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It’s almost certain that Paul Kagame will be extending his 24-year rule in Rwanda in next week’s presidential election. He has hardly any competition given the expulsion of opposition candidates and the silencing of critics. Despite a win being all but certain, AI-powered accounts have been flooding discussions of the upcoming poll, praising Kagame’s candidacy and stifling critical posts. Morgan Wack explains how these accounts are manipulating perceptions
and spreading propaganda.
Ahead of the 15 July vote, we have put together a series of articles from our academics that go deeper into Rwanda’s political landscape – and Kagame’s place in it.
Brenda Fassie is still a loved and controversial figure in South Africa even 20 years after her death. The “queen of African pop” had a string of hits over three decades - among them the politically charged Black President and the wedding celebration anthem Vulindlela. Fassie was also an original slay queen and a rebellious queer black woman, writes feminist pop culture scholar Mbali Mazibuko. She offers a deeper reading of Vulindlela to explain the political
significance of black women like Fassie.
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Kagure Gacheche
Commissioning Editor, East Africa
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Morgan Wack, Clemson University
The methods used to manipulate perceptions and hold on to power in Africa are getting increasingly sophisticated.
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Mbali Mazibuko, University of Johannesburg
Released in 1997, Vulindlela reflects the optimism of a democratic South Africa – but Fassie’s ‘bad girl’ image also asks who is really welcome in this new society.
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Environment + Energy
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Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Griffith University; Christopher J. O'Bryan, Maastricht University; Duan Biggs, Northern Arizona University; Robynne Kotze, University of Oxford
Male lions are making the risky swims, braving crocodiles and hippos, so as to find females.
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Eileen Scheckle, Nelson Mandela University
Classroom reading clubs can be a space for children to share ideas and build understanding.
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Munir Squires, University of British Columbia
‘Kinship taxation’ lowered productivity among firms in Kenya’s Garissa County by one-quarter.
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Julius Maina, The Conversation; Kagure Gacheche, The Conversation
Only Paul Kagame will decide when he exits Rwanda’s political stage.
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From our international editions
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Thea van de Mortel, Griffith University
Is it time to cut the men in your life some slack this winter? Here’s what the evidence says.
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Adam Taylor, Lancaster University
Gels and acrylics might be fashionable but they could also hide the signs of potential existing health issues – and cause a few of their own.
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Daniel Walker, University of Bradford
A young Federer realised that the course of a tennis match was demanding not just physically, but also psychologically.
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Laura D'Olimpio, University of Birmingham
If you rely solely on mental power to achieve your goals, you will not succeed.
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12 July 2024
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Johannesburg
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18 - 19 July 2024
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Bellville
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30 July - 27 August 2024
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Cape Town
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5 August 2024
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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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