Marin Akinwole Akindana and his lovely Queen/partner Adeola along with their supporters hosted a launch party to let the world know ChatAfrik ( )was up and running. The party held in Laurel Maryland was attended by many of the initial investors, supporters, sponsors and underwriters from all over the world who came in just to be part of the festivities. ChatAfrik is the outgrowth of an E-group of Africans from Martin’s home town in Nigeria he developed to so they could keep in touch with one another. From that one E-group or list of subscribers he branched out to start twenty-six additional lists dealing with a myriad of topics, themes and objectives. Each month Martin gives an award he calls the Most Valuable Netter to the man or woman who best exemplifies the willingness to contribute to the E-groups, keep discussions going, stimulate thought and dialogue. ChatAfrik.com has been up and running for several months now and has become a very popular site on the Internet, getting about 500,000 visits a month.
Martin, or Moderator Matto as he is affectionately known, to the folks who subscribe to his E-groups graciously invited me to attend to launch party and I gratefully accepted and I was flattered and appreciative Martin asked me to be a contributing writer to the site since I contribute regularly to several of the E-groups he moderates. The affair was held at the Best Western Hotel in Laurel. Interestingly the hotel allowed Martin’s event planner a young lady also from Nigeria to use their own caterer because they wanted to serve authentic African cuisine which I’m sure the hotel chef and banquet manager weren’t able to accommodate. My wife and I were two of only a handful of African-Americans present. We were made to feel very welcome and we enjoyed the hospitality, the food, the entertainment and the program. I was able to meet and see for myself many of the people who stir up so much discussion and debate in the various E-groups Martin moderates. Once during the program I went outside to get something from my car and I passed a group of men dressed in traditional African finery having a lively discussion about African politics and I couldn’t help but think to myself, “these brothers are always on, even at a party they are debating and sharing ideas.
About a week or so before the event I asked Martin about the dress for the occasion. He told me it was “formal”, so I packed a tuxedo dinner jacket with Kente Cloth tie and accessories so I would be fashionably and politically correct.. When I got there, after we checked into our room, we changed clothes and headed to the room where the event was held, I was surprised to see Martin, his wife Adeola and many of the guests wearing their traditional ethnic clothing from their respective countries. I learned that for Africans the word formal means their finest traditional attire. I marveled at the richness of the fabrics, the quality, how proud and regal they all looked with their rich melanin skin tones and brilliant colors. I did not see anyone who appeared embarrassed or ashamed he or she was an African, and that made me feel exceptionally proud also. I was also impressed by the Ad booklet, the fact Africans mostly Nigerians from all over the world supported Martin and his vision of replicating, expounding and expanding on Marcus Garvey’s Negro World using cyber technology as a bridge and vehicle for Africans throughout the diaspora to share ideas, our history, talk to one another, re-establish links and ties of brotherhood, cooperation and mutual aid.
Martin graciously presented awards to the
monthly winners of his Most Valuable Netter Award going back from 2003 to the
present. The event planner also scheduled a variety of entertainment, all
African. They had a vocalist, a very funny comedian Deji Adedoyin who also
authored a book of jokes called Jokes n Smiles, a Hip Hop Gospel Duo and a DJ
that spun World Beat dance music until they closed out the session. African
people love to party and have fun and we did. On the serious side the launch
party was an opportunity for Martin and Adeola to thank their supporters and
to share their vision to use the Internet as a bridge to unit Africans world
wide, stimulate business opportunities, share information and provide services
on a global basis. In his brief remarks Martin said, “As pacesetters of
innovative ideas and services within the African community, we are poised to
continue to provide nothing but the best services.” Looking at how far he,
Adeola and their supporters have come in eight years, by the Grace of the
Creator and ancestors, we should look for even greater success in the future.
Junious Ricardo Stanton produce and host a Internet radio programs titled The Digital Underground which airs live on Sundays from 12 pm- 2 pm eastern standard time on NewBlackCity.com Junious is also featured on Blakeradio.com with the program titled The Cyberspace Sanctuary A Safe House For Your Mind Harambee Radio.com and BlackMic Radio Relays The Digital Underground on Sundays tune into these powerful broadcasts and continue to support those who support you!!
