• At the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia, Burundi’s President, Évariste Ndayishimiye, has
officially been elected Chairperson of the African Union for 2026. He
takes over the rotating leadership from Angola’s President, João
Lourenço, at a time when Africa is placing strong emphasis on water
security — recognizing it as not just an environmental issue, but a
strategic, development, peace, and climate priority.
• A powerful new exhibition at Museum Africa is turning the spotlight
on how apartheid-era spatial planning continues to shape life in
modern-day Johannesburg. Titled Nkosi Sikelel' iAzania, the exhibit
runs until 27 February and examines how the geography of inequality
— where people live, who owns land, and who has access to
economic opportunity — still reflects the design of apartheid decades
after 1994.
• Did you know hemp seeds contain what many nutritionists call
the ideal ratio of essential fatty acids for human health? They’re
considered heart-healthy, brain-boosting, and a plant-based
alternative to fish oils — without concerns about ocean pollution or
heavy metal contamination. But in March 2025, South Africa nearly
lost access to hemp seeds as a food product after authorities moved
to ban their use. What followed was a powerful pushback: farmers,
activists, small business owners, and entrepreneurs united — and the
decision was reversed.