With all 54 countries of the continent represented at Expo 2020 Dubai, the world fair provides a wonderful snapshot into the cultures, rich history and future of Africa.
Like the nations themselves, the pavilions differ in scope, size and focus.
However, when dedicating an Expo visit to experiencing these countries' pavilions, a powerful image of the continent arises.
It is one where innovation is informed by a keen understanding of the past and where culture is as important as commerce.
Here are seven African pavilions to see at Expo 2020 Dubai.
1. Algeria (Mobility District)
Inspired by kasbah architecture, the Algerian pavilion resembles a mix between a fortress and an open-air madinah.
Those historical flourishes are replaced inside, however, with modern and high-tech features showcasing the North African country's geography, ecology and future sustainability initiatives.
The pavilion also boasts a mini theatre that regularly screens The Voyage of Life, a documentary on Algeria's history and culture.
2. Angola (Mobility District)
This is one of the Expo's most impressive pavilions in terms of design and content.
Inspired by sona geometry, an ancient form of sand drawings linked to Angola and neighbouring Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the pavilion resembles an amphitheatre with an outdoor area housing a music stage.
Inside, you will see various terracotta-coloured rooms featuring Angolan floral and art installations, digital displays showcasing the southern African country's resources and a mini theatre screening various programmes about Angolan culture.
Make sure to also check out the souvenir shop where you can buy sustainable fair trade fabrics and trinkets made by local designers.
3. Botswana (Mobility District)
There is something zen-like about this pavilion.
Maybe it's the dimly lit interiors and cool temperatures that act as welcome relief from the blazing sunshine outside, or maybe it's how unassuming it is, with visitors given ample space to walk around and check out various artworks and installations.
Whatever it is, a trip to Botswana is the respite you need during a busy day at the expo.
4. Djibouti (Mobility District)
There is something charming about Djibouti’s ramshackle pavilion.
Sure, the displays could have looked better, particularly that precariously leaning mini straw house, however, you can't help but be enchanted by the sea of smiles you see courtesy of the large series of portrait photos of Djiboutians from all walks of life.
While there is interesting information about the small country in the Horn of Africa that has become a vital hub for transport and logistics, it is that human touch permeating the pavilion that fulfils its brief as the "land of trade and meeting".
5. Ethiopia (Opportunity District)
Ethiopia has fully embraced Expo's spirit.
Not only does it have a vibrant pavilion, the stars of the show are the wonderful staff who all hail from the ancient country.
Ethiopia's steep history forms the opening segments, with displays showcasing objects and tribes going back more than three million years.
The middle section takes us to the present as we learn more about Ethiopian produce while the experience ends with a serene coffee ceremony in which you can taste the rich brew the country is renowned for.
If you come at the right time, you may also see the staff perform a dance.
6. Senegal (Mobility District)
Arguably the most high-tech of all the African pavilions, Senegal is full of various flat-screen TVs showing everything from the coastal country's recent sporting triumph of winning the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in February, plus its ecology and landscapes.
A Senegalese guide is also on hand, dressed in traditional garb, to take you through the exhibitions and provide some fun anecdotes of daily life in Senegal.
7. South Africa (Opportunity District)
Since the opening day of Expo 2020, the South Africa Pavilion has been a hive of activity with concerts, culinary displays and even being a television studio for a variety show featuring South African celebrities such as Nomzamo Mbatha.
The pavilion is laced with colourful geometric prints linked to the Ndebele ethnic group and its spacious and uncluttered design allows you to take in all the exhibitions exploring South Africa’s cosmopolitanism, sporting achievements and some wonderful images of pioneering former leader Nelson Mandela.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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The Bloomberg Billionaire Index in full
1 Jeff Bezos $140 billion
2 Bill Gates $98.3 billion
3 Bernard Arnault $83.1 billion
4 Warren Buffett $83 billion
5 Amancio Ortega $67.9 billion
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
Tank warfare
Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks.
“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.
“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium, Malayisa
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia on October 10
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
