January 17
Mozambique: Mozambique's Cyclone Flooding Was Devastating to Animals - We Studied How Body Size Affected Survival
Anyone who watches the news will have seen the devastation that tropical cyclones can cause when they reach land, with very strong winds, high rainfall and flooding. A cyclone like… Read more »
Congo-Kinshasa: DR Congo's Election - the Key to Félix Tshisekedi's Victory
On Sunday 31 December 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) announced the preliminary results of the Democratic Republic of Congo's presidential election held… Read more »
Kenya: Should Kenya Abolish All School Exams? Expert Sets Out Five Reasons Why They're Still Useful
The role of examinations in Kenyan schools is under scrutiny. This is because there is a lot that is wrong with the country's examinations, a situation that threatens to derail… Read more »
Africa: How Video Game Soundtracks Are Influencing a New Generation of Musicians and Music Lovers
One of my clearest musical memories is playing the video game Chrono Trigger on the Super Nintendo in the winter of 1995. When my character first entered the forest where the game… Read more »
Ghana: Ghana Won Afcon Four Times, but the Last Time Was 40 Years Ago. What Went Wrong With Its Football Team?
_The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is the most important football tournament in Africa. It has been contested by the male national teams of countries on the continent since 1957.… Read more »
January 16
Africa: Covid Barely Gets a Mention These Days - Here's Why That's a Dangerous Situation
The United States experienced its second largest COVID wave of the pandemic in January 2024. For the year to December 2023, in England COVID rates peaked at around one in 24… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's ANC Marks Its 112th Year With an Eye On National Elections, but Its Record Is Patchy and Future Uncertain
The speech President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered at the 112th birthday celebration of South Africa's governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), on 13 January can be seen… Read more »
Uganda: Uganda's Battle for the Youth Vote - How Museveni Keeps Bobi Wine's Reach in Check
Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world, with an average age of 15.9 years. Young people aged below 30 make up about 77% of the country's population of 47 million… Read more »
Africa: What Happens to Your Liver When You Quit Alcohol
According to Greek mythology, Zeus punished Prometheus for giving fire to humans. He chained Prometheus up and set an eagle to feast on his liver. Each night, the liver grew back… Read more »
Africa: Dangerous Chemicals Found in Recycled Plastics, Making Them Unsafe for Use - Experts Explain the Hazards
Plastic pollution is a menace worldwide. Plastics are now found in every environment on the planet, from the deepest seas to the atmosphere and human bodies. Read more »
Africa: An Ancient System That Could Bring Water to Dry Areas
Some of Africa's dry areas face serious water shortages due to minimal rainfall. An ancient system of drawing water from aquifers, the "qanat system", could help. Gaathier Mahed,… Read more »
Africa: Dave Chappelle Has Built a Reputation for 'Punching Down' On Trans People - and Now He's Targeting Disabled People
Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special, The Dreamer, opens with a story about meeting Jim Carrey, who, at the time, was method acting and portraying comedian Andy Kaufman. Read more »
Africa: Marvel's Echo Is a One-of-a-Kind Superhero - and an Inspiration to the Deaf Community
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Echo season one. Read more »
January 15
South Africa: South Africa Has Made Its Genocide Case Against Israel in Court. Here's What Both Sides Said and What Happens Next
Following the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israeli forces have carried out sustained attacks on the Palestinian controlled territory, dividing the international community. Read more »
Africa: The Shame and Pleasure of Masturbation - Poor Things Gets Girls' Early Sexual Feelings Right
This piece contains spoilers for Poor Things. Read more »
West Africa: Kush - What Is This Dangerous New West African Drug That Supposedly Contains Human Bones?
A new drug called kush is wreaking havoc in west Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone where it is estimated to kill around a dozen people each week and hospitalise thousands. Read more »
Ghana: Ghana Is Behind the Curve On Climate Change Laws - Expert Suggests a Way to Get Corporations On Board
Ghana has introduced some climate change policies and general environmental regulations but has yet to pass a Climate Change Act. This leaves the country without effective legal… Read more »
Africa: First Polar Bear to Die of Bird Flu - What Are the Implications?
Climate change is a threat to polar bear's survival. Now they have a new deadly challenge facing them: bird flu. It was recently confirmed that a polar bear from northern Alaska… Read more »
Africa: Ultra-Processed Foods - Here's What the Evidence Actually Says About Them
The perils of ultra-processed foods received widespread coverage in recent months - thanks in no small part to the publication and promotion of TV presenter and doctor of virology… Read more »
South Africa: 20 Years Ago South Africa Had 40 Qualified Astronomers - All White. How It's Opened Space Science and Developed Skills Since Then
South African astronomy started an important journey two decades ago, when an initiative to attract and train future scientists in the field welcomed its first group of students… Read more »
South Africa: Healthy Food Is Hard to Come By in Cape Town's Poorer Areas - How Community Gardens Can Fix That
In 1950, as part of the Group Areas Act, South Africa's apartheid government banished people of colour to outlying areas, away from central business districts. The Cape Flats are… Read more »
January 14
Africa: Urban Kenyans Mistrust Police Even More Than Rural Residents Do - Study Sets Out Why It Matters
Across the African continent - from Nigeria and Ghana to South Africa - widespread protests have taken place to demand police reform in the wake of police misconduct and brutality.… Read more »
Africa: 60% of Continent's Food Based on Treasure Trove of Wheat, Rice and Maize, Neglected
African countries have become reliant on a few food items. Just 20 plant species now provide 90% of our food, with three - wheat, maize and rice - accounting for 60% of all… Read more »
January 13
South Africa: What Enforcement Power Does the International Court of Justice Have in South Africa's Genocide Case Against Israel?
South Africa says that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has asked the International Court of Justice to intervene and stop Israeli military action in… Read more »
January 12
South Africa: South Africa's Legal Team in the Genocide Case Against Israel Has Won Praise. Who Are They?
South African justice minister Ronald Lamola led a top legal team to argue the country's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 December. Read more »