News That Matters To Africa©️
FRIDAY’S FOCUS EDITION
Good News Africa!
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is…to desire less.”
HIGHLIGHTS
US invites Sudanese to Geneva conflict talks
Nigeria military warns against violence at looming Kenya-like protests
Namibia turns the visa tables on Western nations
Algeria slams France over W. Sahara
TOP NEWS
Eastern Africa
Congo’s ‘Other’ conflict kills thousands in West near the capital
Ethiopian Airlines flights to Asmara suspended, airline says
Death toll from Ethiopia landslides could jump to 500
Kenya’s Ruto names opponents to cabinet, protesters slam ‘corrupt’ deal
Kenyan protesters detained in march to honour fallen comrades
‘Kenya is not asleep anymore’: Why young protesters are not backing down
US invites Sudan conflict parties to talks in Switzerland
Uganda police arrest more people protesting corruption
West Africa
Attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso force thousands into neighbouring Niger
Cameroon opposition, civil society condemn government threats toward Biya opponents
Nigerian military rescues ‘Chibok’ girl
Nigeria military warns against violence at looming Kenya-like protests
Southern Africa
Namibia turns the visa tables on Western nations
SAfr has a new top diplomat. What does that mean for Palestine?
SAfr appoints first woman chief justice
Zimbabwe Olympic delegation of 7 athletes and 67 officials
North Africa
Algeria slams France over W.Sahara
Morocco beat Argentina in 4hr Olympic game marred by crowd trouble
AFRICA GENERAL
GOOD NEWS AFRICA
EASTERN AFRICA
DR CONGO
Congo’s ‘Other’ conflict kills thousands in West near the capital
Nine soldiers and 70 militiamen died in clashes on July 13 in Kinsele, a village 80 miles east of Kinshasa, according to the local authorities. It was the latest surge of violence in an area where thousands of civilians have been killed and more than 550,000 displaced since 2022, according to estimates from humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies. The initial spark for the conflict two years ago was a tax dispute between local ethnic groups, the Teke and the Yaka. It has since billowed into a fight over land access, with a bloody trail of summary executions, burned villages and sexual violence. A militia pretending to defend some of the communities in the area has enlisted child soldiers, forced women to marry their fighters and looted villagers’ crops, sending people fleeing toward Kinshasa, humanitarian groups and U.N. experts say…Mobondo fighters now control large swathes of land, making aid access difficult. The Mobondo also ambush traders and seize crops to feed their fighters or finance their war effort, according to human rights groups and local news reports. They have also tortured local residents and kidnapped them for ransom, according to the United Nations…The Congolese military and police still control the main roads in the region, but Mobondo fighters run military outposts in the villages they’ve seized, according to U.N. experts and humanitarian organizations. To quell the violence, the Congolese military has conscripted about 1,000 of those involved in the conflict, including fighters from the Mobondo militia, according to U.N. experts. They have been sent to north Kivu, at the opposite end of the country in the east, to fight the M23.
ERITREA
Ethiopian Airlines flights to Asmara suspended, airline says
Eritrean authorities have suspended all flights by Ethiopian Airlines to the East African nation effective Sept. 30, the airline said on Wednesday. Flights from Ethiopia to Eritrea had resumed in 2018 after two decades, following a peace deal between the two neighbours that earned Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel peace prize a year later. “Ethiopian Airlines has received a notice from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority through a letter… indicating the suspension of all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea, effective September 30, 2024,” the airline said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page. “The specific reasons for this suspension have not been disclosed to us,” it said.
ETHIOPIA
Death toll from Ethiopia landslides could jump to 500, UN says
The death toll from landslides in Ethiopia earlier this week has risen to 257 and is expected to almost double, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said on Thursday. Heavy rains triggered a landslide burying people in the Gofa Zone of southern Ethiopia on Sunday night and a second one on Monday engulfed those engaged in rescue efforts. “The death toll is expected to rise to up to 500 people as per information received from local authorities,” UNOCHA said in a report. On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission had put the death toll at 229. Dagmawi Ayele, an administrator for the Gofa Zone said rescuers had so far recovered 226 bodies, which had been buried after a funeral ceremony, and were searching for 20 more. “It is too dangerous to approach to the site,” he said, adding that the rains were continuing on Thursday.
KENYA
President names opponents to cabinet, protesters slam ‘corrupt’ deal
Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday nominated four members of the main opposition party to a “broad-based” cabinet he promised in response to nationwide protests, but activists criticised the new government as a corrupt bargain. The opposition members, including the pick to lead the finance ministry, John Mbadi, are allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, whom Ruto defeated in the 2022 election. Young protesters behind six weeks of demonstrations that forced Ruto to withdraw $2.7 billion in tax hikes said the unity government would perpetuate a tradition of leaders co-opting the opposition at the expense of the population. “Zakayo has appointed corrupt people to fight corruption,” Boniface Mwangi, a prominent anti-government activist, wrote on X. Zakayo is the Swahili name for a greedy tax collector in the Bible that protesters have used as a nickname for Ruto. “It’s important to note @RailaOdinga is a traitor. He has betrayed the people, and formed a government of national looting with Zakayo,” Mwangi said.
