🔅 AirBnb Decimates Cape Town, How a Young South African Made Music History
Plus, Liberia's Presidential Election & TikTokker Gets 2 Years for Dissing Angola's President
Photo of the day
A Sierra Leone Sunrise
Markets:
🔴 Nigerian SE: 67,101.33 (-0.17%)
🟢 Johannesburg SE: 71,648.39 (+2.26%)
🟢 Ghana SE: 3,136.86 (+0.15%)
🟢 Nairobi SE: 93.60 (+0.12%)
🟢 US S&P 500: 4,355.31 (+0.45%)
🔴 Shanghai Composite: 3,075.24 (-0.70%)
*Data accurate as of the close of markets across the continent
Brief & Bright: Africa's Top Five
Cape Town's Housing Crisis: When Airbnb Takes Over
Have you ever strolled through the city centre of Cape Town on a weekend and thought, "Wow, it's really quiet here"? Well, that's because most of the apartments have been snatched up by Airbnb-ers and turned into short-term rentals. It's not just a few here and a few there—there are more Airbnb listings in Cape Town than in Singapore, Amsterdam, and San Francisco combined. That's a lot of tourists taking over the city, which disembowels it of its local energy and culture. These days, apartments are being built specifically for Airbnb, not for locals to live in. So, while Capetonians struggle to find an affordable place to live, fancy "luxury-award-winning apartments" are being sold for millions of rands. Talk about gentrification on steroids.
From TikTok to the Billboard Hot 100: How South African Musician Tyla is Making Waves
Move over Hugh Masekela (the only South African to have made the Billboard Hot 100), there’s a new South African musician making history. 21-year-old Tyla’s song “Water” has debuted at number 67 on the Billboard, making her the second and youngest ever South African to appear on it. She’s not just making waves in the US—her catchy song has inspired a viral dance challenge on TikTok and has been used in over 500,000 videos. Tyla’s fusion of Afrobeats, pop, R&B, and Amapiano has taken the world by storm, and her music video for “Water” has over 3.6 million views on YouTube. But this isn’t her first rodeo—Tyla has previously opened for Chris Brown on tour and has collaborated with Nigerian star Ayra Starr. With her debut album set to release in November, Tyla is definitely one to watch on the global music scene. Move over, Beyoncé, there’s a new queen in town.
The Powerful Portraits of Girls on the Frontline of Climate Change
Climate change isn’t just melting ice caps and causing natural disasters—it’s also having a devastating impact on the lives of girls in Ethiopia. Photographer Maheder Haileselassie Tadese captured the struggles of these girls in a series of striking double-exposure portraits, which recently won the Contemporary African Photography prize. The Guardian breaks down the harsh reality of how climate change is affecting these girls in the Somali region of Ethiopia. Take a look here.
Liberia's Presidential Election: Can Weah Score Another Victory or Will He Be Benched?
It’s election time in Liberia, and President George Weah is hoping his efforts to improve infrastructure and fight poverty will win him a second term. But he’s facing a crowded field of 19 challengers, including his main rival from the last election, Joseph Boakai. Boakai served as Vice President under Sirleaf Johnson, Africa's first female president. Weah, a former international soccer star, is seeking to push Liberia from a low-income to a middle-income country, but his government has been plagued by accusations of corruption and mismanagement. Plus, his absence from the country for seven weeks last year (including a trip to watch his son play at the World Cup) has not gone over well with voters struggling with poverty and economic hardship. With corruption rampant, so have been protests by Liberians, and unfortunately election-related violence has already claimed two lives. Analysts warn of potential protests and demonstrations if the electoral process is flawed.
TikTokker Gets Two Years in Prison for Insulting Angola's President
Influencer Ana da Silva Miguel, aka Neth Nahara, was sentenced to six months in prison for dissing President João Lourenço on TikTok. Then, her sentence was increased to two years by an appeals court, which said her initial punishment was too lenient. Neth Nahara had called out the president for “anarchy and disorganization” in Angola, as well as the lack of schools, housing, and jobs. Apparently, the court didn’t appreciate her ability to influence public opinion. She was also ordered to pay the president $1,200 for “damage” to his reputation. Talk about a tough crowd. Angola is one of Africa's biggest oil exporters, but most of its people live in poverty. They have also been hit hard by the increasing cost of living.
Food for Thought
“Let your love be like the misty rain, coming softly but flooding the river.”
— Liberian Proverb.