AGP Executive Report

Guinea-Morocco Diplomacy: Guinea reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, signing 25 cooperation agreements with Rabat in Conakry. Ebola Watch (DR Congo): Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surged into a seventh province, Sud-Ubangi, with officials citing the Bundibugyo virus strain and warning it’s spreading fast. Football (Bafana Bafana): Pitso Mosimane is back as coach of South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, with talk of further staff moves as the team prepares for AFCON qualifiers vs Guinea. Music & Culture: Emmy-nominated director Jeffrey Page discussed Black identity through dance after visiting Guinea; meanwhile, KanKouran marked 43 years with a major West African dance and drumming concert. Arts Spotlight: Guinea student art winners were named, adding fresh momentum to local youth creativity.

Bafana Bafana: Pitso Mosimane is back as South Africa’s coach for a second stint, returning 14 years after a painful 2012 Afcon qualifying miss—this time after Hugo Broos’ World Cup-era momentum. Squad News: Safa is reportedly lining up Arthur Zwane as Mosimane’s second assistant, while Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s injury recovery could bring a late defensive boost. Afcon Build-Up: South Africa will host Guinea at Orlando Stadium for the 2027 qualifiers, with another window soon after. Guinea Arts & Culture: Guinea student art winners have been named, and KanKouran Dance Company marks 43 years of preserving African dance and culture. Ebola Watch (DR Congo): Congo’s outbreak has spread to a seventh province, with Sud-Ubangi reporting the rare Bundibugyo strain. Sports (Europe): Newcastle’s Jaissle era continues with contract talks, and Ousmane Diabaté (Guinea) is on the move in European football.

Guinea Arts & Culture: A Guinea student art contest has named its winners, spotlighting young local talent and keeping creativity in the spotlight. Guinea–Morocco Cultural Diplomacy: Guinea reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s Sahara sovereignty during the Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission in Conakry, with multiple agreements signed—an arts-adjacent reminder of how culture and identity diplomacy travel together. Dance Heritage: KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with a major concert at Howard University, celebrating West African drumming and choreography and passing discipline to a new generation. Sports & Identity (Guinea link): In European football coverage, Newcastle’s squad includes Guinea’s Ousmane Diabaté on loan, while Bafana Bafana’s AFCON qualifier plans keep Guinea in the regional spotlight. Tragedy (Guinea name, not Guinea arts): A deadly motorcycle crash killed a man from Guinea Grass Village in Belize, underscoring how diaspora names still surface in global news. Public Health (regional, not Guinea arts): Congo’s Ebola outbreak spread to a seventh province, with health teams and burial efforts continuing under difficult conditions.

Ebola Update: Congo’s record-breaking Ebola outbreak has surged into a seventh province, with Sud-Ubangi now affected after lab tests detected the rare Bundibugyo strain; officials report a 23-year-old death in Gwaka and warn the spread is accelerating amid insecurity and major health-system strain. Guinea-Linked Diplomacy: Guinea reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara during the Morocco–Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission in Conakry, signing 25 agreements aimed at deeper economic cooperation. Football & Talent: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are set to host Guinea for AFCON qualifiers at Orlando Stadium, while coaching staff reshuffles continue around Pitso Mosimane’s new era. Arts & Culture: Guinea student art winners were named, and KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with a major concert celebrating West African drumming and dance. Film Spotlight: Venice’s TIFF Discovery lineup includes Nosotros, a debut feature by Joaquín Ruano, exploring desire and belonging through an Indigenous Guatemalan story.

Ebola Watch: Congo’s record-fast Ebola outbreak has surged into a seventh province, Sud-Ubangi, after lab tests detected the rare Bundibugyo strain; officials report 7,022 cases and 3,398 deaths, with spread driven by insecurity, displacement, and major population movement. Guinea–Morocco Diplomacy: Guinea reaffirmed support for Morocco’s Sahara sovereignty at the Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission in Conakry, signing 25 agreements and highlighting the opening of Guinea’s consulate in Dakhla. Bafana Bafana & Guinea Link: South Africa’s AFCON qualifier against Guinea is set for Orlando Stadium, as Mosimane’s new era builds momentum and squad planning continues. African Arts Spotlight: Emmy-nominated director Jeffrey Page discussed Black identity through dance, while Guinea’s student art winners were named—plus KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with a major concert celebrating West African drumming and movement. Film & Music: Venice TIFF buzz grows for Nigerian filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje’s Dear Ajayi, and Jabulile Majola talks his shift from rap into Afro-folk and Afro-soul with a new album.

