The 16th Africa Film Festival Cologne holds from the 13th to the 23rd of September. This year’s focus is on intra-African migration and the festival presents 25 films which address the subject, chosen by FilmInitiativ, organizers of the festival, for good reasons. Sixty-eight million people worldwide are refugees, most of them in their neighbouring countries. This applies to Africa, too, …
Read More »First Afro-German detective on Germany’s oldest TV crime show
Florence Kasumba has acted in blockbusters including “The Avengers” and “Black Panther.” She has now picked up a lead role as a detective in “Tatort,” Germany’s longest-running TV show. “Being here now is a dream come true,” said Florence Kasumba, referring to the filming which has just ended for the new Tatort show, in which she is the first black …
Read More »Obama reveals his five favourite books by African authors
Just before leaving on his visit to Africa this week, his first trip to the continent since leaving office, former US President Barack Obama revealed his favourite books on Africa. He wrote: “Over the years since, I’ve often drawn inspiration from Africa’s extraordinary literary tradition. As I prepare for this trip, I wanted to share a list of books that …
Read More »BANTU storms Germany on 5-city tour
The Nigerian-German band BANTU is touring Germany. The 5-city tour begins in Hagen on 18 July and will end in Cologne four days later. The other cities where the band will perform are Recklinghausen, Muelheim a.d. Ruhr and Bochum. The shows, according to band founder and front man Adé Bantu, will feature the complete members of the group, promising “a …
Read More »Universal Music expands strategic operations in Africa, signs new artists
Universal Music Africa opens new division in Côte d’Ivoire, kicking off an expansion of live music activity throughout the continent in partnership with Vivendi and CanalOlympia. Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has announced a significant expansion in French-speaking Africa, with the launch of a new strategic division in the regional market with a focus on …
Read More »Adire Carnival showcases Nigerian culture in Vienna, Austria
The third edition of the Nigerian Cultural Festival /Adire Carnival took place in the historic city of Vienna on 29-30 June. The event showcases the rich Nigerian cultural heritage and promotes the country’s tourism potential. It also helps to foster the friendly relationship between Nigeria and Austria. The event started with the African drums exhibition on Friday, the 29th of …
Read More »BBC Launches new TV programme for young Africans
“What’s New?” an exciting weekly TV programme BBC News, for young people in Africa launches on 23rd June. Aimed at 11-16 year olds the show is an informative, entertaining and fun programme which will keep young people up to date with what’s happening in the world they live in. Nisha Kapur, BBC Commissioning Editor, said: “What’s New? is for and …
Read More »Interview: ‘African languages need to talk to each other’ – Ngugi wa Thiong’o
Renowned Kenyan writer Ngugi wa Thiong’o has been in Germany, reading from his work at the event “Voices of Africa.” He spoke to DW about the crucial role of African languages in empowering the continent. DW: What do you see as the role of young people in taking Africa forward? Ngugi wa Thiong’o: Young people are always the future of …
Read More »Africa in the centre of Berlin as Kenako Festival 2018 opens
The African festival in Germany’s federal capital opens on 7 June with a wide-ranging programme including live concerts, dance workshops, bazaar and workshops at the popular Alexanderplatz in the city centre. The Festival is visited by around 5,000 people daily! Kenako Afrika Festival, from 7-17 June, parades established and up-and-coming artists, including Afrikadelle, a group that combines the best of …
Read More »Reggae star Ziggy Marley releases new solo album
Ziggy Marley, the son of reggae music legend Bob Marley, has released his seventh solo album, Rebellion Rises. The 49-year-old Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter is currently touring the United States and Europe. He said he took lessons from his father’s “Exodus” as he was crafting the album. “It is a rebellion of love, rebellion of more peace, the rebellion of more …
Read More »Africa Festival Wuerzburg marks 30th anniversary
It was thirty years ago when Dr Stefan Oschmann and Ali Schuster, two young German men, initiated the International Afro Roots Festival, popularly known as International Africa Festival, with the aim of bringing the music and culture of Africa to Germans. The story of the event, which has meanwhile become the biggest of its kind in Europe and last year …
Read More »Swahili makes history as first African language recognized by Twitter
After years of hashtags and outcries, Twitter now recognizes Swahili, one of East Africa’s most common languages. The social media platform now offers translation for the language spoken by tens of millions in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most African languages for the past decade and over of social media platform Twitter’s existence …
Read More »Black actors and directors seek more opportunities in Europe’s film industry
Some of the best-known Black actors in Europe gathered in Tarifa at the just-concluded Tarifa-Tangiers African Film Festival to discuss their situation in different countries in a session moderated by Spanish journalist Lucía Mbomío. Last Saturday (5 May), nine actors shared their experiences, as well as the difficulties and challenges they face, calling for greater visibility and the normalisation of …
Read More »Experts choose the best African films of all time
At the just-concluded Tarifa-Tangiers African Film Festival (Festival cine africano de Tarifa or FCAT), international critics have voted for the best African films of all time. FCAT, which takes place in the Spanish town Tarifa and the Moroccan city of Tangiers, celebrates its 15th year of promoting and subtitling cinema productions from Africa into Spanish from 26 April to 5 May. …
Read More »Study reveals critical ages at which people can best learn a new language
There is a “critical period” for learning a second language, with people remaining adept learners until the age of 17 or 18, when their ability drops, according to a new study. Conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the study suggests that the “critical period” for learning a new language is much longer than scientists had previously thought. “It was …
Read More »Museum on wheels brings art to West Africa
A group of artists have started a journey across West Africa in a rickety school bus. They want to bring culture to the region with their rolling art space while collecting inspiration for their own works. Adrian Kriesch reports from Lagos. Nigerian-born artist Emeka Udemba looked annoyed. The yellow Mercedes school bus, his new home for the next six weeks, …
Read More »Berlin hosts first-ever African literary festival in Germany
For the first time, a literary festival devoted to the work of African writers will hold in Germany. From 26-28 April, more than 35 African writers will gather in Berlin for the African Book Festival, featuring readings, poetry, spoken word and theatre performances, panel discussions, book signings and networking events. Among the writers expected in the German capital city are …
Read More »BBC opens new office in Lagos
The BBC today officially opened its new bureau in Lagos, home to three new services in Igbo, Pidgin, and Yoruba. The bureau boasts a new state-of-the-art TV studio and two radio studios and can house up to 200 people. The BBC’s investment in Nigeria has created over 100 new jobs in Lagos and means that BBC News is now available in five …
Read More »New book launches with stories of African female entrepreneurs
Founding Women is a collection of the inspirational, first-hand accounts of 20 African women who are defying the odds to build successful businesses in technology on the continent. Among the successful entrepreneurs interviewed in the book are Rebecca Enonchong – CEO of AppsTech ( Forbes 10 Female Tech Founders To Watch In Africa) and Hilda Moraa – Founder & CEO …
Read More »Heinemann African Writers Series goes digital!
Digitalback Books has announced that it has signed a digital license agreement with the African Writers Series publisher, Pearson. The agreement will allow readers from participating institutions to access and download the African Writers Series titles from the innovative Africa focused digital platform. The iconic Heinemann African Writers Series was launched in 1962 and played a crucial role in publishing …
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