Kenyan airlines have been granted security clearance by US authorities for direct flights to the United States, Kenya’s minister of transport said on Thursday, having improved infrastructure at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Kenya now has Category 1 security and safety status and hopes that will allow it to boost trade with the U.S. and increase its share of American …
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Abubakar Adam Ibrahim: Northern Nigeria’s ‘literary provocateur’
In his first novel “Season of Crimson Blossoms” Abubakar Adam Ibrahim speaks openly about female sexuality, broaching a taboo subject in conservative northern Nigeria. Gwendolin Hilse reports. “Because they were alone in the house and she had always wanted to do it and couldn’t contain herself, she groaned out loud. With his tongue, he had set free something deep inside her. …
Read More »Berlin’s international film festival opens, features African networking platform for the first time
The 67th Berlin International Film Festival – Berlinale – kicks off on 9 February in the German capital city. The Berlinale is one of the biggest international film festivals alongside the Cannes and Toronto film festivals. Up to 400 films are shown every year, mostly international or European premieres, and the festival, the world’s second largest audiovisual event, sells more …
Read More »Renaissance opens its first hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa in Lagos
Renaissance Hotels, a worldwide brand of hotels and resorts owned by Marriott International, has announced the opening of its first hotel in Sub-Saharan Africa – the Renaissance Lagos Ikeja Hotel located in Nigeria’s commercial centre. Mark Satterfield, chief operating officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International said: “We are delighted to mark the debut of Renaissance Hotels in Nigeria …
Read More »Gambia: British tour operator evacuating holidaymakers
British tour operator Thomas Cook started evacuating nearly 1,000 holidaymakers from Gambia on Wednesday (18 January) after President Yahya Jammeh declared a state of emergency on his final day in office, increasing the chances of civil unrest. In a statement on its website, Thomas Cook said it had activated its contingency plans and was laying on extra flights in the …
Read More »Ethiopian Airlines announces new flights to link Africa and China
Ethiopian Airlines has concluded preparations for new flight links to Chengdu, the capital of China’s Sichuan province. The carrier will launch the three weekly flights on 3 June 2017. Chengdu is the seventh largest city in China and is the country’s western centre of logistics, commerce, science, and technology, as well as a hub of transportation, manufacturing, and communication. Group …
Read More »Africa fashion designers change marketing strategies in the face of economic crisis
Designers in Africa have seen their business suffer as a result of the economic crisis which has hit the continent. Many in different countries want to make fashion count as a burgeoning investment market and are looking at agencies to help them achieve their goal, as in Angola. “It’s time for those in the government to try and revive the …
Read More »You want to keep your New Year resolutions? You should read “Between You and Your Purpose”!
Lucidly written, its precepts are very inspiring, writes Femi Awoniyi in his review of Germany-based Achille Nguemnang’s motivational book. Divided into short chapters and focused on particular themes, the book Between You and Your Purpose contains wisdom keys to overcome the hurdles between you and your goal – be it career, personal, whatever goal you have set for yourself. Being …
Read More »Meet Peju Alatise, the Nigerian artist transcending barriers
The installations she creates today using materials such as cloth, beads, wood, cement and resin are a departure from her early technically skilled paintings.
Read More »Nigeria changes date for closure of Abuja’s airport
Nigeria plans to close the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in the capital Abuja for six weeks from 8 March to repair its runway, the aviation ministry said on Tuesday, 3 January, pushing the move back later than previously scheduled. No reason was given for the change of date. The closure is to allow extensive runway repairs which will last for six …
Read More »Lufthansa takes over Brussels Airlines
Lufthansa said on Thursday it was exercising an option to buy the remaining 55 per cent of Brussels Airlines for 2.6 million euros ($2.7 million), and integrate it as a subsidiary of Eurowings, in a move seen to further strengthen the budget carrier’s market position. The purchase was previously approved last September by the Board of Lufthansa Group. The German …
Read More »Turkish Airlines launches innovative flight safety video to keep passengers’ attention high
The main purpose of the video is to keep passengers' attention high during the explanation of important safety procedures using the power of illusion.
Read More »New report reveals Africa’s most visited cities
Index explores whether visitors travel for business or leisure and provides insights into how international visitors spend their time and money.
Read More »Wizkid, Naomi Achu, Flavour Nabania, Diamond Platnumz, Cindy Sanyu win big at AFRIMA 2016
The best of African artistes were honoured on Sunday in Lagos, Nigeria, at the 3rd edition of the All Africa Music Awards – AFRIMA 2016.
Read More »Nollywood Queens to be crowned in Ludwigshafen, Germany
The crème de la crème of the Nigerian film industry, popularly called Nollywood, will gather in the southwestern German city of Ludwigshafen on Saturday, 3 December. The reason for the gathering is the “Queen of Nollywood” Awards ceremony, which is being held outside of Nigeria for the first time this year. Among those to be honoured at the event are …
Read More »New film deals humorously with Germany’s ambivalent views on refugees
This film does not skimp on the clichés about both refugees and Germans. From the radical leftist friend of the family in the role of the "do-gooder," to the "Islamic State" sympathizer living in Diallo's refugee shelter, without forgetting the neo-Nazis protesting against their presence - they're all there.
Read More »French-Moroccan writer Leïla Slimani wins France’s top literary prize
Moroccan-born Leila Slimani has won France’s top literary prize, the Goncourt, with a novel guaranteed to “scare the wits out of parents”. The chilling tale of a “perfect” nanny who murders the two children she is looking after, “Chanson douce” (roughly translated as “Sweet Song”) is based on the real-life story of a Dominican child-minder shortly to stand trial for …
Read More »GEMA lifts block on YouTube videos in Germany
Video platform YouTube and rights collection society GEMA have struck a license agreement after long negotiations. The deal means music fans in Germany can see more videos.
Read More »Shina Peters tours Europe! To perform in Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona..
Afro Juju exponent and one of Nigeria’s most famous musicians, Sir Sina Peters, is on a European tour.
Read More »Exclusive interview with award-winning Sharon Dodua Otoo on writing and the Black experience in Europe
The Berlin-based writer and winner of this year’s Ingeborg Bachmann Prize talks about the prize, German society, the Black experience in Europe and the role of writers in the struggle for a more inclusive society, among other issues.
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