Where to escape Detty December
As the bustling party season of Detty December overwhelms cities like Lagos and Accra, an escape to calmer locales becomes a tempting retreat. Fortunately, West Africa offers several accessible and culturally rich havens just a short trip away. In Benin, the orderly coastal capital of Cotonou provides a tranquil respite with minimal traffic, serene beaches, and proximity […]
An architect’s guide to Cairo
For Danish-Egyptian architect and designer Salem Charabi, moving to Cairo has been a transformative creative decision, opening a world of abundant craftsmanship and layered history. He embraces the city’s inherent chaos as its greatest asset, advising travelers to have a loose plan when visiting but also to leave room for spontaneous discovery. Charabi believes that Cairo’s […]
Lessons from Accra Cultural Week
Accra Cultural Week offers a powerful lens into Ghana’s history, creativity, and resilience, blending art, memory, and community into a living cultural statement. At its heart was Serge Attukwei Clottey’s stunning exhibition, [Dis]Appearing Rituals, which transformed yellow jerrycans into dazzling art, a practice he calls “afrogallonism.” This work served as a tribute to the resilience of […]
Inside Namibia’s striking Ekipa pod
Ekipa, a striking new pod in Etosha National Park, redefines luxury design in the wild with its bold, metal-clad form. Designed by architect Sven Staby for the Gondwana Collection, the structure departs from his softer desert pods. Instead, Ekipa’s angular form—reminiscent of an anvil, a ship’s prow, or a warrior’s helmet—draws inspiration from the traditional ivory buttons […]
Six players set to define AFCON 2025
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in Morocco this December, promising a showcase of the continent’s finest talent. While stars like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane will command attention, the tournament’s narrative may be shaped by other key figures. Hosts Morocco could look to midfield maestro Azzedine Ounahi to inspire their title charge, especially if […]
Egypt’s koshary wins UNESCO recognition
Egypt’s beloved comfort food, koshary, has earned global recognition after being added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, marking the first Egyptian dish to receive the honor. Built from simple, affordable ingredients—rice, lentils, pasta, fried onions, and tomato sauce—the hearty meal reflects everyday life across Egypt, from street stalls to family kitchens. UNESCO highlighted koshary’s role in […]
The Zambezi’s turbulent history
The Zambezi River’s history mirrors southern Africa’s long story of migration, trade, and power struggles. The river flows through six countries and was a vital corridor for commerce long before European arrival, later drawing Portuguese traders chasing gold and imagined silver riches. Over centuries, Afro-Portuguese settlements, local river communities, and competing empires shaped life along its banks, […]
Scientists discover new hominin species
A long-standing fossil mystery has been solved, potentially upending one of the most iconic stories in human evolution. The enigmatic Burtele foot, discovered in 2009, has now been linked to a species called Australopithecus deyiremeda, a contemporary of the famous Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis). This finding provides clear evidence that two distinct hominin species coexisted in East Africa […]
South Africa’s must-see destinations
South Africa packs extraordinary variety into one unforgettable destination, blending vibrant cities, dramatic landscapes, rich history, and world-class wildlife. From the urban energy and layered past of Johannesburg to the postcard beauty of Cape Town, each stop reveals a different side of the country’s character. Nature lovers can chase wildflowers in Namaqualand, hike the rugged Drakensberg, or […]
Tripoli’s iconic Red Castle museum reopens
Libya has reopened its national museum, the Red Castle in Tripoli, marking its first public revival since the 2011 uprising that ended the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. Closed for more than a decade amid conflict, the museum has been renovated by the Government of National Unity, signaling a cautious return to cultural normalcy. Spanning prehistoric to […]
