Harlem served as the appropriate venue for a much needed affair heralding the African community over the weekend, under the auspices of the NYC African Council with Mr. Len Ejiogu taking the lead organizing such a huge fête. The NYC African Council leadership awards gala dubbed as the much anticipated farewell party for the outgoing city Mayor Eric Adams. Diplomatic representatives of several notable African nations showed up bearing gifts with heart full of gratitudes for the Mayor, which he received wholeheartedly with tear jerking farewell speech, which can be seen at the video link posted below. Mayor Adams made a point to stop at every guests table to shake hands and take pictures with each group. He became the 110th Mayor of NYC, the first to fully incorporate African community into the fibers of the city’s political landscape and affairs. He inaugurated such events as the African Heritage Day, which was sumptuously celebrated annually at the historic Gracie Mansion, the official residence of NYC Mayor, raising of flags of African nations on their respective independence day at the Bowling Green Plaza, and enlisting a handful of Africans as members of his staff.
On my invitation, fashion industry legend and Harlem native Dapper Dan felt right at home as one of the esteemed guests, especially having done so many trips to Africa during a time of rebirth, fresh off the colonial shackles in the 60s. I had a chance to have a deep conversation for well over an hour with the legend. I look forward to exploring more about that later.

A handful of influential Africans in the community were recognized for their unwavering support for the greater good with awards and honors. Honorees included Judge Lola Waterman, Commissioner Aissata M.B. Camara, Dr. Bola Omotosho, Judge Chidi Eze, Commissioner Spencer Chiimbwe, Assemblyman Landon Dais, and Famod Konneh, the Deputy Commissioner NYC Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs NYC.

In true Nigerian form, no party would be complete without the ostentatious display of wealth in the form of money confetti. Dr. Bola Omotosho made sure of a grand entrance when it was his turn to pickup his coveted plaque. Of course, we would expect nothing less.

The NYC African Council advocates for the needs of the African Diaspora community in all of New York City. They facilitate the MBWE certification of African businesses and the appointment of African professionals into city leadership. The African Council achieved so much in the past 4 years and the gala was a celebration of Leadership in the African Diaspora community and their achievements.

Contributions to further their non-profit mission are welcome via donations through Zelle at nycafricancouncil2@gmail.com

Click here to watch the event video posted on instagram.

At a time when grocery prices are soaring through the stratosphere, one of Brooklyn’s historic landmark Churches, the Christ Apostolic Church, using their dedicated 501(c)(3) “The Goke Food Pantry” organization, rises to the occasion weekly to feed the community. The food giveaway endeavor couldn’t have been more relevant at a better time when people are in dire need of provisions, especially with many government employees and some private sectors, now out of jobs. An operation that has been in effect for a dozen years, has seen its growth and size in bi-weekly produce and goods accumulation more than double recently, especially this year. The annual turkey giveaway pre Thanksgiving had a record turn out, this year in conjunction with the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) and AJID Foundation. According to the organization’s cordinator and the Church’s Deacon, Babatunde Thomas, demographic of the 6000+ people fed were about 80% caucasian, 10% hispanic, 5% Middle Eastern, 4% African American and less than 1% Africans, this included low to middle class, stealthly peppered with some well earning individuals, lined up around the avenue length city block to wait their turn in picking up several of the food items carefully arranged outside the Church. It is said that some perched outside from the evening prior to ensure they were one of the first to score the highly coveted turkey, which tends to run out midway through the giveaway. Not even the post office mail man doing his runs could resist making a pit stop to pick up a turkey for himself.

The Church acquires the produce through various means ranging from Food Bank of NY donations which helps them secure federal government grants of about $600,000 annually to operate and fund the purchases, grocery stores such as Wholefoods and purchases made using donations accumulated from the organization’s website.

The Goke Food Pantry organization commits to ensuring the community doesn’t go hungry by giving away produce every other Tuesdays and every other Saturdays monthly to well over 15000 people, with the inclusion of turkey once a year on Thanksgiving week. The turkey is exclusively funded by the Church via donations from the public and congregations.

Nigeria’s Consulate General Ambassador Franklin Abiola Ogunyemi and NYC Councilwoman Shahana K. Hanif were in attendance to present the first batch of turkeys, a symbolic and welcoming gesture that showed how well the community lawmakers are in full support of the organization’s initiatives. The profound love and admiration from all attendees and 60+ volunteers was not lost on me. The joy and happiness of participation amongst everyone was contagious. All volunteers and staff members of the organization work pro bono. Needless to say, they all felt genuinely happy to be there to lend a hand in distributing the goods.

