The Schwarzenegger Policy Think Tank

Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commits $20 million Wednesday, August 1, 2012, for the Schwarzenegger Policy Think Tank in partnership with the University of Southern California. The Schwarzenegger Institute will be housed at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy in Los Angeles. Schwarzenegger will chair the institute's Board of Advisors and will hold an appointment as the Gov. Downey Professor of State and Global Policy at USC, named after John Downey, an Irish immigrant who in 1860 became California's first foreign-born governor. Downey also helped found USC. Image: Ehirim Files Images.

Portrait: Celebrity Nudity

Actress and singer Taraji P. Henson poses nude for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign against animal cruelty. Hollywood Billboard. Date: January 2011. Location: Hollywood, CA


Set of La Belle Noiseuse
French actress Emmanuelle Beart on the set of La Belle Noiseuse directed and writen by Jacques Rivette. Photographer: Moune Jamet. Date: July 16, 1990.Location: Assas, Herault, France.


Breasts exposed, singer,songwriter, actress, model and 'It Girl' Anouska de Georgiou customises her party dress by cutting off the label with a kitchen knife inside her apartment in London's trendy Portobello Road before Sir Elton John's summer party in Notting Hill, London, England in June 2005. Phtographer: Joycelyn Bain Hogg. Date: June 01, 2005. Location: London, England.


On the Set of "La Femme publique"
French actress Valérie Kaprisky on the set of "La Femme publique" (The Public Woman), directed by Andrzej Zulawski. Photographer: Etienne George. Location: Paris, France. Date: September 1983

Memorable Images and Time

23 Oct 1962, San Francisco, California, USA --- 10/23/1962-San Francisco, CaliforniaNew middleweight champion Dick Tiger is hoisted on the shoulders of his Nigerian countrymen after he won a 15-round title bout against former champ Gene Fullmer at Candlestick Park. --- Image by Bettmann/CORBIS



05 Oct 1954, Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA --- George Daneel, prominent South African and Springbok rugby player, is shown chatting with Adolphus Mbah (left) and Chief Yakubu Tali at the Moral Rearmament Assembly on Mackinac Island. Mbah is vice president of the Nigerian Federation of Trade Unions. Chief Tali is a member of the Gold Coast Parliament and president of the Northern Territories Council. At an interracial meeting in Capetown Daneel recently made a public apology for his attitude of superiority towards the other races in Africa. Segregation is rigidly enforced in South Africa. --- Image by Bettmann/CORBIS




14 Jun 1962 --- Nigerian parliamentarians pose for a photograph while on a visit with President John F. Kennedy



12/10/1974-Washington, D.C.- World heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and his brother Herbert Clay (L) meet with President Ford at the White House. Ali said he liked the White House, and just might go after the job. Ford said there were times he'd be happy to let him have it.

What's Happening

Whoo boy, everything basically is just happening and since we all love the nightlife, it is a "changing" as we begin the new decade, which, to me, is now a reflection of the 1970s disco era and the juxtaposed days when afro and jingling outfits were the calling. Yes, it all came back and it's now called grafitti rock, in a way, to patronize what was supposed to have exploded in the 1980s.

Remember Grafitti Rock? Culled from the hip-hop based television program, originally screened in 1984 which was intended as an on-going series but never was continued after the pilot, though the days of the calling brought along with it a fierce competition. Run DMC, Special K., Kool Moe Dee - it's all back now and just take a walk down the streets in Downtown Los Angeles and you'll see for yourself what the hell is going on there. Breakdancing on 7th Street and Main Street with deejays and rappers puffing and thrilling the audience, and the party animals following accordingly. Absolutely no color lines which symbolizes a new era, and just like all of a sudden the Blue Dog Democrats and the Tea Parties erupted and sarah Palin is promoting all that which did lead to her commercial success.

You see how the world is changing?

The jams, a collection from the 1970s to the new millennium is unimmaginable when a ballroom becomes waxed with vibes like Deep Purple, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson, and all kinds of "acid" and garage rock coupled with the blending of hip-hop.

Whew, I have no idea where to begin with the overwhelming questionaire I know not of how it all began, and of course, based on the goings on and, one trying the ultimate best not to be dragged into some kind of mudslinging which has been a commonplace thing these days especially with our engagements in nasty political tactics which did puzzle the internet brigades, the Yahooligans who are now caught up in starting something they could not finish as they run for their lives with all their handles. I'm talking to non other than the tyrant Martin Akindana who has no clue what he's doing to himself in this free world of ours. But like the ordinary street guy would say, "nothing spoil" and life goes on.

The brouhaha is the temporary closure of comments, doesn't really mean censorship but the caution to avoid the Black Hats who can cause damage the moment the opportunity knocks. A whole lot has been going on and with myself not showing any sign of slowing down, the party begins with fascinating lines of casts.

I have been told the 2010 African Goodwill Awards scheduled for Saturday, April 24, 2010 at the Veterans Memorial Complex has learned with caution on how to go about its programs since the critics have complained on a wide range of problems - from the organizing committees to the sponsors. This year's awards will be hosted by Monie Mon and co-hosted by Hakeem Kae-Kazim ("My American Nurse 2," "Hotel Rwanda" and the innovating, addictive and acclaimed television drama "24"), with the following inductees: Councilman Daniel Tabor, Monique Brown, Ynez Gilmer, Prof. Gwen Marie Thomas, Columnist Anthony A. Samad, Jim Brown and Blair Underwood.

Kimberly Anyadike, among others will be celebrating their dedication, commitment and achievement in life. I'm happy for Charles and Pamela Anyadike (Kimberly's parents) who have used the amazing power of parental guidance to raise a brilliant child, flying an aircraft at that tender age. Charles, my friend for many years now, is just a good man.

Oh, before I drop my pen, another thing seems to be happening around my neck of the woods. The complaint that I haven't been writing much. Just stay tuned, there's more to come, particularly on culture and politicking in a fast changing world.

Maybe it's time to break the ice!

DIARY: That Art & Soul Festival In Oakland, California

The last time I was in the Bay Area, I did not pay much attention to the goings on, particularly Oakland from around which I hadn't been anywhere in the city for quite some time. It had been in and out, business as usual, so, not much to talk about in that regard. But this time around, a whole lot turned out differently. I wasn't aware of the turn around of things in downtown Oakland and for not to have checked in for a while, I was impressed. The city changed, indeed!

The raggedy, skid row, home of the Black Panthers and the classless sleep on your door step, ghetto-crawling neigborhood is no longer what it used to be. Oakland is totally transformed, and thanks to Jerry Brown who as Mayor of Oakland saw the necessary steps required to making things happen for folks long abandoned. The story of Oakland and its overnight transformation is overwhelming.

As it happened, the 9th Annual Arts & Soul Festival in Oakland had to be my calling since I have not seen the city in many years, and besides, each time I pop up in the Bay Area, Oakland never crossed my mind for I had thought of where it's jamming -- San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Saratoga, Stockton, Santa Rosa, the farming-vineyards of Sonoma County coupled with other big recreational neigborhoods in the Bay Area, of the Woodstock and Coachella type -- for the groove and all that stuff.

