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IDEAS. CULTURE. IN ACTION
Throwback: Dera night at @daurestaurant Throwback: Dera night at @daurestaurant
A couple of art pieces from the "CANVAS OF CHANGE" A couple of art pieces from the "CANVAS OF CHANGE"; an exhibition to celebrate women and girls’ rights hosted by the Italian Cultural Institute of Nairobi, together with @aics.nairobi and with the support of @italyinkenya.  The event was held on the 21st of November at Maktaba Kuu- Kenya National Library. The exhibition is part of a larger arts-led programme advocating against gender-based violence
Rendez-Vous Chez Nous, meaning “come to us,” is a Rendez-Vous Chez Nous, meaning “come to us,” is a three-day festival organized by the Nama marionette and dance company. Its ninth edition, held in Bamako from Nov. 6–8, featured dances, concerts, plays, and a parade of more than 200 vibrant puppets. Yet the city of over three million residents faced tension: al-Qaida-linked militants had imposed a months-long fuel blockade, prompting school closures and embassy evacuations. Despite the threats, Malians celebrated with resilience. Festival director Yacouba Magassaouba said, “We are artists, we fight through our art. Canceling would mean the jihadis have won.” Mali, though under military rule and scarred by decades of extremist violence, remains a hub for arts and culture. The puppets carried deep cultural meaning. Stylized human figures represented modern Malian women, while animal puppets—lions, horses, hyenas—symbolized coexistence, social cohesion, and ancestral wisdom. Puppetry in Mali is traditionally used for storytelling, passing on values, and connecting communities to the spiritual world, bridging humans and spirits in both public and sacred performances. The festival drew young people and puppeteers from across West Africa, celebrating creativity, communal effort, and cultural pride, demonstrating that even amid conflict, Mali’s artistic traditions endure. Photo Credit: Elena Dobrova
Throwback to the conversation between @gadocartoon Throwback to the conversation between @gadocartoons and @zapiro_cartoons , where they showed their work while speaking about the ethics, challenges and triumps of cartooning over the course of their careers
Beneath the coastal moonlight, Dera Night carries Beneath the coastal moonlight, Dera Night carries the pulse of an old tradition into today’s celebrations. What began centuries ago as chakacha—the hypnotic wedding dance where women swayed in rhythm, sang playful verses, and shared wisdom—now finds new life in the free-spirited movements of the dera. The flowing dress, with its bright colors and sweeping fabric, amplifies every hip roll and turn, echoing the sensual grace of the past while inviting everyone to join the joy of the present. Video shot at a 'Dera Night' at @daurestaurant Lavington Nairobi #deradance #deranight #swahiliculture #coastalculture
Scenes from the grand sale of cheap second-hand bo Scenes from the grand sale of cheap second-hand books which happened on the 13th of October at the Kenya National Museum. Proceeds from the sale were donated to the museum #booksale #nairobibooksale #nairobiculture #kenyanliterature #worldliterature
Scenes from the Affordable Art show which happened Scenes from the Affordable Art show which happened from the 24th to the 26th of October at the Kenya National Museum in Nairobi @affordableartshow.ke #kenyanart #kenyanculture
Scenes from the Affordable Art show which happened Scenes from the Affordable Art show which happened from the 24th to the 26th of October at the Kenya National Museum in Nairobi #kenyanart #kenyanculture
Thousands gather in Ethiopia for Irreechaa festiva Thousands gather in Ethiopia for Irreechaa festival On Sunday, 6 October 2025, thousands of people gathered in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, to celebrate Irreechaa, the annual thanksgiving festival of the Oromo people. Irreechaa marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of sunnier months. Traditionally held near water bodies such as Lake Hora Harsadi, the festival is a time for communities to express gratitude for peace, abundance, and life. The celebration features traditional attire, music, dancing, and blessings offered by elders. For many Oromo people, Irreechaa is not only a cultural event but also an expression of identity, unity, and continuity. #Irreechaa #Ethiopia #OromoCulture #Thanksgiving #Culture #Tradition Photo Credit: Amensisa Ifa
Tom Mboya's proposed solution to the increasing we Tom Mboya's proposed solution to the increasing wealth gap between the developed and developing word. #tommboya #kenyanhistory #bookstagramafrica #bookstagram #africanhistory
A father and son bound by strings and story. 🎶 Tou A father and son bound by strings and story. 🎶 Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté carry the ancient voice of Mali through the kora — a 21-string harp-lute central to West Africa’s griot tradition. As hereditary musicians and storytellers, the Diabatés preserve centuries of Mandinka history, love, and wisdom through sound. “Jarabi,” meaning love, is both a song and a reminder: heritage lives when it’s played, shared, and passed on. Credit: The Noise Chamber #kora #toumanidiabate #sidikidiabate #malianmusic #griotheritage #africanmusic
