|
Madagascar’s history – who settled on the Indian Ocean island and when – has been much debated. Genetic studies and archaeology have provided evidence, but a recent study adds another strand. The rock-cut structures at the remote Teniky site are unique to Madagascar, but intriguingly similar to the ritual architecture of Zoroastrians in Persia (today’s Iran). Guido Schreurs and Chantal Radimilahy share their interpretation.
Birds are not just birds to the Nuer people of Ethiopia and South Sudan. They use three interchangeable words for them - meaning “children of God”, “bearers of spirit” and “human twins”. Birds can be omens, protectors, hunting guides, sources of medicine and indicators of weather change. This sacred connection to birds has attracted a team of researchers, who believe that understanding the way the Nuer treat birds can map a future for nature conservation in the region. They write about their study.
|
|
Lyrr Thurston
Copy Editor
|
|
Guido Schreurs, University of Bern; Chantal Radimilahy, Université d’Antananarivo
Archaeologists think the rock-cut architecture at Teniky in Madagascar may have been made by a community with Zoroastrian origins.
|
Abebayehu Aticho, Jimma University; Abebe Beyene, Jimma University; Andrew Gosler, University of Oxford; Desalegn Chala, University of Oslo; Nils Christian Stenseth, University of Oslo; Shimelis Aynalem Zelelew, Bahir Dar University
Birds play a wide range of unique cultural roles for the Nuer people, who have three interchangeable names for them.
|
Politics
|
-
Nicholas Westcott, SOAS, University of London
British governments have neglected Africa and the Commonwealth due to domestic political and economic difficulties since Brexit.
-
David Matsinhe, Carleton University
The future of Mozambique rests on the ability of the new president.
-
Gabrielle Lynch, University of Warwick
Gachagua could make history as Kenya’s first deputy leader to be impeached.
|
|
|
|
Endalcachew Bayeh, Bahir Dar University
Egypt’s potentially destabilising presence in the Horn of Africa is a direct consequence of Ethiopia’s port agreement with breakaway Somaliland.
|
|
|
-
Jacob Lewis, Washington State University
Elite corruption can provoke popular protest for several reasons.
-
Federico Donelli, University of Trieste
Turkey’s investment in Somalia is driven by regional and domestic security considerations.
|
|
Climate
|
Imraan Valodia, University of the Witwatersrand; Julia Taylor, University of the Witwatersrand; Sonia Phalatse, University of the Witwatersrand
The concept of care can serve as a powerful focal point for understanding the climate challenge and for policies toward a sustainable and equitable future.
|
Environment & Energy
|
-
Neil D’Cruze, University of Oxford; Rowan O. Martin, University of Cape Town
A review of the impact of parrot farming on conservation of wild parrots shows that consumer demand for the birds must be reduced.
-
Steven Matome Mathetsa, University of the Witwatersrand
A proposed 36.1% electricity price hike in South Africa is unaffordable and out of line with the country’s development goals of making reliable electricity more available.
|
|
Education
|
Zane Davids, University of Cape Town; Lisa Seymour, University of Cape Town; Rafeeq Jaffer, University of Cape Town
To get maximum benefits from using social media for teaching in South Africa schools, many things should be put in place.
|
Business & Economy
|
-
Jannie Rossouw, University of the Witwatersrand
Mboweni leaves a legacy of a successful transformation from a freedom fighter to a businessman, central banker and politician.
-
Felix Mambo, London School of Economics and Political Science; Ricardo Jorge Moreira Goulão Santos, United Nations University
Budget credibility is crucial for Mozambique’s economic development and public trust.
|
|
Art, Culture & Society
|
Nhlanhla Dube, University of Cape Town
A Colonial Boy is a welcome book for Eppel scholars, but some readers may be put off by its use of literary sketches.
|
|
|
-
Anthony Balcomb, University of KwaZulu-Natal
He had enormous charisma and love for South Africa - he also had enormous wealth and made some questionable political choices.
-
Seth Asare Okyere, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Louis Kusi Frimpong, University of Environment and Sustainable Development ; Matthew Abunyewah, Charles Darwin University; Stephen Leonard Mensah, University of Memphis
Development projects must be tailored to the context of the communities they are supposed to help.
|
|
| |
|
|
18 October 2024
•
Johannesburg
|
|
|
|
|
31 October - 1 November 2024
•
Johannesburg
|
|
18 - 22 November 2024
•
Johannesburg
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
Would you like to republish any of these articles?
|
|
It’s free to republish, here are the guidelines.
Contact us on africa-republish@theconversation.com in case you need assistance.
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
