The German town of Emmendingen will host the 20th anniversary of the African Music Festival from 4 to 7 August. And the organisers are leaving no stone unturned to make the anniversary a special, memorable one. Among the many artists billed to perform in Emmendingen is Livingstone Etse Satekla, better known by his stage name Stonebwoy. The multiple-awarded Ghanaian Afropop, …

By Dumisani Moyo, Marketing Director, SAP Africa JOHANNESBURG South Africa, 27th May 2022 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- The month of May is significant for the African continent because it is during this month that we celebrate Africa Day. Africa Day commemorates the formation of the African Union on May 25, 1963. It is a day when Africans celebrate the continent’s independence, …

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited three African countries in his first trip to the continent since assuming office from 22-24 May. According to the German media, the aims of the trip are to seek new sources of energy imports for Germany, pursue closer trading relations with Africa as well as cooperation on issues of the climate and anti-terror fight. Chancellor …

Until now, refugees from Ukraine have been able to use public transport in cities and towns across Germany without a ticket. This regulation expires on 31 May 2022. Refugees from Ukraine therefore require a ticket when travelling on public transport from 1 June. An affordable alternative is the 9-Euro Ticket, which entitles holders to travel on public transport (regular buses, …

Dr Omotade Omotosho, President, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Poland, has commended the Federal Government through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and strategic agencies for the evacuation of Nigerians at the wake of the Ukrainian-Russian war. Dr Tade Omotosho, President, NIDO Germany (left), and Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja on Tuesday/Photo: NiDCOM Dr Omotosho made …

After years of planning and a little over 12 months of building and refurbishment work, The Africa Centre – an establishment that celebrates contemporary African culture and heritage – is finally ready to welcome its patrons and supporters to its new home in Southwark, London on 9 June. “It will continue to act as a bold and transformative bridge between …

Ukrainian refugees are entitled to regular social benefits as from 1 June, according to a law passed the Bundesrat, the upper chamber of the German federal parliament —— Refugees from Ukraine will be entitled to regular social benefits such as Hartz IV from June onwards. The Bundesrat approved a corresponding law on Friday (20 May), which implements an agreement between …

To offset the impact of rising energy prices caused by the Ukraine war and encourage the use of public transport, the German government introduced a subsidised nationwide ticket which costs only 9 euros per month for travels on public transport during ninety days in the summer. The upper chamber of the federal parliament approved the plan last Friday, clearing the …

As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber strongly advocates for German-Africa partnerships, recognizing the role Germany will play in advancing energy security across the continent

Google is calling for applications for the second cohort of its Google for Startup Black Founders Fund for Africa. Following the success of the first cohort last year, Google will increase its commitment with an additional $1m in funding, and support for 10 more founders this year. This will result in a commitment of $4m to 60 eligible Black-founded startups …

Every year, the member states of the European Union celebrate Europe Day. This day commemorates the signing of Robert Schumann’s declaration of 9 May 1950, which is considered the birth certificate of what is now the European Union. Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Member of the European Parliament, writes on how she commemorated the Day in Germany this year and why the …

Initiative to benefit 20 million African farmers, who will receive certified seed and technology to rapidly produce 38 million tons of food——— ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 20, 2022/ — The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors on Friday approved a $1.5 billion facility to help African countries avert a looming food crisis. With the disruption of food supplies arising …

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, partnering with filmmakers, launches its Africa Day campaign ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’ by spotlighting and celebrating Africans making a global impact —— As part of its Africa Day celebrations on 25 May, Meta today (23 May) announced the return of its global campaign ‘Made by Africa, Loved by the World’, which was …

German investments in Africa stabilised in 2020 and 2021 after reaching a record high before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in February 2020. This was revealed by the Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V., an association of German companies active in Africa, in a press statement on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to Senegal, Niger and South Africa. The investment stock …

A comprehensive Diaspora Housing Mortgage Scheme will soon be inaugurated, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has announced. According to a press release issued by the Commission, Hon (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM, made the pledge when she visited the Management and Staff of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) in Abuja recently. The meeting was subsequent to both …

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) Germany has launched a survey of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) from Ukraine in Germany. The pilot survey aims to generate first knowledge pertaining to TCNs’ needs, challenges and also vulnerabilities in Germany in order to inform advocacy and projects by IOM Germany and relevant stakeholders. The survey is easily accessible online via numerous devices (Computer, …

Around 9 per cent of the newly-elected MPs in North Rhine-Westphalia have a migration background, investigation by Mediendienst Integration, a service platform for journalists on issues of migration and integration in Germany, has found —— Germany’s most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), elected a new state parliament on 15 May. According to the findings of Mediendienst Integration, 17 of …

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation-Worldwide (NIDO-WW) has condemned the murder of Deborah Samuel, a student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto, over alleged blasphemy. “We condemn in the strongest terms the gruesome murder of Miss Deborah for alleged blasphemy,” Gary Unamadu, the Co-ordinating Chairman of NIDO-WW, said in his official reaction to the incident which took place on 12 …

The opinion of migration experts that refugees from Ukraine will stay longer in Germany as expected has now been supported by a member of the federal cabinet. Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil considers a longer stay of war refugees likely due to the level of destruction in many Ukrainian cities. “We have to be prepared for long periods of stay …

As the war in Ukraine rages on, many Africans and People of Colour fleeing the country are still stuck at its borders with its neighbours while those lucky to make it to Western Europe are facing different kinds of challenges. To draw attention to the travails of the non-Ukrainian victims of the war in Ukraine, a coalition of African groups …