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Mozambique has experienced its first confirmed armed Islamist attack that appears to have been carried out by a group of local young Muslims who formed a sect in a northern town in 2014. The group is known as the “Al-Shabaabs”, although there’s no evidence they linked to any regional terror group. Eric Morier-Genoud suggests that this incident must be understood with an eye on Mozambique’s history.
One of the most popular international hip-hop crews, Migos, are performing in South Africa this weekend. The American trio are of the best known proponents of the hugely popular “mumble rap” – literally a mumbling style of rap that extolls the virtues of consumption. But, Adam de Paor-Evans warns the style’s many critics that the current, broader social context may well be why these rappers mumble.
A lot is at stake as South Africa approaches its 2017 medium term budget policy statement which comes amid political turmoil. Jannie Rossouw highlights the key budgetary issues.
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Mozambique’s military responded swiftly following deadly attacks by Islamist gunmen on three police stations recently.
Reuters/Juda Ngwenya
Eric Morier-Genoud, Queen's University Belfast
The first Islamist attack carried out by Mozambicans in the country is particularly surprising given the pride the country takes in its sound and relaxed inter-religious relations.
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Arts + Culture
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Adam de Paor-Evans, University of Central Lancashire
What if the current cultural context is informing the production of mumble rap? In the contemporary western world, daily life is fuelled by widespread consumption of both products and images.
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Business + Economy
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Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa waits with bated breath for the 2017 medium term budget policy statement from new Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba, as it might reveal key signals of where economic policy is headed.
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Politics + Society
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Franz Krüger, University of the Witwatersrand
As South Africa marks Media Freedom Day, it's clear that its battle isn't over. Attacks on journalists continue --through physical intimidation and there's also the threat of new laws.
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Health + Medicine
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Lukoye Atwoli, Moi University
The unexpected death of a loved one is a traumatic experience. It's important to identify high risk individuals to provide counselling and social support.
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From our international editions
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Susanne Shultz, University of Manchester
Complex behaviour such as regional accents and cultural food preferences in whales and dolphins seems to be linked to brain size.
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Aurel Sari, University of Exeter
It hinges upon whether she was a member of IS, and what that means.
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Leah Samberg, University of Minnesota
According to the UN, world hunger is rising for the first time in 15 years. The answer is not only growing more food, but also buffering small-scale farmers against climate change and armed conflicts.
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