Protesters detained in march to honour fallen comrades
Police detained several people on Thursday who attempted to present a petition to the president’s office and lay flowers to honour those killed a month ago on the most violent day of anti-government protests, protesters said. Among those detained were Boniface Mwangi, a prominent activist involved in the protests, they said. One of the protesters, Hanifa Adan, said on X that some of the parents of people killed in the June 25 protest had been detained on Thursday. Videos posted on social media by activists showed the marchers just before they were detained, carrying white crosses stained with red and chanting: “We are peaceful!” Many protesters are calling for Ruto to resign, and are angered by his nominations to a new cabinet. Most are holdovers from the previous government and some are members of the main opposition party, which the protesters have also condemned as corrupt. Ruto says the new cabinet reflects national unity and will address the demands of the protest movement. He has promised to investigate alleged abuses by the police during demonstrations but has broadly defended their conduct.
Kenya is not asleep anymore’: Why young protesters are not backing down
Young, frustrated Kenyans first came out to protest against punitive tax proposals. A contentious finance bill aimed to raise $2.7bn triggered many Kenyans. At the height of it, demonstrators stormed parliament and burned part of it after MPs passed the controversial bill on June 25. Several people were killed that day – one right outside Parliament. Since then, the protests have become a weekly affair. President Ruto eventually succumbed to pressure and returned the bill to Parliament for further amendments. He has yielded to some demands made by Kenyans. But the anger is not letting up. Kenyans want him to deal with bad governance, corruption, mismanagement of public funds, and to step down. The young protesters say they are leaderless and, for the first time, their agitation goes beyond historic ethnic divisions. They also do not subscribe to any political party affiliations. “It’s a very segregated movement where nobody is a leader but everybody is leading in their own way.” A majority of Kenyans support what is now popularly known as the Gen Z movement.
SOMALILAND
Somaliland says it ‘vehemently rejects any potential deployment of Turkish naval forces’ within its ‘recognized maritime zones’
In a statement released [yesterday], the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somaliland said it “vehemently rejects any potential deployment of Turkish naval forces within Somaliland’s recognized maritime zones.” This comes in the backdrop of the recent announcement that Turkey was poised to send its navy support to Somali waters following an earlier agreement between Ankara and Mogadishu that will allow Turkey to send an exploration vessel off the coast of Somalia to prospect for oil and gas…In February this year, Turkey and Somalia signed a defense cooperation in the wake of Somalia’s rejection of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland earlier in January.
SUDAN
US invites Sudan conflict parties to talks in Switzerland
Washington has invited the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to US-mediated ceasefire talks scheduled for August 14 in Switzerland. In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the talks will include regional stakeholders and international organisations seeking a comprehensive cessation of violence across Sudan. They are also meant to pave the way for the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need and establish a robust monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure the implementation of any reached agreements. “The scale of death, suffering and destruction in Sudan is devastating. This senseless conflict must end. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces must attend the talks and engage constructively,” Mr Blinken said. Matthew Miller, US State Department spokesperson, said that the Switzerland talks aim to bring both sides back to the negotiation table, build on the progress made during the Jeddah talks, and transition the discussions to the next phase.
UGANDA
More people arrested for protesting corruption
Police detained several people in the capital Kampala on Thursday during a second day of anti-corruption protests that are demanding the resignation of the parliament speaker, footage broadcast by local media showed. Drawing inspiration from weeks of youth-led protests in neighbouring Kenya that forced the president there to withdraw proposed tax hikes, young Ugandans began demonstrating this week against alleged graft by elected leaders. The police quickly shut down a planned march to parliament on Tuesday. They arrested at least 73 young protesters, according to Chapter Four Uganda, an organisation providing legal services to those detained. On Thursday, more demonstrators took to the streets, according to video posted on X by the Daily Monitor newspaper. The footage showed police in riot gear forcing several young adults into the back of a truck as they shouted protest slogans. President Museveni, who over the weekend warned protesters against “playing with fire”, accused them on Thursday of receiving foreign funding. “Those involved should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony,” he said. “The fight against corruption is in my hands. I just need evidence and action will be taken.”
