As I write this article, 44 migrants, mostly Africans, who were rescued in the Mediterranean by the humanitarian organisation Sea Eye off the Libyan coast on Monday, are desperately looking for where to be allowed to disembark in Europe. The migrants’ dilemma follows the Sea-Watch 3 controversy in June, when the rescue boat forcibly docked in the Italian port of …

Nigerians from across the globe will converge on their country’s capital Abuja on 24-25 July for this year’s Nigerian Diaspora Day. The annual event brings together foreign-based Nigerians and representatives of the federal and state governments to discuss areas of possible partnership in national development. The theme of this year’s Day, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in …

The annual season of African music and culture in Germany is in full swing. Here are the Top Festivals you don’t want to miss before summer ends: ———————————- Afrika-Festival Stuttgart 12 – 14 July / Stuttgart, Erwin-Schöttle Platz   Music, Fashion Show, Workshop, Film, Market, Culinary Pleasures etc, On stage we show you what Africa has to offer in music, …

From the 2nd to the 4th of August, the Schlossplatz in the south-western German town of Emmendingen will once again be all about Africa and its many musical styles and cultures. Under the motto “We are the world!” Afrikaba Kulturkreis e.V. has once again put together an exciting festival programme. The rhythmic pulse of Africa has been beating in the …

The Nigerian community in the German state of Bavaria will recognise the professional and other achievements of outstanding Nigerians living in the country on 20 July. The event, christened ‘Nigeria Cultural Feast and Meritorious Awards 2019’ and which takes place in Munich, will highlight the contributions of the Nigerian Diaspora to homeland development and their countries of residence, according to …

Afrolynk, an impact venture that supports and connects innovators, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the EU-African market, have partnered with Dr. Akuma Saningong, a master communicator, in unlocking the potential of African business ventures. Afrolynk will hold a Community Meet-Up on 10 July in Hamburg and it’s inviting attendees from Hamburg’s business sector, including start-ups, NGOs and public and private …

Six members of Cameroon’s President Paul Biya’s security staff have been convicted by Swiss judges investigating a reported attack on a journalist in Geneva on 26 June. The arrests took place last Tuesday, according to a statement by canton Geneva’s justice department. Four of the guards were given a four-month suspended prison sentence, and two were given a three-month suspended …

This year’s biggest African festival in Germany’s biggest city and multicultural metropolis has kicked off. Taking place from 3 – 14 July, Kenako Afrika Festival was opened with an elaborate ceremony and a big concert by Abdou Day from Madagascar on Wednesday. The 12-day event, featuring live music concerts, bazaar, children’s workshop, culinary, fashion shows and more, holds at the …

The annual season of African music and culture in Germany is in full swing. Here are the Top Festivals you don’t want to miss before summer ends: —————————– Afrikatage Heidelberg/Mannheim 9 June – 8 July / Heidelberg & Mannheim Month-long varied programme featuring lectures, concerts, workshops, etc. www.afrikatage.de —————————– Kenako-Festival Berlin 3 – 14 July / Berlin, Alexanderplatz The flair …

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya has been privately visiting Switzerland for a long time. The Hotel InterContinental in Geneva with its swimming pool and view of Mont Blanc is the residence of choice for the Cameroonian presidential couple. A report by the Wall Street Journal in November 2018 said that since Biya became head of state in 1982 the hotel is …

Fifty-three migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans, were killed on Wednesday when a faction in the Libyan civil war carried out an air strike that hit a migrant detention centre near Tripoli. More than 130 others were injured. The internationally-recognised Government of National Unity (GNA) blamed the attack on forces loyal to renegade General Khalifa Haftar, but his militants have denied it. …

Brain drain is a major challenge facing the Nigerian health system, leading to a dramatic reduction in the number of doctors in the country. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Nigeria is one of the three leading African sources of foreign-born physicians. Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi, Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, explains why doctors are …

The weeks-long standoff between Sea-Watch 3 and the Italian government ended with the arrest of Captain Carola Rackete, who has now been freed. But international maritime law and a country’s own laws often don’t chime, say experts. Carola Rackete, captain of the search and rescue vessel Sea-Watch 3, was arrested on Saturday by Italian authorities for “resisting a warship” after …

Yohannes Gedamu, scholar and university teacher, explains how Ethiopia’s federal system is responsible for the political turmoil in the country despite Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s efforts to liberalise the democratic space. For almost three decades Ethiopia’s federal structure – enshrined in the country’s 1994 constitution – has been defended by the ruling coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front. It’s …

It’s always easier and more convenient to enjoy a new country when you have a tour guide. You hardly miss your way going around since you are led by an experienced person who knows the nooks and crannies of the place. This is why the association of German journalists of migrant origin, called “Neue deutsche Medienmacher” (New German Media Professionals), …

A stowaway fell from the undercarriage of a Kenya Airways plane as it approached Heathrow Airport and landed in a London garden on Sunday, police and airline officials have confirmed. A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as a ship or an aircraft, in order to travel without paying and without being detected. The flight in …

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has adopted a single currency, named eco, to be launched by 2020. It’s one of the decisions of the 55th ordinary session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of the group held on Saturday, 29 June in Abuja, Nigeria, in the presence of 13 of the 15 heads of …

Nigeria’s foreign ministry has warned the country’s citizens that if they’re travelling through Ethiopia with undeclared cash in excess of 3,000 US dollars, they could have the cash seized. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform all Nigerian travellers that the Ethiopian Customs and Revenue Authority (ECRA) has recently stepped up seizure of foreign currencies and valuables in excess …

Saturday, 29 June 2019 has gone down in history as the day citizens of an African country protested angrily in Europe against their visiting president to the notice of the international media. About 250 Cameroonian exiles carried out a protest action in front of the luxurious InterContinental Hotel, where President Paul Biya and his wife were staying, in the Swiss …

The 17th Africa Film Festival Cologne holds from 19 – 29 September 2019. A main focus of the biannual festival is on “Fundamentalism and Migration” and it presents 20 films which address the subject, chosen by FilmInitiativ Köln, organizers of the festival, for good reasons. Flight and migration are among the most important topical issues of our time. At the …