There was a time when an African nation was proud to be the “S” in the BRICS acronym used to describe the most powerful emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. After the spectacular crash of Wall Street at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 came to pass, the BRICS…
What was supposed to be a landmark interview between Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and a major American news media network turned out to be a disenchanting exercise in denials and obfuscation. The interview between the controversial President of the Russian Federation and Megyn Kelly, a journalist and television personality who developed her career at the Fox…
An Ivory Coast footballer whose superb midfield skills are warmly remembered by fans who follow the English Premier League unexpectedly tragically passed away as he was training for an upcoming match in China. Cheick Tioté was only 30 years old and in the midst of a new career in the lucrative world of Chinese professional…
“The subtle dance of seduction.” That is the basis of up-and-coming Nigerian designer Amaka Osakwe’s gorgeous line of the Maki Oh Fall 2017 fashion collection to Vogue. The pieces are casually elegant, sexy and modern and crafted with playful construction. The designer toyed with both soft and hard designs, including Nigerian prints, bold colors and peek-a-boo…
The former first couple is putting down some roots in DC. Since leaving office, the Obamas have been renting a home in the Kalorama neighborhood. The family plans to stay in DC until 15-year-old Sasha finishes high school. They recently bought the house they’d been renting for $8.1 million. Keven Lewis, a spokesman for the Obamas,…
Anti-censorship advocates have begun paying close attention to recent developments in Kenya as the country’s government mulls passing new laws dictating social media use. At first glance, the proposed law sounds quite innocuous as it simply states that people would be banned from using fake names on Facebook and other social media accounts. However, not…
André Alexis, one of Canada’s premier playwrights and novelists, is now recognized for the scope of his bibliography as the winner of the 2017 Windham-Campbell Prize. This coveted American literary prize, known for awarding one of the richest literary prize amounts in the world, recognizes Alexis’ entire body of diverse creative works. Alexis was born in…
It’s not the first time NBA star LeBron James has spoken out about racism. He’s used his platform to talk about the deaths of young black men like Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner, voiced respect for Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protests, and commented on racist statements made within the NBA. Now, he’s speaking up…
English artist Damien Hirst is in hot water for cultural appropriation at this year’s Venice Biennale. His exhibit includes a golden head that mimics the work of artists from Ile-Ife, Nigeria. This is particularly remarkable given that this is a hugely important year for Nigeria, with artists representing their country at a national pavilion for the…
While American tech giants such as Apple, Google and PayPal compete and fail to agree on the standards for digital wallets, a financial technology platform proudly developed in Africa is set to expand across the Continent. Safaricom, the Kenyan wireless services company that operates the M-Pesa network, recently issued a major corporate announcement. Vodacom, a South…
