youth

Ghanaian Hip-life

Hip-life is the name for the music that pours out of nightclubs and bars throughout Ghana, and has been touted by some as the genre set to take the place of the nation’s celebrated high-life music. But not all Ghanaians are thrilled with the growing popularity of the mixture of high-life and American rap that characterizes hip-life; the older generation believes that their cultural heritage is being destroyed.

By Francis Kokutse - 19 June 2010 - Text

Handmade Soccer

Children from the pastoral tribes of Southern Ethiopia and Northern Kenya are often responsible for household and community chores. These children take advantage of what little free time they have. By wrapping plastic bags in twine they are able to play soccer on the dusty fields outside their schools.

By Leonie Marinovich - 17 June 2010 - Photo, Rich dreams, poor realities

A Coach with a Vision

Once a striker with Lusaka Dynamos, Collins Akatama was blinded in 1997 and was forced to relinquish any dreams he may have had of pursuing a career in soccer. More than a decade later, Akatama has been praised for the role he has played as a coach and mentor to hundreds of young boys between the ages of 10 and 20.

By Shravan Vidyarthi - 16 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Multimedia

The woman in black

Marie Agnès Makengi Kapinga, otherwise known as Mère Malou, made a name for herself when she became the first international female football referee in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By Joseph Moura - 5 May 2010 - Photo, Women and the beautiful game

Soweto street bash

Pulsating music, laughter, dancing and drinking – these are some of the defining features of a Soweto street bash. Local young people gather in pubs, naturally overflowing into the surrounding streets, and party the night away in South Africa’s largest township.

By Simone Scholtz - 30 March 2010 - Africa United, Multimedia, Race, reconciliation and xenophobia

Namibian youth soccer

Namibian soccer youth development programs seem to be yielding the much needed results of giving young soccer aspirants a platform to shine and showcase their talent.

By Uruanaani Scara Johannes-Matundu - 8 March 2010 - Audio