On December 6th, 2023, Burkina Faso adopted a bill to change its official language from French to four African languages: Mooré, Dioula, Fulfude and Bissa.

Like neighbour (and fellow Alliance of Sahel States member) Mali, Ouagadougou has demoted French to the status of a working language - meaning that, for the time being, it will still be used for governmental and educational purposes as the country transitions away from French influence.

English was also granted the status of a working language.

It’s expected that, in the future, more emphasis will be placed on developing governmental and educational materials using Burkina Faso's now-official local languages.

What do you think about this major move by Ibrahim Traoré’s government?

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17-YEAR-OLD PRODIGY SISTER’S PHD FLEX!

Most bright young things planning to go to university are still busy making applications by the age of 17. But not Dorothy Jean Tillman. This sister has broken new ground in mental-health research to earn herself a doctorate from the University of Arizona! While she’s clearly smarter than the rest of us, her story is an inspiration - particularly for Africans in America, for whom educational institutions have often been a systemic barrier rather than a place of empowerment.

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RAPPER CALLS FOR FREE CONGO

Grime music MC and rapper Ghetts in December was interviewed on UK-based ITV News about inspiring his community in England and donating to sports projects that support young people.

As the interview came to an end, the legendary rapper took the opportunity to call for a free Congo as well as a ceasefire in Palestine. However, the presenter cut him off, saying, ‘We don’t get into politics.’ This comes despite the ITV news programme reporting every day on politics.

Who knew calling for peace and justice would be so controversial?

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WHY SOUTH AFRICA HAS NO NAME

Why is South Africa named after its location?

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NIGER NATIONALISES WATER

After 22 years of French monopoly over its drinking water, Niger's new government has nationalised the water sector. The government of Abdourahamane Tchiani came to power in July 2023 via a military coup. Now it has created a new state-owned water company, La Nigérienne des Eaux.

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GALLOWAY: WESTERN DEMOCRACY A FAILURE

Whenever the West preaches about ‘democracy’, it often leaves one question unanswered: Democracy for whom? In this video clip from Beijing, George Galloway rips the mask off. The former UK Member of Parliament argues the differences between Western political parties are mostly aesthetic, as ‘both sides’ band together to further Western interests, when it comes down to it. The reality is no political party has done much to improve the lives of their citizens.

China has been demonised in the West as being an ‘autocratic’ state. However, the country is responsible for perhaps the biggest improvement in living conditions for humanity. From 1979 to 2019, China lifted about 800 million people out of poverty, equivalent to more than 10 times Kenya’s population. Its home ownership rate is more than 90 per cent.

Continued….While the United States was bombing West Asia and Africa, and jailing journalists who dared expose their crimes, China has been building high-speed rail and investing in technologies of the future, such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

As Africa kicks development into high gear, pressure to emulate the West has been unrelenting. For example, we saw the French-backed Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sanction and threaten to invade Niger after a Western darling was ousted last year. Meanwhile, the new military governments of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso seem to be part of a very small club, advancing their people’s interests.

Are Africans comfortable with Western-style leadership or is there a need to reconvene and strategise? Let us know in the comments.

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CHALLENGING WESTERN NARRATIVES ON AFRICA

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of 'Americanah,' 'Half of a Yellow Sun' and 'Purple Hibiscus,' delivered a powerful speech at the 2019 Hilton Humanitarian Symposium and Prize Ceremony. The event's theme was 'The Future of Humanitarian Action: Seeking Higher Ground,' as it was held in Beverly Hills, California, USA.

In this speech excerpt, she said a US professor said her first novel lacked 'African authenticity.' She pointed out that when Africans are not poor or when they drive cars, people in the West do not consider that African enough. We must take a page from the award-winning author's book and reclaim our narrative of what is African.

Do you agree with Adichie? Let us know below.

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FUN TIMES WITH BLOOD DIAMONDS

'Blood diamonds' are the term for gemstones mined in a war zone and sold to finance an insurgency, an invading army's war efforts, terrorism, or a warlord's activity. Statistic vary, but as much as 15 per cent of diamonds in the world have their origins in conflict.

Nevertheless, a young person from the United States recounts a recent date with a blood-diamonds dealer, who took her from South Africa to Uganda to exchange the gems for cash.

SOMALIA & CUBA’S ROCKY RELATIONSHIP

The presidents of Cuba and Somalia were all smiles at the recent COP 28 summit in Dubai. They met on the sidelines as if old-time friends. But it wasn’t always like that. For decades the relationship between their countries was on the rocks over geopolitics.

But things have been patched up, their interests have married again and a win-win future is being promised.

Let us know your thoughts below.

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NIGER SEVERS MORE FRENCH LINKS

Niger’s new military government continues to sever ties with former coloniser France. It's now completely pulled out of The International Organisation of the Francophonie, which promoted French language, culture and co-operation on foreign policy issues. The move comes after Niamey expelled French troops and diplomats following last summer’s coup.

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This is Margaret Douglass. She was jailed in Virginia in 1854 for teaching Black children in the U.S. how to read - something that was illegal under anti-Black literacy laws in force in many southern states at the time.

Despite the law, a year earlier, she and her daughter had set up a school for free African children in Norfolk, VA. Twenty-five kids enrolled.

But then the police turned up, and the school was shut down. Douglass and her daughter were up before a grand jury, and she received a one-month jail sentence.

After her release, she wrote a memoir. In it, she shed light on White anxieties about educated Blacks - saying many southerners feared that this would lead to more slave revolts. They feared the idea of Africans acquiring knowledge, and this did not end with slavery.