‘Fortune’s’ ’50 most powerful women’ list features 3 black females

ortune has revealed their list of this year’s 50 most powerful women in business – and while the occupations of those included vary, the racial identities of these individuals are not as diverse.

Writer Shonda Rhimes arrives at the ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ 200th Episode Celebration at The Colony on September 28, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. 

The world’s most influential businesswomen represent some of the biggest and most successful global companies. But among the 50 women mentioned, only three are African-American.

Chairman and CEO of Xerox Ursula Burns speaks onstage at the FORTUNE Most Powerful Women Summit on October 17, 2013 in Washington, DC. 

The three black women included are: Ursula Burns, CEO and president of Xerox; Rosalind Brewer, CEO and president of Sam’s Club; and Shonda Rhimes, the creative executive producer and the mastermind behind popular TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal.

Burns ranked 13 on the list, Brewer came in at 15 and Rhimes made the list at No. 50. Their net worth or salary information was not provided.

Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, president and chief executive officer of Sam’s Club, speaks during the Wal-Mart Stores Inc. annual shareholders meeting in Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S., on Friday, June 7, 2013. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which kicked off its annual meeting today, approved a new $15 billion share buyback program.

The publication also recently released their list of the 50 most powerful international women, which did not feature any black women.

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Young Black Women With Breast Cancer Have Poorer Survival Rates Than White Women

Researchers have found that young black women aged 40 or younger in the UK have a higher risk of breast cancer coming back than white women, despite having the same access to healthcare.

The reasons for the findings are unknown but could be down to biological and genetic factors, a language barrier, or a lack of awareness of breast cancer in the group all barring the way to effective treatment.

Experts called for more work to take place to find the cause.

The research published in the British Journal of Cancer also found that young black women are more likely to have larger more aggressive tumours and higher rates of triple negative breast cancer - a type of breast cancer that does not respond to hormone therapies.

Academics from the University of Southampton said that these factors did not completely explain why black women have poorer survival rates, particularly those with the type of breast cancer that is expected to be sensitive to hormones.

The study put forward a number of possible explanations why black women may be more affected than other ethnic groups.

An unidentified biological factor such as cancers in women of African-Caribbean descent responding less well to treatments, including hormone therapy, or differences in the genetics of their tumours could be a reason.

Early diagnosis may also play a role if black women are less aware of the symptoms or less likely to be breast aware - meaning the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage and reducing the chance of successful treatment.

Cultural factors such as recent immigration to the UK or language barriers could in practice affect use of health services, despite equal treatment from the NHS.

Study author Dr Ellen Copson said: "Our study confirms for the first time that black women under 41 in the UK are more likely to have breast cancer recurrence than their white counterparts, despite equal access to healthcare.

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Facebook testing 'Follow' button for Pages now

In a move that could possibly cause a huge shift in the dynamics of digital marketing, Facebook seems to be testing a “Follow” button feature for Pages on the website now. Essentially, this means that you will be able to follow updates from the Page without liking it or being a fan. 

The button was first noticed by All Facebook, that received a tip-off from Matteo Gamba of Wimdu, who found the follow button ion the company’s page. While the screenshot clearly shows the Follow button, it did not seem to appear when we accessed the Page. It looks like Facebook is conducting an experiment of sorts with this feature now.

In a statement to The Next Web, Facebook said that this was indeed a feature it has been testing out and was appearing only to a few users. “This is something we are currently testing,” a Facebook spokesperson said.

The button in the screenshot was placed next to the Like button. This is similar to the follow button placement on a user profile. Once you hit the follow button, you need not be friends with the person to receive updates from them. Similarly, when it comes to Pages, you will no longer need to be a fan of the page to get updates from them.

If all goes well and a follow button appears for pages, you will no longer be shown as a fan of a page. Say, you like Skittles’ Facebook Page updates, but don’t actually like Skittles themselves, you can now follow the page, and your profile will never have a “like Skittles” mention. This could also mean a huge change for advertisers and marketers on Facebook. One of the parameters they set for their monthly budget on ads includes the number of likes the ads manage to get for the page. Facebook will have to address this issue once the button becomes official.

