Grammy-winning artist Ciara was granted citizenship in Benin on July 26 under a groundbreaking new law offering citizenship to descendants of enslaved Africans. The move is part of Benin’s wider effort to confront its role in the transatlantic slave trade and invite Afro-descendants to reconnect with their ancestral roots through cultural heritage and “memorial tourism.”
Category: INTERNATIONAL
International News / Items from Around the World
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Two perspectives, one heritage: Reconnecting with Africa’s cultural heartbeat
An American traveler and a Nigerian native share parallel reflections on the rich, enduring cultures of West Africa. From Senegal’s living history and art to Nigeria’s deep-rooted customs and fashion, their stories offer a vivid look into the pride, resilience, and beauty woven into everyday African life.
Posted inPolitics
Many Liberians take offense after US leader praises their president’s English
U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise praise of Liberian President Joseph Boakai’s English sparked backlash in Liberia, where English is the official language. While some Liberians and officials interpreted Trump’s words as a compliment, others saw them as patronizing and disrespectful, especially in light of recent U.S. aid cuts to the country. The exchange reignited concerns about how African leaders are perceived on the global stage and raised questions about the future of Liberia-U.S. relations.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
A beer pioneer, South Africa’s first Black female brewery owner trains a new generation
Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, South Africa’s first Black female craft brewery owner, is training a new generation of brewers—most of them young Black women—at her Brewsters Academy in Johannesburg. With a focus on science, tradition, and inclusivity, she aims to diversify the male-dominated beer industry while reviving African brewing heritage.
Posted inOpinion
Reconnecting Baltimore, rebuilding Haiti: Why H.R. 1114, Haitian American Enterprise Fund 2025 matters now
H.R. 1114, the Haitian American Enterprise Fund 2025, proposes a $5 billion investment to revitalize Haiti’s economy—an effort that would also benefit Baltimore through strengthened trade and historic cultural ties. With deep Haitian roots embedded in the city’s past and present, passing the bill would reconnect Baltimore to a shared legacy of resilience and mutual prosperity.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Youth-led protests erupt again in Kenya over police brutality and poor governance
Youth-led protests erupted again across Kenya on June 25, driven by outrage over police brutality, economic hardship, and government corruption, coinciding with the anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations in 2023. Demonstrators—primarily from Generation Z—took to the streets and social media demanding justice, accountability, and reform, despite government efforts to suppress coverage and dissent.
Posted inNational News
Black Americans face unequal burden as US inches closer to war
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — As the U.S. edges toward potential war with Iran, Black Americans face a familiar pattern of disproportionate sacrifice—overrepresented in combat, underrepresented in leadership, and underserved upon returning home. Experts warn that systemic inequalities in military service, veteran care and community investment continue to deepen the burden on Black individuals and families.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
Food rations are halved in one of Africa’s largest refugee camps after US aid cuts
Food rations in Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp have been halved after the Trump administration suspended U.S. aid to the U.N. World Food Program, putting 300,000 refugees at greater risk of hunger and malnutrition. Refugees now receive only a third of the recommended food supply, with cash transfers and nutritional support programs also cut. Aid workers warn of worsening conditions by August if funding doesn’t resume.
Posted inU.S. Government
US strikes 3 Iranian sites, joining Israeli air campaign against nuclear program
The U.S. launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites, joining Israel’s campaign to cripple Tehran’s nuclear program using bunker-busting bombs and missiles. The move marks a major escalation, with Iran vowing retaliation and fears rising of a broader regional war.
Posted inHBCU
First HBCU pavilion at Venice Biennale honors African Diaspora with a talking drum
Morgan State University has become the first HBCU to participate in the Venice Architecture Biennale with “ReCall & Response,” a pavilion shaped like a “talking drum” that honors the cultural legacy of the African Diaspora. Designed by students and faculty from Morgan State, Tuskegee, and Clemson Universities, the sustainably built structure blends architecture, African heritage, and sound to symbolize connection, memory, and collaborative healing across continents.
Posted inNational News
‘Arrogant. Dangerous. Dishonest’: 47th president’s global image tanks as US reputation plummets
A new global survey by Pew Research Center shows that the 47th U.S. president’s international image has plummeted, with most countries viewing him as unfit for global leadership. Confidence in the American president is low across key issues like climate change and Ukraine, and the U.S. reputation has also declined sharply, especially in Mexico, Canada, and Sweden.
Posted inTechnology
Brilliant Black minds in US, Africa and Middle East unite to advance digital talent bank for Africa’s future at 6th Annual AFRICA’s BRAIN BANK® Summit in New York
Africa’s BRAIN BANK® will host its 6th Annual Summit and Charity Gala in New York this August, uniting brilliant Black minds from the U.S., Africa, and the Middle East to fight Africa’s worsening brain drain by building a digital talent repository and global partnerships. Spearheaded by visionary founder Rev. Dr. Pamela Fomunung, the summit aims to retain and empower Africa’s rising generation by transforming migration challenges into collaborative, cross-continental opportunities.
