Farewell Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba (Johannesburg, March 4, 1932 - Castel Volturno, November 10, 2008).

Miriam Makeba, the legendary South African singer popularly known as "Mama Afrika" has passed on with her golden voice echoing in the twilight of a new day as her immortal spirit took wings in her eternal flight.

Miriam Makeba was the most accomplished female singer out of Africa and one of the most gifted singers of all time.

I believe Miriam Makeba was born singing from the womb of her mother. She would have been one of the most expected artistes to perform at the World Cup Finals in South Africa in 2010.

We are going to miss this celebrated icon of African music.

Anya, I Cannot Say Goodbye

It was a beautiful Sunday morning.
I have just finished praying in my daily early morning worship to thank the Almighty God for the wonderful joy of being alive to see another new day.
Then I received the phone call. It was from one of my closest cousins.
“Do you know that Anya is dead?” Okotie asked.
“How would I know when nobody told me so?” I replied in shock.
“I called to let you know,” he said plaintively.
I was speechless for a while.
Anya was dead!
Anya, who relocated to South Africa in 2000, because he was bored of living in Nigeria.
Anya who was the closest to me in the 1990s and we even lived together for months in his flat.
Anya, who was the handsomest of his brothers and was the favourite of the girls and women in the neighborhood and in our hometown,
Anya, who taught me so many things, both the good and the bad facts of life on earth and made me wiser,
Anya was dead.
Another call came.
It was from my Sweetest.
She sent me a text message that I should call her.
I could not respond immediately.
I did not tell Hope, the Publisher of Supple magazine the bad news of the loss of my cousin Anya. I did not want to spoil his day. I kept it to myself until later in the evening. We drove to Okotie’s residence on Alhaji Kalejaiye Street in Shomolu, Lagos. It’s his late father’s house where Anya and I shared many things as we lived like one family. Okotie and Anya lived together in their father's house whilst two of the elder brothers lived in Canada and the UK. The one in the UK has returned to Nigeria and was not in when Hope and I visited the family to comfort the bereaved. They are the only children of my late uncle and aunt.
Some memories are forever
The memories that will linger
The memories of the good times and the bad times
The unforgettable memories of those we cannot forget.

The memories of Anya filled my mind.
I cannot say goodbye to Anya.

There Were Tears in My Eyes

There Were Tears in My Eyes
For Prince Harry who has done so much for the AIDS orphans in Lesotho.

There were tears in my eyes
When I saw you smile.
There were tears in my eyes when I heard your laughter.
There were tears in my eyes when I saw you carry Mutsu
There were tears in my eyes when I saw you plant a tree
There were tears in my eyes when I saw you feed the orphans
There were tears in my eyes when I saw you comfort those who were hurting
There were tears in my eyes when I saw you giving your hand to lift up the fallen.
There were tears in my eyes when I saw the glints in your eyes.
The glints of the loving eyes of your loving mother.
Yes, there were tears in my eyes and I was very happy.
Happy to see you doing what your mother would have done too.
So, with these tears in my eyes I know that God loves you.

Sentebale
Oh, Sentebale!
Forget me not.



Photo: Prince Harry plants a tree with young orphan Mutsu Potsane at the Mants'ase Children's Home Lesotho during his gap year.

Happy Birthday Nelson Mandela!

Pa Nelson Mandela

Nigerian Times International wishes Nelson Mandela a happy birthday as he marks his 90th year on earth today.

Madiba Nelson Mandela was born on 18 July 1918).

The former President of South Africa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

Abdullah Ibrahim With Love From South Africa

Abdullah Dollar Brand Ibrahim

Click on the underlined title below to listen to the beautiful Jazz music of this African genius. It is poetry in motion.
Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) - Live at the Smithsonian Institution


Abdullah Ibrahim (born 9 October 1934 in Cape Town, South Africa), formerly known as Adolph Johannes Brand, and as Dollar Brand, is a South African pianist and composer. His music reflects many of the musical influences of his childhood in the multicultural port areas of Cape Town, ranging from traditional African songs to the gospel of the AME Church and ragas, to more modern jazz and other Western styles. Within jazz, his music particularly reflects the influence of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington.

Read more details.

World AIDS Day: Red is the Colour of Love

DECEMBER 1ST IS WORLD AIDS DAY

Red is the colour of my heart

Red is the colour of my blood

Red is the colour of my roses

Red is the colour of my love for you

For red is the colour of love.

Just in time for World AIDS Day, (RED) is proud to announce that, thanks to your (RED) purchases, our partners' contributions to the Global Fund have reached over $50 million. (RED) funds are already at work as part of Global Fund grants in Rwanda, Swaziland and Ghana, funding programs with a primary focus on the health of women and children.

Calculate your personal (RED) impact
Learn more about how (RED) money is working in Africa

THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Thanks to the Global Fund and (RED) money that you've helped generate with your (RED) purchase, an extremely effective medicine to treat HIV is becoming widely available to people in Africa. And it's as simple as two pills a day. It's so effective, in fact, it can return a person to vibrant health in about 60 days.
See the Lazarus Effect

CHOOSE (RED) FOR THE HOLIDAYS
When you shop (RED) for the holidays, you're not just giving to your friends and family -- you're also helping to eliminate AIDS in Africa with your purchases. Here's what's new:
Converse (PRODUCT) RED
Buy any pair of Converse (PRODUCT) RED shoes and a portion of the proceeds will go to The Global Fund, to help fight AIDS in Africa.

