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Irish Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
A multimedia lament for Ireland's lost souls — presented by John Buckley McQuaid at the ICC
Singer-songwriter and seanchaí John Buckley McQuaid brings his one-man show to the Irish Cultural Centre Hammersmith, blending folk, film and fury in a searing portrait of Ireland through exiled eyes In Memoriam sleeve JOHN Buckley McQuaid, modern-day Irish seanchaí, bard, poet, storyteller and singer songwriter john Buckley McQuaid presents his one-man music & video show at the Irish Cultural Centre this Saturday, July 26. Based on his new album, This is Where I Keep My Dreams – Ireland Through Exiled Eyes, McQuaid brings Ireland's past and present into stark relief with this one-man multimedia show. Originally from Dublin and now based in Denmark, McQuaid, who also goes by the title of Bard of Stillorgan, embraces the role of the modern Irish seanchaí—the traditional storyteller—using song, video, poetry and a wry sense of humour. He casts a fresh, critical, often radical yet compassionate gaze on his native land. At the heart of his show lies a powerful narrative that confronts Ireland's deep-rooted social wounds—The Magdalene Laundries, Vulture Funds, the Diaspora and the enduring homelessness crisis A standout is the haunting tribute 46A – In Memoriam, honouring Dublin's iconic 46A bus, retired in February 2025. McQuaid relates how it played a key part in his upbringing. Funny, nostalgic — and poignant. The chorus runs: 46A, Oh! 46A You'll always be more than a bus Just yesterday they took you away They're stealing the future from us His upbringing inspired the following lines in Confessions of a Catholic Kid: Forgive me Lord for I have sinned I promise not to sin again Unless of course I get the chance I beg forgiveness in advance Mea culpa, mea culpa Mea maxima culpa BUT there are deeply moving songs too in McQuaid's canon. Girls Who Lived in Hell is an unflinching homage to the women confined in Magdalene laundries. Dear Mr Taoiseach, from his albums This Is Where I Keep My Dreams and Be Yourself, which he released just ahead of then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's 2024 resignation, is both magnificently melodious as well as searingly political. In Homeless Hotels, the refrain goes: Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland Some get cake and some get crumb Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, Ireland What on earth have we become? MCQUAID moved to Denmark in 1973 and has since become a fixture on Europe's folk scene—performing in theatres, libraries, prisons and festivals from 1979 onward Despite decades abroad, he remains deeply rooted in Irish culture, carrying its history—both glorious and painful—into his art. His fairy-tale vision shines in the audio-visual work Stations in the Sky. A true polymath, McQuaid is also a painter—reportedly creating around 500 works—as well as being an aspiring screenwriter focusing on Irish-set narratives. His e‑book Valentine's Day pairs 29 songs with 29 videos, while his poem Prodigal Kiss features on UCD's Virtual Poetry Wall For his principled artistry, he was recently declared Musician of the Month by Dublin's radical magazine Cassandra's Voices, celebrated for his powerful, unflinching reflections on Ireland McQuaid's artistry derives from deep empathy and wry wit—bringing Celtic humour to heavy truths. He gives voice to the unheard, his lyrics confronting legacy and justice: Land of the Magdalenes laments wounds that 'may never be healed,' while Homeless Hotels indicts the Irish state's abandonment of its poorest. McQuaid's artistry reminds us that national identity is not static—especially for an Irish storyteller in exile. With black humour, nostalgia and moral rigour, he challenges complacency: calling for accountability from Church and State, and honouring the pain of the diaspora and marginalised. In doing so, he upholds the bardic tradition: where music is memory, and memory is resistance. For Irish audiences—at home or abroad—this is more than folk music. It is a reckoning, a requiem, and a call to reckon. A show not to be missed. Details John Buckley McQuaid Saturday, July 26 Irish Cultural Centre 5 Black's Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9DT Details: HERE See More: Irish Cultural Centre, John Buckley McQuaid, Multi-media Shows
Zawya
7 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Professor Benedict Oramah recognised for long service as Export Trading Group (ETG), TRACE, KCB and CBZ toast award success at 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings
Key Highlights The third edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Awards has recognised and celebrated leading businesses on the continent and in the diaspora in alignment with Afreximbank's push for a promotion of a Global Africa Marking his distinguished tenor, Professor Benedict Oramah, outgoing Afreximbank President, was honoured with the Bank's Long Service Award alongside other employees Export Trading Group (ETG) won the Global Africa Business Leader Award 2025 for fostering economic growth across the continent and enhancing food security KCB Group Plc, Kenya and CBZ Bank, Zimbabwe emerged winners of the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award 2025 for banking institutions with more than $500m and less than $500m capital respectively for having played a pivotal role in bridging the trade finance gap in Africa. TRACE, a multimedia platform dedicated to the entertainment and empowerment of people of African descent won the Diaspora Business of the Year Award for their impact in strengthening continental and diaspora ties. African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( hosted the third edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Awards in association with the Business Council for Africa (BCA) on Wednesday June 25, 2025, at a colourful Gala Dinner attended by more than 400 dignitaries including business and political leaders from Nigeria, across Africa and the diaspora. The Pan-African Business and Development Awards, held annually during the Afreximbank Annual Meetings, are designed to celebrate and recognise transformative businesses and financial institutions within the African continent and in the diaspora in keeping with the Bank's vision for a Global Africa. Export Trading Group (ETG), operational in nearly 20 countries on the continent, won the Global Africa Business Leader Award, 2025 for fostering economic growth