African Stream
@african_stream • 115,432 subscribers
African Stream is a pan-African digital media organisation providing a voice to Africans at home and abroad through cutting-edge, African-centred content.
Shorts
![WHO IS FUNDING TERRORIST GROUPS IN AFRICA? How are t*rrorist groups able to finance their activities? That’s the question raised by Nigerian General Christopher Musa after captured Boko Haram fighters were found in possession of hard currency. The level of organisation and logistics required to maintain operations for 15 years is no mean feat - likely beyond the capacities of mere rag-tag militias. A plausible explanation is external support, and precedent exists to warrant suspicion. The Sahel’s t*rrorism crisis post-2011 can be directly linked to Libya, where insurgents, armed and funded by Western powers to overthrow pan-African icon Muammar Gaddafi, trickled south after the job was done. This turned the Sahel into the world’s new epicentre of t*rrorism, with countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger most affected. Western support for t*rrorist groups is also documented elsewhere. Leaks concerning the State Department revealed correspondence between Jake Sullivan and his then-boss Hillary Clinton, with one email reading, "AQ [Al Qaeda] is on our side in Syria." The US also armed the Taliban in Afghanistan to fight its adversary, the Soviet Union. Back to Africa, countries like Mali have directly accused France of violating Malian airspace and delivering weapons to armed groups in 2022, and of training t*rrorists in 2021. Have a watch, and let us know where you think Boko Haram gets its money.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-1915069653748949345/amplify_video_thumb/1915069019431763968/img/8PaHSu7fH_KMLkoR.jpg)
!['FOREIGN AID' IS A BRIBE Many people outside of Africa would be surprised to hear that some Africans were glad about the recent US foreign aid cuts. To understand why, here's a very short 2022 video by activist and content creator @mariamtheugandan (Instagram) in which she calls out this so-called aid for what it really is - namely, a bribe paid to 'underdeveloped' countries for the right to keep on exploiting their resources. A report published 2017 by UK and African equality and development campaigners and NGOs titled 'Honest Accounts 2017: How the World Profits from Africa's Wealth' detailed how Africa loses far more than it receives. While African countries get around $19 billion in aid in the form of grants annually, $68 billion is "taken out in capital flight, mainly by multinational companies deliberately misreporting the value of their imports or exports to reduce tax." Meanwhile, an "estimated $29 billion a year is being stolen from Africa in illegal logging, fishing and the trade in wildlife/plants." As former African Union envoy to the US Arikana Chihombori-Quao said in a 2018 interview with Voice of America, "They [the West] loot from us at night, and during the day, they come back and give us a pittance of the loot in the name of aid." This looting is only made possible by the African political elite, which pockets the supposed 'development aid' while rolling out the red carpet for their Western sponsors to come and extract resources. The aid rarely invests in infrastructure projects, which the continent is crying out for; instead, it prioritises vanity projects that serve the donating country far more than the recipient. Video credit: @MariamTheUgandan (instagram)](https://image.24vids.com/tw-1900776136361046310/amplify_video_thumb/1900775535753527296/img/73yL74fWenWzWgIi.jpg)
![WHO IS FUNDING TERRORIST GROUPS IN AFRICA? How are t*rrorist groups able to finance their activities? That’s the question raised by Nigerian General Christopher Musa after captured Boko Haram fighters were found in possession of hard currency. The level of organisation and logistics required to maintain operations for 15 years is no mean feat - likely beyond the capacities of mere rag-tag militias. A plausible explanation is external support, and precedent exists to warrant suspicion. The Sahel’s t*rrorism crisis post-2011 can be directly linked to Libya, where insurgents, armed and funded by Western powers to overthrow pan-African icon Muammar Gaddafi, trickled south after the job was done. This turned the Sahel into the world’s new epicentre of t*rrorism, with countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger most affected. Western support for t*rrorist groups is also documented elsewhere. Leaks concerning the State Department revealed correspondence between Jake Sullivan and his then-boss Hillary Clinton, with one email reading, "AQ [Al Qaeda] is on our side in Syria." The US and the UK also armed and funded Mujahideen in Afghanistan to fight its adversary, the Soviet Union. Back to Africa, countries like Mali have directly accused France of violating Malian airspace and delivering weapons to armed groups in 2022, and of training t*rrorists in 2021. Have a watch, and let us know where you think Boko Haram gets its money.](https://image.24vids.com/tw-1915647683072602606/amplify_video_thumb/1915647064777670656/img/VNCG6htJPl4ZwfM9.jpg)
Videos
AFRICAN STREAM IS CLOSING DOWN This is, sadly, a farewell to you, our loyal followers and supporters. Under relentless attack, we’ve made the painful decision to shut down African Stream—a platform that many of you’ve come to trust and love. This decision was not made lightly. The smear by then–US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 13, 2024, labelling African Stream “Kremlin propagandists”—triggered a wave of censorship. Within days, YouTube, Meta, Google, and TikTok removed our accounts, and we were demonetised on X. These actions shattered our ability to survive financially. Personal accounts were restricted. What followed was a daily uphill battle. Now, we’re left with only one path: closure. We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support. Your comments, your messages, your shares—you made us stronger, sharper, and more determined. We are deeply proud of the work we’ve done since 2022: bringing attention to the most underreported and misrepresented continent. The imperalists want to perpetuate the dominant narrative that Africa is underdeveloped due to corruption and the mismanagement of resources. They want to remove colonialism, neo-colonialism and imperialism from the picture. We refused to play by those rules. For that, we paid the price. But it’s a price we would pay again and again. Refusing to play by their rules led to NBC saying we spread ‘disinformation’ without providing a single example of what ‘disinformation’ we shared. Voice of America condemned us for reporting a fact: since the George W. Bush administration, every US president has authorised drone strikes on Somalia. As we responded to every smear piece, we just grew bigger and stronger until, finally, those in positions of power realised the smears weren’t working, and the rest is history. We will cease posting as of July 1, 2025, except for a few remaining documentaries from Liberia and Mali. With your support, we managed to ruffle many feathers. Please continue the fight and keep the Pan-African flag flying. Thank you for helping us build African Stream. As we always say: #WeAreAllAfricanStream.
African Stream589,677 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten
MUGABE: YOU DO NOT BECOME A CITIZEN VIA COLONISATION Pan-Africanist icon and Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader, Robert Mugabe, was born on this day, 21 February, in 1924. The larger-than-life politician, who died of cancer at age 95 in 2019, was well-known for not holding back when calling out imperialists and their cronies. Mugabe was also passionate about ensuring that the British returned all land stolen during the colonial era to their rightful owners, Zimbabwe's indigenous people. In this 2009 clip, the straight-talking Mugabe corrected CNN host Christiane Amanpour about Zimbabwe's land reform programme, clearing misconceptions that form the talking points of those against it. Mugabe asserts that one cannot become a citizen through colonisation and then claim a right to land. This is a message we hope filters through to Zimbabwe's neighbour, South Africa, where, for decades, the government has hesitated to take steps to end glaring land-ownership inequalities between Black people and white settlers. More than 30 years after independence, white South Africans, who make up less than 8 per cent of the population, still own more than 70 per cent of South Africa’s arable land, according to a 2017 land audit conducted by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. Video credit: CNN
African Stream625,574 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
