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Kolanut Breaking An African Ritual
By Prof. Ikenna Nwosu MD
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The colanut, whose botanical name is “Cola Acuminata” or “Cola Nitida”, has been an important item in African societies for millennia. Colanut trees have been utilized for various purposes. Some traditional herbal healers use the pods to ease labor pains. The seeds are deployed to relieve diarrhea, nausea and hangover while the tree bark is used to heal wounds. The nuts are chewed as a stimulant and the roots can be used to clean teeth and sweeten breath. The colanut can be processed into a dye which is used in indigenous garment industry, body art and as an ingredient for cosmetics. The colanut tree is indigenous to the African rain forest. It can thrive in the wild but it is deliberately cultivated in most parts of Africa. A colanut tree variety was discovered to cohabitate quite well with cocoa plants, particularly when the latter in seedling stage. This lead to a massive propagation of colanut trees in vast cocoa plantations that were developed in many West African countries since the early days of European colonial rule. The cocoa beans are harvested for export to beverage and confectionery manufacturers overseas while the proceeds from the colanut tree are mostly consumed locally. The colanut is ubiquitous throughout tropical Africa. It is, however, amongst the Igbo cultural group in Nigeria that this nut conjures a meaning that transcends its material utilitarian value.
For reasons that cannot be fully explained by historians and anthropologists, Ndiigbo venerate the colanut as a ritualistic food that reinforces interactions in both their physical and metaphysical world. Presentation, breaking and sharing of the colanut are central to consummation of interpersonal relationships as well as solemnization of group undertakings in many formal or social settings in Igbo society. At the personal level, individuals who maintain homesteads or live by themselves are expected to offer and share the colanut with their guests as a symbol of goodwill toward them. Within the context of authentic indigenous Igbo values, it is considered extremely unusual for one to fail to offer the colanut to a guest, particularly in one’s own home. In the rare circumstance where the host may have temporarily run out of his supply of the nuts, the guest usually expects a profuse apology for the lapse. It is the normal etiquette for this apology to precede any other offerings that might be made as a substitute for colanut such as drinks, snacks and other refreshments. Some title groups in Igbo society may decline to partake in further proceedings in the residence of a host who cannot present the colanut to welcome his quests at the first instance.
Colanut is usually presented with other accompaniments as the case may be. Most commonly, the colanut is presented with “alligator” pepper, a hot spicy fruit from the ginger family, which mixes quite tastefully when chewed together with cola. Some prefer the accompaniment of hotly seasoned peanut butter made from dry-roasted groundnuts and pepper. To accommodate the taste and preferences of some who may not tolerate colanut well, other vegetables and fruits can be presented together with the colanut. Some people, who can afford to do so, accompany the colanut with palm wine, hot drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. Whatever is presented with the colanut takes a subordinate role when it is time to make the actual offering to the guest. The colanut, with its condiments and other accompaniments beside it in a plate or platter, is what is handed over to the guest while the other items are placed elsewhere in everyone’s view. Where the spouse of the head of the household is available, the wife usually delivers the colanut platter to her husband who then makes the presentation to their guests.
Colanut is not only presented to strangers, but to all guests. The Igbo connotation of a guest is anyone who resides outside the host’s homestead. The next-door neighbor or even a close relative, like one’s sibling, is regarded as a guest as long as he resides outside the host’s homestead. It is only a fool, according to an Igbo saying, that fails to regard his relatives as guests in his own homestead. The colanut is usually presented with a brief remark by the host to welcome the guests. If there is only one guest, he should receive the platter, acknowledge the presentation of the colanut with thanks and hand the platter and its contents back to the host to oversee the ritual of breaking the cola. In most parts of Igbo society, it is the prerogative of the male head of the household to perform the ritual for breaking the cola. This is more so if the male head of household has not broken any cola since daybreak. In some areas, such rites may be the task of the oldest or titled man present. In some situations, the youths are called upon to perform the actual breaking of the colanut and sharing the cola out to guests after the appropriate person has completed the libation ritual.
In a large gathering, presentation, breaking and sharing of colanut take a different format. The principal aim of the colanut ritual is the reenactment and solemnization of human relationships, proceeding from the host to encompass all the guests present. The male head of household or his surrogate first presents the colanut to the next of kin for onward transmission to rest of the guests. If the number present is not too large, the colanut should be passed around the guests bearing two things in mind: guest’s age and relationship to source of the cola. The colanut should pass from the hands of younger to older individuals and from closely related to distant relatives and finally to strangers, in meticulous order. Errors are destined to occur during this intricate process. That is why anyone, with platter of colanut in hand, is given the liberty to consult as he wishes before making the next move. The inquisitive traveler, an Igbo saying goes, rarely misses his way, even in a very strange land. This saying is put to practical use during the presentation of the cola. The average Igbo is unlikely to acquiesce to a gross error in the custody of colanut during its presentation. Every protestation regarding a breach of protocol is usually fully explained and necessary amendments made before proceeding further.
