In a remarkable turn of events, Senegal officially inaugurated Bassirou Diomaye Faye as its new president on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in power for the once lesser-known opposition leader. Faye’s journey from prison to the presidential palace has captured the attention of the nation in recent weeks, culminating in his historic election victory.

Released from prison just before the March 24 election, along with prominent opposition figure Ousmane Sonko, Faye’s rise to power symbolizes a triumph of democracy and the rule of law in Senegal. “This is a day of celebration for us,” expressed Aissata Sagna, a dedicated campaign worker, reflecting on the long-fought battle that led to Faye’s presidency.

The election served as a pivotal moment for Senegal’s democratic standing in West Africa, amidst concerns of political instability and unrest. The aftermath of protests and arrests underscored the nation’s commitment to upholding constitutional norms and preserving democratic values, setting the stage for Faye’s leadership in a crucial period of transition.

With a pledge to combat corruption and manage national resources effectively, the 44-year-old president-elect has resonated with a younger generation eager for change and accountability. Addressing widespread concerns of unemployment and economic mismanagement, Faye’s presidency signals a new era of governance aimed at revitalizing the nation’s potential.

As Senegal prepares for this new chapter under Faye’s leadership, transparency and reform are at the forefront of his agenda. A devoted Muslim with a commitment to integrity, Faye’s assets declaration reflects his dedication to openness and public trust, setting a precedent for accountable leadership in the country.

Through his vision for anti-corruption measures and economic restructuring, Faye seeks to usher in an era of progress and prosperity for Senegal. As he assembles his government and charts a course for the future, Senegalese citizens are poised to witness a transformative period under his stewardship.

28-year-old Nigerian Lady Pelumi Nubi has successfully completed her solo road trip from London to Lagos in a Peugeot 107 after 68 days on the road. Despite encountering a motor accident towards the end of her journey, Pelumi’s mission was to showcase the beauty of West Africa to the world.

Upon her arrival in Lagos, Pelumi was warmly received at the Nigeria-Benin Republic border by the Commissioner of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs. Toke Awoyinka, and the Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Idris Aregbe. Reflecting on her journey, Pelumi shared, “I wanted to bridge the gap between two places I hold dear to my heart—Lagos, where I was born, and London, where I grew up. This was an opportunity to explore West Africa overland, a journey that presented its challenges.”

Navigating the trip solo proved to be demanding, but the overwhelming support from her online community, which grew from 10,000 to over 200,000 followers, served as a source of motivation for Pelumi. Grateful for the encouragement, Pelumi expressed her gratitude, stating, “I am thankful for everyone’s support, and I am humbled by the experience.”

Pelumi aims to inspire and empower young women to step out of their comfort zones and embrace daring adventures. She believes her journey will encourage others to explore the African continent and challenge stereotypes. Despite facing obstacles such as a lengthy hold at the Liberian border and entry issues in Sierra Leone, Pelumi remained determined to complete her expedition. Her journey began on January 31, 2024, and concluded on April 7, 2024, marking a significant milestone in her exploration of West Africa.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has raised concerns over the Nigerian government’s plan to expand electricity tariff hikes to more consumers, beyond those already affected.

Falana, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, criticized the recent tariff increase for Band A consumers, calling it unjustifiable under the Electricity Act, 2023. He vowed to take legal action on behalf of Nigerians if necessary.

According to him, the removal of electricity subsidy in 2022 has left citizens bearing the brunt of inefficiencies in the electricity sector. He accused the government of making Nigerians foot the bill for mismanagement.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) recently announced a tariff increase for customers enjoying 20 hours of power supply daily, falling under Band A classification. This move, raising the tariff from N66 to N225 per kilowatt-hour, has faced criticism due to its suddenness and the country’s ongoing economic challenges.

While the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, suggested that only about 1.5 million consumers would be affected, Falana dismissed the notion of electricity subsidy, alleging that the hike aims to bail out financially strained electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

Falana condemned the government’s insensitivity to the hardships faced by Nigerians, exacerbated by policies like the removal of petrol subsidy and the collapse of foreign exchange windows. He warned of further tariff hikes impacting more consumers, emphasizing the need for legal action to challenge what he perceives as impunity.

In his view, these policies have led to unprecedented increases in the cost of living, highlighting the need for accountability and fairness in government actions.

Accomplished Filmmaker, Writer, and Director of Photography (D.O.P), Mohamed James Sessy Kamara is a Sierra Leonean who is known for his multi-talented contributions to the film industry and his advocacy for human rights, particularly for disadvantaged communities. 

He has written and directed two documentary films; notable among his great works is 

the Emmy Awards nominee film; on the Ebola crises, titled “Survivors,” where he served as the D.O.P. The Project illustrated his versatility and expertise in cinematography.

Kamara’s recent documentary film “Sisterhood” garnered significant attention from international film festivals, including screenings at Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF 2022) and ECRAINS NOIRS in Cameroon in October 2022. 

With its European international premiere at IDFA 2022, four screenings and exhibition at the New York African Film Festival, where it won an award in Maryland, Kamara personally made it a point of duty to attend these festivals, as a demonstration of his commitment to his craft and the causes he advocates for.

His contributions to the movie industry in Sierra Leone extend beyond the art of filmmaking to administration.

