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Photo by Kipepeo Images

Imat Akelo-Opio (Ugandan International Actress and Miss Uganda USA) played the Lead female role of Iyaloja “Mother of the Market” in a historical era in Australia by being cast in the first ever Production of Wole Soyinka’s” Death and the Kings Horseman” that opened in Australia this August.

Imat’s character Iyaloja represents the strong African Woman who keeps the tradition of her people and challenges the British colonialists. Imat states that she is extremely humbled to have been cast in a part that showed the true strength, beauty, intelligence, determination and wisdom that is the African Woman.

In addition Imat explains that Iyaloja carries the whole world on her shoulders for the sake of her people, freely giving her son’s betroved wife to ensure that the path of succession is complete, she is truly a mother and protector of her people, who puts her people before her needs.

The play is based on true events that occurred in 1946 between the British colonialists and the Yoruba people. According to the Yoruba tradition, the death of a chief must be followed by the ritual suicide of the chief’s horseman, as his spirit is essential to aid the ascent to the after life, otherwise the chief’s spirit will wander the earth and bring harm to the Yoruba people. The play is a myriad of colours encompassing traditions and modernity that applies to the world we live in today reminding us that tradition is strongly rooted in then African culture despite the modernization of civilization.

Imat has received rave reviews for her performance as Iyaloja and in a first in Australia the production is set to tour Australia, with the play also being incorporated into the Australian performing arts school syllabus in 2010.

Indeed this is a truly historical moment for Africa on the world stage and Imat is excited to be a part of this integral moment in the performing arts world, where African artists are seen for their talent and African theatre is used to educate the far corners of the world.

These are exciting times for us all says Miss Imat Akelo-Opio.

 

 

 

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(Photo by Serena Epstein)

Miss Nyasha Zimucha, Miss Africa USA 2008 – 2009  speaking at the ‘I Luv Africa’ film series and community event where 5 African films were screened. The mission of the RWUL ‘I Luv Africa’ series includes highlighting possitive images about Africa on the global stage.

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In an elaborate celebration at the Nation’s Capital, in August 2009, Fatoumata Soumah ‘Fifi’ was crowned Miss Guinea USA 2009.  Miss Guinea USA pageant is a scholarship pageant which empowers young women from Guinea living in the United States of America.

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Fifi as she is best know, did not only win the hearts of the Judges and the audience on pageant night, she also got some special attention from one of  Guinea’s most celebrated Artists;  Sekouba Bambino Diabate, an internationally renowned African singer and song writer. Mr. Diabate delighted the auditence with a live performance of a special song fit for the Queen.

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Fatoumata was crowned by the Nation’s reigning Queen in Guinea who made a special appearance at the Miss Guinea USA pageant for the ceremony. Soon after being crowned, Fifi and the Reigning Miss Guinea in Guinea were treated to a special reception hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea in Washington DC.

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Miss Africa USA Scholarship team congratulates Fatoumata for winning the Crown and confirms her Place in the 2010 Miss Africa USA Pageant as the Representative for the Republic of Guinea.

For more information on the Miss Guinea USA Scholarship Pageant please visit www.missguineeusa.com

“I Luv Africa” Film Series1502africa & Community Discussion Part One

I Luv Africa

Saturday September 19, 2009 at 12pm-10pm
Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street NW, Washington DC
Free to the Public
The” I Luv Africa” film series and community discussion will feature independent films depicting stories about African culture and people. An educational community discussion about the diversity of the African continent and importance of sharing African stories will take place before the film screenings. The film series will also be apart of the continuing RWUL “I Luv Africa” project started last year.
The” I Luv Africa” project is about African people sharing their own stories of Africa and shattering the stereotypes often portrayed about the continent.  The project will also allow Africans worldwide to share their culture and educated those who wish to learn more about the many cultures of Africa. RWUL is now turning this project into a documentary film and during the film series RWUL will have information provided about how people can be involved in the “I Luv Africa” film project. 
RWUL will be partnering with the La Maison Française -Embassy of France and the Letelier Theater. The film series event will be free to the public and there will be a special catered reception to open the event. The film series will also be featured in RWUL’s new online independent film magazine. Film screening and discussion sched

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 Miss Nyasha Zimucha was a special Guest at the Annual Voices of September 11 event supporting families who lost loved ones in the gruesome attack on the city of New York.  Keynote address was delivered by President Bill Clinton.  Miss Nyasha was a volunteer on Ground Zero and offered her help to serve people in need affected by 9/11 attack.  Miss Nyasha remains committed to serving the community.

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 PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS.

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 PERFORMANCE BY BON JOVI AT THE VOICES OF 9/11 EVENT

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MISS AFRICA USA ; NYASHA ZIMUCHA ON THE RED CARPET AT THE VOICES OF 9/11 EVENT NEW YORK CITY.

Posted by: missafricablogzine | June 19, 2009

MISS AFRICA USA 2009 AUDITIONS AUGUST 7 – 8

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Posted by: missafricablogzine | June 19, 2009

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE ULTIMATE AFRICAN SUMMER BALL

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ITS GOING DOWN AT THE CROWN PLAZA HOTEL: JOIN QUEEN NYASHA ZIMUCHA FOR THE BEST AFRICAN NIGHT OUT!!!!!!!

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Posted by: missafricablogzine | June 6, 2009

Diamond Empowerment Fund: Helping Africans Help Africa

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(left to right: DEF Executive Director Ellen Haddigan, DEF Intern Lesego Mathware, DEF Board Member and former WJA President Phyllis Bergman, Miss Africa USA Nyasha Zimucha, DIVA award winner Evelyn Huang, WJA President Yancy Weinrich, DIVA award winners Susan Shannon of Lim Studio and Pamela Froman of Pamela Froman Fine Jewelry, and DEF Board Co-President Dr. Ben Chavis. )

The worldwide diamond and jewelry industry met  for a week in May to June at the JCK and Couture events in Las Vegas.  These independent multinational events bring producers, designers, manufacturers, retailers, press together. Most importantly, ideas and industry trends are shared through various networking sessions including panel discussions and keynote speeches.

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Womens Jewelry Association held a press conference announcing this years Diva Gives Back winners at JCK 2009 and a cocktail party at club LAVO in Las Vegas. Special guest, Niyasha Zimucha along with diamond Jewelry executives were in attendance at both the press  conference and cocktail party. DEF would like to thank WJA and sponsors, GIA and Rio Tinto forbeing chosen as theis years charitable partner.

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After the winners were announced at the press conference, Miss Africa U.S.A., Nyasha Zimucha, took the opportunity to address the crowd with some of her priorities as a representative of Africa in the United States, and how important it is for an industry such as the fine jewelry industry to embrace the initiatives put forth by both the WJA and D.E.F.

“I’ve always considered myself a DIVA,” quipped Ms. Zimucha to the eagerly listening crowd, “It’s nice to see the word associated with something as positive as this design competition and giving back!”

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 DIVA award winner, Evelyn Huang was present at the cocktail party to share the great insight on her inspiration while designing the winning peice. Miss Africa USA, Niyasha Zimucha came to share her experiences, as a South African, she explained how important the Diamond Jewelry Industry in United States is important to diamond producing nations in Africa.

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  Diamond Empowerment Fund, proud supporter, Simmons Jewelry Company, was also exhibiting at JCK and the DEF team along with Miss Africa USA, Niysha Zimucha visited them. Simmons Jewelry Co. has been at the forefront with supporting D.E.F through creating the Green Bracelet, D.E.F.’s first symbol.

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Nyasha and Executive Director of DEF Ellen Haddigan and the Event.

Nyasha is a proud supporter of Diamond Empowerment Fund and its activities in Africa, empowering communities through Education of the youth, building schools and educating children in communities where Diamond is being extracted. Nyasha is proud to see DEF in action in her homeland South Africa.

