Author: King Jaja

Obisia Nwankpa, the iconic boxer and former national coach fondly known as “Golden Gloves,” is dead. He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, 3 June, at the age of 75. While speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on the development, Rafiu Ladipo, president of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C,) said the late boxer is deserving of a place in the country’s Sports Hall of Fame. According to Mr Ladipo, Obisia’s death is another big loss to the Boxing fraternity in Nigeria and beyond. “This is another big blow for us… Obisia deserves to be immortalised in…

Africa’s mobile money revolution is re-writing the rules of power and patronage across the continent’s politics, writes Ziyad Chaouki. Mobile money is surging across Africa, and its impacts extend far beyond financial inclusion. These digital payment systems are dramatically altering political patronage networks, government accountability, and power dynamics between states and citizens. Mobile money systems allow users to store, send, and receive funds on their mobile phones without needing traditional bank accounts. Unlike conventional banking that requires physical infrastructure and documentation, mobile money only needs a basic phone and ID. The ease of access makes financial services accessible to previously…

Rather than lamenting foreign aid cuts, African countries, often pushed to the sidelines by developed ‘core’ countries, should reconsider their role in the global economy and seek results that support their long-term growth, writes Susan Lado. In January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reevaluate and realign US foreign aid. Since then, 86 per cent (£57.1 billion) of foreign aid, and 28 per cent (£3.3 billion) of foreign assistance grants have been cut. Foreign aid and official development assistance (ODA) programs from Europe, the Americas, and Asia, have often been subject to reviews and reductions as…

Super glam outfit ideas have been on full blast lately, all thanks to our favorite celebrities. Indeed, the stars haven’t just shown up—they’ve absolutely slayed. From the shimmering steps of Cannes to effortlessly chic rooftop snaps, these celebs turned every moment into a runway and every post into a Pinterest-worthy session. But before you scroll past, thinking it’s just another pretty picture, pause for a moment. These looks aren’t just meant to be admired—they’re practically begging to be recreated (yes, with pieces you probably already have in your closet).Whether you’re gearing up for a five-star dinner, a gallery opening, or…

I looked around as I stood in front of the Kaabah, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, praying, speechless. The emotion on people’s faces, the thousands of hands raised in prayers and the smiles and looks of astonishment on their faces. Tears trickled down their lit-up eyes; some cried for forgiveness, some for ease, others for guidance, and others for a love they lost or a dream they hoped to realise. But in everyone’s face, there was an overwhelming awareness of Allah’s mercy. People of every class, race, ethnic group, age, and gender, all brought together by…

Africa Confidential’s reporting and analysis is valued by a wide range of organisations and individuals: from corporate executives, country risk analysts, national politicians and members of the diplomatic corps, to intelligence operatives, academics, journalists and NGO personnel. Here’s what our readers say about us: “If you want the detail and you want the dirt, the little blue newsletter [Africa Confidential] that drops through your letter box is like having your own private spook who knows Africa inside out and who’s also one hell of a gossip.”Jonathan Miller, Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Channel 4 News, London, UK “Since the demise of reporting…

Women bring different perspectives of cultures and conflict and when those voices are at the negotiating table a lasting peace is more likely, writes Maha Akeel. It is important to include women at the negotiation table of conflict resolution and peacebuilding early in the process and not be persuaded to delay that for any reason. Ensuring that women’s rights, needs, and expectations are reflected in any texts adopted during the talks lays the groundwork for their political participation and social empowerment later. Third-party mediators can and should play a role in including women in such negotiations whether as negotiation delegates…

East Kenya – In the dim light of early morning in eastern Kenya, Lucia ties a shawl around her head, hauls a red backpack on to her shoulders and sets out on foot. The bag contains only a few essential medicines, but for the families in this remote village, it may as well contain miracles. Issued on: 31/05/2025 – 16:07 3 min Reading time By: Anne Macharia in Nairobi For more than 10 years, Lucia has been the closest thing to a doctor many here have seen.She is a Community Health Worker, or CHW – part of a vast but often…

Tiemar’s work redefines printmaking, challenging its conventional boundaries while infusing it with new layers of meaning that resonate deeply with both the personal and collective experience. Dagim Abebe on the work of the Ethiopian artist Tiemar Tegene       Tiemar Tegene and the New Vanguard of Ethiopian Printmaking   Tiemar’s art is a bold and uncompromising fusion of intellectual depth and raw emotional power. The meticulous care with which she prepares her plates reflects an unwavering commitment to technical mastery, while the visceral energy of her prints transcends experiential representation through what Deleuze and Guattari (1987) might call a ‘line…

“Writing from Africa is not simply about where one writes, but under what conditions one writes. It is about who controls infrastructure, who sets the terms of visibility, and who benefits from the circulation of cultural production. If we take these factors seriously, then writing from Africa in the digital age is not just a literary or academic question, it is a political one…And so, if there is to be any coherent answer to the question of what it means to write from Africa, it must begin with a commitment to agency. Rather than prescribing a fixed definition of African…