Wednesday, 20 April 2022
Monday, 24 May 2021
Foreign Nationals and Municipal Elections in Finland
Electoral rights of foreign nationals in municipal elections of Finland
Right to vote
In municipal elections of Finland, entitled to vote are Finnish citizens who reach the age of 18 years on election day at the latest and reside in Finland. In addition, entitled to vote are:
1) citizens of other EU Member States, Iceland and Norway residing in Finland, under the same conditions as Finnish citizens; and
2) citizens of other states if they have resided continuously in Finland for at least two (2) years on the 51st day before election day when the voting register for municipal elections is established.
No one needs to separately register to be entered in the voting register for municipal elections. Instead, the Digital and Population Data Services Agency compiles the register by virtue of office, based on the information entered in the Finnish Population Information System for each individual.
Right to stand as a candidate
As a rule, every person entitled to vote in municipal elections is also eligible to stand as a candidate in municipal elections. However, persons who have been declared legally incompetent by a court decision and persons who perform certain tasks related to municipalities referred to in section 72 of the Local Government Act are not eligible to stand as candidates in municipal elections.
Candidates may be nominated by (a) political parties and (b) constituency associations. To become a candidate of a political party, the person must agree on this with the party in question. To become a candidate of a constituency association, the person must collect the signatures of at least ten (10) persons entitled to vote in the municipality in question in support of his or her candidacy. Further information on the nomination of candidates is provided by:
- registered political parties, and
- central municipal election boards, if the question concerns the establishment of a constituency association.
The above extract from the website of the Finnish electoral commission said it all regarding the rights of residents of foreign nationalities in Finland to vote and be voted for in Municipal elections.
But the pertinent question to ask is, are the foreign nationals effectively utilizing these rights?
In this article, we will feature some candidates of foreign backgrounds and from different political parties to find out what their manifestos sound like, and also know what other things they have in mind to offer.
Christian Thibault is a European of German extraction, from Bonn, to be precise
- Why I want to serve the people: I believe that we need to do a lot of work for and as a society and that so far democracy is the best form to do it. Democracy needs active participants and as such, I am ready to serve.
- What I think about diverse participation in local politics: It is very important that the diversity of a municipality's citizens is represented on every level of decision-making. In this, we have to remember that immigrants are not one homogenous group, but rather consist of multiple backgrounds and generations.
Habiba Ali is a young mother of Somalian extraction.
I am a young municipal councilor from Espoo, the Church Aid Aid Program Coordinator and mother of the family. As a person, I am brave, honest, and humane. I am very people-oriented and get along with different types. It has therefore been natural that in my working life I have ended up in positions where I have worked as a bridge-builder between communities. I enjoy meeting people and working together, it’s a strength that supports me.
John Opoku Aduajei is a young father of Ghanaian extraction
Your vote matters and it's respected to make a huge difference.
Kindly take your valid ID to the nearest Posti or supermarket and vote for John Opoku Aduadjei (955).
Also from the voting notice you received from Maistratti, there are listed in it the places closer to you where you can vote as well.
We're counting on your priceless vote to make a difference in our Municipality.
#Vote955
#SustainableEntrepreneurship
#betterlives4immigrants
Eligible persons of foreign background are hereby encouraged to use their votes to bring in those they believe will represent their interests, for this is the essence of democracy.
You cannot sit back and murmur your complaints when things do not favor your interest. The time to act is now. USE YOUR VOTING RIGHT do not waste those papers you got from the Digital and Population Data Services Agency.
CAST YOUR VOTES NOW!
Ike Ude-Chime is a freelance journalist and a member
of the European Journalists Network EJN
Saturday, 17 August 2019
WOMAN, SOURCE OF LIFE: ART EXHIBITION - EU-MAN (The European Union Migrant Artists Network)
Arts
is among the strongest medium for change in society.
Throughout
history, we find remnants of archaeological findings of the art that abounds in many modern societies of today as references to
support this.
As
society and culture are constantly in flux, they absorb new
influences which are made possible through contact with other
cultures, contacts, mostly through new migrants.
In
this way, culinary culture, dress culture, architecture, music,
visual arts and more are modified using the newly adapted
influences.
In
Finland, the signs of adapted influences are not hard to find, just
like in every other nation of the world, and these influences help in
no little way to beautify the society and make it more dear to the
rest of the world.
For
these influences to be made available, we need what I may term;
Influence Generators.
