After years of protests led by the Black community and their White German allies, a square and a street in the African Quarter in Berlin-Wedding were renamed on Friday. Both had bore the names of German officials who were in the forefront of Germany’s colonisation of East Africa in the 1880s and 1890s, often employing brutal military force. The former …
Read More »Make Health a Political Choice — WHO chief
The World Health Summit (WHS) took place recently in Berlin, Germany. Held between 16-18 October, 2022, it brought together people from Academia, Business and Government from over 140 countries to outline a road map for improving global health. Our Contributing Editor, Dr Michael Nnaji* attended the event and reports. The Word Health Summit, which has just concluded in Berlin, Germany, …
Read More »Germany: African-owned company opens old people’s home
Early this year, Gosab Group, a provider of nursing care service in Germany owned by Nigerian-born entrepreneur Godfrey Chukwuemeka Evurulobi, took over the management of an old people’s home in Pulheim-Stommeln, a small town in North Rhine-Westphalia. Before taking over the nursing home from Caritas, the Gosab Group – comprising Gosab Personalmanagement & Consulting, Gosab Care GmbH and Gosabflex GmbH …
Read More »Germany: What poverty looks like in a rich country
Amid soaring inflation, particularly for food and energy, the gap between rich and poor in Germany is widening. Incremental increases to social safety nets will do little to alleviate the problem, experts warn. A special report by Sabine Kinkartz/DW Although Germany is one of the richest countries in the world, signs of increasing poverty are becoming increasingly visible across the …
Read More »Fashion: Nigerian brand sets standards for Africa
Lagos-based Africana Couture with the opening of its new classy outlet in Abidjan has made a significant statement of intent of taking the lead in the propagation of African fashion on a global scale The merry sound of clinking glasses, hearty laughter and afrobeats music permeated the cool September evening at Rue Marconi Zone 4, a posh business district in …
Read More »Sociologist seeks support for organic farming project in Togo
Tomfei Kougnon, a young sociologist who trained in biodynamic agriculture in Switzerland, is appealing for support to realise his dream of an organic farming project in his home country, Togo. Organic farming is an agricultural system that uses fertilizers of organic origin such as compost manure, green manure and bone meal, and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation …
Read More »Kenya elections: Season of intrigues, betrayals and comic relief
In a feature on the general elections in Kenya holding on 9 August, our senior contributing editor, Mickie Ojijo, analyses democracy in the east African country and explains why the system is not delivering the expected dividends to the people — As Kenya’s general election, scheduled for 9 August 2022, enters the homestretch, horse trading and amalgamations of political entities …
Read More »Exclusive interview with French-African film star Salimata Kamate
" I think the film can contribute to people reflecting more on their own biases, on their own racism"
Read More »Germany: How we motivate our children to take their education seriously — Desmond Beddy, founder of AYEA
The African Youth Education Awards (AYEA) is an initiative to promote higher educational achievements among youth in African-origin communities in Germany. Every year, young people who have excelled in their educational and training careers are honoured with AYEA at a colourful ceremony in Hamburg. AYEA was initiated in 2010 to act against the observed low educational attainment levels of African-origin …
Read More »How to Address Diaspora Africans’ Mental Health Challenges
Ghanaian-born Swiss-based Analytical Psychologist and Psychotherapist Esther Abena Keller calls attention to the increasing psychological and mental health risks of Africans in the Diaspora, who are challenged in specific ways, socially, economically and politically. Dr Keller identifies the specific reasons why diaspora Africans are especially susceptible to mental health challenges and what could be done to address these challenges ——– …
Read More »Germany and Nigeria seal historic deal on return of looted Benin bronzes
Germany and Nigeria have signed an agreement paving way for the return of the more than 1,100 valuable Benin Bronzes in the collections of German museums. These were looted from the Palace of the Oba of Benin some 125 years ago —- It was a historic moment on Friday, 1 July when Germany and Nigeria signed the ‘Joint Declaration on …
Read More »Germany to make multiple citizenship possible for all — Chancellor Scholz
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced that he wanted to end all restrictions to multiple nationality in the country’s citizenship law. Speaking at an event to mark the tenth anniversary of the scholarship and mentoring programme GEH DEINEN WEG (Go your way) of the Deutschlandstiftung Integration (German Foundation for Integration) in Berlin on Monday, he said 50 per cent of naturalisations …
Read More »SAP graduates paving way to Africa’s digital future
NAIROBI, Kenya, 21st June 2022 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Graduates of the SAP Young Professionals Program are adding valuable digital skills capacity to African enterprises across the continent. According to Cathy Smith, MD SAP Africa, since the launch of the program in 2012, the support provided by graduates brings critical digital skills to African businesses to help drive greater digitalisation and …
Read More »SPECIAL: How Black People in Europe Began to Organise
An international conference sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the Initiative of Black People in Germany brings together activists and scholars in Berlin By Femi Awoniyi* People of African descent have historically been part of European societies. Indeed, their roots on the continent date back centuries, even if this fact is barely acknowledged in modern history books. “Black Europe: …
Read More »Germany: Don’t enter these Trains with the 9-Euro Ticket!
Since 1 June, you can travel on public transport and regional trains throughout Germany for nine euros a month. However, the ticket is not valid on all regional trains. And if you use the 9-euro ticket on a means of transport for which the ticket is not valid, you are considered a fare dodger. You will then be fined 60 …
Read More »African refugees from Ukraine face uncertain future, groups appeal to German government
EU countries have generously been welcoming of the refugees from Ukraine since the Russian invasion of the country on 24 February. These are largely spared bureaucratic hurdles as they receive residence permits without individual assessment and have access to the job market, welfare benefits and other social support. In the shadow of the refugee crisis are the so-called third-country nationals …
Read More »How Chancellor Scholz’s trip could benefit energy security in Africa and Europe
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
Read More »Opinion: What EU must continue to do to maintain its place as most successful peace project ever
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 …
Read More »Nigerian Diaspora Housing Mortgage Scheme set for Inauguration
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 …
Read More »Germany: Important information for Africans from Ukraine
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, more than 4 million Ukrainians and people of other nationalities resident in the country have fled to other European countries. According to the German government, more than 400,000 of the displaced are currently in Germany to seek refuge – among these are thousands of Africans. While the legal …
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