Africa | Artivists
- Details
- By Theophilus Abbah, Josephine Chinele, Elizabeth BanyiTabi and Mukudzei Madenyika
- Investigations
Malawi | Presidents of the poor
- Details
- By Josephine Chinele
- Investigations
Two comedians, also anti-corruption activists, have served in Malawi's government. One quit first, then the vice president who brought him in died in a much-investigated plane crash, and the other, who had replaced the vice president, quit politics after his tenure. But still, the roar for change is swelling among the youth. Josephine Chinele explores the role comedy, especially on social media, plays in undermining the ruling political class in Malawi.
Nigeria | Undermining the political class
- Details
- By Theophilus Abbah
- Investigations
By all accounts, the Nigerian electorate did not need to be prompted by cartoons, mockery, or musical protest to overwhelmingly vote for opposition candidates in the 2023 elections. The disgust against the "political class", its patronage system, and neglect of public services such as health, education, and security had and has become widespread in the country, increasingly fuelling not only political protests, but also armed rebellion, ethnic tension, crime, and a desire to "japa", simply migrate away altogether.
Cameroon | Dents in the dictatorship
- Details
- By Elizabeth BanyiTabi
- Investigations
"Satire will never die. After six months of suspension, here we are again," headlines Le Popoli's comeback edition of 8 February 2026. The lead caption on the front page is accompanied by a drawing of a pen lying in an open coffin, as if to say: "We were buried, but we are still alive." It is a space where even humourists and artists often find themselves in notoriously media-hostile Cameroon.
Zimbabwe | The parody tsunami
- Details
- By Mukudzei Madenyika
- Investigations
A daring contingent of young, tech-savvy content creators routinely battle censorship, arrests and worse to help increase awareness of Zimbabwe’s critical issues through humour. The wave is not confined to politics: the environment, economics and even religious beliefs are being questioned in a tsunami of YouTube, TikTok and other parody productions. But the ruling party ZANU PF, its militants and government are the butt of most jokes.
Reimagining Europe | Glitching to Rebuild
- Details
- By Phila Hillie
- Arts
The first keynote address of the Euroculture Intensive Programme for students and scholars, hosted at the University of Groningen, has just begun. Heidi Sincuba has set the tone by reading Ezinkomponi (In the Gold Mines) by Dr B.W. Vilakazi in isiZulu, the South African language in which it was originally written. A bold and intentional move, it leaves one wondering how this relates to Euroculture and Reimagining Europe: Connectivity, Creativity and Care, the theme of the Intensive Programme, which forms part of the Erasmus Mundus Master Programme Euroculture at the University of Groningen.
Editorial July 2026 | The ways of Africa’s wealth
- Details
- By ZAM Reporter
- Politics & Opinion
Africa’s wealth enriches many, but rarely its own citizens. In Big Brother Wildlife, a transnational team of journalists exposes how Africa’s rich natural heritage and wildlife are increasingly being fenced off — using even military-grade surveillance technology — to benefit foreign visitors, while local communities face ever-growing restrictions on the use of their own land.
Announcement | ZAM strengthens its Board of Governors
- Details
- By ZAM Reporter
- Politics & Opinion
ZAM is thrilled to welcome two highly skilled professionals to our board. Oyunga Pala is a writer, executive coach, and curator-in-chief of “The Elephant” media platform in Nairobi. Dr Marcus Desando is a Cultural Leader, Arts Executive, Opera Director, and former Director of the Prins Claus Fonds. He will take up the position of Chair of our board. They join Dineo Nhlapo and Milton van Wyk, our much-valued Treasurer and Secretary. Together, they form an inspiring and driven team of governors, ready to guide our organisation forward.
