Racism and homophobia are two big challenges facing world football, but try being a woman footballer. You can add sexism, religious restrictions and a lack of funding to that list. In fact, in many countries women were banned from even trying to play soccer formally. Yet the history of African women’s football is the story of how these players have overcome those barriers and how defiance has shaped the sport. This is just part of what Chuka Onwumechili discusses in his important new book on the women’s game in Africa, the first study of its kind.

South Africa’s new cabinet was sworn in this week. It’s the largest the country has ever had. And it’s also the most ideologically diverse, with representatives from the seven different parties that make up the government of national unity. Can it work? Vinothan Naidoo thinks it can because, for the most part, President Cyril Ramaphosa chose cabinet colleagues for solid, pragmatic reasons rather than on the basis of easy trade-offs.

Kiswahili originated in east Africa. By the 1950s a standard version of the language emerged and today it’s spoken by about 200 million people. In recognition of its importance, World Swahili Day is celebrated on July 7th every year. In this newsletter, we’re sharing a selection of articles which shed light on Kiswahili’s roots, how it spread and why it’s important that it continues to be taught in schools.

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