Where Do the World’s Biggest Diamonds Come From?
Studying the mineral olivine in kimberlite sheds some light on diamond origins.
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China Is Funding African Farmers but Not Food Processing and Storage: Why It’s a Problem
Chinese lenders have invested billions in African agriculture. But new research shows the money often misses what’s needed to modernise the sector.
World Cup History: A Timeline of Africa’s Greatest Moments on the Field
Ten pivotal moments that tell the story of how African football transformed itself.
Ulysses in isiZulu: Why an African Translation of the Classic Irish Novel Matters in Today’s World
Writers from very different places can grapple with the same questions.
Power, Pleasure and Patriarchy: Why the Polygamist on Netflix Is Captivating Viewers
Power and pleasure collide with Black hopes and dreams in the show that has sparked global conversation.
Female Baboons Keep Family Bonds Strong: Research Reveals the Benefits
Understanding how female baboons benefit from social bonds helps humans understand their own origins.
Vaccine Hesitancy Can’t Be Boiled down to a Single Factor: What We Learnt in South Africa and Brazil
Different social realities lead to different forms of vaccine hesitancy.
Can Africa Survive the Global Aid Squeeze? Yes, but It Will Take Financial Discipline
Africa does not need another grand vision. It needs to treat the vision it already has as a discipline.
People Are Marrying Holograms and Making Friends With Chatbots. But Can AI Bring True Happiness?
According to one study, 75% of respondents believe chatbots are conscious.
Malawi’s Education Choices in the Wake of Aid Cuts
USAID’s closure, while painful and damaging, might give rise to a new arrangement beyond aid.
Pianist Abdullah Ibrahim Crafted a Magnificent New Culture for South Africa
He embodied a special brand of multiple identities and belief systems, and took them to the world.
Do Aid Cuts Fuel Violent Conflict in Africa? How to Promote Peace
In areas that had received the most American aid, the probability of conflict increased by 3.1 percentage points.
South Africa’s Anti-migrant Campaigns Use the Language of Democracy: Why That’s Dangerous
Organisations behind the wave of xenophobia use the language of participation, community and people’s power to justify marginalisation.
Internet Access Is Unequal in South Africa’s Economic Powerhouse: Survey Shows Race and Income Mark the Digital Divide
Access to the internet in South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng, is marked by inequalities.
Ghana Wants Learner-Centred Classrooms – But Many Teachers Still Favour Old Methods
Teachers do not simply implement curriculum reforms exactly as policymakers design them.
When Global Trade Becomes a Weapon
Africa needs to navigate the tension between interdependence, economic security, and economic diversification.
Sudan Peace: The Shadow of the Al-Bashir Regime Looms Over Talks
A new peace initiative has put the future of Sudan’s Islamist movement at the centre of post-war politics.
Tax Data Can Be Mined to Shape Better Policies. South Africa, Uganda and Zambia Show How
Data labs in Zambia, South Africa and Uganda are deepening how governments understand the economies they are responsible for, and the people within them.
Europe Is Spending Billions on Deporting Migrants. Why the Strategy Isn’t Working
The European Union has used money and enforcement infrastructure as the twin pillars of its migrant returns strategy. The evidence suggests it isn’t working.
Africa’s Climate Crisis Is a Legal Crisis Too: What Are States’ Duties Under Human Rights Law?
A landmark climate case before the African Court asks what African states must do to protect human rights, phase out fossil fuels, and tackle climate change.
HIV in South Africa: Why Rolling out a Groundbreaking New Shot Will Miss a Critical Group of Men
Targeting men who move around for work is crucial for the success of a new HIV/Aids treatment.
Senegal’s Ruling Alliance Has Split: Will Political Turmoil Follow?
The idea of a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ is a myth that best serves idealists.
Iran War Is Exposing South Africa’s Dependency on Diesel: What Went Wrong
Diesel has become South Africa’s shadow infrastructure system by compensating for failures in electricity generation and freight rail.
Mali’s Military Leader Is Consolidating Power. Why This Is Dangerous
Military regimes have shifted from presenting themselves as temporary ‘corrective’ interventions to becoming personalised systems of rule.