From Malawi with Smiles

Home and Exile by Chinua Achebe is a collection of essays where Achebe reflects on colonialism, African identity, and the power of storytelling.

Here are 5 key lessons from the book:

1. The Power of Narrative: Achebe emphasizes that stories have the power to shape perceptions and realities.

He critiques how Western literature often portrayed Africa negatively and stresses the importance of Africans telling their own stories to reclaim their identity and dignity.

2. The Impact of Colonialism: The book explores the lasting effects of colonialism on African culture and consciousness.

Achebe discusses how colonial powers used literature and language as tools of domination, and the struggle to rediscover African cultural heritage in a post-colonial world.

3. Cultural Identity and Pride: Achebe advocates for Africans to take pride in their culture and heritage.

He emphasizes that African literature and traditions are as valuable as Western ones, and should be celebrated and preserved.

4. The Role of the African Writer: Achebe believes that African writers have a responsibility to reflect their societies and histories accurately.

He argues that African literature must serve as a vehicle for cultural and political consciousness, challenging stereotypes and offering authentic representations.

5. Rejection of Cultural Superiority: Achebe rejects the idea that any culture is superior to another.

He critiques Western notions of cultural superiority, arguing for the recognition of African civilizations and contributions, and the importance of mutual respect between cultures.

Home and Exile is a profound reflection on the importance of reclaiming African identity through literature and resisting the erasure caused by colonialism.

BIG EVENT AT MSINJA SHRINE IN LILONGWE TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN NEW YEAR IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE (SPRING EQUINOX)!

THE STORY OF A LEGEND

Sam Loco Efe was born in Enugu on 25th December 1945.

His father was a warder, by name— Arase Efeimwonkiyeke. He was a Benin man who worked in Eastern Nigeria and his mother was a petty trader who sold akara.

He spent his childhood in the town of Abakaliki in present-day Ebonyi State. In fact, he spent much of his years in Abakaliki.

When he was in primary school, he lost his father. He had to support his mother in her business which made him spend longer than usual years before graduating from primary school.

He started acting while still in school when a theatre group came to stage a play called "The Doctor In Spite of Himself", afterwards he discussed with members of the group about the theatre and performance arts.

In elementary school, he was a member of various groups including a drama society that performed a rendition of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at an Eastern regional arts festival in Abakaliki, the play came last in the drama competition but Efe was noted as the best actor which earned him a scholarship to complete elementary school.

After finishing elementary school, he attended various secondary schools and was active in the drama society, organizing a performance of The Doctor in Spite of Himself and a play called Vendetta.

After secondary school, he was a member of a traveling theatre group and played soccer earning the moniker locomotive later shortened as loco. That was how his name Loco came to being.

During the Biafran genocidal War, Efe fought on the Biafra side until he returned to Benin in 1968. He saw himself as an Igbo man and a Biafran before anything.

While in Benin in the 60s, he started the Ovonranwen Theatre Group with their debut production being Ogierhiakhi’s Obaiwape.

However, his earnings from acting was meagre and thereafter, he traveled to Lagos to seek better career opportunities and to explore a career in football.

He got his first job in 1972 working for Michelin Tyres. He applied for the position without knowing how to drive which was a requirement for the job.

He learned how to drive a day before the interview. During the interview, he passed the oral interview and failed the driving test but honesty about his error in judgement won over the interviewer.

He worked for Michelin selling tyres in Lagos, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta. He soon left Michelin to work for Dunlop Tyres as a Senior Sales Representative in the Tyres and Allied products division.

While working for Dunlop in Benin, he was a cast member of NTA Benin's television series, Hotel de Jordan and also performed in a rendition of Ola Rotimi's The Gods are Not to Blame.

In 1977, he left sales for a career in theatre. He auditioned and got the lead part of Langbodo, a play by Dapo Adelugba presented during FESTAC.

After the end of Festac, Adelugba introduced him to a friend of his at University of Ibadan about opportunities in theatre. Adelugba's friend was able to get Efe a position as a senior artiste in the institution.

Sam Loco would later become a household name and one of the early pioneers of Nollywood.

He was such a funny actor.

He featured in movies like :

1. Tom and Jerry
2. Final World Cup
3. Long John
4. Ukwa
5. Akịdị
6. My Love
7. IJELE the son of Masquerade
8. Anunuebe and a lot unmentioned.

Sam Loco Efe died in his hotel room at Amakọhịa, Owerri, Imo State on 7th August 2011. Till date, nobody knows the cause of his death. Ventolin inhaler was found with him when the room was broken. Report has it that Sam Loco was an asthmatic patient.

