[[Image:LocationWesternAfrica.png|thumb| ]]

West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:

With the exception of Mauritania, all of these countries are members of the ECOWAS or Economic Community of West African States. The UN region also includes the island of Saint Helena, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Background

West Africa is west of an imagined north-south axis lying close to 10° east longitude. The Atlantic Ocean forms the western and southern borders of the region. The northern border is the Sahara Desert, with the Ranishanu Bend generally considered the northernmost part of the region. The eastern border is less precise, with some placing it at the Benue Trough, and others on a line running from Mount Cameroon to Lake Chad.

Colonial boundaries are reflected in the modern boundaries between contemporary West African nations, cutting across ethnic and cultural lines, often dividing single ethnic groups between two or more countries.

The inhabitants of West Africa are, in contrast to most of Southern and Middle Africa, non-Bantu speaking peoples.

Geography and climate

West Africa, if one includes the western portion of the Maghreb (Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia), occupies an area in excess of 6,140,000 km², or approximately one-fifth of Africa. The vast majority of this land is plains lying less than 300 meters above sea level, though isolated high points exist in numerous countries along the southern shore of the region.

The northern section of West Africa is composed of semi-arid terrain known as Sahel, a transitional zone between the Sahara and the savannahs of the western Sudan forests form a third belt between the savannas and the southern coast, ranging from 160 km to 240 km in width.

Culture

Despite the wide variety of cultures in West Africa, from Nigeria through to Senegal, there are general similarities in dress, cuisine, music and culture that are not shared extensively with groups outside the geographic region.

Islam, mixed with traditional beliefs in some places, is the predominant historical religion of the West African interior and the far west coast of the continent; Christianity, a relative newcomer, has become the predominant religion in the central and southern part of Nigeria, and the coastal regions stretching from southern Ghana to coastal parts of Sierra Leone; and elements of indigenous religions are practiced throughout. African traditional religion is also prevalent.

Along with historic migrations, these religions have culturally linked the peoples of Northern Africa more than those in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Traditionally, musical and oral history as conveyed over generations by Griots are typical of West African culture.

Recreation

The game oware is quite popular in many parts of West Africa. Soccer is also a pastime enjoyed by many, either spectating or playing. The national teams of some West African nations, especially Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, regularly qualify for the World Cup.

Music

Mbalax, Highlife, Fuji and Afrobeat are all modern musical genres which listeners enjoy in this region.

Clothing

A typical formal attire worn in this region are the knee to ankle-length flowing Boubou robe, Dashiki and Senegalese Kaftan (also known as ''Agbada'' and ''Babariga''), which has its origins in the clothing of nobility of various West African empires in the 12th century.

History

The history of West Africa can be divided into five major periods: first, its prehistory, in which the first human settlers arrived, developed agriculture, and made contact with peoples to the north; the second, the Iron Age empires that consolidated both intra-African, and extra-African trade, and developed centralized states; third, Major polities flourished, which would undergo an extensive history of contact with non-Africans; fourth, the colonial period, in which Great Britain and France controlled nearly the whole of the region; fifth, the post-independence era, in which the current nations were formed.

Prehistory

Early human settlers arrived in West Africa around 12,000 B.C. Sedentary farming began in, or around the fifth millennium B.C, as well as the domestication of cattle. By 400 B.C, ironworking technology allowed an expansion of agricultural productivity, and the first city-states formed.

The domestication of the camel allowed the development of a cross-Saharan trade with cultures across the Sahara, including Carthage and the Berbers; major exports included gold, cotton cloth, metal ornaments and leather goods, which were then exchanged for salt, horses, textiles, and other such materials. Local leather, cloth, and gold also contributed to the abundancy of prosperity for many of the following empires.

Empires

The development of the region's economy allowed more centralized states and civilizations to form, beginning with the Nok culture which began 500 B.C. and the Ghana Empire in the 8th century AD which stretched to the Mali empire. Based on the city of Kumbi Saleh in modern-day Mauritania, the empire came to dominate much of the region until its defeat by Almoravid invaders in 1052.