Even guests from distant places or even foreign lands are not left out of the colanut ritual. The farthest in relationship to the source of the colanut usually gets to handle the platter at the end of making its rounds through the guests. Before the colanut platter’s journey is deemed complete, every constituency that is entitled to handle it must have been given the opportunity to do so. An astute observer should be able to trace the relationship of the colanut presenter to various individuals and groups present. To the initiated, this is a reaffirmation of family and ancestral lineage. To the uninitiated, this exercise could be a subtle unspoken lesson in human interconnectivity and geopolitics from an Igbo perspective. The last person to handle the colanut platter is expected to return it to its original source; to the head of household who made the offering. Before doing so, it is considered a polite gesture to inquire from all assembled whether anyone who feels entitled to handle the colanut platter was omitted or inadvertently bypassed. A positive response should require an acknowledgement of error and an open apology to the offended. A negative response means that the colanut has touched all bases and therefore now ready for breaking and sharing to all present.
By design, many more colanuts are usually offered than would be adequate to share for immediate consumption amongst the number of people present. Besides, once the colanut is formally broken, the cotyledons of the nut can be cut into as many pieces as the sharer wishes. Ndiigbo say that only the lack of a thumbnail can be the limiting factor in ensuring that the broken cola reaches everyone present. It is the usual practice for anyone with a portion of colanut to pinch off a piece in his possession to share with those around him before eating what is left. At this phase of the colanut ritual, the emphasis is on sharing, no matter how minute the piece available may be. Before breaking the cola, a handful of choice nuts are picked out by whoever is performing the ritual for distribution to some guests for them to take home unbroken. Guests from most distant places and also the last persons to handle the colanut platter are the first beneficiaries of these selective handouts. The Igbo says that when the colanut reaches the guests’ homes, it gets the chance to tell where it came from. If enough nuts are available, dignitaries and titled men present could be offered whole colanuts as a sign of recognition.
The act of breaking the cola is the climax of the colanut ritual. Before separating the nut’s cotyledons, the person performing the ritual usually starts by reciting libations and extending good wishes to all present. The Almighty, the land and its deities as well as ancestral spirits are invoked upon to come and commune with all gathered. Brief remarks are made on key societal issues of the day. The good and favorable ones are lauded. The bad and unfavorable experiences are wished away, never to recur. Expectations for the future are expressed for individuals, groups and the society at large. As the recitals proceed, all those present intermittently concur in unison by responding “ise-e”, Amen, “ya gazie” when appropriate, depending on individual preferences. Most colanut-breaking rituals are concluded with a short prayer that is formatted to the performer’s taste. A resounding refrain of approval at the end of the colanut-breaking ritual is a confirmation that the nuts are ready to be shared and consumed by all present. The person breaking the cola finally separates one colanut into its cotyledons with his thumbnail or other instrument with a sharp edge. As of right, he retains one of the nut’s cotyledons while the other pieces are sent to the pool that will be shared to all and sundry.
The Igbo society is a highly decentralized one. As should be expected, there are variations in details concerning the presentation, breaking and sharing of the colanut amongst Ndiigbo. In some places, cash is routinely added to colanut platter before the head of household makes his presentation. On special occasions like during traditional marriage ceremonies, relatives and friends of the host often contribute publicly to the colanut pool that is eventually offered to the guests who are mostly made up of the entourage of the host’s in-laws. For some people, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, fruits, vegetables and snacks are acceptable substitutes for cola. No breaking ritual is considered appropriate for any “cola” presentation that does not include actual colanuts. It is, however, not unusual to encounter occasions where libations are recited while opening a bottle of hot drink, wine or champagne. The distribution network for ethnic foods has improved markedly these days that items like colanuts are easily found in most parts of Africa and large population centers of Europe and America. Use of inappropriate substitutes for colanut by Ndiigbo is rare nowadays, even amongst its Diaspora populations.