A legend never dies❌

Two women showing uncovered legs in the public place for the first time , Toronto , 1937

7 QUOTES OF ST. TERESA OF CALCUTTA

Dèvil’s Pool (Mosi-oa-Tunya) is a natural pool of water that’s situated atop of Victoria Falls, renown for being among the largest waterfalls in the world. Right on the edge of this massive waterfall, a calm pool of water forms. This is known as the Dèvil’s Pool Victoria Falls. And daring visitors can actually swim in this pool straddling the edge of Victoria Falls! Dèvil’s Pool Victoria Falls is located in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s in the Zambezi River, along the Zambia 🇿🇲 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 border yourafricanation1.com.ng

✌️💕🌎

SOME BUILDING TIPS TO REMEMBER IN YOUR NEXT PROJECT

Anything that requires an expert will never be cheap especially when done right. In certain careers such as low or aerospace particularly pilots for example, they have minimums in earnings.

So here are some tips you must never ever forget when building.

1. THE CORRECT CEMENT

Cement comes in different textures and mixes. There is cement for concrete and cement for building and cement mixtures for plastering. Even with plastering the plastering for inside the house uses less cement than the one for outside. I will avoid too much detail so we keep the information basic. Some builders will compromise here but you must not. In certain regions or areas such as swampland we must use more wheelbarrows of cement or less wheelbarrows of sand. So the mixture can be four wheelbarrows of sand to one 50Kg bag of cement. To avoid seemingly promoting a particular cement brand I suggest you do a bit of research.

2. TERMITES KILLER OR TERMIDITE

If you and I forget or ignore to “disinfect” your ground against termites correctly they will come back. My earlier building projects did not go as planned. We bought cheap of counterfeit termidite. We are still regretting. In some cases the builders we had then store the termite killer. Never forget this.

3. CUTTING YOUR CLOTH ACCORDING TO SIZE

If your plan is to build a four bedrooms house but your budget is currently for a one bedroom house, then start building the same four bedrooms house but with one room at a time. There is a way to do this. Blocks are like clothing; they can be “stitched” together.

4. BUILDING IS VERY ADDICTIVE

BE CAREFUL WITH BUILDING. You may sell your wife to buy a door frame. It is ok to take a break and raise funds or just recompose yourself. Without the discipline to control this addiction building can destroy a good thing.

5. DON'T DO SHORTCUTS

In trying to save money and manage the project you will be tempted to cut corners. Never. It’s better a slow project coming up well than a quick project with violating standards. Brickforce wire, conforce wire, ring beam, etc. these and essential components in building.

CONCLUSION

I just came to remind you that you are doing well. Don’t stop. Don’t be derailed even by yourself. In case you have not started yet by all means start planning and implementing. When time permits as it almost always does, your day in the limelight is coming.

MCNLIVE

President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi was on Thursday awarded an Honorary Degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy by the University of Malawi (UNIMA) at the Great Hall in Zomba.

Malawis president, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who is also UNIMA Chancellor conferred the honorary degree to the Mozambican leader, the third person to be awarded an honorary degree since the establishment of the university 59 years ago.

Speaking before conferring the degree to Nyusi, President Chakwera said the award of the Honorary Degree to President Nyusi is a great respect and recognition of the enormous achievements that the Mozambican leader has made and continues to make to foster the relationship between the two countries.

He said that since Nyusi took over leadership of Mozambique, Malawi has enjoyed cordial and bilateral relationships in various development areas, from transport to trade.

The president added that apart from promoting the relationship, President Nyusi has been at the forefront of supporting Malawi in times of disasters citing Tropical Cyclone, Anna, Gombe and Freddy devastations.

“Today, we celebrate another chapter of the relationship of our two countries. President Nyusi has portrayed a transformative and instrumental leadership and that cannot go unrecognized.

"Through his leadership, we have witnessed the birth of peace and stability in the region and Malawi has benefited from this," the president added.

Chakwera said through Nyusi's leadership, the two countries have signed a number of Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) in various sectors of economy that has seen Malawi benefiting.

The Malawi leader expressed hope that Malawi and Mozambique will continue to support each other to open more areas of bilateral relationship.

In his acceptance speech after being awarded the doctorate degree, President Nyusi said he was happy to be recognized by the prestigious institution in Malawi.

President Nyusi said he did not take the award as a mere thing but a great recognition of the strong relationship that exist between the two countries.

