Blog Post

Kobe Bryant stood for black excellence against backdrop of racism

Willy Mahailet • Jan 28, 2020
The death of American basketball legend Kobe Bryant has rocked the sporting world, with the effects felt as far afield as South Africa. The 41-year-old Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday, and were among nine people who lost their lives on the doomed aircraft. South African political party Economic Freedom Fighters paid tribute to Bryant on Monday.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the most celebrated and talented basketball players of his time. His tragic passing at the age of 41 comes with great pain to us all. After giving the world the excellence of his sportsmanship and the magnificent of his skill, he deserved a long life,” said the EFF in a statement. “Against a backdrop of racism, Bryant and his generation stood for black excellence. He is a legend who will continue to paint many walls of black lives to inspire greatness and pride. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Bryant also visited Soweto once in 2010, as part of a health project with Nike. "While basketball is my chosen sport, I've been a football fan all my life. So to be in South Africa for the first time and see how Nike is utilising sport to inspire youth and educate them around HIV/AIDS is amazing,” said Bryant at the time. “It’s crystal clear that this centre will help keep kids out of trouble, improve their game, as well as empower them with the life skills they need to live better and HIV free.”

AFROBIZ - Toronto Black Owned Business Blog

Protests in Downtown Toronto Regis Korchinski-Paquet
By Willy Mahailet 30 May, 2020
Thousands of people have gathered downtown demanding answers in the death of a 29-year-old woman who fell from her apartment balcony while police were present.
Black owned family fitness personal trainer
By Willy Mahailet 18 May, 2020
As the coronavirus continues to spread, fitness studios around the country are shutting their doors and adjusting to a new reality. The sudden shift has inspired creativity and flexibility for gyms and studios, which are largely dependent on physical locations and on-site staff.
Black College Students Gap year and coronavirus
By Willy Mahailet 17 May, 2020
More students are considering deferral, and those who do tend to pay full tuition, which threatens campus budgets.
Samantha Josaphat
By Willy Mahailet 14 May, 2020
Samantha Josaphat is an architect and the founder of STUDIO 397 ArchitecturePLLC. Part of the mere 0.2% of black female Architects registered in the United States, she is the 397th Black Woman to be licensed.
5 Toronto Black-Owned Businesses You Can Still Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic
By Willy Mahailet 21 Mar, 2020
Toronto Black-Owned Businesses You Can Still Support During The Coronavirus Pandemic
Black Owned Hair and beauty products
By Willy Mahailet 20 Mar, 2020
Executives explain how consumers and small businesses can navigate this difficult time. Black-Owned Brands Brace For Impact Of the Coronavirus
La légende de l'afro-jazz Manu Dibango a annoncé être victime de coronavirus.
By Willy Mahailet 20 Mar, 2020
Le célèbre saxophoniste a annoncé sur sa page Facebook être atteint du Covid-19. Mais a tenu à rassurer ses nombreux fans, il se repose et récupère dans la sérénité.
Aurlus Mabélé, star de la musique congolaise Decede a Paris du Covid19
By Willy Mahailet 20 Mar, 2020
La légende du Soukouss congolais, Aurlus Mabélé est décédé, ce jeudi 19 Mars 2020 à l’âge de 67 ans, à Paris. L’annonce a été faite par sa fille Liza Monet, sur sa page Facebook.
CORONA VIRUS WORLD STATISTICS
By Willy Mahailet 20 Mar, 2020
Latest live coronavirus COVID19 statistics around the world tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, and death toll by country due to the COVID 19 coronavirus
The Nile List | Black Girl Buying
By Willy Mahailet 05 Mar, 2020
as posted on The Nile List Black Girl Buying with the Nile List Growing up, the only time I really saw Black people running things was at church, the barbershop, and the beauty salon. Despite this, I regularly heard people talk about why they did not want to support Black owned businesses: it’s too expensive, you get poor quality products, the customer service is terrible, I can’t find a good one, etc. As a child, I could not decide on my own where money was going, so convenience always won (until it was time for this hair to get pressed and curled – Black salon all day long). Moving to Atlanta for undergrad was the first time that I saw different types of Black people leading in different ways. My classmates were ready to take over the world, but I still heard the same comments disparaging buying Black. Then I went to graduate school in St. Louis and Mike Brown was killed and my university with all its resources did nothing. For months, I struggled to find something that I felt I could do to make a differenc
Show More
Share by: