US Unchanged Policy on Somalia Stalls Somaliland Recognition Quest The unrecognized state in the Horn of Africa is betting its Red Sea access and mineral wealth can convince the Trump administration to break with international consensus after decades of diplomatic isolation. news August 19, 2025
Junior Nyong'o Steps Into the Spotlight, Acting Alongside Sister Lupita in ‘Twelfth Night' While his sister conquered Hollywood, Junior Nyong'o quietly honed his craft in regional theaters and grad school. Now they're sharing the stage as twins in Shakespeare’s 'Twelfth Night.' news August 7, 2025
The Best East African Songs Right Now: July 2025 Edition OkayAfrica rounds up the best new music to come out of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania this July. Enjoy the best new East African music below. music July 31, 2025
Willis Chimano Moves Past His Sauti Sol Roots with One-Man Show ‘Heavy Is the Crown’ In his deeply personal solo show, the Kenyan vocalist blends music and storytelling to explore his life and identity as a queer artist. music July 30, 2025
A New Addis Ababa Is Rising. But Who Is This Urbanization Really For? As Ethiopia’s capital transforms into a gleaming global city, long-time residents face displacement, rising housing costs, and a fading sense of home. news July 25, 2025
From El Salvador to South Sudan: Washington’s Third-Country US Immigrant Deportation Policy Hits Africa America’s immigration crackdown is now exporting migrants to Africa. What does this mean for African countries? news July 23, 2025
Industrie Africa Turns Five and Opens a New Chapter for African Luxury and Fashion on Zanzibar’s Bawe Island With the launch of Society of Luxury Artisanship, a new physical concept store and retail consulting arm, the platform expands its mission to bring African design into luxury hospitality spaces. news July 21, 2025
15 Years of OkayAfrica, 15 Defining Moments in Pop Culture, Innovation and Activism From Afrobeats going global to groundbreaking films, creative innovation, and youth-led protest movements, this video dives into the African moments that have defined the continent’s identity and transformation since OkayAfrica launched in 2010. video July 16, 2025
Uganda’s Bebe Cool Returns with 'Break the Chains' and a Hard-Earned Blueprint for Staying Relevant The 47-year-old is embracing new sounds, younger collaborators, and a digital-first mindset this time around. music July 14, 2025
What It’s Like To … Be a Competitive Breakdancer in Kenya Acy Kare opens up about finding community, freedom, and wins as a woman in breakdancing. news July 3, 2025
The Best East African Songs of 2025 So Far — Mid-Year Roundup OkayAfrica highlights the standout tracks shaping East African music in 2025 so far, with top picks from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia, Ethiopia, and the diaspora. music June 28, 2025
Op-Ed: As Kenya Protested in the Streets, Faith Kipyegon Ran for History In two days that gripped the nation, Kenyans confronted power at home while chasing possibility abroad. news June 27, 2025
Faith Kipyegon Runs Fastest Women's Time in Her Attempt to Break Four-Minute Mile The Kenyan Olympian fell short of her goal, but says she's hopeful the barrier will be broken soon. news June 26, 2025
Ugandan-born Zohran Mamdani Could Be New York City's History-Making New Mayor The former rapper turned assemblymember could become NYC’s first South Asian and Muslim mayor, shaking up the City’s political establishment. news June 25, 2025
A Year Later, Kenya’s Youth Are Still Protesting As thousands return to the streets on the anniversary of the anti-government demonstrations, Gen Zs reflect on last year’s movement and what remains unresolved. news June 25, 2025
KITFO TV Is Building a Streaming Home for Ethiopian and Eritrean Stories Denkinesh Argaw had a vision to bridge the gap between local and diaspora creatives. Now, KITFO TV is poised to bring raw, authentic storytelling from Ethiopia and Eritrea to global audiences. news June 24, 2025
'The Cat Man Eshete' Highlights the Lasting Impact of Being a Refugee In honor of World Refugee Day, this documentary film follows an Ethiopian refugee who provides a makeshift home for displaced cats in New York City, and the powerful story that led him there. film tv June 20, 2025
Faith Kipyegon Is Ready to Give It Her All: “This Will Cement My Legacy” The Kenyan Olympian says she’s feeling strong ahead of her attempt to run a mile in under four minutes on June 26, 2025. news June 20, 2025
Police Brutality Continues to Play a Central Role as Kenyans Demand Better Governance The shooting of a vendor during demonstrations over Albert Ojwang's death has reignited mass protests across Kenya, as young people continue to demand an end to police brutality and years of government impunity. news June 18, 2025
Kenya’s Deputy Police Chief Steps Aside Amid Investigations Into Albert Ojwang’s Death The blogger and teacher died while being held in police custody following a complaint by Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat. news June 16, 2025
What It’s Like To … Be a Working Stand-Up Comedian and Satirist in Kenya Justine Wanda reflects on turning discomfort into punchlines, surviving burnout, and why jokes still matter when everything feels bleak. news June 6, 2025
