大象传媒

  1. Sierra Leone lifts curfew after prison breakoutpublished at 08:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

    President Julius Maada Bio says most of the leaders behind the attack are detained and calm restored.

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  2. This page is now closedpublished at 05:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 November 2023

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  3. Dozens kidnapped by motorcycle 'bandits' in north Nigeriapublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 26 November 2023

    At least 100 are abducted over an unpaid "tax" the gunmen had imposed on villagers, residents say.

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  4. Your chocolate bar - my family's strugglepublished at 09:58 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2023

    Young science writer of the year award-winner delves into the environmental challenges of cocoa farming

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  5. Madagascar president re-elected amid boycottpublished at 09:18 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2023

    President Andry Rajoelina's win follows an election boycott by the opposition over credibility concerns.

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  6. The rapper grateful to have bi-polar disorderpublished at 00:45 Greenwich Mean Time 25 November 2023

    Khtek, one of Morocco's biggest rappers, talks to the 大象传媒 about sexism and mental illness.

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  7. South Africa withdraws 2027 Women's World Cup bidpublished at 23:49 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    South Africa withdraws its bid to host the Women's World Cup in 2027 to focus on an improved bid for the 2031 tournament.

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  8. Boost for Somalia as it joins East African trade blocpublished at 18:19 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    It is hoped that joining the East African Community will boost economic growth after years of war.

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  9. Oscar Pistorius to be freed on parolepublished at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    The Paralympian has been serving a 13-year sentence for murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

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  10. David Oluwale flower sculpture unveiled in citypublished at 15:43 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Hibiscus Rising stands near where Mr Oluwale died in Leeds city centre.

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  11. Hearn targets 'incredible' Joshua fight in Africapublished at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Promoter Eddie Hearn has held talks over an Anthony Joshua fight in Africa which could "revisit" 1974's Rumble in the Jungle.

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  12. Chad police get amnesty for 'Black Thursday' killingspublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Human rights groups say more than 300 people were killed in opposition protests in 2022.

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  13. Classmates pay tribute to Tanzanian killed in Israelpublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Clemence Mtenga should have graduated from university this week - instead his body is being flown home.

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  14. 'Let them kill me' - Liberia boss on death threatspublished at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Liberia manager Ansu Keita on how death threats from fans forced him to miss a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

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  15. Mozambique to extend military service to five yearspublished at 11:59 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    Foreign troops are helping Mozambique tackle a six-year Islamist insurgency in the north.

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  16. Oscar Pistorius eyes early release in new parole bidpublished at 11:08 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    The former Paralympian is serving over 13 years for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

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  17. At least seven swept away by flooded river in Kenyapublished at 08:51 Greenwich Mean Time 24 November 2023

    The group was returning home after meeting the First Lady in Nairobi when they were swept away.

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  18. Scroll down for this week's storiespublished at 17:50 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2023

    We're back on Monday

    That's it for now from the 大象传媒 Africa Live team. We'll be back next week.

    Until then, there will be an automated feed. Or you can find the latest updates on the 大象传媒 News website, or listen to our Focus on Africa podcast.

    A reminder of our wise words of the day:

    Quote Message

    Kindness killed the partridge"

    A Chewa proverb sent by Missy Mercy-Elsie Kazembe in Malawi.

    And we leave you with this picture of a group of lawyers at their graduation ceremony in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi:

    Lawyers attend the ceremony at the court to get admitted to the Bar at the Supreme Court of Kenya, in Nairobi on November 23, 2023Image source, AFP
  19. Pioneer Moroccan rapper confronts history of slaverypublished at 17:33 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2023

    DJ Edu
    Presenter of This Is Africa on 大象传媒 World Service

    Don BiggImage source, Don Bigg

    Taoufik Hazeb, known as Don Bigg, Bigg da Don or just Bigg, is one of Morocco鈥檚 most influential rappers - but he only got into hip-hop because: 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a beautiful voice, so the choice was made.鈥

    His latest hit is a collaboration between Nigerian singer-songwriter Teni and Hamid El Kasri, a master musician of Gnawa - a deeply hypnotic trance music that originated in Morocco鈥檚 enslaved communities.

    Son of a Slave addresses Morocco鈥檚 history of slavery in a powerful and uplifting way.

    It's taken Bigg a long time to confront the issue - even though for 20 years he built his reputation on being outspoken on controversial matters including politics, corruption, police brutality and domestic abuse.

    Quote Message

    I didn鈥檛 have the guts to talk about the subject [of slavery] because I didn鈥檛 want to just talk about something that鈥檚 not my culture.鈥

    But then he realised that slavery was part of his own family鈥檚 history - his own grandfather is descended from enslaved people.

    Don Bigg started out back in 2004 and became a big star in 2006.

    He鈥檚 credited as pioneering Morocco鈥檚 rap movement. He knew in 1989 - when he was six years old - that he wanted to get into music. He was watching a Michael Jackson concert on TV.

    鈥淚 didn鈥檛 understand a word, but I鈥檓 just feeling the vibe of his singing.

    鈥淲hen the crowd yelled at the end of the song, I got goosebumps - and I just had this feeling that this is what I want to do.鈥

    Bigg began rapping in English, but soon realised that rapping in Darija, Morrocan Arabic, was the way to connect with the people.

    He has collaborated with many of the younger generation of Moroccan rappers, including Dizzy Dros, Dragonov, Khtek and El Grande Toto.

    Bigg believes that Moroccan rap is entering a new era.

    Rappers in Morocco are heard all over the world, celebrated in the mainstream and even get the support of the king.

    Quote Message

    I'm really proud to see my country as it is right now. We had this dream back in the day.鈥

    He says that Moroccan rap is also freeing itself from the influence of US and European rap as artists turn towards the rest of Africa for collaborations.

    鈥淚 think people are starting to understand that Africa is the future - because it鈥檚 there that you can find a lot of different cultures.鈥

    And you can certainly hear those different vibes in Don Bigg鈥檚 collaboration with Teni.

    You can find DJ Edu鈥檚 conversation with Don Bigg here.

  20. Drug trial offers hope for disabling fungal diseasepublished at 17:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2023

    Dorcas Wangira
    大象传媒 Africa health correspondent, Nairobi

    Results from the world鈥檚 first double-blind clinical trial to find a treatment for fungal mycetoma, a chronic disabling disease, have shown that a new oral treatment, fosravoconazole, is safe, patient-friendly and effective.

    Mycetoma, also known as Madura Foot or Nabat in Arabic, is one of the world鈥檚 most-neglected diseases.

    The drug was tested in Sudan which, along with Mexico, reports some of the highest number of cases globally.

    Mycetoma is caused by a fungus. Infection begins most often in the foot, after a cut allows the fungus to enter from the soil or animal dung.

    It infects people who often walk barefoot.

    The disease eats away at the flesh and is very difficult to treat.

    If caught early enough there is a drug that can already be used but a patient has to take up to four pills a day for an entire year.

    Too often, amputation to treat the infected foot is the only option.

    According to trial results, the fosravoconazole treatment is cheaper and has fewer side effects than the current drug. Plus a patient will only need to take two pills a week.

    The next step is for the drug to be registered for general use in Sudan. But the war is having devastating consequences and patients do not have access to the treatments they desperately need.