As South Africa shifted towards democracy in the 1990s, violence broke out in parts of the country, much of it fuelled by ethnic division. Zulu-speaking and Xhosa-speaking South Africans were caught up in the bloodshed, targeted because of the language they spoke despite the two groups’ close shared history. It prompted one historian to consider how these languages came to be separately defined under colonialism and entrenched during apartheid – and how the division was instrumental in shaping ethnic identity today. Historian Jochen S. Arndt discusses the findings in his fascinating new book Divided by the Word.

News reports in South Africa yesterday quoted the US ambassador to the country accusing Pretoria of supplying Russia with ammunition late last year. The ambassador said Washington took the matter very seriously, and called on the South African government to practise its ‘non-alignment policy’ towards Russia. The incident illustrates the tightrope South Africa is walking as it balances closer ties with China and Russia while maintaining its relations with Washington. Thapelo Tselapedi’s advice is that South Africa should keep up the balancing act, and work not to alienate any of its partners.

Charl Blignaut

Arts, Culture and Society Editor

Zulu vs Xhosa: how colonialism used language to divide South Africa’s two biggest ethnic groups

Jochen S. Arndt, Virginia Military Institute

Missionaries and African translators working on local versions of the Bible divided South Africa’s ethnic groups by language.

South Africa walks a tightrope of international alliances - it needs Russia, China and the west

Thapelo Tselapedi, Rhodes University

The US’s negative attitude towards BRICS reflects its own weakening global power, especially its inability to isolate Russia in Europe and to contain China’s growing influence.

African scientists are working to pool data that decodes diseases – a giant step

Alan Christoffels, University of the Western Cape; Sofonias Kifle Tessema

Time and information is of the essence when tackling infectious diseases across countries and continents.

West Africa has a small weapons crisis – why some countries are better at dealing with it than others

Daniel Banini, University of Central Florida

A lack of political legitimacy can lead governments to illegal purchases of small arms and light weapons.

Sudan refugee crisis: aid agencies face huge challenges as hundreds of thousands flee violence

Cristiano d'Orsi, University of Johannesburg

The number of refugees leaving Sudan is particularly high because Sudan was itself host to a million refugees.

TC Afrique

La couleur de peau de Cléopâtre n'était pas importante dans l'Égypte ancienne, mais son rôle stratégique dans l'histoire du monde l'était

Toby Wilkinson, University of Cambridge

Le tollé suscité par l'ethnicité en dit plus long sur les préoccupations actuelles en matière de race que sur celles de l'Égypte ancienne.

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