insert_link Africa Off-grid solar sparks a lantern sales boom in Africa – report By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency A new report has highlighted the continued popularity of lanterns powered by off-grid solar alternatives as more people opt for cleaner lighting options in Africa. The report ‘Global Off-Grid Solar Market Data July-December 2023’ by the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA), the global association for off-grid solar energy industry, is based on sales reported by 32 solar energy kit manufacturers […] todayMay 10, 2024 12
insert_link World Jobs for young Africans: new data tool reveals trends and red flags By Katharina Fenz, Vienna University of Economics and Business An estimated 23.6 million young Africans (aged 15-35) are unemployed – that’s one in 22 (4.5%). With this number projected to grow to 27 million by 2030, the need for jobs is critical. But the key to good policies for job creation is good data. Against this backdrop, the World Data Lab (a data enterprise producing estimates […] todayMay 2, 2024 32
insert_link Africa How expensive it is to be poor: Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté inspires global action against malaria at TED2024 In a stirring address at TED2024, Prof. Abdoulaye Diabaté, Head of Medical Entomology and Parasitology at the Research Institute in Health Sciences in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, and Principal Investigator of Target Malaria Burkina Faso, shared his journey with malaria and his resolute commitment to eradicating it. Prof. Diabaté's talk shed light on the devastating toll of malaria, particularly in Africa, and stressed the urgent need for transformative solutions. […] todayApril 30, 2024 31
insert_link Africa African leaders in Djibouti for World Bank summit Several African leaders are gathering in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, for the World Bank's International Development Association summit. The two-day summit, according to the BBC, aims to address development challenges on the continent and work towards creating prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable economies. The IDA is the part of the World Bank that helps the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. todayApril 29, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Opposition accuses Togo government of extending President’s rule Tensions have risen in Togo as parliamentary and regional elections are underway amid controversy over a new constitution extending President Faure Gnassingbé's term. The BBC reports that opposition parties have accused the government of using the reform to extend Gnassingbé's family's 57-year rule, allowing him to potentially stay in power until 2031. todayApril 29, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa Johannesburg in a time of darkness: Ivan Vladislavić’s new memoir reminds us of the city’s fragility By Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, University of Adelaide Ivan Vladislavić is Johannesburg’s literary linkman. He tells us, in the first pages of his new book, The Near North, that before cities were lit, first by gaslight and later electricity, people of means paid torchbearers to escort them through dark and perilous streets. “In Paris,” he observes, “these linkmen were often police spies or informers, while in London they were […] todayApril 24, 2024 13
insert_link Entertainment ‘A Story of Bones’ documentary screens at Goethe-Institut The documentary ‘A Story of Bones’ was screened at the Goethe-Institut Namibia, followed by a panel discussion. This is after the documentary was shown around the world since its premiere in New York City in 2022. The film sheds light on the ongoing struggle for the proper memorialisation of the remains of thousands of formerly enslaved Africans in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena. Here’s Annina van Neel the […] todayApril 23, 2024 87
insert_link Africa Two new malaria vaccines are being rolled out across Africa: how they work and what they promise By Jaishree Raman, National Institute for Communicable Diseases Malaria incidents are on the rise. There were 249 million cases of this parasitic disease in 2022, five million more than in 2021. Africa suffers more than any other region from malaria, with 94% of cases and 95% of deaths worldwide. This year two revolutionary malaria vaccines are being rolled out across the continent. Nadine Dreyer asks Jaishree Raman […] todayApril 23, 2024 40
insert_link Africa Burna Boy, Siya Kolisi, William Ruto are among world’s most influential people Afrobeats megastar Burna Boy, Kenya's President William Ruto, and captain of South Africa's national rugby team Siya Kolisi are leading the group of Africans who have been recognised by Time magazine among the world's most influential people. The BBC further reports that Burna Boy was featured in the icons category, Kolisi was recognised for his leadership through “wisdom and humility”, and President Ruto was named for spearheading Africa's climate action. todayApril 18, 2024 27