To celebrate its 50th anniversary Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, showcased a Broadway musical based on the life of its most famous cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Yet the state is in the process of illegally demolishing slum settlements to make way for luxury real estate developments, perpetuating exactly the kind of oppression that Fela stood against.
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture Zimbabwe In Design: An Exhibition of Lost Traditions
Harare International Festival of the Arts: In celebration of its 60th anniversary, Zimbabwe’s National Art Gallery staged an exhibition titled ‘Zimbabwe In Design’. Tadzoka Pswarayi was there and shares her insights.
Arts and Culture Nigeria’s Romeo Oriogun awarded Brunel International African Poetry Prize
Nigeria’s Romeo Oriogun was announced the winner of the The Brunel International African Poetry Prize, in a unanimous decision by the judges. Oriogun received £3,000. Romeo’s win came as a surprise to him. The Brunel International African Poetry prize received 1,200 submissions out of which only 10 made the shortlist. We wish him the best in his literary career.
Arts and Culture Interview: Talking to performance artist Jelili Atiku
Arguably one of the most high profile cases for freedom of creative expression to occur during 2016 involved the performance artist Jelili Atiku, a prominent member of the Lagos art community, a Prince Claus Award winner and a member of Arterial Network Nigeria. Atiku was arrested as a result of a public performance held in January 2016.
Arts and Culture Osborne Macharia: Kenyan digital artist and photographer making waves
Afro-futurism: Osborne Macharia synthesizes a contemporary African urban aesthetic that is bold innovative and thought evoking, transporting African history and culture into a futuristic utopia.
Arts and Culture Rhodes University PhD graduate Hleze Kunju writes thesis in isiXhosa
Dr Hleze Kunju wrote his doctoral thesis in isiXhosa, Rhodes University’s first isiXhosa authored PhD thesis. The act has been described as a milestone. With recent agitations for the incorporation of African languages into the education system, Dr Kunju’s remarkable accomplishment could give impetus to efforts to transform South Africa’s education system.
Arts and Culture Greetings From The Fulani people in West Africa
Greetings as we visit the Fulani people (also called Peul or Fulbe) from West Africa, the largest nomadic group in the world. The ethnic group is diverse, with people who were conquered and became a part of the Fulani through the spread of Islam. The Fulani people are scattered from Lake Chad in the east to the Atlantic coast. You will find them mainly in Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Cameroon, Senegal, and Niger. Their language, Fula, belongs to the Niger-Congo language family.
Arts and Culture Ghana: Meet sculptor Kumi Samuel whose work has won the hearts of many
Social media was inundated with the images of the works of immensely talented Ghanaian sculptor Kumi Samuel, carvings remarkably good that they resemble living beings. This Is Africa caught up with the artist, whose Facebook page is @SculptureMadeinGhana.
Arts and Culture Ghanaian Edward Enninful appointed new British Vogue Editor
Ghanaian-born Edward Enninful has been named as the new editor of the British Vogue, making him the first black male editor of one of the most respected, and famous fashion magazines. The widely experienced 44 year-old, a former fashion model, and a renowned stylist will commence his duties on August 1, 2017 as the publication’s first male editor in its 101-year history. Congratulations on the appointment.