But nevertheless, this time around, there was an event and I had to be focused to see how it unfolds. Quite fascinating.

August 14: I arrived Oakland and checked into the Ambassador Hotel on the corner of Franklin and 13th Street. A little bit tired, I made some calls to see who is around town. Not much, though, and for Friday night, I couldn't figure out what's it I was going to do before the festival kicks out the next day. I decided to go to bed and get some rest. No, I did not go to bed immediately; I popped up the news networks to see what's happening in my neck of the woods and what the Republican airheads are talking about.

However, it turned out to be the same old song -- the mud-slinging so-called conservatives who only think for themselves and how to protect their ill-gotten wealth negating the fact that under any circumstances in a democratic fabric, that there are people, underprivileged, who will always need help of some sort to overcome their predicament. It is natural and the Republicans and the newly coined Blue Dog Democrats, whatever that is, don't seem to realize and unfortunately they are not getting it. I still don't get it myself and I am not going to be part of a debate that does not make sense at all in a situation a desperately dying fellow should be allowed to die on the grounds of having no medical coverage.

What are we talking about here?

An organized society?

Well, since politics, they say, makes strange bed-fellows, let's believe in the rule of law, upholding and respecting democracy; and hopefully the Republican airheads would come to terms with reality and do the right thing. Cable News Network and all that news-related channels, including Fox, had become a bore.

August 15: I got up fresh and ready like Freddy for the festival. There wasn't much happening on the streets of the high-towered downtown Oakland when I peeped through the window of my hotel room.

At 10:45 AM, I was already on Broadway and 14th Street checking out the vendors, the area's local press and patrons who had showed up with delight for the festival's 9th year anniversary. The streets and sidewalks had already been flooded with the four stages ready to explode with performances of the day. On the stage at 12th and Clay, Loquet, BoDeans and Grammy Award winning artist, Shawn Colvin, were scheduled to perform. The stage in front of Oakland City Hall scheduled Abby and the Pipsqueaks, Jump Street and some local voices. The stage on 12th and Broadway had a Gospel showcase presented by Edwin Hawkins and the Community of Unity featuring Bishop Walter L. Hawkins of the Love Center Choir, Terrence Kelly and the Oakland Interfaith Choir,Sharon Wynn Davison, Sunny Hawkins and the Music Department, Men of Edurance, Derrick Hall and Company, while on 12th and Jefferson it was an all out jazz enssemble. The crowd was awesome and with summer almost winding down the vendors and organizers did the best they could to go with the flow especially in a 'slowmo' economy.

I walked around the four points of the festival and bumped into an artist whose booth had displayed all her finest works with the husband setting up the gallery. We chatted for a moment before the festival rose for the day. She was optimistic the festival "will eventually" be one of the big shows to be talked about in the near future despite its 9th-year of existence. I strolled down to the Oakland Convention Center on Broadway and 14th Street which is about 12 minutes away from the Oakland International Airport. Going inside the Convention Center sits Oakland China Town, The Preservation Park and some shopping complexes. A few short blocks took me to the Waterfront, Jack London Square and the Paramount Theatre which also is blocks away from my hotel room.

At about 7:45 PM, I checked back to my room for some rest before my buddy, South African-born, Berkeley-based sports freak, Johnson Boipelo Andile, comes around for some crazy sports talk and all that follows in a night of showdowns and pub-crawling. Andile had arrived late and we still hanged out anyway, talking about boxing which turned out to be his favorite sports, and he is really crazy about it going back to the heydays when boxing was real and very entertaining.

He talked about how boxing "is" no longer what it used to be and that all the fuss about Dominican Republic born undefeated Fernando Guerrero who now fights out of Salisbury, Maryland, is being overrated towards his upcoming fight August 29, when he meets Louis Turner in the middleweight division at Fitzgerald's Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. I'm not sure if I have been following up nowadays in what's been going on in boxing ever since it was commercialized nobody takes the sport seriously anymore. I had no idea who Gurrero was until he popped it up and on a critical note, he agreed with me "boxing ain't longer what it used to be."

We had talked extensively about the good-old days of boxing when all division were powerhouses. The days of Jeff Chandler, Azumah Nelson, Roberto Duran, Mustafa Hamsho, Salvador Sanchez, Eddie Mustapha Muhammad, Mathew Saad Muhammad, Dwight Braxton, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Michael Spinks, Sugar Ray Leonard-Thomas "Hitman" Hearns' "The Showdown," Marvellous Marvin Hagle-John "The Beast" Mugabi duel, Larry Holmes-Gerry Cooney race war, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton, Ernie Shavers and numerous other superb pugilists of the day.

After all these talks on boxing greats over some drinks at the hotel lobby, we drove out on San Pablo running through University Avenue where it meets Oxford at UC Bekeley. We found a spot, a bar and hangout, kind of, continuing our discourses on boxing retrieving "The Spinks Jinx," "Thriller in Manila," "Rumble in the Jungle," "Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello 1 & 2," and things like that related to boxing of the profound era when boxing had class.

August 16: It's been fun all over the previous day and I'm already up to deal with the happenings around downtown Oakland. The show continued with style and the performances were all great. Smooth jazz artist Bobby Caldwell had played and the crowd he had pulled was unbelievable. A night of jazz. The two day festival reached its climax.

August 17: I had traveled to Concord meeting Emmanuel Onyeador at his friend's ranch and vineyard. We talked more over some fine wine. David Iphie who lives in Pittsburg had stopped by to join us. Iphie picked Onyeador and myself and we drove to his house in the embrace of his wife and uncle, UC Davis trained agronomist, Humphrey Ezuma, who was visiting the shores of this land for a moment. The usual local politics popped up which I will be writing about in a different essay, while Iphie's wife prepared a delicious ofe olugbo, bitter leaf soup with varieties of meat and dried fish. We talked more and I enjoyed the company.

August 18: Back to the crazy-dubby Los Angeles-Hollywood where every 'damn' soul is really freaking out, and business as usual, I guess. It was indeed a trip to remember, and Oakland, for your excellence in the arts, I think I would like to visit again.

A Beautiful Holiday Weekend In Los Angeles

About a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine had talked me into going to the Bay area to watch Stephen Bishop perform at the Intramuros, South San Francisco, in a benefit concert. She had wanted to see the concert so bad. I had been preoccupied in Los Angeles. She wants to play a role in the concert for worthy causes. For the concert, and about our friendship, we are a study of compare and contrast.

She's into old-school -- the Norman Whitfield/Barrett Strong and Kenneth Gamble/Leon Huff composition-era. I'm into all vibes, a musicologist. She's a hardcore liberal; garrulous. I'm reserved, a somehow liberal conservative; a centrist. She's a fashion freak. I'm careless, fashionwise. She reads fiction and believes in the Zodiac signs. I'm the non-fiction reader kinda guy and have no faith in astrology. She's Libra. I'm Virgo. She cooks good. I'm a mixologist. She has shoulder length curly hair. I'm ishi nkwocha, shaved bald. She's Tonga, a Pacific Islander. I'm Igbo, an African. She's straight. I'm straight. She loves outdoors, and I do, too. She wears contact lenses. I wear prescription glasses; and both coasts are clear.

