Marketplace Blog

A report commissioned by French president Emmanuel Macron is calling for a change in heritage law that would see thousands of African artworks, currently housed in French museums, returned to their countries of origin.

Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French historian Bénédicte Savoy authored the report, which calls not for a long-term loan but a permanent restitution, that is unless museums can prove that objects in question were obtained legitimately. The report follows a vow last year from Macron that artifacts would begin being returned to Africa in the next five. “I cannot accept that a large part of the cultural heritage of several African countries is in France,” Macron said in Ouagadougou, the Burkina Faso capital.

“There are historical explanations for this but there is no valid, lasting and unconditional justification. African heritage cannot be only in private collections and European museums – it must be showcased in Paris but also in Dakar, Lagos and Cotonou. This will be one of my priorities.” With many of the artworks being “acquired” by foreign entities in the 19th century, there is not always clear documentation on the transfer, which many see as a simple case of looting.

The report will be released on Friday and, according to The New York Times, estimates that 90 to 95 per cent of Africa’s cultural heritage resides outside of the continent. If France takes steps to return African artworks, there will be pressure on museums in other countries to do the same. On Tuesday, the governor of Easter Island was in tears as she begged the British Museum to return one of its main statues – the Hoa Hakananai’a – saying: “You have our soul.”

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Africa is redefining lifestyle. All over the world, attention keeps shifting to what was once termed the ‘dark continent’. From scholarly endeavours, business innovations to fashion, runway shows, and manufacturing, there is an infusion of African culture in the lifestyle of people all over the world.

Africa is full of options. There are problems that need solving. Vast opportunities abound and a plethora of untapped potentials. It is really a gold mine waiting to be explored. It is time for smart business owners to proffer solutions to these problems, explore the prospects and dig into the massive human and natural resources on the continent.

Africa is rich in culture and tradition and these are told and portrayed in its art, fabrics, paintings, sculptures, hand-made crafts, fashion, decorations and food….such as those you find on platforms like Cartehub.com. These items have as an integral part, the dynamic passion and care of the African spirit. Each item comes alive with colour and flair as seen in the boisterous African way of being.

It is time to boost the economic growth of Africa for sustainability, provide high quality African products, boost sales for home-grown merchants and attract better prices for made in Africa products. Most importantly, however, you must possess a ‘Made in Africa’ item because African is the new cool. Afrocentric is the new way of being. It is time to infuse the hues and shades of this fast growing continent, with its many constant contrasts, changes and all the goodness Africa brings to your life!!! 

Welcome to CARTEHUB!!!

The ever evolving reality, which is Africa as an emerging market, keeps expanding and opening up new opportunities for development on the continent. Africa has changed in the last decade with the gradual inflow of investments and growing infrastructure. This emerging market shows a shift towards the financial sustainability of African economies.

Countries on the continent are also experiencing an increase in entrepreneurship, especially involving the young African population, who find the reason to solve a problem in their environment. Quoting smallstarter.com, “Millionaires in Africa should no longer be determined and celebrated by the size of their bank accounts, but by the size and scale of the problems they’re solving on the continent.”

Springing from the heart of Africa, therefore, is Cartehub, an indigenous online marketplace, developed to bridge the gap between Africa’s homegrown merchants and customers off the shores of Africa. Cartehub goes to the source of native entrepreneurs who produce items infused with the passion and love, unity and dynamism of the African spirit; and showcases them, via its online platform to customers overseas.

Your whole lifestyle should be infused with something African. The choices are unlimited. Products ranging from body and skincare, packaged African foods to male and female fashion items and accessories, as well as African arts and crafts can be ordered and shipped worldwide on Cartehub.com

Lionheart, the 2018 movie, Directorial debut of one of Nigeria's finest, Genevieve Nnaji, bought by and currently on Netflix, is trending on Twitter today at No 1.

This is an exciting feat for Nollywood and the Nigerian culture. As Genevieve said, its telling our story, by us. Lionheart depicts the everyday story in the life of an Igbo business man and his family. It shows the struggles, love and unity in the extended family. It showcases everything positive from the responsibility of the first girl child in handling the family business, to a father\'s appreciation of his youngest son\'s artistry.

Lionheart is set in the heart of SouthEast Nigeria. Those who have visited and are familiar with Enugu state will definitely enjoy the feeling of identifying the various scenes. The movie also takes us to Kano, a beautiful city in the Northern part of Nigeria.

