News That Matters To Africa©️
FRIDAY’S FOCUS EDITION
Good News Africa!
THE FRIDAY QUOTE
“Technically speaking, almost every mirror you buy at a store is in used condition.”
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
1. Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president
2. Why voters are giving Africa’s governing parties a bloody nose
3. Niger takes control of Orano uranium mine
4. Okonjo-Iweala given 2nd term as WTO chief
5. Robert Sobukwe, the South African leader once as revered as Mandela 6. How women resisted German colonialism in Cameroon
ECONOMY, BUSINESS, AND EDUCATION
1. Botswana joins Belgium as center for diamond certification
2. Tech startups drive investment into Francophone Africa
3. Former Tesco boss wants to send power from Morocco to Great Britain using subsea cable
4. Female entrepreneur set to revolutionize transportation for all of africa, after transforming her native Ghana
5. Over 561 tons of fish harvested from GERD since last July
6. Footsteps of change: Rachel Fatuma’s dream powers sustainable energy 7. South Africa leads ranking of sub-Saharan African universities
SPORTS
1. Meet the elite Nigerian athletes making moves in American Football
2. Bastos breaks new ground for Africa in Copa Libertadores
3. Tebogo & Hassan top World Athletics Awards 4. Wanyonyi’s journey from herdsboy to Olympic champion
CULTURE AND ARTS
1. Artists imagine a new utopia for Kenya’s capital
2. Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event
3. An underlying stillness’: the Yinka Shonibare retreat where artists have space to grow and thrive
4. These African films are vying for nominations at the 2025 Oscars
5. Marrakech Film Festival opens in Morocco with ‘The Order’
6. How two creators are changing the edutainment narrative for children in Africa through animation 7. The rebel who became ‘Queen of African Horror’
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
1. 1000 Endangered animals set to return home to Madagascar in anti-Trafficking victory
2. The ICJ court starts hearing historic climate change case
3. Progress on rights complaint systems in Congo Basin but more needed, says group
4. Agroecology offers blueprint for resilient farming in northern Ghana
5. Green Gains: how Gender-smart funds drive climate action and returns
6. Biochar from banana peels breaks ground in Cameroon
7. Sahara Desert is turning green amid unusual rains in parts of North Africa
8. Giant Millipede lost to science for a century rediscovered in Madagascar with 20 more species in world-first expedition 9. 5,000-year-old rock art of boats and cattle unearthed in the Sahara shows grassland came before desert
SCIENCE AND ARCHAEOLOGY
1. Archaeologists uncover gateway to ancient Greek temple alongside the Nile in Egypt
2. Two different species of human ancestors left footprints at same spot on same day 1.5mil years ago
3. New evidence near mysterious carvings show Persians may have escaped to Madagascar for religious freedom
4. Period of ancient Egypt illuminated by intricate coffins for ‘the Lady of the House’
5. Ancient Egyptian observatory is unlocking celestial secrets of their cosmic culture
6. Egyptians performed brain surgery 4,000 years ago: a discovery called a ‘milestone in the history of medicine’ 7. 3,400-Year-old head of King Ramses II statue returned to Egypt after theft
LIFESTYLE AND HUMAN INTEREST
1. Some young Kenyans turn to kung fu for self-improvement in difficult times
2. How lending one’s voice can be a lucrative profession
3. How Rwanda’s capital became Africa’s cleanest city
4. Toddler unable to bend arms due to burns hugs parents for first time after free life-changing surgery 5. Schoolgirl with severely bowed legs gets life-changing surgery to straighten them–and is now 5 inches taller
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
Namibia elects Nandi-Ndaitwah as first female president
Namibia has elected its first female leader, with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah declared the winner of last week’s presidential election in a result that will extend the ruling Swapo party’s 34-year hold on power. Nandi-Ndaitwah, the current vice-president, won with 57% of the vote, according to official results, defying predictions that she might be forced into a runoff…Opposition parties have rejected the results after the election was marred by technical problems, including shortages of ballot papers and other issues, causing election officials to extend voting until Saturday. The opposition parties claim the extension was illegal and intend to challenge the results in court.
Why voters are giving Africa’s governing parties a bloody nose
This year has been an “annus horribilis” for those governments in sub-Saharan Africa that have had to face voters at the ballot box. In almost every election held in the region this year under reasonably democratic conditions, the governing party either lost a significant number of seats or lost power completely. This trend has been driven by a combination of factors: the economic downturn; growing public intolerance of corruption; and the emergence of increasingly assertive and well-coordinated opposition parties.
The trend is likely to continue into 2025.
Niger takes control of Orano uranium mine
French nuclear fuels company Orano said on Wednesday that authorities in Niger have taken control of its Somair uranium mine as the military-led government steps up pressure on foreign investors in the West African country. Orano, which owns about 63% of the mine, said in a statement that decisions taken at Somair board meetings were no longer being applied. Niger owns the remaining stake in Somair. “Orano is today confirming that Nigerien authorities have taken operational control of the company,” it said. The business climate for international companies in Niger, which accounts for about 4% of global output of uranium, has become uncertain after a military coup last year. Uranium is the most widely used fuel for nuclear energy and Orano, which has operated mines in Niger for years, vowed to “defend its rights before competent bodies” in order to allow Somair to operate normally, without giving details. Orano said it has been warning for several months of interference in governance at Somair, where it was forced to suspend production after authorities halted exports last year.
Okonjo-Iweala given 2nd term as WTO chief as Trump’s return looms over trade body’s future
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she’s “eager” to work with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his trade team. She made the comments to reporters after member countries handed her a second four-year term, in a vote with no opposition. The Geneva-based trade body’s future is clouded by Trump’s looming return to power in January in the U.S., home to the world’s single biggest economy, because his pledges to slap unilateral tariffs on foreign goods entering the country could face challenges at the WTO. Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister who also has U.S. citizenship, took office in 2021 as the first woman and first African to hold the job of WTO chief.
Her second term will officially begin next September.
