In late 2016, Fadumo Dayib made history when she announced her candidacy for the presidential elections of Somalia, thus marking the first time a female politician aspired to the highest office of the troubled nation. Dayib was not in Somalia at the time of the announcement, which she made from Finland—the nation that welcomed her…
Israeli musician Idan Raichel blends styles to share music with a message of peace. A keyboardist, singer-songwriter, and composer, his music draws from Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African musical styles. His lyrics are almost always in Hebrew and he often uses bits of traditional Hebrew texts. LA Times described what Raichel does as creating “a zesty…
A Prestigious Appointment Recently, Dr. Vera Songwe was appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (the “ECA”). An economist with extensive experience directing policies relating to the World Bank’s activities in West Africa, she becomes the first African woman to hold the influential position. The United Nations Economic Commission For Africa issued…
The European Union is breathing a little more comfortably after the first round of presidential elections in the French Republic. The two highly controversial and surprising political shifts of 2016—the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America—loomed very high over France as voters headed…
Barack Obama made his first public appearance on Monday since leaving the White House back in January. Surrounded by the youth of America at the University of Chicago, Obama shared his personal experiences of public service at a town hall meeting. Leading the meeting with a statement about how he entered into public service…
French Montana made sure that the video for his single “Unforgettable” would be, well, unforgettable. The video for the danceable hit features incredible street dancing by Ugandan kids. It begins with desolate scenes of streets in Kampala before breaking into vibrant and colorful joy as crowds of kids show off their dance moves. French Montana…
The prevailing attitude in Hollywood and around the world has long been that to make a successful film, you need a big budget. Ugandan filmmaker and director Isaac Nabwana is proving that is just not true. Nabwana combined his passion for cinema with a determined attitude to bootstrap his way to success. He has built…
Ever since the fall of Muammar al-Qaddafi, the former Libya strongman who was toppled and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings a few years ago, the North African nation has suffered deep political instability and chaos. One of the most harrowing issues plaguing Libya has been the arrival of the Islamic State terrorist organization, often…
Two thirds of the 11th Parliament of Kenya could soon be comprised of women thanks to a push by President Uhuru Kenyatta.The Gender Bill that would mandate a female legislative majority in the Kenyan Parliament is heeding a constitutional resolution. President Kenyatta feels that the time has come to implement what the Constitution mandates; that…
Ghanaian hip-hop artist and rapper Sardokie will be tying the knot with longtime girlfriend Tracy Sarkcess this summer. The couple has been together for over a decade and welcomed their first child in 2016. After years of speculation about whether and when they would tie the knot, one of Ghana’s favorite couples will finally wed…
