Slavery

Colonialism and apartheid stripped black South Africans of land and labour rights – the effects are still felt today

By Marthinus van Staden, University of the Witwatersrand Land dispossession among South Africa’s majority black population remains a thorny issue 30 years into democracy. Labour law scholar Marthinus van Staden’s new research examines the historical relationship between land dispossession and labour control in South Africa. It explores how the systematic seizure of indigenous people’s land during colonisation and apartheid reduced them from landowners to labourers, under exploitative […]

September 23, 2024 21

Africa

Stevie Wonder’s Ghanaian citizenship reflects long-standing links between African Americans and the continent

By Nemata Blyden, University of Virginia There’s a long history of African Americans settling in Ghana or keeping in close contact with the first African country to gain independence. This relationship has most recently been exemplified by musician Stevie Wonder taking up Ghanaian citizenship. Ghana, which gained independence in 1957, became a beacon for African Americans disenchanted with their country’s racial problems. Ghana’s first prime […]

June 3, 2024 7

Entertainment

Taylor Swift has got the 1830s all wrong

By Emily Ireland, University of Liverpool Taylor Swift has become incredibly popular as a documenter of her dating history. But in her new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, she tries her hand at writing about actual history. In the second verse of “I Hate it Here” (track 23 on the mammoth 31-track anthology version of the album), Swift sings about playing a game that involves […]

May 15, 2024 63

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 […]

April 23, 2024 87