Robert Sobukwe, the South African leader once as revered as Mandela
Born 100 years ago, Sobukwe was a titan of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle – now often forgotten, his legacy still shapes the country. Born as Robert Mangaliso – meaning “it is wonderful” in isiXhosa (or Xhosa), his mother tongue – on December 5, 1924, was always an exceptional student. His parents mustered the money to send him to high school at Healdtown, the same prestigious Methodist boarding school Nelson Mandela attended. When Sobukwe enrolled at Fort Hare – South Africa’s only university for Black Africans, and the alma mater of Mandela and fellow anti-apartheid icons Oliver Tambo and Govan Mbeki among many others, he was not remotely interested in politics. He was, recalls a compatriot, “a happy, contented person” with a great love for literature. But before leaving Fort Hare, Sobukwe had been elected president of the students’ representative council; joined the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL); and signed off with a spell binding speech where he implored Black South Africans to forge their own future, a future of freedom and African unity. “I wish to make it clear again that we are anti-nobody,” Sobukwe said midway through it. “We are pro-Africa. We breathe, we live, we dream Africa; because Africa and humanity are inseparable … On the liberation of the African depends the whole world.” When news of the speech, and its supposedly anti-white message reached white supporters, it came as a “dreadful shock”. The plan had always been for Sobukwe to return to Healdtown to teach – but now he would have to look for work elsewhere…
How women resisted German colonialism in Cameroon
In 1893, Dahomey men and women revolted against abuse by German colonial officers in Cameroon in a famous uprising that Germany was unprepared for. We look at how female resistance against colonialism has taken different forms, from the Dahomey Revolt to the battle to return the Ngonnso sculpture to Cameroon.
ECONOMY, BUSINESS, AND EDUCATION
Botswana joins Belgium as center for diamond certification
Botswana has been added as a second center, in addition to Belgium, to verify the origin of rough diamonds meant for export to the Group of Seven leading industrialized countries, the nation’s presidency announced. African producers had complained that making Belgium the sole verification center led to disruptions in the global diamond supply chain, as the G7 moved to stop the flow of gems mined in Russia. The announcement comes as President Duma Boko and Minister of Minerals Bogolo Kenewendo returned from a diamond conference in Brussels. Kenewendo told state television it is logical to grant Botswana, the world’s second-largest producer of diamonds, the right to certify rough stones. She said that Botswana has a track record in verification and certification, together with other countries under the Kimberley Process. The Kimberley Process is a trade regime that certifies rough diamond exports entering the global market, but it has been criticized for failing to do enough to keep out diamonds from conflict zones…To sanction Russian diamonds, the G7, at the start of the year, proposed that all stones destined for export to their member countries be routed through Antwerp, Belgium, to verify their origin. African producers, led by Botswana, protested, saying the move caused disruptions to the global supply chain due to delays and added costs.
Tech startups drive investment into Francophone Africa
Venture capital investment in French-speaking Africa has ballooned in the last three years, driven by pandemic-era tech innovation and regulatory changes, new research shows. The African Private Capital Association (AVCA) industry body, in a report seen by Semafor Africa that focuses on 21 sub-Saharan African countries which use French as an official language, said venture capital funding underpinned 60% of deals in Francophone Africa between 2021 and the first half of 2024. It had been “virtually absent” in those countries prior to 2016, according to the report. “While VC has grown steadily across Africa, its rise in Francophone Africa has been particularly pronounced,” states the report, adding that there had been “an eightfold increase in deal volume between 2012-2020 and 2021-2024 H1, compared to just over a twofold increase across the continent.” The shift has been driven by a wave of investors — including increasing numbers from the US — making bets on Francophone area tech startups, primarily in financial technology, or companies in sectors such as healthcare and logistics, where software is driving innovation. The widespread uptake of digital technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic drove the change in tandem with the implementation of startup-friendly regulations in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Rwanda in recent years which offer incentives, such as tax breaks and exemptions on customs duties. Most funding has poured into those three countries.
Former Tesco boss wants to send power from Morocco to Great Britain using subsea cable
In the south-west of Morocco, a sprawl of wind and solar farms stretching across an area the size of Greater London could soon generate the green electricity powering more than 9m British homes.This is the unflinching vision of Sir Dave Lewis, the former Tesco boss who is hoping to build the world’s longest subsea power cable in order to harness north Africa’s renewable energy sources and power Britain’s clean energy agenda. If built, a 4,000km cable buried in trenches along the seabed would carry up to 8% of Great Britain’s electricity from renewable energy and battery projects in Morocco’s Tantan province to the Devon coast in under a second. Combined with Morocco’s perennial sunshine and consistently healthy wind speeds, the project could in theory provide Britain with a predictable and reliable source of renewable energy for about 19 hours a day all year round…The near-constrant stream of clean electricity could begin supplying the energy grid by 2030, he says, in time to power the government’s goal of creating a clean energy system by the end of the decade and meet its new ambition to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 81% compared with 1990 levels by 2035.
Female entrepreneur set to revolutionize transportation for all of Africa, after transforming her native Ghana
Anyone who’s visited Accra, Ghana, in the dry season will remember the incredibly poor air quality. Poor roads mean that cars are stuck in second and third gears, and old cars traveling in second and third gears mean plenty of extra car exhaust. Poor roads also mean exposed dirt, and exposed dirt means fine-grained dust. Combined with a lack of rain, the smog, dust, and car exhaust make the air in parts of the capital unfit for human health. To make matters even worse, cheap two-wheeled electric vehicles imported from Asian manufacturers are not built for the rigors of African roads. They often break down, require owners to constantly replace parts, and generate unnecessary waste. By contrast, Wahu!’s bikes were designed with Africa in mind, and the earliest models are still running well. Additionally, GPS tracking of the bikes has meant that of the 300 units sold and running in Ghana, only one has been stolen—and was quickly located. Valerie Labi is the woman behind the wheels of Wahu!, an electric bicycle company and the only native electric vehicle manufacturer in Ghana. The bikes are sold under an affordable payment plan of around $23 per month for 18-24 months. They cost around $13.5 per month in electricity to charge, a huge drop from the $250 in gasoline that comparative petrol-powered delivery bikes cost…Labi and Wahu! have just closed a funding round in which they received $8 million in capital to expand production at their plant on Spintex Road, Accra. In the coming months, they plan to launch a four-wheeled vehicle, as well as open new locations in Lusaka, Zambia, and Lagos, Nigeria.
Over 561 tons of fish harvested from GERD since last July
More than 561 tons of fish has been harvested from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) artificial lake since July this year, Beninshangul-Gumuz regional state agriculture bureau told FBC. Some 22 youth associations engaged in fishery around the Dam’s artificial lake have managed to harvest the aforementioned quantity of fish and supplied it to the domestic market in the past five months alone. The dam has not only generated energy but also created job opportunities for the local youth, said Mr. Berhanu Itecha (PhD), deputy head of the livestock sector of the Benishangul-Gumuz regional agriculture bureau. He also announced that market linkages are being created for the associations engaged in fish production, including supply of production materials.