JAMAICANS BARRED FROM OWN BEACHES: END THE BAN! Imagine living on a beautiful island with picturesque beaches - but you’re not allowed to visit them. That’s what life is like for Jamaicans, where less than 1% of the sandy coastline is open to the public. It’s a colonial legacy of the 1956 Beach Control Act, which grants private landowners extensive - almost exclusive - rights over coastal areas, effectively barring residents from enjoying their own shores. As a result of this exclusion, prime beachfronts are predominantly reserved for private entities and foreign tourists, with Jamaicans marginalised in their homeland. Under British rule, laws were instituted to favour the interests of the colonial power and its economic expansion at the expense of the local community. Although Jamaica achieved independence, these colonial-era statutes persist, perpetuating stark social and economic disparities. This clip is part of a campaign calling for an end to the colonial-era beach law. In it, Mikaela Loach - It’s Not That Radical 📖🇵🇸 argues that denying locals access to their natural resources not only infringes upon their rights but also undermines their cultural heritage and identity. It’s a prime example of exclusionary colonial practices creating systemic inequities impacting the quality of life of Jamaicans today, even after their so-called independence from the UK in 1962. Video credit: Mikaela Loach - It’s Not That Radical 📖🇵🇸y
African Stream546,652 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
African Stream has been banned by Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. We were censored after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made false, unsubstantiated claims against us on Friday. To be clear, contrary to the accusations, African Stream does not receive any funding from any state. We will shorty release a full statement regarding our work, our funding and these accusations. We are currently consulting our legal team to figure out how best to move forward. We thank all of our loyal followers and encourage those who want to hear our pan-African perspectives to join our Patreon and Telegram. (We are also still on TikTok and X - for now!) #WeAreAllAfricanStream
African Stream647,184 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
HOW DO AFRO-VENEZUELANS FEEL ABOUT MADURO? Nicolás Maduro is one of the worst and most repressive dictators of our time, right? Not so fast. Many online have been quick to judge Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution as a failed economic experiment or authoritarian dystopia. That's why African Stream recently visited the country for Maduro's presidential inauguration to get a better sense of what’s up. As a Pan-Africanist reporter, Inemesit Richardson, was intrigued by the presence of self-declared Afro-Venezuelan 'Chavistas' at rallies, events, and conferences who support the Bolivarian Project begun under former President Hugo Chavez (1954-2013). While the perspective that circulates on Western media outlets and English-speaking social media pages tends to favour regime change, we wanted to hear what the other side had to say. In this video, you hear from Afro-Venezuelans who attended the Third International Congress on Communication in Caracas, Venezuela, on 12 January. Some were members of Afro-Venezuelan organisations known as ‘cumbes’ or were the heads of Afro-descendant wings of political parties and groups. Others were citizens not affiliated with any political organisations. So, why did Afro-Venezuelans vote for Maduro? This is what they had to say.
African Stream262,644 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
NIGER PIPELINE: EUROPE’S SALVATION? You may have noticed the West is quite worried about Niger’s new, post-coup direction. When you filter out all the noise about ‘defending democracy,’ there could be a lot more self-interest at work than many realise. Sure, we’re all up to speed on France’s energy interests and US military interest in the country. But there’s also a new gas pipeline project - a key segment of which runs through Niger - that Europe’s pinned a lot of hope on. Clayton Morris, the host of Redacted, argues here that it was supposed to come to the rescue after war and the Nord Stream explosion made Russian deliveries a no-no. US companies have a lot of money tied up in the project as well. It certainly puts much of the condemnation coming from the EU and Washington in a new light.
