28 Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The N’cwala (or Nc’wala) ceremony is a major annual cultural festival celebrated by the Ngoni people of Zambia’s Eastern Province. Held every year on the last Saturday of February at Mtenguleni village near Chipata, it primarily serves as a thanksgiving festival for the first fruits of the harvest and an occasion to pay homage to God, ancestral spirits, and the Paramount Chief Mpezeni. Continue reading
Africa’s Billion-Rand Botanical Blueprint: Bridging Ancient Ethnobotany and the Industrial Hemp Revolution
Feb 17, 2026 /Mpelembe media/ — The African cannabis landscape is undergoing a historic structural transformation, shifting from a century of colonial-era prohibition toward a sophisticated, multi-tiered regulatory environment driven by economic necessity and industrial innovation. As of 2025/2026, the continent is positioning itself as a critical supplier to the global legal market—projected to reach $50 billion by 2027—while grappling with significant internal challenges regarding social equity and regulatory coherence. Continue reading
Global Action to End Smoking has completed and gifted the Global Action Agricultural Transformation Centre to the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) in Malawi. This state-of-the-art facility is intended to support the transition of smallholder farmers away from tobacco cultivation towards more economically and environmentally sustainable crops like soybeans and groundnuts. As Malawi’s economy heavily relies on tobacco, the initiative acknowledges that reducing tobacco demand necessitates supporting farmers through agricultural transformation to avoid negative economic consequences. Continue reading
Arthur Khomotso Mahuma, University of Johannesburg and Namhla Landani, University of Johannesburg
Poultry is one of the cheapest protein sources for the growing population of the east and southern Africa region. That makes soybeans critical to food security in the region, as they are an important input in chicken feed.
Jan. 4, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — Christian Aid’s report, “Counting the Cost 2024,” analyses the economic impact of ten extreme weather events in 2024, revealing billions of dollars in losses and highlighting the disproportionate effect on poorer nations. The report underscores the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions and transition to renewable energy, citing expert opinions stressing the escalating consequences of inaction. Continue reading
April 21, 2024 /Human interest/ — Zambia is a country rich in culture and traditions. Throughout the year, various tribes celebrate their heritage through vibrant ceremonies. Here are some of the most famous ones:
Jan. 16, 2024 /Human Interest/ — Zambia and Gambia, despite their similar-sounding names, are quite different countries in Southern and West Africa, respectively. Here’s a breakdown of their key differences: Continue reading
Jan. 9, 2024 /Sports/ –The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) kicks off today, 13th January 2024! Here’s the breakdown: Continue reading
By Kim Harrisberg | South Africa correspondent
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Privacy experts are calling for citizens to be protected from growing surveillance in Africa, following a new report by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN). Their report, “Mapping the supply of surveillance technologies to Africa” focuses on Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Malawi and Zambia importing surveillance tech from countries including the U.S., Britain, China, Israel as well as the EU amounting to more than $1bn every year. Continue reading |
By Alister Doyle | Climate Correspondent
The Africa Climate Summit (ACS) is hearing a lot about “opportunities” for combating climate change on the continent that has done least to cause warming yet is most vulnerable to its harmful impacts.
The September 4-6 summit in Nairobi is a striking shift for African governments, who have berated rich nations for failing to meet a promise to mobilise $100 billion a year in climate finance by 2020. That year, it totalled just $83 billion. Continue reading