Footsteps of change: Rachel Fatuma’s dream powers sustainable energy
This Congolese engineering student with a knack for innovation has developed a functional system to generate clean energy from tiles powered by just pedestrian movement or even dancing on them. Rachel Fatuma, a young Congolese woman, could be mistaken for one among thousands of youths in the Democratic Republic of Congo trying to find their feet in an evolving and demanding world. But she isn’t just another face in the crowd. As someone nurturing an unbridled passion for science, this final-year engineering student, at 24, has developed a unique system that enables energy generation by stepping and dancing on tiles made from cheap and easily accessible materials. “The system is based on the pressure exerted by human footsteps on what I call energy tiles. They produce electrical energy when you walk on them,” explains Rachel. It was in 2023 that Rachel presented her first prototype of energy tiles to the scientific community. The presentation marked the culmination of a project she had been working on for years, and the fulfilment of a dream she had since she was a child. The concept of creating a system of generating electricity by stomping on a set of tiles was born out of the first known installation to use pedestrians’ footsteps to generate energy, dating back to 1983. Toulouse Metro in France had what was called a “piezoelectric pavement” that produced electricity from the act of footsteps hitting the installation. Rachel acknowledges that this system was the source of her inspiration. The distinction between the Kinshasa system and that of Toulouse lies in the latter’s utilisation of piezoelectric materials for energy generation, whereas Rachel’s method employs an electromechanical energy production system.
South Africa leads ranking of sub-Saharan African universities
The University of Johannesburg has been ranked as sub-Saharan Africa’s best university, beating two historic rivals — the University of Pretoria and the University of the Witwatersrand — to the top spot. The 2024 list by British magazine Times Higher Education (THE) places four South African universities in the top 10, two each from Rwanda and Ghana, and one each from Uganda and Somalia. Nigeria has 41 entries on the list, the most of any country. American University of Nigeria, ranked 12th in the overall list, was deemed the best in the country. It is only the second edition of the ranking. Metrics used to compile the ranking included African research citations and co-authorship, accessibility for disabled people, and employability. These are metrics that “matter most to the development of nations south of the Sahara,” said the magazine’s chief global affairs officer Phil Baty in a statement…Imperial College London this month launched its first hub in Ghana, focused exclusively on science and technology in Africa. Officials said Imperial Global Ghana will help to build on a growing network of West African partners in universities, government, and civil society to support the co-creation of research, education and entrepreneurship programs. The hub — Imperial’s third overseas after others in Singapore and San Francisco — will also advance collaboration between the West African innovation ecosystem with London, supporting the commercialization of scientific breakthroughs made in Africa, according to the officials.
SPORTS
Meet the elite Nigerian athletes making moves in American Football
In the 1980s, Kansas City Chiefs legend Christian Okoye paved the way for young Africans to play American Football in the United States. Now, Washington Commanders’ Haggai Chisom Ndubuisi and Seattle Seahawks’ Kenneth Odumegwu are making their own way in the league through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
Bastos breaks new ground for Africa in Copa Libertadores
Amid Botafogo’s bus parade through the streets of Rio de Janeiro to mark their first ever Copa Libertadores title, defender Bastos was also able to reflect on a separate piece of history. The Angola international is the first African footballer to win South America’s premier continental club competition. The moment was also toasted over 6,000km away in his homeland. “This brings a lot of prestige for him, Angolan football and the Palancas Negras (national side),” said Joao Lusevikueno, a former vice-president of the country’s football federation. “The Copa Libertadores is very difficult to win. You will see good players in very competitive teams. “To be able to lift that trophy means a lot to us as Angolans. I’m very happy for him.” Bastos – full name Bartolomeu Jacinto Quissanga – was born in Luanda and began his professional career at hometown club Petro Atletico. He followed the well-trodden path of African players to Europe when he joined Russian club Rostov in 2013. He went on to have spells at Lazio and Saudi Arabian side Al Ain, picking up several trophies along the way. A Russian Cup in his first season with Rostov was followed by the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup in 2019 and the Saudi title in 2022-23 before he moved to Botafogo in August last year. The Copa Libertadores has been running since 1960, but African players are scarce on the ground – with competing sides largely composed of domestic talent.
Tebogo & Hassan top World Athletics Awards
Olympic champions Letsile Tebogo and Sifan Hassan were named male and female athlete of the year at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco. Tebogo, who was also named male track athlete of the year, became Botswana’s first Olympic champion in Paris when he won the 200m in an African record time of 19.46 seconds. The 21-year-old also helped to set a new African record when taking silver in the men’s 4x400m relay. “It feels amazing to know that the fans are always there for us athletes,” said Tebogo. “It was a great year. This means a lot.” Netherlands’ Hassan – formerly from Ethiopia – won bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m in Paris before claiming gold in the womens marathon to become the first athlete in 72 years to win medals in all three events at the same Games. The 31-year-old was also named female out of stadium athlete of the year, while Ethopia’s Tamirat Tola, who won men;s marathon gold in Paris, claimed the male award. “I never thought I was going to win this one,” said Hassan. “This year was crazy.”
Wanyonyi’s journey from herdsboy to Olympic champion
Growing up in extreme poverty in a small village in western Kenya, Emmanuel Wanyonyi has endured exploitation, switching jobs regularly after sometimes going unpaid, and yet…the man who would become the reigning Olympic 800m champion persisted because shelter and food were provided. His daily life was marked by hardships. Forced out of school aged 10, he worked long hours herding cattle. Sometimes he earned less than $2 (£1.58) a month. One of 11 children, Wanyonyi had no choice but to leave school as his family could not afford exam fees of just 40 Kenyan shillings ($0.30/24 pence). He eventually managed to return to education with some of the earnings gathered from his time as a herdsboy and a stint as a labourer, and discovered a sense of purpose and escape in athletics. Following the death of his father, Wanyonyi hoped to pursue a career in athletics to help provide for his family. But he initially faced ridicule because, unlike other parts of Kenya, his home region is not known for producing elite runners…In June this year, still aged 19, Wanyonyi became the third-fastest 800m runner of all time at Kenya’s Olympic trials. He then followed that up by winning gold at Paris 2024 in August. With an Olympic gold already secured so early in his career, Wanyonyi’s ambitions have grown. His sights are focused on breaking the 800m world record of one minute and 40.91 seconds. Wanyonyi was just two tenths of a second off that mark (set in 2012 by David Rudisha) at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne in August.
