Happy Meals

Happy Meals SPECIALIST IN AFRICAN SNACKS & FOODS food with a difference Info/order : Telephone : +1 7870585 Mobile 0630 322 8616 E-Mail Add : happymeal_hm@yahoo.co.uk Precioustee03@yahoo.co.uk Ujpesti Rakpart 6 fsz 3/b, 1137, Budapest, Hungary Catering for all occasions (weddings, business seminars, birthdays, namings, etc…)
Snacks ChinChin Meat pie Stick meat Plantian chips Fish rolls Puff Puff Main Dishes Beans Jollof Rice Fried Rice Coconut Rice Plaim Rice and stew Moin Moin Fried Plantain Yam Porridge Potatoes Porridge Beans Ball Poundo Yam	Soups Egusi soup Ogbono soup Okro soup Vegetable soup Beans soup Pepper soup Beef stew Fish stew Chicken stew Assorted meat in stew Orders include: Take away and meals for your freezer, esp. for singles.

Africans in Hungary in Picture (2007)

Africans in Hungary, it seems, have come of age. Though they hide under individual efforts, Africans are now rocking Hungary to solidify their daily bread.

From Tunde Komolafe who has added another feather to his cap by being knighted by "The Sovereign Order of St -Ouen and Star"; to Fekete Páko whose funny bait has entrapped his Hungarian fans like hook to fish; to Toyin Akinwumi who has been described as the Nigerian Traditional Music Ambassador in Hungary by The Nation newspaper.

Yes Africans may still be at the incipient stage of development in Hungary but it seems to me that they have woken up. They have set the pace of endearment in terms of awareness. Let them not relent on their efforts.

From SANKOFA GROUPE who performed at a concert where Hungarian students raised fund to build hospital in Kabinda, Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo; to The African Melody Band spearheaded by the duo of Dava and Bertha, who seem to be taking cultural awareness to another level when they performed at a Zoo party; to Miss Afro Pageant, again organised by Tunde Komolafe who described himself as a survival.

Methinks Africans are a determined lot. Hence it should be a study case why majority of them who could not make it in their different countries find success in a foreign country. However, they should not let their new status goes into their head. Let them probe and demand normalcy from their different governments. Let them use their exposure to help uplift their different countries.

From Gibril Deen, who was once described by the first English Newspaper in Hungary, The Budapest Week, as The African godfather in Hungary; to Sammie Adetiloye whose website is becoming a source of information; to many businessmen and women who have opened Internet cafe, and those who sell clothes in the market; to those who have African boutiques; to Afrique Internationale, a football club.

Man must not live by bread alone, so says that knowledgeable book. Therefore, Africans in Hungary should do more than just parties. As you can see, it is all about entertainment which is alright.

But let us do more than the old folks surreptitiously posing with the young. Let us do more than just parading young girls half-naked. Let us advance a bit so that it would be more than just Hungarian helping African children. Let us institute an intellectual agenda in which eminent African Scholars, economists etc would be invited. Let us not forget why we could not go back to our different countries.

From Ledon Sylla who is a consultant and event organiser to DJ Edward and DJ Lekki to Dynamous Band; to Slang and Revolution; to Ayo Adams and Onix; to Oji Adisson who works in one of the most expensive restaurants in Budapest; to Tunde Adeosun and John Oni, the duo who helped sustain the Nigerian Union Committee; to Daniel Israel whose play - A Mermaid's Wedding - is expected to come up in March 2008; to Klara Bassey, who perhaps is the happiest woman on earth today. She knows why.

Oh, I almost forgot. Hungary has joined Schengen States, a relief to those of us who have refused to change our identity. This simply means we can also travel to several European countries without visa. Isn't it ironical then if African citizens must secure visa in order to cross other African borders? O ma se o (it's a pity).

Finally, I would like to see the African embassies in Hungary coming up with something tangible. Let them do more than the usual annual Africa Day. For example, they should build African House instead of renting a hall every year. This is not only sensible but cost effective. I trust this is the end of the beginning.

Happy New Year

compiled by Hakeem Babalola

The Nigerian Embassy in Washington

A Letter

SIR: The Nigerian Embassy in Washington D.C., United States, remains a disgrace to all our citizens. I recently had a friend submit his passport for a visa. When the passport did not return as planned, this friend called no less than 50 times and even enlisted my help, to no avail.

