Goodable

In New Zealand, Matthew Burrell noticed a bird lying on the ground outside his window.
After getting a closer look, he saw a bird's nest high in the tree above him. So he took out a ladder, picked up the bird and placed the bird back into the nest. After a few hours go by, the momma bird eventually returned with food. If you have a good news story, send it to us! Email us your video and info at hello@goodable.co.

<p>In New Zealand, Matthew Burrell noticed a bird lying on the ground outside his window.</p><p>After getting a closer look, he saw a bird's nest high in the tree above him. So he took out a ladder, picked up the bird and placed the bird back into the nest. After a few hours go by, the momma bird eventually returned with food. If you have a good news story, send it to us! Email us your video and info at hello@goodable.co.</p>

A Bird is Rescued After Falling From A Tree

BBC News

If you hear the sound of saucepan lids clanging in an orchard this January, you’re not imagining things. Wassailing—an old midwinter tradition mixing music, ritual, and community spirit—is enjoying a revival in orchards and villages across the UK.

“Post-Covid, there has been a significant uptick in people holding wassails,” says folk musician and author Simon Bailes, who’s currently writing a book on the subject. Based in Dunton, Bedfordshire, Bailes is inviting groups across the country to share how they celebrate the custom.

Wassailing varies from place to place, but it typically involves singing, dancing, and toasting fruit trees to encourage a good harvest. “It’s a bit wacky to go into an orchard in the winter when it’s cold – it’s such a colourful part of our local community,” Bailes said.

He runs his own event near Biggleswade, which has grown to attract around 250 people and continues late into the night with music in the village hall. “Because it’s big in the folky traditional world, it’s become a popular community activity,” he added. “We do a lot of banging of saucepan lids. Parents bring tiny babies in papooses through to pensioners in their 80s.”

Wassailing events often take place around Twelfth Night in early January, though some are more family-friendly daytime affairs. In Colchester and Luton, for example, community groups are taking their own spin on the tradition.

“Some people think of a cider-fuelled night-time fest with fire, but we’re not there yet,” said Konni Deppe, project co-ordinator of Luton Orchards. Instead, her group encourages attendees to bring a mug for mulled juice and something to make noise with. “There will be drummers to make a lot of noise, and we normally paint our faces green.”

For Deppe, these events are a way to reconnect people with the land around them. “It’s just a thing of wonder that you have a tree there, and without you doing much, it gives you a crop,” she said.

At the Irvine Road Community Orchard in Colchester, the focus is on celebrating neighbourliness as much as the trees. “We have mulled cider and apple juice, and eat some leftover mince pies,” said organiser Shaun Thomas. “Then we progress into the orchard, making as much noise as possible to ward off evil spirits, and put bird seed out for the robins.”

They also play the Essex wassail song. “People really get into the spirit of it,” Thomas said. “Last year we had a really good wassail and a really good harvest.”

While it’s tempting to imagine these events as relics of ancient times, Bailes says the tradition is more diverse—and more modern—than many assume.

“There were two types of wassailing historically,” he explained. “One was a bit like Hallowe’en trick or treating, going from property to property and singing songs, dancing, and asking for a favour: money, beer or food. The other is agricultural wassailing – it’s a celebration of the crop and encouraging a better crop next year.”

People have even been known to wassail livestock and bees. And while there are references to scaring off evil spirits and awakening the tree’s spirit, Bailes says the tradition isn’t strictly pagan. “I’ve also found modern wassails with a Christian bias—usually because the local vicar runs it.”

His upcoming book will focus less on ancient origins and more on how wassailing is thriving in the 21st century, thanks in part to the growing number of community orchards. “Groups want more than just an apple day in October,” he said. “Wassailing in January fits a dead time of year. My feeling is people have always done something in the middle of winter, and gathered together for a bit of a party.”

It’s not just grassroots groups getting involved. The National Trust has joined in as well. Connor Brown from Lyveden in Northamptonshire said their wassailing event offers visitors a chance to “learn about the old traditions and have some fun, while warding off bad spirits and encouraging a good harvest for the season ahead.”

