Steve Biko, the South African struggle hero who was prepared to sacrifice his life for black liberation: What happens when death becomes the ultimate marker of one’s commitment to one’s freedom? Jacob Dlamini explores this and other questions in his new book, Dying for Freedom: Political Martyrdom in South Africa. This edited extract, from the …
Rock painting is the oldest image of an African rail, a bird that may have had a special meaning for the San people: The African rail (Rallus caerulescens) is a handsome bird, with a blueish breast, red legs, eyes and bill, prominent barring on the flanks, chestnut upper parts, and long toes. It also has …
Raising revenue from land: what African cities might learn from Hong Kong’s unique land-lease system: Land prices across many African cities are soaring. This is because land is a city’s key asset. As urbanisation progresses, demand for land will rise, and therefore so will land prices, because the supply of land in cities is limited. …
South African accountancy students struggle to overcome disadvantages: what lecturers can do differently: Accounting educators must take students' context and backgrounds into account. Kobus Louw In recent decades, student numbers have risen at higher education institutions in many parts of the world. This has opened doors for students who might have been excluded before. These …
How democracy can work at community level: 3 lessons from a South African protest movement: Popular protests have surged around the world over the last decade. But do they work? And what lessons can be learnt from communities who have a history of militant protests? When the African National Congress (ANC) was elected to power …
AI can make African elections more efficient – but trust must be built and proper rules put in place: Election officials confirm a voter's biometric details during Kenya's 2022 elections. James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket Time magazine has dubbed 2024 a “super election year”. An astonishing 4 billion people are eligible to vote in countries across the …
Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet: Benefits and appeals were recently launched to support the medical costs of veteran South African guitarist Madala Kunene. It’s not the first time such initiatives have been necessary, nor the first time that media and politicians have expressed astonishment that …
Stevie Wonder’s Ghanaian citizenship reflects long-standing links between African Americans and the continent: There’s a long history of African Americans settling in Ghana or keeping in close contact with the first African country to gain independence. This relationship has most recently been exemplified by musician Stevie Wonder taking up Ghanaian citizenship. Ghana, which gained independence …
African countries could unlock billions in local and global trade – what’s working and what’s not: Africa’s share of global trade remains disproportionately small, hovering around 2%-3%. Countries on the continent trade more with the rest of the world than they do among themselves. Africa needs to improve its share of trade to boost growth …
South African communities vs Shell: high court victories show that cultural beliefs and practices count in climate cases: Oyster gatherers on a Wild Coast beach at low tide. The sea is integral to these communities' lives and culture. PaulGregg When the Shell petroleum company announced in 2021 that it wanted to explore for fossil fuels …
Why the upcoming South African election is a massive milestone for the ruling ANC: South African’s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), is in trouble. After 30 years in charge, it is scrambling for support ahead of the upcoming national elections. The ANC has run the country since the end of apartheid in 1994, …
Clothed pig carcasses are revealing the secrets of mummification – South African study provides insights for forensic scientists: Establishing time-since-death is key in forensic investigations. gorodenkoff It was the kind of task any competent seamstress has completed hundreds of times before: altering denim jeans and jerseys. But there was something different about this piece of …
The mother of African dance at 80. Why Senegal’s Germaine Acogny is so influential: Africa’s most celebrated dancer and choreographer, Germaine Acogny, turns 80 on 28 May. I have had the privilege of meeting the Senegalese artist, learning from her, and interviewing her as part of my ongoing research into African contemporary dance. This is …
African Standby Force turns 20: has it helped keep the peace? The pros and cons: It’s been 20 years since the African Standby Force was established by the African Union (AU). The standby force is mandated to implement the AU’s right to intervene in African situations that require military force. This year, the AU is …
BCX Alibaba Cloud Academy and Arovy University join forces to empower African students for the digital economy!: BCX Alibaba Cloud Academy and Arovy University have joined forces in a strategic partnership aimed at empowering students to cultivate essential skills for the expanding digital economy in Africa. The basis of this initiative is the Alibaba Cloud …
Al Ahly and Esperance highlight the dominance of North Africa in club football. Lessons for other African teams: Al Ahly, based in Cairo, and Esperance, in Tunis, are among the most successful clubs in the history of the main club cup competition in Africa, the CAF Champions League. Al Ahly has reached the finals multiple …
African sci-fi: body hopping, artificial wombs and angry ghosts in a future Botswana: Tlotlo Tsamaase has already proved her talent for African science fiction. Her masterly short stories, one previously shortlisted for the Caine Prize, are helping put Botswana on the literary map. Her debut novel, Womb City, interweaves the mythological and digital expanses of …
Minimum wage for South African farm workers: study shows 2013 hike helped reduce poverty even though compliance was poor: Minimum wage policies are typically aimed at reducing poverty. Yet there is little direct evidence of this effect, especially in developing countries. And none for South Africa. In a recent paper, we consider the income, employment …