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Veteran
03/18/25
1st ever African Union/ Caricom Summit 09/07/21
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03/18/25
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*cued
03/23/25
When international vlogger and YouTuber Wode Maya first visited Barbados several years ago, it was to continue efforts to form a bridge of sorts between Africa and its diaspora.
Wode Maya met with Prime Minister Mia Mottley during a visit to Barbados.
Those videos racked up hundreds of thousands of views and earned him loyal Barbadian and Caribbean fans. They are among his 2.6 million followers on Facebook and 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube.
Little did Wode Maya know, his efforts would gain him official recognition by the Caribbean country
On Saturday, the Ghanaian, real name Kobina Ackon, was honoured at a We Gatherin’ ceremony hosted by the Barbados High Commission in Ghana. He was presented with a special painting.
High Commissioner Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland declared herself one of Wode Maya’s supporters. She said around three years ago, she first saw one of his videos about a Kenyan woman who built 200 houses. She was so inspired by the story and his unique and authentic way of telling it that she subsequently liked and subscribed to his channel.
“We gather here because there is one among us who saw our nation and in our people a reflection of his proud Ghanaian heritage, and he made the determination to make an impact,” she said.
The high commissioner spoke at length about his advocacy, compassion, and charity work.
“Although many try to imitate you…there’s no better vlogger than Wode Maya to capture and keep us connected to our proud African ancestry.”
The Barbadian diplomat credited the vlogger’s wife, Trudy, for being a strong support system during his extensive travel.
“We give you your flowers. We say thank you, Trudy, for the sacrifices that you’ve made as he has done all of the globetrotting,” said the high commissioner as she encouraged the influencer to continue being his authentic self.
“You’re really great for the Barbados brand. Every time you put those videos out, we’ve seen an uptick in tourists. We can now boast of tourists travelling to Barbados since the work you’ve been doing from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.”
“Ghanaians have welcomed me and spoken to me with familiarity about Barbados, our food, our music, our Crop Over street festival, our costumes, all because of the popularity of Wode Maya’s videos.”
She revealed that the high commission has arranged for Wode Maya to partner with Barbados’ Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Incorporated (COSCAP) on a workshop for local artists focused on monetising and developing their brand globally.
On another matter, she said Barbados is in the process of building out its marketing programme in Ghana and intends to partner with local individuals and businesses.
Meantime, Wode Maya said he feels he has found his calling despite the degree he obtained in China in aeronautical engineering.
“The revolution of Africans in Africa and Africans abroad connecting is happening, and I just want you all to know that it’s time for you to take part. We’re not going to leave any stones behind. When I started connecting Africans in the diaspora, I felt there was a huge gap between us. We didn’t know about each other. There were misconceptions [that went] both ways.”
Wode Maya recommended that people living in Africa visit the Caribbean and explained, “The prime minister of Barbados really wants to connect the dots. She’s putting in a lot of effort. I wish that Africans on this side of the world could see the effort that is being put in. Let’s not politicise everything. At the end of the day, let’s make the best to connect with our brothers and sisters.”
03/23/25
Influential Ghanaian vlogger and YouTuber honoured by Barbados
When international vlogger and YouTuber Wode Maya first visited Barbados several years ago, it was to continue efforts to form a bridge of sorts between Africa and its diaspora.
Wode Maya met with Prime Minister Mia Mottley during a visit to Barbados.
Those videos racked up hundreds of thousands of views and earned him loyal Barbadian and Caribbean fans. They are among his 2.6 million followers on Facebook and 1.7 million subscribers on YouTube.
Little did Wode Maya know, his efforts would gain him official recognition by the Caribbean country
On Saturday, the Ghanaian, real name Kobina Ackon, was honoured at a We Gatherin’ ceremony hosted by the Barbados High Commission in Ghana. He was presented with a special painting.
High Commissioner Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland declared herself one of Wode Maya’s supporters. She said around three years ago, she first saw one of his videos about a Kenyan woman who built 200 houses. She was so inspired by the story and his unique and authentic way of telling it that she subsequently liked and subscribed to his channel.
“We gather here because there is one among us who saw our nation and in our people a reflection of his proud Ghanaian heritage, and he made the determination to make an impact,” she said.
The high commissioner spoke at length about his advocacy, compassion, and charity work.
“Although many try to imitate you…there’s no better vlogger than Wode Maya to capture and keep us connected to our proud African ancestry.”
