Ethiopia: Ethiopian Youth Festival Begins Months After Peace Deal

[VOA] Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — A U.S.-sponsored youth festival opened Saturday in Ethiopia with the theme “Be Inspired, Own Your Future.” The two-day festival is being held just months after a bloody two-year civil war ended in Ethiopia’s Tigray region…

Benin: Meet Benin’s Real-Life ‘Woman King’

[VOA] Djigbé — “The Woman King” is a rare example of an African story told in the form of a Hollywood historical epic. Around the world, it has won praise for its acting, directing, and themes of female empowerment with women, led by General Nanisca, …

Mali: Insecurity Puts Historic Djenné Mosque At Risk

[VOA] Bamako, Mali — Experts say Mali’s struggle against Islamist militants is putting its World Heritage sites at risk. For the first time in modern history, officials say, the annual replastering of the mud mosque in the town of Djenné in central Ma…

Senegal: Artists Flock to Dakar for Biennale

[VOA] Dakar, Senegal — One of the most prominent events in the world of contemporary African art is kicking off in the Senegalese capital after a four-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 14th edition of the Dakar Biennale features the work …