African Creativity with Muse Origins

What’s up people?

Two words; MEGA MILLION mayhem has officially taking over the DMV and the best thing about it is we all have the ability to hope and dream BIG. I am in no position to promise you all that I will be here next weekend blogging as I foresee I long week ahead of meeting with officials, doing press releases and starting the process of collecting my $650 million. Nigeria not to worry, I will bring this pot of cash home to the motherland so we can fix up my proud country. 

Ok people; let me get focused…

One highlight on many of my trips back home to Nigeria over the years not including spending time with family is always my visit to the local markets to collect new arts & crafts for personal use and as souvenirs.  Want to feel the spirit of a nation? One must connect with the natives and feel the pulse of the country through its people in order to properly gauge the climate and its affairs. Something else I always take with me when leaving the local shops after a long afternoon of haggling and shouting with vendors is the immense talent and enormous creativity available in Nigeria.

I recently came across a Nigerian group that focuses its efforts on EXACTLY that “African Creativity”. Muse Origins is an online website that aspires to feature African art, culture and custom with simple illustration and precision. Starting out as simply a hobby, Muse Origins has now expanded as a partnership amongst friends with hopes of bigger things to come. I recently reached out and connected with one of its creators and discovered we shared similar thoughts and interest when it comes to Nigeria. Here is an excerpt from the interview Adiya of Muse Origins;  

Panko            In your words; what does “African Creativity” Represent?

Adiya            African creativity represents the expression of art with a major focus on our Motherland (our Origins). More and more, it represents people’s expressions of African culture, fashion, photography, etc. It shows the Africa that popular media does not like to show – the Africa that is full of potential and beauty.

Panko            What do you want people to know about Muse Origins?

Adiya            I want people to know what Muse Origins represents – inspiration from our Motherland. There is a lot to be inspired by in Africa- from the people to our land to our expressions. Africa has a lot to offer the world, and this is what Muse Origins wants to showcase.

Panko            How would you describe or explain the Creativity in Nigeria?

Adiya            Creativity in Nigeria is generally on the rise – more people are expressing it. There was a time when making your living in a creative industry was looked down on, but that time is fast disappearing. More people are having two jobs even – their normal day job, and the moonlighting creative job. Nigerians are taking more pride in producing beautiful and creative things as well. I think this is great and I’m looking forward to the creative industry growing more and more.

Panko            How can this be better shared with the rest of the world?

Adiya            This can be better shared through more exposure, especially through the Internet. Internet penetration is still really low in Nigeria (even compared to sub-saharan Africa). But we need to use ICT to market Nigeria and all things made in Nigeria – from film, theatre, art, photography, fashion, make-up artists, etc. This way, the mature creative industries in other parts of the world can take notice of our emerging one. This will definitely give us a lift. This is starting to happen in fashion and it’s great.

Panko            How do you define success?

Adiya            I define success as simply getting what you want- be it money, love, happiness. To me, it’s a combination of all these things. Also, I see successes as little stepping stones, always changing along with my targets

Panko            Please complete the following; five years from now…

Adiya            Five years from now, Muse Origins will be one of the top five resources, both online and offline, for African fashion, art, photography, culture and all things creative.

Panko            Please complete the following; My Nigeria is…

Adiya            My Nigeria is full of promise, color, artistic expression and people who are working to lift up Nigeria

To learn and see more “African Creativity” please make sure you go and check out

the website www.museorigins.com and show your support.

Art truly is a universal language.

KIVA Loan Program

What’s up people?

Every now and then I watch and listen to the nightly news as economist debate and forecast their trepid accounts of both the United States and global economy. The outcome typically goes from optimism to gloom all in a 25 minute segment, especially if you let Ali Velshi of CNN tell it. I am not a financial expert nor do I play one on television but I can tell you for sure that the Money Crunch is very REAL. Gone are the days when people actually had the ability to save money for investments, plan for retirement or considered diversifying their portfolio. Today’s economic world is SUR-VI-VAL noni.

Ok people; Let me get focused...

The International Monetary Fund generates these reports every quarter called the World Economic Outlook. Well the first report published in January 2012 states that the global recovery remains threatened and intensifies due to financial conditions deteriorating, growth prospects continue to dim and the need to reform financial or banking systems in all major advanced economies. Not a good look at all people.

So I recently connected with a small Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) based in San Francisco, California doing its part to help keep dreams alive for entrepreneurs worldwide. There name KIVA; and its mission is to connect people through lending in hopes of fighting poverty. The program operates through the use of the internet and a global network of microfinance institutions, where people lend amounts as small as $25 to help generate business interest and hope into the careers of fledging entrepreneurs globally. A Swahili term, KIVA means “Agreement or Unity” and every successful business that I know of has this in its ethos.  

Founded in 2005 by a couple Jessica and Matt Flannery; its premise of creating a lending platform that enables people in the developed world to loan to small business people in developing countries remains in tact and its as strong as ever. KIVA remains primarily funded through the support of lenders making donations and also generates funding through grants, corporate sponsors and foundations. 100% of money lend to KIVA goes directly towards funding loans. Its broad range of support from diverse set of corporations and foundations consist of giants such as Chevron, Visa, American Express, Ernest & Young, The Rockefeller Foundation, Facebook, Google, Yahoo and etc.