To make up for ditching Bishop's concert at the Intramuros, she brought up a set of rules on her own terms and whatever she said was going to be the rules. I said "Okay!" She got her way and ordered me around the house. That was cool!

Her set of rules was specifically for the Memorial Day weekend and that whenever it's all over I could take back my manly stuff and go ahead with my own set of rules she'd not have problems complying with. The rules were set as follows: There would be no driving and Friday which commences the holiday weekend would be set for eating out, perhaps a little bit of home cooking and checking out the movies. I knew it was going to be a hell of a fun since summer was just breezing around the corner.

School is over for some -- my daughter is back and it's going to be a long, beautiful summer, especially her tales of academia and life in the dorm. The weather's quite nice. Lots of sunshine. The beaches are full to capacity. Bikinis. Hot pants. Those fine, dark sunglasses. Beautiful faces sipping cocktails in the sun.

The volleyball tournaments: Hermosa Beach. Redondo Beach. Venice Beach. Rockweller Beach. Santa Monica Beach. The mark of summer.

The eateries and the random popped up in-house restaurants. The real deal and summer jams. Ceccone's on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Jane's House on Hollywood Blvd. The Standard in Downtown Los Angeles. The Mint on Pico Blvd. in West Los Angeles. Club Tatou on Boylston Street in Los Angeles. O'Brien's Irish Pub and Restaurant on Main Street in Santa Monica. The Amazon Hut Brazilian Juice Bar on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica.

The new arrivals on the bookshelves. "Rinnavation: Getting Your Best Life Ever," by Lisa Rinna on life's amazing journey. "Bad Mother: A Chronicle Of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, And Occasional Moments Of Grace," by Ayelet Waldman.

At the movies as the summer hits pops up in June. "Public Enemies," directed by Michael Mann and starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, the notorious Depression-era bank robber, and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the fedral agent who tailed Dillinger. "The Taking Of Pelham 123," starring Academy Award winner Denzel Washington as Walter Mathau, of a New York transit dispatcher and directed by Tony Scott. Here, John Travolta stars as leader of the gang. James Gandofini appears as Mayor of New York whom Travolta must fear. "Funny People," directed by Judd Apatow and starring Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann and Seth Regan. The film is all comedy but Sandler's role as a dying middle-aged man might turn movie goers off.

"Taking Woodstock," directed by Ang Lee based on a true story of Elliot Tiber, an employee at a motel in the Castkills who inadvertantly made Woodstock happen. "Inglorious Bastards," -- another World War 2 story of Nazi occupied France written and directed by Quentin Terantino. The movie features Brad Pitt as the leader of the Jewish-American soldiers dispatched to perform targeted acts of retribution on German troops occupying France. "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," which opens in all theaters June 24. Michael Bay directed, starring Shia LeBeouf as Sam who becomes enmeshed in a battle between two extraterrestial clans "when he buys his first car and it turns out to be an alien robot in disguise." And, of course, there's Eddie Murphy's "Imagine That."

These, and too many others we talked about. So as it happened, she's the one calling the shots. She wanted some African dish, and I was like, o yeah, again? She did not know what was running through my mind about her quest for African food. She's the one calling the shots, remember? I had to oblige since this great country of ours is a nation of rules, fact why it's organized.

For some reason, she figured I was not comfortable with the African restaurant kind of stuff she's been persistent asking for. We have all the time in the world to eat ofe olugbo, bitter leaf soup (dunno why it's my favorite) coupled with the okporoko, stockfish, eju, snail, dried fish and anu ewu, goat meat, as long as her weekend rules were upheld and respected.

However, on Friday, May 22, she decided we should go whole grain, vegetables and stuff like that. One spot was not too far from our location. We walked down about six blocks to this restaurant on the Westside. It was kind of regular and approximately a nice way to begin the long weekend. The restaurant, recently remodelled had a gracious and attentive service. We ordered some seafoods that was served with chunks of salmon, perfectly cooked shrimp with lotta veggies and other health-related fiber stuff. She loves wholesome sweetners such as honey, maple syrup, sorhum, sucanet and stevia.

A good looking evening, we hopped on the bus to the Archlight Cinema in Hollywood to see Ron Howard's "Angels & demons," starring Tom Hanks which to me should be Howard's last in that category. The movie's full of surprises.

On Saturday, May 23, the rules did not change. No driving, remember? After cleaning up and doing the normal around house work, we concluded it's Metro Line time. We arrived at the Wilshire/Vermont Blue Line Station and hopped on the train. Checking out from the Hollywood/Highland Station, we took the steps and bumped on tourists from all walks of life who took pictures of stars and the accomplished on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Walking further down where Hollywood Blvd. meets Vine Street, and on the south of Hollywood laid the plaque of Apollo 13 -- Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin Jr. and Michael Collins -- the first American astronauts to visit the moon.

On the north sits the landmark Capitol Records Tower known to have either recorded or marketed from the 50s to date, Frank Sinatra, Nat king Cole, Duran Duran, Richard Marx, David Bowie, The Beatles, The Beastie Boys, Kenny Rogers, Yellow Card, George Clinton, Selena Quintalline, Poison, The Band, Ice Cube, Radiohead, Tina Turner, Billy Holliday, Miles Davis, Grand Funk Railroad, Pink Floyd, Peter Tosh, Steve Miller Band, Maze, Dave Koz, Freddie Jackson, Snoop Dogg, Grace Jones, Kim Carnes, Queen, Eddie Harris and many others.

In continuation of our excursion, we went underground and hopped back on the train to the North Hollywood Station. A girl sitting next to us was reading a book on Andrew Jackson, an indication President Barack Obama's "The New Dawn" is doing stuff for the "era of the common man" and Jacksonian democracy to have replicated in the age of internet. While the train was about to station, I called my friend, Pascal, that we were on our way to his apartment. We popped up at the 5400 block of fair Avenue at the luxury NoHo (North Hollywood) Commons Apartments. We had arrived on time to watch the Los Angeles Lakers play the Dencer Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. Three other guys and two gorgeous ladies were also visiting my friend, Pascal, and it seemed very much the guys were having a heart attack due to the uncertainties that had clouded Lakers' game during the series.

Our Lakers had pulled this one out to silence the cynics. Even Derek Fisher who had been written off, delivered and helped our Lakers pull a 103-97 victory over the Nuggets. Immediately after the game, we drove in two set of cars to The Echo on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. It's our kind of place. Time is telling. The place had a full bar, a dance floor and more than electric. It's a joint where the 70s and 80s pure funk would blow your mind. It was a blast and by the time it was over, we all realized Hollywood was a city of its own.