across the continent and enhancing food security by connecting smallholder farmers with regional and global markets, improving livelihoods and boosting intra-African trade, reflecting Afreximbank's mandate of fostering trade and economic growth across the continent. The company's investments in storage, logistics, and processing infrastructure have helped reduce post-harvest losses and increased value addition. This year, TRACE, the multimedia platform dedicated to the entertainment and empowerment of people of African descent, won the Diaspora Business of the Year award for its impact in strengthening continental and diaspora ties through the vehicle of entertainment. Its mission is to uplift African identity through music, education, and storytelling. TRACE's platforms reach and support over 5,000 artists and 1,000 brands annually. It employs hundreds across Africa, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars in value. Two banking giants were recognised in the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award - 2025. KCB Group Plc, Kenya's largest bank by assets emerged winner of the award for banking institutions with more than $500m capital while CBZ Bank, also Zimbabwe's largest Bank emerged winner of the Afreximbank Financial Institutions Award-2025 for banking institutions with less than $500m capital. KCB, which won in the same category in 2024, was recognised for facilitating local and cross-border trade finance through various products as well as mitigating risks inherent in trade on behalf of its customers. One of the first East African banks to enhance financial inclusion and economic growth, it has positioned itself as an enabler for businesses and consumers to transact efficiently across African borders. CBZ Bank from Zimbabwe has played a pivotal role in bridging the trade finance gap in Africa by leveraging strategic partnerships, introducing innovative products, and executing a comprehensive pan-African vision. During the 31 st Afreximbank Annual meetings held in Nassau, The Bahamas last year, CBZ Bank and Afreximbank inked two deals ( totalling $80 million consisting of US$60 million line of credit and $20 million Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF) facility signalling their continued collaboration aimed at promoting economic development. In a speech delivered on behalf of Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of Board of Directors at Afreximbank, the Bank's Senior Executive Vice President, Denys Denya, said: 'This Awards event is our way of saying thank you to everyone who, regardless of size or significance of your role, has contributed to furthering the course of development in Africa. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you. With these awards, we reaffirm our commitment to the shared goal of transforming the African economy and restoring the dignity of Africans, regardless of their geographic location.' Arnold Ekpe, former group CEO of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated and chair of the BCA, in his remarks, commented on the importance of recognising and celebrating institutions that contribute to Africa's development, which he said, 'has become the defining essence of Afreximbank.' A major highlight of the awards ceremony was the recognition of four long serving Afreximbank staff members for their dedicated service of between 25 and 30 years. This esteemed group included Professor Benedict Oramah who was honoured for over three decades at the Bank with ten years spent at the helm as President and Chairman of Board of Directors. Presenting the long service award to Prof. Oramah, Wale Edun, Nigeria's Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy said: 'Tonight, we acknowledge not just a remarkable career, but a transformative journey spanning three decades. Under your leadership, the bank hasn't just scaled; it has soared, championing strategies that have fundamentally reshaped trade and development across Africa. Nigeria is incredibly proud of your achievements, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to the economic prosperity of our continent. You are a true son of the soil; a shining example of what dedication and vision can accomplish.' The Pan-African Business and Development Awards are hosted by Afreximbank in association with the BCA. The awards series was launched in 2023 to recognise those organisations and leaders that epitomise the pan-African spirit by leading the way in building substantive and transformative cross-border businesses. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@ Follow on Social Media: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Low turnout in Togo municipal elections seen as test for the country's president
Togolese voters went to the polls on Thursday in municipal elections seen as a test for the country's leader Faure Gnassingbé, who has faced rare and deadly protests after a recent constitutional reform that could effectively keep him in power indefinitely. Polling stations remained largely deserted in Togo's capital, Lomé, reflecting widespread voter apathy and fear following the crackdown on anti-government protests that left several people dead in June. Gnassingbé, who has ruled since 2005 after the death of his father and predecessor as president, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, was sworn in as president of the Council of Ministers in May. The powerful role has no official term limits and he is eligible to be reelected by Parliament indefinitely. Diaspora-based social media influencers and civil society groups had called for a boycott of the elections, the first national vote organized since the constitutional reform. They argued that the current electoral system lacks credibility and that the recent repression has silenced dissenting voices. Police and military patrols were stationed at major intersections throughout Lomé, reinforcing a heavy security presence that many residents said contributed to the atmosphere of unease. 'I've been voting since 1998, but this year is nothing like the others,' Sémon Aboudou said outside a nearly empty voting center in the Bè neighborhood, considered an opposition stronghold. 'Even in 2019, there was more enthusiasm. Now people don't see any change coming.' 'People are afraid — afraid of being attacked by protesters for legitimizing these elections, or afraid of being dispersed by security forces,' said Edem Adjaklo, a voter in the Gakli neighborhood. 'They feel it's pointless to vote because the results are always the same — predetermined.'
