The Zimbabwe Industrial Hemp Trust (ZIHT) has planted the country’s first authorised hemp crop at a prison in Harare in the wake of the government legalising the production of industrial hemp. Hemp can be refined into a variety of commercial items, including paper, textiles, and clothing.
Kylie Kiunguyu
Africans rising 11-year-old Nigerian Naomi Oloyede delivers impressive speech at the Education for Justice conference in Austria
Nigerian junior high student, Naomi Oloyede who was selected to represent her country at the “The Education for Justice (E4J), High Level conference on Corruption” received a standing ovation from the over 200 global stakeholders in attendance for her rousing speech.
Africans rising Kenya now holds all half and full marathon world records
In athletics no other country is more consistent or more synonymous with victory than the East African country of Kenya. The country currently holds all long-distance road-running world records, both in the full and half marathons.
Politics and Society Uganda adamant to pass death penalty bill for homosexuality
The Ugandan government is re-introducing the ‘Kill the Gays’ bill. The punitive bill that was nullified in 2014 by the country’s Constitutional Court imposes the death penalty for persons found in breach. A government official said the ‘current penal law is limited’ and ‘those that do grave acts’ should be ‘given the death sentence’.
Lifestyle Lupita Nyong’o says ‘Colourism is the daughter of racism’
Colourism is not peculiar to the African American community or other black communities in predominantly white spaces. It can also ironically be found firmly on the continent where the population is almost predominately black and brown. Oscar award winning actress Lupita Nyong’o weighed in on the issue and her experiences on colourism.
Politics and Society Baby factories are a new avenue for illegal adoption and human trafficking
Infant commodification and human trafficking are on the rise in many African countries. One avenue for human trafficking of this kind are ‘baby factories’ where women of childbearing-age are forced into pregnancy for purposes of selling their children. This type of internment subjects the mother and the child to unspeakable trauma, violence and abuse.
Politics and Society ‘Sex for grades’ culture in West African universities exposed
A BBC documentary titled ‘Sex for Grades’ has exposed the extent of systematic sexual abuse against female students in West African universities. Although cases have been reported they are almost always dismissed due to lack of evidence causing an endemic that has left students vulnerable and unprotected.
Africans rising Nigerian neurosurgeon Dr. Olawale Sulaiman is performing free surgeries at personal expense
Nigerian professor of neurosurgery and spinal surgery, Dr. Olawale Sulaiman divides his time between the US and Nigeria to provide affordable and often free healthcare in his home country. The surgeon even negotiated a 25% pay cut with his employer in exchange for longer holidays to Nigeria to facilitate his philanthropy.
Africans rising Meet Salma al-Majidi the first woman to coach male football in Sudan
In Sudan, where a women’s football is religiously banned, Salma Al-Majidi beat the odds to become the first Arab and Sudanese woman to coach men’s football in the Arab world.