Get your Converse (PRODUCT) RED Chuck Taylor All Star shoes
See other CONVERSE (PRODUCT) RED
MAKE MINE RED: Design your own (PRODUCT) RED shoes

Gap (PRODUCT) RED
The Gap (PRODUCT) RED collection has something for everyone in your life, with new styles for men, women, kids and baby. New items include the (2 WEEKS) t-shirt, mittens, scarves, hats, sleepwear and the EcoTote.

Buy Gap (PRODUCT) RED online

Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED
For World AIDS Day, Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED has introduced its holiday flash collection, including a tuxedo, dress, and fragrances, as well as a pair of bracelets Julia Roberts designed for the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection.
Get your Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED bracelet
Shop the Emporio Armani (PRODUCT) RED collection

Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED
The latest (RED) partner, Hallmark's (PRODUCT) RED collection includes an inspired line of cards, gifts, flowers and gift wrap, including the INSPI(RED) keepsake holiday ornament. For you early shoppers, Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED holiday boxed cards are now available online at HALLMARK.COM/RED.
See the Hallmark (PRODUCT) RED collection

(PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPods
Give more than music. Choose (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition iPod models and the iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card, and Apple gives a portion of the purchase price to fight AIDS in Africa.
Buy (PRODUCT) RED from Apple
Motorola (PRODUCT) RED
Talk (RED) and fight AIDS in Africa with your Motorola (PRODUCT) RED phone, available in Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Get your Motorola (PRODUCT) RED phone

The Killers turn (RED) for Christmas
The Killers have turned their Christmas single "Don't Shoot Me Santa" (RED), with 100% of the proceeds to benefit the Global Fund, for investment in African AIDS programs.

Watch The Killers' video on YouTube
Buy the single on iTunes now

Outrage in South Africa: Man Rapes A 3 Year Old Baby Girl

Outrage in South Africa

Last week a 3 year old girl in South Africa was beaten and raped. She is still alive. The man
responsible was released on bail yesterday. He is walking the streets.

If you are too busy to read this, then just sign your name and forward this on.

The Government is planning to close the child protection unit and this is a petition against it. This is a very important petition. It is an essential part of the justice system for children.

You may have already heard that there's a myth in South Africa that having sex with a virgin will cure AIDS.
The younger the virgin, the more potent the cure. This has led to an epidemic of rapes by infected males, with the correspondent infection of innocent kids. Many have died in these cruel rapes.

Recently in Cape Town , a 9-month-old baby was raped by 6 men.

Please think about that for a moment. The child abuse situation is now reaching catastrophic proportions and if we don't do something, then who will?

Please pass this on to as many people as you know.
Send your petition to childprotectpca@saps.org.za

Please don't be complacent, do something about the kids of South Africa . You can make a difference. That child is fighting for ife.

This is just 1 of the million cases of child abuse, so please pledge your support and help keep CPU (CHILD PROTECTION UNIT) open.

Please give your support to the petition and ensure that it goes to as many people as possible. Please don't just leave it, make a difference.


By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima
Publisher/Editor
Nigerian Times International Online Media Network

The Leonardo De Vinci Dan Brown Never Knew

Here is the story of the Leonardo De Vinci that Dan Brown never knew. The great artist who truly believed in Jesus Christ and never distorted the truth.
Okay, Dan Brown only writes fiction.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tuesday, October 16, 2007


Leonardo De Vinci's Cup

"Sir, we would see Jesus."1

I have read that when Leonardo de Vinci was forty-three years old, the Duke Ludovinco of Milan asked him to paint the dramatic scene of Jesus' last supper with his disciples.

Working slowly and giving meticulous care to details, he spent three years on the assignment. He grouped the disciples into threes, two groups on either side of the central figure of Christ.

Christ's arms are outstretched. In his right hand, he holds a cup that was painted beautifully with marvelous realism.

When the masterpiece was finished, the artist said to a friend, "Observe it and give me your opinion of it."

"It's wonderful!" exclaimed the friend, "the cup is so real I cannot divert my eyes from it."

Immediately Leonardo took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup! As he did he exclaimed, "Nothing shall detract from the figure of Christ!"

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please grant that nothing I ever do or say will ever detract from the beauty of Christ being seen in me. This I can only ever do with your help. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

1. John 20:21.

<:))))><

"Bye Bye Mugabe" is live on Amazon.

Domboramwari, a young Zimbabwean blogger and proofreader for the Zimbabwean Times was sympathetic to President Robert Mugabe. But Domboramwari had to go on exile to escape from political persecution when he refused to join the notorious Green Bombers after collecting the financial payment to do so. He fled with his South African girlfriend Nkosi to Johannesburg after telling his old uncle. And he had to help in digging a grave to bury the dead grandson of his mother's neighbor. This is the story of the millions of the traumatized Zimbabweans suffering under the draconian rule of one of the worst dictators in Africa.

"When you give someone a book, you don't give him just paper, ink, and glue. You give him the possibility of a whole new life."
– Christopher Morley, 1890-1957, Novelist, Journalist and Poet