Face2Face Africa extends its warmest gratitude to everyone who visited our platform this year and read our stories. Being the Premier Global Black voice, Face2Face Africa covered stories including politics, history, entertainment, business, and culture. We also revitalized our video production section by launching multiple programs that would certainly pique your interest. If you haven’t seen any of the videos yet, you can take a look at them on our website or YouTube page.
For this year in review, the stories that received the most readership and engagement were news-related. Others included success stories as well as stories that had the “wow factor.” Another story that also drove significant engagement had to do with a diasporan returning to the motherland.
So as an annual ritual and to draw the curtains down, we share with you the ten stories you read the most from the beginning of the year to December. Take a look at them below and make sure you catch up with the ones you may have missed:
10. This is why Rita Marley moved to Ghana
Bob Marley’s wife, Rita Marley, has spent more than 20 years residing in Ghana. In the 1990s, she relocated to Ghana with Bob Marley’s family. In 2013, she petitioned for and was granted citizenship in Ghana. Rita Marley now has a Ghanaian name — Nana Afua Abodea.
9. Customer demands refund after learning business owner is Black
A Black business owner had the shock of her life when a customer sent her an email demanding a refund after learning she was black, according to Daily Dot. The email, which has since gone viral on social media, has readers feeling shocked and disgusted.
8. The girl with the world’s longest name whose birth certificate is 2 feet long
Sandra Williams, from Texas, wanted to make sure her daughter’s name stood out, but instead of coming up with an unusual name, she decided to focus on the length, giving her baby daughter a 1,019-letter long name.
7. Trophy hunter killed ‘execution style’ in South Africa
Riaan Naude, a 55-year-old trophy hunter known for killing lions, giraffes, and elephants, was fatally shot in South Africa after his truck developed a fault. According to Metro, police said the fatal incident occurred on Marken Road in Limpopo province.
6. Black Wall Street Chamber president found dead in her home, husband also dies
The police in Oklahoma announced that they were investigating the deaths of Sherry Gamble Smith, the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, and her husband.
5. Detroit man explains why he’s going to Ukraine to fight
A 62-year-old Detroit man, Dr. M. Dujon Johnson, said he’ll be traveling to Ukraine to help the European nation fight against Russia’s ongoing invasion. According to ClickOnDetroit, Dr. Johnson was scheduled to board a flight to Amsterdam on March 9 before heading to Poland.
4. Woman kills student after driving over an hour to campus to join brother in a fight, officials say
Authorities in Philadelphia arrested a 39-year-old woman in connection with a fatal stabbing incident that happened at a Lincoln University dorm on February 16.
3. Pit bulls kill dog-sitter just two days after her mom told her to get the animals out of her house
A 46-year-old North Carolina woman was fatally mauled by two pit bulls she was dog-sitting at her home. According to WFMY News 2, the fatal July 7 incident happened just two days after Trena Peed’s mother told her to get the Pitbulls out of her house because she had reservations about them.
2. Over 80 people charged after horrific gang rape in South Africa
Authorities in South Africa arrested and charged 82 people after the gang rape of eight women. According to VOA, armed and masked men raped and robbed the victims while they were shooting a music video in the Krugersdorp mining area on July 28.
1. Daughter of NBA star Dennis Rodman makes history again signing richest NWSL contract ever
The Washington Spirit signed Trinity Rodman, the daughter of NBA star Dennis Rodman, to a four-year deal. The extension with the 19-year-old was worth more than $1.1 million, making it the richest contract in the history of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), according to The Washington Post.