On Sunday, May 25, she had asked if I would be going to church. She's a practicing Catholic while I was born a Catholic. A difference. But I had shown her my new religious affiliation. The anonymously written book "I AM GOD: Here's My Message." I told her I would be ordering an additional copy as that might change her thinking on how religion has caused all the world's troubles. She prepared breakfast and we ate.

With that in place, we both agreed it's time to relax our driving restrictions and check out Hollywood proper; where Santa Monica Blvd. meets Western Avenue on the sidewalks women of easy virtue and prostitutes hang out. On the corner of Santa Monica Blvd. and Wilcox, Dragonfly, the sensational pot-smoking and reggae jams on Thursday nights. Amoeba Music, for all your record albums in any music category, facing the CNN building on Cahuenga and Sunset. The same sex ridden hangouts in West Hollywood on Sunset and Roxbury. After touring Hollywood for a minute coupled with sightseeing we took off for another round at the movies. We saw "Terminator Salvation" at the Mann Theaters in Hollywood. Kind of strange, though, the movie, to me, wasn't anything spectacular. A sequel to the three respective "Terminator" movies. I could not read her feelings about the movie.

On Monday, May 25, the awaited Memorial Day, arrived, eventually. We had been up early. There was the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon which I had never been part of, but have gone to see it, anyway. On this particular day and since all roads had been blocked, we chanced parking around Miracle Mile on the Wilshire Corridor. We had treked about 11 blocks and had stationed on the corner of La Brea Avenue and 3rd Street in Hancock Park. The marathon stretched from da hood through the "Black Township" of the Crenshaw thoroughfare all the way to Hancock Park and finishing up in Koreatown.

We had been almost exhausted and it's time for the last jam to end the holiday weekend. The jam: 23rd Annual UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival on the playgrounds of the campus' Intramural Field in Westwood, California. The previous night, Day 1 of the festival, which we missed as a result of other engagements had Erykah Badu, People Under the Stairs, Leela James and De La Soul take center stage. Day 2 had been slated to run between 12 P.M. until 7 P.M. It went later than that and, as usual, too much of a jam. The line up: Mavado, a.k.a "The Gully God" who performed live for the first time in LA, took the show to another level with his new band. He was equal to the occasion. Other casts in the reggae jam and finale were Michael Montano, Assassin, The Dirty Heads and Morgan Heritage.

Like Woodstock of the hippie-era and a replicated Coachella event in Indio, I had been exhausted from the excursions and partying hard the preceding days, and had laid flat on the field while the ragamuffin vibes transmitted through my head. The stomping UCLA campers and the voices of roots reggae did go through my head, and it was all good.

PHOTOS clockwise from bottom left: (2009 Los Angeles Marathon courtesy of Ian Sephton; MTA Tap Machine; Metro Rail Line; Metro Bus Line 770, Leela James takes center stage and performs "let's Do It Again," courtesy of Singers Room; and the 2009 UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival banner courtesy of The Deli Magazine.)

Riverside

Just for the heck of it and after having exhausted all my options in the goings on around the City of Angels and all that Hollywood hype, I decided as it popped up to me to seek refuge elsewhere in the Southland, temporarily, I would guess, on an expedition. I had thought about which particular place or city would be convenient for my nerves as the crazy, Hollywood wannabes, road rage and same sex driven gay and lesbian community tend to change the Southland into something the biblical principles condemned, long time ago -- I don't know about Leviticus, though.

But as I made up my mind, I had thought about several other Los Angeles suburbs and cities around Southern California. After the hurdle of thinking about it, Riverside, California, popped up, just like that; and the reason it became my point of call was something I really did not know, and in a case of lottery where I had gambled, Riverside won as my fantastic trip.

Quite some drive from Downtown Los Angeles and taking the 10 Freeway East to the 60 Freeway East on to the 71 Freeway and the 91 Freeway when the traffic had normally been humble, I did not sweat to the City of Riverside and walking down all the streets through City Hall, the journey was worth telling.

I had gone to the historic court house and passing through the metal detectors with tight security hanging around, I walked pass the sheriffs and the troubled with the law for court dates and appearances.

These days of much talked about recession and economic meltdown, folks around town 'dunno' what would be next. Hagglers were all around trying to broker a deal on foreclosures. Yes, that's right, every Tom, Dick and Harry you pass by seems to be dipping his or her hands where money can possibly be made, especially these hard times making money looks like a mirage. The courts, these days, are calm and from my observation at the Riverside Court House, everything seemed pretty much the same in the Southland. The clerks, sheriffs, plaintiffs, defendants, prosecutors and judges have sensed the need for cordial and mutual relationships, never minding the rule of law, applying human nature, fairness and understanding the toll this recession has taken on every American. This is the time to stick together and rebuild America; and that's exactly what seems to be going on.

On Mission Inn Avenue and Main Street where I checked in to the historic Mission Inn Hotel, I felt like I had landed in one of those exotic resorts in Miami Beach. I had arrived to a place that was totally strange, another big city. A whole lot of eatery, plaques, engravings and statues of the accomplished. It is a famous hangout and has been patronized by presidents, Kings, Brahmins and movie stars.

There's Bella Trattoria Italian Bistro, the fine Italian cuisine in a posh atmosphere. There's Mission Inn Restaurant which offers Italian, Mexican, American and other ethnic dishes from around the world. There are three other restaurants housed by the elegantly structured Mission Inn Hotel

Mission Inn was the perfect place for me in my quest to stay away from the bumper-to-bumper amd hustle-me-crazy Hollywood. Hollywood seems to be hype compared to the little moment I shared with Riverside. And I had begun to thinking about retiring to smaller cities or if necessary the woods, before I lose the remainder of my hearing from the noisy, crazy dubs of Hollywood, especially the rock concerts that had almost made me hard of hearing. Riverside does not look like my place of retirement. It is a big city.

At Mario's Place, another fine cuisine on Mission Inn Avenue and while taking some shots (I am becoming one of the fine photo shooters, believe it or not), I encountered a curious minded tourist who had thought I was also a tourist like him. The tourist had asked of my origin and I told him "I belong to the City of Angels." I got him confused because he was expecting an answer he already had in mind. He wanted to know my country of origin and I told him "Biafra."

"No, no, I mean, what country are you from?" he asked again.

"Biafra," I told him and he still did not get it.

I gave him a hint about the Holocaust in which six million Jews were murdered; the Rwandan genocide in which over a million souls perished in 1994; the Armenian genocide in which millions were massacred and the pogrom in which over two million Igbos were murdered in the most brutal of circumstances and the pogrom being the most blood soaked event in the African continent. He got some history lessons and he loved it. I continued my journey.

My second day at this fine city was full of fun. It was on a Saturday and a whole lot of line ups had been scheduled by the Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

University Avenue, UC Riverside, academia and scholars. The Street Jam. Lake Alice Trading Company Saloon and Eatery; hamburgers, sandwiches, fingerlicking foods and a host of salad varieties on the menu at this spot on the flashy University Avenue. Mr T's Family Restaurant where actual potatoes and eggs exactly how you want them are served on Main Street. The Tamale Factory, the catering style Mexican grub hosts great service and terrific tamale tastes on Main Street. Templo Del Sol, the best wrapped flour totilla with a bunch of meat, cheese, beans and veggies on University Avenue.

