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Simon Allison
@simonallison.bsky.social
1.8K followers 450 following 36 posts
Newspaper person. Co-founder @thecontinent.org
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Reposted by Simon Allison
niemanlab.org
Big Tech needs us more than we need them, writes @simonallison.bsky.social

www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/big-...
December 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
gijn.org
When journalism hits close to home, courage takes a different shape. At #AIJC, Christine Mungai and @simonallison.bsky.social showed how investigating people you know is emotionally brutal – but sometimes necessary to break silence and build truth.
gijn.org
‘Too Close to Home’: Handling the Challenges of Investigations with a Personal Connection
twp.ai
December 15, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
hararereview.com
That also means.... I got to pick my top 5 African reads of the year 👏🏾

Books from Goretti Kyomuhendo, @willthisbeaproblem.bsky.social, @wordsweaver.bsky.social, @hofrench.bsky.social, and Oyinkan Braithwaite are on the list!
Text from screenshot reads: The Continent 13 DECEMBER 2025 | ISSUE 224 THE YEAR IN BOOKS As chosen by Jacqueline Nyathi, founder of Harare Review of Books and The Continent's book reviewer. 5. Promises by Goretti Kyomuhendo The dream of a settled middle-class life through the power of the almighty pound drives young people in former British colonies to the United Kingdom. The couple in this story may be fictitious, but their trajectory - from hope to despair, and then picking up the pieces again - is all too real. 4. Will This Be A Problem? The Anthology: Issue V, edited by Olivia Kidula and Somto Ihezue This spectacular collection features speculative fiction from Kenya, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi and Zimbabwe. In it you'll find shifty markets, njuzu, tech, cosmic battles, alt-history, anti-capitalist rebellion and maybe even the reason why donkeys have 44 teeth. 3 Everything is Fine Here by Iryn Tushabe Another book about African lives, which are so often a dance between the rural and urban. This great novel shows both these aspects. It's a heartwarming coming-of-age story of two Ugandan sisters, with themes exploring queerness and the tensions of family - whether that's one's family of origin, or chosen family. 2 The Second Emancipation by Howard W French French's biography of Kwame Nkrumah evaluates the impact of Ghana's first post-independence leader on Africa and the world and his claim to pan-Africanism. It demonstrates links from Africa to the diaspora and illuminates how events on the continent shaped and were shaped by world affairs. Keep reading us next year for a more substantive review. 1 Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite A late-year surprise, Braithwaite's wonderful tale of generations of women getting into trouble with men is a balance of the lighthearted and the serious. It's a well-executed exploration of desire, love, loss, desperation, and the apparent power of self-fulfilling prophecies. A glorious work.
December 14, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
hararereview.com
It’s the end of the year, so @thecontinent.org’s Africans of the year edition for 2025 is here! 🎉

So many great Africans.
The cover of The Continent’s Africans of the Year edition, with illustrations of African newsmakers. Illustrations by Nzilani Simu.
December 14, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
thecontinent.org
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 224 of The Continent

We celebrate people whose purpose and passion shine through a tumultuous 2025, embodying Khalil Gibran’s words that “work is love made visible.” Meet our Africans of the Year: bit.ly/224_TC
This is the cover of issue 224 of The Continent. It is illustrated by Nzilani Simu. The background is a deep purple with subtle patterns. On the cover is a collage of portraits of the Africans of the Year as selected by the team at The Continent.
December 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
kst.bsky.social
"We all know that Africa's national borders are a colonial construct - there is no reason why our journalism should be similarly constrained."
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · 26d
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 224 of The Continent

We celebrate people whose purpose and passion shine through a tumultuous 2025, embodying Khalil Gibran’s words that “work is love made visible.” Meet our Africans of the Year: bit.ly/224_TC
This is the cover of issue 224 of The Continent. It is illustrated by Nzilani Simu. The background is a deep purple with subtle patterns. On the cover is a collage of portraits of the Africans of the Year as selected by the team at The Continent.
December 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
timnitgebru.bsky.social
Y'all wanna warn your friends before you get on the "AI companion" bandwagon and warn your friends, help them get informed.
milamiceli.bsky.social Milagros Miceli @milamiceli.bsky.social · Dec 9
Now imagine sharing your private fantasies with what you believe is a bot that cannot judge or remember. Just that, on the other side, is a man in a one-room home in Nairobi, pretending to be an AI companion.

That man is Michael, and this is his story: data-workers.org/michael/
The Emotional Labor Behind AI Intimacy, by Michael Geoffrey Asia.
Imagine confiding your most private fantasies to what you believe is an unfeeling algorithm that cannot judge or remember. Now imagine that on the other side of that conversation is a man sitting in a...
data-workers.org
December 10, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
delalibessa.bsky.social
I'm in this week's issue of @thecontinent.org with some reporting from Tarkwa, among others.

