Award-winning Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o is adding the title of author to her growing résumé. The actress is set to release a children’s book that focuses on colourism, self-love and acceptance to help girls and boys find the inspiration to ‘walk with joy in their own skin’.
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture Niger’s practice of selling young girls as an unofficial “fifth wife” has been outlawed
Niger’s top court has outlawed ‘”Wahaya”, a unique form of slavery currently practiced in that country. It involves the sale of young girls from Tuareg communities to wealthy and prominent Hausa individuals as an unofficial “fifth wife”.
Arts and Culture Nnedi and Wanuri developing Amazon series based on Octavia Butler’s “Wild Seed”
African sci-fi legend Nigerian Nnedi Okorafor and Kenyan filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu are teaming up with Oscar-winning actor Viola Davis for an upcoming series adaptation of Octavia Butler’s novel “Wild Seed”. Okorafor and Kahiu will write the script together, while Kahiu will also direct the project.
Arts and Culture The Ghanaian village where childbirth is prohibited
None of the about 5 000 inhabitants of Mafi Dove, a village in southern Ghana, was born there. The village is considered to be holy land and consequently has a myriad of customs and traditions that have been upheld throughout its existence. One of these is the belief that childbirth in the village is an offence to the gods.
Arts and Culture Why it’s significant that the UK has returned the locks of hair of an Ethiopian king
Ethiopia is a storytelling nation in which Emperor Tewodros has a special place.
Arts and Culture Tanzania to send Kiswahili teachers to South Sudan
South Sudan and Tanzania have signed a five-year deal that will see Tanzania sending Kiswahili teachers to Africa’s newest nation.
Arts and Culture Non-binary transgender author Akwaeke Emezi’s debut novel explores multiplicity
“Freshwater”, the debut novel of non-binary Nigerian author Akwaeke Emezi, is a book that tackles multiplicity in an autobiographical account of the author’s reality and identity. “I am a village full of faces and a compound full of bones, translucent thousands.”
Arts and Culture Lungelo Gumede creates wax statue in honour of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
While South African struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela received a worthy statue befitting of her legacy, Burkina Faso’s former revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara whose statue was unveiled on the 2nd of March 2019 wasn’t so lucky. #Sankara’s statue recently unveiled has no resemblance to the celebrated Burkinabé leader. Many have asked if the infamous Rasta was involved.
Arts and Culture Zambian film “I Am Not a Witch” debuts on Netflix
The award-winning Zambian film “I Am Not a Witch” will be the country’s first film to debut on Netflix. It joins other African films, such as “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” on the international streaming service.