insert_link Africa Angola’s untold history: archive project explores LGBTIQ+ lives and struggles By Caio Simões de Araújo, University of the Western Cape As I write these lines, I mourn the passing of Carlos Fernandes, a leading queer activist and organiser in Angola. Carlos was found dead in his home earlier this year under circumstances that are still being investigated. For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) people everywhere, there has commonly been a profound connection between […] todayMay 17, 2024 6
insert_link Lifestyle Zulu culture and sexual orientation: South African study reveals the health costs of stigma By Ikekhwa Albert Ikhile, University of South Africa Same-sex relationships are legal in South Africa and protected by the constitution. Unfair discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is against the law. But in practice many cultures don’t necessarily see this as a right. Traditional Zulu culture, for example, perceives same-sex relationships and sexual intercourse as taboo and unAfrican. Statements like “real men are not gay” […] todayMarch 27, 2024 18
insert_link Opinion Pieces UN Rights Experts Make False Promises About Prostitution The essayist, an expert in human trafficking, writes that a guidance paper produced by a UN human rights group on eliminating discrimination against “sex workers” actually “advocates for policies that will endanger women and girls.” TONY WEBSTER/CREATIVE COMMONOpinion By Taina Bien-Aimé The United Nations working group on discrimination against women and girls published a paper last year that not only fails to address the widespread human rights violations caused by prostitution […] todayMarch 14, 2024 12
insert_link Business / Economics Economic inclusion of people with disabilities cornerstone for Economic growth By Josef Kefas Sheehama It is indeed regrettable that people with disabilities continue to face exclusion from the economy. We are excluded from employment, skills training, education, and other critical areas of development. The latest reports indicated that 95% of people who have disabilities in the Kunene region are unemployed, while in the Khomas region, it is nearly 70% according to the Namibia Association for Wheelchair Users. […] todayMarch 13, 2024 4
insert_link Lifestyle Romance isn’t always rosy, sometimes it’s sickening – lovesickness, erotomania and death by heartbreak explained Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock Natasha McKeever, University of Leeds and Luke Brunning, University of Leeds Hundreds of millions of people worldwide use dating apps. But only half of users say that they have had positive experiences. Indeed, a shocking 11% of female users under 50 have received threats of harm. Surely there’s a better way to build these apps. Dating sites and apps have made it easier to find sexual and romantic partners, […] todayFebruary 14, 2024 11
Africa Slaves of God: Nigeria’s traditional Osu slavery practice was stopped, but the suffering continues By Michael E Odijie, UCL There are global efforts to fight modern slavery, but a few traditional systems still hold strong in west Africa. These include Osu, Ohu and Trokosi. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo spoke to Michael Odijie who has researched one of the systems – Osu – and what can be done to finally put a stop to it. What is Osu? Osu is a traditional […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 3
Africa Discrimination against young African diasporans in France, U.K. and U.S. is driving interest and connection towards Africa, a new report What’s it like being an African youth in the diaspora? According to the new Being African: How Africans Experience the Diaspora report, diasporic African youths experience different types of discrimination — exoticization in France, microaggressions in the UK, and surveillance and profiling in the US. The latest research report by narrative-change organization Africa No Filter investigates how young Africans experience their diaspora, how they define being African and the basis of their […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 13
insert_link Entertainment This runway model is campaigning against gender-based violence in the fashion industry Driven by a passion for humanitarian causes, runway model Sharon Okubo is championing a campaign that uses fashion to fight gender-based violence in Kenya. Atieno Odera, bird story agency Entering Watamu town in Kilifi County, north of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean, it is immediately apparent that an awareness of gender-based violence is widespread. The ‘RED CARD CAMPAIGN FASHION SHOW’ advertised loudly on a billboard at the town's entrance displays […] todayNovember 27, 2023 8
insert_link Namibia Geingob notes international violence elimination day against women President Hage Geingob on Saturday joined Namibians and the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In a statement issued by the Presidency, Geingob noted that Namibia has made significant progress in addressing violence against women and girls through the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Affirmative Action Act. “These laws aim to protect victims, promote gender equality and ensure […] todayNovember 27, 2023 4
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