Orange Street and the beautiful smiling faces even though they do not show the evils in them. The bikers and the smoke shops. Back to the Grind Coffee House; poetry, live music, jazz, reggae, blues, rock, bluegrass including the kind of blues rock invented by Steve Winwood when he was discovered in Birmingham by Jamaican born Brit Chris Blackwell who also found Bob Marley, Junior Murvin, U2 and the rest. Blackwell owned Island Records.

So on this georgeous Saturday, I am vacationing in the desert, there were better graded approaches as everything got me knocked off including the Downtown Street Jam on Orange and Ninth Street. The event was the real deal. For the first time, I knew of the rock group Inhale, the area's local band. Superbad was the local ensemble that thrilled me the most with its pure funk and mixtures of soul, jazz flavors and hard rock. It was loud all evening and the dancing and stomping was on the street.

And one thing I observed in Downtown Riverside was while walking you will notice the absence of big-time pimps, prostitutes, junkies, runaway teens and crack heads commonly seen in Hollywood -- I mean, the squatting in alleys and empty buildings -- like rats hanging out in some cage.

But in Riverside, I'm quite sure the city residents appreciate the way their tax dollar is being spent as merchants and visitors who trooped in to watch The Downtown Street Jam could obviously tell that the Riverside local groups, Inhale, Polite, Superbad, Micah Justice and Paging Beto came to entertain for real and free of charge on the goodwill of the City of Riverside and the Riverside Downtown Partnership.

Not forgetting the usual place I hibernate to stay away from the whistle blowing Los Angeles, I had the chance to check out the Riverside Public Library on Mission Inn Avenue just next to Mission Inn Hotel. For one who loves to read and since I was on a pleasure trip, I did not do much and as an out of area guy. The procedure was different. I read the Riverside local papers -- Inland Empire Weekly and Press Enterprise. I also stopped by the Renaissance Book Shop on Magnolia Avenue where European and Asian literature, history and philosophy graced the shelves. I walked through and went to the music section and picked up the greatest living saxophonist, Sonny Rollins' recorded concerts CD "Road Shows Vol 1" for my listening pleasure.

My Riverside experience was actually entwined with the city's history. The city is big. It is the 61st largest city in the United States and 12th largest in California. It is one of the best places to live. Drive down on Orange and University Avenue to the 900 block of University Avenue sits the campus of UC Riverside and the city is located in California's 44th Congressional district. The fun: Keep going to view dozens more of University Avenue lovely structures, and eateries, and grab a bite or whatever along the way.

Pictures: (From top: Riverside City Hall, Riverside County Court House, Mission Inn Hotel, UC Riverside and the local ensemble Paging Beto)

Lagos Cafe's Arrogance and Horrible Services is a Culinary Disaster

The problem with what happened to me this past Sunday afternoon, March 29, 2009, was that, I had woken up and had developed an appetite to eat some home kind of made food; the ofe olugbo, bitter leaf soup, coupled with the orishirishi, the ingredients and varieties of meats and dried fish that comes along with it.

Actually, there was no pub-crawling the previous night, quite unusual, which normally should have justified my quest to fill up my stomach from partying hard. And, precisely, not that I even went to see a show ending up hanging out where I'm not suppose to have been getting up the next day with some hangovers, headaches and things like that.

I was clean and sober. It's just that I did not feel like going to the popular Tak's Coffee House around my neck of the woods for lunch. I wanted bitter leaf soup and garri to do justice to my stomach. And here I am in my journey. And what a way to learn a lesson.

I had made up my mind to go to different Nigerian or African restaurants in the LA area, a place I am not a regular. Feeling like swallowing garri with a paste of deliciously prepared bitter leaf soup, I landed at Lagos Cafe run by Ronke Bernadette, located on the 1400 block of Crenshaw Boulevard in Gardena, California. It took me about half an hour to get there, driving through the Crenshaw thoroughfare of "Black Township", and combing on the cultural festivities of Leimert Park where a series of African American women dance and beat the drums on Sundays as if it is a spiritual revival. Crenshaw Blvd., from my destination to Gardena stretches through four different suburbs -- "The Jungle" around the Mid City area, Inglewood, Hawthorne and Gardena.

I was hungry and had anticipated a good meal, especially when breezing into a place I'm not a regular. But restaurants of the African ilk in the Los Angeles area are not just regular cuisines some few dollar can get you something to chew on. These are restaurants you have to spend at least 15 bucks for a regular meal, and 15 bucks for a regular meal in these days of belt-tightening is not a chicken change.

Anyways, here I go. I walked in to a place that looked totally deserted. The owner, Ronke and her friend who had told me she came from Togoland sat on one corner running their mouth -- without paying attention that a customer had arrived. I made my request: bitter leaf soup with mixed meat, dried fish and garri. I sat down and waited until only God knows when a waiter, apparently my home boy, popped up and told me my "food will soon be ready."

As it happened, my friend, Ardis Hamilton, whom I have known for many years dating back to the "read my lips" era called me, and I told him exactly where I was and how I got there. Immediately, he picked up interest to join me, in order to have a feel of a well-prepared African dish. In about 20-minutes, he was in. He was turned off right away because of the owner and her Togolese friend's attitude, loquaciously erring in French. Yes, they spoke French and did not care if a customer had arrived.

Meanwhile, I had waited long enough and my stomach was burning for some reason. I requested for some water to drink. Lagos Cafe had no water, absolutely no water for its customers which had me wonder why this garrulous woman and her friend are in business, in the first place. They drove down the street to buy some water after my request. In a restaurant and no water. Imagine!

At Veronica's Kitchen which sits on Manchester in Inglewood, the service is always great, the environment conducive and the waiters and waitresses well-behaved which is why the owner, Veronica Ogbeide, beats them all, hands down, and presumably from learning how to run a restaurant, effectively and efficiently.

However, they got my water while I waited for the so-called 'finest food' to arrive. Ardis, too, was looking forward to something special. To my friend's surprise, these talky women and the attendant who is also my home boy, changed their tone of language, all of a sudden, and just like that. Ngbati-ngbati, the normal Yoruba noise making kind of stuff, typical of a gabby Oshodi market women, became a trend, and it baffled my friend because they all knew he's a Yank as in "no speak English" a Hispanic would pretend to tell you.

My food finally came and I wanted my friend, Ardis, to taste the soup before ordering his own on my tab. Ardis has not recovered. His ass has been burning from the overseasoned habanero pepper and some other chili stuff that was used in cooking the soup.

In my own case, I'm the kind of guy who would eat up everything served and face the consequences later. Money is hard, these days, you know, but how could I have gotten myself into a situation where I now live in my restroom until the whole mess is flushed out from my system?

Not only that the service at Lagos Cafe was horrible, it was also ridiculously expensive. 20-something bucks and no leftover to take home? Come on, now, be real! At Veronica and 15-plus something bucks, you will have a whole lot of leftovers to take home, and you will be glad you did.

