Zimbabwe’s Film Industry Thriving despite Difficult Circumstances
There is a general perception that there is no film industry to talk about in Zimbabwe. This argument is mostly based on comparisons with other well-resourced film economies, such as Hollywood, or even South Africa’s. There are, nevertheless, efforts at the grassroots, of various informally constituted cottage industries producing video-film products. These include video-films shot […]
A New Type of Tourism Trade in Africa
Nigerian startup Nwanndo launched its web app earlier in May, offering users access to what is essentially an “Airbnb for Africa”. Founded by Okereke Ikenna and Venetia Grant, Nwanndo connects people with places to stay and things to do around Africa, and allows individuals to monetise their extra space or travel expertise. The startup’s goal […]
A Scorecard for Africa’s Green Revolution
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a favorite cause among Western donors — including Germany. But a study finds that the work of the organization is actually counterproductive. AGRA counts its achievements as: $650 million invested across the continent, the 119 seed companies AGRA has founded, the 700 scientific papers it […]
Nairobi’s Track and Trace Method Helps to Curb Locust Destruction
Kenya is in a race to track locusts to prevent a new plague from forming in East Africa and eating all the greenery they find in their wake. Hundreds of billions of locusts swarmed parts of East Africa and Asia in February, wreaking havoc for livestock farmers. It is feared the tiny invaders could return […]
Abuja Opens International Travel After Successful Domestic Air Travel
Nigeria’s aviation minister has said the country will reopen its airports for international flights from August 29, introducing protocols to minimise the risk of coronavirus infection. Nigeria’s airports have been shut down since March 23 to all but essential international flights as part of the country’s efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. […]
The Return of a Lost Species
A mouse-sized elephant shrew that had been lost to science for 50 years has been discovered alive and well in the Horn of Africa. The Somali sengi mates for life, can race around at 30km/h and sucks up ants with its trunk-like nose. But it had not been documented by researchers since 1968. In 2019 […]
Captain of the Japanese Ship that Spilled Tonnes of Oil off the Coast of Mauritius Arrested
Sunil Kumar Nandeshwar, a 58-year-old Indian man, was charged with endangering safe navigation, police said. He has not yet commented. Mr Nandeshwar made an appearance in the district court in the capital Port Louis to hear the charges. He will be held in a police cell until he returns to court on 25 August. Police […]
Why More than 200 Students on a Scholarship from Nigeria are Stranded Abroad
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) scholarship program was developed to fund the study of marginalized young people from Nigeria’s oil-rich Delta region in studies that could aid its development. Despite accounting for 70% of Nigeria government revenue, the Niger Delta remains impoverished and faces numerous challenges such as oil spills, gas flares and vandalism. […]
Fighting on the Same Side
Sudan and a major rebel group signed an agreement to integrate the rebels into the army within 39 months, signatories said, in the latest in a slew of agreements between the Sudanese government and long-running insurgencies. Sudan’s ruling council and rebel groups restarted peace talks in October 2019 to end the conflicts after widespread protests […]
US Brings Ugandan Fake Adoption Ring to Book
The US government has filed fraud and money laundering charges against those behind an adoption scheme that placed Ugandan children who were not orphans with US families. Two Americans, Margaret Cole and Debra Parris, and a Ugandan lawyer, Dorah Mirembe, are accused of conspiring to corruptly procure the children and transfer them to American adoptive […]
