Patrice Babatunde Bart-Williams - German-Sierraleonian Songwriter and Singer


Patrice Babatunde Bart-Williams was born on 09-07-1979 in Kerpen to a german mum and a sierra-leonian poet and writer, Gaston Bart-Williams.  He attended a private boarding school, Schule Schloss Salem, where he obtained his A-levels (the german Abitur). Sources say Patrice started actively composing songs when he was 12. His main influences were and are still Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Marley. Today he has released several albums and worked with some of the best artists and producers in the pop-music scenes. His son, Nile, was born in 2005 the same year he released his fifth album titled Nile.

He sings mostly in  Patois. His reggae entails soul, hip-hop, jazz and funk elements. Patrice's music is conscious of daily struggles, vice and virtues of the current state of world issues. As much as his music is thought-provoking, it creates room to dance off the chaos of the day as well.
He sometimes gets inspiration from his late dad's poetry, like  'you always you' which he intergrated in his lyrics. Althought he was born and raised in Germany, he is very much connected to his sierra-leonian roots.He did a tripartite documentory film on africa, which I long to watch someday.

Patrice Babatunde Bart-Williams wurde am 9. Juli 1979 in Kerpen als sohn einer deutschen Frau und eines Dichters und Schrifftstellers, Gaston Bart-Williams, aus Sierra-Leone. Er besuchte das Internat Schule Schloss Salem und machte dort 1999 sein Abitur. Sein Sohn Nile wurde 2005 geboren, er nannte sein fünftes Album im gleichen Jahr nach ihm.
http://www.patrice.net

Mit zwölf Jahren fing er an zu komponieren. Er singt hauptsächlich auf Patois und sein „Reggae“ enthält Jazz-, Soul-, Funk- und Hip-Hop-Elemente. Seine Musik ist ein Denkanstoß und beschäftigt sich mit den Tugend und Untugend vom Alltag. Gedichte seines Vaters sind immer mal wieder eine Quelle der Inspiration, die er zum Teil in seine Songtexte aufnimmt wie in " You always You". Er ist eng verbunden mit seinen sierra-leonischen Wurzeln obwohl er in Deutschland geboren und erzogen wurde. Er drehte einen dreiteiligen Dokumentarfilm über Afrika, den Ich gerne gesehen hätte. 


Albums/Alben

  • 2000: Ancient Spirit
  • 2001: Ancient Spirit/The Second Coming
  • 2002: How Do You Call It?
  • 2003: Silly Walks Movement Meets Patrice
  • 2005: Nile
  • 2006: Raw & Uncut (Live Album)
  • 2008: Free-Patri-Ation
  • 2010: One

Singles & EPs

  • Lions (EP, 1998)
  • Everyday Good (Maxi, 2000)
  • You Always You (Maxi CD1 & CD2, 2000)
  • Up In My Room (Maxi, 2002)
  • Sunshine (Maxi, 2003)
  • Music (Maxi, 2003)
  • Moonrise (Silly Walks Movement Meets Patrice; Maxi, 2003)
  • Truly Majestic (Silly Walks Movement Meets Patrice; Maxi, 2004)
  • Soul Storm (Maxi, 2005)
  • Done (Maxi, 2005)
  • Don't Cry (Maxi, 2006)
  • Clouds (Maxi, 2008)
  • Another One (Maxi, 2008)
  • Dove of Peace (Maxi, 2008)
  • Appreci Luv (Maxi, 2009)
  • Walking Alone (Maxi, 2010)
  • Ain't Got No (I Got Life) (Maxi, 2010)

DVDs

  • Raw & Uncut (Live DVD, 2006)


4 Kommentare:

West African Prints + Soft Textures of Silk = Eki Orleans

"..it's my mission to bring out the colourful goddess in every woman" says Hazel Aggrey-Orleans, the mind and craft behind Eki Orleans fashion label.  Born in Germany to a german mother and nigerian father, Hazel grew up in the busy city of Lagos in Nigeria, where her fascination for west african patterns is rooted. She returned to Germany at 17yrs and later moved to London, her current base. She worked in financial account management for close to 10 years. A mother of two. Like many upcoming new kids in the branch she is a self-thought designer . Discovering her love for indian fabrics added flavour and excitement to her passion for style which led to her first sensational creation: a collection of outstanding scarfs: (Pic below: Eki Orleans scarfs)