CULTURE AND ARTS
Artists imagine a new utopia for Kenya’s capital
An art collective – Kairos Futura – has been trying to take what might seem like some of the city’s more dystopian elements and create a vision of a utopia, or at least how that might be achieved. Their exhibition Hakuna Utopia features the works of seven artists exploring themes of apocalypse and resilience – some in quite abstract ways – as they respond to the daily challenges endured by Nairobi’s six million residents. One of the collective, Stoneface Bombaa, grew up in Mathare, the capital’s second-largest informal settlement. He has overcome great odds to become an artist and wants to use his work to address the way that people in Mathare live – often lacking jobs, housing and education. Bombaa says they endure a “hand-to-mouth economy”, never sure where their next meal will come from. “People are really angry,” he says, but through art, he feels he can “channel” his community’s anger into something positive as “art unites”. Bombaa set out to create from the exhibitions “micro-utopia” sites dotted around the city. The Kairos Futura team are also drawing inspiration from nature to use their imagination in how to address urgent environmental issues.
Senegalese artisans in the spotlight as they exhibit for the first time at a prestigious art event
Every two years, hundreds of artists, curators and art lovers from across the world descend on the West African capital to attend the event, which was founded in 1989 by the Senegalese government and has over the decades become one of the most important showcases on the continent. Pop-up exhibitions are held in hundreds of venues, from stylish five-star hotels to local art galleries. Roads are even more crowded than usual, with traffic jams stretching out for miles along the Corniche, the city’s picturesque seaside boulevard. Every night, there are music concerts, fashion shows, talks with artists and movie screenings held against the backdrop of palm trees and to the soundtrack of popping champagne bottles. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighborhood, realized what the Biennale was…Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture, and for centuries, craftsmen played a central role in Senegalese social life, sculpting religious statues and ceremonial masks, sewing boubous (traditional colorful wide-sleeved robes), molding pottery and weaving baskets. But these days, their role is in decline. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, often Chinese products. So when two designers approached Ndiouga Dia, a 48-year-old leatherworker, who is also the community leader of the Soumbedioune artisans, with a proposal for a joint exhibition, he didn’t hesitate for a second. It felt good to be noticed and included, Dia said. “This is the first time in the history that artisans, especially those who are custodians of traditional craftsmanship, are invited to the Biennale,” Designer Kemi Bassène said. “For craftsmen in Africa, there is a natural progression towards the world of modern design.”
An underlying stillness’: the Yinka Shonibare retreat where artists have space to grow and thrive
Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by a lush 22-hectare (54-acre) farm, the G.A.S. Farm House outside the village of Ikiṣẹ in southern Nigeria is not your average place for an artist residency. For Kosisochukwu Nnebe, who works at the intersection of food and art, it’s the ultimate retreat. The 31-year-old Nigerian-Canadian is one of the first artists to be hosted at the Guest Artists Space Foundation’s barn house near the town of Ijebu Ode in Ogun state. The farmhouse is one of two residences in Nigeria founded by the celebrated British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare. The other is in Lagos, three hours’ drive from Ikiṣẹ. When Shonibare started the farm in 2018, one of the first things he had to do was build a 3km access road. A portion of the land is a working farm, where 11 staff cultivate crops including tomatoes, habaneros, bell peppers maize and yams as part of the regenerative practices, with the produce sold at the farm gate and in the local village. The G.A.S. Foundation was opened the following year, followed by the farmhouse residency building, which is solar-powered. Its tall windows and perforated external walls let in natural light, as part of the design by Lagos-based architects MOE+AA, led by Papa Omotaya. G.A.S. and its UK-based sister organisation, Yinka Shonibare Foundation (YSF) came out of a project space that Shonibare started in 2008 in the ground floor of his studio in Hackney, London. The G.A.S. Foundation in Lagos, which started in 2022, hosts three artists at a time and has hosted more than 60 to date. “A central ethos of the foundations is for the three artists to comingle and interact with one another in a way that enriches their experience during the residency,” according to Moni Aisida, the executive director at G.A.S. The first artist in residence this year at the Ikiṣẹ farmhouse was Misheck Masamvu, from Zimbabwe, who stayed for almost six weeks, from August to early October.
These African films are vying for nominations at the 2025 Oscars
Nine African countries have submitted official selections to be considered in the Best International Feature Film category at next year’s Oscars. The list of African films on the 85-film longlist includes selections from Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa and Egypt.
No African film made it to the final nominations list at the last Oscars, and only two were considered in the 15-film shortlist. Throughout this decade, Tunisian filmmaker Kaouthar Ben Hania’s The Man Who Sold His Skin is the only African film to receive a nomination in this category. The last time an African film won an award was in 2005 when the South African classic Tsotsi took home the Oscar, which was then referred to as Best Foreign Language Film. Africa’s representation at the Oscars has been quite limited in recent years. However, several African film professionals were invited to join the Oscar Academy, which could improve the chances of African films getting more recognition ahead of and during one of the biggest film awards ceremonies.
Marrakech Film Festival opens in Morocco with ‘The Order’
One of the Middle East and North Africa’s largest film festivals opened in Morocco, drawing actors and directors from throughout the world to present 70 features from 32 countries. The festival opened with “The Order” — a thriller starring Jude Law that chronicles an FBI manhunt for the leader of a white supremacist group. The Marrakech International Film Festival, now in its 21st year, showcased Oscar contenders and screen films for members of the public. But unlike larger festivals in Venice, Cannes or Toronto, it placesd unique emphasis on emerging directors and films from the Middle East and Africa. The roster of actors and directors who participated in this year’s conversations and tributes includes Sean Penn, Alfonso Cuaron and David Cronenberg. Remi Bonhomme, the festival’s artistic director, said what makes the festival unique is its ability to draw talent on par with the world’s largest festivals while also spotlighting up-and-coming directors from Morocco, the Middle East and Africa.
How two creators are changing the edutainment narrative for children in Africa through animation
For years, African children relied on Western content to meet their educational and entertainment needs. Now, African animators are changing that. The creators of Kunda Kids and Jeni & Keni are using animation to teach life lessons and celebrate African culture.
