May 12, 2018
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
Comments Off on Family and Friends
Biafra Conference Finale The conference on the 50th anniversary of the Biafran War ended on Wednesday. Jim Phillips, who like the three of us panelists on Tuesday, was also a Peace Corps volunteer who had served in Nigeria. He is … Continue reading
May 8, 2018
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
Comments Off on Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement
Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in Governance Mo Ibrahim is a Sudanese-British businessman who founded the mobile phone company Celtel. In 2005 he sold it for $3.4 billion. He set up the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Their website says, “The Mo … Continue reading
April 26, 2018
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
3 Comments
Chinua Achebe’s Masterpiece at 60 Have you read Chinua Achebe’s masterpiece, Things Fall Apart? I became acquainted with the book during Peace Corps training at the University of California Los Angeles, UCLA. It was the summer of 1962. The Peace Corps … Continue reading
April 18, 2018
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
Comments Off on Emir of Kano, Traditional and Modern
Emir of Kano There has been an emir of Kano for over a thousand years. The British colonialists used a system of indirect rule in Northern Nigeria, so the emirs continued to be influential. In Nigeria, Kano is behind only … Continue reading
January 20, 2018
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
6 Comments
Chibok Girls Stay with Boko Haram An article in Voice of America online reports on a newly released video from Boko Haram. The video shows 12 Chibok girls who appear, “to relish their new life and disavow their old.” A … Continue reading
September 22, 2017
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
4 Comments
Global Citizenship I follow the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer LinkedIn Group. This message came from Karin Muller today: “Since returning from the Philippines (87-89), I’ve dedicated my life to producing television documentaries on remote cultures and conflict zones for National … Continue reading
August 9, 2017
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
2 Comments
Peace Corps Connections Clem and I were in Denver Colorado for “Peace Corps Connect,” the annual 2-day gathering of returned Peace Corps volunteers and friends. The day before, Friday, Friends of Nigeria held its own meeting. Friends of Nigeria … Continue reading
June 26, 2017
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
4 Comments
Implicit Bias at Work I hear people say implicit bias is not real. I disagree. It is real, pervasive, and harmful. It affects the actions of police and juries. The NYTimes had an excellent op-ed on the topic. I experienced my … Continue reading
April 27, 2017
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
Comments Off on Legacies of Biafra Conference
Legacies of Biafra I had a wonderful time in London. Legacies of Biafra, Reflections on the Nigeria-Biafra War 50 Years On, was an exciting and well-presented conference. Louisa Egbunike and Yvonne Mbanefo were the principal organizers. Unu mere nke oma! … Continue reading
March 30, 2017
by Catherine Onyemelukwe
1 Comment
Nigerwives and Intersectionality I read a fascinating interview with a Nigerian writer, Angela Ajayi. Her Yoruba last name interested me. I was also intrigued by the title of the article, “On Cultural Intersectionality and Familial Love.” Does the word ‘intersectionality’ … Continue reading