African Diaspora Day On The Hill

During CBC week (Congressional Black Caucaus) that took place in DC from September 9-15, I attended the African Diaspora Day on the Hill. Some notable encounters included Dr. Abike Dabiri, CEO of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and Ms. Anna Mwalagho, Swahili Language and Culture Lecturer at Howard University.

There is a backstory that made my surprise encounter with Ms. Anna Mwalagho magical. During undergrad at Bowling Green State University, I was Treasurer and then President of African Peoples Association (student organization). As President, I exuded a triumphant enthusiasm in vision-setting, mission-forming, and working with my executive team to design and implement programs to promote the African cause on campus. My organization work was the happiest years of my undergraduate experience!

Here is an excerpt from a 2007 school newspaper about African People’s Association:

Otiso, a faculty advisor for the APA, said he was impressed with [Ikenna] Ezealah’s vision and goals coming into office.

“Soon after being elected president a year ago, he proceeded to share his vision for the organization and what he hoped to accomplish in his tenure as president. I was amazed at his grasp of the issues,” said Otiso.

As president, Anyanwu said that Ezealah has had a tremendous impact.

“People are taking the organization more seriously than in the past. Now we are working with the mission statement in mind instead of being just a social group,” he said.

With a mission focused on educating the public about the real image of Africa, the organization has planned several educational events. The Annual Dinner Celebration on April 17th is the biggest event put on by the APA all year. 

https://bgfalconmedia.com/114108/news/bg-news/apa-goals-represented-by-single-growing-plant/

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And during my tenure as President, the main performer during the Annual Dinner was…. Ms. Anna Mwalagho! She is a renaissance woman with an inspiring affection for Africa.

After graduating I lost touch with Ms. Anna Mwalagho. Then while reflecting on my life during the COVID, a fire awakened within to participate in the post-colonial nation-building of Africa, so the institutions and systems accord with the indigenous heritage of the African people. I then enrolled in law school and set out on the course to be an international nation-building diplomat. After a foundational first year, I transferred to Washington College of Law in DC. Months later, I attended the African Diaspora Day on the Hill during CBC week. There, in a moment of wonder and nostalgia, I again crossed paths with Ms. Anna Mwalagho from my APA days! Life coming full circle.

In College I was just working joyfully as Treasurer and then President of African People’s Association. But in retrospect it appears the experience was a clue to a future life marked with the objective to be a helper and guardian of the welfare and further development of the African people!

Onward & Upward!

~Dr. Ikenna Ezealah