Category Archives: Africa House

Robert Fikes, Jr.: “African American Interest and Experiences in Russia: A Brief History”

“African American Interest and Experiences in Russia: A Brief History”

Robert Fikes, Jr., Research Librarian

San Diego State University

In early February 1869, Cassius M. Clay, the liberal American ambassador to Russia, was uncertain how Czar Alexander II, would react to his personal request to have “a colored American citizen, presented to his Imperial Majesty, as there was not precedent.” He need not have worried as Civil War veteran and pioneering black journalist Capt. Thomas Morris Chester from Pennsylvania, was then asked to accompany the czar riding alongside the monarch and his staff in the annual grand review the Imperial Guard—stalwart men splendidly attired in tall black leather boots and gleaming gold and silver helmet crowned with a doubled-headed eagle—and following the awe-inspiring pageantry was treated to a fine meal at the dining table of the royal family. The educated and proudly erect son of an ex-slave, he gladly accepted the invitation and enjoyed an experience unparalleled for an African American in the 19th century. The black editors of the New Orleans Tribune thought the event significant enough that the ambassador’s dispatch to Washington concerning Capt. Chester’s gracious treatment in St. Petersburg was reprinted in the newspaper, believing it would be “instructive to the (racist) white population of the Southern States,” an example of how they should, in the ambassador’s words, “elevate the African race in America.” read more

Mr. Aliko Dangote is the investment machine of Africa!

culled from the nationonlineng.net

Africa has emerged a sure-footed and high yielding region for investment, but its transformative change in investment possibilities is driven, not by foreigners, but by Africans, spearheaded by Nigeria’s industrialist Aliko Dangote. Aside boosting Africa’s cement market with an investment of over $16 billion, he has invested substantially in other critical sectors, such as oil and gas, agriculture and telecoms. Now, he is even trying to acquire Arsenal. Assistant Editor CHIKODI OKEREOCHA reports read more

Dr Nathaniel Usoro- Nigerian Pioneer of Bloodless Medicine. Head of Department of Surgery at the University of Calabar

Dr Nathaniel Usoro- Nigerian Pioneer of Bloodless Medicine. Head of Department of Surgery at the University of Calabar

By Ed Keazor

Dr Usoro can be described as the Nigerian pioneer of a procedure essentially over-turning 100’s of years of the belief that transfusions were crucial in Trauma Surgery. This had already been established in Europe and published in Medical Journals dating back to the 80’s. He however was responsible for introducing this to Nigeria, at the University of Calabar. read more

How Ukraine and other international oil thieves are killing Nigeria

We must control our resources – Alamieyeseigha

Thursday, May 1, 2014

BY HENRY UMORU

ABUJA – FORMER Governor of Bayelsa State and a delegate at the National Conference, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, has berated those calling for the reduction of the 13 per cent derivation to five per cent, declaring that he would not give up fighting for resource control until the Niger Delta region begins to controls its resources. read more