Colanut ritual is probably as old as Igbo culture itself. The Igbo sees the colanut as a ritual food which, by sharing with fellow humans in the ambience of the spiritual forces that define our cosmos, mends and reinforces cohesion of the greater society. Within the indigenous Igbo value system, the colanut has such a spiritual power that breaking and eating it at the consummation of a deal is considered as a more binding pledge by the parties concerned than written signatures or fingerprints. Signatures and fingerprints can be corrupted by forces external to man. But partaking in the breaking and sharing of colanut after performing associated ceremonial rituals is regarded by the average Igbo as taking a solemn oath that remains immutable for life. The colanut ritual has proven to be a powerful instrument for transmission of cultural values to succeeding generations of our people. To the non-Igbo, it provides a clue to understanding the inner workings of the Igbo culture and its people. Consumption of the colanut is not unique to the Igbo. In fact, the Yoruba grow the bulk of the colanuts produced in Nigeria and the Hausa eat a greater tonnage of the mild stimulant than Ndiigbo. Beyond growing and consuming the colanut like most Africans do, Ndiigbo also break the cola.
Feet Washing Can Detoxify Your Body
An Ancient Middle Eastern Culture That Still Works Today - By Dshaikh Izuchukwu
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The washing of one another's feet may be an ancient middle eastern culture but it is an act of loving dedication to others of our willingness to do for that one whatever may be necessary, to uplift their faith. When we take the feet of our brother or sister in our hands and wash them, we are saying to him or her, "I love you as a brother or sister in Christ, and you can count on me to be of service to you, however humble it may be" Unless one enters into it in this spirit, prepared to make this commitment, it cannot be said that one has truly taken part in the service and has "washed one another's feet." What really is the significance of the practice of foot washing? Is it merely a lingering trace of a past culture? We usually hear this act referred to as "the ordinance of humility." But is that all it is? No. There is the possibility of a deeper and more meaningful lesson and benefits than simply one of humility, important as that may be.
This is where we bring you the doctrine of detoxification with the main focus of using our Detox machine to alkalinizes the body ridding the body of unnecessary and harmful acids. PH testing can be done on the saliva before and after a treatment to confirm the results. Now, granted, one can detox in several ways. The oldest and best known method is to do a prolonged fast. Colon cleanses and liver flushes have also become popular to rid the body of waste build up, toxins, and acid. What is incredible about the Detox system is that you can do in 30 minutes what might take you days or weeks in another form of detoxification. It used to be known as the “rich man’s detox” in Europe.
In 1931, Dr. Otto Warburg, a noted research scientist, received the Nobel Prize for discovering that "Malignant Cancer must have a Low Oxygen, strong Acid Environment. Over 150 degenerative diseases are linked to acidity." We now know that creating an alkaline environment is crucial to the bodies well-being and aversion to cancer, bacterial growth, viruses, and disease. Acid wastes attack our joints, major organs, and lymph and circulatory system. Our fight for our health is also a fight over our PH.
Beginning Symptoms of Acidosis include: fatigue, headaches, bloating, acne, constipation, food allergies, panic attacks, slow circulation.
Intermediate symptoms of acidosis include: Asthma, bronchitis, insomnia, psoriasis, fungus, depression, body odor, cold sores. Advanced symptoms of acidosis include: cancer, fibromyalgia, weight gain, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, gout, diabetes, lupus, leukemia, chronic pain, migraine headaches.
How Does it Work?
Our bodies are electric. In each of our cells we have positive and negative charges called ions. When we have the same amount of positive and negative, the body is balanced and neutral. If we have not enough ions to balance the body, the body goes acidic. At this point the body is running on a deficiency and will try to pull from surrounding tissue, bones, etc. to try to balance. WATER has an almost perfect balance of positive and negative ions. Water will split its ions on impact (like a waterfall, the beach, the rain– and in our case the impact of electricity). Since the body is composed of over 70% water, its ability to interact with water is very high (Osmosis). Each foot has over 2000 pores and also the greatest number of sweat glands in the entire body.. The machine creates millions of positive and negatively charged ions that enter your body and begin to neutralize tissue acid wastes. Consequently, the Ion Cleanse is one of the best detox products. It is painless, drug free, and has no harmful side effects
How Often Should I Do A Cleanse?
One detox session is equivalent to a fast. If one were to purge through several days of fasting, the unit can accomplish the same benefit in 30 minutes. Therefore you are doing your body a huge favor with even just one session.For a full body purge, we recommend 20+ treatments. Every other day for 40 days or three times a week until the desired results.
If one has a health challenge of a bigger nature (cancer, fibromyalgia, obesity, arthritis, etc.) then it is recommended that the machine be used three times a week as a regular habit. If you choose this course then take a few weeks off after 25 treatments so that the body does not get lazy.