Combining vivid african prints with soft textures of silk equals Eki Orleans. A label for every woman who intends to elegantly bring out her passionate, sexy and brave side. Here is my opinion of the Eki Orleans woman: 
The Eki Orleans femme is ageless and unique,  yet like every other woman she tries to find the balance between career and family. A laid back woman who is an eye-catcher when she does the effort to look good. She need not be rich but could save up for that special talk-of-the-day outfit.  She is not mainstreamed creating her own style. She sets her own trend. (Eki Orlean creations: pic below) http://www.ekiorleans.com


Hazel's design and career reflect her nigerian and german roots as well as other influences she gained through travelling across the globe.

http://www.ekiorleans.com




2 Kommentare:

Germany and Beyond:Independent Journalist Jean-Jacques Dikongué

"Black history month in October?" was my unspoken thought as I listened to my good friend ramble about his day at the library, mentioning books he'd borrowed inspired by activities commemorating Black History Month in London.  If you live in Germany, the tendency would be to attach Black History Month only to February....so I learnt something new: the USA and Canada celebrate BHM in February while Britain celebrates it in October. In Germany tribute is payed to black history in Febuary as well, most actively in Berlin and Hamburg: http://doctorsea.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-history-and-germany.html

Imagine yourself lost in the crowd at Trafalgar Square, by coincidence, your trip back home had been cancelled. The music on stage is infectious. Different musical genres including Krar Collective from Ethiopia, Abdul Diop from Senegal,  Muntu Valdo and Manu Dibango from Cameroon. The atmosphere is vibrant, young and old in joyful spirits, african prints, mouth watering food, lots of podcasters, bloggers, event organisers, paintings, carvings and a little too many flyers. You are at "African Weekender", one of many events backed by Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, to celebrate Black History Month and 50 years of African independence.

Standing next to Eric Soul(pic above), presenter of "WAHALA" on Voxafrica, is this gentleman who is introduced to you in french, so he must be from France. You start to like London even more: international networking...The usual small talk is on until he learnts you too are not from London and automatically switches to a very fluent German.  As you get your questions answered "Okay...." is what you think to yourself "..rather amazing.."


His name is Jean-Jacques Dikongué (pic above). Independent Journalist and Editor in Chief of "Tribune2lartiste", an online magazine which focuses on african artists. He is originally from Cameroon and now lives in France after his studies in Germany. In my opinion people like Jean-Jacques are a relevant part of the socioculutural history of the african diaspora in Germany. What I sometimes playfully term the "Via Bundes". They contributed their bit while here and are still doing so on a larger scale after here. Intertwining their various influences with thier immediate contribution to the society.

Jean-Jacques is contributing his bit through media coverage of diversified subjects, mostly on francophone online magazines: http://www.tribune2lartiste.com/
Watch Jean-Jacque's interview with Manu Dibango, saxophonist and founder of Soul Makossa (in French)


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Eyum Anneh & Co: Breathing Art and Culture into Integration

Mülheim a.d Ruhr's strategic position in Germany's largest urban agglomeration and industrial zone automatically comes with a colourful history of immigration. Africans in this area and in Mülheim specifically, are an active part in the immigrant community and history. Since a little above three years, Eyum Anneh & Co cultural foundation has added through emphasis on cultural heritage and art to this rich diversity.



The name "Eyum Anneh" stems originally from western Cameroon and means "Voice of the people". As a cultural foundation they echo the people's cry in one voice for unity, love and prosperity for all irrespective  of age, class, gender or race. They commit themselves to foster Arts, Culture and Integration through seminars, organizing cultural/traditional dance competitions, sporting activities and as well as participating in other educative pursuits and conferences.

Their annual "Afrika-Kulturtag" pulls participants and spectators across the nation to their summer thrill of cultural heritage amidst sports, traditional dance competitions and other artistic performances for the entire family. A must-see flamboyance. Introduced this year was an african music award which if maintained will go a long way to add good flavor to folk music made in Germany.

