Amjambo Africa

10/03/2025

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Maine’s most inclusive publication. Making information accessible to all Mainers.

10/03/2025

📰 The October 2025 issue of Amjambo Africa has arrived, and it’s packed with stories of resilience, celebration, and change.

This month we follow Pious Ali as he launches a national network to support African immigrant elected officials. We sit with the Rwandan community at Ikaze Night 2nd Edition, where culture and dialogue filled the room and a Lifetime Service Award honored decades of leadership. We celebrate Batimbo United, newly recognized as a Cultural Treasure in Portland. And we share the journey of Cape Verdean professional soccer player Walter Varela, who reflects on challenges and pride as part of Portland’s Hearts of Pine.

You’ll also find thoughtful reflections, like how attitudes toward public breastfeeding differ between Africa and the U.S., alongside updates on policy, youth programs, and sports that shape daily life here in Maine.

🌍 Beyond Maine, the issue also carries stories from Africa, from Kigali’s hosting of the UCI Road World Championships to regional news on politics, culture, and resilience across the continent.

🔎And don’t miss the Maine Navigator, offering practical advice in seven languages, from heating assistance to driving rules and asylum safety tips, a lifeline for many navigating life in Maine.

💬 To receive a free digital copy, comment “COPY” below ⬇️.

📰 Printed copies are also available in nearby local stores, libraries, and community spaces in Lewiston, Auburn, and Portland.

10/02/2025

This week on the podcast, we are hosting “Batimbo United,” a traditional drumming troupe from Burundi whose drums are now part of the cultural heritage of Portland, Maine. In this episode, , the group’s leader, shares what this recognition means and talks about the future plans him and his fellow drummers have for their cultural journey.

This episode is in Kirundi!

Click here to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrrI3nCJjaQ

10/02/2025

Pojulu Festival Shares Message of Peace in South Sudan

By Sheila Ponnie

When South Sudan became an independent sovereign nation in 2011, Satimon Lako Philips, along with millions of his fellow citizens, believed that the future would be bright. But that hope was short-lived.

In 2013, the country descended into a series of bloody civil wars that fractured families, shattered livelihoods, and left millions either internally displaced or living as refugees in neighboring countries. More than 400,000 people died during the civil wars, and although no major politically motivated unrest has erupted since 2016, the country continues to grapple with intercommunal tensions and violence.

Conflicts follow tribal lines, pitting forces loyal to President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, against those loyal to First Vice President Riek Machar, a Nuer. The Dinka dominate the government and public institutions, while the Nuer form South Sudan’s second-largest ethnic group.

By Sheila Ponnie When South Sudan became an independent sovereign nation in 2011, Satimon Lako Philips, along with millions of his fellow citizens, believed that the future would be bright. But that hope was short-lived. In 2013, the country descended into a series of bloody civil wars that fracture...

10/02/2025

The Silent Pain of Refugee War Survivors in South Sudan

By Sheila Ponnie

It takes roughly ten minutes to drive from Juba City’s Central Business District (CBD) to Giada Military Hospital. As you approach the imposing security gate, the heat in South Sudan’s capital brushes your face once you roll down the window to answer routine questions from soldiers. At this checkpoint, people from all walks of life—senior military officials, civilians, and families of patients—pass through, each carrying their own burdens. Some wear blank expressions: others look weary, as if weighed down by memories too painful to voice.

Giada Military Hospital, located at a military base established seven years before South Sudan’s independence in 2011, now hosts survivors of violence—many of them wounded by the very forces meant to protect them. The atmosphere is heavy with silence and pain, marked by a lingering tension that hangs in the air like a fog that never lifts.

By Sheila Ponnie It takes roughly ten minutes to drive from Juba City’s Central Business District (CBD) to Giada Military Hospital. As you approach the imposing security gate, the heat in South Sudan’s capital brushes your face once you roll down the window to answer routine questions from soldi...

10/02/2025

“A monster has been created”, Analyst warns of rising Wazalendo militias in eastern DRC

By Eloge W***y Kaneza

Exclusive interview with Onesphore Sematumba, Senior Analyst at International Crisis Group (Great Lakes Region)

The eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are among the most volatile and complex areas in the Great Lakes region of Africa. For decades, this part of DR Congo has been caught in recurring cycles of violence fueled by ethnic rivalries, competition over natural resources, and interference from neighboring countries.

Today, according to Congolese political analyst Onesphore Sematumba, Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group covering the Great Lakes region, the government’s increasing reliance on pro-government militias – particularly the so-called Wazalendo – is exacerbating instability and risking a full-blown regional crisis.

By Eloge W***y Kaneza Exclusive interview with Onesphore Sematumba, Senior Analyst at International Crisis Group (Great Lakes Region) The eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) are among the most volatile and complex areas in the Great Lakes region of Africa. For decades, t...

10/02/2025

Vaccines & Autism: What families deserve to know by Amy Harris.

09/30/2025

If you are confused about the new fees for asylum seekers you are not alone. A lot of incorrect information is circulating.

IMPORTANT: THERE IS NO FEE DUE TODAY. More information is expected from the government about when and how to pay that fee.

Follow this link for the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project for most reliable information. Check back regularly, because the situation is changing all the time.

Written by ASAP’s expert immigration lawyers · Updated On July 4, 2025, the U.S. government passed a new law. This law adds new fees to apply for asyl…

09/29/2025

🌟 Celebrating Impact! 🌟

On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Mr. Georges Budagu Makoko, Cofounder & Publisher of Amjambo Africa!, was honored at the Maine Impact Award Gala hosted by Women Without Limits at the DoubleTree Hotel in South Portland, Maine.

The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to journalism—informing, uniting, and giving voice to the African diaspora in Maine. Georges accepted the award alongside his wife, telling Amjambo Africa reporters who were present: “This is the recognition of the great job of the whole team.”

👏 Congratulations to Georges and the Amjambo Africa! team for inspiring communities and changing futures!

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09/24/2025

A multilingual family celebration of African families will be held on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 1–3 PM at Festival Plaza in Auburn, ME. Co-sponsored by L/A Arts, Auburn Public Library, Beautiful Blackbird Festival

09/23/2025

50 New Americans, One Historic Day in Portland!

On Constitution Day, 50 people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance at the University of Southern Maine, officially becoming U.S. citizens! Families, friends, and community leaders gathered to celebrate this life-changing milestone.

09/23/2025

50 New Americans, One Historic Day in Portland!

On Constitution Day, 50 people from 28 countries took the Oath of Allegiance at the University of Southern Maine, officially becoming U.S. citizens! Families, friends, and community leaders gathered to celebrate this life-changing milestone.

Karen Benoit of the League of Women Voters reminded new citizens of the power of their voices:

“We’ve been at every single citizenship ceremony this year to register new citizens to vote. It’s important that people understand this right as soon as they become citizens.”

She added:

“We do our best to make sure every new citizen knows how essential their vote is. Voting is the foundation of our democracy.”