FINAL DAYS TO APPLY
NEW YORK — Black Public Media (BPM) has issued its 2024 open call for projects that center Black culture, characters, communities and concerns. A total of $175,000 will be awarded this year to U.S. documentary projects currently in pre-production, production or post-production, and intended for public media distribution. The 2024 submission portal (https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/) is now open and closes on Monday, September 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Since its inception, BPM has invested more than $17 million toward iconic documentaries and emerging media projects about the global Black experience.
Black Public Media 2024 Open Call offers $175,000 in funding for Black stories
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA ISSUES OPEN CALL FOR BLACK STORIES
BPM to award a total of $175,000 in current round of funding
NEW YORK — Black Public Media (BPM) has issued its 2024 open call for projects that center Black culture, characters, communities and concerns. A total of $175,000 will be awarded this year to U.S. documentary projects currently in pre-production, production or post-production, and intended for public media distribution. The 2024 submission portal (https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/) is now open and closes on Monday, September 30, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Since its inception, BPM has invested more than $17 million toward iconic documentaries and emerging media projects about the global Black experience.
This year BPM — a Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit that trains talented storytellers and funds and distributes their works — welcomes feature-length documentary projects in a range of formats, styles, subject matter and genres, including those that target specific viewers such as children and teen audiences. The projects should be compelling, nuanced stories that add the point of view, experiences and concerns of the Black communities to the larger public discourse.
Applicants must be the producer or director of the project with at least three years of professional producing and/or directing experience (or must have a senior producer attached to the project). The applicant must be able to complete the project within 18 months. Additional requirements can be found at: https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/.
This fall, a panel of media professionals across the industry will evaluate the proposals in a two-tier review process that assesses the project idea and story, production readiness, production team, project budget and work sample. And in December, BPM will announce the five applicants who will receive a $5,000 stipend, an invitation to its talent development program and the opportunity to participate in PitchBLACK, the largest pitch competition for independent filmmakers and creative technologists developing new projects about the global Black experience. One of these projects will win a $150,000 PitchBLACK Award for a broadcast-length or feature project.
“Each year we are amazed to see the myriad, layered stories which are bubbling up from all corners of this country from such gifted creatives,” said BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz. “We look forward to helping these makers bring their important work to American viewers.”
Prospective applicants may watch BPM’s virtual information session here: https://blackpublicmedia.org/for-media-makers/bpm-open-call/.
BPM’s 2024 Open Call is supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Netflix, the MacArthur Foundation, the Tarver Walls Foundation, Paramount+, the New York Community Trust, the Jerome Foundation, the Tides Foundation, Acton Family Giving and Gimlet.
For more information on Black Public Media, visit www.blackpublicmedia.org, or follow it on X (@BLKPublicMedia), Facebook (@BlackPublicMedia), Instagram (@blackpublicmedia) or TikTok (@black-public-media).
ABOUT BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA:
Black Public Media (BPM) supports the development of visionary content creators and distributes stories about the global Black experience to inspire a more equitable and inclusive future. For 45 years, BPM has addressed the needs of unserved and underserved audiences. BPM-supported programs have won five Emmys, 10 Peabodys, three Anthem Awards, 14 Emmy nominations and an Oscar nomination. BPM continues to address historical, contemporary, and systemic challenges that traditionally impede the development and distribution of Black stories. For more information, visit blackpublicmedia.org and follow BPM on Instagram and Facebook and @BLKPublicMedia on X.
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For interview and media inquiries, contact:
Cheryl L. Duncan
Cheryl Duncan & Company Inc.
201-552-9239 (O)
African Consuls General Meet in New York
The meeting welcomed new members and discussed past and upcoming activities with focus on creating ways to engage their various communities.
Africa-Related, New York
The African Consuls General Group Recently Met at the Africa Union Permanent Observer Office in New York
Hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in New York under the leadership of Hon. Mohammed Benabdeljalil, the meeting welcomed new members and discussed past and upcoming activities with focus on creating ways to engage their various communities.