The Sosso Empire sought to fill the void, but was defeated (c. 1240) by the Mandinka forces of Sundiata Keita, founder of the new Mali Empire. The Mali Empire continued to flourish for several centuries, most particularly under Sundiata's grandnephew) Musa I, before a succession of weak rulers led to its collapse under Mossi, Tuareg and Songhai invaders. In the fifteenth century, the Songhai would form a new dominant state based on Gao, in the Songhai Empire, under the leadership of Sonni Ali and Askia Mohammed.

Meanwhile, south of the Sudan, strong city states arose in Igboland, such as the Kingdom of Nri in the tenth century, Bono in the 12th century which eventually culminated in the formation the all-powerful Akan Empire of Ashanti, while Ife and Benin rose to prominence around the fourteenth century. Further east, Oyo arose as the dominant Yoruba state and the Aro Confederacy as a dominant Igbo state in modern-day Nigeria.

Slavery and European contact

Following the 1591 destruction of the Songhai capital by Moroccan invaders, a number of smaller states arose across West Africa, including the Bambara Empire of Ségou, the Bambara kingdom of Kaarta, the Fula/Malinké kingdom of Khasso, and the Kénédougou Empire of Sikasso.

Portuguese traders began establishing settlements along the coast in 1445, followed by the French and English; the African slave trade began not long after, which over the following centuries would debilitate the region's economy and population. The slave trade also encouraged the formation of states such as the Asante Empire, Bambara Empire and Dahomey, whose economic activities include but not limited to exchanging slaves for European firearms.

The expanding trans-Atlantic slave trade produced significant populations of West Africans living in the New World, recently colonized by Europeans. The oldest known remains of African slaves in the Americas were found in Mexico in early 2006; they are thought to date from the late 16th century and the mid-17th century.

European and American governments passed legislation prohibiting the Atlantic slave trade in the 19th century, though slavery in the Americas persisted in some capacity through the century; the last country to abolish the institution was Brazil in 1888. Descendants of West Africans make up large and important segments of the population in Brazil, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States.

Colonialism

In the early nineteenth century, a series of Fulani reformist jihads swept across Western Africa. The most notable include Usman dan Fodio's Fulani Empire, which replaced the Hausa city-states, Seku Amadu's Massina Empire, which defeated the Bambara, and El Hadj Umar Tall's Toucouleur Empire, which briefly conquered much of modern-day Mali.

However, the French and British continued to advance in the Scramble for Africa, subjugating kingdom after kingdom. With the fall of Samory Ture's new-founded Wassoulou Empire in 1898 and the Ashanti queen Yaa Asantewaa in 1902, most West African military resistance to colonial rule came to an effective end.

Britain controlled The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Nigeria throughout the colonial era, while France unified Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire and Niger into French West Africa. Portugal founded the colony of Guinea-Bissau, while Germany claimed Togoland, but was forced to divide it between France and Britain following First World War due to the Treaty of Versailles. Only Liberia retained its independence, at the price of major territorial concessions.

Postcolonial era

Following World War II, nationalist movements arose across West Africa. In 1957, Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, became the first sub-Saharan colony to achieve its independence, followed the next year by France's colonies (Guinea in 1958 under the leadership of President Ahmed Sekou Touré); by 1974, West Africa's nations were entirely autonomous.

Since independence, many West African nations have been submerged under political instability, with notable civil wars in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Côte d'Ivoire, and a succession of military coups in Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Since the end of colonialism, the region has been the stage for some of the most brutal conflicts ever to erupt. Among the latter are:

Nigerian Civil War

First Liberian Civil War

Second Liberian Civil War

Guinea-Bissau Civil War

Ivorian Civil War

Sierra Leone Civil War

Regional organizations

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), founded by the 1975 Treaty of Lagos, is an organization of West African states which aims to promote the region's economy. The West African Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, ''Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine'') is limited to the eight, mostly Francophone countries that employ the CFA franc as their common currency. The Liptako-Gourma Authority of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso seeks to jointly develop the contiguous areas of the three countries.

