DJAN denies banning Burna Boy songs after DJ Tunez clash, calls reports false and urges calm as investigations continue The Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN) has denied reports claiming it banned Burna Boy ’s songs following a reported altercation involving DJ Tunez, describing the claims as false and misleading. In a statement released on Thursday, DJAN President Prince Akim Edeh said the association had not imposed any restriction on the artist’s music and urged media platforms to avoid spreading unverified information. DJAN emphasized its commitment to professionalism within the entertainment industry, stating that it maintains a strict stance against violence and physical confrontations. The association added that it is closely monitoring ongoing investigations into the incident. The group also condemned the unauthorized use of its official logo in circulating reports, distancing itself from claims suggesting an industry-wide ban on Burna Boy’s songs. According to DJAN, DJ Tunez is not a registered member of the association, further clarifying its non-involvement in any disciplinary action linked to the situation. The controversy reportedly stems from an incident at Obi’s House in Lagos, where DJ Tunez was allegedly assaulted after playing songs by Wizkid instead of Burna Boy. DJAN reiterated its commitment to fostering collaboration between DJs and artists, urging the public to remain calm while authorities handle the matter. Source: The Sun Nigeria Continue Reading Full Article ENTERTAINMENT DJAN Denies Ban on Burna Boy Songs After DJ Tunez Clash By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Apr 9, 2026 May 15, 2026 2 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: The Deejays Association of Nigeria (DJAN) has denied reports claiming it banned Burna Boy ’s songs following a reported altercation involving DJ Tunez, describing the claims as false and misleading. In a statement released on Thursday, DJAN President Prince Akim Edeh said the association had not imposed any restriction on the artist’s music and urged media platforms to avoid spreading unverified information. DJAN emphasized its commitment to professionalism within the entertainment industry, stating that it maintains a strict stance against violence and physical confrontations. The association added that it is closely monitoring ongoing investigations into the incident. ADVERTISEMENT The group also condemned the unauthorized use of its official logo in circulating reports, distancing itself from claims suggesting an industry-wide ban on Burna Boy’s songs. According to DJAN, DJ Tunez is not a registered member of the association, further clarifying its non-involvement in any disciplinary action linked to the situation. ADVERTISEMENT The controversy reportedly stems from an incident at Obi’s House in Lagos, where DJ Tunez was allegedly assaulted after playing songs by Wizkid instead of Burna Boy. DJAN reiterated its commitment to fostering collaboration between DJs and artists, urging the public to remain calm while authorities handle the matter. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Source: The Sun Nigeria ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigeria Nigeria

MrBeast leads Forbes’ 2026 Top Creators list with $300m as creator earnings pass $1bn. MrBeast is still sitting at the top of the internet economy — and the gap between him and everyone else is huge. According to Forbes, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, ranked number one on the 2026 Forbes Top Creators list after earning an estimated $300 million between March 2025 and March 2026. The annual ranking, updated on July 1, tracks the world’s highest-earning digital creators across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other major platforms. This year’s list shows how far the creator business has moved beyond viral videos. Forbes reported that the top 50 creators made a combined $1.02 billion, crossing the billion-dollar mark for the first time. That figure is up from $853 million in 2025 and almost double the amount recorded when the list began in 2022. MrBeast ’ s lead is powered by more than YouTube views. His empire now stretches across Beast Industries, Feastables, Lunchly, Viewstats and his Amazon Prime reality series Beast Games. Forbes also listed his global audience at 873 million followers, making him the biggest name on the ranking by both money and reach. Dhar Mann came second with $65 million, while British entrepreneur and podcast host Steven Bartlett placed third with $52 million. Markiplier followed in fourth place with $38 million, and comedy duo Rhett & Link completed the top five with $37 million. The top 10 also included Codie Sanchez, IShowSpeed, Mark Rober, Ms. Rachel and Jesser. Their presence shows how wide the creator economy has become, covering gaming, education, finance, comedy, children’s content and lifestyle entertainment. For African creators watching from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg or Kinshasa, the message is clear: digital fame is no longer just about posting consistently. The biggest creators are building companies, selling products, launching shows and turning fan communities into serious businesses. Forbes said the ranking considered estimated gross earnings, audience size, engagement and business ventures. That matters because the most powerful creators are no longer only competing with other influencers. They are now competing with television studios, record labels, media houses and consumer brands. Full Forbes Top 50 Creators 2026 List MrBeast — $300m — 873m followers Continue Reading Full Article ENTERTAINMENT MrBeast Tops Forbes 2026 Top Creators List By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Jul 5, 2026 Jul 5, 2026 6 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: MrBeast is still sitting at the top of the internet economy — and the gap between him and everyone else is huge. According to Forbes, Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, ranked number one on the 2026 Forbes Top Creators list after earning an estimated $300 million between March 2025 and March 2026. The annual ranking, updated on July 1, tracks the world’s highest-earning digital creators across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and other major platforms. This year’s list shows how far the creator business has moved beyond viral videos. Forbes reported that the top 50 creators made a combined $1.02 billion, crossing the billion-dollar mark for the first time. That figure is up from $853 million in 2025 and almost double the amount recorded when the list began in 2022. MrBeast ’ s lead is powered by more than YouTube views. His empire now stretches across Beast Industries, Feastables, Lunchly, Viewstats and his Amazon Prime reality series Beast Games. Forbes also listed his global audience at 873 million followers, making him the biggest name on the ranking by both money and reach. Dhar Mann came second with $65 million, while British entrepreneur and podcast host Steven Bartlett placed third with $52 million. Markiplier followed in fourth place with $38 million, and comedy duo Rhett & Link completed the top five with $37 million. The top 10 also included Codie Sanchez, IShowSpeed, Mark Rober, Ms. Rachel and Jesser. Their presence shows how wide the creator economy has become, covering gaming, education, finance, comedy, children’s content and lifestyle entertainment. For African creators watching from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg or Kinshasa, the message is clear: digital fame is no longer just about posting consistently. The biggest creators are building companies, selling products, launching shows and turning fan communities into serious businesses. Forbes said the ranking considered estimated gross earnings, audience size, engagement and business ventures. That matters because the most powerful creators are no longer only competing with other influencers. They are now competing with television studios, record labels, media houses and consumer brands. Full Forbes Top 50 Creators 2026 List ADVERTISEMENT MrBeast — $300m — 873m followers Dhar Mann — $65m — 171m followers Steven Bartlett — $52m — 38.7m followers Markiplier — $38m — 76.8m followers Rhett & Link — $37m — 45.6m followers Codie Sanchez — $31m — 10m followers IShowSpeed — $30m — 184m followers Mark Rober — $30m — 90.7m followers Ms. Rachel — $26m — 34.2m followers Jesser — $25m — 54.9m followers MrBallen — $24m — 31.4m followers Druski — $20m — 38.5m followers Charli D’Amelio — $18m — 209.8m followers Jacksepticeye — $18m — 48.9m followers Adam W — $17.3m — 67.2m followers Rebecca Zamolo — $15m — 45.3m followers Jake Shane — $14m — 6m followers Nick DiGiovanni — $14m — 65.4m followers ADVERTISEMENT Brent Rivera — $13.7m — 120.8m followers Typical Gamer — $13m — 31.6m followers Jordan The Stallion — $12.4m — 49.1m followers Stokes Twins — $12.4m — 177.5m followers Alix Earle — $12m — 14.5m followers Marques Brownlee — $10.9m — 33.6m followers Alan Chikin Chow — $10.5m — 131.4m followers Ashton Hall — $10m — 38.1m followers Khaby Lame — $9.9m — 252.1m followers James Dumoulin — $9.9m — 23.2m followers Haley Baylee — $9.6m — 37.4m followers Mikayla Nogueira — $9m — 21.8m followers Vivian Tu — $8.2m — 10.7m followers Dani Austin — $8.1m — 3.8m followers Tana Mongeau — $8m — 22.8m followers Nara Smith — $7.5m — 17.3m followers Nurse John — $7.2m — 19.2m followers Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Leah Kateb — $7.1m — 11.4m followers Dixie D’Amelio — $7m — 72.9m followers Erika Kullberg — $6.8m — 21m followers Lexi Rivera — $6.7m — 56.3m followers Josh Richards — $6m — 34.7m followers Hannah Stocking — $5.8m — 74.4m followers Katie Fang — $5.4m — 8.2m followers Brooke Monk — $5.2m — 72.2m followers Anwar Jibawi — $5m — 83.9m followers Anna Sitar — $4.4m — 27.7m followers iJustine — $3.4m — 12.9m followers Tini Younger — $3m — 16.3m followers Drew Afualo — $2.7m — 13.4m followers Steven He — $2m — 29.6m followers Logan Moffitt — $1.3m — 10.6m followers MrBeast’s latest Forbes win confirms what the internet has been building toward for years: creators are no longer just entertainers on social media. At the highest level, they are media companies, product founders and global culture machines. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment United States United States

Go beyond giant tortoises and explore Seychelles’ hidden wildlifefrom rare parrots to fruit bats and carnivorous plants wild, witty, and unforgettable. Seychelles’ giant tortoises get all the fame living dinosaur vibes and 150-year lifespans tend to steal the spotlight. But beyond those slow-moving celebrities, these islands hide a whole cast of quirky, lesser-known creatures. Think stealthy parrots, “vampire” trees, and bats the size of seagulls. This Indian Ocean paradise boasts dozens of endemic species found nowhere else . So slip off that sun lounger and venture into the wild side of Seychelles. From forest canopies to coral reefs, here are eight overlooked wildlife encounters that will earn you serious bragging rights and a newfound love for Seychelles beyond the beach. Ready for a wild island adventure ? Pack your binoculars (and bug spray), embrace your inner Attenborough, and get set to meet the Seychellois critters and curiosities that put the “wild” in wildlife. We’re talking about experiences as unforgettable as any sunset on Beau Vallon. Let’s dive in, one awesome animal (or plant) at a time, with local tips to help you spot each all served with a side of that trademark Time Out sass. 1. Praslin’s “Black” Parrots in a Coco de Mer Forest Moody, mysterious, and only found in Praslin’s primeval palm jungles, the Seychelles Black Parrot is a diva that prefers to stay incognito. Ironically, this national bird isn’t black at all more like a smoky brown, perfectly camouflaged in the Vallée de Mai rainforest . Fewer than a thousand exist, flitting around the palms and letting out the occasional sharp whistle from above. Catching a glimpse is like finding Bigfoot: these shy parrots blend into the shadows of giant Coco de Mer fronds. But if you do hear a sudden peep overhead, pause you might just spot a rare feathery silhouette watching you from the canopy. Like this rare scene from @visitseychelles six elusive Black Parrots caught snacking in a palm tree on Praslin. These sleek island icons are as endemic and as attitude-filled as it gets. And they’re just the beginning. From vampire plants and sky-surfing bats to underwater giants, here’s your guide to Seychelles’ wildest residents you’ve probably never heard of. Where & how: Head to Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin, a UNESCO-listed “Garden of Eden” famous for its Coco de Mer palms (and those suggestively shaped nuts). Go at dawn when the forest is hushed; early morning birdwatching tours have the best odds of coaxing out a parrot or two . Continue Reading Full Article Beyond Giant Tortoises: 10 Overlooked Wildlife of Seychelles By Neema Asha Mwakalinga Travel & Culture Expert Neema Asha Mwakalinga Home Comment Oct 22, 2025 May 15, 2026 24 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Seychelles’ giant tortoises get all the fame living dinosaur vibes and 150-year lifespans tend to steal the spotlight. But beyond those slow-moving celebrities, these islands hide a whole cast of quirky, lesser-known creatures. Think stealthy parrots, “vampire” trees, and bats the size of seagulls. This Indian Ocean paradise boasts dozens of endemic species found nowhere else . So slip off that sun lounger and venture into the wild side of Seychelles. From forest canopies to coral reefs, here are eight overlooked wildlife encounters that will earn you serious bragging rights and a newfound love for Seychelles beyond the beach. Ready for a wild island adventure ? Pack your binoculars (and bug spray), embrace your inner Attenborough, and get set to meet the Seychellois critters and curiosities that put the “wild” in wildlife. We’re talking about experiences as unforgettable as any sunset on Beau Vallon. Let’s dive in, one awesome animal (or plant) at a time, with local tips to help you spot each all served with a side of that trademark Time Out sass. 1. Praslin’s “Black” Parrots in a Coco de Mer Forest Moody, mysterious, and only found in Praslin’s primeval palm jungles, the Seychelles Black Parrot is a diva that prefers to stay incognito. Ironically, this national bird isn’t black at all more like a smoky brown, perfectly camouflaged in the Vallée de Mai rainforest . Fewer than a thousand exist, flitting around the palms and letting out the occasional sharp whistle from above. Catching a glimpse is like finding Bigfoot: these shy parrots blend into the shadows of giant Coco de Mer fronds. But if you do hear a sudden peep overhead, pause you might just spot a rare feathery silhouette watching you from the canopy. Like this rare scene from @visitseychelles six elusive Black Parrots caught snacking in a palm tree on Praslin. These sleek island icons are as endemic and as attitude-filled as it gets. And they’re just the beginning. From vampire plants and sky-surfing bats to underwater giants, here’s your guide to Seychelles’ wildest residents you’ve probably never heard of. Where & how: Head to Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve on Praslin, a UNESCO-listed “Garden of Eden” famous for its Coco de Mer palms (and those suggestively shaped nuts). Go at dawn when the forest is hushed; early morning birdwatching tours have the best odds of coaxing out a parrot or two . Entry isn’t cheap at about SCR 450 (≈ $30 ) per adult , but it funds vital conservation. Local tip: hire a knowledgeable guide at the gate (around SCR 100, ~$7) who knows the parrots’ favorite fruit trees. With some patience and a bit of luck you’ll witness Praslin’s “brown” parrots flying free. Trust us, that moment a rare parrot swoops overhead is pure island magic. 