Editor
Good morning all
As we head towards the last few weeks of summer, we the publishers of Black Ottawa Scene, are thrilled that we are at almost the one year mark of a journey that started with our first tentative steps into photo-journalism. We have certainly learned a lot, mostly from feedback from you our readers. Our tracking tool tells us that our readership spreads far from our home base in Ottawa, Canada, to the U.S., and to far flung places like the Philippines, Nigeria, Russia and Norway. Thank you to all those of you who have found our news and features interesting enough to “tune in”.
For the month of September, we start with a tribute to our mothers, those wonderful women who raised and nurtured us and who stand by us through thick and thin, and thereby touched our lives in their own special way. Jamaicans marked the 52 anniversary of their independence in style and we bring you their celebrations in four spectacular events in the space of one week. Not to be outdone, the people of Trinidad and Tobago held their inaugural Trinbago Day at city hall. The annual Dapo Fun Day commemorates the life of a young Nigerian-Canadian hero, Dapo Agoro, who was cut down in his prime by a senseless act of violence, but whose legacy is celebrated with seminars and other events promoting non-violence and peaceful resolution of conflict. Jaku Konbit continues to excel with its popular Greatness summer camp while the Black Engagement Civic Action Network (BECAN) held its own inaugural academic summer camp for aspiring young scientists. Black History Ottawa hosted an innovative seminar for seniors to increase their knowledge of how to manage their finances during their golden years, the first of four such events funded by the government of Canada.
We have a new guest columnist Annette Ejiofor who speaks about what it is like to live in three “worlds”. Regular columnists Andy Kusi-appiah and Justina Ikwu continue where they left off with their thoughts on over-population and collectivism respectively.
We have two intriguing interviews in our conversation series. First with South African-born Dr. Isra Levy, City of Ottawa Medical Officer of health, and second with a remarkable young man, Jimmy Sebulime, who turned adversity into triumph as he pulled out all the stops to bring much needed medical and social services to remote villages in his home country Uganda.
So much to chew on. Enjoy!
Godwin Ifedi
Editor