October 24, 2023
Africa: Tiny and Mysterious - Research Sheds Light On Sub-Saharan Africa's Seahorses, Pipefish and Pipehorses
Seahorses are considered fabled creatures by many; something that only exists in old mythical tales of the ocean. But these curious animals really exist - and they're not the only… Read more »
Nigeria: Kola Nut - From Nanofertiliser to Protecting Metals From Corrosion - Our Research Finds New Uses for the Valuable Plant
The kola nut tree is grown for its seed. The tree is indigenous to west Africa, where it is widely cultivated. It's now also found in Asia, South America and the Caribbean. Read more »
October 23, 2023
Kenya: Power Sector Is a Shining Example, the Big Hurdles Are Household and Transport Emissions
Kenya's ambition is to reduce carbon emissions by one-third by 2030, relative to the business-as-usual scenario of 143 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. It also seeks to… Read more »
Africa: Breakthroughs in Medicine - Top Virologist On the Two Most Important Developments for Africa
There have been several important breakthroughs in medical science recently. Crispr, mRNA, next-generation cancer treatments and game-changing vaccines are some of them. Oyewale… Read more »
South Africa: How President Ramaphosa's Covid Speeches Drew On Mandela's Ideas of Unity
In times of crisis, leaders wield more than just political power. They harness the art of rhetoric in a bid to unite their nations towards a common goal. South Africa, with a… Read more »
Africa: How Much Time Do Kids Spend On Devices - Playing Games, Watching Videos, Texting and Using the Phone?
Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you'd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Read more »
October 22, 2023
South Africa: Community Radio - Young South Africans Are Helping Shape the News Through Social Media
The number of South African internet users has nearly doubled in the past decade. One 2023 study of 45 developed countries suggests that South Africans even lead the world when it… Read more »
Southern Africa: Ancient Pots Hold Clues About How Diverse Diets Helped Herders Thrive in Southern Africa
The introduction of herding - a way of life which centres on keeping herds of mobile domesticated animals - significantly changed Africa's genetic, economic, social and cultural… Read more »
October 19, 2023
Namibia: Martti Ahtisaari - the Finnish Peacemaker Who Played Midwife to Namibian Independence
Martti Ahtisaari, the former Finnish president, died on 16 October at the age of 86. Born in eastern Finland, he was two years old when his family fled from the Russian invasion at… Read more »
Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Have a New Defence Alliance - an Expert View of Its Chances of Success
On 16 September 2023 in Bamako, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defence pact. The agreement was signed against the backdrop of an… Read more »
Namibia: Namibia and Angola's Remote Ovahimba Mountains Reveal a Haven for Unique Plants - New Survey
The Kaokoveld region, covering north-western Namibia and south-western Angola, is one of the remotest areas in southern Africa. Although it's extremely dry, it is a centre of… Read more »
South Africa: Expert Explains What's Behind the Chicken Crisis and What Must Be Done About It
An outbreak of avian flu - a highly contagious viral infection that affects wild birds as well as poultry - has hit poultry farms in South Africa. Two different strains are causing… Read more »
Ghana: Football and Big Money - What Some Professional Players in Ghana Told Us About Handling Their Finances
Footballers are among the best paid sportsmen in most parts of the world. Read more »
Algeria: Hamas-Israel Conflict Means Algeria Will Host Palestine's Football Matches - There's a Bigger History
Palestine was about to embark on its 2026 men's Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign when the latest round of Hamas-Israeli conflict broke out, making Palestine's national football… Read more »
October 18, 2023
Kenya: Tapeworm Is Spreading in Kenya - Demand for Meat Brings Parasite to New Areas
Echinococcus granulosus, a type of tapeworm, is a harmful parasite that affects 1 million people worldwide. Read more »
Africa: Colonialism Shaped Modern Universities in Africa - How They Can Become Truly African
Colonialism profoundly shaped modern universities in Africa. It implanted institutions on African soil that were largely replicas of European universities rather than organically… Read more »
South Africa: Evolution Revolution - How a Cape Town Museum Exhibit Is Rewriting the Story of Humankind
Picture your typical human evolution museum display. You walk into a dimly lit space with glass boxes on white plinths or roped off areas. There are lots and lots of bones. Maybe a… Read more »
October 17, 2023
Nigeria: Sexual Harassment Victims in Nigerian Universities Blamed, Study Finds
Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of inappropriate behaviour, from ogling, touching and commenting about body parts, to sexual proposition, coercion, assault and rape. In… Read more »
Africa: How Animal Traits Have Shaped the Journey of Species Across the Globe
The devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 set off a series of events which have long fascinated scientists like me. It was so powerful that it caused 5 million tonnes of… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's 2022 Census - Has Johannesburg Stopped Growing, or Are the Numbers Wrong?
South Africa's census is a vital source of information for policy making, planning and research, and so the Census 2022 findings released last week were eagerly awaited. It offers… Read more »
October 16, 2023
Africa: The World Bank and the IMF Need to Keep Reforming to Become Fit for Purpose
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are being challenged to make substantial reforms so that they become fit for purpose in the 21st century. Read more »
Senegal: Senegalese Writers Win Caine Prize for Fantasy-Horror Story
The influential Caine Prize for African Writing for 2023 was won by a power couple from Senegal. Their short story A Soul of Small Places (which can be read over here) echoes… Read more »
Egypt: Ancient Egypt Had Far More Venomous Snakes Than the Country Today
How much can the written records of ancient civilisations tell us about the animals they lived alongside? Our latest research, based on the venomous snakes described in an ancient… Read more »
Egypt: Hamas-Israeli Conflict - What's At Stake for Egypt
As the Israeli-Hamas crisis continues, a great deal of focus is shifting to Egypt. Egypt shares a border with both Israel and Gaza - the narrow strip of Palestinian territory which… Read more »
Africa: Traditional Farming Knowledge Should Be Stored for Future Use
Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices have played a critical role in development all over the world. For centuries, various disciplines ranging from medicine to… Read more »