Unlike other entities, KIVA tackles global poverty in a personal and sustainable way by empowering and connecting directly with aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide. KIVA wants to make it known and clear that a loan through their enterprise is not a “Hand-out”. It is a source of strength for both the giver and the recipient. KIVA users are not donors, they are lenders in a “peer-to-peer” community. Lenders on the other hand see who their money goes to, what the recipients are doing with it and how it is making a difference.

So get involved today by doing one of the following; make a loan, purchase a KIVA card, share KIVA with family and friends, participate as a volunteer.

For more information on KIVA please visit www.kiva.org.

KIVA – Loans that Change Lives

Charity: Water

What’s really good people?

I guess it is truly March Madness For REAL! The weather outside is already in the 80s here in the DMV and top seeds in the NCAA Basketball tournament are already dropping like flies in the annual David versus Goliath spring classic. Another thing that has me pumped at the moment is the new features and profiles I have lined up on my blogspot in the coming weeks. Kicking things off this week is the work being done by the organization Charity: Water. I believe this is a very thoughtful and selfless initiative worthy of more attention. Let’s Go!    

OK people; let me get focused…

Something I cherish through my blogging every week is the opportunity to raise awareness and provide additional insight on topics and issues that typically get overlooked and require on-going discussions in hopes of identifying practicable solutions. When it comes to Nigeria and the entire continent of Africa as a whole, the never ending water crisis remains an issue for the world’s second largest and second most populous continent.

Legend has it that as far back as early ancient times, African tribes fought primarily about two things; one was cattle and the other was WATER. The United Nations Environment Program found that most Africans residing in rural areas use, on average, only 30-40 liters of water per day for domestic consumption. In comparison, the average United States consumer uses approximately 700 liters of water per day.

My childhood in Nigeria consisted of several hurdles my family dealt with daily when it came to accessing safe water and adequate sanitation. I still recall fetching for water and walking miles on top of miles to store enough water in our household whenever the power went out and the water well became inoperable. Now that I am in my adult years, I at times still find it very difficult to see water running for no apparent reason from a faucet and not want to just SCREAM out loud as I know first hand the significance and value of consuming a milliliter drop of clean water. 

March 22, 2012 is World Water Day I recently reached out to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. Charity: Water was founded in 2006 by Scott Harrison who came up with a refreshing concept of ‘giving up’ his birthday and asked loved ones to donate to the water cause instead of buying presents. In five years, the premise continues to grow and gain momentum as more than 100,000 supporters have raised over $14 million to fundraise for clean water projects on mycharitywater.org. How can you contribute and make a Difference?

$5,000.00 = Average Cost of a Clean Water for a Village

Sponsor a water project by doing it as a family, or in the name of a loved one. Then, use one of the personalized cards to share the message.

$20 Can Give One Person Access to Clean Water

The other way to make a contribution is by giving up your birthday, running a race, shave your moustache…grow a moustache! You can do anything to fundraise for water. Learn about how you can start an online campaign by going to www.mycharitywater.org.

On World Water Day, go to www.charitywater.org/birthdays and pledge to give up your Birthday! 

100% of public donations directly fund water project costs. All staff and operating costs are covered by a group of private donors so every dollar you give goes to people in need. For more information please visit www.charitywater.org or email info@charitywater.org.

You too can do something.

STOP KONY... But Too Much Mis-Information

What’s really good people?

Irite folks; I was all GEEKED up this week to talk some smack about how I was going to win my office NCAA Basketball March Madness tournament pool. Then I thought maybe I share with viewers a couple of exciting projects I have been working on. But out of nowhere late in the week I got caught up on the STOP KONY 2012 hype. I mean it has been EVERYWHERE; radio, television and social media. So I figured let me add my two cents into the discussion and stir up the pot some MO!

Ok people; let me get focused…

What is the CRAZE about? Well according to the Invisible Children KONY 2012 website www.kony2012.com the project is a film and campaign that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. Sounds like my type of AHHHHHHHHHHHH...

Who is Joseph Kony? Commonly described as the Ugandan messianic warlord leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a guerrilla group that has forced more than 60,000 children to fight in a murderous armed conflict lasting more than two decades.

Why is he famous? Well I guess anytime you have Oprah, Rhianna, Diddy and countless of other celebrities tweeting and trending on social media then I guess anyone of us could become RELEVENT.

Digital Activism The makers of the short-film Invisible Children unlike other non-profits clearly state that there mission is to raise awareness not necessarily use the money raised from their project to directly provide aid to the kids of Uganda. Please let me remind you of other dog and pony trick initiatives that sputtered. Be it Diddy’s Vote or Die concept, where celebrities pitched and sold to young Americans the importance of voting but it was later discovered that many had not even registered. Wyclef’s Yele Haiti foundation project in which millions were donated for earthquake relief but it was later discovered that the funds were misappropriated. And the more recent Occupy Wall Street and Nigeria campaigns that flamed out after the novelty and euphoria of rebellion disappeared. 

