Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa
Not Yet Uhuru: Surveillance, censorship and data practices in the new Tanzania
Internet censorship in Tanzania has taken on a rather oppressive turn in the last five years, with media suppression taking the lead.
Nigerian ministers’ political campaigns stir up legal debate
Nigerian cabinet ministers running for office are caught in a legal web between an electoral law that prescribes immediate resignation and the constitution that says they can wait.
Nigerians demand central banker's resignation for dabbling in partisan politics
"It is difficult to imagine that a person who occupies the sensitive office of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be this brazen in actualizing his ambition."
Angola: Activism in danger in a election year
The demonstrators were arrested without the right to a defence as stipulated by law. The 22 activists were then taken to court days later, where they were summarily tried.
Press freedom is marked by fear and insecurity in Mozambique
Among festive messages and recognition of the work done by journalists, the day was marked by a moment of consternation, due to the difficult situation in the local media.
Beyond Botswana and Rwanda’s COVID-19 vaccination roll-out success stories
African countries will bypass Western nationalism and Chinese soft power by boasting locally produced COVID-19 vaccines. This will wean the continent from donor dependence and boost the vaccination rate.
Nigerian politicians, oblivious of striking university teachers, focus on election campaigns
The Nigerian government's insensitivity to striking federal-university teachers reflects a fundamental disinterest in public education. However, the incessant strikes are not influencing the tone-deaf government but only keeping students at home.
World Record Store Day: These Kenyan DJs are keeping the art of vinyl alive in the digital age
Kenya’s vinyl collectors community has reimagined the day they come together to share in the joy of buying, collecting and listening to all manner of Vinyl records.
Twitter and Facebook won't counter disinformation in the upcoming Kenyan elections
Regardless of the rapid growth of social media users in Kenya, Facebook and Twitter continue to provide ineffective measures and invest less in combating election-related disinformation.
Shagz Chronicles: The Kenyan podcast that wants you to fall in love with the Kikuyu language and culture
Translation of the Kikuyu language continues to be a major challenge. Shagz Chronicles wants to normalize both the oral and written Kikuyu in everyday life, both online and off.
Weaponising the law: Zimbabwe’s new frontier in digital rights repression
2022 will provide ample opportunity to monitor the government response to electoral challenges, and whether includes the use of internet shutdowns and laws to clampdown on activists, opposition leaders and independent media.
Protest music: young Nigerian musicians singing against social injustice
Nigerian young singers have continued in that revered tradition of singing against social injustice. The #EndSARS protest triggered their political consciousness, which hitherto, seemed to be experiencing a decline.
The Kuti clan protesting through music, and other Nigerians who sang against apartheid
The Kuti clan have fought tyrannical political leadership through music. Also, Nigerian musicians like Sonny Okosun, Majek Fashek and Onyeka Onwenu fought to release Nelson Mandela from prison.
Africa's heritage restitution debate extends to audio and visual archives
Unlike artifacts whose functionality and value do not depend on the medium they can be accessed through, visual and sound recordings are subject to the vagaries of technology.
Powerful protest songs from Kenya and South Africa
Over the years, artists around the African continent have used music to challenge governmental and military oppression. In Kenya and South Africa, protest songs were a key tool for liberation.
Podcast: How the global south considers Russia's invasion of Ukraine
What do people in these regions think about Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Do they expect their governments to do something or not? What are the long-term impacts?
How Sudanese resistance committees are shadowbanned on Facebook
The attacks primarily aim to affect public opinion by spreading disinformation, but the last attack aimed at changing the feed's algorithm to hide information on the user’s Facebook timeline.
Banned songs from Nigeria and Uganda which represent the voices of the people
These banned songs from popular groups and musicians, though initially accepted by the authorities, ended up being sanctioned and/or banned altogether.
Feminist music icons from around Africa to celebrate this International Women's Day
Whether it is speaking out against sexual abuse, female genital mutilation (FGM), celebrating sexual identity, or promoting gender equality, to these African feminist singers, music is the ultimate weapon.
Mozambican government websites suffer cyber attack
The hackers posted a ransom request in exchange for the government site data. Officials have not yet identified the perpetrators.
#AfricansInUkraine: We are students, we don’t have guns
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine caused displacement of thousands of people. Among them also an African diaspora which had to mobilise informally while also dealing with racial discrimination on the ground.
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