African Stream442,339 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AT KENYA’S COASTAL RESORTS Kenyan beach resorts are accused of turning away locals while rolling out the red carpet for White tourists. Stories of Kenyans being denied access - whether to beachfronts, hotel premises or even certain services - have fuelled debates about racism, neocolonialism and economic discrimination in the very country they call home. While tourism remains a vital pillar of Kenya’s economy, this exclusion raises uncomfortable questions about whose pleasure and presence truly matters. Shouldn’t Kenyans have the same right to enjoy their own coastline and amenities as the foreigners whose dollars are so eagerly welcomed? Video Credit: Miss Trudy (YouTube)
African Stream208,327 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
EUROPE MAKES MILLIONS FROM REJECTING AFRICAN VISAS When Africans are denied visas to Europe, there’s no doubt those decisions are often racist. But could they be capitalist too? African Stream’s Wambura Mwai looks at the big business that is EU visa rejections. brenda mwai
African Stream235,203 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
BLACK MAN INVENTS REVOLUTIONARY WATER MACHINE Moses West, an engineer in San Antonio, Texas, has captured global attention with a water-generating machine. This device extracts moisture from the air, cooling it to form water droplets, much like how a refrigerator condenses humidity. By mimicking the natural process of cloud formation, this brother’s machine creates a controlled mini rain cloud to produce clean drinking water. What truly sets Moses apart is his dedication to helping those in need. He provides water at no cost, targeting struggling communities. His efforts have already made a difference in Flint, Michigan, Puerto Rico, and the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian. This selfless approach tackles the urgent global issue of clean-water scarcity. According to the UN World Water Development Report, 2 billion people worldwide (26 per cent) lack reliable access to safe drinking water. Moses’s invention can ensure clean water reaches those who otherwise might not have access. Video Credit: MOSES Foundation / @U_green_Us (IG)
African Stream272,374 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
LET'S TALK ABOUT KEMI BADENOCH In a speech at Michigan State University on 24 January 1963, revolutionary and civil-rights activist Malcom X (1925-65) drew a distinction between field and house N*groes. He called the latter the “twentieth-century Uncle Tom.” Over six decades later, the distinction is still worth drawing. Every generation produces a new version of the house N*gro. They are the ones willing to betray the fight against imperialism to do their masters’ bidding for financial reward and privileges. The new leader of the UK’s opposition Conservative Party - Kemi 'Adegoke' Badenoch - fits the bill perfectly. Our sister Sannario explains why.
African Stream199,580 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
SISTER SOULJAH ON KU KLUX KLAN In this 1992 interview with Larry King, rapper and activist Sister Souljah responds to an incredible accusation. A caller claims her actions are on a par with white supremacist David Duke. Her answer is as powerful as it gets. To do it justice, you’ll have to listen to the clip, but let’s just say she lays out some history that should never be forgotten. The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) is a violent white supremacy organisation founded after the U.S. Civil War. Since 1865, the KKK has killed many Blacks in the U.S., including by lynching. Members burn crosses and march wearing hooded gowns to terrorise Black people. In addition to hate crimes, the KKK has opposed any form of equality with Africans in the U.S. Perhaps that's why the caller thinks our sister doesn't deserve to wear her jewels? Video credit: Lazz King Live, CNN
African Stream206,453 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
'WE ARE BLACK FIRST!' 'We can't let where the boat dropped us off define who we are,' Laz Alonso (Laz Alonso) powerfully reminded us on the Hollywood Unlocked (@hollywoodunlockedUL) entertainment news platform. The actor, known for roles including in the film 'Fast and Furious' (2009), referred to how the European Slave Trade sold kidnapped Africans in various parts of the Americas. Yet, modern Black people identify more with the countries they now find themselves in rather than recognising our shared African heritage. This mindset is crucial because, in the eyes of the oppressors, we're African first. Let us know what you think in the comments. Video credit: @hollywoodunlockedUL (X)
African Stream211,074 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
PAUL KAGAME: HERO OR VILLAIN? Paul Kagame has become a popular figure among Africans across the continent, who like and share his brilliant responses to arrogant Western interviewers. But is Rwanda’s President really the Pan-African giant that he’s made out to be? Many think not, including in neighbouring DRC - where rebel groups allegedly funded by him are accused of perpetrating genocidal violence. He’s also been branded a puppet of capitalism. Congolese activists shared with African Stream their reasons for being very wary of Paul Kagame. What’s your take on the Rwandan leader?
