Pasha - from The Conversation Africa: Recent Episodes
The Conversation
Welcome to Pasha, The Conversation Africa’s brand new podcast. In the spirit of The Conversation, Pasha – which means to inform in Swahili – will be bringing you some of the best and brightest research from academics across the continent. After nearly four years of publishing expert research, we’re thrilled to be bringing our own brand of smart journalism to a new audio format. Each episode will collect stories and commentary on a given theme.
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.
shutterstock The team behind our podcast, Pasha, has started a series called “Why We Need” and this first episode is about why we need botanical gardens. Botanical gardens are dedicated to the collection, cultivation, preservation and display of plants. Around the world, they contain 30%-40% of the known plant species. Not only do they maintain documented collections of plants, these institutions carry out research and contribute to education and conservation. So they’re really valuable resources for people interested in plants.
But they also come with a risk. Botanical gardens can host alien species of plants, pests and pathogens. Non-native species can establish themselves in the gardens and spread further to surrounding environments. It is important for people entering botanical gardens to follow the rules so they don’t spread or introduce any potentially invasive species.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Trudy Paap and Mesfin Wondafrash Gossa take us through the benefits of botanical gardens – as well as the biosecurity risks.
Photo:
“Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is acclaimed as one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Located in Cape Town, South Africa, the garden is host to thousands of plant and animal species.” By Quality Master 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 Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution Noncommercial License.
GettyImages It’s safe to say that the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo this year was an unconventional event. The impact the pandemic had on the athletes has been complex and felt differently across countries and individuals.
So how did African athletes fare in these difficult conditions?
Overall, not too well on the medals chart. There were some impressive performances but the Olympics did not yield many moments for participants from African countries to savour.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Kamilla Swart, an associate professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, looks at how well African participants have done at the Games. She also discusses how hosting of the Games needs a fairer geographical spread.
Photo:
“Tatjana Schoenmaker of Republic of South Africa shows the gold medal after winning, with a new world record, the women 200m Breaststroke final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.” By Giorgio Scala/BSR found on Agency/Getty Images
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.
shutterstock In the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic the phrase “herd immunity” was bandied about a lot by heads of state as well as health officials. This ideal end state was described as the moment when the virus had been beaten, and everyone could return to a normal life.
But a great deal has changed in the intervening months. Firstly, the virus has mutated in ways that make it spread more quickly, and in ways that make it potentially more resistant.
In addition, the unequal distribution of vaccines, combined with slow rollouts in a great many countries as well as vaccine hesitancy, has thrown initial planning off course.
So what’s the alternative?
We must learn to live with the virus. To do this, reaching high levels of vaccination is crucial. This will minimise the number of people being hospitalised and dying from COVID-19. It does not mean that COVID-19 will be gone but it means clusters of outbreaks will be smaller and less damaging to countries. Health facilities will be able to cope better.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Shabir A. Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, discusses the problems with herd immunity and how to deal with COVID-19 in the long term.
Photo:
“Herd Immunity concept” By Guillem Sartorio/AFP By Ahmad Fozi 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 Free Sound licensed under under a Attribution Noncommercial License.
GettyImages After former president Jacob Zuma was recently arrested for contempt of court, South Africa went into disarray. Widespread looting, vandalism and violence broke out. Two provinces – Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, and KwaZulu-Natal, on the east coast – bore the brunt of this. What was initially premised on Zuma’s arrest transpired into something much more coordinated, controlled and dangerous.
Many reasons for the violence have been noted. These include:
- the frustration of hungry and cold people whose prospects were already constrained by the pandemic;
- inequality between rich and poor;
- tensions within the governing party;
- stereotypical Zulu nationalism; and
- racial tensions in the country.
It cannot be ignored that these incidents speak of insurrection - which means to rise against the power of the state, generally using weaponry. In today’s episode of Pasha, David Everatt, a professor of urban governance at Wits University, discusses the elements that led to the violence and how the government must deal with it.
Photo:
“A member of SAPS shoots rubber bullets to disperse a crowd looting outside a warehouse storing alcohol in Durban on July 16, 2021.” By Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images
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.
Getty ImagesOne of the elements that contribute to a rise in COVID-19 infections is gatherings. Ramadan (the month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset) and Eid (the celebration after the month) are times when gatherings appear to have contributed to the deaths of many in the Muslim community. Research has found that Muslims make up around 2% of South Africa’s population, yet account for 5% of the total COVID deaths so far.
A similar trend was seen in Indonesia, which is experiencing high waves of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Many of the deaths were around the time of Ramadan and Eid. Gatherings can be superspreader events – in any religion or society.
The research also looked at mortality rates in South Africa. It found that people of Indian and Malay descent were more likely than other population groups to succumb to the virus. It is important that people try to avoid gatherings when the next Eid takes place around 21 July.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Salim Parker, an honorary research associate at the department of medicine at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, discusses how gatherings can be superspreader events and how to avoid the risk.
Photo:
“South African Muslims gather to perform Eid al-Fitr prayer within precautions against the novel type of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, at the Quds Mosque in Cape Town, South Africa on May 14, 2021.” Byabiso Mkhabela/Anadolu Agency 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.
GettyImages Seventeen African leaders – national ministers and heads of state – had lost their lives to COVID-19 by February 2021. The continent is made up of 54 countries, so there’s a high number of leaders, but the number of deaths is out of proportion compared with other continents (where the global total is five).
In some cases, the deaths of leaders meant a shift in policy. This was notable in Tanzania and Burundi, which initially had strong COVID-19 denial in their policies. Now there is evidence of strategies being put in place to fight the pandemic. But ministerial deaths do not necessarily bring younger and more gender representative replacements. There are many more politicians with similar profiles waiting to fill gaps.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Jean-Benoit Falisse, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, notes five hypotheses for what has led to more African leaders dying of COVID-19 and what this means for health and political landscapes.
Photo:
“President John Magufuli’s coffin during a public service in his honour on March 26, 2021 in Chato, Tanzania. Tanzanian officials said the cause of death was heart disease but it is widely suspected to be COVID-19.” By Luke Dray/Getty Images found on Getty Images
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 Disasters like the COVID-19 pandemic provide the world with a learning opportunity. It is important that global events like this are used to invoke change for a better world. The pandemic was coming; there have been near misses in this century alone, like SARS, avian influenza and Ebola. But the world hasn’t learnt from them. Governments and citizens must take up the challenge to make real change for a better future.
It’s not only pandemics that are the problem. The world faces huge issues like climate change, poverty, inequality and many others. Governments need to stop looking at the short term and focus rather on long-term solutions. The worry is that people will slip back into the complacency of normality after COVID-19 is dealt with. Going back to the old system of doing things will inevitably lead to more pandemics and problems.
For now, dealing with this pandemic requires dramatic action. It can be done and future pandemics need to be stopped. It requires a real renewal and invigoration of the World Health Organisation.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Ian Goldin, a professor of globalisation and development, looks at how the world must learn to recover from disasters. The remedy can’t just focus on COVID-19, it has to be mindful of other risks and future crises too. It needs to be thought of as a whole and governments and leaders must look at long-term solutions. It is also crucial to cooperate with each other. Goldin is the author of Rescue: From Global Crisis to a Better World.
Photo:
“Recovery written on the road” By ESB Professional 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 The Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – is spreading across South Africa, sparking a strong resurgence of infections. The president has placed the country under stricter regulations in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus. Gauteng province, the country’s economic hub, where 25% of the population live, is the epicentre. It’s likely many more people will be hospitalised in the coming weeks and some will die. Severe disease usually lags behind infections in the community by about two to three weeks.
