South Africa mourns death of rapper HHP

This week, we chat to Australian jazz singer, pianist and composer Sarah McKenzie, who is currently touring France with a mini residency at the prestigious Duc des Lombards jazz club. She tells us more about the creative way in which she connected with musicians from around the world at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. We also meet young Parisian artist Yoa, whose bedroom pop-filled debut EP "Attente" has just been released.

The blockade in Gaza makes the living conditions of its 2 million residents a constant struggle, disrupting every aspect of daily life. The periodic outbreaks of war with Israel have only deepened the humanitarian crisis, leaving nearly every civilian in the enclave affected. To confront the trauma, Malak Mattar turned to painting as an outlet. A form of healing and resistance, her brightly coloured works often depict women grappling with the complex reality of life in Gaza. She joined us for Perspective.

Adorned with more than 10,000 diamonds and worth at least £1.5 million, renowned artist Debbie Wingham says her latest sparkling creation is the world's most expensive picture frame. Known as the 'World's Most Expensive' artist for her record-breaking, pricey fashion and cake creations, Wingham crafted the diamond-encrusted circular frame in the image of a clock face with Roman numerals. Revealed in Dubai for the first time on Tuesday (November 2), the frame, which was created with an eco-luxury ethos using reclaimed metal and reclaimed diamonds, holds an oil painting by Wingham of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

South African papers vent their frustation over travel bans imposed after the country detected a new coronavirus variant. For l'Humanité, the Omicron variant is proof that "vaccine access for all is a global emergency". Other French papers examine the crisis in Guadeloupe and Martinique, puzzled by a proposal to give the territories more autonomy. Plus, a snow storm strands 61 people in a UK pub - a reminder that some lockdowns can be fun!

Blaming South Africa for the new COVID-19 variant is wrong. A global crisis needs a global response, says DW's Sertan Sanderson. Instead of finger-pointing and isolation, there should be more solidarity.

On GirlZOffMute, we're in Nigeria with the nine-year-old, multi-talented artist Lisa Ebube Nnabuihe, aka Little Lisza. Apart from composing her own songs, she remixes those of famous Nigerian musicians. But which of her remixes is her favorite? And why does Lisa take such pride in her Igbo culture? Listen to what she told our teen reporter who is also a Hollywood star – Angel Onyi Unigwe.

A fire erupted at the South African parliament in Cape Town on Sunday, with media coverage showing flames coming from the roof of the building and a plume of smoke that could be seen from some miles away. It wasn't immediately clear if anyone was in the building. The fire was on the third storey of the building and initial reports indicated that it started in the office space and spread towards a gym, said Jean-Pierre Smith, a Cape Town mayoral committee member responsible for safety and security.

Fire reignites at South African Parliament a day and a half after flames first broke out. A man is due in court this week in connection to the devastating blaze. The Sudanese army's power has grown following the resignation of civilian transitional PM Hamdok over the weekend. Generals now have sole governing authority as fatal tensions continue to deepen. And Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey dies aged 77, after spending a life defending his country's endangered wildlife.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is waiting for the full release of the Zondo report before responding to its findings on state corruption. The first instalment of the investigation accuses former president Jacob Zuma of having encouraged graft by his closest allies during his time in power. Meanwhile in Tunisia, several critics of President Kais Saied are on hunger strike, denouncing unlawful arrests. Finally, preparations are in full swing in Cameroon's city of Bafoussam ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

He is the most famous Chinese dissident and one of the best-known contemporary artists in the world. Ai Weiwei was harassed by the Chinese authorities, who bulldozed his Shanghai studio, sent him to jail without charge and drove him out of his country. After the February 2 publication of the French translation of his memoir, "1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows", the artist sat with Eve Jackson to talk about the moment in a Chinese prison when he decided to write his life’s story for his son and what he learned growing up in a labour camp with his persecuted father, the poet Ai Qing.

Kenyan Tina Benawra paints images that can be read in Braille, in the hope of allowing blind people the rare chance to experience and enjoy art.

With his bright portraits of black icons overlaid with slogans of empowerment, Fred Ebami mixes pan-African sensibility with a pop-art lens. Raised in France, with Cameroonian roots, Ebami says his first muse was Jesus. He's gone on to explore the divisiveness of icons - from American rapper Kanye West to former DRC strongman Mobutu Sese Seko. He spoke to FRANCE 24 about feminism, his new graphic novel, and his desire to show the younger generation that anyone can have an impact.