Afrik Digest

Category: Where’s The Party At

  • Forty and Fabulous!

    Forty and Fabulous!

    – Ijay Dogo celebrates a life of grace

    It was all glitz and glam on September 17, 2022, in Aurora Colorado during the fortieth birthday bash of the ever-gorgeous Ijeoma Dogo, fondly called Ijay.

    People arrived from within and outside Colorado to celebrate the blessed mother of three beautiful children and the wife of a businessman. The large reception hall was breathtaking in gold with a swanky ambiance. The celebrant made three separate entrances, disappearing and returning after each round of dancing in a new change of clothes. As she dazzled in her resplendent flow-train dresses, one could see that the birthday lady is really fabulous at forty. 

    Her father and mother were there all the way to complete her joy. Her husband, Vince Dogo, and their three kids beamed with joy. Other relatives and close friends came from near and far to celebrate her. Guests came from everywhere to honor the birthday girl. Ladies came decked in gold while men came in their freestyle, as had been announced. Food was in its assortment; music was tremendous and guests had so much fun.

    Asked why she celebrated, Ijay said, “Forty is a good number to celebrate. The Lord has helped me through many hurdles and I wanted to appreciate God in a loud way. This is in addition to some of my friends, convincing me to celebrate myself.”

    Asked what she would have wished for, Ijay revealed that It would have been nice to have her siblings with her, “but that was beyond my control, other than that, I wouldn’t change anything.”

    Afrik Digest further asked if she regretted anything in her forty years on earth, she said, “I don’t think so. I always try to do my best in whatever I find myself doing. What I have achieved so far is my best. I have no regrets!”

    Ijay is grateful to her amazing parents, family and friends. She thanks her cousin, Rosemary, and her kids; her auntie, Chika Onyema from Atlanta, and Ezra Onyema from Oklahoma. She further expressed her appreciation to everyone who helped in one way or another before, during, and after, to make the party successful.

    Afrik Digest wishes Her Fabulousness an amazing new age.

  • Publisher of Afrik Digest Marks Birthday with Thanksgiving

    Publisher of Afrik Digest Marks Birthday with Thanksgiving

    It was a glorious time on the Sunday morning of March 27, 2022 at Christ Liberty Restoration Ministries Aurora. It was the day the CEO and publisher of Afrik Digest marked her birthday in a magnificent thanksgiving celebration. It was her silver jubilee and our fabulous publisher, Azuka Vera Idam, was full of thanks and praises to the God of her salvation.

    Publisher of Afrik Digest Idam Vera Azuka
    Photo credit : Solomon Okhihan

    The program included special prayers for the celebrant by the Senior Pastor, Tayo Obigbesan and other pastors of the church. There were also words of exhortation by friends of the celebrant. There was music and dancing as beloved friends and family joined her in joyful sways, first, in the church sanctuary, and later at the church’s reception hall.

    The celebrant’s mom and children were present and looked fabulous in their matching aqua outfit. Church members, including the beautiful wife of Pastor Tayo, Marion Obigbesan, came out in full force to support the milestone celebration. 

    Asked how she felt about the day, Azuka said she is extremely happy that God has brought her this far. She expressed her appreciation to all members of the church for showing her so much love and support. “I am joyful today, and absolutely grateful to God and to everyone who has helped me to make today a reality, especially my church members.” 


  • Inspiration Spurt at the First Afrik Digest’s Ethnic Media Exchange

    Inspiration Spurt at the First Afrik Digest’s Ethnic Media Exchange

    – Way to easily bridge the ethnic gap

    On Wednesday, March 23rd 2022, Afrik Digest, with the amazing support of the Aurora Office of Immigrants and International Affairs, convened a fantastic media networking event tagged, Colorado Ethnic News Media Exchange. 

    It was an inspiring  and productive media gathering of media personnel from the various Colorado ethnic news outlets. Guests were relaxed and felt free to share their media challenges, successes and best practices. Conversation on news gathering and dissemination flowed in a convivial atmosphere. The exchange was the first of its kind in Colorado and most likely succeeded in establishing collaborative relationships and laying a foundation to strengthen community ties.

    I was blown away and highly impressed by the inspiring conversations and the powerful responses that people offered. At the end of the day, we resolved to do an encore of the exchange as soon as any of us could arrange to host one.