Whether you’re into Morris dancing, green face paint, or just a warm mug of mulled juice in an orchard, wassailing seems to be striking the right note for communities looking to gather, make some noise, and chase away the winter gloom.

Saucepan Lids, Singing, and Cider: Wassailing Makes a Joyful Comeback Across the UK

Global Positive News

Kayla Sentell and Trenton Miller were high school sweethearts for 12 years. Then, in February 2024, they broke up.

Eight months later, Kayla found herself scrolling through Trenton’s public Spotify playlists. One in particular caught her eye—titled alasKa, it was filled with songs that felt personal and familiar. Hoping he might notice, she made a playlist of her own. The final three songs said everything: “If You See This,” “Call Me,” and “I Wanna Be Yours.”

Trenton saw it. He responded with his own playlist—ending with “If You See This,” “Speak Now,” and “I Want You Back.”

They reunited on November 3. Ten days later, on November 13, they were married in Las Vegas.

Spotify got wind of the story and surprised the couple at their wedding with a personalized video from singer Teddy Swims.

Proof that sometimes, love really does have a soundtrack.

High School Sweethearts Reunite After Sharing Hidden Messages Through Spotify Playlists

The 16 Most Anticipated Movies of 2026, From Nolan’s Epic 'Odyssey' to a Wildly Divisive 'Wuthering Heights'

From witchy sequels to space sagas, high-fashion drama to Greek mythology, 2026 is packed with bold, star-studded releases. Here’s a guide to the buzziest films hitting screens this year, handpicked by BBC critics.

1. Wuthering Heights
Emerald Fennell’s bold, stylised adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic is already dividing audiences before its release. The trailer stirred strong reactions over its raw sensuality and casting choices—particularly Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, who some argue strays too far from Brontë’s “dark-skinned” character description. But Fennell isn’t backing down. She described her vision as “primal, sexual,” the version of the novel she imagined when she first read it at 14. The film features striking visuals—bright red costumes, burnt skies—and a supporting cast that includes Hong Chau and Owen Cooper.
Wuthering Heights is released on 13 February.

2. Practical Magic 2
Two decades later, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are back as witchy sisters in this long-awaited sequel. The original flopped on release in 1998 but gained cult status thanks to its “cottagecore” aesthetic and sisterly warmth. Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest also return. It’s been 28 years since the first movie—just one year shy of the Hocus Pocus sequel delay—so the timing might be just right for magic to strike again.
Practical Magic 2 is released on 18 September.

3. The Mandalorian and Grogu
After anchoring the Star Wars universe on Disney+, the beloved bounty hunter and his green sidekick hit the big screen. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film promises action, humour, and emotional beats about fatherhood. Jeremy Allen White voices Rotta the Hutt, while Grogu remains the galaxy’s most adorable scene-stealer.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is released on 22 May.

4. The Dog Stars
Ridley Scott returns to sci-fi with a post-pandemic survival story. Jacob Elordi stars as a pilot clinging to life with his dog, while Josh Brolin plays a hardened Marine. They battle roving gangs in a world nearly emptied by a flu outbreak. Scott called it “maybe my best movie” despite its quick 34-day shoot.
The Dog Stars is released on 28 August.

5. The Bride!
Maggie Gyllenhaal’s reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein relocates the gothic horror to 1930s Chicago. Jessie Buckley plays the reanimated bride, Christian Bale is Frankenstein’s monster, and Annette Bening is the doctor who makes it all happen. Gyllenhaal gives the silent character a voice—and a whole lot of attitude.
The Bride! is released on 6 March.

6. Digger
In a surprising pivot, Tom Cruise stars in a dark comedy directed by Alejandro G Iñárritu. Little is known about the plot, but the tagline, “a comedy of catastrophic proportions,” hints at chaos. The cast includes Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, and Jesse Plemons. Could this be Cruise’s Oscar moment at last?
Digger is released on 2 October.