It
takes a certain kind of individual, and groups to supply the tools
that will help to generate the process of change, it also requires
resilience, patience, and persistent continuity to qualify as an
influence generator.
EU-MAN,
The European Migrants Artists Network fitted
very well into the above category as influence generator. The organization through the resilience of its founder, and Chairman,
Amir Khatib has made much impact in the art circle in Finland and
around Europe since its formation in 1997, some 22 years ago.
The
organization over these years have conducted dozens of exhibition in
Finland and around Europe, which featured all together over 100
European Migrant artists.
The
impacts of these exhibitions have been quite awesome, considering the huge wave of diversity they portrayed.
WOMAN,
SOURCE OF LIFE EXHIBITION
EU-MAN
recently donned a new cap on Thursday the 15th of August 'Helsinki
City Night of The Arts' when it opened the 'Woman, Source of Life
Exhibition.
The opening had quite an impressive turnout even considering the fact
that it took place on a day the entire city was superinfused with
artistic happenings.
The exhibition featured the works of 44 artists, and it included
paintings in different mediums, carvings, and installations.
The
opening of the exhibition was by JP
(Juha-Pekka) Väisänen,
a conceptual artist, cum Politician, (PJ is the present chairperson
of the Finnish Communist Party, (SKP)
In
his opening speech, Väisänen emphasized the importance of the
exhibition in the ongoing debate on good society, the role of the
artist and change.
He
thinks that the best thing about the exhibition is that the works
challenge the viewer to want to know the worlds behind the pictures.
Väisänen
urges the government of Antti Rinne to increase the percentage of
funding for arts and culture of the state
budget.
 |
| JP (Juha-Pekka) Väisänen, a conceptual artist, cum Politician |
(Excerpt
from Väisänen's speech)
”The
Rinne government, which calls itself a leftist government, must do
better today, with circular pledges and long-term action to change
the situation today. Artists, and in particular migrant artists and
their interest groups such as EU MAN, need basic everyday security,
salary for the artist's work and funding for organizations.
We
artists have a role to play. We need to demand a more prominent place
and pay for our work as artists and organizations. I think the role
of art is to be like life, enable participation and change the world.
The artist's task is also a challenge where everyone has the freedom
to define their own work and their goals.
The
44 artists in this exhibition challenge us for a discussion. I dare
say that the organizers of the exhibition, the European Union Migrant
Artist Network, the curators Saad Al Falahi and Amir Khatib are
challenging us, the viewers to ask until the beauty is just in our
eyes.
This exhibition brings information, perspectives, and speeches to the
Finnish debate, without which it would not be possible without
immigrant artists.
The
role of the Immigrant Artists' Association in stimulating public
debate on good society, human rights, equality, participatory
democracy, and tolerance is essential. I argue that this exhibition
is also a challenge to want to know more about what is behind these
pictures. Why a woman hanging on a cross
EU-MAN
with this additional cap has shown that it has no plans on relenting
on its goal as stated on their website with the caption – WhyWe Started:
"On
a bird's wing, a bird that I have never and shall never see and from
a long time, I came to the furthest north, to Finland.
More
than a decade and a half and I am still braiding my black hair to be
a bridge to pass.
Our
worried eyes collected all the love to tell you that we were here,
lied, interacted and did… yes, we did that all in a field that is
considered the lung by which all humans are breathing; it is the art
field, especially the visual art. It is the swing of love to draw the
future.
Art
is the language that everybody understands, it is like love, I would
not say like politics. Our aim in principle was to declare the
movement within a third culture* in the arts field; it is a cultural
human goal as we are more than 28 million immigrants in Europe and
some of us are Europeans by feelings and future. Maybe we are
different from the roots, but branches are in Europe and they will
remain as such”
The
Woman, Source of Life Exhibition
is still open
15
August to 1st September
Curators:
Saad
Al Falahi
Amir
Khatib
 |
| Amir Khatib, Chairman European Union Migrant Artists Network |
Sunday, 2 August 2015
Bonding Through Culture in the Diaspora: The World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture, Virginia USA
 |
| Young Diaspora Igbo girl at the festival poses with calabash vessel on her head |
One of the largest group of Igbo people of Nigeria found in the diaspora nowadays reside in the United States of America. During the British colonial era in Nigeria, most educated Nigerians preferred Britain as a destination for further studies, but in the 1920s a radical Igbo chap chose to act differently, he was Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, fondly called Zik of Africa. He graduated from Lincoln University Pennsylvania in 1930 and was to become one of the pioneers and a very prominent figure in Nigeria's quest for independence from Britain. He ended up being the first Governor-General of Nigeria, and subsequently the new Nigeria's first President.
 |
| Young Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe |
After his studies on returning back to Nigeria, he started encouraging others, his kinsmen and other Nigerians, and West Africans to study in the US as he believed that will open their eyes towards Pan Africanism.
