Category: Great People

A Heritage of Great African leaders and visionaries

Simone Gbagbo, First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire, and Presidential Candidate Forgives France for its Complicity

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Simone Ehivet Gbagbo
Simone Ehivet Gbagbo

There are no words to express my joy at seeing and hearing former first lady of Cote d’Ivoire, and presidential candidate, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo speak during her first visit to France in almost 20 years. It is no secret what Simone Gbagbo endured at the hands of her captors, many of whom acted as proxies for France during the 2010 post‑electoral crisis that shook the country. She was paraded before cameras for the whole world to see as she was abused by forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara, all under the watchful eyes of French soldiers, journalists, and diplomats. It is even said that she was violated in her intimacy, and those present did absolutely nothing (Laurent Gbagbo: Non au Silence Complice! Free at Last: Simone Gbagbo Liberated, Laurent Gbagbo and Charles Ble Goude: Totally Acquitted and Free at Last). I remember how the mainstream media mocked her and placated her images nonstop as if she was not a human being. She was then thrown in jail for several years, during which many of us prayed for her well-being. In 2018 she was finally released from jail. She reinstated her party, created a new one, and re-entered the political life of her country under the gaze of the very people jailers and tormentors. She even ran last year in the presidential election which, without surprise was won by Alassane Ouattara.

During her recent interview with France24, one theme stood out: forgiveness. Simone said she forgave Alassane Ouattara, and if she could forgive him, why would she not forgive France? I applaud Mama Simone Gbagbo’s spirit! And I understand that forgiveness is necessary for her survival and peace of mind.

It is no secret that Africans often forgive easily, even as others continue to hurt and exploit us. If we choose to forgive, we must not forget. We should never forget. That is how we build. Something happened! And although we forgive, we must never return to that place. It cannot be an endless cycle in which others harm us without consequence.

Please enjoy, Simone Ehivet Gbagbo and applaud with me this woman who exemplifies resilience, elegance, and the calm strength of a Black woman. We all can see why the French never liked her!

“Angola” by Cesária Évora

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The album titled 'Cesaria Evora'
The album titled ‘Cesaria Evora’

We talked about Fortaleza de São Miguel in Luanda, Angola, a major slave fort of Angola which today has been turned into a museum and stood the test of times, and show the resilience of the Angolan people and their love of life in spite of adversities. Cesária Évora, the barefoot diva, Cape Verde’s national diva sang “Angola.” As this fortress, she had a breakthrough after years of disappointment, she never gave up. She exemplified endurance, strength, confidence, and perseverance. Just like her song “Angola” is a tribute to the wisdom, resilience, joy, and cultural strength of the Angolan people, celebrating how they endure hardship, war, and colonial trauma while still finding community, patience, and pleasure in life. It’s like a mirror of her life, as if Cesária is singing of her life, and of the beautiful country of Angola, and the resilience of its people.

The repeated line “Angóla, Angóla, oi, ke pove sábe” means: “Angola, Angola, oh, what a wise people.” This is the emotional anchor of the song. She is praising: Angolan wisdom, Angolan strength, Angolan endurance through the civil war which devastated their country and live, Angolan cultural richness, and joy.

Flag of Angola
Flag of Angola

The song emphasizes that Angolans have endured wars, colonial violence, and hardship, yet remain strong and united. Words like konvivénsia (coexistence), pasiénsia (patience), and rezisténsia (resistance) reinforce this.

The line, “Es vida sábe ke nhos ta vivê / Paródia dia i note manxê, sen maka ma ku sabura” celebrate living life intensely, to the fullest, dancing, laughing, enjoying community, even through life’s difficulties.