7. Toy Story 5
Woody and Buzz are back, this time competing for attention with a sleek new toy: a tablet named Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. Andrew Stanton directs this installment, which revisits the original series' themes of obsolescence—just updated for the iPad generation.
Toy Story 5 is released on 19 June.

8. The Drama
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson star in this twisted romcom that goes off the rails just before the wedding. Written and directed by Kristoffer Borgli (Dream Scenario), the film turns a relationship comedy into a bloodied, bourbon-soaked spiral. Alana Haim co-stars.
The Drama is released on 3 April.

9. Mother Mary
Anne Hathaway leads this surreal, pop-infused horror-musical as a diva begging her estranged designer (Michaela Coel) for one last masterpiece. Directed by David Lowery, the film features music by FKA Twigs, Charli XCX, and Jack Antonoff—and fashion to match.
Mother Mary is released in April.

10. The Social Reckoning
Aaron Sorkin returns with a follow-up to The Social Network, this time focusing on Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Mikey Madison plays Haugen, and Jeremy Strong steps in as Mark Zuckerberg. No Fincher this time—Sorkin directs as well as writes.
Release date TBA.

11. The Devil Wears Prada 2
Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is back—and so are Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci. The sequel follows a now-powerful Andy clashing with her old boss in a high-stakes media showdown. Kenneth Branagh joins as Miranda’s husband. Filmed in NYC and Milan, with characters attending actual fashion week events.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is released on 1 May.

12. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
This new prequel dives deeper into the history of Panem, set 24 years before Katniss. The cast features Ralph Fiennes as a young President Snow, Kieran Culkin, Jesse Plemons, and Elle Fanning in familiar roles with new faces. Director Francis Lawrence returns.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is released on 20 November.

13. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew
Greta Gerwig follows Barbie with a big-budget fantasy prequel. Emma Mackey stars as the White Witch in this origin story of Narnia’s magical world. Carey Mulligan and Daniel Craig co-star, with Gerwig directing her first full-on blockbuster.
Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew is released on 26 November.

14. Disclosure Day
Steven Spielberg returns to extraterrestrial suspense in this mystery-drama about a global alien revelation. Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, and Colin Firth lead a cryptic ensemble. The trailer features crop circles and odd behaviour, but plot details are scarce. Some speculate it’s a stealth sequel to Close Encounters.
Disclosure Day is released on 12 June.

15. The Odyssey
Christopher Nolan’s follow-up to Oppenheimer tackles Homer’s epic. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Zendaya as the goddess Athena. Expect surreal monsters, large-scale battles, and cerebral storytelling. Nolan said he was drawn to Odysseus’ cleverness, calling him “genius” and “inventive.”
The Odyssey is released on 17 July.

16. Avengers: Doomsday
Marvel pulls out every stop in this mega-crossover. It brings together the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four—plus returning stars like Chris Evans, Tom Holland, and Robert Downey Jr, now playing Doctor Doom. Directed by the Russo brothers, it’s the studio’s biggest swing since Endgame.
Avengers: Doomsday is released on 18 December.

The 16 Most Anticipated Movies of 2026, From Nolan’s Epic 'Odyssey' to 'Wuthering Heights'

After a spectacular year in space in 2025—from a rare interstellar visitor to jaw-dropping auroras and the long-awaited opening of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory—the new year is shaping up to be just as exciting. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just like watching the skies, 2026 is packed with moments worth looking up for.

Meteors to Mark on Your Calendar

It starts with the Quadrantids in early January, a lesser-known but fast and furious meteor shower that can deliver up to 120 meteors an hour. That is, if you manage to catch it.

“It’s one of those showers where, if you get it at the right time and the conditions are right, you actually see the ramp up in activity,” said Peter Brown, Canada Research Chair in meteor astronomy at Western University.

