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Forest people: The Batwa people say they have lost everything, including their dignity as human beings. Photo: EU/ECHO/Frederic Bonamy

The first people of the forest still hunted

Despite landmark legal rulings and protections, the indigenous Batwa of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remain besieged by rebel violence, militia exploitation, and…

A mixed bag for human rights in Southern Africa in 2019

Building a human rights agenda fit for 21st-century realities

As aid cuts threaten essential healthcare and disillusionment grows, Africa faces a vital opportunity to renew and reimagine a human rights agenda fit for 21st-century realities.

Africa would do well to note China's rise

Defying Western forecasts of stagnation, China has broken into the world's top 10 innovative nations. An analysis of the strategic policies, R&D investments, and institutions…

Congo remembers as the world forgets

Decades after the outbreak of the Second Congo War, the victims of relentless conflict in eastern Congo remain largely forgotten by the international community. Yet local heroes…

Salif Keita  celebrates Montreux’s arrival in Africa, urging artists to honour their roots while embracing music as a universal language

Salif Keita cancels SA performance in response to xenophobic violence

Acclaimed Malian musician Salif Keita has announced the cancellation of all future South African performances in protest against recent waves of xenophobic violence across the…

A VUT student conducts research in the library

African universities must place community engagement at the centre

African and South African universities face a deepening crisis of legitimacy. To rebuild democratic purpose, institutions must move community engagement from the margins to the…

In aid of the Palestinian cause: Suraya Dadoo has compiled an engaging and political anthology. Photos: Supplied

Gaza and the ghosts of African internationalism

A new anthology, 'Rising for Palestine', co-edited by Suraya Dadoo and Raouf Farrah, argues that the war in Gaza has exposed the erosion of Africa's tradition of…

why-it-doesnt-make-sense-that-all-informal-mining-is-deemed-illegal. Image: Supplied

Critical minerals new game-changer for DRC economic growth

The Democratic Republic of Congo's vast mineral wealth, including cobalt and copper, is transforming its economy and making it a pivotal player in the global energy transition.…

Climate change is costing lives across Southern Africa. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy/M&G

From the Vaal to Victoria Falls: Africa must design resilience, not merely discuss it

Africa's climate crisis is a lived reality, affecting millions and demanding a shift from mere discussion to designing resilient systems. This article highlights the urgent need…

Misplaced target: South Africa did not invent any of this. It inherited a continental habit and simply expressed it more violently than most.

Xenophobia is becoming Africa's new nationalism: South Africa is not alone

While South Africa often faces condemnation for xenophobic attacks, this article argues that anti-migrant sentiment is a continent-wide issue with deep historical roots,…

Personal touch: A bank knows a customer through transactions, documents and a credit score. A community finance group knows its members as people. Photo: Suppplied

Africa's women have invented finance's future

Across Africa, women are driving financial innovation through community finance groups like stokvels. These sophisticated institutions pool money, provide loans, and support…

Joshua Harvey

Joshua Harvey is helping redefine what technology consulting looks like in Africa. As chief executive of Specno, he sits at the intersection of strategy, talent and innovation,…

Tebogo Lucky Mamela

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries across the world and Tebogo Lucky Mamela, 30, is working to ensure Africa helps shape that future rather than simply adopting…

Zaheer Sooliman

Zaheer Sooliman, 24, is helping reshape how young Africans engage with global diplomacy. As co-founder and executive director of the Global Africa MUN Agency (G.A.M.A.), he is…

Keagile Makgoba

As global technology reshapes economies and societies, Keagile Makgoba is helping define how those conversations unfold across Africa. As head of communications for TikTok in…

Space Technology, Ground-Level Impact: NWU Expert Shows How Africa Can Turn Satellite Data into Development Solutions

Prof Amare Abebe, director of the Centre for Space Research at North-West University, argues that Africa's space future extends beyond satellites, focusing on using knowledge and…

#Aids2026: Daily pill. Monthly pill. Six-monthly jab. Why choice matters

For the first time, Merck has granted generic manufacturers, including three African companies, permission to produce an investigational monthly HIV prevention pill, alimatravir,…

Missed opportunity: African countries rich in minerals, agricultural land, energy resources and human capital have struggled to convert the assets into prosperity. Photo: Dominik Vanyi

Africa's great untapped wealth

South Africa's debate on undocumented migration often focuses on border control and job competition. This article argues that migration is a symptom of deeper issues,…

Botswana signed the Artemis Accords – so why hasn't South Africa?

Botswana recently became the sixth African nation to sign the Artemis Accords, a US-led initiative for peaceful space exploration. However, South Africa, despite its advanced…

When sewage floods your home, it floods your mind too

In Nairobi's Mukuru kwa Reuben, residents face a grim reality: homes repeatedly flooded by sewage due to dysfunctional drainage. This article explores the profound psychological…