The rebel who became ‘Queen of African Horror’
British-Nigerian author Nuzo Onoh wasn’t good at school; she rebelled against her parents and was beaten often as a child. Her home in south-eastern Nigeria was believed to be haunted and during the civil war, she and her siblings were regaled with ghost stories to distract them from the violence. She toed the line as an adult, becoming a lawyer like her father, but when he died Nuzo’s passion for writing took hold. Stories inspired by Igbo rituals and the spooky happenings of her childhood began to flow vividly from her pen. But when Nuzo tried to sell her tales, she discovered no one had written anything quite like her. She was determined to carve a space for African horror writing, and went on to win the industry’s most prestigious award. Her new book is called Where the Dead Brides Gather.
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
1000 endangered animals set to return home to Madagascar in anti-Trafficking victory
Last May it was reported that 48 lemurs, 30 primates of various species, several crocodiles, and over 1,000 rare tortoises were seized when a convoy of four smuggling trucks was raided in Thailand. The bust was valued at around $2 million on the black market, but now, these animals are set for a return to their wild homes on Madagascar. In a ceremony in Bangkok, Thai authorities transferred the 961 healthy animals over to members of the Malagasy Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, in advance of their flight home on three separate planes operated by Qatar Airways. Wildlife, including plants and seeds, make up the third largest illegal market in the world behind drugs and weaponry…the seizure will not only be significantly disruptive to the criminals’ operations, but create an extremely positive impact as they return to the wild and help their species recover.
World’s top court starts hearing historic climate change case
A group of small island nations led by Vanuatu is urging the world’s top court to hold the major greenhouse gas-emitting countries accountable for failing to tackle climate change. The case involves nearly 100 countries and is being heard by 15 judges at the U.N.’s International Court of Justice in the Netherlands. “These ICJ proceedings … mark a historic moment for climate justice with unprecedented participation that reflects the urgency of addressing ongoing climate destruction,” Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, the lead counsel for Vanuatu and the Melanesian Spearhead Group, a regional subgroup that includes Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, said at a press briefing. The island nations argue that just a few countries have produced the “vast majority” of historic and current greenhouse gas emissions, yet nations that emit very little, such as Vanuatu, face the brunt of the consequences. They’re seeking the court’s legal opinion on two questions: What are the obligations of governments under international law to protect the planet’s climate system and environment? And what are the legal consequences for countries that have caused significant harm to the climate, environment and people? “Today we find ourselves on the front lines of a crisis we did not create,” Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s special envoy for climate change and the environment, told the ICJ. “The importance of the questions before this Court cannot be overstated.” Vanuatu and others argue that climate-specific treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, aren’t sufficient to tackle climate change. The main emitters have failed to rein in their emissions and have even expanded fossil fuel extraction and use despite knowing its harms, they say. They argue this compels the court to draw from other international laws governing the protection of the environment and human rights that are also relevant to climate change, to give its opinion. The ICJ’s advisory opinions are nonbinding. But they have the “potential to establish and clarify” governments’ obligations and consequences for climate harm, Wewerinke-Singh said at the briefing.
Progress on rights complaint systems in Congo Basin but more needed, says group
Conservation groups have made progress setting up complaints systems in protected areas in the Congo Basin, but there’s still a ways to go, the Rainforest Foundation UK says in a reportt released last week. Called grievance and redress mechanisms, or GRMs, these systems meant to be a safety valve for people living near forests marked for conservation in the event they suffer human rights abuses by wildlife rangers or park administrators. In some cases, these are phone hotlines. In others, a conservation NGO or contracted local organization receives complaints directly or through a community representative. After a human rights scandal in Congo Basin protected areas led to US Congressional hearings in 2021, donors and conservationists said they’d work to strengthen complaints processes to prevent future abuses. USAID, for example, published guidelines on how to set them up in 2022. In its report, RFUK said there had been “positive steps” since then in the Congo Basin, but that many protected areas still lack a complaints process. For those that have one, there was little data on the outcome of complaints made through them…RFUK’s research follows on a report released separately by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a U.S. congressional watchdog agency, which said there were significant shortcomings in new human rights rules for U.S. overseas aid to conservation groups. The GAO said the rules were a sign of real progress but that lax follow-through and monitoring requirements meant they might not be enforced.
Agroecology offers blueprint for resilient farming in northern Ghana
Farmers in Ghana’s Upper East region traditionally decided when to plant and harvest their crops in rhythm with regular rainfall cycles. But the rains now come at increasingly odd times, farmland is turning into desert, and farmers have been forced to endure temperatures high enough to melt tarmac. Amid these impacts, agroforestry is offering a glimmer of hope: by integrating trees, crops and livestock on their fields, farmers are finding ways to restore their land and secure livelihoods. As climatic conditions worsen, farmers in the region are turning to agroforestry techniques. One approach that has taken root, literally, in the Builsa area is alley cropping, which integrates trees with traditional farming practices. Tree Aid, an international nonprofit that works on forest and land restoration projects in Ghana and elsewhere, introduced this technique to farmers in the region in 2014. Farmers have planted rows of trees such as shea, baobab and moringa 12 meters (39 feet) apart, and continued to grow crops like millet, cowpeas and groundnuts beneath them. Yakubu Issah began planting baobab and shea trees on his farm five years ago. “At first, it seemed like extra work with little reward. But now, our millet grows healthier, the soil holds water longer, and we even earn extra income by selling baobab leaves,” he said. He added that bees have returned, along with birds and squirrels: “The farm feels alive again.” Another Builsa farmer, Mark Smith, said the soil on his millet farm used to feel like dust. “Now it’s nothing like that. It retains water much better. Our plants are stronger, and when we sell the baobab leaves, they also give us extra income,” he said. The trees in an alleycropping system reduce erosion and provide shade, cooling the soil and reducing moisture loss. Their fallen leaves enrich the soil, creating natural fertilizer and reducing dependence on synthetic inputs. “Agroforestry not only restores soil fertility but also improves water retention, provides shade, and attracts pollinators,” said Irene Egyir, an agricultural economist at the University of Ghana. “It’s a sustainable solution to combat the degeneration of soils.”
