Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Goldilocks and Rapunzel may come to mind when talking of fairy tales. But our BBC Newsday colleague Gairey Collins wants to change that.

He's written Ras Punzela, a fairy tale with black heroes - a retelling of the German folktale Rapunzel.

In that tale a witch entraps a young woman in a tower that can only be accessed by her letting down her long hair through a window. Gairey's story involves long-haired Rastas.

It's also for fathers and sons - another area where he feels there is a lack of representation when it comes to fables.

As it is World Book Day in the UK, BBC Newsday got Garey to read an excerpt from the book and to chat about it with fellow colleague David Whitty:

Tomi Oladipo
BBC Africa

Image source, EPA

The new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo and his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, have agreed to form a power-sharing government.

Since his surprise win in disputed elections in December, President Felix Tshisekedi has been unable to push through his choice for prime minister.

This is because the Mr Kabila’s FCC coalition controls parliament.

So after three days of talks both sides agreed on a deal that they say will “strengthen the climate of peace and stability of the country and facilitate the rapid establishment of a government”.

There is no official confirmation as to which side will now nominate the prime minster, but it is expected that the FCC will have a say and will get key ministries.

Mr Tshisekedi’s inauguration in January was the first peaceful transfer of power in the country in nearly 60 years.

But numerous sources say presidential challenger Martin Fayulu won a landslide victory and was denied office by a backroom deal between Mr Kabila and Mr Tshisekedi.

Mr Kabila was constitutionally ineligible to run for a third consecutive term and the election should have taken place by the end of 2016 but was repeatedly postponed because of logistical problems.

Mr Fayulu has now refused to take up his seat as a member of parliament.

“I am the elected president, and this is what I consider myself to be. I cannot be both the elected president and an MP," he is quoted as saying.

• Read: Felix Tshisekedi steps out of his father's shadow

Reporters in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, say a car bomb has exploded at a checkpoint by the national theatre in the city centre.

Some of them have tweeted photos of smoke rising over the city:

A pro-al-Shabab news website reports that the Islamist militant group says it is behind the bombing.

It is not clear if there are any casualties, but ambulances are at the scene, the news website Mogadishu-based Goobjoog reports.

Al-Shabab, which is linked to al-Qaeda, was forced out of Mogadishu in 2011 but continues to mount regular attacks in the city.

• Read: Who are al-Shabab?

In the last two weeks, thousands of people have been demonstrating across Algeria, calling on President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 82, not to stand in next month's presidential election.

A number of groups are questioning the legitimacy of the president, who suffered a stroke six years ago and can hardly walk or talk. He has been in power for two decades.

Mouwatana is an umbrella group bringing together political activists who are also calling for a boycott of the 18 April election. The vice-president of the grouping, Ali Benouari, has been speaking to BBC NewsDay:

Read: How does reclusive Bouteflika run Algeria?

Lizzy Masinga
BBC Africa, Dar es Salaam

A court in Tanzania has sentenced to death by hanging a 51-year-old school teacher who beat to death a 14-year-old pupil.

Respicius Mtazangira caned and hit Sperius Eradius with a blunt object at their school in Bukoba town in north-western Tanzania last August after accusing the boy of a stealing a handbag that had gone missing.

Sperius denied the allegation, but Mtazangira still proceeded to assault him.

In his ruling on Wednesday, High Court Judge Lameck Mlacha convicted Mtazangira of murder, but acquitted fellow teacher Heriet Gerald.

Nine witnesses - including pupils - testified during their trial. A medical report presented to court showed that the beating had caused the child's death.

Mtazangira's lawyer was quoted by local media as saying that he did not rule out an appeal against the verdict.

Tanzania last carried out the death sentence in 1994.

President John Magufuli indicated in 2017, external that he opposed executions.

“I know there are people who convicted of murder and waiting for death penalty, but please don’t bring the list to me for decision because I know how difficult it is to execute,” he said.

Our proverb of the day:

Click here to send us your African proverbs.

Welcome back to BBC Africa Live where we'll be bringing the latest news and trends from across the continent.

BBC Africa Live
Dickens Olewe

That's all from BBC Africa Live for now. Keep up-to-date with what's happening across the continent by listening to the Africa Today podcast or check the BBC News website.

A reminder of today's wise words:

Click here and scroll to the bottom to send us your African proverbs.

And we leave you with this picture of women selling roasted grain, known locally known as "qolo, at an open market called Edaga Qedamay Weyane in Mekele, Tigray region.

It was shared by our colleagues from BBC Tigrinya who are touring the region.

