By Gigi on
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
image creditBig news today, cellphones may be carcinogenic to humans.WHAT?!Yup! The sweet gadget you wear proudly on your hip, or hold tenderly in your hands or whip out to impress someone may very soon be linked to CANCER. I know that word brings the fear of Goliath into my heart, I'm not quite sure about you.In our modern view of cancer, images of suffering come to mind. The pain, the expensive treatment, the complications that may follow and the looming threat of...
By Gigi on
Sunday, 29 May 2011
image creditsThere are few things in this World that unite culture and people more than the Arts. There is beauty to be found in art that speaks a universal language, music with rhythm and emotion that speaks to the humanity in all of us, literature bursting with stories we could have never imagined, but can visualize and enter and learn.The World is awash with beautiful voices that belt out tunes played to instruments that may or may not sound like the instruments...
By Gigi on
Sunday, 29 May 2011
image creditsHistory is often told from the perspective of the victor/oppressor.More often than not, the stories told about the culture of the conquered or oppressed are crafted for the express purpose of making them seem weak, incredibly savage, uncivilized and less than they are to prove that they are justified in conquering, stealing from and oppressing them.This modification of history has happened all around the World.Formerly oppressed/conquered people are beginning to...
By Gigi on
Saturday, 28 May 2011
© Qalil300 g. Rice flour (8 ounces)1/2 teaspoon of baking powder130 g. white granulated sugar (4 ounces plus one half tablespoon)1 large egg125 g. melted butter (1 stick of unsalted butter or 4 ounces)1 to 2 tablespoons of rose water (or just water, or in my case ALMOND MILK)1 teaspoon of ground cardamom10 pitted datesMix all the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.Whisk the egg and melted butter together to make it light and gradually add the dry mixture...
By Gigi on
Friday, 27 May 2011
Revolutions Civil war Sustained civil disorder and governmental changes Protests and governmental changes Major protests Minor protestsThe Middle East and a good number of African countries have been rocked by throngs of protesters, tired...
By Gigi on
Thursday, 26 May 2011
If someone sat you down and asked you to picture African Fashion, what would come to mind?For most of us, bright colors with lots of greens, reds, blues and yellows of all shades. Large bold prints demanding your attention, beautiful head dresses crafted by gifted hands and creativity.Imagine the fashion and style no longer. Here are a few gems we have discovered in our trek through the internet.African Chic for your home (Maraki Design)Click Image to view more pictures...
By Gigi on
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Valerie EverettAs the recession trudges on destroying everything in its wake, the news channels are ablaze with a term that has been used to describe different situations in underdeveloped countries.Food insecurityFood insecurity is the state in which people live in hunger or with the fear of starvation. Food security, on the other hand is when all people (within a particular region) at all times, have physical, economical and social access to safe nutritious...
By Gigi on
Monday, 23 May 2011
I give in. Now that y'all have blogged about this ad nauseum.I have never been more disappointed in gossip ever!! Shriver and the Schwarzenegger are over because of a child he had with the maid 14 years ago. She knew his molestering ass had his hands all over the help, didn't protect them or could put up with it then suddenly she had enough? Is it coz he isn't running for office again and only politics gets her going?No way The Terminator was paying child...
By Gigi on
Monday, 23 May 2011
Someone recently connected the dots for me. If you like investigating, follow us kindly to this videoOkay, like the routine? Think it's a little too dorky African? Okay...Now take a moment and turn up the volume on your computer and listen to these beats for a minute or two. You may remember them...Okay? Heard some of it?Now take some time and watch this video (if you have no patience for this, just forward it to minute 1:06 to watch the routine and listen to...
By Gigi on
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Many of us would be hard pressed to find Cameroon on an African Map. This often unheard of country is nestled in (from North to South) by Nigeria, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea (can you imagine what their border patrol is like?).If you follow the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon has the third most successful football (soccer) team in the ANC. It is also known as the minature Africa, whose borders cross land that has equatorial...
By Gigi on
Thursday, 19 May 2011
This morning at Qalil.com there was a terrible crisis that was narrowly averted. The company fridge was empty and after a hectic meeting over the protests in Spain stomachs were growling and tempers were short.Luckily, one of the staff is an amateur cook obsessed with Masterchef Australia and offered to make brunch so our afternoon would be a little more productive.This is what we had for brunch.©Qalil.comDeviled Eggs with Roasted Sweet Potato Salsa.IngredientsFresh...
