Happy Birthday to the countries!

Happy Birthday to Togo!

2018-04-27

Dancers in Togo. *Photo from Wikipedia April 27 is the Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Togo from France in 1960. Togo, officially the Togolese Republic, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading center for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name “The Slave Coast”. In 1884, Germany declared

Happy South Africa’s Freedom Day!

2018-04-27

Frederik de Klerk and Nelson Mandela, two of the driving forces in ending apartheid. *Photo from Wikipedia April 27 is the Freedom Day, which celebrates freedom and commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994. The elections were the first non-racial national elections where everyone of voting age of over 18 from any race group, including foreign citizens permanently resident in South Africa, were allowed to vote. Previously, under the apartheid regime, non-whites had only limited rights to vote. On the first commemoration of the holiday, President Nelson Mandela addressed Parliament: “As dawn ushered in this day,

Happy Birthday to Sierra Leone!

2018-04-27

Main street in the east end of Freetown, the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone. *Photo from Wikipedia April 27 is the Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Sierra Leone from United Kingdom in 1961. Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north-east, Liberia to the south-east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south-west. The Afro-European colony was founded by a British organization for freed American slaves on March 11, 1792. There were about 1,192 African Americans who were relocated from Nova Scotia to Sierra

Happy Birthday to Tanzania!

2018-04-26

The market in Dar es Salaam, the former capital as well as the most populous city in Tanzania. *Photo from Wikipedia April 26 is the Union Day, which is Tanzania’s national day commemorating the unification of Tanganyika and the People’s Republic of Zanzibar in 1964. Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a sovereign state in eastern Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Kenya and Uganda to the north; Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west; Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south; and the Indian Ocean to the east. European

(We want to say) Happy Birthday to Syria!

2018-04-17

Syrian traditional clothing. *Photo from Wikipedia April 17 is the Evacuation Day, which is Syria’s national day commemorating the evacuation of the last French soldier and Syria’s proclamation of full independence and the end of the French mandate of Syria. Syria, officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest. French troops occupied Syria in 1920 after the San Remo conference proposed that the League of Nations put Syria under

Happy South and Southeast Asian Solar New Year!

2018-04-13

A girl pours water at revelers during Myanmar New Year Thingyan Water Festival in Yangon, Myanmar. *Photo from Wikipedia The traditional New Year in many South and Southeast Asian cultures is based on the sun’s entry into the constellation Aries. In modern times, it is usually reckoned around 14 April. The specific New Year observations include: South Asia Bohag Bihu (India), Pana Sankranti (India), Sangken (India), Vishu (India), Bisket Jatra (Nepal), Maithili New Year (India and Nepal), Pahela Baishakh or Bengali New Year (Bangladesh and India), Puthandu or Tamil New Year (India, Sri Lanka and so on), Sinhalese New Year

Happy Birthday to Senegal!

2018-04-04

A street market in Senegal. *Photo from Wikipedia April 4 is the Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Senegal from France. Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa. The name “Senegal” comes from the Wolof “Sunuu Gaal”, which means “Our Boat”. On April 4, 1959 Senegal and the French Sudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. In commemoration of the day, we introduce you to a great percussionist

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