ART - The African Mirror

Mar

2024

Congo Style: how two dictators shaped the DRC’s art, architecture and monuments

WHAT kind of art is left behind by totalitarian regimes? A new free-to-read book called Congo Style: From Belgian Art Nouveau to African Independence explores the visual culture, architecture and heritage sites of the country today known as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It does so by exploring two now-notorious regimes: King Leopold II’s rule (1885-1908) of Belgium’s Congo colony and Mobutu Sese Seko’s totalitarian Zaire, established when he seized power in a military coup in 1965 after five years of political upheaval. We asked artist and visual culture scholar Ruth Sacks five questions about her book. RUTH SACKS,…

Jan

2024

By VELMA PAMELA and IRENE MUMBI, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Mastering an age-old tradition has given Fatma Hina space to perfect her art – and generate an income

BEAUTY AND FASHION

A crowd has assembled on both sides of a narrow street in the Swahili Town of Lamu, making it difficult to see what has drawn so many people onto the road. From the sound of the festivities and the cries of approval from the crowd, it is something worth seeing. Today's crowd is a mixture of tourists and local townsfolk, with people in Western attire mingling with those dressed in more traditional garb. They are all here to witness the Lamu Cultural Festival. In the crowd, a woman and two children mingle. The mother's hat, worn over hijab, gives her…

May

2023

By CONRAD ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY

Can Music, Art, and Religion accelerate intra-Africa trade?

NEWS

WITH its increasing emphasis on music, art, storytelling and religion as unifying factors among 54 African countries, it is anticipated that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area-the world's largest single market will be implemented more quickly. As the continent gears up for this year's Africa Day celebrations on May 25th, several organisations are hosting events around these themes to appreciate diverse cultures and languages and holding online conversations on the role of faith in fostering social and economic integration. Africa Day is an event that signifies the establishment of the African Union and honours the continent's pursuit of unity. The…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Zambian study points to why some mothers don’t carry on taking HIV drugs

HEALTH

JERRY JOHN NUTOR, Assistant Professor, Family Health Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco THERE are more than 85,000 children living with HIV in Zambia. The primary source of infection is from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an effective strategy to eliminate these new infections. But it only works if women take their medications consistently. Adherence to ART is still a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, especially among pregnant and breastfeeding women. In 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) introduced new guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Women with HIV…