Arts + Culture – Views & Research – The Conversation

A photograph of an excavation site with rows of stones alongside one another protruding from the earth along a slight ridge, trees in the background.

A photograph of an excavation site with rows of stones alongside one another protruding from the earth along a slight ridge, trees in the background.

History is being rewritten at an archaeological site in Morocco. What the discovery of an ancient wall tells us

Giulio Lucarini, National Research Council (CNR); Cyprian Broodbank, University of Cambridge, and Toby C. Wilkinson, University of Cambridge

Kofi Agawu: the scholar who showed the world that African music isn’t just about rhythm

Geoff Mapaya, University of Venda

Viral African dance videos are busting stereotypes in China – and making money for some

Suvi Rautio, University of Helsinki

An African man and a Chinese women dressed in black tracksuits dance in front of a futuristic building.

An African man and a Chinese women dressed in black tracksuits dance in front of a futuristic building.

Olu Jacobs remembered: Nollywood’s elder statesman always acted for his country

Françoise Ugochukwu, The Open University

Man and woman on stage with a microphone receiving an award.

Man and woman on stage with a microphone receiving an award.

Aerial view of cluster of small buildings, mostly circular thatched mud structures

Aerial view of cluster of small buildings, mostly circular thatched mud structures

Ghana’s local architecture has adapted to change for centuries. It can teach us about climate resilience

Saeed Akannah Junior, Bolgatanga Technical University

A young African woman in a tight-fitting maroon dress is reflected in a mirror as she looks at her phone, a ring light in the background.

A young African woman in a tight-fitting maroon dress is reflected in a mirror as she looks at her phone, a ring light in the background.

OnlyFans in South Africa: what creators say about sex work, personal safety and the gig economy

Phiwokazi Qoza, University of Cape Town

A black and white illustration of a young man in a bandana looking pointedly defiant.

A black and white illustration of a young man in a bandana looking pointedly defiant.

Why Tupac lives on in Cape Town 30 years after he was murdered

Dariusz Dziewanski, University of Cape Town

Religion, power and politics: what’s behind the violent attacks on Ethiopia’s Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Dereje Melese Liyew, Debre Markos University,

A church building

A church building

John Iliffe: the historian who changed how Africa’s past was understood

Derek R. Peterson, University of Michigan

A man facing the camera, with a blurred hallway background

A man facing the camera, with a blurred hallway background

City skyline, with shacks in the foreground and tall buildings in the distance

City skyline, with shacks in the foreground and tall buildings in the distance

Nairobi’s expansion is swallowing up rural land: new book reveals the impacts on families

Peter Lockwood, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen

An older, bald-headed European man in a black suit applauds as an African man in a blue suit speaks into a microphone and gestures with his hands, pointing upwards. They're on a grass pitch with crowds in the background.

An older, bald-headed European man in a black suit applauds as an African man in a blue suit speaks into a microphone and gestures with his hands, pointing upwards. They're on a grass pitch with crowds in the background.

Fifa in Africa: has Gianni Infantino really helped football development?

Gerard A. Akindes, Northwestern University

Cars drive past a large bright yellow and red billboard that reads "Prayer City".

Cars drive past a large bright yellow and red billboard that reads "Prayer City".

Along Nigeria’s ‘spiritual highway’, prayer camps create a new urban future

Marloes Janson, SOAS, University of London

Film festivals take African cultural heritage around the world – and help keep it alive

Sheila Petty, University of Regina

A wide shot of an open air arena. A man stands on a round stahe at a lectern. speaking to a full audience, fairy lights and blue lights behind them.

A wide shot of an open air arena. A man stands on a round stahe at a lectern. speaking to a full audience, fairy lights and blue lights behind them.

Returning bones to Madagascar doesn’t just right a colonial wrong: why a royal skull still has power

Maurizio Esposito La Rossa, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS)

Three men carry draped bundles while other people look on

Three men carry draped bundles while other people look on

Zed Beats: how home studios reinvented Zambian pop music and gave young people a voice

Mathew Tembo, Copperbelt University

A young African man fashionably dressed with shades and peroxided dreads points both hands to camera, behind him a dazzling nightclub light.

A young African man fashionably dressed with shades and peroxided dreads points both hands to camera, behind him a dazzling nightclub light.

