HoneymoonAljabri Chief Editor, People of Africa

Strength in Unity: Amplifying Africa’s VoiceIn an era where the loudest voices shape global narratives instead of the most reasoned ones, we must critique the foundations on which these narratives rest. This issue of People of Africa delves into a topic that demands both reflection and action: the often contradictory and self- serving nature of Western influence on African development Our lead editorial, Has the West Lost Its Moral Compass? The Irony of Global Policymaking. challenges us to confront the uncomfortable reality that while Western nations purport to lead global reform, they are simultaneously grappling with their own profound issues From political theater and judicial dysfunction in the United States to escalating crime and systemic inequalities in the UK, the editorial questions whether Western countries have the moral authority to dictate solutions for Africa. But our exploration does not end there. In this issue, we also celebrate the shining examples of African excellence that inspire and uplift us From post-Olympics achievements to the latest in fashion and culinary innovations, we spotlight the remarkable individuals and movements that make Africa proud.

From “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you are reading” to “I am just curious, just to better understand your ruling, if someone on this committee then talks about somebody’s bleach blond bad built butch body, that would be not engaged in personalities, correct?” this is not a scene from a family squabble, but a late-night oversight committee hearing on the floor of the House of Representatives. Such statements underscore the decline in decorum and substantive debate in American politics. The Biden-Trump presidential debate was a case in point, resembling a spectacle more than a serious exchange of ideas. Trump’s relentless fabrications and Biden’s occasional lapses in memory such as confusing the President of Ukraine with Putin and trailing off mid-thought only , this when he was hosting the NATO summit in Washington D.C. affirmed Julius Kambarage Nyerere’s observation: “The United States is also a one-party state, but with typical American extravagance, they have two of them.” This debate was emblematic of a political system that seems increasingly disconnected from reality, producing more theater than meaningful discourse. click here