It was the humble hope of Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons, owners of the Simmons Jewelry Co., that they could join in and make a difference in helping Africans empower themselves. In this hope was the genesis of the idea for the Diamond Empowerment Fund™ (D.E.F.) as a way to make a positive difference for Africa.

This Article is posted courtesy of DEF.

Darfur event

 Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, recently joined students from the Briar Woods High School International Relations class (Ashburn, VA) in Washington D.C. for the event “Humanitarian Crisis in Darfur: Shoes on the Mall.”

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Led by their teacher, Logan Williams, the class of 24 students collected 30,000 pairs of shoes and placed them at the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool at the National Mall. Each pair of shoes represented 100 lives lost.

Other notable volunteers attending the event included Riddick Bowe, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, Nyasha Zimucha, Miss Africa USA 2009 and Paul Wilson, President of World Outreach for Soles4Souls. Hundreds of public volunteers helped line a ring of shoes around the reflecting pool as a powerful statement against the ongoing war in Darfur.

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Afterwards, Soles4Souls accepted the shoes to distribute them to homeless shelters, missions and international aid organizations across North America. The remainders that were unacceptable for distribution were recycled for playground surfaces.

For more on this posting please visit the website

http://www.soles4souls.org/media/photo_gallery.html

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If there were ever any doubts about the spirit and generosity of New Yorkers in tough economic times, those were laid to rest April 18 when hundreds of runners, walkers and their supporters showed up for Concern Worldwide’s annual 4-mile Fun/Run to raise money in the fight against global hunger.

We were absolutely stunned by the turnout,” said Siobhan Walsh, Concern’s executive director. “This fantastic crowd showed us that despite hard economic times, people are willing to go the extra mile to help those who have nothing and to work with Concern to ‘be the difference’ for the almost one billion people around the world who go to bed hungry every night,” she added.

The Fun Run, now in its eleventh year in New York, raised more than $110,000, which will be used to help provide lifesaving treatment to thousands of severely malnourished children in the world’s poorest countries, such as Niger and Ethiopia and conflict-torn communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad.

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Warm spring weather and bright sun marked the day, which got officially underway when Miss Africa USA, South-African born Nyasha Zimucha, briefly saluted the runners and sounded the horn to start the race at 9.30AM sharp.

Brendan O’Donoghue, manager of the Pig & Whistle pub in Times Square, was the first man to cross the finish line at 22:55. Dianne McKenna was the fastest female runner, completing the race at 25:52. Runners up, on the men’s side, were Chris Solarz (23:06) in second place, and Jerry Macari (23:22) in third. Monika Nemeth (25:52) and Katherine Riposta (26:22) finished second and third among women participants.

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Team captain Michael Traynor, owner of the Mad Hatter Saloon, won the prize for the largest Pub Team, with 151 runners. Led by their captain, Shane Naughton, the Pyramid Schemers took the prize for the largest regular team, with 92 runners. The Pyramid Schemers raised the most sponsorship of all the regular teams, while the Mad Hatter Team raised the most funds of all the  Pub Teams.

Joan Carroll, John Murphy, Mary Devine, Terry Burke and Aya Egawa are recognized as star individual fundraisers. Special thanks to photographer Ben Asen.

Huge thanks to our Race Director, John Volpe, and his team: Mary Devine, Stu & Eunice Patchen, Jake LaSala, and  MJ Furman, without whose help this event wouldn’t be possible. Finally, a very special thanks to our almost 70 volunteers and staff  who came out on Saturday morning to make the Fun Run such a huge success.

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Concern expresses its warm appreciation for the contributions of this year’s sponsors:  

  • Urban Athletics
  • New York City Parks Department
  • CentralPark.com
  • Johnny Foxes Taphouse & Grille

On behalf of thousands the very poorest families and individuals around the world whose lives are touched by the work of Concern, we extend a huge “thank you” to all the runners, walkers and supporters who help make our vital work possible.

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Miss Africa USA Nyasha Zimucha Presents Trophy to the 2009 Fun Run Winner Brendan O’Donnohue.

For More information please visit www.concernusa.org

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