2. La Digue’s Widow-Maker: Paradise Flycatchers Serving gothic elegance with a hint of drama, the Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher flaunts a tail longer than its whole body . The locals dub it “Veuve” (widow) because the all-black males look like Victorian widows in mourning albeit widows with ridiculously long tail feathers. These stunners nearly flapped off into extinction (down to maybe 30 birds at one point), but thanks to heroic conservation they’ve bounced back to a few hundred now . Most still haunt the forests of La Digue island, where they flit among takamaka trees and swoop low to snatch insects mid-air. Catching a glimpse of a male flycatcher dancing through sunbeams tail ribbons trailing behind is like spotting a tiny flying goth concert. Where & how: La Digue’s Veuve Nature Reserve is the go-to for a rendezvous with this “widow” bird. This modest patch of woodland sits near La Digue’s L’Union area and protects the flycatcher’s last stronghold. Pop in at sunrise when these divas are most vocal you might hear a raspy tsk-tsk call before seeing them. Bring binoculars and look for a flash of inky black or chestnut (females are brown). Entry is only SCR 150 (~ $10 ) for visitors , which includes a peek at the tiny info center. Pro tip: ask the ranger to point out the flycatchers’ favorite kapok trees. If you’re lucky, you’ll witness a courting pair doing acrobatic loops through the air the fanciest aerial love show in the Seychelles. Not bad for an animal smaller than a soda can! 3. Cousin Island’s Comeback Kid: Seychelles Magpie Robin Meet the bold little songbird that went from nearly zero to national hero. The Seychelles Magpie Robin is a dapper black-and-white bird with a cheeky personality it literally hops around your feet and poses as if it owns the place. Back in 1965, only 16 of these robins were left on Earth, all clinging to one predator-free islet . They call it the “comeback kid” of Seychelles and with good reason. Once down to barely a dozen birds, the Seychelles Magpie Robin has clawed its way back from extinction’s edge. On Fregate Island, this glossy black-and-white songbird now struts through forest trails like it owns the place proof that conservation miracles really do sing. ADVERTISEMENT Now, after intense conservation efforts, over 500 thrive across several islands. Talk about a comeback! On tiny Cousin Island (their main hangout), magpie robins act like your personal welcoming committee: warbling unique songs and following visitors along jungle paths hoping we’ll stir up tasty insects for them. One might even tug your shoelace if you stand still these feathered fellas have zero shame when it comes to begging for bug snacks. Where & how: Cousin Island Special Reserve, just 2 km off Praslin, is the spot to meet these avian celebrities. It’s only accessible by guided tour a 15-minute boat ride brings you to what feels like a lost world of birds. The reserve strictly controls visitor numbers, and there’s a SCR 600 (~ $45 ) conservation fee per head (cash only, so stash those rupees!). A park ranger will lead you around; stick close as they know each robin by “name” (some wear colored bands). You’ll likely see magpie robins hop right up to you on the trail or even land on an outstretched hand with no predators around, they’re utterly fearless. Local tip: wear sturdy shoes and insect repellent (Cousin’s mosquitos are also enthusiastic greeters). By tour’s end, you’ll have a new appreciation for this once-endangered bird and possibly a robin BFF for life. 4. Flying Foxes at Dusk: Seychelles Fruit Bats When twilight falls in the Seychelles, look up those “birds” silhouetted against the pink sky are actually megabats on the move. The Seychelles Flying Fox (a fruit bat) is the islands’ only native mammal, sporting a foxy little face and a 1.2 m wingspan. Basically, picture a golden retriever-size bat gliding overhead like a kite. By day they snooze in treetops, hanging upside down like umbrellas; by night they glide out in squadrons to raid fruit trees. When dusk falls over Seychelles, the real sky show begins and no, it’s not the sunset. Those swooping silhouettes above the palms? Meet the Seychelles fruit bat , a furry, golden-faced pollinator that keeps the islands’ forests blooming. Equal parts adorable and chaotic, these “flying foxes” are the islands’ unsung gardeners just don’t leave your mangoes unattended. Locals have a love-hate thing with these guys: they’re vital pollinators for island plants, but they also help themselves to mangoes and guavas with zero remorse. (Fun fact: fruit bat curry is a traditional dish in Seychelles though these days you’re more likely to shoot them with a camera than see them on a menu .) Where & how: Honestly, almost anywhere at sundown. Park yourself on Beau Vallon beach on Mahé or by a La Digue coconut grove around 6:00 pm cocktail in hand and enjoy the free wildlife show above. You’ll see the bats emerge in twos and threes, flapping lazily across the orange sky. It’s a bit eerie, a bit awe-inspiring, and 100% Seychellois. Cost? Absolutely free (though a cold Seybrew beer at a beach bar will run you ~ SCR 60 / $4 worth it to complete the vibe). If you’re keen to see them up close by day, head to the Victoria Botanical Gardens or any big fig tree; you might spot dozens of furry bat buddies napping in a cluster. Just don’t stand directly under them unless you want a surprise “shower”. 😉 Local tip: These “flying foxes” are harmless they want fruit, not blood, so relax and admire their sunset sky surfing. It’s island life at its finest. 5. Katiti on the Hunt: Seychelles Kestrel This pint-sized predator packs more swagger than a bull eagle ten times its size. The Seychelles Kestrel , known as Katiti in Creole, is the islands’ only native bird of prey . How tiny are we talking? About 20 cm tall small enough to fit in your hand yet this falcon doesn’t let size stop it from ruling the skies. You’ll often see a katiti perched proudly on telephone poles or breadfruit trees, scanning for geckos and skinks to snatch up for dinner . Unlike other kestrels, our island version doesn’t bother with the whole hovering thing; it prefers a swift dive-bomb attack. They even skip building nests, sometimes crashing in on somebody else’s abandoned tree hole or under house eaves like a true millennial. Small bird, big boss energy. Where & how: You’ve got the best chance on Mahé , the largest island. Keep your eyes peeled around the outskirts of Victoria and the forested slopes of Morne Seychellois National Park . Listen for a sharp “kee-kee-kee” call echoing off the granite cliffs that’s a katiti announcing its territory. There’s no fee or tour required for this adventure (Mother Nature doesn’t charge, darling), so you can wander hiking trails or even around your hotel grounds with binoculars on standby. ADVERTISEMENT If you’re a keen birder, consider hiring a local guide (~ SCR 800 or $55 for a half day) who can whistle the kestrel’s call; these curious raptors often swoop in if they think another katiti is intruding. True story: one pair even nested in the Victoria airport rafters, giving a few lucky travelers a wildlife welcome! Local tip: patience . Take a seat by a clearing and watch the treetops spotting this mini falcon on its throne is immensely satisfying, like finding a rare Pokémon in the wild. 6. Gentle Giants of the Reef: Whale Sharks Yes, you read that right the world’s largest fish makes an annual appearance in Seychelles, and surprisingly few visitors know about it. Whale sharks (which are actually colossal, polka-dotted sharks, not whales) cruise through these turquoise waters each year to feed on plankton. Come the peak season around October to December , these gentle behemoths are often spotted near Mahé and the inner islands . As @visitseychelles perfectly captured, few island moments beat spotting a whale shark gliding beneath your boat. Locals call this gentle giant Sagren a plankton-loving leviathan that drifts through Seychelles’ cobalt waters between September and November. One moment you’re snapping selfies on deck, the next you’re staring down a twelve-meter masterpiece of nature, polka-dotted and peaceful, reminding everyone who really rules these waters. Imagine snorkeling and suddenly seeing a 10-meter spotted giant gliding by heart-poundingly thrilling, yet strangely peaceful as they’re filter-feeders that couldn’t care less about puny humans. Seychelles authorities even put out advisories when whale sharks arrive, reminding boaters to go slow and not play bumper cars with our big visitors . It’s basically an open-invite whale shark party in the Indian Ocean, and you’re invited to crash it (respectfully). Where & how: Base yourself on Mahé during whale shark season (October–November is a sure bet ). Beau Vallon Bay on Mahé’s northwest coast is the hub for whale shark excursions, with licensed dive operators heading out almost daily in peak months . Sign up for a snorkeling tour around SCR 1500 –2000 per person (≈ $100–$135 ) for a half-day boat trip with gear. It’s a splurge, but how often do you get to swim alongside a spotted giant? Tours usually start with a briefing on shark etiquette: no touching, no chasing, just gentle observing. If you’d rather stay dry, sometimes you can even spot whale sharks from viewpoints or while ferry-hopping between islands (look for dark shadows near the surface). But nothing beats slipping into the water with them. As you float alongside a whale shark, watching it sweep majestically through the blue, you’ll feel positively tiny and utterly humbled. Local tip: Bring a GoPro or at least an underwater camera (and a buddy to snap your photo) because your friends will demand proof of that time you swam with a 30-foot fish. And always listen to your guide these sharks are harmless, but good ocean manners keep both you and the animals safe . 7. Daytime Nesters: Hawksbill Sea Turtles Many tropical destinations boast about sea turtles, but in Seychelles you might literally share the beach with one. The critically endangered Hawksbill turtle is an island VIP that comes ashore to nest in surprising daylight hours no night-vision goggles needed here. Picture this: you’re lounging on the soft sands of Anse Lazio or wandering a quiet cove, and up waddles a 150-pound mama turtle, flippers flying sand everywhere as she digs a nest. Hawksbills lay eggs on Seychelles’ beaches from roughly September to March (peaking around November-January), and thanks to strict protection, they’re pretty relaxed about human onlookers. It’s a jaw-dropping sight ancient instincts on display and most casual travelers don’t realize it can happen during their afternoon beach picnic! As @ tbo.academy reminds us, Seychelles isn’t just a postcard it’s a full-blown tropical playground. Think snorkelling between coral gardens, hopping from island to island, and watching turtles nest under a pink dusk sky. With easy visa-free entry and a rhythm that runs on island time, it’s little wonder travellers keep falling for this Indian Ocean beauty. Where & how: For the best chance, visit protected sanctuaries or quieter beaches where turtles feel safe. Cousin Island and Curieuse Island (both near Praslin) are turtle nesting hotbeds join a guided excursion to these islands, where wardens will lead you to recent nests and maybe a sighting of a turtle laying eggs or hatchlings scampering to sea. Curieuse has an entry fee of SCR 300 (~ $20 ), often included in island-hopping tours that also stop to see giant tortoises (two wildlife treats in one!). Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Beyond Giant Tortoises: 10 Overlooked Wildlife of Seychelles . Top 10 Leisure Activities to Do in Seychelles in 2025 . Top 10 Budget-Friendly Accommodations in Seychelles . Top 10 Hidden Gems of Seychelles . Travel Guide Where to Drink in Paradise: Seychelles’ 10 Best Bars of 2025 . ADVERTISEMENT On Praslin itself, keep an eye on Anse Georgette and Anse Lazio in the early morning or late afternoon . If you spot tracks or a big turtle, give her plenty of space she’s on a mission. Many resorts have turtle liaison programs; ask your hotel if they do turtle-watch calls for guests. Local tip: Never disturb a nesting turtle or her nest. No flash photography at night, no touching hatchlings (no matter how cute!). If you’re lucky to witness a daytime nesting, maintain a respectful distance and savor the natural wonder quietly. And yes, do the turtle a solid by covering up your own sandcastle pits before you leave the beach baby turtles can get trapped in our mess. Seeing a hawksbill up close, in broad daylight, is a once-in-a-lifetime memory that’ll make you forget all about those fame-hogging tortoises. 8. Carnivorous Plants on Copolia Trail Who knew Seychelles had its own little “Little Shop of Horrors” lurking in the mountains? High up on Mahé’s granite peaks grows the Seychelles Pitcher Plant a carnivorous cutie that snacks on insects. That’s right, amid the postcard palms and beaches, the islands hide an Agatha Christie -level plot twist: plants that eat bugs. These endemic pitcher plants (Nepenthes pervillei) sprout tiny mottled green-and-red “pitchers” that fill with digestive juice to trap unsuspecting ants and flies . Hikers often stroll right past them, mistaking them for odd little flowers, until a guide points out the telltale mini “cup” full of yesterday’s bug buffet . It’s equal parts gruesome and cool definitely an overlooked natural wonder in a tropical paradise better known for fauna than flora. As @greengenerationseychelles shows, not everything that bites in Seychelles has teeth. Meet the Seychelles Pitcher Plant , a rare little carnivore that snacks on unsuspecting insects instead of tourists. Endemic to the granite peaks of Mahé and Silhouette, this neon-green trap is part science fiction, part survival story proof that even paradise hides a few hungry secrets. Where & how: The easiest way to meet these insect-eating plants is to hike the Copolia Trail on Mahé. This popular trail (about 45 minutes uphill) winds through jungle to a panoramic rocky summit and it’s here on the exposed granite ledges that pitcher plants bask in the sun . Look down near your hiking boots: those little green cups with lids are the carnivores in question. No park entry fee required; this adventure is on Mother Nature’s house. Just bring water, sunscreen, and decent shoes. A guided hike can be arranged (expect ~ SCR 500 or $35 for a half-day group trek), but if you’re moderately fit, you can DIY the trail is well-marked. As you near the top, move slowly and keep your eyes peeled at ground level so you don’t accidentally step on these rare plants. They tend to cluster in patches, silently gobbling bugs while offering you a great excuse to catch your breath. Local tip: Don’t poke your finger into the liquid (eww, not coconut water!). Instead, crouch and gently lift a pitcher to peek inside you might see a few trapped insects awaiting digestion. Bragging rights unlocked: not many can say they’ve high-fived (figuratively) a carnivorous plant in the wild. Plus, the 360° island view from Copolia is