From German soldiers vacating their base in Niger, to anger at the petrol pump in Nigeria, here’s our weekly photo dump.
1. Wunstorf, Germany – German soldiers return home after vacating their airbase in Niger. Following unsuccessful negotiations with Nigerien authorities regarding legal immunity for its personnel, Germany agreed to hand over the base in July. Niamey is pursuing new alliances and an anti-colonial security strategy.
2. Nairobi, Kenya – University of Nairobi students protest outside the Ministry of Education, calling the new university funding model discriminatory and punitive. They argue it blocks students from poor households from accessing higher education.
3. Goma, DR Congo – A follower of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith movement holds a photo of Burkina Faso revolutionary Thomas Sankara. The gathering marked one year since 50 people were killed by an elite Congolese army unit during a protest against UN peacekeepers. Families still demand justice.
1. Wunstorf, Germany – German soldiers return home after vacating their airbase in Niger. Following unsuccessful negotiations with Nigerien authorities regarding legal immunity for its personnel, Germany agreed to hand over the base in July. Niamey is pursuing new alliances and an anti-colonial security strategy.
2. Nairobi, Kenya – University of Nairobi students protest outside the Ministry of Education, calling the new university funding model discriminatory and punitive. They argue it blocks students from poor households from accessing higher education.
3. Goma, DR Congo – A follower of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith movement holds a photo of Burkina Faso revolutionary Thomas Sankara. The gathering marked one year since 50 people were killed by an elite Congolese army unit during a protest against UN peacekeepers. Families still demand justice.
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Continued….. 4. Gedaref, Sudan – A Sudanese Sufi man performs a traditional dance to celebrate Mawlid al-Nabawi, honouring the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
5. Lagos, Nigeria –
Nigerians line up at Petrol stations as pump prices soar. Frustration is growing over President Tinubu’s economic reforms amid high inflation and a weakening currency.
6. Maputo, Mozambique – A man rests by a wall covered in FRELIMO campaign posters as Mozambique begins its presidential race ahead of the October 9 national election.
7. Moscow, Russia – Russia and Senegal's foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties in energy, agriculture, mineral exploration, and fisheries. They also addressed Africa’s security challenges, including terrorism in the Sahel and the Sudan and DRC crises.
5. Lagos, Nigeria –
Nigerians line up at Petrol stations as pump prices soar. Frustration is growing over President Tinubu’s economic reforms amid high inflation and a weakening currency.
6. Maputo, Mozambique – A man rests by a wall covered in FRELIMO campaign posters as Mozambique begins its presidential race ahead of the October 9 national election.
7. Moscow, Russia – Russia and Senegal's foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties in energy, agriculture, mineral exploration, and fisheries. They also addressed Africa’s security challenges, including terrorism in the Sahel and the Sudan and DRC crises.
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UGANDAN ATHLETE’S BRUTAL DEATH STIRS FEMICIDE WARNINGS
There have been widespread calls for justice after the killing of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.She was reportedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in her Kenyan home on Sunday and later died from her injuries.Her father has demanded the ‘murderer’ is charged and the case has again raised concern over femicide in Kenya. Two other female athletes have been killed by intimate partner violence in the county since 2021. According to Africa Data Hub, there have been over 500 reported femicide cases between 2016 and 2023.In a post on X, Uganda’s athletics federation said, ‘we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.’The United Nations also made a statement, warning gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Global tributes continue to pour in for Rebecca. Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, says the French capital will name a sports venue in her honour.
There have been widespread calls for justice after the killing of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.She was reportedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in her Kenyan home on Sunday and later died from her injuries.Her father has demanded the ‘murderer’ is charged and the case has again raised concern over femicide in Kenya. Two other female athletes have been killed by intimate partner violence in the county since 2021. According to Africa Data Hub, there have been over 500 reported femicide cases between 2016 and 2023.In a post on X, Uganda’s athletics federation said, ‘we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.’The United Nations also made a statement, warning gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Global tributes continue to pour in for Rebecca. Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, says the French capital will name a sports venue in her honour.
