Lens: Sports, Politics, and Culture Through the African Lens

When we talk about the Lens, a perspective or viewpoint through which events are seen and interpreted. Also known as viewpoint, it shapes how we understand everything from a last-minute goal to a currency collapse. The Lens isn’t just a camera—it’s how you see the world. And in Africa, that Lens is focused on moments that change lives: a teenager scoring in Paris, a minister pulling funding from festivals, or a nation watching its currency drop overnight.

The sports, competitive physical activities governed by rules and followed by passionate fans across the continent. Also known as athletics, it’s more than games here—it’s identity. From Luka Dončić’s 49-point explosion in Los Angeles to Siya Kolisi lifting the Rugby Championship trophy at Twickenham, African fans live every moment. Messi’s hat-trick in Miami didn’t just win a match—it turned a neighborhood into a street party. And when Arthur Rinderknech beat Zverev in Shanghai, it wasn’t just an upset—it was proof that talent doesn’t need a fancy academy to rise.

Then there’s the African politics, the systems, decisions, and power struggles that shape daily life from Cape Town to Lagos. Also known as governance, it’s where promises turn into protests. Gayton McKenzie’s broken funding pledges to Western Cape arts events didn’t just upset performers—it exposed how culture gets traded for political points. Meanwhile, SASSA had to warn people about fake grant videos because misinformation spreads faster than truth. And when Nigeria’s banks argue over whether the naira will hit N2,000 to the dollar, it’s not a spreadsheet—it’s whether a mother can afford to feed her kids next month.

The culture, the music, art, stories, and traditions that bind communities across Africa. Also known as heritage, it’s what survives when the headlines fade. Maverick City Music recorded a Grammy-winning album inside a Florida prison. Paraguay stunned Japan in a friendly, and Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson scored his first international goal—and suddenly, a whole nation held its breath. Even a motorcycle crash in Himachal Pradesh, involving Punjabi star Rajvir Jawanda, sent shockwaves through fans who never met him but felt his pain.

Under this Lens, nothing is isolated. A drop in oil prices hits Nigeria, Ghana, and Angola—and then it hits your aunt’s grocery bill. A Rand surge before a plunge? That’s not just economics—it’s a family deciding whether to pay school fees or buy medicine. The Lens doesn’t show you what happened. It shows you what it felt like.

What you’ll find below isn’t just a list of articles. It’s a collection of real moments—raw, loud, and unforgettable—that define what’s happening across Africa right now. Whether it’s a soccer match, a court ruling, or a prayer in a prison chapel, this is the Africa that doesn’t wait for permission to be heard.