absolutely worth the sweat. Reward yourself after the hike with a fresh coconut or a Seybrew at the trailhead, you’ve earned it. The Takeaway: Wild Encounters > Souvenir T-shirts There you have it eight wild reasons to peel yourself away from the infinity pool and discover the untamed soul of Seychelles. Sure, giant tortoises are awesome, but now you’ve tracked down stealthy parrots, ogled goth-looking birds, chilled with bats, and even said hello to a tree that eats bugs. Not your average beach holiday, huh? The key to these encounters is going a bit beyond the usual tourist trail: hire local guides for the hidden gems, venture to lesser-known islands, and always respect Mother Nature’s ground rules (no petting, feeding or harassing the wildlife even if that Coco de Mer nut really looks like it needs a squeeze). Think like a savvy islander: pack binoculars, wear comfy shoes, and keep a few rupees handy for park fees or post-hike sundowners. Early mornings and late afternoons are your best friend for wildlife spotting (animals have schedules too, you know). And don’t forget to simply slow down Seychelles may be small, but it’s bursting with life if you take the time to look. So next time you’re in this tropical paradise, go beyond the selfie with a tortoise. From making eye contact with a friendly magpie robin to swimming alongside a spotted giant, these are the moments that turn a trip into a story you’ll be telling for years. Trust your local friend here: this beats any cheesy souvenir T-shirt. Happy exploring, and may your Seychelles adventures be wild and wonderful ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Beyond Giant Tortoises: 10 Overlooked Wildlife of Seychelles Beyond the beach: uncover Seychelles’ secret wildlife stars, from stealthy parrots to vampire plants. . Top 10 Leisure Activities to Do in Seychelles in 2025 From kayaking clear waters to Creole feasts, discover Seychelles’ most exciting 2025 adventures . Top 10 Budget-Friendly Accommodations in Seychelles Proof that paradise doesn’t need to cost a fortune the best Seychelles stays under $150 a night. . Top 10 Hidden Gems of Seychelles Discover Seychelles’ secret beaches, jungles, and wild atolls beyond the typical tourist trail. . Tags Seychelles Seychelles Travel Blog Travel Blog travel abroad travel abroad Travel & Tourism Travel & Tourism Travel Blog Travel Blog Travel Africa Travel Africa

Adama Barrow biography covering his age, education, business career, 2016 victory, presidency, wife, children and 2026 election campaign. Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician, businessman and real-estate developer who has served as the third president of The Gambia since 19 January 2017. Born in Mankamang Kunda in 1965, he worked in commerce, studied real estate in the United Kingdom and founded Majum Real Estate before entering national politics. Barrow became the consensus candidate of an opposition coalition in 2016 and defeated Yahya Jammeh, ending 22 years of authoritarian rule. He won a second term in 2021 and is campaigning again in 2026, with his record now judged against unfinished democratic reforms, economic pressures and public demands for reliable electricity. Who is Adama Barrow? Adama Barrow is the president of The Gambia and leader of the National People’s Party. A former real-estate businessman, he won the historic 2016 election that removed Yahya Jammeh, survived the resulting constitutional crisis and was re-elected in 2021. He is 61 years old as of September 2026. Early Life in Mankamang Kunda Adama Barrow was born on 15 February 1965 in Mankamang Kunda, a village in the Jimara district of The Gambia’s Upper River Region. His birth came three days before the country gained independence from Britain, a coincidence that has often been used in official accounts to connect his life with the modern history of the Gambian state. A separate 2026 presidential archive gives 16 February, but the Office of the President’s published birthday account supports 15 February, the date used here. Barrow grew up far from the political centre of Banjul. The surviving biographical record describes a rural childhood followed by a move toward the capital for further schooling. He attended Koba Kunda Primary School, Crab Island Secondary School and Muslim High School. An Office of the President profile confirms his birthplace and 15 February 1965 birth date, although the page itself is an openly supportive commentary rather than an independent assessment of his presidency. His early life did not resemble the usual path of a future head of state. Barrow was not raised inside a famous political dynasty, did not begin as a senior civil servant and did not first become known through the military. His public identity was shaped by commerce. After school, he joined Alhagie Musa Njie & Sons, a Gambian business, and rose to become a sales manager. The experience introduced him to retail operations, customer relationships and the practical discipline of building a career without inherited national influence. Those beginnings later became central to his political image. In the 2016 campaign, supporters presented him as a calm, ordinary businessman capable of bringing divided opposition groups together. The contrast with Jammeh an army officer who had seized power in a 1994 coup—was one of the campaign’s clearest themes. London, Real-Estate Studies and Majum Real Estate Barrow moved to Europe in the early 2000s. He spent time in the United Kingdom, where he studied toward real-estate qualifications and worked while supporting himself. Contemporary international profiles reported that he worked as a security guard or supervisor at an Argos store in London. The detail became widely known after his election because it captured the distance between his earlier working life and the presidency. Continue Reading Full Article BIOGRAPHY Adama Barrow Biography: From Businessman to Gambia President By Truce Elikia Art & Culture Journalist Truce Elikia Home Comment Sep 9, 2026 Sep 9, 2026 23 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician, businessman and real-estate developer who has served as the third president of The Gambia since 19 January 2017. Born in Mankamang Kunda in 1965, he worked in commerce, studied real estate in the United Kingdom and founded Majum Real Estate before entering national politics. Barrow became the consensus candidate of an opposition coalition in 2016 and defeated Yahya Jammeh, ending 22 years of authoritarian rule. He won a second term in 2021 and is campaigning again in 2026, with his record now judged against unfinished democratic reforms, economic pressures and public demands for reliable electricity. Who is Adama Barrow? Adama Barrow is the president of The Gambia and leader of the National People’s Party. A former real-estate businessman, he won the historic 2016 election that removed Yahya Jammeh, survived the resulting constitutional crisis and was re-elected in 2021. He is 61 years old as of September 2026. Early Life in Mankamang Kunda Adama Barrow was born on 15 February 1965 in Mankamang Kunda, a village in the Jimara district of The Gambia’s Upper River Region. His birth came three days before the country gained independence from Britain, a coincidence that has often been used in official accounts to connect his life with the modern history of the Gambian state. A separate 2026 presidential archive gives 16 February, but the Office of the President’s published birthday account supports 15 February, the date used here. Barrow grew up far from the political centre of Banjul. The surviving biographical record describes a rural childhood followed by a move toward the capital for further schooling. He attended Koba Kunda Primary School, Crab Island Secondary School and Muslim High School. An Office of the President profile confirms his birthplace and 15 February 1965 birth date, although the page itself is an openly supportive commentary rather than an independent assessment of his presidency. His early life did not resemble the usual path of a future head of state. Barrow was not raised inside a famous political dynasty, did not begin as a senior civil servant and did not first become known through the military. His public identity was shaped by commerce. After school, he joined Alhagie Musa Njie & Sons, a Gambian business, and rose to become a sales manager. The experience introduced him to retail operations, customer relationships and the practical discipline of building a career without inherited national influence. Those beginnings later became central to his political image. In the 2016 campaign, supporters presented him as a calm, ordinary businessman capable of bringing divided opposition groups together. The contrast with Jammeh an army officer who had seized power in a 1994 coup—was one of the campaign’s clearest themes. London, Real-Estate Studies and Majum Real Estate Barrow moved to Europe in the early 2000s. He spent time in the United Kingdom, where he studied toward real-estate qualifications and worked while supporting himself. Contemporary international profiles reported that he worked as a security guard or supervisor at an Argos store in London. The detail became widely known after his election because it captured the distance between his earlier working life and the presidency. The London years should not be reduced to the novelty of a future president working in retail security. They formed part of a deliberate professional transition. Barrow was studying property while earning a living, then returned to The Gambia with a business plan. In 2006, he founded Majum Real Estate and became its chief executive. Majum placed him in a sector closely connected to land, housing, urban growth and the Gambian diaspora. Property businesses in The Gambia often serve citizens abroad who want to build homes or invest at home, so the work required trust across borders as well as knowledge of local transactions. Barrow ran the company until politics became his full-time occupation in 2016. His commercial record did not make him nationally famous before that campaign. It did, however, give him managerial experience and an independent livelihood at a time when openly opposing Jammeh could carry significant personal risk. Barrow joined the United Democratic Party and eventually served as its treasurer, a role suited to a businessman whose political influence was initially organisational rather than theatrical. From UDP Treasurer to Coalition Candidate The political opening that changed Barrow’s life came during a severe crackdown on the opposition in 2016. UDP leader Ousainou Darboe and other senior party figures were imprisoned after protests over the death in custody of activist Solo Sandeng. With much of the recognised leadership unavailable, Barrow emerged as the UDP’s presidential candidate. His larger breakthrough came when opposition parties and civic groups formed Coalition 2016. On 30 October, the alliance chose Barrow as its standard-bearer. He resigned from the UDP days later so that he could contest as an independent candidate backed by the coalition rather than as the nominee of one party. That arrangement was both his greatest political strength and the source of later conflict. Barrow was chosen because the opposition needed a unifying figure against a deeply entrenched president. The coalition brought together groups with different histories, ideologies and ambitions. Its central agreement was regime change, not a permanent shared programme. During the campaign, Barrow promised democratic reform, an independent judiciary, greater freedom for the media and civil society, security-sector change and renewed engagement with international institutions. He also supported the coalition plan for a transitional presidency lasting three years. The promise would later become one of the most consequential disputes of his first term. The 2016 Election That Ended Jammeh’s Rule Gambians voted on 1 December 2016 using the country’s distinctive marble-and-drum electoral system. The result was historic. The Independent Electoral Commission’s final record shows Barrow with 227,708 votes, or about 43 percent. Jammeh received 208,487, while Mama Kandeh received 89,768. Turnout was about 59 percent. Jammeh initially conceded, creating the expectation of The Gambia’s first transfer of presidential power through the ballot box. He reversed himself days later and challenged the result, setting off a constitutional crisis. Regional leaders insisted that the declared outcome had to stand. Barrow left for Senegal amid security concerns while negotiations continued. On 19 January 2017, the day Jammeh’s term expired, Barrow took the oath at the Gambian embassy in Dakar. Al Jazeera’s contemporaneous account recorded the extraordinary inauguration while Jammeh still refused to leave office. ECOWAS forces entered The Gambia to support the constitutional transfer, although diplomacy remained central to resolving the standoff. Jammeh departed for exile in Equatorial Guinea on 21 January. Barrow returned home on 26 January to crowds, military officials and members of the coalition government. A later inauguration ceremony took place on Gambian soil in February. The transition made Barrow internationally significant before he had governed for a day. He had become the civilian face of an electoral revolt against a ruler who had controlled the country for more than two decades. In an early TIME interview , Barrow presented the change as a return to equal citizenship, responsible government and national unity. ADVERTISEMENT The victory remains the defining achievement of his political life. It also created expectations that no subsequent administration could easily satisfy. Barrow was judged not only on roads, electricity, jobs and public services but on whether he would build institutions strong enough to prevent another presidency from accumulating Jammeh-like power. Opening The Gambia After 22 Years of Authoritarian Rule Barrow’s first years brought an unmistakable expansion of political and civic space. Exiled Gambians returned. Political detainees were released. Opposition activity, private broadcasting and public criticism became more visible than they had been under Jammeh. The government established or supported institutions intended to investigate abuses and rebuild public trust. The Gambia also reversed parts of Jammeh’s diplomatic isolation. It halted withdrawal from the International Criminal Court and rejoined the Commonwealth on 8 February 2018 after almost five years outside the organisation. The Commonwealth’s account of the return says all existing member states backed the application. One of Barrow’s most important promises was a truth process. The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission began work in 2018 and heard testimony about killings, torture, enforced disappearances, sexual violence and other abuses committed during the Jammeh era. Its public hearings transformed national understanding of how the former system had operated. The commission submitted its final report in 2021 and recommended prosecutions, reparations and institutional reforms. Implementation has been slower than many victims and campaigners wanted, but the process did advance. In December 2024, ECOWAS approved a Special Tribunal for The Gambia to prosecute serious crimes from the former regime. The Point’s report on the decision explains that the tribunal’s jurisdiction covers gross human-rights violations committed between July 1994 and January 2017. Barrow’s record