Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa
Environmental defenders work to maintain the peace-building role of nature in northern Uganda
"... [T]here is an urgency to revise the ways in which the value of nature is integrated into current existing peacebuilding and development policies in Uganda."
Kenyan rural business owners embrace solar power to overcome decades of electricity shortages
For rural communities in Kenya’s off-grid areas, solar power has shown to be a very reliable and promising source of energy.
What role for the French language in Togolese society?
Togo adopted French as its official language in 1960, a fact enshrined in the constitution. But what is the role of this language in a diverse linguistic landscape?
Ghanaians debate online about the rights of a 16-year-old girl married to a 63-year-old traditional priest
[D]ata reveals that 23 girls get married every minute worldwide, and a girl gets married every two seconds. In Ghana, nearly 1 in 5 girls is married before the age of 18.
“The journey to the recognition of LGBTQ rights in Africa is an uphill climb”
There are 64 countries whose laws criminalise homosexuality, and nearly half of them are in Africa. Many of the laws have origins in colonial times.
From entertainment to rebellion: The various roles music has played in Tanzania's history
Music has played various roles in Tanzania, from serving as entertainment to acting as an educational, politicizing, and unifying force.
13th time’s a charm? African Games close in Ghana
The thirteenth African Games were held in Accra, Ghana amidst the economic and logistical challenges of the host country. A few wins and milestones were achieved.
Ethiopian girls are changing tradition through skateboarding
"... [O]ur society doesn’t support skateboarding. It is seen as a sport practiced by ill-mannered boys, and so it was hard for a young girl like me to go against them.”
Chad as a literary territory: Interview with francophone novelist Nétonon Noël Ndjékéry
Chad is a pivot country between North and Central Africa. It is rarely covered as a place of literature, thus Global Voices interviewed francophone novelist Nétonon Noël Ndjékéry.
How Tanzanian artists are leading the musical renaissance in Africa
While digital platforms have helped grow the market and reach of music for African and in particular Tanzanian music, there are genuine concerns about monetization and loyalties.
‘Game changer': A Kenyan radio station is reviving a dying Indigenous language
The radio station, Sogoot, which in the Indigenous language Ogiek means 'leaves,' broadcasts in Ogiek from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily, educating and giving direction to thousands in its community.
Nigerian artist Sor Sen explores the ‘connectedness between humans and trees’
"When I see branches of a tree clustered, the intricacies, the manoeuvres and general structural organization, it reminds me of the somewhat chaotic nature of the human condition."
Chad: The media environment fails to protect journalists
With less than two months to go before the presidential elections in Chad on May 6, 2024, death threats continue to loom over local journalists.
‘Tag the trees': The disappearing Kenyan language being saved with afforestation
The tags, with the English words and their counterparts in Yaakunte, are an initiative of Ann Naibini and Juliana Kageni, sisters working to revive their dying Yaakunte language.
Ghana’s economy and food security policies: Lessons from Operation Feed Yourself
In February 1972, under the leadership of Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, the Ghanaian government initiated the Operation Feed Yourself policy, an agricultural program designed to boost domestic food crop production.
Human rights activists appeal to Ghana's president to reject anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by parliament
"This bill represents a real danger to our country, and we are looking to the president to uphold the values of our country and constitution."
An overview of the media landscape in Tanzania
Reporters Without Borders notes that many media outlets are either owned by politicians or influenced by them, compromising editorial independence and leading to biased coverage.
Senegal: The seeds of an institutional coup
By unilaterally and without any legal basis ending the electoral process three weeks early, Macky Sall has plunged Senegal into an unprecedented institutional crisis
Local reactions to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS
Many view the withdrawal as a reaction to the heavy sanctions imposed by ECOWAS on the three military-led countries.
Why Nigerians are facing daily challenges of inflation, falling income, and rising insecurity
Amid this worsening economic crisis, there has been a rise in the numbers of kidnappings for money across the country.
Which local language is most widely spoken in Togo?
Officially, Togo has two national languages: Éwé and Kabyé. But neither of those is the language that's most widely spoken in the country.