Editor's note

Pregnancy and childbirth are extremely risky for Nigerian women. The standard approach to addressing this is to encourage women to visit health centres. But, in places with few or poor health services, this isn’t the answer. Anne Cockcroft and Neil Andersson explain the value of universal home visits in this context.

Hip-hop artists in Nigeria reflect on socioeconomic realities through their songs, performances and records. This landscape includes cybercriminals, commonly known as “Yahoo Boys” – the people who set up fake internet accounts to defraud their victims. Suleman Ibrahim Lazarus describes how hip-hop holds up a mirror to these fraudsters’ role in society.

Moina Spooner

Commissioning Editor: East Africa

Top Stories

Home visit trials strongly encouraged spouses to get involved. Anne Cockroft

Nigerian trial shows how universal home visits can help reduce maternal risks

Anne Cockcroft, McGill University; Neil Andersson, McGill University

Home visits as part of community-based schemes to women during and after pregnancy can improve the health of mothers and babies.

Nigerian artist D’banj’s 2004 song Mobolowowon had the first cyber fraud theme in hip-hop music. Shutterstock

What Nigerian hip-hop lyrics have to say about the country’s Yahoo Boys

Suleman Ibrahim Lazarus, Royal Holloway

Hip-hop artists in Nigeria unpack the realities of the country's cyber fraudsters.

Business + Economy

Backpackers are worried about using mobile devices in Ghana. Here’s why

Albert N. Kimbu, University of Surrey; Frederick Dayour, University for Development Studies

Backpacking is growing and West African countries such as Ghana need to actively attract them.

Why Nigeria’s insecure forests are fertile ground for cattle rustlers

Ifeanyi Onwuzuruigbo, University of Pretoria

Northern Nigeria's cattle rustling problem is aggravated by the regions ungoverned forests.

Politics + Society

Migrants’ stories: Why they flee

Anthony W. Fontes, American University School of International Service

Thousands of Central American migrants are trying to cross the U.S. southern border. One scholar followed their paths to find out why they make the dangerous, sometimes deadly, journey.

The new Brazilian government is devoid of ideas

Lenin Cavalcanti Brito Guerra, University of Saskatchewan

The popularity of Brazil's new president has decreased significantly in just a few months. Why? Too much controversy and too few ideas.