Today is Human Rights Day in South Africa, one of the few African countries whose constitution guarantees the equality of all people and which outlaws discrimination against anyone, including the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, in many African countries this community is increasingly vulnerable. So when the continental human rights watchdog recently reversed the gains it had made, declaring that queer rights are in conflict with “the virtues of African values”, it was a setback for human rights. Frans Viljoen outlines the decision and what the landscape looks like for LGBTQ+ people in Africa.
It is a cruel twist of fate that Gloria Bosman, the trailblazing South African jazz singer and composer, passed away just as everything was finally going right for her. After a career battling with music industry business structures and overcoming the stereotypes of what is expected of female singers, as well as the setback of the COVID years, she had just released a new album, her first in a decade. In full throttle and at ease, her final work is part of a powerful legacy, writes Gwen Ansell.
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Frans Viljoen, University of Pretoria
Discrimination against anyone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity is not an African value.
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Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria
Her passing shocked the nation and drew praise for her unique vocal powers and musical mentorship.
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John J Stremlau, University of the Witwatersrand
There are fears that escalating US-Chinese tensions could threaten the independence of African and other nonaligned nations.
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Ismaila Aderolu, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
Nigerians are fond of beans but they need to preserve them without using toxic chemicals.
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Ikechukwu Ejekwumadu, University of Tübingen
Au-delà du glamour et de l'adulation des supporters, les footballeurs africains en Europe ont du mal à s'adapter à un nouvel environnement.
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From our international editions
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Frank Jotzo, Australian National University; Mark Howden, Australian National University
A child born now is likely to suffer, on average, three to four times as many climate extreme events in their lifetime as their grandparents did.
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Brian Urlacher, University of North Dakota
The Bush administration invaded Iraq with plans for it to become a democracy. But according to some social science measures, the country isn’t any more democratic than it was before 2003.
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Thomas Mortlock, UNSW Sydney
The record-breaking Cyclone Freddy was a wake-up call to prepare for the storms of the future.
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V. Gerard (Jerry) Comizio, American University
The recent collapse of three banks has lawmakers debating whether stricter regulations will prevent other banks from meeting the same fate.
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