Arts + Culture
Fela! on Broadway: how Fela Kuti’s story reached New York’s stages
The musical Fela!, directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones, opened on Broadway in 2009. Built around Fela…
Arts + Culture
Dive into a world of boundless creativity and diverse perspectives with our Arts + Culture corner. Explore the latest in visual arts, literature, and cultural trends
Arts + Culture
Akuaba: the Asante wooden figures carried by women hoping for a child
Akuaba are small carved wooden figures with flat, round heads, made by Akan carvers in Ghana. By tradition,…
Arts + Culture
The Dogon kanaga mask: dancing for the dead on the Bandiagara cliffs
The Dogon people of Mali's Bandiagara Escarpment are known for their masked dances, above all the kanaga mask…
Arts + Culture
The Bamileke elephant mask: beaded power from the Cameroon Grassfields
In the Grassfields of western Cameroon, Bamileke masquerades feature striking beaded cloth masks with long panels and round…
Arts + Culture
The Benin Bronzes come home: Germany’s 2022 handover and the debate that followed
In December 2022, Germany handed over 20 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, after agreeing to transfer ownership of more…
Arts + Culture
The Ethiopian coffee ceremony: roasting, incense and three rounds of conversation
In Ethiopia, coffee is not simply a drink but a ritual of hospitality. The coffee ceremony involves roasting…
Arts + Culture
The carved doors of Lamu and Zanzibar: Swahili craftsmanship in wood and brass
The heavy wooden doors of Zanzibar's Stone Town and Kenya's Lamu are famous for their carved frames and…
Arts + Culture
Nsibidi: the symbol system of south-eastern Nigeria and the Ekpe society
Nsibidi is a system of symbols used for centuries by peoples of south-eastern Nigeria and western Cameroon, including…
Arts + Culture
Ere ibeji: the Yoruba twin figures carved to honour a lost child
The Yoruba have one of the highest rates of twin births in the world. When a twin died,…
Arts + Culture
Francis Bebey: the Cameroonian musician, writer and thinker who played the world’s instruments
Francis Bebey was a Cameroonian guitarist, composer, novelist and musicologist. He wrote the prize-winning novel Agatha Moudio's Son,…