The Barbadian diplomat credited the vlogger’s wife, Trudy, for being a strong support system during his extensive travel.
“We give you your flowers. We say thank you, Trudy, for the sacrifices that you’ve made as he has done all of the globetrotting,” said the high commissioner as she encouraged the influencer to continue being his authentic self.
“You’re really great for the Barbados brand. Every time you put those videos out, we’ve seen an uptick in tourists. We can now boast of tourists travelling to Barbados since the work you’ve been doing from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.”
“Ghanaians have welcomed me and spoken to me with familiarity about Barbados, our food, our music, our Crop Over street festival, our costumes, all because of the popularity of Wode Maya’s videos.”
She revealed that the high commission has arranged for Wode Maya to partner with Barbados’ Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Incorporated (COSCAP) on a workshop for local artists focused on monetising and developing their brand globally.
On another matter, she said Barbados is in the process of building out its marketing programme in Ghana and intends to partner with local individuals and businesses.
Meantime, Wode Maya said he feels he has found his calling despite the degree he obtained in China in aeronautical engineering.
“The revolution of Africans in Africa and Africans abroad connecting is happening, and I just want you all to know that it’s time for you to take part. We’re not going to leave any stones behind. When I started connecting Africans in the diaspora, I felt there was a huge gap between us. We didn’t know about each other. There were misconceptions [that went] both ways.”
Wode Maya recommended that people living in Africa visit the Caribbean and explained, “The prime minister of Barbados really wants to connect the dots. She’s putting in a lot of effort. I wish that Africans on this side of the world could see the effort that is being put in. Let’s not politicise everything. At the end of the day, let’s make the best to connect with our brothers and sisters.”
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Veteran
03/26/25
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03/28/25
African diplomat notes the value of building closer diplomatic relationship with the Caribbean, more assertive diplomacy
President of the African Centre in New York and featured speaker at yesterday’s Diplomatic Encounter Forum, Martin KimaniPresident of the African Centre in New York and featured speaker at yesterday’s Diplomatic Encounter Forum Martin Kimani highlighted the importance of close diplomatic relationship between Africa and the Caribbean, describing the region as “Africa’s sixth region”.
Speaking to Observer media following his address at The Royalton Resort, the Ambassador, who previously served as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, gave his views on how Africa can and has benefitted from the relationship with Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the wider Caribbean.
“The Caribbean and its people are from Africa. They are of African descent,” Ambassador Kimani said.
Highlighting the historical connections that have shaped both regions’ development, he noted that “in our long history, there have always been visionaries who have hoped to reconnect and re-engage with Africa. One can trace the roots of decolonisation and anti-colonialism from the Caribbean, which became part of the African push for self-determination and independence,” he said.
The diplomat emphasized that the African Union-CARICOM relationship has evolved into more structured cooperation.
“Africa needs CARICOM in terms of its leverage globally. CARICOM needs Africa for the same reason. The fact that we are all Africans and that we have fought for our independence together means that our future should be shaped by us together,” Ambassador Kimani stated.
He pointed to successful collaboration at the UN Security Council, where Caribbean states have formed a powerful voting bloc with African nations.
“What is not well known is what is called the A3 plus. The Africa 3 plus is one of the lesser-known groupings in the Security Council. The powerful states did not ever foresee a time when African states and Caribbean states would combine politically at the highest level to push their priorities.”
Looking ahead, he called for deeper institutional connections between the regions and urged diplomats from both regions to adopt a more assertive approach to diplomatic relations.
“The next stage is making the African-CARICOM connection much more linked across a range of subjects. That means more African embassies in the Caribbean, more trade and investment between our regions, more Africans in the University of West Indies, more Antiguans in the University of Nairobi,” he said.
He added that “there’s no future for polite, retreating diplomacy. There’s only a future for bold, aggressive and visionary diplomacy… To be an effective diplomat does not mean being diplomatic. It does not mean allowing outrage and injustice to occur while you’re watching.”
He warned of attempts to “revise history, to give voice to racism, to reconfigure the international system” that would disadvantage developing nations.
“We’re going to need fighting diplomats,” Kimani said. “I believe when you combine that kind of spirit with what we have to fight for and the urgency of what we have to fight for, diplomacy still has a lot to offer.”
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St. Kitts and Nevis and Nigeria’s GEZ Sign MOU to Launch Regional Agro Hub
03/28/25
Abuja, Nigeria | The Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Green Economic Zone (GEZ) Special Economic Zone Management Company, based in Abuja, Nigeria.
