🔅 The African Films at Sundance 2025
DRC sues Apple & Cyclone Chido
Good Morning from Principe!
Dear readers,
Just a quick note to let you know we're taking a break from December 22nd until January 6th to recharge and spend time with loved ones. Wishing you all a magical festive season filled with joy, warmth, and wonderful memories – see you in the new year! ✨
And now back to the news!
The African Films Make Waves at Sundance 2025: From Libraries to War Zones
Sundance Film Festival's 2025 lineup just dropped, and Africa is showing up with not one, but two powerful entries that are sure to make you think twice about your Netflix queue.
First up is "How to Build a Library," a film that's definitely not about your local contractor's DIY guide. Instead, directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King follow two determined women in Nairobi as they transform a former whites-only library into a cultural hub. Think "Grand Designs" meets postcolonial reconstruction, with a healthy dose of bureaucratic drama thrown in for good measure.
The directors, who previously brought us "The Letter," are no strangers to unpacking Kenya's complex history. This time, they're tackling everything from colonial legacies to the universal challenge of fundraising.
Meanwhile, "Khartoum" brings together five directors to tell the stories of those who fled Sudan's capital during the ongoing conflict. The film uses reenactments to bring these experiences to life, proving that sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that make it out of the chaos.
Both films will be available online, meaning you won't have to brave the Utah winter to catch these African narratives. It's a significant step forward for African cinema, proving that powerful storytelling knows no borders – even if getting a visa sometimes does.
How's that for a taste of what's coming to your screens in 2025?
The iPhone's Supply Chain Is Getting Scrutinized
Apple is facing criminal complaints in France and Belgium over allegations that would make even Siri blush. The Democratic Republic of Congo is taking the tech giant to task over what might be lurking in your iPhone.
The Not-So-Smart Supply Chain: Congo, which produces more tin, tantalum, and tungsten (the "3T minerals" that make your phone smart), claims Apple's been less than thorough about checking where its materials come from. We're talking about minerals potentially linked to armed groups involved in some seriously dark stuff.
Apple's defense? “We've got paperwork!” The tech giant claims they don't directly source primary minerals and they audit their suppliers harder than your accountant during tax season. Their 2023 SEC filing proudly declared that their supply chain was clean.
But… Congo's lawyers are saying Apple's certification system (ITSCI) is about as reliable as your phone's battery life at 1%. Even the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), of which Apple is a member, has suspended ITSCI until at least 2026.
More on this in here.
Cyclone Chido: When Mayotte Met Its Worst Storm in a Century
France's tiny island territory of Mayotte just got hit by Cyclone Chido, a Category 4 storm packing winds of 220 kph (that's 136 mph for the metrically challenged), that has left the archipelago looking like it went ten rounds with Mother Nature – and lost.
The aftermath is terrible: 70% of the population affected, entire neighborhoods flattened, and authorities fearing death tolls in the hundreds or even thousands.
Mayotte is still a French territory – and it's poorest, with three-quarters of its population living in poverty and median incomes roughly one-eighth of what Parisians enjoy. Think about that: same country, drastically different realities.
And despite advance warnings, many residents stayed put. Some feared looters more than the cyclone itself, while others – particularly migrants (many of whom are trying to get to Europe) – avoided shelters out of fear of deportation. As one resident put it, "Nobody believed it would be that big."
The storm didn't just knock out power and communications – it took down the island's only airport control tower, damaged its main hospital, and left emergency teams even trying to figure out where the roads were. The French Red Cross called the devastation "unimaginable," which is saying something.
France has deployed the cavalry: ships, aircraft, and 1,500 additional personnel are heading to Mayotte. Daily airlifts are to bring in 20 tons of water and food.
The European Parliament observed a minute of silence and declared "Mayotte is Europe." Though some might argue that remembering this before the cyclone hit might have been more helpful – the territory has long complained about underinvestment and neglect from its mainland motherland.
Meanwhile, Cyclone Chido, apparently not content with just one disaster, has moved on to Mozambique and Malawi, leaving more destruction in its wake.
And finally, in response to our article on investors from Dec. 6 (see below), one of you decided to share with us an intriguing article regarding the African banking sector. We’re happy to share it here. Thanks a lot
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Food for Thought
“A wise person, skilled in the use of proverbs, settles disputes.”
— Nigerian Proverb
I’m always excited to read your stuff because it’s news I typically won’t find in my feed. Thanks for keeping us informed!