Aryatara Shakya, at two years and eight months, was chosen as the new Kumari, replacing her predecessor who, by tradition, returns to a mortal life upon reaching puberty. The Kumari, revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, is selected between the ages of two and four based on strict criteria such as flawless skin, eyes, teeth, and fearlessness. Worshippers regard the living goddess as a divine embodiment, wheeling her through the city on a chariot during major religious festivals. Always dressed in red with a painted third eye, the Kumari blesses devotees who line up to touch her feet with their…
Author: Montage Africa
On August 29, 2025, South Africa hosted the G20 Women to Africa dialogue, part of the Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG), on African soil for the first time. As Advocate Mikateko Maluleke noted in her opening address, the event was designed to turn principles into pipelines and commitments into capital that moves. Esteemed contributors The program brought together an accomplished lineup: Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission; Narnia Bohler Muller, Chair of the G20 W20; Dr Vera Songwe, Chair and Founder of…
Kenyan President William Ruto aims to sign a trade agreement with the United States before the end of the year, seeking relief from US tariffs that have impacted Kenyan exports. Ruto, who was recently in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During their meeting, Ruto emphasized the importance of renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a 25-year-old trade agreement between sub-Saharan Africa and the US. While China’s influence has grown in the region, many African nations, including Kenya, still rely on the US for a significant portion of their exports.…
Rows of women sit low to the ground in the central Nigerian town of Bida, holding sticks that rise and fall in a steady rhythm. The air is filled with the dull thud of wood against shell – the dark sun-dried, brown exterior of the shea fruit giving way to reveal the hard nut inside. The produce, harvested in the wild after falling from the trees, is being readied for the middlemen to collect and then supply factories. These are the early stages of a process that ends with shea butter on the counters of cosmetics shops across the world…
Plantain Fufu in three minutes? I imagine my ancestors and people a little stuck in old traditions would find this unsettling. I wonder how the powdered versions of fufu, pounded yam and such have been accepted. That probably took a little more time than the manufacturers anticipated. West Africans are notorious for being very resistant to change so occasionally, knowing the kind of audience I have, I have indulged in a few change management courses. These courses have helped me understand the mindset and implement some of the lessons i’ve learned. I digress! I made this plantain fufu in three…
South Africa’s G20 Presidency arrives as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes the organising principle of global competitiveness. Across markets, AI is no longer a pilot or a promise; it is moving into core operations and national strategies. The question for South Africa is how we shape this shift to advance the country’s priorities, of growth, jobs, exports and inclusion. Our starting point is strength. AI is already unlocking clear value in the engines of South Africa’s economy. In mining, AI-driven predictive maintenance and safety analytics reduce downtime and improve performance. In manufacturing, machine learning optimises production lines, quality control and energy…
Nigerian singer and actress Tiwa Savage reflected on the growing dominance of African music and culture on the global stage on Tuesday. During a discussion on the power of African music at the Global Africa Business Initiative(GABI), Savage declared that African music has become a permanent fixture, despite numerous challenges. “I don’t know how true this still is, but apparently one in every four black men is like a Nigerian or an African. So we’re not going anywhere. As much as they try to quiet us down, the music is not going anywhere.” Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage performing on stage. Credit:…
Paris Saint-Germain dominated the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, with Ousmane Dembele claiming his first-ever award in a tearful moment on stage. Dembélé’s victory was fueled by a tactical masterstroke from manager Luis Enrique, who moved him to a central role mid-season. Following that switch, the French forward scored 30 goals and provided numerous assists, helping PSG secure the treble—Champions League, Ligue 1, and French Cup—and reach the Club World Cup final. PSG also excelled at the awards, with Enrique named coach of the year and five of the team’s players ranked among the top ten. The club was also named Team of…
Angélique Kidjo has made history as the first Black African artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, joining the class of 2026 alongside stars like Miley Cyrus, Demi Moore, and Shaquille O’Neal. The 64-year-old Beninese singer, celebrated globally for her genre-defying sound blending West African rhythms with jazz, funk, and R&B, has spent over four decades shaping the world music scene. With five Grammy Awards, 16 albums, and collaborations with icons like Burna Boy, Sting, and Alicia Keys, Kidjo’s influence is unmatched. She joins Charlize Theron, a white South African actress, as one of the only…
A group of 11 West African migrants deported from the US to Ghana have been controversially sent back to their home countries despite court efforts to stop their removal. The deportees—originating from Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Gambia, and Liberia—had argued they faced risks of torture or persecution if returned. Their lawyer alleges the Ghanaian government hastily deported them over the weekend to circumvent the court case, denying them access to legal counsel. While the US government asserts it has no control over Ghana’s subsequent actions, this incident underscores the increasing use of third countries to handle deportees. The situation remains tense, with reports…