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Gabriel Joe Amuzu win third prize in Wiki Loves Africa’s photo competition on Wikipedia

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Pupil

The universal human experience is celebrated in Wiki Loves Africa’s photo competition on Wikipedia.

1st prize goes to Crazy Love by Ewien van Bergeijk-Kwant, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0. 

The deep resonance of our vulnerability was magnified in this year’s Wiki Loves Africa prize-winning photographs, and within the collection of winning images is a clear nod to the wonders of science and medicine and the hopes it inspires.

Wiki In Africa (www.wikiinafrica.org), the international organisers of the Wiki Loves Africa (www.wikilovesafrica.net) challenges the global photographic community each year to respond to a call for photographs of life in Africa along a specific theme. Since the collection began in 2014, over 72,300 images have been loaded to the platform under a Creative Commons licence. The images have been viewed 787 million times since January 2016.

In 2021, the Wiki Loves Africa competition called for photographers to contribute images that visually interrogated the theme of Health + Wellness within the African context but looking at the positive aspects within that sector of African life.

The 2021 Wiki Loves Africa winners across the six categories hail from six different countries.

FIRST PRIZE

The 1st prize of USD1000 goes to Ewien van Bergeijk-Kwant for the poignant image of a mother’s stoic persistent love: Crazy Love (featured above). Announced alongside van Bergeijk-Kwant are the two additional winners of the top 3 prizes as selected by an independent international jury. An additional two prize categories and one Special Collection award were selected by the organisers from the jury’s long list.

The 2021 competition called for photographers to contribute images that visually interrogated the theme of Health + Wellness within the African context. 2020 was a year filled with sickness, illness and loss. The 2021 theme, chosen by Africa’s Wikipedia community, was a call to focus on the more positive aspects of the Health + Wellness of people across the continent.

Van Bergeijk-Kwant spoke about why she took and entered this particular image:

“My husband and I travel through West-Africa to help out at hospitals, clinics and (bible) schools; helping out technically on access to (clean) water and solar energy. This hospital is one of the sites we often visit and ‘feel at home’. I would bring my camera from time to time and wander through the hospital corridors to talk and play with some of the kids/patients.

This image of a mum spending days faithfully sitting next to her very sick son – day in day out – just hit me. She had a certain calm and determination to her. Despite (hospital) life being hard in West-Africa, she envisioned a certain dignity and hope. I could not take my eyes off.” 

One of the jury members, Benoît Prieur said about the image:

“Crazy Love is a real artistic composition that is really successful, while being completely in the subject of this edition (health, etc.). The long wait can be seen in the image and in the gaze. The worry and hope for recovery. It’s very touching.” 

SECOND PRIZE

The second prize (USD800) went to Malaria microscopy training (Nigeria) taken by Ozavogu Abdulsalam Khalid under contract to eHealth Africa EHA Clinics. The image was uploaded by Dr Nirmal Ravi who works at the eHealth Africa EHA Clinic in Nigeria after a training session in malaria microscopy.
“It was important for several reasons. I was surprised and amused to see her peering through the microscope with her baby sleeping on her back. The photo captures the enthusiasm for learning that I frequently see in Nigerians. They have to overcome challenges that we don’t face in high income countries, such as unreliable electricity, unreliable transportation, stifling bureaucracy, slow or absent internet, and inadequate child care as with this laboratorian. She beautifully demonstrates her resolve and ingenuity by bringing her young baby along to our free malaria microscopy training.” 

2nd Prize is for Malaria microscopy training (Nigeria) taken by Ozavogu Abdulsalam Khalid under contract to eHealth Africa EHA Clinics and uploaded on their behalf by User:Nirmalravi2. Download link.

THIRD PRIZE WINNER 

Third prize (USD500) was awarded to Gabriel Joe Amuzu, a long-term Wikipedia photographic contributor and Wikimedia community member in Ghana. The vibrancy of his image ‘Pupil’ encapsulated a simple, yet life-sustaining truth:

“Seeing the little girl washing her hands in this COVID-19 era without anybody telling her to do so just made me understand how determined the girl is to live in this COVID -19 pandemic. And to not keep that action for myself alone, I took a picture of it to show to the rest of the world, so that we will all appreciate the life we are living, so we don’t die out of our recklessness. We should be willing to live a healthy life; a longer Life.”

3rd Prize goes to Pupil (Ghana) by User:AmuzujoeDownload link.