The Goldbod is making its mark but until we get rigorous traceability, there will be questions about the environmental price we pay for its economic gains. Full issue here: www.thecontinent.org
The Continent | Africa
The Continent is an award-winning African newspaper, designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp.
www.thecontinent.org
November 22, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
thecontinent.org
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 221 of The Continent

Nigeria’s security crisis deepens: 26 girls abducted in Kebbi State, more kidnappings elsewhere, and a top general killed — symptoms of a long-running, underfunded, corruption-riddled breakdown.

More inside: bit.ly/221_TC
The cover of The Continent features a powerful, unsettling political cartoon. It shows a giant, damaged statue of a Nigerian military general. The statue is cracked, stained with blood, and full of bullet holes, symbolising the collapse of state security. The general’s head is missing, and someone has placed a bright purple-and-yellow traditional cap on top of the neck stump. The statue’s right arm is raised in a salute. Hanging from that arm is the body of a person who has been lynched. On the statue’s shoulder sits a small man — his posture slumped, arms around his knees, head bowed. The base of the statue carries an inscription: “ARMED FORCES OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.” All around the monument is violent chaos. The ground is littered with broken stone pieces from the statue, bones, papers, and bodies. Blood splatters cover the ground and parts of the monument. To the left, a masked man swings a bloodied machete at people who are cowering on the ground. On the right, armed men point rifles at terrified civilians; one person is shown attempting to flee. Near the bottom-right corner, two well-dressed men — one in ceremonial military dress, the other in a suit — exchange a briefcase, suggesting corruption even amid widespread violence. The statue’s broken head lies beside them, cracked and discarded. The headline reads: “Nigeria’s security is in shambles.” The illustration is by Gado.
November 21, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
thecontinent.org
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 220 of The Continent

With insurgencies on the rise, Mali’s military rulers can’t secure a stable supply of fuel. Amid a growing crackdown on media, tankers are under attack, pumps are dry, and Bamako is grinding to a halt.

bit.ly/220_TC
This is the illustrated cover of The Continent (dated 15 November 2025, Issue 220). At the top, the headline reads: “Mali’s junta is running out of gas.” The scene is set in a dry, dusty desert landscape. In the centre-left is an abandoned petrol station. Its roof is sagging, the windows are cracked, and thick cobwebs cover the fuel pumps. Two vultures perch on the roof, panting with their tongues hanging out. Near the petrol station lies a set of bleached animal bones — a full ribcage and skull. On the right side of the image is a donkey struggling under an impossible burden. On its back is a mountain of luggage: pots, suitcases, buckets, sacks, and rolled-up bedding. Five people cling to the donkey as passengers — men, women and a child — all looking worried, tired, or anxious. The donkey itself is sweating heavily, its eyes wide with strain. At the top of the luggage pile is a battered “TAXI” sign.
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
fbrissetfo.bsky.social
L'hommage de Gado à Daumier 💔🇹🇿
November 8, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
harrystopes.bsky.social
November 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
poemproducer.bsky.social
you can get this via signal fyi
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 9, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
sebphilatelie.bsky.social
'The Continent' 219, 8 novembre 2025 :
- Réaction populaire et violence policière en Tanzanie.
- Contamination minière en Zambie.
- L'inégalité veuve/veuf au Bénin.
- Prêts d'aide ou nœud coulant contre les Africains ?
#Afrique
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 8, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
jennahanchey.bsky.social
Heartbreaking reports out of Tanzania
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
athenakugblenu.bsky.social
I can't remember who sent me the link for this but I'm so glad it was pointed in my direction. Every Saturday. You get it for free in your WhatsApp
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
sadcpolicyfeed.bsky.social
Tanzania | Issue 219 of The Continent reports Election Day marked by protests, an internet blackout and deadly force. Once back online, 37 readers from across the country shared what they witnessed during one of Tanzania’s darkest weeks.
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Reposted by Simon Allison
smburchard.bsky.social
Huge story in TZ right now that isn't getting nearly enough attention. Thousand(s?) dead and hundreds arrested after a "stunning" 98% victory for the incumbent.
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Nov 7
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
thecontinent.org
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 219 of The Continent

Protests, an internet blackout, and deadly force marked Tanzania’s Election Day. Once online again, 37 readers shared what they witnessed.

