Access to education is a basic human right but many young children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Zimbabwe still struggle to get access to learning opportunities because of many barriers. FACEZ (Fund a Child’s Education Zimbabwe), an education fund is helping underprivileged children to get access to education, and improving toilet facilities in schools. Led by Lisa Chiriseri, a young activist, the project currently supports over 90 learners.

Today we remember, and celebrate Cheikh Anta Diop, a pre-eminent Senegalese academic, anthropologist, physicist, politician and historian whose groundbreaking research and writing continues to inspire research on race, pre-colonial African culture and Black civilisation. Here’s our selection of 8 excerpts from Diop’s writings.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU Commission Chairperson revealed the AU will in February present specific details on the production and issuance of the African passport, which will aid the free movement of Africans across the continent.

The Ake Arts and Book Festival, one of the best festivals on the continent took place in October. Enjoy this photo essay compiled by Nigerian photographer Kamnelechukwu Obasi for This Is Africa.

Archaeological research at Christiansborg Castle in Ghana has provided an in-depth understanding of Danish, Ga and Danish-Ga lived experiences during the eighteenth century transatlantic slave trade.

Today November 25 marks the start of the #16DaysofActivism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day. The 2018 theme is Orange the World: #HearMeToo.

French President Emmanuel Macron says France will return 26 pieces of art to Benin, after receiving a report calling for African artefacts housed in French museums to be returned. The report recommends restitution of objects taken from Africa during “scientific expeditions” and “objects seized within the military contexts”. There are at least 90,000 objects originating from sub-Saharan Africa currently in French Public Collections.

Birtukan Mideksa, a former judge and leading opposition figure has been sworn in as the head of Ethiopia’s National Election Board. Mideksa becomes the latest woman appointed to head a key public institution in the country.

A new report on the status of African artefacts held in various French museums will recommend the president to return the pieces which were stolen or taken “without consent” during the colonial period. The report recommends full restitution not the long-term loan of such objects.

The University of Pretoria (UP) in South Africa has appointed Professor Tawana Kupe as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University. Prof Kupe becomes the first black person to be the VC and Principal at UP.