Green Gains: how Gender-Smart funds drive climate action and returns
In the face of mounting climate challenges and persistent gender inequalities, a powerful investment paradigm is gaining traction on the African continent: gender-smart climate investments. This approach addresses two pressing global issues while presenting a compelling business case for investors seeking both financial returns and positive impact. Gender-smart climate finance can remove the silos between gender lens investing and climate finance, accelerating and amplifying the benefits of both. The 2023 Project Catalyst report highlighted a significant trend: 61% of surveyed funds globally now target climate-responsive sectors and represent $5.8 billion in gender-smart capital. This nexus presents a unique opportunity for investors to drive climate action while enhancing their investment strategies. Gender-responsive, climate-focused funds provide unique diversification by investing in often overlooked women-led companies, which research shows outperform those of their peers due to enhanced decision-making from diverse teams. Tackling climate change challenges with adaptation and mitigation strategies, further reduces investment risks. In emerging markets like Ethiopia, Kazana Fund benefits significantly by effectively tapping opportunities in their nascent ecosystems. They invested in Kubik, a startup with the mission to transform plastic waste into affordable, eco-friendly building materials to address housing shortages and reduce environmental impact. Notably, Kubik’s technology can reduce construction costs by up to 30% and decrease carbon emissions by 50%. In May 2024, Kubik became the first Ethiopian startup to receive a multi-million dollar investment in climate and sustainability.
Biochar from banana peels breaks ground in Cameroon
In Cameroon, home to one of the largest forest massif in Africa, the production of charcoal is a growing threat to the environment. To combat this, Steve Djeutchou transforms organic waste, such as banana peels, into ecological charcoal, or biochar. Thanks to his local network of suppliers, Steve estimates that the potential biomass to be collected in Yaoundé is around 40 metric tons a day. Steve produces around 3 tons of biochar a month, but this is still not enough to have a significant impact, given the lack of resources to scale up. Cameroon has one of the largest forest area in Africa, but between 2002 and 2020, the country lost more than 700,000 hectares of forest, according to Global Forest Watch. The 30-year-old engineer has also launched his own training school specializing in renewable energy.
Sahara Desert Is turning green amid unusual rains in parts of North Africa
Bountiful rains are greening parts of the Sahara that haven’t had a good soak in years. An extratropical cyclone pushed across the northwestern Sahara on September 7th and 8th and drenched large, treeless swaths of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. At the same time, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, a line of rainfall that floats between a few degrees latitude on either side of the equator between July and September, has pushed farther north than normal, soaking Niger, Chad, and Sudan according to data from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. As a result, these portions of the Sahara Desert are anywhere from twice as wet to more than six times wetter than they normally are. “When you get these really exceptional rainfall events, the dunes become these just incredibly verdant and flowered fields where the plants will just instantly grow for a short period of time to take advantage,” said Peter de Menocal, president and director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Images from NASA’s MODIS Satellite have revealed some of this greening, while at the same time showing that lakes which have long been dry are now filling up, such as one in Morocco’s Iriqui National Park. 11,000 years ago and beyond, the Sahara looked a lot more like the savannah of Kenya and Tanzania than the world’s largest non-polar desert that we see today.
Giant Millipede lost to science for a century rediscovered in Madagascar with 20 more species in world-first expedition
It may be the very definition of a creepy crawly, but this species of giant millipede was a major discovery for a recent scientific expedition to Madagascar. Not seen in 126 years, it was part of a bevy of species identified by scientists among the trees and waterfalls in a remote section of the largest forest on the island, called Makira. The expedition included teams of scientists and conservationists from 4 different organizations, as well as local guides. The expedition team initially had a list of 30 lost species they were hoping to find in Makira. The species on the list included 3 mammals, 3 fish, 7 reptiles, 12 insects, and 5 spiders. With the help of local guides and fishermen, the team found the 3 fish species on the list highlighted by the Makira rainbow fish, not seen in 20 years. Makira proved to be home to several lost species…however, the most unexpected rediscovered lost species was a giant, dark brown millipede.
5,000-year-old Rock Art of boats and cattle unearthed in the Sahara shows grassland came before desert
Geologists have known for years that from 5,000 years ago and beyond, much of what is today called the Sahara Desert was a lush grassland. Some exceptional evidence of this recently surfaced in Sudan, where a paper published on a survey done in 2018 reveals the presence of rock art that depicts cattle herders and even boats. Discovered in a region of the eastern Sahara called Atbai, there hasn’t been rain enough to support cattle here for at least 5,000 years. Another exciting discovery was rock carvings depicting 6 boats on a cave wall found 90 miles from the nearest branch of the Nile. Near the entrance to a naturally-formed tunnel in a large rock outcrop in the desert, the boats “are arranged in the manner of a ‘fleet’ or ‘flotilla’, all seemingly emanating from the tunnel interior,” the authors write…the authors hypothesize that the carvers were Neolithic groups of Nubians who were early gold prospectors, as golden items have been found in burials dating back to the end of the fourth millennium BCE…In the cattle carving, the beast’s udder is clearly depicted, indicating that milking them was an integral part, as it still is today with pastoralists, of the man-animal relationship. However, to produce enough milk to feed the herders would require ample forage—another sign that whoever made these carvings had grown up in a tradition of pastoralism from wetter climes than Atbai, or at least wetter time periods.
SCIENCE AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Archaeologists uncover gateway to ancient greek temple alongside the Nile in Egypt
Ongoing excavations at a sprawling temple 125 miles north of Luxor have unearthed a towering discovery: a temple pylon measuring 150 feet wide made of sandstone blocks. It was found at the Athribis site dating to the Ptolemy dynasty when Egypt was ruled by the descendants of one of Alexander of Macedon’s generals, where excavations are currently in their 21st year. The discovery by a joint Egyptian-German team is considered a “significant milestone” that will pave the way for further excavation at the temple site, where even after uncovering walls carved with high relief, halls, dozens of rooms, pillars and pillar bases, and over 1,200 hieroglyphic inscriptions, the majority remains buried. “The slope angle of the towers suggests the original height of the pylon could have been up to 18 meters, rivaling the dimensions of the Luxor Temple pylon,” said Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities…The Athribis project is one of the most important ongoing in Egypt at the moment, and along with the impressive structures, has unearthed 30,000 artifacts.
