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Religion is a major factor in Kenyan elections, with the line between faith and politics often blurred in the battle for votes. Joseph Wandera explains why victory belongs to candidates who combine getting religion on their side with cash gifts and making the right ethnic calculations.
Have young people in South Africa tapped out? How different are they from the generation that led the student uprising on June 16 1976? Lauren Graham unpacks research showing that today’s young South Africans are passionate about issues that affect their communities and their lives. But that they’re deeply disillusioned with the country’s current crop of political leaders.
The prevalence of skin bleaching on the continent has deep psychological roots which is why banning products won’t eradicate it, argues Rondald Hall.
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President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga during the 2013 election campaign in Nairobi.
Reuters/Thomas Mukoya
Joseph Wandera, St Paul's University
Appeal to faith is a popular election campaign strategy in Kenya where the line between religion and politics is often thin.
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Politics
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Lauren Graham, University of Johannesburg
It's time South Africa stopped stereotyping its young people as being disinterested and morally bankrupt and started engaging them.
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Ariane De Lannoy, University of Cape Town
The end of apartheid should have heralded a new South Africa for the generation born at its demise. But that hasn't happened.
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Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa needs to start thinking about life after President Jacob Zuma. Given the damage that he's done, serious thought should be given to forming a government of national unity.
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Arts + Culture
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Akosua Adomako Ampofo, University of Ghana
The particular brand of masculinity promoted by Africa's influential male church leaders tends to devalue women, re-inscribe male domination.
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Ronald Hall, Michigan State University
At the root of the skin bleaching phenomenon is a psychological complex.
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Business + Economy
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Tessa Hochfeld, University of Johannesburg; Lauren Stuart, University of Johannesburg; Sophie Plagerson
South Africa's public works programme is a laudable idea. But it must be closely monitored to make sure it doesn't lead to unintended consequences, especially for women.
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Lorenzo Fioramonti, University of Pretoria
Rethinking work is crucial for industrialised and emerging economies, where job losses are being felt even in the presence of substantial, although diminishing, economic growth.
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Steven Friedman, University of Johannesburg
The misfortunes experienced by Brian Molefe, the CEO of South Africa's power utility Eskom, shows that the battle for the country's public purse is not a one way bet.
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Environment + Energy
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Katelyn Faulkner, University of Pretoria; Brett Hurley, University of Pretoria; Mark Robertson, University of Pretoria
Many alien plants and animals have been introduced to Africa from other regions and spread from country to country, often having devastating effects.
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Mijoro Rakotoarinivo, Université d'Antananarivo
International and local demand have brought Madagascar's palm species to the brink of extinction.
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Health + Medicine
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Susann Huschke, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa has launched a plan to tackle HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections -- but much depends on its implementation over the next five years.
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Dixon Chibanda, University of Zimbabwe
Lay workers are being trained to help Zimbabwe manage mental issues in communities. So far it's proving successful.
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Jean Burke, Australian Catholic University
Tanzania has one of the highest rates of albinism in the world. The media in the country has an important role to play in protecting them from harm.
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