Kwame Nkruma of Ghana was among the young men he influenced to study in America.
From that moment, America became an important destination for the quest for the Golden Fleece, as western education was termed in those days. A great number of Igbo and other Nigerian elites who were founding fathers of the Nigerian nation were trained in the US. This trend continued until 1967 when Nigeria went into civil war.
At the end of the war after the Nigerian government declared 'No victor, no vanquished' the Igbo people who were a major part of Biafran a people that attempted to secede from Nigeria, became victims of all sorts of institutional discrimination when the attempt failed.
 |
| Ikpririkpe war dancers |
Today the United States can boast of over. twenty-five thousand Nigerian Americans and this number is dominated by people of Igbo extraction. Those young Igbo men and women who left Nigeria to study in America are now in their middle ages and many are grandfathers with grandchildren. Many of them are highly paid professionals, with their children towing the same line.
Being far away from home comes with a lot of challenges, People get homesick as they miss their home environment. They miss the traditional food, music, and other ways of life they have grown up with. The Igbo people are known for their love for their culture, 'Omenala' and with their belief in the philosophy of 'Nwanne di na mba' (There is brotherhood abroad) they often seek each other when they are in a foreign land, and form associations for the promotion and sharing of their culture.
With this in mind, it is not surprising therefore that in the USA as in other parts of the world where Igbo people abound, they often set up an association.
 |
| Igbo children dance group relaxing |
CISA is the umbrella organization of all the associations representing people from Igbo states of Nigeria resident in America. The Igbo state associations are made up of Igbo town unions in the USA. With this structure, the Igbo Americans were able to build a large network of its members cutting across the entire United States. They also use the synergy of this union to carry out massive development projects in their various home states in Nigeria, projects designed to help alleviate poverty, healthcare, and infrastructural problems.
The World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture
Last year, CISA organized it's first major Igbo cultural festival outside Nigeria, The Igbo Festival of Arts which took place at the Igbo Farm Village of the Frontier Museum, Staunton Virginia.
 |
| Nkwa Umuagbogho dancer |
Recently, the second World Igbo Festival of Arts took place at the same venue, it kicked off on Thursday, July 23 through Saturday, July 25. The festival featured symposiums, exhibitions, music performances, cultural displays, and traditional interactive arts, Igbo traditional cuisines, and cultural dresses. Some of the highlights were the 'Nkwa Umuagbogho' maiden dance, masquerade displays, Abriba war dance, Children's dance performance, and more.
During the festival, African Americans who recently found their Igbo ancestry through DNA test were ceremonially given Igbo names in a ritual performed by the Igbo traditional king, Eze Nri, HRH Obidiegwu Onyeso (MFR)
The event was attended by Diaspora Igbo people from all parts of North America and from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Prominent Igbo sons and daughters were also in attendance some of whom were
a team of Arik Airline delegates lead by Dr. Onyeani, the Vice-President of Arik Airlines. Others were Royal fathers Eze Nri, HRH O. Onyeso, HRH Eze Cletus Ilomuanya. There were also delegates from Namibia, South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Liberia, Cameroon, Canada, Mexico, etc.
In a concluding statement on the festival, Mathias Mgbeafulu, the Secretary-General of Council of Igbo States in America, CISA, had this to say,
"Indeed festivals of this magnitude require a tremendous amount of advanced planning, and CISA's success was made possible in part by the efforts of its leadership and the hard work of the festival planning committee led by professor Paul Oranika, the Frontier Museum management, and staff, students of Igbo school Boston, the Ogene Organization of Virginia led by Hon Emeka Nwosu, The Igbo Council of Chiefs USA, led by Dr, Nwachukwu Anakwenze, the goodwill of the traditional ruler, and of course the support of all who had time to attend."
Igbo people in Diaspora in every Conner of the globe have often used their culture as a binding force within their homes away from home. One very popular Igbo traditional festival that plays this role most is the Iri-Ji Festival, The New Yam Festival, a harvest thanksgiving that is celebrated yearly between the months of September and October.
