Russia: Activist beaten outside of his home
Andrei was beaten outside of his home in Moscow by a group of men because he participated in a campaign against the war in Ukraine. Now, he faces a 10-year prison sentence for coordinating protests by the youth organisation Vesna. ”I was attacked by a group of young men because I participated in the campaign …
Will Angelique Kidjo get her sixth Grammy?
On Sunday the 5th of February Angelique Kidjo, the singer-songwriter and activist from the Republic of Benin could win her sixth Grammy. Kidjo is up for more wins in 2023 for Best Global Music Album and also for Best Song Written for Visual Media for the movie The Woman King. Angelique Kidjo, the energetic singer-songwriter …
Echolocation 6. Behind the Scenes
Sweden, Moldova, Georgia. What do our three countries have in common and what can we learn from each other? Listen to a special episode of Echolocation about how everything started – and what we plan for the future. Finally, the team behind the Echolocation podcast met in Chisinau (or “Kiss-me-now” for those having difficulties with …
How bad is video streaming for the climate?
We are used to thinking that going digital means going green. However, the fact is that a two-hour film on Netflix pollutes as much as a 45-minute car drive, writes Stefano Bonetti from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. While that is true for some activities – for example, making a video call to the other …
Iran: No comment from Swedish MFA regarding assault
Since Anela and Åke reported several officials at the Iranian embassy for assault, they have received death threats and now they are living in a secret location.– The Iranian embassy in Sweden is not serving us Iranians, it is the regime’s extended arm, it’s a spy house, says Anela, who wants the Swedish Foreign Ministry …
Why African autocrats love Chinese workers
China has rapidly become Africa’s most important infrastructure builder. The presence of large numbers of Chinese workers labouring on these projects is one of the most controversial aspects of China’s economic engagement with Africa and the wider world, writes Pippa Morgan, Duke Kunshan University and Andrea Ghiselli, Fudan University. With the launch of Beijing’s “Go …
Algeria: Well-known journalist jailed
On 24 December, Ihsane El Kadi, editor-in-chief of the last free and independent media in Algeria, was imprisoned. Ihsane El Kadi is now threatened with seven years’ imprisonment, although no formal charges have been brought against him. And in EU there is silence. Ihsane El Kadi was arrested by the Algerian security service after he …
Nigeria: 100 years of pop music
In 1922 Rev Josiah Ransome-Kuti – grandfather of music icon Fela Kuti – recorded the first Nigerian record – something that could be regarded as the first effort of popularising Nigerian music, writes Chijioke Ngobili from University of Nigeria. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months of 2020 shut down nearly all physical …
Echolocation 4: Ready for a date?
How do you find the ”right one”? What is the difference in dating between Sweden, Moldova and Georgia? Maybe the new episode of Echolocation will give you the right answers. How does social media influence young people’s dating behaviour? Are the online apps efficient in finding a ”perfect match“ and what is it like to …
Art: Restitution is just a continuation of colonial policies
Restitution is just a way of remembering colonialism and writing colonial history. It fails to note that taking “objects” from Africa went hand-in-hand with the murder or destruction of knowledges in the continent. It thus eliminated the possibility for future knowledge practice and circulation, writes Fazil Moradi from University of Johannesburg. The violence of the …
