Africa

On Thursday, 12 November 2020, I learned of former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings’ passing when I noticed a slew of “WhatsApp” condolence messages from fellow Harvard Kennedy School students, sharing with one another perspectives of Rawlings’ legacy as a leading historical Ghanaian leader, transforming the nation from authoritarianism to a multi-party democracy. Rawlings’ storied […]

2020 MARKS THE twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a seminal moment when world leaders committed to key principles that still guide global action to advance women’s rights.[i] The platform called for greater representation of women in all spheres of society and, more specifically, for countries to establish goals for gender […]

Madagascar is strewn with remnants of the French colonial period. From its French-style colonial architecture to its prized French restaurants, traces of the colonial era abound. One relic of the French colonial era that continues to significantly affect life in Madagascar is the country’s language and education system. In Madagascar, both Malagasy and French are […]

During his recent visit at Harvard University, Dr. Joseph Agyepong, one of Ghana’s most successful businessmen answered APJ’s questions.

During a recent interview, Dr. Kavemui Murangi (OvaHerero, Mbanderu and Nama Genocides Institute) answered questions from APJ’s Leah Coates (interview editor), regarding the Nama and Herero genocide committed by German colonial troops. Between 1904 and 1908, German colonial troops massacred 80% of Hereros and 50% of Namas to seize their land, using anti-colonial revolts as a […]

During his recent visit at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Dr. John Nkengasong answered APJ’s questions regarding the coronavirus crisis pandemic. Interview with Dr. John Nkengasong (Director, Africa CDC) on COVID19 – March 2020 from Harvard African Studies on Vimeo.

I am worried about Africa’s preparedness for the COVID-19 outbreak, and so should everybody else. As at the beginning of March, there were only four cases in Africa spread across Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria. Since then, at least 46 out of 54 countries in Africa have reported cases of COVID-19. On March 28 2020, roughly four […]

Ghana’s “Year of Return”, by its very nature, was bound to gain a considerable amount of positive press in the United States. The campaign encouraged descendants of the African diaspora to visit and invest in Ghana. For African Americans who struggle to locate their ancestral roots, the “Year of Return” provided a fresh opportunity to […]

  *The names of the subjects in this article have been changed to protect their identity. A heavy stench of sewage permeates the air where 11-year-old Amina roams in search of change. With tattered sandals and stained clothing nearly sliding off her frail frame, she entertains herself by kicking dust on a busy, trash-filled street […]

Dr. Albert Zeufack sat with our lead interview editor, Mez Belo-Osagie.  Dr. Zeufack answered questions on a wide variety of topics including his career path in academia and policy-making, digitization, Africa’s infrastructure gap, and Chinese engagement with the African continent.

Africa in the 21st century is young, urban, and digitally connected. More than half of all Africans are younger than 20. By mid-century, more Africans will migrate to cities than on any other continent in the world, seeking opportunity across both physical and digital spaces. Sub-Saharan Africa has experienced the highest growth in internet usage […]

East Asia’s footprints in Africa over the past few decades have significantly evolved from mere diplomatic presence to encompass steadfast multilateral engagements. The growing engagements have been enabled by the two major East Asian countries – Japan and China. Both countries have supported Africa with investments and development aid. Japan, for example, through the Tokyo […]