WEST AFRICA
BURKINA FASO
Attacks on civilians in Burkina Faso force thousands into neighbouring Niger
Renewed attacks on civilians in eastern Burkina Faso by non-State armed groups have forced thousands to flee to neighbouring Niger in search of safety, amid a deepening emergency, UN humanitarians have warned. In an alert, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said that previous attacks in recent weeks along Burkina Faso’s border with Niger had already led to a “surge” of displaced people into the Nigerien city of Téra, Tillabéri region, despite the “already dire” humanitarian situation there…The development follows years of insecurity in Burkina Faso where more than a third of the country operates outside the control of the country’s military, which seized power in 2022…According to UNHCR, Tillabéri is now home to at least 223,400 internally displaced people from Niger and at least 36,500 Burkinabé asylum seekers. In addition to the latest arrivals from Burkina Faso, an additional 1,186 Nigerien nationals have also been displaced within Tillabéri, the UN agency noted.
CAMEROON
Cameroon opposition, civil society condemn government threats toward Biya opponents
This week, [Cameroon] government spokesperson Rene Emmanuel Sadi said it was unacceptable for people to use irreverent language about the 91-year-old president. Before Sadi’s statement, Emmanuel Mariel Djikdent, a top local government officer in the unit where Yaounde is located, announced he would expel anyone from the capital who insults Biya or state institutions. On Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said Djikdent’s announcement should be revoked to ensure the right to freedom of expression. The rights group says it is becoming increasingly difficult to speak freely in Cameroon…Opposition groups were angered earlier this month when Biya ordered his majority Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement or CPDM party to pass a government bill extending terms for all 180 lawmakers by 12 months, into 2026. The law makes it hard for main opposition leaders…to gain the legislative seats they need to be eligible to run against Biya in the next presidential election…Biya is Africa’s second-longest serving leader after the president of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has been in power since 1979.
NIGER
A year has passed since Niger’s dramatic coup. Life has become more dangerous and desperate
When a group of military officers appeared on state television in Niger one year ago to announce a dramatic coup, they said they deposed the West African nation’s elected government for two key reasons: its security and economic crises. But those challenges have persisted, even worsened. The country’s 26 million people — among the world’s youngest and poorest — are struggling after the junta severed ties with key international partners, who have imposed sanctions and suspended security and development support affecting close to half of Niger’s budget…Niger had been the West’s last reliable partner in the region in battling jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group…On the streets, where thousands of mostly young people cheered the coup in its early dramatic days, there is growing frustration. But there are no public protests amid concerns about possible retaliation by the junta, which still holds deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in detention. The junta has said he will be charged with treason, to widespread criticism abroad. There’s a “real depressing effect on the ability of the government to provide services and on the ability of businesses to thrive,” said Daniel Eizenga, a research fellow with the Africa Center for Strategic Studies.
NIGERIA
Military rescues Chibok girl
The Nigerian military has rescued Ehi Abdul, one of the “Chibok girls” whose kidnapping by Boko Haram militants in 2014 generated worldwide attention. Authorities say the rescue operation late last month rescued 330 other captives and highlights the ongoing efforts to combat insurgents and rehabilitate victims in northeastern Borno state. Ehi Abdul, a Chibok schoolgirl kidnapped along with 275 others nearly a decade ago, is finally free. She spent about 10 years in the Sambisa Forest, where she says she was forced to marry eight Boko Haram fighters and bear them two children. Abdul and other former captives were handed over to the Borno state government on Monday after a month of health care and reintegration…Although not completely eradicated, counterterrorism efforts have weakened Boko Haram and reduced attacks.
Military warns against violence at looming protests
The military will intervene to prevent any violence at protests by citizens planned for next month against bad governance and economic hardship, defence spokesperson Major General Edward Buba said on Thursday. Buba said Nigerians had a right to protest peacefully but the demonstrations being planned from Aug. 1 could turn violent as they were inspired by events in Kenya, where young people took to the streets and forced their government to scrap $2.7 billion in tax hikes. Nigeria’s military was last deployed to quell protests in October 2020, which led to bloodshed. “The level of violence envisaged is best described as a state of anarchy. It is for this reason the armed forces will not watch and allow the nation to spiral out of control to such low levels,” Buba said in a statement. Nigerians are organising online for nationwide protests next week in response to a cost of living crisis that has seen inflation rise to a 28-year-high of 34.2% which followed several reforms undertaken by President Bola Tinubu since last year. Protesters have asserted their right to peaceful demonstrations, calling the government’s warnings of violence a smokescreen for a potential crackdown. Protests in 2020, known as EndSars against police brutality led to the killing of at least 12 people, according to Amnesty International.
