CULTURE & SOCIETY

Germany names date to return Nigerian artefacts

Germany has agreed to return all Benin artefacts by 2022. The artefacts are those taken from the Benin Royal Court following the British incursion in 1849. This was announced on Tuesday at a press briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital. The event was attended by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; and the German delegation. …

Read More »

German museums to return looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria

The artefacts are mostly from the British looting of the ancient Kingdom of Benin in the 19th century. Now German museums have now agreed to return the art treasures to Nigeria following years of demands for restitution —- German museums are to return the art treasures of the Benin bronzes considered as looted property to Nigeria next year. This was …

Read More »

Davido hits 20 million followers on Instagram, becomes most followed African artiste

Nigerian Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has hit 20 million followers on Instagram. The multiple-award wining musician is now the most followed African artiste on the Facebook-owned photo and video sharing social networking service. As of January 2021, the most followed person on Instagram is Portuguese professional footballer Cristiano Ronaldo with over 275 million followers. Davido also recently …

Read More »

Remembering Papa Wemba, 5 years on

Jules Shungu Wembadio Pene Kikumba (14 June 1949 – 24 April 2016) It was a terrible shock for the African and international music world when news about Papa Wemba’s passing away circulated around the globe on 24 April 2016. More so as it happened when he was in full swing during a performance at a festival in Abidjan on the night …

Read More »

Nigerian film selected for New York festival

Nigerian feature film ‘Eyimofe’ has been selected for the 50th anniversary edition of the New Directors/New Films Festival in New York. The movie follows factory worker technician Mofe, played by Jude Akuwudike, and Hairdresser Rosa, played by Temi Ami-Williams, on their quest for what they hope will be a better life on foreign shores. However, things take a sudden shift …

Read More »

Kenyan eco-friendly footwear brand wins sustainable design contest

Pine Kazi, a women-led shoe design house based in Kenya, is the winner of Fashionomics Africa’s sustainable fashion competition. The fashion company, which converts pineapple leaf and recycled rubber into fashionable footwear, wins a $2,000 cash prize, access to media exposure opportunities, and mentorship and networking opportunities from competition collaborators. Fashionomics Africa is an initiative of the African Development Bank, …

Read More »

Mexico returns stolen artefact to Nigeria

The Nigerian Government on Thursday received a stolen Ile-Ife artefact from Mexico.  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama received the artwork from the Charge D’affaires of the Nigerian mission in Mexico, Yakubu Dadu. “Presented with an ancient bronze sculpture by Dr. Yakubu Dadu, Chargé Affaires of The Nigerian Embassy in Mexico,” the minister tweeted on his official handle. “This Ife …

Read More »

ZDF shows film about König Bansah and his daughter

ZDF will broadcast the new documentary film König Bansah und seine Tochter (King Bansah and his daughter) on 29 March. The film takes viewers to Ludwigshafen, where Togbui Ngoryifia Kosi Olatidoye Céphas Bansah lives and runs a car repair workshop, and on a journey to Africa, where he’s a chief who is active in the development of his community. König …

Read More »

Grammys for Burna Boy, Wizkid a global endorsement of Afrobeat – Nigerian minister

A Nigerian minister has described the Grammy Awards of music stars Burna Boy and Wizkid’s as endorsement of Afrobeat genre of music Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, on Monday, while congratulating the music stars for their feats, said that Afrobeat genre of music had propelled Nigeria’s increasing prominence of the music world. In a statement issued by …

Read More »

Time for a digital scale-up in Africa to unlock creative economies, panelists say

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, February 24, 2021/ — Digital platforms in Africa should scale up to take advantage of the continent’s surging demand for creative content, said Africa Investment Forum Senior Director Chinelo Anohu, adding that the African Development Bank flagship entity is providing advisory services and investment support to creative players. The Africa Investment Forum was working to promote content …

Read More »

Minorities should be more visible in German media – Integration Plan

As part of its “National Action Plan on Integration”, the Federal Government wants to promote diversity in the media. The package of measures adopted by the federal cabinet on Wednesday (3 February) includes, as one of its core projects, training “for differentiated and factual reporting on the topic of migration and integration”. Other projects are intended to ensure that more …

Read More »

Return all colonial treasures to Africa – group calls on Europe

An international organisation has called on European governments and private collectors to return African artefacts taken from Africa during the colonial period to their rightful owners. “In recent months demands for the repatriation of the remains and the definitive restitution of the treasures have continued, as well as the attempts by some former colonizers to hinder this inevitable step of …

Read More »

New book on how to have a successful marriage launched

A new book with invaluable tips on how to have a successful marriage was launched on Christmas day in the Dutch city of Almeres. Written by Pastor Elvis Iruh, an ordained minister of the Victory Outreach International, Getting to know you highlights simple principles that are often taken for granted in a marital relationship. “Whether you’re preparing for marriage or …

Read More »

Burna Boy nominated again for Grammy Awards

Nigerian artist, Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, has emerged the first Nigerian artist to be nominated for the Grammy awards in two consecutive years. His latest album ‘Twice As Tall’ has gotten him a second shot at winning a Grammy. The talented singer, on Monday, bagged a World Music Album nomination alongside Antibalas, Bebel Gilberto, Anoushka Shankar, and …

Read More »

African designers championing sustainable fashion

Across the globe, Africa is putting its spin on the fashion industry. Major fashion markets like Berlin are embracing African fashion, art and culture, and locally, the apparel market is worth USD$31 billion, according to estimates by Euromonitor International. While the African fashion retail industry remains in its infant stages, there has been notable progress in recent years as the industry embraces …

Read More »