Author: Ewang Johnson
Why are we humans so obsessed with social hierarchies?Until that morning, not too long ago, it had been some time since the social pecking order had pecked me back into place. It’s not that I was unaware of the hierarchy. In fact, as a person of color in the United States, I would argue that it would be difficult not to be aware of the invisible lines that keep everyone in their place. But sometimes, one forgets.I had arrived at the Manhattan luxury tower to do a job for a resident. As usual for “the help,” I was ushered to…
The hit musical comedy “Company” is coming to France. The show by Stephen Sondheim premiered on Broadway in 1970 and is a series of vignettes centered around Bobby, a 35-year-old single New Yorker who’s trying to find his place among his group of married friends. We spoke to “Company” director James Bonas about the show and its Parisian premiere. Source link
Vanessa Tignanelli(Credit: Vanessa Tignanelli)The enigmatic musician has released one of the most raved-about LPs of recent times. But they’ve done it without marketing or interviews – and you certainly won’t find it on Spotify.Of all the musical acts that emerged last year, none was more fascinating – or more mysterious – than Cindy Lee. Last March, their album Diamond Jubilee – an astonishing two-hour, 32-track, lo-fi heliograph of rock and pop’s formative sounds – appeared as if by magic: a sprawling, sumptuous, dream-like immersion of melodiously beautiful, often haunting songs of loss and longing. But this self-released album wasn’t easily…
On this momentous occasion of International Women’s Day 2025, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), through its Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa (SRRWA), stands at a pivotal juncture in the global pursuit of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” resonates deeply as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This landmark framework has shaped the global agenda for women’s rights and gender equality. The Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995, was a clarion…
Africa is at a crossroads. Across the continent, governments are struggling to meet the most basic needs of their people—not because we lack resources or ambition, but because national budgets are consumed by unsustainable debt repayments. Schools are underfunded, hospitals lack medicine, infrastructure projects stall, and millions of young people are left without opportunities. This is not just an economic crisis; it is a crisis of sovereignty. A continent rich in potential remains trapped in a financial system that keeps it dependent, unable to shape its own future. No country can develop when it spends more on debt repayments than…
Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Star Wars Outlaws.Crime stories always start in the cracks. The places where the world is busted up and broken, like a beat-up clunker, or—in that galaxy far, far away—a rusted old starship. They pull us in because they feel familiar. We recognize the desperation of an outlaw on the run from the crooked hand of fate shuffling the cards and threatening to draw. We see a familiar arc in their struggles and schemes to make sense of a chaotic and often unjust world.Crime is less something you do than it is a weight…
Wax print fabrics or Ankara fabrics are known for their graphic patterns, bold colours and catchy slogans. The iconic cloth is now being celebrated in an exhibition at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris, where curators have been exploring its anthropological, social and political role on the African continent and beyond. Kenyan artist Thandiwe Muriu joins us to talk about the fabric’s function in her striking portraits, and how she uses textiles to explore identity, aesthetics and her own place in society. Thandiwe tells us how clothes and the messages they send can empower and emancipate women, and we discuss…
Natassja Ebert(Credit: Natassja Ebert)From making history as Vogue’s youngest-ever fashion editor to creating a gown fit for a Kennedy wedding – which would end up covered in grass stains – Vera Wang chronicles her career’s surprising trajectory and shares some of her hard-won lessons as a woman at the top of her field.Vera Wang may be best known for crafting some of the most memorable wedding gowns of all time. Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alicia Keys are just a few of the women who have chosen the designer for their big days. Less known is the…
Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary, African Refiners&Distributors Association (ARDA), is confirmed to speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris this May, sharing insights on the critical developments and opportunities shaping the future of refining and distribution across the continent. ARDA, a key player in advancing Africa’s refining capabilities, is at the forefront of enhancing the region’s downstream infrastructure to meet growing energy demand and fuel economic development. With a focus on improving refining capacity, expanding distribution networks and driving cleaner fuels adoption, ARDA is working to modernize the sector through strategic collaborations, policy advocacy and industry innovation.…
A politician and businesswoman, the senator from Kinshasa, Anne Mbuguje Marembo, is determined to work for the advancement of women in the DR Congo. Interview with Pascal Patrice. This year, the theme chosen for the celebration of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025 is ‘For all women and girls: rights, equality and empowerment’. What does this slogan mean to you? It is a very comprehensive, unifying theme. It resonates with all women and with those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, because it refers to everything they are fighting for. The rights of all women and girls, regardless…