Happy New Year from Ghana Hype and Kayobi

Happy New Year people - Decisions Determine Destiny - I hope we make the RIGHT moves and decisions in 2010




New Beginings YALLLLLL

The FUTURE of UK streetwear and art

This past weekend was one cool one and this was mainly because the ''OFF THE RAILS FASHION EVENT'' was literally off the hook.
Wih sick artists and designers, free drinks , nice food and ridiculously talented people that were down to earth and humble. I left the event with one thing in mind - INSPIRATION - The FUTURE IS OF THE RAILS.
This is a list of some of the Designers - who were all cool with their time and ideas - BIG UPS to -

http://WWW.OFFTHERAILSUK.COM
http://WWW.TWITTER.COM/OFFTHERAILSLIVED-visions Clothing

Oddkingdom
Alice Boutique
Originique
True Sterling


Check out their sites and support the movement - i coped a sick shirt from pins - classice poster from ODDKINGDOM and got some freebies from True Sterling whose attention to details and desigs are MAD

www.D-visions.co.uk
www.THENEWBLACK.EU
www.twitter.com/TheNewBlackProjectLive
www.alices-boutique.com
www.oddkingdom.com
www.pinspired.com

More pictures

M3NSA ADJUMA (WORK!! HUSTLE!) VIDEO

This video is an ODE to the real movers of AFRICA - check it out

Adidas apologizes for misrepresenting KENTE, GHANA and AFRICA

This is a follow up from my previous posts about Adidas stealing from Africa :Click here to read how adidas stole fron Ghana
It pays to speak up - people of africa please patent, copy right and protect your heritage.

Dear Mr Kwabena,

Thank you for contacting adidas regarding the Jeremy Scott, Originals by Originals shoe Nizza 2 Hi; and for correcting us on the incorrectly referenced Kente cloth. We regrettably made an error in the copywriting process when describing this shoe. I can assure you that this was not meant to be disrespectful in any way, but a simple human error when creating copy which would be used to describe the shoe.

We have begun to correct this where we can - ie adidas.com/originals, Press Materials etc.

We have also contacted all of the communications and PR managers in our local markets to advise them of the change and act accordingly. Any future stories from adidas should correctly reference the Kente cloth which inspired the design.

We're very proud to work with external design partner Jeremy Scott and also to be able to reference and be inspired by materials, designs and styles from around the world and we're also reverential in crediting the origin of the design correctly.

In this instance, Jeremy Scott sent us the design with the correct name, but in our process of writing the description a typo was made. We have now tried to correct this mistake.

Thank you again for calling this to our attention.

Kind regards,

Tom Ramsden
Senior Communications Manager - adidas Originals

Unlike Adidas Puma acknowledges Africa and Ghana's Kente as inspiration

Adidas Please watch and learn - PUMA shoes you how its done even though their design is not as obvious they still had the decency of letting the world know who's intellectual property was the inspiration for their shoe. You guys simply copied and pasted and still decided to re write African culture and History.

Puma goes wild by way of Africa with this Pack of Clydes that takes you on venture through the Serengeti. Available in black or jungle green, each shoe features a woven geometric strip along the eyelets inspired by traditional Ghanaian Kente silk fabrics. The scuffed mid and outsole gives a rugged wild look.

PLEASE REFER TO MY LAST TWO POST ON ADIDAS - THANKS

How Adidas Stole from AFRICA - First response

PLEASE REFER TO PREVIOUS POST - HOW ADIDAS STOLE FROM AFRICA

HI guys thanks for the support in spreading this message i sent the letter to many offices of adidas including their head of intellectual property - This is the first automated reply :( - Allot of people have called for a petition. I am giving adidas a few
more days to get their act together if we dont get a satisfactory reply we will petition and will take them on through all avenues.
Thanks and keep spreading it on twitter, facebook etc PEACE

Customer Ref No: 665396

Dear Kwabena

Thank you for your recent enquiry.

Your email has been forwarded onto the relevant department and
we will contact you again shortly.

In the meantime, we would like to take this opportunity to
thank you for contacting adidas and for your interest in the
brand.

