Africa shines globally in 2024: Achievements, Culture, and Farewells

2024 was a year of remarkable triumphs for Africa, with artists, filmmakers, and cultural icons making history on the global stage while the continent continued to reclaim its heritage and celebrate its artistic brilliance.

Tyla Dominates the Music Scene
South African artist Tyla emerged as one of Africa’s most celebrated figures this year. She began 2024 with a Grammy Award win in February, followed by two BET Awards, and capped her success by becoming the first African artist honored in three categories at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Trevor Noah Brings Home an Emmy
Adding to South Africa’s accolades, comedian and host Trevor Noah won the Emmy Award for Best Entertainment Program for his show at the 75th Emmy Awards, solidifying his place as a global entertainment powerhouse.

Restitution and African Cinema
The Berlinale Film Festival spotlighted African storytelling, with Franco-Senegalese filmmaker Mati Diop winning the Golden Bear for Dahomey, a documentary on the restitution of 26 royal treasures to Benin, looted by French forces in 1892.

This sparked wider restitution efforts, with Ghana reclaiming royal artifacts from the Asante kingdom stolen 150 years ago by British colonialists. Uganda, however, remains in talks with Cambridge University, which has loaned rather than returned artifacts the country hopes to recover permanently.

Architectural and Literary Milestones
Algeria inaugurated Africa’s largest mosque, a $900 million structure capable of hosting 120,000 worshippers.

Meanwhile, Morocco’s capital, Rabat, was named UNESCO’s World Book Capital for 2026, recognizing its contributions to knowledge accessibility and its thriving literary scene, which includes 54 publishing houses and one of Africa’s largest international book fairs.

Art and Beauty on the World Stage
Dakar’s Biennale of Contemporary African Art, Dak’Art, celebrated Africa’s creative energy, drawing global attention to the continent’s vibrant art scene.

In the realm of beauty, Chidimma Adetshina, representing Nigeria, became the first African to place in the top five at the Miss Universe pageant. Born in Soweto, she chose to represent her father’s homeland after withdrawing from Miss South Africa amid xenophobic backlash.

Honoring Legends and Farewells
Africa and the world mourned the loss of several cultural icons in 2024, including:

• Toumani Diabaté, the legendary Malian kora maestro, who passed at 58.
• Breyten Breytenbach, South African writer and anti-apartheid activist.
• Quincy Jones, the American music icon behind We Are the World.
• John Amos, renowned for his role as Kunta Kinte in Roots.

A Year of Impact
From historic achievements in the arts and entertainment to significant strides in heritage restoration and cultural celebration, 2024 reaffirmed Africa’s enduring influence and contribution to the global cultural and artistic landscape.