Guinea student art winners named: A new set of young creators has been recognized, putting Guinea’s school art scene in the spotlight. African dance legacy: KanKouran Dance Company marks 43 years with a major concert at Howard University, celebrating intergenerational West African drumming and movement. Culture on the move: The Venice film circuit gets a fresh African voice as Nigerian director Damilola Orimogunje debuts feature Dear Ajayi in the Giornate degli Autori competition. Music and identity: Jabulile Majola talks about shifting from rap into Afro-soul and Afro-folk, and what his next album Ipasi signals for his sound. Sports with Guinea ties: South Africa’s Bafana Bafana are set to host Guinea in an Afcon qualifier at Orlando Stadium, while Newcastle also confirm Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté on loan. Arts and diplomacy: Guinea reiterates support for Morocco’s Sahara sovereignty in Conakry, with cultural and regional cooperation framed as part of the wider partnership.

Guinea Arts & Culture: Guinea student art winners have been named, spotlighting young creativity and school-level talent across the country. African Dance Legacy: KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with a major concert featuring West African drumming and dancing, with Gen-Z performers showing how the tradition is being carried forward. Film & Storytelling: “Nosotros,” the debut feature by Guatemalan director Joaquín Ruano, is set for a World Premiere at TIFF (Discovery section), adding to the week’s buzz around cinema that centers identity and belonging. Sports (Guinea-linked): South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will host Guinea for an AFCON qualifier at Orlando Stadium, with Pitso Mosimane’s new era continuing to take shape. Guinea in the wider news: Guinea reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara during the Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission in Conakry.

Guinea Student Art: Winners of a 2026 student art contest were named, with Guinea Jubilee Children’s Art Committee chair Barbara Priest linked to the awards. Culture & Heritage: KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with a big annual concert, spotlighting young performers and the discipline behind preserving African dance. Film Spotlight: “Nosotros,” the debut feature by Guatemalan director Joaquín Ruano, lands a World Premiere at TIFF (Discovery section, Sept 10–20), adding more global attention to African-rooted storytelling. Music & Sound: Jabulile Majola talks about his long shift from rap into Afro-folk and Afro-soul, as he prepares for his next album chapter. Sports (Guinea-linked): South Africa’s Pitso Mosimane era kicks off with AFCON qualifiers starting against Guinea, with Guinea’s presence set to be felt at Orlando Stadium and beyond. Youth & Faith: Guinea’s Catholic youth delegation heads to West African Youth Day in Ghana, urged to return as “ambassadors” for peace and service.

Student Arts Spotlight: Guinea student art winners were named, with the Guinea Jubilee Children’s Art Committee chairperson Barbara Priest pictured alongside young finalists—another reminder that creativity is thriving locally. Cultural Heritage & Dance: KanKouran Dance Company marked 43 years with an annual concert at Howard University, spotlighting Gen-Z leaders and the next generation trained to preserve African dance and culture. Music & Identity: Jabulile Majola talks to Sowetan about his shift from rap to Afro-folk and Afro-soul, now moving into a new album chapter. International Arts & Film: Nigerian filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje lands a historic Venice Giornate degli Autori feature debut with “Dear Ajayi,” a family drama rooted in 1990s Southwestern Nigeria. Guinea in Regional Diplomacy: Guinea reaffirmed support for Morocco’s Sahara sovereignty during the Morocco-Guinea Joint Cooperation Commission in Conakry, signing 25 agreements to deepen ties. Faith & Youth Exchange: Guinea’s Catholic youth delegation headed to West African Youth Day in Ghana, urged by Archbishop François Sylla to treat the trip as a missionary mission, not a tourist stop. Community Tragedy: Conakry held a mass funeral for 36 landfill-collapse victims, with relief efforts continuing for survivors and displaced families.

Venice Spotlight: Nigerian filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje is set to make history at the Venice Giornate degli Autori, becoming the first Nigerian to debut a feature there with his sophomore film Dear Ajayi, a Nigerian-German co-production about two sisters in 1990s Southwestern Nigeria wrestling with faith, ambition, and grief. Guinea Community & Faith: In Conakry, Archbishop François Sylla urged 155 young Guinean Catholics heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary experience—returning as “ambassadors” of peace and hope. Guinea Tragedy & Culture: Conakry marked a mass funeral for 36 landfill-collapse victims after heavy rain, with authorities revising the toll and calling for demolition of homes in high-risk zones. Football Talent Pipeline: Newcastle United confirmed the signing of Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté from Gençlerbirliği, with the 18-year-old returning on loan for 2026/27. Sports Brief: Reports say Orlando Pirates’ Mohau Nkota is back in training but will likely need more time to regain match fitness after a knee injury.

Guinea in the spotlight: Conakry’s Catholic Archdiocese urged 155 young delegates heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary mission, not tourism, and to return as “ambassadors” for peace and hope in their communities. Arts & culture: The Macondo Literary Festival unveiled its 2026 theme, “Ink, Sea, Silence,” with a programme spanning literature, art and music, and a focus on restitution and the “archives of silence” around looted African heritage. Guinea arts on the global map: A UNESCO City of Literature discussion highlighted Conakry’s existing UNESCO City of Literature status and framed it as a more lasting goal than the World Book Capital title. Community tragedy: Conakry held a mass funeral for 36 victims of a deadly landfill collapse, with authorities revising the toll and reporting hundreds affected—while survivors demanded safer relocation after demolition efforts. Football & identity: Newcastle confirmed the signing of Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté, keeping him on loan at Gençlerbirliği as he continues his rise.