on democratic opening is therefore substantial but incomplete. The country is freer than it was under Jammeh, yet the transition has not produced all the constitutional and accountability safeguards promised in 2016. The Three-Year Promise and the Break With Coalition 2016 The first major rupture came over the length of Barrow’s stay in office. Coalition 2016 had presented its administration as a three-year transition. By 2019, Barrow argued that the constitution gave him a five-year mandate and refused calls to resign after three years. His legal position and his political promise were not the same issue. The 1997 Constitution provided a five-year presidential term, so remaining in office did not by itself violate that term. But critics argued that he had broken the compact that made him the coalition candidate. The Three Years Jotna movement organised demonstrations demanding that he step down. The dispute changed Gambian politics. Former allies became opponents, and Barrow’s relationship with the UDP deteriorated. On 31 December 2019, the Independent Electoral Commission registered the National People’s Party, with Barrow as its leader. The new party gave him a political organisation that answered to his own programme rather than to the coalition that had brought him to power. The formation of the NPP also revealed Barrow’s evolution from compromise candidate to incumbent party leader. He built alliances with politicians from different camps, including figures associated with the former ruling APRC. Supporters called the approach pragmatic and unifying. Critics saw it as a retreat from the clean break with Jammeh-era politics that voters had expected. The argument over the three-year promise remains essential to understanding Barrow. It was the moment when his presidency stopped being viewed simply as the democratic alternative to Jammeh and began to be judged as a power structure of its own. Re-election in 2021 Barrow entered the 2021 election as the candidate of the NPP, no longer an independent unity figure. His principal opponent was Ousainou Darboe, the veteran UDP leader whose imprisonment had helped create the circumstances for Barrow’s rise five years earlier. The Independent Electoral Commission’s 2021 results gave Barrow 457,519 votes, or 53.23 percent. Darboe received 238,253, or 27.72 percent. Turnout exceeded 89 percent, demonstrating both the competitiveness of the election and the intensity of public engagement. Opposition candidates disputed aspects of the process, but the official result stood. The victory gave Barrow a clear popular mandate for a second five-year term. It also weakened the argument that his authority still depended mainly on the 2016 coalition. By 2021, he had won nationally under his own party label. His second term shifted the central political question. The issue was no longer whether The Gambia would move away from Jammeh’s personal rule. It was whether Barrow’s government could convert political stability into durable institutions, stronger public services and economic opportunity. Constitutional Reform: The Largest Unfinished Promise Constitutional reform has been one of the clearest tests of the post-Jammeh transition. A Constitutional Review Commission conducted consultations and produced a draft intended to replace the 1997 Constitution. The proposed charter addressed presidential term limits, executive power and the architecture of public institutions. The first draft failed in the National Assembly in 2020. A later version also encountered strong criticism and parliamentary rejection. The World Bank’s country overview identifies the repeated failure to replace the 1997 Constitution as a major feature of The Gambia’s political transition and notes that the next presidential election is scheduled for December 2026. The term-limit debate is especially sensitive because of Barrow’s original campaign promises and his decision to remain beyond three years. Critics want a constitutional settlement that prevents indefinite presidential tenure and limits executive control over appointments. Government supporters argue that a new constitution must command broad national and parliamentary support rather than merely reproduce the preferences of one political bloc. Whatever the explanation, the outcome is plain: nearly a decade after the 2016 election, The Gambia still operates under the constitution inherited from the Jammeh era. That does not erase other reforms, but it leaves the most important structural promise unfinished. ADVERTISEMENT Economy, Infrastructure and the Development Record Barrow has placed roads, electricity, agriculture, health, education and international investment at the centre of his development message. His administration’s supporters point to major road programmes, new connections to regional power infrastructure, tourism recovery and increased engagement with lenders and development partners. The national economy has shown periods of solid growth. According to the World Bank, growth reached 5.3 percent in 2024, supported by industry and services, especially tourism and construction. The same assessment recorded a decline in extreme poverty to 20.7 percent in 2024 and projected further growth, while warning that public debt remained high and The Gambia continued to face a high risk of debt distress. Those figures explain both the government’s confidence and public frustration. National growth does not automatically create reliable services or affordable living conditions. Many households remain exposed to food prices, unemployment, irregular income and weak infrastructure. Remittances and tourism are important, but they also leave the country vulnerable to international shocks. Electricity has become the sharpest example of the gap between access and reliability. Barrow’s government says national access rose dramatically during his presidency, supported by domestic and regional projects. Yet repeated outages have affected homes, businesses and public confidence. XTRAfrica’s report on the September 2026 blackout protests covers the unrest and the president’s response without turning disputed casualty or arrest claims into fact. In his 8 September 2026 address , Barrow acknowledged failures in planning, generation and maintenance. He said an additional 24-megawatt unit at Brikama Power Station would be commissioned by the end of October and that a contract had been awarded for a separate 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma. He also created a presidential task force expected to issue public updates every two weeks. The commitments now provide measurable tests. Electricity supply should improve by the stated deadline; the Brikama unit and Soma project should be judged separately; and rising access rates should not be confused with uninterrupted power. For voters, these distinctions are more important than broad claims of success or failure. Agriculture remains another development priority in a country where rural livelihoods are vulnerable to poor weather and limited value-chain infrastructure. XTRAfrica has also reported on the African Development Bank’s support for Gambian agriculture , part of the wider effort to improve food production, resilience and rural incomes. Human Rights, Media Freedom and Governance Criticism Any fair assessment of Barrow must compare his government with the Jammeh era without allowing that comparison to become a permanent exemption from criticism. The political environment improved markedly after 2017. Independent media expanded, opposition parties operated openly and citizens exercised freedoms that had been severely restricted. At the same time, journalists and civil-society groups have continued to report pressure, arrests and legal threats. Freedom House’s 2026 assessment classifies The Gambia as “Partly Free.” It credits improvements after Jammeh while citing corruption concerns, pressure on media and civic actors, weaknesses in transparency and shortcomings in the rule of law. The debate over female genital mutilation also tested Barrow’s leadership and the independence of public institutions. In 2024, legislators rejected a bill that would have repealed the country’s ban on FGM. XTRAfrica followed the national debate over the proposed repeal , a dispute involving religious arguments, women’s rights, criminal law and party politics. Barrow’s supporters say his tolerance of criticism, competitive elections and transitional-justice initiatives distinguish his rule fundamentally from Jammeh’s. Critics answer that a post-dictatorship government should be measured against constitutional democracy, not only against the abuses of its predecessor. Both points matter. The opening after 2017 was real. So are the concerns about stalled reform, corruption safeguards, executive influence and restrictions affecting some journalists and protesters. Barrow’s long-term legacy will depend on whether democratic space becomes institutional practice rather than a favour associated with one leader. Adama Barrow’s Political Style Barrow’s public manner has often been described as calm and understated. That style helped him become the 2016 coalition candidate: he was less polarising than several veteran opposition leaders and could serve as a common platform for groups that did not fully trust one another. In office, calmness has coexisted with political adaptability. Barrow survived the collapse of the original coalition, built the NPP, won re-election and formed alliances across old dividing lines. His rise demonstrates a strong instinct for organisation and coalition management, even if he is not generally known as an ideological theorist or charismatic orator. His governing language emphasises peace, stability, national unity and visible development. Critics sometimes interpret those themes as arguments for continuity and caution when more aggressive reform is required. Supporters see them as appropriate for a small country that emerged from an authoritarian crisis without descending into wider violence. Barrow’s business background also shapes his image. He tends to present development as a sequence of practical projects roads, power plants, water systems, schools and investment rather than as an abstract political programme. The success of that approach depends on delivery, maintenance and public accountability. A commissioned project creates value only if citizens can use it reliably. Wife, Family and Children Adama Barrow is Muslim and is publicly reported to have two wives: Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow and Sarjo Mballow-Barrow. The Office of the President identifies Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow as First Lady. She has appeared in official programmes involving health, women, children and education. Barrow’s family entered the international news during the 2017 transition for a tragic reason. His eight-year-old son, Habibou Barrow, died in January 2017 after being bitten by dogs while Barrow was in Senegal amid the constitutional crisis. An AFP report carried by Business Standard described Habibou as one of Barrow’s five children. The family has otherwise kept much of the children’s private lives outside official politics. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Justice & Crime Sanna Manjang Faces Gambia Court Martial for Desertion . Biography Adama Barrow Biography: From Businessman to Gambia President . Protests and Movements Gambia Blackout Protests Push Barrow to Promise Power Boost . Travel Guide The 8 Top Attractions in Kunta Kinteh Island & New Jetty Right Now . The 10 Best Attractions in Gambia Right Now . ADVERTISEMENT This biography does not list the names or personal details of Barrow’s living children. Their existence is relevant to a public biography, but they do not hold elected office and their privacy should be respected. The 2026 Election and the Question of a Third Term Barrow is seeking another term in the presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026. His campaign platform presents him as the candidate of peace, unity and continued development. The contest will determine whether Gambians still view stability and infrastructure as sufficient grounds for extending his presidency. The election also returns the country to the unresolved issue of term limits. Because a replacement constitution has not been adopted, Barrow’s candidacy is taking place under the existing constitutional framework. Opponents connect his third campaign to the abandoned three-year promise and the failure to complete constitutional reform. His supporters emphasise that he won both previous elections and has the same right as other qualified candidates to seek support under the law in force. The September electricity crisis gives the campaign an immediate public-service test. Barrow’s response is no longer only a political message: it includes deadlines, additional generating capacity and a reporting mechanism. Voters will be able to compare those promises with daily experience before election day. Adama Barrow’s Legacy So Far Adama Barrow’s place in Gambian history is already secure because of 2016. He was the candidate around whom a divided opposition united, and his victory ended one of West Africa’s longest authoritarian presidencies. The transfer also showed the importance of regional institutions: ECOWAS defended the declared result and helped prevent Jammeh’s refusal from becoming permanent. Barrow’s government reopened political space, restored international relationships and created mechanisms to document abuses from the previous era. The truth commission and the ECOWAS-backed tribunal are major parts of that record. His administration has also overseen economic growth, infrastructure investment and a significant expansion of electricity access. The unresolved side of the legacy is equally important. The new constitution has repeatedly failed. The three-year coalition promise was abandoned. Corruption and transparency remain concerns. Journalists, protesters and civil-society organisations still report pressure. Power shortages in 2026 have shown that expanded access means little when generation and maintenance cannot deliver reliable service. Barrow therefore cannot be understood simply as the man who defeated Jammeh or as another incumbent seeking to stay in power. He is both the symbol of The Gambia’s democratic opening and the leader responsible for the transition’s unfinished work. The 2026 election will be a verdict not only on his latest campaign but on whether Gambians believe he remains the safest custodian of the change they voted for ten years earlier. Adama Barrow Timeline Year Event Significance 1965 Born in Mankamang Kunda on 15 February Entered the world three days before Gambian independence Early 2000s Moved to the United Kingdom and studied real estate Built professional experience while working to support himself 2006 Founded Majum Real Estate Established the business career that preceded national politics 2016 Became UDP candidate and then Coalition 2016 standard-bearer United opposition parties behind one presidential challenger 2016 Won the 1 December presidential election Defeated Yahya Jammeh after 22 years of rule 2017 Sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar on 19 January Assumed office during Jammeh’s refusal to leave power 2017 Returned to The Gambia after Jammeh went into exile Completed the country’s first democratic presidential transition 2018 The Gambia rejoined the Commonwealth Marked renewed international engagement after the Jammeh era 2018 Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission began work Opened a national record of abuses under the former government 2019 Refused calls to honour the coalition’s three-year transition pledge Triggered a lasting break with former allies and public protests 2019 National People’s Party was registered on 31 December Gave Barrow his own political organisation 2021 Won re-election with 53.23 percent Secured a second term under the NPP banner 2024 ECOWAS approved a Special Tribunal for The Gambia Advanced the prosecution track recommended after the truth commission 2025 Another constitutional-reform effort failed in parliament Left the 1997 Constitution in force before the 2026 election 2026 Launched campaign for the 5 December presidential election Sought a further term amid a renewed term-limit debate 2026 Addressed nationwide anger over prolonged power cuts Promised improvement by late October and a 24 MW Brikama unit Frequently Asked Questions Who is Adama Barrow? Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician, real-estate developer and the third president of The Gambia. He became president after defeating Yahya Jammeh in the December 2016 election and took office on 19 January 2017. How old is Adama Barrow? Barrow was born on 15 February 1965. He is 61 years old as of 9 September 2026. Where is Adama Barrow from? He was born in Mankamang Kunda in the Jimara district of The Gambia’s Upper River Region. He later studied in Banjul and lived in the United Kingdom before returning home. What did Adama Barrow do before politics? Barrow worked in sales, studied real estate in the United Kingdom and founded Majum Real Estate in 2006. He ran the company before becoming a full-time presidential candidate in 2016. Which political party does Adama Barrow belong to? He leads the National People’s Party. Barrow previously belonged to the United Democratic Party, then contested the 2016 election as an independent candidate supported by Coalition 2016. How did Adama Barrow become president? Opposition parties selected him as their unity candidate in 2016. He won 227,708 votes, defeating incumbent Yahya Jammeh. When Jammeh refused to leave office, ECOWAS backed the election result, and Barrow was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Senegal. Did Adama Barrow promise to serve only three years? Yes. The 2016 coalition plan called for a three-year transition. Barrow later remained for the full five-year constitutional term, arguing that the constitution governed his mandate. The decision broke his alliance with former coalition partners and prompted protests. Who is Adama Barrow’s wife? Barrow is publicly reported to have two wives, Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow and Sarjo Mballow-Barrow. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow is officially recognised as First Lady of The Gambia. How many children does Adama Barrow have? Reliable reporting identified Barrow as the father of five children. His eight-year-old son Habibou died in January 2017. Public sources therefore support four living children, whose private details are not included here. Is Adama Barrow running in the 2026 election? Yes. Barrow is campaigning in the presidential election scheduled for 5 December 2026. He is seeking another term under the National People’s Party banner. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Justice & Crime Sanna Manjang Faces Gambia Court Martial for Desertion The military case concerns an alleged 2017 desertion and is separate from his High Court proceedings. . Biography Adama Barrow Biography: From Businessman to Gambia President The life, elections, family and contested legacy of the businessman who ended Yahya Jammeh’s rule. . Protests and Movements Gambia Blackout Protests Push Barrow to Promise Power Boost The president says a 24 MW unit should be commissioned by late October after unrest over long outages. . Travel Guide The 8 Top Attractions in Kunta Kinteh Island & New Jetty Right Now Explore Gambia’s history, culture, and beaches around Kunta Kinteh Island & New Jetty . Tags Gambia Gambia Adama Barrow Adama Barrow

Alyn Sano held talks with The Renaissance Orchestra and J Black during the NAMM Show 2026 in the United States. Rwandan artist Alyn Sano has engaged in professional discussions with The Renaissance Orchestra and international musician J Black while attending the NAMM Show 2026 in the United States. The meetings took place in Anaheim, California, where the NAMM Show —one of the world’s leading global music industry events—brings together artists, producers, and music professionals from different regions. According to information from the event, Alyn Sano used her participation to go beyond exhibition attendance by holding structured conversations focused on potential cross-border music collaborations and creative exchange. The Renaissance Orchestra is internationally recognized for blending classical orchestral music with modern genres such as pop, soul, and jazz, while J Black is known for his work in global music production and artist development. Discussions explored possible joint projects, although no official collaboration has yet been announced. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Alyn Sano said her presence aimed to represent Rwanda on an international stage while opening pathways for future artistic cooperation. As the NAMM Show 2026 continues, Alyn Sano is expected to hold additional meetings with international stakeholders before returning to Rwanda. Source: InyaRwanda.com Continue Reading Full Article ENTERTAINMENT Alyn Sano Meets Renaissance Orchestra, J Black at NAMM 2026 By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Jan 25, 2026 May 15, 2026 2 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Rwandan artist Alyn Sano has engaged in professional discussions with The Renaissance Orchestra and international musician J Black while attending the NAMM Show 2026 in the United States. The meetings took place in Anaheim, California, where the NAMM Show —one of the world’s leading global music industry events—brings together artists, producers, and music professionals from different regions. ADVERTISEMENT According to information from the event, Alyn Sano used her participation to go beyond exhibition attendance by holding structured conversations focused on potential cross-border music collaborations and creative exchange. The Renaissance Orchestra is internationally recognized for blending classical orchestral music with modern genres such as pop, soul, and jazz, while J Black is known for his work in global music production and artist development. Discussions explored possible joint projects, although no official collaboration has yet been announced. ADVERTISEMENT Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Alyn Sano said her presence aimed to represent Rwanda on an international stage while opening pathways for future artistic cooperation. As the NAMM Show 2026 continues, Alyn Sano is expected to hold additional meetings with international stakeholders before returning to Rwanda. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Source: InyaRwanda.com ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment Rwandan Entertainment Rwandan Entertainment Rwanda Rwanda

From Paul Rusesabagina's detention to Pegasus and Behind the Jersey, trace Carine Kanimba's rise as an international human-rights activist. From the international campaign for Paul Rusesabagina’s release to Pegasus surveillance, battles over Visit Rwanda sponsorships and a $20,000 technology prize in Washington, Carine Kanimba’s activism has moved far beyond the case that first pushed her onto the world stage. The win in Washington On September 25, 2026, inside the Washington headquarters of the National Endowment for Democracy, Carine Kanimba stood at the newest frontier of a campaign that had begun with a family emergency. Her team had just won first place at AI Hack for Freedom III. The prize was $20,000, paid on site in Bitcoin , for a platform called Behind the Jersey—a searchable project that traces the sponsors of sports clubs to their ultimate owners and flags links to governments or entities accused of serious human-rights abuses. The scene contained an unlikely collection of the forces that had reshaped her life: political advocacy, digital technology, international institutions and football. The official NED announcement identified her as Rwanda’s representative and the secretary general of the World Liberty Congress. The Human Rights Foundation’s account said six judges selected three finalists from 10 teams after evaluating the importance of the problem, the quality of the solution and its potential impact. Six years earlier, none of this was at the center of Kanimba’s working life. She had a job in finance in New York. She had studied human rights, spoken publicly about surviving Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and learned the law, but she was not yet living as a full-time international campaigner. Then her father disappeared. Before the activist Kanimba was born in Kigali in 1993. She was still a baby when her biological parents were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. She and her sister Anaïse survived and were raised by their aunt and uncle, Taciana and Paul Rusesabagina, as their daughters. Kanimba has described learning the full truth gradually. In a 2021 reflection published by Fay School , where she studied as a teenager, she said speaking about the loss of her parents helped her connect with other people who had experienced adoption, bereavement or trauma. The school’s account says that in 2009 she used a student speech contest to tell her story publicly for the first time. Continue Reading Full Article JUSTICE & HUMAN RIGHTS Carine Kanimba: The Daughter Who Turned A Family Crisis Into Activism By Neema Asha Mwakalinga Travel & Culture Expert Neema Asha Mwakalinga Home Comment Sep 27, 2026 Sep 28, 2026 22 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: From the international campaign for Paul Rusesabagina’s release to Pegasus surveillance, battles over Visit Rwanda sponsorships and a $20,000 technology prize in Washington, Carine Kanimba’s activism has moved far beyond the case that first pushed her onto the world stage. The win in Washington On September 25, 2026, inside the Washington headquarters of the National Endowment for Democracy, Carine Kanimba stood at the newest frontier of a campaign that had begun with a family emergency. Her team had just won first place at AI Hack for Freedom III. The prize was $20,000, paid on site in Bitcoin , for a platform called Behind the Jersey—a searchable project that traces the sponsors of sports clubs to their ultimate owners and flags links to governments or entities accused of serious human-rights abuses. The scene contained an unlikely collection of the forces that had reshaped her life: political advocacy, digital technology, international institutions and football. The official NED announcement identified her as Rwanda’s representative and the secretary general of the World Liberty Congress. The Human Rights Foundation’s account said six judges selected three finalists from 10 teams after evaluating the importance of the problem, the quality of the solution and its potential impact. Six years earlier, none of this was at the center of Kanimba’s working life. She had a job in finance in New York. She had studied human rights, spoken publicly about surviving Rwanda’s 1994 genocide and learned the law, but she was not yet living as a full-time international campaigner. Then her father disappeared. Before the activist Kanimba was born in Kigali in 1993. She was still a baby when her biological parents were killed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. She and her sister Anaïse survived and were raised by their aunt and uncle, Taciana and Paul Rusesabagina, as their daughters. Kanimba has described learning the full truth gradually. In a 2021 reflection published by Fay School , where she studied as a teenager, she said speaking about the loss of her parents helped her connect with other people who had experienced adoption, bereavement or trauma. The school’s account says that in 2009 she used a student speech contest to tell her story publicly for the first time. The Rusesabagina family moved to Belgium after the genocide. Kanimba later studied in the United States, graduating from Northwestern University. A Northwestern profile written before her father’s detention recorded that she coordinated events for the African Students Association and served as speakers co-chair for Northwestern Community for Human Rights. That matters because it complicates the simplest version of her transformation: she was not politically blank before 2020. She already had an interest in rights and public storytelling. What changed was scale and necessity. According to her 2022 sworn congressional statement , she had been working in finance in New York. An alumni profile later reported that she also earned graduate degrees in business, law and economics in Europe. Her family history was present, but it did not yet dominate every working day. Her relationship with Paul Rusesabagina was not only symbolic. He was the parent who raised her after the genocide. His actions at Kigali’s Hôtel des Mille Collines in 1994 inspired the film Hotel Rwanda and earned him the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. In later years, however, he also became a prominent critic of President Paul Kagame’s government and a leader of the Rwanda Movement for Democratic Change, known as the MRCD. That political role would become central to the case against him. The flight that changed the family In late August 2020, Rusesabagina left his home in the United States and travelled to Dubai. Court filings and later reporting say he believed a private flight arranged through a Burundian pastor would take him to Burundi. Instead, the aircraft landed in Kigali. The descriptions of what happened next remain sharply contested. His family described the operation as a kidnapping or unlawful rendition. Rwanda initially said he had been arrested through international cooperation. Rwanda’s then justice minister, Johnston Busingye, later acknowledged that the government had paid for the private aircraft that took Rusesabagina to Kigali , while maintaining that bringing him to Rwanda was lawful. President Kagame described the operation as “wonderful” and suggested that Rusesabagina had brought himself there by trusting the wrong people. Independent institutions rejected the idea that the transfer complied with ordinary extradition safeguards. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that his deprivation of liberty was arbitrary and that his transfer involved an enforced disappearance. The European Parliament called for an international investigation and raised concerns about access to counsel and fair-trial rights. ADVERTISEMENT Rwanda’s case was not built only around Rusesabagina’s criticism of the government. Prosecutors accused him of supporting the National Liberation Front, or FLN, the armed wing associated with the MRCD, and connected him to attacks in southern Rwanda in 2018 that killed civilians. Rusesabagina acknowledged a leadership role in the political coalition but denied responsibility for the FLN’s violence. Rwanda insisted the proceedings concerned accountability for victims of armed attacks, not the punishment of political speech. On September 20, 2021, the High Court’s Chamber for International and Cross-Border Crimes convicted him on terrorism-related charges and sentenced him to 25 years in prison. Human Rights Watch and independent trial observers described serious due-process failures; the Rwandan government defended the verdict and the independence of its judiciary. For Kanimba, the legal argument was also brutally personal. A man who had left Texas was suddenly appearing in handcuffs on television in Kigali. A daughter builds a campaign Kanimba did not become the campaign alone. Her mother, siblings, lawyers, members of Congress, European lawmakers, journalists and human-rights organizations all became part of it. But the public record shows that she became one of its most visible messengers. She moved much of her life to Brussels, where the family’s Belgian citizenship gave the case an institutional route into European politics. She and her siblings contacted the U.S. State Department and Belgian authorities, worked with lawyers and rights groups, spoke repeatedly to international media and pressed elected officials to treat the detention as a diplomatic case—not merely a criminal proceeding inside Rwanda. The campaign produced a sequence of public pressure points: In December 2020, dozens of U.S. lawmakers called on Kagame to return Rusesabagina safely. On February 11, 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution by 659 votes to one, calling for scrutiny of the transfer and trial. After his conviction, the Parliament passed another resolution on October 7, 2021, seeking humanitarian release and repatriation. In May 2022, the U.S. State Department determined that Rusesabagina was wrongfully detained. On June 21, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution calling for his release. Congressman Joaquin Castro’s office described the vote as an overwhelming bipartisan action. On July 27, 2022, Kanimba testified before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence about both her father’s detention and the Pegasus infection of her phone. On August 11, 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the case publicly in Kigali alongside Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta. On August 30, 2022, Kanimba appeared before the European Parliament’s PEGA committee at a hearing on spyware victims and remedies. This is what the campaign looked like in practice: testimony, resolutions, interviews, private calls, meetings with officials and a relentless effort to stop the case from disappearing from public view. Her strategy was explicit. In an interview with Recorded Future News , Kanimba said her goal was to make the political cost of keeping her father in prison greater than the cost of releasing him. Did the campaign help free him? The evidence supports a careful answer: the family campaign helped create and sustain international pressure, but the release was the product of a broader diplomatic process and a formal decision by Rwanda. Public advocacy kept Rusesabagina’s health, trial and detention before lawmakers and the media. It helped produce congressional and European resolutions and gave officials political reasons to keep raising the case. Kanimba’s work was part of that pressure. On March 24, 2023, Rwanda commuted Rusesabagina’s sentence after what U.S. officials described as intensive diplomacy. President Joe Biden thanked Rwanda and Qatar, and his official statement also credited U.S. officials who worked with Kigali. Qatar facilitated the process. Rusesabagina had submitted a clemency request to Kagame, and Rwanda made the legal decision to commute his sentence. Rwanda’s Justice Ministry statement stressed that commutation did not erase the conviction and that the remaining sentence could be reactivated if similar offences were repeated. The government said clemency followed presidential approval and consideration of requests from Rusesabagina and others convicted in the case. The distinctions are important: Public advocacy raised the cost of inaction and kept the case visible. Private diplomacy involved the United States, Qatar and Rwanda. The formal legal act was Rwanda’s presidential commutation. ADVERTISEMENT When the campaigner became the surveillance story While Kanimba was contacting officials about her father, researchers found that at least one of her phones had been repeatedly compromised with Pegasus, the powerful spyware made by Israel’s NSO Group. This is the most technically established part of the surveillance story. Amnesty International’s forensic appendix published device traces from November 2020 through June 2021, including evidence associated with zero-click attack attempts. A Citizen Lab memorandum entered into the U.S. congressional record concluded that at least one device was infected in 23 approximate periods between September 2020 and April 2021. Citizen Lab explained that a successful Pegasus infection can expose messages, files, passwords, microphones, cameras and location information. What the forensic work did not establish on its own was the identity of the operator. Kanimba believes Rwanda was responsible and told Congress she had no doubt about that conclusion. The Pegasus Project, coordinated by Forbidden Stories with Amnesty’s technical support, linked the wider pattern of target selection to a suspected Rwandan client. Rwanda has denied possessing or using Pegasus and called the allegations a disinformation campaign. NSO Group has said it licenses its products only to government agencies for investigations of serious crime and terrorism, does not publicly identify customers and investigates credible allegations of misuse. In a response quoted by Recorded Future News, NSO said it terminates contracts when illegal use is found. For Kanimba, the distinction did not reduce the impact. The knowledge that a phone could become a listening device altered how she understood safety, advocacy and the reach of commercial surveillance. Her role expanded: she was no longer speaking only about one prisoner but also about a technology industry capable of exposing activists, families and the government officials who communicate with them. Her father came home. The activism stayed. Rusesabagina’s release removed the emergency that had consumed the family. It did not return Kanimba to her old life. In a June 2023 CNN interview , she connected her family’s experience to the wider use of arbitrary detention and hostage-taking against dissidents. She argued that people in safer positions had a responsibility to speak for those being silenced. Her institutional role widened. She served as a spokesperson for the World Liberty Congress during its 2023–2025 leadership period and is now listed on the organization’s current governance page as its general secretary for the 2025–2027 term. The network brings together democracy activists from countries governed by authoritarian or highly repressive systems. She also became a 2024–2025 Obama Foundation Europe Leader. The transition was from one name—Paul Rusesabagina—to a portfolio of issues: political prisoners, transnational repression, commercial spyware, sanctions, democratic organizing and, increasingly, the use of sport to build state reputation. The Visit Rwanda battle Kanimba describes Rwanda’s football sponsorships as “sportswashing”: the use of sport’s popularity and prestige to soften international perceptions of a government’s record. Kanimba has used speeches, interviews and fan-facing campaigns to press clubs to examine who benefits from these agreements. At Play the Game 2025, she argued that football sponsorship can reduce pressure for internal reform by purchasing prestige abroad. In 2026, she appeared in a documentary-style Play the Game podcast examining the politics behind Visit Rwanda. Can her campaign claim measurable victories? Only with caution. Arsenal ended its partnership in 2026, and Bayern reduced its commercial branding in 2025 after public criticism. multiple pressures were operating at once: fan protests, scrutiny of Rwanda’s human-rights record, the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, commercial strategy and the clubs’ changing sponsorship portfolios. It is defensible to say her advocacy contributed to the debate. Behind the Jersey: a promising tool under construction Behind the Jersey turns that dispute into a system. As of September 27, 2026, the public site said it had rated 116 clubs across 12 mapped leagues, using data last updated September 25. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Justice & Crime F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime M23 → AFC → FRN: Has Anything Really Changed? . Justice & Crime Kagame's Failed Justifications for His Military Presence in the DRC . Justice & Crime Jean-Pierre Bemba Accuses Joseph Kabila of Serving Rwanda's Interests . Natural Disasters Rwanda, Musanze Fire Loss Estimate: Rwf30bn Figure Remains Preliminary . ADVERTISEMENT The workflow is unusually transparent for a political-accountability prototype. AI agents collect current shirt sponsors, trace ownership and locate human-rights reporting. A person then checks each claim and source before publication. The project’s public GitHub repository contains the data, methodology, ownership chains, citations and change history. Its evidence rules say more serious ratings require two independent sources. Fans can search for a club or sponsor, inspect the linked evidence, find club contact details and use the information to organize or advocate. The project currently covers major football leagues and includes examples involving Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Russia. Its labels—“Clean,” “Spotted,” “Stained” and “Soaked”—are memorable, but also moral judgments. The site says ratings are illustrative until the method is final. It is not yet clear whether governments, sponsors or clubs have a formal right of reply beyond contributing corrections through the open repository. The method traces evidence to owners, but complex ownership structures and state-linked companies can produce difficult questions about how far responsibility should travel. A public corrections policy, appeals channel, contributor disclosure rules and a clear privacy policy would strengthen the project. The safest description of its current status is therefore: public, functional and open-source, but still a newly launched prototype with an evolving rating methodology. The $20,000 victory AI Hack for Freedom III took place on September 24 and 25, 2026, at NED headquarters in Washington. Ten activists representing Colombia, Kenya, Nepal, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Tibet, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela and Zimbabwe led teams of developers and designers. Six judges came from technology, diplomacy, academia and human-rights organizations. The total prize pool was $50,000. Behind the Jersey won first place and $20,000 in Bitcoin; second place and $10,000 went to Kadir Yağız Çetin’s offline education platform for Afghan girls; third place and $6,000 went to Chemi Lhamo’s tool for preserving evidence when a protester’s phone is seized or destroyed. The remaining teams received $2,000 each. NED described Behind the Jersey as a centralized platform that helps fans identify authoritarian entities financing their teams and organize advocacy. HRF emphasized the combination of AI-assisted research and human fact-checking. From one family to a larger campaign Kanimba’s public life can be read as a sequence of enlarging circles. The first circle was family: a daughter trying to find, protect and free her father. The second was diplomatic: lawmakers, ministries, rights groups and governments mobilized around a detention case. The third was technological: the discovery that the campaigner’s own phone had become a surveillance target. The fourth was institutional: a continuing role in an international network of democracy activists after her father came home. The newest circle is cultural and commercial. Behind the Jersey asks sports fans to see a shirt sponsor not as background decoration but as an entry point into questions of ownership, state power and human rights. Timeline: Carine Kanimba’s path into international activism Date Development 1993 Kanimba is born in Kigali. 1994 Her biological parents are killed during the genocide against the Tutsi; Paul and Taciana Rusesabagina raise Carine and Anaïse as their daughters. 2009 At Fay School, she publicly tells her personal story in a student speech contest. Before 2020 She completes her studies at Northwestern University and European graduate programmes after campus involvement in African student life and human-rights programming, then works in finance in New York. August 2020 Paul Rusesabagina travels from the United States through Dubai and is transported by private aircraft to Kigali. Kanimba and her family begin an international campaign. February 11, 2021 The European Parliament condemns the transfer and detention and calls for an international investigation. July 2021 The Pegasus Project publicly reports forensic evidence that Kanimba’s phone was infected with NSO Group spyware. September 20, 2021 A Rwandan court convicts Rusesabagina on terrorism-related charges and sentences him to 25 years. October 7, 2021 The European Parliament calls for his humanitarian release and repatriation. May 2022 The U.S. State Department designates Rusesabagina as wrongfully detained. June 21, 2022 The U.S. House passes a bipartisan resolution seeking his release. July 27, 2022 Kanimba testifies before the House Intelligence Committee about Pegasus and her father’s detention. August 30, 2022 She appears at the European Parliament’s hearing on spyware victims and remedies. March 24, 2023 Rwanda commutes Rusesabagina’s sentence after U.S.–Rwanda diplomacy facilitated by Qatar. 2023–2025 Kanimba serves as a World Liberty Congress spokesperson and expands her advocacy beyond her father’s case. October 2025 She addresses Visit Rwanda and sportswashing at Play the Game 2025. 2025–2027 term She becomes general secretary of the World Liberty Congress. September 24–25, 2026 Her team builds Behind the Jersey at AI Hack for Freedom III and wins first place and $20,000 in Bitcoin. Primary and institutional sources National Endowment for Democracy — AI Hack for Freedom III winners Human Rights Foundation — AI Hack for Freedom III winners and judging details Behind the Jersey — public platform Behind the Jersey — open data and methodology repository U.S. House Intelligence Committee — Kanimba statement, transcript and Citizen Lab memorandum Amnesty International — Pegasus forensic traces UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention — Opinion No. 81/2021 European Parliament — February 2021 resolution and vote European Parliament — August 2022 spyware hearing Rwanda Ministry of Justice — presidential commutation President Biden — statement on Rusesabagina’s release World Liberty Congress — current governance Rwanda Development Board — response on international sports partnerships Arsenal — original 2018 Visit Rwanda partnership Arsenal — conclusion of partnership in June 2026 Paris Saint-Germain — Visit Rwanda renewal through 2028 Bayern Munich — academy partnership through 2028 Atlético Madrid — Visit Rwanda partnership through 2028 Independent reporting and background Human Rights Watch — Rusesabagina’s transfer and disappearance Human Rights Watch — conviction and trial concerns American Bar Association Center for Human Rights — proceedings background Recorded Future News — Kanimba interview on Pegasus and advocacy Fay School — Kanimba’s early public storytelling Fay School — post-release interview and education Northwestern University — student profile Associated Press — Bayern’s move away from commercial Visit Rwanda sponsorship Play the Game — Kanimba’s 2025 football speech ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Justice & Crime F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner Congo's foreign minister questions Formula 1's Rwanda decision, citing M23, human rights and financing . Justice & Crime M23 → AFC → FRN: Has Anything Really Changed? XTRAfrica examines Joseph Kabila's leadership of the FRN, its continuity with AFC/M23 and ... . Justice & Crime Kagame's Failed Justifications for His Military Presence in the DRC UN findings, U.S. sanctions and the reported FRN launch raise questions about Kigali's military role . Justice & Crime Jean-Pierre Bemba Accuses Joseph Kabila of Serving Rwanda's Interests Following Kabila's October 9 speech, Jean-Pierre Bemba accuses the former DRC president of serving.. . Tags Rwanda Rwanda