But this year’s show will be muted by bad timing: a full moon will wash out most of the faint streaks, and January weather isn’t always kind to skywatchers.

The Perseids in August are a different story. One of the most popular showers of the year, they could reach up to 150 meteors per hour, and best of all, the peak falls on a new moon.

“We [have a] good moon for next year,” Brown said. “Actually, it’s literally a new moon.” That means even faint meteors will be visible, especially in darker areas away from city lights.

Later in December, the Geminids return for another round. They’ll also peak under great conditions, with only a waxing crescent moon to compete with. Again, that could mean up to 150 meteors per hour on the night of Dec. 13–14.

A Canadian Is Going to the Moon

For Canadians, one of the biggest events of the year won’t be visible from Earth—but it’ll make history.

Jeremy Hansen, an astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency, is one of four crew members aboard NASA’s Artemis II mission, which is currently targeting a launch window that opens Feb. 5. The mission will send humans around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The crew—Hansen, along with NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover—will orbit Earth before heading toward the moon, making a single orbit and then returning to Earth. The planned trajectory will take them farther from Earth than any human has ever gone.

Eclipses Are Back

Canada didn’t see many eclipses in 2025, but this year, there are three to watch for.

First up: a total lunar eclipse on March 3, best seen from the West Coast and Northwest Territories, where the full event will be visible. Further east, you’ll catch it as the moon sets.

Then in August, just as the Perseids peak, parts of the world will see a total solar eclipse—though Canada will only get a partial version. On Aug. 12, viewers in central and eastern regions will notice a subtle bite taken out of the sun.

Two weeks later, on Aug. 28, the moon slides back into Earth’s shadow for a partial lunar eclipse visible across the country. Nearly the entire moon will turn a reddish-orange hue, depending on atmospheric conditions.

New Missions Beyond Earth

Aside from Artemis II, several major space missions are on the calendar.

Rocket Lab plans to launch a probe to Venus in summer 2026. The mission will drop a small craft into the planet’s atmosphere to search for potential organic molecules. That follows the 2020 debate over whether signs of phosphine—associated with life on Earth—had been detected in Venus’s clouds.

Japan is targeting 2026 for its Martian Moon Exploration mission, which aims to collect a sample from Mars’ moon Phobos and return it to Earth. If successful, it will be the first sample ever retrieved from a Martian moon.

And possibly launching by the end of the year (or slipping into 2027) is the long-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The mission’s goal is ambitious: to investigate the dark matter and dark energy that are thought to make up most of the universe.

The Unknown Awaits

Space has a way of surprising us. In 2025, scientists welcomed only the third-known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, named 3I/ATLAS. No one knew it was coming.

So while 2026 has plenty already on the calendar—meteors, moonshots, eclipses and explorations—there’s always the possibility that something entirely unexpected could light up the sky.

It might be another comet. It might be another visitor from another star. Or maybe something no one’s predicted yet.

Best advice? Keep looking up.

From Moons to Meteors: What The World Can Look Forward to in Space Travel This Year

People

Four years ago, Thomas Scordino and Sophia Paranzino struck up a conversation on a Boston College shuttle bus. Last week, they returned to that exact spot—but this time, Scordino got down on one knee.

The finance and marketing major planned a surprise proposal for Paranzino in the center aisle of a Newton campus shuttle, where they first met as freshmen. “He was wearing a Johns Hopkins shirt and I’m from Baltimore, so I asked about it,” Paranzino told Boston College News. “Then we talked for the rest of the ride.”

The campus became a big part of their relationship, she said. “Most nights we would go to 10 p.m. Candlelight Mass, take the bus back, and walk around Newton Campus for hours, just getting to know each other and growing closer.”

So when it came time to propose, Scordino knew exactly where he wanted to do it. He reached out to Gabe Parker, Boston College’s Director of Transportation and Parking, with what he called a “crazy ask.” Parker didn’t hesitate.

“He said, ‘Yes, we love it. Do it,’” Scordino recalled. “And I was like, ‘Oh, heck yeah.’ I’m so very, very grateful to them.”