Lagos Cafe, Ronke, the talkative Togolese lady and my home boy, quote me, I will never be back because it really sucks, (excuse my language for I am pissed), and from my observation, you will be the last to earn a Michelin star.

Images of Storm in Southern Cali

Snowboarders trudge through freshly fallen snow in Green Valley Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains. Photo by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times



trucker heading north on the 5 Freeway has a view of snow-dusted mountains in the Angeles National Forest north of Sylmar. Photo by Al Seib/Los Angeles Times


As the sunrise illuminates the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains, a person captures the scene while on a morning walk at Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach. Photo by Allen J. Schaben/ Los Angeles Times



Palm trees drooping under the weight of snow greeted shoppers at the nearly deserted Antelope Valley Mall. Photo by Brian Vander Brug/L.A. Times

It Sure Rains In Southern California

Who made that song "It Never Rains In Southern California"? Well, you go figure that one out because I'm not in the mood to trace it all the way back when Tony, Toni Tone, the Oakland-based group had it going on in the nineties cracking us up that no rain in Southern Cali. They sure brought the rain and ever since it's rain, rain, rain. Now we are all like, rain, rain go away.

It's been pouring here like crazy and the City of Angels is all wet. Since Monday, December 15, the rain would not just go away and driving is not pleasant under the rain. It has slowed me down and I'm not doing much to catch up with my schedules. But don't get me wrong though; I love the rain and it seems to be the best weather at this time of year when the spirit of Christmas is all over and the feel of winter gives us hope that life is just good never minding all that's been going on with the Global economy as a turmoil Christmas approaches.

Oh, Christmas is just eight days away and I'm writing as if I'm done with my Christmas or Holidays shopping, whatever that means. The markdowns have seen its lowest in years and it's quite interesting shoppers are not even excited for the woes a bad economy brought to their families coupled with the shenanigans at Wall Street. Wall Street shenanigans have made the third world countries, especially Naija, look like saints.

Anyways, the rain in Los Angeles will probably soften our hearts and we'll probably kind of take different meassures on how we do stuff and how things could come up better. And that is strategy. The point of making life meaningful by loving, sharing and caring.

Not much has been going on these days except this week's predicted rain and my tailing of filmmaker Pascal Atuma whose agents are on the trail for a lead male role in his upcoming movie "No More Bloodshed" about to start shooting here in Los Angeles beginning March 2009. I also spoke briefly with the style guy, Ike Ude who should be hitting my neck of the hood soon. There are series of stuffs coming up, too. Interviews and interesting episodes of my line -- I am not going to say what it would be looking like; just keep watching out -- and not anything close to the hood rats who did change the way things are done. Is it called popular culture? I like "them" hippie era and all that stuff that changed our world.

However, the rain is here and we should do the best out of it as the spirit of Christmas comes along with it the spirit of good feelings in a troubled world and economic mess.

Catwalk Hollywood To Hit Abuja Runway

In a remarkable success of the African Red Carpet Summer Bash held this past Summer at the John Henson Studios complex in Hollywood, California, and a first fashion event of its kind, River Naija Productions is launching a cross-country model talent search in Nigeria. The event will mark the first of such project and hope to deliver fresh new stars to the world's biggest catwalks.

Commenting on the launch of the project was River Naija Productions founder, Gregory Iheanacho, who says that Catwalk Hollywood cross-country project will be the most enduring fashion show in the country.

Meanwhile the scouting judges and selection crews, among them, some Hollywood bigshots and known international fashion designers have been confirmed. The selection crew will commence its scouting process beginning December 15, 2008 until the end of the casting sessions to be announced by the program co-ordinators between March and April 2008.

Beginning in Lagos the project will take Catwalk Hollywood team to 10 Nigeria cities including Owerri (Imo State), Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Calabar (Cross River State), Enugu (Enugu State), Benin (Edo State) and Abuja (Federal Capital Territory). At each stop in every designated state and at the end of the casting session, the participants will have the opportunity to meet with the governor of the state in a special diner, photo shoots and interviews.

At the Calabar Resort, the fashion savvy businessman Iheanacho, and his team of Hollywood casts will host several rounds of auditions, at which the participants will be taken on a tour of the beautiful resort with the governor of Cross River State as special guest of honor.

From Calabar, the participants will head into the glittering Federal Capital, Abuja, where they will be able to meet with the Minister of Tourism and Culture in another round of diner sessions, photo shoots and interviews.

In Nigeria, registration forms are available at Oceanic Bank, Zenith Bank, Mr. Biggs and GB Studios, Owerri. Online registration is also available at the following websites: NCOCUSA, Catwalk Hollywood and River Naija Productions.

For inquiries:

Nigeria: 07026118723

United States: (323)299-1335

Kamala Harris for 2010 Primaries

Kamala Harris last month announced her intention for the post of California Attorney General for the 2010 primaries upon Barack Obama's election victory, there are now talks Obama might invite her for a post at Washington before her anticipations for California's top cop. She has already filed her papers for the June 2010 primary election. Harris is also the first Black woman district attorney in California.

In Harris tenure, more than 1200 domestic violence offenders have been convicted in San Francisco. She is just another woman of substance and her dedication to servive is paying off.

Schwarzenegger, Tax Hike and Nightmare in California

Just as every Cali began to jubilate over Barack Obama's stunning election victory Tuesday night, and just as every Cali had hoped to join the bandwagon of economic recovery, it did not take Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger too much probing to elicit testimony that California economy was going to hell, cutting short that sigh of relief we've had on Obama's victory with the hope Bill Clinton's-type economic prosperity we all enjoyed in that era will soon be bouncing back in Obama's anticipated administration.

Schwarzenegger has proved us wrong and now it's all like going back to square one, I mean back to the status quo, the way things used to be -- hardship, more unemployment and unending frustration that comes along with stress. Last night, the former body-building hulk, Hollywood machine gunner-turned governor released his new plans to make the life of Calis more miserable.

Schwarzenegger's plan includes an increase in sales tax which amounts to new levies on alcoholic drinks. The question here is, when a depressed public who relies heavily on alcohol to relieve the pains of mental distress as a result of a sinking economy and with a one and half cents on the dollar increase on sales tax, what then would happen to the winos who rely on alcohol to forget their sorrows? What would happen when they can no longer afford that little drink that relieves them from the pains of hopelessness? Well, expect more chaos and robbery. And, of course, more domestic violence when life makes everyone blue.

Schwarzenegger plans to raise $10.08 billion by the 2009-10 fiscal year which also extends the sales tax to appliance and furniture repairs, vehicle repairs, golf fees, veterinarian services, amusement parks and sporting events. The idea behind all that is to fund the transit projects. I have no qualms for many reasons: Nothing affects me in the list safe for vehicle repairs. How about riding my bike which seems not to be on the list? We'll see how it unfolds.

Republicans in California Assembly vowed to knock Scharzenegger's plan down. They did it before -- last summer when a smaller proposal did not pass in the house.

