A UN-Sponsored Organization In 1997, the United Nations helped several organizations combine their resources to found the African Women’s Alliance (“the AWA”). This international nonprofit enterprise draws upon the talents of African women residing in their own nations and across the world. It was incorporated in 2001 as a nonprofit organization. Its members hope to enhance the lives…
With nearly 39 million mobile phone subscriptions and a device penetration of almost 90 percent, Kenya could be described as one of the most wireless nations not just in Africa, but also in the world. Kenya is not only a global leader in smartphone usage, but also in development of mobile technologies. At any given time,…
There was a time when the Syrian Arab Republic was not the site of an out-of-control civil war where government forces carry out chemical weapon attacks against civilians, and where an abominable terrorist organization has set out to destroy rich archaeological treasures dating back several centuries. Less than a decade ago, Syria was a country…
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…
Esi Edugyan is an award-winning novelist whose cultural heritage and diverse education fuels her rich stories of history, race, and finding one’s place in the world. Born in 1977 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Edugyan began writing poetry as a teenager and her talents were soon recognized by a high school teacher. She started her…
Time Magazine has released their annual list of the most influential people of 2017. The list includes important figures including world leaders, artists, and athletes. The 2017 list includes a number of African and African-American individuals of note. Among those who made the list this year are athletes LeBron James, Simone Biles, and Colin Kaepernick, musicians John Legend and Alicia Keys, actress Viola…
An explosive new Vanity Fair report about the Donald and Melania Trump marriage has also provided new insight into the relationship between Melania and Ivanka Trump. President Trump’s relationships with both women, his wife and his daughter, have always been closely scrutinized. Both relationships are certainly unlike any we’ve seen with any previous First Family. As First…
A Nigerian government official attracted worldwide attention this month for cutting off the hair of a number of female employees. Andrew Kumapayi is a commander for the Nigerian Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Rivers State, Nigeria. He was performing a “routine inspection of officers’ hair and nails” when he determined some hairstyles to be non-compliant. Images…
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…
Oprah Winfrey and Viola Davis are two of the most powerful women who continue to leave their incredible imprints on the world. The pair have been recognized in a most deserving way, landing on People magazine’s World’s Most Beautiful issue this year. Congratulations, Oprah and Viola. Your glamour both on and off the red carpet, stunning features, poise, intellect and confidence…
The Total African Nations Championship , also known as CHAN, football tournament that serves to complement the Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco in 2018. While the decision was unanimously awarded by executives of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) during a meeting in Nigeria, controversy ensued amidst reports…
Star Trek has a long history of diversity, the original TV series had television’s first interracial kiss and the show consistently showed progressive attitudes around race and gender. It was particularly important and revolutionary, Devon Maloney writes, for people of color who were “seeing faces like their own on television, in un-caricatured roles, for the…
On October 11, development organizations in Africa celebrated the International Day of the Girl. In 2012, the United Nations designated this day to observe the global status of young girls as it relates to their right to equality and socioeconomic opportunity. The main focus this year is “EmPOWER girls: emergency response and resilience planning. In…
New York African Restaurant Week, founded by Akin Akinsaya in 2013, kicked off on the first day of October. Two weeks in, it’s still going strong. The festival lasts until Sunday, October 22. One of the main highlights has been A Taste Of Africa — also known as the Mega GastroAfrique Food Festival and Day…