A presentation on the Society of Foreign Consuls in New York was delivered by the Consul General of Malaysia HE Amir Farid Abu Hassan.
Mr Simon Ibe of Global Patriot Newspapers and Mrs. Oyiza Adaba of Africa-Related Inc. both spoke on the need for the group to engage the African Diaspora media outlets in order to reach their nationals. Ice informed the group that the gap in how the media operates in the West and how it operates among people of African descent, is the basis for a webinar that will will be held on September 20th 2024 from 1.00 pm to 2.30 pm (EST), during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Week, and is part of the UN Summit of the Future..
Ms. Busi Matsiko, President of the newly instituted New York Chamber of Commerce also addressed the group, harping on the powerful location New York City offers, and on the economic viability of engaging with Wall Street and other financial institutions that encourage and support Diasporta Africans. She cited that six African designers participated in the the recently concluded New York Fashion Week.
The Media of the Future:
The Media of the Future: Bridging the gap between west and people of African descent.
Global Patriot Newspapers GPN is inviting you to a Dialogue on:
The Media of the Future: Bridging the gap between west and people of African descent.
Time: Sep 20, 2024 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87435712414?pwd=OjVBNZ8jKOe2owdIbEGY2DDdPa95W.1
Meeting ID: 874 3571 2414
Passcode: guest
Laolu Senbanjo: Celebrated By Rolling Stone Africa
NEW YORK CITY weather is notoriously unpredictable. One moment, it’s a biting cold with residents huddling under layers of clothing; the next, a swelter-ing heat forces them to retreat into air-conditioned havens. For Laolu Senbanjo, the city’s erratic climate has a peculiar irony. Here’s a Nigerian man, used to the scorching unforgiving sun of his homeland, lamenting on the New York heat. But after spending years away from Nigeria, this paradoxical gripe was a testament to how deeply he had integrated into his new environment.
With his roots in Yoruba heritage, Laolu Senbanjo transforms every surface into a bold canvas, making waves from the streets of New York to the global stage and redefining what it means to be an African artist.
BY NICOLE ASINUGO
Excerpts from Rolling Stone Africa
NEW YORK CITY weather is notoriously unpredictable. One moment, it’s a biting cold with residents huddling under layers of clothing; the next, a swelter-ing heat forces them to retreat into air-conditioned havens. For Laolu Senbanjo, the city’s erratic climate has a peculiar irony. Here’s a Nigerian man, used to the scorching unforgiving sun of his homeland, lamenting on the New York heat. But after spending years away from Nigeria, this paradoxical gripe was a testament to how deeply he had integrated into his new environment.
Laolu Senbanjo, popularly known as Laolu NYC, is an artist whose work is unmistakable, character-ized by its striking and intricate attention to detail. His art transcends traditional canvases, finding expression on everything from sneakers to bottles, walls, and even bodies. “Everything is my canvas,” he proclaims, a mantra perfectly encapsulating his artistic philosophy. His work, a fusion of ancient African traditions with modern pop culture, tells stories of his Yoruba heritage, spirituality, and the human experience.
““New York is a place where you can reinvent yourself... I was just another face in the crowd, but I felt seen in a way I hadn’t before.””
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CARIBBEAN FIESTA 2024 IN LAGOS
The long-anticipated Caribbean Tropical Fiesta 2024 hosted by Nigerian West Indian Association took place on Saturday the 20th of July at the Whitesands School in Lekki Lagos, Nigeria. The venue was colorful and the ambiance was nothing short of breathtaking.
By Patricia Igho - Lagos, Nigeria
The long-anticipated Caribbean Tropical Fiesta 2024 hosted by Nigerian West Indian Association took place on Saturday the 20th of July at the Whitesands School in Lekki Lagos, Nigeria. The venue was colorful and the ambiance was nothing short of breathtaking.
