Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey "Only the best is good enough for Africa."
Kwame Nkrumah "The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa."
RICCI SHRTOCK For centuries, the history of the West African kingdom of Kaabu has been told mainly by word of mouth. Kaabu existed from the mid-1500s to the 1800s. At its peak, it encompassed Guinea-Bissau and reached into what are now Senegal and Gambia. Sometimes Kaabu’s story passed from father to son. Often it was […]
Researchers have uncovered the origins and genetic diversity of the Fulani, one of Africa’s largest pastoral populations. The study reveals a complex genetic ancestry with influences from both North and West Africa, shaped by historical migrations that have left a lasting impact on their genetic landscape. Fulani populations speak languages from the Niger-Congo family and […]
FAROUK CHOTHIA The love life of South Africa’s Zulu king has the country agog – and has scandalized his socially conservative subjects as he messes with tradition by seeking a divorce. Polygamy is part of Zulu culture, but King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has taken the unusual step of going to court to divorce his first wife, […]
Once vassals to pharaohs, the Kushite kings of Nubia took control of Egypt for almost a century. Embracing Egyptian rituals, they created a culture that influenced both civilizations. DAVID RULL RIBO South of Egypt, the Nile meanders through a vast desert landscape: the ancient region of Nubia, which now belongs to Sudan. Since antiquity, Nubia’s […]
AKINWUMI OGUNDIRAN The Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo festival is the most important annual event in Òṣogbo, south-west Nigeria. It draws thousands of devotees and tourists from across Nigeria and worldwide. The festival is a devotional event, and a civic ritual dedicated to Ọ̀ṣun, a principal female deity in the Yorùbá pantheon. Ọ̀ṣun is the deity of femininity […]
From beaches, food, history, to wildlife, Sierra Leone attracts the adventurous traveler looking for an immersive West African experience. What it doesn’t have? Tourist crowds. LAUREN MOWERY As world travelers look for new places to visit, one criterion increasingly stands out: meaningful connections with local communities. Closely tied to this is another desire — a […]
“In Slavery’s Wake,” at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, looks beyond the United States to tell a global story. JENNIFER SCHUESSLER “In Slavery’s Wake,” a new exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, deals in huge themes and vast numbers. Over four centuries, an […]
The island has great beaches, clear blue water, and a huge jungle, but still cannot attract tourists. CHARLIE BRADLEY Holidaymakers are spoiled for choice when it comes to beautiful islands off the continent of Africa. Mauritius, Seychelles, and Zanzibar are a few of the most popular destinations where tourists can enjoy hot weather and clear […]
JOSHUA KORBER HOFFMAN Kennedy Johnson was 15 years old when she gave birth to a baby girl in a Detroit foster home for teen moms, in February 1996. Twenty-five years later, when Johnson found herself in northern Ghana being made a queen, she couldn’t quite believe where life had led her. In front of an […]
Antananarivo – In a small workshop on the outskirts of Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, a team of master artisans is keeping maritime history alive by crafting detailed models of famous ships. For three decades, craftsmen at “the Village” have been creating museum-quality models of vessels that once ruled the waves. From the Bounty to the Soleil […]