About Afrym
Afrym publishes new stories every week about the cultures of Africa — the textiles and carvings, the music and dances, the food and ceremonies, the festivals, languages and ideas of more than a billion people across 54 countries.
Our guiding idea: Sankofa
Sankofa is a word from the Akan people of Ghana, often explained through the proverb "Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi" — roughly, "it is not wrong to go back for what you forgot." It is usually drawn as a bird looking back over its shoulder while carrying an egg: the past carried forward into the future. That is what we try to do at Afrym.
What we publish
- Heritage & History — ancient cities, kingdoms and the places that hold memory.
- Arts & Craft — weaving, beadwork, pottery, carving and the people who make them.
- Music & Dance — instruments, genres and the movements that go with them.
- Food & Ceremony — dishes, drinks and the rituals of sharing them.
- Festivals & Celebrations — the calendar of the continent, from new years to harvests.
- Ideas & Philosophy — proverbs, worldviews and ways of living together.
- Languages & People — the many peoples and tongues of Africa.
Africa is not one culture. We try to name the specific people, place and period behind every tradition rather than speaking of "Africa" as a single thing.
Who is behind the site
Afrym is founded and edited by Amos Hope Jnr. Amos Hope Jnr is a digital media strategist and storyteller who has been creating content since 2014. He founded Afrym to share the depth and diversity of African cultures, with new stories every week.
How we work
Every article is original writing. We research using books, academic work, museum collections, official heritage bodies such as UNESCO, and — wherever possible — the voices of people who live these traditions. We list further reading at the end of articles, and we correct mistakes openly. Read our full Editorial Policy.
Advertising
Afrym is free to read. To keep it that way, we may show advertising, including ads served by Google AdSense. Advertisers never influence what we write. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy for how this works.
Get in touch
Story ideas, corrections or collaborations are welcome — visit our Contact page or email info@afrym.org.