The bustling scenes took me down memory lane sometime in the early 1990s, when we would have yearly carnivals with different zones in Lagos, competing to win 'best costume' etc. Back then we had super talented 'aunties' who would make the glamorous costumes from scratch.
These gatherings organised by Caribbean wives of Nigerian men living in Nigeria, formed some of the most memorable times in my life. We would dance to calypso music all the way from our different zones at Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island. Big brands like Coca-cola were consistent with their sponsorship.
Carnival as we knew it, came to an abrupt end in ‘92 due to some political issues in Nigeria I'd rather not revisit. It is a sad time when a culture is allowed to diminish or die.
Mini fiestas however continued to hold at every opportunity during private meetings and gatherings of friends and family, weddings, funerals, birthdays, and who can forget the bazaars organised by our special ‘Aunties’. The aroma of delicious snacks and food filling the air. Many Island cultures are represented here in Lagos. Escovitch fish was my personal favorite.
Fast forward to 2024. After three decades and much deliberation, the Nigerian West Indian Association is considering bringing back the Carnival. A lot has happened in that time, some families have relocated, a lot of 'aunties' have lost their husbands and moved back to their Caribbean home countries. That's not to say that there's a scarcity of able hands. The next generation of children and grandchildren are getting the idea for continuation. This is not a culture we would like to be forgotten.
The fiesta was an opportunity for people to have a taste of West Indian culture. The venue was decorated with real colorful flowers. There were stalls all across the hall, with displays of food, clothing and spices to name a few. The venue buzzed with activities, dance, games, a raffle draw, as the sound of Soca music filled the air. I took note of a few veterans of Lagos, as they beamed with nostalgia.
The full day event slowly wound down as evening came. It was a success and plans are underway for another event later in the year.
Recommended Read
The NigerWives of Nigeria by Pat Oyelola is a book that documents the history, activities, experiences and lives of a group of foreign women who are married to Nigerian men and came together under the umbrella of their association, Nigerwives. Nigerwives was formed as an association to facilitate the smooth integration of foreign wives of Nigerians into Nigerian society, to provide friendship and support for one another, and to establish or assist in social projects that would benefit the Nigerian community.
Patricia Igho is of Nigeria/St. Vincent & The Grenadines parentage, and lives in Lagos.
Photos by Uzo Agafie
Omoyele Sowore Returns To A Rousing Welcome In The U.S
After five long years away from the U.S, where his family primarily resides, Omoyele Sowore, the presidential aspirant that was held by The Muhammadu Buhari administration - returned to a rousing welcome in New York.
Omoyele Sowore Returns To A Rousing Welcome in the U.S
After five long years away from the U.S, where his family primarily resides, Omoyele Sowore, the Presidential aspirant and journalist that was held by The Muhammadu Buhari administration - returned to a rousing welcome in New York.
Omoyele Sowore and his family. Photo by Saharareporters
#RevolutionNow convener Omoyele Sowore, on Saturday, arrived in the United States of America after five years to reunite with his family.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that the activists would be traveling to the US Friday night (tonight) to reunite with his family.
This comes after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the release of his passport following the decision of the Nigerian government to withdraw its treasonable felony case against the #RevolutionNow convener, four years after it was seized and he was barred from leaving Nigeria.
The human rights activist and two-time presidential candidate was warmly welcomed by friends and family on Saturday. Sowore, who departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos late Friday night on a United Airlines flight to DC Washington Dulles International Airport, was accompanied by his supporters to the airport.
After some tense confrontations with some Air Force and immigration officers upon his arrival at the Lagos airport over their refusal to allow his supporters and media crew to film his departure, Sowore left and arrived in Washington, D.C., according to his live stream upon arrival.
After U.S. immigration protocols, Sowore took a second leg of his trip to Newark International Airport, where his family and friends met him upon arrival at about 10 AM U.S. Eastern Time.
