“I mean I have heard so much of this and that African event, that I don’t know which one to believe, and I have looked at the costs of so many other constituency events and have come to believe that the African events are some of the most expensive. I thought this was a celebration of our son, but an avenue for making money.”
On the 20th of January, 2009, the world will be celebrating the inauguration of a man who has been described as an transformative, generational and more than brilliant, and as the 44th President of the most powerful country in the world, President-Elect Barack Obama. It is estimated that between 4-5 million people would converge on tiny Washington, DC for this great undertaking. And no doubt, most of us would like to be there. I want to be there to witness the historic making event.
So a few weeks ago, I applied to the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) for my media accreditation, thinking that since the African Sun Times stridently supported the candidacy of Obama, that the PIC would recognize that and accord me the honor of being an intimate witness to the coronation. But I was jolted when on the 30th of December, I received the following:
“Thank you for applying for media seating for the 2009 Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony. Due to unprecedented demand for the limited number of seats, we are unable to accommodate your request for seating on the Capitol grounds.
While tickets are required for seating within the interior perimeter of the Capitol, the Inaugural Ceremony can be viewed without tickets from the National Mall, where video screens and speakers will be placed to convey the sound and images.
This email is in response to your request for press seating for the Swearing In Ceremony at the Capitol only. Requests for other Inaugural events including balls, the parade, train events and concerts are being handled separately by the Presidential Inaugural Committee at http://pic2009.org/mediacredentials.”
So I was resigned like thousands of media people about not being able to attend, but finding another way to be present in Washington, DC, something that has been going on now for a long time.
I mean I have heard so much of this and that African event, that I don’t know which one to believe, and I have looked at the costs of so many other constituency events and have come to believe that the African events are some of the most expensive. I thought this was a celebration of our son, but an avenue for making money.
There is the “African Immigrants Inaugural Ball”, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on January 20. It is promoted by the African Immigrants Movement for Obama (AIMO) Ball, which I understand used to be the Africa Society at the World Bank. I guess there are so many Africa Societies in Washington DC. The driving force behind this is Dr. Dominic Ntube, who is the Coordinating Committee Member. Price tag for this will push back between $200 to $2,500, to $10,000.
For $200, you get a ticket to rub shoulders with others at the “First Amendment Ballroom,” for $250, you are elevated to the “Second Amendment Ballroom,” $300 sees you rubbing shoulders with others at the VIP Class Seating at the Main Ballroom. Personally, as a practising first amendment advocate, I would choose the First Amendment Ballroom, it is less heavy on my pocket. Talk about the $2,500 to $10,000 for tables of 10 people. Wow!! The venue sits 600 people, but space is limited, so you better ant up and call the coordinator at 202-905-9010.
Then, there is the “Afircan Inaugural Ball,” that will take place on January 18, from 7:00 pm, at the Hilton Washington, D.C./Silver Spring, 8727 Colesville road in Silver Spring, MD. Okay, let me not confuse you and just go ahead and put here what they said, “Entertainment offerings include a Nigerian cultural dance group in Washington, a Kenyan-born stand-up comic from San Francisco starring as “Obama’s cousin” with lots of Obama jokes, and recording artists from Mali, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. The best of Soukous, Makossa, Afro Beat and Reggae will keep the party going until the midnight magic of the balloon release.
African and Caribbean political and business leaders, diplomats and dignitaries, as well as American political and community leaders, are expected at this celebration organized by The African Foundation.
“This ball promises a night of entertainment unlike any other inaugural balls,” said Dr. Uche Onyebadi, the foundation vice president of corporate affairs and a journalism professor at Southern Illinois University—Carbondale. “If you like a variety of entertainment with some of the most exciting performers around, the African inaugural ball is the place to be.”
