Hall of fame: African Heroes

These people inspired, motivated, fought for, positively led Africa and its diaspora.

James Baldwin – The fire within

James Baldwin – The fire within

I write a lot about and mainly for the living. I avoid the safe cushions of posthumous eulogies that protect me from future disappointments that are most common to living perpetrators. Plus, the living and unsung heroes need to be reminded of the impossible battles...

Franklin Boukaka, l’immortel !

Franklin Boukaka, l’immortel !

Plus de quarante ans après sa tragique disparition, la voix de Franklin raisonne toujours. Les thèmes abordés dans ses chansons sont toujours d’actualité. Ce qui fait de lui un immortel au même titre que ceux qu’il citait dans son morceau ‘Les immortels’. Dans cette...

Ida B. Wells: A passion for Justice (Afro-America)

Ida B. Wells: A passion for Justice (Afro-America)

The California Newsreel distribute a DVD documentary lasting 53 minutes and produced and directed in 1989 by William Greaves about Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Better known as the woman who refused to give up her seat to a white man in a period where that was custom, Ida is...

Pierre Akendengué (Gabon)

Pierre Akendengué (Gabon)

Pierre Akendengué is a singer-songwriter from Gabon who mixes his African upbringing and his European further education to find and never part from his true self. He is one of the great masters of contemporary African music and has been for now about 4 decades. He was...

Bob Marley (Jamaica)

Bob Marley (Jamaica)

Bob Marley - Artist Profile Bob Marley, the Jamaican singer-song-writing and music legend. Bob Marley, if he really needs to be introduced, was the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the ska, rocksteady and reggae bands The Wailers (1964–1974) and Bob Marley...

Mboumba Marie Agnès (Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Gabon)

Mboumba Marie Agnès (Pediatrics, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Gabon)

Mboumba Marie Agnès: The premises Mboumba Marie Agnès (aka Maman Agnes) was born in 1937 in Gabon. The young Marie Agnès showed a very early and developed a strong interest in the therapeutic effects of plants. She quickly became an excellent herbalist recognised by...

Wangari Maathai, our Mother Nature (Ecologist, Kenya)

Wangari Maathai, our Mother Nature (Ecologist, Kenya)

Wangari Maathai, our Mother Nature: A life spent defending nature to better help humans Her life journey is exemplary, her determination to act for the preservation of the environment is comparable to her humility. Wangari Maathai is one of those people that life so...

Franck Matamba: Live your dream (Athlete/Coach, Gabon)

Franck Matamba: Live your dream (Athlete/Coach, Gabon)

Franck Matamba: to be or not to be The burden of expectations takes its toll at our most vulnerable (most likely around puberty, so called middle-life 'crisis', etc). At that point, a person decides either to fight every battle to claim the right to live and lead...