African culture news summarised in English: music, film, literature, heritage, religion and society, from the local press of 54 countries. 283 articles published.
Updated around the clock from 400+ African and international news outlets in 54 countries. Every article names its source. Our method
Rebecca Nekesa Wamalwa, a Kenyan mother from Kitale, died in Saudi Arabia more than a month ago. Her relatives are seeking 370,000 shillings to repatriate her body and bury her in Kenya, according to Tuko, which reports the family’s appeal for help.
Source: Tuko
Almorie Nagayi won the Miss Uganda 2026/27 pageant, prompting an emotional reaction from her father, who knelt on stage to congratulate her. The footage, filmed at the Sheraton Hotel in Uganda, circulated on TikTok, according to Tuko.
Source: Tuko
Mobolaji Onasanya, rector of Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Nigeria, is calling on the federal and Ogun governments to increase funding for polytechnic education. He is also seeking rotational access to the TETFund to finance infrastructure at public institutions, according to Leadership.
Source: Leadership
Madagascar is introducing a new school curriculum from primary to secondary level in the 2026-2027 academic year, after thirty years without a revision. The reform changes content and teaching methods and could complicate the 2027 BEPC because the old and new curricula will coexist, according to Yves Martin Razafimandranto, director-general of Pedagogy.
Source: Lexpress
Nigerian comedian and actor Okey Bakassi has denied rumours that he and his wife are separating, saying their marriage is continuing. The couple recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Canada, he said in a video posted on Instagram.
Source: Theghanareport
The Nigerian government has announced measures to improve school infrastructure, teaching quality, digital learning and vocational training. Education Minister Tunji Alausa presented them at the 85th plenary meeting of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education, according to the outlet ThisDay.
Source: ThisDay
Sékou Diabaté, co-founder and lead singer of Guinea’s Super Lion of the National Gendarmerie, recounts his move from a military career to music. Born in Coyah and now a senior retired officer, he looks back on his beginnings, years of service and artistic career in an interview with Guineenews.
Source: Guinéenews
Higher education officials from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have opened work in Ouagadougou to harmonise their university and research systems. The initiative is intended to strengthen the AES’s scientific and technological sovereignty, according to Burkina Faso’s minister Adjima Thiombiano, quoted by La Nouvelle Tribune.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
Benin’s Ministry of Higher Education has opened a single platform for university pre-registration and re-registration for the 2026-2027 academic year. Available at etudiant.bj since 9 October 2026, it also assigns a student number linked to each student’s personal identification number, according to the ministry statement.
Source: La Nouvelle Tribune
Teachers in rural areas of Eswatini sometimes walk for more than two hours to reach their school, while also facing a lack of safe drinking water, teaching materials and suitable accommodation. A tour led by the national teachers’ association is examining these difficulties as discussions continue over an allowance, the Times of Eswatini reports.
Source: Times of Eswatini
Silvino de Oliveira Lima, former Cape Verdean Minister of Public Works and an engineer, died on 12 October in Praia. A former MP and freedom fighter, he had notably contributed to building the road linking Ribeira Grande to Porto Novo and to the development of Santo Antão, according to Anacao.
Source: Anacao
The Malian film “Les larmes du pagne”, directed by Tabah Keita, won the Fiction Grand Prix at the Cedar Universal International Short Film Festival in Ifrane, Morocco. The 27th edition, held from 8 to 11 October, also recognised works from Mauritania, France, Syria and other countries, according to the organisers.
Source: Ang
Ahmed Ould Amar Ould Ely, head of operations control at Mauritania Airlines International, is among the 100 leaders of 2026. He was recognised in the “Best Young Leader of the Year” category of the American Global Business Awards, while leading an association and a political youth organisation, according to Lecalame.
Source: Lecalame
El Hadj Tiemtoré Boukaré, a former cyclist and Tour du Faso presenter, has died after his health deteriorated. Known by the pseudonym “7+7=14”, he also created the Grand Prix 14, according to Lefaso.net, as Burkina Faso prepares for the 37th edition of the Tour du Faso.
Source: Lefaso
Sonke Gender Justice denounces a rise in reports of sexual harassment, sexual abuse and gender-based violence committed by religious leaders in South Africa. The organisation calls for independent reporting procedures, mandatory protection rules and the referral of alleged offences to the criminal justice system.
Source: Maravipost
Thirty-three Mauritanian journalists from public and private media took part in training in Nouakchott on 9 and 10 October on ethical and rigorous reporting of migration issues. Organised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the workshop covered human trafficking, migrant smuggling and gender issues, Initiativesnews reports.
Source: Initiativesnews
The wildlife and conservation television series Wild Africa has launched on Rwanda TV with 13 episodes. Produced for African audiences, it showcases initiatives in Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria and Namibia, according to Peter Knights, the series’ producer and chief executive of Wild Africa.
Source: Taarifa
Examinations at several school levels have been postponed in Mauritius for security reasons, affecting 33,893 candidates, including 12,660 for the School Certificate, 7,890 for the Higher School Certificate and 13,343 for the National Certificate of Education. New dates are to be set with Cambridge and the relevant authorities, according to the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate.
Source: Defimedia
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