Based on what happened in India, the number of cases is expected to decrease gradually. That is dependent on people adhering to lockdown restrictions. And South Africa’s vaccination strategy needs to be reviewed. In today’s episode of Pasha, Shabir A. Madhi, a professor of vaccinology and director of the SAMRC Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytical Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, discusses the flaws in South Africa’s vaccine rollout.
He looks into mistakes that were made and what the country needs to do now.
Read more: South Africa's latest COVID-19 lockdown puts spotlight back on vaccination failures
Photo:
“A health worker sprays sanitiser in a COVID-19 testing site in Johannesburg on June 28, 2021. by Emmanuel Croset / 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 Free Music Archive licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License..
file s y Being a comedian in Zimbabwe is no easy profession, particularly if you’re a woman. The problems women face range from violence – for example, Samantha Kureya, known on stage as Gonyeti, was abducted and tortured by masked gunmen – through to attitudes that frown on women taking to the stage.
But Zimbabwe’s women stand-up comedians are fighting the patriarchy. Munya Guramatunhu and Sharon Chideu are taking on the stand-up comedy scene with jokes about men, sex and motherhood.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Amanda Källstig, a doctoral researcher at the University of Manchester, first takes us through her research on stand-up comedy in Zimbabwe and the women who are taking on the industry. And Munya and Sharon share their experiences of being women doing stand-up in Zimbabwe. They wrap up with some light-hearted chats on men, women, dating and sex.
Read more: Women stand-up comedians in Zimbabwe talk about sex -- and the patriarchy
Photo:
“Sharon Chideu aka Magi.” by Sharon Chideu
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Ambient Piano Loop 11 (Ambiance)” by Erokia found on Freesound licensed under Attribution Noncommercial License..
shutterstock Peacebuilding
Research output across the African continent is really low. Many institutions that produce research are severely underdeveloped and underfunded. Many also have a major focus on undergraduate degrees and enrolments. This drive for an undergraduate degree has means that postgraduate education and research is falling short.
Improving research on the continent requires a massive shift. But to get this right means investing more in universities and in research centres and in research. This would include improving public private partnerships in research institutions, research and development in industry, think tanks, innovation hubs, incubators that can test proof concepts and new technologies and commercialisation
Basically, an entire system needs to be invested in.
A major part of this is that PhD studies need supporting. PhD’s are critical to contributing knowledge because they fill a gap in research. PhD’s help facilitate independent research and help people think through what the questions are that need answering. PhD’s across a variety of fields are critical. Research on vaccines, economies, coal and psychology, for example, are all aspects that need research.
In today’s episode of Pasha Sharon Fonn, a Professor of Public Health at the University of the Witwatersrand and co-director at the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) discusses how improving research would make a positive mark.
Photo:
“Multiracial medical scientists in hazmat suit working with microscope and laptop computer inside hospital lab” by DisobeyArt 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..
The African romantic comedy genre is part of a trend in the cinema of the global South, projecting images of the “global city”. In South Africa, most black romcoms are set in Johannesburg and they too portray it as a glamorous setting for affluent lifestyles and aspirations. But in their storylines and images the films also remind audiences of the city’s real social conflicts and socioeconomic inequalities. They are not simply a celebration of consumerist lifestyles.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Pier Paolo Frassinelli, a professor in communication and media studies at the University of Johannesburg, talks about the rise of the black romantic comedy in South Africa and how it dovetails with the advent of streaming services like Netflix and Showmax.
Read more: South Africa's romcom revolution and how it reimagines Joburg
Photo:
“Happiness is a Four-Letter Word movie poster” by Junaid Ahmed.
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..
shutterstock Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and the environment around them. It is an important branch of study, exploring how animals, plants, the land, climate and humans are interconnected. But a study of 13 leading journals in ecology over 75 years has shown that in this field, women researchers are seriously under-represented. So are countries in the global South – even those with excellent scientists. Kenya and South Africa were the only African countries represented among the authors in these journals. And only 11% of the authors were women.
This is important because the world cannot afford to neglect the perspectives and experiences of women and global South researchers in addressing the global climate and environmental crisis. A more balanced view is needed to inform practical interventions.
Bea Maas, a lecturer at the department of botany and biodiversity research at the Universität Wien, is one of the study’s authors. In today’s episode of Pasha, she discusses this imbalance in ecology research and what to do about it. People in the scientific community should start by assessing themselves and their institutions, to look for bias and under-representation. When foreign scientists work in the global South, they should actively collaborate with local scientists and local experts.
Photo:
“Concept of ecology. Imprint of human footprint in nature” by urfin found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Mama Africa” by UFO found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (aka Music Sharing) 3.0 International License..
shutterstock Globally, there are around 71 million people with hepatitis C. In Africa, more than 10 million people are infected with the virus.
The new oral therapies that have been developed to treat hepatitis C are much more effective and easier to take than the previous injections, and have fewer side effects.
In high-income countries, these drugs are known to work well. But the number of strains of the virus is limited in those countries. So it wasn’t known how useful the new drugs would be to treat other strains, mostly found in low-income countries. Over time the virus has become extremely genetically diverse.
A new study shows that the direct-acting antiviral drugs are also effective against more of the strains. They were shown to work against almost all the hepatitis C virus strains found across Africa.
This is valuable information for health systems in countries that have a limited infrastructure to diagnose infection, treat those who are infected and confirm that treatment has been successful. They need to know what works.
In today’s episode of Pasha, researchers John McLauchlan and Elihu Aranday-Cortes discuss hepatitis C and why the findings of their study are good news for low-income settings.
Read more: New drugs work against the many strains of hepatitis C found in African countries
Photo:
“Destruction of hepatitis C virus, 3D illustration. Conceptual image for hepatitis C treatment” by Kateryna Kon 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..
shutterstock Moringa is a plant that offers many benefits. It is full of vitamins and other nutrients. It is also believed to have other pharmacological properties. Aside from food, parts of the moringa can be used for firewood, fencing, water purification and fertiliser. Moringa is also a drought tolerant and resistant crop. Cultivation has been rising in South Africa since it was introduced in 2006, but it has yet to reach its full potential.
Moringa is an affordable alternative crop for many people in rural South Africa but the challenge is to make it more widely known. In today’s episode of Pasha, Chuene Victor Mashamaite, a postdoctoral researcher and agronomist at Stellenbosch University, discusses moringa’s many useful qualities and what can be done to encourage cultivation.
Photo:
“Young Moringa leaves in nature” by Areef Salaeh found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“One Night In Africa ” by John Bartmann found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike License..
ShutterstockUnemployment, poverty and hunger were issues South Africa knew all too well even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has made them worse. Job losses have increased and unemployment has not been offset by a massive government economic stimulus package and wage compensation scheme.
But the COVID-19 impact has been unequal for the most part. The worst affected sectors of the economy, like tourism and hospitality, tend to employ relatively low-skilled workers. The country’s temporary ban on alcohol also had an impact on jobs in bars and restaurants. Low- and semi-skilled workers tend to live in townships within South African cities; the poorest live in informal settlements. So these communities have been affected far worse than those in the suburbs.
Research by our two guests shows that during the hard lockdown in April 2020 unemployment reached a staggering rate of 50% for shack dwellers and 40% in townships but less than 30% in the suburbs. Informal traders were badly affected by the initial lockdown and abandoned street trading.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Ivan Turok and Justin Visagie at the Human Sciences Research Council discuss how COVID-19 has affected South Africa’s urban population.
Photo:
“Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, April 24 2020, homeless people next to the road during Corona virus lockdown Covid-19 pandemic sitting with rocks and chairs out of focus” by Africanstar found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Sad or Happy Movie Scene” by Soundscapes55, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.
shutterstock Botswana recently offered the rights to shoot around 300 elephants. There have been mixed feelings about this decision. Some say licensed hunting is ecologically necessary. They also say rural communities need revenue from hunting and are at risk of human-wildlife conflict. Others have criticised it heavily, disputing the claim that hunting is a solution to various problems and pointing to its negative consequences.
