AGP Executive Report

Afro Nation Portugal 2027: Davido and Rema will headline Afro Nation Portugal next year, joined by Congolese star Fally Ipupa, with Omah Lay, Victony and more also confirmed for the June 9–11, 2027 run at Praia da Rocha in Portimão. AFCON qualifiers spotlight: Namibia host Congo in the CAN 2027 qualifying opener, with both sides facing squad and venue challenges ahead of the campaign. Congo in the spotlight abroad (sports): France-born right-back Brayann Pereira, linked to Congo through heritage, has been called up for AFCON 2027 qualifiers but will stay with Albion to build fitness. Arts & culture (music): Belgian-Congolese gospel rapper David Okit shared a teaser for “Boosté à mort,” ahead of its Friday broadcast. Table tennis comeback: Veteran Congo Brazzaville player Saka Suraju returns to continental competition at the 2026 ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier after a decade away. Humanitarian news with Congo ties: The US announced an extra $267 million in Ebola aid for the outbreak in Congo.

Afro Nation Portugal 2027: Davido, Rema and Congolese star Fally Ipupa are confirmed as headliners for the June 9–11, 2027 festival in Portimão, with GIMS joining as a special guest and more acts expected. Music & culture spotlight: Ayra Starr’s new LP Starrgirl leans into her New York era, mixing Afrobeats, R&B and dance-pop across 16 tracks. AI in the arts: French-Senegalese artist Delphine Diallo talks AI as “ritual collaborator” in her Atlanta exhibition The Mythic Quest, blending photography, collage and AI-made visuals. Sports—CAN 2027 kickoff: Algeria begin AFCON 2027 qualifiers hosting Zambia under new coach Brahim Hemdani, while CAF also appoints Nigerian referee Kasim for Cameroon–Comoros. Congo in international sport: Table tennis veteran Saka Suraju returns to the continental stage for Congo Brazzaville at the ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier (Oct 18–26). Arts & faith: Congolese gospel singer Déborah Lukalu does spontaneous street evangelization at the Trocadéro in Paris, sparking major online buzz.

Mark Doyle Obituary: Veteran BBC Africa correspondent Mark Doyle has died at 67 after a short illness, remembered for fearless reporting on conflicts across Rwanda and Congo in the 1990s and 2000s. AFCON 2027 Focus: Former Super Eagles coach Nduka Ugbade warns Nigeria’s Eric Chelle and squad not to underestimate Madagascar ahead of their AFCON 2027 qualifier. Congo Gospel Moment: Congolese singer Déborah Lukalu carried out spontaneous street evangelization at Paris’s Trocadéro, drawing huge online engagement. Sports Spotlight (Congo): Table tennis legend Saka Suraju returns to the continental stage, named in Congo Brazzaville’s squad for the 2026 ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier. Music & Culture: Awilo Longomba meets Ayra Starr in Zambia after her hit “Sability” revived interest in his 1998 classic “Coupé Bibamba.” Media & Policy: A major U.S. Paramount-Warner merger antitrust fight is settled, clearing a key hurdle for an $81 billion deal.

Table Tennis: Congo Brazzaville veteran Saka Suraju is back on the continental stage, named in the national squad for the 2026 ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier (Oct 18–26), aiming to wear the colours again after years away. Music & Culture: Congolese soukous legend Awilo Longomba met Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr at Africa Connect in Lusaka, with Starr’s hit “Sability” credited for reviving global interest in Longomba’s “Coupé Bibamba.” Media & Society: In Brazzaville, the Sicom media fair spotlighted women’s progress in Congolese newsrooms—and the work still needed to turn visibility into real editorial authority. Press & Law: Another Sicom session pushed for modernizing Congo’s media statutes to match today’s digital reality and the rise of AI. Sports Officiating: CAF appointed Nigerian referee Abdulsalam Abiola Kasim to officiate the Cameroon–Comoros AFCON 2027 qualifier, with an all-Nigerian officiating team.

