Thank-you note to the Bridge to Freedom team
FunTimes Magazine launched the Oral History Diaspora Advisory Council on October 1, 2025, at the Nigeria Flag Raising Ceremony in Philadelphia. We chose that day and that setting with intent.
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A Black Philadelphian’s Guide to Labor Day Weekend
For Black Philadelphians, Labor Day weekend works overtime. It is the unofficial end of summer, sure, but it is also a homecoming and a history lesson, served on a paper plate with extra sauce on the side.
African Independence Days in September and the Stories Behind Them
Starting in September and running through December, an unbroken wave of African nations mark the day they told a colonizer to leave. That happens to line up with our fall almost perfectly. So let’s walk through it, the way you would walk a cousin through a family tree they didn’t know they had.
Black Communities Celebrate International Day for People of African Descent
Every August 31, Black communities across the world pause to celebrate the International Day for People of African Descent, a United Nations observance dedicated to recognizing the heritage, culture, achievements and human rights of people of African descent around the world.
Why CARICOM’s Reparations Case for Caribbean Nations Has More Momentum
For decades, the question of reparations for slavery and colonialism has remained one of the most difficult and controversial issues in international affairs. The devastating consequences of slavery and colonialism are well documented, yet debates over the legitimacy, scope and merits of reparations have continued to generate strong arguments on both sides.
True Friends Don’t Abuse Your Friendship
Bruce Golding asks what independence means when Jamaica cannot afford to say no.
Cultural Significance of South Africa’s Umhlanga Reed Dance Festival
South Africa’s Reed Dance Festival is an ancient tradition of the Swazi and Zulu people known as the Umkhosi womhlanga, or the Zulu Reed Dance.
Who are the Dogon People?
The Dogon are an ethnic group indigenous to Mali, with most communities settled along the Bandiagara Escarpment, an imposing sandstone cliff stretching across central Mali.
Why Homowo Festival is Celebrated in Ghana
The Homowo festival is a vibrant and significant cultural celebration observed by the Ga people of Accra, the capital city of Ghana.
Liberia @ 179: The Story Behind Africa’s First Independent Republic
Image courtesy of FunTimes Magazine Every year on July 26, Liberia comes alive with the colors red, white, and blue….