Whitney Elizabeth Houston (born August 9, 1963) is an American recording artist, actress, and former fashion model. A relative to several prominent soul singers, including her mother Cissy Houston, cousins Dee Dee and Dionne Warwick, and godmother Aretha Franklin, Houston began singing at her New Jersey church as a member of a junior gospel choir at age eleven. After she began performing alongside her mother at night clubs in the New York City area, she was discovered by Arista Records label head Clive Davis. Houston released her debut album Whitney Houston in 1985, which became the best-selling debut album by…

Muhammad Ali, the ring legend and inspirer of a multitude of words; some intensely vitriolic but most fulsome in praise and admiration continues to attract the attention of books, articles, films and documentaries. This has happened with unceasing regularity since the denouement of his career in a Bahamanian ring over twenty years ago. During this time we have had various retellings, assessments and revisions of the man born Cassius Clay sixty years ago in Louisville Kentucky. The facts of the Ali tale, so familiar even to the most casual observer needs little in the manner of detailed recounting to fans…

African viewpoint: Why Nigeria's Boko Haram is so bold  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14883430   In our series of viewpoints from African journalists, Nigerian writer Sola Odunfa argues that attempts to placate Muslims have increased the threat posed by the militant Boko Haram group. Nigerians are saddled with government leaders who - after the recent spate of bombings, assassinations and attacks - can only express horror at the bedside of survivors, vow on television to catch the perpetrators and then rush to fortify their motor convoys, offices and residences. My worry is that the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which is responsible for the…

This paper says that racism is caused by the empirical differences in the attainment of science and technology by European and African peoples. It says that racism will be cured when African people catch up with the West, not merely by Africans cussing white men out.   If you are an African and have lived in America for any length of time you probably have noticed the existence of racism in the land. You probably have wondered why white folks are in the main racist. When you deal with individual white folks you may not notice their racism; in fact,…

After examining the behavior of Africans and judging it evil this paper tried to understand whether Africans are evil in nature. It says that they are not evil but are egoistic and self-centered and must relinquish their self-centeredness and behave in a pro-social and loving manner if they are to produce advanced civilizations. ARE AFRICANS EVIL? by: Ozodi Thomas Osuji In our contemporary world social scientists have managed to get their students not to employ the term evil in referring to human behaviors. Instead of seeing what people did as good or bad they are subjected to extensive analysis of…

 Poeticizing Kidnapping on Chidi Anthony Opara's "Degenerates Pound Our Polity Polluted"     Beautiful. Sad. Moving. Poignant. I find the last two lines particularly striking: "Pardoned kidnappers Cruise in our capital city, Cuddling ransoms, We supplicate in shackles." The image of kidnappers "cuddling" ransoms rings out in its suggestion of tenderness. Yet, in a manner that suggests the ludicrous, it contrasts with their characterization as kidnappers. The kidnapper is characterized through the action of "cuddling" the proceeds of their kidnapping. This correlation of the physically, psychologically and socially violent criminal action of kidnapping with the tenderness evoked by "cuddling", evokes…

It has never hit me like this before. All of a sudden church pews became empty, and I could not but try to remember who loved to seat where! I had given back-to-school gifts for many of our friends, especially those who have great aunties and uncles to my little all summer holidays long. So, we knew it will happen, but I never thought that the transitions will impact individuals in so many different ways as we now witness. One parent was so excited that he would have to pay less in utility bills for a minute. Another parent was…

This essay asked the question that many Nigerians probably ask: would you prefer a Nigerian professional to professionals from the other races to provide the services that you desire? If the answer is no, as it probably is, why is it the case that Nigerian professionals are third rate? What can be done to make them first rate. The paper asked questions without proffering answers. You, the reader, could provide the needed answers!   Over the weekend I told a friend that a cousin’s wife recently died after she had gone into diabetic coma and was rushed to a hospital…