His friends, led by a member of the TakeItBack Movement, Kayode Ojo, a New York-based tax consultant, later met Sowore’s obviously excited family – his wife, Opeyemi, and his two kids.
Pius Omoregha, Adebayo Niyi, Seun Akinfolarin, also present at the airport were Friday Valentine Offo, Odinma Anaedo social Club USA, Engineer Victor and many others.
The activist said in a press invitation sent to SaharaReporters on Friday that his trip would be for a short while since he was "bound to return to Nigeria not only to continue my struggle for the total liberation of our people but also to face the myriad of bogus criminal and civil cases thrown at me since my detention began."
Sowore drove home and later attended a reception organized by the City of Haworth. The packed event, organized by the Mayor, Heather Wasser, had in attendance US Congressman Josh Gottheimer, whom Sowore acknowledged as facilitating his return to the U.S.
Sowore’s in-laws, Dr. Soji and Tolu Oluwole, also attended.
Other attendees included members of the Diaspora community led by a former President of the University of Lagos students union and now a foremost chemical engineer in the US, Dr. Malcolm Fabiyi, Bukola Oreofe, Deacon Dele Alade, Ademola Bello, American writer and journalist Lisa Vives, and Nigerian cuisine chef and owner of Brooklyn-based Buka restaurant, Lookman Afolayan.
The event, in which Sowore gave a heartfelt speech, also featured his wife, Opeyemi, appreciating the women who led the campaign for the activist’s release in Haworth, New Jersey.
The healthcare marketing consultant said the “friendship and unbreakable bonds” she forged with other women in Haworth helped her cope with the lonely days of wondering if her husband was safe.
“I’m so overwhelmed by the love that surrounds me and my family,” she said.
According to a video of the event posted by northjersey.com, Sowore said in his speech, “I can’t explain how I feel to be here with you today.
“Before I was arrested, nobody knew much about me in this city. I would just occasionally get on the street and run because I do long-distance running. I participated in the city’s runs once in a while. But something is very similar to where I come from; my hometown is as small as what you have here.
“And I remember growing up and saying that I would change the world through my hometown of 3,000 people when it was invaded by the police in 1980. Fast-forward to years later, and I found myself in this small town. Just the way my hometown shook the Nigerian government through me, you shook our government and the world through me again. I became one of the most popular faces throughout my five-year stay in Nigeria. Everybody knew how to spell this place.”
At the reception, Sowore’s daughter read a poem describing her father as “a man with a big heart.”
One of the leading voices was a council member, Alanna Zahn Davis, who spoke passionately about the strong bond Sowore’s incarceration brought to bear on the Haworth community in New Jersey.
To end the event, The Mayor of Haworth, Heather Wasser delivered a proclamation to honour Sowore and his family for their resilience and struggle for the emancipation of their homeland Nigeria.
SaharaReporters on February 15 reported that the President Bola Tinubu-led government had discontinued the treasonable felony case instituted against Sowore.
The development was made known in a document issued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The document dated February 15, 2024, was addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
In the document, the government disclosed its intention to also discontinue the case against Sowore’s co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, aka Mandate.
Sowore was arrested by the Department of State Services on August 3, 2019, in Lagos, Nigeria.
He was subsequently detained and charged with treason for calling for nationwide protests as part of the #RevolutionNow movement he started.
Following the notice of withdrawal of the case, which was issued by the government through the Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the release of his passport and other items seized from him.
Source: Sahara Reporters
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Adinkra Craft Village Ntonso Benefits From U.S. Sorority
A tale of two communities - Adinkra Village, Ntonso is home to Ghana’s ancient tradition of weaving, dying, stamping, stitching and symbols. Over the Christmas holidays, an Indianapolis Sorority stopped by to fulfill their own developmental pledge.