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WHY AFRICANS STILL NEED TO ‘GO EXTERNAL’
Go ‘external’ - that’s what African nations do every time they need anything. So alleges Zimbabwean pan-African activist Brian Kagoro in this snippet from a speech he gave at a recent security symposium in Rwanda. Be it defence, finance, development - we’re dependent on our former colonisers for help. And that’s no accident. He says they left us with weak institutions that made us dependent on them - intellectually, economically and in terms of security. The old ‘divide-and-rule’ keeps striking again and again. Is he being too harsh? And if not - what’s the answer?
Video credit: @Kigali Today
Go ‘external’ - that’s what African nations do every time they need anything. So alleges Zimbabwean pan-African activist Brian Kagoro in this snippet from a speech he gave at a recent security symposium in Rwanda. Be it defence, finance, development - we’re dependent on our former colonisers for help. And that’s no accident. He says they left us with weak institutions that made us dependent on them - intellectually, economically and in terms of security. The old ‘divide-and-rule’ keeps striking again and again. Is he being too harsh? And if not - what’s the answer?
Video credit: @Kigali Today
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THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
In this video, Pan-Africanist author and social entrepreneur Joshua Maponga (@joshua_maponga on IG) highlights the importance of indigenous languages for Africans.
He does this by using the example of the Mususu plant that acts a remedy for stomach issues. In Venda, a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe, ‘susu’ means stomach and, so, he argues that if the community were to use a foreign name for the plant, they would ultimately forget its use.
Do you think Africans are losing touch with their own indigenous languages and cultures? Let us know in the comments below
Video Credit: THEE ALFA HOUSE (YouTube)
In this video, Pan-Africanist author and social entrepreneur Joshua Maponga (@joshua_maponga on IG) highlights the importance of indigenous languages for Africans.
He does this by using the example of the Mususu plant that acts a remedy for stomach issues. In Venda, a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe, ‘susu’ means stomach and, so, he argues that if the community were to use a foreign name for the plant, they would ultimately forget its use.
Do you think Africans are losing touch with their own indigenous languages and cultures? Let us know in the comments below
Video Credit: THEE ALFA HOUSE (YouTube)
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BILLIONS LOST IN SMUGGLED AFRICAN GOLD TO THE UAE EVERY YEAR
Over a tonne of gold a day gets smuggled out of Africa and most of it ends up in the UAE. It’s often sneaked out on scheduled and private jets and it’s costing the continent billions of dollars in lost revenue.
The network of illicit trade is outlined in a 140-page report by Switzerland-based NGO Swissaid. It says most of the black-market gold comes from small artisanal miners, who don’t declare what they produce.
Ghana, Mali and Zimbabwe are named as hotspots and Emirati trading companies and refineries are accused of not exercising due diligence ‘properly’.
Over a tonne of gold a day gets smuggled out of Africa and most of it ends up in the UAE. It’s often sneaked out on scheduled and private jets and it’s costing the continent billions of dollars in lost revenue.
The network of illicit trade is outlined in a 140-page report by Switzerland-based NGO Swissaid. It says most of the black-market gold comes from small artisanal miners, who don’t declare what they produce.
Ghana, Mali and Zimbabwe are named as hotspots and Emirati trading companies and refineries are accused of not exercising due diligence ‘properly’.
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Continued….. Swissaid says they ‘compiled, analysed and cross-referenced production and export data [of gold] from all African countries and import data from partner countries over a period of more than ten years.’
Their report recommends better regulation, but warns there are many barriers to formalising small-scale mining, such as access to capital.
We’ve put together some of the key points of their stunning study published earlier this year.
You can read the full report @ https://swissaid.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/swissaid-on-the-trail-of-african-gold-web-ok.pdf
Their report recommends better regulation, but warns there are many barriers to formalising small-scale mining, such as access to capital.
We’ve put together some of the key points of their stunning study published earlier this year.
You can read the full report @ https://swissaid.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/swissaid-on-the-trail-of-african-gold-web-ok.pdf
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THIS IS HOW YOU PROTEST!
