Author: Jane Babirye

TikTok trends are like the tides—constantly changing and pulling people into new waves of creativity, humor, and sometimes profound reflection. The latest trend to catch fire on the platform is “We Listen, We Don’t Judge.” At its core, the trend features creators voicing their thoughts on the condition that no one judges. It’s more of a “safe space” for people to open up. The trend gained momentum in November after the account ‘the.girlies’—four girls dressed in school uniforms, supposedly from South Africa—made confessions that garnered mixed reactions from app users. This backlash forced the creators to withdraw the statements made…

“If we were to go on physical strength and I fought back, there’s no way she could get away with it. But then, if I did and she got injured, the police would be against me either way,” Ronald (not his real name) said, his voice heavy with emotion. For over a decade, he has passionately devoted himself to fighting for human rights, particularly against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). His friends had often urged him to include men in the conversation, but his response remained, “Men are the perpetrators; who gives a damn about them anyway?” Now, the hunter has become…

The list of leisure stores at Mundi Centre just keeps growing—bigger and better. Alongside the already delightful dining spot (La Cachette), the state-of-the-art gaming centre (Funky Monkey), and Rwanda’s first craft brewery (Kweza Brewery), there’s now a new addition—Depot 37, an all-arts centre. Located between ENSO fashion store (on the right) and Jane Lily Ltd (on the left), this vibrant creative hub is undoubtedly the hottest thing in town right now. Inside, you’ll find a spacious lounge, adorned with plush gold and grey sofas that invite you to relax and unwind. But the real excitement lies at the back—a hall…

Social media has been abuzz in recent weeks following the leaked intimate videos of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF) Director General, Baltasar Ebang Engonga. While scandals like this are not new, this incident stands out because, for once, a man is at the “receiving” end of such exploitation. Typically, women are the primary victims, as men often record private moments without their consent and later use them as blackmail. In any case, those involved never expect their private videos to go public, which explains why such leaks continue to make headlines. The public, meanwhile, is left wondering why…

In 2024, it’s no longer about the ‘early’ bird catches the worm, but the ‘known’ bird–making networking increasingly essential in our day to day lives. Knowing this, the Chillest World in partnership with Youth Connekt Africa, Vugana and BK Arena on Friday 8th November 2024 organized yet another ‘Chillest’ Networking event for hundreds of youths from across the globe who are currently in Kigali, Rwanda for the annual Youth Connekt Africa summit. Held in the walkway of BK Arena’s first floor, the side event offered a dynamic opportunity for young Africans to connect directly with CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Creatives, and Innovators,…

In 2023, I was privileged to be among the delegates who attended the International Labour Organization (ILO) conference in Kigali. This honorary invitation allowed me to visit Nyandungu Eco Park, Rwanda’s largest and first restored wetland, among other things. However, besides riding with a motorcade, I didn’t relish the visit like I had anticipated – which is understandable, given our large numbers and extensive itinerary for the day. Thus, when my friend Ann from Kenya asked me to accompany her there a month ago, I screamed, “Yes!” It was a Sunday afternoon, and the weather gave off chill vibes. On…

We’ve all heard it before—the frustrated sigh of a man scoffing, “Why do women always go for the bad boys? I’m nice!” It’s easy to sympathise, but hey, from a woman’s perspective– being nice and being good aren’t the same thing–not even according to the English dictionary. Nice is an adjective used to refer to something pleasant or attractive. On the other hand, the adjective good can be used to refer to something desired or approved. Orchid English shades more light to the terms in one of their articles describing nice as one used to refer to “something from the…

Just like parrots, gray crowned cranes (Balearica regulorum) are uniformly intelligent. This, coupled with their striking appearance, made them prone to illegal trade in Rwanda, as bird lovers obsessed about having them in their gardens both for aesthetics and security purposes. With time, these colorful and elegant creatures almost became extinct, until Dr. Olivier Nsengimana forestalled their illegal poaching. Through the Rwanda Wildlife Conservation Association (RWCA), he led the rescue of these endangered birds, providing them with a safe haven–Umusambi (Kinyarwanda word for gray cranes) village, a wetland in Kabuga.  The decision to visit this sanctuary was twofold: primarily for…

President Paul Kagame was on 24 October 2024 recognized by the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in collaboration with CNBC Africa as the African of the Year at Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa. According to the organizers, the winner is awarded for “their commitment to excellence and transformative leadership that inspires us all to embrace the potential of our continent.” Thus, a rigorous selection process is employed, where a panel of esteemed judges evaluate nominees on various criteria. Among these are: Vision and Leadership, where candidates must demonstrate visionary leadership that aligns with their country’s growth trajectory. Social Impact,…

Ugandan pastor Martin Sempa recently took to his X account to announce that his son, Josiah, will marry his girlfriend, whom he met on a dating app. The phrase “online dating” sparked a storm of reactions from the so-called “online in-laws” (myself included). Why? It’s ironic, given Sempa’s image as a self-proclaimed moral crusader—his viral “eat da poo poo” and “are you gay” videos from 2021—seems at odds with the digital matchmaking world. As we navigate the 21st century, relationships have evolved, but culture and religion continue to hold strong significance for many Africans. In fact, we’re embracing our heritage…