insert_link Africa Nigeria risks losing all its forest elephants – what we found when we went looking for them By Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan, University of Lagos and Bola Oboh, University of Lagos Nigeria is one of 37 African countries where elephants are found in the wild. Savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana) can be found in the north and forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis) in the south. It’s not clear how many elephants there are in Nigeria. Eighteen years ago, the African Elephant Study Report estimated that there were […] todayMarch 12, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Fintech is sold as the answer to Africa’s problems, but digital money services have downsides which media often overlook The research assessed newspaper coverage of fintech in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa. Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images By Cathleen LeGrand, University of Leeds; Chris Paterson, University of Leeds, and Jörg Wiegratz, University of Leeds The online financial products and services known as “fintech” have become deeply embedded in the economic and social life of many African countries over the past decade. Headlines across the continent often extol […] todayMarch 12, 2024 21
insert_link Africa East Africa must prepare for more extreme rainfall during the short rainy season – new study By David MacLeod, Cardiff University; Erik W. Kolstad, Uni Research; Katerina Michaelides, University of Bristol, and Michael Singer, Cardiff University East Africa has recently had an unprecedented series of failed rains. But some rainy seasons are bringing the opposite: huge amounts of rainfall. In the last few months of 2023, the rainy season known as the “short rains” was much wetter than normal. It brought severe flooding to […] todayMarch 11, 2024 39
insert_link Africa In climate-related flooding, a Ugandan river turns poisonous By Ashoka Mukpo Uganda’s Nyamwamba river, in the Rwenzori Mountains, has begun to flood catastrophically in recent years, partly due to climate change. Along the river are copper tailings pools from an old Canadian mining operation, which are becoming increasingly eroded by the flooding. According to a series of studies, these tailings have been washing into the water supply and soil of the Nyamwamba River Basin, contaminating human tissue, food […] todayMarch 11, 2024 56
insert_link Africa Special Economic Zones are propelling Africa’s green hydrogen drive By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency When Egypt, a prominent player in green hydrogen development in Africa, recently announced seven new upcoming projects worth US$40 billion to be rolled out over the next decade, it noted that the projects would be positioned in one location: a special economic zone (SEZ). The new projects announced by Egypt's cabinet in February, together with ongoing developments not only in […] todayMarch 11, 2024 32
insert_link Africa Pin Africa and unpublished Africa launch Women’s history month campaign to celebrate and empower female photographers and photojournalists This Women’s History Month, Pin Africa and Unpublished Africa proudly announce the launch of the "We (Are) Invested" campaign, a dedicated initiative to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women photographers and photojournalists across Africa. Aligned with the United Nations International Women’s Day 2024 theme, "Invest in women: Accelerate progress," this campaign aims to spotlight and support the pioneering women who have overcome industry challenges to pave the way […] todayMarch 11, 2024 19
insert_link Africa Somalia-Turkey maritime deal is a win for both countries, and not a power play for the Horn of Africa By Brendon J. Cannon, Khalifa University A recent defence deal between Somalia and Turkey has great significance for Somalia and the region’s security. The agreement, which covers both land and sea, aims to enhance defence cooperation between Turkey and Somalia. It includes the possibility of Turkey providing both training and equipment for a Somali navy. Its near-term impact should, however, not be exaggerated. Instead, it should be […] todayMarch 11, 2024 20
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s ancient Ilorin city – archaeologist uncovers over 1,000 years of history By Bolaji Owoseni, University of Cambridge Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, is a Nigerian city with a long and rich history. However, much of its distant past is not well known. Archaeology is now uncovering more of this history and the relationships of Ilorin to other ancient parts of the Yoruba world. Situated in north-central Nigeria and predominantly Yoruba-speaking, Ilorin gained prominence in the late 1700s. […] todayMarch 11, 2024 8
insert_link Africa Happy smiling African children: why school tourism in Zimbabwe shouldn’t be encouraged Children will often sing and dance for visiting tourists. Pascal Deloche/GODONG Kathleen Smithers, Charles Sturt University A large, air-conditioned bus draws up outside a school. Tourists, most from Europe and the US, disembark, cameras at the ready. Some have brought gifts: packages of pens and pencils. They distribute these to the children, who spontaneously begin singing and dancing. This scene and others like it play out in schools around the […] todayMarch 11, 2024 5
