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 The Majesty of Ronda, Spain! (Promotional photos)

The Majesty of Black By Eddie the Don Black people have been a part of Canadian history for centuries, contributing to the fabric of the nation in various ways. The presence of Black people in Canada dates back to the early 1600s when African slaves were brought to the region by European colonizers. Over time, Black individuals gained their freedom and established vibrant communities across the country. Many Black Canadians played significant roles in the fight against slavery and discrimination, advocating for their rights and equality. One notable figure in Canadian history is Viola Desmond, who challenged racial segregation in Nova Scotia in the 1940s, long before the civil rights movement gained momentum in the United States. Her courageous act sparked change and is celebrated as a milestone in the struggle for racial equality in Canada. Today, Black Canadians continue to make important contributions to various fields, including arts, sports, politics, and academia. Their achieveme...

  In a race that was set up as a 10,000m world record attempt, the competitor who initially had no intention of challenging the record became the one ultimately to smash it.  Wanda Prefontaine Diamond League meeting earlier on Sunday The record now belongs to Beatrice Chebet of Kenya, who ran 28:54.14* to become the first woman under 29 minutes on the track. That performance, achieved on Saturday (25) at the Prefontaine Classic, is seven seconds faster than the previous world record of 29:01.03 that Letesenbet Gidey established in 2021. The race opened the Wanda Diamond League meeting with an immediate roar from the Hayward Field crowd. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay became the third-fastest all-time performer with her runner-up finish of 29:05.92, as four women ran faster than 30 minutes. The race also doubled as the selection race for Athletics Kenya’s Paris Olympic team, and Chebet and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (29:26.89) qualified. In a race that took place before the Diamond L...

  A minor lesson about the name AfricA!   Africa is not named after a Roman general! If so, it is because I have pledged to repeat it again and again with the hope that it will someday sink in. Africa is not named after Roman general Scipio Africanus. Nor is it named after Leo Africanus--a man who comes much later. These are myths. I repeat, these are myths! Scipio Africanus is the Roman general who engineered the defeat of the African nation called Carthage--centred in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was a colony of Phoenicia. It was established in 814 BCE. The Nile Valley was still thriving at this time and the civilisation called Nok--based in what is now Nigeria--was rising up. The Phoenicians themselves had an African mixture and with the passage of time Carthage itself became increasingly African. Carthage means "the new town" and the most famous Carthaginian was General Hannibal Barca. The Romans called this entire area Africa. And so with the defeat of t...

  Mar walba soo dhawow! Always welcome Welcome to Somalia! (Courtesy of Eddie the Don) Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscapes. Whether you're exploring the bustling streets of Mogadishu or relaxing on the pristine beaches of Berbera, Somalia offers a unique and diverse experience. One of the first things you'll notice when you arrive is the warm hospitality of the Somali people. Somalis are known for their generosity and welcoming nature, and you'll often be greeted with a friendly smile and a cup of sweet Somali tea. The concept of "xoolo" or hospitality is deeply ingrained in Somali culture, and you'll feel it wherever you go. Somalia is blessed with stunning natural beauty. From the majestic mountains of Cal Madow to the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean, there is no shortage of picturesque landscapes to explore. The pristine beaches of Hargeisa and...

    Jackie Kennedy's funeral Photo courtesy of Alamy Courtesy of BBC (first draft) Thirty years ago this week, former First Lady Jackie Kennedy was buried next to her first husband, 35th US President John F Kennedy, who  had been assassinated 31 years prior . The grave was a short distance from the resting place of Robert F Kennedy, her friend and former brother-in-law, who was also a victim of a political assassination. ‌ Jackie Kennedy was diagnosed with cancer in 1993, after she fell off a horse and was examined by a doctor who found a  lump near her groin. In early 1994, she underwent chemotherapy, but it was soon deemed terminal and she died in her New York apartment on 19 May that year. ‌ As the original BBC radio script shows below, 64-year-old Kennedy had a "simple burial" which lasted 15 minutes and ended "with a hymn sung by a naval choir" – a service which matched "the very private way she led her life". ‌ In the bulletin, radio listeners he...

  The Brilliant George De Souza George De Souza was an eight-year-old in Dar es Salaam when his big sister Ivy bought him a 20-shilling box guitar (in 1954 that was nothing to be sniffed at, if you had a shilling in your pocket, you were considered rich). His sister had seen that George was interested and made the big sacrifice. He went on to become one of the hottest musicians in East Africa. From that moment on George began the sometimes-tortuous journey, but always borne with great determination, of learning to play the instruments.  “I was self-taught. I picked up some books from the library to help me learn. I listened to records and music on the radio to sharpen my ears and pick up keys and cords quite easily.” Four years later George took up the bass guitar seriously. He had already preferred playing rhythm instead of lead.  Inspired by the kings of Rock N Roll at the time: Elvis Presley and Bill Hayley and the Comets (the unforgettable signature song that launched...

  https://bbc.com/news/articles/cz4xn7yqe25o Vet recounts wild tales of working in  Kenya Rachel Candlin,  BBC News, West of England   Hugh Cran treated animals in the Rift Valley in Kenya A British vet who worked in Kenya for 55 years has recounted the time he went for "a pee", only to see a lioness staring back at him. Hugh Cran, who lives in Somerset and trained in Edinburgh in the 1960s, was also  a British vet who worked in Kenya for 55 years and has recounted the time he went for "a pee", only to see a lioness staring back at him.   He said over the years he had "many chance encounters". "I was threatened twice; on one occasion I was charged by an elephant on the top of a mountain," he said . He said that every day was a challenge in the unforgiving environment of the Rift Valley, as he travelled miles on rough roads, performing impromptu surgery by torchlight with dirty water. Mr Cran, who has now written a book, said: ...

  The sanctuaries trying to save birds of prey from extinction in Kenya (Courtesy of Al Jazeera) Poison, deforestation and power lines have pushed the African raptor population to a 90 per cent decline in the last 40 years. Raptor technician John Kyalo Mwanzia rehabilitates a juvenile fish eagle to flight after it was treated for grounding injuries sustained in a territorial fight at the Lake Naivasha habitat, at Soysambu Raptor Centre. [Tony Karumba/AFP] Simon Thomsett tentatively removes a pink bandage from the wing of an injured bateleur, a short-tailed eagle from the African savannah, where birds of prey are increasingly at risk of extinction. “There is still a long way to go before healing,” Thomsett explains as he lifts up the bird’s dark feathers and examines the injury. “It was injured in the Maasai Mara national park, but we don’t know how,” says the 62-year-old vet who runs the Soysambu Raptor Centre in central Kenya. The 18-month-old eagle, with a dist...