africa

Russia Steps out from Shadows in Africa with State Paramilitary

With the rise of a paramilitary force that analysts say is controlled by the Kremlin, Russia is openly expanding its state military footprint in Africa, after years of distancing itself from mercenaries deployed on the continent to support pro-Russian rulers. Russia is using the Africa Corps force to increase its influence in particular in ...

The African Man vs. the European Man

Our planet has been home to various species of the Homo genus, with fossil evidence dating back around 2.8 million years. Among these, two species stand out as the closest relatives to modern humans: the European Homo neanderthalensis and the African Homo sapiens. About 660,000 years ago, two branches of the Homo genus diverged from a common ...

Trump Considers Gutting US Diplomatic Footprint in Africa

The United States would drastically reduce its diplomatic footprint in Africa and eliminate State Department offices focused on climate change, democracy, and human rights, according to a White House order under consideration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that The New York Times, which first reported the existence of the draft order, had ...

Matthieu Chedid Revives 'Lamomali' with a Joyful Pulse

Sequels? Not really his thing. “Stuff like Rocky II freaks me out, the idea of repeating the same thing.” And yet, eight years after blending voices and sounds from Mali into a groundbreaking choral album, -M- is back at the helm of a new Lamomali. “At first, I wasn’t into it at all. I thought doing a pale imitation would’ve been a ...

Cape Town’s Streets Alive for Historic Minstrel Carnival

Cape Town’s historic streets erupted in a riot of color and music on Saturday, January 4, as thousands of costumed minstrels paraded through the city’s center in an exuberant celebration of cultural heritage and resilience. This annual carnival, deeply rooted in the city’s history of slavery, drew large crowds and cemented its reputation as ...

Ivory Coast President Says French Forces to Withdraw in January

The reorganization of France's military presence in Africa continues, marking a new era in relations between several African countries and the erstwhile colonial power. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced on Tuesday evening that the French military base in Abidjan, home to the 43rd BIMA (marine infantry battalion) in Port-Bouet, ...

Tunisia: CinemaTdour, a Mobile Truck Making Cinema Accessible to All

"If you can't go to the cinema, it will come to you" might well describe CinemaTdour, a mobile cinema truck touring Tunisia to make the seventh art accessible to everyone, from rural areas to underserved neighborhoods. Dozens of workers joyfully step down from a large red truck parked in front of their factory in Djemmal, a central-eastern town ...

Macron Hosts Leader of Nigeria in Search for Economic Opportunities

Thursday marks the beginning of a two-day state visit to France by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, with both sides scenting economic rewards as Paris looks to build new ties in Africa after a series of setbacks. The first such formal visit by a Nigerian leader since 2000 comes after military coups and changing attitudes have lessened France's ...

Breyten Breytenbach, Poet and Anti-Apartheid Activist, Has Died

Breyten Breytenbach, one of the most honored South African writers, left an indelible mark on literature and activism. Born in 1939 in Bonnievale, a small town in the Western Cape, he grew up speaking Afrikaans, a language often tied to South Africa’s oppressive apartheid system. Yet, Breytenbach transformed his mother tongue into a powerful ...

Tumaini Festival in Africa: Unity Through Music

At the Tumaini Festival in Malawi, in East Africa, a 72-year-old singer, sporting tinted hair, oversized sunglasses, and a vibrant tracksuit, made her way onto the main stage, eliciting a wave of excitement from the crowd. “Who am I?” she asked the audience of approximately 12,000, who enthusiastically responded, “I am Jetu!” Tumaini, ...