Nigeria News and Headlines 

Lamentations of an Alleged Witch: Ebuka Obi’s Prophecies and Destruction of Families in Nigeria

  By Leo Igwe The Advocacy for Alleged Witches draws the attention of the public to the case of a woman who was accused of witchcraft following a prophecy by a self-acclaimed man of God, ‘Pastor’ Ebuka Obi in Lagos, Nigeria. This case underscores the damage that self-styled men and women of God are causing in families. And the time… Read More
West Africa 

Bridging Faiths, Preserving Legacies: The Role of Religious Communities Archives in the Preservation of Collective Memory and the Promotion of Diversity

By Soukaina KherdiouiRabat, Morocco The archives digitization project, initiated by the Diocese of Rabat in partnership with the High Atlas Foundation, is a promising endeavor, and I hope that it will enable us to amplify the work on other archival collections so as to pay tribute to the countless people who have woven these dialogues, because dialogues aren’t just about documents,… Read More
Nigeria News and Headlines OP-ED 

Critical Thinking and Active Learning in Schools

By Leo Igwe In September, the education commission of the catholic archdiocese of Owerri organized a back-to-school seminar and workshop for teachers. Over one thousand teachers attended the event. They invited me to facilitate one of the workshops. This back-to-school program was an event to mark the beginning of the 2023/24 academic year. The theme was: Developing Effective Teaching and… Read More
Nigeria News and Headlines World 

Interfaith Dialogue: African Union Should End Discrimination Against Humanists and Atheists 

By Leo Igwe The African Union (AU) should stop discriminating against humanists, atheists, agnostics, and other belief minorities in the region. This observation has been made following a regional forum  that is holding in Kigali this month. The event officially excludes representatives from the humanist community. The African Union is organizing with the KAICIID dialogue center a general assembly for… Read More
Nigeria News and Headlines 

“Igba Pin” and Other Medical Superstitions in Nigeria

By Leo Igwe As we try to contain the ravaging effects of magical manhood or womanhood disappearance, another vicious phenomenon is devastating a section of the country, particularly some parts of southeastern Nigeria, that is, the belief in Igba pin, magically shooting pins into people’s bodies. Many people who take ill claim that someone is responsible, that they are victims… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

Burkina Faso and Mali juntas back Niger coup leaders, issue war warning

Niger coup leaders are getting backing from colleague military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali following a threat of force from the regional bloc ECOWAS if they don’t re-instate President Mohamed Bazoum. Burkina Faso and Mali who share border with Niger say any attempt to use force to have Bazoum restored will be seen as a declaration of war on… Read More
Africa Ghana West Africa World 

Ghana criminalises witchcraft accusations and abuse of victims

For centuries most African countries including Ghana have struggled with the practice of witchcraft accusations. Often elderly women risk banishment, physical abuse and sometimes lynched once they are accused of being a witch. Ghana’s parliament last Friday passed a bill into law to protect such vulnerable people. The new law makes witchcraft accusation and the abuse of victims a crime.… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

ECOWAS threatens force, sanctions against Niger coup leaders

ECOWAS leaders have threatened sanctions and the possible use of force against Niger’s coup leaders if they fail to reinstate ousted President Mohammed Bazoum. The West African leaders held an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on Sunday where they settled on punitive measures against Niger’s new military leaders. The coup leaders could face financial and travel sanctions and a no-fly zone… Read More
Africa West Africa World 

ECOWAS leaders to hold emergency meeting over Niger coup

West African leaders will be holding an emergency summit on Sunday to discuss the coup that took place in Niger this week. “The ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Extraordinary Summit,” a statement from the ECOWAS secretariat said. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also chairs the Authority of… Read More
Africa Mali West Africa World 

French is no longer Mali’s official language

Mali has announced it has scrapped French as its official language, doing so more than six decades after it gained independence from France. A drafted constitution was voted for at a referendum last month. The constitutional court validated the 96.91% approval from voters as the final results. In the approved document was the proposal to remove French as official language.… Read More