Ghanaians Find it Hard to Change their Burial Rituals
Since the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to large public gatherings, relatives have opted to store corpses of their loved ones in morgues for longer than usual until they can hold a proper funeral. Ghanaian funerals usually last several days and up to a week in some parts. They are deeply symbolic ceremonies involving thousands […]
Bringing Malawi’s School Feeding Programmes into the Home
Elementary school children in Malawi, one of Africa’s poorest countries, normally get free meals at school; but, when the coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close in March, families were left with the added cost burden. The international charity Mary’s Meals, which runs the feeding program in one-third of Malawi’s elementary schools, has started distributing food […]
AfDB President Faces Another Challenge to his Re-election
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has rejected plans by the African Development Bank’s board to end an investigation into its president, Akinwumi Adesina, and called for an independent probe into allegations against him. In a letter dated May 22 and addressed to Niale Kaba, chairwoman of the bank’s board of governors, Mnuchin said the Treasury […]
Africa Shows the Way in Repurposing Human Waste in Disadvantaged Areas
Esther Munyiva, a landlady in Nairobi’s Mukuru Kwa Reuben informal settlement, installed her first Fresh Life toilet in 2012. Munviya is one of millions of Africans benefiting from a quiet revolution in approaches to sanitation. Disruptors at universities, non-profits and companies across the continent are increasingly rethinking every aspect of the toilet value chain. In […]
Burundi’s Ruling Party Still in Charge
The election commission has declared the governing party’s candidate, Evariste Ndayishimiye, as the winner of the country’s presidential election. The retired army general won 68.72 percent of the votes in last week’s ballot, while Agathon Rwasa, the main opposition leader, received 24.19 percent, the body said on Monday. Since Ndayishimiye has received over 50 percent […]
A Series of Moves Shaped this Nigerian Child’s Chess Game
Tani Adewumi is no ordinary chess player. And his journey isn’t ordinary, either. Two years ago his family settled into a New York City homeless shelter after fleeing Boko Haram in Nigeria; his father refused to print a poster waging war and the group was out to get him. Thirteen months earlier, he couldn’t tell […]
Mask-making Becomes Lifeline for African Communities
From crowded informal settlements to conservation areas teeming with wildlife, cottage industries have popped up around the globe producing and distributing face masks for frontline workers, taxi drivers, market sellers and more. Usually comprised of two fabric layers with a disposable filter, mask-making enterprises are stoking local economies and helping communities. In Samburu County in […]
Kigali’s Bold and Ambitious Approach to Reforming its Business Environment Pays Off
Positioned first by the World Bank, Rwanda has made a number of reforms that have improved the ease of doing business. Coming in the second spot is Georgia, which launched the first Public Service Hall in 2011 to streamline business registration. The two countries emerged top of the 128 governments, which introduced a record 314 […]
South Africa Eases Restrictions of its Lockdown
The president of South Africa has warned that the country’s coronavirus outbreak is going to get much worse, while announcing that lockdown measures are to be eased. Cyril Ramaphosa said a third of the country’s more than 22,000 cases had been recorded in the last week. Despite that, the president said the current lockdown could […]
Dreams of a Conflict Free Africa on Africa Day
As a way of celebrating Africa Day, several African nationals; Africans in the diaspora as well as descendants of Africa, have organised commemorative cultural events that highlight the vibrancy of African cultures, foods, and traditions. Most of these have been virtual events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Virtual Conference (webinar), Silencing the Guns Initiative, […]