The Christ Apostolic Church was established in 1995, after taking over ownership of the vast property from Bethlehem German Church. Under the stewardship of Pastor (Dr.) Olugbenga T. Famojuro and Deacon Babatunde Thomas coordinating, Goke Food Pantry has expanded beyond their expectations but more can still be achieved to take it to great heights of a more inclusive range beyond Brooklyn. All are welcome from far and wide to come by and pick up a few things to feed their household. This recent turkey giveaway saw people from various religions come by, especially those of Muslim and Jewish faith. At the end of the day, the soul must be fed, regardless of who and how we worship! As the saying goes in Nigeria, “Man must wak!”

For more details on how you can get provisions or to donate to help further this remarkable cause, please visit gokefoodpantry.org

Click here to see the events video posted on instagram

Members of the organization with NY Council woman Shahana K. Hanif

Nigeria’s Consulate General Ambassador Franklin Abiola Ogunyemi

Deacon Babatunde Thomas

Post master scored a turkey too!

Deacon Babatunde Thomas inside the Youth church section of the property

Inside the Church’s main sanctuary

The commitment and dedication of New Yorkers when it comes to Halloween is unmatched! Not even the ongoing threat of ICE agents snatching up bodies and souls all over the country could hold back the children last night. The streets were bursting at the seams with revelers and onlookers decked to the nines in various costumes. Despite the government halt on food stamps disbursement keeping citizens in a chokehold, people, young and old still managed to put their worries aside to celebrate the annual festivities. Sidewalks filled with onlookers was at least seven human rows deep. The sense of humor was an euphoria that was permeable as far as the eyes could see on 6th Avenue in New York City. What a time to be alive! 💋🎉🎃🥂

Click here to watch the video on instagram.

The pride and joy of the giant of Africa, Nigeria, was on full display on one of the world’s biggest stage yesterday at Madison Avenue in New York City. In celebration of the Nation’s 65th anniversary of Independence of a narrow escape from the jaws of apartheid, considering lucrative natural resources were discovered just a few years after gaining independence from the United Kingdom. Nigerians in disaspora dressed in some of their fineries, some of which are family heirlooms passed down generations from their ancestors, proudly marched down Madison Avenue full of pride. United Nations high officials, such as Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, blessed the auspicious occasion with her presence. She had been in attendance the previous evening at the sumptuous gala and award ceremony event at the Nigerian Consulate, hosted by Ambassador Abubakar Jidda along with the Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN) committee, a long standing group that has been organizing the parade and related events for well over 3 decades in the United States. One of the Grand Marshalls included Dr. Wendy Osefo, a Nigerian-American political commentator, public affairs academic, and a cast member of a reality show, The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Concluding the parade at Madison Square Park, world renowned Afrobeat superstar Bella Shmurda performed some of his chart topping hits. Suffice to say, the attendance wasn’t as robust as the previous year. With the ongoing ICE raids at public gatherings of immigrants currently under President Trump’s administration, many chose to stay home, in addition to many job losses at several government positions such as USAIDS et al. Nevertheless, the show must go on, and that it did, complete with jollof and fufu!

Click here to watch the event’s video posted on instagram.

See you all next year, God willing. 💋🥂✌🏼🇳🇬

The 3rd annual Nigerian flag raising ceremony yesterday in celebration of the 65th Independence day, at the Immigrant Heritage Plaza (by the Wall Street Bull) renamed in recognize of immigrant communities in New York City, served as a great remainder for all Africans in diaspora, a time of unity, reverence and compassion for each other. Dignitaries from various neighboring and allied African countries showed up in support of our great nation’s celebration of the narrow escape from the jaws of apartheid, considering we discovered oil and other lucrative resources shortly after gaining independence from the United Kingdom on October 1,1960. The Nigerian Consulate General Ambassador Jidda, along with officials from the Mayor’s office and high officials from New York City Park Committee jointly hosted the occasion. Observing all necessary protocols, the flag was raised on behalf of all humanity, especially during the political climate we currently live in. I couldn’t be more proud as a Nigerian American living in New York City.

Up next, a grand parade is set to march down Madison Avenue on Saturday October 4 at 10am. And yes, you can expect jollof rice, egusi and fufu to be served, I’m not kidding! 🙌🏼 Seriously!

Of course, all are welcome.

Click here to watch the video of the event posted in instagram.

Consulate General Ambassador Jidda

The celebration of the African Heritage Day at Gracie Mansion, hosted by Mayor Eric Adams yesterday, was exactly the kind of celebratory gathering needed during the dire political climate we currently live in. Africans in diaspora from far and wide turned up beaming with pride and joy clad in various attires from their respective countries in Africa. Sponsored meals, beverages, and libations were in abundance. A room full of Africans under one roof had no borders mindset. We all merged as one union in pure jubilation of our heritage and culture. Nigerian flag in one hand, African print hand fan (designed by me) in another, I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else. A remarkable superb time was had. Salute! 🥂💋🎉

Click here to watch the event video on instagram.