Read their stories: bit.ly/219_TC
The cover of The Continent, dated 8 November 2025 (Issue 219), bears the headline “Tanzania’s darkest week” and features a striking political cartoon by Gado that echoes Honoré Daumier’s 1831 caricature Gargantua. At the top, the masthead appears in bold black letters on a beige background. Below it, the illustration dominates the page. It shows a woman seated on a throne-like chair, drawn to resemble Tanzania’s leader. Her mouth is open wide, and a long wooden ramp extends from her mouth, down which small, faceless figures carry large sacks labeled “Corruption,” “Incompetence,” “Fear,” and “Election Fraud.” They march upward to feed these vices into her mouth, while behind them, a long line of weary people stretches toward the horizon, waiting their turn. To the left stands a sign reading “Abductions”, beside a huge pile of skulls — a chilling symbol of death and repression. Below, masked soldiers with rifles shoot civilians on a blood-spattered ground, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen. The entire scene conveys chaos, violence, and fear. The image is a nod to Daumier’s Gargantua, which depicted France’s King Louis-Philippe as a grotesque giant devouring the people’s wealth while rewarding his cronies. Here, that 19th-century metaphor of gluttonous tyranny is adapted to Tanzania’s present moment — portraying a leader who consumes corruption, fear, and human lives themselves.
November 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
mininghistory.bsky.social
You too can experience this. It's an excellent publication and free to subscribe: www.thecontinent.org/subscribe
Subscribe | The Continent
Subscribing to quality African journalism is easy and free.
www.thecontinent.org
November 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
mininghistory.bsky.social
The wonders of modern technology: I can wake up, type "Send newspaper" into my phone and instantly receive a copy of @thecontinent.org.
Screenshot of a WhatsApp covnersation with The Continent. It shows a message reading "Send newspaper" at sent at 8:32 and a reply "Here's your copy" at 8:32 with a link to a PDF newspaper.
November 2, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
zekuzelalem.bsky.social
Genocide resumes, reads this weekend's cover of @thecontinent.org, as El Fasher falls to the Rapid Support Forces after a year long siege.

Gruesome images of their killing spree that is estimated to have killed thousands, make the rounds. What Sudanese activists warned would happen is playing out.
Cover of this weekend's The Continent newspaper "Genocide resumes in Darfur as Sudan tears apart" Screenshot of article by Khalid Elwalid in Khartoum "Sudan's split in two is now complete." Satellite imagery depicting destruction and possible dead included
November 1, 2025 at 8:09 PM
simonallison.bsky.social
A tale of two front pages.
Front page of The Continent Issue 218, showing an illustration of a fractured Sudan. With the headline: Genocide Resumes in Darfur as Sudan tears apart. Front page of The Economist for the 1 November edition, headlined: Europe's Opportunity: The financial case for supporting Ukraine.
October 31, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
tranniehathaway.bsky.social
Darfur. When i say i feel like my last quarter century of activism has been for naught...
bsky.app/profile/thec...
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Oct 31
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 218 of The Continent

El Fasher has fallen — the last Darfuri city to resist the Rapid Support Forces. After a 500-day siege, the Sudanese army withdrew, leaving 250,000 civilians at the mercy of genocidal militias.

bit.ly/218_TC
This is the cover of The Continent, dated 1 November 2025, Issue 218. It’s illustrated by Wynona Mutisi. The headline reads: “Genocide resumes in Darfur as Sudan tears apart.” The artwork shows a map of Sudan and parts of surrounding countries. Within the map’s borders, two distinct regions are coloured differently — the western side (Darfur) in warm orange-brown tones, and the eastern side in soft purplish-pink. Both regions are filled with drawn faces of people, suggesting large populations. The faces in the orange-brown area look somber and weary, evoking suffering and displacement. The faces in the pink area appear calmer, though still serious.
October 31, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted by Simon Allison
mrcasals.bsky.social
Si voleu notícies de l'Àfrica, que normalment no ens n'arriba res, @thecontinent.org m'està agradant molt. Mireu la resta de publicacions per articles més llargs!
thecontinent.org The Continent @thecontinent.org · Oct 31
All Protocol Observed

Welcome to Issue 218 of The Continent

El Fasher has fallen — the last Darfuri city to resist the Rapid Support Forces. After a 500-day siege, the Sudanese army withdrew, leaving 250,000 civilians at the mercy of genocidal militias.

bit.ly/218_TC
This is the cover of The Continent, dated 1 November 2025, Issue 218. It’s illustrated by Wynona Mutisi. The headline reads: “Genocide resumes in Darfur as Sudan tears apart.” The artwork shows a map of Sudan and parts of surrounding countries. Within the map’s borders, two distinct regions are coloured differently — the western side (Darfur) in warm orange-brown tones, and the eastern side in soft purplish-pink. Both regions are filled with drawn faces of people, suggesting large populations. The faces in the orange-brown area look somber and weary, evoking suffering and displacement. The faces in the pink area appear calmer, though still serious.
October 31, 2025 at 7:35 PM