The Kinshasa central market, also known as Zando, is located within the Gombe commune of DRC’s capital. In July 2020, its female sellers took to the streets to protest against the city’s management and the government of President Félix Tshisekedi, who’d come to power in 2019. And—as you can see in this clip—their protest was delivered by energetically singing and dancing as armed police looked on.
The Kinshasa central market, also known as Zando, is located within the Gombe commune of DRC’s capital. In July 2020, its female sellers took to the streets to protest against the city’s management and the government of President Félix Tshisekedi, who’d come to power in 2019. And—as you can see in this clip—their protest was delivered by energetically singing and dancing as armed police looked on.
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Continued….. The DRC has been destabilised by militias backed by neighbouring countries Rwanda and Uganda, which has led to ongoing violence for over 20 years. This has created challenging conditions that affect the everyday lives of the Congolese people, including infrastructure deficits hampering mobility and economic activities. Another problem is corruption, inefficient bureaucratic processes, and a lack of support for informal industry workers, especially women.
Securing a second term in 2023, Tshisekedi campaigned on a promise (also made during his first run) to improve people’s lives and to stop the destabilising efforts from neighbouring countries and their global backers. Despite a lot of rhetoric, the Congolese people are still waiting.
Video credit: @Fenix.cd
Securing a second term in 2023, Tshisekedi campaigned on a promise (also made during his first run) to improve people’s lives and to stop the destabilising efforts from neighbouring countries and their global backers. Despite a lot of rhetoric, the Congolese people are still waiting.
Video credit: @Fenix.cd
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MAN WHINGING ABOUT ‘WHITE SUFFERING’ SCHOOLED
In this stitch Tiktok clip, we get some solid commentary on a video posted by someone complaining about how ‘difficult’ it is to be White these days. He whines that White people can no longer be proud of their race and that jobs are supposedly withheld from them on account of minority quotas. His claims are expertly dismantled by TikToker @drinkablebryan, who notes that White people like himself actually enjoy a raft of unfair privileges thanks to 400 years of slavery, segregation, continued discrimination, systemic racism, and economic and social disparities. Have you come across this much - people complaining that their Whiteness made them ‘lose out’ somehow?
Video credit: @drinkablebryan
In this stitch Tiktok clip, we get some solid commentary on a video posted by someone complaining about how ‘difficult’ it is to be White these days. He whines that White people can no longer be proud of their race and that jobs are supposedly withheld from them on account of minority quotas. His claims are expertly dismantled by TikToker @drinkablebryan, who notes that White people like himself actually enjoy a raft of unfair privileges thanks to 400 years of slavery, segregation, continued discrimination, systemic racism, and economic and social disparities. Have you come across this much - people complaining that their Whiteness made them ‘lose out’ somehow?
Video credit: @drinkablebryan
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WHY THE STONO REBELLION MATTERED
On this day, 9th September, 285 years ago, one of the largest slave rebellions ever to take place in the Americas began near the Stono River, 30 km southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. About 60 slaves, who were likely from the Central African kingdom of the Kongo, began marching south towards the Spanish-ruled state of Florida, where fugitive slaves were being granted freedom and land. The colonist community set out in armed pursuit of the slaves. In the ensuing battles, 25 colonists and over 35 rebels were killed. Survivors were later captured and executed. Our man Salifu brings you this story of resistance and the fight for freedom from the heart of the Stono River in Charleston, South Carolina.
On this day, 9th September, 285 years ago, one of the largest slave rebellions ever to take place in the Americas began near the Stono River, 30 km southwest of Charleston, South Carolina. About 60 slaves, who were likely from the Central African kingdom of the Kongo, began marching south towards the Spanish-ruled state of Florida, where fugitive slaves were being granted freedom and land. The colonist community set out in armed pursuit of the slaves. In the ensuing battles, 25 colonists and over 35 rebels were killed. Survivors were later captured and executed. Our man Salifu brings you this story of resistance and the fight for freedom from the heart of the Stono River in Charleston, South Carolina.
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FIDEL CASTRO IS POLITICALLY AFRICAN
Who is Fidel Castro to us Africans? According to some revolutionary Pan-Africanists, Castro (1926-2016) was an African.