With the help of Coach Supervisor Manny Alves, they spent a week figuring out how to stage the proposal without disrupting regular bus service. The couple boarded a bus marked “special event,” sat in their old seats, and after a short ride, Scordino stood up to deliver a heartfelt speech.

Then, in the exact spot where their story began, he proposed.

A photographer captured the moment through the shuttle doors, and soon after, friends and family joined the couple for a celebration—including a custom cake shaped like a shuttle bus that read: “Congratulations Thomas & Sophia … the real magic school bus.”

Parker praised the effort Scordino put into the proposal. “This is a kid who’s in college, worrying about midterms, thinking about where he’s going to work next year, and he still took the time to plan something so thoughtful. We were happy to be a small part of it.”

Paranzino said she started to suspect something was going on before the big moment. “He’s not a good liar, which I always say is a really good quality in someone I want to marry,” she joked.

As for Scordino, he had one takeaway for other students: “Don’t have your head down in your phone all the time — just say hi to people. It worked for me.”

Boston College Couple Gets Engaged on the Same Campus Shuttle Where They First Met

Glenda Akin didn’t just teach generations of students—she made history doing it.

After more than six decades in the classroom, the longtime educator from Westmoreland, Tennessee, retired in 2024 and earned a Guinness World Record in the process. Akin officially holds the title for longest teacher in the same school (female) after clocking 61 years and 43 days at Westmoreland High School.

She began her teaching career in 1963 at the Sumner County school and stayed put, working as a social studies and library teacher until her retirement on September 13, 2024.

Westmoreland High School shared the news of her milestone in a Facebook post on December 19, writing, “Historic Achievement at Westmoreland High School! We are incredibly proud to announce that Ms. Glenda Akin has officially been awarded a Guinness World Record for the Longest Career as a Female Teacher in the Same School!”

The post included photos of Akin being honored at the school, proudly holding her official Guinness World Records certificate.

“With an extraordinary 61 years and 43 days of dedicated service at Westmoreland High School, Ms. Akin’s lifelong commitment to education has shaped generations of students and left an unforgettable legacy in our school and community,” the school added. “Please join us in congratulating Ms. Glenda Akin on this historic and well-deserved honor!”

Though Akin has now stepped out of the classroom, her presence remains deeply embedded in the school. Westmoreland High has renamed its library the Glenda Akin Library in her honor.

A plaque installed in the newly named space features her photo and a tribute: “Her six decades of service to our school and community will remain forever cherished in the lives of her coworkers and students.”

No longer at the front of the classroom, Akin leaves behind not just a legacy, but a reminder of what commitment to education looks like—measured not just in years, but in lives touched.

Teacher Wins Guinness World Record For Working 61 Years At The Same School

ESPN

Travelers headed toward Davidson College might now hear a familiar name called out on their GPS — and it’s not just any alum.

On Tuesday night, NBA superstar Stephen Curry returned to his alma mater as the state of North Carolina officially renamed Exit 30 off I-77 the Stephen Curry Interchange, recognizing his lasting legacy at Davidson College and his contributions to the school’s basketball program.

Fittingly, Curry has worn the number 30 throughout both his college and NBA career.

The Golden State Warriors guard attended Davidson’s home game against Duquesne in Davidson, North Carolina, to celebrate the moment. Wearing a Davidson sweatsuit and a pair of "Carmine" Air Jordan Retro 6s — the same sneakers he wore in an iconic college photoshoot — Curry stood alongside teammates Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III, and Moses Moody, who made the trip to support him.

In March, Curry made headlines when he became the first active NBA player to take on an administrative role in a college basketball program, being named assistant general manager for Davidson men’s basketball.

Curry played for the Wildcats from 2006 to 2009 and famously led them to the Elite Eight in the 2008 NCAA tournament. That season, he also set the then-record for the most three-pointers in a single Division I season with 162 — a mark that stood until Iowa's Caitlin Clark broke it in 2023-24 with 164.