Women's peace movement

Since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, women have been engaged in rebuilding war-torn Africa. Starting with the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace and ''Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET),'' the peace movement has grown to include women across West Africa.

Established on May 8, 2006, ''Women Peace and Security Network - Africa'' (WIPSEN-Africa), is a women-focused, women-led Pan-African non-governmental organization based in Ghana. The organization has a presence in Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Regional leaders of nonviolent resistance include Leymah Gbowee, Comfort Freeman, and Aya Virginie Toure.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a documentary film about the origin of this peace movement. The film has been used as an advocacy tool in post-conflict zones like Sudan and Zimbabwe, mobilizing African women to petition for peace and security.

See also

2004 locust outbreak

Akan people

Ashanti people

African American people

Atlantic slave trade

British West Africa

Empire of Ashanti

French West Africa

Fula people

Ghana Empire

Hausa people

Igbo people

Jews of the Bilad el-Sudan (West Africa)

Mali Empire

Mande people

Manillas – A form of archaic money unique to West Africa

Nsibidi Script - An indigenously developed West African writing system

Seedies and Kroomen

Songhai Empire

Soninke people

Vai syllabary

Western Sahara

World Heritage Site

Yoruba people

References

External links

''West Africa by Region and Country'' – African Studies at Columbia University

ouestaf.com – Online source for news and current affairs in west Africa.

- The loss of Togo in result in World War 1

Loccidental – The News reference for West Africa.

West Africa Review – An e-journal on West Africa research and scholarship.

West African Plants Database – photos and plant identification

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name	Keri Hilson
background	solo_singer
birth name	Keri Lynn Hilson
birth date	December 05, 1982
genre	R&B;, pop
occupation	Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress
years active	2001–present
label	Zone 4, Mosley Music, Interscope
associated acts	The Clutch, Polow da Don, Timbaland, Chris Brown, Akon, Kanye West
website	}}

Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent, as a songwriter and background vocalist for several R&B; and hip hop artists. By the age of 14, Hilson had secured a record deal with the girl group D'Signe, who later disbanded. She attended Emory University in Atlanta, while she continued writing songs for artists, including Britney Spears and Mary J. Blige, with the production and songwriting team, The Clutch. In 2006, Hilson signed with American rapper and producer Timbaland's record label, Mosley Music. Her breakthrough came the following year after appearing on Timbaland's single, "The Way I Are", which topped charts around the world.

Hilson's debut studio album, ''In a Perfect World...'', was released in 2009, and debuted at number four on the US ''Billboard'' 200 chart, eventually being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album spawned the hit singles, "Knock You Down", "Turnin Me On" and "I Like". It also earned Hilson two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Knock You Down". Her second studio album, ''No Boys Allowed'', was released in 2010 and was considerably less successful than its predecessor; however, it included the hit single, "Pretty Girl Rock". Hilson's achievements include a BET Award, MOBO Award, NAACP Image Award and two Soul Train Music Awards. Apart from her work in music, she has pursued a career in acting. Hilson made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film, ''Think Like a Man'', in 2012.

Biography

1982–2007: Early life and career beginnings

Keri Lynn Hilson was born on December 5, 1982 in Decatur, Georgia. She was raised in an African-American neighborhood and came from a middle class family. Hilson and her siblings did not attend a school within the neighborhood because her parents cared a lot for their education, stating that "they shipped us off for an hour to get to school every day. It was just that important for us to maintain the life that they had created". From the age of 12, Hilson wanted to pursue a musical career, after watching television talent shows, ''Star Search'' and ''Showtime at the Apollo''. Her mother then hired a piano teacher to give her piano lessons; however, Hilson wanted to become a singer and therefore "converted those sessions into vocal lessons, accompanying the teacher on piano". By the age of 14, Hilson had secured a record deal with the girl group D'Signe, who later disbanded.