As a group they are also very engaged in stirring awareness of discrimination against mentally and physically handicapped people.http://www.eyumanneh.org/
4 Kommentare:

Dayan Tweneboah Kodua - Model and Actress



Dayan Tweneboah Kodua was born in Ghana and later moved with her family at the age of 10 to Kiel in Germany, where she did her primary and secondary education. She decided to make a living out of her passion for music. She worked both as a background singer and dancer for many artists such as Sacha, Chris de Burgh, Haddaway,  Lou Bega, Rigth Said Fred, Master P. and Nelly; an experience from which she gathered lessons for later on.
A path that led her to display her talent and beauty as a professional model working for Thierry Mugler, Escada, Versace, Otto Versand etc.
She decided to attend college and graduated as an economic assistant. While in college she continued to work as a model. Dayan won the Miss Schleswig-Holstein beauty pageant and became the first black to win such a national pageant award in Germany. In the subsequent election of Miss Germany, Dayan took a proud fifth place.Succeses which without saying opened several doors for her. Other jobs during her days in college as  field customer support and assistant in planning trade fairs, exhibitions and fashion shows were other pre-pluses to her career. 2006 she was chosen to work as a catwalk model besides Snoop Dog and Angie Stone for the Micheal Jackson Foundation charity gala in House of Blues LA.
Dayan moved to Berlin in 2001 to take drama, singing and voice lessons. This ever aspiring  woman drew closer to her dreams by moving  to Los Angeles where she continued to take lessons at Actor Fields Certified Training, Theater of Arts and Tasha Smith Studio.  Given her biography, it is no wonder that she speaks German and Twi as her mother tongues, fluent English, some French and some Spanisch. She has featured in diverse roles in various movies and TV series:
„Dr. Molly & Karl“ (2008/SAT1)
"Der Dicke“ (2009/ARD)
"Fleisch ist mein Gemüse“, (KINO)
"Haialarm auf Mallorca"  (2004/RTL)
"Balko" (2003/RTL)
"Wolffs Revier" (2003/Sat1)
"Boston Legal"
"Passions"
"Crank"
"Lords of the Underworld"
"Wenn Bäume Puppen tragen" 2010
Dayan is a role model especially to people of african decent in Germany. She is very conscious of her influence on young people who identify with her cultural heritage thus engages in community development by active participation in projects which promote education and quality life  for immigrants like AYACSA eV . She also gives back to Ghana by supporting the building of hospitals and schools through associations like "Ghanahilfe".

Dayan in her own words (translated ) " It is very important, that young people in Europe, and specifically those born or raised in Germany , to understand they will always be outwardly black irrespective of how german they feel. It is of no use to anybody to deny their roots in the anxiety to seek satisfaction or success. On the other hand it makes no sense to blame every mishappening on your heritage. This is true for everybody, no matter their skin color. Thus kids and teens should learn early enough to deal with these issues in their daily lives without letting that deprive them of their goals. For the ability to change your life positively and in so doing, positively impact the world around you, lies in your hands"

Now thatz word!!!

2 Kommentare:

Dayan Tweneboah Kodua - Schauspielerin/Model

Dayan Tweneboah Kodua wurde in Ghana geboren und zog mit 10 Jahren mit  ihrer Familie nach Deutschland, wo sie ihre Schulzeit in Kiel verbracht. Als leidenschaftliche Sängerin sammelte sie zunächsts Erfahrung in der Musikbranche.Sie arbeitete mit  Künstlern wie Sascha, Chris de Burgh, Haddaway,  Lou Bega, Rigth Said Fred, Master P. und Nelly als Background-Sängerin und - Tänzerin. Dayan absolvierte von 2001 bis 2003 ihr Schauspielstudium in Berlin. Von 2004 bis 2008 setzte Sie Ihr Schauspielstudium dann in Los Angeles bei Actors Certified Training und beim Theater of Arts und bei Tasha Smith Studio fort. Angesichts ihrer Biografie, ist es kein Wunder dass sie  fließend Deutsch und Twi (Akan) als Muttersprachen, Englisch, etwas Spanisch, und etwas Französisch spricht.
Ihr Talent und Schönheit setzte sie als  professionelles Model bereits für Thierry Mugler, Escada, Versace und den Otto Versand ein.  

