Author: Ewang Johnson

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…

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for The Perfect Couple.The Perfect Couple gives viewers that rare permission to gawk and dream alike: it’s filled with beautiful people leading beautiful lives.People who know me will be shocked as I write these words, but I don’t look like Nicole Kidman. Or Dakota Fanning for that matter. Nor do I live in a multi-million dollar mansion off the beautiful Nantucket shoreline with servants, drugs, sex, and Botox at my beck and call. With that said, Netflix’s murder mystery, The Perfect Couple, resonated with me—a rather middling Catholic wife and mother who is much…

Majda, Monika and Heidi are part of the Panorama theatre troupe in the village of El Barsha, a small Coptic Christian community in the south of Egypt. As they devise and perform plays in the street, filmmakers Nada Riyadh and Ayman El Amir follow the young women, who are negotiating the moment between adolescence and adulthood, contemplating their destinies and their dreams. “The Brink of Dreams” won the L’Œil d’or prize at the Cannes Film Festival. We speak to director Nada Riyadh about the power of female solidarity, how street theatre shifted mentalities in villages and the importance of cultural…

BUEA, AMBAZONIA — The Interim Government of Ambazonia has issued a stern response to France following French Ambassador Thierry Marchand’s visit to Bamenda on February 27, where he reportedly stated that the eight-year-long conflict in the region is nearing its end.In a statement released Thursday, signed by Chris Anu, leader of the Interim Government, Ambazonian leaders acknowledged France’s potential role in facilitating a resolution but criticized past peace efforts as ineffective due to what they described as “bad faith” from the Cameroonian government.“History compels us to remind you that previous efforts—including the so-called Grand National Dialogue, the Swiss Initiative, and…

Emmanuel Lafont(Credit: Emmanuel Lafont)Forty years ago, Northern English poet Harrison published a powerful work inspired by vandalised gravestones in his hometown Leeds. Then, when it was screened on TV in 1987, a national furore erupted.”FOUR LETTER TV POEM FURY” thundered the front page of one British newspaper, condemning the “cascade of expletives”. “FROM BAD TO VERSE” was the headline of another article, that quoted a Conservative Member of Parliament questioning whether the said poem “serves any artistic purpose whatsoever”. And a group of particularly exercised MPs called for a debate in the House of Commons.The furore was about a poem…

Africa.com is excited to present Africa, Meet 7 Black Astronauts! The free, virtual event features seven Black NASA astronauts. Scheduled for March 18, 2025, this inspiring event invites students, educators, and curious minds from across Africa and beyond to hear firsthand from trailblazing astronauts who have made history in space exploration. Co-hosted by Africa.com and the Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP), the event highlights the transformative power of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with some of the most accomplished astronauts of our time. Meet the 7 Featured Astronauts: Dr. Robert L.…

Every year, the Super Bowl halftime show sparks conversations, debates, and polarizing reactions. This year was no different with Kendrick Lamar taking the stage. I braced myself for the inevitable wave of criticism, particularly from older audiences who struggle to connect with modern artists. And unfortunately, much of this criticism seems disproportionately aimed at Black artists like Lamar—and rap music in general.Looking past Lamar’s performance for a moment, it’s worth noting that such criticism actually reveals a significant issue in our culture: we see so many things, music included, through a consumerist lens. Instead of seeing music as an art…