Hilson spent most of her teenage years working with producer Anthony Dent, as a songwriter and background vocalist for the likes of Usher, Ludacris, Kelly Rowland, Ciara and Polow da Don. After graduating from high school, Hilson attended Emory University in Atlanta for three years and studied a course in theater. She continued working as a songwriter and background vocalist during her schooling years. Hilson eventually stopped working with Dent, and began working more with Polow da Don. She also became a member of the songwriting and production team, The Clutch. Together, they wrote Mary J. Blige's "Take Me as I Am" (2006), Omarion's "Ice Box" (2006), Ciara's "Like a Boy" (2006), The Pussycat Dolls' "Wait a Minute" (2007) and Britney Spears' "Gimme More" (2007). In 2006, Polow introduced Hilson to American rapper and producer Timbaland, who then signed her to his record label, Mosley Music Group. In November 2006, Hilson was featured on American rapper Lloyd Banks' single, "Help", for his album ''Rotten Apple'' (2006).

The following year, Hilson was featured on three singles; in June, on Timbaland's song "The Way I Are", the second single from his album ''Shock Value'' (2007); on Rich Boy's "Good Things" with Polow da Don; and thereafter, in December, on Timbaland's song "Scream" with Nicole Scherzinger, the fifth single from ''Shock Value''. Out of the three singles, "The Way I Are" achieved the most success, topping nine charts around the world.

2008–09: ''In a Perfect World...''

In 2008, Hilson appeared in the music videos for Usher's single, "Love in This Club", and Ne-Yo's single, "Miss Independent". Her debut studio album, ''In a Perfect World...'', was released on March 24, 2009. The album contained pop-oriented R&B; songs. It was initially planned to be released the previous year; however, the album was delayed several times because Hilson wanted to make sure it came out to her liking, stating "I'm just a perfectionist. I have had many [release dates], but it's all for a good cause. The label wants to make sure the album has its proper release, and I'm thankful for that. Very grateful, even though fans look at it like it's a bad thing." In the US, ''In a Perfect World...'' debuted at number four on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number one on the Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 94,000 copies. By October 2009, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Its first single, "Energy", released in May 2008, peaked within the top eighty on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. It reached the top fifty in the United Kingdom, and peaked the highest in New Zealand at number seven, and was certified gold in the country. Hilson also featured on three singles in 2008; in June, on rapper Nas' song "Hero"; in September, on Kardinal Offishall's "Numba 1 (Tide Is High)"; and thereafter, in October, on Chris Brown's song "Superhuman".

"Return the Favor", featuring Timbaland, served as the second international single from Hilson's ''In a Perfect World...'' album, while "Turnin Me On" featuring Lil Wayne, was released as the second US single. The latter achieved commercial success, reaching number 15 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and number two on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart, eventually being certified platinum in the US. The next single, "Knock You Down" featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo, achieved more success, reaching number three on the Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs chart, eventually being certified two times platinum. The song also reached the top ten in Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. "Make Love", "Slow Dance", and "Change Me" featuring Akon, were released as the album's fourth, fifth and sixth US singles, respectively.

Hilson, along with Gym Class Heroes, Gorilla Zoe and T-Pain, were supporting acts on Lil Wayne's I Am Music Tour in North America. At the 2009 BET Awards, she was nominated in four categories, including Best New Artist, Best Female R&B; Artist, as well as Viewer's Choice and Best Collaboration for "Turnin Me On" with Lil Wayne. She eventually won the Best New Artist category. In 2009, Hilson was featured on five singles; "Number One" with R. Kelly, "She Don't Wanna" with Asher Roth, "Everything, Everyday, Everywhere" with Fabolous, "Medicine" with Plies, and on the remix of Sean Paul's song, "Hold My Hand". Hilson was nominated for Breakthrough Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B; Female Artist at the 2009 American Music Awards, but lost to Beyoncé Knowles. The re-released edition of ''In a Perfect World...'', in January 2010, included the single "I Like", which reached number one in Germany, Poland and Slovakia, and peaked within the top ten in Austria, Norway and Switzerland. At the 52nd Grammy Awards, Hilson was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Knock You Down" with Kanye West and Ne-Yo.

