Highlights of the week
Here’s why attiéké from Ivory Coast is taking over the global kitchen
Attiéké is an Ivorian national dish made from cassava, and it’s been a major part of the country’s kitchen for generations. It’s a simple food; grated, fermented, and steamed into small grains, that people in the West African country eat with fish, stew, or spicy sauces.
In December 2024, UNESCO recognized it as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage during a meeting in Asunción, Paraguay, putting it on the map in a way it was never before. What started as a local favourite in West Africa has now spread to cities like Paris, London, and New York.
Visually impaired Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh emerges best student
Ghanaian Ephraim Ayeh Orraca-Tetteh, a visually impaired student, made history after emerging as the best graduating student from the University of Ghana, Legon. The exceptional student in spite of his special needs, topped his class, and also excelled as the best graduating Bachelor of Arts student for the 2023/2024 academic year.
He had a Final Grade Point Average of 4.00 (FGPA) making history as the school’s first undergraduate in ten years with a perfect score. His remarkable achievement was celebrated at the university’s Vice Chancellor’s academic award ceremony, where he was honoured with a computer, an all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai or South Africa, and a cash prize of 5,000 cedis.
Botswana becomes Africa’s first host of World Athletics Relays
Botswana has made history by securing the right to host the World Athletics Relays set for May 2-3, 2026, in its capital city, Gaborone, becoming the first country in Africa to host the event. The announcement was made during the 237th World Athletics Council Meeting in Nanjing, China, in March.
Jacob Kelebeng, Botswana’s Minister of Sport and Arts, said he was delighted that his country has been chosen to host the 2026 World Athletics Relays. He congratulated the Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) on reaching the milestone, posting “We have done it,” on his social media account.
Katt Williams’ 117-acre studio could influence Africa’s filmmaking
American comedian, actor, and rapper, Katt Williams, has made a bold move that could have far-reaching effects beyond Hollywood. His purchase of a 117-acre former military base in Anniston, Alabama, with over 30 buildings and three million square feet of indoor space, marks the beginning of his film studio.
Locally called “Starships,” the property listed at $1.5 million, offers ample room for William’s film production studio, complete with 30 separate concrete buildings, 3 million square feet of indoor space, 10 barracks with 20 rooms each, two large gymnasiums, and over 90 acres of usable land.
Africa’s fastest-growing economies in 2025
Many African nations are expected to see substantial GDP growth in 2025, indicating that the continent continues to experience economic transformations.
The most recent data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicates that these forecasts are in line with continuous initiatives to boost regional commerce, draw in investment, and increase production. The top economies in this ranking are heavily tied to the oil sector, meaning fluctuations in production can have a drastic effect on GDP.
VIDEO: Late Dr. Thomas Mensah shared his vision for Ghana's high-speed rail
The late Dr. Thomas Owusu Mensah, a Ghanaian-American fiber optics innovator, chemical engineer, scientist and inventor, and nanotechnologist, talked about Ghana's high-speed rail with Oral Ofori. This interview was shot in Accra, the capital city of Ghana in May 2019.
In his lifetime, Dr. Mensah received multiple honours, such as being elected a Fellow of the US National Academy of Inventors (2014), geting the AIChE’s Eminent Engineers award, the NSBE’s highest honour, the William Grimes Award, the Percy L. Julian Award, the Golden Torch Award, and the Turner’s Trumpet Award for Fibre Optics Innovation. In addition, he belonged to the AIChE 100.