Editor
Hello all
As I write, a winter blizzard is ravaging parts of north eastern US and heading on its way to eastern Canada and the Maritimes. On days like today with the wind chill at minus 25 degrees, one cannot help but yearn for the warmth, nay heat of tropical Africa. But like it or not Canada is home to us and a great place to live in, weather not withstanding. It is said that the frigid climate makes us stronger, bolder and more creative than otherwise, but that’s probably the stuff of myths. The reality is that this country is well governed, relative to many others on this continent and elsewhere. We have our problems: inequality, marginalization, poverty, you name it, but which country doesn’t?
Fro the February edition, we bring you the usual menu of goodies. First off is the Ottawa Dreamkeepers’ Martin Luther King award to football icon Mike “Pinball” Clemons, for his exemplary achievements on and off the field. We follow this with the New Year levee by popular MPP and Minister of Correctional Services and Community Safety Yasir Naqvi, who continues to excel in bringing together Ottawa’s diverse communities in a vision of an inclusive Canada. The Ottawa Church of God gospel concert brought together friends and families in prayer and comradeship to usher in the new year. The Somali community continues its program of community engagement by addressing challenges facing their youth in achieving their full potential in the school system, an interactive workshop aptly titled “The Awakening”. Jaku Konbit ‘s Ujima Job Fair takes pride of place as it brought together twenty-two employers and potential employees at City Hall. This edition also introduces an exciting new guest columnist, Kika Otiono, as she addresses the significance of Black History Month on our youth in her own very unique style. Photographer Ayo Alade brings us some stunning images for the Fotorama section. Sadly, one of our beloved community members Ralph Durand passed away this past week, his obituary is featured. As we go to press we’ve just got news of the passing of an icon in Ottawa’s Black community Matshela Molepo, former President of the Africans in Diaspora Association of Canada. We profile this great man and role model as our Top Story for February.
Finally don’t forget to participate in our survey about Black History Month.
Enjoy.
Godwin Ifedi
Editor