Tervuren, Belgium | AFP | Belgium’s Africa Museum reopened on Saturday after a five-year restoration to repackage its looted treasures with a critical view of the country’s brutal colonial past. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo hailed a “historic moment” and said it would open “a new chapter” in Belgian-African …
Read More »Five Olympic Boxing greats
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Boxing is fighting for its Olympic future amid serious concerns over the governing body AIBA, threatening the participation of the sport at the Tokyo 2020 Games. The so-called “Sport of Kings” has a proud Olympic history and can chart its involvement back to the Ancient Games …
Read More »East Africa may lose its crown as ‘cradle of mankind’
Algiers, Algeria | AFP | Archaeologists in Algeria have discovered stone tools and cut animal bones that may be up to 2.4 million years old, bringing into question East Africa’s title as the cradle of humanity, according to research published Thursday in the journal Science. The artifacts — more ancient …
Read More »Africans cheer call for France to return treasures
Paris, France | AFP | African museum directors on Wednesday welcomed an expert report calling on France to allow the return of thousands of African treasures and artworks, a radical policy shift that could put pressure on other former colonial powers. Calls have been growing in Africa for restitution, but …
Read More »Macron, Merkel, UN chief target Trump’s world view
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN chief Antonio Guterres took turns in warning about the dangers of nationalism on Sunday as they marked the centenary of the end of World War I. Without mentioning US President Donald Trump by name, all …
Read More »World leaders mark 100 years since WWI Armistice in Paris
Paris, France | AFP | World leaders gathered in Paris will lead global commemorations on Sunday to mark 100 years since the end of World War I at a time of growing nationalism and diplomatic tensions. Around 70 leaders including US and Russian Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will …
Read More »Trump to snub Macron’s ‘Peace Forum’ on Armistice weekend
Paris, France | AFP | US President Donald Trump is set to snub a peace conference organised by French President Emmanuel Macron this weekend as part of World War I commemorations in Paris, organisers said Thursday. Trump is due in the French capital along with around 70 other leaders for …
Read More »Macron urges European army to defend against Russia, US
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron called Tuesday for a “real European army” as the continent marks a century since the divisions of World War I, to better defend itself against Russia and even the United States. Macron, who has pushed for a joint European Union military …
Read More »Turkey recalls Uganda envoy over ancient Greek costume ‘scandal’
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | The Turkish foreign ministry on Saturday recalled its ambassador to Uganda after she was photographed at a reception for Turkey’s annual Republic Day wearing a dress reportedly inspired by ancient Greece. Ambassador Sedef Yavuzalp hosted the reception in Kampala for the annual October 29 holiday …
Read More »ARTS: Nkole’s 5 minutes of history
And its monument gaining international significance Kampala, Uganda | DOMINIC MUWANGUZI | About 600 years ago, in 1520AD, three powerful kingdoms thrived in present day central and western Uganda. Located in triangular formation with Buganda, which occupied a long a narrow swath along the shores of Lake Victoria facing Bunyoro-Kitara to …
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