Kinobe & the African Sensation Come to Chicago

Kinobe & the African Sensation

       Join the community at the Old Town School of Folk Music 

*LIVE SET*

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

8:30pm- ALL AGES

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL

*MUSIC WORKSHOP*

Thursday, March 22, 2012

8:00pm- ALL AGES

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL

"Born in Uganda, Kinobe is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer whose early abilities in traditional African music quickly garnered acclaim on the world stage. Steeped in the music of his homeland, with ears and heart open to the pulse of the world ~ Kinobe is a unique artist. Together with his band, 

The African Sensation, they are the vanguard of Ugandan performers representing the inspired synthesis of African roots and global fusion." 

Click here to visit their website! 

Ghana's 55th Independence Anniversary

Celebrate Ghana's 55th Independence Anniversary on

Date:Saturday, March 10, 2012

Time: 7:00pm- 1:00am

Venue: Crystal Light Banquet 

8400 S. Cicero, Burbank, IL

Celebration of the New Generation of Africa

The African Student Council of the University of Illinois - Chicago, is hosting a 'Celebration of the New Generation of Africa' at UIC Illinois Room, 750 S. Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607. It takes place on Saturday, March 17, 2012, from 7pm-10pm.

UAO's upcoming Citizenship Workshop

Together with ICIRR and the New Americans Initiative (NAI), UAO is organizing a citizenship workshop for:

Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 9am-12noon

Truman College

1145 W. Wilson Ave.

Chicago, IL 60640

Please call us at the UAO if you are thinking of attending so we can make sure you are eligible and let you know what documents to bring. Call: 312-949-9980

Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas Grand Inaugural Ball

There is a lot going on the community this week! The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas hosts in Grant Inaugural Ball in Chicago on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 6:30pm. The venue is 3130 W. 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60652. 

UAO's African Youth Forum

UAO African Youth Forum

Saturday, March 31, 2012 
10:30am - 5:00pm 
10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616  


Register Here

For more information, email: events@uniteafricans.org  or call 312.949.9980

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, the UAO will host an African Youth Forum. 

The African Youth Forum will bring together African and African-American youth, as well as other immigrant and native-born young people in Chicago to dialogue around issues and challenges in their communities. This Forum will center around 3 main issues:  the Prison Industrial Complex, Immigration, and Education.

Through dialogue, we hope that young people will build understanding of each others' points of view, and in the process find common ground. We hope that the forum will be a catalyst for sustained youth dialogue and organizing in Chicago, with committed and open engagement from African youth. The forum will be a day-long affair, and will include performances, music, talks and discussions. 

Click for larger image

Participating Organizations include:

Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization (M.A.G.I.C.)

Center for New Horizons

Gary Comer Youth Center

Affinity

Umu Igbo Alliance

JahGhana Productions

African and Carribean Students Association (ACSA) at University of Chicago

For more information, email: events@uniteafricans.org  or call 312.949.9980

Join us for our African Business Round Table

The UAO's quarterly African Business Roundtable takes place on:

Monday, March 12, 2012

11:00am

University Room in IIT Tower Building

10 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616

Don't miss this opportunity to find out how to do business with the State of Illinois!

Register here

Win free tickets to see Tinariwen at the Metro in Chicago!

Malian group Tinariwen will be making their way to Chicago at the famous Metro music venue. United African Organization, courtesy of Metro Chicago, is giving out two tickets to the show!

On Sunday, November 13 at 7pm, a question will be launched on THIS blog, and who ever emails services@uniteafricans.org first with the correct answer, wins BOTH tickets!

Our winner will be notified on Monday, November 14 and will need to provide the names of those attending the event by Thursday November 17.

So, make sure you're at your computer on Sunday, November 13 at 7pm and win some great tickets!

Tinariwen's show is Friday, November 25 at 9:00pm.

"Blacks Without Borders" film screening at the DuSable Museum this weekend

"Blacks Without Borders: Chasing the American dream in South Africa" is a groundbreaking documentary that takes a heartfelt look at the emotional journey of a group of African Americans who called it quits in the U.S. to start a new life in South Africa. With 4 to 5 million immigrants coming to America every year to pursue the American dream why are they leaving? Blacks Without Borders answers that question and more.

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2:00-4:00pm
Venue: DuSable Museum

Go to the DuSable museum website for more info.

Film 'Elevate' opens in Chicago this week

An award winning documentary film, ELEVATE, is coming to Chicago. The documentary about four tall West African teens who, based on their hard work, merits and dedication, are selected to play basketball at American prep schools and hope to one day play in the NBA. ELEVATE will be opening in Chicago at the AMC River East 21 on November 11th, 2011. Click for the trailer.

Support Somali Relief Efforts!

"Renaissance for Somalia" - Fashion-Show Fundrasier
Date: Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Time: 3pm-5pm
Venue: Esther Smith Hall, New Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1252 S. Wolcott Avenue, Chicago IL 60608
Tickets are $30 (your donation is tax deductible)

To purchase more tickets, or for more information, call the United African Organization on 312 949 9980 or email services@uniteafricans.org . You can also call the East African Community Center on: 773 681 0801

Somali Refugees urgently need medical aid, high-protein/high-energy food, clean water, shelter.

Show your support by attending the show.

African Voices Podcast released!

We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest project: the 'African Voices' podcast! The Internet has democratized radio and TV by providing space for people with few resources and limited professional media experience to get their voices heard. The United African Organization would like to be part of this process. That's why we are launching our free podcast, 'African Voices'. Through our podcast, we are offering the African community in Illinois the opportunity to have their voices heard.