New Attacks and Mutiny at the International Hamani Diori Airport in Niger

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Map of Niger

Today, August 29, there was a mutiny at the Base 101 in Niamey, Niger. Mutinous soldiers launched coordinated attacks on both the Diori Hamani International Airport and the city center around the presidential compound in Niamey early Saturday, unleashing hours of gunfire and explosions that briefly knocked the state TV and radio off the air. This is clearly an attack against the government of General Abdourahamane Tiani, who has defied the French and Western stranglehold on the country. Recall that Air Force Base 101 is located within the international airport complex, and is home to the headquarters of Niamey’s Russian Africa Corps partners and the command of the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States (Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali). So this is a direct attack against the AES.

By late morning, the Niger’s defense ministry said loyalist forces were gradually regaining control of targeted sites, though mutineers remained active around the airport. Witnesses reported heavy pre‑dawn fighting, and security sources noted that troops from Ouallam, Tera, and Dosso, areas hit hard by Islamic State–linked insurgents, were involved in the assault, reflecting growing frustration within frontline units. Security forces were deployed to key locations. A resident stated, “The weapons we’re hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry. The fighting has been non-stop since last night.” We all know who is behind these new attacks.

President Abdourahamane Tiani of Niger

Let us all pray and support our brothers and sisters of Niger. These mark the third attacks against the government of Tiani since the beginning of this year. As we remain alert, we are also reminded that such attacks against Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, is because the Niger people and Tiani’s government are really fighting for the freedom of their people, and the Black race as a whole. This explains the violence and repeated attacks funded by the Western powers against Niger and the AES. They, the West, have not unleashed anything against those dictators who play in their hands like the 93-year-old president of another African country who has plundered the nation’s wealth, or its neighbors, or even the other puppet from Cote d’Ivoire. The battle is now, and as we are proud of our Niger brothers and sisters, we stand with them, and can all do a little like them so that bit by bit we will free our continent of the barbaric chokehold of the imperialist forces.

To read more, check out NBC, RFI, and Africanews.

Angélique Kidjo is the First African Singer Honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Angelique Kidjo in front of her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Source: RFI.fr)

Last Tuesday, five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo made history by becoming the first African musician to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Let me repeat that: the first African musician to be honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Africa is the cradle of humanity and the birthplace of music, so it is both surprising and shocking that this recognition took so long.

We congratulate Angélique Kidjo, who told the BBC that she wanted to dedicate the accolade to the continent of her birth. The Franco Beninese icon stated: “This star is for all the continent of Africa. Because if I was not African, would I be here?”

With a career spanning four decades, she reminded the world of the essential role Africans have played in shaping global music: “Without the blues brought by the slaves in America, there is no R&B, there is no rock and roll, there is no soul music, there is no jazz. All of it comes from Africa.”

Angelique Kidjo

She told BBC Focus on Africa that Africans must appreciate what they have given the world and invest in nurturing talent at home: “Let us celebrate our artists in their own right on the continent. Let us give them visibility and strength, because music creates economy.” Kidjo also urged African artists and governments to find ways to ensure that artists are paid royalties for their work and that their intellectual property is respected.

During the celebration, she remembered her roots and her late parents. She shared that she wished they could have been present to witness her success.

Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, praised Kidjo’s impact: “She has connected cultures, she has crossed borders, she has reminded audiences everywhere that while we may come from different backgrounds, her music unites in a way that few other things can.”

Congratulations to Angélique Kidjo, whose four-decade career has carried her across the world, sharing her voice and enriching countless lives. I am grateful that I once had the chance to see her perform, at a time when she was not yet widely known on this side of the Atlantic, and witness greatness.

Cameroon Wins the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the First Time in History

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Cameroon Indomitable Lionesses celebrate winning WAFCON 2026 (Source: CAFonline.com)

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Rabat, Morocco, Cameroon defeated Malawi 3–0 to become the new Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champion. It was a historic final that felt instantly unforgettable. Neither team had ever won the trophy before, and this made it only the third WAFCON final since 1998 where both sides were chasing their first continental crown. Cameroon had already reached the final in 2004, 2014, and 2016 but lost each time to Nigeria. Malawi, on the other hand, was living a dream. This was their first participation at WAFCON, and they climbed all the way to the final after eliminating teams such as Ghana and Algeria.

The Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa (Source: CAFonline.com)

This expanded edition of WAFCON began three weeks ago with 16 teams instead of the previous 12, and it delivered excitement from the opening whistle. Malawi, led by the lethal Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa, made a sensational debut. They started with a stunning 3–2 victory over defending champions Nigeria, followed by a confident 3–1 win over Egypt to finish top of Group C despite a narrow 2–1 loss to Zambia. Their momentum carried into the knockout rounds where they defeated Ghana 2–1 in the quarter-finals and produced another commanding performance to beat Algeria 3–1 in the semi-finals.

Marie Ngah Manga celebrating one of her goals (Source: CAFonline.com)

Cameroon’s journey was a story of discipline, resilience, and redemption. The Indomitable Lionesses went through the group stage unbeaten, then eliminated 10-time champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they knocked out host nation Morocco in a tense 3–1 penalty shootout thanks to an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Michaely Bihina who had a superb tournament from start to finish. Cameroon’s defense was rock solid and conceded only two goals throughout the entire competition. Their triumph becomes even more remarkable when you consider that they missed the 2024 edition of WAFCON and only advanced to these finals because of their world ranking after CAF expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams.

The final itself belonged entirely to Cameroon. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and was named Best Player of the Final, and Naomi Ndjoah Eto added the third goal to seal the victory. With this title, Cameroon becomes the fourth nation to lift the WAFCON trophy, joining Nigeria’s Super Falcons, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, and Equatorial Guinea. It was a spectacular ending to a spectacular tournament. Congratulations to the 2026 WAFCON. Both teams are already qualified for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Africans Shine at the 2026 Commonwealth Games

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The 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games’ logo (Source: Glasgow2026.com)

Africans shined at the 2026 Commonwealth Games which took place in Glasgow, Scotland from July 23 to August 2, 2026. 13 African countries won medals compared to 10 at the previous 2022 Commonwealth Games. These countries were : Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Cameroon, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Lesotho, Zambia, Gabon, Gambia, Rwanda. Nigeria topped the list with 24 medals, with 10 golds, 7 silvers, and 7 bronzes, delivering its best Commonwealth performance ever. Rwanda and Gabon won their first ever medals. There were major improvements with a deeper bench of champions and more golds, and stable excellence.

Below are key champions from a few countries. There are a lot more, and you can find the full list on the 2026 Commonwealth Games website.

Chad Le Clos, most decorated athlete of the Commonwealth Games (Source: beinsports.com)

Nigeria : Goodness Nwachukwu won Gold on Women’s F44 Discus while establishing a world record. Esther Nworgu won Gold in the Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting, while Tobi Amusan took Bronze in the Women’s 100m Hurdles. On the Men’s side, Samuel Ogazi won Gold in the Men’s 400m, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi took Gold in Men’s Shot Put, Ezekiel Nathaniel Gold in Men 400 Hurdles, Idris Rilwan Gold and Roland Ezuruike Silver in Men’s Para Powerlifting. Nigeria’s depth across track, field, and para‑sports set a new continental benchmark.

South Africa : Chad le Clos won 3 medals in swimming relays at these games winning his 21st Commonwealth medal since his debut at Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games. He has become the most successful athlete in the history of the games.

Cameroon : Emmanuel Eseme won Gold in the Men’s 100m setting a Commonwealth Games record of 9:83 s, while Richelle Anita Soppi Mbella took Silver Women’s Judo +78 kg.

Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon (Source: Jamboradio.co.uk)

Mauritius : Remi Feuillet won Gold in Judo

Gabon won its first ever medal at the games with Marthe Gnacadja Avaro winning Bronze, Women’s Judo +78kg

The Gambia : Faye Njie with Bronze, Men’s Judo –73kg

Rwanda : won its first ever Commonwealth Games with Florence Niyonkuru taking Bronze, Women’s 10,000m

Dangote Refinery Secures $2.5 Billion Investment to Expand Africa’s Fuel Production

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Aliko Dangote (Source: Black Entrepreneur Profiles)

One of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has just secured $2.5 billion investment from private investors to expand Africa’s fuel production. The investment is “believed to be the largest publicly disclosed private investment in Africa,” Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals said in a statement.

Recall that Aliko Dangote, Africa’s Richest Man Built One of the World’s Largest Oil Refineries in Nigeria, and is now supplying countries in the midst of the Iran war and blockade in the strait of Ormuz. This has been a major game changer for the country and for Africa as a whole. The company’s founder and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, said the new funds from the private placement will help raise “capital to complement … internal cash flows and external funding” as the company “advances its expansion agenda“. With the additional funds, Dangote said the company is aiming to reduce “Africa’s reliance on imported refined products” and strengthen the “continent’s energy security.”

Flag and map of Nigeria
Flag and map of Nigeria

With this fund, Dangote plans to further expand the Nigerian refinery site, which is already Africa’s largest refineries, and which will become one of the world’s largest refineries. A few months back, while in visit in Kenya, Dangote revealed his plans to open a refinery in Lamu, Kenya. This would be another first on the continent, but this time on the East coast of Africa. This also comes as The World Bank Wants Nigeria to ‘Open’ up its Oil Market. Industrialization in Africa : Ibrahim Traoré Tells it All. True sovereignty is impossible without industrialization.

Excerpts below are from the Daily Post. You can read further there on Financial Times, AfricaNews and the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

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Dangote Refinery on Thursday announced that it has successfully raised $2.5 billion in new equity through a private placement.

Dangote Refinery (Source: Leadership.ng)

The refinery disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to the firm, the $2.5 billion equity raise was 3.7 times oversubscribed relative to the initial offer size and resulted in the issuance of new equity.

“This transaction is believed to be Africa’s largest publicly disclosed primary equity private placement by value. As the Enterprise’s first equity capital raise involving external investors beyond its legacy shareholder base, the offering marks a significant milestone in advancing its long-term funding strategy and the continued development of African capital markets.

“Proceeds from the private placement will support DPRP’s ongoing expansion of the refinery and petrochemical complex, strengthen the Enterprise’s capital structure, and provide additional financial flexibility for future growth initiatives.

…

Gabon Signs Manganese Production and Extraction Partnership

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Map of Gabon

As we highlighted last week, Gabon was part of the five African countries invited to the White House last year by US President Donald Trump. Gabon was the only country invited to the summit which was not part of West Africa. Gabon is not only rich in oil but also rich in uranium and manganese, and has one of the world’s largest iron deposit. Gabon has significant iron ore reserves, particularly in the Belinga area, which is estimated to hold about one billion tons of iron ore. Since the visit, Gabon has unveiled several infrastructure deals including the Belinga–Boué–Mayumba railway (901 km) which will open up the north east areas of the country, a new deep-water port, the Boué hydroelectric dam, and a push for local processing of mineral resources. 

Yesterday, the president of Gabon Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, while in visit in France to meet French President Macron, unveiled yet another project, this time in connection with the French mining group Eramet for the exploitation of Manganese; with hopes of opening the south east region by rehabilitating approximately 650 km of railway linking Owendo near the capital Libreville to Franceville in the east as part of the Trans-Gabon Railway, and the exploitation and transformation of 700,000 tons of manganese (Africanews). There will be three phases including the creation of a factory for the production of manganese oxide to be built in Libreville by 2028, the construction of a unique site in Moanda specially for the transformation of this mineral in Gabon, and lastly the building of new plant for the production of manganese alloys locally to be built in 2031.

