African Arts Journal

Behind the Mask: Porto-Novo’s Festival of Masks Returns July 25–26

In ten days, the streets of Porto-Novo will belong to the masks. On July 25 and 26, Benin's historic capital hosts the third edition of the Festival des Masques — the Festival of Masks — and everything about this year's edition suggests it is about to become the most significant yet. Organised by Bénin Tourisme in partnership with the City of Porto-Novo, the festival has in just two editions established itself as one of West Africa's most compelling cultural gatherings....

Behind the Mask: Porto-Novo’s Festival of Masks Returns July 25–26 In ten days, the streets of Porto-Novo will belong to the masks.On July 25 and 26, Benin’s historic capital hosts the third edition of the Festival des Masques — the Festival of Masks — and e…

Weekend Children’s Book Recommendation: Olu and Greta by Diana Ejaita

This lovely Saturday is the perfect time to share a heartwarming story about family, imagination, and the beautiful connections that bind us across distances. Olu and Greta by Nigerian-Italian author and illustrator Diana Ejaita is a delightful picture book that follows two cousins who have never met in person. Olu lives in Lagos, Nigeria, while Greta lives in Milan, Italy. Though they are separated by oceans and cultures, their ways of living, playing, and dreaming are remarkably similar....

Weekend Children’s Book Recommendation: Olu and Greta by Diana Ejaita This lovely Saturday is the perfect time to share a heartwarming story about family, imagination, and the beautiful connections that bind us across distances. Olu and Greta by Nigerian-Italian auth…

He Returned to the Scene of the Controversy — And Set the Record Straight

When African Arts Journal first covered the story of Lebo M's $27 million lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, the question at the heart of it was deceptively simple: what does Nants' ingonyama bagithi Baba actually mean? The answer, it turned out, was far more than a translation. It was a question about who gets to define African culture, who gets to laugh at it, and what happens when a sacred piece of African artistic heritage is reduced to a punchline before a global audience....

He Returned to the Scene of the Controversy — And Set the Record Straight When African Arts Journal first covered the story of Lebo M’s $27 million lawsuit against Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi, the question at the heart of it was deceptively simple: what do…

Africa’s Animation Industry Just Found Its Missing Link

For years, African animators have had a problem that no amount of talent could solve on its own. The films existed — in fragments, in hard drives, in the imaginations of creators from Lagos to Nairobi to Abidjan — but the infrastructure to turn those ideas into funded, produced, internationally distributed projects largely did not. There was nowhere on the continent where an African animator could walk into a room, pitch a project to investors, broadcasters and studios, and walk out with a deal....

Africa’s Animation Industry Just Found Its Missing Link For years, African animators have had a problem that no amount of talent could solve on its own. The films existed — in fragments, in hard drives, in the imaginations of creators from Lagos to Nair…