SOUTHERN AFRICA
NAMIBIA
Namibia turns the visa tables on Western nations
In 2022, seven of the top 10 countries with the highest visa rejection rates in the bloc of European countries known as the Schengen area were African, according to consultancy firm Henley and Partners…From next April, Canadian nationals, along with those from Germany, the US, the UK and 29 other countries, will require a visa for entry. These include all “non-reciprocating countries” – meaning the new visa rules will affect citizens from all countries that require Namibian passport holders to have visas. “Namibia has extended gestures of goodwill and favourable treatment to nationals of various countries. However, despite these efforts, certain nations have not reciprocated,” Namibia’s immigration ministry said in May. “In light of this disparity, the government has deemed it necessary to implement a visa requirement to ensure parity and fairness in diplomatic interactions.” But these visitors will be able to buy their 90-day visa, costing $90, on arrival in Namibia – unlike the onerous requirements placed on African passport holders who need to get their visas beforehand.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa’s new top diplomat. What does that mean for Palestine?
When South Africa brought a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) late last year, its foreign ministry led the charge. Then-minister of international relations and cooperation, Naledi Pandor, sat with lawyers and experts in The Hague in January as the ICJ announced provisional measures in the case accusing Israel of committing genocide in its war on Gaza. Now, after a landmark national election in May that shifted the country’s top governance, South Africa has a new top diplomat. But will its foreign policy change? “No,” said an emphatic Ronald Lamola, the new Foreign Minister, in an interview. Lamola steps into the role at a critical time. While the nation leads global efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, it is also confronting ongoing conflicts across the African continent. Lamola’s appointment follows Pandor’s retirement and the country’s formation of a government of national unity (GNU) last month. Though the ANC was able to hold on to the foreign ministry during the coalition negotiations, it will now need to reach consensus with other parties before big decisions can be made – some with widely differing ideologies.
The centre-right Democratic Alliance, the second biggest party in the coalition, for instance, has remained neutral on Israel’s war on Gaza while another coalition partner, the right-wing populist Patriotic Alliance, has affirmed its support for the Israeli state.
First woman chief justice is appointed
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday named Mandisa Maya as the first female chief justice, effective on Sept. 1, following consultations with the Judicial Service Commission. This is a significant milestone for the country, the presidency said in a statement. Maya, the current deputy chief justice, will replace Raymond Zondo, whose term ends on Aug. 31. On 21 May 2024, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) announced that it was backing Maya, a former president of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), to become South Africa’s next chief justice. Maya was the sole candidate interviewed for the position in May 2024 by the JSC, setting her on the path to make history as South Africa’s first woman chief justice.
ZIMBABWE
67 officials to the Paris Olympics and only 7 athletes
Two-time African journalist of the year, Hopewell Chin’ono, took to X, formerly Twitter, to post to his nearly 750 000 followers that: “The world media is once again having a laugh at the expense of Zimbabwe after it sent 67 officials to the Paris Olympics and only 7 athletes. “The officials include the country’s Vice President, General Constantino Chiwenga, his wife, and the country’s sports minister, Kirsty Coventry…“The sheer size of the official delegation, particularly in contrast to the small number of athletes, raises serious questions about the government’s priorities and resource allocation, especially at a time when it is begging for drought relief assistance from countries that sent huge teams of athletes with very few officials.”
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
France slammed over Western Sahara
Algeria expressed “great regret and strong denunciation” on Thursday about the French government’s decision to recognize an autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region “within Moroccan sovereignty”. Algeria was informed of the decision by France in recent days, an Algerian foreign ministry statement added. The ministry also said Algeria would draw all the consequences from the decision and hold the French government alone completely responsible. Algeria’s position on the Western Sahara conflict is to implement a United Nations plan which includes a self determination referendum. Algeria considers Morocco’s presence in the Sahara an occupation.
Morocco considers Western Sahara its own but an Algeria-backed independence movement, the Polisario Front, demands a sovereign state.
MOROCCO
Morocco beat Argentina in 4hr Olympic game marred by crowd trouble
Crowd trouble forced the first football match of the Olympics to be suspended for nearly two hours amid chaotic and worrying scenes, with the game eventually completed in an empty stadium. Morocco had been 2-0 ahead against Argentina, who pulled a goal back and were pushing for an equaliser. Cristian Medina then appeared to have made it 2-2 in the 16th of what had been 15 scheduled minutes of injury time at the end of the second half. After the resulting crowd trouble, play finally resumed after a lengthy delay with no fans present, and with VAR having ruled out Argentina’s equaliser, Morocco secured a controversial 2-1 victory.
AFRICA- GENERAL NEWS
2 times yearly injection that offers 100% protection against HIV is ‘stunning’
Twice-yearly shots used to treat AIDS were 100% effective in preventing new infections in women, according to study results published Wednesday. There were no infections in the young women and girls that got the shots in a study of about 5,000 in South Africa and Uganda, researchers reported. In a group given daily prevention pills, roughly 2% ended up catching HIV from infected sex partners…The shots made by U.S. drugmaker Gilead and sold as Sunlenca are approved in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere, but only as a treatment for HIV. The company said it is waiting for results of testing in men before seeking permission to use it to protect against infection. The results in women were published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine and discussed at an AIDS conference in Munich.
