Goodbye Kengaroo, Hello Z-Rated

🧘‍♀️ Zen Note

It’s the last day of June and I’m amazed like with every other month how thirty-plus-one days can go by pretty fast. Anyway, if you’ve been following us on any platform we’re findable, then I’m pleased to inform you we’ve come to the end of our Pride series. Throughout the month of June, our dedicated head and literary editor diligently published one story each day, treating our readers to a diverse range of narratives. These remarkable stories were carefully curated from esteemed African publications including Brittle Paper, Isele Magazine, Lolwe, and AFREADA.

We extend our deepest gratitude to these publications for providing a platform and giving life to these extraordinary tales. It is our fervent hope that, in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights, we can eventually achieve equality for all individuals, irrespective of whether a rainbow accompanies their journey. I invite you to delve into our thoughtfully selected collection, as we believe it offers a unique perspective on the multifaceted experiences of the African queer community. Together, let us celebrate diversity and foster a world where everyone can thrive.

- Edisana Stephen, Newsletter Editor

🥳 Z Brand Spotlight

LUUN CERAMICS is a Moroccan-based ceramic brand founded by two sisters, Lina and Ghita, who love art, interior design and architecture. The name Luun is derived from an Arabic word which means ’colour’.

Luun’s pieces highlight the sisters’ appreciation for colours and their importance. They explore different colour schemes and add playful touches to each of their pieces. Being 100% handmade and hand-painted, imperfections make part of the brand’s identity. These small flaws are a sign of the human touch, making every piece unique.

✍️ New on Kenga

With this new brand identity, we're looking to better communicate the connection between the newsletter and the Gen Z culture it reports on while emphasising that this is a newsletter powered by Gen Z opinions on pop culture, technology, society, and more. Z-Rated will be published weekly on Beehiv with a few snippets cross-published on LinkedIn and our digital site. Beyond the Gen Z trends we loved from The Kengaroo, Z-Rated takes it further by featuring a lot more Gen Z opinions communicated through polls and fun infographics as well as other exciting profiles, features, and creative opportunities. Whether you're new to Kenga or an OG Kenga stan, this is an exciting time to follow our work. There's a lot more good stuff coming!

🌈 30 Tales of Pride

🔥 Hot Topics

• Ugandan’s anti-gay law is one of the world’s harshest. (via CNN)

• Sierra Leone’s first lady hopes going viral on TikTok will secure Saturday’s elections. (via Rest of World)

• Snapchat unveils consumer insights into Gen Z brand desires. (via Snapchat)

• The Barbie phenomenon and its impact on brands and consumers. (via PYMNTS)

• How Gen Z is reshaping the sports landscape. (via Little Black Book)

• Gen Z is most responsible for the CO2 emitted from TikTok. (via News Ghana)

• How Africa’s Gen Z think differently from older generations. (via Daily Nation)

• How GeZ rebranded hustle culture (via CNBC)

💡 Z-Lang

VIO - short for violation, and is used when someone says something that is offensive to someone else.

😮‍💨 Weekenda

• 🎬 The Witcher S3, a Netflix series

Tie loose ends and plot lines in Henry Cavill’s final season as the clipped, grubby swordsman

• 🎬 Human Resources S2, a Netflix series

Enjoy it while it’s here because the latest season of the adult comedy ‘Big Mouth’ spinoff, concludes with this sequel season.

• 🖼️ Music To My Eyes, an exhibition by Simon Bowman Jr, at Nubuke Foundation

Explore this chimerical photo exhibit where the artist experiments with the way 35mm film react to fruit juices and food.

• 🎧 Feed the Beast, an album by Kim Petras

Indulge in escapism in the form of this high-octane, candid, dance-pop album.

• 📖 Silver Nitrate, a book by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This neo-noir, horror novel follows an unfortunate series of surreal events, where cinema meets the supernatural.

• 🎤 Blankets & Wine, an event in Nairobi

Hang out with Kenga’s alumni cover star Maya Amolo, among others in celebration of some of the best alternative R&B, soul and pop jams coming out of Kenya.

Z-Rated is a weekly newsletter that curates the latest on Gen Z culture in Africa and around the world. Subscribe to be among the first to get the next issue when it’s up.