Pasha - from The Conversation Africa

shutterstock When SARS-CoV-2 emerged in South Africa, the country took measures to restrict people’s movements and activities, to slow the spread of infections. There were various levels of restrictions, the most severe being in place in March and April 2020. During this “hard lockdown”, many people in South Africa really struggled. Not only did they have financial difficulties but the lockdown took an emotional and mental toll. The common themes, no matter where people lived, were feelings of anxiety, frustration and isolation. And as lockdown went on, those feelings got worse. In today’s episode of Pasha, Sarita Pillay, a PhD student at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Miriam Maina, a research associate at the University of Manchester, take us through their research on this lockdown toll. The researchers got their information from multimedia diary entries made during the “level 5” lockdown. Their informants were people living in a variety of dwelling types, households and urban neighbourhoods. The entries recorded participants’ daily experiences, concerns and feelings. Much of the anxiety people felt came from the fact that it was an unknown virus. People didn’t know how it would affect them. They also worried about people breaking lockdown regulations. The economic impact of the lockdown was a concern; food security was a big issue. Feelings of isolation and frustration came from being alone. It didn’t help that people were separated from their daily routines. Photo “Empty streets in the city of Cape Town during the lockdown for Covid-19” by fivepointsix found on Shutterstock. Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Back To My Roots” by John Bartmann, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution 4.0 International License.

shutterstock The “Fourth Industrial Revolution” is a term coined in 2016 by German economist Klaus Schwab. It’s used to describe the technology revolution that the world is going through. But there is growing criticism, particularly in the global south, of how it’s framed. Many are questioning whether it should be considered a revolution at all. The Fourth Industrial Revolution, according to one view, is a very simplistic narrative that advances a distinct political agenda. It is a kind of exploitation that is being sold as progress. The narrative is being advanced to achieve a specific economic outcome – at the expense of many people in the global south. Many innovations are happening in the digital technological space. But do they reorganise production and social relations, or do they just entrench past forms of inequality? Consider the case of the ride-hailing app Uber. It may sound like enticing work for drivers, but there’s more to it. Drivers may face bad working conditions, penalties and other challenges without the security of human resources behind them. In this episode of Pasha, Ruth Castel-Branco, manager of the Future of Work(ers) research project at the University of the Witwatersrand, joins Nanjala Nyabola, a storyteller and political analyst, in taking us through the seductive idea of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Read more: The Fourth Industrial Revolution: a seductive idea requiring critical engagement Photo “A smartphone attached to the dash on a vent holder in a moving Uber car. The Uber App shows the route in Cape Town map.” by maurodopereira, found on Shutterstock. Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

GettyImages Young children and adolescents are becoming hyper connected. They are using digital technologies as a platform for learning, connection and socialisation on a global scale. The COVID pandemic meant that kids were moving online for many of their daily activities and spending more time online. In South Africa, children generally access the internet at home much more frequently than at school, and most commonly using a smartphone. Their main online activity is use of social media. Connecting online has the potential to reduce inequalities and barriers to education and services. But there is also a risk of exposure to a range of threats. In one survey, about 50% of South African adolescents had been exposed to sexual content and 34% also reported exposure to violent content and hate speech. Not all exposure is risky or damaging. But what can parents do to monitor their children’s use of the internet and protect them from potential harm? The answer lies in finding the right balance between empowerment and protection. The internet is here to stay. Parents should engage with their children on the digital world. The quality of offline relationships and communication is the key to protecting children online. In today’s episode of Pasha, Rachana Desai, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, offers some tips: Download the apps that your child frequently uses and understand why your child enjoys them. Ask your child to teach you how to use the technology they use. This is a great communication and interaction activity because children often like to teach their parents and it’s quite empowering for them. Friend your child on social media platforms – with boundaries. Do it in such a way that they still have their own space to express themselves. Talk to your child about their experiences online. Ask them open ended questions like whether there was anything that bothered them online. You want to get to know what’s going on without over-supervising and then having your child completely isolate you from the online world. Read more: Children’s mental health and the digital world: how to get the balance right Photo “Happy boy taking a break watching a portable tablet with earphones” by Hello Africa, found on Getty Images. Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by Frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