The Mozambican president therefore promised to continue supporting Malawi in many aspects to ensure that the bond between the two countries continues to get stronger for the benefit of both states and the entire Southern Africa Development Community (SADC )region,
“We will continue to create safe environments for our people by fighting terrorism while at the time promoting trade and industrialisation,” Nyusi added.

UNIMA Vice Chancellor, Prof Samson Sajidu said the honorably degree was based on the contribution that President Nyusi has made in addressing challenges within Mozambique and across the region.

Born on February 9, 1959, in Mueda District, Cabo Delgado Province, Nyusi became the 4th Mozambican leader on January 15, 2015, and was re-elected in 2019, serving his second term.

His academic career started in 1976 when he attended his secondary school education at Mariri Secondary School in Cabo-Delgado Province.

In 1982 he completed his high school education at the Samora Machel Secondary School in Beira, Sofala Province.

In 1990, Nyusi obtained a Masters Degree with distinctions in Mechanical Engineering from VAAZ Brno Military Academy in Czech Republic.

The Mocambique leader also has postgraduate qualifications in Management from Victoria University, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Before ascending to the seat of the presidency, Nyusi worked with the Mozambique Ports and Railway Company, while there, he rose to the ranks of assistant to the head of the general shop's service, a Railways Director and later Managing Director of the Maputo Ports and Railways Company, in charge of business operations.

From 2002 to 2008, he worked as a mathematics part-time lecturer at the Pedagogical University in Nampula.

As president, Nyusi, has served in various portfolios such that in 2020 he was elected SADC Chairperson where he played a huge role of mobilising the private sector to play a major role in regional economic integration.

From 2015 to 2016, he chaired the SADC organ on politics defence and security cooperation where he actively played another role of preserving peace and stability in the region.

In 2022, President Nyusi was appointed by the African Union heads of state and government as champion for Disaster Risk Management in the continent.

On the political landscape, President Nyusi has made some remarkable achievements one being restoring the lasting peace through dialogue with RENAMO and signed a Peace and National Reconciliation that saw 5,221 ex-combatants of RENAMO being disarmed, demobilised and reintegrated into society.

Bilaterally, President Nyusi has leveraged relations with Malawi with bold initiatives in the areas of transport and communications, energy, social and cultural exchanges.
MANA

🌍She was sent to buy a Loaf of Bread, but She brought the Bakery home: Her Uncle who was coming back from School saw her and took a picture and video of this Girl carrying a Loaf of Albany Bread She bought while She was running home in the mud. He captured the genuine and innocent happiness on her face.
The picture went viral. People said it’s the kind of picture they would like to associate with the Bread. Soon after, the picture is all over on billboards and trucks of Albany.
Albany recognised Lethukukhanya Mjaji, the beautiful 5 years old Girl that warmed South Africans with her radiant genuine smile.
People requested that Albany put up a billboard with this beautiful picture. Albany responded by making physical contact with the parents.
The little Girl has gotten a full education bursary till She graduates, and the single Mother has gotten a new house. The little Girl remains an Albany Bread brand ambassador for a while.
A smile can work wonders in so many ways 🌍🙂

"When I told my father I was going to marry Jake he said, ‘If you marry that man you will never set foot in this house again.’⁣
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He was horrified that I could contemplate marrying a black man, and I soon learned that most people felt the same way. The first years of our marriage living in Birmingham were hell — I cried every day, and barely ate. No one would speak to us, we couldn’t find anywhere to live because no one would rent to a black man, and we had no money.⁣
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People would point at us in the street. Then I gave birth to a stillborn son at eight months. It wasn’t related to the stress I was under but it broke my heart, and we never had any more children.⁣
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We were at the same technical college. I was having typing and shorthand lessons and he’d been sent there for training by the Air Force. He was with a group of black friends and they called my friend and me over to talk. We didn’t even know they spoke English, but Jake and I got chatting. He quoted Shakespeare to me, which I loved.⁣
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Jake returned to Trinidad, but we carried on writing to each other, and a few years later he returned to the UK to get better paid work.⁣
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He asked me to marry him, quite out of the blue, when I was only 19. My father threw me out, and I left with only one small suitcase to my name. No family came to our register office wedding in 1948.⁣
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But gradually life became easier. I got teaching jobs, ending up as a deputy head teacher. First Jake worked in a factory, then for the Post Office.⁣
Slowly we made friends together, but it was so hard. I used to say to new friends: ‘Look, I have to tell you this before I invite you to my home — my husband is black.’⁣
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My father died when I was 30 and although we were reconciled by then, he never did approve of Jake.⁣
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Today we have been married for 63 years, and are still very much in love. I do not regret marrying him for an instant, despite all the pain we have suffered."⁣

Can We see a real love like this today?