Botswana is home to about one third of Africa’s elephants and the numbers have increased over the years. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has categorised savanna elephants as endangered, but they can be hunted if the decision to allow it is backed by scientific evidence.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Ross Harvey, a senior research associate at the Institute for the Future of Knowledge at the University of Johannesburg, and Peet van der Merwe, a professor in tourism at North-West University, take us through both sides of the argument.
Photo:
“African Elephants in Botswana” by 2630ben 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 The Suez Canal was in the spotlight recently when the container vessel Ever Given became wedged diagonally across it, causing a massive backlog in shipping traffic. The idea of a canal connecting the Red Sea and the Mediterranean was a dream for many throughout history. The Egyptian Pharoahs, Persians, Romans and Ottomans all saw its potential benefits.
The canal offers the shortest sea route between Europe and Asia, making it useful for trade. Eventually a French diplomat, Ferdinand de Lesseps, was given permission by Egypt’s ruler to start working on the project in 1854. Construction started in the north and proceeded southwards, creating a hive of economic activity.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Lucia Carminati, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University, takes us through the fascinating history of the Suez Canal, including the workers who executed the project and the physical challenges of developing and maintaining it.
Read more: The toll and toil it took to cleave the Suez Canal through the Egyptian desert
Photo:
“Suez Canal Waterway Connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea Map, 3D illustration” by shubhamtiwari found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“AmbGuitar_EgyptTexture01.wav” by jdagenet, found on Freesound licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.
shutterstock In South Africa, about 6 million households have women as the breadwinners – about 38% of all homes. Many of these women don’t choose to be the primary financial provider but are forced into it by circumstances. And they are over-represented in the poorest paying and most unregulated sectors of the economy, such as service industries, domestic work and informal work. They also earn less than their male counterparts.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Bianca Parry, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Africa, discusses her exploratory study of women breadwinners, which she undertook from a psychological perspective.
She found that they felt fulfilled by their role, although it came with sacrifices and struggles. The women tended to take on a double burden of work and family responsibilities, as most were single. This meant ignoring their own needs. But society should not similarly neglect the evolution of gender roles.
Read more: What South African women told us about being the main breadwinner
Photo:
“At work sewing” by Africanstar found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Charcoal” by Chad Crouch, found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
shutterstock Malaria kills over 400,000 people a year across the world. Africa carries the highest burden, with 90% of these deaths occurring on the continent.
In South Africa, close to 5 million people are at risk of contracting the disease. Malaria is mainly transmitted along the northern border areas of the country. Mapping malaria risk zones is therefore key to managing the spread.
But changing weather patterns have affected the zones. In this episode of Pasha, Jennifer Fitchett, an associate professor of physical geography at the University of the Witwatersrand, sets out the changes that are taking place and discusses public awareness of what’s happening.
Photo:
“Design concept epidemic of malaria” by Lauritta found on 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 0 License.
shutterstock Extreme heat and extreme cold can both have an impact on human health. With a changing climate, these events are set to occur more often. They are also becoming increasingly difficult to predict.
Extreme heat stress can result in heatstroke and can affect people’s cardiovascular health. There are significant health concerns related to extreme heat events, particularly when people aren’t prepared for them. Extreme cold temperatures present a different set of challenges. For example, they can affect low income communities who live in vulnerable housing.
Extreme temperatures can also affect plants and animals.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Jennifer Fitchett, an associate professor of physical geography at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Adriaan van der Walt, a lecturer in geography at the University of the Free State, discuss their research on these extreme heat and cold events and why it’s important to try to track them.
Photo:
“Heat in South Africa concept” by 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 Insecurity is common throughout Nigeria. But the northern region is the worst affected because of attacks by the terror group Boko Haram, banditry, kidnappings and conflict between farmers and herdsmen.
The chaos has led to the closure of some schools and a feeling of helplessness among citizens in states where attacks are on the increase.
Sheriff Folarin, a professor of political science and a peace and conflict scholar, blames the current state of affairs on successive governments that have failed to tackle the underlying causes. He also offers some solutions on dealing with insecurity in the country.
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..
Photo “A Nigerian police officer stands guard in the Kouré Reserve, about 60 km from Niamey on August 21, 2020”. Photo by Boureima HAMA/AFP found on Getty Images Rights-managed
Patrice Motsepe Getty ImagesThe president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has a tough job. It includes working with FIFA to run the sport in Africa, and overseeing the continent’s tournaments and leagues. There are also issues of broadcast rights and improving the organisation’s poor reputation.
The latest to throw their name into the ring is South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe. The mining magnate is the owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, a club he led to success in South Africa and continentally. Motsepe has a 10-point manifesto. He wants to grow football on the continent by attracting investors and partners. He also plans to invest in youth and infrastructure and make the confederation more efficient.
The immediate struggles he faces will be broadcast rights for competitions and what to do with tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations.
In this episode of Pasha, Chuka Onwumechili, a Professor of Communications at Howard University, shares his thoughts on how Motsepe will fare and how he can be a success in this role.
Read more: Race to run Africa's football confederation has just heated up. What's at play
Photo:
“Patrice Motsepe attends a press conference for Global Citizen by Getty Images
Music: "Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“One Night In Africa ” by John Bartmann found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike License..
shutterstock The Nile river flows through 11 countries in Africa. It is a major source of water for millions of people. This makes it increasingly important that the river is used in a way that’s equitable and fair to all. The starting point is to know how much water there is in the river system, and where – including soil moisture.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Emad Hasan, a postdoctoral researcher in remote sensing hydrology at Binghamton University and the State University of New York, talks about how satellite observations are used to gather this important data. What the data reveal is that there’s potential for a crisis. Lake Victoria water tower receives about twice the water volume that the Blue Nile basin receives during the wet season. And the Sudd basin (the southern water sink) loses about twice as much water as the northern Main Nile region.
Progressive planning to save water resources for future development is absolutely critical.
Read more: Satellite data provides fresh insights into the amount of water in the Nile basin
Photo:
“Aerial of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, with river Nile on the right” by Frontpage found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“A Sea Change by Kyle Preston”, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution NonCommercial License..
shutterstock Ivermectin has become one of the most talked about drugs in the world. A highly effective treatment for fighting parasites in animals, it was later also shown to be effective in humans. In 2015 the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was given to William Campbell and Satoshi Ōmura for discovering its use against infections caused by roundworm parasites.
Interest in the drug has spiked following laboratory evidence that it has an active ingredient that acts against the COVID-19 virus.
Distribution of the drug is highly controlled in most countries and it isn’t readily available. In South Africa it is now available for use under doctor supervision following a successful court process.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Vinny Naidoo, Dean of the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, sets out the background to the drug, what the excitement is about and why a great deal of caution is required.
Firstly, the drug has not undergone robust clinical trials to test its effectiveness in fighting COVID-19. A few trials are now under way. Secondly, effectiveness shown in a laboratory doesn’t mean that it will prove to be an effective treatment. And even if its efficacy is proved, the drug will have to be administered in a hospital by a qualified healthcare professional.
Photo:
“IVERMECTIN in white bottle packaging with scattered pills” by Sergio Yoneda found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Amber Glow” by Scott Holmes Music, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License..