shutterstock Great white sharks have long been at the top of the food chain in parts of South Africa’s oceans. In their peak winter hunting months, around 100 great white sharks a day could be observed off the coast of the Western Cape province. But in 2017, great white shark carcasses began to wash up on beaches at Gansbaai, one of the main sites where the species usually gathered. Some were missing their livers. And the numbers of great white sharks in Gansbaai started to drop. In fact, they just vanished for up to a year at a time. What was the cause? The culprits appear to be a pair of male killer whales, which researchers have named Port and Starboard, that arrived in the area. They have a signature way of tearing open their prey and they favour the nutrient-rich liver. Port and Starboard. David Hurwitz Though killer whales are known to hunt sharks far from shore elsewhere in the world, this was the first time the carcasses had washed up on a beach and become available for scientific study. In today’s episode of Pasha, shark biologist and PhD candidate Alison Towner tells the unfolding story of the impact the killer whales are having on South Africa’s marine ecosystems. Great white sharks are fleeing to other parts of the coast and their absence affects other species like African penguins and Cape fur seals. Tami Kaschke, Dyer Island Conservation Trust It’s a novel situation, with concerns for the tourism and conservation sectors – and no simple answers. Photo “Great white shark” by Mogens Trolle, found on Shutterstock. Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. Sounds “orcas (killer whales)” by MBARI_MARS found on Freesound licensed under attribution noncommercial 3.0 license.

GettyImages Wildlife and people are coming into more and more conflict across Africa as human populations expand. Habitat loss and fragmentation of animal populations are causing declines in species. In Zambia, the Luangwa Valley and Kafue are two important wildlife areas. Both support populations of lion and leopard which are genetically linked to populations in neighbouring countries. They have great conservation value and are crucial for Zambia’s tourism industry too. It was here that Paula White, director of the Zambia Lion Project at the University of California in the US, noticed something strange while researching the conservation of carnivores. Looking at the skulls of lions and leopards to estimate the animals’ ages, she saw unnatural wear marks on the teeth of these big cats. This was caused by biting and pulling on snare wire to get free. What is more, many of the lions had old shotgun pellets embedded in their skulls. They had survived these injuries – but how many more animals had not? Behind the threat to the lions and leopards are complex social and economic issues. People move to where there are opportunities to make a living – from wildlife tourism and associated economic activity, for example. This can bring them into conflict with animals. Some people set snares because they need food, not necessarily to catch carnivores. And they may fire shotguns to drive off predators, not to kill them. It is vital to understand the complexities of these relationships. People who live close to parks need to receive the benefits of wildlife, as our guest explains in today’s episode of Pasha. Photo: “Portrait Of Lion Standing On Grassy Field, Kasempa, Zambia” by Stock Photo Getty Images. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Somewhere Nice” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

GettyImages Big infrastructure projects should be based on the needs of people and communities. Often, they are criticised for benefiting the wealthy only. These projects reflect specific agendas of political and economic elites who are able to advance their interests through the developments. They interplay with existing inequalities and almost inevitably have highly uneven effects. An example is Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, a massive infrastructure project that connects the port city of Mombasa to the capital, Nairobi. So how can these projects be made beneficial to more people? Civil society groups are crucial to ensuring equity. They have the power to reach marginalised groups and can educate them about projects and about their rights. It is also important to make sure projects don’t become a political tool. In today’s episode of Pasha, Gediminas Lesutis, a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Amsterdam, talks about making massive infrastructure projects work for communities. Read more: Kenya’s mega-railway project leaves society more unequal than before Photo: “Children walk by the rails at an elevated section of the new Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya” By Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

