February 24, 2023
South Africa: Murdered South African Rapper's Posthumous Album Is a Mixed Bag
Just weeks before being gunned down in what appeared to be a hit, the South African rapper AKA (Kiernan Forbes) had announced he was ready to release his new album, Mass Country.… Read more »
South Africa: South African Rapper AKA's Murder Video Went Viral - It Shouldn't Have
In the days after the killing of rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbe, known as AKA, and his friend Tebello "Tibz" Motoane, the murders kept playing out on social media. Again and again,… Read more »
February 23, 2023
Nigeria: Nigeria Elections - the Surprising Influence of Afrobeats Music On Politics
In the run-up to Nigeria's February 2023 elections, the country's younger generation has mobilised to demand change and redefine the political landscape - and music has been… Read more »
Africa: South Africa's Bailout of Eskom Won't End Power Cuts
The announcement by the South African finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, of debt relief for the country's troubled power utility, Eskom, is a step forward. It will fix one… Read more »
Africa: Election Observers Are Important for Democracy - but Few Voters Know What They Do
Election observers keep watch over polls throughout the world. Their job is to support efforts to improve electoral quality and to provide transparency. In African countries, both… Read more »
Africa: Misinformation - Why It May Not Necessarily Lead to Bad Behaviour
"So far as the influence of the newspaper upon the mind and morals of the people is concerned, there can be no rational doubt that the telegraph has caused vast injury." So said… Read more »
Africa: Rejecting Science Has a Long History - the Pandemic Showed What Happens When You Ignore This
Fear engulfed everyone during the pandemic. Yet when a vaccine became available, it was met with fierce resistance. Anti-vaccination crowds formed, and some of these groups argued… Read more »
Africa: Africa's First Heat Officer Is Based in Freetown - 5 Things That Should Be On Her Agenda
Eugenia Kargbo has an unusual job: she is the city of Freetown's chief heat officer. Her role in Sierra Leone's capital is the first of its kind in Africa. She has been tasked with… Read more »
South Africa: Pretty Yende, a South African Opera Star With a Voice That Shatters Glass Ceilings
It's been announced that South African opera star Pretty Yende will sing at King Charles III's coronation on 6 May in Westminster Abbey, London. The 37-year-old soprano was elated. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Relief Grant - How It Can Be Used to Help Young People Into Jobs
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the unemployment crisis in South Africa. In the second quarter of 2021, unemployment rates were the highest ever officially recorded. Many people who… Read more »
February 22, 2023
Nigeria: Bola Ahmed Tinubu - the Kingmaker Is Now Nigeria's President-Elect
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria, has been declared winner of the country's keenly contested presidential election. Read more »
Africa: In Defence of Vultures, Nature's Early-Warning Systems That Are Holy to Many People
With their long, featherless necks and stern-looking faces, vultures are an easy target for people's fear and loathing. In books and films, they usually appear as a forewarning of… Read more »
Nigeria: Peter Obi Could Be the Force That Topples Nigeria's Two Main Political Parties
Obi-dient is the word in town for the Nigerians who support Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, south-east Nigeria. To them, Obi is the best candidate for the country's… Read more »
South Africa: Power Crisis - Going Off the Grid Works for the Wealthy But Could Deepen Injustice for the Poor
South Africa's current electricity crisis has been described as "a perfect storm". A number of factors have converged to reach this point: an ageing and inadequately maintained… Read more »
Africa: Rock Art As African History - What Religious Images Say About Identity, Survival and Change
To "read" the history of times before writing, scholars have traditionally used excavated evidence. Remains like dwellings, burials and pots can reveal a lot about how people lived… Read more »
Rwanda: Over 90% of Rwandans Have Health Insurance - the Health Minister Tells an Expert What Went Right
In 2015 the United Nations General Assembly adopted universal health coverage as one of the sustainable development goals. The aim of universal health coverage is to ensure that… Read more »
Nigeria: Bola Tinubu - Nigeria's Kingmaker Who Wants to Be King
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria, holds two traditional titles: Asiwaju of Lagos and Jagaban of the Borgu kingdom in… Read more »
Nigeria: Bola Tinubu - the Kingmaker Is Now Nigeria's President-Elect
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria, has been declared winner of the country's keenly contested presidential election. Read more »
Africa: We Can Learn a Lot About Long Covid From Years of Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Long COVID reportedly affects about 10% of post-COVID patients, and describes a range of ongoing or new symptoms three months post-infection. Read more »
Nigeria: Presidential Elections - Alarm Over Violence and Security Likely to Drive Vote
With Nigeria's presidential elections slated for Saturday 25 February, the country's independent electoral commission's offices have suffered several attacks in recent weeks.… Read more »
Africa: ChatGPT Has Many Uses. Experts Explore What This Means for Healthcare and Medical Research
The sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship is the cornerstone of the healthcare profession. This protected space is steeped in tradition - the Hippocratic oath, medical… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria Heads to the Polls - 5 Essential Reads About the Elections
Nigerians go to the polls on 25 February to elect a new president, vice-president, 109 members of the Senate and 360 members of the Federal House of Representatives. Eighteen… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerian Elections Are Crowded With Candidates - Use This New Tool to Decide Who to Vote for in Your Area
Eighteen political parties are contesting for Nigeria's presidential elections scheduled for 25 February. Yes, 18 parties. But that's not the highest number of parties in Nigeria's… Read more »
February 21, 2023
Southern Africa: Cyclones in Southern Africa - Five Essential Reads
Tropical cyclone Freddy was, on 21 February 2023, bearing down on Mauritius and Madagascar. Mauritius grounded flights and, news agency Reuters reported, emergency teams in four… Read more »
Africa: Four Habits of Happy People - As Recommended By a Psychologist
What makes you happy? Maybe it's getting up early to see the sunrise, hanging out with family and friends on a weekend, or going for a dip in the sea. But what does science say… Read more »