GettyImages In response to COVID-19, governments around the world, including Nigeria, adopted lockdown measures to curtail the spread of the coronavirus. As expected, these measures were generally unfavourable to businesses and livelihoods. Nigeria is yet to recover from the blows to its already faltering and largely informal economy.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Ndubuisi Nwokoma discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the Nigerian economy and the government’s recovery plan. He is professor of economics and director of the Centre for Economic Policy Analysis and Research at the University of Lagos.
Photo:
“Midsection Of Man Holding Paper Currency - stock photo” by Joseph Egabor / EyeEm found on Gettyimages.com]
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..
shutterstock Novavax vaccine trials run in South Africa and the UK indicate that its efficacy in the UK was 89% at least 7 days after individuals had received two doses of vaccine. In South Africa, the vaccine efficacy was 60% in people living without HIV.
The trial is being viewed as highly significant because it is the first vaccine to be tested on a particular COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa.
In today’s episode of Pasha Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology and director of the vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, explains the results as well as the context of this and other vaccine trials.
Photo: Travel and coronavirus concept, a note COVID-19 in tourist passport. Photo by Viacheslav Lopatin 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.
Nakhane live at Omeara What is it to be a man? Through their role in the film Inxeba and the music videos from their albums, South African singer-songwriter, author and actor Nakhane presents themself as fiercely gender nonconforming. With a focus on queer identity and the complexities of manhood, Nakhane’s work challenges conventional notions of masculinity.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Associate Professor Gibson Ncube from the University of Zimbabwe talks to Nakhane about their views on masculinity, the controversial film and their latest music.
Read more: South African singer Nakhane redefines ideas of masculinity
Photo:
“Nakhane performing live at Omeara in London 2018” by Arne Müseler arne-mueseler.com found on Wikimedia Commons licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
Inxeba trailer from Urucu media.
MeerKAT Radio Telescope A telescope in South Africa by the name of MeerKAT enabled the discovery of two giant radio galaxies recently. Finding one radio galaxy is special. Finding two is fantastic. Radio galaxies get their name from the fact that they release huge beams, or “jets”, of radio light. The find was made possible by the ability of a phenomenally powerful telescope called the MeerKAT to detect faint, diffuse light, which previous telescopes were unable to do. The giant radio galaxies were spotted in new radio maps of the sky created by one of the most advanced surveys of distant galaxies. The discovery will add to astronomers’ understanding of the evolution of galaxies since the “big bang”.
Read more: Discovery of two new giant radio galaxies offers fresh insights into the universe
In today’s episode of Pasha Jacinta Delhaize, radio astronomer and SARAO Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Cape Town, takes us through the finding and what it means for the future.
Photo: MeerKAT radio telescope. By Morganoshell found on Wikimedia Commons
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Deep End” by Subarachnoid Space, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works.
“Celestial Jerusalem ” by Minson, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License..
GettyImages Many countries are either buying or planning to buy COVID-19 vaccines to immunise their citizens. But there is not yet a coherent plan by the Nigerian government for how to get the vaccines.
Public officials have announced different plans just as some state governments are also planning to get their own supply.
Daniel Oladimeji Oluwayelu, a professor of virology at the University of Ibadan, offers insight into how Nigeria can source vaccines and why it urgently needs a distribution plan. He also speaks about their safety and potency.
Photo:
Nigeria Vaccination, Injection with COVID-19 vaccine in Map of Nigeria. - stock vector. Photo by ekavector/iStock/Getty Images Plus 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..
The image accompanying this article has been changed due to questions about the Creative Commons licence around the original.
shutterstock The South African government has announced plans to vaccinate about two-thirds of its population against COVID-19 by the end of the year. The aim is to do this in three phases, starting with healthcare workers in phase one, the elderly and those with co-morbidities in phase two and the rest of the population in phase three.
But the plan has been vehemently attacked as lacking in any detail. In addition, the government has been lambasted for failing to acquire vaccines.
Shabir Madhi unpacks what’s gone wrong. The first major error was the South African government’s decision to put all its eggs in the COVAX facility basket. This was a bad decision because South Africa is viewed as a middle-income country, which meant that it would pay more for vaccine procurement through COVAX than if it had pursued bilateral agreements with the likes of pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca.
Madhi, who is professor of vaccinology and director of the vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, explains that this is just one of a litany of mistakes.
Photo: Covid-19 vaccine ampoule with syringe and mask Coronavirus. By Alexander_LUX found on Shutterstock
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.
shutterstock COVID-19 has affected most industries and sectors in some way. One of those hit the hardest is the tourism sector as a result of lockdowns, borders closing and the global pandemic. Hospitality, aviation and travel for sport and religion were all hit hard. But what steps have tourism industries taken to survive? How have these industries coped during this time?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Kaitano Dube at the Vaal University of Technology, and Godwell Nhamo and David Chikodzi, both at the University of South Africa, discuss how the coronavirus has hit the tourism industry.
Photo: Travel and coronavirus concept, a note COVID-19 in tourist passport. Photo by Viacheslav Lopatin 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 Earthquakes are quite rare on the African continent. But that’s not to say that one couldn’t hit and be damaging. Recently the Western Cape region of South Africa saw some earthquake activity, though it’s unusual and was low on the scale that measures earthquakes. There is always a risk that a larger one could hit the region. Why do they occur? Is South Africa prepared? What about potential damage to the nuclear power plant in the region?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Ray Durrheim, research chair in exploration, earthquake & mining seismology at the University of the Witwatersrand, answers these questions. He also recalls South Africa’s biggest recorded natural earthquake, around 50 years ago, and sets out some of the disaster measures the country would have to take in the event that a big one struck.
Read more: We've learnt a great deal since South Africa's biggest quake 50 years ago
Photo: A stamp printed in South Africa around 1974 shows restored houses and a church in Tulbagh. This follows the 1969 earthquake which damaged that town. Photo by Boris15 Shutterstock.
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Elk”, by Meydän found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution License..
“Earthquakes demolition” by bbc.co.uk found on BBC Sound Effects licensed under Remarc
GettyImages For many young people living on the streets, lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic has made their situation worse. The city of Harare in Zimbabwe was no exception. Lockdown made it difficult for young people to find food and make money in the informal economy. Researchers set up a story map – a map with text, images and multimedia content – to hear their voices and understand their experiences.
It’s part of a three-year project called Growing up on the Streets, which worked with young people living on the streets in three African cities (Accra, Bukavu and Harare) alongside NGO partner StreetInvest. With the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, life on the streets became a lot harder, as young people recount in the story map.
Read more: Young people living on Harare’s streets provide glimpses into life under COVID-19 lockdown
Today’s episode of Pasha has Janine Hunter and Lorraine van Blerk, both at the University of Dundee, discussing the project. With them is the NGO’s Shaibu Chitsiku, with insights from the ground.
Photo: A group of children look with curiosity at a team of police deployed in Mbare township July 31 2020. Photo by Jekesai Njikizana/AFP Getty Images.
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Interludium II”, by Spin Day found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution License..
GettyImages Tensions between Ethiopia’s central government and its Tigray region escalated after Tigray disputed a decision by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to delay elections. Tigray held its own elections. Ahmed then launched a military offensive on Tigray. Mass casualties, suffering and regional conflict are likely. Ethiopia, which has a legacy of civil war, needs to work towards a peaceful resolution. But what will that take?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Francesca Baldwin, a PhD research student, and Heike I Schmidt, an associate professor in modern African history, both at the University of Reading, discuss what has led to this situation and how it could possibly be solved.
Read more: Ethiopia's troubled history provides clues to why an all-out civil war is possible
Photo: Ethiopian refugees fleeing fighting in Tigray province queue to receive supplies at the Um Rakuba camp in Sudan’s eastern Gedaref province, on November 16, 2020. By Ebrahim/Getty Images Getty Images.
