November 29, 2022
Africa: Six Common Covid Myths Busted By a Virologist and a Public Health Expert
Almost three years into the pandemic, myths and misinformation remain widespread. Here we, a virologist and a public health researcher, debunk some common misconceptions about… Read more »
November 28, 2022
Africa: HIV Prevention - New Injection Could Boost the Fight, but Some Hurdles Remain
While the world has focused on the COVID pandemic for nearly three years, less and less attention is being paid to HIV. However, HIV is still a global problem. In 2021, according… Read more »
Cameroon: Paul Biya Has Been Cameroon's President for 40 Years - and He Might Win Office Yet Again
At 89 years old, one of the oldest leaders in the world, President Paul Biya of Cameroon has marked 40 years as head of state. He assumed office in 1982. Read more »
East Africa: East African Court of Justice - What It Is and What Its Powers Are
Martha Karua, the running mate of Raila Odinga, the losing candidate in Kenya's 2022 presidential election, continues to dispute William Ruto's slim victory over him. According to… Read more »
South Africa: Koos Prinsloo - the Cult Afrikaans Writer Has Been Translated to English - Here's a Review
There are some writers you wish you had encountered years ago. There are some authors you only discover - for many reasons - years after their death. Read more »
November 27, 2022
Nigeria: Chickens From Live Poultry Markets in Nigeria Could Be Bad for Your Health - Scientists Explain Why
Many livestock farmers treat their animals with antimicrobial medications. These are drugs that target bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. But using them the wrong way can have… Read more »
Africa: Covid Nasal Sprays May One Day Prevent and Treat Infection. Here's Where the Science Is Up to
We have vaccines to boost our immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID. We have medicines you can take at home (and in hospital) to treat COVID. Now researchers… Read more »
Africa: RSV FAQ - What Is RSV? Who Is At Risk? When Should I Seek Emergency Care for My Child?
What is RSV? Read more »
November 26, 2022
Africa: Land Reform in South Africa - 5 Myths About Farming Debunked
South Africa's land reform policy remains highly contested. But, in our view, a number of persistent myths about farmland statistics and the structure of commercial agriculture… Read more »
Africa: Rock Art - How South Africa's Coat of Arms Got to Feature an Ancient SAN Painting
A new exhibition in Johannesburg titled !ke e: xarra ke - People who are Different: Come Together celebrates the rock art of the San people, the first inhabitants of southern… Read more »
November 25, 2022
South Africa: How to Impeach a President - Ramaphosa Case Puts New Rules to the Test in South Africa
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa faces possible impeachment in the country's parliament over the illegal stashing of thousands of US dollars at his farm in 2020. This is… Read more »
Africa: Black Panther - Wakanda Forever Reclaims the Myth of an African Utopia
Black Panther is set in the fictional country of Wakanda. The creation of the Wakandan African identity has been a contentious issue. Borrowing aspects of cultures from around… Read more »
Namibia: Namibia Pulls Down German Colonial Statue After Protests - Who Was Curt Von François?
Anti-colonial activists in Namibia - calling themselves A Curt Farewell - have scored a victory after a statue of a colonial German officer, Curt von François, was removed… Read more »
Congo-Kinshasa: Conflict in the DRC - 5 Articles That Explain What's Gone Wrong
For nearly three decades, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been embroiled in violence. Millions of people have been killed, and an estimated 5.6 million others displaced… Read more »
November 24, 2022
Africa: We Discovered a New Species of Owl - but We Already Think It's in Danger
As part of an international team of scientists we have confirmed a new species of owl after decades of speculation that it exists on Príncipe Island, part of the Democratic… Read more »
Kenya: Al-Shabaab - Sensational Media Reports About Terror Attacks Keep Kids Out of School
Sensational reporting on terror attacks in Kenya is keeping children out of school, with dire consequences for their education and their futures. Read more »
Kenya: Community Wildlife Conservation Isn't Always a Win-Win Solution - The Case of Kenya's Samburu
Community-based wildlife conservation is often promoted as a win-win solution. The idea behind this approach is that the people who live close to wildlife can be involved in… Read more »
Africa: Journalists Reporting On the Covid-19 Pandemic Relied On Research That Had Yet to Be Peer Reviewed
A story on gender inequity in scientific research industries. A deep dive into the daily rhythms of the immune system. A look at vaccine effectiveness for COVID-19 variants. These… Read more »
Africa: Cheaper, Tougher, Less Toxic - New Alloys Show Promise in Developing Artificial Limbs
Titanium is a strong, resilient and relatively light metal. Its properties have also been well studied; scientists know a great deal about it. All of this makes it the ideal base… Read more »
South Africa: Simon Nkoli's Fight for Queer Rights Is Finally Being Celebrated - 24 Years After He Died
Born in 1957, Simon Tseko Nkoli had just turned 41 when he died, in 1998, of an AIDS-related illness. In his short life, the South African activist fought against different forms… Read more »
South Africa: Time for South Africa to Improve Its Intelligence Sharing Channels With the U.S.
The announcement in October 2022 by the US embassy in South Africa of a possible terror attack caused a lot of confusion, concern and, in some cases, anger in the country. The… Read more »
Africa: My Rapid Antigen Tests Are Negative but I Still Think I Might Have Covid. Should I Get a PCR Test?
You've been exposed to COVID and are starting to get symptoms. But after a couple of days of testing with rapid antigen tests (RATs), your tests remain negative. Read more »
November 23, 2022
Africa: Black Panther Is a Step in the Right Direction
From Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness to the recent She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, comics and their adaptations or spin-offs are big business. The just-released Black… Read more »
Africa: Spending Too Much Money? Tempted By Sales? These Ways to 'Hack' Your Psychology Can Help
It's late November, which means the holiday sales period has well and truly begun. If you haven't already seen your spending go up, the possibility is looming. Read more »
Africa: Long Covid Stigma May Encourage People to Hide the Condition
An estimated 2.1 million people are living with long COVID in the UK alone. We recently asked 888 people in the UK with long COVID about their experiences of stigma, and 95% of… Read more »