The Conversation Africa
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An independent source of news and views on Africa from the academic and research community. Read us at theconversation.com/africa
Long before sustainability became a global priority, Amílcar Cabral argued that caring for the land was inseparable from human freedom. theconversation.com/amilcar-cabr... #EnvironmentAndENergy
Amílcar Cabral linked soil health to human freedom – the Guinea-Bissau leader’s ideas matter more than ever today
A new collection of Amílcar Cabral’s agricultural writings shows why Africa’s soil crisis today is about history, politics and people as much as farming.
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For many Burundian refugees in South Africa, rebuilding a life means navigating hope, hardship and uncertainty. theconversation.com/burundi-refu... #Politics
Burundi refugees talk about life in South Africa after their long journey: hope and heartbreak side by side
There’s more to being a refugee than crossing a border.
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Global shocks can reshape everyday life. Research from Kenya shows how drought and war affected what families could afford to eat. theconversation.com/drought-and-... #EnvironmentAndEnergy
Drought and the war in Ukraine changed what families in Kenya could afford to eat – research tracked food and cooking gas use
A study of 701 households in Nairobi found that rising food and fuel prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced many families to eat and cook less.
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As hemp cultivation expands, understanding its water demands will be key to sustainable farming. theconversation.com/is-hemp-a-th... #EnvironmentAndEnergy
Is hemp a thirsty crop? New research measures just how much water cannabis farming can use
Researchers have used drones and ground sensors to get the first ever measurements of exactly how much water hemp crops consume.
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Building more homes won't solve Ghana's housing crisis if quality is overlooked. theconversation.com/ghanas-housi... #BusinessAndEconomy
Ghana’s housing problem goes beyond numbers – it’s also about quality
New census-based research shows Ghana’s policy must confront the quality of the homes people already occupy.
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When the cost of running for office is too high, democracy becomes less accessible. theconversation.com/running-for-... #Politics
Running for parliament in Malawi costs a fortune: economic crisis undermines democracy
For many Malawians living in acute poverty, elections provided an opportunity to secure much-needed relief.
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Safe childbirth depends on more than clinical care. The culture of maternity wards shapes women's experiences and outcomes. theconversation.com/respectful-m... #HealthAndMedicine
Respectful maternity care starts with improving hospital culture: lessons from rural South Africa
Care improves when healthcare professionals are given the tools to find their own solutions.
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The retreat of East Africa's glaciers is more than a climate milestone. It marks the loss of unique ecosystems, cultural heritage and scientific records. theconversation.com/east-africas... #Climate #ClimateConversations
East Africa’s iconic snow peaks will soon disappear for good – what will be lost when they melt
This decrease of snowfall is driven by changing sea surface temperature patterns in the Indian Ocean, which is a signal of global warming.
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Nigeria's digital economy is changing fast. But key regulatory gaps remain when it comes to crypto. theconversation.com/nigerias-new... #BusinessAndEconomy
Nigeria’s new digital economy rules leave gaps in crypto regulation – financial law expert explains
Nigeria’s new Virtual Assets Council doesn’t close all the loopholes in crypto-asset regulation.
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Markets don't just judge a country's finances. Political stability, institutions and investor confidence all play a role. theconversation.com/what-gabons-... #BusinessAndEconomy
What Gabon’s rating downgrade tells us about how sovereign credit worthiness is judged
Sovereign creditworthiness is interpreted and reassessed through several overlapping evaluations.
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More than 30 years after apartheid, land ownership in South Africa remains deeply unequal. New research explains why. theconversation.com/how-white-fa... #Politics
How white farmers still dominate land ownership in South Africa in spite of land reform – new research
Research shows that market-based land reform in South Africa since 1994 has often benefited white farmers and preserved inequality instead of reducing it.
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Forest regeneration alone isn't enough. Invasive rats are preventing small mammals from returning to Madagascar's recovering forests. theconversation.com/invasive-rat... #EnvironmentAndEnergy
Invasive rats are stopping small mammals from returning to Madagascar’s regenerating forests – study
Lemurs and other native animals are rare in recovering forests.
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Young Nigerian women want to lead, but party structures and entrenched power stand in their way. theconversation.com/young-nigeri... #Politics
Young Nigerian women want to go into politics – party rules and older men keep them out
It’s not lack of ambition that keeps young women out of politics.
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Africa played a central role in shaping the global development agenda. As work begins on what comes after the Sustainable Development Goals, the continent has another opportunity to influence the future. theconversation.com/africa-shape... #Politics
Africa shaped the global 2030 development agenda. How it can influence what comes next
African countries should start early to develop an agreed position before the next set of global priorities is discussed.
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Fact-checking alone can't keep pace with the speed and scale of election misinformation. Lessons from Kenya point to the need for broader, more proactive responses. theconversation.com/election-mis... #Politics
Election misinformation spreads faster than facts can be checked: 3 insights from Kenya’s experience
Fact-checking only helps if it reaches people before they have made up their minds.