There are some major development projects in progress on the continent. They include the Standard Gauge Railway in Kenya and irrigation and hydropower projects in Tanzania’s Rufiji Basin. Projects like these have potential to change people’s lives for good. But they also come with risks. Some big projects damage environments by disturbing the habitats of wildlife like lions and elephants. In Kenya the rail project has displaced these animals so that they come into conflict with people. Construction can also bring in and spread invasive species. Some projects can lead to an increase in illegal logging, poaching and fires. Or they can have an impact on the ecosystems of rivers, coasts or oceans. Negative impacts can extend to communities through loss of livelihoods or exposure to natural hazards like flooding or erosion. One major criticism is that big development projects benefit wealthy people but don’t help poorer communities. They can widen huge socioeconomic disparities. It is also important to make sure that projects consider how infrastructure might operate under a changing climate in the future. There might be much higher temperatures, higher variability in rainfall, and higher frequency of floods and droughts. Today’s episode of Pasha takes a look at major infrastructure projects on the continent from a variety of perspectives. Our guests are biodiversity researcher Tobias Nyumba, climate change modeller Jessica Thorn, political analyst Gediminas Lesutis and geographer Declan Conway. Photo: Impalas walk near the elevated railway that allows movement of animals below the tracks at the construction site of Standard Gauge Railway in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, on November 21, 2018. Photo by Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License. Sounds: “Peaceful farm ambiences in spring” by be_a_hero_not_a_patriot found on Freesound licensed under Creative Commons 0 License. “Flooding” by tarane468 found on Freesound licensed under Attribution 3.0 License.

shutterstock Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, which links Nairobi and Mombasa, East Africa’s largest port, was built to ease the pressure on the road network. Construction started in 2013 and was completed in 2017, with an extension in 2019. The line transports passengers as well as cargo. It makes the trip between the cities safer and shorter. The project is also being promoted as a means to develop Kenya’s mining, oil, gas, energy and commercial agriculture sectors as well as the wider East African region. It aims to link Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan to the Indian Ocean trade routes to the east. Projects like this are known as development corridors and have the potential to bring major socioeconomic benefits. Access to jobs and markets, efficient transport, cheaper food and opening up isolated areas are among them. In today’s episode of Pasha we bring you the first episode in a series we’re running on development corridors. This episode looks at the positive aspects of such initiatives. Our guest this week is Jessica Thorn, a research associate with the Development Corridors Partnership between Tanzania, Kenya, China and the UK. Photo: “View of the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway Bridge through the Nairobi National Park Nature Reserve near Nairobi, Kenya” by schusterbauer.com found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Gimme That African Vibe” by John Bartmann found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution 4.0 International License.. Sounds: “South African train” by Deathicated found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

shutterstock Hippos are very vocal animals, exchanging signals like the “wheeze honk”. But not much is known about what these sounds mean. Two researchers found themselves thinking about this in Mozambique – where they were initially studying crocodiles. Hippos are quite territorial and aggressive – and fast-moving. So the researchers kept a fair distance away as they conducted their experiment. They recorded hippo noises and played them back to the animals, watching to see how the hippos behaved. If the call came from an unknown hippo in a different social group, the response appeared to be aggressive. If the call was one they recognised, they were less inclined to be aggressive. One way hippos show aggression is to spray dung. The meaning of hippo sounds is useful to know for conservation efforts. Hippos and humans sometimes come into conflict and need to be moved for their own survival. Before relocating them, conservation managers could play them the sounds of the hippos they will be meeting in their new location, to familiarise them. In this episode of Pasha, Nicolas Mathevon, professor in animal behaviour and bioacoustics at the University of Saint-Etienne, and Paulo Fonseca, professor in acoustic communication at the University of Lisbon, take us through their experiences of listening to hippos in Mozambique. Photo “Specie Hippopotamus amphibius family of Hippopotamidae.” by PACO COMO, found on Shutterstock Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. The researchers would like to thank the Maputo special reserve for allowing them to do the research on the property.

shutterstock A few years ago the South African city of Cape Town was close to reaching “day zero” – the day the taps would run dry as a result of a serious drought. Households had to restrict their water usage, water tariffs increased, and businesses had to rethink how they used water. But the situation affected people unequally. Households experienced it in different ways. The poor and vulnerable suffered the most. With the changing climate, problems like these aren’t going anywhere. Water scarcity, higher temperatures and changing rainfall patterns will become more common, so finding ways to adapt is important. And in a city where inequality and financial pressures are deep and complex, adaptive change will take time. It also takes information. For city planners and decision makers, data is essential – but not just quantitative data. They need to engage with people to understand how they experience issues like water scarcity. Making sense of a water crisis. In today’s episode of Pasha, two researchers discuss their work on inequality in water and describe a project that brought city authorities and community members together. Gina Ziervogel is in the Department of Environmental and Geographical Science and Johan Enqvist is with the African Climate and Development Initiative, both at the University of Cape Town. Photo: “Lines of people waiting to collect natural spring water for drinking in Newlands in the drought in Cape Town South Africa.” Photo by Mark Fisher Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License. Video: “Making sense of a water crisis” filmed by Odendaal Esterhuyse

