Ghanaians Are Anxious To See Which Party The New President Will Emerge From!

The 2008 U.S. election had the country really excited about who their new leader was going to be. In Ghana, they are feeling just as anxious about finding who their new president is as we were over a month ago. And right now, the discovery of offshore oil there as generated international interest in the results. Here's more from Reuters:

"The discovery of offshore oil, which Britain's Tullow Oil plans to start pumping out at a rate of 120,000 barrels per day in late 2010, has raised international attention on the poll. But the global slowdown means celebrations may be delayed.

"Although there is "everything to play for' in terms of oil, the economic reality is that 2009 will be a difficult year in which to manage the economy," Razia Khan, Africa research head at Standard Chartered Bank, said in a note to investors.

"Observers suggest that it is precisely because of the common economic ground between the two leading parties that the election will be close, and a run-off in the presidential election cannot be ruled out," Khan said.

Kufuor's center-right government has pursued market-friendly policies that have helped Ghana's economy grow by more than 5 percent annually in recent years.

But many Ghanaians say the increased wealth -- visible in the plush residential developments and luxury cars in the capital Accra -- have passed them by.

"We want the new government to provide jobs. They should give us better schools, better health facilities," jobless Derrick Agbanyo, 28, said as he waited to vote in Accra."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4B60FP20081207

This video is called "Ghana First Peace Song".It sounds great!

Is The Ethiopian Pop Star, Teddy Afro, In Jail For The Right Reasons?!!

Teddy Afro is so freakin' gorgeous! He is one of the best Ethiopian singers ever & I absolutely love the song in the video called Alamin!Even though I can't understand one word of it!When Beyonce performed in Addis, a whole lot of folks felt that Teddy Afro upstaged her. He is an immensely popular Ethiopian star!

Unfortunately,Teddy Afro got sentenced to 6 years for a crime that many believe he has no part in. But because of his involvement in politics, many fear that the Ethiopian government may have set him up.Here's more from BBC:

"The singer was found guilty of running the man down in his car and driving away without reporting the incident in Addis Ababa in 2006.

Ethiopia's best-known pop star was also convicted of driving without a licence.

His music became an anthem for opposition protests in 2005 and many fans believe the charges were politically motivated.

But the Ethiopian authorities have denied this. As he passed sentence, the judge said the prosecution was not in any way a vendetta.

There had been some confusion about which night the homeless man had died. On the first date the singer - whose real name is Tewodros Kassahun - had an alibi: He was out of the country."(END OF EXCERPT) Read the rest here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7768589.stm

Odetta Was Known As "The Voice Of The Civil Rights Movement"! May She Rest In Peace!

This first video contains an interview with Odetta where she discusses her impact on the civil rights era as an activist.She was also a wonderful singer with a rich,deep baritone voice that was quite emotive. Odetta is singing,in the second video,on "The Johnny Cash Show". Her voice is absolutely breathtaking.Odetta moved on to a better place on Tuesday before she got to fulfill one final dream. Her final wish was to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan 20. Here's an excerpt from an obituary that was published in the NY Times:

"Odetta, the singer whose resonant voice wove together the strongest songs of American folk music and the civil rights movement, died on Tuesday in Manhattan. She was 77.

The cause was heart disease, her manager, Doug Yeager, said.

Odetta, who lived in Upper Manhattan, had been admitted to Lenox Hill Hospital three weeks ago with a number of ailments, including kidney trouble, Mr. Yeager said. In her last days, he said, she had been hoping to sing at the presidential inauguration for Barack Obama."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the entire obituary here:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/03/arts/music/03odetta.html?_r=1&hp