Yours sincerely

Lauren Cruse
Customer Care Manager
For and on behalf of adidas (UK) Limited


For career opportunities within the adidas Group please go to:
www.adidas-group.com/careers

Your Personal information may be used to invite you to provide
valuable feedback on your Customer Care experience and to inform you
about any future developments in adidas. If you would prefer not to
receive further information, please e-mail customercareuk@adidas.com
with a Subject title of 'Remove'.

How Adidas Stole from AFRICA

If Adidas wants to borrow inspiration from AFRICA then they should pay up or Give Credit Where due - This is my letter to adidas with regards to the misspelling of the word 'KENTE' and lack of ascribing the origin of the cloth use in their African Inspired 'KENTA" Nizza 2 Hi sneakers


Hi i noted that for a while now Adidas has been doing the materials of the world special edition shoes and clothing. I think this is lovely and commend adidas for this.
As an African Designer I was also extremely excited by the release of Jeremey Scotts Africa Themed apparel. I was excited when i saw the African Inspired Nizza 2 Hi sneakers however i was saddened by the wrong description of the material used. The Adidas description stated that it was a unique 'kenta' cloth. Unfortunately Adidas has got it all wrong the cloth used on the shoe in question is actually the 'kente' cloth and not the 'kenta' cloth as has been published in all materials pertaining to the shoes.

This lack of respect for the name and history of Ghana's national cloth shows how little research and consideration was taking in fashioning or mimicking this shoe as an authentic African product.

Kente is the trendiest and most renowned cloth in Ghana and possibly in all of Africa. The strip-woven cloth made by the Akan people of Ghana and the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, is the best known of all African textiles. Its fame has spread globally where it is now one of the most admired of all fabrics in many parts of the world.

Africa as it is a misunderstood, over exploited and misrepresented continent - If conglomerates like adidas wish to take inspiration from African art and textiles for their products the least you could do was provide an accurate historical description of the 'borrowed' design.

The country of origin of the kente design was not published.
Kente has been woven for centuries on looms by skilled artisans in Ghana and Togo - these designs are the daily bread of these Africans and the intellectual property of these artists and Nations as a whole.

I am certain Adidas will not be happy if a small shoe and clothing factory in Ghana decided to utilise the Trefoil logo and the 3 - Stripes mark on their make shift line.

So why is it that the culture and intellectual property of whole nations can be misrepresented by such a big company without and regard for the originators of the design.

I would appreciate it if the name of the shoe could be corrected and the design origins of the material could be rightfully ascribed to its originators. I am sure this is either a typographical mistake or just a slight oversight as a company with such a rich history will not intentionally misrepresent the whole continent of AFRICA.
thanks for your attention
P.S No AFricans were plagiarized in the making of this letter.
Kwabena Boateng


Please spread the word and post this on your blogs, diggs, twitter facebook etc
If africans dont speak out on injustices on or image and brand wewill wake up one day and the copy right of the word AFRICA
will be owned by a multi national in the WEST.

The Mystery of FUFU

This is an excellent mini audio documentary on FUFU from the perspective of a westernerhttp://savvytraveler.publicradio.org/show/features/2002/20020531/rafiles/20020531feature3.ram
Plese click here to listen
Enjoy

I am now taking Pre Orders for the Make FUFU not war ladies T- Shirt - please email me your size if you want one - boateng.kwabena@gmail.com

Shirts can be shipped to UK
EUROPE, AMERICA and CANADA

Thanks
Click here for a peak and or size guide

Click here

Catch Kayobi at UCL on the 30 Oct

As part of our celebration of Black History month, The UCL ACS will hold a 1 day exhibition.

Kayobi will be there - Come and vibe with us. I will have some shirts, bags, ipod covers and art on sale. If you have a specific shirt you want then please email me the details and i will print it just for this event. If you have a particular design you want on a canvas please send me details.

