H.O.N Weekly : Your Weekly Roundup of Trending News

Picture of the 2 protagonists in Atlantics. Picture Netflix.

Welcome to my second installation of HON Weekly.

Last week, we discussed the Covid-19 crisis and how some African countries are managing the pandemic.

25 May it’s Africa Day !

Today, it’s all about celebrating the motherland. Happy Africa Day!

A bit of history

Africa Day was first held in 1963 in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, when 32 countries formed the Organisation of Africa Unity (O.A.U). The O.A.U was renamed the Africa Union (A.U) in 2002 and includes today 55 countries. This year’s theme is: “Silencing the guns by 2020 and creating conductive conditions for Africa’s socio-economic development, and intensifying the fight against Covid-19”. (Sources African Union).

While we celebrate Africa day, let’s all make sure that all these unity and development goals are implemented and don’t remain wishful slogans.

Virtual Africa day events

Africa day is usually commemorated and celebrated across the continent via diplomatic and cultural events. This year virtual events will take place instead, such as the Africa Day benefits concert hosted by Idris Elba on MTV Base Africa (DSTV channel 322) and I am WAN event, hosted on YouTube and Facebook. Both events will feature international African artists and from the diaspora, such as Fally Ipupa, Burna Boy, Yemi Alade, Youssou N’dour and Khadja Nin just to name a few.

3D Fashion show by designer Anifa Mvuemba breaks the internet

On May 22, Congolese Anifa Mvuemba literally broke the internet when she debuted the latest collection of her contemporary fashion brand, with a revolutionary digital fashion show on Instagram live, featuring 3D models. Clips of the innovative show quickly became viral short afterwards, and trended all week-end. Talking to Teen vogue magazine, the Maryland born said she had ideas of putting a 3D show long before the stay-at-home regulations where put into place.

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A post shared by Hanifa (@hanifaofficial)

“The news came out about how serious things [ then pandemic] were and I started to feel a bit anxious about everything going on. I started feeling like maybe it would be insensitive to create and share a new collection online while people were facing very difficult realities”. She continues “my decision to keep going could impact our customers for the better in ways I never imagined. That’s when I knew it was time”. Anifa began the fashion with a documentary to raise awareness on the issue of conflicts minerals and how it affects women and children in her country of origin, Congo-Kinshasa, stating how storytelling and being intentional is important in her craft.

African Proverb

“I am not African because I was born in Africa, but because Africa was born in me” Kwame N’krumah”, first president of Ghana and of the architect of panafricanism.

Watch+ Read + Listen

Do not forget to catch up with Netflix’s Made In Africa collection in honor of Africa month ( see last week post)

Editor’s pick : Atlantics

Atlantics ( 2019) is an award-wining supernatural love story, directed by Franco-Senegalese director Mati Diop. Set in Dakar (Senegal), Atlantics highlights the issues of exploitation of cheap labor by crooked bosses, the weight of traditions on young women, their dream of freedom, against the backdrop of clandestine immigration.

Quiz : so you think you know Africa?

Bantunauts Raydio wants to know how well do you know Africa. Take this quiz and tell us your results. Share it with your friends on your social media pages and tag us!