Inside the First Ever Boiler Room in Ethiopia How the artist known as Ethiopian Records brought a bold and rooted vision to Addis Ababa's first take on the electronic music event. music June 4, 2025
The Eliud Kipchoge Marathon Run That Proved “No Human Is Limited” Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon run in 2019 remains a groundbreaking moment in global sports, and a powerful symbol of African excellence. featured June 2, 2025
The Intergenerational Influence of Ngũgĩ Wa Thiong’o The great Kenyan author left behind one of the most iconic legacies in world literature.OkayAfricaexplores why he’s an enduring man of letters and speaks to writers he influenced. news May 29, 2025
A Reading List: 10 Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Works You Should Know A look at the novels, essays, and poems that made the late Kenyan writer one of the most influential literary and political voices of the 20th and 21st centuries. news May 29, 2025
Africa’s Next Serve: Angella Okutoyi Is Just Getting Started Kenya’s rising tennis star is building her path to the pro tour while dreaming of a future for African talent. news May 28, 2025
The Best East African Songs Right Now OkayAfricarounds up the best new music to come out of Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya this May. music May 26, 2025
The Ugandan Trial Everyone Should Be Watching As Dr. Kizza Besigye returns to court this week on treason charges, the high-profile case of Uganda’s main opposition leader raises questions about Uganda’s political future ahead of the 2026 elections. news May 19, 2025
Nairobi City Thunder's BAL Debut Marks a New Era for Kenyan Basketball After an undefeated season, the team steps onto Africa’s biggest basketball stage for the first time. news May 16, 2025
Sex, Secrets, and Survival: Why ‘MTV Shuga’ Still Hits Hard Sixteen years later, the iconic drama returns to Kenya with “MTV Shuga Mashariki” exploring Gen Z’s angst and realities. film tv May 15, 2025
South African and Rwandan Presidents Advocate for African Solutions to African Problems Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame were in good spirits at a panel during the Africa CEO Forum, easing speculations of tense relations between the two. news May 14, 2025
Once Overshadowed by Men, Africa’s Women’s Cricket Wants a Bite of the Billion-Dollar Game Women cricketers across the continent are creating new pathways to leadership, income, and global visibility. news May 13, 2025
Motherland Sounds Is LA’s Must-Attend East African Party An event where East African culture, community, and music collide is rewriting the Ethiopian-Eritrean diaspora story in Los Angeles. music April 28, 2025
Saheem Ali Brings Kenyan Coast Heat to Broadway in New Musical ‘Goddess’ The Kenyan-born theater director talks to OkayAfrica about turning the Myth of Marimba into a full-length musical set in Mombasa, navigating diaspora identity, and why African stories deserve center stage. news April 24, 2025
Faith Kipyegon Eyes History as First Woman to Run a Mile Under Four Minutes The Kenyan triple World and Olympic 1,500m champion will be attempting to shave nearly eight seconds off her own women’s mile record. news April 23, 2025
Savara Is Building the Soundtrack to a New Kenya Savara’s solo era after the disbandment of Sauti Sol is less about fame and more about legacy, rhythm, and standing up to be counted. music April 21, 2025
What It’s Like To … Build and Run a Pan-African Bookstore in Nairobi Kenya’s Muthoni Muiruri on co-foundingSoma Nami, Nairobi’s only female-owned Pan-African bookstore, and creating space for African literature to thrive. news April 16, 2025
Kenyan Artists Plan Public Staging of Political Play After Schoolgirls' Performance Is Disrupted Following a chaotic shutdown at the National Drama Festival, creatives are bringing “Echoes of War” to Uhuru Park in defense of free expression. news April 14, 2025
Can Facebook Be Held Responsible for Violence in Africa? Kenya’s Courts Say Yes Ethiopian plaintiffs take on Meta in a landmark Kenyan lawsuit that could redefine Big Tech's accountability for fueling violence in Africa. news April 11, 2025
Tanzania’s Abigail Chams Is on the Brink of Superstardom With her hit “Me Too” quickly climbing the charts, the Tanzanian singer talks toOkayAfricaabout rewriting what it means to be a Tanzanian pop star today. news April 10, 2025
The New ‘Assassin's Creed’ Video Game Has a Distinctly East African Soundtrack Fusing psych rock and East African rhythms, the newAssassin's Creed: Shadowssoundtrack by Thunderdrum and Tiggs Da Author is worth your while. music April 9, 2025
What It’s Like To … Build a National Skateboarding Movement in Kenya Against a backdrop of limited resources and official recognition, Kenya's skateboarding community finds creative ways to build an inclusive scene with Olympic aspirations. news April 2, 2025
What to Watch in East Africa This April This month’s streaming and film guide highlights exciting new releases from Uganda and Kenya, showcasing the latest must-watch films and series from East Africa. film tv April 1, 2025
For Somali Diasporans "Returning Home," Kenya is the Next Best Thing An increasing number of Somalis who grew up in the West are settling in Kenya for opportunity, stability, and a sense of belonging diaspora March 24, 2025
Sudan Bans Kenyan Imports Amidst Widespread Criticisms of Armed Militia’s Parallel Government Plans The African Union, European Union, and UN Security Council have all condemned the RSF’s signing of a founding charter, as Kenya’s facilitation of the event comes under scrutiny. news March 14, 2025