George McLaurin, the first Black man admitted to the University of Oklahoma in 1948, was fõrced to sit in a corner far from his white classmates.

But his name remains on the honor roll as one of the three best students of the university. These are his words: "Some colleagues would look at me like I was an animal, no one would give me a word, the teachers seemed like they were not even there for me, nor did they always take my questions when I asked. But I devoted myself so much that afterwards, they began to look for me to give them explanations and to clear their questions.
You will be celebrated one day
Just keep working hard

THE FIRST WEALTHIEST BLACK FAMILY IN THE US:

Junius G. Groves 1859 - 1925.

Farmer, landowner, and businessman Junius G. Groves was one of the wealthiest Black Americans of the early 20th century. Born a slave in Green County, Kentucky, Groves was later liberated and joined other freedmen in the “Great Exodus” to Kansas in 1879, eventually finding work as a farmhand. Impressed with his strong work ethic and production, Groves’ employer offered him nine acres of land to farm on shares.

By 1884, he and his wife Matilda had saved enough to purchase 80 acres of land near Edwardsville, Kansas. So successful was their venture that, just four years later, they had acquired a total of 2,000 acres and replaced their one-room shanty with a 22-room mansion.

Groves made a name for himself as a potato grower, producing as many as 721,500 bushels in one year – far and away more than any other farmer – and earning the title of “Potato King of the World.” He also operated a general store, maintained several orchards, and had investments in various mining and banking interests. Groves worked the farm until his death in 1925. He attributed his success to the endless hard work and devotion of his wife and 12 children.

FINALLY: Kenya’s President William Ruto says he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes after deadly protests which saw parliament set ablaze on Tuesday.

In an address to the nation, he said it was clear that Kenyans "want nothing" to do with the bill.

"I concede," he said, adding that he would not sign the bill into law.
At least 22 people were killed in Tuesday’s protests, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC).

Mr Ruto said he would now enter into dialogue with the young people, who were at the forefront of the biggest protests to hit the country since he was elected in 2022.

List of Memorial Services For the Late SKC and 8 Others this Weekend 🕯

SATURDAY ;-

1pm ⏰️ UK Memorial Event 🇬🇧 at Northampton Saints, cinch stadium ( Franklin Gardens, Weedon Road )

6pm ⏰️ Ntcheu Candle Lighting Memorial Service at Ntcheu Depot

SUNDAY;-

3pm ⏰️ Ireland Memorial Mass 🇮🇪 at St Matthews Parish ( Balleyfermot, 10 Blackditch Dr, Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10 )

6pm ⏰️ Dedza Candle Light Memorial Ceremony at Dedza Town Hall

The boy pictured below was called Kalulu, a 12 year old enslaved African boy who drowned in Livingstone Falls in the Congo while working as a porter for British explorer, Sir Henry Morton Stanley, who also appears in one of the photos.

He was sold to Stanley by an Arab merchant in Zanzibar. His real name was Ndugu Mhali,but because Stanley didn't like the name he christened him Kalulu.

Between 1872 to 1873, Kalulu accompanied Stanley around Europe and America, and during that time posed for a wax model which was later installed at Madame Tussaud’s museum in London .

Stanley briefly enrolled him at a school in Wandsworth, South West London, where the headmaster later noted that he was " clever and progressing in English."

After the death of Dr David Livingstone in Zambia in 1874 , Stanley who was keen to carry on with Livingstone's exploration work, withdrew Kalulu from school and the two returned to Africa.

In 1877, Stanley while using Kalulu as his servant, embarked on an expedition in the Congo to find the Source of river Nile.

Unfortunately during this trip Kalulu died in a tragic accident after his canoe plunged hundreds of feet down a water fall on the Congo River. The waterfall was later named 'Kalulu Falls' in his honour.

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His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika and Her Excellency Professor Getrude Mutharika have safely arrived in Ntcheu to witness the funeral and burial ceremony of their son Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima who untill his tragic death was The Country's Vice President.

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika introduced Dr Chilima to frontline politics in 2014 when he unveiled him as his running mate for the 2014 elections stunning the whole country and entire SADC Region. The pair went on to win the 2014 elections defeating the then incumbent Joyce Banda and the MCP President Lazarus Chakwera.