• Issa Shivji

A new biography of Tanzania's first president, Julius Nyerere, reveals a complicated legacy.

• Rasna Warah

Why the World Food Program doesn't deserve the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.

• Dika Ofoma

Director Abba T. Makama's 'The Lost Okoroshi,' attempts to unpacks identity through masquerades in an increasingly ethnocentric Nigeria.

• Christian A. Williams

Despite increased global debate over refugee issues, few discuss these issues in terms of refugee histories, especially histories of Africans seeking refuge in and beyond the continent.

• Jess Auerbach

African Studies scholars write for the gate-keepers, to prove our own legitimacy, for the stimulation of conferences and the relief of rising recognition by algorithms.

• Wilfred Okiche

The Nigerian drama 'Òlòtūré,' about sex work and sex trafficking in the country’s commercial capital, which premiered on Netflix, is mostly uncomfortable. And not in a good way.

• Joshua I. Cohen

Influence exhilarates. It also makes people nervous. Writers, artists, scholars, researchers—we all seem to want to be “influential.” Less often do we want to admit to being “influenced.”

• Gwen Ansell

The drummer Gilbert Matthews was a visionary of South African jazz. The silences on his passing from official quarters are discordant.

• Sean Jacobs

How do we decolonize African literature? AIAC talks about it with Bhakti Shringarpure and Lily Saint. Stream it live Tuesdays on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter. Subscribe to our Patreon for the podcast archive.

• Désọ́lá

It is unfair to expect coherent politics from Naira Marley or his fans, the Marlians. We should, instead, chastise the Nigerian state for stifling its people and keeping its young perpetually waiting.

• Bentley Brown

A new film explores the perspectives of Sudanese-American artists navigating their relationships and responsibilities to the revolution back home.

• William Shoki

The viral sensation “Jerusalema” and its dance challenge reveals a deeper longing and desire to re-imagine the world.

• Rekang Jankie

In the first part of a two-part post, the author challenges conventional progressive approaches to “race,” finding them to be untenable with non-racialism.

• Naledi Mbaba

Beyonce offered me escapism in my childhood. But now I see the contradictions and shortcomings in her claimed radicalness.

• Litheko Modisane

The legend of Nelson Mandela was built years before his lengthy jail sentence catapulted him to global fame.

• Bhakti Shringarpure

Somali-Canadian writers lay bare the harsh realities of being Black, migrant and Muslim in multicultural and ostensibly tolerant Toronto.

• Jessica Ott

Tanzanian universities are beginning to tackle “sextortion.” Will new policies and attention to sexual harassment on campuses make a difference?

• M. Lynx Qualey

How African literature is taught reveals a depressing lack of knowledge concerning North African writers and their works.

• Lindsey Green-Simms

The new short film "Ifé" is a moving story about the delights and difficulties of human relationships.

• Noah Tsika

Journalist Vincent Bevins’ new book, The Jakarta Method, shows that some of the 20th century’s ugliest episodes are still unfolding.