As Northeastern University professor Layla Brown explained in this video clip, Castro was politically African. That’s because Castro dedicated his life to the struggle for African liberation on the African continent and across the African diaspora.
‘Fidel Castro is a Pan-Africanist of the highest order,’ said Pan-Africanist Kwame Ture (1941-98), who co-founded the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party.
‘Fidel, at some point, mentioned that he felt himself to be a part of Africa,’ said author Alice Walker. ‘It seems to me that he has never really traded on being white. And it’s because he doesn’t have that, you know, ‘white trip,’ that we often in the Third World tend to forget [he’s European]. I mean, I don’t wake up thinking of Fidel as a white person, you know, ever.’
Who is Fidel Castro to us Africans? According to some revolutionary Pan-Africanists, Castro (1926-2016) was an African.
As Northeastern University professor Layla Brown explained in this video clip, Castro was politically African. That’s because Castro dedicated his life to the struggle for African liberation on the African continent and across the African diaspora.
‘Fidel Castro is a Pan-Africanist of the highest order,’ said Pan-Africanist Kwame Ture (1941-98), who co-founded the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party.
‘Fidel, at some point, mentioned that he felt himself to be a part of Africa,’ said author Alice Walker. ‘It seems to me that he has never really traded on being white. And it’s because he doesn’t have that, you know, ‘white trip,’ that we often in the Third World tend to forget [he’s European]. I mean, I don’t wake up thinking of Fidel as a white person, you know, ever.’
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Continued….. Castro is not the only Latin American revolutionary to be labelled African. ‘Che Guevara is also African and Burkinabé,’ said Burkina Faso’s revolutionary president, Thomas Sankara (1949-87), of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, who was born into a European settler family in Argentina. ‘He is Burkinabé because he participates in our struggle.’
The ongoing Cuban revolution is an ontologically African process rooted in African and Afro-Caribbean values, culture and ideas. Cuba’s African characteristics took centre stage so the revolution could triumph, requiring Cuba’s class-conscious elite to sacrifice their status to Africanise their national identity.
Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments.
Video credit: Black Liberation Media (@blackliberationmedia on IG and @BLM_edia on X)
The ongoing Cuban revolution is an ontologically African process rooted in African and Afro-Caribbean values, culture and ideas. Cuba’s African characteristics took centre stage so the revolution could triumph, requiring Cuba’s class-conscious elite to sacrifice their status to Africanise their national identity.
Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments.
Video credit: Black Liberation Media (@blackliberationmedia on IG and @BLM_edia on X)
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PROTESTERS DEFY MOROCCO QUAKE VICTIMS MINUTE OF SILENCE
On 8 September, Morocco marked one year since a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains, k*lling more than 3,000 people, flattening villages and towns, and leaving more than 2 million Moroccans homeless. Reconstruction is ongoing as victims try to piece back their lives.
Unfortunately, empathy is a foreign concept for some. In this video recorded just days after the tragedy, Spanish nationalists who oppose Catalonian independence interrupted a minute’s silence that Barcelona’s city council had called for earthquake victims.
Video credit: @EuropaPress (X)
On 8 September, Morocco marked one year since a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Atlas Mountains, k*lling more than 3,000 people, flattening villages and towns, and leaving more than 2 million Moroccans homeless. Reconstruction is ongoing as victims try to piece back their lives.
Unfortunately, empathy is a foreign concept for some. In this video recorded just days after the tragedy, Spanish nationalists who oppose Catalonian independence interrupted a minute’s silence that Barcelona’s city council had called for earthquake victims.
Video credit: @EuropaPress (X)
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LAKEITH STANFIELD ON ROOTS OF HOLLYWOOD’S
RACISM
American actor and musician LaKeith Lee Stanfield (@lakeithstanfield3) explains in less than 20 seconds how Hollywood has long been intertwined with racism, capitalism and social hierarchies - a legacy that traces back to early films like “Birth of a Nation,” notorious for its racist portrayals.