Now 37, Curry is still making an impact on the court, averaging 28.8 points and 4.3 assists so far this NBA season.

As of this week, he’s also officially part of the North Carolina road map.

Davidson Honors Stephen Curry With Interchange Named After Him

After weeks of living rough and sheltering her newborns in a hole in a tree, a stray Shiba Inu named Fern and her five puppies are now safe, healthy, and learning how to live in a home.

Fern had been spotted wandering near Peterborough in November, foraging for food but too nervous to let anyone get close. Locals began leaving food and water, but it wasn’t until the early hours of 20 November that she was finally found—peeking out from a tree, her tiny pups nestled behind her.

All six dogs were safely rescued and taken to Woodgreen Pets Charity in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire. From there, they were placed into foster care with Ciara Pollen, the charity’s behaviour and training specialist, who is now raising the family at her home in Bedfordshire.

"Given their outdoor start, it's been lovely to see how resilient and curious they are now that they're safe and cared for," said Pollen.

The puppies—named Maple, Ash, Chestnut, Acorn and Blossom—were just three weeks old when they were rescued and are believed to have been born in the wild. Fern, though underweight and nervous at first, has bounced back with proper care and a nutritious diet.

"She's now at a healthy weight and even starting to politely decline the odd extra mouthful, which says a lot about how far she's come," said Pollen.

Now in a warm home, the pups are experiencing household life for the first time—interacting with children, cats, vaccinated dogs, and learning how to navigate everything from car journeys to dishwashers.

“They’re finding their feet beautifully,” Pollen said. “This stage is all about positive early experiences. Their socialisation window from roughly four to 14 weeks is crucial.”

Fern is also getting help adjusting, thanks in part to Pollen’s own dog, Fable.

“For Fern, living with a well-adjusted dog can be a big boost. Nervous dogs often learn more readily from another dog than from people,” she explained.

The puppies, now well on their way to becoming confident, well-rounded dogs, are being introduced to early basics like house training and gentle exposure to everyday sounds and experiences.

Foster life is busy. The puppies need to be fed every four to six hours, go through toilet training, and still sleep up to 20 hours a day. But Pollen says fostering makes all the difference.

"A home environment gives us a clear picture of how dogs behave day to day, which means we can match them far more accurately to the right adopters,” she said. “For dogs like Fern who have been strays with unknown histories, this is invaluable.”

While Fern was microchipped, it wasn’t linked to an address, and no one has come forward to claim her. The charity believes she was likely abandoned while pregnant—an unusual situation for a purebred Shiba Inu.

Despite the mystery surrounding her past, Fern’s future looks bright. All five puppies are thought to be purebreds, and interest in them has been overwhelming.

"Because of the brilliant support from Japanese Shiba Inu Rescue UK, we already have a large pool of breed-experienced applicants for both Fern and the puppies, so we aren't taking new expressions of interest for this litter or for Fern," said Pollen.

Woodgreen is reminding pet owners who are struggling to reach out before abandoning animals. Support is available, whether through Woodgreen or other animal charities.

As for Fern and her pups, the hard part is over. Their next chapter—one filled with care, security, and soft beds—is just beginning.

Rescuers Save Puppies and Mum Found Hiding In a Tree, Just In Time For A Warm Christmas

A New Jersey animal shelter is thanking its community after an overwhelming response to a crisis that left more than 30 dogs without a roof over their heads.

On December 29, Associated Humane Societies of Newark announced that part of its facility had suffered “significant damage” when the roof of a neighboring business, weighed down by heavy snow, collapsed onto the shelter’s rear kennels.

“Suddenly, there was this tremendous boom,” shelter employee Olivia Gonzalez told CBS New York. “They rushed, and they saw just absolute chaos and destruction in the rear end of the kennels.”

Roughly 30 of the shelter’s 175 dogs had been housed in the damaged area. The collapse forced the organization to urgently call for emergency foster homes—specifically for dogs over 40 pounds.