There are lots of good points for Lionheart. Let's recount some of them, shall we?!

* Lionheart displays the rich culture of the igbo and hausa language, and the fact that both can come together without rancour.

* It is a total departure from the average storyline of many igbo themed movies. The uncle isn't trying to take over his brother's company; the oldest daughter is the one with the business acumen; the father doesn't disown his son for going into music; the mother knows how to handle each member of her family unbiased.

* It depicts a United family, both nuclear and extended. A family deeply rooted in their culture, who are expressive with their mother tongue and cherish the values on which they were brought up.

* The movie is particularly detailed. Everything from the meals, to the costumes, to the offices, cars, locations all showcased businesses owned by Nigerians and the Naija spirit.

Lionheart is Genevieve's gift to Nigerians, home and abroad. Our hearts lie in our family values. Our strength is in the people we love and our hope for a better nation starts with making ourselves the best in whatever we do.

"You are the pendulum of my life. If you stop swinging, then I'm gone." - Chief Obiagu (Pete Edochie)
This should be our mantra. Our country, its culture and our traditions should run deep in our veins........and we keep it swinging by passing on to the future generations. Without it, we die!!!

Adorn you.

Be unique.

Be you.

Embrace your sensuality.

As far back as time, women have found it difficult accepting themselves and their bodies. It’s discomforting enough that the media tells you how to be, what to be and how to look. Lots of women grow to resent their bodies especially after child birth. Body shaming has suddenly become a thing.

In trying to learn and love womanhood in its entirety, accessorizing has enhanced the celebration of the woman's body. One of such accessories is the waist beads.

The practice of wearing waist beads goes as far back as the Egyptians hieroglyphs; women wore them for various reasons, from accepting and embracing their sexuality, seducing a significant other, to wearing it just for the very practical use of weight control.

Africa - filled with indigenous beauty, culture, and uniqueness, - celebrates adornment of waist beads by women here and overseas. Beads can be worn at all times, whilst bathing, or sleeping and can be a symbol of sensuality, and rites of passage.

Beads are believed to grace the hips, making them a lot curvier. Waist beads worn from birth are believed to shape the girl child's waist but if a grown woman decides to adorn her body with beads, so much the better. There is a waist bead length for every woman. Whichever ways you choose to wear yours, they are truly beautiful.

Beads represent culture and heritage and women who indulge in this unique practice are said to be daring.

They are made with various materials from corals, rhinestones to rocks and other organic materials.

Would you like some unique, well-crafted and beautiful waist beads?!

Cartehub is one place you can get one.

It is the MARKETPLACE for all things African.

Think Africa! Shop Africa!! Shop Cartehub!!!

It is no longer news that Africa is taking the world by storm!

A performance at the closing show of the Vienna Fashion Week 2018, tagged COLORS OF AFRICA, which has gone viral, affirms this fact. This performance featured the Gold Caviar Crew dancing to Mafikizolo’s Khona, bare feet, doing various Afropop dances like the shaku shaku, gwara gwara and the zanga steps on the runway.

The group's Instagram bio {wearegcc} describes them as “Bringing #Afrodance and Good Vibes to Vienna”. This is what Africa is. This is our reality. Showcasing our beauty and bringing positive vibes to the world. One of the ways we do this is through our music and dance.

African music tells of our rich heritage and diversity. We see this in our music composition, our varied tongue twisting lyrics, our beautiful languages, our earthy and energetic steps, our sensual hip sways and rhythms in tune with our vibrant music. In action, it is indeed breathtaking to watch; a beauty to behold. This is who we are.

Africa has come to stay.

Africa is the new cool.

Africa is the new best thing.

Wouldn’t you want to be a part of this movement?

Cartehub is one way to be African. It is our one-stop marketplace for all things Africa.

Be You! Shop Cartehub! Shop Africa! Be Africa!

Season 8, Episode 3 of the globally acclaimed Game of Thrones brings to mind the struggles and fights which African countries have had to face.

Case in point is the brave Theon Greyjoy. What is so striking and unforgettable in his last appearance is the way he looked right at the Night king before he charged into him. It seemed his courage came when Bran told him that everything he’s faced, led him back “home”. That was all the validation he needed. He then throws all caution to the wind, and makes the ultimate sacrifice to defend his home, charges at this common enemy, the Night King as a spear is driven right through him.