The MOU sets the foundation for the establishment of a state-of-the-art Agro Hub Warehouse and Logistics Centre in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The agreement was signed earlier today, March 28, by Hon. Samal Duggins, Minister of Agriculture et al, and witnessed by the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew.
This strategic partnership follows a successful engagement at the Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS 25), held recently in Abuja, where both parties explored opportunities to deepen trade and economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean.
The GEZ Agro Hub Warehouse and Logistics Centre is envisioned as a regional sales and distribution hub, facilitating the flow of agricultural and food products from Nigeria to the wider Caribbean. Products will include staples such as rice, maize, and soybean, as well as value-added goods like dairy products, baby food, snack bars, and non-alcoholic beverages—all sourced and processed through GEZ’s expansive operations in Nigeria.
This collaboration represents a significant step toward strengthening food security, promoting South-South cooperation, and positioning St. Kitts and Nevis as a vital bridge between African producers and Caribbean markets.
It also reinforces the government's commitment to building sustainable international partnerships, boosting economic resilience, and creating new opportunities for growth and development across the region.
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https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/
April 2, 2025
Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will compete in a men’s football tournament in London later this year.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed on Wednesday that the four nations will play in the Unity Cup in late May, following the conclusion of the domestic European season.
The two Caribbean sides will compete in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 27 with the two west African teams playing each other a day later. The respective losers will then play a bronze medal match on Saturday, May 31 with the winners facing each other in the final later that day.
All four nations have large diasporas within the UK. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) stated in the 2021 census that 271,000 people in the UK identified as Nigerian, with 113,000 identifying as Ghanaian. In 2007, the Jamaica High Commission stated that there were 800,000 people in the UK who were born in Jamaica or of Jamaican descent. The ONS’ 2013 census said there were 25,000 Trinidadians living in the UK.
“The Unity Cup is a tournament that really does evoke the often-used phrase ‘an event that goes beyond sport’,” said Andy Howes, co-director of competition organiser AfroSport.
“But with the array of elite stars and the profile of the teams involved, this event is not only important in terms of its cultural significance but also reflects the growing commercial importance of African and Caribbean football, as well as the growing demographic of black football fans within English football.”
The tournament begins just a few days after the weekend on which the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A seasons conclude, while the Bundesliga campaign ends 10 days before the first semi-final.
The Unity Cup previously took place in 2004, with Nigeria, Jamaica and Republic of Ireland taking part in a round-robin tournament. Nigeria were the champions after winning both of their games.
All of the matches in the 2004 tournament took place at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley. The GFA release did not specify where games will be played this year, only that they will be in London.
Nigeria are the highest-ranked team of the quartet, placing 44 in the latest FIFA world rankings. Jamaica are next at 62, with Ghana at 77 and Trinidad & Tobago at 102. The games come just over a week before Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago compete in Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in early June.
Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago to compete in soccer tournament in London
April 2, 2025
Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago will compete in a men’s football tournament in London later this year.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) confirmed on Wednesday that the four nations will play in the Unity Cup in late May, following the conclusion of the domestic European season.
The two Caribbean sides will compete in the first semi-final on Tuesday, May 27 with the two west African teams playing each other a day later. The respective losers will then play a bronze medal match on Saturday, May 31 with the winners facing each other in the final later that day.
“The Unity Cup is a tournament that really does evoke the often-used phrase ‘an event that goes beyond sport’,” said Andy Howes, co-director of competition organiser AfroSport.
“But with the array of elite stars and the profile of the teams involved, this event is not only important in terms of its cultural significance but also reflects the growing commercial importance of African and Caribbean football, as well as the growing demographic of black football fans within English football.”
The tournament begins just a few days after the weekend on which the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A seasons conclude, while the Bundesliga campaign ends 10 days before the first semi-final.
The Unity Cup previously took place in 2004, with Nigeria, Jamaica and Republic of Ireland taking part in a round-robin tournament. Nigeria were the champions after winning both of their games.
All of the matches in the 2004 tournament took place at Charlton Athletic’s The Valley. The GFA release did not specify where games will be played this year, only that they will be in London.
Nigeria are the highest-ranked team of the quartet, placing 44 in the latest FIFA world rankings. Jamaica are next at 62, with Ghana at 77 and Trinidad & Tobago at 102. The games come just over a week before Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago compete in Concacaf World Cup qualifiers in early June.
