On September 6, 2016, amid urgent calls from federal health officials and medical leaders warning of the dire need for funds, the Senate failed for the third time to pass the $1.1 billion Zika funding bill. Why did this happen and what are the critical issues involved? What is the history of this impasse?…
Don’t Worry, Kanye West does not have small pox, but he is facing a serious backlash with his latest “fashion faux pas.” Whether you love or hate Kanye’s talent, one thing you can’t deny is that he influences thousands–if not more–people every day with his style, look, and now his fashion line. At this…
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…
With the 2016 Paralympics now underway, the global audience is sure to be awed as they witness a slew of inspirational stories. With that said, few of the stories appear to be as compelling as the story of women’s world champion hand-cyclist, Justine Asher. The 44-year old Asher hails from South Africa, where she now…
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been no new cases of yellow fever in the two African nations which have been battling a yellow fever epidemic since December 2015. As of September 2, Angola has had no new confirmed cases since June 23, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) had…
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…
When Britain decided to leave the European Union officially in June 2016, global markets were rocked to their very core initially, and the Dow Jones and the British Pound took a beating. The British people voted for Brexit in spite of a UK treasury report that found that the nation’s productivity and GDP…
In late-July, Democrats suffered an embarrassing scandal when a series of hacked emails form the Democratic National Committee were released into the public. The hacked emails contained evidence that the national party showed a preference towards former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US Presidential Election over her opponent, Senator Bernie…
Animal behaviorists and biologists are continually learning about the degree of intelligence that animals possess. The list of intelligent animals that often come to mind include chimpanzees, dolphins, and dogs. Some may have heard the phrase, “an elephant never forgets.” Along with having amazing memory, pachyderms have recently demonstrated emotional behavior that came…
Renowned Swedish photographer Pers-Anders Petterson brilliantly chronicles the vibrant, rapidly growing world of the African fashion scene from 2010-2016 in his acclaimed book, African Catwalk. The 168 page book contains 80 color illustrations carefully selected from his vast library of images. Petterson wanted to challenge stereotypes and dispel myths about both the African…
“I love betting on women,” says Sherifah Tumusiime. This incredible Ugandan entrepreneur has a long list of accomplishments. Among them, she earned computer science degree from Makerere University, she was inaugurated as a Mandela Washington Fellow within a leadership program initiated by former US President Barack Obama, and she founded Uganda’s first online baby store.…
The Motion Picture Association of America puts out a report each year about movie attendance. Of particular interest in their most recent report is that the numbers show strong upward growth in African-American movie viewers. This fits into the overall trend of a more ethnically diverse movie audience. Caucasians now make up the smallest per…
African rock art, or petroglyphs, are cultural and historical treasures. Many of them are among the oldest human artworks on Earth. They provide a window in time, giving us a glimpse of the lives, worldviews, and even the climate of our distant ancestors. Some petroglyphs are straightforward depictions from prehistory, while others are deep mysteries.…
On May 29th, the Rwandan National Electoral Commission (NEC) made the unsettling announcement that it would oversee social media use by candidates in the upcoming election. This was widely perceived as a means of handicapping the opposition candidates. President Paul Kagame has handily won two prior elections, and analysts are giving him very high odds of…