It will me nice to meet you guys so dont loose out on fashion food art and history - from UK's finest artists and disigners.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=142695543573

Black History Month Exhibition
Name: Soul Source
Venue: UCL North and South cloisters
Date: Friday 30th of October

P.s we are taking pre orders for make fufu not war tshirts for ladies and hoodies for men. This will be our las batch for the year so please email me your sizes. boateng.kwabena@gmail.com
Thanks

Don't Waste Your Life

I am at the point in my life where i need to take a stand for Christ and get rid of the sins that are holding me back and the false idols i have occupied my life with - it is a struggle but he is good and will not give me a load i can not bear - i dont want to gain the world and waste my life - pray for me and i will pray for you on this road - SEEK ETERNITY

Ghana wins U20 World Cup in shootout

Ghana wins U20 World Cup in shootout
(AP) – 1 hour ago
CAIRO — Ghana became the first African team to win the Under-20 World Cup, defeating Brazil in a penalty-kick shootout.
Friday's game finished 0-0 after regulation and extra time. Ghana's Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu scored the winning penalty kick to make it 4-3 after Brazil's Maicon missed a chance to win it at 3-2.
Ghana's Daniel Addo was ejected in the 37th minute for a late tackle on Alex Teixeira. Brazil wasted several chances and struggled to crack Ghana's tenacious defense.
In the third-place game, Hungary beat Costa Rica in a shootout in which goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saved straight three penalty kicks. The score was 1-1 entering the shootout.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
CAIRO (AP) — Hungary has won the third-place game at the Under-20 World Cup, beating Costa Rica in a shootout in which goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi saved straight three penalty kicks.
Friday's game ended 1-1, with Costa Rica's Marcos Urena scoring in the 81st minute and Hungary's Vladimir Koman in the 90th.
In the shootout, Hungary's goalie saved consecutive penalty kicks by Cristian Gamboa, Esteban Luna and Carlos Hernandez. Roland Varga made the winning kick for Hungary.
Gulacsi, a reserve goalie for Liverpool, also saved three penalty kicks in a shootout against the Czech Republic to help Hungary reach the quarterfinals.
Ghana plays Brazil in the final Friday.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Kayobi at University of Hertfordshire ACS launch

Had a wonderful time at the launch of the ACS at University of Hertfordshire - Good Blessings to all the young Black peeps I met May your dreams come true. Check ou the pics and let me know what you think.
Check it out
and join the Family on facebook - Kayobi Clothing

Kayobi T shirt gets featured on Wahala the #1 AFRICAN ARTS and CULTRAL Video SHOW

Kayobi Weapons of Mass Destruction(mosquitoes)T-shirt as worn by Dj Eric Soul on Wahala the #1AFRICAN video SHOW




About this EPISODE:
London’s Camden Town is a sea of entertainment, overflowing with colorful markets, shops, restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, theatres and cinemas. At its centre, the Proud Gallery, located in the 200-year-old Grad II Listed Horse Hospital in the ever popular Camden Stables Market.

This is our destination for this week, people!! PROUD Gallery is a truly unique venue, photographic gallery by day; the venue is transformed into a live music venue by night. This is where the whole London Afro scene chose to gathered on a summery Monday evening for a special multi-disciplinary event, celebrating the legacy of the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

The night, dubbed FELA’s BOYS, showcased dance with Bode Lawal, music from the London Afrobeat Collective, Wale Ojo, Richards Olutunde, SES, Inemo and Wahala’s host, DJ Eric Soul
Join the Family



You can buy the same t shirt here
http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/

WAHALA video magazine - ft Keziah Jones

New Wahala video ZINE - watch out for Kayobi clothing feature soon.

Kwame Nkrumah is 100 today - and still speaks - listen to him

Pictures of Nkrumah and ALI and Louis Armstrong

Kwame Nkrumah one of the founding fathers of Ghana's independence and the liberation of Africa from colonialism would have been a hundred years today. To commemorate the occasion I decided against writing about how great this man was, the good he did or the mistakes he made.


I decide to let the words come out of his own mouth.
I have added a link to a speech Kwame Nrumah made to African Freedom fighters in Accra during the pre independence period.
Download Kwame Nkrumah Speech here:
Part 1
http://www.sendspace.com/file/y0a7r4
Part 2
http://www.sendspace.com/file/3t983h

The truth is that the words spoken on that faithful day are still more than apt today with regards to africans in Africa and Africans, Africa -Americans, Black 'British' and Caribbean people who still live with varying forms of imperialism today in different masks - POVERTY, LAZINESS, MEDIA SUBJUGATION,DIVIDE AND RULE,AFRICA vrs CARIBBEAN,BLACK VRS MIXED RACE,GUN CRIME, SO CALLED BLACK ON BLACK VIOLENCE, HIP HOP CULTURE(GANGSTERISM) the list goes on.

