Lola Bailey

3 weeks ago | pan-african.net | Lola Bailey |Lola has written |Boehringer Ingelheim

It’s official: Namibia has elected its first female president. In a historic move, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah secured 57% of the vote to become the country’s new head of state—shattering a glass ceiling that has hung above Namibian politics since independence. Her rise is more than symbolic. It signals a profound shift in the story of African leadership—one where women are no longer on the margins of power, but shaping its very centre.

1 month ago | pan-african.net | Lola Bailey |Lola has written |Boehringer Ingelheim

For far too long, African stories have been filtered through foreign lenses—flattened into tropes of poverty, war, or exoticism. But in Côte d’Ivoire, a quiet revolution is happening—one click of the shutter at a time. A new generation of Ivorian women photographers is reclaiming the narrative, capturing not just the visible realities of their environment but the layered complexities beneath the surface.

1 month ago | pan-african.net | Lola Bailey |Lola has written |Boehringer Ingelheim

In a recent speech, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Lesotho as a country that “nobody has ever heard of.” Ironically, his comment has had the opposite effect—it has sparked global curiosity and excitement about this gem in Southern Africa. For those who have taken the time to explore beyond mainstream narratives, Lesotho is far from obscure. Lesotho is not just another dot on the map. It’s a sovereign nation, uniquely landlocked within South Africa.

1 month ago | pan-african.net | Lola Bailey |Lola has written |Boehringer Ingelheim

The Miss Côte d’Ivoire 2025 beauty pageant announced a groundbreaking rule: contestants could no longer wear weaves, wigs, or extensions during the preselection stages. Victor Yapobi, president of the organising committee, pointed to past Miss Universe contestants who had confidently worn short, natural hair on the global stage. Inspired by these examples, Côte d’Ivoire became the first country to enforce the rule nationally.

2 months ago | pan-african.net | Lola Bailey |Lola has written |Boehringer Ingelheim

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: A Triumph of Ingenuity and ResilienceChiwetel Ejiofor’s outstanding directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, is a compelling adaptation of William Kamkwamba’s memoir—an extraordinary true story of survival, ingenuity and the transformative power of education.