Orchestra Baobab: A legend leaves the stage
The world has lost one of the great pioneers of the post-independence movement of modern popular music in Senegal. After a long illness, Rudolphe “Rudy” Clément Gomis – co-founder of the famous Orchestra Baobab, bandleader, composer, singer and percussionist – passed away on 27 April 2022 aged 75 in his native city, Ziguinchor, the capital …
Somalia election: A sense of history and urgency
Somali lawmakers vote for the country’s new president on May 15, marking the end of a long-delayed and controversial process. The Horn of Africa nation of 16 million has been struggling to achieve viable political stability after decades of civil war and violent insurgency that has spilled across its borders, writes Mohammed Ibrahim Shire from …
Roe v. Wade: How US policy on abortion affects women in Africa
Policies and decisions made in the United States have widespread implications. The first US policy with implications for healthcare in other countries was the global gag rule. The second is the decision before the US Supreme Court on the right of women to choose abortion. The consequences will go beyond abortion, writes Boniface Ushie and …
Burkina Faso: Activists fight impunity in Sankara trial
On April 6, 2022, a military tribunal in Burkina Faso found 11 men, including the former president guilty of ”… complicity in murder and concealment of a corpse.” This marked a historic moment. The trial which began in October 2021 was intended to uncover the truth behind the 1987 assassination of Burkina Faso’s revered leader, …
Chad: No signs of transition from military rule
One year ago the long-term ruler of Chad, president Idriss Déby Itno, was killed under unexplained circumstances while visiting his troops asa Chadian rebel group advanced towards the capital. His adopted son Mahamat Idriss Déby, then took power. But despite talks it seem unlikely that the Military Transitional Council and Déby are willing to leave …
French election: Mélenchon holds the key
The award for the best performance during the first round of the French election goes to the left-wing candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon who hauled himself past Pécresse and Zemmour to 21.95%. This is a remarkable achievement, suggesting the French left is not dead. The big question now is whether his voters will turn out to vote …
How multinationals avoid taxes in Africa
In developing countries, and the sub-Saharan region especially, the scale of unmet basic needs is enormous. It is estimated that 3 billion people in the developing world subsist on less than US$2 a day per person. Revenues from taxation are fundamental to changing this dire situation but tax dodging by transnational companies hampers the social …
Ukraine war threatens food supply in Egypt
Russia’s war on Ukraine is disrupting global grain supplies. Restrictions on navigation in the Azov Sea and the closure of ports have interrupted grain shipments from Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, and economic sanctions are complicating purchase agreements. One of the countries where this is felt is Egypt, writes Jessica Barnes form the University …
Oscars: More international films are nominated than ever
What was remarkable this year was the number of non-American films nominated for Oscars in categories beyond the default “best international feature film”, writes Georgia Thomas Parr from University of Sheffield. EDIT 28/3. Drive my car won the Oscar for best international film. The Academy Awards have not fared well in recent years. The Oscars’ …
What happened when Uganda closed schools for two years?
It is estimated that 15 million pupils have not attended school in Uganda for almost two years. Emerging evidence from our study shows that the effects for young people have already been devastating, writes Simone Datzberger and other researchers. Uganda enforced the longest period of school closures worldwide – 22 months – during the COVID-19 …
