2026 is a year of “poly-crisis,” climate instability, economic fragmentation, political polarization, and weakened institutions. Old leadership playbooks are failing. However, Africa has always produced leaders who knew how to govern, organize, and endure in the face of chaos.
February really is that ‘short but mighty’ month. Not only is it Black History Month, but the universe decided that so many of our legends would be born during the very month we set aside to honor Black excellence.
I attended Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026 Budget Address at the Pennsylvania General Assembly which afforded me a firsthand look at the legislative priorities shaping our Commonwealth.
West Africa is not new to political crises; from sanctions, coups, and political impasses, the region has seen the best and worst of it. For the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc has been at the forefront of addressing concerns faced by its member states and of finding solutions to ensure peaceful relations within the region.
When Carter G. Woodson organized Negro History Week in 1926, he intended a focused antidote to historical erasure. One hundred years later and under ASALH’s 2026 theme “A Century of Black History Commemorations”, communities across the United States and the African diaspora are asking: what has changed, and what still needs doing?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, FunTimes Magazine, in collaboration with Lincoln University, is launching the Bridge of Freedom Oral History Initiative. Our mission is urgent: to document the untold stories of African and Caribbean co-leadership in the U.S. Civil Rights movement before they are lost to time.
“We have a wonderful history behind us… If you are unable to demonstrate to the world that you have this record, the world will say to you, ‘You are not worthy to enjoy the blessings of democracy or anything else’.”
—Carter G. Woodson, Father of Black History Month.
You may have heard the term STEM, but what does it stand for? It is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. But before it became a buzzword, it was already alive in our communities. From skincare formulas mixed in kitchens to our parents fixing what couldn’t be replaced, Black communities have always blended science, technology, and innovation into everyday life.
By January 2026, the global conversation around African music had shifted from discovery to a rigorous focus on preservation and justice. For the African American community and the African diaspora, they are cultural documents that bridge a gap created by years of systemic exclusion in the music industry.
Trade between humans, civilization, and nations has always existed for a long time even predating the invention of paper currency. Every economy around the world is driven by trade, whether localised or international, nations look to boost their economic activities through the exchange of products or services going even further to expand their reach through continental agreements with the hope of stabilizing economies within the continent while securing prosperity for respective nations.
