Happy Independence Day Seychelles

“If you are building a house and a nail breaks, do you stop building, or do you change the nail?” - Seychellois Proverb

(Seychelles flag (1996-Present))

Seychelles is a group of islands located on the east coast of Africa.

(Map of where Seychelles is located)

Its capital is Victoria. Victoria is also its largest city. The official languages are English, French and Seychellois Creole. The country is 177 square miles. Seychelles is 94.4% African, 4.8% European, and 0.8% Asian. 86.8% of Seychelles practices Christianity, 2.4% practices Hinduism, 1.6% practices Islam, 1.1% practice traditional African religions and 8.1% are atheist. The total population is 92,000. The climate is humid. Seychelles is a presidential republic.

(Victoria, capital of Seychelles)

Seychelles cuisine consists of seafood shellfish and rice.

(Seychelles cuisine)

The major style of music is contombley.

(Seychellois people performing contombley)

Seychelles’ most popular sport is basketball.

(Seychelles’ 1st basketball team)

Seychelles was originally uninhabited. The Portuguese came to the island in 1502. In 1609 the British came to the island. In 1756 the French came to the island and used it as a trading port for goods and African slaves.

(A painting of slavery in Seychelles)

In 1794 the British took the island from the French.

(Seychelles flag (1903-1961))

In 1966 the 1st elections were held in Seychelles. On June 29th, 1976 Seychelles gained its independence.

(Seychelles flag (1976-1996))

James Mancham became the 1st president.

(James Mancham)

In 1977 a coup d'état by France Albert René ousted the president.

(France Albert René)

The 1979 constitution declared a socialist one party state. In 1981 Mike Hoare led a team of 43 South African mercenaries masquerading as holidaying Rugby players in a coup attempt in what is known as the Seychelles affair.

(Mike Hoare)

In 1986 an attempted coup led by the Seychelles Minister of Defence, Ogilvy Berlouis, caused President René to request assistance from India. In Operation Flowers are Blooming, the Indian naval vessel INS Vindhyagiri arrived in Port Victoria to help avert the coup.

(The INS Vindhyagiri)

In 1993 the constitution was changed. In 2013 Seychelles declared a state of emergency, the tropical cyclone Felleng caused torrential rain, and flooding and landslides destroyed hundreds of houses.

(Destruction from the cyclone)

Today marks the 40th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence and we would like to say happy independence day Seychelles.

Videos of Seychelles Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-67WqMUVIs  “Seychelles Independence - 1976”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbmZ7VlFjcY  “seychelles independenceday 2014”

(P.S. sorry for the late post)   

Anniversary of Jim Kelly's Death

“When it comes I won’t even notice… I’ll be too busy lookin’ good” - Jim Kelly

(Jim Kelly)

Jim Kelly was born as James Kelly on May 5th, 1946 in Millersburg, Kentucky, USA. In high school Kelly played basketball, football and track. He attended the university of Louisville where he played football. He left his freshman year and he began to practice Shorin ryu karate. He began practicing karate in Lexington, KY. In 1967 Kelly got married.

(Kelly’s wedding)

In 1968 Kelly got divorced.  He also trained in Okinawan karate.

(Kelly in the early 1970’s)

In the early 1970’s Kelly became one of the most decorated world karate champions. In 1971 Kelly won four prestigious championships. He also won the World Middleweight Karate title at the 1971 Long Beach International Karate Championships. Kelly then opened his own dojo. Kelly taught actor Calvin Lockhart karate for a role in a film.

(Kelly in Melinda (1972))

Kelly was also a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men's Circuit.

(Kelly with a tennis racket)

Kelly became the 1st Black martial arts film star. In 1973 he was featured with Bruce Lee in the movie Enter The Dragon (1973).

(Kelly (Left) with Bruce Lee (Right))

In 1974 Kelly starred in the movie Black Belt Jones (1974).

(Kelly (Left) and Gloria Hendry (Right) in Black Belt Jones (1974))

Also in 1974 Kelly was in the film Three The Hard Way (1974).

(Kelly (Center) with Fred Williamson (Left) and Jim Brown (Right) in Three The Hard Way (1974))

In 1975 Kelly got married again. In 1976 he starred in Hot Potato (1976). From 1977 to 1978 Kelly starred in Black Samurai (1977), Death Dimension (1978), and Tattoo Connection (1978).In 1977 Kelly got divorced. In 1980 Kelly got married for the last time. After appearing in the movie One Down, Two to Go (1982) Kelly rarely appeared in movies. His last movie appearance was Afro Ninja (2009).