2 different species of human ancestors left footprints at same spot on same day 1.5mil years ago
Footprints dating back 1.5 million years made by two different species of human ancestors have been found at the same spot—a fossil first—and the individuals likely passed within an hour from each other. More than a million years ago, on a hot savannah teeming with wildlife near the shore of what would someday become Lake Turkana in Kenya, two completely different species of hominins may have passed each other as they scavenged for food. Scientists know this because they have examined 1.5-million-year-old fossils unearthed here and have concluded they represent the first example of two sets of hominin footprints made about the same time on an ancient lake shore. The discovery will provide more insight into human evolution and how species cooperated and competed with one another, said scientists who explained that “hominin” is a newer term that describes a subdivision of the larger category known as hominids. The study, published in the journal Science, offers hard proof that different hominin species lived contemporaneously in time and space, overlapping as they evaded predators and weathered the challenges of safely securing food in the ancient African landscape. Making the footprints were the two most common human species of the Pleistocene Epoch—Homo erectus and Paranthropus boisei, the researchers said. “Their presence on the same surface, made closely together in time, places the two species at the lake margin, using the same habitat,” said Rutgers University Professor Craig Feibel, an author of the study.
New evidence near mysterious carvings show Persians may have escaped to Madagascar for religious freedom
Among the sandstone hills and boulders of Madagascar’s Isalo National Park, the curious archaeological site of Teniky has puzzled researchers for decades.
These rock-cut niches, once believed to be a makeshift shelter for shipwrecked Portuguese sailors, have now been reinterpreted as a sort of Persian Plymouth Rock, founded by religious settlers looking to practice their religion in peace. Bold theories require robust evidence, and a dedicated Swiss team working at the Teniky site has turned up at least enough to dismantle the shipwrecked sailors theory. Zoroastrianism was the faith of the early Persian Empire. Established by the Ancient Iranian prophet Zarathustra, it is a dualistic theology that acknowledges both the creative and destructive forces in the universe and holds fire as a sacred symbol. With worshippers in Iran, Azerbaijan, and India, it survives as one of the oldest formalized faiths…Guido Schreurs, an archaeologist at Switzerland’s University of Bern, never bought the Portuguese hypothesis. His research tentatively proposes that Teniky was actually inhabited by a colony of Zoroastrians who departed Iran in the centuries following its conversion to Islam. By the 10th century when Teniky was founded, the geographical understanding of Eurasia and Africa throughout the Arab world was unparalleled, and it included knowledge of Madagascar—known then as the semi-mythical island of Wakwak. In Zoroastrianism, it’s believed that burying the dead is a defilement of the Earth. Instead, the citizenry would place their deceased in open-air niches cut into the walls of a religious compound known as a necropolis. Schreurs shows how nearly identical the stone cutting is between Persian necropoli in the Fars Province of Iran and the rock-cut niches of Teniky. The problem is that no bones have been found at Teniky, though Schreurs suggests it could be because they were taken by Malagasy folk for possibly religious purposes.
Period of Ancient Egypt Illuminated by intricate coffins for ‘The Lady of the House’
A recent discovery of two exquisitely detailed sarcophagi, one sealed inside another, was made recently in the ancient land of Asyut, dating to the 19th century BCE, in the earlier days of the Middle Kingdom. Interred within was Idi, the daughter of a local governor. Inscribed upon them was the moniker “Lady of the House,” alongside hundreds of hieroglyphs instructing her how to travel over to the next world. The coffins were found during archaeological cleaning work inside the tomb of Asyut’s governor Djefaihapi, which happened to be the largest non-royal tomb in Egypt at that time, indicating that he was one of the most important rulers of any territory in ancient Egypt. Idi’s burial chamber was around 50 feet below ground, but even so, it was plundered by tomb robbers long ago. Fortunately, they couldn’t carry off the sarcophagi which are probably the most important and relevant objects to scientists today. The preliminary examination works of the woman’s skull and bone remains indicated that she had died at a young age before she was 40 and had suffered a congenital defect in the foot, a statement from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Tourism and Antiquities said. The Middle Kingdom is one of the lesser-understood periods of Egyptian history, sandwiched between the pyramid builders of the Old Kingdom, and the much better-documented New Kingdom, featuring some of the civilization’s most renowned native figures such as Tutankhamun and Ramses II. The discovery of Idi will help inform Egyptologists about the manners and customs of family burials during this overshadowed period in history.
Ancient Egyptian Observatory is unlocking celestial secrets of their cosmic culture
Another stunning remnant of ancient Egyptian civilization has been unearthed in the form of a large astronomical observatory. At over 9,000 square feet, it’s the largest of its kind ever found in the land of the Nile, and is believed to have been last used around the 6th century BCE. The Egyptians were more than able stargazers. Many of the foundations of their society, religion, and culture were centered around their advanced knowledge of the movements of the stars and planets. The observatory was found in the town of Buto on the grounds of what is known as the Temple of the Pharaohs. Among the instruments discovered in the observatory during excavations was an inclined stone sundial known as a shadow clock, which is considered to be one of the most prominent timekeeping instruments in ancient times. The Egyptians measured time as we do: with a 24-hour day, and a 365-day year. So the shadow clock would work as well for us as for them. Egyptian astronomy could be incredibly precise, as some of the constellations they mapped remain with us today. Some scholars believe they had the knowledge to calculate precession, or the time it takes for the equinoxes to precess through one complete cycle around the band of the ecliptic or zodiac: approximately 25,920 years.
Egyptians performed brain surgery 4,000 years ago: a discovery called a ‘milestone in the history of medicine’
As with many things, a discovery from ancient Egypt has put a time stamp on the development of something: cancerous tumor removal from the brain. A man living sometime between 2,686 BCE and 2,345 BCE was nearing 40 when he developed malignant brain tumors, scarring on his cranial walls revealed. But scientists studing the skull with micro-computed tomography (CT) scans found evidence of tiny cut markets from sharp implements, meaning that ancient Egyptian physicians were either attempting to remove the malignancies or were performing an autopsy to study them. Either way, scientists at the Duckworth Laboratory at Cambridge in the UK say it’s a first in medical history. “It was the very first time that humanity was dealing surgically with what we nowadays call cancer,” said senior study author Dr. Edgard Camarós, a professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Coruña. “If those cut marks were done with that person alive, we’re talking about some kind of treatment directly related to the cancer,” or “it means that this is a medical autopsy exploration in relation to that cancer.”