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 state of democracy on the continent is often depicted as generally negative. But the reality is more nuanced. African countries represent a spectrum, from relatively stable democracies like Botswana, Ghana and South Africa to problem spots where opposition and transfers of power are not tolerated. There is no single trend. Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Guinea may appear to be backsliding towards authoritarianism, but they don’t represent the entire continent.
In today’s episode of Pasha Nic Cheeseman, Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham, discusses influential forces such as urbanisation, and what can be done to deepen democracy on the continent.
Photo: Democracy word in a dictionary. Democracy concept. By Casimiro PT 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 1.0 Universal License..
shutterstock Around 5,000 aborted seal foetuses were found at a Cape fur seal colony on Namibia’s coast in October 2020. Events like this have occurred before, for example in 1994, but this high rate of simultaneous abortion has not been seen recently. The reasons for seal pups being aborted may be poor nutrition or infections in the mothers. The causes this time remain to be seen and scientists are collecting as much information as possible.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Tess Gridley, research associate with the Namibian Dolphin Project and honorary research associate at the University of Cape Town, discusses the deaths and their possible impact on the breeding season.
Photo: A young Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus). By David Steele found on Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Below the Surface” by Kyle Preston, found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution non-commercial License.
shutterstock South Africa will almost certainly experience a resurgence of COVID-19. However, this new round is likely to be lower than the first round of infections in the country. This is because at the peak earlier in the year, restrictions were being eased and an estimated 35%-40% of South Africans had already been infected with the virus. The worry is that this time round the country’s hospitals could come under great pressure if people don’t adhere to non-pharmaceutical interventions – like wearing a mask and physical distancing.
In today’s episode of Pasha we talk to Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology and director of the vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit at the University of the Witwatersrand. He discusses the resurgence in the country in comparison to other countries, potential vaccines and the current travel ban.
Photo: Second wave virus outbreak and coronavirus pandemic. By Lightspring 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 Following over two weeks’ protest against police brutality in Nigeria, there are reports that a number of protesters have been shot with live ammunition.
Reports suggest that unarmed protesters were shot by military men at the Lekki toll plaza in Lagos on Tuesday, October 20. The shooting was said to have occurred just before a 24 hour curfew imposed by the Lagos State government. The people were protesting against human rights abuses perpetrated by a now disbanded unit in the Nigeria Police Force, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Lanre Ikuteyijo, a senior lecturer in the sociology and anthropology department of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, south west Nigeria, discusses the recently dissolved tactical unit. He also talks about how to make its replacement unit function effectively while checking human rights abuses and corruption in the police force.
Read more: Why disbanding the notorious anti-robbery squad won't stop bad policing in Nigeria
Photo: “Nigerian protesters are seen in the streets of Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos on October 20, 2020 after the authorities declared an open-ended lockdown in Lagos in the face of spiralling protests. Several protesters were killed by Nigerian security forces in Lagos on Tuesday, Amnesty International said, after witnesses reported armed men opened fire on demonstrators.” By Benson Ibeabuchi/AFP, found on Getty Images
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“African Moon” by by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal License..
shutterstock The call to prayer in Islam has been sounded out aloud for centuries. Recently in South Africa a citizen took issue with the noise coming from the Islamic education centre in his neighbourhood and took the matter to court. Here we explain how the call to prayer came about, why it’s important and some of the issues around it.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Suleman Essop Dangor, emeritus professor of religion at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, discusses the call to prayer. He also responds to the question of whether there is Islamophobia in the country.
Read more: Pasha special edition: The Muslim call to prayer controversy in South Africa, part 1
Photo Four mosque loudspeakers on a post on a rooftop for playing the Islamic call to prayer. By alexreynolds found on Shutterstock.
Sound “Azaan” By Jigmet, found on FreeSound licensed under Attribution license.
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Arabic 2-4” by nemaavla, found on FreeSound licensed under Creative commons license.
shutterstock The call to prayer in Islam, or adhan, as it’s known in Arabic, has come under the spotlight in South Africa. Fed up with hearing the call to prayer from a neighbouring Islamic education centre in Durban, a resident took the centre to court alleging the call amounted to “nuisance noise”. The court agreed, ruling that the centre should only announce the call to prayer within the confines of its walls.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Thomas Coggin, a senior lecturer in property law at the University of Witwatersrand, discusses the case, the laws and rights surrounding it, as well as the judge’s decision and its impact.
Photo Adhan Call icon. By T Vector Icons found on Shutterstock.
Sound “Azaan” By Jigmet, found on FreeSound licensed under Attribution license.
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Arabic 2-4” by nemaavla, found on FreeSound licensed under Creative commons license.
shutterstock South African human rights lawyer and advocate George Bizos passed away on 9 September 2020. Bizos was famous as a fighter for human rights and was one of Nelson Mandela’s lawyers in the Rivonia trial. He also represented anti-apartheid struggle icons like Ahmed Kathrada. Bizos left an important legacy in South Africa.
In today’s episode of Pasha Kylie Thomas, a research fellow at the NIOD Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies in the Netherlands, pays tribute to George Bizos and discusses his influence.
Portrait of Advocate George Bizos by Adrian Steirn. Image Courtesy of Adrian Steirn/21Icons
Photo: “George Bizos attending Ahmed Kathrada funeral at Westpark cemetery.” By Mike Brown found on Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“The Sad Dwarf” by Unheard Music Concepts, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution License..
GettyImages Water is a scarce resource. In certain parts of Nairobi, Kenya, water is hard to come by. This has created a market for informal vendors to exist. Often these vendors sell water at highly inflated prices and they often take water from cut municipality pipes, which can lead to contaminated water. But the vendors are necessary because they provide people with water which they would normally struggle to access. This means that steps need to be taken to ensure that water is provided to people in a cost-effective and safe way.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Anindita Sarkar, an assistant professor at the University of Delhi, explains how water is supplied in settlements like this – including through water ATMs – and how the market can be improved.
Read more: Why Kenya's urban poor are exploited by informal water markets
Photo: “A young boy carries heavy water containers to his home in the back alleys of Mathare informal settlement on July 9, 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya.” By Alissa Everett found on Getty Images
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Chamber Ambience” by Nasienie, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 International License..
shutterstock Fighting the coronavirus can put severe strain on a person’s mental health. Frontline workers in healthcare constantly have to deal with challenges of life and death importance. With this in mind, a team of researchers and health experts in South Africa developed an app to help healthcare professionals cope with anxiety and stress. The app connects healthcare workers to information, resources and each other. It recognises the importance of holistic protection.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Professor Ashraf Coovadia and Dr Shaegan Irusen, paediatric specialists at the University of the Witwatersrand, explain how the app works. They emphasise the importance of connecting with people and feeling more in control over an evolving situation.
Photo: “People connecting jigsaw pieces of a head together” By Rawpixel.com found on Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Inspiring and Upbeat” by Scott Holmes, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial License..
shutterstock South Africa is one of the countries where trials are under way to find an efficacious vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. South Africa’s participation in these trials is crucial. These vaccines are produced in the West and it’s important that they prove to be safe and effective in African countries. Participation in the trials also means that should a vaccine prove to work, the country may have easier access to it.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Professor Linda-Gail Bekker and Professor Keertan Dheda at the University of Cape Town discuss why vaccine trials are important and why South Africa needs to be involved.
Read more: Pasha 78: South Africa's second COVID-19 vaccine trial explained
Photo: “Corona Virus Vaccine Trial - Covid 19 or Corona Virus human clinical trials vaccination shot or injection shot.” By dkroy Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Together We Stand” by Scott Holmes, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial License..
shutterstock Trials have begun in South Africa for a second COVID-19 vaccine study. The hope is that at least one of the vaccines being trialled will show promise and play a role in eliminating the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
In this episode of Pasha, Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology and director of the vaccines and infectious diseases analytics research unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, explains why there are multiple vaccine studies under way, the differences between them, how this second South African trial works and when the results might be known.
