CULTURE & SOCIETY

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 …

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 …

The young Highlife supergroup Santrofi from Accra will kick off its European tour in Munich on 25 May. The ‘Deep into Highlife’ tour 2022, which will take band throughout Europe with over 30 dates, builds on its celebrated first Europe tour in 2019. “After months of performing and collaborating with Highlife legends such as AB Crentsil or AK Yeboah, jamming …

With co-signings from T-Pain, 50 Cent, JAY-Z, Jamie Foxx and TI, singer-songwriter Rotimi ushers in a new era of game changers. The American actor, singer and model will perform in Berlin on 20 May, part of his ongoing world tour to promote his debut album “All or Nothing”. While he has so far been best known for his acting roles, …

PRESS RELEASE MultiChoice is once again searching for 60 aspiring film and TV content creators from Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa to be part of the Class of 2023——– Now approaching its fifth year, the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) (www.MultiChoiceTalentFactory.com) Academy is excited to once again call for applications for its world-class film and TV training programme which …

A Nigerian made film is making waves across the globe. After only five days of being available on Netflix, Blood Sisters has been viewed 11 million hours, putting the four-part series among the reigning Global Top 10. The thriller has been been trending around the world with engaging social media conversations around themes. The film’s director Biyi Bandele took to …

We begin today the serialisation of Vienna, Austria-based writer Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner’s new book Who are you, if you are not YOU? Over the next 12 weeks, we will publish extracts from the book, her 12 tips on how to become the best version of you. Sarah introduces her book: Sarah Udoh-Grossfurthner, who lives in Vienna, is a writer of thought-provoking …

The music industry is booming across the African continent and it is attracting major international players. In recent years, the world's three largest record labels, Universal Music Group, Sony Music and Warner Music Group have all entered the African market.

The African Music Festival 2022 will take place from Thursday, 4 to Sunday, 7 August at the Schlossplatz in the south-western German town of Emmendingen. After two years of small formats, it is possible to organise a large festival again this summer, of course within the framework of the current rules regarding Covid-19. The festival programme covers 4 days, with …

There’s plenty that’s unique about Africa — from being the world’s warmest continent to being home to more than 1.2 billion people spread over 54 countries who speak more than 2,000 different languages. With this rich cultural heritage, there’s a multitude of stories to be told from, and about, the continent and its people. That’s why in May, Netflix is …

The legendary Jazz label Blue Note Records and Universal Music Group Africa have announced the creation of Blue Note Africa (www.BlueNote.com), an exciting new imprint dedicated to signing Jazz artists from across the African continent, bringing them to a global audience, and promoting a cultural exchange of ideas that transcends borders. Blue Note Africa will launch this Spring with the …

"There is still a feeling that everything that's local is primitive"

Bantoo, a new innovative digital platform is launched for the growing Afro-Caribbean market, is being launched today——– Top African and Caribbean influencers and entrepreneurs have joined the Bantoo (www.Bantoolink.com) movement as proud Ambassadors of the new digital platform and communication tool Bantoo that is being launched worldwide on 8 March 2022. “As an African citizen and entrepreneur, I’m very proud …

Cologne-based journalist and contributing editor to The African Courier, Tina Adomako, reviews Lagos – Life in Suburbia. She describes the experience of reading the novel, originally published in 2019 but whose German translation came out just last December, as akin to watching a Nollywood soap opera —– Ajayi Crowther Street in Lagos is home to the established middle class. This …

A new library in honour of Theodor Wonja Michael will be opened on Saturday 19 February in Cologne as part of activities marking this year’s Black History Month. The Theodor Wonja Michael Library was set up by the Afro-Diasporic association Sonnenblumen Community Development Group e. V. Michael, who died in October 2019 at the age of 94, was one of …

The umbrella organisation for Nigerians living in Germany has announced its partnership with the organisers of the annual Nollywood Film Festival. “Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) Germany e.V. is delighted to announce its partnership with Ehizoya Golden Entertainment e.V. to deliver the 20th Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG), holding on 29-31 July in Frankfurt am Main,” the group said in …

Fashionomics Africa, an initiative of the African Development Bank, has launched its second online competition, offering $6,000 in cash prizes, mentoring, new branding packages and other support for winning African designers of sustainable and circular fashion. Fashionomics Africa, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, Parsons School of Design, strategic consulting and communications agency BPCM, and the Ellen MacArthur …

The shortlist contains a dynamic group of creatives from across African 13 countries—– Netflix, the world’s largest streaming service, and UNESCO have announced the 20 shortlisted candidates who will go forward in the short film competition ‘African Folktales, Reimagined’. It was also announced that the quality of submissions received resulted in one extra candidate being added to the list, making …

With more than 250 restaurants representing 191 countries all gathered in a place, the Expo 2020 Dubai has rightly been described as the largest gathering of the global culinary community. Beyond showcasing delicacies from various parts of the world, a cardinal aim of the food hall at the Expo, according to Simon Wright, Founder and Chairman of TGP International, the …

The Johannesburg-based writer, filmmaker and photographer Lidudumalingani is the new curator of the African Book Festival in Berlin. Taking place from 19th-21st August 2022, the event will once more bring together the stars of contemporary African literature in the German capital. In 2016, winning the Caine Prize for African Writing propelled Lidudumalingani to literary stardom. Shortly after he was awarded …