3,400-Year-old head of King Ramses II Statue returned to Egypt after theft
A statue fragment of the great pharaoh Ramses II has been recovered in a joint effort and repatriated to Egypt. Carved 3,400 years ago, it was stolen from the Temple of Ramses in the southern Egyptian site of Abydos over 30 years ago. Shaaban Abdel Gawad, who heads Egypt’s antiquities repatriation agency, said the piece is estimated to have been stolen in the late 1980s or early 1990s. It is now in the possession of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Cairo where it’s being restored. The story of its recovery involved eagle eyes trained on the antiquities and art markets in Europe, where suddenly the statue fragment appeared on auction in London 10 years ago before being transferred to Switzerland. “This head is part of a group of statues depicting King Ramses II seated alongside a number of Egyptian deities,” said Gawad. Working alongside Swiss officials, Gawad and his colleagues were able to establish rightful ownership, and the artifact was seized for transfer to Cairo. Perhaps no other nation has had to recover more artifacts from plunderers and illegal traders than Egypt, but they’ve become quite adept at it over the decades. In a time when men lived to be 40 years old, Ramses II, aka the ‘Ozymandius’ of Percy Shelly’s poem, ruled for 40 years until his death at 91. It’s believed he sired nearly 100 children—and outlived almost all of them as well as many of his grandchildren.
LIFESTYLE AND HUMAN INTEREST
Some young Kenyans turn to kung fu for self-improvement in difficult times
Evans Munzaa, a 31-year-old father, hasn’t had a formal job since completing college 10 years ago, and he doesn’t live with his daughter and her mother, citing “meager earnings that cannot sustain a family.” Now Munzaa has taken an interest in the Chinese martial art of kung fu to occupy his time and seeks to become a full-time coach. He hopes the Kenyan government, which allows kung fu groups to train in its facilities, will grant funding to a sport that is gaining popularity among young people. A growing number of young people in Kenya see kung fu as a path toward future income. It has emerged as an alternative to the more popular martial art of taekwondo that is part of some school programs in Kenya and has seen some Kenyans compete in international competitions. The growing visibility of Chinese workers in Kenya for major infrastructure projects also has sparked an interest in their culture in a country globally known for its runners. According to Elvis Munyasia, kung fu has helped him. “Without kung fu, I would be an alcoholic right now,” he said. “Doing some drugs and a lot of bad things, maybe theft, but since I started it has changed my life and it has given me a purpose in life.” In the last five years, about 4,000 students have received free training sessions through kung fu clubs. He believes that kung fu teaches discipline, improves health and gives people the skills to defend themselves — not just physically but also mentally and socially.
How lending one’s voice can be a lucrative profession
A Rwanda-based start-up founded by a dubbing and communications specialist is blazing a trail on the continent as a preferred destination for the voice-over requirements of international film, documentary and advertising companies. Stévy Daic Ndjalala Totolo’s versatile voice, capable of shifting from low to high pitch with effortless ease, is used to dub film and cartoon characters into various African and international languages. In 2021, Stévy founded Gemini Multimedia, a start-up based in Rwanda that goes beyond showcasing his obvious talent for lending his voice to diverse characters.As an international interpreter and communications specialist, Stévy has developed a business plan that aims to prevent brain drain and attract capital to the African continent. “I am Gabonese, and my team consists of highly talented individuals from across Africa. Whenever content needs to be adapted into Hausa, Swahili, Yoruba or Zimbabwean Shona, I subcontract work to people I collaborate with, based on proficiency in that particular language,” Stévy tells TRT Afrika. “I work with French producers and also lend my voice to English content.” “A lot of Western companies come to work with us because we have the material, capable professionals who know how to accomplish the task, and the know-how. These companies come to us because we are competitive in this sector,” says Stévy. “Our pricing creates a win-win situation for everyone. Our employees and subcontractors can live more than decently on what they earn.” According to the Gabonese entrepreneur, the voice-over market has recently become particularly fond of African accents, especially when a specific project has a target audience. As for the economic potential of this sector, the Gemini boss reveals that on specific projects, it’s possible to earn a fee of US $500 for a three-second dub.
How Rwanda’s capital became Africa’s cleanest city
Mandatory community cleaning of public spaces and cooperatives of women help keep the rubbish off Kigali’s street, earning it the title of Africa’s cleanest city.
Toddler unable to bend arms due to burns hugs parents for first time after free life-changing surgery
A toddler who couldn’t bend her arms due to burn scars can now finally give her parents a hug after life-changing surgery. Gamai accidentally pulled a pot of boiling water over herself when she was only one-year-old and, unable to access proper burn treatments, she grew up with contracted hands and arms as her scarred skin tightened. She was scorned by others because of how she looked and was unable to write, dance, or fully hug her family due to her severely limited movement. But Gamai’s mum, Confort, heard that the international charity Mercy Ships was sending a hospital ship to their country, Guinea. Volunteer doctors and surgeons on board routinely help people with injuries like Gamai’s, so Confort set off with the four-year-old, who was selected for surgery—and after weeks of rehabilitation on the ship they returned home. Now healed and healthy, Gamai can play, write, and dance and, for the first time in her life, she can reach out her arms to hug her parents. Currently, an estimated 93 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa still lack access to safe surgery, and tens of thousands of children die of burns in sub-Saharan Africa each year.
Schoolgirl with severely bowed legs gets life-changing surgery to straighten them–and is now 5 inches taller
A bow-legged African girl was given life-changing surgery to straighten her legs, ending her pain and letting her stand tall—a full five-and-a-half inches (14cm) taller. Fudia was born with a progressive orthopedic condition that worsened over time and caused her feet to turn inwards at a 90-degree angle, making it extremely difficult and painful to walk. Local hospitals in Sierra Leone were never able to help her, but her uncle Joseph realized there was still hope—in the form of Mercy Ships, an international hospital charity that travels the world. As her guardian, he moved with Fudia to Freetown, so they could apply for help the next time Mercy Ships docked there. After waiting six years until it returned in 2023, the 9-year-old was taken aboard and diagnosed with Blount’s disease, which causes severe leg deformities. British volunteer surgeon Rachel Buckingham performed a four-hour procedure on Fudia in January that fully straightened her legs and left her able to walk with confidence. “I will never forget the first time I met Fudia,” said Dr. Buckingham. “Every step was an agonizing effort. Her legs were so severely twisted that walking was a daily battle.” “Despite the suffering she’s endured—like being turned away from hospitals that couldn’t help her—she held on to hope. “I’m so thankful we were able to provide the right surgery, and she can now walk, run and play happily.”
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