🔅 The Woman King takes over
In today's issue: South Africa embraces crypto, Tanzania's population growth worries authorities, and Malawi battles cholera... ☕
Markets
🔻 Nigerian SE: 43,745.73 (-0.21%)
🔺 Johannesburg SE: 67,488.93 (+1.23%)
— Ghana SE: 2,460.31 (0.00%)
🔻 Nairobi SE: 128.60 (-0.20%)
🔻 US S&P 500: 3,859.52 (-0.32%)
🔻 Shanghai Composite: 2,969.20 (+2.62%)
*Data accurate as of close of markets across the continent
South Africa: Pick n Pay, one of South Africa's largest grocery retailers, is expanding a pilot of adding cryptocurrency as a payment option. The announcement comes soon after South Africa's financial regulatory body announced cryptocurrency as a financial product, which allows it to be used as a means of payment. Pick n Pay intends to roll out its new payment option to all stores in the coming months.
Global Markets: A US court has blocked a $2.2bn merger between the world's largest book publisher, Penguin Random House, and its rival, Simon & Schuster. Penguin said it would appeal against the decision. Penguin merged with New York-based Random House in 2013 to create the world's largest publishing house. But this blocked merger comes at a time when the Biden administration steps up its regulation of anti-competitive practices.
CULTURE
The Woman King takes over
What is happening;
The Woman King, a new Hollywood film about the rich history of Benin's former Dahomey kingdom, has been received enthusiastically by audiences in Cotonou, Benin. The film depicts the Dahomeyan Amazon warrior women led by General Nanisca (Viola Davis) against the Oyo empire and Portuguese slave traders.
Although some critiques have been made about the film's depiction of Dahomeyans selling enslaved people, cinemagoers at Benin's one and only cinema have found the film powerful and inspiring.
Woman King has been an enormous hit in Benin, with tickets selling out within days of its release.
Why it matters:
Ghanaian-British actress Danai Gurira played Black Panther's General Okoye, but there is now another African warrior woman on the big screen.
It is rare to see African women portrayed as strong and capable on the silver screen, but the film has also been praised for its depiction of African history and culture.
Across west Africa, there is a sense of self-confidence about the region becoming a global force.
The success of The Woman King is a significant achievement for African cinema, where Nollywood dominates the scene and African films struggle for billing space against Western films.
ACROSS THE CONTINENT
Other Headlines
🇬🇲 Gambia has not yet been able to confirm that a cough syrup is the cause of the death of 70 children. The World Health Organization said it found elevated levels of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol in the products made by Maiden Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Gambia's Medicines Control Agency is still trying to establish which medications, if any, each child took. The spike in cases of acute kidney injury among children was first detected in late July.
🇹🇿 Tanzania's rapid population growth is worrying authorities. The population has grown by 37% in the past ten years — from 44.9 million in 2012 to more than 60 million — and is projected to continue growing rapidly. President Samia Suluhu Hassan has urged the government to start preparing development projects to accommodate the growing needs of resources and social services. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's economic hub, is set to become a megacity by 2050. Only Kinshasa (DRC) and Lagos (Nigeria) have more than 10 million residents.
🇲🇼 Malawi's death toll from a cholera outbreak has risen to 180, and the total number of infections is now at 5,939. The case fatality rate has increased to 3%. The health minister has said that the situation could worsen. Cholera is primarily spread through contaminated water and food.
AROUND THE WORLD
Brazil Election Demonstrations: Some people are really not happy
What is Happening:
This Sunday, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was elected president of Brazil in one of the closest elections the South American country has seen in recent memory.
Since then, more than 60 truck blockades and protests sympathetic to Jair Bolsonaro, his opponent, have been set up on highways across Brazil.
The Brazilian police have reported that approximately 100 people have mobilized in Rio de Janeiro to show their discontent with the election results, resulting in the burning of tires.
Lula da Silva's victory marks his return more than 12 years after he was first elected president.
Why it matters:
Lula's win is significant for the working class in Brasil and for the left in Latin America.
But not everyone is happy with the results, and Lula will need to preside over a very divided nation; he only received 50.9 per cent of the vote over his rival, Jair Bolsonaro.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Proverb of the Day
“Advice is like a stranger; if he’s welcome he stays for the night; if not, he leaves the same day."
— Malagasy Proverb.