I hope you enjoy his speech and take something form it if all African/ Black leaders around the world had the foresight of Kwame Nkrumah then maybe we still will no be relying on him a many years on for INSPIRATION.

PEACE

Cadbury Dairy Milk and Ghanaian Hiplife artist TINNY release track - ZINGOLO

This pic was taken at the wapi even in Ghana when Tinny came to the kayobi clothing table to check out our stuff - checkout the video - PEACE

Cadbury Dairy Milk and Ghanaian Hiplife artist TINNY release track and video Zingolo to launch their fair trade chocolate from Ghana :)

Here is the 60 sec ad

Why Naija (Nigeria) must GO (forward)

Ghana protests bashing by Nigerian officials

Below is a letter from the Ghana High Commission in Nigeria to a Nigerian newspaper, appealing to Nigerian government officials to refrain from spreading falsehood about Ghana.

SIR: I am compelled to write to express serious concern about a couple of statements by some top Nigerian officials about Ghana in recent weeks. Last month, Defence Minister Godwin Abbe was quoted as saying, "the volume of water generated in Ghana is not enough to flush toilets in Lagos State, the number of teachers you have to pay salaries in the whole of Ghana is not more than Western Nigeria so that is that. And the whole of Ghanaian Armed Forces, if you choose to know, is not more than just two brigades of the Nigerian Armed Forces, period."

Only last weekend, Education Minister Sam Egwu was on national radio talking about the ongoing ASUU strike, and he made the most ridiculous assertion that all the university lecturers in Ghana will not be adequate for a single university in Nigeria! This is a blatant falsehood. Anyone who had been to the University of Ghana Legon (with a student population of more than 40,000), can testify to the fact that probably no university in Nigeria has more space and facilities than Legon. And there are at least five more public universities in Ghana. There are also a dozen privately-owned universities in Ghana, offering quality education to Ghanaians and foreigners alike, including a growing number of Nigerians.

And in the case of the defence minister, we do not know where he got his information from regarding the current strength of the Ghana armed forces. Needless to say that the Ghanaian military is one of the best trained on the continent and had performed exceptionally well in various international assignments. The entire first generation of Nigerian military officers, including Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Hassan Katsina and Adebayo were all trained in Ghana. Ghanaian army generals have commanded UN troops in Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, Darfur, etc over the years.

Information Minister Dora Akunyili also told a local television network at the end of August that the whole of Ghana is not even up to the size of Lagos! Even a child in kindergarten knows that to be untrue. Government officials, unlike private citizens, traditionally tend to be circumspect about what they say about other countries. Ghana is smaller than Nigeria, and I reckon everyone knows that as a fact. And it is certainly not the only country in the world that is smaller than Nigeria. Or is it? Or have Nigerian government officials only suddenly realised how 'small' Ghana is?

Our concern really is that such reckless and unguarded comments could have grave implications for bilateral relations and derail efforts by leaders of the two countries to forge strong bilateral ties. We think President Umaru Yar'Adua should call his ministers to order. The Ghana bashing must stop! Ghana is a well-respected member of the international community, and deserves respect from Nigerians, particularly top government officials.

Nana Yaw Aboagye, Ghana High Commission, Abuja, FCT Tools


Source: GHP


MY RESPONSE


Regarding Ghana - the world cup, oil, good natured manner of Ghanaians, kofi annan - he list goes on has given Ghana a good enough name yes in the uk some ignorant people confuse it with guyana but when they realize it is Ghana - there is no negative stigma attached to it.

On the contrary it is Nigerian that has a behemoth task of cleaning up its name and image - yes its big country - yes it has many resources but what has it done with all of this. No electricity, poor universities, poor airline safety - oppressive military "dem mama dem papa - Timaya', Biafra , nija delta etc Dodgy elections - the list goes one.

As much as I would love a better PR for Nigeria it seems some people in government of Nigeria and some Nigerians at home and abroad need to wake up and actually start dealing with the mess of a country before they complain and belittle other countries such as Ghana.

In 2009 Nigerian ministers are more concerned with tarnishing the image of smaller better functioning nations when the biggest block buster of summer 2009 - District 9 - totally tarnishes and already battered image of Nigeria. This portrayal of Nigerians and infect black people or Africans is sad but it takes behavior like this form Nigeria's to purport and continue this negative image of Nigeria. Nigerians and their government have the biggest branding and PR job to do in the World and it starts with being honest with their problems.

