New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are important holidays that are celebrated all over the world. Many places eat traditional foods on these days, often with symbolic meaning. In some US states, cornbread and black-eyed peas are thought to symbolize luck and prosperity. In Africa, there are some similarly symbolic foods infused with…
From Homo Erectus to Homo Economicus: The Nairobi Mall Wars The Republic of Kenya is known as the Cradle of Humanity due to its rich abundance of human fossils, which include some of the earliest instances of Homo erectus. When future anthropologists excavate in a few centuries, fossils and artifacts from the 21st century…
The stage is almost set for the Gabonese Republic to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. Tickets for the group matches went on sale ahead of Christmas among concerns about delays in the preparations of one stadium and protests against the national government. Despite these potential problems, the national squads from across Africa…
When only eleven finalists remained on stage at the Miss World 2016 pageant in Maryland, Evelyn Njambi, Miss World Kenya 2016, was the only African contestant remaining. While she didn’t win the title, the elegant beauty in a ravishing red gown was the fourth runner-up; nonetheless, she is the reigning Miss Kenya 2016 and…
Sauti Sol formed in Kenya in 2005, initially as an acapella group. The group’s style pivoted shortly after formation, leading them to become the world-famous afro pop powerhouse they are today. Their music remains focused on the vocal skills of Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, and Savara Mudigi, but also features the guitar prowess of…
The Problem With Fake Kente from China One of the most iconic African textiles known in Europe, Asia, and the Americas is a silent reminder of the greatness of the Ashanti Kingdom. Kente cloth and its colorful prints are traditionally associated with Western Africa; the various colors and weave patterns have spiritual and traditional connotations,…
The year 2016 will always be remembered as the most astonishing and unlikely political victory in the history of the United States. Against all odds, the American Electoral College gave New York billionaire Donald Trump the number of votes needed for him to succeed President Barack Obama in the White House, making the former…
Everyone remembers the photo of a hiker and Hillary Clinton crossing paths on a hiking trail just days after her devastating loss to President-elect Donald Trump.The image shows hiker Margot Gerster and her daughter posing with Clinton, telling her friends on Facebook, “She hugged me and thanked me and we exchanged some sweet pleasantries,…
As the holiday season winds down in the final days of December, millions of people around the world get in a festive and celebratory mood that may involve making certain promises that they are unlikely to fulfill. New Year’s resolutions are popular in Western culture; as a result of globalization, these hopeful intentions are…
With Kwanzaa about to begin, this is the perfect time to talk about the most important part of any celebration: the food. Traditionally, Kwanzaa food is a mix of many different flavors and styles, from African staples like groundnut stew to Caribbean favorites like jerk chicken. One of the few foods you’ll find across…