This could, however, not even turn out to be a final feature and Facebook would want to experiment further with how the button functions, what it is called and where it is placed. The idea, though, seems to be a pretty delicious one for Page owners and fans alike.

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African drum master Baba Atu and his heir apparent Ceremony will celebrate

After 60 years of drumming, Atlanta artist Baba Harold Atu Murray, a master of the African drum, will pass his legacy and his immense drum collection along to the next generation.

On Sunday, in a ceremony called Passing of the Drum Legacy, Atu, who is 73, will bestow plenty of of the 300 drums they has made and played for so plenty of years to Akumba Bynum-Roberson. Bynum-Roberson, 27, has made a name for himself as a top performer in the Atlanta drumming community.

Baba Atu refers to Bynum-Roberson as a brilliant sponge. Hes the extension of me, they said. Bynum-Roberson took drum classes from Baba Atu when they was around five years elderly. They had already gotten a headstart on playing drums from his parents when they was, they said.

Baba Atu has been a mentor to plenty of artists and musicians throughout his life, said event organizer Bob Johnson. It is fitting that Akumba, who is such an excellent young talent, ought to be picked to carryover the torch.

His father Omelika Kuumba is co-founder and director of the popular Giwayen Mata, an all-female dance, percussion, and vocal ensemble in Atlanta. I am very proud and excited, about the honor, Kuumba said. They has been lucky to learn from some great drummers. Now, the student had become the teacher, they said. I am now of his grateful students.

Baba Atu chosen Bynum-Roberson, a Morehouse graduate, to be his heir apparent because of his reputation and dedication to drumming and after Bynum-Roberson performed so passionately for Baba Atu in the coursework of the elder drummers birthday celebration in August.

Its very humbling, said Bynum-Roberson. Its been a brilliant experience. The journey has been great so far. Im looking forward to what is coming next. I recognize Im taking on a heavy responsibility. I have work to do for my people. Bynum-Robersons brother Baba Aseba expressed pride in his son. I am honored as well, and overwhelmed that they has excelled and learned a lot in this short amount of time from the lessons I gave him as a kid, said Aseba, who performed in drum circles with Baba Atu at Piedmont Park in the 1980s.

Since then the young drummer has met often with the elder for sessions and to learn more about the elder mans life experiences. Here they are playing on YouTube.

A self-taught sculptor, Atus wood carvings also will be available for purchase in the coursework of the event. Hell use the proceeds to help recognize his African Dream of retiring to Ghana, where they lived from 1969 to 1974. Baba Atu designs to build a house there.

They will be missed, said local veteran educator James Cameron, who has known Baba Atu since the 1980s. When they departs Atlanta, it will be like a precious library has burned down. Our loss will be Ghanas gain.

The objective of the event is to raise $9,500, Johnson said. Other local artists who will be showcasing their work include Cheo Admini, Sylvia Cohen (Gbaby) Art, and Densua Abayonis African Treasures.

The ceremony will be held from four p.m. to ten p.m. Sunday at 1820 Childress Drive in southwest Atlanta.

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7 Things White People Don’t Understand About Black Hair

Black hair in any state can be down right fascinating. Whether it’s silky, straight and draping or kinky, coily and wild, or something in between, our hair has the ability to shape shift like nobody else’s. Nobody has hair like ours. So it’s no surprise when people from other races have tons of questions about our hair and the way we take care of it. They’re honest questions and if asked in the spirit of genuine curiosity, I don’t mind educating someone about black hair. Which is why I’m taking the time out to educate non-blacks about a topic that’s so near and dear to our hearts and our minds: our hair. - 

1- We don’t want you to touch our hair because we’re human beings not some type of specimen in a zoo
I have no problem with people touching my hair… if they ask. As a stranger to walk up and touch someone’s hair… or anything on their person for that matter is rude. I understand curiosity and I’m into texture so I like to touch people’s hair too. But for the love of God ask first. Don’t let your curiosity get you cussed out. I do believe Biebs asked to touch Esperanza’s hair in the photo above but still black women felt a little twinge about it.