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal contact learning in education systems worldwide. Technology became an essential tool for learning and it has great potential beyond the pandemic. For one thing, it enables more interactivity than some old styles of teaching. But there are a number of barriers to using technology more widely in education. Users need data, a device and a learning management system. They need training in the skills to learn and teach online, and support for troubleshooting. Internet access may be seen as a human right, but Africa’s digital divide means that in reality not everyone can equally exercise that right. Some people are more connected than others. Radio and television are also useful technologies in widening access to education but they mostly require electricity, which isn’t universally available either. In today’s episode of Pasha, vice-chancellor and principal Tawana Kupe shares what the University of Pretoria in South Africa did to make online learning possible for all its students. He calls for public-private partnerships to develop internet infrastructure so that everybody can have access. And he makes the case for an internet-empowered education system at all levels. Photo “Hands of a little girl child working or typing on a laptop’s keyboard.” by Kehinde Olufemi Akinbo, found on Shutterstock Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

Getty ImagesThe lakes of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) play a big part in people’s lives – socially, politically and economically. But lake fishing communities find themselves at the intersection of geography, war and authority, as rebel groups and conservation managers also claim spaces and resources. By some estimates there are over 70 armed groups in the country, led by warlords, traditional tribal elders, village heads and politically motivated resistance fighters. Lake Edward is also a conservation area and park managers try to limit the illegal fishing there. This creates conflict too. People who live around the lake and depend on it for livelihoods have to deal with both rebel groups and park management. In today’s episode of Pasha, Esther Marijnen, assistant professor in sociology of development and change at Wageningen University, takes us through her research on the topic. It’s important to get a historical perspective, she says, to understand why the conflict persists. Photo “The fishing village of Kavanyongi on the northern shores of Lake Edward” by Brent Stirton/Getty Images for WWF-Canon. Found on Getty Images. Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

shutterstock Vaccine hesitancy is the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination, where vaccination services are available. It’s a diverse phenomenon: people may have different degrees of hesitancy, and may refuse some vaccines but agree to others. In 2019, the World Health Organization identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the 10 greatest threats to global health. It is very worrying because it poses significant risks not only to the hesitant individual but also to the wider community. Vaccine hesitancy has resulted in outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. For example there were measles outbreaks in Europe and North America between 2018 and 2020. There was a polio vaccine boycott in Nigeria in 2003 and 2004. And COVID-19 is rapidly becoming a pandemic of unvaccinated people. Many factors contribute to hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines. But the general concerns are about safety, efficacy and novelty. The pandemic has brought a lot of uncertainty and rapid change. There’s also been an explosion of information and misinformation about the virus, the disease and the vaccines. Along with concerns specific to COVID-19, some people are opposed to vaccines generally. In today’s episode of Pasha, Charles Shey Wiysonge, director of Cochrane South Africa, and Sara Cooper, a senior scientist at Cochrane South Africa, both at the South African Medical Research Council, take us through their research on vaccine hesitancy and strategies to overcome it. They say it is crucial to address people’s legitimate concerns and provide balanced and transparent information. This must include potential adverse effects, evidence gaps and uncertainties surrounding the vaccine and the virus. Information must be more local and offered in a way people can understand. It would also be beneficial to integrate vaccination efforts with other social and economic programmes. Photo: “patient does not agree to put the vaccine, vaccination. anti-vaccination” by nishka Rozhkova found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Tweaked loopable excerpt of frankum’s Freesound” by Timbre found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License..