A full reception menu with assorted selections, will serve as the perfect complement to the fully stocked cash bar.” I understand the price tag on this one is $200 per person, but $300 per couple. You can contact Ceaser M. Williams at 816-478-7914 or email . They have a website, and there at the website you find that the organization is called the African Foundation. But the people who are holding this is the Delta Sigma sorority. Confusion, confusion.
Okay, more confusion. On December 29, PANApress, the African news agency, puts out a statement by one Mr. Hubert Shaiyen, whose company is called Milliennium Strategic Consulting, Inc. (annual revenue according to Dun & Bradstreet $35,000), titled “African Diaspora to roll out drums for Obama”:
“New York, US (PANA) - Africans in Diaspora will on 20 January in Washington DC, hold an Inaugural Ball for President-elect Barack Obama to mark his assumption o f office.
Obama is to be sworn in on that day, as the first African-American President of the US.
A statement on Monday by co-chair of a U.S.-based African Diaspora organisation “Africa Aspire”, Hubert Shaiyen, said the event has been tagged “A Celebration o f Change for the World.”
It would be held in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of Africa n Art in Washington DC.
He said the ball would be graced by Obama and his wife, Michelle, as well as for mer President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, who is the new administration’ s Secretary of State-designate.
“This uniquely African-inspired celebration will also be attended by Presidents Umaru Yar’Adua of Nigeria and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, as honourary patrons,” h e stated.
Shaiyen also said it would be attended by African Ambassadorial Corps, some Afri can-American celebrities and political and cultural leaders in the U.S. and from Africa.
The Diaspora official disclosed that world renowned Senegal-born vocalist Youssou N’Dour and award-winning Akon, as well as other African artistes and dancers would entertain the guests.
He also said that the event would highlight video tributes from former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, Kenya’s Mwai Kibaki and Algeria’s Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
Shaiyen further said that African cuisine from different parts of the continent would be served at the ceremony.
The statement also indicated that Africa Aspire organisation aims to forge a new partnership between U.S. and Africa through a new spirit of pride, inclusion an d engagement with the incoming Obama administration.
Meanwhile, Obama and Michelle, would be attending a total of 10 official inaugural balls in different locations in Washington DC on 20 January.
The U.S. Presidential Inaugural Committee last week, stated: “The Obamas would attend 10 official balls, one more than outgoing President George Bush and Laura Bush attended in 2005.”
PANA gathered that on the inaugural day, the popular Music Television channel (M TV) would stage a live televised party on its network.
U.S. female music legend, Dionne Warwick and a group known as “Creative Coalitio n’’ would also hold an American Music ball and a gala.
PANA learnt that the historic inauguration is expected to draw as many as five m illion people from around the world to Washington DC.” No information is provided on how to get in touch with Mr. Shaiyen, but according to the same DB, his phone number is 202-467-2762.
The African Business Round Table, based in Africa, is also having their own event. But the lowest cost for this one is $500.
Then there is the Corporate Council on Africa, which claims to help businesses from US to deal with businesses from Africa. On their website, it says they are having the “Africa on the Potomac,” the Pan-African Inaugural Celebration of President Barack Obama. Their invitation says it is doing this celebration with the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya, the African Diplomatic corps, the African Union and African Professionals in Washington, DC. Wow. And it is on the same January 20, but theirs is at Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA, and ticket price $200, dress is Black Tie or National Dress.
With all this, you are going to be running like a chicken without a head, assuming you can afford all the costs.
But wait, the mother of all African inaugural ball celebrations was written about in the Washington Post, this one was suggested and sanctioned by the Great One, former President Nelson Mandela himself, and is being hosted with the government (not Embassy) of Kenya, there is a difference. Okay, let me not confuse you, read the story yourself:
“Pr. George’s Inaugural Ball Tied To Africa (Pr. is for Prince)
By Avis Thomas-Lester
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 4, 2009; Page C01
It will draw foreign leaders from Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe. Celebrities such as Aretha Franklin will be on hand. Usher, Patti LaBelle and the O’Jays are expected to perform. So are an Israeli artist, Brazilian dancers and a South African a cappella group.
