July 01
Nigeria: Boko Haram and Western Education - the Surprising Views of Some Nigerians Who Left the Insurgency Group
The world has come to associate the insurgency in north-east Nigeria with the slogan "western education is forbidden". This is how "Boko Haram" - the name given to the insurgents -… Read more »
June 26
Nigeria: Nigeria's Cholera Outbreaks - Why They Happen and Are So Hard to Control
On 9 June 2024 the Lagos State government declared a cholera outbreak. Three days later, it announced that 324 suspected cases had been reported in the state, including 15 people… Read more »
June 25
Nigeria: Terror Attacks and Kidnappings Spread in Nigeria - Why Lagos Could Be a Target
Crimes that were previously associated with Nigeria's northern region - like kidnapping for ransom and terrorism - appear to be spreading to the south-west region, including Lagos.… Read more »
June 23
Nigeria: Your Wig Could Be Poisoning You - Study Finds Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals in Synthetic Hair in Nigeria
Well-groomed hair is a symbol of beauty for many black African women. Natural hair requires special care and attention, though, which can be time consuming. Wigs (human or… Read more »
June 21
Nigeria: Nigeria's National Anthem Change Was a Tactic to Distract Attention From the Country's Real Problems - Political Analyst
A year into his administration, Nigeria's President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill into law, replacing an anthem adopted in 1978 with its predecessor. The… Read more »
June 19
Nigeria: Nigeria's Mountain Streams Are a Haven for Special Creatures - They Need Protection
Nigeria has many freshwater ecotourism attractions. Among them are the Ikogosi warm spring, the Osun-Osogbo river, and the Olumirin, Owu, Arinta and Ekor waterfalls. Read more »
June 16
Ghana: Ghana's Economic Crisis Was Caused By Govt Borrowing - Economist
Ghana is going through its worst economic crisis in a generation. The past two years have seen record high inflation in the country. Ghana's central bank (the Bank of Ghana) has… Read more »
June 13
Senegal: Senegal Has a Rich History of Traditional Music - How It Lives On in Modern Music
Senegal has a rich history of traditional music - and this lives on as it influences the west African country's modern music today. Read more »
June 12
Nigeria: Mental Health Services Are Scarce in Nigeria but There's a Huge Need
Emergency hotlines have a crucial role to play in improving access to mental health services, particularly in countries where these services are in short supply. Read more »
June 11
Senegal: Senegal's Remote Bassari People Talk About Climate Change, and How Their Local Knowledge Is Key to Coping Strategies
The Bassari people, a farming community of about 20,000 people, live in an area between Senegal and Guinea. During French colonial rule, the Bassari lost part of their communal… Read more »
June 10
Africa: Bicycles Can Change Lives, Especially in Rural Africa
To many people around the world bicycles are a crucial means of transport, especially for carrying loads in rural areas. While their benefits are huge and many organisations are… Read more »
June 09
Malawi: Farming With a Mixture of Crops, Animals and Trees Is Better for the Environment and for People - Evidence From Ghana and Malawi
Farming just one kind of crop in a field at a time, and using a lot of chemicals, poses a risk to both people and nature. This simplified intensive agriculture often goes hand in… Read more »
June 05
Nigeria: Naira Is in Crisis but Cryptocurrency Isn't to Blame - Nigeria Needs Consistent Policy
Nigeria's Securities and Exchange Commission is considering tighter controls to combat illegal trading in digital assets, including cryptocurrencies. The Conversation Africa asked… Read more »
June 04
Sierra Leone: Sierra Leone's Bushmeat Markets Pose Serious Health Hazards - We Studied Two for Six Months to Find Solutions
You are walking through the bustling centre of Bo, Sierra Leone's third largest city. Read more »
May 31
Ghana: Stevie Wonder's Ghanaian Citizenship Reflects Long-Standing Links Between African Americans and the Continent
There's a long history of African Americans settling in Ghana or keeping in close contact with the first African country to gain independence. This relationship has most recently… Read more »
May 29
Ghana: Ghana's Anti-Lgbtiq+ Bill Is Being Challenged in the Supreme Court. Why the Decision to Broadcast It Live Matters
Ghana's Supreme Court is live televising its proceedings on the country's controversial anti-LGBTQI+ bill. This was on the request of Ghana's attorney general, who cited public… Read more »
May 22
Senegal: The Mother of African Dance At 80. Why Senegal's Germaine Acogny Is So Influential
Africa's most celebrated dancer and choreographer, Germaine Acogny, turns 80 on 28 May. I have had the privilege of meeting the Senegalese artist, learning from her, and… Read more »
May 14
Ghana: Ghana's Forests Are Being Wiped Out - What's Behind This and Why Attempts to Stop It Aren't Working
Ghana has around 7.9 million hectares of forested land (35% of the total land area), according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Around 7.6 million hectares are primary or… Read more »
May 12
Africa: Female Genital Mutilation Is On the Rise in Africa - Disturbing New Trends Are Driving Up the Numbers
Thirteen-year-old Salamatu Jalloh had her whole future to look forward to. But in January 2023, her lifeless body was found wrapped in a pink and blue shroud on an earthen floor in… Read more »
May 07
Ghana: Walking in African Cities Can Be a Miserable Experience - Accra Study Shows Planners Ignore Needs of Pedestrians
African cities aren't welcoming places for pedestrians. Yet walking is free and, given the shortage of decent public transport, it's often the only way for people to move around.… Read more »
May 05
Nigeria: Nigeria's Minimum Wage Has Never Protected Workers From Poverty - Here's Why
Wages have become the top issue for Nigeria's organised labour movements in the past year. Reacting to recent increases in the cost of living, the labour movement has been calling… Read more »
April 30
Togo: Togo Has Adopted Major Constitutional Changes to Give Parliament More Power - How It Will Work
On 25 March 2024, Togo adopted a new constitution that transforms its presidential system into a parliamentary one. Under this new system, parliament has the authority to elect the… Read more »
April 29
Nigeria: Young Middle-Class Nigerians Are Desperate to Leave the Country - Insights Into Why
Since the 1980s, migration has been a part of the Nigerian middle-class psyche, catalysed by the usual suspects: high unemployment, security concerns, infrastructure gaps, and poor… Read more »
West Africa: Russia Has Tightened Its Hold Over the Sahel Region - and Now It's Looking to Africa's West Coast
Armed troops in Niger overthrew the government in July 2023, seizing power for themselves. The following months were rife with speculation that the military government would align… Read more »
West Africa: Gum Arabic From Africa's Acacia Trees in the Sahel Is Used in Hundreds of Products - What's Worth Knowing
The conflict in Sudan has turned attention to a rarely discussed commodity: gum arabic. This product, the dried sap of certain species of acacia trees, is used mainly as an… Read more »