Masonry Layout

Berlin musician Sugbear, co-founder of the acclaimed Swag Jam, is launching a new monthly live-music night, Sug’s Vibes, at Drinkhall Venue in Kreuzberg on Saturday, 17 October. The event will feature live performances by Sugbear and his house band, guest artist Inge, DJ sets and an open jam session, with entry at only €5. Sugbear is launching Sug’s Vibes to …

A lecture-performance by Ghanaian artist Nii Noi Nortey, followed by concerts performed by the Berlin Afrobeat Company and Accra’s Santrofi, will bring African music, history and political thought together at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt on 15 October. Afrobeats fans in Berlin have an opportunity to experience an evening rooted in the musical and political legacy of Nigerian icon …

A new analysis from the German Economic Institute (IW) projects that Germany could be short 723,000 skilled workers by 2029 — almost double 2025’s shortfall — with sectors that already lean heavily on immigrant labour, from care work to construction, among the hardest hit. Germany’s skilled-worker shortage is set to widen sharply over the next three years, according to a …

The story of Jolloful Foods began not in a boardroom, but around a breakfast table in Berlin in the 1990s. Every Saturday, a diverse group of professionals from 17 countries gathered at a French restaurant near Savignyplatz, to share stories and explore Berlin. Then one day, a simple question about the absence of African food planted a seed. A concert …

Following media reports on Germany’s plan to cut integration course funding to €590 million in 2027, the country’s Adult Education Association says the real cut is worse than providers were told — and has accused the government of “dismantling” one of Germany’s most effective integration tools. Germany’s Association of Adult Education Centres (Deutscher Volkshochschulverband) has sharply criticised the federal government …

In a judgment delivered on 11 June 2026, a Berlin court awarded financial compensation to a Black German man after finding that he had been subjected to racial discrimination during a police identity check. The ruling is seen as an important application of Berlin’s State Anti-Discrimination Act _______ A Berlin court has ordered the state to pay €500 in compensation …

The European Parliament has approved a sweeping overhaul of the EU’s return and deportation system, paving the way for the establishment of deportation centres in non-EU countries and granting member states broader powers to enforce removals. The legislation was adopted on 17 June 2026 in Strasbourg by 418 votes to 218, with 30 abstentions, following a provisional agreement reached between …

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 …

Germany granted citizenship to a record 332,500 foreign nationals in 2025, underscoring the growing importance of naturalisation as a pathway to full participation in German society. According to provisional figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the number of naturalisations rose by 14 per cent compared with 2024, marking the fifth consecutive annual increase and the highest figure since …

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 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 …

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 …

A series of new laws and regulations, affecting retirees, consumers, women, migrants and businesses alike, will enter into effect in March 2026. Key changes include reforms to credit scoring, expanded breast cancer screening, higher health insurance contributions, extension of war refugee protection and updates to vehicle registration rules. Here are the most important changes in March SCHUFA: Transparency in Credit …

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 …

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 …