As jaw-dropping as this episode is, the fact that the Dothrakis, the Unsullied, the Mother of dragons, the people of Winterfell, young and old came together and with one voice, and defeated a common enemy in one fell swoop, changes the narrative of this season. Moral of the story is: You can never go wrong with defeating your enemy while ignoring the negative narratives.

Another case in point: Daenerys Targaryen – the Queen Mother of Dragons - learnt the hard way to stand up for herself; after she got played by Cersei Lannister, who left her hanging just when she needed her the most. This goes to show that when it’s time to fight, you get up and get with the program! This is what the kingdoms at Winterfell did!

This episode hits so close to home, it reminds me of the wars that have ravaged Africa, from the South African Apartheid, to the Rwandan genocide; the fights against the Tutsi, and others. However, the rise from the ashes characterizes the end of each struggle. All these struggles have birthed a new found need for unity among the people. Look at Rwanda today, breaking grounds, as the most business-friendly country in Africa, according to the 2018 Governance Index. Rwanda learnt its lessons and became one of the most beautiful cities in Africa.

It’s believed that, one of the secrets to this progress is self-love and love for each other. When love happens, value is placed on what and who we are. This is in turn reflected in our way of life, in our culture, our crafts, arts, and the totality of or being. As rapid decolonization sweeps Africa, we see a people who understand their heritage and own it. We see a deep eagerness to harness what we have and make the world see the beauty that has come from this chaos.

We see this in the production of various goods such as; coffee from Uganda and Cote d’Ivoire - who rank among the world’s highest producers; to Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Nigeria who grow beans with exceptional flavor; and 40% of the world’s prosthetics made from the cobalt that is produced in the Katanga region in the democratic of Congo; You want soft, clear and healthy skin, Shea butter from Africa is your best choice; Cashew nuts are a top earning commodity for Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire, Mozambique and Tanzania.

And oh! The finger licking goodness that is chocolate, of which Cote d’Ivoire is by far the top producer of chocolate in the world while Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon are ranked among the world’s top 10 producers of cocoa!

Palm oil may not be very common internationally but it is the most widely consumed oil in the world processed from palm trees in Africa.

Bringing all these products to you is Cartehub - Africa’s online marketplace.

So get on board!

Africa and a Game of Thrones - Fighting for our thrones, owning it and turning our pain to something even more beautiful.

Think Africa

Shop Africa

Shop Cartehub!

#GOT

#Africa

Folklore music genre varies from culture to culture. The African folklore music dates back as far as time.

In determining whether a piece of music is of the folklore genre, performers and enthusiasts would probably agree on several criteria ranging from mode of performance or rendition, patterns of transmission and delivery to its origins.

Folklore music is learned through hearing and not in formal institutions and is passed down from generations.

A good presentation of a folklore piece of music is that of the Adunni and Nefertiti group from Nigeria, performing at the World Food Prize, 2017.  Dr. Adewunmi Adesina, was nominated and awarded the world food prize for his roles over the past two decades with the Rockefeller Foundation, at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and as Minister of Agriculture of Nigeria in 2017.

The beautiful rendition had His Excellency, the former president of Nigeria and Dr. Adesina with his wife, dancing to the rapturous, sonorous, and earthy rhythm of this piece of music.

The Yoruba indigenous music was flawlessly delivered at this event to an audience consisting of people from varied cultures and walks of life.

Folklore music captures the very essence of Cartehub, showcasing the richness, beauty and depth of Africa to the world.

Here is the praise 'Oriki' recited at the introduction of their performance at the World Food Prize Ceremony.

Dudu oh oooo,

Dudu mirimiri la wo,

Akinkanju ni wa ni le baba wa,

A  o  pe a o re le ajeji

Aje ju wa o, o fi ri o

Ba ba de ajo, a je ila fun fun,

A de ajo , a je abesun

Ire de o, okuka meta, e le wa ra

Translation:

Black

Shining black is the complexion

We are courageous in our fatherland

We did not say that we won’t visit a foreign land,

The earth appeases us

Wealth is greater and that is the truth,

It was when we got to a foreign land,  we ate white okra,

When we got to a foreign land, we ate to sleep.

Here comes goodness,

Three crystal stones unveiled.

Three crystal stones unveiled.

I’ve gone to Ibadan (repeated four times)

If you ask of me at home and I’m absent,

I’ve gone to Ibadan,

The home of Adesina Akinwumi

Watch video below: