Namibia president and anti-apartheid activist Hage Geingob dies, succeeded by deputy Nangolo Mbumba
Hage Geingob leaves behind a middle-income country fighting to push economic growth above three per cent following a pandemic-era slowdown and reverse racial inequalities left over from colonialism and annexation by South Africa’s former white minority government.
Taylor Swift takes Grammy Award for ‘Midnights’ and with it makes history with fourth album of year win
Winners were chosen by the musicians, producers, engineers and others who make up the Recording Academy. The group has worked to diversify its membership in recent years by inviting more women and people of color to its ranks.
Loud on climate change, Kenyan president contradicts himself by sanctioning paved road construction through forest
The Kenyan government wants to build a 32-mile tarmac road through what has been suggested as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to connect two counties, and the country’s environmental agency, the National Environment Management Authority, issued an environmental impact assessment licence for the project last month. The project would cut through 15 miles of closed canopy forest and likely increase vehicle traffic into animal paths.
Grammys 2024: Miley Cyrus, Boygenius win as Taylor Swift chases album record
Cyrus won best solo pop performance for her empowerment anthem Flowers and was handed the gold trophy by Mariah Carey. Cyrus said she got stuck in traffic during heavy rain in Los Angeles and nearly missed the moment her name was called.
US intends further strikes on Iran-backed groups in Middle East, national security adviser says
Iran has so far avoided any direct role in the conflict, even as it backs those groups. The Pentagon has said it does not want war with Iran and does not believe Tehran wants war either. Sullivan declined to be drawn on whether the United States might attack sites inside Iran, something the US military has been very careful to avoid.
Eritrean troops accused of abducting farmers and stealing livestock in Ethiopia’s Tigray
In one incident, on January 22, eight herders were abducted with their donkeys and camels. In another, on December 6, six people were abducted along with 56 livestock. In a third, on December 5, Eritrean soldiers stole 100 animals.
Taylor Swift chases album of the year record but faces stiff competition from R&B artist SZA at female-focused Grammys
Swift is not a lock for the album award. Industry pundits said it could go to SOS from R&B artist SZA, who would be the first Black woman since Lauryn Hill 25 years ago to win the category as a lead artist. SZA, singer of dark ballad Kill Bill, leads all Grammy nominees this year with nine nods.
Senegalese President Sall calls off vote three weeks to poll citing unspecified ‘electoral issues’
Ndiack Fall, law professor at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University, noted that, according to the constitution, Sall’s mandate ends on April 2 after which the president of parliament should be in charge if the election has still not been held.
World music revolution: How and why Africa had fastest-growing recorded music revenues in 2022
There is also Afrobeat – different from Afrobeats – a blend of jazz, funk and traditional West African rhythms popularised by Nigerian musical icon and political agitator Fela Kuti in the 1970s. Then there’s Afropop, a rich variety of contemporary styles. The traditional soukous dance music out of Congo and other parts of Central Africa. The rhythmical and heavily vocal shaabi and chaabi heard on the streets of North Africa. Kenya’s benga and Tanzania’s bongo flava reverberate across dance floors in East Africa, just as fuji and highlife do in West Africa.
Kenya’s president blames corruptionfor huge fireball that killed 4, injured hundreds in Nairobi
The National Environment Management Authority board said in a statement it had suspended four officials, including the director of environmental compliance. The chairman of the board, Emilio Mugo, asked police to investigate the four.