GOOD NEWS AFRICA
Liberian president cuts his salary by 40%
Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has announced that he will slash his salary by 40%. His office said he hoped to set a precedent for “responsible governance” and demonstrate “solidarity” with Liberians. Government salaries have been under intense scrutiny recently as Liberians complain about the rising cost of living. Around one in five people live on less than $2 (£1.70) a day in the West African state. Mr Boakai revealed in February that his annual salary was $13,400. The cut will bring it down to $8,000.
Africa’s bank tops transparency index – again
The African Development Bank (AfDB) ranked the most transparent development institution globally in the 2024 Aid Transparency Index, marking the second consecutive year in which it has achieved this recognition. The 2024 Index underscores the growing role of development finance institutions as crucial vehicles for international aid amidst ongoing reforms and increased capital market borrowing. In addition to its sovereign portfolio, the AfDB’s non-sovereign portfolio was separately assessed in the 2024 Index, ranking 13th among the 50 global development institutions compared.
Africans travel visa-free to Seychelles, Benin, Gambia, Rwanda
Africa is making strides in its visa openness policies boding well for cross border travel, ease of movement and trade in 2024 and beyond. More progress still needs to be made, but four countries – Seychelles, Benin, Gambia and Rwanda – are on another planet, with ALL Africans being able to enter without a visa as long as they hold a valid travel document.
Women behind the lens: ‘I Want to Be Like Her is my way of paying tribute to 10 exceptional Africans’
Model and actor Stella Tchuisse impersonates trailblazing women who have ‘changed narratives’ about the continent. For generations, African women have played a critical role in the political, economic, social, artistic and spiritual growth of our continent. Many have not received due recognition for their incredible contributions. “I Want to Be Like Her” is Tchuisse’s way of paying tribute to 10 exceptional African women, both living and past. They include writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie; director general of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Cameroonian lawyer and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Alice Nkom; and the late Kenyan environmentalist Wangarĩ Maathai. To tell these stories, she decided to impersonate each of the women in a series of photos that represent their profession or accomplishments – or both. Tchuisse’s also added elements of African lifestyle and crafts to the images, as well as, in this case, two “silhouette” figures draped in Cameroonian ndop cloth.
Malaria vaccine roll-out looks to save thousands of lives
Hundreds of thousands of lives could be saved this decade thanks to a new malaria vaccine, the head of the jab development team at Oxford has said. R21/Matrix-M would pave the way for a “really serious” attempt at eradicating the disease. The first doses of the vaccine were rolled out in the Ivory Coast on Monday. It is the first malaria vaccine to meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) target of 75% efficacy at preventing the disease.
Secret ‘sky island’ rainforest saved by new discoveries
Perched on a remote mountain top and surrounded by lowlands, Mabu, Mozambique, is what’s known as a “sky island” and is the largest rainforest in southern Africa. Twenty years ago, Mabu was a secret to all but the locals. It was ‘discovered’ for the outside world by Prof Julian Bayliss in 2004…Bayliss was at the forefront of a ‘gold rush’ of discoveries, quickly finding several new species of chameleon, snake and butterfly. In all Bayliss says they’ve found at least 25 new species, and that’s not even counting the dung beetles, many of which still need to be officially recognised. The water in the centre of Mabu forest is so pure that the scientists drink it directly from the stream.
Bushman review – amazing real-time evocation of a Nigerian’s life in 70s America
Paul Eyam Nzie Okpokam plays a lightly fictionalised version of himself in David Schickele’s restored 1971 film reflecting on race and nationality. It is a vividly beautiful and dynamic monochrome work resembling something by Godard or Cassavetes but with something special and specific; an amazing real-time transcription of the life of a young black man in San Francisco in the fraught year of 1968. Scenes from Garbriel’s life are interleaved with an interview he is apparently giving to an off-camera questioner, speaking with warmth and articulate charm about his experiences back at home and in the US, and how as an African national he is considered an exotic outsider in the US, and almost exempt from the racism dished out to black Americans, who seem white to him.
Forget Ethiopia’s Spice Girls – this singer salutes the true queens
Gabriella Ghermandi recalls with laughter the annoyance she felt about the so-called Ethiopian Spice Girls – charity-backed pop group Yegna that hoped to change narratives and empower girls and women through music…for Ghermandi, assumptions that Ethiopian women had to be taught by outsiders was the issue. So, Ghermandi – an Ethiopian-Italian author, singer, producer and ethno-musicologist – also turned to music as a way of “saying to the world that we have a huge history about brave women who had as much power as men”. The result is a nine-track album called Maqeda – the Amharic name for the Queen of Sheba, a hugely important figure in Ethiopian history. Every song is an homage to female figures, communities, rituals and musical styles.