2010–present: ''No Boys Allowed'', acting debut and third studio album

During the first half of 2010, Hilson guest featured on rapper Trina's single, "Million Dollar Girl", and on T.I.'s single, "Got Your Back". In April 2010, it was made known that she had replaced Jennifer Hudson as the new face of the cosmetics and personal care products company, Avon. "Breaking Point" was released as the first single from Hilson's second studio album, ''No Boys Allowed'', in September 2010; it only appeared on the US Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs Chart at number 44. On December 2, 2010, Hilson was among one of the many female artists who performed at the VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concert, where she sang "Turnin Me On", "Knock You Down", "Pretty Girl Rock", and a duet with American country music duo, Sugarland, on the Aretha Franklin song, "Think". ''No Boys Allowed'' was released on December 21, 2010. Described as a "girl power album", ''No Boys Allowed'' was primarily of the R&B; and pop genres. Despite the album's title, Hilson stated "it's not about excluding men. It's more about women understanding that there comes a time in your life when you want a man. A real man. A grown up. Not a boy. And that's not a bad thing." Speaking of the songs on the album, she explained "I write from a female perspective, but I'm also telling men what women are really thinking and feeling about them". In the US, ''No Boys Allowed'' debuted at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and number seven on the Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 102,000 copies. Although it sold 8,000 copies more than her debut album, ''In a Perfect World...'', it failed to match that album's debut chart position of number four. As of February 2011, ''No Boys Allowed'' has sold 205,500 copies in the United States.

Hilson achieved success with the album's second single, "Pretty Girl Rock", which reached number 24 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number four on the Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, eventually being certified platinum. The single reached the top twenty in Germany and New Zealand, and top thirty in Austria and Slovakia. "One Night Stand" featuring Chris Brown, and "Lose Control (Let Me Down)" featuring Nelly, were released as the album's third and fourth singles, respectively. In 2011, she was featured on British rapper Chipmunk's single "In the Air", for his album ''Transition'' (2011). In April 2011, Hilson, along with many other R&B; and hip hop acts, traveled to Australia to be part of its biggest urban music festival, Supafest. At the 2011 BET Awards, Hilson was nominated for Best Female R&B; Artist and Video of the Year for "Pretty Girl Rock". In July 2011, she was a supporting act on the second leg of Lil Wayne's I Am Still Music Tour in North America, before embarking on her first headlining European tour in October.

During an interview with ''106 & Park'' on October 25, 2011, Hilson revealed that she has already begun recording her third studio album. She explained, "There's some people in the world that aren't gon' like this album coming from me. As I was experiencing the world, there were things that I was also experiencing on a personal front, and in my music it's coming out. There's a specific few people who ain't gon' like to listen to this album. Very emotional, I'll say that." She further explained in an interview with ''The Boombox'' that she's working on a new sound for the album, and described it as a mixture of her first two albums with some surprising elements thrown in. Hilson also said a release date has not been confirmed yet, saying "I just write about my experiences and keep the release dates far, far from me. When I feel that I have [good material] is when I will give it to the label. But I'm not quite there yet. I'm still working." Hilson made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film, ''Think Like a Man'', released on April 20, 2012. She will also star alongside Vin Diesel in the sci-fi action film, ''Riddick'' (2013), but it is unknown what role Hilson will play.