Kenya Deports A Radical Islamist Cleric
Jamaican Born Man With History of Inciting Hatred
Police officers in Nairobi on Friday clashed with rock-throwing mobs who were angry about the government’s decision to deport a radical Islamist cleric. The police fired tear gas and unleashed attack dogs on hundreds of demonstrators. Witnesses said at least three people were killed. Kenyan officials recently arrested the Jamaican-born cleric, Abdullah al-Faisal, who has served jail time in Britain for inciting hatred, and are trying to deport him.
Radical elements with history of inciting hatred and violence are becoming more common among various islamic groups. Their base of support is eroding in most communities. Abdullah Al Faisal would suffer simialr fate as many would be terrorist, who are either apprehended or remove to areas where there ability to incite terror are less likely.
President Obama's Religious Beliefs
Religion And Politics
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January, 2010 - God in the Obama Era begins and ends with chapters on Obama for relevance and interest, but the integral part of the book is actually a history of successive presidencies. Understanding that nations which ignore their past live in a narrow time period, discounting the fact that what has gone before tells us much about what is going on now and what will happen in the future. Historically, religion as both a positive and negative force has influenced economics, international statecraft, as well as individual and social ethics. This brings up the question of where Barack Obama is taking this country politically, religiously, economically and ethically. Comparing our current president with past presidents, from Washington through Bush, Nielsen wonders what they would say to each other as contemporaries. Since the election of 2008 turned out to be a watershed contest, looking to crucial decisions of policy change on the war in Iraq, the international economy, global warming, social security and immigration, it is the main intention of the author to help bring objectivity and perspective to the much-debated issues.
This brilliantly enlightening book offers guidance to evaluate what an ambitious new leader has done, and may do, in the longer setting of the history of his office. At the beginning of each chapter the author uses a narrative and chronological approach to show both the similarities and the differences between our current president and one of his predecessors, then asks a number of hypothetical what if questions of many past great leaders in an attempt to see how history could have been dramatically changed by their answers. Visit his informative website at: www.presidentsreligionandethics.com
Niels C. Nielsen, Jr. is the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Philosophy and Religious Thought emeritus at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He is well-recognized for his earlier book, The Religion of Jimmy Carter, also translated into German. The author's daughter is the only non-native faculty member of her department at the University of Vienna, where she is intensely involved in explaining the Obama phenomenon to her students who have a varied interest in the transition from Bush II to a very different sort of presidency. Nielsen's Religions of the World is a widely used college and university textbook.
Thousands Celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem
The Birth Place of Jesus Christ
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Thousands of Palestinian Christians and pilgrims from all over the world, have celebrated Christmas Day in Jesus' traditional birthplace, their prayers joined by wishes from the Vatican for peace in the region. Worshippers from the region and around the world packed the local church built near the grotto the traditional site of Jesus' birth. "It feels like a giant family gathering," said Jonathan Croy, a 24-year-old musician from Birmingham, Alabama, who was visiting Bethlehem for the first time. "The message of Jesus peace in the heart, joy and love for each other," papal nuncio Antonio Franco said as he entered the Church of the Nativity complex. "It's possible."
Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian militants in the area have fallen off sharply from previous years, though towering concrete slabs that form a section of Israel's West Bank separation barrier were a reminder of hostilities that persist. The reminder is a clear reason shoppers and tourist have not yet returned in large numbers. Most visitors only entered the city briefly, and many businesses are unable to gain from the tourist boom that the seasons normally brings.
Omar Al-Bashir No Show in Turkey's Islamic Conference
Concerned He Might Be Arrested
Indicted President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, by the International Criminal Court (ICC), did not show up for the Islamic summit in Istanbul as Turkish government who welcomed his attendance but could not give assurance of the political fugutive's escape from international authorities arrest Warrant.
Sudan's state-run Suna news agency said "new developments" had required Al-Bashir's presence in Sudan.
The Sudanese leader was in Egypt on Sunday, taking part in a China-Africa summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. But Suna said he was returning to Khartoum to "find a solution" to a dispute between his ruling National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. But Turkey, which is seeking EU membership, had come under pressure from Brussels to drop Al-Bashir from the guest list.