 
2002 wurde Dayan "Miss Schleswig-Holstein". Sie ist damit die erste schwarze Miss in Deutschland. Bei der anschließenden Wahl zur "Miss Germany" belegte sie einen fantastischen fünften Platz.
2006 wurde Dayan fuer den Catwalk ausgewaehlt um Mit Snoop Dog und Angie Stone bei einer Charity Gala der Michael Jordan Foundation, im House of Blues in Los Angeles zusammen zu arbeiten.


Als Schauspielerin hat sich die afro-deutsche Schönheit in diversen Rollen und zahlreichen deutschen sowie internationalen Filmen  und TV Serien bewiesen:
„Dr. Molly & Karl“ (2008/SAT1)
"Der Dicke“ (2009/ARD)
"Fleisch ist mein Gemüse“, (KINO)
"Haialarm auf Mallorca"  (2004/RTL)
"Balko" (2003/RTL)
"Wolffs Revier" (2003/Sat1)
"Boston Legal"
"Passions"
"Crank"
"Lords of the Underworld" 
"Wenn Bäume Puppen tragen" 2010 gespielt. 

Besonders für Afrikaner in Deutschland ist Dayan zu einer Leit- und Symbolfigur geworden. Der selbstbewußten Frau ist klar dass, sie der afro-deutschen Jugend als Indentifikationsfigur dient.  
Sie engagiert sich für Projekte wie "Ghanahilfe", AYACSA eV , die sich für Bildung und für Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund einsetzen sowie für den Bau von Schulen und Krankenhäusern in dem Mutterkontinent . Weshalb ,unter anderem, sie  als Kulturbotschafterin für den afrikanischen Kontinent mit dem KAMA-" (KULTURAL AMBASSADOR MERIT AWARD IN GERMANY-2005) ausgezeichnet wurde.    

Dayan: „Es ist sehr wichtig, dass gerade die Jugendlichen, die in Europa, besonders in Deutschland geboren oder aufgewachsen sind verstehen, dass egal wie Deutsch Sie sich fühlen, immer eine dunkle Farbe "ausserlich" zu sehen sein wird. Es bringt niemandem etwas, um erfolgreich oder zufrieden zu sein die eigenen Wurzeln zu verleugnen oder aber im Gegensatz dazu alles was nicht funktioniert auf die eigene Herkunft zu schieben. Das gilt für alle Menschen egal welcher Hautfarbe. Also sollten Kinder und Jugendliche auch schnell lernen mit diesen Dingen umzugehen und ihre Ziele unabhängig davon zu verfolgen. Denn nur die Menschen selbst haben es in der Hand etwas besser zu machen für die eigenen Ziele zu kämpfen und die Welt um sich herum positiv zu verändern"
3 Kommentare:

Patrice Bouédibéla - TV Moderator

I remember my first encounter with Patrice. It was at CEBIT Hannover, where he moderated an after-work show. His down-to-earth nature was very impressive, especially as he went straight on to tell me about his congolese roots and immediately switched to french, when he learnt I could manage some french language.

Patrice Bouédibéla  was born on 1.11.1974 in Berlin to a congolese dad and a german mum. After highschool, he took up several jobs as an extra,  initially with  record shops and later in various roles on TV series and daily soaps. In 1996, his performance at a Berlin Night Club caught MTV's attention, hence his first job in the docudrama "MTV Road Rules". MTV Urban, TRL Urban and Brand:neu are other programs he moderated on MTV.


His career cuts across other major TV broadcasting stations like RTL (Peking Express) and ARTE (Rock in the city).

He functioned as a german ambassador for intercultural exchange in 2008 - the european year of intercultural dialogue.



