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The Museum of the Bamoun Kings, Cameroon, was one of Africa’s most significant museum openings of 2024. With over 10,000 objects spanning 600 years, it tells the story of one of sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest kingdoms. From its striking architecture to treasures like royal headdresses and King Njoya’s manuscripts, the museum is a captivating place of memory. Archaeologist Rachel Mariembe explores the legacy it contains, and raises questions about looted heritage.
Meet Charity Ekezie, the Nigerian TikTok sensation using humour to challenge stereotypes about Africa. With 3.3 million TikTok followers, she hilariously flips misconceptions into skits, exposing ignorance with biting sarcasm. Scholar Rowland Amaefula unpacks her unique blend of comedy and political critique, showing how she disrupts colonial narratives while celebrating Africa’s diversity and vibrancy.
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Charl Blignaut
Arts, Culture and Society Editor
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Rachel Mariembe, University of Douala
Founded in 1384, the Bamoun kingdom tells an extraordinary history. A Cameroonian archaeologist visits the new museum of the kings.
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Rowland Chukwuemeka Amaefula, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike
With 3.3 million followers on TikTok, Ekezie is not only educating non-African users about the continent, she’s also making them the butt of the joke.
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Business + Economy
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Bomikazi Zeka, University of Canberra; Jasmine Kinsman, Nelson Mandela University
Consumers have to trade off preserving their capital for retirement and meeting their monthly financial obligations.
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Stephen Onyeiwu, Allegheny College
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has introduced far-reaching economic reforms. They are unlikely to improve the living conditions of Nigerians in 2025.
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Misheck Mutize, University of Cape Town
African finance ministries should push for lower interest rates on bonds.
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Science + Technology
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Elisabetta Palagi, University of Pisa
Dolphins smile at each other and at other species when playing, and mimic others’ smiles.
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Arts, Culture + Society
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Paola Vargas Arana, University of Manchester
Ana Angola was captured in the kingdom of Ndongo and spent months on a ship before a journey over land where she was forced to work on the gold mines of Antioquia.
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Jessica Falconi, Universidade de Lisboa
Mozambique struggles to create a unified nation because of its diverse cultures, colonial history, socialism and globalisation.
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Casey Golomski, University of New Hampshire
The study of (mostly white) residents and (mostly black) workers in an old age home in South Africa took place over seven years and it upended stereotypes.
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Environment
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Aluwani Maiwashe-Tagwi, University of South Africa; Unity Chipfupa, University of South Africa
Burning sugarcane trash is common in South Africa. With support small-scale sugarcane farmers could turn this plant waste into bioenergy.
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Politics
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Luca Bussotti, Universidade Técnica de Moçambique (UDM)
Venâncio Mondlane finds himself at the centre of one of Mozambique’s worst political crises.
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Henning Melber, University of Pretoria
The pact between Germany and Namibia on atrocities, including genocide, committed under colonial rule is deeply flawed.
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Ulf Engel, University of Leipzig
To make an impact, the AU’s incoming leadership must address six issues.
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Carolyn Hoyle, University of Oxford; Parvais Jabbar, University of Oxford
Countries that retain the death penalty often argue that the public supports it. In Zimbabwe, research helped challenge this narrative.
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David Mandiyanike, University of Botswana
In Botswana women represent 54% of eligible voters, but about 10% of candidates. Political parties could change that.
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Health + Medicine
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Christiane Brems, Stanford University
Breathwork is an ancient practice to calm the mind and improve physical health.
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Loyiso Maciko, University of the Witwatersrand
South Africa wants to introduce an excise tax on alcohol to make sure no alcoholic drink can be sold below a certain price.
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Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center; Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center; Beryl Nyatuga Machoka, African Population and Health Research Center
Pregnant Kenyan teens aren’t getting support before or after pregnancy – setting them up for a life of hardship.
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