(Kelly in Afro Ninja (2009))

On June 29th, 2013 Jim Kelly died of cancer in San Diego, California, USA. He was 67 years old.

(Kelly in 2013)

Today is the 3rd anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great martial artist and actor today

Films Starring Jim Kelly

• Melinda (1972) as Charles Atkins
• Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams
• Black Belt Jones (1974) as Black Belt Jones
• Three the Hard Way (1974) as Mister Keyes
• Golden Needles (1974) as Jeff
• Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kashtok
• Hot Potato (1976) as Jones
• Black Samurai (1977) as Robert Sand
• The Tattoo Connection (1978) as Jones
• Death Dimension (1978) as Lt. Detective J. Ash
• The Amazing Mr. No Legs (1979)
• One Down, Two To Go (1982) as Chuck
• Stranglehold (1994) as Executive #4
• Ultimatum (1994) as Executive
• Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004) as Executive #4
• Afro Ninja (2009) as Cleavon Washington

Videos of Jim Kelly

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc  “Enter The Dragon (1973 Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFgoh4YTE8  “THREE THE HARD WAY crooked cops scene JIM KELLY 1974 action movie jim brown Fred Williamson”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYHzi7jDG8  “Jim Kelly talks about Bruce Lee's Sparring Ability”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=null7aDTkGo  “Black Belt Jones (1974) - Theatrical Trailer - Blaxploitation Movie Trailers”

Happy Independence Day Djibouti

“A wound inflicted by a friend does not heal” - Djiboutian Proverb

(Djibouti flag (1977-Present))

Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa.

(Map of where Djibouti is located)

Its capital is Djibouti City. Djibouti City is also its largest city. The official languages are French and Arabic. The country is 8,958 square miles. Djibouti is 96% African, 3% Asian and 1% European. 94% of Djibouti practices Islam and 6% practice Christianity. The total population is 828,324. The climate is arid in Djibouti. Djibouti is a dominant party semi presidential republic.

(Djibouti City, capital of Djibouti)

Djibouti cuisine consists of Soupe Djiboutienne (spicy boiled beef soup), and yetakelt w'et (spicy mixed vegetable stew).

(Djibouti cuisine)

The major style of music is Balwo.

(Djiboutian man performing Balwo)

Djibouti’s most popular sport is soccer.

(Djibouti’s soccer team)

Humans 1st inhabited Djibouti around the 25th century BC.

(Djibouti ancient drawings)

Djibouti was 1st called Punt. King Parahu and Queen Ati ruled Punt.

(A drawing of Queen Ati (Middle) and King Parahu (Right))

In 1285 the Walashma dynasty took control.

(Warriors of the Walashma dynasty)

In 1862 the name was changed to Obock. It was also ruled by Somali and Afar Sultans.

(An Afar man)

In 1883 France colonized the country.

(Flag of Djibouti (1883-1977))

France then named the country French Somaliland. In 1958 a referendum was held in French Somaliland to decide whether to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France.The referendum turned out in favour of a continued association with France, partly due to a combined yes vote by the sizable Afar ethnic group and resident Europeans. In 1967 it was renamed French Territory of the Afars and the Issas. Also in 1967 a 2nd referendum was held in Djibouti to decide whether to join the Somali Republic or to remain with France. The country sided with staying with France. In 1977 a third referendum took place. A landslide 98.8% of the electorate supported disengagement from France. On June 27th, 1977 Djibouti gained its independence.

(Djibouti flag (1977-Present))

Hassan Gouled Aptidon became the 1st president.

(Hassan Gouled Aptidon)

Djibouti joined the Organization of African Unity, the Arab League and United Nations. In 1986 the nascent republic was also among the founding members of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development regional development organization. In the early 1990s tensions over government representation led to armed conflict between Djibouti's ruling People's Rally for Progress (PRP) party and the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (FRUD) opposition group.

(FRUD soldiers)

In 2000 the impasse ended in a power sharing agreement. In 2010 Ismail Omar Guelleh became president.

(Ismail Omar Guelleh)

Today marks the 39th anniversary of Djibouti’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Djibouti.

 

 

Videos of Djibouti Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6I7m-cNw_M  “JUIN 1977. Premier jour de la République de DJIBOUTI”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enfhykBZQBA  “Ha Xoroobo Caasaqu 2015 Amina Afrik iyo Djibouti Independence Day”  

Happy Independence Day Madagascar

“Without the forest, there will be no more water, without water, there will be no more rice” - Malagasy Proverb

(Madagascar flag (1958-Present))

Madagascar is an island located off the southern east coast of Africa.