2 Kommentare:

Florence Tsagué Assopgoum: Lehrbeauftragte, Autorin, Integrationsbeauftragte der Stadt Siegen


Florence Tsagué Assopgoum was born in
Bafou-Dschang in Cameroon, where she did her primary and secondary education respectively at "Ecole Publique de Djuttitsa" und Collège "Saint Laurent de Bafou". She later moved to Germany to study political sciences, applied linguistics and anglistics at the University of Siegen. A path that led her to a doctorate degree in political sciences at the university of Siegen, where she works as a lecturer. Her research and publications on the lives of immigrants, especially on the foriegn student, are quite informative.

Florence Tsaqué has a passion for poetry and story-telling. In August 2009 her first novel „Femmes connues, coépouses inconnues“ was published. 

She is very active and involved in her community, building cultural bridges  through her participation in various workshops and organisations geared towards understanding and improving the life of the immigrant. Her publications act as a window to certain aspects of  the immigrant's life 'e.g

She was recently voted a member of the council on intergration, Siegen.

Publikationen 

- Tsagué Assopgoum, Florence, Begegnung mit Trauer in: in: Krieger, Thomas (Hrsg.), Warum wir hier sind, Luther Verlag, Bielefeld, 2007, S. 56-60.
- Tsagué Assopgoum, Florence, Brain Drain oder Brain Exchange? Die afrikanische Diaspora als Entwicklungsfaktor, in: Bellers, Jürgen und Schimming, Marcus (Hrsg.), Deutschland als Entwicklungsland, (Geschichte und Kulturen- Zeitschrift zur Geschichte und Entwicklung der Dritten Welt, Band 11), Scylda Verlag Siegen, 2008, S. 23-32.

- Tsagué A., Florence, Kamerunische Bildungsmigranten. Ihre Aktivitäten und Potentiale in Deutschland, in: Africa Positive, 10. Jahrgang, Nummer 33, 2009, S. 28-29.
- Tsagué A., Florence, Europa als Vorbild ? Die Auswirkungen des kolonialen Erbes in Afrika im kulturellen Bereich, in: et cetera ppf, 1/2009, S. 23- 30.

- Tsagué A., Florence, Willkommen in Kamerun. Was Sie unbedingt über „Afrika Im Kleinen“ wissen sollten, in: Weltgebetstag 2010. Kamerun. Alles, was Atem hat, lobe Gott (Broschüre des Weltgebetstags der Frauen- WGT), 2009, S. 1-2.

- Der „Contre-pouvoir“ und seine Schwierigkeiten. Die Presse in Senegal, in: Freiraum der Stipendiaten und Stipendiatinnen der Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung, 2/2009, S.15-16.
- Tsagué Assopgoum, Florence, „Femmes connues, coépouses inconnues“ (Roman), Editions Edilivre Aparis, August 2009, S. 334.

 - Tsagué Assopgoum, Florence, Abwanderung kluger Köpfe aus Afrika. Kamerunische Bildungsmigranten in Deutschland (Vortrag in Erfurt), Der Ausländerbeauftragte beim Thüringer Ministerium für Soziales, Familie und Gesundheit (Hrsg.), Dezember 2009.

- Tsagué A., Florence, Feminisierung internationaler Migration. Welche Chancen bietet Migration den afrikanischen Frauen? In: Africa Positive, 12. Jahrgang, Nummer 36, 2010, S. 33-34.

- Tsagué A., Florence, Die europäische Steuerung der Abwanderung von Afrika nach Europa, In: Africa Positive, 12. Jahrgang, Nummer 37, 2010, S. 16-17.

 

 

5 Kommentare:

Challenge Camerounais – More than just a game: The big picture


The big picture:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Challenge-Camerounais/284284480754?ref=ts




Cameroonians make up the largest group of foreign students from sub-Sahara Africa in Germany. The history of studying abroad for most Cameroonians goes many years back to colonial times. The  few scholars then were mainly on state scholarship or grants with the hope of being part of a booming development back home.  With the Cameroonian economic crisis from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s, many Cameroonians found greener career and economic pastures abroad, including Germany.

Hang around Cameroonians and you’ll feel their religious connection to football. Football is a Cameroonian passion thus a central point of attraction in a variety of Cameroonian gatherings. The seed for Challenge Cameroonian was planted in this light, when some 19years ago a few Cameroonian students made it a yearly routine to meet, rekindle their nostalgia, make old and new friends all around a few football games. They created teams along lines of new and old acquaintances and made it a CHALLENGE to win the game.  This tradition has been kept over the years and today Challenge Camerounais is MORE THAN JUST A GAME.

