• Aaron Leaf

    Aaron is OkayAfrica and Okayplayer's Director of Editorial Operations. He's worked as a writer and editor at magazines and digital publications for more than 15 years. He's passionate about building community-minded media organizations focused on culture and politics. Check out aaronleaf.com for more information.

Stories by Aaron Leaf

Testing the Afripods audio player
News

Testing the Afripods audio player

Audio player testing

Interview: How Climate Change is Bringing Deadly Cyclones to East Africa
News

Interview: How Climate Change is Bringing Deadly Cyclones to East Africa

Cyclones Idai and Kenneth are a taste of what's to come, warns Sudanese climate expert Abubakr Salih Babiker.

Watch Ilhan Omar on Stephen Colbert: 'I'm as American as Everyone Else Is'
News

Watch Ilhan Omar on Stephen Colbert: 'I'm as American as Everyone Else Is'

The first-term American congresswomen from Minnesota talks about the xenophobic attacks against her

Kofi Kingston Is the First African-Born Wrestler to Win a WWE Championship
News

Kofi Kingston Is the First African-Born Wrestler to Win a WWE Championship

Ghana's own has made history at WrestleMania 35 and people are admitting to crying.

Kenyans Are Furious at the New York Times for Posting Photos of Terrorist Victims
News

Kenyans Are Furious at the New York Times for Posting Photos of Terrorist Victims

After the the deadly attack on Tuesday, many are accusing the American newspaper of having a double standard on which dead bodies they allow into the paper

Kenyans Rally Online As Nairobi Hit By Violent Attack
News

Kenyans Rally Online As Nairobi Hit By Violent Attack

Kenyans are focused on a terrorist attack in Nairobi's upscale Westlands area that recalls the deadly 2013 Westgate Mall Siege

A White Couple Staged Their Wedding Photos as a Congolese Kidnapping—People Aren't Having It
Popular

A White Couple Staged Their Wedding Photos as a Congolese Kidnapping—People Aren't Having It

A white woman in a wedding dress on top of a volcano wearing blood diamonds. These people actually did this.

South Africa Legalizes Marijuana—Smokers Rejoice​
News

South Africa Legalizes Marijuana—Smokers Rejoice​

The country's constitutional court announced today that dagga AKA ganja AKA weed AKA canibus can now be legally consumed in private places in South Africa.

South African Companies Hunker Down for Racist Video Storm
Popular

South African Companies Hunker Down for Racist Video Storm

At least two Nike Store locations close after online commenters connect Adam Catzavelos, creator of the racist video, to the company.

Ilhan Omar is Running for Congress and the Alt Right is Trying to Sabotage Her
Popular

Ilhan Omar is Running for Congress and the Alt Right is Trying to Sabotage Her

The first Somali-American legislator had her event with Rashida Tlaib interrupted by anti-Muslim activists including the Laura Loomer.

'Kwele' by James BKS is the First Single from Idris Elba's New Label 7 Wallace
Latest

'Kwele' by James BKS is the First Single from Idris Elba's New Label 7 Wallace

Check out the new song featuring Allan Kingdom and Manu Dibango

Watch: Barack Obama's Speech at Nelson Mandela's Centenary Celebration
News

Watch: Barack Obama's Speech at Nelson Mandela's Centenary Celebration

We collected some of the best social media posts about Barack Obama's first major speech since leaving the presidency.

Censored For Supporting Palestinian Rights, 'Young Fathers' Now Invited Back to German Music Festival
Latest

Censored For Supporting Palestinian Rights, 'Young Fathers' Now Invited Back to German Music Festival

The band was disinvited from the Ruhrtriennale festival after refusing to distance themselves from the "boycott, divestment and sanctions" movement, or BDS.

Staff at Liberia's Biggest Newspaper Arrested
News

Staff at Liberia's Biggest Newspaper Arrested

Many worry that the 'FrontPage Africa' closure and arrest of its staff could be a sign of things to come under a George Weah government.

"Suitcases of Cash": Sarkozy in Police Custody for Gaddafi Deal
News Brief

"Suitcases of Cash": Sarkozy in Police Custody for Gaddafi Deal

It's the latest piece of a scandal that once again gives us a look into the system of criminal dealings between French and African elites.

All 955 South African Miners Have Been Rescued
News

All 955 South African Miners Have Been Rescued

But the question remains, how could something as commonplace as a power outage imperil the lives of almost 1000 people?

George Weah Will be the Next President of Liberia
Politics

George Weah Will be the Next President of Liberia

The football superstar has won the runoff election and will be sworn in next month.

And the Next President of South Africa Will Be...
Politics

And the Next President of South Africa Will Be...

The ANC has chosen their new leader—a person who is almost certain to become South Africa's next president.