LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Mar

12

2025

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new book Dream Count explores love in all its complicated messiness

LITERATURE

AWARD-WINNING Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s new novel Dream Count has landed. It’s been over a decade since Adichie published her previous novel, Americanah, following on global successes for Half of a Yellow Sun and Purple Hibiscus. Adichie’s work is widely studied by academics, not least African literature scholar Daria Tunca. She told us what Dream Count is about and whether it’s worth reading. What’s the story about? Dream Count tells the intersecting stories of four African women. The novel recounts the characters’ hopes, dreams and struggles, interweaving flashbacks from their childhood and earlier adulthood with episodes set in the…

Mar

11

2025

By LINDSAY O'NEILL

The incredible journey of two princes from Mozambique whose lives were upended by the slave trade

LITERATURE

A new book called The Two Princes of Mpfumo tells the fascinating story of a pair of royals from Mozambique in southern Africa whose lives were thrown into chaos by the transatlantic slave trade. We asked historian Lindsay O'Neill three questions about her book. What is the story of the princes? Prince James and Prince John came from Mpfumo, one kingdom among many that dotted the shores of modern-day Maputo Bay, where the capital of Mozambique now stands. Here, in the 1700s, no Europeans held sway. African kingdoms did, and those kingdoms fought constantly. Mpfumo had once been a power…

Mar

04

2025

By HARRIETTE RICHARDS; ARI MATTES; GREGORY CAMP; STUART RICHARDS and TOM CLARK

From the fashion to the speeches to the music, this was an Oscars of few surprises. 5 experts break it down

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN a year with few surprises in the awards categories, there was also a dearth of surprises on the red carpet. The sartorial themes included sparkling metallics, coloured menswear and bows, bows and more bows. Metallic gowns that resemble the Oscar statue are a familiar sight at the Academy Awards and this year was no different. Some of the standouts included best actress nominee Demi Moore in a magnificently glittering silver Armani Privé gown, Selena Gomez in a custom Ralph Lauren encrusted with 16,000 individual blush-toned jewel teardrops, and Emma Stone in a minimalist Louis Vuitton sheath covered in iridescent…

Mar

04

2025

By DICKSON ADOM

What are the origins of the Asante’s famous kente cloth? I traced its history to find out`

BEAUTY AND FASHION

KENTE is a prestigious royal cloth of Ghana’s Asante people, part of their historical and cultural heritage. But there’s a debate about where it originated: the Bonwire community or the Adanwomase community in the Ashanti Region. The Conversation Africa spoke to African art and culture researcher Dickson Adom about the origins of this world-famous textile. What is Asante kente and why is it unique? Asante kente is a cloth that embodies the cultural heritage and history of the Asante people. The Asantes are a major ethnic group in Ghana with a history dating back centuries. The cloth is known for…

Mar

01

2025

By TINASHE MUSHAKAVANHU

Africa’s newest book prize is named after Andreé Blouin: who was she?

LITERATURE

ANDRÉE Blouin was a political activist and writer from the Central African Republic. Until recently, her name hardly ever appeared in the grand narratives of Africa’s liberation. When she died in 1986, her passing was hardly in the news – a stark contrast to her pivotal role as an adviser and campaign strategist to newly independent African leaders in Algeria, both Congos, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Guinea and Ghana. She was more than a participant. She was an organising force, an architect of resistance, and a strategist who shaped the fight against colonial rule. Yet, like many women in African history,…

Feb

28

2025

By DAVID MURPHY

Mati Diop is a new star of African cinema – what her award-winning movies are about

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

MATI Diop has cinema in her blood. The 42-year-old Senegalese-French actress launched her feature film directing career in spectacular fashion with Atlantics, which took the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 and won a string of awards. Her documentary Dahomey has made similar waves and was longlisted for the 2025 Oscars. We asked Senegalese film scholar David Murphy to tell us more. Who is Mati Diop? Mati Diop is a hugely talented and innovative film director. She is also an accomplished actor who has starred in a number of French films, in particular Claire Denis’s 35 Shots…

Feb

26

2025

By FISKE NYIRONGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

What is the Ncwala Ceremony? Experiencing a Zambian cultural extravaganza

CULTURE

IT’S 3:55 on a Friday morning at Lusaka’s Intercity Bus Terminus and at one exit a group of men looking more like runners waiting for the starting gun than bus drivers has congregated. Moments later, a rumbling of engines signals their “go" signal. The fleet of buses takes off, all heading for Zambia's Eastern Province. At least ten more buses remain behind, preparing for a later departure. The transport hub is always lively but to see so many fully-booked buses this early in the morning is rare. The throng of people queuing for seats continued to build, however, with some…

Feb

25

2025

By The African Mirror

A SOULFUL LEGACY LIVES ON: Remembering Roberta Flack, the Timeless Voice of a Generation

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ROBERTA Flack, the legendary singer-songwriter whose soulful voice and timeless classics have inspired generations across Africa, the United States, and the world, left this earth on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. Her passing marks the end of an era, but her music will forever remain a testament to her enduring legacy. Roberta Flack in 1971. By CMS-Creative Management Associates/John Levy (management) - eBay front back, Public Domain, Wikimedia Born on February 10, 1937, in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Roberta grew up in a musical family in Arlington, Virginia. Her mother, a church organist, instilled in her a…

Feb

21

2025

By DAVID MURPHY

Souleymane Cissé, father of African cinema has passed on

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

SOULEYMANE Cissé, widely acknowledged as one of the greatest African filmmakers of all time, has passed away at the age of 84 in Bamako, Mali. The Mali-born director was commonly described as the father of African cinema. His feature Yeleen became the first African film to win the jury prize at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. In 2023 Cannes honoured him again with the Carrosse d'Or (the Golden Coach) award. David Murphy, a critic and scholar of African cinema and Cissé’s work, told us more about why his films were so important – and particularly his classic Yeelen. Who was…

Feb

20

2025

By SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Wide range of tech firms scoop awards at top African industry summit

LIFESTYLE, SCIENCE, TECH AND INNOVATION

AT this year’s Africa Tech Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, innovators driving transformation were recognised for their impact. The awards reflect a shift in the continent’s tech scene: solutions are no longer just about bridging digital divides but about re-engineering industries, from financial services to agritech. Here are some of the winners: - Agritech Award – Mazao AgClimate Limited (Tanzania): Addressing soil degradation and over-reliance on synthetic fertilisers, MazaoHub helps smallholder farmers restore soil health and improve yields while reducing environmental damage. - AI Award – Cassava Technologies (South Africa): Developing AI-driven connectivity, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure, ensuring Africa’s digital economy…