These cultural activities have recently become the bonding power among Igbo people in the diaspora, helping to strengthen the younger generation by giving them a solid identity with their roots.
Friday, 6 March 2015
COUNCIL OF IGBO STATES IN AMERICAS [CISA] TO HOST WORLD IGBO FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CULTURE: JULY 23, 24, and 25 2015.
Press Release:
COUNCIL OF IGBO STATES IN AMERICAS [CISA] TO HOST WORLD IGBO FESTIVAL OF ARTS & CULTURE: JULY 23, 24, and 25 2015.
Chief/Esteem Guests/Honourables/Dr./Dame/Mr./Mrs/Ms;
Planning is in full force for the 2nd Igbo World Festival of Arts and Culture at the Igbo Village of the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton Virginia, USA. We are calling on all Igbos both at home and in the Diaspora to plan to participate at this exciting Festival to showcase and enjoy the rich Igbo Cultural Heritage.
This epoch making event which holds on July 23, 24, and 25 2015, at Igbo Farm Village,Staunton, Virginia, U.S.A., is the 2ndIgbo festival of arts and culture to be jointly hosted by Diaspora Igbo Community and Cultural Associations in North America.
The 2nd World Igbo Festival of Arts and Culture is being organized by CISA in partnership with The Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton, Virginia, U.S.A.,and in collaboration with all apex Igbo communities from Abia State, Anambra State, Delta State (Anioma), Ebonyi State, Enugu State, Imo State, Rivers State, Igbo World Assembly (IWA), Nwannedinamba, U.S.A. etc. and other sister Igbo Cultural Associations in Canada, United States of America, Europe and Asia.
This event will showcase Igbo traditional naming ceremonies, traditional weddings, traditional Dance, Music, Nollywood Films, Books and Literary Works of Igbo Authors in Igbo and other Languages. The highlight of the event will be a rendition/reenactment of the legendary ‘Arochukwu War Dance’- a historical demonstration of Igbo heroism, Igbo Pride, and Great Igbo Culture and Heritage.
This year we are expecting many governors and VIPs, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Nollywood Actors will also be partnering with CISA and other Igbo Organizations for this memorable Festival. Reserve July 23-25th weekend for your family summer get away in Virginia to attend the Festival. We are encouraging All Igbo Organizations all over the world to take part in the Planning of the Igbo Cultural extravaganza 2015.
There are over 2,500 Igbo Organizations and Associations and Clubs in U.S. and Canada alone, and many more in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and South America. Last year we had 29 Igbo Organizations partnering with CISA for the Event and we are looking for more than 100 Igbo groups to be a part of this event. Ohaneze Ndigbo in South Africa just contacted us to tell us they are coming with a big cultural contingent, with their Cultural dance and masquerade. (ndi be anyi emume nke a ga adikwa egwu).
There will be exhibition of various Igbo Pre-historic artifacts tools and instruments from the past drawn from various parts of Igboland part of the Igbo World Civilization. We are expecting cultural dances from Anioma (Delta), Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states. Join us in the Planning; this event is for the unity of all Ndigbo. All Igbo groups planning to Partner with CISA for this festival please send an email to Okechukwu P. Oranika, Chairman, Planning Committee at oranika@aol.com or Echiemezie Ofili, General Secretary @ zykosky@gmail.com. We will be posting regular updates on the Festival planning activities as the logistics unfolds.
CISA is committed to working, collaborating and partnering with all, to leverage Ndiigbo in Diaspora as a strategic partner on Igbo advocacy. Its goal is the advancement of Igbo Culture and Arts in Americas and across the globe. CISA believes in working with any and all organization(s) whose main goal(s) and genuine aspirations are founded on the betterment of Ndi-Igbo at home and in Diaspora. No politics! No bias!!
CISA is committed to working, collaborating and partnering with all to leverage Ndi Igbo in Diaspora as a strategic partner on Igbo advocacy. Its goal is the advancement of Igbo Culture and Arts in Americas and across the globe.
Okechukwu P. Oranika
Chairman, Planning Committee
2nd Igbo World Festival of Arts and Culture 2015
Email oranika@aol.com
Chudi Asidianya
President, Council of Igbo States in Americas
(CISA)
----A brief history of interest below----
1700s West Africa
__._,_.___
Saturday, 31 May 2014
ENYI BIAFRA: Regimental Drill, Duty Songs, and Cadences from Biafra. A book by Dr Johnston Akuma Kalu Njoku
Biafra as a subject of history attract my attention easily, I guess this has to do with the complexities of the causes and the aftermath of the war, coupled with the activities during the war which I was unfortunate to have witnessed, and participated in at a vulnerable age of early adolescence.
