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Efforts to pull off democratic elections that could pass muster in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are hanging by a thread. Polling was a messy business, crippled by cancellations in some areas as well as intimidation, poor logistics and finally torrential rains. Nor have the country’s problems ended there: an announcement on the outcome has been delayed and all internet connectivity has been cut. But Phyllis Taoua believes the
entire exercise shouldn’t be written off even though the process was far from perfect. The fact that people turned out in their millions under very difficult circumstances is compelling evidence of a commitment to making democracy work.
Streaming service Netflix has tapped into Nigeria’s film industry with the comedy Lionheart. Many think this could be the beginning of a new era. But can Netflix transform Nollywood? And how significant will its impact be on the Nigerian film industry? Alessandro Jedlowski explores.
During the first week of January every year South Africa’s basic education minister announces the pass rate of students who have completed their final year of schooling. The matric results are used to gauge the state of the public education system. Suellen Shay unpacks this year’s results, particularly what they tell us about proficiency in mathematics. She draws depressing conclusions – that there aren’t enough students doing the
subject, and that those who do make it through with high marks get a raw deal once they enter university. Applying a wider lens, Natasha Robinson explains
how poor quality teaching is contributing to a vicious cycle of poor education outcomes in the country.
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Some in the DRC identify opposition leader Martin Fayulu as the winner but official results have yet to be released.
EPA/ STEFAN KLEINOWITZ
Phyllis Taoua, University of Arizona
The recent poll in the DRC was messy. Nevertheless, it showed that significant change is underway in the country.
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Nigerian actress, Genevieve Nnaji in her film, ‘Lionheart’.
Netflix
Alessandro Jedlowski, Université Libre de Bruxelles
Big investors seem to be mainly interested in Nollywood's already established popularity with African audiences.
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Education
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Suellen Shay, University of Cape Town
South African universities are failing to graduate the strongest students the schooling system has to offer.
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Natasha Robinson, University of Oxford
The introduction of teacher standards may actually reduce teacher professionalism if not handled correctly.
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Science + Technology
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Amélie Beaudet, University of the Witwatersrand
Thanks to hundreds of fossil remains found in Africa studies can explore new scenarios about how our ancestors lived and evolved.
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Imogen Whittam, University of the Western Cape
A black hole is an object with such a strong gravitational pull that nothing, not even light, can escape from it.
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En français
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Patrick Juvet Lowé Gnintedem, Réseau français des instituts d’études avancées (RFIEA)
Malgré la popularité de la médecine traditionnelle dans les pays d’Afrique francophone, celle-ci demeure peu régulée et mal identifiée dans les discours de santé publique.
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Marie-Laurence Flahaux, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)
L’éventualité d’un retour est toujours présente et fait partie de la stratégie de mobilité de tout migrant. La migration est une circulation et non un aller simple dans un sens ou dans l’autre.
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From our international editions
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James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles
Obama's plan to withdraw from Afghanistan had several facets and was part of a wider strategy in the Middle East.
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Monti Datta, University of Richmond
Estimates of modern slavery vary widely, whether they try to pin down numbers in the U.S., across the globe or just in certain industries.
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Julius Probst, Lund University
A look at key data shows that the world is much better off today than ever before in history.
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Nick Megoran, Newcastle University
While the West fails to solve its border issues, countries in Asia and Africa have found a positive way forward.
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