Read more: Pasha 71: COVID-19 vaccine trial in South Africa explained
Photo: “Development and creation of a coronavirus vaccine COVID-19. Coronavirus Vaccine concept in hand of doctor blue vaccine jar. Vaccine Concept of fight against coronavirus.” By PalSand 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 This is not the first time a ship has run aground in Mauritius, the island nation 2,000 kilometres off the south-east coast of Africa. But how and why did it happen again? Could the government have done more to prevent the spillage that is wreaking havoc on the coastal systems? What will the impact be for the biodiversity? What will it take to clean up this mess and avoid situations like these in the future?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Adam Moolna, a lecturer in environment and sustainability at Keele University, answers these and other questions on the Mauritian oil spill disaster.
Read more: Mauritius is reeling from a spreading oil spill – and people are angry with how the government has handled it
Photo: “A picture taken on August 15, 2020 shows the partially submerged Japanese owned Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Wakashio as the mid section of the vessel broke in two near Blue Bay Marine Park off the coast of south-east Mauritius. Rough seas have since hampered efforts to stop fuel leaking from the bulk carrier and staining pristine waters in an ecologically protected marine area. By Getty Images
Music "Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Sad_Drama_Romantic_Stinger” by SoundFlakes, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution license.
shutterstock Nowadays, when one thinks of an intensive care unit or ICU, one might think of a ventilator. But the ICU is so much more than that. A lot of work that goes into keeping patients stable in the ICU so they can recover better. And in this challenging time of the coronavirus, ICUs have come under strain. As part of a global study, Groote Schuur hospital in Cape Town has joined a global alliance sharing clinical insights and using cutting edge technology to find more effective treatments for the most critically ill COVID-19 patients.
In today’s episode of Pasha, David Thomson, a critical care specialist and lecturer at the University of Cape Town, tells us more about why studies like this are important.
Photo: “ICU Abbreviation or acronym of intensive care unit in hospital or clinic, special medical unit” By Shidlovski 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.
Snake eating a frog Theo BusschauSnakes eat a great diversity of prey but the details of each species’ diet have long been a bit of a mystery. That’s because it’s difficult to observe their infrequent and unpredictable feeding behaviour. But it’s important to understand their diet because of its impact on ecological systems and its role in venom biochemistry. Snake bites account for many deaths on the African continent. Two researchers used a novel way to gather information about the reptiles’ diets and feeding behaviour.
In this episode of Pasha, Bryan Maritz, a senior lecturer in biodiversity and conservation biology at the University of the Western Cape, discusses how he and Robin Maritz, a research fellow in the same department, used a Facebook group to learn more about what snakes eat.
Read more: How we tracked the eating habits of snakes in Africa with the help of a Facebook group
Photo: “Snake eating a frog” By Theo Busschau Facebook
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Music Box & Sunshine” by Daniel Birch found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial License.
shutterstock There are a number of reasons why many girls marry young in Ghana. They include gender inequality, poverty, traditional and customary practices, social norms, peer pressure and poor parenting. The impact of early marriage on girls’ lives can be negative, especially if they drop out of school and are not ready for adult responsibilities. But some adolescent girls report being happy in their marriages, saying their quality of life is better than it was in their parents’ home. Education is a key factor in giving girls more choice about when they marry.
In this episode of Pasha, Elizabeth Anokyewaa Sarfo Fordjour, a psychologist at Stellenbosch University, presents the reasons for and impact of early marriages in Ghana.
Read more: The psychological effects of early marriage: what I learnt from some Ghanaian girls
Photo: “Woman walks away in a park located in Accra Ghana.” By Gerhard Pettersson Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Space ambient music fragment” by Clacksberg found on Freesound licensed under Creative commons license
shutterstock Fake medication is doing the rounds in Ghana and Nigeria. A BBC Africa Eye documentary into sales of fake COVID-19 drugs looked into this. Traditional healers are selling these concoctions to people who believe that it will cure them of the coronavirus. The investigation found that many of the fake drugs have harmful substances in them.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Wuraola Akande-Sholabi, a lecturer at the faculty of pharmacy at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, talks to Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a Ghanaian investigative journalist behind the BBC documentary. They discuss why regulatory authorities are not doing enough and what can be done about this very serious issue.
Photo: “Fake vaccine. The inscription on a white respiratory mask.” By Marta DM Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Chamber Ambience” by Nasienie found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution non-commercial share.
shutterstock According to the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, the country is facing a second pandemic – gender-based violence. But what exactly is government doing about it? Numerous interventions suggest that effort is going into trying to deal with the problem. But are the actions being taken enough?
In today’s episode of Pasha Amanda Gouws, Professor of Political Science and SARChi Chair in Gender Politics at Stellenbosch University looks at gender-based violence in the country. She explains why the socialisation of boys is an important solution.
Read more: South Africa may finally be marching towards solutions to sexual violence
Photo: “Johannesburg, South Africa, 6th September - 2019: Women holding a protest against gender based violence in traffic.” By Rich T Photo Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Beautiful Ambient Melody” by PatrickLieberkind found on Freesound licensed under Attribution License.
shutterstock South African researchers, in collaboration with Oxford University’s Jenner Institute, are trialling a vaccine for the COVID-19. Trials of this nature are important because they give robust data about the safety of vaccines. Being part of the trial will also mean that South Africa won’t lag behind should a vaccine prove to work. But how exactly does the trial work? Who receives the vaccine and the placebo? Are South African volunteers being used as “guinea pigs”?
In this episode of Pasha, Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology and Director of the MRC Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand, answers these questions and explains the benefits of the trial.
Photo: “Vaccine and syringe injection” By joel bubble ben 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 Freesound licensed under Attribution License.
shutterstock Sleep is incredibly important for the body and mind. When we sleep our immune system makes antibodies, which help fight off pathogens. That’s obviously vital during a health crisis. But many people have been having disrupted sleep and weird dreams in recent times.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Dale Rae, Director of Sleep Science and a senior researcher at the faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town, discusses why it’s so necessary to sleep well and why the coronavirus is upsetting some people’s rest.
Photo: “Nightmare concept showing a boy on bed facing giant monster in the dark land” By Tithi Luadthong Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Nobody Sleep” by Paolo Pavan found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.
shutterstock Most adult smokers take up the habit before the age of 20. So, if governments can prevent young people from smoking, it’s likely they won’t smoke in adulthood. To ensure a smoke-free future, governments should aim anti-smoking campaigns at young people. But how can they go about this?
To answer this question, this episode’s guests are Corné van Walbeek, a professor at the University of Cape Town’s School of Economics and principal investigator of the Economics of Tobacco Control Project, and Sam Filby, researcher on the Economics of Excisable Products, at the same university.
Read more: Young people are key to a nicotine-free future: five steps to stop them smoking
Photo: “Poster, banner or flyer design for World No Tobacco Day with illustration anti smoking symbol on human hand” By Allies Interactive Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Ambient electronic music 001” by Frankum found on Freesound licensed under Creative Commons license
shutterstock Education is crucial for many refugees: a way out in the future, a way to get a job. But how can people get a tertiary education in a refugee camp, where challenges – such as a lack of infrastructure – are everywhere? It’s possible, as long as the education programmes are tailored to the needs of the refugee students.
In today’s episode of Pasha we hear from Paul O'Keeffe, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Geneva. We also ask some refugees at Kakuma in Kenya about the challenges they face and how their higher education journey is progressing.
