The Homegrown Artists Driving Morocco’s Hip-hop Scene
When you turn on Moroccan trap star Issam Harris’ latest video, “Nike,” it’s best to throw all conventional expectations out the window. There’s no joyful rapping trumpeting the legendary sports brand, nor high fashion. Instead, Nike pays tribute to Moroccans’ obsession with branding everything they own — from tires to djellabas — that has nothing […]
Africa’s First 5G Mobile Network Goes Live
South African mobile operator Vodacom Group has switched on its 5G mobile network in three cities, with further rollouts planned in other parts of the country. Vodacom was recently assigned temporary additional spectrum by the telecoms regulator for the duration of the national state of disaster, including 1 x 50 MHz in the 3.5 GHz […]
Telling Stories from Somalia
Journalists in Somalia routinely face many difficulties but this year, under the stress of the spread of COVID-19, they say feel even more threatened by intimidation and arrest by what they call hostile leaders. Cautiously celebrating World Press Freedom Day, a number of Somali journalists and journalists’ rights activists shared their experiences with the VOA […]
Important Implications for Home Garden Programs in Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, the average person eats just 42kg of fruit and vegetables per year. This is far below the WHO recommendation of 146kg per year. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, vital for our body. In Ethiopia, poor quality diets are now considered as one of the main underlying causes in […]
Curing Malaria-infected Mosquitoes Could Save Thousands of African Lives
Scientists have discovered a microbe that completely protects mosquitoes from being infected with malaria. The team in Kenya and the UK say the finding has “enormous potential” to control the disease. Malaria is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, so protecting them could in turn protect people. The researchers are now investigating whether they […]
Being Gay during a Pandemic in Africa
The LGBT community in Nigeria exists as a heterogenous group, where interactions occur in discrete bubbles across digital platforms. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, members are forging solidarity and dealing with their communal anxieties through virtual hangouts. Olumide Makanjuola, a sexual health and rights activist, is most concerned about the effect of the outbreak and […]
African Leaders Place Orders for Madagascar’s Coronavirus Tonic
Tanzania and Comoros are the latest countries that are to import the purported COVID-19 herbal cure announced by Madagascar. According to reports, the leaders of both countries confirmed their interest over the weekend. Comorian president, Azali Assoumani, in a teleconference with his Malagasy counterpart, Andry Rajoelina, made a formal request for the product that has […]
Summit on Building Africa’s Trade Resilience Beyond COVID-19
Convened by Africa Investor (Ai), the online summit brought together the heads of global trade organisations and recognised the importance of pioneering partnerships and collaboration with the private sector and international organisations in restoring trade confidence and flows in the fight against COVID-19, and in building trade resilience in anticipation of future pandemics. The Summit […]
Lockdowns Leave Dozens of Ugandan Children Stranded Overseas after Choir Tour
The Ugandan government has launched an investigation into the activities of a megachurch in Kampala after seven members of its internationally renowned children’s choir were diagnosed with Covid-19 following an overseas tour. The country’s child affairs minister, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, told the Guardian that the Internal Security Organisation was investigating Watoto church for allegedly breaching […]
Ghana Uses Fintech Solution to Track the Coronavirus
Africa has more than 30,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. And while these numbers are relatively small compared to the rest of the world, the continent is not taking any chances in its fight against the virus. In Ghana, a software engineering company, Cognate Systems, is using technology to track […]