Swine Flu and The Hajj Travels
How To Stay Safe From Infection
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Swine Flu and The Hajj Trips
How To Stay Safe From Infection
On your flight from Everywhere, to Saudi, look out for anyone hacking up a lung. Take the advice of Dr. Gerberding, the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, had a few strategies
1. Point the air vent in the ceiling away from yourself.
2. Turn your body away from others, especially those you suspect may be sick
3. When you really think you are at risk, get an attendant to offer a mask.
On airplanes, you're most likely to catch an illness from the people sitting in your row and in the row behind you, according to researchers at Purdue University, who developed an animation showing how germs move around an airplane. A longer trip to the Hajj puts you more at risk of contracting any such infection. "The bad news is if you're in that strike zone, you're at risk," Gerberding said. "If someone sitting right near you has the flu, there's a pretty good chance you'll get it. Flu is very transmissible."
The good news is, if you're not right in that strike zone, you're probably at low risk,". Whenever you're out in public, you can catch a germ from anyone within about six feet of you; that's how far some germs can travel.
4. Think about a busy escalator handrail, steps, door knobs.
"You and millions of others have touched it,". "And they could be sneezing, wiping their nose, coughing in their hands, and then they touch the handrail." After you touch something like a handrail, make a conscious effort not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth, and use hand sanitizer as soon as you can.
5. Intended and unintended Hand Shakes, avoid when possible.
Stay safe, travel wisely and take all necessary precautions.
From Boko Haram To Maitatsine
Religious Riots and Its Damages
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Between the Maitatsine religious riots of 1980 and the latest Boko Haram, there have been more than 20 cases of ethno-religious conflagration resulting in more than 10,000 deaths and the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira. “I was a bigot, a fanatic and an ignoramus of man fighting tirelessly, maiming and actually sending the innocent to the great beyond prematurely, all in the name of religion. Mohammed Abdul-Azeez, a one time Maitatsine henchman, uttered those words at the then Foursquare Church in Yaba, Lagos, after he had renounced membership of the Islamic sect that first caused mayhem in Kano in December 1980.
Abdul-Azeez’s repentance came nine years after the incident in October 1989. Even at that time, the ravages of the Maitatsine riots in Kano, which later spread to Yola, Maiduguri, Bauchi and Gombe in that order, was still fresh in the minds of Nigerians. The riots caused huge losses, in human and material terms. No less than six thousand lives were lost during the mayhem. The very first violence in Kano shocked many Nigerians to their marrow. In that crisis alone, 4,177 lives were lost. The Kano incident stands out for being the first religious crisis that took a huge toll on human lives and property.
Sultan of Sokoto and President of Christians Associations Leads Religious Freedom Event in USA
By Femi Ajayi
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ZUMUNTA IS USING NIGERIA'S DIVERSITY TO STRENGTHEN ITS UNITY
AT ITS JULY 2008 ANNUAL ''CONVENTION OF THE CENTURY'', LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
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Nigeria is a nation of many countries lumped together by the Colonial Master without much consideration of its multiplicity. The only consideration then was to meet up for Great Britain deficiencies in Europe, to colonize Nigeria.
After Nigeria independence (1960) the country is still struggling to understand the dynamics of using its differences as sources of strength. Where will Nigeria be in the year 2010 when it clocks 50?
Due to the thoughtlessness of most past Nigerian leaders, mostly of Military orientation; Zumunta Association USA, Inc., is branding a new direction for Nigerian leaders, creating an enabling environment for Nigerians to claim citizenship of any State of their choice. Unfortunately, most of the past leaders have used ethnicity and religion for their own selfish ends at the expense of very poor majority Nigerians. Zumunta believes that an average Nigerian must be able to be anything he or she wants to be in any parts of Nigeria, without hiding his/her identity or faith to make a living in Nigeria.
On July 25 through 27, 2008, at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriot Hotel, Zumunta will be playing host to a powerful gathering of Nigerians from all walks of life at its 15th Annual International Convention of ZUMUNTA to create a road map in reducing the ethnic and religious tensions in the country. According to its Public Relations Officer, Mesi Ada Usiade, the theme of this year's ZUMUNTA convention is; 'Prevention of Communal and Religious conflicts in Nigeria', while revisiting its previous and the most recent theme, 'Preventing HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Northern Nigeria'.
Realizing the slippery terrain of religion and ethnic divide in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and the leader of Muslims in Nigeria, His Eminence Alhaji Mohammad Sa'adu Abubakar III, CFR Mni, has decided to join Zumunta Association at its 2008 convention on ways to foster the unity among Nigerians. In addition, Archbishop John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the umbrella association of all Christians in Nigeria, would be joining Zumunta in Los Angeles, California on the issue of Conflict Management and Resolution in Nigeria. The Sultan and Arch Bishop would be on the same forum, in a Town hall meeting style, to pave ways for finding some lasting solutions to religious and ethnic divide in Nigeria.
