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Toumani Diabaté, one of Africa’s most significant musical talents, will, among other things, be remembered for his tireless curiosity which drove him to seek collaboration with artists from other parts of the world. Musicologist Roderic Knight traces the virtuoso Malian kora player’s work, taking a look at the legacy he leaves behind. And from our files, we recommend Eric Charry’s trace of the history of the Kora, west Africa’s famed stringed musical instrument.
Kenya faces the difficult challenge of ensuring a continued flow of athletic talents that have helped the country make its mark on the global stage. One such star is Faith Kipyegon who could make history in the 2024 Paris Olympics which kicked off yesterday if she wins her third consecutive Olympic gold. That would make her the first athlete in the history of the event to achieve this feat. Sports scientist Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu unpacks the steps Kenya
must take to keep producing future Kipyegons.
Who were the first Africans to compete at the Olympic games? Sport history professor Francois Cleophas reveals that they were two marathon runners from South Africa – and their participation at the event is a pretty awful and complex story.
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Charl Blignaut
Arts, Culture and Society Editor
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Roderic Knight, Oberlin College and Conservatory
He took west Africa’s Mande music to a new level of global recognition, often collaborating with artists who made music in very different styles.
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Francois Cleophas, Stellenbosch University
Jan Mashiani and Len Tau apparently found themselves in the US in 1904 as part of a world’s fair displaying ‘savages’.
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Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Stephen F. Austin State University
Kenya must keep adapting its development programmes - and move beyond just high altitude running academies.
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Politics
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Federico Manfredi Firmian, Sciences Po
Armed groups looking to infiltrate the state to influence policy first pursue their objectives without openly antagonising the government.
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Gabrielle Lynch, University of Warwick
The state’s efforts to quell public protests show some worrying similarities to the past.
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Vinothan Naidoo, University of Cape Town
South Africans would have wanted to hear President Cyril Ramaphosa spell out how the unity government will address poverty and unemployment.
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Health + Medicine
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Bavesh Kana, University of the Witwatersrand
The only vaccination against TB is more than 100 years old. Gene-editing has made it more effective.
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Blessing Akombi-Inyang, UNSW Sydney
Nigeria needs to adopt a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of child malnutrition.
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Business + Economy
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Imraan Valodia, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa needs a game-changer that is going to shift the economy onto a more employment-intensive growth path.
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XN Iraki, University of Nairobi
There is a real prospect of the government missing its tax revenue target.
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Environment + Energy
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Temilade Sesan, University of Ibadan
The opportunities presented by mini grids come with challenges of balancing market efficiency and equity of access.
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Science + Technology
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Ruan Veldtman, Stellenbosch University
With the help of citizen scientists, South African entomologists can work to keep invasive wasp populations from spreading.
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Simon Weigmann, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change
The skate is found in deep waters and it’s not clear how fisheries might threaten the species.
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Arts, Culture + Society
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Ibraheem Adesina Kukoyi, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
The annual Ojude-Oba festival in south-west Nigeria can be further promoted so that the community can derive more benefits.
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Education
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Tsitsi Mavambe, Stellenbosch University; Nhlanhla Mpofu, Stellenbosch University
While teachers were employing the right strategies, they were not giving targeted attention to the non-readers in their classes.
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Zama Mthombeni, Human Sciences Research Council
Better support for PhD students would help South Africa meet its national research and development goals.
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26 July 2024
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Johannesburg
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1 August 2024
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Cape Town
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15 August 2024
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Johannesburg
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