Yes everything about Nigeria is big and yes Nigerians are the proudest people on earth, but what do they have to show for all this pride and opulence.

Constant references of Ghana must go and the meager size or populations of other countries will not solve the huge infrastructural and societal problems nigeria has.

Ghana has gone and is moving on Nigeria pleas wake up and do something with yourself.
p.s I have no beef against honest sensible nigerians in fact I have nigerian family but Nigerians need to stop putting down others to prop up an ego that has no foundation.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HUSTLE

This goes out to everyone on their honest grind - With GOD you will get where you want to be

Kayobi Clothing @ Nottinghill Carnival 2009 pt2 - Ghana Float /Migraine skank

The Ghana Float at Carnival 2009 was Live

Coming Home to Ghana

The Saga of Slave Ancestors

GHANA - SUDAN- HILIGHTS

GHANA - SUDAN- HILIGHTS
Uploaded by petebrown60. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.

I Miss you Ghana

Kayobi Notting Hill Carnival 2009 Rundown

Notting Hill Carnival 2009 - Our Entrance

The Crowds Appear - Kayobi gets Papped

Its just a ROUTINE check - or is it - I think police slowed down carnival a bit too much

Kayobi gets more love

African Massive Follow the Ghana FLOAT

Kayobi photograhs -london,Accra,Paris,Salou,Barcelona,

Hi guys I just uploaded some pictures from my travels ans wanted to share them with you. Enjoy and please let me know whatyou think

Respect The Hustle ~ Kayobi Clothing Interview

Please check out the first online interview for my clothing line Kayobi Clothing and leave a comment. Thanks
The shirts and items are available here:http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/

Respect The Hustle ~ Kayobi

Posted using ShareThis

KAyobi Clothing Facebook Page

Please Join the KAyobi Family here

Kayobi Clothing on Facebook

Presenter, Comedian, Actor - Eddie Kadi rocking the Classic Make Fufu Not War Tee

Presenter, Comedian, Actor - Eddie Kadi rocking the Classic Make Fufu Not War Tee
Watch him now - thank me later - p,s his show was sold out tonignt

See Africa Differently

Wahala video magazine - Heavy

When Wahala hits the airwaves, the world is invited to the party! Featuring on location interviews with artists, live performances and most importantly, the best music videos coming out of the Motherland and the Diaspora... Hosted and produced by versatile Rwandan born DJ and cultural activist Eric Soul




http://www.voxafrica.com/modx/en/wahala


http://www.punch-records.co.uk/Events/115.aspx

AOK - podcast - deep

Lemi Ghariokwu is the creator and illustrator of Afrobeat’s legend Fela Kuti iconic album sleeves, which represent African artistic benchmarks as well as political statements of the Nigerian musician orginating from Lagos. This podcast is about him.

AOKPodcast by punchrecords

Kayobi Clothing 2009 Summer Update

Ghanaian international fugitive gets caught video

The fugitive frank bempong was the accountant of my alma mater GIS - Ghana International School and stole - more than 300 thousand dollars from the school and fled. The school has never recovered and school fees also increased - my dad was not pleased - finally they caught the goat.

China town Africa

Who is Kayobi Clothing

Who is Kayobi?
Kayobi - pronounced (K – OW – B) is an apparel and accessories company created to ¬ tell the African story and that of the Diaspora through positive, vibrant and thought provoking imagery.
What’s in a name?
The word ‘Kayobi’ translates from Japanese as ‘Tuesday’, this is in reference to my name Kwabena Oppong Boateng. Kwabena is the Twi name given to a child born on a Tuesday in the Akan Tribes of Ghana, coincidentally ‘Kayobi’ sounded phonetically similar to my initials ‘KOB’. Why a Japanese word? I have always had a love for the Japanese design and art aesthetic ‘kayobi’ therefore was the perfect play on words.

