LIFESTYLE - The African Mirror

Mar

14

2026

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…

Mar

12

2026

By LUCY DURÁN

Mali’s maestro of African salsa: how Boncana Maïga shaped dance music

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

THE passing of celebrated Malian flautist, composer and arranger Boncana Maïga at the age of 77 truly marks the end of an era in the music of West Africa. He was a charismatic performer and bandleader, with innate musical talent and an acute ear. His story is unique and could only have happened in its time, and because of his personality and musical training in Cuba. As a musician, producer and scholar specialising in both Malian and Cuban music, I’ve followed the career of Boncana Maïga for many years, have worked with many Cuban dance bands, and have produced many…

Mar

07

2026

By BARNABAS TICHA MUVHUTI

Zimbabwean artist Option Nyahunzvi explores cultural values in a bold new exhibition

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

IN Zimbabwe, hunhu is a cultural belief system that instructs us to embrace our neighbours, honour our elders and respect each other’s rights. Also known as ubuntu, it’s a way of being that resonates with southern Africa’s interconnected but diverse communities, where generational wisdom and values are passed from elders to the young. Hunhu is a central idea in the latest solo show by prominent young artist Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe. Called Zvatiri (Who We Are), the exhibition is an appeal to Zimbabweans to reclaim their culture and values. His main focus has always been…

Mar

06

2026

By JOVIAL RANTAO

Silamour ‘Soli’ Philander

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

WITH profound grief and an even deeper sense of gratitude, South Africa bids farewell to one of its most cherished sons - a man who turned the rhythms of ordinary life into extraordinary art, and who made an entire nation feel truly seen. Silamour 'Soli' Philander, beloved entertainer, gifted storyteller, and enduring cultural voice, passed from this world on 4 March 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 65 years old. South Africa will not easily find another like him. Soli was born on 19 January 1961 at Somerset Hospital, Cape Town, to Frederick and Shahieda Philander, and…

Mar

05

2026

By KATHY SHORT FOR BIRD STORY AGENCY

Nkanda Yatu, the brand weaving Zambian identity into global fashion

BEAUTY AND FASHION, MULTIMEDIA

IN a sleek studio off a busy road in Lusaka, a team of tailors and designers work carefully over fabric and beadwork, preparing garments for both local and international customers. Nkanda Yatu, founded by designer Kabaso Nkandu, is among a number of Zambian fashion brands seeking to expand beyond domestic markets while promoting local identity. The name Nkanda Yatu, meaning “Our Skin” in the Bemba language, reflects a focus on culture and self-expression. According to Nkandu, fashion provides a platform for storytelling. “I wanted to communicate a Zambian story through art, and fashion became that medium,” Nkandu said. Over the…

Mar

05

2026

By ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT

Ahoy, party pirates! Mi Casa’s Friendship Cruise returns to rock the high seas – bigger, bolder, and boozier than ever

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BUCKLE up, vibe tribe: after selling out faster than free tequila at a beach braai, Mi Casa's Friendship Cruise by Heart FM is back for 2026, docking in the Atlantic from April 14–17 aboard the swanky MSC Opera. Think three nights of non-stop musical mayhem, gut-busting laughs, and friendships forged in saltwater and soulful beats – because who needs therapy when you've got DJs and deck parties? Curated by South Africa's slickest trio, Mi Casa (you know, the ones who make house music sound like a warm hug from your ex), this year's floating fiesta cranks the dial to 11.…

Feb

28

2026

By JOSHUA KUMBANI and MARGARITA DÍAZ-ANDREU

Dance scenes in South African rock art: a closer look at ritual, music and movement

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ROCK art is widespread across southern Africa and includes a wide range of depictions such as human figures, animals, dots, handprints, and other painted or engraved imagery on rock surfaces. The rock art tradition of paintings was made by San hunter-gatherers over thousands of years. The first dance scenes in southern African rock art were documented 100 years ago. But there’s been some confusion as to whether certain scenes could indeed be interpreted as a dance. Dance can be simply defined as intentional and organised bodily movement. It also functions as an expression of mood and a form of nonverbal…