Sisi Afrika Magazine

he Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public.

Our team of professional editors work with university and research institute experts to unlock their knowledge for use by the wider public.

Access to independent, high quality, authenticated, explanatory journalism underpins a functioning democracy. Our aim is to promote better understanding of current affairs and complex issues. And hopefully allow for a better quality of public discourse and conversation.

Politics & Economy

Henry Kissinger at 100 Years Old: History Will Judge His African Interventions as a Failure

Henry Kissinger, who sexed up the art of diplomacy in the eight years between 1969 and 1977, will turn 100 in May this year.

Space Science

Astronomers Used Machine Learning to Mine Data From South Africa’s MeerKAT Telescope

Machine learning is helping astronomers to work through this data quickly and more accurately than poring over it manually. Perhaps surprisingly, despite increasing reliance on computers, up until recently the discovery of rare or new astrophysical phenomena has completely relied on human inspection of the data.

African Leaders

Paul Kagame’s Masterstroke: Rusesabagina’s Release and Apology

In September 2021, Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in jail over his ties to groups opposed to Rwandan president Paul Kagame. His release followed intense diplomatic talks between Washington and Kigali, and was negotiated by Qatar.

Music & Film

Winky D is Being Targeted by Police in Zimbabwe – Why the Music Star’s Voice is Important

Winky D, a 40-year-old Zimdancehall artist, is hugely popular in Zimbabwe. He’s also increasingly in the news for the messages in his songs, some of which address social injustice and corruption under a regime that stifles freedom of expression.

Music & Film

Davido’s New Album “Timeless” is Mostly Form Over Substance

On Timeless, Davido keeps it simple and resists any temptation to reinvent his own wheel. He has never been a socially conscious artist and never pretended to be. The lack of range of topics addressed in the album reveals his contentment with the level he’s always maintained and a stark lack of ambition to push beyond his boundaries.

Diseases & Conditions

A New Invasive Mosquito Has Been Found in Kenya – What this Means for Malaria Control

This mosquito, Anopheles stephensi, is native to South Asia and the Middle East. It transmits the two malaria parasites that pose the greatest risk of severe illness and death: Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

Art & Culture

Kenya’s First Skycraper “The Hilton Hotel” Closes, Leaving a Complicated Legacy

Constance Smith, University of Manchester The Hilton Hotel was Nairobi’s first skyscraper. The iconic cylindrical tower was opened in 1969 by President Jomo Kenyatta,...

Technology & Innovation

ChatGPT Should Force Higher Education to Rethink Assessments

The advent of ChatGPT and similar chatbots provides another opportunity for the sector to reflect on why and how it assesses – and what higher education is for.

Music & Film

Angelique Kidjo: The Diva from Benin Carries With Her a Fierce History

A multi-genre artist, Kidjo sings traditional Benin folk songs, deep blues, fervid West African R&B, hard rock and urban club bangers in multiple languages with Fon, Yoruba, French and English being her main modes of expression. In person, Kidjo is spry and compact; she radiates fierceness.

Book Reviews & Literary Criticism

Ernest Cole: South Africa’s Most Famous Photobook Has Been Republished After 55 years

The resurfacing of more than 60,000 negatives as well as other documents, including notebooks, has led to the publication of the new edition of Cole’s landmark book by the Aperture Foundation.