Teddy Afro: Ethiopia's top artiste aims to heal the nation with the mic

In the midst of the political tension in Ethiopia, one man is hoping to turn around the situation through what he loves doing best. Singing.
Teddy Afro, a top Ethiopian artiste wants to heal the country with his mic. This is despite having previously had run-ins with the government leading to the banning of his tracks in 2005, four years after his career took off.
In an interview with the BBC’s Amharic service, Teddy who is based in the United States said he aimed at using his music to turn around the tensed political atmosphere. His latest track titled ‘Ethiopia’ is sung in Amharic – the dominant language of the East African giant.

Rather than misunderstanding each other, let's communicate, instead of conflict, let's love one another and long for peace instead of holding a grudge, let's forgive one another.

‘‘… for us to come out of the situation we are in, I believe the only choice is love. I’m sad with what has been happening recently, I’m hoping that our elders will continue to collaborate and find a solution that will leave the country better off for the next generation.
‘‘Rather than misunderstanding each other, let’s communicate, instead of conflict, let’s love one another and long for peace instead of holding a grudge, let’s forgive one another,’‘ he added.
The 6 minutes 37 seconds track recently helped him top the Billboard World Albums chart, a feat the musician celebrated on his Facebook page. He told the BBC that the current track has exceeded his expectations. It is said to have sold over 500,000 copies since release.
‘‘It gives me great joy, there hasn’t been an album that has been this well received to my knowledge. All of my music is based on love, like Martin Luther King said, hate is defeated with love, darkness with light.
The new single ‘Ethiopia’ was published on video sharing website Youtube on April 14, 2017 between then and now, it has been viewed over 5.2 million times. The track marked Teddy’s global breakthrough and his fifth album since he started off 16 years back.
Ethiopia’s political problems have been at the heart of spreading anti-government protests in the Amhara and Oromia regions of the country. The protests have been met by heavy security clampdown leading to deaths.
A six months state of emergency was imposed in October 2016 to help quell the protests, it was extended upon its expiration in April this year for a further three months.
Thousands of people were detained during the protests and a recent government report said over 660 people were killed. Addis Ababa has repeatedly refused to accept independent probe as demanded by the United Nations and the European Union.
But the call for reforms continue to pour in. The government has released 1000s of those arrested whiles others are awaiting trial for disrupting the peace.

Credit:  Africanews

Facebook CEO lauds Nigerian woman leading a huge online community

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, has been talking about the impact online communities are making around the world.
He is due to address the global tech giant’s inaugural Facebook Communities Summit to be held in Chicago next month.
Ahead of the Chicago summit, he has been meeting people who have helped build meaningful Facebook communities. One of such people is Lola Omolola, a Nigerian who lives in Chicago.

Two years ago, she founded a secret Facebook group called Female IN, or FIN. It's a no-judgment space where more than a million women come to talk about everything from marriage and sex to health issues and work problems -- and it's helping end the culture of silence that exists for women.

‘‘Two years ago, she founded a secret Facebook group called Female IN, or FIN. It’s a no-judgment space where more than a million women come to talk about everything from marriage and sex to health issues and work problems — and it’s helping end the culture of silence that exists for women in some parts of the world.
‘‘I’m looking forward to meeting more admins like Lola and talking about how we can help them do even more to build community. I’ll share more info on the summit as we get closer, and I’ll stream the event live from my profile later this month,’‘. Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post published on Tuesday (June 6).
Female IN describes itself as ‘‘a movement of 1,000,000+ women focused on building compassion, providing support and nurturing the power of self-expression in a culture where women are meant to be seen and not heard.’‘
Facebook is the only medium through which they can be contacted and to access the group an existing member (known as FINster) is empowered to add other members.
He stressed how the platform continues to play a lead role in making the world more open and connected. He said there was, however, more to be done to promote mutual togetherness and to build a common understanding.
‘‘This summit will be the next chapter and we’ll discuss more of what we’re building to empower community leaders to bring the world closer together,’‘ he added.

Nigeria police say 14 died in Maiduguri attack, acting president visits city

An attack by Boko Haram jihadists on the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri killed 14 people, police said on Thursday, the first official toll.
The fighters had attacked the city’s suburbs on Wednesday night with anti-aircraft guns, said Damian Chukwu, police commissioner of Borno State, of which Maiduguri is the capital.
The attack was the biggest on the city for about 18 months.
Nigeria’s acting president is visiting Maiduguri after the attack which injured 24 others, his spokesman said on Thursday.
Yemi Osinbajo, to whom President Muhammadu Buhari handed power after going to Britain on medical leave on May 7, is in the city to launch an aid initiative for people displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency, spokesman Laolu Akande tweeted.
Maiduguri is the epicentre of the eight-year fight against Boko Haram, and has been largely free of violence for the past two years.

Credit: Reuters