How Lagos pioneers built a vibrant Yoruba print culture in the 1920s – at the height of colonialism

Karin Barber, University of Birmingham

A black and white photo of a vintage newspaper with an ornate border, printed words and the title 'Eko Akete'.

A black and white photo of a vintage newspaper with an ornate border, printed words and the title 'Eko Akete'.

A black and white photo illustration of a young person in silhouette, sitting at a grand piano in a dark room with a window framing them with shutter lines forming bars.

A black and white photo illustration of a young person in silhouette, sitting at a grand piano in a dark room with a window framing them with shutter lines forming bars.

Abuse and silence in South Africa’s classical music culture: what a student’s story reveals

Carina Venter, Stellenbosch University

Kenya’s running stars attract suspicion and awe – our research gives a more human picture

Dawson McCall, Loyola University New Orleans and Chepchirchir Tirop, Boston University

An African man runs on the road followed by a man on a bicycle as people behind a taped barrier take photos of the runner on their phones.

An African man runs on the road followed by a man on a bicycle as people behind a taped barrier take photos of the runner on their phones.

The Gambia’s hidden history: how a tiny river basin influenced colonial trade and slavery

Pape Chérif Bertrand Bassène, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar

A mural shows depictions of enslaved people in shackles and colonial masters in western clothing.

A mural shows depictions of enslaved people in shackles and colonial masters in western clothing.

Issakaba: what a 1999 Nollywood classic reveals about Nigeria’s security crisis today

Mark Tekena, The Rivers State University of Science and Technology

Two men in the foreground, behind them a group of men wearing white headbands, around a man who is lying on the ground

Two men in the foreground, behind them a group of men wearing white headbands, around a man who is lying on the ground

Racism at the World Cup is an ugly reality. How to understand where it comes from

Christian Ungruhe, University of Passau

A young African football player sits on a marked field with a soccer ball between his legs. He looks off in the distance, dejected and defiant.

A young African football player sits on a marked field with a soccer ball between his legs. He looks off in the distance, dejected and defiant.

World Cup history: a timeline of Africa’s greatest moments on the field

Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Stephen F. Austin State University

A young Moroccan man in a red and green football jersey holds a soccer ball aloft against a mosaic backdrop.

A young Moroccan man in a red and green football jersey holds a soccer ball aloft against a mosaic backdrop.

North Africa’s World Cup teams offered lessons in what works – and what doesn’t

Mahfoud Amara, Qatar University

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Most read this week

Music

An elderly man with grey hair stands under a light on a stage next to a piano, hands in a thank-you prayer position in front of him.

An elderly man with grey hair stands under a light on a stage next to a piano, hands in a thank-you prayer position in front of him.

Abdullah Ibrahim: South Africa’s master pianist who was still touring the world at 90

Christine Lucia, Stellenbosch University

Abdullah Ibrahim in the 1960s: how the famous pianist began to shape an African jazz sound

Stephanie Vos, Stellenbosch University

The story behind Soweto Blues, Miriam Makeba’s famous song about the June 16 uprising

Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria

A young African woman sits in front of a mirror in a glamorous outfit with elongated headgear. She looks frankly to camera. In the mirror is a reflection of a man playing a guitar.

A young African woman sits in front of a mirror in a glamorous outfit with elongated headgear. She looks frankly to camera. In the mirror is a reflection of a man playing a guitar.

Mali’s maestro of African salsa: how Boncana Maïga shaped dance music

Lucy Durán, SOAS, University of London

An African man leans against a classic turquoise convertible in a street with a mural of musicians behind him.

An African man leans against a classic turquoise convertible in a street with a mural of musicians behind him.

Afrobeats celebrates cybercrime and it’s becoming a global problem

Suleman Lazarus, London School of Economics and Political Science

Silhouette of people dancing

Silhouette of people dancing

Read more on African musicians

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Film + series

An African woman smartly dressed stares straight ahead wearing bright red lipstick and a white hat, tears stains down her face.

An African woman smartly dressed stares straight ahead wearing bright red lipstick and a white hat, tears stains down her face.

Power, pleasure and patriarchy: why The Polygamist on Netflix is captivating viewers

Grace Khunou, University of South Africa

Propaganda machine to public good: a brief history of 50 years of TV in South Africa

Sisanda Nkoala, University of the Western Cape

A vintage television test pattern showing a circle and a grid with colours, but glitching.