2- If my hair is cut in a pixie cut one day and down my back the next, it’s probably some sort of extensions
This one always amazed me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to say to someone “You know this isn’t my hair, right?”. It’s funny I can’t think of a time when I didn’t know about fake hair. Even my grandma had some pieces she’d slip in her head if she wanted some extra body that day. As much as mainstream celebrities rely on extensions and fake hair it’s amazing that the general population can be so oblivious to their prevalence in everyday life.

3- Our hair, as it grows out of our head, is not unprofessional .

Honestly I hear this one perpetuated by whites and blacks equally. The notion that our hair, chemically unaltered, is unprofessional is simply ridiculous and discriminatory. It’s the equivalent of asking a darker complected individual to invest in bleaching cream so he or she can fit into the corporate world.

4- Wearing our hair natural is not to make some type of rebellious statement

Who knows where this notion came from but wearing our hair unstraightened is not indicative of being a member of a counterculture. It’s just who I am.

5- I don’t have to wash my hair everyday

I remember back in elementary school I stayed the night over one of my friends’ house. Before we went to bed or when we got up in the morning my girlfriend informed me that she wasn’t going to wash her hair that day and she didn’t want me to think that she was dirty. I told her I wash my hair once a week. And the look on her face was absolutely priceless. Afterward I had to have the “black hair” conversation with her. Black hair thrives on oils and washing our hair and having to replenish the oils again requires entirely too much time (and money). So once a week it is.

6- Oil is actually good for our hair

Ooo there is nothing worse than seeing someone’s hair being weighed down by oil. It’s gross. And while oil is a the arch nemesis of someone with European hair, it’s actually our friend. Black hair thrives on oil. So much so that the activity of oiling our scalps has become a romantic gesture.

7- It may take some time for it to look right

Which is exactly I won’t be coming to that pool party. Because after I spent 13 hours in the beauty shop and paid a small fortune on this do– if someone throws me in the water somebody’s going to get cut.

Please note that it’s all about love and education. Most black women don’t have a problem taking the time to explain our hair to you as long as you approach us the right way.

What questions have you had to answer from non-black people about black hair?

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South African banks hit by Internet card fraud syndicate

South African banks have been swindled out of millions of dollars this year by an international fraud syndicate that stole card details from restaurant chains, the Payments Association of South Africa said on Wednesday.

Card fraud has been on the rise in Africa's biggest economy over the last two years despite efforts to replace magnetic stripe cards with the more secure chip variation, PASA said.

The latest scheme, which was devised through a variant of the software virus known as Dexter, most likely originated in Europe.

"It was certainly cleverly written. It took a while to detect," said Walter Volker, chief executive at PASA, adding that all South African banks - including industry leader Standard Bank and smaller rivals FirstRand, Barclays Africa Group and Nedbank - had been affected.

The syndicate targeted computers at restaurant chains with a virus that sent back details of customer cards. The information was used to clone cards or sold on to other criminals, PASA said.

Standard Group, the continent's largest bank, said some of its credit, debit and check card customers had been affected.

"Immediate and pro-active steps have been taken by Standard Bank and at an industry level to identify and limit the extent of the potential exposure," it said in a statement.

Nedbank also confirmed that some of its customers had been affected, but said the number of incidents was limited.

No one was immediately available for comment at FirstRand or Barclays Africa.

(Reporting by Helen Nyambura-Mwaura; editing by David Dolan)

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40 Years Old Celebrities

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The Most-Classiest Ghanaian Celebrities

What is the meaning of being classy? It means being sophisticated, being able to move mountains without causing havoc, being respected and respectful and not being all over the place. Being a celebrity means you are going to be known by almost everybody and as such celebs can’t do the simple things life has to offer, like taking trotro or taxi or eating at the usual restaurant where the masses eat. As a celebrity, you should be seen at exclusive places. Even on social media, you are not supposed to write just anything as we are there to make meaning to it, you are not supposed to respond to anyone just to protect your brand.