Read more: University education in refugee camps must meet refugee needs
Photo: “Young man practising plumbing in Don Bosco vocational training centre. Tertiary education for refugees” By Adriana Mahdalova Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Music Box & Sunshine” by Daniel Birch found on Freesound licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial License.
shutterstock COVID-19 is proving a hard medical nut to crack. Why are some people asymptomatic? Why do some people have different symptoms? Why are children hardly symptomatic and why do older people seem to be hit the hardest?
In today’s episode of Pasha Tom Boyles, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of the Witwatersrand, answers these, and other questions.
Photo: “Coronavirus Bacteria Cell Icon” By Vectores de Lia Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Gentle Rain” by John Bartmann found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock “The coronavirus was made in a laboratory in Wuhan, China.” “COVID-19 is not real and comes from 5G network towers.” “Drinking warm water with lemon juice will kill the coronavirus.” “The flu vaccination will mean I won’t get COVID-19.” These are all conspiracy theories and myths shared on social media platforms. And it’s time they were addressed.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Neelaveni Padayachee, a lecturer in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Lisa Claire du Toit, an associate professor, both at the University of the Witwatersrand, talk about false ideas surrounding the coronavirus.
Read more: Debunking 9 popular myths doing the rounds in Africa about the coronavirus
Photo: “5g Antenna Coronavirus Covid-19” By Sasa Kadrijevic 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
shutterstock The flu vaccine will not stop you from getting the coronavirus but it’s still important to get it. It will help you fight off other respiratory viruses like the flu and you will avoid visits to the doctor, where there are sick people. Many people think the flu vaccine will make you sicker. There are also those who believe that it contains toxic mercury.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Marietjie Venter, head of the Zoonotic, Arbo and Respiratory Virus Programme and professor in the Department of Medical Virology, University of Pretoria, discusses – and busts – some common myths about the flu vaccine.
Read more: Coronavirus pandemic: why a flu jab is a good idea in countries heading into winter
Photo: “A yield road sign with Flu Season Ahead” By ulegundo Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“electronic-music-loop-001-Accurate time” by Frankum found on Freesound licensed under Creative Commons
shutterstock The history of drugs in southern Africa shows how pharmaceutical and illegal substances are intertwined. Understanding the history matters because a society inherits ideas about what is “normal” and what is morally right or wrong. This shapes the approach to care for people with drug addiction, for example. Policy makers need to base their decisions on empirical information, not prejudice, fear and blame.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Thembisa Waetjen, an Associate Professor of History at the University of Johannesburg, discusses the history of drug substances like opium and cannabis in southern Africa.
Read more: The highs and lows of the opium trade in southern Africa
Read more: Secret histories of drugs -- legal and illegal -- in southern Africa
Photo: “Map with drugs” By smart.art Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Chill And Grill” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-non commercial License.
Sounds “Gauteng premier on Cannabis” by SABC found on YouTube.
shutterstock With COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in South Africa, health professionals will have to make important decisions on who gets what treatment. But how do these decisions get made?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Kevin Behrens, director of the Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, and Christopher Wareham, a senior lecturer at the same centre, discuss the ethics surrounding coronavirus topics.
Photo: Medical Ethics Concept. By SK Design/Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Storybook” by Scott Holmes, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial License.
This podcast was based on an article in the Open Access COVID-19 Special Issue of the Wits Journal of Clinical Medicine.
shutterstock Since South Africa has been placed in lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19, many people have been panic buying and stockpiling groceries. As a result, many of the grocery stores in the country have some empty shelves. Questions about whether South Africa will run out of food have been doing the rounds.
To address these questions, Professor Johann Kirsten, director of the Bureau for Economic Research at Stellenbosch University, chats to Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. They look into food production, supply chains and the impact of the lockdown on the affordability of food for many poor people.
Photo: Closeup green maize plant, agricultural background. By Victoria Field/Shutterstock
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Taut” by Chad Crouch, found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution non-commercial license
GettyImages Nigeria has seen a rise in cases of COVID-19 as more tests are done. But the way this information is presented is important. If it’s not balanced it can lead to the spread of panic and fear. The public needs to focus instead on instructions given by leaders. These include washing hands, social distancing and abiding by lockdown rules.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Doyin Odubanjo, executive secretary at the Nigerian Academy of Science, discusses COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Photo: Covid-19 stamp on the national flag of Nigeria. Coronavirus concept. 3d illustration. By By Дмитрий Ларичев/Getty Images
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“Ambient soft piano music” by Lemoncreme, found on Freesound licensed under Attribution license
GettyImages Testing for COVID-19 is crucial in understanding how many people have the disease and how fast and far it’s spreading. But testing comes with challenges, including test kit production and logistics constraints, and how best to protect healthcare workers.
There are testing initiatives under way in many African countries, including a drive-through concept in Kenya. In today’s episode of Pasha, Ahmed Kalebi, chief consultant pathologist at Lancet Kenya and honorary lecturer at the department of human pathology at the University of Nairobi, explains how a test works and looks at the challenges.
Photo: Testtube corona virus world map. By redstallion/Getty Images
Music: “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Heat” by Derek Clegg, found on Free Music Archive licensed under Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
f a o COVID-19 has taken the world by storm. So many countries are affected by the disease, with many lives lost and many people infected. Many countries and organisations are frantically searching for a vaccine or treatment. But how far away from this are we?
In today’s episode of Pasha, Yap Boum, a professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda, discusses what it takes to find a vaccine and realistically how far we are from one.
Photo: A word cloud featuring “Covid-19”. By EpicTop10.com
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’s fruit industry has tremendous potential. The industry is already a global player, thanks to its citrus exports. But there is scope for other fruit such as berries and avocados.
It’s important to tap into this potential, given that fruit exports have the ability to create jobs. To do this, a few things need to be addressed, such as bottlenecks at the ports and an increase in research and development.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Shingie Chisoro-Dube, economist and researcher at the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development at the University of Johannesburg, discusses what heights the fruit export market can reach and how South Africa can get there.
Read more: South Africa is missing out on fresh fruit export growth. What it needs to do
Photo: By Frank Oosthuizen – Soft Citrus, South Africa. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Music box and sunshine” by Daniel Birch, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-non commercial License.
Sounds “Fruit and vegetable market (covered), Pecs, large and echoey, with speech, footsteps, bangs, distant traffic” found on BBC sound effects licensed under RemArc Licence
“Joburg Market Day focuses on Agro-processing business opportunities, supporting entrepreneurs - Ruby Mathang speech” by CreamerMedia found on YouTube licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (reuse allowed)
shutterstock Higher education in South Africa has undergone some tough times in recent years. There have been numerous protests over fees and affordability. One of the university leaders at the centre of the debates was Adam Habib, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
In today’s episode of Pasha he looks at the challenges of higher education in South Africa. He also discusses solutions and the lessons the country should take from the protests.
Photo: By Novikov Aleksey. Graduation cap, books and diploma on the flag. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Music Box & Sunshine” by Daniel Birch, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
Sounds “RU Fees Must Fall” by RUTV Journalism Rhodes University. found on YouTube licensed under CC.
shutterstock In global health, it’s important that women have an equal opportunity to have their voices heard in setting agendas and designing interventions. Not listening to women can mean that important contributions are missed. Women play a crucial role in delivering important health services and are the backbone of health.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Rhoda Wanyenze, Dean of Makerere University School of Public Health, discusses how crucial it is for women to be acknowledged in global health issues.