How Africa has had a big influence on Euro 2024
The immigration boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s has transformed the European Championship into a more culturally diverse event than ever before – and a number the teams can trace part of their success to the performances of players with African heritage. Kevin Danso, more than most, exemplifies this, as the 25-year-old defender was a lynchpin for Austria. In Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal Spain now has two direct, pacey wingers of Ghanaian and Moroccan-Equatoguinean descent. Jamal Musiala – also eligible for Nigeria – has been the one immovable piece of Germany’s attacking puzzle. Switzerland displayed Dan Ndoya, Back-up ‘keeper Yan Mvogo, defender Manuel Akanji, midfielder Denis Zakarai and forwards Breel Embolo, Kwadwo Duah and Zeki Amdouni all with links to Africa.
How An Igbo Man Came to Rule American Country Music
Shaboozey has been a consistent name on everyone’s lips this year, especially in the United States, where he was born and raised. The artist’s evocative blend of hip-hop and country music has made him, quite unarguably, the breakout star of the year. As of last week, Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” occupied the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100 as well as its Hot Country Songs chart. It was the first time a Black male artist has topped both charts at the same time. Born Collins Obinna Chibueze, the artist’s Nigerian roots have had a large influence on him. When Shaboozey appeared on two songs from Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, it opened up a conversation about African country musicians. Beyonce’s pre-release letter recognized Black America’s peculiar history with the genre, and through his more encompassing influences, Shaboozey unites both the American and the African scenes. It’s not been the least surprising to see he’s been getting love from the motherland. The outsized rap and country cadences he brought to Beyonce’s “Spaghettii” and “Sweet Honey Buckiin’” are prevalent in his sophomore album, Cowboys Live Forever, Outlaws Never Die.
Google bets on African languages, including Dyula, Wolof, Baoulé and Tamazight
“Sran ng’ɔ bo alɛ’n i jɔ’n, ɔ diman alɛ sɔ’n wie.” This Baoulé proverb is now translatable with Google Translate: “He who declares war does not participate in it.” Since its new update on June 27, the software from the American giant has been able to translate 110 new languages, including Breton and Occitan, as well as 31 African languages, among them Tamazight (Berber), Afar, Wolof, Dyula and Baoulé. According to Google, these languages represent 200 million speakers on the continent…Google’s partners in the target communities – including organizations defending endangered languages and researchers – were asked to evaluate and improve the first AI translations until they reached a sufficient quality and quantity to launch the update
New SA e-hailing startup Shesha aims to use local knowledge to disrupt Uber, Bolt
South African startup Shesha aims to disrupt the established e-hailing landscape, largely dominated by international giants like Uber and Bolt, by providing a local alternative using its understanding of local conditions. Founded this year, Shesha owes its origins to the fact that it “became apparent that – not only from a customer perspective, where safety and an understanding of local needs was not necessarily high on the agenda of its competitors – but that drivers felt exploited and under-appreciated by what they saw as foreign companies that were not paying attention to their working conditions”. This is according to spokesperson Nomsa Mdhluli, why the company was making safety concerns its number one priority.
Africa’s aviation continues upward swing
The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) said in the second quarter of 2024, the aviation industry continued to grow despite navigating various challenges and opportunities, including tough economic times. Notwithstanding all these hurdles, it said carriers continued to sustain their recovery, driven by a continued increase in passenger demand…Connectivity within Africa continues to expand, with major hubs like Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Abidjan, and Lomé experiencing significant increases in connections. African airlines are reporting improved passenger revenue, reflecting the overall traffic growth.
Kenyans combat the threat of logging with beehives
Dressed in protective clothing and armed with a smoker, Peter Nyongesa walked through the mangroves to monitor his beehives along the Indian Ocean coastline. The 69-year-old Nyongesa recalled how he would plead unsuccessfully with loggers to spare the mangroves or cut only the mature ones while leaving the younger ones intact. “But they would retort that the trees do not belong to anyone but God,” he said. So he has turned to deterring the loggers with bees, hidden in the mangroves and ready to sting. Their hives now dot a section of coastline in Kenya’s main port city of Mombasa in an effort to deter people who chop mangroves for firewood or home construction. It’s part of a local conservation initiative.
Zambia made education free, now classrooms are crammed
These start-of-the-day rituals have become part of a new routine for two million extra children who since 2021 have been able to go to state-run schools without having to pay, because the government made schooling free for everyone. “I stopped going to school in 2016 when I was in grade four,” says 18-year-old Mariana Chirwa. “Without free education I don’t know how my parents would have managed to take me back to school. They don’t work and just stay at home.” But without enough infrastructure investment, experts say overcrowding is now threatening the quality of education, especially for low-income students. In one of the classrooms, 75 boys and 85 girls are squeezed into a space that would comfortably fit only 30 pupils. The government says it is listening and taking steps to address the challenges created by making education free. “This is a good problem,” says Education Minister Douglas Syakalima. “I’d rather let the children be in a congested classroom than in the street.”
