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Editor's note
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Climate change will have a huge impact all over the world, especially in Africa. While a lot of attention has been given to agriculture and how changing weather patterns will affect output, there's not been much on small and medium businesses. Kate Elizabeth Gannon and Declan Conway reveal how even small changes in rainfall will hit cities' water and electricity supplies, with major consequences.
Places matter an enormous amount to people. In large parts of southeast Nigeria, the Otobo - a village arena or square - is one such deeply important space. John Kelechi Ugwuanyi explains how villages use their Otobos, and why these are such central focuses of daily life.
China's global rise is on course to make it the world's largest economy before 2030. But there is one area in which China lags behind, explains Yu-Shan Wu – the use of "soft power" which helps a nation achieve its interests by influencing the preferences of others.
The issue of racism has come up in relation to China’s relationships with a number of African countries. For example, in Kenya accusations of racism have been raised as Juliet Okoth explains. In China itself, the country’s media is struggling to overcome stereotypes of Africa, writes Dani Madrid-Morales. One of these examples was an offensive “blackface” skit intended to highlight the positive aspects
of China-Africa relations but which did the opposite, writes Roberto Castillo.
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Nontobeko Mtshali
Education Editor
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Top Stories
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In Zambia businesses in the food processing sector, are in for a tough time.
flickr/Simon Hess
Kate Elizabeth Gannon, London School of Economics and Political Science; Declan Conway, London School of Economics and Political Science
Water and power cuts prompted by reduced rainfall and drought in Southern Africa have caused major problems for business.
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A group of men proceeds to an Otobo in an Igbo village.
John Kelechi Ugwuanyi
John Kelechi Ugwuanyi, University of York
The Otobo remains an ancient symbol of democracy; it almost certainly helped to shape Nigeria's modern democracy in some ways.
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China-Africa relations
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Juliet Okoth, University of Nairobi
Kenya has a legal framework that protects its citizens from racism but there are challenges with its implementation
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Yu-Shan Wu, University of the Witwatersrand; Chris Alden, London School of Economics and Political Science; Cobus van Staden, South African Institute of International Affairs
Not enough credit is given to the agency African governments have in their dealings with China.
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Stephen Chan, SOAS, University of London
The UK's plans for post-Brexit trade and investment in Africa are pint-sized by the standards of other major players.
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Asit K. Biswas, National University of Singapore; Cecilia Tortajada, National University of Singapore
The Belt and Road Initiative will not be starting entirely from scratch. China has already invested heavily in several African railways.
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Paolo Omar Cerutti, Centre for International Forestry Research; Davison Gumbo, Centre for International Forestry Research
Zambia's rosewood forests are being decimated but it's still not reaping the full benefits of exporting the coveted wood to China.
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Christopher Williams, University of the Witwatersrand
Mandela did not make the decision to jettison Taiwan and recognise China. He adhered to a decision by the governing ANC.
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Yu-Shan Wu, University of the Witwatersrand
Film could benefit China's soft power. It highlights the country's deep pockets and potential for wider audience appeal.
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Cobus van Staden, South African Institute of International Affairs
Now that President Xi Jinping's presidential term has been extended indefinitely, African governments need to plan strategically for their future engagements with the Chinese.
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David E Kiwuwa, University of Nottingham
The Chinese Communist Party's decision to remove presidential term limits could be a signal to African despots.
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Roberto Castillo, Lingnan University
China's offensive 'blackface' skit intended to highlight the positive aspects of China-Africa relations, has done the opposite.
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Dani Madrid-Morales, City University of Hong Kong
In China, like in other parts of the world, Africa is routinely treated as a single unit, erasing its linguistic, racial and cultural diversity.
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Theo Neethling, University of the Free State
China's presence in Africa continues to grow with its first military base in Djibouti. It wants to be a friend to Africa positioning itself as a global power while looking after its own interests.
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Politics + Society
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Brian Raftopoulos, University of the Free State
For many Zimbabweans Robert Mugabe will remain a contested figure.
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Environment + Energy
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Charles MacRobert, University of the Witwatersrand
In countries like South Africa which has a big and robust mining sector, tailings need to be managed with extra care.
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Science + Technology
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Tjaart Krüger, University of Pretoria; Michal Gwizdala, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
When two proteins interact with each other they behave in their own molecular lives.
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From our international editions
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Luca Belli, Fundação Getúlio Vargas
Facebook retired its 'Move fast and break things' slogan – perhaps because, as new research from Brazil confirms, democracy is among the things left broken by online misinformation and fake news.
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Mike Jeffries, Northumbria University, Newcastle
Pink pigeons may make more charismatic subjects for our adoration, but their feral relatives who keep us company in towns and cities are just as deserving.
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