TRADITIONAL CULTURE OR PRACTICE PRIZE
The Traditional culture or practice prize went to Kgara Kevin Rack from South Africa for his image that captured the Giraffe Group Dance in the image Oldest Healing Dance that was captured during a trip to Botswana. Kgara Kevin Rack is a trainee Igqirha (African Traditional Medicine) on ukuthwasa to the Dlamini Clan and a wannabe Shaman:

“I have a strong belief that all our answers lie in the natural world, including healing, from which we copy most of our philosophy, engineering, science and medicine. We are the hollow bone or channel for the spirit and ancestors that facilitates the healing forces that lie within each of us. … I have felt the power of the San Trance Healing Dance, the healing of plants and this is why I submitted this image. Traditional medicine is the foundation of modern medicine.”

Traditional Culture Prize: Oldest Healing Dance (Botswana) by Kgara Kevin Rack. Download link

VIDEO PRIZE

From an ancient healing practice to a daily ritual that is as old as time, yet takes place in a contemporary setting …

The video prize goes to User:Bouba Kam’s Santé et Bien-être réalisé par Bouba Kam’s that follows a daily exercise routine through the streets of Abidjan. The winning video was chosen by the competition organisers for its quality imagery and the simple, contemporary way of displaying health and wellness through a daily exercise routine.

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Best Video prize went to Santé et Bien-être created by Bouba Kam’s Aboubacar Kamaté. Download link.

SPECIAL COLLECTION PRIZE 

Finally, the organisers are excited to announce an additional prize category that has been sponsored by Ynternet.org. The Special Collection prize (USD500) has been awarded to three photographers who together collated an exceptional photo essay depicting the everyday professional and personal experiences at the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collection is a series of images from Max Mbakop, Happi Raphael, and Destiny Deffo, coordinated by Minette Lontsie (User:Serieminou).

Special Collection: Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon by Max Mbakop, Happi Raphael, and Destiny Deffo, coordinated by Minette Lontsie (User:Serieminou). Download link.

Every year, Wiki Loves Africa provides a platform for thousands of Africa’s photographers to take back the visual narrative by celebrating Africa’s cultural diversity and contemporary reality on Wikipedia. This year the competition coincides with the 20 year birthday celebrations of Wikipedia and ran from the 15th February to 30th April 2021.

Jury facilitator, Isla Haddow-Flood, was moved by the range of experiences shown through the collection of entries submitted:

“Almost every one of the 8,319 images and 56 video files that were contributed by 1,149 photographers display an incredible range of those precious moments that add to the delicate complexity and universal experience of living – from heart breaking pain to unfettered joy, from stoic determination to unrelenting hope, and from the necessity for sterile, clinical procedures to the wonder of a newborn’s very first breath. As a collection it is an exhaustive expression of what it is to be human, all set against a myriad African backdrops.” 

After an initial review of all the entries by a volunteer team of Wiki Loves Africa organisers and Wikipedians, the international jury of twelve professional photographers from across Africa and Wikimedia photographic specialists from around the world considered and deliberated on the collection. The quality of images was a key criterion in the selection, as was the encyclopedic value of each image, and whether an image was visually arresting and well framed. It was equally important to unearth the unexpected.

A ‘Wiki Loves Africa: Meet the Winners’ programme will take place during WikiAfrica Hour on the 3rd September 2021. More information on the live online interview here.

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Betty de Mould @ 70

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Betty Mould

Leading up to the 2008 elections, the NDC political party had gained “notoriety” from people especially the opposition parties as being abrasive and aggressive.

I’m sure the party did an introspection analysis and decided to give a fresh face to the party and also introduced some fresh faces as spokespersons.

The likes of Dr. Alex Segbefia, Hon. Hanna Tetteh, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu amongst others.

I’m till this day spellbound anytime Mrs. Iddrisu speaks. Her great command of the queens language. I mean she is from British Accra (James town) what do you expect?

Her grace, charm and class always comes through. Such an @awula” her French tips finger nails 💅 was one to notice.

When NDC annexed power in 2009, she served the country in various capacities. Last I heard of her politically was when she contested for NDC Party Chairmanship.

Last week March 22nd 2023 marked her platinum jubilee as she turned the big 70 a septuagenarian par excellence.

The day was marked with a brunch at her residence and hosted friends and family to a high brow dinner at the plush Labadi Beach Hotel on Saturday the 25th 2023.

Here to share some pictures of what went down to mark the day.

