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 »
South Africa: Shell Didn't Consult Communities Properly About Mining the Wild Coast - but How Much Legal Protection Do South Africans Have?
South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal by Shell, Impact Africa and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to overturn a High Court judgment… Read more »
Kenya: Kenyan Police and Protests - Researchers On a Violent, Corrupt Security Force That's Beyond Reform
Kenya's police are being criticised for their violent response to protests over the past week against government proposals to raise US$2.7 billion in additional taxes. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Coalition Govt - Making the Case for Hope
In the aftermath of South Africa's recent election, renewed hope has made an unexpected appearance. In difficult times, even small gains can be valuable. But, on occasion, much… Read more »
Malawi: Saulos Chilima - Personal Tribute to a Malawian Leader Who Stood Against Hunger and Poverty but Courted Controversy
Saulos Klaus Chilima, the former vice-president of Malawi who died recently in a plane crash, brought to Malawian politics several qualities that made him stand out. But he was… Read more »
June 25
East Africa: Lake Victoria - Why So Many Fishers Are Dying and What Can Be Done About It
Small-scale fishers on Lake Victoria (Africa's largest freshwater lake, shared by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) are drowning. Safety issues such as storms, a lack of available life… Read more »
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 »
Africa: Maths Makes Finding Bat Roosts Much Easier, Our Research Shows
Finding bats is hard. They are small, fast and they primarily fly at night. Read more »
Africa: Success in Treating Persistent Pain Now Offers Hope for Those With Long Covid
The emergence of Long COVID as a mysterious new illness has refocused attention on the incapacitating nature of persistent fatigue. Read more »
South Africa: Technology Makes It Possible to Diagnose Diseases On the Spot
Digital technology has hugely improved healthcare in many ways. Read more »
South Africa: Mining Needs More Regulation, According to South Africans - Survey
South Africa has large reserves of coal, gold, manganese and platinum. Read more »
June 24
Botswana: 'Fong Kong' Products Have Helped Drive Local Manufacturing - Study
Chinese products are frequently viewed as inferior and inexpensive, contributing to their negative reputation. This is true in African countries too. Read more »
Africa: Is Social Media Making You Unhappy? the Answer Is Not So Simple
You may have seen headlines that link social media to sadness and depression. Social media use goes up, happiness goes down. But recent studies suggest those findings might not be… Read more »
Kenya: Kenyan Protesters Have Taken to the Streets in Their Thousands - What the Law Says About Their Rights
Across Kenya, thousands of mostly young citizens are protesting against tax proposals tabled by President William Ruto's administration in its annual budget legislation. Using… Read more »
Rwanda: Rwanda's Military Support to Other Countries Is Part of a Strategy to Boost Its Reputation
Rwanda is one of Africa's geographically smallest countries. However, its foreign policy, whose hallmark is military diplomacy, has attracted international attention. 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 »
Africa: An Eerie 'Digital Afterlife' Is No Longer Science Fiction. So How Do We Navigate the Risks?
Imagine a future where your phone pings with a message that your dead father's "digital immortal" bot is ready. This promise of chatting with a virtual version of your loved one -… Read more »
June 22
Kenya: Kenyan Protesters Driving Change From Screens to the Streets
Nationwide demonstrations have erupted in Kenya over a controversial tax bill. The Finance Bill 2024, initially presented to parliament in May, has sparked discontent with an… Read more »
June 21
Kenya: Khat in Kenya - Why Efforts to Ban This Popular Stimulant Are Unlikely to Work
Khat - the stimulant leaves and twigs of the plant Catha edulis - seemed to have secure legal status in Kenya despite being illegal elsewhere. It had been declared an official cash… Read more »
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 20
Africa: Elephants Use the Tips of Their Trunks to Grasp Things With Great Precision
An elephant uses its trunk for eating, drinking water, communicating, exploring the environment, social behaviour, and making and using tools. The trunk, which contains six muscle… Read more »
Africa: House of the Dragon - If Dragons Were Real, How Might Fire-Breathing Work?
In George R.R. Martin's fantastical land of Westeros in Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, the spectacle of dragons breathing fire captivates his audience through a blend of… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Foreign Policy - a Unity Government Must Be Practical in a Turbulent World
As South Africa navigates fundamental political change, it faces stark choices on foreign policy posture and priorities. The change has been brought about by the African National… Read more »
Africa: Global Pandemic Treaty Will Help Fight Future Threats - Top Negotiator On How Talks Are Going
For the past two years the World Health Organization's 194 member states have been negotiating an international accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. This was… Read more »
South Africa: Goema Superstar - How Composer Mac Mckenzie Reshaped the Sound of Cape Town
Gerald "Mac" McKenzie passed away on 29 April 2024. He will be remembered as a renegade spirit and innovator in South African music. The composer and bassist changed Cape Town's… Read more »