June 01, 2023
South Africa: Harry Oppenheimer Biography Shows the Mining Magnate's Hand in Economic Policies
In Harry Oppenheimer: Diamonds, Gold and Dynasty, his outstanding biography of the South African mining magnate who died in 2000, Michael Cardo shows that there is still mileage to… Read more »
Nigeria: Cycling Could Be a Boon for Lagos - but People Fear for Their Safety On Bikes
With an estimated 16 million residents, Lagos is the most densely populated state in Nigeria. It's under immense pressure to transport its huge population. According to a global… Read more »
May 31, 2023
Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Law Is a Patriarchal Backlash Against Progress
Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni assented to the anti-homosexuality bill on 29 May 2023. The new law legislates, among other things, a five-year jail term for "promoting… Read more »
Kenya: How the British Used Street Names to Show Colonial Power
Place names, along with other urban symbols, were used as a tool of control over space in many African countries during the colonial period. This strategy was epitomised by the… Read more »
West Africa: West African Countries Show How Working Together Over Decades Builds Peace and Stops Wars Breaking Out
Africa is often portrayed as a continent ravaged by war, terrorism, poverty and political instability. But over the past five decades few violent conflicts have occurred between… Read more »
Africa: The First Line of Vaccines Was Highly Effective At Restricting Covid-19's Damage
After more than three years of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 763 million infections, and nearly seven million deaths, have been attributed to… Read more »
West Africa: West African Countries Show How Decades of Working Together Build Peace, and Stop Wars Breaking Out
Africa is often portrayed as a continent ravaged by war, terrorism, poverty and political instability. But over the past five decades few violent conflicts have occurred between… Read more »
Africa: Free Secondary Education in African Countries Is On the Rise - but Is It the Best Policy? What the Evidence Says
When President Salva Kiir announced the abolition of secondary school fees in South Sudan in February 2023, he was following several fellow African leaders. Read more »
Africa: If We're Going to Label AI an 'Extinction Risk', We Need to Clarify How It Could Happen
This week a group of well-known and reputable AI researchers signed a statement consisting of 22 words: Read more »
South Africa: Remembering South Africa's 'Grand Geek' Barry Dwolatzky - Engineer and Programming Pioneer
To some of his former students, Professor Barry Dwolatzky was the "Grand Geek" - a name of which he was very proud. But Barry, who passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa on 16… Read more »
May 30, 2023
Ghana: Ghana and the IMF Have Struck a Deal, but Hard Choices Lie Ahead
In mid-May 2023 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) finally approved a US$3 billion 36-month arrangement with Ghana. It immediately disbursed the first tranche of US$600 million. Read more »
Ethiopia: How a Lucky Village in Tigray Survived the Devastating War
The war waged by the Ethiopian Federal Government and Eritrea against the Tigray regional government, which lasted from November 2020 to November 2022, caused massive devastation.… Read more »
Africa: Some Refugee Girls Are Forced Into Early Marriage for Safety - Here's Why
Rates of child marriage increase in communities displaced by conflict as well as communities affected by natural and environmental disasters. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Has Changed Its Electoral Law, but a Much More Serious Overhaul Is Needed
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed into law a change to the country's electoral act to allow individuals to contest national and provincial elections… Read more »
Africa: Tobacco Use Is Costly, but So Is Quitting. Surveys of 8 African Countries Show Who Needs Help
Tobacco use imposes a large health and economic burden worldwide. Research estimates that, in 2019, about 8 million deaths were attributable to tobacco smoking. Tobacco also… Read more »
Africa: Half of Africa's White Rhino Population Is in Private Hands - It's Time for a New Conservation Approach
Southern white rhinos are widely known as a conservation success story. Their population grew from fewer than 100 individuals in the 1920s to 20,000 in 2012, mostly in South… Read more »
Africa: Increasing Heat Is Already a Factor in Human Migration - New Study
It was getting hotter. Frank May got off his mat and padded over to look out the window. Umber stucco walls and tiles, the colour of the local clay... [he] took a deep breath. It… Read more »
May 29, 2023
South Africa: Drink Up, It's Closing Time - South African Study Calculates That Limiting Opening Hours Will Save Lives
South Africans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. The country has the highest per capita rate of alcohol consumption in Africa. Excessive drinking is especially… Read more »
Kenya: China in Africa - Kenya Railway Study Shows Investment Projects Aren't a One-Way Street
China is an important economic player in Africa. In 2021 alone, China accounted for nearly US$5 billion in foreign direct investment in African countries. The rapidly increasing… Read more »
Africa: 'It's Actually a Human Person, Undergoing Real Emotions' - How Podcasts Can Impact Attitudes Around Mental Health
Millions of people listen to podcasts each year. Podcast content is diverse, with popular genres including true crime, comedy, and society and culture. Read more »
Africa: African Migration to Europe - Forced Returns Run Into Resistance
The forced return of migrants from the European Union (EU) to their countries of origin continues to be a source of major tension in African countries as well as EU member states.… Read more »
Ghana: Accra's Market Fires Are Devastating to Informal Traders
Ghana's informal urban markets play a key role in the country's economy. They employ more than 80% of the people who work in the informal sector. They create livelihoods for… Read more »
May 28, 2023
Africa: What Makes Peace Talks Successful? The 4 Factors That Matter
Peace talks that seek to end armed conflicts are underway in several African countries. Because very few conflicts are resolved on the battlefield, negotiations are fundamental.… Read more »
Africa: Ottawa Is Doing Little to Eliminate Discrimination Against French-Speaking African Students
The fact that Immigration Canada discriminates against Black students from French-speaking Africa is something researchers and observers of Québec and Canadian politics have… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Pact With Russia - and Its Actions - Cast Doubt On Its Claims of Non-Alignment
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 South Africa has proclaimed a policy of non-alignment in that conflict. This position was placed in doubt when US Ambassador… Read more »