Africa’s richest man says he doesn’t own a home outside Nigeria
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has shocked many Nigerians after saying he doesn’t own a house outside the country. Mr Dangote said he had two houses – in his home town of Kano, and Lagos – and lived in a rented apartment whenever he visits the capital, Abuja. His comments surprised many in a country where the rich elite have a reputation for their opulent lifestyles. Many wealthy Nigerians own houses in London, Dubai and Atlanta. “The reason I don’t have a London or America house is solely because I wanted to focus on industrialization in Nigeria,” he said. “I am very passionate about the Nigeria dream and apart from my Lagos house, I have another one in my home state, Kano, and a rented one in Abuja. “If I have houses all over, in America and co, I would not be able to concentrate and build something for my people.”
Nigerian artist aims at world record for largest individual drawing
Nigerian artist Fola David is seeking the Guinness record for the largest drawing by an individual after spending six days on his piece in a stadium in the commercial capital Lagos. David, also a medical doctor, said his 1,050 square metre “Unity in Diversity” artwork showing two giant hands holding Nigeria’s map was meant to showcase the country’s cultural heritage. “Our diversity should be seen as something that unites us, as something that strengthens us, rather than something that should create that divide between us,” David said after completing his work. The Guinness World Record body has been informed and will need to certify his work if he is to surpass the record set in 2021 by Indian artist Ravi Soni who drew a 629.98 square metre piece.
Africa At The Paris Olympics:
Kenya and Ethiopia to Extend Running Rivalry at Paris Olympics
Some of the greatest names in long-distance running hail from two East African nations that border each other — Ethiopia and Kenya. The two countries are sending some of their best to the Olympic Games in Paris this year, hoping to win multiple gold medals, and — more importantly — bragging rights. Although Kenya has won more Olympic medals in track and field — 106 to Ethiopia’s 58 — both countries will be vying to see who will leave Paris with the most Olympic medals this year. And there will be many greats to watch compete this year, such as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the current world record holder in the 1500m race going for her third Olympic title in her favorite distance. Kipyegon will be competing against Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the 5000m world record holder who is looking to medal in three races in Paris.
South Sudan’s Basketball Team Made History Getting to the Olympics
During a pre-Olympic “Friendly”, it took a strong drive to the basket by Lebron James for the U.S. team to win 101-100 and, even then, South Sudan were within a missed floater and putback attempt from notching a greatly unprecedented win. Both teams will face off again, this time within the far more competitive context of the Olympics. Historically, the U.S. team has consistently mauled African teams at this level, infamously whacking the Nigerian basketball team by a historical margin of 86 points in the preliminary round of the 2012 London Olympics. Based on the previous matchup, it won’t seem out of place to say South Sudan has a healthy fighting chance on July 31.
Nigerian women football returns to Olympics
The Nigerian women’s football team has had a stop-and-start history at the Olympics. Known as the Super Falcons, the team only reached the quarterfinals at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. And since their appearance in 2008’s games in Beijing (they didn’t make it past the group stage), the team hasn’t participated in the hallowed tournament until now. The Super Falcons’ return to the Olympics is seen as triumphant and exciting. The team, nine-time African champions, is filled with fresh, outstanding talents…To maintain the impressive steam generated by the Super Falcons, sports executive Lanre Vigo says it is necessary to improve support systems for homegrown teams. “The ladies have been doing us very proud, so we need to back them up,” he says. “This could come in the form of pumping in money to build a proper training facility which the ladies and the national men’s team can also use. When camp is coming up, and the team is not training on proper pitches, it hinders progress.”
Akani Simbine, the South African Olympic Flag Bearer
Akani Simbine is one of South Africa’s most celebrated athletes, but he somehow hasn’t produced a medal at the Olympics or World Championships in the near-decade that he’s been hitting the track. He goes into Paris with every intention to turn things around, but faces stiff competition from the likes of Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and Noah Lyles of the U.S. in the process. However, his recent winning streak has given him more confidence going into the games. He also has a score to settle: Tokyo 2020’s fourth place was a disappointing moment that led to the athlete getting diagnosed with depression…A renewed vigor fueled his recent bout at the London Diamond League, where he clocked a season best running time of 9.85 seconds to take second place after Lyles in first place, and before Tebogo in third place. He also stormed ahead of his opponents to win the Diamond League in Suzhou, China in April this year. Some people have speculated that this might be Simbine’s last hurrah at the Olympics, but he feels that he still has at least four more years in him.
