Happy Holidays from UAO! 

Top news stories from Chicago and the African continent

Music from DJ Ziggs

Advice Box: African Hair Braiders

Hambesha: An Eritrean Dish

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Click the link below to see the full details of news, events and music featured on the podcast.

 Intro:

Welcome to African Voices, episode 15! In this episode, we highlight local news as well as news from the African Continent. Upcoming events, Advice on African hair braiders, an Eritrean dish, music from DJ Ziggs, and an Africans in Chicago interview with______.Local News:

Drivers License for ALL passes through Illinois Senate

In a historic bi-partisan vote in the Fall Veto Session, the Illinois Senate passed SB 957 in support of the Highway Safety Bill!

Please call House Speaker Madigan at 217-782-5350 or 773-581-8000 and ask him to call and pass the bill in the House during January Veto Session. Here’s a script when you call:

“Hello, my name is ________. I am with ______________ (organization/institution), a member of the Highway Safety Coalition. I want to thank Speaker Madigan for supporting driver’s license bill SB957/HB6228, which ensures that ALL drivers are licensed and insured. I would like to ask him to please call and pass the bill next month. Thank you very much.”

African News:

Egypt: Egypt opposition backs referendum ‘No’ vote

Egypt’s opposition National Salvation Front has urged supporters to vote “No” in a looming referendum on a controversial draft constitution.

However, it said it could still call a boycott if its demands for the ballot – including the judiciary acting as overseer – were not met.

The opposition says the draft document, backed by President Mohammed Morsi and his supporters, is too Islamist.

The controversy has prompted mass demonstrations across Egypt.

In a separate development, conciliation talks called for Wednesday by the head of the armed forces have been postponed, with no new date announced.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20696571

South Africa: South Africa’s Jacob Zuma to face Kgalema Motlanthe challenge-

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma will face a challenge for the leadership of the ANC next week from his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe.

Mr Motlanthe’s spokesman Thabo Masebe said that Mr Motlanthe had accepted his nomination to stand as ANC leader.

Mr Zuma has received most nominations, but his critics say he has failed to tackle South Africa’s problems.

The African National Congress leader will be overwhelming favourite to win elections due in 2014.

The ANC has gained more than 60% of the vote in each of the national elections held since

the end of white minority rule in 1994.

But it is facing increasing accusations that it is not doing enough to boost economic growth, or to combat corruption.

Mr Masebe said Mr Motlanthe had agreed to run for the ANC leadership after being nominated by the most branches in three of South Africa’s nine provinces.

“He’s always said branches must be given a chance to express their free will,” Mr Masebe said.

Mr Motlanthe was also available to continue serving as deputy president, or as a member of the party’s national executive committee, he said.

Although there has been months of speculation that Mr Motlanthe would run against Mr Zuma, this is the first confirmation that he would accept his nomination.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20713435

Mali: Django Sissoko named as Mali prime minister

Malian interim President Diouncounda Traore has appointed a new PM, less than 24 hours after his predecessor was forced to resign by the military.

Django Sissoko, an official in the presidency, has been named to succeed Cheick Modibo Diarra, who has been under arrest since his resignation.

Th[...]