3 things we found interesting
A Nigerian film directed by a Nigerian and set in Nigeria is not international enough for the Oscars
Lionheart, Nigeria’s first Oscar contender was pulled from consideration for “best international film” for its extensive use of English, Nigeria’s official language. Though the film includes some Igbo, films in this category must maintain a “predominantly non-English dialogue track,” according to the Academy’s rules. Lionheart, which was directed by Genevieve Nnaji, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and is available on Netflix.
West African countries may soon control their own currency
In an interview with Radio France Internationale, Beninoise president Patrice Talon announced that the West African countries that use the CFA-franc are moving towards pulling their currency’s reserves out of France, their former colonial ruler. Eight countries in West Africa use the CFA-franc, which was established as the local currency after World War II and is currently pegged to the euro. The move could mean greater economic and political autonomy for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Niger and Guinea-Bissau.
South Africa’s Springboks won the rugby world cup.
Its third one. And this was the first time the team was captained by a black player. But, as Sisonke Msimang writes, this moment of emotional and patriotic euphoria shouldn’t mask the cross-racial solidarity needed to be seen in everyday moments, to make the rainbow nation real, “the point is not that white people shouldn’t also thrive, but that the idea of nationhood should not be contingent on white people continuing to take up disproportionate space within the national story.”
Did you know that
Fidel Castro supported African liberation movements during the Cold War
Cameroonian musicians are struggling amidst the popularity of Nigerian beats.
Grassroots revolutionary movements are building in Nigeria
Cannabis cultivation is on the rise in southern African countries
Notes from the Underground in Egypt
Some states in northern Nigeria have been using Sharia law for twenty years
As sea levels rise, we risk witnessing climate gentrification
On Decolonizing the soul
Oh, also:
Bob ❤️s Abishola
We are jamming to Bamako-born French pop star Aya Nakamura.
Peace & love,
Anakwa and Katie