East Africa

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o sits at a table signing a book during a public event, with a banner behind him displaying “Weep Not, Child Book Signing by Prof. Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o” and a crowd of people gathered in the background.
News

A Reading List: 10 Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o Works You Should Know

A look at the novels, essays, and poems that made the late Kenyan writer one of the most influential literary and political voices of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Africa’s Next Serve: Angella Okutoyi Is Just Getting Started
Sports

Africa’s Next Serve: Angella Okutoyi Is Just Getting Started

Kenya’s rising tennis star is building her path to the pro tour while dreaming of a future for African talent.

The Ugandan Trial Everyone Should Be Watching
News

The Ugandan Trial Everyone Should Be Watching

As Dr. Kizza Besigye returns to court this week on treason charges, the high-profile case of Uganda’s main opposition leader raises questions about Uganda’s political future ahead of the 2026 elections.

Nairobi City Thunder's BAL Debut Marks a New Era for Kenyan Basketball
Sports

Nairobi City Thunder's BAL Debut Marks a New Era for Kenyan Basketball

After an undefeated season, the team steps onto Africa’s biggest basketball stage for the first time.

South African and Rwandan Presidents Advocate for African Solutions to African Problems
News

South African and Rwandan Presidents Advocate for African Solutions to African Problems

Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Paul Kagame were in good spirits at a panel during the Africa CEO Forum, easing speculations of tense relations between the two.

Once Overshadowed by Men, Africa’s Women’s Cricket Wants a Bite of the Billion-Dollar Game
Sports

Once Overshadowed by Men, Africa’s Women’s Cricket Wants a Bite of the Billion-Dollar Game

Women cricketers across the continent are creating new pathways to leadership, income, and global visibility.

Saheem Ali Brings Kenyan Coast Heat to Broadway in New Musical ‘Goddess’
News

Saheem Ali Brings Kenyan Coast Heat to Broadway in New Musical ‘Goddess’

The Kenyan-born theater director talks to OkayAfrica about turning the Myth of Marimba into a full-length musical set in Mombasa, navigating diaspora identity, and why African stories deserve center stage.

Faith Kipyegon Eyes History as First Woman to Run a Mile Under Four Minutes
Sports

Faith Kipyegon Eyes History as First Woman to Run a Mile Under Four Minutes

The Kenyan triple World and Olympic 1,500m champion will be attempting to shave nearly eight seconds off her own women’s mile record.

What It’s Like To … Build and Run a Pan-African Bookstore in Nairobi
What It's Like To...

What It’s Like To … Build and Run a Pan-African Bookstore in Nairobi

Kenya’s Muthoni Muiruri on co-founding Soma Nami, Nairobi’s only female-owned Pan-African bookstore, and creating space for African literature to thrive.

Kenyan Artists Plan Public Staging of Political Play After Schoolgirls' Performance Is Disrupted
News

Kenyan Artists Plan Public Staging of Political Play After Schoolgirls' Performance Is Disrupted

Following a chaotic shutdown at the National Drama Festival, creatives are bringing “Echoes of War” to Uhuru Park in defense of free expression.

Can Facebook Be Held Responsible for Violence in Africa? Kenya’s Courts Say Yes
News

Can Facebook Be Held Responsible for Violence in Africa? Kenya’s Courts Say Yes

Ethiopian plaintiffs take on Meta in a landmark Kenyan lawsuit that could redefine Big Tech's accountability for fueling violence in Africa.

What It’s Like To … Build a National Skateboarding Movement in Kenya
What It's Like To...

What It’s Like To … Build a National Skateboarding Movement in Kenya

Against a backdrop of limited resources and official recognition, Kenya's skateboarding community finds creative ways to build an inclusive scene with Olympic aspirations.

Abdirizaq Hassan sits at an outdoor table surrounded by colorful plastic chairs, gazing into the distance.
Diaspora

For Somali Diasporans "Returning Home," Kenya is the Next Best Thing

An increasing number of Somalis who grew up in the West are settling in Kenya for opportunity, stability, and a sense of belonging

Sudan's de facto leader, armed forces chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, salutes during an event in Port Sudan on November 25, 2024.
News

Sudan Bans Kenyan Imports Amidst Widespread Criticisms of Armed Militia’s Parallel Government Plans

The African Union, European Union, and UN Security Council have all condemned the RSF’s signing of a founding charter, as Kenya’s facilitation of the event comes under scrutiny.

John Legend performs onstage during Global Citizen's Move Afrika: Kigali at BK Arena on February 21, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda.
Latest

Op-Ed: How John Legend's Rwanda Concert Challenges the Politics of Boycotts

With growing scrutiny over Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 rebels, many are asking artists to boycott performing in the country. But do such boycotts work, or do they punish the wrong people?

Bruce Melodie wearing a fur-trimmed jacket and sunglasses, looking off to the side.
Latest

Rwanda’s Bruce Melodie is Ready to go From Kigali to the World

In his debut album, ‘Colorful Generation,’ the East African star proves he’s more than just a singles artist who has conquered the region — he’s building a global legacy.

A health worker prepares to administer a trial dose of ebola vaccine during a vaccination campaign at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda, on Feb. 3, 2025.
News

Uganda has Contained its Latest SVD Ebolavirus Outbreak

This is the sixth outbreak of the Sudan Ebolavirus virus in Uganda, following a 2022 outbreak that resulted in 77 fatalities.

Saxophonists and a clarinetist perform on stage at the Bob Collymore International Jazz Festival
Latest

How East Africa’s Biggest Jazz Festival is Shaping Kenya’s Next Generation of Jazz Lovers

Once seen as a niche genre, jazz in Kenya is gaining new audiences and nurturing homegrown talent, thanks to the Bob Collymore International Jazz Festival.