Drama erupts after Diamond Platnumz's wedding to Zuchu goes viral. Harmonize claims it’s a fake move to keep Zuchu in Wasafi. Mama Dangote approves. Harmonize claims Diamond staged a marriage to Zuchu for business control The internet went wild this week after photos and videos of Diamond Platnumz and Zuchu’s traditional wedding surfaced online, showing the couple in full ceremonial attire performing wedding rites. While fans rushed to congratulate the lovebirds, not everyone is buying the story. Tanzanian artist Harmonize, a former Wasafi signee, fired shots on Instagram, suggesting the Diamond Platnumz wedding is not real, but a business tactic to keep Zuchu tied to the Wasafi label. Harmonize Throws Shade on Instagram Harmonize, also known as Konde Boy, posted a cryptic message alongside a photo of 50 Cent boarding a private jet with a drink in hand. The caption, written in shaky English, stirred confusion: If the problem is marriage, why did I marry her. It’s not like you think. Funny guy let her go you. Been serious to her bro. Pretended to marry her so she can stay under the label. Fans were quick to react, not just to the claims, but also to Harmonize’s grammar. Some believed he was exposing industry secrets. Others simply didn’t understand a word he said. Fan Reactions: Confused, Shady, Brutally Honest Continue Reading Full Article By Author Name Author Name Home Comment Jun 6, 2025 May 15, 2026 3 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Harmonize claims Diamond staged a marriage to Zuchu for business control The internet went wild this week after photos and videos of Diamond Platnumz and Zuchu’s traditional wedding surfaced online, showing the couple in full ceremonial attire performing wedding rites. While fans rushed to congratulate the lovebirds, not everyone is buying the story. Tanzanian artist Harmonize, a former Wasafi signee, fired shots on Instagram, suggesting the Diamond Platnumz wedding is not real, but a business tactic to keep Zuchu tied to the Wasafi label. ADVERTISEMENT Harmonize Throws Shade on Instagram Harmonize, also known as Konde Boy, posted a cryptic message alongside a photo of 50 Cent boarding a private jet with a drink in hand. The caption, written in shaky English, stirred confusion: If the problem is marriage, why did I marry her. It’s not like you think. Funny guy let her go you. Been serious to her bro. Pretended to marry her so she can stay under the label. Fans were quick to react, not just to the claims, but also to Harmonize’s grammar. Some believed he was exposing industry secrets. Others simply didn’t understand a word he said. Fan Reactions: Confused, Shady, Brutally Honest The post sparked thousands of comments online. Here’s how some fans reacted: ADVERTISEMENT @wanjirukristen: “I’m getting a headache trying to understand what he’s saying.” @salmssssx: “I knew this wasn’t real. Diamond was just in Nigeria, saying he wants a Naija wife.” @wakesho_kesh: “This feels like a threat. Wasafi can’t function without Zuchu. But Harmonizelearn English, please.” @nelson_msafii: “Harmonize is just like Obinna in Kenya, he comments on everything.” @thee_great_henry: “Yo, what is he even trying to say, man?” @zack_walcott: “So it’s like a half-marriage? Just speak Swahili, bro. This is painful to read.” Mama Dangote Gives Her Blessing On the other side, Diamond’s mother, Mama Dangote, celebrated the wedding proudly on social media. She posted a touching video of Diamond receiving blessings from his stepfather during the ceremony. May your marriage be full of joy,” she captioned, sealing it as a genuine family event. Her post adds credibility to the ceremony, suggesting that the family sees it as a real union regardless of what critics say. What’s Really Going On? While the official narrative celebrates the Diamond Platnumz wedding as a cultural celebration of love, the industry whispers tell another story, one of label politics, control, and strategic PR. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Jihan Dimack Biography: Tanzania’s Miss Grand International Winner . Education HESLB Allocations: 165,775 Students Receive First-Batch Funding . Entertainment Jihan Dimack Wins Miss Grand International, a First for Africa . Sports Trends Simba Beat Yanga 2–1 as Derby Comeback Ends Long League Wait . Travel and Immigration Barrick Confirms Tanzania’s 15-Year North Mara Mining Licence Renewal . ADVERTISEMENT Harmonize’s comments fuel rumors that Diamond married Zuchu to stop her from leaving Wasafi, similar to how business deals are structured, not love stories. Whether it’s real or just a publicity stunt, one thing’s clear: the streets are watching, and the drama is far from over. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Jihan Dimack Biography: Tanzania’s Miss Grand International Winner Her Tanzanian-Lebanese background, modelling career and journey to the 2026 crown. . Education HESLB Allocations: 165,775 Students Receive First-Batch Funding The 2026/27 allocation covers new and continuing students; applicants should check SIPA. . Entertainment Jihan Dimack Wins Miss Grand International, a First for Africa Tanzania’s representative takes the 2026 crown in Bangkok, succeeding the Philippines’ Emma Tiglao. . Sports Trends Simba Beat Yanga 2–1 as Derby Comeback Ends Long League Wait Maema and Mpanzu overturn Shalulile’s opener as Simba take a three-point lead. . Tags Tanzania Tanzania WCB Wasafi WCB Wasafi Diamond Platnumz Wedding Diamond Platnumz Wedding

Yvonne Jegede opens up on family, Nollywood, marriage and how her father later accepted her acting career. Before Yvonne Jegede became one of Nollywood’s familiar faces, she had to fight for something many African creatives understand too well — convincing family that entertainment is real work. According to Sunday Sun , the Nigerian actress, filmmaker and entrepreneur revealed that her father initially did not see acting as a noble profession. Years later, that same father now proudly tells people that he is Yvonne Jegede’s dad. For Jegede, the attraction to entertainment started at home. She had a late uncle who was an actor, and seeing a celebrity visit their family house left a strong impression on her as a child. Her deeper step into the industry came through filmmaker Charles Novia , who helped guide her in the early days. But the first spark, she said, came from watching her uncle’s world up close. Like many parents of that generation, Jegede’s family wanted a more traditional path. Medicine, law, engineering and other “safe” professions were the dream for many households, while entertainment was still viewed with suspicion. Jegede admitted that it was difficult to convince her father to support her acting dreams. She also described herself as a rebellious child at the time, which made the battle even more intense for both sides. But the story has changed. Today, her father no longer hides from her career. Instead, he celebrates it. Her first screen appearance came in Blaze of Glory, a TV series produced by Alpha Vision, then owned by Tajudeen Adepetu . Jegede played a non-speaking character in one scene, but that small role opened the door to everything that followed. She later moved into film production in 2014 after encouragement from producer ChinneyLove Eze . Jegede had just returned from school and was trying to find her way back into Nollywood when Eze pushed her to produce her own film. That decision helped her grow from actress to filmmaker. Jegede went on to win Best Dual Performance for OJ Sisters alongside Uche Jombo , while another project she produced and co-executive produced with Marilyn Campbell won nine awards at the TIF Festival Awards. Continue Reading Full Article NOLLYWOOD UPDATES Yvonne Jegede Says Her Father Once Rejected Acting Career By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Jul 5, 2026 Jul 5, 2026 4 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Before Yvonne Jegede became one of Nollywood’s familiar faces, she had to fight for something many African creatives understand too well — convincing family that entertainment is real work. According to Sunday Sun , the Nigerian actress, filmmaker and entrepreneur revealed that her father initially did not see acting as a noble profession. Years later, that same father now proudly tells people that he is Yvonne Jegede’s dad. For Jegede, the attraction to entertainment started at home. She had a late uncle who was an actor, and seeing a celebrity visit their family house left a strong impression on her as a child. Her deeper step into the industry came through filmmaker Charles Novia , who helped guide her in the early days. But the first spark, she said, came from watching her uncle’s world up close. Like many parents of that generation, Jegede’s family wanted a more traditional path. Medicine, law, engineering and other “safe” professions were the dream for many households, while entertainment was still viewed with suspicion. ADVERTISEMENT Jegede admitted that it was difficult to convince her father to support her acting dreams. She also described herself as a rebellious child at the time, which made the battle even more intense for both sides. But the story has changed. Today, her father no longer hides from her career. Instead, he celebrates it. Her first screen appearance came in Blaze of Glory, a TV series produced by Alpha Vision, then owned by Tajudeen Adepetu . Jegede played a non-speaking character in one scene, but that small role opened the door to everything that followed. She later moved into film production in 2014 after encouragement from producer ChinneyLove Eze . Jegede had just returned from school and was trying to find her way back into Nollywood when Eze pushed her to produce her own film. ADVERTISEMENT That decision helped her grow from actress to filmmaker. Jegede went on to win Best Dual Performance for OJ Sisters alongside Uche Jombo , while another project she produced and co-executive produced with Marilyn Campbell won nine awards at the TIF Festival Awards. Beyond the awards, Jegede said acting has opened doors for her. It has connected her with important people, brought opportunities and helped shape her place in society. Still, she believes fame comes with pressure. She explained that society often expects actors to behave according to the image people already have of them, forgetting that celebrities are human beings with private struggles and bad days. Jegede also spoke about marriage, saying she has been married before and is now divorced. While she still sees marriage as a beautiful institution, she said she is currently more focused on meaningful work, personal growth, community and empowerment. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Her story also goes back to Edo State, where she was born in Agenebode, Etsako North. She spent parts of her childhood in Kano, Edo and Lagos, and as the first of 10 children, she developed a strong sense of responsibility early. That upbringing, she said, shaped her nurturing side and made her someone who finds it hard to ignore problems around her. For young girls who look up to her, Jegede’s message is simple: be original. In an industry that can easily push people to copy others, she believes authenticity remains the strongest foundation. Yvonne Jegede’s journey is not just a Nollywood success story. It is also a familiar African family story — one where a dream once questioned at home becomes the same dream that brings pride, purpose and a name people now respect. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigeria Nigeria

Nollywood actor Ricardo Agbor reflects on waiting 18 years for twins, his marriage, faith, and the painful loss of his mother. Ricardo Agbor ’s road to fatherhood was not quick, but it came with the kind of ending many families pray for. According to his recent interview , the veteran Nollywood actor revealed that he and his wife waited 18 years before finally welcoming their twins — a boy and a girl. Agbor said the long wait tested many parts of his life, but not his commitment to his marriage. He explained that he married the woman he loved, even though she came from a different tribe, and refused to let family pressure or the delay in having children create division between them. For the actor, the journey was deeply tied to faith. He said he specifically prayed to God for twins and held on to that request through nearly two decades of waiting. Today, those twins are 14 years old, and Agbor speaks about them as proof of patience and answered prayer. His story adds another layer to the public conversation around childlessness, marriage pressure, and the emotional burden many African couples face when children do not come early. The Nollywood star also reflected on one of the darkest moments of his life: losing his mother. He said she had been receiving treatment for about three weeks, but her condition did not improve. Doctors later advised that she should be flown to South Africa for further medical care. However, Agbor said his mother asked to be moved from the hospital to another private facility in Surulere, Lagos. That transfer became a heartbreaking memory for him. The actor said his mother died in his arms while he was helping her into the car. Agbor admitted that the loss broke him deeply. He said it was the first time he could remember crying outside of a movie role, describing the experience as one of the most painful moments of his life. Ricardo Agbor ’s story is not just about celebrity family life. It is about love under pressure, faith during silence, and the private battles public figures often carry behind the screen. After 18 years of waiting, his testimony now stands as one of patience, grief, and gratitude. NOLLYWOOD UPDATES Ricardo Agbor Opens Up On Welcoming Twins After 18 Years By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Jul 7, 2026 Jul 7, 2026 3 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Ricardo Agbor ’s road to fatherhood was not quick, but it came with the kind of ending many families pray for. According to his recent interview , the veteran Nollywood actor revealed that he and his wife waited 18 years before finally welcoming their twins — a boy and a girl. Agbor said the long wait tested many parts of his life, but not his commitment to his marriage. He explained that he married the woman he loved, even though she came from a different tribe, and refused to let family pressure or the delay in having children create division between them. ADVERTISEMENT For the actor, the journey was deeply tied to faith. He said he specifically prayed to God for twins and held on to that request through nearly two decades of waiting. Today, those twins are 14 years old, and Agbor speaks about them as proof of patience and answered prayer. His story adds another layer to the public conversation around childlessness, marriage pressure, and the emotional burden many African couples face when children do not come early. ADVERTISEMENT The Nollywood star also reflected on one of the darkest moments of his life: losing his mother. He said she had been receiving treatment for about three weeks, but her condition did not improve. Doctors later advised that she should be flown to South Africa for further medical care. However, Agbor said his mother asked to be moved from the hospital to another private facility in Surulere, Lagos. That transfer became a heartbreaking memory for him. The actor said his mother died in his arms while he was helping her into the car. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Agbor admitted that the loss broke him deeply. He said it was the first time he could remember crying outside of a movie role, describing the experience as one of the most painful moments of his life. Ricardo Agbor ’s story is not just about celebrity family life. It is about love under pressure, faith during silence, and the private battles public figures often carry behind the screen. After 18 years of waiting, his testimony now stands as one of patience, grief, and gratitude. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigerian Entertainment Nigeria Nigeria

