The French president has kicked off a tour of Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau at a time when French influence in Africa is being called into question in several countries.

Adire is a resist-dyed cloth produced and worn by the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria in West Africa. The Yoruba label Adire, which means "tied and dyed," was first applied to indigo-dyed cloth decorated with resist patterns around the turn of the twentieth century. GuardianTV takes a look at the art and fashion of Adire.

The government of Burkina Faso said last week that it had averted a plot by armed forces to take over the country. This attempted coup in Burkina Faso comes hot on the heels of military take-overs in Mali as well as in Guinea.

The government of Burkina Faso said last week that it had averted a plot by armed forces to take over the country. This attempted coup in Burkina Faso comes hot on the heels of military take-overs in Mali as well as in Guinea.

A coup in Burkina Faso follows military takeovers in Guinea and Mali as civilian administrations are blamed for a failure to tackle a rise in insurgent violence.

Regional leaders from the ECOWAS group of countries have called for elections in Guinea following a military coup. It is the second country in the region now under the rule of a junta.

The ECOWAS bloc called on Guinea to return to "normal constitutional order" after President Alpha Conde was deposed in a coup by special forces.

West Africa's leaders will hold an emergency ECOWAS summit on Guinea on Wednesday amid fears the military takeover could spark further instability in the region. But ECOWAS faces its own credibility problem.

A startup in West Africa has developed an app to help improve the efficiency of collecting and recycling waste. It connects homes and institutions with plastic and metal recycling collectors with the click of a button.

Are you yearning for frogs today? Then this is the place to go: Nigeria's Bunza Frog Market is the biggest selling spot in West Africa.

Are you yearning for frogs today? Then this is the place to go: Nigeria's Bunza Frog Market is the biggest selling spot in West Africa.

The Gulf of Guinea, where the attack took place, is considered the most dangerous sea in the world for piracy. One crew member was killed and 15 others were taken hostage after a struggle on board.