A vintage television test pattern showing a circle and a grid with colours, but glitching.

Makemation: a Nollywood movie that shows AI in action in Africa

Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Harvard University

Graphic of young women, back to back. looking at laptop screens, with streaks of light leading up a mountainside in the background

Graphic of young women, back to back. looking at laptop screens, with streaks of light leading up a mountainside in the background

Banning Rafiki was unlawful: why new court ruling is an important moment for African film

Gibson Ncube, Stellenbosch University

An illustration of a photo with a bright red background, showing two young women smiling broadly.

An illustration of a photo with a bright red background, showing two young women smiling broadly.

The Voice of Hind Rajab: Tunisian director’s devastating film about Palestine

Florence Martin, Goucher College

Three women, one in a headscarf, stand anxiously above a man seated with a phone in his hand.

Three women, one in a headscarf, stand anxiously above a man seated with a phone in his hand.

Read more on African cinema

Books

Read more on African writers

An illustration of a city map with two men in silhouette, in blue and green.

An illustration of a city map with two men in silhouette, in blue and green.

Ulysses in isiZulu: why an African translation of the classic Irish novel matters in today’s world

Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Harvard University

6 African thinkers who help us understand the world – new book

Christophe Premat, Stockholm University

An African woman in heavy-rimmed angular glasses and a bright dress gesures as she sits talking in a chair in a modern architectural space.

An African woman in heavy-rimmed angular glasses and a bright dress gesures as she sits talking in a chair in a modern architectural space.

Cameroon’s sacred and royal animals: could literature and futures thinking help save them?

Kenneth Nsah Mala, University of Cologne

A vintage illustration of a family of lions, a female licking a cub while a male looks on.

A vintage illustration of a family of lions, a female licking a cub while a male looks on.

Cape Fever: a haunting new novel from award-winning South African writer Nadia Davids

Olivier Moreillon, University of Johannesburg

Old wallpaper showing birds in delicate branches of a tree is peeling, revealing cemenrt beneath it.

Old wallpaper showing birds in delicate branches of a tree is peeling, revealing cemenrt beneath it.

Uganda’s Bobi Wine on the books (and songs) that shape his politics

Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Harvard University

A young African man with a beard stands, armed crossed, in a room with a shelf of books in the background.

A young African man with a beard stands, armed crossed, in a room with a shelf of books in the background.

Browse our arts, culture and society archive

Faith

An African man with a grey beard wears a long white traditional garment and sunglasses as he sits in a chair holding a small book in either hand.

An African man with a grey beard wears a long white traditional garment and sunglasses as he sits in a chair holding a small book in either hand.

Shopping for God in Lagos: what is Chrislam?

Marloes Janson, SOAS, University of London

Meditation and speaking in tongues: the surprising similarities between two spiritual practices

Joshua Brahinsky, McGill University; Jonas Mago, McGill University, and Michael Lifshitz, McGill University

An illustration of swirling lines against a black backdrop, forming a kind of black hole or vortex.

An illustration of swirling lines against a black backdrop, forming a kind of black hole or vortex.

Love, grace and world peace: how an African saint has shaped Pope Leo’s worldview

Catherine Conybeare, Bryn Mawr College

A mosaic artwork of a dark-skinned man in a bishop's headgear holding a staff.

A mosaic artwork of a dark-skinned man in a bishop's headgear holding a staff.

Pope Leo’s visit to Africa: theology scholar outlines 3 realities the Catholic church must face

Stan Chu Ilo, DePaul University

A seated man dressed in white robes holding a piece of white paper and speaking into a microphone

A seated man dressed in white robes holding a piece of white paper and speaking into a microphone

Pentecostal churches are a place of everyday care, not just bizarre spectacle: southern African study

Admire Thonje, University of Johannesburg

Two young African women smile as they sing, surrounded by other people in a gathering, some with raised arms.

Two young African women smile as they sing, surrounded by other people in a gathering, some with raised arms.

Read more on TB Joshua

History + heritage

A large stone wall around a settlement in a valley leading to the remains of other settlements.

A large stone wall around a settlement in a valley leading to the remains of other settlements.

