Tied inextricably to the world’s crude oil market, Nigeria’s economy is reeling from low oil prices and militant attacks against oil facilities. The current price of a barrel of oil is approximately $45.00 USD, down from the 2012 high of $109.45 USD. Although oil is only about 15% of the country’s GDP, it represents…
Lupita Nyong’o owned the red carpet on Sunday night at the gala presentation of her new film, Queen of Katwe, at the Toronto International Film Festival. The actress wore a breathtaking yellow and blue gown with a unique and intricately-detailed bodice created by House of Herrera. The star’s stunning look was accessorized with a…
The artistry and talent of the Nigerian film industry are being showcased to an international audience this week at the 41st Toronto International Film Festival. Every year, TIFF highlights the cinema of a specific urban center as part of its City to City program, and for 2016 the focus is on the exciting…
In late August, violent clashes in the capital city of Gabon left at least three people dead and a burning National Assembly. The violence was prompted by the re-election of incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba, which marks the continuation of a dynasty that has been in power for five decades. For the Gabonese…
What started as a simple hashtag has spread to all four corners of the globe. Created and popularized by African nationals, #IfAfricaWasASchool pokes fun at different countries and cultures by re-imagining them as high school stereotypes. Some countries are the jocks, for example, while others are the nerds or band geeks. “#IfAfricaWasASchool Ivory Coast…
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged a $30 billion investment in Africa on August 27, 2016, noting that his country has faith in Africa’s future. Abe was in Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). He said the $30 billion in public and private support for education, healthcare…
African Models on the Rise Breaking into the seemingly glamorous world of modeling is no easy task, but models from African nations are taking the challenge in stride. Following in the steps of legends such as Iman and Alek Wek, a new generation is emerging on the international fashion scene. Amilna Estevao is just 17…
On June 9, 2016, the World Health Organization declared Liberia free of the transmission of Ebola. The announcement came 42 days after the last confirmed Ebola patient in the country tested negative for the second time. Liberia was first declared Ebola free in May 2015, but the disease reemerged 3 times, bringing the toll to…
A recent study published in Ecology and Evolution showed that the DNA of Namibian desert elephants is the same as elephants in the Namibian savanna. Since these two groups of elephants act so differently from one another, it was assumed for years that they were totally separate elephant groups. This study both demolishes that old…
The Internet: a New Battleground Against Terrorism Since the Islamic State’s (ISIS) dramatic rise to power in 2014, one of the group’s more disquieting successes has been its ability to use social media as a means of creating and disseminating propaganda, recruiting followers, and inspiring terrorist attacks. Now, more than ever, this is an…
