Author: Ewang Johnson
Photo of Lighthouse, 2025/ AlamyBanksy’s new mural in Marseille is not the first image he has connected to the history of ideas. From Plato to Foucault, a Banksy expert reveals the philosophy behind these popular artworks.Which is the real you, the person you are now or the one you are capable of becoming? It’s a heady question, to be sure, and not one you would expect to be confronted with while strolling down a street in Marseille in the waning days of May. Yet it’s precisely the existential dilemma that Banksy, who once asserted “being yourself is overrated” – has…
Commits to partnering with governments that put people’s health and wellbeing first In an address today in Nelson Mandela Hall at the African Union, Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates urged African leaders to seize the moment to accelerate progress in health and development through innovation and partnership, despite current headwinds. He announced that the majority of his $200 billion spend over the next 20 years will go to Africa with a focus on partnering with governments that prioritize the health and wellbeing of their people. “I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next…
One of the titans of African Literature, the Kenyan Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o died at the age of 87 in the United States on May 28. He was a fearless champion of the rights of people in their battle against oppression and a tireless proponent of literature written in African languages. Anver Versi was one of his students in the 1970s. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o was my lecturer in African Literature when I was a first year student at the University of Nairobi in the early 1970s. Literature had been easily my favourite subject throughout school. I enjoyed reading everything I could…
Potboiler films like director Ron Howard’s trilogy, The Da Vinci Code (2006), Angels and Demons (2009), and Inferno (2016), invite us to accept outlandish fictions with a promise of thrills to come. Excitement builds once we buy into their imagined world. These three movies are underrated, unappreciated, and mired in theological debate. But such disputes seem to miss the point. Movies may enhance our belief, but they do not define it. Faith is a gift of the spirit, not of Hollywood. Langdon struggles to be honorable in an endlessly challenging world. These films are the tale of his journey. But they…
In this episode, we talk about a powerful moment at the Cannes Film festival as acclaimed Iranian director Jafar Panahi presents “A Simple Accident” – a film impossible to separate from his own harrowing story. Long targeted by Iran’s regime with censorship, house arrest, and imprisonment, Panahi has defied the odds to attend the festival in person. His latest work offers a stark, unflinching portrait of Iranian society and a bold critique of the ruling powers. As buzz builds around his chances for the Palme d’Or, Panahi sits down for an interview with Louise Dupont from the French channel of…
BBCFormer US President Bill Clinton and best-selling author James Patterson sat down with the BBC to discuss how real life informed their new political thriller, The First Gentleman.What happens when the president’s husband is put on trial for murder? That’s the conundrum at the heart of former US President Bill Clinton and thriller maestro James Patterson’s latest collaboration, The First Gentleman. It’s a novel that only those two could conjure up, after the huge success of their earlier books, 2018’s The President Is Missing (three million copies sold) and The President’s Daughter (2021). Patterson is as big as they come…
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has secured a record-breaking $11.1 billion in new investments for 2024–2025, the highest in its history. Half of this, $5.5 billion, will fund climate-related projects, reinforcing the bank’s role in driving sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa. According to the bank’s Annual Development Effectiveness Review, the AfDB made major progress across its “High 5s” agenda, spanning energy, agriculture, industry, integration, and quality of life. Results include 14 million people accessing better healthcare, 5 million receiving clean water, 1 million gaining electricity, and 3.5 million benefiting from improved regional integration via the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).…
The race for the Palme d’Or wound up with a return for two-time winners the Dardenne brothers, adding a slice of Belgian social realism to a politically charged 78th Cannes Film Festival that delivered strong contenders for the top prize but no outright favourite ahead of Saturday’s closing ceremony. Source link
Nigeria has established an AfCFTA air corridor to Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, slashing export logistics costs by up to 75% for local businesses. Announced by Trade Minister Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, the corridor—operated by Uganda Airlines—aims to boost trade in products like textiles, cosmetics, and agricultural products by removing transport bottlenecks. This move coincides with Nigeria’s official gazetting of AfCFTA tariffs, which will unlock lower rates for local exporters and expand market access. Under a phased strategy, Nigeria has implemented major tariff cuts, positioning its exporters for enhanced competitiveness across Africa. With digital trade and SME support also in focus, the corridor…
The Cannes Film Festival might be over but we’ve got one last treat in store for you. Viola Davis is not only an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, but also an author, advocate, and now, a L’Oréal Paris ambassador. Source link