The second annual Ongala Music Festival took place on August 23 to 25 in Bagamoyo, Tanzania. The festival named after Tanzanian musician Remmy Ongala highlights musical talents and creative collaborations in East Africa.
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture How a rural community hopes to retain spiritual life undermined by western ways
The Bomvana say the global development agenda has created division because it sees people as individuals rather than primarily as members of a collective.
Arts and Culture Kenya’s Wamlambez Wamnyonyez anthem and Nigeria’s Soapy and freedom of expression
Wamlambez and Soapy are two popular songs in Kenya and Nigeria respectively sang by millennial musicians. While this is good for freedom of expression, we question why this popularity and buy-in has not extended to political expression in the two countries.
Arts and Culture South African Actress Nomzamo Mbatha joins “Coming 2 America” cast
South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha has become the latest star to join the “Coming 2 America” cast, in the upcoming sequel to the 1988 comedy.
Arts and Culture Nigeria’s Frances Ogamba and South Africa’s Resoketswe Manenzhe win 2019 Writivism Prizes
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 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