The celebs you are going to see below are the most classiest celebrities we can name in Ghana. They are hard to be seen, their fashion sense is on point, the live the exclusive life, they don’t get hated-on much by the masses and they mostly know what they want, work at it and excel to the very top in their careers. Flip though our list of the top 10 most classiest Ghanaian celebrities.

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Nollywood Movies Awards 2013: Full List Of Winners!

Nigeria’s biggest awards ceremony Nollywood Movies Awards 2013 (NMA) winners list announced by the officials. The event was hosted by actors, Dakore Egbuson-Akande and Segun Arinze who stepped in for comedian, Basket Mouth, held on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the newly built Intercontinental hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos state.

While the movie ‘Phone swap ’bagging the highest number of awards.

The event was hosted by actors, Dakore Egbuson-Akande and Segun Arinze who stepped in for comedian, Basket Mouth, held on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the newly built Intercontinental hotel, Victoria Island,

 Lagos state.

See full list of winners below:

BEST MOVIE:

Phone swap 

BEST LEAD ACTRESS:

Rita Dominic – The Meeting

BEST LEAD ACTOR:

OC Ukeje – Hoodrush

BEST ACTRESS INDIGENOUS:

Funke Akindele – Maami

BEST ACTOR INDIGENOUS:

Imeh Bishop Udoh – Udeme mmi

BEST DIRECTOR:

Mildred Okwo – The Meeting

BEST EDITING

Kunle Adejuyigbe – Journey to self

BEST INDIGENOUS MOVIE:

Maami

BEST COSTUME DESIGN:

Jaiye Owolabi – The Gods are still not to blame

BEST MAKE-UP

Jennifer Alegieuno – The Meeting

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

Yinka Edward – Phone swap

BEST SOUND DESIGN:

Obi Emelonye – Last flight to Abuja

BEST SET DESIGN:

Sango B’ Song – Last flight to Abuja

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Kemi Adesoye – Phone swap

BEST SOUNDTRACK:

Patrick Mathias – Hoodrush

BEST DIASPORA MOVIE:

Man on Ground

BEST SHORT MOVIE:

Unspoken

BEST RISING STAR FEMALE:

Belinda Effah – Kokomma

BEST RISING STAR MALE:

Uti Nwachukwu – In the cupboard

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Ghana and Egypt set for play-off first leg in Kumasi

Ghana host Egypt in Kumasi on Tuesday to compete the first legs of the African 2014 World Cup play-offs.

The two-legged tie has the makings of a classic with the Black Stars aware that they face a might battle against the continent's football's form team for the right to reach next year's finals in Brazil.

Egypt are the only African side with a 100% record in qualifying.

And it also unclear whether the second leg will be held in Cairo, with Fifa asking Egypt for security guarantees before the 19 November game.

That is in response to Ghana's request for the match to be switched from the Egyptian capital because of safety fears as the country continues to suffer from political unrest and outbreaks of violence following the ousting of President Morsi.

Uncertainty over the second leg brings more pressure on Ghana in the first tie, with the Black Stars even more aware of their need for a good result to take to what could well be a difficult environment.

Additionally, Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah will be without midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng as the midfielder suffered an injury playing for his German club Schalke last week.

Boateng's withdrawal was criticised by some fans who questioned whether the player's injury was as serious as claimed.

It forced the President of the Ghana Football Association, Kwesi Nyantakyi, to defend the player and he told BBC Sport: ""It would be unfair to think that somebody can feign injury. We should sympathise with him and pray that he recovers soon, so he can stage a comeback to the Black Stars team."

Regardless, the absence of Boateng is a big blow to Ghana, who are also without their first-choice centre-backs John Boye and Jonathan Mensah.

In contrast, Egypt coach Bob Bradley has no major injury concerns to deal with and is confident he can steer the country to their first World Cup finals appearance since 1990.

