The James Logan Courier

Nico Colombant, VOA News

Johannesburg, South Africa —:Prior to embarking on her flight from the United States, Michelle Obama addressed a message to Africa's youth. "I am doing this because we know that Africa is a fundamental part of our interconnected world and when it comes to meeting the challenges of our times, whether it is climate change or extremism, poverty or disease, the world is looking to African nations as vital partners and will be looking across the continent to young people just like all of you to help lead the way," she started.

One of those awaiting Obama's brief stay in Johannesburg is 29-year-old Ivory Coast national Aminata Kane Kone, a dentist, mother of four, and activist for women's rights. She was selected to take part in the U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum coinciding with the first lady's visit.

Kone says it will be a great honor and opportunity to meet and listen to Obama.

From wikipedia:
Chester Burton Atkins (June 20, 1924 – June 30, 2001), better known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.

Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle Travis, Django Reinhardt, George Barnes and Les Paul, brought him admirers within and outside the country scene, both in the United States and internationally. Atkins produced records for Perry Como, Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith, Waylon Jennings and others.

Among many honors, Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Watch Chet Atkins play "Yakety Ax," free from YouTube.