ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT - The African Mirror

Mar

30

2026

When Hova went to Kasaï

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

NOBODY asked Jay-Z to do this. That is the most important thing to understand about the cover of GQ's April 2026 issue. Nobody sent Shawn Corey Carter a memo. No delegation from Kinshasa flew to New York. No African Union subcommittee on cultural diplomacy tabled a motion. The man simply sat down — or stood up, or however one poses with a Kifwebe mask — and, with characteristic nonchalance, delivered what may be the most consequential act of African cultural promotion since Miriam Makeba sang at the United Nations in 1963. He did it, as Congolese musician Alesh noted with…

Mar

28

2026

By TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

Makemation: a Nollywood movie that shows AI in action in Africa

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

A new feature film, Makemation, is an African coming-of-age story set in a time of artificial intelligence (AI). Makemation was produced by Nigerian AI-developer-turned-filmmaker Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji. As conversations about AI are dominated by external global powers, his film offers a different vantage point: an AI story rooted in African realities. After a successful run in Nigerian cinemas in 2025, it’s now touring internationally, and I attended a screening at the Harvard Centre for African Studies. It was followed by a discussion with its producer and economist Ebehi Iyoha, who researches AI in Africa. The evening foregrounded precisely what the film…

Mar

21

2026

By CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Canal+ leverages AI to win over African audiences

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN streaming subscribers could soon see a more personalised and potentially cheaper viewing experience for local content as French media giant Canal+ rolls out artificial intelligence tools following its acquisition of MultiChoice. The company plans to use AI to better understand audience preferences and recommend films, series and sports that resonate with viewers across different African markets. From June 2026, it said subscribers will start receiving tailored recommendations that highlight locally produced shows, regional languages and culturally relevant stories. Currently, subscribers have to scroll through vast libraries and sift through a mix of foreign and local titles to view their…

Mar

21

2026

By FAMA DIONE

A Senegalese all-female music band is blazing a trail for women

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AT Jokko Studio in Dakar, five instrumentalists play out original tunes seeped in a vibrant fusion of reggae, salsa, hip-hop, blues, jazz, rock and mbalax, the neo-traditional pop music of Senegal. They are: Khady Dieng, pianist; Amina Sarr, the lead vocalist; Aissatou Dieng, the percussionist; Ndeye Cisse, the sambar and djembe player; Evora Vas, the bassist. Together, they are Orchestra Jigeen Ñi, which in Wolof means "the women's orchestra." The all-female band was formed in 2018 by cultural entrepreneur Samba Diaité with a mission to champion the rights of women in Senegal and to be an inspiration for girls who…

Mar

17

2026

By OWN CORRESPONDENT

“Pops flew in from Ghana for this”

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles fell momentarily still on the night of 15 March 2026 when Michael B. Jordan stepped to the podium to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor. He had won for his dual performance in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners - portraying twin brothers Smoke and Stack, children of the Black South navigating violence, vampires, and history in the 1932 Mississippi Delta. But what the world’s cameras caught next had less to do with Hollywood and everything to do with Africa. “God is good,” Jordan said, visibly overwhelmed. Then, scanning the audience: “Momma, what’s up? Pops —…

Mar

16

2026

By The African Mirror

Golden horns, golden looks – and one very golden night for Bonko Khoza

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The SAFTAs did not tiptoe back. After last year's inexplicable no-show — the industry's equivalent of a lead actor simply not arriving on set - the 19th Annual South African Film and Television Awards came roaring back to Midrand's Gallagher Convention Centre on Saturday evening with the energy of a township telenovela season finale. There were tears. There were gasps. There were outfits that will require explanation to future generations. And, yes, there was Bonko Khoza. The dual-ceremony format was maintained: the technical Craft Awards streamed quietly on YouTube on Friday, the night the real work was recognised, before Saturday's…

Mar

14

2026

By FANNY GEORGES

Khaby Lame is the world’s most followed TikToker: the story of a Senegalese‑born star who sold his identity

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

HIS name is Khabane Lame, but he is known worldwide as Khaby Lame. Born in Dakar, Senegal, he is the most followed content creator on TikTok. He became famous for video clips in which he reacts to absurd “life hack” videos with a blank, slightly annoyed face, showing the hack wasn’t needed. At the time of writing, he has over 160 million followers: a world record achieved without uttering a single word. In January, he sold his brand rights for nearly US$1 billion. But there’s another dimension to his story that the western media rarely mentions: Khaby Lame is a…

Mar

14

2026

By FLORENCE MARTIN

The Voice of Hind Rajab: Tunisian director’s devastating film about Palestine is up for an Oscar

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE Voice of Hind Rajab made an immediate impact when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2025, receiving a 23-minute standing ovation and seven awards. More were to follow as it played at festivals around the world. It’s a mixture of documentary and drama that tells the story of a Palestinian girl trapped in a car during the conflict with Israel. Its writer and director, Kaouther Ben Hania, is from Tunisia. Nominated for a 2026 Oscar in the Best International Feature Film category, this is her third shortlisting at the awards. So, what makes The Voice of Hind…

Mar

14

2026

By SULEMAN LAZARUS

Afrobeats celebrates cybercrime and it’s becoming a global problem

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WHEN former US Secretary of State Colin Powell took to a London stage alongside Nigerian artist Olu Maintain in 2008 and danced to a song called Yahoozee, he almost certainly didn’t know that the track is widely understood in Nigeria as a celebration of internet fraud. The moment became a striking illustration of something my research keeps returning to: how music can carry the moral codes of cybercrime far beyond their origins, laundering them in rhythm, recognition and prestige. Over the last ten years, I’ve studied cybercriminal pathways, romance fraud, victimisation of senior citizens, business email compromise, and the cultural…

Mar

13

2026

By IDONGESIT ESSIEN, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Spoken word artist Havfy turns poetry into prospects for Nigeria’s creative economy

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IT’S a warm, humid Saturday in Abuja. Hafsat Abdullahi is prepping for a film shoot on location in a quiet neighbourhood. The cinematographer waits for the director’s call for action. Hafsat takes a deep breath to get into character. After a few moments, she emerges, not as Hafsat, but as Havfy, a virtuoso spoken word performer (which can also be referred to as a slam poet) who is making waves in Nigeria’s poetry scene. She performs on stage as well as online, filming her recitations for social media platforms. Havfy has more than 700 videos across multiple online platforms. Depending…