His squad is packed full of home-based players - largely drawn from Al Ahly and Zamalek - and it is remarkable how they have been able to beat all before them given the severe disruptions to football in Egypt since the Port Said disaster, where more than 70 fans died in February 2012 , and ongoing political and security issues.

Bradley told BBC Sport: " We have worked hard to prepare ourselves, we know the Ghana team very well. We respect them but we also feel that we are a strong team and we are confident.

"We must have the right mentality for the start of the match and play intelligently.

"The players have remained determined to make this dream happen and we are focused on the final round and finishing what we have been working to do."

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Ghana will beat Egypt 2-0, predicts Miss Africa 2013 Shooter

Miss Africa 2013 Carranzer Naa Okailey Shooter has predicted a 2-0 win for Ghana as they face giants Egypt in the first-leg play-off of the 2014 World Cup.

The two powerhouses collide in a monumental tie on Tuesday at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, which has been a fortress for the homeside for some years now.

Shooter, although not a football devotee, does not want to be left out in the World Cup qualifying frenzy and has obviously thrown her weight behind the Black Stars.

“I support only one team, and that is the Black Stars,” the 23-year-old told Goal Ghana. “I enjoy watching them, just like every other Ghanaian. It is always a good feeling, especially during those times that they manage to bring us all together as one people.”

Despite her football impoverishment, Shooter was confident the Pharaohs will be difficult to dispatch on Tuesday. “Maybe, 2-0 against Egypt. They are a good side but we can beat them,” she noted.

Her surname – Shooter – could be misleading to a first-timer, who might assume the BSC Medical student acquired that nomenclature for being a great striker on the field. However, the beauty queen can barely kick a ball.

“I don’t play football,” the second runner-up in this year's Miss World beauty pageant at Indonesia confessed. “I can’t even manage a decent kick. Not my thing.”

Unlike the typical Ghanaian including most young ladies who have an affection for one or two football clubs 

either locally or abroad, the lover of the book Think Big by Ben Carson “hardly follow” the beautiful game, but she takes “notice of big league matches like that of Hearts and Kotoko. The excitement it generates amongst the local fans, is always awesome.”

The pediatrician hopeful, who named Ghana football legend Abedi Pele as her favourite player, said she might explore the possibility of using Women’s football as an avenue to touch a lot of hearts during her reign and her fight against Buruli Ulcer. 

But what has been the motivation of the fourth year medical student who loves reading, cooking and sightseeing? “Waking up each day, and knowing that I have a responsibility to affect lives in the most possible way I can,” she noted.

And touching on her plans for the future, Miss Ghana 2012 said: “I am back in school now. And as third place Miss World 2013, and Miss Africa, I will be collaborating with other African queens and together we will work on specific projects. My project on Buruli Ulcer is going to receive the needed attention. It is dear to my heart.”

“God has placed in us, unique talents that we can use to make life better for ourselves, and the people we find around us. Take each day as it comes, and make good use of the opportunities that come your way,” Shooter concluded.

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AWESOME PHOTOS AS NAA OYOE TAKES THE CROWN AS THE 2013 MISS MALAIKA QUEEN

19 year old graduate of Wesley Girls’ High School, Naa Oyoe Quartey has been crowned Miss Malaika 2013 after a keenly contested finale on Saturday, October 12.  She beat 10 other young and intelligent ladies including Nana Adwoa Twumwaa Baafi and Aisha Kaleem, who came second and third respectively, to win the coveted crown, a brand new Kia Rio and a ghc 6,000 prize money.

The finale which saw an all girls performance from leading Ghanaian female acts including Efya, Becca, Raquel and Eazzy also saw Naa Oyoe Quartey picking up the prize for Best Talent. Judges for the contest were Big Brother The Chase Namibian housemate, Maria, host of Who Wants To Be Rich, Kafui Dey, star actor Van Vicker, designer Bee Arthur and Theresa Ayoade. The Malaika God-sisters, Joselyn Dumas, Hammamat Montia and Sandra Ankobiah were also in attendance to support their girls. Joselyn Dumas was particularly happy as two of her girls came tops!

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