'Africa Renewal' turns 35: A journey of stories and hope.

Two Africa Emergency debut newsletters, neatly kept in the New York offices of the United Nations Department of Global Communications' Africa Section, provide a snapshot of Africa in 1985. That was before the internet when many newsrooms were noisy with the clacking of typewriter keys.

The 16-page newsletter was printed in black and white, except for its name Africa Emergency on the masthead, which appeared in green. Fast-forward to 2022. Africa Renewal is a fully digital magazine published in English, French, Kiswahili, and Chinese.

There is a sombre feel to the first edition of the old newsletter, which appeared in April 1985. Two cover photos feature a total of 15 people, all with grim faces. One is of Julius Nyerere, the late Tanzanian president, whose exclusive interview was featured in the edition. The stories are mostly about drought and famine. At the time, Africa was facing a severe humanitarian crisis, and the newsletter was part of the international relief operation.

After drought began in Ethiopia and spread to 20 other African countries, the United Nations set up the Office of Emergency Operations in Africa (OEOA) to coordinate humanitarian efforts. The OEOA published the newsletter.

It was a 'massive famine, the worst ever in African history,' recalls Salim Lone, who worked as an editor of Africa Emergency at the time. The OEOA's newsletter aimed to present complicated issues in a language that anyone could understand,' he said, adding: 'It gave information that people were not used to getting from the UN: easy to read, easy to understand.'

From emergency to recovery

The evolution of the publication reflects the trajectory of development on the continent. As the drought receded and it became increasingly clear that the real challenge was promoting Africa's long-term economic and social development - its 'recovery' - the UN closed the OEOA, and the General Assembly held a special session on African development.

But since the Africa Emergency newsletter had developed good links with the media, governments, non-governmental organizations, and others, many thought it would be useful to have a similar publication. As a result, Africa Recovery was launched in 1987.

An editor's note in the first issue of Africa Recovery, in April 1987, explained the new magazine's outlook: 'Clearly, emergency is no longer the continent's prime concern,' wrote Mr. Lone, who stayed on as editor. 'The focus will now be on the continent's recovery and...