JAZZ: Weather Report's "This Is This"

If you are a jazz fan and have followed the rock-jazz-fusion beats when many jazzists crossed over from the classic tunes and big band sessions, you should know the likes of the late Austrian keyboardist Joe Zawinul and legendary saxaphonist Wayne Shorter who has been scheduled to perform at the tribute to Herbie Hancock on Sunday, October 28, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Somehow, for that reason I have been playing the last recorded album of Weather Report when Zawinul and Shorter mutually agreed to discontinue with Report's projects. Following up traditional jazz of the 50's and 60's before the crossovers, I wasn't familiar with Shorter and Zawinul. I got a grip of it while getting deep into jazz-fusion when the mind-blowing ethnic tunes became the norm in the 70's through the 80's until recently that traditional jazz began to stage a comeback as the all-star cast would prove it at the Kodak Theatre on Sunday.

In this last album of jazz-fusion's talented musicians, Shorter and Zawinul "sincerely" thanked all that gave their "enthusiasm and talent" during the course of the band's fifteen years existence. Among them: Alphonse Mouzon, Peter Erskine, drummer Omar Hakim, bassist Alphonso Johnson, Alex Acuna, Airto Moreira, Chester Thompson, Alirio Lima, Ndugu Chancelor, Don Um Romao, Mino Cinelu, Victor Bailey, Greg Enrico, Eric Gravatt, Miroslav Vitous, Marva Barnes, Colleen Coil, Darryl Brown, Seidah Garrett, Darryl Phinnessee and several others that came along the bands path.

The CD beginning with the titled track "This Is This" has everything in it, from the roots of African drum beats and rhythms to the lyrical expressions of a masquerade dance with a flavor of old-school wind instrumens on display. The album is just amazing with Zawinul showcasing his talent, the magnificent performer that he would be until his death last month. I kept replaying the track "Jungle Stuff" as the vibes and voiceovers reminds me of the legendary Chief Priest Fela Anikulapo Kuti.

The album is just great and probably the best that Shorter and Zawinul put together.

BOOKSHELF: The Bond

Last week at Esowon Books in the heart of Leimert Park's "Black Township," Drs. George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis signed copies of their new book The Bond: Three Young Men Learn to Forgive and Reconnect with Their Fathers which is a follow-up to the bestselling book The Pact sharing their relationship from growing up without a father figure in their respective lives.

In this brilliant book, The Three Doctors as they are now known tells the story of how life could have been different had they been nurtured by a father while growing up. When interviewed by Amy Cox Williams of The African-American Connection, Dr George Jenkins had this to say:

"one thing I'd add to what both guys said is that our friendship was essential to our overcoming the conditions and disadvantages. We taught each other lots of things that allowed us to grow and fill the voids left by our fathers. We made each other better students and better men through our frienship."

On the other hand, Dr Sampson Davis who spoke eloquently at the book signing ceremony on the parking lot across the street from Esowon Books and in his interview with Cox Williams said:

"Fatherlessness is the nucleus for many social ills in our society. When looking at the studies and statistics, a case has been made that crime, high school drop out rates, drug use, and involvement in gangs can be often directly attributed to a young person growing up fatherless. Very often, mothers do a great job raising today's youth, but based on our own experiences, we know how important a father's contribution is for children."

Dr. Rameck Hunt who was more emotional for not having that bond with his father while growing up noted the following in that interview with Cox Williams:

"The interesting thing about all this is just that--none of us are fathers. Before any of us decide to make that decision we want to make sure we are ready. We refuse to repeat that cycle of fatherlessness... A big part of the message in The Bond is to break that cycle."

To sum it all up, The Bond is just one powerful book and straightforward.

BOOK SHELF: The Door of No Return: The History of Cape Coast Castle and the Atlantic Slave Trade

Many lyrics have echoed about the horrific Trans Atlantic Slave Trade on the process of human cargo. In 1974, The O'Jays recorded Ship Ahoy paying homage to Africans who survived and overcame the predicament of slavery and human bondage. Also, Seventies Jamaican Reggae group, The Cimmarons released Ship Took Us Away From Africa, an overnight mindblowing sensation at a time of the reggae boom and Rastafarian prophesy which took roots reggae to newer heights.

William St Clair's remarkable new book The Door of No Return: The History of Cape Coast Castle and the Atlantic Slave Trade, came at the right time after extensive and exhaustive research digging into the archives. It was fifty years ago that on March 7, Kwame Nkrumah's practical and enigmatic leadership achieved full democratic fabric, making Ghana the first West African Coast to gain independence.

I haven't been familiar with a whole lot of stuff regarding the slave trade until St. Clairs in-depth, well-written book which caught my eye at the "Black Township" where I partly engage in African cultural relativism. Very few of us are African-born and most of the people here are aging and are fast-talking in joining the band wagon - homeward bound to motherland. Their focus had been Ghana as the free land offer by the Ghanaian government is attracting every African Diaspora.

Listening to these aging folks talk, I tried to imagine what must have gotten me in this place and why am I trying to figure out why these folks think going back to motherland is the last straw. These are mostly retired men who had thought a whole lot of time had been wasted thinking the land of the free was a safe heaven until now. I also imagine these aging folks, maybe there's nothing out there for them anymore, thus no longer productive in a society where free enterprise is highly comepetitive among the youngish capitalists. Or maybe, the bills are driving everyone crazy while their retirement benefits can afford them all sorts of luxury if they relocate to motherland. Why not?

Talking about enterprise, St. Clair's book noted the entrepreneurship of the slave trade and how detailed and organized it was relying on the archives of the Cape Coast Castle. The castle's first construction was commenced by a Swedish construction company in 1653 at the peak of the Scramble for Africa when for a decade (1653-1663) the Swedes and the Danes were the domineering colonists until the British empire conquered the castle in 1664. It was a game of chess among the European traders and dealers and despite all that, the local kingmakers had the upper hand and determined a good bargain on the people that were being traded for transport across the Atlantic to the shores of America.

The book is entirely drawn from St. Clair's personal research from the archives of the castle. I think from a personal point of view and based on the tedious research project carried out by St. Clair detailing on how the Coastal kings negotiated with European traders and an ensuing warfare as the castle almost got hit by the French in 1756 and the returning of some slaves, for instance, the return of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo who also became a slave trader makes this 282 pages of Blue Bridge Books quite interesting and engaging.

Jena 6 Rally @ Leimert Park, Los Angeles

For some reason, I thought Los Angeles area gangbangers had caused a commotion within the Crenshaw Boulevard thoroughfare of the "Black Township." That was not the case as I drove by the area running series of errands. It was the "Jena 6" rally to protest Jena, Louisiana District Attorney Reed Walters charging of six black students with second degree attempted murder for a fight that occured in school premises. A boys will be boys fight notably of teens growing up turns out racial in Jena, Louisiana.

Good thing, I was able to get a glimpse of the action and seeing all the TV trucks with cameras and microwaves recording and reporting the demonstrations, I couldn't but park my car on the huge 25 Cents an hour metered parking lot to get a piece of the action.

