Nigerian fashion makes a big impact

On October 24th it´s once again time for Lagos fashion week in Nigeria´s biggest city. The aim is to be a force for the Nigerian and African fashion industry. We can at least say that Nigeria recently has succeded in making a name for itself in the fashion industry. One of the better known fashion designers is Amaka Osakwe who has founded the label Maki oh. People like Michelle Obama are known to have worn Amaka Osakwes clothes. Amaka Osakwe is famous for blending Nigerian and Western influences.

Gambia will deal with it´s past

The Gambian government decided on Monday that the country will set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to deal with the period from 1994 to 2017 when Yahya Jammeh was president, according to Reuters.

"A Truth and Reconciliation Comnission with appropiate reparations for victims will be set up within the next six months and public hearings will be expected to commence by the end of the year", justice minister Abubacarr Tambadou said according to Reuters.

Yahya Jammeh is accused of kiling and torturing political opponents and the commission will let people confess their crimes and victims speak of what they have gone through.
The current president is Amada Barrow.

One of the world´s biggest churches - in Ivory Coast

A fact that many in the world might not know is that Ivory Coast is home to one of the biggest churches in the world. Depending on which source you look at, it is either listed as the biggest church or the second biggest church in the world, in competition with St. Peter´s basilica in the Vatican.

The church in Ivory Coast is called Notre-Dame de la Paix, located in the capital Yamoussoukro. It was built during former president Felix Houphouet-Boigny´s reign at the end of the 1980´s and was modelled after St. Peter´s basilica in the Vatican. Read more here.

Who was Shaka Zulu?

Many people around the world has probably heard the name Shaka Zulu. But who was he and what made him famous? In short, in the beginning of the 1800s, he expanded the Zulu kingdom. This was made possibly because it is said that Shaka invented new war formations and changed the choice of weaponry for the Zulu warriors. As it is said in the video below, the sources of who Shaka was are conflicting and it is not easy to give a clear picture of him. Watch the video below and fnnd out more.

Great music from Somalia

When I have worked as a local news reporter in Stockholm, I have sometimes written about the annual Somali football tournament SEUKI in Stockholm that gathers Somali communities from all over the world. One thing I have always noticed is the great music either coming from the speakers or performed by singers at the event. If you are interrested in Somali music you can read more about it´s history here.

One great example of Somali music is Dur-Dur Band´ song "Yabaal".

The Somali language can also be heard in Swedish rapper Imenella´s song "Moves". She raps in Swedish but is of Somali descent and has included the Somali language in the refrain.

See art from Madagascar in Paris

I was recently in Paris and had a look at an art exhibition in the Quai Branly museum. On display was paintings, carpets, sculptures, photographies and a lot of other art from Madagascar, both contemparary art and older artefacts. I really recommend that you have a look at it if you are in Paris. The items show the rich history of the island and the exhibition contains art from people of different descent living on the island. Its possible to see the exhibition until january first next year.

The Nobel prize is awarded to Denis Mukwege!

Last week it was announced that an African had received the Nobel peace prize, Denis Mukwege from D.R. Congo. The gynecologist has long worked at the Panzi hospital with women who have been victims of sexual violence. He shared the prize with former IS prisoner Nadia Murad.

A couple of years ago, Denis Mukwege was a guest on the Scandinavian talkshow Skavlan. There he talked about his work and also let people know about one reason behind the conflict in D.R Congo. Find out more and watch the interview below, part 1 followed by part 2.