Chocolate addicts, it’s probably a good time to start stocking up. The treats may not be this cheap much longer. Cocoa’s 42 per cent slump over the last 12 months makes it the worst performer among 34 commodities tracked by Bloomberg. Prices tumbled as output increased in Cote d’Ivoire, the world’s top grower, and the … Read more
When Shailja Singh headed to her favourite bar for a post-work beer this week she found it shut, victim of a Supreme Court ruling that has stopped India’s burgeoning alcohol and leisure industries in their tracks. Thousands of liquor outlets were forced to close on April 1 after the order, which barred the sale of … Read more
An increasing number of designers on the continent are morphing from small tailor businesses into recognized and respected fashion houses, thanks to the internet. In 2014, when Beyoncé was spotted wearing a skirt and jacket from South African brand Kisua, it sold out in days. The musician’s stylist had come across the brand online. “The … Read more
With all the skill of a master weaver at a loom, Esther Ogble stands under a parasol in the sprawling Wuse market in Nigeria’s capital and spins synthetic fibre into women’s hair. Nearby, three customers – one in a hijab – wait for a turn to spend several hours and $40 to have their hair … Read more