Thousands trooped in black to show their support with placards reading "Free the Jena Six," "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," "Slavery is over and racism is back," "No more Jim Crowe Laws," sending a powerful message that America should live up to its creed.

The traffic jam could be seen all the way from the Washington Boulevard Corridor stretching to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall to Degnan Blvd. at 43rd Street where Leimert Park sits. Meanwhile, as the peaceful demonstration was carried out without incident, vendors and store owners around Leimert Park area made brisk business selling t-shirts and other accessories to show support for the Jena 6 and their families. To be honest, I have not seen a rally in recent times where black folks came out enmasse, united to protest the trial of a seventeen year old convicted in an adult court by an all white jury for something that doesn't make sense.

I was really impressed with the move, the togetherness shown by a community that wants freedom and justice to prevail in a democratic society.

To help support the Jena 6 you can sign the petition at Color Of Change and make a donation to the legal defense fund, or buy a "Free the Jena 6" t-shirt. You can also call the Louisiana State Governor at 866-366-1121, or 225-342-7015, telling her to use her executive powers to intervene in the case. There is also the Free The Jena 6 website where you can donate, follow the case, take action and support the cause.

The Reality of 'Governor' Ohakim's Visit and the Organizing Committees

by Ambrose Ehirim

The Internet crackpot was at it again. Barely two months in office from an election that was marred by widespread scandals of irregularities, a gullible and vulnerable Imo State indigenes in Diaspora endorsed a fraudulently elected Ohakim's proposed visit to the shores of America.

I read most, if not all, of the comments regarding a governor with the desire to visit the United States who is yet to appoint his commissioners and other related portfolios in the state. Also, I received numerous calls questioning on what basis should Ohakim be visiting U.S. when a case load of unresolved issues are hanging on the state.

I am quite sure many of Ohakim's friends tried to talk him out of it for the fact it was not yet uhuru for a troubled state and the entire 'nation,' even though the supposed beneficiaries of Ohakim's august visit may have felt disappointed for a once in a lifetime opportunity that has eluded them. Of course, the same political stupidity was seen in Achike Udenwa's administration when backlog of teachers and civil servants salaries were left unpaid while the do-nothing ex-governor embarked on touring the United States which became part of a conduit to launder money and shady real estate investments.

In a related discourse, I had argued the governor's visit was uncalled for and did not make any sense for the so-called organizers to be applauding the governor's visit which eventually triggered a net of confusion. Though, I did not expect the confused who had taken one thing to be another to listen to me. All I had been concerned was for the governor not to dabble into some nasty political tactics that has gotten officials of the previous administration into all kinds of trouble.

I heard Ohakim is a good man and has maintained his integrity all along. I also heard he is a man of principle without blemish dating back to his days of stewardship in the Coal City. The question here is: Why would a good man in that capacity allow himself to be dragged by a vulnerable Imo "Diaspora elite" that had lost every sense of purpose in building community? Why would Ohakim who supposedly should know the implications of such a fragile visit start with a dirty slate when he is barely two months in office? Why is it so important that this governor whose election is still questionable be rushing to the States on a visit that has nothing to do with the affairs of state and other pressing problems in Imo? And why should one be paying $50 a plate dinner in what if all had been well and appropriate, a town-hall meeting format with no cover charge?

But somehow, Ohakim listened. His visit as reported in the eleventh hour was postponed or entirely cancelled. What would have been more irresponsible was for his counsels and staffers not making a stronger effort to talk him out of it, or letting him go off on a dangerous mission which could possibly haunt him for the rest of his term in office.

However, in a similar argument I encountered with Innocent Osunwa, the radical teacher who would talk you into the night concretely endorsed Ohakim as a good man, knowing him personally from childhood, and disturbingly stressed Ohakim should not find solace with Imo Diaspora if he wants good governance to prevail in Imo State. "Ohakim should not allow his good name to be tainted by an inept and confused Imo Diaspora bunch," Osunwa continued.

Meanwhile, circulars were rolling around all over the Internet about Imo State Union meeting which would be held at 400 South La Brea Avenue in Inglewood, California. Osunwa talked me into attending the meeting in order to confront the organizers of a $50 dinner plate round table conference with Ohakim. I had considered not going, but Osunwa insisted the only way our "grievances" could add more meaning to discouraging such visits in future would be showing up at the meeting to express our opinion.

On the morning of Sunday, July 15, 2007, Osunwa called me to remind me of Imo State Union meeting as we earlier discussed the past week. I was not sure what made it necessary for me to attend a meeting Osunwa had been tyring to sell to me, even though, his registration as a member expired long time ago. His persuasion had made me consider a whole lot of things: One, I'm Igbo Diaspora; two, I am an Imo indigene residing in Los Angeles where the said meeting is being held; three, I am thinking it's my duty to be responsible for the well-being of my state of origin; four, I am thinking, too, that the only way to effect change is by getting involved and five, I could care less and do not want to be bothered.

I heeded Osunwa's advice and off I go to Imo State Union meeting in Los Angeles. It would be my first as an observer since my name is not on the roll call. I had arrived a little bit behind schedule and bumped into people I have not seen in a while. Not too many folks had arrived, though, which is typical of Igbo-related meetings.

After a long wait for a quorum to be formed, the meeting commenced with the usual opening prayers followed by the rituals of breaking and sharing kola nuts. It was on this day I noticed the unique tradition and cultural heritage of our ancestors had been altered. According to a new fabricated custom, a kola nut must be 'clothed' to avoid its nakedness before sharing. What that means is, cash must be donated generously toward a kola nut clothing before it could be shared among the members. Money donated generously on behalf of the kola nut goes to the coffers of the organization in session. Whatever happened to the status quo?

As it happened, the meeting was in order and top on its agenda was Ohakim's visit. Minutes of the previous meeting was passed through to members and all typographical errors and amendments were made. The question and answer session relating to Ohakim's visit was really fascinating. There were ambitious men who had political interest in Ohakim's administration which had something to do with the $50 dinner plate round table conference and had solidly backed the "governor's" visit on the ground it was good for the people of Imo State in Diaspora. There were, also, curious men who felt delighted to dine and wine with a fraudulently elected governor.

But I did pop the question, nevertheless, which raised some eyebrows. I had questioned the validity of Ohakim's visit and why would he be visiting the shores of this land when he is barely two months in office. I had also questioned the need for applauding a fraudulently elected governor. Hell broke loose after my questioning to a point I was told to "go home and see what will happen to you," that I will not have the privilege to see a governor who stole the peoples mandate. Imagine!

While we are at it as one is weary of pointing out, no one, absolutely no one, seems to remember Ralph Uwazuruike has been indefinitely locked behind bars while his co-defendants - Frederick Fasheun, Ganiyu Adams and Dokubo Asari - who had been accused of the same crime are now walking the streets free of charge. Afenifere and other related Yoruba elite and cultural groups did its job by setting Fasheun and Adams free at all cost. So, too, is Dokubo-Asari. Where is the Igbo leadership?