In addition, Zumunta is assembling a truly outstanding team of speakers and presenters for 'the Convention of the Century', according to Halilu Haruna, one of the organizers, and the National Zumunta Treasurer. It is not going to be a loud-mouthed venture for a formidable group like Zumunta to start the engine of unifying Nigeria in spite its diversity, especially religion, which has been a source of disunity among Nigerians.
Going down the history lane of Nigeria, religion has been used by most Nigerian past leaders to partition the country along ethnic and religious blocks. Because of the prominence of religion as a political instrument, successive governments in Nigeria involved themselves neck-deep in religious matters. However, religion has become an inalienable factor in the new Nigerian politics, being used to stamp the ruler's authority and acceptability. In effect, the ruling elite have used religious sentiments to polarize the people and created unnecessary and unhealthy tension.
My knowledge of religion tells me that it is the hardest subject in the world to approach objectively. By its nature, it dwells and thrives on emotion. Moreover, where emotion holds sway, reason is held captive. Thus religion argument is like the man in the anecdote. It goes round and round in circles, endless, inconclusive, and frustrating. It is about time Nigerians nail the coffin of religious riots especially in the North, and regionalization policies and see Nigerians as Nigerians wherever State they make their living in Nigeria.
As mentioned earlier, religion is a slippery terrain, more slippery than a banana peel. However, the path of wisdom is to avoid the terrain. The pages of history books testify to the unending rivalry or problems created by religion in this century all over the world. Whenever a community is governed by the absolute tenets of religion, at the expense of other faithful within the community, progress could be adversely affected. Some pocket-sized States in Nigeria still hide under religion as a barometer for public service.
As pointed out, if Nigeria is to grow socially, politically, and economically, the politicization of religion must cease. Government should desist from actions and policies, which directly or indirectly violate the Constitutional secularity of Nigeria. Each has the right to exist and it is my desire that believers of all faiths should live together in harmony.
We certainly cannot add religious divisions to the ethnic differences, which threaten Nigerian unity. There is nothing more humidifying than watching devotees' batter themselves into submission in the name of the only true God. I allude to the fact that the ethics of each religion demand love, peace, justice, and tolerance of other people and religions.
The erstwhile traditional Nigerian philosophy of life was characteristically tolerant and accommodating. Felicitations and celebrations during religious holidays, such as Christmas and the Id-el-Kabir, cut across religious lines. People of different religions have lived and worked together for years in offices, as tenants in houses, and have even intermarried. However, this trend has changed as people feel insecure in places other than their homeland, which might be due to religious intolerance, ethnicity, and politicking. Zumunta Association is urging Nigerians to return to their religious and ethnic tolerance level of the past.
Among the delegates to the Zumunta 15th Annual convention are about 23 members of the Arewa Consultative Forum, under the Chairmanship of Maj. Gen. I.B.M. Haruna. Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jengir, the leader of Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa Ikamatis Sunnah, is leading a powerful 7-member delegation to attend Religious Conflicts and HIV/Aids and Malaria prevention. He had been leading the most formidable Islamic organization in Nigeria with massive followers that have now extended to most parts of West Africa, Sudan and some parts of Egypt.
Also expected at the Zumunta 2008 convention are a host of Governors, Ministers, State Health Commissioners and the First Lady of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Mrs. Turai Yar'Adua. Eminent Nigerian and international scholars will also be on hand to proffer solutions to the AIDS and Malaria epidemic in Nigeria.
Some highlights of the convention include:
A conference on 'Preventing HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Northern Nigeria' on Saturday July 26th by 10:00 a.m. to be addressed by eminent Nigerian and International scholars specializing in the field of HIV/AIDS and Malaria research.
A town Hall meeting on 'Prevention of Communal and religious conflicts in Nigeria' on Saturday July 26th by 3:00 p.m. to be jointly Chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, who is also the leader of Muslims in Nigeria and the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja who is also the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria. An Executive Dinner Banquet and Gala Night by 9:00 p.m. on Saturday July 26th at the Grand ball Room of the LAX Marriott featuring an exquisite dinner, cultural displays from different parts of Nigeria and a fund raiser for ZUMUNTA projects in Nigeria
Issuance and Renewal of Nigerian passports to all Nigerian Citizens from Wednesday July 23rd to Sunday July 27th by Staff of the Nigerian Embassy from Washington DC
Various caucus meetings between the Sultan and the Archbishop with Leaders of thought from various Nigerian groups residing abroad Sunday morning on July 27th.
