Heritage & History
The Cliff of Bandiagara: Life in the Land of the Dogon
Along a sandstone cliff in Mali, the Dogon built villages, granaries and shrines that seem to grow from the rock. Here is what makes the Land of the Dogon unique.
Stories — page 17
Ideas & Philosophy
Anansi the Spider: How a Trickster Came to Own All the Stories
In Akan tradition, every story in the world once belonged to the sky god — until a clever spider bought them. Here is who Anansi is, and why his tales crossed an ocean.
Festivals & Celebrations
Tweede Nuwe Jaar: Cape Town's Minstrel Carnival and Its Roots in Slavery
Every January, thousands of Cape Town minstrels in satin suits dance through the city to banjos and drums. Their carnival grew from the single day of rest given to enslaved people.
Food & Ceremony
Attiéké: How Côte d'Ivoire's Cassava "Couscous" Won World Recognition
Fluffy, slightly sour and sold in little bags in every Ivorian market, attiéké takes days to make. In December 2024 it joined UNESCO's heritage lists.
Music & Dance
Taarab: The Music That "Moves the Heart" in Zanzibar
Born at a sultan's court and made famous by a former slave's daughter, taarab blends Swahili poetry with Arab, Indian and African sounds. Here is its story.
Arts & Craft
Tingatinga: The Bright, Bold Art That Began With Bicycle Paint
In 1960s Dar es Salaam, a self-taught painter used bicycle enamel on squares of board to create a whole school of East African art. Here is the story of Tingatinga.
Heritage & History
Gorée Island: Memory, Debate and the Door of No Return
A short ferry ride from Dakar, the island of Gorée has become one of the world's most powerful places to remember the Atlantic slave trade. Its story is also debated.
Languages & People
Nsibidi: The Secret Signs of Nigeria's Cross River Region
Long before colonial schools, people in southeastern Nigeria communicated with nsibidi, a system of signs guarded by the powerful Ekpe society. Here is what we know about it.
Ideas & Philosophy
Teranga: Why Senegal Calls Itself the Land of Hospitality
In Senegal, a stranger is fed before being questioned. The Wolof word teranga describes a whole way of treating people — and even names the national football team.
Festivals & Celebrations
Gerewol: The Festival Where Men Compete to Be Beautiful
Once a year in the Sahel, Wodaabe men paint their faces, line up and dance for hours, while women judge who is the most beautiful. Here is the story of Gerewol.
Food & Ceremony
Couscous: The Grain That Four Countries Agreed to Share
Hand-rolled from semolina and steamed over a simmering stew, couscous is the dish of the Maghreb — and a rare case of neighbours uniting to protect it.
Music & Dance
The Mbira: Zimbabwe's Instrument for Speaking With the Ancestors
Metal keys on a wooden board, played with the thumbs inside a gourd: the mbira has called the spirits of the Shona for centuries, and now plays on world stages.