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All economic activity takes place within the boundaries of a municipality. The enterprises – and workers employed by them – who take part in this activity also depend on municipalities for basic services such as clean water, electricity, waste removal and the provision of other amenities. So, when municipalities fail to provide these basic services, they not only impinge on the quality of life of their residents, they threaten the very foundations of economic activity. That is what has been happening in South Africa for many years now, and is getting worse. Wandile Sihlobo explains how the country’s small towns, around which the country’s food is produced and often processed, are collapsing. This is forcing some
food processors to relocate, threatening to plunge small towns deeper into financial difficulties.
African players are some of the leading stars of professional European football. Yet few can be found as coaches and in football management roles once their playing days have ended. Why is this the case? This is the question that has driven a series of research papers by Christian Ungruhe and Sine Agergaard, who detail the outcomes in an article that forms part of our series on the state of sport in Africa.
There’s a desperate shortage of research coming out of Africa. The reasons are myriad, but one of the main ones is that institutions are underfunded, and there’s no money going into developing new capacity to carry out research. Research matters because it can help countries solve problems. In today’s episode of our podcast, Pasha, Sharon Fonn explains why we need to be training more researchers in Africa.
It’s World Music Day today. African music continues to surge in global influence – but plays a far bigger role than just entertainment. Music is also a space of healing and of resistance – and is a voice for a new Pan African generation. Here is a selection of articles about the powerful role played by music on the continent, past and present.
Today, millions of Ethiopians will go to the polls. To understand the fraught context in which the general election is taking place, and why it matters, click here.
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Jabulani Sikhakhane
Editor
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Cattle grazing on a farm near Tulbagh in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Photo by: Peter Titmuss/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Wandile Sihlobo, University of the Witwatersrand
The collapse of local government in small towns is beginning to affect investment in farming, and the ability of agribusinesses to operate.
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Nigeria’s Michael Emenalo, left, is a rare post-playing success story.
Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images
Christian Ungruhe, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Sine Agergaard, Aalborg University
Given the impact of African players in European football, it's remarkable how few are able to secure jobs in football in Europe after their playing days end.
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Politics
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Yohannes Gedamu, Georgia Gwinnett College
A new government with popular legitimacy will have power to address lingering political, economic and security challenges.
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Jon Abbink, Leiden University
In Ethiopia's new and unsettled political space, there are issues related to the current electoral rules, the performance and strength of the opposition parties, and to campaigning.
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Education
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Ishmael Munene, Northern Arizona University
What Kenya should focus on is providing in-service professional development to improve student learning outcomes.
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Ozayr Patel, The Conversation
It is crucial to improve research training in Africa. This can help solve complex issues on the continent.
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From our international editions
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Robert Lawson, Birmingham City University
During the pandemic, researchers have treated Twitter as a sprawling and evolving historical document.
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Brogan M. Stewart, Concordia University
About 60 per cent of monkeys, apes, lemurs, lorises and tarsiers are threatened with extinction. Climate change will only make it more difficult for them to survive.
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En Français
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Caroline D. Laurent, Harvard University
Le roman de l'auteur franco-sénégalais, intitulé Frère d’âme (traduit en anglais par At Night All Blood is Black) est l'histoire poignante et marquante, sur le plan politique, d'un soldat sénégalais.
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Filippa Lentzos, King's College London; Gregory Koblentz, George Mason University
Une grande partie de la recherche scientifique sur les coronavirus est menée dans des pays qui ne contrôlent pas la recherche à double usage ou les expériences de gain de fonction.
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Featured events
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Wits University, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2050, South Africa — University of the Witwatersrand
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University Road, Hatfield, Gauteng, 0083, South Africa — University of Pretoria
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Wits University, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2050, South Africa — University of the Witwatersrand
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4th Floor, Johannesburg Business School, Cnr Barry Hertzog Ave and Empire Road, Milpark, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2092, South Africa — University of Johannesburg
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Would you like to republish any of these articles?
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It’s free to republish, here are the guidelines.
Contact us on africa-republish@theconversation.com in case you need assistance.
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