Nigeria’s Frances Ogamba walked away with the 2019 Koffi Addo Prize for Creative Non-fiction for her story, “Valley of Memories,” while South Africa’s Resoketswe Manenzhe won the 2019 Writivism Short Story Prize for her story, “Maserumo”. We congratulate Frances Ogamba and Resoketswe Manenzhe.
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture Festivals can transform cities by making space for overlooked people and cultures
From Cape Town to Kisumu and Greater Manchester, cities around the world are seeing the benefits of festivals that celebrate traditions and people.
Arts and Culture Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu’s book on Obama’s Summer Reading List
Former U.S President Barack Obama has shared his annual summer reading list, which includes How to Read the Air, a book by Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu. The list includes seminal works by various celebrated writers including Toni Morrison, Téa Obreht, Colson Whitehead, Ted Chiang, Haruki Murakami, and Hilary Mantel.
Arts and Culture How Toni Morrison’s legacy plays out in South Africa’s universities
In some ways, perhaps Morrison is even more relevant in South African universities today than she’s ever been.
Arts and Culture Lupita Nyong’o narrates Discovery Channel’s docuseries which explores life on the Serengeti Plain
The ‘Serengeti’ is the title of a new, six-part wildlife docuseries series by the Discovery Channel debuting this August. The series will highlight the majestic animals of Tanzania’s Serengeti region and their day-to-day lives. It will also feature an original score and narration by Academy Award-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o
Arts and Culture Kenyan MP thrown out of parliament for breastfeeding baby
A Kenyan MP was ejected from parliament after she brought, and tried to breastfeed her baby in the house. Zuleikha Hassan brought her five-month-old baby into parliament because of an emergency at home. Many African countries are still lagging behind in supporting breastfeeding in the workplace. Governments, and employers are obligated to provide an environment that empowers women to breastfeed their children.
Arts and Culture How our African ancestors made sound in the Stone Age
Working with bone artefacts from archaeological sites in South Africa’s southern Cape region, we’ve been able to show that some implements might have been used for sound production in the past.
Arts and Culture Toni Morrison: American literary giant made it her life’s work to ensure that black lives (and voices) matter
With her writing, and her work as a publisher, Morrison brought the African-American experience to the fore in the US and around the world.
Arts and Culture Destination Festivals: Bayimba International Festival of the Arts in Uganda
Uganda boasts of a thriving music scene, and the multidisciplinary Bayimba International Festival of the Arts recently held in Lunkulu Island serves to bolster the various art forms. The four-day event has become an important platform for the consumption, and authentic experience of various exciting artistic acts.