Our Story.
Founded in Accra Ghana on 08/08/08 the collection has evolved from a T- Shirt line to include bags and ipod cases. Now designed and produced in London we are happy to present our first collection entitled ‘its always summer in Africa’. The collection was created during my year and a half stay in Ghana and aims to capture the true essence of AFRICA.
The theme refers to the gift of eternal sunshine the continent is blessed with. Contrary to the imposed label of ‘dark continent’ stamped on Africa, the continent is actually bursting with light, life, beauty and most importantly HOPE.
With an abundance of colour we have created a visual journey through daily African life ranging from childhood nostalgia, socio – political issues, music, culture, traditional art and food.
Kayobi was created in Africa with 100% Sunshine, Love and Blessings and we hope our collection gives you this in abundance.
Thanks for being a part of the Revolution. Stay Blessed and Seek Eternity.
Kwabena Oppong Boateng

View the collection here:
http://issuu.com/kayobi/docs/kayobi_clothing_look_book_final

Buy Kayobi Online:
http://www.kayobi.bigcartel.com/

Kayobi Clothing 2009 Summer Look book

Hope you enjoy - regular blogging will resume very soon.thanks

I don,t SLEEP i GRIND

African FOOD is GOOD

Just had Kenkey with fried Egg, Corned Beef, Shito and Onions + Vimto HMMM i Cant MOVE

Awaken by his GRACE

I am up and soaking some GOSPEL for my SOUL

60 most ghetto black names countdown

I am Diging NNEKA"s MUSIC right right now

Black Boys Original and Remix by BASHY

Beyoncé Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) AFRICAN REMIX!!!

Another one to make u laugh

Kayobi Clothing - First Radio interview

Hi folks. Guess what? lol I got my first radio interview with Ms naa on Ghana's new Urban Youth radio staion on Monday 23rd of March 2009 from 9 am onwards.
I will be giving away free shirts and bags during the show so dont miss out . PEACE



http://yfmghana.com/

Here is a profile of Ms Naa and here show is on every week day from 6 am until 10 am
Check out here Clothing line here:http://www.afrocenchic.com/shop/
Name: Naa Adzorkor Addo

Date of birth: July 11th

Religion: Spiritual Being

Interest: Mind my business and leaving yours alone, music, making money finding peace.

Food: I will spend my last money on sushi…….matter of fact I am looking for a sushi chef to marry …. (Call me :)



Favorite Quote: YOU CAN KICK ROCKS!!!!!

What best describes my character: Definitions don’t work for me…….so let’s just say I fit under the category ‘’miscellaneous’ ‘in a world where classification is key ,I’m just me…

Paraphrased from: STACEYANA CHIN.

Ms. Naa formally known as Triple S, The Super Soul Sister is……some say a sweetheart, others say nothing and simply shake their heads…..She chooses to define herself as creative energy, a loose cannon, the girl your parents’ use as a bad example of a lady, a rebel in every sense of the word, somewhat of a loner but sure to make you feel welcomed when in her presence if you don’t rub her the wrong way. The New York University Film and Television graduate, with a passion for film editing is not a novice to the radio game. She had her radio debut in 97’ and worked as an on air personality until she left to further her education.

Now back on the block, she is more than conquering the radio world on her to-do list. Very rarely at a loss for words, she is sure to have you either deep in thought or clutching at your sides with laughter as she wakes up each and every weekday morning on YFM.

Make sure you tune in ‘cos it is guaranteed to be an EXPERIENCE

This song make me happy - Look ma shoe by AYISOBA et al

Enjoy


Wanlov dancing with ngozi

Ghana at the Movies

Its always nice when u see an African in a major blockbuster or something African - I was watching a movie the other day which stared Wesley Snipes 'THE ART OF WAR 2: BETRAYAL' and came across these remixed ADINKRA symbols.How come we as Ghanaians hardly incorporate such images into our movies.

here is the synopsis of the movie. http://www.kungfucinema.com/wesley-snipes-art-of-war-2-on-dvd-2686

Mutombo the POET - rocking the FAMOUS make FUFU not WAR T- SHIRT

Mutombo is a multi-talented artiste who is specialized in Spoken Word(Poetry).He has blessed several stages since he started this beautiful art form in Ghana,West Africa

Dumped in Africa: Britain’s toxic waste

Taken from the independent website

Special Investigation
Dumped in Africa: Britain’s toxic waste

Children exposed to poisonous material in defiance of UK law

By Cahal Milmo

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

* Share
o Digg It
o del.icio.us
o Facebook
o Reddit
* Print Article
* Email Article
* Text Size
o Normal
o Large
o Extra Large

Scavengers at Alaba market in Lagos, Nigeria, try to make a living from the illegal exports

Greenpeace

Scavengers at Alaba market in Lagos, Nigeria, try to make a living from the illegal exports

* Photos enlarge

Tonnes of toxic waste collected from British municipal dumps is being sent illegally to Africa in flagrant breach of this country’s obligation to ensure its rapidly growing mountain of defunct televisions, computers and gadgets are disposed of safely.

