A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

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South Africa: The Day in Images

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The message left by President Obama in the Robben Island guestbook today: pic.twitter.com/0xIxg36sJ4

— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) July 1, 2013

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Arriving in Cape Town

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Visiting Robben Island – The rock quarry labor camp where Nelson Mandela was forced to work as a prisoner

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The First Lady: Today, our family visited Robben Island for an experience we will never forget. Robben Island is located off the coast of South Africa, and from the 1960s through the 1990s, this Island housed a maximum security prison. Many of the prisoners there – including the guide for our visit, a man named Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada – were activists who worked to bring down Apartheid, the South African government’s policies that discriminated against people of color.  Under Apartheid, people of different races were separated in nearly every part of South African society.  They were forced to attend separate schools, live in separate neighborhoods, even swim at separate beaches – and in nearly every case, the neighborhoods, schools and other facilities for black people were much worse than the ones for white people.

More here

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… with their tour guide, Ahmed Kathrada, a former prisoner with Nelson Mandela

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Homage

President Obama visits the prison cell at Robben Island where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years of his imprisonment

Afternoon Delight: South Africa

The beautiful song that was played as Pres. Obama finished his inspiring speech

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Wyclef Jean at his best

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Zizi…thank you for the memories and introduction to Mi Casa 😀

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Chat Away Until Chipsticks Is Done With The Ish Time

President Obama greets members of the audience at the University of Cape Town

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President Obama at The University of Cape Town

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12:15 PM EST: The President delivers remarks at the University of Cape Town

White House Live * CBS * Reuters

Robben Island

@PeteSouza

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@PeteSouza

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@dougmillsnyt

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President Obama visits the Robben Island prison cell where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment

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…. with a tour guide at the Robben Island lime quarry where a rock memorial was started by Nelson Mandela

On to Cape Town

….. leaving Waterkloof Air Base for Cape Town this morning

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Coming up today – all times US Eastern

8:20 AM: The First Family tour Robben Island

10:20 AM: The President tours the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre with Archbishop Desmond Tutu

12:15 PM: The President delivers remarks at the University of Cape Town

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Live streaming links:

White House Live * Reuters * CBS (UStream) * CBS (Widget) * eNCA (South Africa)

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Arriving in Cape Town

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From yesterday ….

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MoooOOOooorning early birds!!

Rise and Shine

Senator Barack Obama looks out of the window of Nelson Mandela’s jail cell on Robben Island, South Africa, August 2006

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Sunday

All times US Eastern

3:45 AM: The President and First Family depart Johannesburg

5:45 AM: Arrive Cape Town

8:20 AM: The First Family tour Robben Island

10:20 AM: The President tours the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre with Archbishop Desmond Tutu

12:15 PM: The President delivers remarks at the University of Cape Town

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Live streaming links:

White House Live * Reuters * CBS (UStream) * CBS (Widget) * eNCA (South Africa)

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More later, this is just a scheduled heads-up for the very early early birds

Lira & MiCasa: A Taste of Contemporary South African Music

LIRA & MICASA: SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIANS WHO PERFORMED AT PRESIDENT OBAMA’S 2nd INAUGURATION

On the night of the 2nd Obama inauguration, the continent of Africa was soulfully represented at the Inaugural balls by South African Queen of soul, Lira, and cutting edge House Band MiCasa.

As I finish up my background write up on south Africa as part of expanded context for President Obama’s trip to the continent of Africa, here’s  some music to tap our feet and wiggle our bodies to. As the cliché goes, music is the lifeblood of humanity.

I present solo artist Lira and trio Micasa who were specially invited to represent Africa at the inaugural balls the night of President Obama’s 2nd Inauguration in DC this past January. Both acts were from South Africa and represent the new vibrant face of South Africa and Africa as a whole.

Lira (Lerato Molapo)

Lira did an abrupt career change from accountant to singer to fulfill a passion when she released her debut album, All My Love in 2003  It is no surprise she’s dubbed South Africa’s Queen of Soul and the spirit of Miriam Makeba for a new generation

Phakade

Rise Again

Feel Good

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