Musical style and influences

Hilson's music is generally R&B; and pop. Her debut album, ''In a Perfect World...'', consists of a pop/R&B; style, with elements of electro music. Many of the album's themes deal with relationships, physical attraction and lovemaking. Hilson said, "lyrically it's a very vulnerable album. You know, I definitely didn't want to paint myself as perfect on this project. Instead, I wanted it to be something that was very relatable, especially to women". Her second album, ''No Boys Allowed'', displays a wide variety of styles, including pop, R&B;, hip hop, soul, acoustic, electronic and reggae. Hilson describes the album as "more self assured. It's a lot more aggressive". Kristin Macfarlane of ''The Daily Post'' noted that the album is "pure girl power and about being sexually confident, and confident as a woman; not putting up with crap relationships and getting your way". Hilson sings with "smooth vocals". Following the release of her debut album, Sophie Bruce of BBC Music expressed that, "there's no denying Hilson has a great voice, but it lacks the feisty edge of [Nicole] Scherzinger, [Mary J.] Blige or [Beyoncé] Knowles". Mark Nero of About.com commented, "Keri's voice, while strong, isn't particularly distinctive or memorable". Hilson has stated that her musical influences come from her father's side of the family. In addition, she cites Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill as inspirations.

Philanthropy

Besides her career in music, Hilson has also been involved with several charities. In January 2010, she teamed up with Akon on the charity single, "Oh Africa". All proceeds of the single benefited underprivileged African youth. The following month, Hilson joined the extended list of artists during the recording session of the single, "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", to benefit victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. On May 25, 2010, she performed at the Virginia Stand Up! A Call to Action benefit concert, organized by Chris Brown to help with continued relief efforts in Haiti. On October 21, 2010, Hilson attended Collins Academy High School in Chicago as part of the Get Schooled National Challenge and Tour, a "program aimed at increasing high school and college graduation rates and promoting the importance of education". A year later, she received a Get Schooled Award for her involvement with the program. In 2011, Hilson contributed in the fight against AIDS, by posing in retail-clothing company H&M;'s celebrity-driven collection for Fashion Against AIDS. 25% of all sales from the collection were donated to the Designers Against Aids charity.

In June 2011, Hilson became an ambassador for MTV Staying Alive, a foundation which raises awareness and prevention of HIV and AIDS. In September 2011, she lent her support to US First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, which aims to combat childhood obesity. She made t-shirts for the campaign that read "Pretty Girls Sweat", and exercised with the young women at The Educational Alliance's Sirovich Senior Center in New York on September 24. During Hilson's visit in Africa in November 2011, she stopped by an orphanage to visit her young fans who had lost their families during the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis. She gave each orphan a "care" package, which consisted of bookbags, t-shirts, sunglasses, notebooks and an electric keyboard. In April 2012, Hilson teamed up with DoSomething.org to encourage young people to join in the nationwide Epic Book Drive by bringing books to local people in need. In a press release, she stated: "Joining DoSomething.org's newest effort to provide for people in need with Epic Book Drive was the easiest decision ever!. I truly believe providing access to those who want to learn is the key to bettering lives around the country. And helping kids find healthy outlets, such as books, has always been a passion of mine. So my involvement here is a natural fit."

Discography

''In a Perfect World...'' (2009)

''No Boys Allowed'' (2010)

Filmography

''Riddick (film)

+Films	Year	! Title	! Role	! Notes
2012	''Think Like a Man''	Heather
2013	Riddick'' ||

Tours

Headlining

European Tour (2011)

Supporting

I Am Music Tour (2009) (with Lil Wayne)

I Am Still Music Tour (2011) (with Lil Wayne)