I wish her the best on this 70th milestone. I say three hearty cheers 🥂

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An exceptional Lawyer with a rich experience in the legal field.
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Beautiful 😍
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With Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
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With husband Alhaji Iddrisu
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Dazzling
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Go Betty
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The face beat is on point 💄👌🏾
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The dinner menu… It screams bougie!
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Omg this is gorgeous
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Joyce Bawa Mogtari, leading member of the NDC
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Former Attorney General, Hon. Marietta Brew
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Emefae Hardcastle, member of NDC legal team.
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The chief organizer herself 🙌🏾 Obuobia
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Edudzi Tamakloe and Obuobia, boogie down!
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Victoria Hammah and JB

Written by Nana Kwesi Acquaye

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Pura Collaborates With The Metropolitan Museum Of Art On A New Collection Of Fragrances

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Pura
Today, smart fragrance company Pura announces their collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to introduce a collection of six fragrances. The scents were developed to enable customers to experience art across time and cultures through fragrances inspired by extraordinary pieces at The Met.
The Pura smart fragrance diffuser plugs into any wall outlet and uses wifi and Bluetooth technology to connect to an accompanying app that allows customers to adjust fragrance intensity, set schedules and timers, switch between scents, and more with fragrances that are clean and safe. Founders Richie Stapler and Bruno Lima designed Pura to be a sleek enhancement to any room while capturing the power of fragrance to make life better and more memorable.
When creating the scents, Pura’s Chief Fragrance Experience Officer Mara Dumski said, “We were so excited to work with The Met to develop scents connecting back to their inspiring collection of art. Aiming to evoke moods and tell a story, our collaboration offers an entirely new way to experience The Met collection of 5,000 years of art while also creating a sense of home and personality through art-inspired fragrance.”
“As fans of Pura, we are excited to launch this unique home fragrance experience which adds a new dimension to art appreciation,” said Josh Romm, Head of Global Licensing and Partnerships at The Met. “Art has the power to create connections and transport people across time and place, and this program provides a new and exciting opportunity for fans of The Met to experience art, history, and cultures of the world from the comfort of home.”
All compatible with the signature Pura smart fragrance diffuser, the fragrances included in this collection are:
  • Blue Water Lotus: This refreshing, floral fragrance represents the beauty of lotus flowers depicted in carvings on the Temple of Dendur. Notes of blue water lily, blooming jasmine, and grounding undertones of frankincense and myrrh beautifully round out this efflorescent scent.
  • Egyptian Sandalwood: This musky, woody fragrance recalls the Egyptian landscape and pays tribute to the significance of art and architecture in Egyptian rituals and culture. Cardamom and Ancient Egyptian incense blend with papery papyrus, rock rose, sandalwood, and cedarwood, creating a warm and inviting scent.
  • Bamboo Forest: The structure and order of the Astor Court contrasts beautifully with the flora found within. Fresh notes of bamboo blend with orchid and plum blossom. Cooling Chinese eucalyptus soothes the senses as sandalwood and patchouli ground in this calming scent.
  • Spiced Woods: This woody fragrance draws inspiration from a serene mountain retreat, highlighting the juxtaposition of a man-made structure nestled in an organic location. Himalayan azaleas blend with Indonesian balsam, cypress, and sandalwood, creating a warming, spiced scent.
  • Terracotta Rose: This earthy yet refreshing fragrance represents the detailed work of Greek artisans with salt and mineral notes blending seamlessly with earthen terracotta. Geranium and muguet bring floralcy and brightness as herbal undernotes of rock rose and cypress give beauty and balance to this tranquil scent.
  • Perfume Immortelle: This uplifting fragrance represents Roman artisans’ dedication to detail, movement, and humanity. The sweet immortelle flower, which never fades nor wilts, represents the enduring quality of the magnificent Roman marble statues. Bergamot and olive flower lend a bright freshness, blending with a base of cypress and myrrh.
Each fragrance retails individually for $21.99, and sets retail for $89. The collection will be sold on Pura.com, part of the Impact affiliate network, and at The Met Store and online at store.metmuseum.org.
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Kati G Responds to Decriminalization of Attempted Suicide In Ghana

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Kati G spearheads Suicide Awareness Ghana

Finally suicide can be acknowledged as a mental health issue and not a criminal act that would land you in jail or persuade an individual to commit the act of suicide to avoid jail time .

It was obvious why real cases of attempted suicide haven’t been recorded properly or why most people have feared to come out and declare their own personal mental health struggles. Being jailed for a mental health struggle is not a solution.