Most often Challenge Camerounais is only associated to football and an after-party, whereas the real picture is bigger.

Challenge Camerounais symbolizes in many ways bilingualism, a true Cameroonian identity. Check out the name again Challenge (English), Camerounais (French). It is an assembly of  about 20 Cameroonian associations in Germany governed by a Board of Directors, Commissions and Delegates.

Over the years Challenge Cameroonais has grown into a multifunctional organisation that integrates sports, economic and business networking, social responsibility, as well as culture for both young and old!!!

Challenge Solidarity: gives back to the needy yearly. Last year's donation of 3500.00 EURO was made to "Fondation Petit Dan & Sarah”, an orphanage in Soa, Cameroon.

Challenge Business and Social Forum:  an annual forum for German and Cameroonian businesswomen and -men, entrepreneurs, scientist, politicians and social activists.

Challenge Culture:  a thrilling show with traditional dances, fashion parade, theatre art, music and other stage performances.

Challenge Kids:  a play and exchange paradise for ‘Junior challengistes ‘ as they are called.


Challenge Gala Night with Miss & Mr. Challenge Pageant: where elegance meets wit, talent and responsibility. The winner of the pageant acts as an ambassador of Challenge Solidarity.
Challenge Football, Challenge Handball, Challenge Basketball and Challenge Athletics.
www.ccdarmstadt2010.com


Their annual event is one of the largest festivities organised by a single group of immigrants in Germany. Yearly about 5000 to 6000 people make it a date over Pentecost weekend to do one of the following:

....meet old and new friends 
....participate in one of the many sport activities (Football, Handball, Basketball, Athletics)
....share views and create networks at the business and social forum , especially of German-Cameroonian nature 
....get enticed by the Challenge Cultural Show with various artistic performances
....dance to african beats at the Challenge Disco Night
...attend the Challenge Gala Night with Miss & Mr. Challenge Pageant and a guest Cameroonian artist
…contribute towards helping the needy in their motherland thru Challenge Solidarity
www.ccdarmstadt2010.com
This year’s event ‘Time for a new generation’ holds from 21. 05 to 24.05 in Darmstadt Germany and offers a flamboyant program which goes beyond a highly reputable sports tournament. A big part of this year’s event is attributed to Challenge Solidarity. The Business and Social Forum will focus on "the road of the entrepreneur in Cameroon" with a look at the status quo of economic relations between Germany and Cameroon. The Challenge Disco Night on Saturday offers you a chance to shake yourself before you wreck yourself. The Challenge Gala Night and the Miss Challenge pageant will round up the activities of the Challenge Camerounais Darmstadt 2010 weekend.

 www.ccdarmstadt2010.com
1 Kommentar:

Stephen Lawson: Bildhauer (Sculptor)

Stephen H. Lawson
geb. am 23.7.1968 in Louth, England. Sein Vater stammt aus Jamaica und seine Mutter aus St. Lucia. Er wuchs in Deutschland (Bochum) auf.
1987-88 Studium der Architektur an der Universität Dortmund
1988-90 Steinmetz- und Bildhauerlehre in Berlin
1991-92 Förderstipendium der Fondation Taylor in Paris
1992 Bildhauerarbeiten und Restauration am Grand Louvre in Paris
Seit 1996 freischaffender Bildhauer Bevorzugte Ausdrucksformen: Stein und Holz lebt und arbeitet als freischaffender Künstler in Soest

 In courtesy of Steve Lawson's space:
http://www.atelier-lawson.de/

His sculptures are inspirational, reflecting his african and german influences especially those gained through personal contact. Born to caribbean parents, Steve Lawson grew up in Bochum (Germany) where he at an early age discovered his interest in arts despite his very good grades in the sciences. In his strive to professionalise his hobby and talent, he later studied architecture in Dortmund and completed a vocational training in sculturing in Berlin. His career highlights include working at the Grand Louvre in Paris among others.
Info: 
http://www.atelier-lawson.de/
kontakt@atelier-lawson.de
Tel: 02921-5994329


2 Kommentare:

Richard Adjei : Silvermedialle im Zweier-Bob bei den olympischen Spielen in Vancouver 2010

27yrs-old Richard Adjei: Bobsleigh Silver Medallist in two-man event in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games Vancouver.


