South Africa has joined the fray of ball room culture; an originally American countercultural phenomenon rooted in necessity and defiance. In the late nineteenth century members of the underground LGBTQI+ community in large cities organized masquerade balls in direct defiance of laws and as a means to find community and belonging.
African identities “Proud to be trans, proud to be sex workers, and even prouder of their stunning sense of style”
Trans women sex workers collective Sistaazhood launches photo book
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.
Africans rising Meet Crystal Chigbu the Nigerian mother de-stigmatizing disability
Crystal Chigbu’s personal experience with an amputee child inspired her to start the IREDE Foundation in 2012 to bring hope, joy, and purposeful living to all children living with limb loss, their families and caregivers. The Foundation also provides prosthetic limbs to children across Nigeria.
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
Politics and Society The Motlanthe Commission’s anniversary of shame
The results of the inquiry into the 1 August 2018 shootings reveal Zimbabwe’s lack of reform.
Politics and Society South Africa: Sex workers speak of rape, corruption and harassment by police
Human Rights Watch calls for decriminalisation. Many of the sex workers described cases of rape, corruption and harassment by police officers.
Politics and Society Ghana hopes ‘Year of Return’ will boost tourism. But caution is needed
Ghana is banking on a much needed boost to its tourism sector from its call to Africans in the diaspora.
Africans rising Africa’s top Billionaires in 2019
This year Forbes released a list of the wealthiest individuals on the African continent. The tycoons who made the list were worth $68.7 billion, making an average net worth of $3.4 billion per person.