Head of Family Peter “Alhaji” Boakye drinks from the new water pump facility shortly after commissioning, donated by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. Photo by Adinkra Village, Ntonso
Oyiza adaba
fortune ehiwayAs
December 27, 2023
A tale of two communities - Adinkra Village, Ntonso is home to Ghana’s ancient tradition of weaving, dying, stamping, stitching and symbols. Over the Christmas holidays, an Indianapolis Sorority stopped by to fulfill their own developmental pledge.
Infrastructure funding in Ghana by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
December 2023 was when the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc embarked on a “journey of transformation” to the West African country of Ghana. Their aim was to mark their second anniversary by donating funds to the growth and development of some select parts of Ghana. The Sorority founded by seven African-American women from Butler University Indianapolis and led by the international President, Rasheeda S. Liberty undertook this as a philanthropic mission, by tagging the experience, “Transformative 2023 Birthright Journey to Ghana”.
This commissioning ceremony was held on December 27, 2023 in the village center. The Abusuapayin (Elders from the Royal family of Ntonso) - Nana Yaw Poku, family members, along with some dignitaries and resident Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Matthias Korankye hosted the sorority President and members.
The non-profit women's organization, committed to service, sisterhood, scholarships and sisterhood, has mentorships and development initiatives at its core. They had visited various areas in Ghana, and funded the toilet and water plumbing facility in Ntonso, near Kumasi, with a renewed gaze set on promoting a healthy and hygienic environment for its habitants. The community was delighted to host the Sorority, as they had done many times in the past with its constant stream of tourists.
School children in attendance of the commissioning. Photo by Adinkra Craft Village, Ntonso
In her speech Sorority President Rasheeda S. Liberty cited the group's interest in the development of the communities and fostering a lasting and meaningful relationship as a testament to their commitment to service.
The event marked a historical moment in Ntonso, Ghana, that brought out the entire community, including school children.
about Adinkra CRAFT Village Ntonso
Located near Kumasi, Ntonso is known as the homeland of the hand dying and stamping of Adinkra symbols on Ghana’s most popular cloth - the Kente. It is also regarded as a beautiful tourist site, that yearly hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists from across the world. The community spirit is felt by visitors, both old and young under the leadership of Peter Boakye, popularly known as Alhaji.
In his inherited role as the current Head of Family, since taking the reins from his Uncle who passed away in 2016 Boakye says he doesn't take it for granted. He does his best in continuing in the tradition handed down by his forebears - to build an organized community structure with attention to duties and details. Ntonso remains a tourist haven that takes time to teach and offer classes about the origins and techniques of Ghana’s ancient symbols. In Ntonso tradition, the men continue to weave, while the women do the dye jobs.
Adinkra Craft Village, Ntonso is featured in the biographical documentary DELA, as one of the early influences in the art of El Anatsui - the globally reconignized Sculptor.
Photo/Video by Adinkra Craft Village Ntonso
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CAPTAIN VICTOR EGONU: Over n Out
In life Captain Victor Obiora Egonu was quite vocal, his death and funeral proves nothing different.
Words: Oyiza Adaba
Photos: Lilian Ajayi | Africa-Related
Lagos, Nigeria
1959-2022
In life, Captain Victor Obiora Egonu was quite vocal, his death and funeral has proved nothing different.
Love him or not, it was just a matter of understanding. Captain Victor Egonu’s straightforwardness worked as both a quality and flaw, opening many doors and slamming quite a few in his face. His front was brash, truthful sometimes bordering on rude, yet it usually came from a place of his genuine love for and seeming frustration in humanity.
What he lacked in his physical frame, he very well made up for with his unforgettable personality. His demand for excellence and notable quick temperament often stood out, but as with the ‘misunderstood’, much laid beneath the surface. Most would agree he lived up to the full meaning of Egonu - someone who does go by what others say.
As eloquently delivered by friends, colleagues and family gathered during his funeral on July 7, 2022, Egonu couldn't have been any more Nigerian, than he displayed in life and death.