These early movies shaped and perpetuated harmful stereotypes, painting Black characters through a lens of ignorance and prejudice. This legacy continues to influence how Black identities are represented in the media today.
Understanding this historical context, argues Stanfield, is crucial for addressing the persistent biases and inaccuracies in modern TV and Hollywood portrayals.
By recognising the origins of these stereotypes, we can better understand the impact on current portrayals and push for more authentic, respectful representations.
Video Credit: @CultureMachineCo
RACISM
American actor and musician LaKeith Lee Stanfield (@lakeithstanfield3) explains in less than 20 seconds how Hollywood has long been intertwined with racism, capitalism and social hierarchies - a legacy that traces back to early films like “Birth of a Nation,” notorious for its racist portrayals.
These early movies shaped and perpetuated harmful stereotypes, painting Black characters through a lens of ignorance and prejudice. This legacy continues to influence how Black identities are represented in the media today.
Understanding this historical context, argues Stanfield, is crucial for addressing the persistent biases and inaccuracies in modern TV and Hollywood portrayals.
By recognising the origins of these stereotypes, we can better understand the impact on current portrayals and push for more authentic, respectful representations.
Video Credit: @CultureMachineCo
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U.S. JUDGE SUSPENDED OVER SLURS
Kathleen Ryan, a probate-court judge in the US state of Michigan’s Oakland County, has been removed from the bench pending an investigation into secretly recorded conversations in which she allegedly employed h*mophobic slurs, said Black people who fail in the US are ‘f*cking lazy piece[s] of sh*t,’ and referred to herself as a ‘new r*cist.’
While we don’t know exactly what Ryan meant by ‘new r*cist,’ online sources say ‘new r*cism’ posits that some cultures are superior to others or that certain cultures are incompatible and should not co-exist in a society or state. This differs from r*cism rooted in perceived biological differences between ethnic or r*cial groups.
A court administrator, Edward Hutton, blew the whistle on Ryan after he became increasingly concerned about her ‘hate and contempt for various protected groups,’ leading him to record the conversations over two years and submitting them a few weeks ago to several officials.
Kathleen Ryan, a probate-court judge in the US state of Michigan’s Oakland County, has been removed from the bench pending an investigation into secretly recorded conversations in which she allegedly employed h*mophobic slurs, said Black people who fail in the US are ‘f*cking lazy piece[s] of sh*t,’ and referred to herself as a ‘new r*cist.’
While we don’t know exactly what Ryan meant by ‘new r*cist,’ online sources say ‘new r*cism’ posits that some cultures are superior to others or that certain cultures are incompatible and should not co-exist in a society or state. This differs from r*cism rooted in perceived biological differences between ethnic or r*cial groups.
A court administrator, Edward Hutton, blew the whistle on Ryan after he became increasingly concerned about her ‘hate and contempt for various protected groups,’ leading him to record the conversations over two years and submitting them a few weeks ago to several officials.
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Continued……Allegations that have raised questions about Ryan’s judgement aren’t new. For example, in November 2021, police charged her with misdemeanour-level domestic violence after she allegedly repeatedly struck a male companion, injuring him. Police said Ryan shouted obscenities at officers and hospital staff. Then she reportedly tried to walk away from custody, telling police she was a judge and would be ‘coming after’ them. However, county prosecutors dropped the charge for an unknown reason.
The latest allegations against Ryan are under review. She is currently suspended with pay while the matter is investigated by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. Only the state’s supreme court can permanently remove her from the elected office she has held since 2010.
Racism is not about her words, but about the power she has in that position to act on her racist views against Black and other marginalised people to drastically alter the direction of their lives.
Let us know in the comments what you think about this judge.
Video credit: @wxyztvdetroit (YouTube)
The latest allegations against Ryan are under review. She is currently suspended with pay while the matter is investigated by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. Only the state’s supreme court can permanently remove her from the elected office she has held since 2010.
Racism is not about her words, but about the power she has in that position to act on her racist views against Black and other marginalised people to drastically alter the direction of their lives.
Let us know in the comments what you think about this judge.
Video credit: @wxyztvdetroit (YouTube)