Richard Adjei, geboren am 30.01.1983, wuchs in Düsseldorf als Sohn eines ghanaischen Vaters und einer deutschen Mutter auf.
Er begann seine Karriere als Profisportler als American-Footballer bei den Dusseldorf-Panthern. Als Mitgleid des Team Europas spielte er 2002 und 2003 bei den NFL Global Junior Championship Games.  2003 wurde er Spieler in der deutschen Nationalmannschaft. 2004, 2005 und 2006 spielte er für Rhein Fire, ein aus seiner Heimat stammendes Team. Seit 2008 steht er wieder im Kader seines Heimatclubs Düsseldorf Panthern in der 2. Bundesliga.
Der ehemalige Olympiasieger Christoph Langen endeckte ihn in seiner Suche nach neuen Athleten für ein Nachwuchsteam und warb ihn als Anschieber im Bob für das Team von Manuel Machata ab. Gemeinsam mit Manuel Machata wurde er im Jahr 2009 Vize-Juniorenweltmeister sowie Europacup-Gesamtsieger. Bei den Olympischen Spielen 2010 in Vancouver erreichte er im Zweier-Bob zusammen mit Thomas Florschütz die Silbermedaille.
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BUNDESVERDIENSTKREUZ AN VEYE TATAH

As africans in the diaspora kiss  black history month goodbye, Veye Tatah embraces with pride the Bundesverdienstkreuz (German Federal Cross of Merit).
She and three other citizens were honored on Feb. 25th by Dortmund's mayor Birgit Jörder. The Federal Cross of Merit was introduced on September 7th 1951 by federal president Theodor Heuss to honor out-standing socio-economic and intellectual contributions to the german state. A Sister in Germany wrote about Veye Tatah's outstanding contributions to the society in August 2009; read on : http://doctorsea.blogspot.com/2009/08/veye-tatah-painting-different-image-of.html
1 Kommentar:

PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT IN GERMANY DURING NAZI RULE

 Little is ever said about blacks and their lives in Germany during Nazi although quite a number of them died as a result of the tough and unbearable circumstances while others survived to tell the story......









10 Kommentare:

BHM IN BERLIN: BPB INTERVIEWT JOHN MATIP EICHLER

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Black History and Germany

It is but normal that I refreshed my knowledge of black history in Germany in my attempt to profit from the push February, being Black history month, brings. It was a beautiful and enriching experience so I thought I should share. 
Blacks in Germany are a minority in Germany. An estimated 500.000 people of african decent live in Germany today. Historians trace their presence back to 1700. The first blacks in Germany were mostly students or domestic workers from the few German African colonies (presently Togo, Cameroon and Namibia). 
Prior to World War I, prominent Africans in Germany included Anton Wilhelm Amo (1703-1759). He was born in Ghana and came to Germany under the protection of the Duke (Herzog) of Wolfenbüttel in Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and grew up in the duke's castle. He is the first African known to have attended a German university (Halle) and the first to obtain a doctorate degree (in 1729) in Germany. He taught as professor, under his preferred name of Antonius Guilelmus Amo Afer, at two German universities and published several academic papers, like his Latin treatise

De Arte Sobrie et Accurate Philosophandi
(1736, "On the Art of Philosophizing Soberly and Accurately"). 


Monument of Prof.  Anton Wihelm Amo and his wife in  Halle/ Salle


After World War I there was a significant influx of African soldiers to Germany. Most of them were West Africans in the French army, which occupied the Rhineland. Many of them married Germans and had kids who, after many generations, still live in Germany. By the 1920s there were about 10,000 to 25,000 Afro Germans in Germany, most of them in Berlin or other metropolitan areas. Before Nazi rule, black musicians and other entertainers were popular in the nightlife scene in Berlin and other large cities. Jazz was made popular in Germany and Europe by black musicians, Many Jazz musicians from the U.S., who found life in Europe more liberating than that back home, made Jazz popular in Germany. Both W.E.B. du Bois, American writer and civil rights activist and Mary Church Terrell, the suffragist studied in Berlin.