Photo: By Leonie Broekstra. African nurse is drawing blood from an African male for blood tests. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Umlungu” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org.
shutterstock The global hype around the Fourth Industrial Revolution has grabbed South Africa as well. President Cyril Ramaphosa is firmly behind it as the belief is that it can help advance economies and increase job opportunities. But in countries like South Africa where inequality is a problem, adding advanced technologies might divide the country further and deepen inequality.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Alison Gillwald, Adjunct Professor at the University of Cape Town, looks at how the country must be cautious about jumping on the Fourth Industrial Revolution bandwagon. She also looks at some successful initiatives in South Africa.
Read more: South Africa is caught in the global hype of the fourth industrial revolution
Photo: By Yugan – Background of the future on the theme of the fourth industrial revolution. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
“Chill and Grill” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike License.
shutterstock By the middle of February more than 2000 people had died from the coronavirus COVID-19, which was first identified in Wuhan, China at the end of last year. The virus has spread to a number of countries around the world – and of course, African countries are at risk, too. Screening and identifying patients is hugely important.
In today’s episode Professor Burtram Fielding of the department of medical biosciences at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa takes us through the history of the virus and explains what steps can be taken to ensure that the risks remain minimal for African countries.
Read more: What the latest coronavirus tells us about emerging new infections
Photo: By Axel Bueckert – Corona virus hand-drawn text with chalk on blackboard. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
Frog The Cape peninsula moss frog is tiny – really tiny. That makes the species very difficult to track. These little frogs are also very vulnerable, rated as “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of threatened species. So how can researchers monitor the species and come up with plans to conserve it? By listening.
In today’s episode of Pasha John Measey, chief researcher at the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, explains how he and his colleagues used an array of microphones to hear Cape peninsula moss frogs in their natural habitat and how the results can be used.
Read more: How we learned to listen to elusive, threatened frogs
Photo: By Francois Decker – The Cape peninsula moss frog.
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
Sounds Recording of the frogs. By John Measey
shutterstock Healthy food is critical to people’s well being. Not only does eating it keep us healthy and strong, but producing your own food is empowering and could even be a potential source of income. The problem is that healthy, fresh food isn’t always affordable and accessible for everyone.
In today’s episode of Pasha Lise Korsten, co-director at the Centre of Excellence in Food Security at the University of Pretoria discusses the importance of healthy food. She also looks at the steps that can be taken to ensure that outbreaks like listeriosis, which hit South Africa hard in 2019, do not happen again.
Read more: What led to world’s worst listeriosis outbreak in South Africa
Photo: By Sbuda – Fruit for sale from an informal street vendor. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Medical students learn a lot from studying the bodies of people who have died. When people donate their body for this purpose, their identity will never be disclosed and the body can be returned to the family at any time.
In today’s episode of Pasha, PhD candidate Kimberleigh Tommy and lecturer Brendon Billings explain why it’s important for anatomy students to work with real cadavers. They discuss the ethical and legal considerations of donating your body to research, the way your remains are treated, and why the cause of death matters.
Read more: Want to donate your body to research? What you need to know
Photo: By Elnur – Examining corpse. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
ShutterstockTemperatures across southern Africa are increasing. This presents a threat to many crops across the region. Rainfall projections are uncertain but the impact of climate change on agriculture is clear. The sector will suffer, and food shortages could follow. It is important for farmers to increase resilience and take steps to deal with a changing climate. These steps include increasing agricultural productivity, slowing down post-harvest losses and increasing market access for farmers.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Peter Johnston, a climate scientist and researcher at the University of Cape Town, discusses how climate change might affect farming in South Africa and what can be done about it.
Read more: Farming in South Africa is under threat from climate change. Here's how
Photo: By Kobus Tollig – Image of a sunrise at a wheat field on a farm in South Africa. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Rwanda has made strides in its health sector in recent years. The country is noted for making faster than expected progress over the past 15 years in reducing deaths among children younger than five. This is the result of the work the government has done in building a strong health system and taking an inclusive approach to health coverage. But there are still challenges like maternal mortality, for example.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Agnes Binagwaho, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, discusses how building trust among the public played a key role in the success of Rwanda’s health sector.
Read more: Lessons from Rwanda on how trust can help repair a broken health system
Photo: By beast01 – The flag of the country of Rwanda and stethoscope. The concept of medicine. Stethoscope on the flag in the background. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Data science is a buzzword commonly heard these days. But what is it?
Data science combines a number of fields and is a blend of statistics, computer science, mathematics, engineering and subject matter knowledge. It holds tremendous potential as has already been shown with game-changing, crucial innovations rooted in the work of data scientists. And African countries are starting to get on board.
In today’s episode of Pasha Wim Delva, the acting director of the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking at Stellenbosch University, discusses how data science can blaze new trails looking at the potential it has for young people and for countries on the continent.
Read more: How data science in and for Africa can blaze new trails
Photo: By Anton Balazh – Highly detailed planet Earth at night, with embossed continents, illuminated by light of cities. Earth is surrounded by a luminous network, representing the major air routes based on real data. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Women all over the world face a number of challenges and this is also true in many countries on the African continent. The perceptions of society can result in their potential being “locked up”. Education is crucial to overcome the mind-sets that prevent women from taking more of a lead in society.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Roula Inglesi-Lotz, co-leader of the Women in Science Working Group and an associate professor of economics at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, takes us through the role women can play in science, technology and development on the continent.
Photo: By i_am_zews Group of young women in discussion. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
Additional recording Women empowerment for Africa Development by RUFORUMNetwork. YouTubelicensed under Creative Commons Attribution licence (reuse allowed)
shutterstock To end the HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2030, the United Nations established an ambitious set of goals known as 90-90-90. The idea is that by 2020, 90% of people who are HIV infected will be diagnosed, 90% of people who are diagnosed will be on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of those who receive antiretrovirals will be virally suppressed.
In today’s episode of Pasha, Peter Piot, Director and Handa Professor of Global Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, discusses what these goals entail and how far the world is from attaining them.
Read more: HIV, AIDS and 90-90-90: what is it and why does it matter?
Photo: By Mohdizuan AIDS/HIV word on a wooden table. Aids/HIV Concept. healthcare and medical concept. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Africa’s population is expected to double by 2050. It’s therefore important to look at what’s driving population growth, and what can be done to slow the trend. These topics are being considered at the 8th African Population Conference in Entebbe in Uganda.
In the latest episode of Pasha, Alex Ezeh, a Dornsife Professor of Global Health at Drexel University, discusses how population growth can be addressed in an effective, practical and ethical way.
Read more: What's driving Africa's population growth. And what can change it
Photo: By Anton_Ivanov Unidentified Ghanaian people at the market in Ghana. Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock South Africa and Kenya have progressive legal frameworks when it comes to higher education policies. But women are still missing from higher education institutions. This is attributed to the difficult social conditions they face.
In today’s episode of Pasha Beatrice Akala, a post doctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, speaks about how to deal with some of the challenges facing women.
Read more: Gender inequality in education is still an issue in Kenya and South Africa
Photo: By Flamingo Images Focused young African female college student working on a laptop on some stairs on campus preparing for an exam Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.
shutterstock Hunger and food insecurity are prominent issues in South Africa. Many people don’t have access to nutritious food and there is severe food injustice in the country. Yet people are not taking to the streets to protest about this. This is because people are unaware that they have a right to food. South Africa can take lessons on this from regions in India and Brazil.
Tackling food injustice needs a transformation of the structural inequities of the food system. It requires providing different means for people to access healthy food. And in today’s episode of Pasha, Brittany Kesselman, a postdoctoral research fellow at Wits University, discusses how this can be achieved.
Read more: South Africa still has a long way to go on the right to food
Photo: By Alzbeta A woman in Cape Town processes sheep’s heads for a meal in Langa township - Image Shutterstock
Music “Happy African Village” by John Bartmann, found on FreeMusicArchive.org licensed under CC0 1.