A Day on Capitol Hill with Young African Leaders, Power Africa, and the Library of Congress

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Africa Policy Breakfast Series, Cote d'Ivoire, Ex-Im Bank, General Electric, Ghana, Heirs Holdings, IVLP, Karen Bass, Liberia Newspapers, Mimi Alemayehou, OPIC, Power Africa, Power Africa focus countries selection criteria, Rwanda, Shaka Ssali, Symbion Power, Togo, Tony Elumelu, YALI

The room was dominated by portraits of old white men, including one holding a poodle.

Yesterday feelings of patriotism stirred in my bosom as I attended the Africa Policy Breakfast Series sponsored by Rep. Karen Bass (D – CA), a two panel Senate hearing on Power Africa, and I then passed a few hours reading Liberian newspapers at the Library of Congress before venturing over to New America and Arizona State.  It still strikes me as pretty cool that I can rub shoulders with prominent dignitaries and attend congressional hearings in person.

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Togolese and Ghanaian Pop Musicians in DC/MD Clubs this Weekend

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African Student Associations, Ghana, Howard Homecoming, Nectar Lounge, Sarkodie, Togo, Toofan, Vita Lounge

Howard University’s Homecoming is this weekend.  There appears to be an enormous range of festivities associated with the event, and befitting an institution of its stature, with one of the oldest African studies programs in the US, several events billed as affiliated with the Homecoming feature African performers.

The ‘official’ after party of the Howard University Homecoming Yard Fest is billed as taking place at Vita Lounge, this Friday, October 25th, near the DC Convention Center.  It features one of the best known acts to come out of Ghana, Sarkodie, and is brought to us by the Howard and University of Maryland African Student Associations (the Maryland Association really seems to like their African music, I remember they sponsored a recent Iyanya show).  However, the incorrect spelling of the performer on the poster above doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

The same day, just across the DC outer limits in MD, Nectar Lounge brings us a performance by TooFan, a Togolese group, and the Lounge’s Facebook page is also referencing Howard’s Homecoming.  I don’t know TooFan from Fan Ice (a delicious snack found in Togo), but judging by this song, they’re a lot of fun.