Ill feeling between continents ahead of the EU-AU summit Published: 14 February 2022 Commentary The travel restrictions imposed by the European Union on people traveling from southern Africa after the discovery of the Omicron variant, will potentially have a long-term impact on the EU-AU relations. By Dr. Melanie Müller
Senegal: “If I don’t know, I ask – if I know, I share.” Published: 22 September 2021 Interview The internet increasingly enables people in Senegal to express their opinions and be part of democracy – this has become clear in digital initiatives such as Sunu 2012 or #FreeSenegal. Senegalese activist Cheikh Fall explains in an interview how important (pan-African) networking is in this context. By Selly Ba and Maria Kind
Nigeria: “Continue to innovate and build alliances” Published: 22 September 2021 Interview The internet can open up spaces for marginalised groups to strengthen their identities, exchange ideas, form communities, and organise themselves. In Nigeria, however, freedom of communication and information is increasingly being restricted. We spoke with queer security expert Azeenarh Mohammed about LGBTIQ rights, risk profiles, and the Twitter blackout. By Maria Kind
Zimbabwe: “You are the ones we have been waiting for” Published: 21 September 2021 Interview In the face of political oppression and persecution, the digital space offers many people in Zimbabwe the only lasting opportunity to exchange ideas and organise. We spoke with Fungai Machirori about the potentials and shortcomings of the internet, feminist digital activism in Zimbabwe, and the hopes placed in each new generation. By Maria Kind
The climate crisis is a result of the commodification of land and social relations Published: 26 February 2021 Interview The climate crisis is the result of relations of power and exploitation, between the Global North and the Global South as well as between people and nature. A decolonial approach in climate activism stands for a radical break with colonial principles of economic, political and social systems – including industrial agriculture and landgrabbing. A conversation with Ruth Nyambura, climate activist from Kenya. By Imeh Ituen
The right to belong and the protection of cultural property Published: 26 February 2021 Interview For centuries, resources have been extracted from the African continent without adequate payment or compensation. With colonialism, Khoikhoi and San, the first inhabitants of Southern Africa, lost their land and many lost their lives. During decades of Apartheid they were racially discriminated and still have to fight for political and economic inclusion in the post-Apartheid era. We spoke to the Khoikhoi lawyer Lesle Jansen about her fight for the community and for the legal acknowledgement of the cultural heritage of Indigenous people. By Imeh Ituen
Youth Against Climate Change in South Africa: “There is a major lack of representation in the movement” Published: 26 February 2021 Interview Most of food production in Africa is shouldered by small scale farmers and the majority of farmers are women. Alarmed by the effects of climate change on her family’s farm Ayakha Melithafa from South Africa’s Western Cape joined an environmental school club and engages now in a national and an international youth movements for climate justice. By Imeh Ituen
Queer activism in Kenya - "speak truth to power!" Published: 5 February 2021 Interview Queer feminism allows us to understand that patriarchy harms all of us and only an intersectional approach enables collective liberation and working together in solidarity. Queer resistance can also be fun - and sometimes a dandy outfit is enough to make patriarchy shake. We talked to Yvee Oduor about activism and mobilization of genderqueer people in Kenya. By Claudia Simons
Queer women in Uganda: "Don't rush into coming out" Published: 5 February 2021 Interview In East Africa, politics and the church propagate the idea that homosexuality is "un-African". In order to maintain their own power. However, queer life and love has always existed in Uganda. Homophobia, on the contrary, can be called a colonial import. We spoke with Ssenfuka Joanita Warry about queer activism in Uganda and why she takes every opportunity, she can to speak out and fight misconceptions about homosexuality. By Claudia Simons