African culture news summarised in English: music, film, literature, heritage, religion and society, from the local press of 54 countries. 149 articles published.
Senegal’s Ministry of Communication is launching a national census of media professionals who speak one or more foreign languages. Registration is free and online only, and the resulting directory is intended to help mobilise these skills at national and international events, according to the Ministry of Communication.
Source: Matin Libre
Former students from the 1986 class at Methodist High School in Arigbajo, in Ogun State, want to raise 4 million naira to fund whiteboards, furniture and work at the school. The association set these priorities at a meeting in Lagos, Punch reports.
Source: Punch
Ugandan singer Heli Baibe, from Kasese, is building a career blending afrobeat, rhythm and blues, and dancehall. After her 17-track debut album, “Make Me Famous”, was released in 2022, she is continuing to reach a national audience, according to the career profile published by PML Daily and comments reported by Red Pepper.
Source: Pmldaily
Perfect Property Solutions Limited donated 3 million kwachas to the Mother’s Day festival held at Dumuwa Holiday Resort in Nkhata Bay, Malawi. The 2026 event combined concerts, sports and recreational activities to celebrate women’s role, Malawivoice reports.
Source: Malawivoice
Ghanaian rapper D-Black is concerned that only 16 of more than 700 radio and television stations pay royalties to the Ghana Music Rights Organisation (GHAMRO). The organisation’s 2026 list names eight stations from the Multimedia group among broadcasters in good standing, according to GHAMRO.
Source: Theghanareport
In Ouagadougou, President Ibrahim Traoré reaffirmed that Thomas Sankara’s ideals remain alive during the commemoration of his assassination on 15 October 1987. His message recalled the changes made during the 1983–1987 revolution and called for political lessons to be drawn from his death, according to the presidential speech delivered by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
Source: Lefaso
Milton Margai University of Technology has inaugurated an academy in Sierra Leone focused on entrepreneurship and practical skills for students, women traders, young people and people with disabilities. The centre is intended to promote learning, innovation and professional exchanges, according to the institution, which presents the initiative as a way to strengthen its community engagement.
Source: Sierraloaded
The Atlantic Departmental Directorate of Secondary Education has launched a call centre in Godomey to contact the parents of regularly absent pupils and prevent school dropouts. The service was presented on 14 October 2026 in Abomey-Calavi by its director, Mathias Ahomadegbe, alongside a school cleanliness competition, according to 24haubenin.
Source: 24haubenin
Khadim Diop, known as Bamba l’officiel, has established himself as a content creator and comedian in Senegal alongside Latzo Dosé. Born in Pikine, he says he left school after one year and attributes his career to his passion for comedy, according to Dakaractu.
Source: Dakaractu
The grandmother who reportedly raised Zimbabwean preacher and commentator Talent Chiwenga has died, Zimeye reports. Her identity was not published and the outlet does not specify the date of death; Chiwenga, whose real name is Tazvitya Mhembere, is known for his religious and social statements.
Source: Zimeye
South Korea will grant Ghana $4.5 million over five years to restore its historic forts and castles, which are threatened by coastal erosion and climate change. The support, announced by Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie, will involve UNESCO and South Korea’s National Commission for UNESCO, according to the minister.
Source: MyJoyOnline
The implementation of new school rules in Azerbaijan banning the hijab in public schools has triggered protests in Baku and several southern districts, including Masally and Jalilabad. The Interior Ministry announced the arrest of 37 people on the Monday of the protests, according to the BBC.
Source: MyJoyOnline
Leah Chivube, the Zambian senior gender officer responsible for protecting gender rights in North-Western Province, welcomed the increase in reports of gender-based violence by men and boys. She was speaking after a preparatory meeting for the 16 Days campaign, according to the ZANIS news agency.
Source: Lusaka Times
Mozambique’s Nampula province is short of more than 3,000 teachers to serve nearly two million pupils, despite recruiting 351 teachers in 2026. More than 1,000 teachers also suffer from chronic illnesses, provincial director of education William Tunzine told the Lusa news agency, according to Opais.
Source: Opais
Issa Démé, a lawyer and civil administrator, presented a dissertation on 5 October 2026 at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University on the contribution of the Peacebuilding Fund to social cohesion in Burkina Faso. The study notes that the country has benefited from this mechanism since 2017 and that 27 projects, representing more than $80 million between 2017 and 2022, were funded, according to the dissertation’s data.
Source: Lefaso
Moov Africa–ONATEL awarded ten 250,000 CFA franc scholarships to vulnerable students at Thomas Sankara University, including internally displaced people. The operator also provided connection kits for their research during the 2026–2027 academic year, according to Burkina 24.
Source: Burkina 24
Malian Health and Social Development Minister Assa Badiallo Touré visited 95-year-old retired captain Abass Koureichy and gave him a blanket, kola nuts and an envelope. The delegation then visited widows, orphans and military personnel who were war victims, Bamada.net reports.
Source: Bamada.net
Kenyan senator Oburu Odinga, 83, spoke from his hospital bed in Nairobi and thanked the medical staff caring for him. He said his recovery was progressing on his birthday, 15 October, which also marked the first anniversary of his brother Raila Odinga’s death, Tuko reports.
Source: Tuko
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