Invisible Children Concept Generate a following on popular social media outlets via Facebook, Twitter and Youtube Channels and target young adults mostly college students to pitch your cause. Orchestrate a call to action mantra and help create frenzy and buzz worldwide that centers on the capturing of a very evil warlord terrorizing his own people. BRILIANT! 

The Harsh Reality The new tech savvy strategy to capture the warlord Kony has drawn attention to him but critics say “it’s stretching the truth”. This 30 minute documentary directed by Jason Russell ignores the fact that Ugandan military have participated in similar acts but simplistic, naive and somewhat condescending in his thought is the idea that the western white world can just parachute in and save the day. Kony is not a threat to any government nor is he involved in any current criminal activity which makes this onslaught on him strange although if Kony is taken out the LRA would definitely disappear. Even the Ugandan government is critical of the Invisible Children backed production saying they might just be using this media sensationalism to raise their profile and money since the LRA actually has not been active in Uganda for over 7 years.

This is Africa Like many other African Nations and my homeland of Nigeria included, Uganda has many issues bigger than Joseph Kony. For starters; the country’s president has been in power for 26 years, a high rate of corruption and millions in stolen funds remain addressed, resources continue to be mismanaged and a growing unemployment rate amongst its youngest populations leaves little to desire. Other experts who know much more and have studied these complex issues will also cite the fact that despite advocating for justice being the right course of action, the last thing many activists in Africa typically find advantageous is a bigger United States military presence. Some have noted that by sending troops, the U.S. is in a sense providing support for the current Ugandan government that faces its own accusations of human rights violations.

Personal Note I believe what most is disheartening about the entire STOP KONY phenomenon is the fact that it took an outsider, who looks nothing like me to take the time to put together something meaningful and purposeful to raise awareness globally. I continue to be deeply troubled and perplexed by examples time and time again of how big the divide is in the African and the African American community as a whole. If we dare continue to call or see ourselves as Distant Relatives, why is it that many of the efforts and initiatives that have been instituted in the continent of Africa to fight tyranny, generate economic stimulation and raise awareness and education on HIV and hunger often start with the philanthropically efforts and vision of those that many of us consider outsiders?  

Be More than a Trending Topic.

MEN THAT GOSSIP

What’s up people?

It is officially March Madness; time of year we lose that extra hour of sleep by setting the clock one hour ahead but I am so looking forward to this year’s NCAA basketball tournament to get started. I must redeem myself from last year’s dismal performance in the office pool. Oh, the weather outside is already hitting 70 degrees in the DMV so that means allergy alert and that d**n pollen is back.

Ok people; let me get focused…

Women call it “Girl Talk” men refer to it as “Locker-room banter”. A few days back I was in the middle of my day handling my bin-ness like I usually do before I decided to take a break to shoot the breeze with one of my favorite people at work. We clowned around for a bit like we usually do everyday and then the person let out a little information that some might consider a SECRET. Now grant it am usually the last person to know or pick-up on things that are happening right in front of me, I did not think too much of what was shared in our conversation because I know that person only felt comfortable enough to tell me the GOSSIP because I don’t talk. I mean you will have to treat me like Denzel in the movie SAFE HOUSE or WATERBOARD my Nigerian a** if you ever plan on getting information out of “P”. You know the rules; don't know NUFFIN' don't hear NUFFIN' & don't see NUFFIN'. No SNITCHES in my camp.

Now what does this have to do with this week’s post you may ask? Well, I started to think about how men and women use and process information that are regularly shared with them. And YES; one thing I have no tolerance for whatsoever is a dude that likes GOSSIP. Upon my little research, I was very troubled and actually had to concede to the idea that many men take part in gossip as much as women about secret liasions, inept lovers and overpaid colleagues. In the words of Yeeezy; “That S**t Kray”.  

Gone are days when boys were brought up to not give a rats a** or care enough about other people’s personal lives to gossip about them. Unlike our women counterparts that crave a measure of drama in their lives which is why they co-opt the personal details of others for their own first person soap opera. What most women are accused of as GOSSIP, men call barbershop talk or networking. But I will be the first to tell you and admit to knowing who got BEEF with who in the rap game and who’s baby’s mother is suing who in pro sports. So I am a total HYPOCRITE because that too is gossip right?

But why do some men GOSSIP in the first place? One popular thought is that it’s a confidence booster that helps some men feel better about themselves when they can criticize another person’s behavior because it provides a sense of moral superiority. Gossiping is a UNIVERSAL phenomenon. It is almost a necessary evil that fulfills an important role in daily interactions and not all of it is bad. It can unite us, calm us and entertain us. Gossip also warns us about bad behavior, bad weather and off course bad people. Mostly though, what Gossip does is it gives us what many of us crave for POWER & CONTROL.

Be Responsible…