shutterstock Hyenas aren’t the most popular animals. Sometimes they kill people’s livestock. They are also thought of as scavengers, with some unappealing eating behaviour. Then there’s their cackling “laugh” and their physical looks, less graceful in some eyes than other large predators like lions or leopards. But there’s a more positive side to these often misunderstood creatures. In Mekelle, a town in northern Ethiopia, research has exposed and quantified the economic and health benefits that spotted hyenas bring to the community. Every year, they consume over 200 tons of waste in and around Mekelle. The research also ran some disease transmission models. It found that by eating discarded carcasses, the hyenas are reducing the potential spread of diseases like anthrax and bovine tuberculosis. That’s a service to people and other animals, and saves some disease treatment and control costs. In today’s episode of Pasha, biology student Chinmay Sonawane and wildlife conservation researcher Neil Carter take us through their findings on the benefits that spotted hyenas provide to the people of Mekelle. Photo “Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), also known as the laughing hyena.” Photo by Vladimir Wrangel found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

shutterstock Healthy soil is critical for life on earth. It can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, food and nutrition security. It is central to achieving sustainable development goals. It is the foundation of life on land. It provides many ecosystem services and helps achieve ecosystem restoration. The biggest challenge when it comes to soil is getting people to stop treating soil like dirt and start treating it with the respect it deserves. And this comes from soil stewardship, really caring for the land. But to do that, it’s important to understand the soil ecosystem that needs restoring. Land degradation is a serious problem when it comes to soil. Degraded landscapes are more vulnerable to the stresses of droughts, floods and erratic rainfall. Education about good soil practices is key, and people like farmers who use the soil need the tools to practise good soil management. In today’s episode of Pasha, Leigh Ann Winowiecki, a soil systems scientist at the World Agroforestry, and Rattan Lal, a distinguished professor of soil science at Ohio State University, discuss why soil needs to be front and centre of global policies. We’ve also collected some more articles about soil here. Photo: “Arid landscape in north Senegal. Eroded soil with few acacia trees. Traces of erosion on the sandy ground. Dry climate conducting to the desertification. Natural picture taken during the dry season.” By Boulenger Xavier Shutterstock Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “minimal ambient music/atmosphere fragment” by Clacksberg found on Freesound licensed under Creative Commons

T thyraeus Bush crickets – or katydids, as they are also known – are fascinating creatures. They belong in the same order of insects as grasshoppers and crickets and are among the many species that communicate acoustically. Male bush crickets are prolific callers – and each species has its own call to advertise their fitness to females. They call in different frequency bands and for different lengths of time, so that they can make themselves heard to the right potential mate. In South Africa, there are about 169 species of bush crickets. Of these, about 123 have an IUCN Red List status. The species Thoracistus thyraeus is considered critically endangered. But a study by our guest in today’s episode of Pasha, Aileen van der Mescht, a postdoctoral researcher at the department of zoology and entomology at the University of the Free State, found that they might be more resilient than was thought. She recorded the calls of nocturnal bush crickets to determine how the different species were distributed across the landscape and what variables drive the distribution. The research identified 11 species in the study area. Those that used a higher frequency for their specific call tended to be recorded in more open habitats like grassland. Lower frequency callers occupied woodier areas – both plantations and indigenous forests. Thoracistus thyraeus was present in a forestry plantation where it wasn’t expected to be. Thoracistus thyraeus is also known as the Inflated Seedpod Shieldback. Its blown-up thorax looks like a seedpod and amplifies its call. Bush crickets are often well camouflaged to avoid being eaten by predators. They feature in many food webs and play an important role in recycling nutrients. Aileen talks about some of their interesting features and their value in ecosystems. Photo: “Male, Thoracistus thyraeus in KwaZulu Natal, Karkloof swamp.” by Claudia Hemp found here Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “One Night In Africa” by John Bartmann, found on Free Music Archive licensed under under a Attribution-ShareAlike License.

ShutterstockAfrican forests are rich in biodiversity and provide a livelihood for more than 1 billion people. They store massive amounts of carbon and play a part in regulating climate. Forests are a global public good; they have value for the whole world. Yet they remain underfunded. Funding forests means funding people to manage them sustainably. And this does not come cheap. For many developing nations, the money is needed for other important things like education and health, too. In today’s episode of Pasha, Robert Nasi, director general of the Centre for International Forestry Research, discusses the importance of funding for African forests. He says countries that benefit from them are obliged to help pay for their management. Huge amounts of money are spent on things like weapons and on fossil fuel subsidies. So the money is there, he says; it needs political will to redirect it to protecting and restoring African forests. Photo: Hidden Ekom Waterfall deep in the tropical rain forest of Cameroon, Africa by Fabian Plock found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Elementary Wave 11” by Erokia, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License..

