Pour moi, la plus belle chose lorsqu’on voyage à travers le monde, ce sont les personnes que l’on rencontre et les amitiés que l’on noue. Certaines personnes, on ne les reverra peut-être jamais, mais on peut garder le contact avec elles toute une vie. Ces personnes rendent le voyage plus intéressant et lui donnent davantage... Continue Reading →
Encounters: Amina Abdoulaye Mamani’s Eye for the Art
The best part of travelling the world for me is the people you meet and the friends you make. Some you might never see again, but you may keep in touch with them for a lifetime. Those people make the journey more interesting and worth it. I spent over a year living and working in... Continue Reading →
Les 54 pays
Ce texte s’inscrit dans le cadre de African Dialogues, une collection spéciale célébrant la Journée de l’Afrique à travers une exploration, par l’écriture, des pensées métaphysiques africaines, de la mémoire, de l’identité et des réalités contemporaines. Une conversation entre deux inconnus à propos des 54 pays. Marc : Alors, tu viens d’où ? Leyla :... Continue Reading →
The 54 countries
This piece is part of African Dialogues, a special Africa Day collection exploring African metaphysical thought, memory, identity, and contemporary realities through writing. A conversation between two strangers about 54 countries. Marc: So, where are you from? Leyla: I am from Africa. Marc: Oh wow, all the way from Africa. That is far away. Leyla:... Continue Reading →
CHEWING THE DARKNESS
This piece is part of African Dialogues, a special Africa Day collection exploring African metaphysical thought, memory, identity, and contemporary realities through writing. Set deep beneath the abandoned gold mines of Stilfontein in South Africa, Chewing the Darkness is a philosophical dialogue exploring extraction, memory, labor, and African metaphysics. Blending poetic language with political commentary,... Continue Reading →
Le wax africain : identité ou héritage importé ?
J’ai un jour entendu quelqu’un dire : « Je ne peux pas rivaliser avec l’élégance africaine. » Il n’a pas tout à fait tort, car les tissus africains sont remarquables à travers tout le continent. Les étoffes et textiles, associés à la vibrance des couleurs et à la diversité des styles vestimentaires, attirent le regard... Continue Reading →
African fabrics: something ours or something borrowed?
I once heard someone say, “I can’t compete with African elegance.” He is not so wrong, because African fabrics are outstanding across the continent. The fabrics and textiles, combined with the vibrancy of colors and styles of clothing, are eye-catching and ever evolving. From the outside, all African fabrics may look the same: colorful, patterned,... Continue Reading →
She Who Will Add Her Story
Dear daughter March is Women’s Month. In your time, things will be better for them, perhaps with more equality, more representation, and opportunities. It will still not be perfect, but it may be better. I want you to remember that the line of those who came before you believed their place would evolve. In their... Continue Reading →
We the Women: Navigating Tradition and Identity
When we reflect on the space occupied by women and the role society assigns to them, we may wonder whether it is different from or similar across the world. Three voices of women from Namibia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Bangladesh take us into their worlds and share how they navigate their societies. They define what it... Continue Reading →
Young, African and Famous on Netflix: Luxury, Identity and a New African Narrative
Luxury, youth, entrepreneurship, friendship and drama in Africa on international screens, why not. On international screens these days, the narrative is shifting. Once in a while, a show emerges that replaces dusty roads, run-down buildings and war-torn areas with luxury cars, state-of-the-art buildings and African outfits with a flair of royalty. This shift, for international... Continue Reading →