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Posts published in “International”

Cemetery Of African Slaves Honored In Brazil

By goodblacknews on September 15, 2012

Brazil Cemetery

In this 1996 photo released by Ana de la Merced Guimaraes, bones from African slaves sit in boxes after being recovered by Guimaraes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (AP Photo/Ana de la Merced Guimaraes)
RIO DE JANEIRO — Wearing full-skirted white dresses and turbans, the religious leaders chanted blessings and sprinkled water on the concrete floor of a modest house near this city’s port. Beneath their feet were the remains of tens of thousands of African slaves who had died shortly after arriving from their horrific sea voyage.  The bodies had been dumped into a fetid, open-air cemetery, often chopped up and mixed with trash. With the 15-minute ceremony this week, the Afro-Brazilian priests were finally giving the slaves at least the semblance of a proper burial centuries later.

Desmond Tutu Calls For Bush And Blair To Face Trial At The Hague

By goodblacknews on September 3, 2012

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu called Sunday for Tony Blair and George Bush to face prosecution at the International Criminal Court for their role in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Tutu, the retired Anglican Church’s archbishop of South Africa, wrote in an op-ed piece for The Observer newspaper that the ex-leaders of Britain and the United States should be made to “answer for their actions.”
The Iraq war “has destabilized and polarized the world to a greater extent than any other conflict in history,” wrote Tutu, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 1984.
“Those responsible for this suffering and loss of life should be treading the same path as some of their African and Asian peers who have been made to answer for their actions in the Hague,” he added.

African Prints In European Cuts Are A Hit In Fall Fashion

By goodblacknews on August 31, 2012
Vlisco Designs

Vlisco Designs is a fabric company that makes it its speciality to experiment with wild, new ideas for African fabrics, breaking the boundaries of the expected with these traditional fabrics. (Photo: Facebook)

Couture runways and the concrete walkways of the streets are evidence that the use of African prints is expanding in fashion, but with modern European styling and a fresh sensibility.  Traditionally, African prints have been used for formal ethnic costumes with volumes of lengthy layers. Or they have made it to the mainstream in the form of political dashikis. For the younger demographic, these older styles haven’t won many fans. Indeed, the trendier set wants to show their shape, flaunt a little skin, add a few inches to their stature, and find pieces that sample from the latest runway ensembles.

Story of Aboriginal Girl Group "The Sapphires" To Hit Big Screen

By goodblacknews on August 30, 2012

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqvhQBliONA&w=560&h=315]
Here’s the Toronto International Film Festival trailer for The Weinstein Company’s Cannes pickup The Sapphires. The movie about an Aboriginal girl group stars Chris O’Dowd as an unlikely talent scout, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell. Screenplay is by playwright Tony Briggs, whose mother and family members were part of the original Sapphires, and Keith Thompson. Directed by actor and theater director Wayne Blair, The Sapphires is also screening this weekend in Telluride.

Story of Aboriginal Girl Group “The Sapphires” To Hit Big Screen

By goodblacknews on August 30, 2012

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqvhQBliONA&w=560&h=315]

Here’s the Toronto International Film Festival trailer for The Weinstein Company’s Cannes pickup The Sapphires. The movie about an Aboriginal girl group stars Chris O’Dowd as an unlikely talent scout, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens and Miranda Tapsell. Screenplay is by playwright Tony Briggs, whose mother and family members were part of the original Sapphires, and Keith Thompson. Directed by actor and theater director Wayne Blair, The Sapphires is also screening this weekend in Telluride.

Togo Women Push Sex Strike To Unseat President

By goodblacknews on August 27, 2012

In this Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 photo, female opposition leader Isabelle Ameganvi calls on Togo’s women to observe a one-week sex strike beginning Monday, in Lome, Togo. The female wing of a civil rights group is urging women in Togo to stage a week-long sex strike to demand the resignation of the country’s president.(AP Photo/ Erick Kaglan)

LOME, Togo (AP) — The female wing of a civil rights group is urging women in Togo to stage a week-long sex strike to demand the resignation of the country’s president.
Women are being asked to start withholding sex from their husbands or partners as of Monday, said Isabelle Ameganvi, leader of the women’s wing of the group Let’s Save Togo. She said the strike will put pressure on Togo’s men to take action against President Faure Gnassingbe.

Ugandans Celebrate First Olympic Gold Medal In 40 Years

By goodblacknews on August 15, 2012

Ugandan Olympic Gold medallist marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich, holding the Ugandan flag centre accompanied by Education and Sports Minister Jessica Alupo, centre left, inspect a guard of honor, at Entebbe International Airport 42 kms from the capital Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday Aug. 15, 2012. Kiprotich’s win has been deeply felt in Uganda, which had not won gold since the Munich Games in 1972. Lawmakers are considering a motion that declares Kiprotich a national hero, his employer has promised to promote him at work. (AP Photo/ Stephen Wandera)
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s only medal winner at the London Olympics cried tears of joy as hundreds of people welcomed him home on Wednesday with celebrations of music and dance in honor of the African nation’s first gold since the 1972 games in Munich.

Kenyan Woman Could Become First Black African Woman To Scale Mt. Everest

By goodblacknews on August 10, 2012

Jezebel.com reports that Helen Kinuthia will attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest with a charity climbing expedition in 2014. Kinuthia who is from Kenya was selected from a pool of 150 climbers after she successfully completed an audition climb on Mt. Kenya, Africa’s second-tallest mountain. The climbers will attempt to scale Everest as part of Expedition Everest a charity that organized the climb to raise  $500,000 for the Flying Kites Leadership Academy in Njambini, Kenya. The group seeks to raise the standards of care available to children in Africa, giving them the tools they will need to succeed. Currently, Expedition Everest is building the Flying Kites Leadership Academy, a home and school for abandoned, abused and orphaned children.
via Kenyan woman could become the 1st black African woman to scale Mt. Everest | theGrio.

Serena Williams Wins Olympic Tennis Singles, Gets Golden Slam

By goodblacknews on August 4, 2012

Serena Williams demolished Russia’s Maria Sharapova 6-0 6-1 to grab Olympic tennis singles gold on Saturday, becoming the first player in the sport to win all four grand slams and an Olympic title in both singles and doubles.  Having completed the career “golden slam”, the unstoppable American, who dropped just 17 games in her six Olympics singles matches, is now making plans away from tennis.  “I’ve won everything. Now I can go to Disneyworld,” said the 30-year old, laughing.

Scholarship Program Will Bring 40 African Men to Morehouse College

By goodblacknews on August 3, 2012

Strive Masiyiwa, founder and chair of Econet Wireless, has established the Ambassador Andrew Young International Scholars program. Masiyiwa, a native of Zimbabwe has invested $6.4 million in the program that will send 40 African students to Morehouse College in Atlanta. The students will receive full, four-year scholarships.