April 23
Africa: IMF World Economic Outlook - Economic Uncertainty Is Now Higher Than It Ever Was During Covid
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just published its World Economic Outlook, and it does not take an expert to deduce that, even among some of the world's top economic… Read more »
South Africa: VAT Hikes Can Raise Tax Without Hurting the Poor - an Economist Sets Out the Evidence
South Africa's 2025-6 budget has been subjected to more comment than usual. This is due to the political tensions generated by a proposed increase in value added tax (VAT). Read more »
April 22
West Africa: West Africa's Bold Trade Experiment Turns 50 - an Ecowas Report Card
The Economic Community of West African states (Ecowas) is set to mark 50 years in May 2025. It was established in 1975 by 16 member states. Though seven of the founding leaders had… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Growing Security Crisis - 6 Essential Reads
Unidentified people attacked a community in Plateau State, Nigeria's north central region, in mid-April, killing at least 52 residents. A similar attack in the same state claimed… Read more »
April 21
Africa: Pope Francis Dies - an Unconventional Pontiff Who Sought to Modernise Catholicism
From the moment of his election in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the man who became Pope Francis, proved himself to be unconventional. Read more »
South Africa: Rating Agencies Don't Treat the Global South Fairly - Changes South Africa Should Champion in G20 Hot Seat
Credit rating agencies like S&P Global and Fitch have an outsized influence on the economic fortunes of developing countries. Their assessments shape investor perceptions,… Read more »
Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe's House of Stone - the Gallery That Showcases a Famous Sculpture Tradition
Zimbabwe is the house of stone, both literally and figuratively, with its very name derived from the ancient stone city of Great Zimbabwe. Stone is more than just a material here -… Read more »
April 20
Africa: Planning for Death - Four Things You Can Do to Ease Your Family's Emotional and Financial Stress
When someone dies, the people left behind face more than grief. They are often hit with a wave of decisions - emotional, logistical and financial - that must be made quickly and… Read more »
April 17
Congo-Kinshasa: Why Kinshasa Keeps Flooding - and Why It's Not Just About the Rain
The April 2025 flooding disaster in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, wasn't just about intense rainfall. It was a symptom of recent land use change which… Read more »
April 16
Africa: Africa's Superfood Heroes - From Teff to Insects - Deserve More Attention
Africa is home to a rich variety of incredible indigenous crops and foods - from nutrient-dense grains and legumes to unique fruits and leafy greens. Despite their value, many of… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Domestic Workers Still Battle With Echoes of a Racist Past
There are 861,000 domestic workers employed in South Africa. They make up about 25% of the informal (non-agricultural) labour sector. By and large, it is still uneducated, black… Read more »
Africa: 'They Are Like My Children' - Research Reveals 4 Types of Indoor Plant Owners. Which One Are You?
Walk into any home or workplace today, and you're likely to find an array of indoor plants. The global market for indoor plants is growing fast - projected to reach more than US$28… Read more »
South Africa: Ernest Cole - the South African Photographer At the Centre of a Powerful and Heartbreaking Film
Ernest Cole is famous for photographing the everyday realities of South Africa's racist apartheid system. His 1967 book House of Bondage ensured his damning critique of the white… Read more »
Africa: The Role of Carbon Dioxide in Airborne Disease Transmission - a Hidden Key to Safer Indoor Spaces
We've long known that environmental factors - from humidity and temperature to trace chemical vapours - can influence how pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria and fungi, behave… Read more »
Africa: Culture Can Build a Better World - Four Key Issues On Africa's G20 Agenda
The cultural and creative industries are a growing source of income and job creation around the world, generating tens of millions of jobs. The cultural sector is also linked to… Read more »
Africa: Africa's Traditional Fermented Foods - and Why We Should Keep Consuming Them
Fermentation is a process where microorganisms like bacteria and yeast work together to break down complex carbohydrates and protein into simpler, more digestible forms. Read more »
April 15
Ethiopia: Ethiopia's 2026 Elections - Without Reforms, the Vote May Not Be Free or Fair
Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair? Read more »
Africa: I Was a Child Soldier - Here's What It'll Take to Protect Young Lives in Conflict Zones
The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world. Read more »
Kenya: Ritual Murder of Children - Study in Ghana and Kenya Explores Who's Doing It and Why
Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It… Read more »
Africa: If We Must Bring Back Extinct Species, Let's Focus On the Giant Herbivores
The American genetic engineering firm Colossal Biosciences recently announced to much fanfare it had "de-extincted" the dire wolf, a canine species that was wiped out around 10,000… Read more »
South Africa: South Africans Don't Donate Enough Blood - Technology Can Help Drive the Numbers
The shortage of blood for medical use is a global challenge. South Africa is not exempt. Blood collection organisations such as the South African National Blood Service struggle to… Read more »
April 14
South Africa: South Africa Finally Has a Masterplan for a Renewable Energy Industry - Here's What It Says
About 85% of South Africa's electricity is produced by burning coal. The country's move to renewable energy means that the coal industry will be phased out. To this end, the South… Read more »
Africa: Africa's Healthcare Funding Crisis - 3 Strategies to Manage Deadly Diseases
The increasing trend of reducing foreign aid to Africa is forcing the continent to reassess its approach to healthcare delivery. Read more »
April 13
Africa: Power Drives Global Affairs Today, Not Rules - What Africa's Strategies Should Be
A new world order is emerging. The United States is no longer the sole force shaping global events; countries like China, Russia, India and the Gulf states are growing in… Read more »
Ghana: Accra Is a Tough City to Walk in - How City Planners Can Fix the Problem
Humans are walking beings. Walking is intrinsically linked to our physical development from childhood and enables our connections with people and places. We can say it is essential… Read more »
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