Like others I celebrate and commend parliament for taking the right steps and actions to decriminalize suicide and focus on providing help as an alternative to reduce suicide and educate the public on the subject.
As a Mental Health Advocate I will make it my personal initiative to educate the public on suicide awareness to prevent the rise.

Kati G.
Organizer
Let’s Talk About It: Suicide Awareness Ghana

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The 7th Ibero American Film Festival Held In Accra

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This year’s edition of the Ibero American film festival was held from Wednesday 22nd March to Wednesday 29th March 2023 at the Pacific Alliance, located at Airport Residential Area in Accra.

The festival was dedicated to the memory of the late Mexican Ambassador accredited to Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, H. E Enrique Escorza, who passed on in November 2022.

Being the seventh edition, the Ibero American film festival screened a variety of projects including features, short films and documentary films by Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American filmmakers.1749300f 1ecd 433c a2f7 cb0d1739bf31

The film festival held each night from 6PM has the aim of promoting Ibero American stories, culture and messages of social impact. In addition, it showcases acclaimed films by directors from Brazil, Spain, Columbia, Cuba, Peru and Mexico with a diverse range of Latin American context and perspectives.

This year, the festival opened with the Columbian movie, Jerico; the infinite flight of days. Jerico is a film, which reflects a colourful, poetic and lush journey in a beautiful Colombian village, Jericó through the eyes of eight women of all ages and social conditions.

Other films including Achero Mañas’ directed Spanish drama film, El Bola, Cuban drama, Habana station, Peruvian movie, Viaje a Tombuctu Pixinguinha, and Brazilian project, Pixinguinha, were also screened.

Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Javier Gutierrez, Peruvian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Abel Antonio Cardenas Tuppia and the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Mexico in Ghana, Arturo Agustín Salazar González, spoke about the importance of the Ibero American film festival.

The 7th Ibero American film festival closed on Wednesday, 29th March 2023 with the Mexican movie La Buenas Hiebas

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Listen to Nana Asamoah cover the classic Cyndi Lauper song ‘True Colors’

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Nana Asamoah is excited to announce the release of his new cover song True Colors, available now on YouTube. (more…)

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AirtelTigo empowers students of Presbyterian Senior High and Technical School to Maximize educational potential

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AirtelTigo Presents GHS 15000 to SRC of PSHTS

As part of its activities for the month of March in honor of International Women’s Day, staff of AirtelTigo interacted and donated to students of the Presbyterian Senior High and Technical School, Larteh in the Eastern Region during their Student Representative Council week.

During the day-long event, staff spent the day interacting with the students on various topics including embracing equity, Goal setting and Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The students – comprising 70% females and 30% males were encouraged to explore various career paths and not restrict themselves only to what they learn in senior high school.

Presenting a cheque of GHS 15,000 and books to the students, Atul Narain Singh, Chief Marketing Officer at AirtelTigo, encouraged them to focused on their education and continue to do their best in their various courses. “He spoke about the vast opportunity available to them in a telecommunication company like AirtelTigo and expressed the willingness to have some of them intern or work with AirtelTigo after school in future.

AirtelTigo empowers students of PSHTS

Nancy Assor Asiedu-Amrado, Head of Brands and Communication at AirtelTigo, in her interaction with the students, highlighted the importance of maintaining balance in their academic life and gave them some goal-setting tips as well as she encouraged the students to learn how to say no to sexual advances and to stand up for themselves, if they find themselves in similar circumstances. She also cautioned the teachers not to entertain any form of bias in teaching the young girls and boys, but embrace equity.

Alex Offei-Lartey, AirtelTigo Head of Digital Marketing and New Product, also discussed the importance of attaining equity. He spoke on the topic “Boys are not left out: gender equity.” He spoke with the male students, who shared instances of how they supported and helped the female students.

The Director of Due Diligence and Planning, Esther Gyamfi, also shared a personal experience of how she leveraged on technology to advance in her career. Her life story provided inspiration for the students.

Sarah Odei-Amoani, GMB 22 representative for Eastern Region and Ghana’s STEM Ambassador was also present to grace the occasion. she urged the students to explore the many possibilities open to them in STEM education.

In her closing remarks, the headmistress of the school, Gladys Oforiwaa Okyere Otu, expressed gratitude to AirtelTigo saying. “On behalf of the staff and students of Presbyterian Senior High and Technical School, we are extremely grateful for your time and donation. For busy professionals like you to take time off your schedules on a weekday to travel and spend the whole day with us, it makes us feel special.”

Staff of AirtelTigo also toured the school facilities and had informal one-on-one sessions with the students.

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