Sometimes the world can seem like a lonely place whether you are in Africa or elsewhere in the world. However, when you look deep inside yourself and are content with who you are, the path is one that is full because you do not worry about what others think of you. Here are ways…
“…a master of language, and [your] commitment as a dramatist and writer of poetry and prose to problems of general and deep significance for man, modern or ancient.” – presentation speech by Professor Lars Gyllensten, of the Swedish Academy for the Nobel Prize in Literature, 1986 Wole Soyinka, Nigerian playwright, author, poet, essayist, teacher and…
When the FBI got hold of the iPhone of dead San Bernardino terrorism suspect Syed Rizwan Farook in December 2015, they were not able to get into his phone because of encryption technology. Then, in February, a California federal court judge requested Apple write custom software to disable the main security features. Apple CEO…
African women are increasingly joining the work force as entrepreneurs and in turn shaping the future of the vast and powerful continent. Use some or all of these twelve strategies to bolster your role as a part of progress and change in Africa. Social Networking Yes, we’ve all heard it: social media. The buzziest…
On February 18, 2016, Election Day in Uganda, Ugandan voters had the opportunity to change the nation, or so they thought. But, with a less than smooth voting process which resulted in the re-election of Yoweri Museveni, Ugandans are left with many questions. Eight candidates ran in the presidential election but the main contenders were Museveni and Besigye.…
As people all over the world fight desperately to eliminate wage gaps and gender based violence, it can be tempting to think that the gender rights war is in vain. But, we need not look further than Namibia for hope that men and women everywhere will soon attain equality. Those in this Southern African country are…
Youssou N’Dour, singer, composer, and percussionist was born in Dakar, Senegal in 1959 to a Wolof mother and a Serer father. His parents encouraged him to think outside of the traditional griot school, allowing him to consider both of his parents’ cultures and thus inspiring his identity as a modern griot. At the…
Kenya, East Africa’s economic flagship, has cemented its status as a hub for entrepreneurship. This can be attested to by the highly successful mobile banking/money services system known as M-Pesa. The name is a combination of Swahili and English whereby the M stands for Mobile while Pesa is Swahili for money, hence Mobile Money.…
UBER is an American taxi service which allows users to order rides using an app. It was founded in San Francisco in 2009 and introduced to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, in January 2015. This new method of car service has caused frustration among cab drivers in Nairobi who assert that Uber is undercutting fares…
When Sadio Mané began to play English football in the Premier League, it was a dream come true for the Senegal native. From Humble Beginnings Mané grew up in the village of Sédhiou in the south of Senegal. It was a love of soccer that remained constant throughout Mané’s childhood. He has recalled publicly…
The Neem Foundation program focuses on helping the former captives of Boko Haram. This terrorist group, widely known for its mass kidnappings—most sensationally the 2014 kidnapping of over 200 Nigerian school girls—uses various violent means to fuel its terrorist organizations, as well as spread its zealous ideology. Some kidnapped girls have even been forced…
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…
Las Cafeteras is a six-piece Chicano band known for their electric performances that feature a genre-blending mix of musical styles, spoken word, and dance. They are storytellers above all else, and they often use their music as a way to share timely messages on social and political issues. The band’s website says that they “use music as…
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…