Congolese Music Spotlight: Awilo Longomba met Ayra Starr in Lusaka after her hit “Sability” revived his 1998 Soukous classic “Coupé Bibamba,” turning a sample into a cross-generational, pan-African moment. Media & Policy in Congo: Brazzaville’s Sicom media fair put women journalists front and center, debating how representation can become real newsroom authority—plus a push to modernize Congo’s media laws for the AI and digital era. Fashion & Craft: Lubumbashi Fashion Week (kuba raffia, natural fibers, afrofuturism) showcased designers reworking Congolese heritage with workshops and a market linking artisans to new audiences. Sports (Congo-linked): The Brave Warriors’ AFCON 2027 campaign faces setbacks as injuries and travel-document issues rule out key players ahead of matches vs Congo and Comoros. Culture & Diplomacy: Venezuela and the Republic of Congo discussed tourism cooperation, highlighting culture, dance, singing, murals, and recreation as shared attractions.

Congo Media & Law: Brazzaville’s Sicom media fair put women journalists front and center, debating how to turn newsroom presence into real authority, while another Sicom session pushed for modernizing Congo’s media statutes to match digital broadcasting and the AI era. Congo Arts & Culture: Lubumbashi’s 5th Fashion Week spotlighted kuba raffia and natural fibers through afrofuturism, with workshops linking designers, artisans, and the public. Sports & Community: In Pointe-Noire, the Italian embassy-backed Enrico Mattei youth tournament ran 11–13 September, mixing neighborhood teams and women’s squads on a diplomatic, school-kit-filled pitch. International Spotlight (Congo-linked): A Venezuela–Congo tourism meeting highlighted culture, dance, singing, and murals as part of new cooperation plans. Music & Pop Culture: A global backlash over Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour—after Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks—kept dominating entertainment coverage, including solidarity withdrawals by supporting acts and protests planned outside shows.

Congolese Media Reform: Brazzaville’s Sicom media fair opened with a push to modernize the country’s core media laws, with Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso calling for updates to the 2001 freedom-of-information statute and its supporting rules—especially as digital broadcasting and AI reshape newsrooms. Women in Newsrooms: A Sicom panel in Brazzaville spotlighted how Congolese women are gaining visibility, but still face hurdles to authority, training, and harassment-free leadership. Gospel Music Buzz: The Top 50 Gospel Anglophone chart (Week 37) spotlights Congolese worship leader Sara Kalengayi’s breakout surge with Ada EHI, showing cross-border momentum for African gospel collaborations. Sports & Youth: The Enrico Mattei Tournament in Pointe-Noire—organized with the Italian embassy and partners—put young footballers (including women’s teams) through a three-day competition framed around fair play and talent-building. Arts & Culture Diplomacy: Venezuela and the Republic of Congo discussed boosting tourism cooperation, highlighting culture, nature, and local artistic expressions. Music & Politics Echo: International debate around artists speaking out for Palestine continues to ripple through global entertainment, with Congo named in the wider conversation.

Media & Law: Brazzaville’s first media fair, Sicom, opened Sept. 17 with a clear push to reopen and update Congo’s 2001 freedom-of-information media law, signaling a legislative overhaul for a sector now shaped by digital change. Fashion & Heritage: Lubumbashi Fashion Week (Sept. 14–19) put kuba raffia and natural fibers at center stage, framing afrofuturism as a way to reinterpret Congolese heritage with modern cuts, plus workshops and a designer market. Arts & Culture Diplomacy: Venezuela’s ambassador met Congo’s tourism minister to explore cooperation, highlighting cultural tourism—dance, singing, murals—and recalling a 2025 excursion to Ngabé. Music Spotlight: The Gun Club’s legacy gets a fresh look through a story of Jeffrey Lee Pierce and his influence, including “The Breaking Hands.” Health Watch (DR Congo): WHO says Ebola is easing in parts of Ituri but still growing overall, with cases rising fast in North Kivu. Entertainment Buzz (Global): Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour fallout after Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks continues to ripple through ticket prices, radio playlists, and planned protests.