Guinea Arts & Culture: Conakry’s Catholic Archdiocese urged 155 young delegates heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a “missionary experience,” returning as ambassadors of peace and hope for their dioceses. Guinea in the Spotlight: Reuters reports a mass funeral in Conakry for 36 landfill-collapse victims, with 17 confirmed Sierra Leonean nationals and more than 1,600 affected, as authorities move to clear high-risk homes after the disaster. Guinea Talent Abroad: Newcastle United confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté from Gençlerbirliği, with the player loaned back to Turkey for 2026/27. Sports (Africa-wide): UFC Paris crowned Salahdine Parnasse with a first-round liver-kick TKO over Dan Hooker, while African footballers like Bryan Mbeumo and Nicolas Pépé posted standout performances in Europe. Tech & Skills (Liberia, regional): CSquared scaled its Ganta broadband and digital learning programme from a grant pilot to a commercial service with Microsoft support.

Guinea Arts & Culture: Conakry marked a solemn milestone for community memory and public culture after a landfill collapse killed 36 people; thousands attended a mass funeral in Bambeto, while authorities revised the toll and began clearance in high-risk zones. Guinea Youth & Faith: In Conakry, Archbishop François Sylla urged 155 young Catholics heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary mission—returning as ambassadors of peace and hope. Guinea Sports Talent: Newcastle United confirmed the signing of 18-year-old Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté from Turkish club Gençlerbirliği, with the player loaned back as he continues his rise. Regional Arts & Entertainment: A UNESCO-listed medieval theatre tradition, Tchiloli, continues to draw crowds in São Tomé and Príncipe, blending Portuguese-era stories with living performance. Arts Beyond Guinea: A fall dance roundup highlights Bay Area performances, including major classical and queer-focused works.

Guinea in the spotlight: Conakry marked a national moment of grief with a mass funeral for 36 victims killed when a landfill collapsed after heavy rain, as authorities revised the toll and moved bodies to Bambeto cemetery while survivors and displaced families still seek urgent help. Football talent pipeline: Newcastle United officially confirmed the signing of Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté (18), with the teenager loaned back to Gençlerbirliği as he continues his rise after a Guinea debut. Arts & culture: An evocative “Figure, Form & Field” exhibition opened in Islamabad, spotlighting how artists use the human figure and identity themes—an international reminder of how creative expression travels. Youth & faith: Guinea’s Catholic archdiocese urged 155 young delegates heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary mission, not a tourist stop. Sports abroad with Guinea links: UFC Paris delivered a first-debut win for Salahdine Parnasse, while European league coverage highlighted African stars like Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo.

Bafana Bafana Coaching Shake-up: Pitso Mosimane is officially back as South Africa’s head coach, returning 14 years after his first stint and immediately turning to the 2027 AFCON qualifiers—starting with a home match against Guinea on 26 September. UFC Paris Spotlight: Salahdine Parnasse made a winning UFC debut in Paris, stopping Dan Hooker in the main event with a first-round liver kick TKO, while other European bouts also drew attention. Guinea Youth & Faith: Conakry’s Catholic Archdiocese urged 155 young Catholics heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary mission, not a tourist stop. Guinea in International Football Transfers: Newcastle United confirmed the signing of Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté (18), loaned back to Gençlerbirliği as he continues his rise. Conakry Disaster Remembrance: Guinea held a mass funeral in Conakry for 36 landfill-collapse victims, with authorities revising the toll and reporting hundreds affected. Culture & Literature: A writer/critic backed Lagos for UNESCO City of Literature status, noting Guinea’s existing UNESCO World Book Capital and City of Literature recognition.

Bafana Bafana Coaching Shake-up: Pitso Mosimane is officially back as South Africa’s head coach, returning 14 years after his first spell ended, with SAFA framing the move as a push toward AFCON and the 2030 World Cup. Guinea Connection: Mosimane’s first big test comes fast—Bafana open 2027 AFCON qualifiers at home against Guinea on 26 September, then face Eritrea, with Guinea also in Kenya’s qualifying group. UFC Paris Spotlight: Salahdine Parnasse made a statement in his UFC debut in Paris, stopping Dan Hooker in the main event, while other European fighters delivered notable wins. Guinea Talent Abroad: Newcastle United confirmed the signing of Guinea midfielder Ousmane Diabaté (18), loaned back to Gençlerbirliği for the season. Culture & Faith in Guinea: Conakry’s Catholic archdiocese urged 155 young Catholics heading to West African Youth Day in Ghana to treat the trip as a missionary mission, not a tourist stop. Community News: Conakry held a mass funeral for 36 landfill-collapse victims, with relief and relocation concerns still rising.