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A major focus of the African gathering of the World Economic Forum this week was how the continent could achieve ‘inclusive growth’. Stephen Labson points that that the forum seemed more attuned to the world it would like to see, rather than the one at hand. To move beyond the “spin” leaders attending the forum need to find real solutions to real impediments to growth that benefits the continent’s citizens.
Since Boko Haram insurgents have increased their hold on most of North East Nigeria health facilities have been destroyed and health workers killed or injured. Felix Abrahams Obi and Ejemai Eboreime explain how the insurgency has made an already bad health care situation in the region infinitely worse.
Black people in America and coloured people in South Africa who chose to “pass” as another race did so to escape deeply unequal and overtly racist political orders. Londiwe Gamedze explains why, against this background, the decision by the controversial white American Rachel Dolezal to pass for African American is deeply problematic.
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Africa needs to improve governance, build infrastructure, and reduce trade barriers to achieve inclusive growth.
REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
Stephen Labson, University of Johannesburg
The need to connect African markets to aid development will once again be discussed at the World Economic Forum. The debate needs to move beyond the usual rhetoric.
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Business + Economy
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Misheck Mutize, University of Cape Town; Sean Gossel, University of Cape Town
The BRICS New Development Bank has promised to change the world of multilateral development funding but has so far failed to live up to expectations.
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Children at a camp for people displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in North-East Nigeria.
Flickr/Immanuel Afrolabi
Felix Abrahams Obi, University of Nigeria; Ejemai Eboreime, University of the Witwatersrand
More than 788 health facilities have been destroyed in parts of North-Eastern Nigeria captured by Boko Haram insurgents, crippling health services in the area.
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Health + Medicine
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Ngozi Erondu, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
To tackle diseases like meningitis, African governments must find fresh ways to fight for lower cost vaccines.
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Civil rights advocate Rachel Dolezal has been accused of falsely claiming she is African-American.
Stephanie Keith/Reuters
Londiwe H Gamedze, University of Cape Town
In the US and South Africa, "passing" as another race has a long and painful history. Controversial American Rachel Dolezal's "passing" to justify her identity makes a mockery of such histories.
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Politics + Society
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Andrew Edward Tchie, University of Essex
The numerous opposition groups battling to unseat President Salva Kiir lack a shared agenda and common approach. Sadly, too, no group is working towards a unified future for South Sudan.
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Rob Ahearne, University of East London
Union Day is celebrated in Tanzania and Zanzibar on April 26 every year, but there is little unity to speak of between the islands and the mainland today
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Environment + Energy
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Fred McBagonluri, Ashesi University
Africa's energy potential remains under-exploited, the energy entrepreneur is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the energy sector.
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Education
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Glen Ncube, University of Pretoria
A global approach to African history complements the radical post-colonial histories, while also asserting the role of the continent in the world's global pasts and present.
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Brenda Leibowitz, University of Johannesburg
It takes a combination of formal and informal learning to equip academics to become better teachers. Universities need to encourage both approaches.
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Science + Technology
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Rob Kesseler, University of the Arts London
A better understanding of science among ordinary people validates the vast amounts of public funds spent on scientific research.
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