This essay reflects on the role of clan stories and oral traditions in shaping identity in East Africa. Through the origin story of the Amũũnda clan and comparisons with the Luo Kakia narrative, it shows how memory, land, and lineage carry cultural values across generations.
The Fan-Keenna Film Festival in Hargeisa celebrates Somali storytelling and revitalizes the city’s legacy as a cultural hub. Showcasing local and international films, supporting emerging talent, and highlighting human rights themes, the festival demonstrates the power of cinema as a tool for expression and social change, signaling a hopeful future for Somali cinema.
This essay explores the traditional Sudanese beauty practices of shulukh (facial scarification) and dagg al-shaloufa (lip tattooing) as markers of identity, beauty, and tribal belonging. Tracing their historical roots and symbolic meanings, it examines their social and gender dimensions and documents their gradual decline due to education, urbanization, globalization, and health concerns.
In Kenya, where millions rely on traditional medicine for primary care, the Shakahola Forest massacre, over 400 deaths under extremist religious teachings, has exposed the dangers of unregulated practices. Newly discovered graves in Kwa Binzaro have reignited trauma, highlighting gaps in accountability, community support, and oversight.
This article examines hate speech in Sudan as a historically rooted phenomenon shaped by colonial legacies, state policies, cultural practices, and political manipulation. It shows how hate speech evolved from implicit social hierarchies into a central weapon in contemporary conflict, especially after April 2023, fueling violence, social fragmentation, and institutional collapse. The paper also highlights Sudanese cultural and civic resources that can counter hate speech and support peacebuilding if strategically activated.