I felt every vibe of the Biafra war, from whispers of rumors, through loud propaganda messages, to rumbling of tanks; From roaring of aircraft, rat-ta-tat of machine guns, to booming of bomb blasts. I remember also the sound of patriotic and solidarity songs, lamentation songs, and songs of prayer and dedication to God, I felt them all, I participated, and sang with my heart, and most time in tears.
I read many accounts of the war mostly written by leading dramatis personae of the conflict, mostly generals and other high ranking army officers, I also read a few accounts from ordinary innocent citizens caught in the web of war like me. The accounts by this later category I find more interesting simply because I could easily identify with them. being one who witnessed it, for was it not George F Kennan who wrote that "History is not what happened; History is what it felt like to be there when it happened".
 |
| The Author, Ticha Akuma Kalu Njoku |
ENYI BIAFRA is an extraordinary book of few words that spoke millions, or would I say sang millions.
It is an extraordinary book that in a few words and narratives captured an extraordinary activity of an era of collective anguish and uncertainty. An era of group anxiety and extreme psychological pressure.
Songs and music generally have often served as a source of solace in times of physical and psychological torment. Music and song therapy is an age long means of calming the mind in times of anxiety and uncertainty. The biblical story of David playing the harp to calm down the wrecked nerves of King Saul is a good example.
During the Nigeria-Biafra war, the Biafrans went through extreme physical and psychological trauma starting right from the pogrom, the massacre of innocent citizens of the Eastern region of Nigeria, which eventually lead to their quest to be independent. They were attacked for that reason and had to defend their lives.
The pains they went through was beyond description and they fought with bare hands, producing their own weapons due to blockade. They hung all their hope on providence, hoping that the heavenly powers will come to their aid since they were innocent of any aggression, so they sang patriotic songs to keep hope alive, they sang lamentation songs to express their losses, they sang songs of prayer and hope to appease God.
They believed every word, every line of these songs, for their survival depended on anything they could lay their hands on.
My good friend and compatriot, Ticha Akuma Kalu Njoku couldn't have captured this feeling better. He was part of it all, being a song leader in the Biafra army. He joined the army in July 1967 and rose to the rank of Sergeant.
At the end of the war, Johnston Akuma Kalu Njoku got his BA in Music from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, MA in historical Musicology from Michigan States University, and two Phds in ethno-musicology and Folklore from Indiana University. A combination of all these made it possible for him to give us the privilege of viewing Biafra from the perspective of regimental drill, duty songs, and cadences.
The book contains 35 songs, lyrics and musical notes inclusive. There is also a CD of recorded audio version of the songs.
The book can be found on the site of Smithsonian Institute through the link below
Dr Jhonston Akuma Kalu Njoku is a retired Professor at the Western Kentucky University where he taught courses in World Music, Folklore, Ethno-musicology, and People's and Cultures of Africa.
Apart from his academic position, Dr Njoku is also head of the Heritage Institute of Igbo World Assembly and is the main resource person for the Igbo Farm Village at the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.
Other publications by the author
Before the Middle Passage: Igbo Slave Journeys to Old Calabar and Bonny” Repercussions of the Atlantic Slave Trade: The Interior of the Bight of Biafra and the African Diaspora, edited by Carolyn Brown and Paul Lovejoy. Trenton, New Jersey: Africa World Press (2011) 57-69.
Amamihe: The Basis of Igbo Culture and Character formation. Goldline and Jacobs Publishers, NJ, Canada, and Owerri, 2010.
“The Atlantic Slave Trade, Colonialism, Gender, and Class Transformations in the Bight of Biafra Hinterland” in Olaudah Equano and the World. Edited by Chima Korieh. Africa World Press, (2009), pp. 203-217.
“Civil Society Practices among the Igbo People of Nigeria,” in Comparative Perspective of Civil Society, edited by Robert Dibie. Lexington Books 2008, pp. 209-223
Oral tradition and the material culture of the Atlantic slave trade as historical source: evidence from the Bight of Biafra hinterland. In The Aftermath of Slavery: Transitions and Transformations in Southeastern Nigeria. Edited by Chima J. Korieh and Femi J. Kolapo. Trenton,
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