The secretary general of Kenya Aviation Workers Union (Kawu), the organisation that called Wednesday's strike that has disrupted domestic and international air travel, has been remanded in custody.

Moss Ndiema was earlier arrested as he led workers on a walk-out to oppose a deal to change the management of the country's airports.

Eleven other people, also Kawu members, are also being held in custody until 8 March when their bail application will be heard.

Mr Ndiema told reporters that the "government is shooting itself on the foot...”.

Milton Nkosi
BBC Africa, Johannesburg

Five family members have been found dead with gunshot wounds in a home in South Africa's coastal city of Durban.

Garrith Jamieson, a paramedic from RescueCare, told local news channel eNCA, external that the team found a scene of "carnage" when they arrived at the property in the southern suburb of Montclair

"My team was here before me, they entered with the EMRS paramedics and were met with carnage. Unfortunately, five people including three children had been killed by gunshot wounds,” he said.

"It's unknown exactly what led up to the gunshot wounds or who fired the shots however, it's a gruesome scene, horrific scene,” he added.

Police spokesman Lt Col Thulani Zwane said that “a magistrate” and her husband who is “a court interpreter” including their three primary school-going children were found lifeless in one of the bedrooms of the house.

He said that a firearm was found next to one of the bodies.

The incident left residents in the area shocked.

It is still unclear what the motive of the killings was.

Ashley Lime
BBC News, Nairobi

Some Kenyans on Twitter have been expressing their outrage at the level of corruption in the country.

#MtuWetuNonsense (mtu wetu is Swahili for one of us) has been trending, with advocates against corruption saying some Kenyans have made it a habit to seek cover from their ethnic communities when found to be corrupt.

This, they say, is hindering the war against graft.

The latest high-profile graft scandal in the East African nation involves the payment of about $208m (£158m) for two phantom dam projects.

Here are some of the reactions posted on Twitter.

Mary Harper
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Police in Malawi have blocked a protest march by people with albinism who were trying to make their way to state house.

A journalist at the scene said there were scuffles as the protesters attempted to break through the police cordon.

They wanted to present a petition to President Peter Mutharika following a spike in the killing and maiming of albinos.

The president met a delegation, and promised to issue them with safety alarms. People with albinism are frequently killed in Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Their body parts are used to make charms which are believed to bring luck, money and love.

Stanley Kwenda
BBC Africa

Image source, gett

Nigeria, and former Ajax Amsterdam striker, Nwankwo Kanu, says the Dutch side are capable of winning this year's Champions League title.

Ajax beat Spanish giants Real Madrid 4-1, overturning a 2-1 home defeat, to advance to the last eight round on a 5-3 aggregate score, for the first time since 2003.

"Ajax is a great and good club, they have a system they do play and they believe they can beat any team on a good day and I believe that's what happened in Madrid," Kanu, who played at Ajax between 1993 and 1996, told the BBC.

"I know the club very well and I believe this is a very big achievement. The boys must enjoy it and look forward to the next opponent. They are capable of reaching the finals if they can do what they did in Madrid. With their confidence, their belief, with all that put together I believe the sky will be the limit".

Ajax last won the Champions League title in 1995 and Kanu was part of that triumphant squad.

Image source, Getty Images

"If you look at the team, they do have the hunger which we had at that time, they work together, they have the strength, it's not like they went there and they were lucky and won the game. No, they outplayed Madrid from the beginning to the end but to compare them to us you have to wait till they win the trophy," Kanu said.

He added that he was very happy that young African players such as Moroccan striker Hakim Ziyech and Cameroon goalkeeper, Andre Onana, were key players in the Ajax team.

Kaleb Moges
BBC Amharic

Guzara palace, located in northern Ethiopian and built by Emperor Sertse Dingel (also spelt Sarsa Dengel and Sarsa Dengil) in 1570, is currently under renovation.

But it is still open to visitors for them to see what is considered to be one of the landmarks of the Gondar civilisation.

The BBC team visited the historic site as part of its 11-day roadshow of the Amhara region.

With views over Lake Tana, the palace is situated near the ancient town of Enfranz, which is 65km (40 miles) south of Gondar - the city that once served as the capital of Ethiopia.

Emperor Sertse is considered the founder of Gondar dynasty and ruled Ethiopia from 1563-1597.

Guzara palace is listed, along with other historic buildings in the area, as a Unesco World Heritage Site, external.

The famous residence in Gondar of Emperor Fasilides, who ruled in the 17th Century, is believed to have copied Guzara's architectural design.