Hundreds of thousands of discarded items, which under British law must be dismantled or recycled by specialist contractors, are being packaged into cargo containers and shipped to countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, where they are stripped of their raw metals by young men and children working on poisoned waste dumps.

In a joint investigation by The Independent, Sky News, and Greenpeace, a television that had been broken beyond repair was tracked to an electronics market in Lagos, Nigeria, after being left at a civic amenity site in Basingstoke run by Hampshire Country Council. Under environmental protection laws It was classified as hazardous waste and should never have left the UK.
Related articles

* How a tagged television set uncovered a deadly trade
* Following the e-waste trail
* Leading article: A dirty and illegal trade
* Sky News: Scandal of waste sent to Africa

The television, fitted with a satellite tracking device, was bought by a London-based dealer, one of dozens of operators buying up a significant proportion of the estimated 940,000 tonnes of domestic electronic waste, or e-waste, produced in the UK each year and sending it for export.

Investigators bought back the television after a 4,500-mile journey from Tilbury Docks in Essex to the giant Alaba electronics market in Lagos, where up to 15 shipping containers of discarded electronics from Europe and Asia arrive every day. At least a third of the contents of each container is broken beyond use and transferred to dumps where waste pickers scavenge amid a cocktail of burning heavy metals and dioxins. The television is just one example of a broader problem with the enforcement of the legislation, which permits the export of functioning equipment but prohibits broken electronic goods from being sent outside the EU to a country with a developing economy.

Such is the confused state of the recycling industry, with some local authorities collating figures on the amount of waste being exported and others simply handing the task to sub-contractors, that the e-waste body representing the electronics industry admits abuse is widespread.

Claire Snow, the director of the Industry Council for Equipment Recycling (ICER), told The Independent: “It is clear that the system for collecting equipment which UK householders have thrown away is not working as well as it should.

“On the pretext of re-use, equipment which is clearly not suitable for any type of re-use is effectively being dumped in developing countries.”

Government figures show that 450,000 tonnes of e-waste is currently being treated in accordance with Britain’s waste electronic and electrical equipment laws, which place a responsibility on manufacturers to meet the environmental cost. But with the average Briton throwing away four pieces of e-waste every year, approximately 500,000 tonnes is going unaccounted for. Industry research seen by The Independent estimates that at least 10,000 tonnes of waste televisions and 23,000 tonnes of computers classified as hazardous waste are being illegally exported as part of a wider e-waste market worth “tens of millions of pounds”.

Campaigners say dealers offering around £3 for a television and £1 for a computer monitor to waste sites are undercutting specialist recycling companies, creating a “grey market”.

Britain is responsible for around 15 per cent of the EU’s total e-waste, which is growing three times faster than any other muncipal waste stream.

Martin Hojsik, toxics campaigner for Greenpeace International, said: "Companies can stop this illegal toxic trade now by ensuring their goods are free from hazardous components. It is critical they and governments take full responsibility for the safe recycling of their products and put an end to the growing e-waste dumps that are poisoning people."

Bosses at Hampshire County Council last night launched an inquiry into its waste sites but insisted it and its household waste site contractor, Hopkins Recycling, only used dealers who exported functional equipment.

A spokesman for Consumers International, which is campaigning for tightened e-waste controls, said: “The sight of children scavenging toxic wastelands overflowing with the West’s unwanted computers and televisions makes a mockery of international bans to prevent the dumping of e-waste. Western governments, including the UK, have shown little desire to deal with the root cause of this problem.”


please sign the petition here:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/computeraid/

Colin Powells Street Credibility

Check the old man buggy

The Rise of the Ghannian Metro - Sexual

Wow - CHANGE the word of Last year this Year and the Year to come - Well in Ghana the men have really changed. A couple of years ago a drive through the principle streets of Accra would no doubt have left you thinking you were in a rap video of the must thugish rugish rapper but no this is AFRICA specifically the capital of Ghana. So whats my point? Well for a long time the fashion sense of the Ghanaian male was grossly informed but the black american rapper and the clothes, jewellrey and shoes that made apperances in their videos.


