Abezash - Amen

Creativity + wisdom + beauty + courage + compassion + action = Abezash T.

To meet this inspiring artist and the epitome of a fine human being, be on the look out for the 4th Annual Blen Art show, in Washington, DC: blenartshow.com

Also check out Abezash’s fruitful organization at: http://www.artistsforcharity.org

Congo: The Heart of Africa

Many African countries claim to be the heart of Africa, including Malawi, which is probably the thigh.

As the heart is essential for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, Congo is important for Africans to move freely throughout the continent.

It is difficult to travel from southern to northern or from eastern to western Africa, with out passing through the green and beautiful Congo or its neighboring counties. Without the free movement of the Africans, it is imposible to create mutually beneficial economic ties between different African people. That is why Congo is the heart of Africa.

Additionally, Congo is one of the richest countries in the world. Found the in center of Africa, now Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was formerly known as Zaire.

DRC is home to the second longest river in the world, the Congo River. The longest river is also found in Africa and its name is the Nail River. As the heart is the provider of the power needed for life, the Congo River has one of the highest potential to produce hydropower that could light the entire Africa.

Other natural resources in DRC include diamond, gold, petroleum, natural gas, copper, cobalt, uranium, lead, potash, forest, coltan and many more discovered and undiscovered precious minerals. Eighty percent of the world’s known reserves of coltan is found in DRC. Coltan in used as a “vital components in electronic devices, ranging widely from mobile phones to laptop computers,” according to wikipedia.org.

DRC is also rich in human resources.

Not only rich in minerals, forest, and water, but DRC is also blessed in arts. For example, the National Geography describes Congo as “one of the most musically fertile regions on earth.” “Congolese music is sexy…. In Congo, almost everyone can dance or sing.,” reports the Economist.

DRC is also blessed with many revolutionary intellectuals such as Marie-Léontine Tsibinda Bilombo, Pierre Mumbere Mujomba, Jean-Baptiste Tati-Loutard, Kamanda Kama Sywor, and many more. My favorite writer is Philippe Wamba, who is father is Congolese and his mother is African America.


Unfortunately, most of these valuable resources are extracted and exported cheaply and rarely are used to develop the content.

Since 1961, after the assassination of a competent leader who fought for DRC’s independence - Patris Lumumba, DRC became a place where civil wars and other countries’ wars were fought.

“This [conflicts] has been fueled and supported by various national and international corporations and other regimes which have an interest in the outcome of the conflict,” according to globalissues.org

There is a glimpse of hope in DRC, therefore there is a hope for peaceful and progressive Africa, since DRC is the heart of Africa. Different rebel leaders, who once fought each other furiously, have now agreed to hold elections.

To read more about DRC’s election go to www.blackstarnews.com

Gonder, Ethiopia

Source: http://www.etiopiamagica.it/index.htm

The Precious Advocate for Africa

Dr. Leonard H. Robinson, an advocate for progressive and peaceful Africa, passed away on Tuesday July 25, 2006 in Washington, DC. He was 63.

"He was a true servant of the public, whose leadership and dedication changed lives on two different continents….….He was committed to making Africa a full partner in the global community," said Judith McHale, president and CEO of Discovery Communications.

Dr. Robinson’s carrier in civil service started in the early 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer in India from 1964 to 1967. Among many posts he held in the U.S. government, he served two terms as deputy assistant secretary of State for Africa.

In themid 1980s, he was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Additionally, for six years, Dr. Robinson served as president of the U.S. African Development Foundation, which was established by Congress in 1981 to provide financial assistance for grassroots enterprises in Africa.

In early 1990s, he coordinated U.S. policy toward parts of Africa. He demonstrated his superior work in conflict resolution as the director of U.S. diplomatic efforts to end Liberia's civil war.

In 1997, Robinson established the LHR International Group, which is a firm that provided consulting services for African and Asian leaders.

To expand his effort to build support for African the United States, he joined the National Summit on Africa as a board member the same year. Mr. Robinson was also advisory councils of the National Peace Corps Association, and Discovery Channel's Global Education Fund.

In 2001, Mr. Robinson and colleagues founded The Africa Society. The mission of the Africa Society is to educate Americans about the greatness and the resourcefulness of Africa.

In 2004, the University of Virginia appointed Robinson as its first Diplomat Scholar in Residence.

Dr. Robinson was born in North Carolina. He attended Ohio State University and the State University of New York, Binghamton, the American University and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He received two honorary doctoral degrees and taught African Studies at the University of Massachusetts.

Among many of his valuable contribution to the development of Africa, his work on conflict resolution is important for the current and future generation. To mention some of his findings, “Simply put: the wars in Africa must stop!! (there are hopeful signs that resolutions are occurring in at least nine (9) conflict zones)… African-Americans - - as the core of the African Diaspora can and have played critical roles in helping to resolve and prevent conflict in Africa.”

According to The Africa Society, “Robinson is survived by two daughters, Rani Robinson of Washington, DC, Kemberley Robinson of Houston, Texas, his mother, Winnie T. Robinson of Durham, North Carolina, and a brother, Dr. Michael Robinson of Los Angeles, California.

A memorial service will be held on August 15 at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC at 10:30 am. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, who is chair emeritus of the Africa Society board, is scheduled to deliver the eulogy.”