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…
In June of 2014, the tech climate in Nigeria shifted dramatically when The Rockefeller Foundation announced a $500,000 grant in favor of Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN). PIN is an ongoing project headed by social entrepreneur Gbenga Sesan that strives to familiarize underprivileged Nigerian youth with future careers in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). PIN’s Life…
Although it may not compare to thoroughbred horse racing in terms of popularity, prestige or prize money, the sport of ostrich racing easily offers as much excitement. In fact, if anything ostrich racing is even more exciting. While horses tend to run gracefully with their jockeys delicately perched on top of their backs, ostriches are…
For the past few weeks, much of the New York City media has been focused on the luxury high-rise apartment complex known as One57, which is set to be the scene for the biggest residential real-estate foreclosure in the city’s long and storied history. Speculation was rampant about who actually owned the 79th-floor penthouse condo,…
One of the most contentious Executive Orders signed by United States President Donald Trump went into effect at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 29. Executive Order 13769 is being called Travel Ban 2.0 because the original order signed in March was deemed to be in contravention of the Constitution in light of the fact that…
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and former Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, is the recipient of the 2017 World Food Prize, an award that carries similar prestige to the Nobel prizes. The award was announced during a ceremony hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture on June 26. Dr. Adesina…
In a move that shows governments may be finally willing to stand up against the Internet giant, the European Union’s Antitrust Commission recently announced that it has fined Google 2.42 billion euros ($2.7 billion USD) for violating the EU’s antitrust laws. As the world’s most-used search engine, Google is alleged to have used its dominance…
London’s Kensington Gardens has hosted an architectural exhibition every year since 2000, but this year’s installation is a landmark occasion. It marks the first time that an African architect has designed a structure for the Serpentine Pavilion. Considered a centerpiece of London’s cultural summer season, being selected for the Serpentine Pavilion exhibition is a rare…
Adama Paris is a stunning Senegalese fashion designer, and by the way, her real name is Adama Amanda Ndiaye. The founder of Dakar Fashion Week told CNN that she had established the annual event in Senegal’s seaside capital because she believed that talented black models and designers were being ignored by the industry. The globally…
Ron Finley definitely isn’t your average gardener, but that’s part of what makes his story so unique. Dubbed the ‘Gangsta Gardener,’ Finley originally rose to prominence a few years ago after his effort to turn the small strip of land in front of his house into a garden brought him into a prolonged battle against…
The hashtag #MeToo has been trending globally following reports of sexual harassment occurring mainly against female celebrities by prominent men in Hollywood. The hashtag has brought to light the prevalence of sexual harassment not only in the entertainment industry, but also in everyday situations experienced by women from all over the world. In Africa,…
Both Bruno Mars and Cardi B have already had big years with a lot of important award wins and records set. At the 2017 Soul Train Awards, they added more feathers to their caps. The ceremony aired Sunday on BET and BET HER and was hosted by Erykah Badu. Throughout the night, Badu had a…
It was a historic Miss Universe competition Sunday evening as 92 contestants from points across the globe all vied for the prestigious crown. First ever representatives came from the countries of Cambodia, Laos and Nepal, and this year’s edition featured the largest number of entrants seeking the Miss Universe title. In the end, 22-year-old Demi-Leigh…
It’s official, groundbreaking, and the ring is a stunner! Britain’s Royal Palace announced Monday morning that Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle are engaged. The news came straight from the office of Harry’s father Prince Charles, according to People magazine. The statement also mentioned that the beautiful couple had become engaged earlier in the…