OhHHHH how times have changed I got the shock of my life when i moved to Ghana an noted with curiosity that there has been an ''all change'' as professed on the london tube. Baggy pants (or jeans if you may) are out and tight scrotum hugging skinny jeans are in
Bling,Gold and Diamonds are out and rosary's,wooden and plastic African beads are in
The basket ball jersey and fitted hat have been replaced with the fedora and button up, and mind you not any button up will do - criteria 1 it must be tight 2 if possible it must have a profound colour and the ultimate - if possible it must be a UK designer,,,,,,,,,,, hmmmmmm did you just say UK yep I did UK as in LONDON TOWN yep

Yeah i know you must be saying is this the same Ghana you know, the same Ghana in which a couple of years ago anyone with the streamlined UK look was categorized as GAY CHICHI ANTIMAN etc etc - YEP as i said this is the year for Change.

No more nike airforce 1's, now its strictly plimsoles or converses and it u really have the largent why dont u throw in some prada or gucci.

From the surface it may seem like the Ghanaian metrosexual has arrived and this movement my be spearheaded by chaps such us Kweku T or Chris Attoh but in reality I think the country is just going though another phase of mimicking and aping what they see in videos the only difference is that Lil Wayne has exchanged his xxxxxxxllll White T - Shirt for a nicely fitted Stussy t and his supper baggy rocawear jeans for skinny fit true religion jeans and so my brothers with the HERD mentality follow blindly.

I applaud people like Kweku t for introducing African jewelery for men into the scene however I am of the impression that are youth are so blinded by the lights that they have stifled their inner creativity and ability to st trends that are indigenous to their environment rather than to simply Follow the ''leader'' .

Lead DONT follow - Kayobi clothing and numerous other African clothing lines say so

check us out here - http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=32353927508&view=all

A Nation without Heroes - Ghana Independence Day

On our 52 nd Independence Anniversary I am sad to say that the fervor usually associated with such days has to a large extent escaped me or if I may be blunt I really could not give a toss this year. Why you may ask - well mainly because I believe I live in a country that honors mediocrity, a politics of patronage instead of merit and a nation that believes in the easy way out. Please don't get me wrong I am not one of those Ghana bashers and I am a patriotic son of this nation however my observations how let me come to the conclusion that we as a nation are quite good at being very dependent and to are large extent we render or political independence worthless with our need for dependence on others.

We seem to need someone to tell us that pure water will literally engulf our nation in 12 years and than we would need a loan from a European country t clean up our mess, w depend on even tooth pics from china, we depend on relatives for everything even jobs that we are absolutely qualified for and woe be tide you in case there is a government change then you have t depend on your connections in the opposing parties to ensure that you do not proceed on leave or (in my case) to get you reinstated. So why do we need to always need to depend instead of being independent.

My simple answer is that were are a nation of followers and not leaders and any nation filled with followers is a nation without Heroes. it is sad that a majority of the people in this nation including myself do not really know who the real heroes and sheroes in this country are and if we do not know who they are then how can he create new ones and move our country froward (no pun intended). Put who do I blame when our television sets of full of juju orientated Ghana and Nigerian films, Telenovelas that perpetuate an alien culture and reinforces certain supremacist stereotypes.

No i aint got nothing against foreign material on ur media but why should we be always dependent on someones work when we have not created our own. if we cannot even have cartoons with black people made and shown on or tv's everyday for our kids then we have no right showing them brain numbing content that have no use in making them independent and proud thinkers who one day will be the HEROES in a Nation without HEROES.

GH Rapper Mensa rocking make fufu t - shirt in video

Check out GH rapper and producer extraordinaire rocking the kayobi clothing make fufu not war T - Shirt in a studio session. Check out his music here
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?sid=1e34fd39709f2c09db860a3dff01390b&gid=4849324676

Buy your shirt here
http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=32353927508