'Children of Honey:' The Hadzabe Want the World to Know Who They Are How a Tanzanian filmmaker's collaboration with the Hadzabe people is redefining impact-driven documentary at Geneva's prestigious human rights film festival. film tv March 13, 2025
Uganda’s Vinka is Here to Make You Dance — and She’s Just Getting Started From backup dancer to chart-topping star, Vinka has built a career on high-energy hits. She opens up about her latest dancehall anthem, working with Latin star Rafa Pabön, and why being a mom hasn’t slowed her down. music March 5, 2025
Op-Ed: How John Legend's Rwanda Concert Challenges the Politics of Boycotts With growing scrutiny over Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 rebels, many are asking artists to boycott performing in the country. But do such boycotts work, or do they punish the wrong people? music February 27, 2025
Rwanda’s Bruce Melodie is Ready to go From Kigali to the World In his debut album, ‘Colorful Generation,’ the East African star proves he’s more than just a singles artist who has conquered the region — he’s building a global legacy. music February 26, 2025
Faiza Hersi is Changing the Blueprint for East Africa’s Music Industry From launching Nairobi R&B to building Soul Headquarters, the Kenyan music executive is carving out space for artists and pushing the region onto the global stage. music February 20, 2025
Uganda has Contained its Latest SVD Ebolavirus Outbreak This is the sixth outbreak of the Sudan Ebolavirus virus in Uganda, following a 2022 outbreak that resulted in 77 fatalities. news February 19, 2025
10 Romantic African Films To Watch This Valentine's Weekend Our selection includes three newly-released films, a classic Romeo-and-Juliet retelling, as well as several popular and well-received films in recent years. film tv February 14, 2025
How East Africa’s Biggest Jazz Festival is Shaping Kenya’s Next Generation of Jazz Lovers Once seen as a niche genre, jazz in Kenya is gaining new audiences and nurturing homegrown talent, thanks to the Bob Collymore International Jazz Festival. music February 14, 2025
As He is Laid to Rest, Aga Khan IV’s Enduring Legacy in East Africa Comes Into Focus With a large following in Eastern Africa, the late leader of the Ismaili Muslim Community transformed education, healthcare and development across the region news February 11, 2025
Whose Story to Tell? Somalis React to New Black Hawk Down Documentary By Netflix Before the Netflix documentary drops on February 10, Somalis hope for a fairer representation of a conflict that has long been told from a Western perspective. news February 7, 2025
Kenya Seeks New IMF Lending Program as Debt Burden Mounts Kenya's finance minister confirms talks with the IMF for a new lending program amid surging debt-servicing costs, fiscal pressures and reduced foreign aid. news February 6, 2025
Emmanuel Jal Wants His People to Shower With Milk From hip-hop to Afro-house, the former child soldier turned recording artist finds joyful ways to spread a message of peace and unity that is becoming ever more relevant. music February 4, 2025
Mixed Reaction from Fans as Tems Cancels Rwanda Concert Amid Regional Tensions Tems withdrew from her Kigali performance, citing the unfolding crisis between Rwanda and the DRC, while pressure mounts on John Legend to follow suit. music January 31, 2025
Lady Hash is on a Quest to Transform East African Electronic Music From YouTube tutorials to festival stages, here's how an Ethiopian psychology student became one of East Africa's most innovative DJs. music January 30, 2025
South Sudan Lifts Social Media Ban After graphic videos of South Sudanese civilians being killed sparked deadly retaliatory attacks, authorities ended a planned 30-day shutdown early. news January 28, 2025
Mozambique's Opposition Leader Ready to Talk with New Government - On Condition Venancio Mondlane wants the government to take accountability for the fatal post-election protests. news January 24, 2025
Kenya Breaks Down Travel Barriers for African Passport Holders In a landmark policy shift, Kenya will allow most African citizens to enter without advance approval, signaling growing momentum for continent-wide mobility. news January 23, 2025
Daniel Chapo Sworn-in as Mozambique’s President Despite Continued Protests Against Election Results Many Mozambicans have continued to protest against electoral fraud they believe to be responsible for Chapo’s ascent into power. news January 15, 2025
Is Kenya Enabling Foreign Governments to Carry Out Forcible Extradition? The abduction and release of Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai spotlights Kenya’s role in cross-border crackdowns while also highlighting its domestic crisis of rising abductions. news January 13, 2025
Here’s How You Can Help Traders in Kantamanto Over 7,000 traders have lost their businesses in a devastating fire in Accra, Ghana, facing what they predict will be months of difficult recovery ahead. news January 8, 2025
Kiano Moju on ‘Africali’ and Redefining African Cuisine Globally The chef and food media star shares how her debut cookbook celebrates her Kenyan and Nigerian roots–as well as her California upbringing–through accessible, globally inspired recipes. news December 19, 2024
