Africa finally has its own category – but at what cost? ART | ERIC CHARRY | For the first time in its 65-year history the Grammy Awards in the U.S. has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance, which recognises the song of the year. The Grammys is the most …
Read More »Italy unveils US$ 6bn plan for Africa
Speakers at inaugural Italy-Africa Summit demand treatment as equals NEWS ANALYSIS | RONALD MUSOKE | Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s call for “a new Italian partnership with Africa” has been put under tough scrutiny by analysts with some calling it a design for a new form of colonialism. On Jan. 29 …
Read More »China remains Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years
BEIJING | Xinhua | China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching a record 282.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, a Ministry of Commerce official said on Wednesday. “Economic and trade cooperation is the ballast and propeller of China-Africa relations,” said Ministry of …
Read More »Coca-Cola in Africa: a long history full of unexpected twists and turns
ANALYSIS | SARA BYALA | A new book called Bottled: How Coca-Cola Became African tells the story of how the world’s most famous carbonated drink conquered the continent. It’s a tale of marketing gumption and high politics and is the product of years of research by critical writing lecturer Sara Byala, …
Read More »How Africa is cleaning up its debt mess
IMF tracking shows that no African state has sought comprehensive debt relief in over a year indicating a trend of growing fiscal hygiene across the region. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Countries in Africa are showing signs of improving fiscal management, as they navigate through a cascading set of global …
Read More »Afcon’s decision to play 24 countries is paying off
It’s also having dramatic repercussions ANALYSIS | Chuka Onwumechili | By the end of the group stage, the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) was one of the most exciting and memorable Afcon tournaments in recent memory. This was particularly true of the performances of the continent’s best players on the field. …
Read More »Africa-China collaboration on TVET
A new type of South-to-South joint program promotes standards through mutually accredited joint programs COMMENT | XIAOYAN LIANG & COSAM JOSEPH | A common challenge faced by Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions is their inability to adapt curriculum and program standards that align with the evolving needs of …
Read More »Malaria victory that’s a blueprint for Africa
Cabo Verde has achieved a WHO-certified malaria-free status, showcasing the power of strategic health planning. The achievement inspires African nations as more countries pursue malaria elimination BIRD STORY| BONFACE ORUCHO | Cabo Verde, a country that comprises a group of Islands of the West African coast in the central Atlantic Ocean, has …
Read More »Four top trends to watch in 2024 African energy sector
ANALYSIS | AGENCIES | As Africa heads into 2024, the renewable energy sector is set to see innovation that will transform the way energy is accessed, stored and deployed across Africa. Paul van Zijl, Group CEO at Starsight Energy, discusses 4 key trends that he thinks will profoundly shape the industry …
Read More »Harnessing SACCOs for insurance expansion
Africa has a combined SACCO membership of more than 43 million, holding about USD 24.5 billion in assets Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | In an ever-evolving financial landscape, Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) are emerging as impactful entities, harnessing influence grounded in community trust and convenience to bring about …
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