A clampdown on illegal immigration to the UK is causing serious problems for a popular North-East cultural festival. Organisers of the 28th Alnwick International Music Festival fear they could be left with a big hole in the year's programme if difficulties in obtaining visas force overseas groups to pull out. Amongst the groups due to perform but still without a visa are Sogo from Ghana. The festival is planned for 7th to 14th August.

Ghanaweb have announced that they will be broadcasting Ghanafest 2004 live on the Internet on July 31st. The festival is the largest African cultural event in North America and is being held in Washington Park, Chicago.

Race for Sanctions is the story of the successful attempt by African Americans to influence U.S. policy toward South Africa. It reviews the first efforts to impose sanctions against apartheid in 1946, and follows the black organizations and movements fighting apartheid in the United States through to the 1994 elections in South Africa.

A new progressive weekly radio magazine that showcases the resources of the African Continent and its Diaspora has been launched in Washington DC by WPFW 89.3 FM Pacifica Radio. The show is on air each Sunday from 9 till 10pm and seeks to 'provide resources for putting ideas into action and to encourage participation in the progressive development of Africa.'

Perhaps not unexpectedly my interim report on the then concluding 3rd ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union, generated a stream of private responses. Many of them were very positive towards the AU but very cautious about its prospects especially given the human and material challenges needed for the new organisation to deliver on its noble objectives. Others queried the basis of my optimism and accused me of being too optimistic. I can only respond with that famous quote: “...read more

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