Shades of Benga: The Story of Popular Music in Ken Shades of Benga: The Story of Popular Music in Kenya traces the roots of Kenya’s modern sound — from the lilting English waltz to the pulse of Afro-Cuban rumba that swept across Africa. It was the itinerant Congolese greats Edouard Masengo and Jean Bosco Mwenda who brought rumba eastward, their intricate guitar work shaping what we now recognize as the Kenyan sound, with benga at its heart. While many have written about Kenyan music — from folk to hip hop — none tell the story quite like this. Shades of Benga stands apart for grounding its history in the voices of the musicians themselves, not distant “experts.” Every chapter draws from those who lived, played, and built the music from the ground up. Spanning 678 pages and featuring over 400 rare photos, this book offers the most complete and heartfelt chronicle yet of Kenya’s musical journey. #kenyanhistory #kenyanbooks #kenyanliterature #bookstagramafrica
" Throughout Owuor’s novel, Mboya’s death is an om " Throughout Owuor’s novel, Mboya’s death is an omnipresent event that constantly directs us to a traumatic period that has not been mourned. His ghost is that of a repressed collective identity submerged into the nation’s unconsciousness. The repression shields the country from confronting its problems of marginalization of minorities, ethnic domination by a few, and state capture by powerful economic interests who continue to build empires on the haggard backs of a majority poor. In death, Mboya magnifies the lost agency for a Kenyan identity as the primitive accumulation of wealth by the political class continues to wreak havoc. The ethos of ujamaa has virtually disappeared in a politics of the belly devoid of ideology and vision that Frantz Fanon so prophetically warned about in “The Wretched of the Earth” (1961). Fanon cautioned that unless post-independence leaders remained steadfast against the temptations of narcissism and mediocrity, nothing substantive in form of development and national unity would come out of such nations."                                    —Amol Awuor in 'The Elephant'
"Nizakupanga Ngozi" by the Ngozi Family Long befo "Nizakupanga Ngozi" by the Ngozi Family Long before the world discovered Afrobeats, Zambia was roaring with guitars. In the 1970s, Paul Ngozi and his band The Ngozi Family helped spark a sound known as Zamrock — a fierce mix of psychedelic rock, funk, and African rhythm born from post-independence energy and creative rebellion. Zamrock thrived in a time of change, when young Zambians fused Hendrix-style distortion with local storytelling. Decades later, rare reissues and digital rediscoveries have brought the sound back to life — and modern artists are once again sampling the fire that never went out. #zamrock #ngozifamily #rocknroll #zambiamusic
Join us for an intimate salon conversation explori Join us for an intimate salon conversation exploring the life, work and legacy of Tom Mboya. Together, we’ll reflect on his enduring legacy and explore what it means for us today. It’s a chance to connect, learn, and be inspired—where history meets community. Saturday, 4th October 2025 🕚 11:00 am – 1:00 pm 📍 @somanami_ke , Ngara Seats are limited—RSVP now by clicking link in bio #tommboya #kenyanliterature #kenyanbooks #bookstagramafrica #kenyanhistory
Nikki Giovanni in conversation with James Baldwin Nikki Giovanni in conversation with James Baldwin #jamesbaldwin #nikkigiovanni #panafricanism #africanhistory #bookstagram
Nike has teamed up with Paris collective Air Afriq Nike has teamed up with Paris collective Air Afrique to create something new: the Air Max RK61. The design draws from the tradition of travelling home in your finest clothes — a moment of pride and connection across the diaspora. The shoe mixes that heritage with Nike’s Air technology, turning it into both a nod to the past and a step into the future. Look closer and the details tell their own story: morse code spelling Air Afrique on the sole, a zipper pull with the airline’s logo, and a lining that recalls airplane seats. The Air Max RK61 will release worldwide on October 9 through SNKRS and select retailers.
NoViolet Bulawayo has been named the standout winn NoViolet Bulawayo has been named the standout winner of the Best of Caine Award, selected from the 25 stories that have received the Caine Prize since it began. 📚 Her short story “Hitting Budapest”, which first won in 2011, was praised by judges for its daring voice, lyrical energy and unforgettable characters. The award, marking 25 years of the prize, revisits works that helped shape contemporary African writing. For Bulawayo, the recognition carries a sense of reflection: “It feels like a moment to reflect on the journey,” she said, recalling how the story launched her literary career. From an unpublished writer to a Booker-shortlisted novelist, Bulawayo’s trajectory highlights both her individual talent and the global impact of African storytelling. Bulawayo has written two novels, "Glory" and "We Need New Names" #africabooks #africaliterature #africanliterature #caineprize
Join us for an intimate salon conversation explori Join us for an intimate salon conversation exploring the life, work and legacy of Tom Mboya. Together, we’ll reflect on his enduring legacy and explore what it means for us today. It’s a chance to connect, learn, and be inspired—where history meets community. Saturday, 4th October 2025 🕚 11:00 am – 1:00 pm 📍 Soma Nami Books, Ngara Seats are limited—RSVP now by clicking link in bio
Here comes the boom! Stay tuned Here comes the boom! Stay tuned
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