Mali’s defence minister was killed in a suicide bombing as coordinated attacks exposed deeper security pressure. Mali’s security crisis entered a new and dangerous phase after Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a suicide truck bombing targeting his residence near Bamako, according to a BBC report . The attack took place in Kati, a key military town near the capital, during a wider wave of coordinated assaults across Mali. State TV later confirmed Camara’s death, saying he died from wounds sustained while confronting the attackers. The report that the bombing also caused the collapse of his residence and damaged a nearby mosque, where worshippers were killed. The killing is significant because Camara was not only a senior minister but also a central figure in Mali’s military-led government. His death signals that armed groups are now capable of striking close to the heart of the junta’s security establishment. The attacks were reported in several locations, including Kati, Gao, Kidal, Mopti and Sévaré. The report described the violence as a major escalation involving jihadist fighters and separatist rebels, with Camara’s residence targeted by a suicide car bomb and armed assailants. The assault also comes as Mali continues to face pressure from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside separatist forces in the north. Al Jazeera reported that Mali’s government confirmed Camara was killed during coordinated attacks on military sites nationwide. One of the most sensitive developments concerns Kidal, a symbolic northern city long associated with Tuareg separatist movements. The Azawad Liberation Front claimed advances there, while reports also pointed to the possible withdrawal of Russian-backed forces. However, some battlefield claims remain difficult to verify independently. For Mali’s junta, the attack presents a serious political and military test. The government has announced heightened security measures, including patrols, reinforced checkpoints and curfews in some areas. But the scale of the attacks suggests that the conflict is spreading beyond remote northern areas and reaching strategic military zones near the capital. Regionally, Camara’s killing adds further pressure to the wider Sahel security crisis. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are all led by military governments and have formed the Alliance of Sahel States after breaking away from Ecowas. The latest violence shows how armed groups continue to challenge state authority despite years of military campaigns and foreign security partnerships. The immediate question now is how Mali’s military leadership responds and whether the killing of one of its most powerful defence figures marks a temporary shock or a deeper shift in the balance of the conflict. Continue Reading Full Article CIVIL SOCIETY WHY Mali Defence Minister’s Killing Deepens Sahel Crisis By Serge Kitoko Tshibanda Political Analyst Serge Kitoko Tshibanda Home Comment Apr 27, 2026 May 15, 2026 3 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Mali’s security crisis entered a new and dangerous phase after Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in a suicide truck bombing targeting his residence near Bamako, according to a BBC report . The attack took place in Kati, a key military town near the capital, during a wider wave of coordinated assaults across Mali. State TV later confirmed Camara’s death, saying he died from wounds sustained while confronting the attackers. The report that the bombing also caused the collapse of his residence and damaged a nearby mosque, where worshippers were killed. ADVERTISEMENT The killing is significant because Camara was not only a senior minister but also a central figure in Mali’s military-led government. His death signals that armed groups are now capable of striking close to the heart of the junta’s security establishment. The attacks were reported in several locations, including Kati, Gao, Kidal, Mopti and Sévaré. The report described the violence as a major escalation involving jihadist fighters and separatist rebels, with Camara’s residence targeted by a suicide car bomb and armed assailants. The assault also comes as Mali continues to face pressure from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside separatist forces in the north. Al Jazeera reported that Mali’s government confirmed Camara was killed during coordinated attacks on military sites nationwide. ADVERTISEMENT One of the most sensitive developments concerns Kidal, a symbolic northern city long associated with Tuareg separatist movements. The Azawad Liberation Front claimed advances there, while reports also pointed to the possible withdrawal of Russian-backed forces. However, some battlefield claims remain difficult to verify independently. For Mali’s junta, the attack presents a serious political and military test. The government has announced heightened security measures, including patrols, reinforced checkpoints and curfews in some areas. But the scale of the attacks suggests that the conflict is spreading beyond remote northern areas and reaching strategic military zones near the capital. Trending Now WHY Mali’s junta leader is tightening control after deadly attack . Terrorism and Security Mali Junta Plans Response After Al Qaeda-linked JNIM Uprising Call . Justice & Crime Russia’s Sahel Role Tested as Mali Attacks Shake Stability . Justice & Crime Mali Army Deploys Reinforcements to Repel Gunmen After Attacks . Justice & Crime Popular Today Kidnapping Incidents WHY Sahel kidnappings of foreigners surged in 2025 . African Destinations Why zanzibar chose london buses to promote its tourism brand . | Appointments Ruto appoints Ababu Namwamba as Kenya envoy to Uganda . Regional Economy DRC offers state mineral assets to US investors under pact . Political Scandals Kaduna police confirm mass abduction after initial denials . ADVERTISEMENT Regionally, Camara’s killing adds further pressure to the wider Sahel security crisis. Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger are all led by military governments and have formed the Alliance of Sahel States after breaking away from Ecowas. The latest violence shows how armed groups continue to challenge state authority despite years of military campaigns and foreign security partnerships. The immediate question now is how Mali’s military leadership responds and whether the killing of one of its most powerful defence figures marks a temporary shock or a deeper shift in the balance of the conflict. ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Wagner Announced its Withdrawal from Mali, Declaring “Mission Accomplished.” . Mali’s transitional President, Col. Goita Could Remain President Until 2030 Without Election . Russia Recalibrates in Africa: Wagner Out, Russian-Backed Corps In, as Mali Rethinks Security Alliances . Road Accidents Vanderbijlpark crash: Taxi driver held over 12 pupil deaths 22-year-old faces 12 culpable homicide counts after scholar taxi hit truck near N1 . Tags Africa Africa Mali Mali African Union African Union Cold War in Africa Cold War in Africa Terrorism & Extremism in Africa Terrorism & Extremism in Africa

Fans express concern after Travis Scott’s song is linked to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl 2026 halftime performance plans. Bad Bunny ’s upcoming Super Bowl 2026 halftime show has sparked debate among fans following reports that a Travis Scott collaboration may be included in the performance lineup. A video circulating on social media platform X shows sound checks underway at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ahead of the February 8 event. The clip, shared by entertainment account Kurrco, features audio believed to be K-Pop , a collaborative track by Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd from Scott’s album Utopia . The footage has led to speculation that the song could be part of Bad Bunny’s halftime set . While the NFL and the artist have not confirmed the track list, the possibility has prompted mixed reactions online. Several fans voiced concerns that the song may not align with expectations for Bad Bunny’s performance. Some commenters suggested the track does not match the cultural tone they associate with the Puerto Rican artist’s music, while others expressed disappointment over the rumored selection. Despite the criticism, anticipation remains high for the Super Bowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, as well as for Bad Bunny’s headlining appearance. Super Bowl 2026 is scheduled to take place on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Source: Geo News Continue Reading Full Article ENTERTAINMENT Bad Bunny Super Bowl 2026 Song Choice Sparks Fan Backlash By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Feb 8, 2026 May 15, 2026 2 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Bad Bunny ’s upcoming Super Bowl 2026 halftime show has sparked debate among fans following reports that a Travis Scott collaboration may be included in the performance lineup. A video circulating on social media platform X shows sound checks underway at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, ahead of the February 8 event. The clip, shared by entertainment account Kurrco, features audio believed to be K-Pop , a collaborative track by Travis Scott, Bad Bunny and The Weeknd from Scott’s album Utopia . ADVERTISEMENT The footage has led to speculation that the song could be part of Bad Bunny’s halftime set . While the NFL and the artist have not confirmed the track list, the possibility has prompted mixed reactions online. Several fans voiced concerns that the song may not align with expectations for Bad Bunny’s performance. Some commenters suggested the track does not match the cultural tone they associate with the Puerto Rican artist’s music, while others expressed disappointment over the rumored selection. ADVERTISEMENT Despite the criticism, anticipation remains high for the Super Bowl matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, as well as for Bad Bunny’s headlining appearance. Super Bowl 2026 is scheduled to take place on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT Source: Geo News ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment United States United States

Shakira marked her son Milan’s 13th birthday with a football-themed party, sharing moments from the celebration on social media. Shakira has marked her son Milan ’s 13th birthday with a football-themed celebration, sharing moments from the event on social media. The singer, 48, organized a party inspired by Milan’s interest in football, featuring soccer-themed decorations, including footballs on tables and desserts decorated with international team jerseys. During the celebration, Shakira was seen engaging Milan in a lighthearted activity, asking him to identify countries associated with different football designs. Milan correctly named teams such as Argentina and Italy. Milan shares a strong interest in football, a passion linked to his father, former professional footballer Gerard Piqué . Piqué retired from professional football in November 2022 after his final match with FC Barcelona. The birthday celebration took place amid Shakira ’s ongoing performance schedule, as the global artist continues to appear on stage and engage with fans internationally. Source: Geo News Digital Desk Continue Reading Full Article ENTERTAINMENT Shakira Celebrates Son Milan’s 13th Birthday With Football Party By Witty Pascal Entertainment Editor Witty Pascal Home Comment Jan 25, 2026 May 15, 2026 1 min read Copy link Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp Published Updated: Shakira has marked her son Milan ’s 13th birthday with a football-themed celebration, sharing moments from the event on social media. The singer, 48, organized a party inspired by Milan’s interest in football, featuring soccer-themed decorations, including footballs on tables and desserts decorated with international team jerseys. During the celebration, Shakira was seen engaging Milan in a lighthearted activity, asking him to identify countries associated with different football designs. Milan correctly named teams such as Argentina and Italy. ADVERTISEMENT Milan shares a strong interest in football, a passion linked to his father, former professional footballer Gerard Piqué . Piqué retired from professional football in November 2022 after his final match with FC Barcelona. The birthday celebration took place amid Shakira ’s ongoing performance schedule, as the global artist continues to appear on stage and engage with fans internationally. ADVERTISEMENT Source: Geo News Digital Desk Trending Now Hyron Andrews Biography: His Rugby Career and Lions Tributes . Biography F1 Will Polish Kagame’s Authoritarian Image” — Kayikwamba Wagner . Justice & Crime Oluku Market Tanker Explosion: Death Toll Still Unconfirmed, 8 Injured . Accident News Fannie Masemola Reinstated as South Africa's Police Chief, Back Monday . Social Service Popular Today Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars . Entertainment FOLA Leads 2026 Headies Nominations Ahead of Toronto . ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Related Articles Biography Poco Lee Biography: Age, Real Name, Dance Career and Songs Inside the Nigerian dancer’s rise from Ojo street shows to Afrobeats stages, music and global fame. . Biography Eric Omondi Biography: Comedy, Activism and Public Life How Eric Omondi rose through Churchill Show and became a prominent Kenyan activist. . Biography Who Is Snit Habteab, Eritrea’s Miss World Trailblazer? The neuroscientist and educator became Eritrea’s first Miss World entrant and reached the Top 6 . Entertainment Poco Lee UK Case Sparks Consent Debate Among Nigerian Stars The dancer faces five sexual offence charges and returns to court on September 15. . Tags Entertainment Entertainment United States United States