FEATURES

The life of Nigerian parents in the diaspora is a delicate balancing act — between preserving heritage and embracing a new reality. With all the troubles in their country of origin, preserving that desired link to the roots becomes a big challenge. In this heartfelt reflection, Belgium-based Collins Nweke captures the struggle of raising his children across cultures, the pain …

Violent conflict and insecurity continue to ravage parts of Africa — from the brutal civil war in Sudan and persistent unrest in South Sudan, to Islamist insurgencies spreading across the Sahel and ongoing fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In recent years, countries such as Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Ethiopia and Mozambique have also grappled with violent …

Germany ushered in a new political era on Tuesday (6 May) as Friedrich Merz, leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), was elected Chancellor. However, the path to his election was fraught with unexpected drama in the Bundestag, highlighting underlying tensions within the governing coalition. Surprising Setback in the First Vote Despite the CDU/CSU and Social Democratic Party (SPD) …

Burkina Faso finds itself at a crossroads, buoyed by a wave of popular support for its military leadership yet confronted with the pressing need for democratic governance and economic renewal, writes Colins Nweke. In this opinion piece, the Nigerian-Belgian commentator explores how Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s bold leadership, hailed by much of Africa’s frustrated youth, can chart a sustainable path towards …

Responding to concerns about rising cases of untimely deaths in the African community, the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDO Germany) recently hosted an online health information session. The event, titled “Health is Wealth,” was organised in collaboration with the Diaspora Medical Mobile Clinic (DMMC), a collective of African medical professionals committed to improving healthcare outcomes in the community. The …

The European Commission has proposed designating seven countries as “safe countries of origin,” aiming to expedite the processing of asylum applications from their nationals. Under this proposal, asylum claims from individuals originating from these nations would be subject to accelerated procedures, with decisions expected within three months, compared to the standard six-month timeframe. The Commission justifies this move by citing …

The party leaders of the CDU, CSU and SPD presented the coalition agreement this week, outlining their plans for a joint government. One of the dominant topics is migration. Among other significant changes to the country’s migration policies, Germany’s incoming government, led by Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz of the CDU, intends to scale back recent liberalisations in citizenship law, tighten family …

The closing event of the first UN Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) took place at the GLS Campus Berlin on Friday, 21 February. The event, which brought together German government officials, scholars, international guests and civil society organisations from the Black community, featured the presentation of the final report of the advisory board set up by the German …

*By Steve Ogah On 20 January 2025, the destiny of most migrants in America took a turn for the worse after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, their fortunes further deteriorating after he signed the “securing our border” executive order, a move that could see undocumented migrants deported from the country in droves. While many migrants suspected what they …

Paulino José Miguel, a long-standing advocate for intercultural dialogue, cultural diversity and migrant participation in Germany, has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit (Bundesverdienstkreuz), one of the country’s highest civilian honours. The award recognizes Miguel’s decades-long commitment to fostering integration and development policy through his work at the Forum der Kulturen Stuttgart e.V. (Forum of Cultures Stuttgart). The prestigious …

On 23 February, German voters will choose a new government. Reducing immigration has emerged as the main issue in the current election campaign due to recent deadly terror acts that involved suspects with immigrant origins. Several parties have adopted the tough stances of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) on immigration in an attempt to tap into the perceived potential …

An upcoming exhibition in Cologne is set to shed light on the often overlooked contributions and experiences of countries of the Global South during World War II. Titled “The Third World in the Second World War” (Die Dritte Welt Im Zweiten Weltkrieg), this expanded showcase will run from  8 March to 1 June 2025 at the NS Documentation Centre of …

Germany is set to hold early federal elections on Sunday 23 February, following the collapse of the coalition government formed by the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) in November 2024. A total of 29 parties have qualified to compete in the election, though only nine will be on the ballot nationwide. These include the CDU/CSU, SPD, Greens, …

On 1 January 2025, Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen Area, the European Union’s border-free travel zone. This development means that passport checks at internal borders between these countries and other Schengen states have been eliminated, facilitating smoother travel across Europe. With this expansion, the Schengen Area now consists of 29 member states, reinforcing the principle of free movement …

In a compelling inaugural lecture delivered on 5 February 2025 at the University of Lagos, Professor Adelaja Odutola Odukoya, a distinguished scholar in Comparative Political Economy, passionately advocated for the adoption of socialist Pan-Africanism as a transformative pathway for Africa’s resurgence and Nigeria’s development. His lecture, provocatively titled “Armageddon?”, delved into the paradox of Africa’s abundant resources juxtaposed with its …

Germany is observing Black History Month (BHM) this February with a range of events celebrating the culture, history and contributions of people of African descent. Originally an American tradition, the Month has steadily gained recognition in Germany, with various organizations and communities hosting programs that highlight both historical narratives and contemporary issues faced by Black people in the country. In …

Farooq Adamu Kperogi*, a Nigerian-American professor, author and media scholar, explores the potential implications of Donald Trump’s second presidency for Africa as well as for Black people in America. He cautions against unrealistic expectations of a conservative cultural revival hoped for by the religious right in Africa and warns of possible dangers to the continent’s economic and political interests. A …

On 9 January 2025, a significant change was implemented in the European Union’s banking system: all banks are now required to accept real-time euro transfers. This mandate, established by an EU regulation, ensures that customers can send and receive funds instantly, 24/7, with transactions completed within ten seconds. Prior to this regulation, while standard SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) transfers …

‘Detty December’ has become synonymous with Lagos’s vibrant end-of-year celebrations, attracting Nigerians from the diaspora and international visitors eager to partake in the city’s dynamic festivities. The term, a playful adaptation of “dirty,” signifies the uninhibited revelry that characterizes the holiday season in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos. Detty December has become an annual homecoming that fosters reunions with family and …

Germany is gearing up for snap federal elections on 23 February 2025 after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition of the SPD, Greens and FDP. The breakup followed the sack of ex-Finance Minister Christian Lindner of the FDP in early November, after months of internal disputes, primarily over the 2025 budget, which culminated in the FDP withdrawal from …