The Africa and International Friends Inaugural Ball, one of the largest events to celebrate the nation’s first black president, will be staged Jan. 20 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, organizers said yesterday. The ball was conceived as “a festival of the cultures of the world” and will be hosted by Kenya, birthplace of President-elect Barack Obama’s father.
“We have invited the heads of state of goodwill around the world to join the leadership of Kenya, the sponsor of this event, in celebrating the man and the message that he has given the world, ‘the audacity of hope,’ that they have now for peace, justice and economic stability,” said the Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy, the former D.C. congressional delegate who is the event’s chairman.
Organizers said the idea for the ball came from former South African president Nelson Mandela, who expressed a desire for Africa to have a role in the inauguration. Fauntroy, who is paster of New Bethel Baptist Church and has known Mandela for decades, ran with it. Meetings began in November, and by early last month, the blueprint had emerged for an event to bring together cultural, spiritual and government leaders from around the world. Mandela is the honorary chairman.
Fauntroy said the Gaylord resort was chosen because it is large enough to accommodate the 15,000 people expected to attend the ball. He said the event would be a milestone for Prince George’s County.
“The joy of it is that they are coming to the most affluent county for African Americans in the United States and one where we have the largest construction project of its kind underway, National Harbor, and its flagship, the Gaylord,” Fauntroy said.
Other inaugural events will also be linked to Africa, said event planner Karen Bryant, including one ball hosted by World Bank officials and another for members of the African diplomatic corps. But what sets the ball at the Gaylord apart, she said, is the goal of linking Africa to the international community and Americans of various races and ethnicities.
“This ball is inclusive, international,” Bryant said. “It’s bringing together all those who want to celebrate. The reason it is the Africa ball is because it is promoting the linkage, reuniting people on economic, cultural and historic levels.”
The ball will be held in 265,000 square feet of space at the Gaylord. The main event, in the 50,000-square-foot Potomac Ballroom, with tickets priced at $1,000, will include a full dinner and the main staged entertainment. The 35,000-square-foot Maryland Ballroom will host a celebration with a buffet and staged entertainment for $500 a ticket. In the 180,000-square-foot exhibit hall, revelers will be treated to hors d’oeuvres, staged entertainment and music from a local disc jockey for tickets of $250 each, organizers said.
Gaylord spokeswoman Amie Gorrell said the three venues will be linked by JumboTron. “The giant screens will allow people in each of the rooms to see what is going on in the other events,” she said.
At a three-hour meeting yesterday, Fauntroy, Bryant and event planners walked the hotel, completed the menu and finalized the program.
The main event in the Potomac Ballroom will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., opening with a recorded message of congratulations to Obama from Mandela, followed by the O’Jays with their anthem “Love Train.” Other confirmed performers include Pieces of a Dream, Lalah Hathaway, Raheem DeVaughn, Brick and Maxi Priest. The parties in the Maryland Ballroom and exhibit hall begin at 8 p.m.”
Oh!Oh!Oh!Oh! CHINEKE-E, WOW, I just received my own invitation for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, with all the seal and paraphernalia of the PIC, everything embossed in gold. Well, I was beginning to wonder whether my being such a big spender for the Obama campaign was not going to be ever noticed, having already been turned down as a jouralist. The PIC seems to have redeemed itself, with the envelope addressed to me, Chika Onyeani, not Chika Onyeani (African Sun Times):
“The Presidential Inaugural Committee
requests the honor of your presence
to attend and participate
in the
Inauguration of
Barack H. Obama
as President of the United States of America
and
Joseph R. biden, Jr.
as Vice President of the United States of America
on Tuesday, the twentieth of January
in the City of Washington.”
HOORAY!! HOORAY!! I am going to frame, make another copy and laminate, and then I am going to scan it and email it for everybody to see that, yes, I witnessed an great moment in history.
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