In every issue of CAJ International Magazine, we strive to bring forth voices that illuminate the multifaceted realities of Africa—its stories, struggles, triumphs, and evolving narratives. This month’s edition offers a compelling selection of discussions, spanning cinema, history, faith, and a remarkable personal journey.
African cinema has long been a vehicle for cultural expression and social reflection. In “African Cinema: Critical Local Issues and a Global Silver Screen,” Fatima Al-Zahra Hassan examines the tension between local authenticity and global recognition. Films like Dr. Bello, Kinshasa Kids, and Nairobi Half Life serve as testaments to Africa’s dynamic storytelling. Nollywood’s position as the third-largest film industry underscores the continent’s cinematic prowess, while works from Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remind us that African filmmakers continue to carve spaces for their narratives on the world stage.
Our second feature, “My Journey to Africa, the Homeland of A. Hannibal,” by Russian poet Victor Klykov, takes us on a historical and literary exploration. His discovery of Hannibal’s African roots through Présence Africaine opens a dialogue on how interconnected our histories truly are. The legacy of figures like Hannibal, often obscured in Western narratives, is a reminder that Africa’s contributions to global culture run deep.
Shifting to contemporary discourse, Khaled Suleiman’s article, “The Truth About Religious Tolerance and Misconceptions,” challenges divisive rhetoric and intellectual dishonesty in discussions of faith. In an era of digital misinformation, it is crucial to uphold rational discourse and historical accuracy. Suleiman’s argument highlights the necessity of intellectual vigilance in the face of misinterpretations that sow discord.
Finally, our cover story pays tribute to a figure whose name is synonymous with resilience, intellect, and unwavering dedication to her homeland—Dr. Hanan Awwad: Palestine’s Damask Rose. Dr. Nabih Al-Qasim’s evocative portrait captures not just her scholarly and activist journey, but the essence of a life lived in service to a nation and its people. Her academic achievements, literary contributions, and political engagements tell the story of a woman whose identity is inseparable from the land she fights for.
The declaration of martial law and impeachment at the end of last year was under focus in Korea. Against this backdrop, 1,000 reporters from more than 30 countries from the Asia Journalist Association (AJA) held an emergency press conference on March 4 at Korea press center in Seoul, calling for the restoration of democracy in Korea and are still holding a signature-collecting campaign in Asian countries. TheAsiaN Publisher and founding president of AJA Lee Sang-ki said, “I deeply appreciate the cooperation and support of reporters from Pakistan, Kyrgistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Japan, and Iran etc. I am confident that Korea will contribute more to Asian countries by overcoming this crisis.”
Travel Literature and Its Influence on Arabic Literature is also focused; traveling is life, and writing about it is living twice. Literature transforms a journey into a shared experience, weaving tales that transcend time and place. Abdul Nazer writes for CAJ International Magazine.
CAJ correspondent in Tanzania, Mutayoba Arbogast writes about legacy of Prof. Hubert Mwombeki Kairuki who was born in 1940 in Kigarama village, Kanyigo ward in Kagera region of Northwest the East African country, describing the late obstetriciangynecologist as a visionary and founder of
Kairuki Hospital, striving to offer comprehensive, high-quality, and affordable healthcare to his community.
After Prof, Kariruki is gone, his legacy did not die with him. Arbogast reports that through his family his commitment commitment to healthcare and education in Tanzania lives on. Prof. Kairuki, passed on 6th Feb 1999.
Through these diverse narratives, this issue reaffirms the power of storytelling—whether through film, literature, or personal testimony—in shaping African and global consciousness. As we continue to document and celebrate these voices, we invite our readers to engage, reflect, and contribute to the discourse that shapes our shared future.
Our readers shall have to their reading pleasure, stories from other African countries and other continents of the world, Enjoy!
