LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

May

13

2025

By MURRAY LEIBBRANDT; ANDA DAVID; RAWANE YASSER and VIMAL RANCHHOD

What causes inequality in African countries? New book traces a vicious cycle

LITERATURE

INEQUALITY is a problem that exists in various forms in sub-Saharan Africa. Inequality is created by, among other factors, where you are born and live. Alongside this, income, assets, and access to education and healthcare differ among and between populations. These inequalities reinforce each other. The result is persistent poverty, lack of social mobility across generations, increased exposure to climate change, and a lack of inclusive economic growth. Our recently published book Inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa: Multidimensional Perspectives and Future Challenges presents an overview of the current situation. It identifies the key dimensions, challenges and causes of inequalities in the…

May

09

2025

By ERRIN HAINES

At the Met Gala, fashion on the frontlines of resistance

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

This story was originally reported by Errin Haines of The 19th. Meet Errin and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. This column first appeared in The Amendment, a biweekly newsletter by Errin Haines, The 19th’s editor-at-large. Subscribe today to get early access to her analysis. WHEN Black Dandyism was announced as this year’s theme for the Met Gala, expectation and anticipation was high for fashion’s biggest stage to also be its Blackest and boldest ever. The stakes were raised Monday night at an event that has always been about statements, where the sartorial has often met the political.…

May

03

2025

By ABAYOMI AWELEWA

Mabel Segun: Nigerian children’s writer, poet and broadcaster

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MABEL Dorothy Okanima Segun, who passed away on 6 March 2025, at 95, was a prominent figure in Nigerian literature. Her life was an extraordinary mix of broadcasting, children’s storytelling, poetry, playwriting, and sport. She captured human experience through the eyes of the young, as seen in her timeless work My Father’s Daughter (1965). In the book, she writes, “I wanted to be like my father, strong and wise, but I learned that strength comes in many forms, even in the quiet courage of a child.” As a poet, her lyrical finesse shone in Conflict and Other Poems, where lines…

Apr

26

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Podcasts are powering a shift in Africa’s reproductive health dialogue

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WOMEN-FOCUSED podcasts are gaining ground across Africa, emerging as powerful platforms to share knowledge and challenge sexual and reproductive health taboos. Once niche and overlooked, podcasts by African women are now confronting the continent’s most sensitive issues — menstrual health, contraception, early pregnancy, gender-based violence, and mental health — through raw and relatable storytelling. “Digital platforms, especially podcasts, are opening up new spaces where African women can finally hear honest, relatable conversations on their terms,” Hope Simiyu, a medical doctor and sex and reproductive health (SRH) advocate, told bird story agency. Simiyu, who hosts 'A Dose of Health – The…

Apr

25

2025

By The African Mirror

The trust factor: How modern influencers navigate digital ethics

LIFESTYLE

IN today's digital landscape, where anyone with a smartphone can potentially reach millions, what separates truly influential voices from the crowd isn't just follower counts or viral content - it's trust. The recently released 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a striking statistic: 70% of consumers distrust messaging from business leaders. This scepticism has created fertile ground for influencers, whose more relatable personas often resonate with audiences seeking authentic connections. "The currency of life isn't money. It is not even time. It's attention," notes Naval Ravikant, highlighting why the ability to direct audience attention has become such a valuable commodity in…

Apr

22

2025

By TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

Zimbabwe’s house of stone: the gallery that showcases a famous sculpture tradition

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ZIMBABWE is the house of stone, both literally and figuratively, with its very name derived from the ancient stone city of Great Zimbabwe. Stone is more than just a material here – it’s the totem pole of the country’s identity, shaping both its history and artistic legacy. And there’s no better place to witness this than Chapungu Sculpture Park. On the outskirts of Harare’s industrial zone, the sprawling estate is both a gallery for stone artistry and a living landscape, home to over 90 varieties of indigenous trees, with a tributary of the Mukuvisi River running through it. Art and…

Apr

19

2025

By BONFACE ORUCHO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Botswana is stepping into the spotlight in bid to become Africa’s next film hub

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BOTSWANA is borrowing a page from South Africa’s cinematic playbook and strategically deploying film-friendly policies to revitalise its creative economy and position the southern African nation as an international filming hub. According to Mary Bohanze, a film tutor at the South African Film Academy, early adoption of supportive policies and legislation has been vital to turbocharging South Africa’s film industry, “which is now a regional benchmark.” “South Africa’s success has created a gravitational pull for regional players. Botswana’s emergence shows how one strong market can catalyse growth in neighbouring countries.” South Africa's film and TV sector has long been a…

Apr

18

2025

By KYLIE THOMAS

Ernest Cole: the South African photographer at the centre of a powerful and heartbreaking film

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ERNEST COLE is famous for photographing the everyday realities of South Africa’s racist apartheid system. His 1967 book House of Bondage ensured his damning critique of the white minority regime was seen by the world. But its publication sent him into exile, and he was banned at home. The startling discovery of a vast archive of his work in a Swedish bank vault in 2017 has returned him to public view. House of Bondage was republished in 2023, and then, in 2024, celebrated Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck made Ernest Cole: Lost and Found. It would win the documentary prize at…

Apr

17

2025

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Ethiopia’s viral dating show eyes Africa with Swahili and Pidgin dubs

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE afternoon sun slants through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Metasebia Yoseph’s office, casting a harsh glow on potted plants and vibrant abstract paintings that line the walls. The co-founder of D!NK Multimedia leans forward, her voice animated, as she recounts the journey of Latey: Looking for Love — a reality TV show that has upended Ethiopia’s cultural scene. Filmed in sleek Addis Ababa lounges, bowling alleys and ice-skating rinks — a far cry from Western clichés of coffee ceremonies — the show’s 10 female contestants navigate love, ambition, and societal expectations, all while racking up millions of YouTube views. Latey…

Apr

14

2025

By The African Mirror

Africa Creator Festival launches in Cape Town, marking new era for continental content creators

LIFESTYLE

AGAINST the picturesque backdrop of the JC Le Roux Brand House, in the picturesque Cape Winelands, the inaugural Africa Creator Festival (ACF) made its official debut on April 8, bringing together over 20 influential content creators from across the continent in what organisers describe as a watershed moment for Africa's digital storytelling landscape. The brainchild of founder Jolene Roelofse, the launch event served as both a celebration and strategic gathering ahead of the full-scale festival scheduled for June 7 in Johannesburg. Attendees included a carefully curated mix of micro and mid-tier travel and lifestyle influencers, media professionals, and industry stakeholders.…