February 16
Africa: What's Behind the Astonishing Rise in LGBTQ+ Romance Literature?
A major transformation is underway in Romancelandia. Read more »
Africa: Ai Will Let Us Read 'Lost' Ancient Works in the Library At Herculaneum for the First Time
On 19 October 1752, a discovery was made 20 metres underneath the town of Resina, near Naples in Italy. Peasants digging wells in the area around Mount Vesuvius had struck marble… Read more »
February 20
Africa: Women in South Africa's Armed Struggle - New Book Records History At First Hand
South Africa's young democracy was a culmination of years of sweat, blood and revolution against the apartheid regime. In the early 1960s, after decades of "non-violence" as a… Read more »
February 19
East Africa: What Are Sabaki Languages? How People Formed Ethnic Groups Along the Coast of East Africa
A new book called Ethnicity, Identity and Conceptualizing Community in Indian Ocean East Africa tracks the history of the coastal communities of east Africa and how the Sabaki… Read more »
Zimbabwe: Nervous Conditions - On Translating One of Zimbabwe's Most Famous Novels Into Shona
The publishing journey of Zimbabwean writer and film-maker Tsitsi Dangarembga's Nervous Conditions wasn't easy. Yet the novel is today considered by many as one of Africa's 100… Read more »
February 08
Zimbabwe: Books - Folklore and Fantasy Combine in Langabi, a Supernatural Historical Epic From Zimbabwe
In 2023, award-winning Zimbabwean author Christopher Mlalazi published a new book, Langabi: Season of the Beast. He's the author of novels like Running with Mother (2012), Dancing… Read more »
February 02
Africa: Sexism Permeates Every Layer of the Music Industry - New Report Echoes What Research Has Been Saying for Years
The landmark Misogyny in Music report from British MPs on the women and equalities committee, published on January 30, shines an unsettling light upon the gender discrimination,… Read more »
January 30
Ghana: V&A's Decision to Loan Looted Asante Gold Back to Ghana Has Implications for Other British Museums
The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has announced a loan agreement with the Manhyia Palace Museum in the Asante region of Ghana to return gold and silver royal regalia that… Read more »
February 01
Ethiopia: Ethiopian Protest Music - the Songs of Hachalu Hundessa Reveal the Struggles of the Oromo People
The Oromo are the largest ethno-national group in Ethiopia, accounting for over 40 million people or more than one-third of the population. However, they have been politically… Read more »
Africa: Grammy Awards - Africa Finally Has Its Own Category - but At What Cost?
For the first time in its 65-year history the Grammy Awards in the US has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance, which recognises the song of the year. Read more »
January 30
South Africa: Nelson Mandela's Personal Items Under the Hammer in New York? Why It Outraged Some, and What's At Stake
An identity document, a pair of reading glasses, a hearing aid and a pair of worn shoes. These are just some of Nelson Mandela's personal items that were due to go on auction on 22… Read more »
Ghana: Ghana's Looted Asante Gold Comes Home (For Now) - Asante Ruler's Advisor Tells Us About the Deal
After 150 years, 39 artefacts that form part of Asante's royal regalia are due to return to the Asantehene (ruler of the Asante people) in Kumasi, Ghana, in February and April this… Read more »
January 18
Africa: Ai Weiwei Says Art That Can Be Replicated By AI Is 'Meaningless' - Philosopher Explains What That Means for the Future of Art
Ai Weiwei, China's most famous dissident and artist, has called art that can be easily replicated by artificial intelligence (AI) "meaningless". What I find most striking about… Read more »
January 16
Africa: Dave Chappelle Has Built a Reputation for 'Punching Down' On Trans People - and Now He's Targeting Disabled People
Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, The Dreamer, opens with a story about meeting Jim Carrey, who, at the time, was method acting and portraying comedian Andy Kaufman. Read more »
January 24
Africa: Five Books About the Covid Pandemic to Look Out for in 2024
Vi-fi, short for virus fiction, describes contemporary fiction that features the devastating events of world-changing outbreaks and epidemics. Rooted in science fiction, vi-fi… Read more »
January 16
Africa: Marvel's Echo Is a One-of-a-Kind Superhero - and an Inspiration to the Deaf Community
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Echo season one. Read more »
January 19
Africa: Five Inspiring Female Composers From History You Should Listen to
I research female composers and contrary to what many people expect, women have successfully written music throughout history. It is important to learn about these musicians to… Read more »
January 17
Africa: How Video Game Soundtracks Are Influencing a New Generation of Musicians and Music Lovers
One of my clearest musical memories is playing the video game Chrono Trigger on the Super Nintendo in the winter of 1995. When my character first entered the forest where the game… Read more »
January 22
Zimbabwe: Weaver Press Is Closing - How One Small, Brave Zimbabwean Publisher Made a Difference
With the news that it is to halt operations it's a fitting time to take stock of Weaver Press in Zimbabwe. Read more »
January 18
South Africa: Soul Brothers - the Story of a Band That Revolutionised South African Music
Biographies of important South African musicians often fall into two categories: they either emerge from PhD or other university-based research, or are the fruit of dedicated… Read more »
January 10
Africa: From Besting Tetris Ai to Epic Speedruns - Inside Gaming's Most Thrilling Feats
After 13-year-old Willis Gibson became the first human to beat the original Nintendo version of Tetris, he dedicated his special win to his father, who passed away in December… Read more »
January 15
Africa: The Shame and Pleasure of Masturbation - Poor Things Gets Girls' Early Sexual Feelings Right
This piece contains spoilers for Poor Things. Read more »
January 08
South Africa: Five Years On the Road in Africa - How Lerato Mogoatlhe Became a Travel Writer
South African journalist Lerato Mogoatlhe set off for three months in west Africa. She ended up drifting across the continent for five years. In 2019 she wrote a book about her… Read more »
January 04
South Africa: Peter Magubane - Courageous Photographer Who Chronicled South Africa's Struggle for Freedom
Peter Sexford Magubane, a courageous South African photographer whose images testify to both the iniquity of apartheid and the determination and devotion of those who brought about… Read more »
December 25, 2023
East Africa: 4 Must-Read Books From East Africa - From Tanzanian Masters to Ugandan Queens
East African literature continues to grow and reshape itself in exciting new ways. The world really did take notice of the region when Tanzanian-British author Abdulrazak Gurnah… Read more »