"To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often."
- Cardinal John Neumann
The Risen Africa
Football unites Africa like nothing else. From pubs to living rooms, fans gather to cheer on their players. Remember the 1990 World Cup? Roger Milla’s electrifying goal for Cameroon and his iconic Makossa dance? It wasn’t just a win for Cameroon; it was a win for all of Africa. His celebration ignited a global craze, making the World Cup a showcase for African culture. The Makossa dance forever changed the football goal-scoring celebration, allowing for a better cultural expression from football players in Africa, Europe, Asia and around the world. The World Cup which drew an estimate of 2.2 billion viewers went a long way in giving viewership to matches aired from Africa, and promoting the spirit of a risen Africa.
Visionaries like Kwame Nkrumah and Nelson Mandela heralded the spirit of a risen Africa. Nkrumah was a core pan-Africanist while Mandela was a true leader who demonstrated leadership by forgiving the people who incarcerated him. Barack Obama’s presidency brought new hope, fueling the “African dream” of limitless possibilities.
African authors like Chinua Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi Wa’ Thiongo, Nuruddin Farah and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie have reshaped global literature, receiving prestigious awards for their works. Adichie has taken it a notch further by becoming the mouthpiece for social change in the African society. She has spotlighted all the great things of Africa and the injustices done to Africa.
Actors like Chadwick Boseman, Trevor Noah, Lupita Nyong’o, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Domai Gurira, amongst others, are rewriting stereotypes and celebrating African excellence on the world stage. Today, Nollywood movies and actors are recognized and celebrated on a global scale. The movie “Black Panther” and the image of Wakanda have added to giving Africa the face of a progressive society.
The world is dancing to African beats. The mad thrill of Amapiano, Afropop, and Afrobeat has gotten everyone moving their bodies in party halls across the world. Stars like Burna Boy, Lady Du, Davido and Tems are not just winning awards; they’re setting global trends and inspiring viral dance challenges.
"The world
is becoming
more African"
- The New York Times
According to the Seattle Times, the world is becoming more African. Africa’s cultural influence is surging, with Sub-saharan Africa leading the world’s fastest-growing music market and Nollywood becoming the “second-largest film industry” by output (Forbes, Sept. 15, 2023). As Africa’s global influence skyrockets, so does its cuisine. At Jolloful, we’re bringing Africa’s rich and unique flavors to the global dinner table. Africa’s global appeal in football, film, literature, fashion, and music has created an Afro-curious community eager to taste the continent’s flavors. They crave African foods but can’t find them. The Afro- curious are ready for a taste of Africa, and we’re delivering it.