Awards and nominations

|- | style="text-align:center;"|2007 |"The Way I Are" (Timbaland featuring D.O.E. and Keri Hilson) |MTV Video Music Award for Monster Single of the Year | |- |rowspan="14" style="text-align:center;"|2009 |rowspan="4"|Herself |American Music Award for Favorite Female R&B;/Soul Artist | |- |American Music Award for Breakthrough Artist | |- |BET Award for Best New Artist | |- |BET Award for Best Female R&B; Artist | |- |rowspan="2"|"Turnin Me On" (with Lil Wayne) |BET Award for Viewer's Choice | |- |BET Award for Best Collaboration | |- |''In a Perfect World...'' |Urban Music Award for Best Album | |- |rowspan="4"|Herself |Urban Music Award for Best Female Act | |- |MOBO Award for Best International Act | |- |MOBO Award for Best R&B;/Soul Act | |- |Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist | |- |"Turnin Me On" (with Lil Wayne) |Soul Train Music Award for Song of the Year | |- |rowspan="3"|"Knock You Down" (with Kanye West and Ne-Yo) |Soul Train Music Award for Best Collaboration | |- |Soul Train Music Award for Record of the Year | |- |rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|2010 |Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | |- |rowspan="2"|Herself |Grammy Award for Best New Artist | |- |NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist | |- |"Got Your Back" (T.I. featuring Keri Hilson) |Soul Train Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Song | |- |rowspan="4" style="text-align:center;"|2011 |"Pretty Girl Rock" |BET Award for Video of the Year | |- |rowspan="2"|Herself |BET Award for Best Female R&B; Artist | |- |Get Schooled Award | |- |"Pretty Girl Rock" |Soul Train Music Award for Best Dance Performance | |}

References

External links

Category:Keri Hilson Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:African American female singer-songwriters Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:American dance musicians Category:Emory University alumni Category:Interscope Records artists Category:Musicians from Georgia (U.S. state) Category:People from Decatur, Georgia

ar:كيري هيلسون cs:Keri Hilson da:Keri Hilson de:Keri Hilson es:Keri Hilson eo:Keri Hilson fa:کری هیلسون fr:Keri Hilson ko:케리 힐슨 hsb:Keri Hilson hr:Keri Hilson it:Keri Hilson he:קרי הילסון hu:Keri Hilson sw:Keri Hilson lv:Keri Hilsone mk:Кери Хилсон nl:Keri Hilson ja:ケリー・ヒルソン no:Keri Hilson pl:Keri Hilson pt:Keri Hilson ksh:Keri Lynn Hilson ro:Keri Hilson ru:Хилсон, Кери simple:Keri Hilson sr:Keri Hilson fi:Keri Hilson sv:Keri Hilson th:เคอรี ฮิลสัน tr:Keri Hilson zh:凯莉·希尔森

name	Simone Gbagbo
birth date	June 20, 1949
birth place	Moossou, Grand-Bassam
order1	First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire
term start1	October 26, 2000
term end1	April 11,2011
predecessor1	Rose Doudou Guéï
successor1	Dominique Folloroux-Ouattara
party	Ivorian Popular Front
religion	Evangelical Christian
spouse	Laurent Gbagbo
children	5
signature	}}

Simone Ehivet Gbagbo (born 20 June 1949) is an Ivorian politician. She is the President of the Parliamentary Group of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) and is a Vice-President of the FPI. As the wife of Laurent Gbagbo, the President of Côte d'Ivoire from 2000 to 2011, she was also first lady prior to their arrest by pro-Ouattara forces.

Biography

Born in 1949 in the Moossou neighborhood of Grand-Bassam, Côte d'Ivoire, her parents are Jean Ehivet, a local police officer, and Marie Djaha. Simone Gbagbo trained as an historian and earned a third cycle doctorate in oral literature. She worked in applied linguistics, as a Marxist labor union leader, and is an Evangelical Christian in a church with close ties to the United States. She is the mother of five daughters, the last two with her current husband Laurent Gbagbo. She has been nicknamed in the Ivorian press the ''Hillary Clinton des tropiques.''

Ehivet Gbagbo participated in the teachers strike movement of 1982, and helped found, with her future husband, the clandestine political group which became the FPI. An active trades union militant in the 1970s, she was imprisoned a number of times during the struggle for multiparty elections.

Following the introduction of multiparty elections, Gbagbo and her husband were arrested for allegedly inciting violence in February 1992 and spent six months in prison. In 1996, she became an FPI Deputy from Abobo (part of Abidjan) in the National Assembly; she and her husband were also seriously injured in a car accident around that time.

