Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from November, 2023
Expert opinions differ on how much of an impact G20 membership will have for Africa
"Some experts anticipate positive economic growth and collaboration, while others express skepticism, questioning the effectiveness of the AU and the G20's ability to address Africa's unique challenges."
The death and rebirth of the distinctive sounds of Zambia
Zambia’s contemporary music has not only evolved to become diverse in genre but in gender too; many female artists are pushing back against the historically patriarchal music space.
Interview with the political figure Boubacar Touré on the coup which overthrew Niger's president
The risk of pitting various African countries against one another since the Niger coup seems to be increasing while an ultimatum from the African Union lies fallow.
Navigating the media landscape in Zambia
The Freedom House report categorizes Zambia as "partly free," giving it a score of 54 out of 100 because of restrictive laws that limit political space and online speech.
How rugby became part of the DNA of South Africans
How did South Africa reach the pinnacle of four rugby World Cup wins? And how did a team that symbolized the Afrikaner heartland, and apartheid, come to be embraced by South Africans of all colors?
Senegalese music: A national emblem, renowned worldwide
Once dominated by music from other countries, Senegalese contemporary music manages to raise Senegal's prominence both on the continent and world stage, making it a national emblem.
Democratic Republic of Congo: What to read and who to follow to understand the social and political situation
The pre-election period is often fuelled by socio-political debates and the media serves as an ideal format for the candidates to make themselves heard by the masses.
In Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina's dual nationality courts controversy on eve of Presidential Election
Madagascar controversy: according to the law, having another nationality voids Madagascar nationality, a prerequisite for election candidates. Yet candidate Andry Rajoelina owns a French passport.
Silencing the press: Threats, violence, and injustices against journalists in Ghana
The disconcerting pattern of incursions into media facilities, often involving armed intruders, vandalization of studio equipment, forceful interference with broadcasts, and the intimidation and assault of hosts and guests, has been closely monitored from 2014 to 2023.
‘The only white people who did not bring evil’: Serbian media narratives around Russia in Africa
Russian influence in Africa exists in some areas — notably in security and the arms trade — but most authors who have written on the subject conclude that the overall impact should not be overstated.
Why some parents are accused of abandoning their disabled children in special schools in Nigeria
"The World Bank Group’s assessment highlighted that Nigeria, the most populated country in West Africa, recorded 29 million persons with disabilities in 2018."
Zambia’s political climate: Reactions to the return of former president, Edgar Lungu
Reactions among Zambians are mixed, with some expressing excitement for Lungu's return while others believe it may not be in the country's best interest.
Malagasy political crisis viewed through the lens of photographer Rijasolo
In the lead up to Madagascar’s highly contested presidential election, Global Voices interviewed Malagasy photographer, Rijasolo, who has been covering the latest political events using striking images.
Research exposes plantation giant Socfin's role in deforestation and displacement of Indigenous communities in Nigeria and Ghana
Greenpeace Media has cautioned that the Group’s steadfast resistance to adopting the industry’s zero-deforestation standard poses a significant and looming threat to the forests of West Africa.
Benin: Punitive online journalism legislation poses setback to press freedom
The application of Benin’s Digital Code to online journalists complicates matters for the online journalism profession in the country, thus jeopardizing press freedom.
Apart from shadow deals, there are no visible results in Belarus-Zimbabwe economic relations
In spite of various visits and signed contracts, nothing substantial had happened in Zimbabwe - Belarus economic relations after Belarusian's leader visit to Zimbabwe in January 2023, when he promised groundbreaking results.
In Gabon, music is a tool for visibility both inside and outside the country
In Gabon, music has the power to fuse tradition and modernity, and use globalization to its advantage.
Fraudsters impersonate African Union chair using AI
Deepfakes, the technology exploited by cybercriminals, are increasingly gaining popularity in Africa and are sometimes utilized to disseminate misinformation and propaganda on the continent.
‘Taiwanese people should support democracy in Swaziland': Interview with activist Tanele Maseko
Taiawn-based New Bloom editor Brian Hioe interviewed activist Tanele Maseko, widow of Thulani Maseko who was killed in January 2023 in Eswatini, one of Taiwan's few diplomatic allies.
Aflatoxins, a group of deadly toxins, are endangering staple foods in East Africa
Research conducted in Africa has revealed that at least 40 percent of liver cancers are attributed to aflatoxin exposure.
How to use social media to win an election: Influencers from Kenya’s 2022 election explain
Interviews with three sources hired by President William Ruto’s political party as online influencers for Kenya’s last election in September 2022, reveal a kind of playbook for the use and abuse of social media during elections.
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