A country known for exporting raw cotton, Benin is increasingly gaining notoriety in the local and international fashion industry. The increasing demand for handcrafted African fashion is also positively affecting the country as a whole. Several international campaigns have joined efforts to further empower the Beninese people while sharing the beauty of their culture and…
The day has been planned since childhood, the perfect flowers were chosen for the right ambiance and décor, your bridesmaids and groomsmen look impeccable in their respectable attire, and your wedding day has finally come. With anticipation, excitement, and nerves running on full steam, you hope for the perfect day and a memory that will last…
Unifying Faiths Through Art Brings Peace to Kenyan Capital Johnny Appleseed had his apple trees, Saint Nicholas had his secret gifts, and Columbian-American artist Yazmany Arboleda has his art. A novel concept is sweeping through the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and doing more than just surprising onlookers. Arboleda is bringing hope and joy to the…
Electricity Coming to 1 million Rural Tanzanian Households Tanzania is taking a major step towards industrialization with a large development project that aims to provide electricity to rural households not yet connected to a grid. The short-term goal of the program, which is being overseen by the Tanzanian Rural Energy Agency (REA), is to power…
Recently, a fight over burkinis and Islamic practices led the mayor of a village in Corsica to institute a local ban on the controversial bathing suits. This comes as the region has found itself in the midst of a migration of Muslims and other groups, triggering tension among nationalists. The actual fight that spurred…
Two African women’s football (soccer) teams–South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Zimbabwe’s Mighty Warriors–are giving the sport a long-awaited boost with their recent appearances at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite the fact that both teams were eliminated before reaching the quarter finals, the athletes impressed spectators and grew their fanbase with their solid skills and…
Forty years ago, Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a very different place, abuzz with the comings and goings of elephants, rhinos, and 350 Kordofan giraffes. Today, the park stands as a reminder of the damage poachers can do to a natural habitat. Only 38 Kordofan giraffes can be found in…
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…
As people change with time, so do relationships, and it’s not uncommon for those who were adorably in love so many years ago to lose interest and their libido. One of the biggest causes of divorce is lack of intimacy. While sex plays a major role for one’s libido, so does one’s gender, making this…
Thousands of Haitians have died since the start of a cholera outbreak in the fall of 2010 following the devastating earthquake that ravaged the country. Cholera has since become endemic to Haiti and hundreds more continue to die every year. Many experts believe that the UN was responsible for the epidemic. The UN has taken…
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…
The glamorous stage where the English National Ballet performs is worlds away from the grinding poverty of the Kuwinda slum in Kenya. Yet that stage appears to be where one former Kuwinda resident is destined to be seen. Sixteen-year-old Joel Kioko is a phenomenon in the ballet world. Like many male dancers, he came to…
