February 1, 2026

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter.

This week’s stories spotlight challenges brought on by the global demand for shea butter, Coco Gauff’s six-figure investment in HBCU student athletes and Zoe Saldana’s historic milestone.

The Shea Boom Masks a Harsh Reality for West African Women

Global demand for shea butter — a natural fat used in cosmetics, food, and wellness products — has surged in recent years as markets around the world embrace natural and plant-based ingredients. Shea trees grow wild across West Africa, and the butter extracted from their nuts has become a key export product from countries like Ghana, Burkina Faso and Benin.

For the rural women who have long harvested and processed shea nuts by hand, this boom has been a double-edged sword. As international interest grows, competition for access to trees and the nuts they produce is increasing, and many women find themselves squeezed by middlemen or pushed to sell raw nuts at low prices rather than capturing more of the value themselves through butter production.

Structural barriers also compound these challenges. In much of West Africa, land and trees are controlled by men, limiting women’s rights to the very resource on which their livelihoods depend. At the same time, climate change and deforestation are making nut yields less reliable, threatening both income and long-term sustainability for these communities.

Despite these hurdles, there are efforts to make the shea industry work better for women. Social enterprises and cooperatives are training more women in value-added production and helping them access fairer markets, while some export policies aim to boost local processing and income rather than simply shipping raw materials abroad. The hope is that with fair trade practices and investment in processing, the shea boom can become a truly empowering opportunity for the women at its heart.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

The NBA is spotlighting HBCU basketball during its 2026 All-Star festivities with the fifth annual NBA HBCU Classic, presented by AT&T. This year’s game features a historic rivalry matchup between the Hampton University Pirates and the North Carolina A&T State Aggies on Feb. 13 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. This showcase highlights the pride, tradition, and excellence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and continues the NBA’s commitment to supporting HBCU athletics and student opportunities. As part of the event, the NBA and AT&T will each donate $100,000 to both universities.

Hampton University could soon regain its federal land-grant status after more than 105 years if Virginia lawmakers approve Senate Bill 274, which would officially recognize the school as both an 1862 and 1890 land-grant institution and unlock expanded access to agricultural, engineering, and research funding. Supporters argue this change would correct a historical exclusion that left Hampton out of the national land-grant system despite its previous designation from 1872 to 1920, while not reducing support for other state universities. The bill also proposes a dedicated state fund to support the restoration and aims to align Virginia’s policies with current educational and research needs. With unanimous approval from a Senate higher education subcommittee, the measure now moves to the full General Assembly before heading to the governor’s desk, marking a major step toward restoring long-denied federal support for the HBCU.

Tennis star Coco Gauff has donated $150,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to support scholarships for student-athletes competing in tennis at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), marking her second major gift to the organization after a $100,000 contribution in 2025. Her total $250,000 support through the Coco Gauff Scholarship Program aims to expand opportunities for Black athletes in both academics and sports. Gauff says the initiative is important because HBCU tennis programs often lack funding and her family’s deep ties to HBCUs motivated her to give back.

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culture

Zoe Saldaña has officially become the highest-grossing actor of all time, with her films collectively earning more than $15 billion at the global box office, according to recent reports. This historic milestone is driven by her roles in some of the biggest franchises in cinematic history — including Avatar and the Marvel Cinematic Universe — over her more than two-decade career.

Saldaña’s achievement reflects the massive worldwide appeal of the movies she’s been part of, making her one of Hollywood’s most successful stars ever. Her continued box office dominance highlights both her versatility and enduring presence in major film franchises that have captivated audiences around the world.

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

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