Exclusive Business Dinner/Investment Networking Forum for American and Nigerian business men and women with the attending Ministers and Governors from Nigeria. This business dinner will hold on the Night of Sunday July 27th
This year's convention will also include an outstanding career fair. According to Zumunta President, Salisu Abdullahi, among the expected convention sponsors are the Western Union, UBA, Diamond, Fidelity, and GT, Platumun Habib Banks. Others are First Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Stock Exchange, City Space International Residential Company, and Legacy Realties.
Zumunta Association USA Inc., came into life in 1991 in New York, as a tax exempt 501 (C), progressive, fast growing, non profit, and non political organization in the United States of America. Zumunta mission is to 'develop Northern Nigeria technologically, socially and economically; to cater for our members; preserve the rich and diverse culture of Nigeria and to improve the image of the country in the global arena.'
ZUMUNTA is a Hausa word for Fellowship, and it is the umbrella association of nineteen States in Northern Nigeria in America just like the World Igbo Congress and Egbe Omo Yoruba, apex organizations representing Igbos and Yorubas abroad respectfully.
One of its programs is a Scholarship award for Northern Nigerian Students in the Nigerian Universities for their entire Degree program in the areas of Technology, and Science. Zumunta pays each student tuition fees for the duration of their degree programs which began in 1997. Zumunta has contributed, in one way or the other, to some social challenges in Nigeria as a whole. Among such was the donation of 160 pieces of Computers, several printers, books and other gadgets to Northern Nigerian Universities in September 1996.
Zumunta association has been led by prominent Nigerians and they continue the legacy of the Association. Such leaders are Dr. Mohammed Ladan, its immediate past President, Dr. Ezekiel Macham, who would work round the clock for the success of the Association, without looking back. Others are Dr. Ibrahim Khaleel, who I worked with for two terms as Zumunta National Secretary; Engineer Abdullahi Sule, a Director at the Dangote Group of Companies, and my very own, Alhaji Aliyu Mustapha of VOA. Zumunta is most grateful to the founder of the Association, of late memory, Dr. Musa Kallam
Its current cabinet includes Mallam Salisu Abdullahi, President, Dr. Femi Ajayi, VP, Dr. Ogbu Agburu, Secretary General, Halilu Haruna, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Maryam Egberi. Mesi Ada Usiade its PRO, Deborah Bwayili and Mimi Smith as Legal Advisors I and II respectively. Musa Salihu is the Social/Cultural Officer, Eng. Mathias Luka Agbu and Hassan Salami as Auditor I and II respectively, Rakiya Khaleel, the National Youth Coordinator; Dr. Mohammed Ladan is the Ex Officio member, while Salisu A. Abdullahi is the Webmaster. Abdulmumin Bello Mohammed serves as the Zumunta Nigerian Coordinator.
Zumunta President urges 'every Nigerian residing abroad most especially, should mark these dates and come out en masse to support ZUMUNTA in its quest to institute a New Dawn of ethnic and religious harmony in Nigeria and also to ask the Sultan and the Archbishop topical questions on this all important issue during the town hall meeting to be held at the LAX Marriot hotel on Saturday July 26, 2008'.
For more information on the 'Convention of the Century', log on to www.zumunta.org.
The Hotel Information is:
LAX AIRPORT MARRIOTT
5855 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90045 USA
Phone: 1-310-641-5700 Toll-free: 1-800-228-9290
The only choice for Zumunta members now is to come together to advance their causes, the causes of their people in the United States and back home in Nigeria. They need to come together to knit a cultural net and develop cultural activities to teach their children an appreciation and empathy for their heritage.
Through its annual convention, Zumunta Association USA is launching a huge challenge for all Nigerians, wherever they may reside, to set aside their ethnic or religious differences and come together for a better tomorrow. Once the country is united, the issue of economic empowerment will be a child play and resolving some natural challenges in terms of malaria and HIV/AIDS would be minimized and all hands must be on deck to checkmate all conflict-ridden programs in Nigeria.
See you in Los Angeles July 25 through 27, 2008.
All smiles as Muslims unite for peace
Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad and the imminent release of a Dutch documentary critical of Islam are just part of the evidence that Islamophobia is on the rise, according to the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at its summit this week in Senegal's capital, Dakar.
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The OIC says a campaign of defamation and denigration is one of the greatest challenges facing the Muslim world today. "Ignorance about Islam and also calculated animosity with deep historic roots on the part of a minority in the West as well as our inability to disseminate the true values of Islam are the reasons for this increasing wave of Islamophobia," Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Muslim grouping, told the delegates before calling for robust political engagement with the West to tackle it.