GettyImages After years of pressure, western countries are finally returning priceless artefacts and artworks that had been looted from Nigeria during colonial times and were on display in foreign museums. Commonly called the Benin Bronzes, because the objects originated from the Kingdom of Benin (today’s Nigeria), these beautiful and technically remarkable artworks have come to symbolise the broader restitution debate. Two British universities – Cambridge University and the University of Aberdeen – recently returned two of the artefacts. And, in mid-October, Germany and Nigeria signed a memorandum of understanding setting out a timetable for the return of around 1,100 sculptures from German museums. Jos van Beurden – an expert on the protection, theft and smuggling of cultural and historical treasures of vulnerable states – offers his insights into this wave of repatriation. He also suggests a way forward for Nigeria to handle and harness the benefits of the artefacts. Photo: Altar to the Hand (Ikegobo), late 18th century, Nigeria, Court of Benin, Edo peoples, Bronze. In the royal kingdom of Benin, cylindrical ‘altars to the hand,’ or ikegobo, are created to celebrate a person’s accomplishments and successes. Photo by: Sepia Times/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Rights-managed Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License..

ShutterstockSouth Africa is several months into its COVID vaccination roll-out – a complex process with wide repercussions. It has recently extended the roll-out to adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 years. But is this the best use of the available supply of vaccine doses? Our guest in this episode of Pasha is Shabir Madhi, dean of the faculty of health sciences and professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also director of the South African Medical Research Council’s vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit. Professor Madhi believes that the country would be better off offering a third dose of vaccine to older adults who have already been vaccinated. The focus of the government seems to be about how many people can get vaccinated. Instead, it should be about ensuring the greatest protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death. People with comorbidities and people over the age of 50 are more vulnerable, so they should receive a booster instead of adolescents receiving a first dose. Prof Madhi talks about South Africa’s vaccine coverage and how the country should go forward with vaccination efforts. Photo: “The Limpopo provincial government launched a COVID-19 vaccine registration drive in Tooseng village for people over 60 years old” By Mukurukuru Media found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License.

shutterstock The conflict between Ethiopia and its northern region of Tigray has been going on for a year. The power struggle has created many refugees and caused loss of life and hunger. It has also affected health, water and sanitation systems. The blockade inflicted by Ethiopia on Tigray means essential humanitarian supplies cannot reach civilians. This is a violation of international human rights and law, because whatever the disputes are between the different authorities, wars have their limits. Both sides in the conflict have committed atrocities. In today’s episode of Pasha, Mukesh Kapila, professor emeritus in global health and humanitarian affairs at the University of Manchester, looks at the course of the war and how international bodies have responded. Photo: “Tank in the Tigray area in Ethiopia.” By Henk Bogaard found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

shutterstock Ethiopia and its northern region of Tigray have been in conflict for about a year now. The political power struggle that had been going on for decades escalated a year ago when Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military offensive. The conflict is putting hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray at risk of starvation and famine. Tigray is a dry place but farmers have long known how to manage the lands for production. The blockade on Tigray by the Ethiopian government, however, has meant that necessary equipment could not reach farmers. There have also been locust attacks which have significantly damaged crops. Read more: How Ethiopia’s conflict has affected farming in Tigray Our guest in this episode of Pasha is Emnet Negash, who is from Tigray. He is a PhD student at Ghent University and assistant professor at Mekelle University in Ethiopia. He and his team at Ghent compared the state of ploughing in Tigray before and during the conflict. They found that 20%-30% of the land has been left fallow (compared to 5% normally) and only 20%-50% of the land was expected to produce reasonable yields – which might then be threatened by locusts again. Photo: “Grain fields and farms in Ethiopia.” By hecke61 found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

GettyImages Many African countries are under significant stress from climate change. Increasing emissions of greenhouse gases are putting the world on a path towards unacceptable warming and this has particularly serious implications for the continent. The projected changes in climate are likely to have devastating impacts on agriculture and food security, human health and water supplies. Greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change. Human activities such as mining for fossil fuels, cutting down forests and farming livestock all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Though Africa emits the least of these emissions, the continent is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It is critical for countries to acknowledge pledges they made at the UN climate conference in Paris in 2015. Countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate adaptation and resilience and scale up financial support for climate action. In today’s episode of Pasha, Portia Adade Williams, a research scientist at the CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, and Victor Ongoma, an assistant professor at the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique, discuss what African countries must do to adapt and to mitigate the effects of climate change. Read more: COP26: Africa’s challenges must steer the climate change conference Photo: “A view of a submerged Roberts Camp after the unprecedented rise of water levels in Lake Baringo. The flooding situation in Rift Valley lakes, exacerbated by climate change, has led to displacement of thousands of people from their homes and work.” By James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.

