CULTURE & SOCIETY

Jolloful Foods GmbH is on a mission to make African cuisine more accessible across Europe through a range of ready-to-eat meals inspired by traditional recipes from the continent. Its name draws inspiration from jollof rice – one of Africa’s most cherished dishes, famous not only for its distinctive blend of rice, tomatoes and spices, but also for the friendly cross-border …

A three-day festival of culture, tourism, trade and diaspora engagement is set to transform a Munich venue into a gateway between Uganda and Germany this June — marking the most ambitious Ugandan public diplomacy event in Germany to date.From 26 to 28 June 2026, the Embassy of Uganda in Germany will host the first Uganda Cultural and Tourism Festival — …

South Africa’s film industry is set for a major international spotlight after the country was officially named the “Country in Focus” for the 2027 edition of the European Film Market (EFM) at the Berlin International Film Festival, widely known as the Berlinale. The announcement, made by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and the Berlinale organisers, means South African …

The acclaimed africologneFESTIVAL has been named “Cultural Event of the Year 2025” at the Cologne Cultural Awards, further cementing its reputation as one of Europe’s leading platforms for contemporary African and Afrodiasporic arts. The award was presented on 19 May at the COMEDIA Theater during a ceremony organised by the Kölner Kulturrat. The biennial festival triumphed after a combined decision …

The Africa Festival Potsdam returns this summer with a vibrant programme that promises to transform the city’s Luisenplatz, the traditional venue of the event, into a vibrant hub of African culture, music and community spirit. Taking place on 10 and 11 July 2026, the two-day festival invites visitors from across Brandenburg and beyond to celebrate the richness and diversity of …

When Alain Gomis premiered DAO in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, expectations were already high. The French-Senegalese director of Félicité has built a reputation for crafting emotionally rich, visually striking films and with DAO, he not only meets those expectations but surpasses them. This France–Senegal–Guinea-Bissau co-production has already drawn critical acclaim, described as a “psychedelic African epic” (Die …

The African Book Festival Berlin returns from 29 to 31 May 2026 with a fresh, audience-driven concept that reinforces its reputation as one of Europe’s most dynamic platforms for African and diaspora literature. Under the theme “Welcome to the Club,” this year’s edition shifts the spotlight towards readers themselves, inviting them not only to attend but to actively shape the …

The annual parade of African music and culture – a vibrant celebration showcasing the continent’s finest artists and talents from the Diaspora – unfolds in May, heralding a season of cultural exchange and shared festivity. Here are the top African festivals in Germany in May, June and July. African Food Festival Berlin 8-10 May/Berlin, Gleisdreieck-Park Great food and good vibes! …

Following its HBO Max debut in Europe, a Nigerian psychological thriller continues its international march — now heading to French-speaking audiences across Africa and beyond Just weeks after The Weekend made history as the first independently produced Nigerian thriller to stream on HBO Max in Central and Eastern Europe, the film has secured another landmark deal. Trino Motion Pictures has …

A landmark moment for Nollywood and African storytelling has arrived with the launch of the critically acclaimed Nigerian thriller The Weekend on HBO Max across Central and Eastern Europe, showing the growing global appetite for bold African cinema. HBO Max is a major global streaming platform operated by Warner Bros. Discovery, offering movies, TV series, documentaries and original programming to …

Berlin-based independent bookshop Buchhandlung InterKontinental has once again been awarded the coveted Deutscher Buchhandlungspreis for 2025, marking its third recognition (previously honoured in 2021 and 2023). The award, announced on Tuesday (10 January), underscores InterKontinental’s continuing influence in Germany’s cultural and literary landscape. Located in the heart of Berlin’s district of Friedrichshain, InterKontinental has built a unique reputation as Germany’s …

When Berlin-based freelance journalist Wolfgang König recently travelled to New Orleans, he found himself drawn not only to the city’s famous music clubs and historic streets, but to a modest open space whose global significance is easy to overlook. In this reflection, König traces the remarkable history of Congo Square — a place where African traditions survived enslavement, shaped the …

Afrobeat pioneer and cultural icon Fela Anikulapo-Kuti has made history by becoming the first African artist to receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour was bestowed at a special ceremony held on 31 January 2026, ahead of this year’s Grammy Awards, nearly three decades after Fela’s death in 1997. Members of the Kuti family, including Fela’s children, accepted the …

Lace Relations follows an expansive journey that begins in the bustling textile markets of Lagos, Nigeria, moves on to embroidery workshops in Lustenau, Austria, and reaches back to the historical roots of Europe’s prosperity. Centered on women, power dynamics and the global textile trade, the film exposes the colonial legacies that still influence Europe’s relationship with its neighbouring continent. Sarah …

The Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) is one of the world’s most important film festivals, standing alongside Cannes and Venice as a key meeting point for global cinema. Held every February, the Berlinale is not only prestigious but also unique in scale: with more than 400,000 cinema tickets sold each year, it is widely regarded as the largest public film …

African fashion has flourished in terms of creativity and innovation in recent years, and is attracting global attention, writes Adwoa Owusuaa Bobie* in this study _________ African fashion has flourished in terms of creativity and innovation in recent years, and is attracting global attention. Designers and labels are churning out garments that reflect African cities and how they interact with …

When Ghana unveiled the international Geographical Indication (GI) protection for Kente on 30 September 2025, in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), it achieved far more than a bureaucratic milestone. The announcement marked a turning point in the centuries-long story of one of Africa’s most recognisable cultural symbols. Today, the impact of this UN-backed intellectual property protection is …

The Black International Cinema Berlin (BIC Berlin) marks its 40th anniversary this year, celebrating a legacy that has become a cornerstone of intercultural dialogue, artistic expression and social awareness in Germany and beyond. The milestone edition will take place from 21 to 23 November 2025 at the Marlene-Dietrich-Kinosaal in Rathaus Schöneberg, featuring a rich programme of films, exhibitions and discussions …

Germany’s beloved Christmas market season begins earlier than ever in 2025, transforming city squares into glowing hubs of music, scent, and joy. These festive gatherings are more than seasonal entertainment — they are spaces for community connection, cross-cultural experience and family fun. In the north, Hamburg leads the way, opening its markets from 24 November 2025. The historic Rathausmarkt Christmas …

With much-anticipated fanfare, Egypt has unveiled the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), celebrated as the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilisation. Located on the Giza Plateau, within sight of the iconic pyramids, the museum marks a monumental new chapter in how ancient Egypt’s legacy is presented to the world. Covering nearly half a million square metres, the …