3 things we found interesting
In August, Nigeria unexpectedly closed its land borders to block movement of goods into and out of the country. Citing rampant smuggling, the Buhari administration claimed the closing of the border would increase the production of goods, such as rice, within the country. Not unexpectedly, the closures have been disastrous for neighboring countries such as Benin and problematic for even non-bordering countries like Ghana.
It has been 135 years since the infamous Berlin conference. “A week before it closed, the Lagos Observer declared that ‘the world had, perhaps, never witnessed a robbery on so large a scale.’ Six years later, another editor of a Lagos newspaper comparing the legacy conference to the slave trade said: ‘A forcible possession of our land has taken the place of a forcible possession of our person.’”
A century later, decolonization is more than just a metaphor. Between the UK’s refusal to return control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and conversations in Mauritania about who remain “collaborators” and “resisters” we are still grappling with the disease of colonialism.
Did you know that
The EU sees migrant detention in Libya as a profitable business
Niger is taking suggestions for a new national anthem that doesn’t reference France
‘Africa’ wax print has complicated origins
Côte d’Ivoire has filed a petition with the ICC challenging the acquittal of former president Laurent Gbagbo
The Committee to Protect Journalists awarded the International Press Freedom Award to Tanzanian journalist Maxence Melo, founder of Jamii Forums
November is Black Consciousness month in Brazil
The audacity of Hope thrives
The Sahara was once home to the world’s largest sea creatures
Oh, also:
Mama Africa is everyone’s auntie in this Ivorian web series.
Nana Ama McBrown made jollof with Conan O’Brien
Alexandria, the invisible city
We honor Kehinde Lijadu, of the Lijadu Sisters, who died at 71 this week.
Peace & love,
Anakwa and Katie