GettyImages Islamic militias in the northern part of Mozambique, the province of Cabo Delgado, have mounted an armed insurgency against the Mozambican government since 2017. The conflict appears to tap into anger about the region’s chronic poverty, unemployment and weak public services under the Frelimo-led government in Maputo. Read more: How big is the Islamist threat in Mozambique? And why are Rwandan troops there? More than 3,000 civilians have been killed, 800,000 people have been displaced and there is widespread food insecurity. The insurgency is also a threat to foreign energy projects in the region. It’s been difficult for the Mozambican military to deal with it. The deployment of Rwandan troops, however, has made a significant impact on the insurgency. The ties between Rwanda and Mozambique are growing. They signed a memorandum of understanding in 2018. It has humanitarian and civilian protection aspects but Rwanda also sees Mozambique as an important economic partner. In today’s episode of Pasha, Phil Clark, a professor of international politics at SOAS University of London, dissects the possible reasons for Rwanda’s involvement in Mozambique. He looks at what impact the peacekeeping has had, what’s in the relationship for Rwanda and how peace and stability in northern Mozambique should be approached in the long term. Photo: “Rwandan soldiers sit on a boat in the port city of Mocimboa da Praia, northern Mozambique, on August 13, 2021.” By Emidio Jozine/AFP found on Getty Images. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Electronic Ambient Loop” by tyops, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

ShutterstockNasal allergy is a common problem in South Africa. It is estimated that 20% to 30% of adults in South Africa suffer with allergic rhinitis or hay fever. House dust mites and tree pollen are the most common reasons for this. Often, people have to rely on allergy medication to deal with the problem. But new research is under way to see if a plant native to South Africa can help. Rooibos, scientifically known as Aspalathus linearis, is being explored as a treatment for nasal allergies. The studies are testing its impact by having people drink rooibos tea in specific doses and through nasal irrigation using rooibos tea. In today’s episode of Pasha, Jonny Peter, associate professor, unit head and head of the Division of Allergology and Clinical Immunology at Groote Schuur Hospital at the University of Cape Town, discusses his latest research. He also discusses the challenges with understanding whether you have COVID-19 or are suffering from nasal allergies. Photo: “African young woman covered with blanket blowing running nose.” By fizkes found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

shutterstock South Africa has an extremely high unemployment rate. A qualification from a tertiary institution usually means the chances of landing a job are higher. Research shows that within five years of graduating, 84% of the graduates were working. But it’s not a guarantee. Graduates, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, remain jobless. Nevertheless there are certain aspects that make a graduate more employable than others. Our guest in today’s episode of Pasha is Fenella Somerville a post-doctoral research fellow in the SARCHI Chair Higher Education and Human Development research group at the University of the Free State. Her work found that four things counted when a graduate was looking for employment, The reputation of the institution Networks and connections Experience, and Type of work. Today’s episode of our podcast looks at what counts the most when a graduate looks for work. Read more: Four things that count when a South African graduate looks for work Photo: “South Africa High Resolution Job Concept” By xtock found on Shutterstock. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Expressions of the mind (Piano loop)” by ShadyDave, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License.

GettyImages Nigeria used to be a great force in global athletics but that has changed. The country’s fortunes have plummeted in track and field events. The downward trend continued in the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics, where Nigeria won only two medals: bronze in long jump and silver in wrestling. Oladele Oladipo, a professor of sports and exercise physiology at the University of Ibadan, offers insight into what has gone wrong and what Nigeria should do to regain its former competitive position. He also suggests athletics competitions in schools should be revived across the country. Photo: “Nigeria’s Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojelli (rear) and Imaobong Nse Uko compete in the mixed 4x400m relay heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on 30 July 2021. Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP found on Getty Images Rights-managed Music: "Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License..

Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city, started as a railway depot in 1899 and developed into a colonial administration centre, then into a commercial and regional hub. Informal settlements in the city grew in parallel, arising from colonial policies that excluded local people from permanent residence, and driven by demand for housing. The names of these informal settlements – and the names of places within them – capture their history and act as a voice for their residents. Place names tell us about politics, culture and the challenges of people who live there. In today’s episode of Pasha, The Conversation Weekly’s Gemma Ware chats to Melissa Wanjiru-Mwita, a lecturer at the Technical University of Kenya, about Nairobi’s informal settlements and how they got their names. Read more: The fascinating history of how residents named their informal settlements in Nairobi Photo: “Kosovo, the name of an area in an informal settlement.” By Mélissa Wanjiru. Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Back To My Roots” by John Bartmann, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution 4.0 International License.

shutterstock The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is to inject $650 billion in Special Drawing Rights into the global economy. Because of the way the quotas for member states work, about 60% of these funds will go to rich countries that do not need them. African countries will receive $33.6 billion. Most of this will go to the five largest economies on the continent – South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt. The IMF and many countries recognise that this way of sharing the funds is not ideal and are looking at a way of reallocating them to poorer countries. The Special Drawing Rights present an opportunity for the IMF to regain some of its lost influence in global economic governance. It’s also an opportunity for African countries to change their relationship with the IMF. In today’s episode of Pasha, The Conversation Africa editor Jabulani Sikhakhane sat down with Danny Bradlow, SARCHI Professor of International Development Law and African Economic Relations at the University of Pretoria, to discuss what the Special Drawing Rights are and how they work. They also look into the history of the mechanism and how it can be more responsive to African needs. Read more: How Africa can seize the moment and start resetting its relationship with the IMF Photo: “IMF International Monetary Fund symbol or sign.” By Maxx-Studiofound on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Ambient guitar X1 - Loop mode” by frankum, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.

GettyImages A recent rugby series between South Africa and the British and Irish Lions, a tour that takes place every 12 years, was the subject of controversy. One of the reasons the tour made headlines was that the South African rugby director, Rassie Erasmus, released a video in which he challenged decisions made by the referee that went against his team. (South Africa won the series by 2-1.) The video is quite unusual, as criticism of referees is not common in world rugby. It went viral and caused a stir, dividing opinion globally. Rassie clears the air. Video analysis is important in sports science because it enhances understanding of what happened during a match. For example, it can show what movements, actions or techniques lead to a successful performance or to an injury. It can reduce the bias that’s inherent in human observation and help observers agree on the definitions of certain actions. It is useful in coaching, assisting with referees’ decisions, and creating medical protocols. The idea is to ensure that the game is safe and fair. In today’s episode of Pasha, Sharief Hendricks, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, explains how video analysis can benefit rugby and considers whether videos like Erasmus’s are useful. Photo: “Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks’ director of rugby, acting as a water carrier, talks to his captain Siya Kolisi during the second test match between South Africa’s Springboks and the British & Irish Lions at Cape Town Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Cape Town, South Africa.” By David Rogers/Getty Images found on Getty Images Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “"African Moon” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License.

shutterstockThe dreaded mosquito is an insect with a bad reputation. They bite, keep you up at night and spread deadly diseases like dengue and malaria. There are many calls for their eradication. But they are a diverse group. Only a small fraction of the 3,000 species of mosquitoes feed on humans. An even smaller fraction of those transmit diseases. They are an important part of many ecosystems. Some feed on nectar and pollinate plants; some feed on other mosquitoes. Some form part of the diets of fish and frogs. Controlling mosquitoes should be carefully targeted to minimise damage to ecosystems. In today’s episode of Pasha, we hear about an approach that involves working with mosquitoes against the malaria parasite. Instead of killing mosquitoes, scientists are focusing on how they can block disease transmission. Our guest, Jeremy Herren, a scientist at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, discusses shifts in mosquito populations. One worrying development is the spread of a mosquito species in East Africa that prefers urban environments. Photo: “Close-up of a mosquito sucking blood.” By Darkdiamond67 found on Shutterstock Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1. “Free Music Background Loop 001” by Slaking_97, found on Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution License.