He somewhat symbolizes a Nigeria of time-past, when ethnicity and religion played little-to-no roles. An Igbo man from a mixed British/Nigeria heritage, he traveled the world achieving many firsts with his love of flying including being the first to fly the Boeing triple 7 to Nigeria. Since graduating from the School of Aviation in Zaria in 1981 and becoming a captain in 1992, Egonu had mentored and shaped a generation of pilots.
"Zaria trained some of the best pilots in the world… go to Emirates, Saudi Air everywhere you will find a Nigerian pilot and they were all trained there way back. So, I am very proud of my Zaria.”
- Victor Egonu - Source
It was flying that took him to many places, including Jos. And in typical Victor fashion, he didn't move alone. His friends are multi-ethnic, race, creed, class etc, and without question everyone fits right in J-town.
He gave friends (myself included) our first flight cockpit experience, so it was no wonder his funeral felt like a flight tour around the world, backed by stories and experiences by those closest to him. Beside magnificent renditions of the Alleluia and Amazing Grace by the choir, the message behind his music playlist was not lost. Bob Marley’s ‘War’ and ‘Rally Round’ by Steel Pulse further drilled in more truths.
Discover JOS - the home of Peace and Tourism (NTDC/Tour Nigeria)
Memorable accounts from Port Harcourt, Lagos, Peckham, Chicago, Abuja, London, Lusaka, Warri, Bristol and on. We laughed, cried, reminsed, and began to think… as he would have liked us to. Egonu always taught one to think, to stand and as our friend and brother Tonye Wilcox always said to 'do somethin'.
Pertinent questions like, 'What has happened to Nigeria? How can the melting-pot once known as Jos - where Dipo, Chijoke, Ali, Dotun etc converged with no political intentions or questions asked - now be divided across indigenous, religious and ethnic lines. What kind of country are we leaving for?
We were also forced to think about the state of Nigeria's aviation industry - one which undoubtedly would have achieved bigger milestones had Nigeria operated on meritocracy. As the aviation minister that he never was, Capt. Victor Egonu would have set and achieved high standards in making Nigeria compete with continental aviation giants Despite global challenges, he had great ideas for travel and tourism, having traveled the length and breadth of the 200-million populated country, as an avid biker.
"If you look at Kenya Airways, South African Airways, they are all doing well. Why can’t Nigeria have an airline that all of us can actually say ‘oh, we are proud of this airline’. Of course we used to have one in the past but that was back then.”
- Victor Egonu - (2015 Interview Source)
His biography reading took us through a list of defunct airlines, some long-forgotten. Name it, he had worked there during his nearly 30 years. from Okada, Kabo, ADC, Chachangi, IRS, Medview, Bellview etc. His last boss was the Chairman of Air Peace Chief Alllen Onyeama, admitted that they often clashed from the same frustrations borne from operating an airline in Nigeria. As Director of Flight Operations, he had relentlessly taken the airline to greater heights since joining in 2011.
Air Peace meanwhile, continues to come to Nigeria's aviation rescue, in the absence of a national carrier for decades. What started out as Nigeria Airways was established in 1958, and ceased operations in 2003. Since then, several unsuccessful attempts at rebranding has seen name changes from Virgin Nigeria Airways, Nigerian Eagle Airlines, Air Nigeria. According to Simple Flying, the much anticipated launch of Nigeria Air originally scheduled for April 2022 has been postponed by another year.
Despite delays, ministry insists on July take-off date for Nigeria Air
The Guardian Nigeria
Victor Egonu's death on June 9, 2022 came as a major loss, not just to the global aviation industry. In her glowing tribute, his wife Dayo Egonu spoke candidly about the anxieties of being a pilot's wife and celebrated her husband's great milestones and the unapologetic adroitness he brought to ensuring air travel safety. Standing alongside their surviving 12-year old son Tonye, reminded us that Victor Egonu was one of the best pilots Nigeria forgot to honour and thank.
‘Plane Cemetery’ at Lagos airport (Photos by Africa-Related)
Oyiza Adaba is a journalist & producer @africarelated