Fashion & Identity: Lubumbashi’s 5th Fashion Week (Sept 14–19) put kuba raffia and natural fibers at the center, blending Congolese heritage with afrofuturist, modern silhouettes—plus workshops, exhibitions, and a designer market. Arts & Culture Diplomacy: Venezuela’s ambassador met Congo’s tourism minister to explore bilateral tourism cooperation, highlighting nature, culture, and local artistic expressions (including dance, singing, and murals). Music Industry Shockwave: Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour fallout over Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” remarks keeps widening—support acts quit, radio stations pull Sheeran playlists, ticket prices drop, and Philadelphia protests are planned outside Lincoln Financial Field. Health in the Region: WHO says there are “encouraging signs” against Ebola in Ituri (Bundibugyo strain) while cases rise fast in North Kivu, with thousands of cases and deaths reported across eastern Congo. Local Sports Spotlight: Medeama SC coach Ibrahim Tanko urges focus on domestic success after CAF Champions League elimination, as the Ghana Premier League campaign begins.

Cultural Diplomacy & Tourism: Venezuela’s ambassador met Congo’s tourism minister to explore bilateral cooperation, spotlighting Congo’s nature, culture, and recreation—plus past cultural tourism exchanges like the Ngabé visit that featured dance, singing, murals, and other artistic expressions. Music & Protest Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour keeps roiling after Macklemore was dropped over a “Free Palestine” stage speech—leading to major concert tweaks in Philadelphia, ticket-price drops, and planned pro-Palestine protests outside the venue. Local Arts & Style: A menswear roundup highlights a label built around Congolese cultural references, pointing to growing fashion visibility for Central African design. Public Health (Ebola): WHO reports “encouraging signs” in parts of eastern Congo’s Ebola fight while warning cases are rising fast elsewhere—an urgent reminder of how health crises shape regional life and culture. Sports Spotlight: Medeama SC coach Ibrahim Tanko urges focus on domestic success after CAF Champions League elimination, setting up the next Ghana Premier League push.

Music & Protest Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s LOOP Tour keeps unraveling after Macklemore was dropped over a “Free Palestine” stage speech—support acts quit, ticket prices reportedly slid, and Philadelphia is bracing for pro-Palestine protests with a “sizable” police presence. Radio & Culture Pushback: An Irish station says it will stop playing Sheeran “for the foreseeable future,” while fans and artists debate whether the controversy is about free speech or accountability. Local Arts Angle (Congo-linked): The backlash also reignited attention to Congo in Macklemore’s remarks (“Free Congo”), keeping regional solidarity themes in the spotlight. Health & Community News: The WHO reports “encouraging signs” against Ebola in eastern Congo’s Ituri, but warns the outbreak is still growing elsewhere, with thousands of cases and deaths. Sports & Talent: Medeama SC coach Ibrahim Tanko urges focus on domestic success after CAF Champions League exit, as the club prepares for the Ghana Premier League. Fashion Spotlight: A menswear roundup highlights a label using Congolese cultural references, pointing to growing fashion creativity tied to the region.

Music & Protest Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s U.S. “Loop” tour keeps unraveling after opener Macklemore was dropped for a “Free Palestine” speech, triggering a wave of backlash: Irish radio Classic Hits Radio pulled Sheeran from its playlist, Sheeran’s team boosted security for the Philadelphia stop, and pro-Palestine groups plan protests outside Lincoln Financial Field. Local Arts & Style: A new menswear spotlight highlights LAD/LAD/ for its Congolese cultural references and fluid tailoring, alongside other emerging labels. Health & Congo Spotlight: The WHO reports “encouraging signs” in eastern Congo’s Ebola fight in Ituri, while warning cases are rising fast in North Kivu. Sports (Regional): Ghana’s Medeama SC coach Ibrahim Tanko urges focus on domestic success after CAF Champions League elimination by TP Mazembe.

