Rights activist Omoyele Sowore has cried out over an alleged plot to arrest and detain him. In a statement published on his Facebook page, the publisher of the online news platform SaharaReporters accused the presidency of working with the Nigerian army and the judiciary to obtain an unjustifiable court order for his renewed detention over the revelation of SaharaReporters that …

BBC News Africa has launched daily one minute video Coronavirus (Covid -19) stories in Afrique, Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin and Yoruba. Delivered by 6pm GMT each video will showcase the two top stories with one being a fact-check video. They will give valuable tips and also dispel disinformation about Covid -19. The first videos include: · What is the relationship between …

With about three billion people worldwide having to stay at home in order to avoid further spreading of the coronavirus, Africa has also been adversely affected. Forty-six African countries have officially recorded cases (2,819 as at 26 March) and they have adopted various measures, ranging from compulsory quarantine and border closures to strong recommendations to stay at home. The pandemic …

Nigerian singer Niniola has launched the music video for her latest single “Fantasy”, which was originally released in February. The video features Grammy nominee and Afrobeat icon Femi Kuti The track, produced by Kel-P, features rich vocals from Niniola, and classy saxophone riffs and horn arrangements from Femi Kuti. “I used to watch videos of Fela Kuti and Femi Kuti, …

Ghanaians in the diaspora will hold a global conference meeting by phone on Saturday (28 March) to discuss how their communities are affected by the ongoing coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. Titled Corona Protection International (Disapora) Conference Call, the meeting offers an opportunity for Ghanaian communities in the different countries to share experiences and discuss how best to protect their members. A …

Many migrants living in asylum shelters in Germany have tested positive for the coronavirus (Covid-19). Strict social distancing measures to combat the virus outbreak are hard to adopt in centres where people live together in tight spaces, reports Charlotte Hauswedell Germany has imposed strict rules on social distancing, and some federal states have ordered lockdowns in a bid to prevent …

Africa’s literary giant Chinua Achebe died aged 82 on 21 March 2013. In celebration of the memory of the world-renowned Nigerian novelist, we republish here his speech in Frankfurt’s St Paul’s Church on 13 October 2002 after he received the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. It’s one of his most important and enduring messages to Africans and the …

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Government of Ethiopia have received a consignment of medical equipment for distribution to African countries for their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The donated consignment includes 1.5 million testing kits, 6 million medical masks and 60,000 protective suits to be distributed throughout Africa. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 23, 2020/ — Africa’s …

Afro-jazz legend Manu Dibango is dead. The family of the Cameroonian singer and saxophonist announced his death at 86 of the new coronavirus on his Facebook page on Tuesday (24 March). “It is with deep sadness that we announce to you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,” a statement on his official Facebook page read. Dibango’s agent Thierry …

The African Network of Germany (TANG), a network of more than 700 African associations and individual members in Germany, is currently carrying out a campaign to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to Africans living in the country. Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of TANG, said the organisation launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign as its contribution to national efforts …

The proliferation of fake news about the COVID-19 pandemic has been labelled a dangerous “infodemic”. Fake news spreads faster and more easily today through the internet, social media and instant messaging. These messages may contain useless, incorrect or even harmful information and advice, which can hamper the public health response and add to social disorder and division. Confusingly some fake …

Restrictions on everyday life in Germany have again been tightened significantly as the federal government announced a new set of nationwide measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus disease. The chancellor and the prime ministers of the 16 federal states agreed on the new package of measures at a conference call on Sunday and it includes new regulations on …

Germany’s state and federal leaders are yet to decide on whether to impose a nationwide coronavirus lockdown. Bavaria has introduced drastic measures of its own, but other states have also edged closer to curfews. Several German states are imposing drastic lockdown measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. The federal government has still stopped short declaring a state …

This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to reach 2 billion people and enables WHO to get information directly into the hands of the people that need it GENEVA, Switzerland, March 21, 2020/ — Today, WHO is launching a messaging service with partners WhatsApp and Facebook to keep people safe from coronavirus. This easy-to-use messaging service has the potential to …

Due to travel restrictions as a result of the global outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19, Brussels Airlines has suspended its flights. According to a press statement by the airline’s CEO, Dieter Vranckx, the Belgian carrier will suspend its operations from 21 March until 19 April. “All passengers with a ticket booked before or on 31 March (with flights until …

The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation today announced the publication and distribution of a handbook detailing learnings and best practices from the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, for treating Covid-19 patients. Written by doctors and nurses who were on the front line of the pandemic, the 28-chapter handbook is a comprehensive knowledge-sharing resource for other hospitals …

The Embassy of Nigeria in Berlin has announced the indefinite suspension of its consular services due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis. A statement, titled URGENT PUBLIC NOTICE, published on the website of the embassy reads, “This is to inform the general public that in consideration of the potential health hazard that the novel coronavirus may pose to the staff of …

As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world, causing mass disruptions to daily life – rattling markets, suspending travel plans, cancelling sports and music events, the disease is instigating a reappraisal of life as we know it. Our contributing editor and medical doctor at the Berlin Charité hospital, Michael Nnaji, writes on important lessons to be drawn from the crisis. …

To prevent a widespread infection of their populations, African countries are increasingly imposing travel restrictions to keep out people from countries that have a high number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Nigeria is the latest country to take the drastic step of imposing entry bans as part drastic measures to stop the spread of the virus in the country. “The Federal …

The African Network of Germany (TANG), a network of more than 700 African associations and individual members in Germany, has started a campaign to provide information about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) to Africans living in the country. Dr Sylvie Nantcha, chairman of TANG, said the organisation launched the awareness and sensitisation campaign as its contribution to national efforts to contain …