South Africa: Choreographer Explores Sacrifice in Spellbinding Show
[RFI] “The Sacrifice” by South African choreographer Dada Masilo is a fusion of contemporary dance and a ritual dance from Botswana, known as Tswana. Inspired by the innovative rhythms of Igor Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” she has brought together …
Gambia: Gambian Musician Sana Singhateh Launches ‘One Million Trees’ Planting Initiative
[RFI] Sana Singhateh, known by his stage name as St Brikama Boyo, is one of the top selling recording artists in the Gambia. He has now turned his attention to mitigating the impact of climate change.
Tanzania: Tanzanian-Born Novelist and Nobel Laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah – Interview
[RFI] Abdulrazak Gurnah was born in 1948 in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2021. He taught for a long time at the University of Kent in Great Britain and is the author of 10 novels, including “Près de la Mer”, whi…
Nigeria: Blood and Bronze – Unveiling the British Empire’s Brutality in Nigeria
[RFI] In his book Blood and Bronze: the British Empire and the Sack of Benin, historian Paddy Docherty reveals the brutality of high-ranking British officials in destroying the Kingdom of Benin in 1897. Justified by Whitehall at the time, the wrongdoin…
Malawi: The Popular Musician Who Left Everything Behind to Preserve Village Culture
[RFI] The Malawian hit song, Moyo wa Mtawoni, meaning ‘the town life’, was released some 20 years ago by musician Ben Michael Mankhamba. It addressed the challenges of living in urban areas and praised the laissez-faire lifestyle of villages.
Cote d’Ivoire: ‘Hard and Pure’ Reggae From Côte d’Ivoire’s Tom D Genese
[RFI] Not one to shy away from his reggae roots in calling out social problems, Côte d’Ivoire recording artist Tom D Genese’s latest song, “Paradoxes”, evokes Africa’s richness and poverty in the same breath.
Africa: ‘Cartooning for Peace’ Plan Aims to Draw Africa Towards Democracy
[RFI] A group of cartoonists from around the world assembled for the Cartooning for Peace initiative in Nairobi, Kenya, this month to raise awareness of the power of press cartoons in promoting democracy on the African continent.
Zimbabwe: Want to Say ‘Laugh’ in Shona? There’s an Edutech Startup to Help You
[RFI] Did you think of trying to learn an African language online during the pandemic, only to be disappointed when you found popular apps like Duolingo didn’t offer Shona or Ndebele or Venda?
Benin: Benin Celebrates Return of Royal Treasures After 130 Years
[RFI] The much-celebrated return of 26 treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey has culminated in a month-long celebration of heritage and art at the Museum of the Marina in Cotonou, Benin, attracting large crowds.
Cameroon: Why Handcrafting Cameroonian Drums Is a Dying Art
[RFI] Although locally produced drums are an integral part of music across various tribes in Cameroon, this traditionally handmade instrument is falling out of use due to the increased use of modern instruments. Drums are typically played at traditiona…