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 …

The film STOFF – A High-Stakes Business traces a sweeping arc from the fabric markets of Lagos, Nigeria, through the embroidery factories of Lustenau, Austria, to the historical foundations of Europe’s wealth. It is a film about women, power relations and textiles and about the colonial threads that continue to shape European relations to its neighbouring continent to this day. …

The 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), taking place from 12 to 22 February 2026, once again confirms its reputation as one of the world’s most politically engaged and culturally diverse film festivals. This year, African cinema features prominently across several sections of the festival, offering powerful stories, bold aesthetics and compelling perspectives that reflect the continent’s realities, histories and …

Germany has abruptly stopped enrolling new participants in its federally funded integration courses, leaving many refugees and migrants unable to begin essential German language and cultural orientation classes. The freeze — implemented quietly by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) at the end of 2025 — remains in place with no clear timeline for resumption. Integration courses, mandated …

Spain has taken a bold step toward legalising the status of hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants, marking a sharp contrast to increasingly restrictive migration policies elsewhere in Europe. Announced in late January 2026, an extraordinary regularisation scheme aims to grant legal residence and work rights to migrants already living in the country without authorisation—among them many Africans who arrived …

In a landmark judgment that strengthens protection against discrimination in Germany’s housing market, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled that real estate agents may not reject housing applicants because of their names. Turning down a prospective tenant solely because their name sounds “foreign,” the court, which is the country’s highest court on civil matters, held, constitutes unlawful ethnic …

From 1 February 2026, Germany will apply a new regulation that fundamentally changes how so-called “safe countries of origin” are designated in asylum procedures. The federal government says the move will speed up decisions, ease pressure on authorities and courts, and send a clear signal that asylum applications from certain countries have little chance of success. Critics, however, warn that …

When the City of Erlangen formally honoured Dr Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana at a solemn ceremony on 13 January 2026, it was more than a celebratory moment. Held at Erlangen City Hall during a special session of the City Council, the occasion marked the recognition of a life dedicated to social justice, civic engagement and the long, often difficult struggle for equality …

February 2026 may be short, but it brings wide-ranging changes—from migration and travel rules to religious life. Staying informed helps residents navigate the month with fewer surprises and better preparation. Here is a clear overview of what is new—and what it means in everyday life. Continued School Support for Low-Income Families As the second half of the 2025/2026 school year …

Germany’s Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Bärbel Bas, a member of the SPD, has intensified calls within the federal government for stronger legal protections to keep young refugees in the country during and after vocational training. Speaking during a recent visit to the ABB Training Centre Berlin/Brandenburg, Bas underlined the urgent need for certainty for German companies that …