Dandyism exhibition at the Met Museum offers an extraordinary peek into the past, as it transforms and travels through time to the present. It offers in-depth enlightenment of how the oppressed used fashion to their own advantage as an unspoken language of empowerment, exuding grace under pressure.

The exhibition includes one of a kind and limited creations from legends in the space of fashion design such as the military style numbers by John Galliano and Olivier Rousteing. Landmark trendsetter logomania bumper jacket by Dapper Dan, that literally shifted the game in designer labels tapping into the inner city urban way of street style made the cut. African designers from countries such as Senegal, Cameroun and Nigeria, which produced one of the larger than life patterned caftan owned by the late André Leon Talley, along with his iconic Louis Vuitton personalized luggage set, are all on display. Irrefutable history was told using items that once belonged to activist Frederick Douglas. It’s impossible not to feel the presence of such great historical icons in the vast hall of exhibition.

It was a delightful way to spend the day with my dear friend celebrity stylist Ty-Ron Mayes, who also treated me to a belated sumptuous birthday lunch shortly afterward. Upon our arrival at the Met Museum, we patiently joined the long line of guests waiting to acquire tickets. Clad in our daringly sparkling ensemble in broad daylight, we stood out like disco balls. We came prepared to blend in with the dandyism mannequins, unapologetically! Needless to say, the security and museum attendants took one look at us and immediately pulled us out of the line, complimentary tickets in hand, and ushered us upstairs VIP style. We’re ever so grateful for their warm hospitality. Talk about dressing for success! The gawds of Dandyism past were most certainly in our favor!

Click here to check out the video on instagram.

This past weekend was a rather daunting and painful one. I needed recovery time to be strong enough to post this tribute. I lost not one but two beloved friends to a car accident, fellow doll afficionados and highly revered doll artists Mario and Gianni, collectively known as “Magia2000”. The dynamic duo’s artistry and craftmanship were incomparable, none like we’ve ever seen before in the doll community. Their impeccable and keen eyes for perfection garnered them worldwide recognition, enough to have big corporations such as Mattel collaborating with them on numerous occasions. Their highly coveted works of art have helped raise tens of thousands of funds for various charities around the world through several donations of their remarkable work, with biddings soaring to high 5 digits figures. Their selfless acts of kindness, unwavering support of the arts, generosity, warm friendship, will be sorely missed. To everyone who owns a piece of their work, much like Picasso or Rembrandt, please cherish them like family heirlooms because their legacy now lives through you for generations to be inspired by.🙏

It was a real privilege and honor to have known Mario and Gianni. Now looking back, I’m immensely grateful for Mario and Gianni’s friendship. To me, they were more than doll artists, they were my Italian brothers from another mother. They always light up any environment they were in with their warmth and kindness.

RIP dear friends. Grazie mille, riposa in pace.🕊😪🙏

Just hours after Pres. Trump successfully had his “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress, this happened… My kids suggested we have a family 4th of July themed pizza lunch in the park. I set out yesterday in search of the traditional blue, white & red “gadgets”, such as paper plates, table covers, napkins and fashion items to wear, et.al. To my shock, not a single item was on display at any stores, not even the big box stores as such TJ Maxx, Marshalls, et.al that sold them in abundance last year and prior. None of the regular stores had the typical window decals in celebration or to announce any sales. The Empire State Building wasn’t lit in the celebratory patriotic colors either, which normally starts few days before the 4th. The atmosphere was rather dire.

My dear friend Ty-Ron Mayes said the same thing about the stores uptown.

Is this the aftermath of the import tariffs we’re seeing unfold? Are people also scared to come out and shop in droves like the previous years because of ICE? Or are people reeling from the blunt blow of the Bill that just passed? What’s good America? Is it a happy milestone 250th birthday? 🙈🤔🙌🎂

Click here to see the video.

The New York City Pride March took place today on June 29 and it hadn’t been this crucial and relevant since the uprising at the iconic Stonewall. The current political climate has members of the LGBTQ community on edge, with their rights on the brink of being rolled back and major corporations ditching several of their DEI programs, which protects a lot of their basic rights. Some corporations begged to differ and were in full support of their queer staff members by participating with fully kitted vehicular floats armed with promotional swags to throw to the onlookers lined up along the sides of 5th Avenue.

Corporations such as L’Oréal enlisted queer celebrities to appear on their floats. Niecy Nash did the honors, while Amanda Lepore and Tokischa graced the MAC makeup floats featuring an impressive oversized lipstick.

International queer community leaders such as Ireland, Italy, Japan, Nordic regions, et.al, were prominent at the March. The Pride march draws in millions of viewers from around the world annually.

Click here to watch the highlights and after party scene.