African Stream280,691 Aufrufe • vor 2 Jahren
FIRESTONE: HOW U.S. RUBBER GIANT STILL BURNS LIBERIA African Stream officially closed down at the end of July. But before making that decision, we had already been working on this important documentary about the American rubber company Firestone and its history of exploitation. In 1926, Firestone signed a deal with Liberia’s government to lease 1 million acres of land, 10% of the entire country, for just six cents an acre. Backed by the U.S. government and designed to secure a steady rubber supply for American industry, the deal marked the start of a deeply exploitative relationship. For decades, Liberian workers, many of them children, were forced to tap between 500 and 750 rubber trees a day in gruelling conditions. Some earned as little as 24 cents for a full day’s work. While Firestone grew into one of the world’s largest rubber producers, Liberia was left with environmental destruction, impoverished communities, and virtually no national development from the wealth extracted. After Liberia’s brutal civil war, a new agreement was signed in 2005. But critics argue the terms still overwhelmingly favoured Firestone. The company continues to control vast plantations, while surrounding communities remain locked in poverty. When we visited Barclay Farm, a village next to the Firestone rubber plantations, residents told us they still face crumbling infrastructure, undrinkable water, inadequate healthcare, and limited opportunities nearly a century after the original deal. For many Liberians, Firestone is not just a company; it is a symbol of neocolonial extraction and a reminder that so-called “investment” often means exploitation without accountability. This documentary is part one of a three-part documentary series on Liberia, which we will release over the course of the following week. After that, there will be no more African Stream content.
African Stream103,959 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten
TURKEY-SOMALIA: FRIENDSHIP OR COLONISATION? They say Turkey is ‘helping’ Somalia. But what kind of help is it if, in return, Ankara gets to keep Somali ports and oil, and expand its military footprint in the region? For over a decade, Turkey has presented itself as Africa’s ‘Muslim brother,’ stepping into Somalia with aid, business deals and military training. But behind the humanitarian PR, who really benefits? In Mogadishu, Turkey now runs two of Somalia’s most strategic assets: the airport and the seaport. A Turkish firm gets 45% of port revenues. That’s nearly half of Somalia’s maritime income going to a foreign country. Moreover, since signing a ten-year oil-exploration deal with Somalia, Turkey has made a 20-billion-barrel discovery worth 1.6 trillion dollars. And Ankara also has its biggest overseas military base in Somalia. Let’s be honest: this is influence and exploitation, not solidarity and friendship. And this isn’t about Turkey and Somalia alone. It’s about Africa’s sovereignty, our right to negotiate on an equal footing, to develop without being cornered, to say ‘no’ when help comes with strings attached. Because if we trade our ports, our oil and our independence for short-term support, who are we really building for?
African Stream125,686 Aufrufe • vor 11 Monaten
CONFESSION OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN Ever wonder exactly how the United States subverts democracy and the aspirations of countries? In this clip, we hear from the horse’s mouth about the array of tools that are used to shape the international landscape to US favour. John Perkins bore witness to his time at a US-based consulting firm, for which he said the US National Security Agency screened him. Decades later, Perkins published an exposé, ‘Confessions of an Economic Hit Man.' The book lays out how individuals are recruited to promote the interests of corporations and Western government agencies in developing countries, at the expense of the people. Perkins' job involved convincing poor countries' leaders to accept loans for infrastructure and development projects that were often unnecessary and unsustainable. Since recipient countries could not easily pay off these loans, they fell into a cycle of debt and dependency. This allowed the United States and its corporate interests to exert control over these countries, effectively turning them into economic and political vassals. Let us know what you think of Perkins' explanation.
African Stream154,637 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
FBI MANUFACTURES TERRORISM In the United States, the FBI’s countert*rrorism operations disproportionately targets marginalised communities. In the wake of the 11 September 2001 t*rrorist attacks, the FBI began manufacturing t*rror plots, luring vulnerable people into participating via coaching, baiting, and then arresting them. After such operations, the FBI gets to take credit for stopping a threat that never existed. British satirist Chris Morris (Chris Morris Bits on X ) delves into this very topic through his 2019 dark-comedy film, ‘The Day Shall Come.’ Initially unaware of this practice's scale, Morris was shocked to uncover what he estimates to be hundreds of such cases. His film draws on these stories to satirise the warped logic of a security system that rewards creating threats. It also is a poignant reminder that a leopard doesn't change its spots. The tactic of infiltrating close circles with ‘problematic’ characters allowed the FBI in 1969 to murder Fred Hampton, the 21-year-old chair of the Black Panther Party’s Illinois chapter. Have a watch, and please share your thoughts. Video credit: Channel 4 News on YouTube
African Stream118,778 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr