George Ajjan is an international political strategist and commentator.

In addition to advising candidates as a campaign strategist on a global basis, Mr. Ajjan is often sought out as a television pundit, hired by Sky News to offer prime-time commentary both from London and New York studios for the 2008 US Presidential election.

Mr. Ajjan was born and raised in the state of New Jersey and graduated from The Johns Hopkins University in 1998. After 3 years of management experience at Procter & Gamble, he earned an MBA from the London Business School in 2003.

Since his congressional run in 2004, he has played an active role in US campaigns, assisting candidates at the local, county, state, and federal levels. Internationally, Mr. Ajjan has led numerous projects spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Explore this website and his full bio to learn more about George Ajjan.
 

8.4.07

حقاً قام في افريقيا

As I have mentioned before, I have been enjoying attending the Maronite church here in Dakar, and this Passion season was the first time I experienced Holy Week in a rite other than the Melkite one. May God forgive me.

Palm Sunday, or شعنينة, demonstrated once again how "les Libano-Syriens" here have retained a strong attachment to their origins. As is customary, everyone showed up, especially the children, in their finest clothes. Shanineh has always been a bit of a day to show off, if I dare say.

On "Sad Friday" I also had the opportunity to attend. The place was packed - I got the feeling that this service has a particularly high profile each year. A Senegalese Minister was in attendance (cannot remember which Ministry), plus the Ambassador of Lebanon (and several other diplomats from that country), the Russian Ambassador, and the Romanian Ambassador. A high ranking Catholic clergyman from the Diocese of Dakar also played a prominent role in the service.

The highlight though, I must say, was a wonderful rendition of the Melkite hymn "al-yom uliqa" by a, male cantor (a difference from the version by Sister Marie Keyrouz) with the lights turned off.

Unfortunately for me, I misread the schedule and thus missed the midnight mass for Easter Sunday. No hajmeh this year!