The ‘Side eye’ is the facial response given to people, events, or actions that are silly and ridiculous. Side Eye Stories will summarize instances that we can’t be bothered to write a long-form response to, but wanna express our skepticism towards. Without further ado, here are this week’s picks:
This week The Independent reported that a US Embassy Cable unearthed by Wikileaks detailed Richard Branson‘s plan to bankroll the ousting of Robert Mugabe. The Cable was written in 2007, a week before Branson announced his financial support for ‘The Elders’ – a group of prominent figures including Nelson Mandela, Jimmy Carter, and Kofi Annan. The cable says that Branson would sponsor a meeting of The Elders in which they would discuss how to approach Mugabe and respectfully ask him to step down from office. That’s so badass. Unfortunately, it was all talk and no action – the meeting never took place.
And a ton more, after the jump.
Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria got a pretty bad wrap in the 90s. Signs warning passengers of weak security there were posted by the FAA in terminals all over the United States. When Obasanjo became president in ’99, the airport’s infrastructure and security improved greatly. The side eye came out when we spotted this senseless gem creating fear at the DOMESTIC terminal at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport. It might as well read: Lagos, Nigeria is dangerous as shit. Enjoy your flight to Kansas City, Missouri.
Thanks to Common‘s recent book, we now know what Angelina Jolie thinks about Fela Kuti‘s music. Apparently Common writes in his book that he made Angelina a CD of “Fela and some other stuff.” Her response to the CD was: “that’s some real dark warrior music.” Fela Kuti? Dark warrior music? Yo Common, we don’t think Angelina actually listened to that mixtape you made her. Btw, we’re not the only ones that Angelina irritates, check out Paul Zeleza‘s comments on her ridiculous Africa talk. Big thanks to G.D. at PostBourgie for spotting this fantastic side eye moment.
Do you ever wish you were an antelope so you could get away with things like this under the assumption that it’s an act of nature?
Chris From ‘The Wire’ Runs For Africa
Gbenga Akinnagbe, or “Chris” from The Wire is running the 26-mile NYC Marathon on Sunday Nov. 6th to support All For Africa and their “Palm Out Poverty” initiative in Africa. Every $20 pledged to Gbenga’s AFA running team will plant one palm tree on the continent. We caught up with him to check out his project and get word on life after the greatest tv show of all time.
OKA: What is the “Palm Out Poverty” project?
GA: It’s about planting over a million palm trees throughout the continent of Africa. Palm tree oil is heavily traded and very lucrative in Africa – and it grows quickly. The palms trees are on land that is allocated to non-profits on the ground, so the non-profits have a funding source of their own.
OKA: What is All For Africa?
GA: It’s a non-profit based out of New York that I’ve been working with for a few years. I believe international aid to Africa has been one of the most detrimental forces to the continent but AFA is different because it supports local economies.
OKA: How have you trained for the marathon?
GA: I’ve been running my ass off. I haven’t for the past few days because I injured my right foot. It’s not broken but I’m experiencing tendinitis.
OKA: Are you still going to run the marathon?
GA: Hell yes! It still hurts a great deal but I’m definitely going to run. Just have to figure out how. I’ve been training to get a decent time but I might be a little slower now.
OKA: What are you working on these days?
GA: I was doing a show called A Gifted Man and then I returned for another episode of Nurse Jackie this season (pictured below). I’m floating from show to show right now.
OKA: Do you miss The Wire?
GA: Yes and no. I think it ended at a good time. It was a very rare thing. It went out the way it was supposed to: under-watched and under-appreciated in it’s time – but then beloved by masses afterward.
OKA: What African music are you listening to right now? Especially to train for the marathon?
GA: I went to Nigeria for the first time this past December and by chance i ended up hanging out with a whole bunch of cool African musicians like M.I (I really dig his music) and his brother Jesse Jagz. My cousin is a rapper here in The States by the name of Wale. I consider him an African musician, and I dig his music. I’m really excited for his new album.
OKA: What’s your connection to Africa?
GA: My whole family is Nigerian, they’re from the Ondo State a few hours outside of Lagos. I was the first one born in The States. I grew up eating Nigerian food in a very Nigerian household in Maryland. To me, Africa is like Israel, once you’ve been there, it infects you, it calls you, you just have to go back.
OKA: Do you plan to go back soon?
GA: I would love to. While I was there I got my passport because I want to spend more time there. Work has kept me Stateside but hopefully I can go back again in December.