Moroccan b-boy, who is the first African to compete in breakdancing at the Olympics
Just six years after he started practicing breakdancing, 20-year-old Bilal “Billy” Mallakh won the 2023 African Championship in Rabat, Morocco, earning him a spot at the Paris Olympics where the sport makes its official debut. This victory makes Mallakh the first African and Arab to qualify for the competition. The breaking category is made up of 16 b-boys and b-girls competing at two events, facing off in one-on-one battles. To prepare, Mallakh spent the past six months in Austria, training with his coaches Fouad Ambelj, aka Lil Zoo, and Boutni Rochdi aka Rochdi Soon, a Moroccan breaker who represents Austria and won the World Championship in 2018. The b-boy keeps stressing that his love for breaking goes beyond the desire to win a medal; but it is exactly this passion that got him to first place in the African Championship, and consequently to the Olympics. “If you love something, you want to be the best at it,” he says. “So I want to be the best at breakdancing.”
Letsile Tebogo Is Set for Olympic Glory
Letsile Tebogo will be carrying Botswana’s hopes and dreams when he competes at his inaugural Olympic Games in Paris this year. Last year in Budapest, Tebogo obtained a silver medal and became the first African athlete to win a 100m World Athletics Championships medal of any kind since the competition’s inception in 1983. He followed that up with a bronze medal in the 200m race in the same competition. Earlier this year, the outstanding sprinter set a new 300m world record at the Simbine Curro Classic in South Africa, effectively breaking Wayde van Niekerk’s previous record of 30.81 seconds that had been standing since 2017. Winning a silver medal by clocking 9.88 seconds at the men’s 100m race at the World Athletics Championship in 2023 has raised hopes that Botswana, which has only won medals in two athletics events in Olympics history, is likely to add a few more.
Faith Kipyegon Aims for Olympic Gold Three-Peat
Having once again broken her own world record in the women’s 1500 meters at the Paris Diamond League this past Sunday, Faith Kipyegon’s eyes are on a different prize as she heads to this year’s Olympic Games: becoming a three-time consecutive Olympic gold medalist in her favorite distance. Kipyegon, who is also a multiple-time world champion, is set to defend her 1500m Olympic title in Paris this summer after qualifying to run both the 1500m and 5000m races at the Kenya Olympic trials in June. No Kenyan athlete has won an Olympic gold medal three times in a row in the same distance. Only three athletes have won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 1500m event. The 30-year-old runner took home the gold in the 1500m at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics in 2016, and the Tokyo Olympics 2020 (in 2021).
Sudanese swimmer is one of the youngest and most determined Olympians
At only 15 years old, Rana Saadeldin is making her debut at the Olympics. The Sudanese swimmer hasn’t won any medals yet, but her performances at the World Aquatics Championships in Japan (2023) and Qatar (2024), as well as the Cana Junior Championships in Mauritius, earned her an invitation to join the World Championship in Paris this summer. “It’s actually a bit scary, because I’m one of the youngest,” she said in an interview. “But it also gives me motivation that I am one of the youngest and I’m going to the Olympics. This is ‘wow’ to be honest.” Through her training, Saadeldin has become friends with other female Sudanese swimmers. “[Representing Sudan] means a lot to me,” she says. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me, because in Sudan, there are not a lot of girls that swim. So me being one of the few girls that go to the Olympics is just amazing. I want to be the first ever [Sudanese] girl to get an Olympic medal in swimming. If that does not happen this time, hopefully it will happen in 2028.”
2 SAfr spots named in TIME Magazine’s ‘World’s Greatest Places’
With last year’s list featuring 50 cities, this year TIME decided to feature establishments that stand out in their field, and the world. Amongst these 100 Great Places, two South African spots were named. These were the Grootbos Florilegium in Gansbaai, and Magugu House in Johannesburg. The Grootbos Florilegium, located in the Grootbos Private Nature Reserve in Gansbaai, is a museum devoted to the small wonders of nature and features a collection of nearly 250 botanical illustrations and portraits of insects, butterflies, and other pollinators commissioned from 44 international artists. Magugu House is a retail space and showroom complete with a two micro galleries which hosts fashion events and exhibitions. It was opened by fashion designer, Thebe Magugu, who has collaborated with Dior and shown collections at London and Paris Fashion Weeks.
The school bringing hope to children fleeing Sudan’s war
More than a year since renewed fighting broke out in Sudan, millions of children have been forced to drop out of school. But a new primary school in Metche camp in eastern Chad, where thousands are seeking refuge, is rekindling the hopes of close to 2,000 Sudanese children who have resumed learning.
Women police officers in Somalia out from behind the desk
The security situation in Somalia is precarious, with terrorist attacks by the militant Islamist group al-Shabaab a common occurrence. Authorities are intensifying operations, and for the first time, women are being deployed to help control traffic.
The Africa Edition ©️ 
Leave a comment