West Africa

The musical expression of a people's pain

Like many Tamasheq musicians and many of his people, Niger-born Bombino has spent a lot of time in exile. On his latest album, "Sahel", he sings of the pain of exile and the importance for a people of holding on to its culture and values

Controversy over 'culture of remembrance' reform

Germany's coalition government wants to expand its remembrance culture to include the country's colonial history. Initial proposals have been met with criticism, in particular from heads of Holocaust memorial sites

Why young Africans try their luck in Saudi Arabia

Every year, thousands of people die making the crossing from Senegal to Europe in rickety fishing boats. Many others from West Africa head for Saudi Arabia, where they end up as undocumented migrants – without papers, rights and prospects.

Healing racism wounds through culture

It's calm in France's suburbs again after the recent riots. But cultural activists say the uprising's causes run deep and are calling for fundamental reforms. By Lisa Louis

"Exploiting women is becoming the norm"

Due to the current crisis, the situation of female labour migrants in Lebanon is deteriorating dramatically, says feminist Ghina al Andary. In interview with Andrea Backhaus in Beirut, she talks about how the kafala system is driving more and more women into prostitution

Wretched life of migrants building Senegal's city of the future

When Mohamed was hired at the construction site for the United Nations' new West Africa headquarters in Senegal, he was proud to say he would be working "not only for Africa, but for the world"

Tunisia's brain drain

Tunisia's economic and political instability and the increasing reluctance of Europe to take in job-seeking migrants is leading many Tunisians to head for sub-Saharan Africa in the hope of building a better life for themselves and their families. Tarak Guizani reports

Erdogan scores "Made in Turkey" points

Ankara staged its third Turkey-Africa summit on 17 December, a sign of growing economic partnership under President Erdogan. Military co-operation is also a hot topic. Martina Schwikowski, Daniel Bellut and Pelin Unker have the details

Morocco's fast-track development programme bypasses many

Morocco is receiving much international recognition for its policy of modernisation, but the weaknesses of the model are obvious. By Claudia Mende

Giving a voice to young African women during coronavirus

The end of July saw the launch of the African Union’s "Sauti" digital publication, the first young feminist platform in Africa, which this year showcases stories by female youth on their initiatives and their challenges in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Alessandra Bajec reports

A fight for the soul of Islam

Violent Islamist fundamentalism has not yet come to Senegal, but it could – just as it has in Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. A fascinating new feature film from Senegal shows how it could happen. By Aviva Freudmann

Ivory Coast: a slow rebirth