Rudaw Net
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish Arts and Culture Festival kicks off in Berlin
Also in Culture I don't want a celebration Sweden Kurdish magazine aims to promote Kurdish literature Young people showcase musicial skills in Shingal Kurdish photographer showcasing kolbars wins World Press award A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdish Arts and Culture Festival kicked off in Berlin on Friday, this year focused on the future of Kurds in Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. 'The festival this year comes with the fall of Assad's regime, and we wanted to focus on this as it marks a new era in Syria and Rojava [northeast Syria],' festival director Maxim Issa told Rudaw's Diaspora program that aired on Friday. Over the festival weekend, Kurdish and German youth will engage in discussions, showcase their work, introduce their businesses, prepare traditional Kurdish cuisine, and perform traditional folk dances. Kurds from the diaspora and other ethnicities, including Arabs and Assyrians, are attending the festival this year, according to Issa. Gunay Darici, managing director of the education non-profit Yekmal Association, said events like this festival give Kurds a platform to express themselves without the restrictions that they would face in their home countries. 'In the diaspora, we can practice cultural and political work more effectively,' she said, noting that in Turkey's southeastern Kurdish areas, 'there is no freedom for associations.' The festival, titled 'Turning Point in Syria - A New Future for the Kurds,' will run through Monday. Germany is home to a large Kurdish diaspora community of at least 1.3 million, according to official government figures, making it the largest Kurdish community in Europe.
Rudaw Net
12-07-2025
- General
- Rudaw Net
Kurdish student in Finland turns coffee waste into clean energy
Also in World From refugee to educator: A Kurd's mission to empower children in Germany Author uses literature to document Kurdish tragedies US reiterates support for SDF integration Ukraine: Three years of Devastating war A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish environmental engineering student is working to turn used coffee grounds into clean energy as part of a university project promoting zero-waste solutions. 'We want to collect that coffee and give it another life,' Bahez Kareem, a Finland resident originally from Sulaimani, said during Rudaw's Diaspora program that aired on Friday. 'Instead of it becoming a burden on the environment, we turn it into a clean energy source that is a good alternative to traditional fuels.' According to scientific research, the coffee industry generates over eight million tonnes of waste coffee grounds annually. This waste emits methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and produces toxic leachates that can harm aquatic ecosystems, said a study published in Global Challenges. 'At university, we were asked to prepare a project for creating a 'model city' - a city where no type of garbage or waste is thrown away and all materials are reused,' said Kareem. 'During our research, we discovered that in Finland, which has only 5.5 million inhabitants, an enormous amount of coffee is consumed and most of its waste goes to waste,' he added. His project is named "T Seven Percent Coffee Waste and Biodegradable Ingredients." Hoping their project will attract attention and be successful, Kareem said, 'This is just the beginning, and in the future you will hear more news about us.' Turning waste into clean energy helps reduce the volume of trash thrown into landfills, cuts methane emissions, and supports climate goals by promoting resource efficiency and advancing the circular economy. Kareem, originally from the Sharbazher area and born in Sulaimani, said he moved abroad to pursue his education. 'Initially, I was in Germany for a year, then I was accepted at a university in Finland. And now I have been settled here for nearly six years,' he said.