Currently, a co-founder and the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Film Council, the country’s first media-makers’ union, Kamara manages Brighter Days Media Pictures; serving as Creative director and CEO for the Sierra Leone Next Movie Star reality TV Show. 

Additionally, he worked as a Project Officer and D.O.P for WeOwnTV Freetown Media Centre for over seven years, highlighting his dedication to supporting the development of media and film in Sierra Leone.

In the area of television Series production, Kamara has directed notable television series, including a thirteen-episode series for Africa Young Voices (AYV) Television Films and another thirteen-episode series titled “After The Rains,” which is presently airing on AYV DSTV.

Some of the projects that showcase his ability to work effectively within a team and across different platforms, include collaboration with other filmmakers and institutions, such as Caleb Heymann from Portland State University Foundation.

Kamara’s contributions to the film industry and his advocacy work demonstrate his passion for storytelling, social justice, and empowerment of marginalized communities. His dedication to his craft and commitment to creating impactful media content make him a significant figure in the African filmmaking landscape.

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Born in Benoni, in Transvaal Province (Gauteng Province since 1994) of South Africa on August 7, 1975, Charlize Theron is the only child of road constructionists Gerda (née Maritz) and Charles Theron (27 November 1947 – 21 June 1991).  

The second Boer War military leader Danie Theron was her great-grand-uncle.  

Born into an Afrikaner family, with an ancestry which includes Dutch as well as French and German, Theron’s French forebears were early Huguenots in South Africa.

Theron, who sees herself as a dancer, did not actually become an actress immediately, she had won a one-year modelling contract at age 16 at a local competition in Salerno, Italy and moved with her mother to Milan, Italy.

Upon spending a year modelling throughout Europe, she and her mother moved to the United States; residing in New York City and Miami. 

Actualizing her passion for dance she got her training at the Joffrey Ballet School, where she trained as a ballet dancer until a knee injury closed this career path.  

As she recalled, in 2008, Theron went to New York for three days to model, and spending a winter in the State in a friend’s windowless basement apartment. 

Broke and taking class at the Joffrey Ballet, her knees gave out. 

 Recognizing she couldn’t dance anymore, the South African went into a major depression; promoting her mom to come over from South Africa to talk to her; “Either you figure out what to do next or you come home, because you can sulk in South Africa”.

And so, on a one-way ticket her mother bought for her; Theron flew to Los Angeles in 1984; where she intended to work in the film industry.

During her initial months there, she lived in a motel with the $300 budget that her mother had given her; she continued receiving cheques from New York and lived “from paycheck to paycheck”. 

Theron stole bread from a basket in a restaurant to survive. 

Fate came into play one day, when she went to a Hollywood Boulevard bank to cash a few cheques, including one her mother had sent to help with the rent.

Unfortunately, however, the check from her mother was rejected because it was out-of-state and she was not an American citizen.

Her argument and pleas with the bank teller was becoming fruitless until talent agent John Crosby, who was the next customer behind her, cashed it for her and gave her his business card.

Crosby would later introduce Theron to an acting school, from where she played her first non-speaking film role in the horror film Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, in 1995.

Portraying hit woman Helga Svelgen in 2 Days in the Valley (1996), in her first speaking role Theron drew attention due to her beauty and to a scene in which she fought Teri Hatcher’s character despite the film’s mixed reviews that attended the movie release. 

Her role as the leading lady in the Hollywood films The Devil’s Advocate (1997), Mighty Joe Young (1998), and The Cider House Rules (1999), brought her international prominence in the 1990s.

Her success as a great actress continued to generate applaud for her as she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (2003), for which she won the Silver Bear and Academy Award for Best Actress; becoming the first South African to win an acting Oscar. 

She received another Academy Award nomination for playing a sexually abused woman seeking justice in the drama North Country (2005).

Theron has starred in several commercially successful action films, including The Italian Job (2003), Hancock (2008), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Prometheus (2012), Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), Atomic Blonde (2017), The Old Guard (2020), F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023). 

She received praise for playing troubled women in Jason Reitman’s comedy-dramas Young Adult (2011) and Tully (2018), and for portraying Megyn Kelly in the biographical drama Bombshell (2019), for which she received her third Academy Award nomination.

Venturing into film production with her company Denver and Delilah Productions; since the early 2000s, Theron has produced numerous films, in many of which she had a starring role, including The Burning Plain (2008), Dark Places (2015), and Long Shot (2019). 

While retaining her South African citizenship, Theron became an American citizen in 2007 and has been honoured with a motion picture star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Source: Wikipedia 

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The Gambia is making some big moves in its communication and digital sector! Minister Ousman O. Bah announced that the government has given the green light to privatize Gamtel and sell Gamcel outright.

During a session with lawmakers, Minister Bah explained that the decision came after realizing the financial strain these two national assets were facing. With debts piling up, it’s become clear that the government alone can’t keep them afloat.

Gamcel, for instance, is drowning in over D14 million in debt and isn’t contributing much to the state. Minister Bah pointed out various reasons for the revenue decline, like outdated technology and bloated staff.

To turn things around, the government plans to transfer Gamtel’s fiber assets to a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). This move is backed by studies showing Gamtel’s financial woes and the need for restructuring to boost revenue.

While the government has supported Gamtel in the past with infrastructure projects, it’s time to bring in private partners to inject fresh investment and expertise. With these changes, Minister Bah is optimistic that both Gamtel and Gamcel can thrive in the digital age.