Our first podcast is now online! The podcast features October news and events from the African community in Illinois, information our Leadership Development Program, an interview with Paulo Bombe about his journey from Angola to Chicago (from our Africans in Chicago Oral History Project) and music from Youssoupha Sidibe, an artist from Senegal currently living in California.

You can listen to it on our podcast website. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast to be informed of future episodes! If you would like to contribute to our podcast, email podcasts@uniteafricans.org. Be sure to check out the guidelines for contributions.

Talk on African Liberation Struggles during the Cold War

Envisioning Another World and Taking on Big Enemies
Friday, October 21, 2011 | 12–1 p.m.

Smart Museum of Art
Website
5550 South Greenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647 USA

Free

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Learn about the triumphs and failings of African liberation struggles during the Cold War. This free talk is presented by Prexy Nesbitt, who currently teaches African history at Columbia College and has lectured extensively on issues of racism, war, and militarism.

Transformative Music and Dance from the Congo

This weekend the Museum of Contemporary Art hosts performances by Faustin Linyekula from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Performances take place Friday-Sunday, October 21-23, 7:40pm at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago:

"In this raucous and powerful dance theater performance, three dancers, including choreographer and director Faustin Linyekula, reflect on the political, social, and cultural history and present day struggles of the Congo. The dancers move to the dark poems of Antoine Vumilia Muhindo, a political prisoner in Kinshasa and childhood friend of Linyekula’s, set to driving music by Congolese guitarist Flamme Kapaya and his five-member on-stage band. The work seeks to present hope for a better future in the Congo.

The 2011 U.S. Tour of more more more… future is produced by MAPP International Productions in partnership with The Africa Contemporary Arts Consortium."

Tickets: MCA members - $22, Nonmembers - $28, Students - $10. Buy tickets online or call the MCA Box Office, 312.397.4010.

Learn more.

Also this weekend:

Artists up close: Home as Radical Place round table

Saturday, Oct 22, 12-2pm at the Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone, Chicago IL. Attendance is Free.

Returning after 13 years in exile to his homeland of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Faustin Linyekula and members of his Studios Kabako are meeting with Chicago’s residents of the south side to weigh how people can rediscover a sense of belonging in our turbulent times. Kabako, his network of multi-use studios throughout Kisangani, is an answer to the culture of death being propagated by the political violence of the aftermath from the Second Congo War (1998-2003). Run as intentional organizational and physical structures, the circumstances behind Kabako which compelled Linyekula to return home and build in Kisangani are specific, but the causes and consequences resonate for all of us. Using as the starting point his artistic practice model, which he dubs “geo-choreography”, Linyekula invites local artist/activists to share their own models for self-sufficient and sustainable community through culture.

Learn more.

JahGhana and UIC students support UAO

Members of JahGhana and the UIC Student Council presenting the check to UAO staff Alie Kabba and Nancy Asirifi-Otchere on Saturday, October 15th, 2011.

Entertainment Group JahGhana teamed up with the UIC (University of Illinois in Chicago) Student Council to raise funds for the United African Organization this month! They hosted their annual Afro Entertainment Awards show on October 8th, 2011. Some of the funds raised from the event were donated to the UAO. This is community support at its best! Thanks to JahGhana and UIC Student Council for their incredible contribution!

Next Leadership Workshop Saturday, October 15

Friends,

Our next leadership workshop will take place on this Saturday, October 15th from 9:00am - 1:00pm at 10 West 35th Street, 6th floor (University Room), Chicago, IL 60616.

The workshop will cover the following important topics:

• Community organizing models for social justice change

• Building a better future through community action

• Building transformative social movements

Oscar Chacón will facilitate the workshop. He is currently Executive Director of the National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities (NALACC). Until December, 2006, Mr. Chacon served as director of Enlaces América, a project of the Chicago-based Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. Mr. Chacón served for most of the 1990’s as executive director of Centro Presente, Inc, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He served for many years as president of the Salvadoran American National Network (SANN). Mr. Chacon is a frequent lecturer in national and international conferences, as well as a media spokesperson on Latino immigrant issues in the U.S. He brings a transnational perspective to community organizing and social movements that is both fascinating and essential as we seek to empower our community.

Please invite your network for this FREE leadership workshop. RSVP at training@uniteafricans.org. Or call us on (312) 949 9980. You have until Friday to RSVP.

See you on Saturday! Light refreshment will be served.

Events at the Chicago Council for Global Affairs

The Chicago Council for Globa Affairs is hosting two events of particular interest in October and November. Here they are:

Navigating the Immigration Debate and Chicago's Experience

Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Time: 5:30pm
Venue: InterContinental Hotel, 505 N. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

At the talk, a group from the Emerging Leaders class of 2009 will present their report on immigration. An expert commentater, Alejandro Escalona, a columnist from the Chicago Sun-Times, will provide framing for the discussion. Marshall Bouton, President of the Chicago Council for Global Affairs will introduce the program. Executive Director of the United African Organization, Alie Kabba, provided guidance to the panel early on.

The talk is free but you must register in advance.

Empowering Women for Economic Growth in South Africa

Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Time: 12 noon
Venue: The Chicago Club, 81 East Van Buren, Chicago, IL 60605
Speaker: Lulama Xingwana, Minister for Women, Children, and People with Dissabilities, Republic of South Africa

Registration is required in for this event. Click the link above to register.