When you hear the phrase "The American Dream," at least 5 things come to mind, and I bet you 4 out of those 5 things would also come to the next persons' mind. But, when I say 'The African Dream' ... *silence*. We, especially Africans both at home and in the diaspora, are so overtaken by our need to survive the hardships in Africa that we sometimes forget to stop and DREAM. What is your dream for Africa and the children of Africa?
What is THE AFRICAN DREAM?
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
March is women's month, and every year we have a different theme, yet our problems are still the same. I will always celebrate the strength and resilience of women. Still, I also look forward to when I can genuinely, happily celebrate women's month. Knowing that Women are finally at a place in this world where we are no longer treated as the weaker gender, where we do not have to fight for our rights, where we are respected and acknowledged in society.
Still, Happy Women's Month!
Mentioned In This Episode:
In This Episode:
61 years in, and I still find it hard to celebrate Nigeria's Independence wholeheartedly. The events of October 20th, 2020, do not make it any easier, as the first anniversary of the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre is only 19 days away. May the souls of the departed continue to rest in peace.
HOWEVER ...
Despite the failure, greediness, and general gross negligence of our nation's leaders, I have decided that no matter where I go or who I become, I will never forget home, Nigeria. I will never stop fighting and advocating for a better nation.
(Not So) Happy Independence, Nigeria!
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
In This Episode:
For the longest time, women have been treated poorly around the world, but especially in Africa. A lot of us have been fighting for the rights of WOMEN in Africa for decades. However, at the time, advocacy wasn't an 'in thing.' We were insulted and referred to as what is known as 'clout chasers.'
Now, advocacy seems to be an in, and every other day there is a new hashtag. While this is great, because the louder the voice, the better, we need to make sure that we are not just making noise and chasing our tails. We need to change tactics and look inward; change will begin with society first.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
In This Episode:
AFRICA! WAKE UP! We've allowed false prophets preaching false religion to take advantage of us for too long. These false Pastors make some of you do demeaning things with false promises of riches and healing.
Open your eyes, don't be deceived.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
In This Episode:
The education system in Africa has always been a bit flawed to me. Even when I was in school, I felt that the workload was too much. We were forced to do almost 20-25 subjects each school year. Yet, some fundamental subjects such as leadership skills, human rights, etc., are missing from the curriculum.
I think it's time we restructure our curriculum in Africa, especially for high school kids.
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
In This Episode:
I was born and raised in Africa, and over the years, I've realized that as Africans, we tend to prefer foreign products to our own products. We would rather spend thousands and millions on something made on another continent, and honestly, I think this is a habit we need to shake off.
How do we expect our economy to grow when we keep pumping our money into other foreign countries?
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excusemyafrican
In This Episode:
I've always wondered why people send their children to Boarding School. In my opinion, Boarding School should be something kids do for their final year in high school (secondary school) to prepare them for college.
I can not understand why we're so comfortable sending our kids to boarding school during those formative years. With all the grim boarding school tales I've heard, I think it's time to reconsider the whole boarding school structure.
NOTE: This episode contains slightly graphic narrations of Rape and Molestation.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
Growing up, I realized that we were made to feel bad for speaking our own language in school in our country. Unconsciously, we created a situation where we trivialized the importance of speaking your language.
We must change this because our beautiful and diverse African languages are at the risk of extinction. We can't afford to lose our culture and history.
There is dignity in being able to speak and understand your language.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
STIWANISM addresses the conditions and needs of the continental African woman on the African continent.
I am passionate about advocating for the modern African woman who is strong, smart, and resilient to wake up to the options she has. She should no longer be satisfied with the options created for her even before she was born.
I believe that we should pay more attention to the African woman's experiences and the need to redefine who we truly are and our positions in society.
Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Stiwanist: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_feminism
2. Domestic Violence: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/domestic-violence
3. Early Child Marriage: https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/about-child-marriage/
4. Stella Damasus Aljazeera Interview: https://youtu.be/nypkT5OewuA
5. Omolara Ogundipe Leslie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molara_Ogundipe
6. Queen Amina: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amina
7. The Stiwanist: https://www.instagram.com/thestiwanist/
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/excusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
2020 has been one heck of a year, and Africa is one continent that felt the brunt of it. From the pandemic to genocides, massacres, poverty, hunger, and a lot more.
The beautiful continent of Africa has been in crisis, and it's significantly due to bad governance. I feel that we Africans, especially us in the diaspora, should come together to find a solution. How can we join forces with our brothers and sisters in Africa to build our continent back to greatness?
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
There is so much unrest currently in Zimbabwe. Violence, Robbery, Rape! Yet very few people are talking about it.
It's time to speak up for our brothers and sister in Zimbabwe. #ZimbabweanLivesMatter #FreeHopewell #FreeJacob
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
I will introduce you to one of the fiercest, strongest, most intelligent leaders and warriors in African History; Queen Nzinga.
She is a woman who fought for her people, and she deserves to be celebrated and remembered throughout history.
Mentioned In This Episode:
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
Over time, I have come to realize that there has been some mind conditioning of Africans in the diaspora that needs to be resolved swiftly.
For a long time, we have allowed ourselves to be used to push the agenda of oppressing our African American sisters and brother.
It is time for us to HEAL THE DIVIDE.
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Ibidunni Ighodalo- https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/africa/ibidun-ighodalo-dead-nigeria/index.html
2 Dan Foster - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Foster_(DJ)
3 COVID-19 - https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
4 Oluwatoyin Salau- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oluwatoyin_Salau
5 Divided We Fall- http://www.excusemyafrican.com/2020/06/ep-75-divided-we-fall.html
6 Trevor Noah- https://www.trevornoah.com/
7 The Daily Show- http://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah
8 Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/
9 MLK - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.
10 Selma - https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/selma-montgomery-march
11 Emmanuel Acho- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Acho
12 Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man - https://uncomfortableconvos.com/episode/episode-1
13 African Diaspora Community - https://www.instagram.com/realafricandiasporacommunity/
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
I will address the unspoken division between Africans and African Americans. It is time for us to unite and rid ourselves of the ideologies and lies that have been fed to us, to keep us divided.
