This week's Top of the Blogs offer a wide variety of topics for different interests: if you are an art lover, you should read the first blog that deals with the trend of online art galleries in Africa. For language enthusiasts there is the article about West Africa's "Pidgin", which is to be recognized as an official language. If you want to continue working with Nigeria, it might be interesting for you why the country struggles to reconcile its socialist and capitalist ideals. Finally, we have an article on the amendment of the Civil Union Act, which is about same-sex marriages.

The rising trend of Online Art Galleries in Africa

Africa-ontherise.com

Africa's art industry has discovered new ways to sell art. They have to - consumers are increasingly moving into the digital world, so art galleries have to do the same. The trend of online marketplaces is changing the entire industry. “Artwork for sale online is now considered a viable way to break into the elite gallery world,” says the blogger. In Africa, an increasing number of online galleries are looking to attract young and first-time buyers, and open a new market for emerging art talents. In this article, you can also find some links to recommended online art galleries.

Why West Africa’s pidgins deserve full recognition as official language

Theconversation.com

It is one year old exactly - the BBC World Service's radio service of English-based Pidgin for West and Central Africa. Although Pidgin has no official status as a recognised language anywhere, it is spoken throughout West Africa, especially in Nigeria. You can hear Pidgin in all areas of life – from TV shows to universities to speeches. In the article the history and origin of Pidgin is explained and that it is a commercial language. The Conversation welcomes the BBC's decision to introduce such a channel in Pidgin, which reaches over 7.5 million people a week in Nigeria and around the world. The article explains the history of language and some examples on Pidgin: "Wetin de hapun?"

Nigeria does not know if it wants to be a socialist or capitalist country

qz.com

Nigeria's government often struggles with the idea of a free market. On the one hand, investors are worried about the potential of doing business in Nigeria, and on the other hand they often try to dictate how their business should be run. The key point for this article is the court ruling passed this week in Nigeria that DStv, a South African pay-TV company operating in Nigeria, is preventing prices from rising as planned this month. The court decision was obtained by the Nigerian Consumer Protection Council (CPC). CPC believes the move is part of an investigation into consumer complaints, including DStv's "arbitrary pricing", but price regulation is not CPC's responsibility and premium content is often sold exclusively in regions by rights holders. In this blog it becomes clear that Nigeria has a history of favouring practices that run counter to free markets - examples such as gasoline and airlines support this thesis. The tendency to control private companies is "part of the general idea that people are not free to do things if the government does not give the green light," says one interviewee. This idea is rooted in the Nigerian economy.

COPE and the Civil Union Act

Synapses.co.za

In South Africa Section 6 of the law is being reviewed; Deirdre Carter of COPE insisted on this and all those present agreed. Section 6 is the clause that allows Interior Ministry (DHA) officials to turn away from officiating same-sex marriages – this can lead to prejudice against same-sex couples. The author raises the question why there are laws that allow same-sex couples to marry, but also laws that allow registrars to refuse to marry these couples. The blogger, Jacques Rousseau, also talks to Eusebius McKaiser about this topic in his Radio702 show and the podcast link is included in the blog. The article finally answers the question whether registrars of the DHA should be allowed to refuse such services on the grounds of conscience.