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As South Africa's privacy laws evolve, gaps in protection remain. The people most at risk of harm from data misuse are often the least well served by existing legal frameworks. theconversation.com/south-africa... #ScienceAndTech
South Africa’s privacy laws are evolving, but vulnerable people are being left behind
Privacy protection must also be a conversation that reflects the lived realities of vulnerable communities.
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Alcohol contains more calories than many people realise. Could clearer labels help tackle obesity in South Africa? theconversation.com/alcohols-hid... #HealthAndMedicine
Alcohol’s hidden calories: product labels could help fight obesity in South Africa
The typical alcoholic beverage disclosed only a single piece of nutritional information: its alcohol content.
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Did Cape Town's gunshot detection system make a difference? The evidence so far is mixed. theconversation.com/did-cape-tow... #ScienceAndTech
Did Cape Town’s gunshot detection system work? Why jury is still out on what ShotSpotter achieved
The issue is not whether cities should use technology for public safety, but how those technologies are chosen, evaluated and governed.
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Kenya's elite runners are often seen as superhuman. Their stories reveal the people behind the medals. theconversation.com/kenyas-runni... #ArtsCultureAndSociety
Kenya’s running stars attract suspicion and awe – our research gives a more human picture
The real ‘secret’ of their success lies in a complex network of social mobility and connection with local communities.
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How do teens with disabilities in Ghana see their future? Their own photos and stories offer powerful insights. theconversation.com/how-do-teens... #HealthAndMedicine
How do teens living with disabilities in Ghana view their future? We asked them to show us
Ghanaian adolescents with disabilities often face hostile experiences that contribute to negative self-perceptions.
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Pregnant and parenting teens in Nairobi's informal settlements face more than practical challenges. Stigma is taking a serious toll on their mental health. theconversation.com/pregnant-and... #HealthAndMedicine
Pregnant and parenting teens in Nairobi’s informal settlements: the hidden mental toll of stigma
Adolescent girls carry the blame for early pregnancy, yet the boys and men who got them pregnant remain invisible.
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As host of #COP32, Ethiopia has a chance to push for climate action that delivers real results. Here's what it should prioritise. theconversation.com/how-ethiopia... #Climate
How Ethiopia can make COP32 the summit that actually delivers
Africa has a chance to host a climate conference that makes an impact.
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Antibiotic resistance is spreading through South Africa's rivers and wastewater. New research explains how – and why it matters. theconversation.com/antibiotic-r... #ScienceAndTech
Antibiotic resistance is spreading through South Africa’s water systems: study explains how
After harmful bacteria are removed by water treatment, the genetic information that enables antimicrobial resistance can persist.
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People don't always flee conflict when they can. Research from Nigeria explores why many choose to stay despite the risks. theconversation.com/nigerias-con... #Politics
Nigeria’s conflict zones: why people stay even when they can leave
For some people caught in conflict zones, remaining is the choice they feel they can live with.
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Redeveloping informal settlements is about more than new housing. Research explores who gains – and who risks being left behind – when Kibera is transformed. theconversation.com/nairobis-lar... #BusinessAndEconomy
Nairobi’s largest informal settlement is getting an upgrade. But who will actually benefit from new apartments?
The success of Kibera’s transformation will not be measured by the number of apartment blocks completed.
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What can laughter tell us about the origins of speech? Comparing humans and great apes offers new clues. theconversation.com/differences-... #ScienceAndTech
Differences in human and great ape laughter reveal clues to the origin of speech
A new study of great ape laughter also gives clues about how humans’ ancient ancestors started speaking.
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What helps parents raise healthy, resilient children? A project tested across eight African countries shows that evidence-based parenting support can make a real difference. theconversation.com/better-paren... #HealthAndMedicine
Better parenting starts with knowing what works. We tested a project in 8 African countries
An eight-country study assessed whether parenting programmes that were developed through research also work when offered at a wider scale in real-life conditions.
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A newly discovered soil fungus could offer a new way to tackle the destructive African armyworm – where chemical controls have fallen short. theconversation.com/can-a-newly-... #ScienceAndTech
Can a newly discovered soil fungus stop the devastating African armyworm when chemicals have failed?
The African armyworm causes havoc for many crops and livestock.
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Why doesn't South Africa have refugee camps? The answer lies in the country's long-standing policy of integrating refugees into communities rather than housing them in camps. theconversation.com/refugee-camp... #Politics
Refugee camps explained: why South Africa has avoided them
International law doesn’t require refugee camps, making them a policy choice rather than a legal obligation.
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The Gambia's river basin shaped far more than the country's landscape. New research reveals how it influenced colonial trade, slavery and the region's history over centuries. theconversation.com/the-gambias-... #ArtsCultureAndSociety
The Gambia’s hidden history: how a tiny river basin influenced colonial trade and slavery
Recognising African agency in colonised territories allows us to rethink borders and revise history.
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