    The delightful event, which was held at the Aurora Room of the Aurora Municipal Center, was one in a series of community engagements lined up by Afrik Digest in partnership with the Urban Tikkun Center Denver. We are grateful to the Office of Immigrant and International Affairs for helping to organize the event.

  • Celebrating Pastor Ray Shiffer of Christ Liberty Restoration Ministries at 80!

    Celebrating Pastor Ray Shiffer of Christ Liberty Restoration Ministries at 80!

    On January 23, 2022, members of Christ Liberty Restoration Ministries, Aurora, celebrated a devoted shepherd of God’s children, Pastor Ray Shaffer. The ever-smiling man of God turned 80 years old and the Senior Pastor of CLRM, Tayo Obigbesan, decided to honor the man he likes to describe as incredibly selfless. 

    Pastor Ray is a true servant’s heart, selfless and committed to everything godly. We all love this amazing man and are praying that the Almighty God will continue to renew his strength and increase his power. And because the church agrees and God knows, this year remains his year of great glory, joyful harvests, and divine comfort.

  • Glitz and Glee at the Afrik Digest International Magazine Relaunch Party

    Glitz and Glee at the Afrik Digest International Magazine Relaunch Party

  • Fabulous at 70 – Cmdr. Mrs. Anthonia Idowu celebrates a life of grace

    Fabulous at 70 – Cmdr. Mrs. Anthonia Idowu celebrates a life of grace

    Saturday, October 23rd 2021,

    was loud in Aurora Colorado. The occasion was the 70th birthday thanksgiving and celebration of fabulous Cmdr. Mrs. Anthonia Oritsewehinmi Idowu. It was a colorful, fun-filled evening and guests showed up to celebrate the lovely platinum lady as well as catch their fun. 

    A friend of mine says “age gets better with wine”, and I agree, so I’m glad the birthday lady was not selfish in sharing that secret. Guests had a lot of wine, and they dined to their fill. Friends, family and colleagues from within and outside Colorado flooded the hall to honor the woman who continues to touch the hearts of many, reminding them how blessed they are. Several family and friends braved the long distance from Ohio, Texas and California to grace the occasion. A special friend of hers, Mrs.Taiwo Okubanjo, came all the way from London. Seeing how resplendent she looked in her total fashion ensemble you would for sure agree that hers has been 70 years well lived.

    Mrs. Anthonia Idowu’s favorite friend and husband, Chief John Idowu, and their five adult children with their families, made this special day possible. Her exact birthday is October 19th but fell on a Tuesday and had to be moved to a Saturday.

    Asked how he felt celebrating his wife, Chief Idowu told Afrik Digest, “70 years is a remarkable age for all of us and it’s worth celebrating. Psalm 90:10 makes it clear that after 70 all additional years are by the grace of God. She and I have been friends for up to 55 years and God has kept us together with Love. The least I can do is to celebrate the life of a reliable and loving friend and wife.”

    We all celebrate the ever-smiling birthday lady. Seventy years is a long stretch of time to count, but the wonderful thing is that Cmdr. Mrs. Anthonia Oritsewehinmi Idowu has made those years count!

  • Night of Glamour at the United Liberian Organization’s Inaugural ball

    Night of Glamour at the United Liberian Organization’s Inaugural ball

    Saturday, June 19th, 2021 was a fun-filled day in Denver Colorado. It was the first time in more than a year that a large crowd would gather in one hall, unmasked and unfazed. It was at the United Liberian Organization of Colorado’s inaugural ball night. The event was organized by ULOC to install the newly elected members of the executives and to announce the presence of Liberian Americans as an active community in Colorado. The swearing-in ceremony was ably handled by Pastor Simeon Menso, of CVMI church, Aurora. The evening was graced by numerous dignitaries within and outside the state of Colorado, prominent among them were the Mayor of Aurora, Mike Coffman; the current Liberian ambassador to the United States, George S. W Patten Sr. and his wife; the Colorado HD40 Representative, Naquetta Ricks, and many more.
    Interestingly during the event, the newly sworn-in president and goodwill ambassador of the organization, the dashing Ebenezer Norman, brought in a splash of romance, as he got down on one knee to propose to his beautiful fiancee. It was a major highlight, and bet you, everyone is waiting for the wedding invitation.