By Anthony D’Alessandro | DEADLINE
Djimon Hounsou has boarded director Tony Kaye’s African History Y. The plot is being kept under wraps billed only as “a story of tragedy and redemption.” Charles Chanchori, Jason Corder and Kaye are writing. DeForrest Taylor, Marc Le Chat, Kaye and Raymond J. Markovich are producing.
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By Delaney Parrish | Princeton University
In 2014, Princeton professor Leonard Wantchekon opened the doors to what is now one of the top-ranked economics programs in Africa. Today, the African School of Economics (ASE), with campuses in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, offers several undergraduate degrees, four master’s degrees, a Ph.D. program and a pre-doctoral program, all aimed at providing “a greater voice to African researchers and entrepreneurs in the debate over the continent’s development.”
Continue reading “Leonard Wantchekon |Beninese professor leads new effort to propel Black students into top economics Ph.D. programs”
She is probably Africa’s most widely respected international vocalist, and one of its hungriest synthesizers of culture and ideas.
By Giovanni Russonello|The New York Times
The Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo was born into one of the most hopeful moments of the 20th century. Just two weeks after her birth in 1960 — in Ouidah, Dahomey — her country finally gained independence from France. It was one of 17 African nations to declare independence that year.
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By Mildred Europa Taylor
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Oscar-nominated actor, Djimon Hounsou, will kickstart shooting the much-anticipated biopic ‘Panzi’ this summer.
The Beninese-American actor and model who is best known for his Oscar-nominated performance in “Blood Diamond,” is set to portray the role of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Denis Mukwege, in the film “Panzi”.
The film will be directed by actress-turned-director Marie-Helene Roux, Variety reports.
Mukwege was jointly awarded last year’s Nobel Peace Prize with Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist Nadia Murad for “their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict.”
Continue reading “Djimon Hounsou set to play Congolese Nobel Peace Laureate in new film”
Djimon Hounsou was born and raised in Benin Republic. The actor came to America as an adult to work in the fashion industry before landing his leading role in Amistad that changed everything. He has since gone on to star in Hollywood blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Guardians of the Galaxy .
He dated fashion and reality TV star, Kimora Lee Simmons, with whom he has a son, Kenzo Lee Hounsou. Last summer, Hounsou took Kenzo to Benin Republic to acquaint him with his African roots. This report by Sarie on bckonline.com
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