(Map of where Madagascar is located)

Its capital is Antananarivo. Antananarivo is also its largest city. The official languages are Malagasy and French. The country is 226,597 square miles. Madagascar is 90% African, 9% Asian and 1% European. 50% of Madagascar practice traditional African religion, 48% practice Christianity, 1% practice Islam and 1% practice Hinduism. The total population is 22,434,363. The climate is tropical in Madagascar. Madagascar is unitary semi presidential republic.

(Antananarivo, capital of Madagascar)

Madagascar cuisine consists of rice, laoka, sweet potato, yams, taro root, cassava, millet and maize.

(Malagasy cuisine)

Literature as expressed in the forms of hainteny (poetry), kabary (public discourse) and ohabolana (proverbs) are popular in Madagascar.

(Malagasy people performing kabary)

The most popular sport in Madagascar is Moraingy, a type of hand to hand combat.

(A Moraingy bout)

Madagascar was 1st inhabited in 2000 BC.

(Ancient structures in Madagascar)

The Bantu people arrived in 1000 AD.

(A Bantu woman)

Also around this time the Arabs set up trade posts in Madagascar. In 1500 the Portuguese came to Madagascar.

(A map of a Portuguese fort in Madagascar)

By 1600 irrigated paddy fields were developed in the central highland Betsileo Kingdom. In the 17th century the French established trading posts. In 1774 Madagascar gained prominence among pirates and European traders, particularly those involved in the trans Atlantic slave trade.

(A drawing of slavery in Madagascar)

In 1793 King Andrianampoinimerina became the ruler of Madagascar.

(King Andrianampoinimerina)

In 1810 King Radama I became ruler of Madagascar. Radama concluded a treaty in 1817 with the British governor of Mauritius to abolish the lucrative slave trade in return for British military and financial assistance.

(King Radama I)

In 1818 missionaries from England arrived in Madagascar. In 1828 Queen Ranavalona I became ruler of Madagascar. She responded to increasing political and cultural encroachment on the part of Britain and France by issuing a royal edict prohibiting the practice of Christianity in Madagascar and pressuring most foreigners to leave the territory.

(Queen Ranavalona I)

Between 1828 and 1861 the tangena ordeal caused about 3,000 deaths annually. In 1852 Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony became ruler of Madagascar.

(Prime Minister Rainivoninahitriniony)

In 1869 Christianity was declared the official religion of Madagascar. Legal codes were reformed on the basis of British common law and three European style courts were established in the capital city.

(Madagascar flag (1787-1885))

In 1883 France invaded France to gain control of the island from Great Britain. In 1890 the British accepted the full formal imposition of a French protectorate on the island, but French authority was not acknowledged by the government of Madagascar. To force capitulation, the French bombarded and occupied the harbor of Toamasina on the east coast, and Mahajanga on the west coast. In 1895 the French officially colonized Madagascar.

(Madagascar flag (1896-1958))

In 1896 slavery was abolished in Madagascar. During World War I Malagasy troops fought for France. During World War II the island was the site of the Battle of Madagascar between the Vichy government and the British. In 1947 the Malagasy uprising occurred.

(A Malagasy freedom fighter)

The uprising led the French to establish reformed institutions in 1956. On June 26th, 1960 Madagascar gained its independence.

(Madagascar flag (1958-Present))

The first president was Philibert Tsiranana.

(Philibert Tsiranana)

In 1972 Gabriel Ramanantsoa, a major general in the army, was appointed interim president and prime minister. He stepped down in 1975.

(Gabriel Ramanantsoa)

Colonel Richard Ratsimandrava, appointed to succeed him, was assassinated six days into his tenure. Vice Admiral Didier Ratsiraka became the leader of Madagascar the same year.

(Didier Ratsiraka)

In 1979 the country went bankrupt. In 1991 presidential guards opened fire on unarmed protesters during a rally.

(Presidential guards firing on protesters)

In 1993 Albert Zafy became president.

(Albert Zafy)

In 2001 Marc Ravalomanana became president. In 2009 Andry Rajoelina became president. In 2013 Hery Rajaonarimampianina became president.

(Hery Rajaonarimampianina)

Today marks the 56th anniversary of Madagascar’s independence and we would like to say happy independence day Madagascar.

Videos of Madagascar Independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DQ3LC7iJsY  “Madagascar Independence Celebrations AKA Madagascar Independence Party (1960)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxU-S9Mrtxg  “52nd Madagascar independance day -Lebanon”