During the Nazi regime life became tough for blacks in Germany. Many were killed, sterilised, driven into forced labour or exile (watch out for my entry on Africans in Germany during Nazi rule).

Post World War 2 marked a new era for Africans in Germany who were mostly immigrants of various statuses. A relatively large group, in then West Germany, was made up of British (mostly of Jamaican origin) and American GI's who served in Germany, married and had children, who still live in Germany. Colin Powell, former US secretary of state served in West Germany as a GI. Africans in former East Germany were mostly from communist African states. They came through Scholarship Awards or other government programmes.

Today's picture of people of African decent in Germany is very mosaic, marked by people of various social statuses, professions and nationalities.

Heute leben etwas 500.000 Leute afrikanischer Herkunft in Deutschland. Historiker führen die ihre Präsenz auf 1700 zurück. 
Vorm ersten Weltkrieg machten Studenten und Haushaltshilfen einen bedeutsamen Anteil Afro-deutschen aus. Anton Wilhelm Amo, aus dem heutigen Ghana, lebte und studierte  Philosophie und Jura zu dieser Zeit in Niedersachen und wurde der erste Afrikaner, der in Deutschland promovierte. Als Professor war er in mehreren Universitäten Ostdeutschlands tätig. Das Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Denkmal steht an der Universität Halle (Salle). 
In den Großstädten waren Musiker und Künstler afroamerikanischer Herkunft ein wichtiger Teil des Nachtlebens. W.E.B. du Bois, Amerikanischer Schriftsteller und Bürgerrechtler sowie Mary Church Terrell, die Frauenrechtlerin, haben in Berlin studiert.
Nach dem ersten Weltkrieg kam der erste große Zustrom afrikanischen Zuwanderer nach Deutschland. Sie waren meistens Mitglied der französischen Besatzungstruppe im Rheinland.
In den NS-Zeiten wurde das Leben von Afrikanern in Deutschland aufgrund der rassistischen Propaganda und Praktiken zunehmend schwer. Viele verließen das Land, viele starben in Konzentrationslagern und einige fanden eine Fluchtmöglichkeit als Schauspieler in kolonialpolitisch inszenierten Filmen und Theaterstücken.
Die Afro-deutsche Bevölkerung der Nachkriegszeit ist gekennzeichnet  durch das Nachkommen o.g Gruppen sowie durch ein neuerlicher Zustrom von Bildungsmigranten, Asylbewerbern und Gastarbeitern.




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Program BHM in Hamburg!!!! (courtesy of http://www.bhmhamburg.de)

http://www.bhmhamburg.de

BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2010

30. 01. 2010 – 07. 03. 2010

“LIVING THE PROGRESS“Termine ( Änderungen vorbehalten )

Das Panafrikanische Befreiungs- und Reparationen Netzwerk organisiert
Vortragsreihe  im Quilombo Brazil







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Germany Prepares for Black History Month 2010

Black history month owes its creation some good 126 years ago to Dr. Carter G. Woodson, an african- american historian. Dr. Woodson intended to draw attention to contributions made to history and society by blacks. Today it has become quite international and Germany has been part of these celebrations since about 13years, with Hamburg and Berlin as flag-bearers.

For activities in Berlin: http://clearbluewater.jimdo.com and http://bhmberlin2010.blog.de/

For activies in Hamburg: http://www.bhmhamburg.de

This weekend is characterised with kick-off parties across the nation as people of african heritage prepare to celebrate their history and themselves!!

February will be marked with discussions, artistic presentations, lectures, book readings and cultural dance nights in big cities.

This year the organisation, Initiative of Afro-germans (Initiative Schwarze Deutsche ,ISD), which initiated the celebration of this month in Germany, will be joined by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (icd),  Bun­des­zentrale für politische Bildung (bpb) and Goethe Institut in organising a series of events in Berlin.
Don't miss out!!!!


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