the dress saga?

So I found myself asking: how does Mrs West manages to be so influential to the point of starting a debate involving scientists, TV personalities and other ‘great minds’ etc, without any apparent talent? Another question followed : How come those who do have talents aren’t doing anything this dramatic with them?

Kim takes whatever she does seriously and does so with full force. What is, to many, a silly debate or an undignified photo shoot, is her way of cultivating and securing her place at the forefront of the fashion and entertainment industry. If going full blonde, exposing her body, or striking unnecessary debates on social media is all Kim is capable of doing, then she must be doing it extremely well with the willingness to go the extra mile.

We can criticize Kim all we want but the question to ask ourselves is, what are we doing with the great talents we possess or claim to possess? With no apparent or obvious talent, a young woman has managed to dominate the world of social media for days, influencing what’s being discussed on TV. If this kind of drive was to be put into a political career, in arts or technology etc, wouldn’t it enrich many lives?

What I have learned from Kim Kardashian is that no matter how little you think you have, even if you appear to have nothing, if you believe in yourself, dedicate yourself to that little, put in some hard work, and believe beyond hate speeches, criticism and stumbling blocks that you will make it, chances are you will. I am not advocating for the immoral things the world of entertainment puts in our faces daily, forcing us to accept as normal. Posting nude pictures online is downright wrong!

What I am saying is if people are willing to go as far as getting us to debate over clothing just for fun, you with a great ability to write , to speak in public , to teach etc, should do more with the gift you have. Our gifts and talents originate from a Creator who has made us for a purpose. Coming to a place of maximizing them may be impossible without first seeking out a relationship with Him. If you’d like to know more about God and His plan for your life in the context of the things we’ve shared in this piece, click on the banner below.

How Many Times A Day Should I Shower?

Culture

Glo

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June 10, 2015

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During a taping of American talk show The View a few months back, ‘Glee’ actress Naya Rivera announced that she only showers once every three days . Understandably, the internet erupted in a chorus of disgust and long hard side eyes aimed at her, but could Naya’s way be healthier?

According to researchers and dermatologists, yes. If you are the three showers a day kind of person, then you probably need to tone it down because the frequency of your showers may actually be doing more harm than good to your skin.

For most people, bathing/showering twice a day with soap is mandatory and yet soap is designed to remove lipids and oils from the skin which dries it. Frequent showers, especially with hot water also irritate the skin, lead to cracks and a higher susceptibility to infections, as well as strip it of healthy bacteria.

Assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City Dr Joshua Zeichner also advises parents not to bathe babies and toddlers daily as exposing their skin to dirt and bacteria early on makes them less sensitive to germs. This plays a role in preventing skin allergies and conditions like eczema as they age.

Obviously, preferences of shower rates vary from place to place and are influenced by factors such as climate, environment, the kind of job one does and activity levels. However, there is at least a general consensus among dermatologists on what healthy showering/bathing practices entail:

Soap is a drying agent so apply it only on the sweatiest/necessary parts of the body unless it can’t be avoided; showers should be kept short; when not using cold water, the ideal temperature is lukewarm, never scalding hot; and moisturize as soon as you step out of the shower. Furthermore, if possible, replace soap with a body wash that doesn’t contain drying ingredients like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.

But back to the burning question at hand: what is considered a healthy shower frequency? According to Dr and author Sanjay Jane, bathing once every two days or twice every three days-with daily cleaning of private parts, under arms and sweatiest parts of one’s body – is healthy enough, but there is nothing wrong with daily showers provided it’s being done right. He also makes a case for daily showers as playing a role beyond the body. Just taking a shower is a feeling of freshness — there’s a psychology to it. Someone who doesn’t shower every day anymore might not have the same energy level. Showering makes people feel more confident, feel better, more beautiful.’

Having said that, Africa is a hot continent, so skipping your daily shower is probably out of the question if you hope to live in harmony with the rest of the population.

Content courtesy of africanwomanmagazine.net [edited]

Is Life A Race ?

Glo

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June 10, 2015

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I watched a movie few weeks ago where a college professor taught his students that life was a race. He explained that the process leading to conception, pregnancy and child birth was the perfect example and proof that life itself comes into being after a race. The ideology presented to youngsters in college was that, if you’re not first, you don’t matter. Therefore, you must work as hard as possible, do whatever it takes to make sure you are top, excellent. Because if you’re not, you’ll be trampled down. So this specific professor was not afraid to employ extreme methods just so that he can produce the best engineers his country has ever seen but unfortunately, they were so extreme at times that students couldn’t take it anymore and would commit suicide.

There is nothing wrong with instilling in a kid a sense of pursuing excellence in life. In fact, this teaching is vital in this generation, and Africa in particular needs big dreamers, moguls in technology, finances, politics, arts and so on.

If you’re a student in college right now, by all means, give your studies your all. We get one life and one chance only to make an impact in our time. So take what you are doing seriously and seek to be the best in what you do.

But in doing that remember that life should not be a marathon. Hard work and excellence will pay off, that’s for sure. But there are other aspects of life not to be neglected. They are not your career, your hard earned money or standing in society, but they may save you when your back is against the wall. Your relationship with people is one of those aspects. As you do what you do, never neglect building and maintaining good relationships. Never ever think it’s okay to pursue that excellence, power and first position in life by cheating, backstabbing or stepping on other people. These dishonest actions will come back to bite you in one way or another, sooner or later. So, Is life a race ? Some say life is a race, some a gift, some a mystery, or a journey ; However you chose to see life, consider yourself being on a journey in which you are given a blank canvas, with resources, abilities and a limited amount of time enough to design a print so unfathomable and spectacular that it will make a life better, and the world a better place.

You may ask: But how does one reach a top echelon without taking shortcuts here and there, or step on people who are vulnerable especially in a world system where corruption has taken deep roots in many hearts and minds? We’re glad, you asked! It is possible to acquire great wisdom that will help you in matters of life and success, we would like to share more on this, please click on the banner below.

If you are of the opinion that life is a race, don’t let it be one in which you should cheat to reach the finish line.

Glo

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