Music & Protest Fallout: Ed Sheeran’s US “Loop Tour” keeps unraveling after Macklemore was removed for pro-Palestine remarks, triggering support-acts walkouts, radio bans, and even fake-entry chaos around a Sheeran opening-act contest—while Philadelphia braces for protests and a “sizable” police presence. Congo Spotlight in Global Culture: Amid the wider “Free Palestine” controversy, Macklemore’s stage remarks explicitly included “Congo,” keeping Central Africa in the headlines even as Congo-related stories also surfaced elsewhere this week. Health & Public Impact: The WHO reports “encouraging signs” against Ebola in Ituri (transmission down) but warns the outbreak is still growing overall, with cases rising fast in North Kivu. Sports & Local Pride: Ghana’s Medeama SC coach Ibrahim Tanko urges focus on domestic success after a CAF Champions League exit to Congolese giants TP Mazembe. Film & Francophone Culture: The 41st Namur International French Film Festival (30 Sept–4 Oct) opens with Marc Fitoussi’s “All About Corinne,” spotlighting Francophone cinema.

Ebola Update (Eastern Congo): WHO chief Tedros says there are “encouraging signs” against the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in Ituri, with transmission down in the worst-hit areas, but warns the epidemic is still growing fast elsewhere, including North Kivu, where weekly cases nearly doubled. Football Focus (Congo-linked): Ibrahim Tanko rallies Ghana’s Medeama SC to refocus on domestic success after their CAF Champions League exit to TP Mazembe, with the new league season starting Sept. 19. Music & Culture (Global, Congo in the mix): The fallout from Macklemore being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour over a “Free Palestine” stage message keeps escalating—ticket prices reportedly fall, support acts quit in solidarity, and pro-Palestine groups plan protests outside Philly’s Lincoln Financial Field. Film Spotlight (Francophone): Namur’s 41st International French Film Festival opens Sept. 30–Oct. 4 with the Belgian premiere of Marc Fitoussi’s All About Corinne. Arts & Climate Journalism: The 2026 Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards highlight work including Congolese researchers pushing Congo Basin data into the global record.

Music & Protest Fallout: Macklemore says he’ll donate his $1m net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to Palestinian aid groups and challenges Robert Kraft to match it, after Macklemore was dropped for “Free Palestine” remarks at MetLife Stadium; Tour Shake-Up: Sheeran insists he’s “not complicit” and blames venues/promoters, while multiple support acts—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga—quit in solidarity, turning the tour into a wider debate over who gets a stage; Local Arts Lens (Congo link): One Irish station removed Ed Sheeran from the airwaves over listener reaction to the controversy, and Macklemore’s speech reportedly included “free Congo,” keeping Central Africa in the spotlight; Culture Spotlight: Rhiannon Giddens’ new album features Congolese guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, highlighting Congo talent in international folk circles.

Tour Drama: Ed Sheeran’s US Loop tour is in chaos after Macklemore was dropped for “Free Palestine” remarks at MetLife Stadium, and now every remaining support act has quit in solidarity—Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe, and Beoga all pulled out after Sheeran said venues/promoters forced the decision and that he’s “not complicit.” Celebrity Backlash: Pink and Roger Waters added fuel to the fire with public criticism and insults, while Macklemore claimed billionaire Robert Kraft pressured stadium owners to remove him. Local Culture & Heritage: In Congo, Angola’s embassy kicked off 17 September National Hero Day with a flower-deposition ceremony at Agostinho Neto’s bust in Ponta Negra, starting a month of civic and cultural events. Regional Arts Spotlight: A Swahili-language edition of the international culture magazine “Irs-Urithi” was launched, aiming to bring African readers closer to global heritage through Swahili storytelling.