SAIS Tackles Urbanization in Abuja

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Abuja, Africa land tenure, Boko Haram, Carl Levan, FEDUP, Jos, Josiah Olubowale, Nigeria, SAIS, Trinidad

Sitting from L: Olubowale and LeVan

Yesterday I popped in for the first hour of a 90 minute discussion at SAIS titled “I Am Here Until Development Comes*: Displacement, Demolitions and Property Rights in Urbanizing Abuja” with Carl Levan of American University and Josiah Olubowale, a Nigerian and soon to be graduate of the University of the West Indies, Trinidad.

I have never been to Nigeria and know nothing about property rights, so I was very much out of my element here.  I do not believe that I was completely alone in this regard. 

A Mega Failure of an Afrobeats Fan

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Afrobeats in DC, DC african music, Flavour N'abania Maryland, Ice Prince, Ice Prince BET Award, Ice Prince in DC, Ice Prince Jos, Jos

When one of your favorite entertainers is based in Nigeria, comes all the way to DC for a show, and you don’t hear about it until after it happens (although you learn about it very soon thereafter), you come away feeling exceedingly disappointed.  I just discovered that Ice Prince Zamani, who is one of my two favorite African entertainers performed in DC last night.

I may need to go into mourning following this tragedy; although I feel like my Africa in DC cred has been severely undermined, I’ll do my best to redeem myself!  Political heads may be interested to know that Ice Prince’s next album (he was in the country to scoop a BET award for best international act) is slated to drop in September to commemorate the victims of violence in Jos in September, 2001.

I’m not a fan, but another big Nigerian name, Flavour N’abania will be performing in Laurel, MD this Friday.