January 09
South Africa: South Africa's New Plan to End Power Cuts Is Seriously Flawed. Here's Why
South Africa experienced unprecedented electricity shortages in 2023 as ageing coal plants became increasingly prone to breakdowns. The country urgently needs to develop new… Read more »
Southern Africa: Studying Engineering Is Tough - 6 Insights to Help University Students Succeed
Engineering courses are a popular choice among South African university students. But these courses are also gruelling and the attrition rates are high. The Council on Higher… Read more »
Africa: Some Believe the 1889 Russian Flu Pandemic Was Actually Caused By a Coronavirus - Here's Why That's Unlikely
COVID-19 was the first coronavirus pandemic. The original Sars virus from 2003 and the Mers virus that created a health emergency in South Korea in 2015 were both coronaviruses,… Read more »
Africa: Wanting to 'Move On' Is Natural - but Women's Pandemic Experiences Can't Be Lost to 'Lockdown Amnesia'
The COVID-19 pandemic was - and continues to be - hugely disruptive and stressful for individuals, communities and countries. Yet many seem desperate to close the chapter entirely,… Read more »
January 08
West Africa: Scramble for the Sahel - Why France, Russia, China and the United States Are Interested in the Region
The Sahel, a region 3,860km wide located south of the Sahara Desert and stretching east-west across the African continent, has been a focus of attention around the world recently. Read more »
South Africa: Five Years On the Road in Africa - How Lerato Mogoatlhe Became a Travel Writer
South African journalist Lerato Mogoatlhe set off for three months in west Africa. She ended up drifting across the continent for five years. In 2019 she wrote a book about her… Read more »
Africa: How to Maintain a Healthy Gut Microbiome in 2024
We all know by now that the pillars of a healthy lifestyle are regular exercise, eating enough fruit and vegetables, a good night's sleep and staying hydrated. All of these things… Read more »
January 07
Senegal: Senegal's Small Scale Gold Miners Still Use Poisonous Mercury - How to Reduce the Harm
"Do not fish in these waters." "Contains high levels of mercury." Read more »
Africa: Young Africans Could Disrupt Authoritarian States but They Don't - Here's Why
Africa has the world's largest youth population. By 2030, 75% of the African population will be under the age of 35. The number of young Africans aged 15-24 is projected to reach… Read more »
South Africa: Taxes On e-Cigarettes - South Africa Must Strike a Balance Between Economic Arguments and Health Concerns
The 21st century has seen a massive expansion in the ways that people can consume tobacco and nicotine. Innovative new products include electronic nicotine delivery systems ("ENDS"… Read more »
January 04
South Africa: Peter Magubane - Courageous Photographer Who Chronicled South Africa's Struggle for Freedom
Peter Sexford Magubane, a courageous South African photographer whose images testify to both the iniquity of apartheid and the determination and devotion of those who brought about… Read more »
Africa: Africans Discovered Dinosaur Fossils Long Before the Term 'Palaeontology' Existed
Credit for discovering the first dinosaur bones usually goes to British gentlemen for their finds between the 17th and 19th centuries in England. Robert Plot, an English natural… Read more »
South Africa: Bullies in South African Schools Were Often Bullied Themselves - Insights From an Expert
"Pupil stabbed to death at Gauteng school had suffered history of bullying". "Grade 6 learner commits suicide after bullying". "Grade 11 learner takes her own life after taunts… Read more »
January 03
Africa: Stressed Out? Why Mindfulness and Meditation Help Us Cope With the World
In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope. Many have turned to practices originating in ancient… Read more »
South Africa: School Uniforms May Trigger Sensory Overload in Kids Who Are Sensitive to Fabrics - Our Research Can Help
Many people live with what's known as sensory over-reactivity or over-responsiveness. Those with this condition experience an over-reaction to sensory stimuli, such as touch. When… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa to Lead New Military Force in the DRC - an Expert On What It's Up Against
The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Monusco, is ending after 20 years. It will be replaced by troops from the Southern African… Read more »
January 02
Africa: Africa Cup of Nations Showcases the Continent's Finest Footballers - and China's Economic Clout
When the Africa Cup of Nations begins on January 13, the opening match between Guinea Bissau and the hosts, Ivory Coast, will be played at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.… Read more »
Africa: Coca-Cola in Africa - A Story of High Politics and Marketing Gumption
A new book called Bottled: How Coca-Cola Became African tells the story of how the world's most famous carbonated drink conquered the continent. It's a tale of marketing gumption… Read more »
December 29, 2023
Africa: Time to Choose a Career? a Psychologist Offers Tips On the Journey After High School
Pivotal decisions loom large for high school graduates and those with responsibility over them. The trajectory has been a fairly straightforward line until now - learning and more… Read more »
Africa: What Covid Diaries Have in Common With Samuel Pepys' 17th-Century Plague Diaries
People keep diaries for all sorts of reasons - to record events, work through difficult situations, or manage stress and trauma. The ongoing COVID inquiry shows diaries also have… Read more »
December 28, 2023
Africa: Black Panther, Wakanda Forever and the Problem With Hollywood - an African Perspective
Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever were global hits that played out in an imaginary African kingdom and feature a universe of black creative talent. What's not to… Read more »
December 27, 2023
Africa: An African History of Cannabis Offers Fascinating and Heartbreaking Insights - an Expert Explains
When I tell people that I research cannabis, I sometimes receive a furtive gesture that implies and presumes: "We're both stoners!", as if two members of a secret society have met. Read more »
December 26, 2023
Africa: Unusual Ancient Elephant Tracks Had Our Team of Fossil Experts Stumped - How We Solved the Mystery
Over the past 15 years, through our scientific study of tracks and traces, we have identified more than 350 fossil vertebrate tracksites from South Africa's Cape south coast. Most… Read more »
December 25, 2023
East Africa: 4 Must-Read Books From East Africa in 2023 - From Tanzanian Masters to Ugandan Queens
East African literature continues to grow and reshape itself in exciting new ways - and 2023 was no exception. The world really did take notice of the region when Tanzanian-British… Read more »
East Africa: 4 Must-Read Books From East Africa - From Tanzanian Masters to Ugandan Queens
East African literature continues to grow and reshape itself in exciting new ways. The world really did take notice of the region when Tanzanian-British author Abdulrazak Gurnah… Read more »