“With the shelter already full, the sudden loss of this critical kennel space is devastating,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook post.

But the response from the community was swift.

Within just 48 hours, all but two of the displaced dogs had been placed with foster families. “Only two dogs left for foster,” the organization shared in a December 31 update, calling the outpouring of support “incredible.”

Staff and volunteers have been working nonstop to process applications, and the shelter is still encouraging people to sign up as fosters.

“We are still taking in stray dogs, lost dogs,” Gonzalez told ABC7. “So in this time that we are unable to house dogs in those 30 kennels, the foster support is vital to us.”

The shelter has asked potential adopters or fosters to bring their full household—including any existing dogs and children—for meet-and-greet visits, and to bring a valid photo ID (along with patience, as the team continues to work through a surge in interest).

The organization has also set up an Amazon wishlist for anyone wishing to donate supplies.

Despite the chaos, Gonzalez said the situation has been a reminder of how much the community cares.

“We’ve had people come from hours away just to help,” she said. “It’s been incredible.”

Community Rushes to Help After Roof Collapse Displaces 30 Dogs at New Jersey Shelter

ABC News

On the side of a rural road at the edge of Nairobi’s urban sprawl, a client steps into a shack lined not with mirrors and clippers, but tools of a different kind—agricultural shears, a wrench, a shovel.

And that’s exactly what Ian Njenga came for.

“I just use unconventional tools,” says Safari Martins, smiling as he slides the edge of a sharpened shovel across Njenga’s scalp. Moments later, a surprisingly clean, stylish haircut begins to take shape.

Martins—known to his fans as Chief Safro—might be Kenya’s most famous barber. With roughly 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok, he’s turned roadside haircuts into viral video gold, blending precision styling with a flair for the absurd.

A helper nearby films every snip, swipe, and swing on a smartphone. Each cut is part performance, part craftsmanship.

From High School to Headlines

Originally from Rwanda, Martins started cutting hair in high school back in 2018, using borrowed clippers to give trims outside classrooms and in cramped dorm rooms. Five years later, he swapped the clippers for machetes, kitchen knives, and even a hot iron box—now “blessed by village elders”—and added a camera to the mix.

The results were weird, bold, and instantly shareable.

He went viral for the tools, but his staying power comes from the stories. In recent videos, Martins layers in voiceovers inspired by African folk tales and traditions, mixing ancestral wisdom with Gen Z entertainment.

“I’m motivated by African culture, by African stories,” he says.

Haircuts and Influence

In a city where a basic men’s cut often costs just $1, Martins charges nearly $12. But his clients don’t mind the premium.

“If I compare him with other barbers his talent is next level,” says Njenga. “When I get shaved here I get very comfortable … while walking in the streets I get very confident.”

The appeal is partly about the haircut—and partly about appearing on one of Kenya’s most engaging social media feeds. The promise of internet fame, even for a few seconds, is part of the draw.

Influencer barbers are a growing trend in Kenya, as social media use explodes. According to DataReportal, Kenya added nearly 5 million new social media users between January 2023 and January 2025—a jump of almost 50%.

That’s opened the door for more creators to make real money online. A June 2025 brief from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis found that 15% of online content creators in the country now rely on it as their primary source of income.

Fame, But Not Fortune

But even with millions of views and high engagement, Martins says barber influencers aren’t treated the same as other creators when it comes to sponsorships and pay.

“Barbers get viral on social media but I feel like they are not respected,” he says. “You are not paid as a content creator, even though you have the views, even if you have the engagement.”

Gaming, education, and lifestyle creators are often better positioned for brand deals, according to influencer financing firm Fundmates, because of broader commercial appeal.

Still, Martins isn’t slowing down. He keeps sharpening his tools, filming new videos, and chasing the next cut—part barber, part performer, part digital storyteller.

Just don’t expect him to pick up a pair of clippers anytime soon.

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