Africa Update Vol. 36
Welcome to the latest edition of Africa Update! This month we've got Ghana's paradoxical electricity crisis, Kenyan political activism beyond the ballot box, the San research code of ethics in South Africa, podcasts from across the continent, and more.
(A personal update: the newsletter has been on hiatus for most of the last year as I recovered from Long COVID. A mild initial infection led to months of debilitating fatigue. I'm doing better now, but many people with LC do not improve with time. Please keep wearing your masks and getting your boosters, because you really don't want to deal with this if you can avoid it!)
Nairobi sunset views, by me
West Africa: Here's why landlords in Nigeria ask for rent to be paid annually rather than monthly. Why do foreign banks find it so difficult to enter the Nigerian market? Read about the political economy of dual citizenship in Liberia with Robtel Neajai Pailey. Why has Ghana gone from having too little electricity to too much? Bright Simons offers 17 reasons why Ghana went back to the IMF for another loan after declaring they were done with the international lender.
Central Africa: In the DRC, school enrollments have skyrocketed after primary education fees were abolished, but over 300,000 teachers are working without pay to meet the increased demand. The DRC has auctioned off dozens of oil blocks in protected rainforests - but it's unclear whether drilling is ever likely to happen. Here's how Museveni's network of Resident District Commissioners has helped him maintain power in Uganda for 36 years.
Life is pretty easy for a retired Kenyan president (via Tyson Juma)
East Africa: In Kenya, young people are increasingly less likely to vote - but continue to engage in politics through community organizations and the art. Reforming the Kenyan police force is a key issue for many youth activists. It will take more than fining bad drivers to make Kenyan roads truly safe. In Ethiopia, more women are entering the workforce, but long hours and low wages are preventing them from becoming more politically active. Read about how people living in Somaliland's cities live "in constant fear of eviction."
Southern Africa: In South Africa, Uber offered drivers a better life, but steadily undermined their incomes and safety over time. A decade after the murder of 34 striking miners by police at the Marikana mine in South Africa, Africa is a Country has put together a series of thoughtful essays about the legacy of the massacre.
Snapshots of East African electricity use, from the East African (via Mwango Capital)
Politics & economics: Here's a snapshot of the state of trade unions in five countries across Africa. Meet the Nigerian students studying in Cyprus who juggle up to six different currencies to make ends meet. In Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, all of the national airlines are struggling with high debt loads and recurrent government subsidies. The CFA franc is under fire for perpetuating neocolonial power dynamics. Meet Geoffrey, an activist who was deported from Qatar for investigating labor violations against Kenyan immigrants.
Environment & climate: The demolition of the Agbogbloshie e-waste scrapyard in Accra hasn't left workers healthier or safer. In Mauritius, a class action lawsuit has been filed against the company whose grounded ship spilled tons of oil off the cost in 2020. As the impacts of climate change continue to grow, over 300,000 people have been displaced by unprecedented flooding in Chad. A new law in Sierra Leone allows local communities to veto proposed mining and industrial projects that would affect their land rights.
"Burden of the Day," by Ethiopian artist Aida Muluneh (via #WOMENSART)
Research & scholarships: Afrobarometer is running a summer school on data analysis for political scientists at the University of Pretoria (due September 9). MIASA is offering fellowships to study sustainable governance at the University of Ghana (due September 30). WGAPE is offering small grants for African researchers interested in political economy (due October 15). Read K. René Odanga's reflections on the inherent white supremacy of the field of African Studies alongside this great piece on the San peoples' code of ethics for research within their communities in South Africa (h/t to Chisomo Kalinga for the latter link).
Art & culture: If you're in Nairobi from September 30 - October 2, don't miss the Macondo Literary Festival, which will bring together Anglophone, Francophone, and Lusophone writers from across the continent. Over 40,000 pages of historic documents from Timbuktu's libraries are can now be viewed online at Google Arts & Culture. In Benin, the repatriation of cultural artifacts means that ordinary citizens are getting to engage with these pieces of their own history for the first time.
This painting of an Ethiopian ruler (probably Dawit II) was made in Japan in the early 17th century, and is believed to be the earliest portrayal of an African ruler in Asian art. (Via Isaac Samuel, who has a brilliant newsletter about African history)
Podcasts: Recently I've been enjoying Ukombozi, about social movements across Africa; the Africa is a Country Podcast, with a wide-ranging leftist perspective; and the Funambulist Podcast, which focuses on decolonization globally. Special mention to Until Everyone is Free, a Sheng-language podcast about Kenya's independence activist Pio Gama Pinto.
And finally: If you're interested in the idea of dignity in international development, don't miss IDinsight's online Dignity Symposium from September 12 - 14. You can register here. (Not Africa-specific, but it's hosted by my partner, thus the cross-posting!)
Cheers,
Rachel