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Academic research has never simply been about the innocent pursuit of knowledge. Since its beginnings, it has been designed and used as a tool of the colonial project, argues Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni. This is why it should more aptly be called re-search. Data has served to control native populations while European re-search methods have dictated the limits of what it means to know and understand the world and discover knowledge.
Populism and demagoguery are very much alive in Africa despite the deepening of democracy and constitutionalism in many countries. It could be argued that the decision by Kenya’s Supreme Court to nullify the presidential election was itself an act of judicial populism. Thompson Chengeta unpacks the issues while Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu explains why the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip Kenya of the right to host the 2018 African Nations Championship is a terrible indictment of the country.
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A statue of former Cape Colony governor Cecil Rhodes is removed from the University of Cape Town after student protests.
EPA/Nic Bothma
Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni, University of South Africa
The process of decolonising research methodology is an ethical, ontological and political exercise rather than simply one of approach and ways of producing knowledge.
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Politics + Society
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Dr Thompson Chengeta, University of Pretoria
While Kenya's political leaders often adopt a populist approach to politics, it's not unimaginable that the courts could also pursue a populist path by claiming to speak for the people.
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Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, University of Texas at Tyler
Kenya’s failure to ready itself for the 2018 African Nations Championship is bad for the tournament, African Football and the country. It also undermines the domestic leagues it's intended to boost.
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Health + Medicine
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Romany Sutherland, University of Cape Town
Medical mediation has become a buzzword in health departments across the world as an alternative to taking legal action to solve disputes.
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Business + Economy
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Mercy Mpinganjira, University of Johannesburg
The rapid penetration of internet technologies in Africa provides hope for e-commerce's continued growth. Potential online stores need to understand what draws or pushes customers away.
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From our international editions
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James Angus Fraser, Lancaster University
They are contesting the maps that deny them territorial rights.
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Sarah Bath, University of Surrey; Margaret Rayman, University of Surrey
The low iodine concentration in milk substitutes may mean consumers are at risk of iodine deficiency.
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Keith Rathbone, Macquarie University
Donald Trump’s ill-timed comments on protests by America's elite athletes have given legitimacy to claims of his racial animus.
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Lauren Lluveras, University of Texas at Austin
Hurricane Maria has left 3.4 million Puerto Ricans facing shortages of food, health care and transit, an American humanitarian crisis fueled by the US territory's May 2017 bankruptcy.
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