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…
A Prestigious Appointment Recently, Dr. Vera Songwe was appointed as the new Executive Secretary of the United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (the “ECA”). An economist with extensive experience directing policies relating to the World Bank’s activities in West Africa, she becomes the first African woman to hold the influential position. The United Nations Economic Commission For Africa issued…
Are you intimidated by the gym? Do you feel like it’s too late to get in shape? An 80-year-old grandmother from Baltimore named Ernestine Shepherd is just the person to inspire you to get fit. She has an unbelievable physique and an impressive record. Ernestine’s story proves that anything is possible with determination and…
The use of kerosene lamps in Africa has been a subject of concern for many years now. These lamps are used most commonly in developing Sub-Saharan Africa and the southern regions of Asia. More than 95% of communities without electricity are found in these regions. The Problem For people who live off the grid,…
The Tribeca Film Festival is a modern New York cultural mainstay. Since it began in 2002 as a response to the 9/11 attacks, this springtime festival is devoted to growth, change, and hope in the film industry. This year’s film selection of 98 features is 20% smaller than previous years, making it the most selective…
The European Union is breathing a little more comfortably after the first round of presidential elections in the French Republic. The two highly controversial and surprising political shifts of 2016—the United Kingdom’s Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America—loomed very high over France as voters headed…
Rachel Dolezal Makes an Appearance Rachel Dolezal has reappeared in the media. Most recall her as the white woman who presented herself as black for about a decade before being discovered and resigning from her leadership position in the NAACP. Living as an African American woman, and now going by the name Nkechi Amare Diallo,…
An Ocean of Plastic Surrounds Various Continents Our hydrosphere, already besieged with major issues such as climate change and overfishing, is home to tons of garbage and plastic that could further endanger various ecosystems around the world. According to an alarming study published in April by Science Advances magazine, Spanish researchers discovered a massive accumulation of…
For those who work in the digital realm, Kigali, Rwanda is the place to be next February. The city will be hosting the 2018 Africa Tech Summit Kigali, bringing together leaders in the tech industry for networking and business collaboration opportunities. Over fifty speakers are expected to present at the summit, tackling topics such as digital…
Jennifer Lopez has been unlucky in love…but has she finally found ‘the one’? Many think that current bae, former professional baseball player Alex Rodriguez, might be the one she has been waiting for all these years. One piece of evidence that their fairytale romance might be meant to be? They each have one of the…
In the wake of the Halloween terror attack in New York City, the President of the United States has publicly expressed that he would like to terminate the Diversity Visa Lottery Program. His rationale is that Sayfullo Saipov, the prime suspect in the attack, entered the country through a visa granted by the program. As…
If there is a celebrity who is equally inspirational as he is controversial, it’s Akon. Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, famously known as Akon, was born in 1973 to Senegalese immigrants Kine Thiam and Mor Thiam in St. Louis, Missouri. After his birth, his family relocated to Senegal where they lived until he was seven.…