By Gigi on
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Amidst the chaos that is pouring out of Uganda in the past month or so including the walk to work protests and the Kill the Gays Bill, a gem has been shining through the dust raised by the furor to catch the attention of the international community.iMANi is a movie that follows the lives of three Ugandans, taking an intimate and very personal look at their lives, the struggles they have to overcome and their placement within the vibrant and varied fabric that constitutes life...
By Gigi on
Monday, 16 May 2011
Sammy Wanjiru, 24, the Kenyan Olympic marathon champion died after a tragic fall from the first floor of his Nyahururu home.Wanjiru's record breaking win in Beijing in 2008 also made him the first Kenyan marathon champion. In a sport that has typically seen its champions win such honours later in their careers, the 21-year old's win was phenomenonal. He completed the marathon in 2:06:32.Since that win, Wanjiru has claimed multiple victories that showcased the young...
By Gigi on
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Image CreditsRecently a gentleman I knew passed away.He had been married for a short while, was expecting a new life with his wife and then suddenly and quite unexpectedly died. The community that I grew up in is still reeling from his death and the financial repercussions facing his young wife are enormous as she takes his body to its final resting place.The rituals that surround death and burial are both cultural and social. Ancient Egyptians buried their dead in...
By Gigi on
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Image CreditsSo, I finally watched For Colored Girls.A friend, whose crazy views I respect had purchased the DVD and was urging me to watch it because she said it was wonderful.I had seen reviews for this movie. I had read articles that claimed Oprah didn't want Perry to do the movie and Shange was doubtful that Perry possessed the skill to pull this together. The stage play had won numerous awards and the beloved play and Choreopoetry was being taken in a...
By Gigi on
Monday, 9 May 2011
For the third time in Amazing Race history, an African American duo has won the coveted one million dollar prize.Image CreditsThe journey that took them from Australia, through Japan, China, India, Austria, Switzerland and Brazil culminated in a heart stopping race to the finish line back in the USA.Our first meeting with these young women had always irked me. The usual choice for representation of African American women on television is one where she is loud, angry,...
By Gigi on
Monday, 9 May 2011
Image CreditsSo the flowers are sitting in a beautiful vase on the mantle and the chaos surrounding yesterday's festivities is settling down into a happy haze of contentedness. A quiet moment will bring into quick sharp focus, all the events of Mother's Day and the happy sounds of family gathered together to celebrate motherhood.WAIT A MINUTE!!!Aren't these the same people who are at each other's throats at Thanksgiving? Why is their peace and happiness on Mother's...
By Gigi on
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Image CreditsIn spite of all the attention being directed towards Hawai'i, the newest State of the Union, very little, if any other kind of news comes out of it that captures America's interest. The only blip it has made in the public's interest has been when he was rushed to the hospital (we don't use his name around here - not a polite one anyway) or when President Obama made his papers public (yeah, we debated that issue. A lot.)Recently, however, some news is cropping...
By Gigi on
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Qalil.com wishes all of you mothers out there a very happy Mother's Day!Happy wishes also go out to other motherly figures in our lives: loving grandmothers, wonderful aunts, God mothers, step mothers, big sisters, and everyone who loves and cares for a child/young pers...
By Gigi on
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Writer-directors in Hollywood are rare creatures. It is not easy to find a writer to whom studios will give creative control as a director. By the same token, most directors bring someone else's story to the screen and do not write the script themselves.Qalil.com will profile 15 African American writer-directors who have made their mark in film and television over the past 30 years on May 30th. However, I would like to preview the work of a favorite of mine: Kasi...
By Gigi on
Friday, 6 May 2011
Imagine a 55-year old Black man begins to experience symptoms of a stroke. Who do you think he is likely to call for help in this serious emergency?According to newly published research*, this gentleman is NOT likely to call 911 first. He is much more likely to call a friend or family member instead. A Black woman is also more likely to call a friend or family member.In this startling study, a shocking 75% of African Americans hospitalized for a stroke had called...
Jailed!
Scared Straight
News! News!
Slavery is funny?