When I did call, I found that the operator answered the phone only one of 10 calls, and she must be the only one working there because when I managed to reach her again, she reminded me she only works at the switchboard and couldn't help me. All the voice mailboxes were full, and despite three hours spent one day, no one picked

the phone up even once!

It appears that things are still the same and nothing has changed. They are a disgrace to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Ambassador should be

ashamed of the type of embassy he is in charge of.

How are Nigerian citizens supposed to enlist help if they are in trouble when no one can be reached? Please help to overhaul the horrible "civil service" attitude these so-called diplomats have.

Ndidi Onwubalili,
e-mail: ndidiamaka.onwubalili@duke.edu

Begging the Nigerian Families

By Hakeem Babalola

The reason for begging the Nigerian families is actually to re-direct their approach and thinking towards the life we live regarding corruption. If they didn't know, it's time someone told them that the way they herald and honour public officials who stole money, is part of the dangerous and funny aspect of corruption. A Nigerian who is not corrupt is often referred to as being foolish click and read more

Question and Answer about Schengen Enlargement for Non-EU Nationals

New rules as of 21 December 2007 following Schengen enlargement

1. Which new EU member states can issue Schengen visas as from 21 December 2007?

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

2. Will someone with a Schengen visa issued by an "old" Schengen state (e.g. Germany) before 21 December 2007 and which is still valid be able to enter all 24 Schengen states as from 21 December ?

Yes, that is correct. Wherever it is issued, a Schengen visa remains a Schengen visa and entitles its holders as from 21 December 2007 also to enter the "new" Schengen states.

3. What about the other EU member states Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria?

They will not be fully applying the Schengen acquis until later. So as of 21 December 2007 they will not be issuing Schengen visas.

4. Will someone with a visa issued by a "new" Schengen state (e.g. Poland) before 21 December 2007 and which is still valid also be able to enter all 24 Schengen states as from 21 December ?

No, that is not possible. Only from 21 December 2007 onwards can Poland, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta, Slovenia and the Czech Republic issue Schengen visas with which people can travel freely throughout the Schengen area. Visas issued by these countries prior to 21 December 2007 do not count as Schengen visas, they are valid only for the territory of the issuing state. Exceptions are possible only as regards transit traffic between new Schengen states fully applying the Schengen acquis. For further details on this please contact these countries' embassies or consulates-general.

5. What about non-nationals with a national residence permit?

As from 21 December 2007 holders of a residence permit issued by one of the nine "new" Schengen states can spend up to three months in any other Schengen state. That goes also for residence permits issued before 21 December 2007. By the same token, holders of a residence permit issued by one of the "old" Schengen states do not need a visa to enter any of the "new" Schengen states.

List of Hungarian Residence Permits without Visa to Schengen States

1. Humanitárius tartózkodási engedély

(humanitarian residence permit) (card form) - accompanied by a national passport

2. Tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit (card form) - accompanied by a national passport

3. Tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit (sticker form) - affixed to a national passport

4. Bevándoroltak részére kiadott személyazonosító igazolvány

(Identity card issued for immigrants) - accompanied by a national passport which indicates

issue of the immigration permit

5. Letelepedési engedély

(permanent residence permit) - accompanied by a national passport which indicates issue of

the authorization for permanent residence

6. Letelepedettek részére kiadott tartózkodási engedély

(residence permit issued for permanently residing people) (sticker form) - affixed to a national

passport

7. Diáklista

(List of persons participating in a school trip within the EU)

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ANNEX 4 DG H I EN

8. Igazolvány diplomáciai képviselők és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for diplomats and their family members) (diplomat’s identity card) -

together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

9. Igazolvány konzuli képviselet tagjai és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for members of consular posts and their family members) (consular

identity card) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

10. Igazolvány képviselet igazgatási és műszaki személyzete és családtagjaik részére

(special certificate for the members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic

missions and their family members) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

11. Igazolvány képviselet kisegítő személyzete, háztartási alkalmazottak és családtagjaik részére -

(special certificate for the service staff of the diplomatic missions, private servants and their

family members) - together with a D visa issued by the MFA, if necessary

Old Members of Schengen States include: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.