Flag of Gabon

The office of the Gabonese president stated that the agreement will help “generate greater added value within the country, support its industrialisation and boost the competitiveness of the national economy.” These will be followed by other agreements to cover security (maybe consolidating the defense part of The 11 Components of the French Colonial Tax in Africa? Not to forget that Oligui Nguema came to power via a coup) and water and energy sectors.

We applaud all these projects which mark a jump towards the industrialization of the country, and pray that these actually end up benefiting the people, as opposed to the countless other agreements signed over the years which have very little to show for. We still hope that African countries would unite to make stronger contracts/ agreements to get the best deals possible and bigger jumps toward development.

The Web of Media Lies : Repression of the Press when it serves a Narrative

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Sekou Toure, Cover Time Magazine, Feb. 16, 1959

The western media have been pouring vitriol against African leaders who stand for justice, and equality for their people. In recent years, the web of lies they have woven against the leaders of the AES has been quite thick. However, it is nothing new: we just have to travel down memory lane to the days of Sekou Touré of Guinea, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Amilcar Cabral of Cabo Verde and Guinea Bissau, Patrice Lumumba of Congo, Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso, Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d’Ivoire, and more recently John Magufuli of Tanzania, or Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi, it is nothing new. In some countries, many of the independence leaders have seen their names and struggles erased from the history books, to be replaced by these lies.

In his book The Assassination of Lumumba, Ludo de Witte details on page 12,that in 1961, at the height of the Congolese crisis, the media of those days used the usual techniques:

The Assassination of Lumumba by Ludo De Witte

Faced with unconstitutional secessions which eroded the very foundations of the state, Lumumba’s government found itself forced to take measures against the press organs that openly sided with the coup leaders. The Belgian press took this as an opportunity to launch even harsher attacks on the Congolese government. From Leopoldville, Manu Ruys entitled an article: “Lumumba Restricts Press Freedom”. New blended imperceptibly into a call to arms againt the Congolese government: “Prime Minister Lumumba’s brutal condemnation of federalism [in fact secessions!] … We are in a police state where the future is no longer secure. “

Don’t these words sound familiar? Just a month ago, the German DW titled Sahel juntas are ‘crushing’ basic freedoms. In February, it was Humans Rights Watch which was saying that the Military Juntas continue their repression… Yet the same media are silent about the repression in other places with docile puppets. The examples are countless, and one thing is certain: History repeats itself! The question is… are we going to be awake or remain asleep while they lie about our leaders?

Mainstream Media does not Change over the Years : Lumumba’s Case

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Patrice Lumumba

The mainstream media’s portrayal of leaders who want true change has not changed over the years. The moment the leader wants to serve the will of its people, or change the country, or improve the conditions of his or her people, or even get a fair deal, he is treated the worse, called all sorts of name. In his days, once Patrice Lumumba gave his independence speech, and asked for the true freedom of the people of Congo, they pulled down the big guns, figuratively, and literally. Reading the headlines from then is like reading all the headlines today about the leaders of the AES Sahel, or countless others who fought for their people’s freedom. In his book “The Assassination of Lumumba,” Ludo de Witte, Verso (2001) detailed how the Belgian press dragged Lumumba. One example can be found on page 10.

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The press campaign against Lumumba’s government reached its most scurrilous in La Libre Belgique. An article on 19 July about Lumumba’s stay at Blair House, the official residence for foreign heads of state visiting the United States, reported: “At Blair House, an old lady looks after the guests. She is white. Let us hope nothing happens to her.” [as if Lumumba would stoop so low… I guess to these media, a Black man is a menace to a white lady… remember Emmett Till?] Marcel de Corte, a lecturer in moral philosophy, made a thinly veiled public appeal to end Lumumba’s life. In the 27 July editorial, he wrote: “Look at Lumumba. … He’s a barbarian. … Officers [Belgian officers on the Ndjili plain] cry with rage because a manly act from them would have delivered the planet from his bloody cheek.” Not without cause La Gauche commented on 4 March 1961: “The press probably did not treat Hitler with as much rage and virulence as they did Patrice Lumumba.”