Sisi Afrika Magazine – – Sisi Afrika Magazine

Sisi publishes periodical issues in Arts & Culture, Science & Technology, and Economy & Politics.

Satanic panic: 5 ‘occult’ crimes that gripped South Africa’s imagination

My new book "The Devil Made Me Do It" shows how beliefs in the danger of the occult perform a social function across race and class. In the book I discuss numerous cases of so-called occult crime over the years and across communities.

Art & Culture

African novels are being translated to English in a bold new trend. We review Ignatius Mabasa’s The Mad

Now it appears that a shift in the movement of stories across languages is underway. Works first written and published in African languages are increasingly being translated into English for a broader readership.

Art & Culture

World maps get Africa’s size wrong: cartographers explain why fixing it matters

The African Union has endorsed the #CorrectTheMap Campaign, a call for the United Nations and the wider global community to use a different kind of world map. The campaign currently has over 4,500 signatures.

Art & Culture

Europe Bans TPO in Gel Nail Polish

On September 1, 2025, the European Union enacted a sweeping ban on the use of Trimethylbenzoyl Diphenylphosphine Oxide (TPO), a widely used photoinitiator in gel nail polish formulations, marking a significant shift in cosmetic regulation.

Art & Culture Music & Film

How Nollywood films help Kenyan housemaids make sense of their lives

At first Nollywood films were screened in informal video-halls in poorer Kenyan communities, offering a unique going-to-the-movies experience. But in the first decade of the new millennium, TV stations began screening them. In Kenya, Nollywood was most popularly known as “Afrocinema” on TV, and it was soon a daily affair.

Art & Culture

Enslaved Africans, an uprising and an ancient farming system in Iraq: study sheds light on timelines

Written accounts tell the story of the Zanj rebellion – a slave revolt that took place in the late 9th century in southern Iraq.

Art & Culture

South Africa’s earliest newspapers made money from slavery: book offers new evidence

The South African media have remained silent about their historical role in Cape slavery. Slavery in the country lasted for more than 170 years between 1652 and 1838. Precise numbers are difficult to calculate. But according to the historian Robert Shell, approximately 63,000 enslaved people were imported to the Cape from four main areas: the rest of Africa (26.4%), India (25.9%), Indonesia (22.7%) and Madagascar (25.1%). In 1838 around 37,000 were emancipated.

Art & Culture Sports

East Africa’s upgraded stadiums spark a robust vision for sports tourism

Co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) convenes Africa’s most skilled footballers to East African pitches. The tournament has catalyzed a reimagining of sports tourism and infrastructure in East Africa.

LONGREADS Politics & Economy Technology & Innovation

15 Bold Strategies for Transforming Africa into the World’s Manufacturing Powerhouse

We look at 15 bold, actionable strategies, each linked to a proven global example and clear lessons, to help African policymakers and industry leaders build a continent-wide manufacturing boom that is competitive, inclusive, and sustainable.

Art & Culture

10 promising animation studios in Africa

Africa's animation industry has seen remarkable growth in recent years, captivating audiences worldwide with its unique storytelling and creativity. From South Africa to Nigeria, these studios have been making waves and significantly contributing to the vibrant animation landscape across the continent.