Outgoing Zambia coach Sven Vandenbroeck says he will reflect positively on his first senior national coaching job, despite spending less than a year in the role.

Vandenbroeck, who arrived in Zambia in June 2018,was handed an eight-month contract subject to renewal if Chipolopolo qualified for this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

That target was missed which means this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at home to Namibia will now officially be his last match as Zambia coach.

Vandenbroeck, 39, may not even be on the bench for the fixture after being sent on administrative leave after falling out with the Football Association of Zambia (Faz).

But the Belgian says the past eight months have not been a waste.

"My stay in the country has been positive. I have to admit that in terms of facilities, the country is much more improved compared to other countries on the continent," Vandenbroeck told BBC Sport.

Read the full story on the BBC website

Image source, Getty Images

Nigerian midfielder John Mikel Obi says promotion to the Premier League with Middlesbrough would rank as one of his finest moments in football.

The 31-year-old midfielder collected two Premier League titles, a Champions League, Europa League and three FA Cup winners medals with Chelsea, and joined Boro on a short-term deal in January.

"If we manage to pull it [promotion] off, it would be amazing... it would be up there as one of my greatest achievements," he said.

Mikel Obi moved to the Riverside Stadium as a free agent after a lucrative stint in China with Tianjin Teda.

Boro have lost just once in the league since his arrival and are fifth in the Championship with 12 games remaining.

A drop into England's second tier was something new for the Nigeria international, who captained his country at the 2018 World Cup and won the Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in 2013.

Read the full story on the BBC Sport website.

Desta Gebremedhin
BBC Tigrinya, Nairobi

On a roadshow in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, my BBC colleagues met a farmer who produces white honey.

Alem Abreha lives in the small village of Mesanu Mai Tsedo, and his honey is sold across Ethiopia. It is used mainly to make a local wine, known as Mies in Tigrinya and Tej in Amharic.

Image source, Getty Images

Alem has promoted his honey at international exhibitions, and says demand for it has been growing.

He says bees in the area naturally make the honey white, which is rare.

And he is a firm believer in organic farming.

“Bees hate pesticides and bad smell," Alem says.

My colleagues tasted the honey, and sent us a photo of it:

As my BBC Tigrinya colleagues continue their roadshow in Makelle city, you can follow their reports on our website or on our Facebook page via the hashtag #BBCNewsTigrinya and #BBCHOAOnTheRoad.

The BBC Amharic team is meanwhile in the historic city of Gondar and the BBC Afaan Oromoo team is in Aweday, a town renowned for its khat market.

You can follow them on their Facebook pages via the following hashtags: #BBCNewsAmharic and #BBCNewsAfaanOromoo.

Peter Mwai
BBC Africa

A court in Tanzania's largest city, Dar es Salaam, will deliver a judgment on Thursday in a case against two opposition leaders facing charges related to an anti-government protest that the state says was illegal.

Freeman Mbowe, the chairperson of the main opposition party, Chadema, and Esther Matiko, the treasurer of the party's women's wing, have been in jail for violating their bail conditions.

They were accused of failing to appear in court twice to face the charges against them, leading to the cancellation of their bail on 23 November.

Mr Mbowe defended himself, saying he had been ill on both occasions, while Ms Matiko says she missed one hearing because she was on an official mission to Burundi.

Opposition politicians and rights groups have been calling for their release, describing them as political prisoners.

They accuse President John Magufuli's government of being dictatorial.

A video of the two politicians, arriving at the High Court in Dar es Salaam on Wednesday, has been shared online.

Mary Harper
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Kenya and Somalia have restored diplomatic relations following a row over the ownership of offshore oil fields.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed helped mediate between the presidents of Somalia and Kenya who held face-to-face talks in Nairobi.

Last month, Somalia's ambassador to Kenya was expelled following reports that Somalia was auctioning off oilfields in a contested area.

Somalia denied it was selling the blocks.

Somalia has taken Kenya to the International Court of Justice over the issue, which has yet to be resolved.

Mr Abiy tweeted pictures of the meeting.

Victor Kenani
BBC Africa, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi

The disruption from the strike by Kenyan aviation workers at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport has been partially eased by the deployment of air force personnel to screen passengers.

However, no flights had taken off as at 1300 local time (1000 GMT) despite passengers having been cleared to board.

The industrial action had paralyzed operations at the airport since midnight local time (2100 GMT).

Several flights were delayed and others have been rescheduled, with some passengers booked to hotels.

Those I spoke to said they were unsure when they would board their flights as the national carrier Kenya Airways has not told them much.

One female passenger fainted outside the international terminal as a result of the sweltering heat.