One's accent does not deter RACISM. Whether you are African, Jamaican, Haitian, etc., before they hear you speak, they see the color of your skin, and that's all that matters to them.
BLACK LIVES MATTER!
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Amadou Diallo- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Amadou_Diallo
2 Guinea - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea
3 Wyclef Jean - https://www.wyclef.com/
4 Diallo (Song)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Itu-vykAZE
5 George Floyd- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Floyd
6 Breonna Taylor- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Breonna_Taylor
7 Al Sharpton- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Sharpton
8 NAACP- https://www.naacp.org/
9 Black Lives Matter- https://blacklivesmatter.com/
10 African Diaspora Community- https://www.instagram.com/realafricandiasporacommunity/
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
Yesterday was Menstrual Hygiene Day, and people all over the world joined their voices through social media, to raise awareness and bring period education to all.
However, there is still a group of women who do not have access to the internet and social media. To this day, these women cannot get staple menstrual hygiene products, and even when they are made available, they can't afford it. Some of their religions and cultures also set dreadful rules that stifle these women during their period.
How can we join forces and end period poverty? I believe that someday soon, we can live in a world where no woman or girl is held back because of her period.
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Menstrual Hygiene Day- https://menstrualhygieneday.org/
2 World Bank - https://www.worldbank.org/
3 Stella Damasus Arts Foundation - https://sdartsfoundation.wixsite.com/sdartsfoundation
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
In the last episode, I raised my concerns about the less privileged children in Africa, and how they can’t get an education due to the Coronavirus lockdown. These children do not have internet access, so how do we expect them to be able to participate in online learning?
Here in the USA, most families have internet access and laptops. Several states have also decided to dedicate certain hours during the day to teach children via television. Is this something we can do as well in Africa?
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Coronavirus- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
2 Zoom- https://zoom.us/
3 Tynker- https://www.tynker.com/
4 WFAA Academy - https://www.wfaa.com/
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
When the Coronavirus lockdown began, my kid's schools in America reached out to us and asked if we needed laptops and help with internet access so our kids can continue to do their school work from home.
This got me wondering about the less privileged children in Africa. How are they getting their work done? What are we doing to help? What is the government doing to help?
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Coronavirus- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
2 Zoom- https://zoom.us/
3 Tynker- https://www.tynker.com/
4 Khan Academy- https://www.khanacademy.org/
5 United Nations - https://www.un.org/en/
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website : https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
The Coronavirus pandemic has put the world on lockdown. People are working from home, and kids are not in school. The craziest thing is there is no definite end, and a lot of people don’t know how to handle this.
I’ll be giving you all ideas of things you can get up to during this lockdown. Remember to stay safe, wash your hands, and practice social distancing.
Mentioned In This Episode:
1 Coronavirus- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
2 Netflix- https://www.netflix.com/
3 Amazon Prime- https://www.amazon.com/
4 HBO- https://www.hbo.com/
5 Openculture- http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline
6 Documentary Tube- http://www.documentarytube.com/
7 Top Documentary Films- https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/
8 Documentary Heaven- https://documentaryheaven.com/
9 Youtube- https://www.youtube.com/
10 Tik Tok- https://www.tiktok.com/
11 Triller- https://www.triller.co/
12 Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/
13 Zoom- https://zoom.us/
14 Houseparty- https://houseparty.com/
15 Udemy- https://www.udemy.com/
16 edX- https://www.edx.org/
17 Coursera- https://www.coursera.org/
18 Duolingo- https://www.duolingo.com/
19 Home Going (Yaa Gyasi)- https://www.amazon.com/Homegoing-Yaa-Gyasi/dp/1101971061
20 Fresh Water (Akwaeke Emezi)- https://www.amazon.com/Freshwater-Akwaeke-Emezi/dp/0802127355
21 Ghana Must Go (Taiye Selasi)- https://www.amazon.com/Ghana-Must-Go-Taiye-Selasi/dp/0143124978
22 A Particular Kind of Black Man (Tope Folarin)- https://www.amazon.com/Particular-Kind-Black-Man/dp/150117181X
23 The Slave Girl (Buchi Emecheta)- https://www.amazon.com/Slave-Girl-Novel-Buchi-Emecheta/dp/0807609528
24 After Many Days(Jowhor Ile)- https://www.amazon.com/After-Many-Days-Novel/dp/1101903147
25 On Black Sister’s Street (Chika Unigwe)- https://www.amazon.com/Black-Sisters-Street-African-Writing/dp/0821419927
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/
In This Episode:
The world is currently going through the Coronavirus Pandemic. Infected people all around the globe are being quarantined, while others are asked to self-isolate and practice social distancing.
While these measures are significant to curb the spread of the virus, I fear for my brothers and sisters in Africa who live in countries where the government doesn’t necessarily provide benefits for them that would help them get through this period.
Mentioned In This Episode:
1. Coronavirus: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1
2. Wuhan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuhan
3. Social Distancing: http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/php/185/185_factsheet_social_distancing.pdf
Connect:
Email: excusemyafrican@gmail.com
Website: http://www.excusemyafrican.com/
Stella Damasus Blog: http://www.stelladamasusblog.com
Stella Damasus Website: https://www.stelladamasus.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/excusemyafrican
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realexcusemyafrican/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Excuse-My-African-1360118967397852/