How knitting is restoring dignity for Kenyan cancer survivors
When Mary Mwangi was diagnosed with breast cancer, she feared the worst. Instead, she found healing through knitting—and turned that personal journey into a lifeline for thousands of other women. Through her group, the New Dawn Cancer Warriors, Mwangi creates knitted breast prostheses for mastectomy survivors at just $10 each—a fraction of the $60 silicone […]
Volunteers race to save Congo’s vanishing TV archives
In a crumbling building in Brazzaville, thousands of deteriorating tape reels hold an irreplaceable record of central African history—and a small group of volunteers is racing against time to save them. Since 2019, filmmaker Hassim Tall Boukambou and fellow archivists have been cleaning, cataloguing, and preserving footage from Tele Congo, the first television channel to […]
How Skhothane culture conquered Paris’ runways
South African street style recently took center stage in France as MaXhosa Africa unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, complete with a shocking runway moment: spilled custard. To the uninitiated, it looked like a mess, but for South Africans, it was a high-fashion nod to Skhothane culture. Popularized in the early 2010s, the movement, associated with […]
Côte d’Ivoire’s sacred talking drum finally returns home
More than a century after it was seized by colonial authorities, the sacred Djidji Ayôkwé talking drum has returned to Côte d’Ivoire from France, marking a milestone in cultural restitution. Confiscated in 1916 and kept for decades at the Quai Branly–Jacques Chirac Museum, the four-meter drum held deep cultural significance for the Ebrié people, who […]
The rise of weight-loss culture in Kenya
Kenya is witnessing a dramatic cultural shift as the traditional view of weight as a symbol of wealth gives way to a modern obsession with slimness. At the Nairobi Bariatric Center, once-quiet hallways are now bustling with patients seeking everything from Ozempic injections to advanced body-sculpting surgeries. While social media pressures and “unfat” hashtags drive […]
The Cairo academy turning girls into boxing pioneers
In Cairo, a small boxing gym is helping girls challenge social norms while building confidence and resilience. Founded in 2017 by Coach Sally Hassona, the Impact Academy trains young women from disadvantaged communities who often face early marriage, harassment, and limited opportunities. Beyond teaching boxing skills, the program provides mentorship, psychological support, and encouragement to […]
African-inspired architecture shapes nature park in UAE
A remarkable architectural project in the UAE is bringing African vernacular building traditions to the Arabian desert. Sharjah Bridi Park, designed by Urko Sánchez Architects within the Al Bridi Reserve, features a series of thatched-roof pavilions inspired by traditional African building typologies—rounded volumes, conical profiles, and sweeping rooflines that appear almost sculpted from the earth […]
“Silent Rebellion” takes top prize at Johannesburg Film Festival
The Johannesburg Film Festival concluded its 2026 edition with the Swiss wartime drama Silent Rebellion taking home the top prize for Best Feature Film. Directed by Marie Elsa Sgualdo, the film stood out among nearly 700 submissions for its powerful storytelling and striking cinematography. Set in rural Switzerland during World War II, it follows a […]
Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay runs second-fastest marathon ever
Ethiopian distance runner Fotyen Tesfay has officially set the marathon world on fire with a breathtaking performance in Barcelona. In her very first attempt at the distance, the 28-year-old clocked an incredible 2:10:53, securing the second-fastest women’s time in history. Despite heavy winds hampering her final sprint, Tesfay dominated the field, finishing nearly eight minutes […]
Tyla stuns at Paris Fashion Week with “tattoo top”
South African sensation Tyla turned the streets of Paris into her personal runway this week, leaving fans breathless with a viral “tattoo top.” Eschewing traditional fabric, the singer opted for an intricate, snakeskin-inspired temporary tattoo that wrapped across her torso to mimic a jacket. The 24-year-old singer paired this with low-slung, unbuttoned jeans and strappy […]