Re-elected to the National Assembly as an FPI Deputy from Abobo in the December 2000 parliamentary election, Gbagbo is also President of the FPI Parliamentary Group. At the FPI's Third Extraordinary Congress, held from 20 to 22 July 2001, she was elected as the Second Vice-President of the FPI.

Controversy

Simone Gbagbo is a controversial figure in Côte d'Ivoire. Involved in nationalist politics surrounding the Ivorian Civil War, in 2005 Radio France International reported that she was being investigated by the United Nations for human rights abuses, including organising death squads.

The Kieffer Affair

In July 2008 she was formally called for questioning by a French investigative judge, examining the April 2004 disappearance and presumed death in Abidjan of French-Canadian journalist Guy-André Kieffer. Mr. Kieffer was in Abidjan at the time, researching a story on political corruption and government involvement in the Ivorian Cocoa industry. He was last seen on the way to a meeting with Michel Legré, the brother-in-law of Simone Gbagbo. French judicial officials have arrested and are investigating Jean-Tony Oulaï, a former member of the Ivorian Secret Services, whom they detained in Paris in 2006. Jean-Tony Oulaï's driver at the time Berté Seydou, as well as Mr Kieffer's brother, have alleged that Ms. Gbagbo and former Ivorian Minister of Planning and Development Paul-Antoine Bohoun Bouabré have knowledge of the events Mr Kieffer's death, and that Oulaï is responsible. Legré was arrested in Abidjan in 2004 on suspicion of kidnapping and murder, but was provisionally released in 2005 and has since fled the country—or is in an unknown location. In April 2009, Ms. Gbagbo was interviewed by two French magistrates concerning the Kieffer case. The AFP reported that the magistrates consider Legré, who they have in custody, their "chief suspect" and that neither the President nor Gbagbo "are suspected of being directly linked with Kieffer's disappearance." The French also planned interviews with Gbagbo's security chief Seka Yapo Anselme and Planning Minister Paul-Antoine Bohoun Bouabre. Gbagbo has filed a defamation lawsuit against Jean-Tony Oulai regarding his charges against her.

Political activity since 2008

In September 2008, Gbagbo engaged in a two-week tour of the central part of the country, concluding the tour on 14 September in the city of Bouaké. She rallied support for her husband's candidacy in the forthcoming presidential election during this tour and urged participation in the voter identification process.

References

This article was first created from a translation of the French Wikipedia article :fr:Simone Gbagbo, 2008-02-22.

"Paroles d?honneur"" : Ou quand Simone Gbagbo dénonce la collusion entre Alassane Ouattara, Blaise Compaoré et Jacques Chirac. Jean-Pierre BEJOT, La Dépêche Diplomatique. 21 March 2007.

Simone Gbagbo, Femme fatale: Vincent Hugeux, L'Express 20 February 2003.

RETOUR SUR Affaire Kieffer : un témoin implique Simone Gbagbo. THOMAS HOFNUNG, liberation 19 February 2008.

La dame d'ivoire, Thomas HOFNUNG: Liberation, 22 May 2007.

Committee to Protect Journalists Ivory Coast 2006.

Régime FPI: L'influence de Simone Gbagbo, Soir Info (Côte d'Ivoire), 12 December 2006.

Journalists sued after revealing Ivory Coast 'billionnaires list', fairreporters.org.

Ivory Coast First Lady Leads Death Squad, Report Alleges UN Panel Says Both Sides Are Committing War Crimes. Colum Lynch Washington Post Staff Writer, 29 January 2005; Page A21 .

External links

Simone Gbagbo et son livre Le site officiel de la Première Dame de Côte d'Ivoire

Category:1949 births Category:First Ladies of Côte d'Ivoire Category:Members of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire Category:Ivorian evangelicals Category:Living people Category:Ivorian prisoners and detainees Category:Prisoners and detainees of Côte d'Ivoire Category:Ivorian Popular Front politicians Category:Ivorian women in politics

de:Simone Gbagbo fr:Simone Gbagbo pt:Simone Gbagbo