There were more than 20 heads of state attending, but obviously no invitation letter was sent to George Bush.The US president is viewed by many here with scorn, largely because US foreign policies are judged in much of the Muslim world as being anti-Islamic.President Bush says the US is misunderstood and so he has appointed the Pakistan-born Sada Cumber, a Muslim businessman from Texas, as the first US special envoy to the Islamic organisation.
His mission?
"My role is to share the common core values of America. The pure ethics of America does not allow any of us to have anything but deep respect for all religions, including Islam."So the perception [that the US government is anti-Islam] is probably a misconception," the Pakistan-born envoy told the BBC, adding that he had been widely welcomed at the summit.
Stars and stripes
Building bridges will be a tough job for Mr Cumber who will represent US interests on controversial subjects like Iraq. But the man, who believes he was chosen because in the business world he has a track record of quick success, says he brings a positive message from Mr Bush.
"He's personally told me that he is prepared to engage with every one of the Muslim leaders to make sure we have freedom, stability and prosperity in all regions and he's committed."When I point out that he has perhaps deliberately chosen not to pin a stars-and-stripes badge to his lapel or to wear stars-and-stripes socks to the world's largest summit of Muslim leaders, Mr Cumba has a surprising response."First thing this morning I was wearing my Texan boots on which is a huge logo: 'Texas Wide Open For Business'"."I see you are not wearing them now," I point out. "I was on my feet so much I had to take them off and put on some more comfortable shoes."But does he not think Texan boots in an Islamic Conference could cause a bit of a stir. "Absolutely not. People get a kick out of it. People look at them and say, 'Wow these boots are good.'
"Americans are always welcome, you know that."
Hamid Sirajjudin from Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Mr Cumber's presence is welcome."If it can open avenues for dialogue and for consultation then it is a positive move," he suggests, noting that it is up to the OIC to decide who should be invited.The Iranian ambassador to the OIC, Mostafa Bonjuredi, is not so welcoming.He says the US is neither a permanent member nor an observer and so should stay away from the summit altogether.
Bridges apart
Inside the conference centre it was no surprise that Israel was lambasted with calls from the Muslim body for the perpetrators of what it called "Israel's heinous crimes in the Middle East" to be put on trial before an international court. The 57 member countries may be united by their faith but they at times seem a world apart with few bridges linking them.
Take this seven-second interaction between a delegate from Saudi Arabia and a Mozambican journalist: "Mozambique - is that an island? Oh, it's not. Anyway it was very nice to meet you."
Economically the differences are stark.
Divide up the annual income of oil-rich Kuwait and you get $24,000 per person.But you would have to perform miracles and stay alive for more than 100 years to accumulate that kind of money in Sierra Leone, where the national annual income is just $220 per head.The Islamic conference says it wants to change that and a fund has been set up with a target of raising $10bn to fight poverty, notably in Africa.So far $2.6bn has been pledged with a billion coming from Saudi Arabia alone.Senegal has used generous grants from the Islamic fund to give the capital, Dakar, a facelift including major road-building projects. But there have been concerns over accountability for the grants.
Spending binge
The budget for the projects is around $250m and in charge has been the president's son, Karim Wade, who was also a chief organiser of this conference. The man, who some believe is being manoeuvred into succeeding his father, dismisses the suggestion that the Senegalese people living in abject poverty are not seeing any reward from the spending binge.
"We have created more than 10,000 jobs to build and operate the infrastructure and investment flow will definitely create job opportunities for the people and will help us to achieve a higher growth rate for our economy," he told me.
Peace building is also a stated OIC goal and host Abdoulaye Wade eventually dragged the leaders of Sudan and Chad together to sign a peace deal which, if implemented, could help alleviate the suffering in Sudan's Darfur region.
They may share the same religion but when President Omar al-Bashir and his Chadian counterpart Idriss Deby have put pen to paper in the past, the conflicts across the common border have only escalated.They even prayed together at Mecca during a previous deal and so few analysts expect this pact to be any different.For a man keen to push himself forward as a continental heavyweight, President Wade got what he wanted: a grand summit and a peace deal.But analysts suggests the octogenarian leader does not wield the kind of influence he thinks he has and we wait to see if the Dakar deal has any impact or if it will just go down as another worthless signing ceremony.There was enough red carpet here in Dakar to cover a small island.As it is rolled up, a huge 1,200-cabin cruise ship, hired to house the delegates, will head from Dakar's port to the Mediterranean.Stowing away could be a temptation for the vast number of West Africans trying to reach Europe.
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