Pictures from an exhibition of African contribution to American history, at the Missouri History Museum last week. They included Epa masks from Nigeria, real doors, manacles and other relics from the slave castles in Ghana, clothes and artifacts from American slavery, and plenty 20th century notable artifacts including Alex Haley’s typewriter, Mohamed Ali’s famous track jacket, the KKK’s hood, Michael Jordan’s vest, Michael Jackson’s whistle, Prince’s purple vest, Serena William’s top, Louis Armstrong’s bugle, a black astronaut’s suit, among so many others. Hanging from the ceiling of the history museum is “The Spirit of St. Louis“, the famous airplane that made the first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927.
On Thursday last week, I went to Springfield, the capital of Illinois to see sites around the life of one of America’s greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln. I went in company of my host Prof Wilson who was visiting the place himself for the eighth time in company of visiting students and scholars. African students and visiting scholars to SIUE has this 75 year old retired professor to thank for his effort in bridging the knowledge gap between the two sides of the world. For years, he has taken it upon himself to make sure visiting students/scholars visit sites of historical and cultural significance in the United States, most times out his own pocket. In his company, I have visited Principia, Carbondale, and now the Lincoln home, Presidential Library, and tomb in Springfield. “Remi Raji was here too,” he mentioned as we were heading out of the Lincoln’s burial place, referring to the Nigerian poet and writer whose book Shuttlesongs America was written on his return from the United States in the summer of 1999. ”And it was all too emotional for him. This was where he broke down and cried.”
Here is a short video I made of the visit. I’ll put up some pictures soon when I can.
For me, it was a moving experience going through the life of one of the defining figures of modern America. As complex a figure as he was, it is impossible to ignore his contribution to the country and the world at large. The Presidential Library & Museum itself was an archeological wonder, a befitting tribute to an uncommon man and a great president.
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In Memoriam
Steven P. Jobs (1955-2011) American computer entrepreneur and inventor.
Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) a Kenyan environmental and political activist
Folashade Adesokan-Adeleke, Yoruba FLTA (2009/2010) and friend (19-- - September 10, 2011).
D.Olu Akintunde PhD (1961-2011) Scholar, Teacher and Aunt.
Pictures from an exhibition of African contribution to 
American history, at the Missouri History Museum last week. They included Epa masks from Nigeria, real doors, manacles and other relics from the slave castles in Ghana, clothes and artifacts from American slavery, and plenty 20th century notable artifacts including Alex Haley’s typewriter, Mohamed Ali’s famous track jacket, the KKK’s hood, Michael Jordan’s vest, Michael Jackson’s whistle, Prince’s purple vest, Serena William’s top, Louis Armstrong’s bugle, a black astronaut’s suit, among so many others. Hanging from the ceiling of the history museum is “The Spirit of St. Louis“, the famous airplane that made the first transatlantic flight from New York to Paris in 1927.