Great Zimbabwe: debunking the myth of tyrants and forced labour

Robert T. Nyamushosho, Queens College, CUNY

Morocco’s hidden history: archaeology, DNA and carbon dating rewrite the story of the ancient world

Hamza Benattia, University of Cambridge

Satellite image of the western Mediterranean showing southern Iberia and northern Morocco, with the narrow Strait of Gibraltar between Africa and Europe.

Satellite image of the western Mediterranean showing southern Iberia and northern Morocco, with the narrow Strait of Gibraltar between Africa and Europe.

Appolonia: the story of an African kingdom that resisted the Atlantic slave trade

Nana Kesse, Clark University

An old illustration of a boat approaching a fort from across the water.

An old illustration of a boat approaching a fort from across the water.

Unearthing Namibia’s forgotten genocide through forensic archaeology

William Mitchell, University of Huddersfield and Kevin Colls, University of Huddersfield

People standing looking at an exposed coffin sticking out of the earth

People standing looking at an exposed coffin sticking out of the earth

Ma Vesta Smith: why this unsung activist matters 50 years after the Soweto uprising

Maria Suriano, University of the Witwatersrand

Two African women pose for a photo, heads touching, looking at the camera.

Two African women pose for a photo, heads touching, looking at the camera.

Read more on history + heritage

Sport

A foosball set with toy figures on metal rods used to propel a small football, a row of black figures on strike, white figures foregrounded.

A foosball set with toy figures on metal rods used to propel a small football, a row of black figures on strike, white figures foregrounded.

Racial stereotypes of African footballers persist. It’s time to talk about them

Uroš Kovač, University of Groningen and Ikechukwu Ejekwumadu, University of Tübingen

The real story of the resilient African migrants reshaping global football

Uroš Kovač, University of Groningen

Africa at the World Cup: 10 teams, local coaches and tactical depth usher in a new era

Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Stephen F. Austin State University

A joyful man in a red wig holds his arms out in a football stand, surrounded by others in brightly coloured outfits.

A joyful man in a red wig holds his arms out in a football stand, surrounded by others in brightly coloured outfits.

Kenya’s Sawe breaks the 2-hour barrier: what’s next for the men’s marathon world record?

Simon D. Angus, Monash University

A man running, arms spread out, at a finishing line showing 1:59:30

A man running, arms spread out, at a finishing line showing 1:59:30

A football World Cup is a global cultural exchange. How will that work in Trump’s America?

Chuka Onwumechili, Howard University

A shiny gold trophy of a globe held up by human hands, in the background a blurry shot of men in suits, one with white hair standing and talking.

A shiny gold trophy of a globe held up by human hands, in the background a blurry shot of men in suits, one with white hair standing and talking.

Read more on African football

Cities + societies

A young female character, representing a doll, in a school uniform who is illustrated in the Japanese artistic and cultural 'Kawaii' style. The bright doll with green eyes is in the palm of an anonymous and sinister figure and surrounded by darkness and shadow in contrast to her colourful uniform. There is a faint web-like pattern on the figures and the background.

A young female character, representing a doll, in a school uniform who is illustrated in the Japanese artistic and cultural 'Kawaii' style. The bright doll with green eyes is in the palm of an anonymous and sinister figure and surrounded by darkness and shadow in contrast to her colourful uniform. There is a faint web-like pattern on the figures and the background.

People are marrying holograms and making friends with chatbots. But can AI bring true happiness?

Anné H. Verhoef, North-West University and Edmund Terem Ugar, North-West University

Anti-foreigner violence in South Africa is easily sparked: what hasn’t been done to deal with it

Alan Hirsch, University of Cape Town

AI can design cities, but can it understand what matters to people? 10 ways to keep humans in control

Abeer Elshater, Ain Shams University and Hisham Abusaada, Housing and Building National Research Center

An illustration of a robot fist up against a human fist.

An illustration of a robot fist up against a human fist.

Khaby Lame is the world’s most followed TikToker: the story of a Senegalese-born star who sold his identity

Fanny Georges, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris 3

Designing cities: should we build from scratch or keep history alive?

Abeer Elshater, Ain Shams University and Hisham Abusaada, Housing and Building National Research Center

An old city wall on a rocky hill, beneath it a dense array of square and angular old buildings of different sizes

An old city wall on a rocky hill, beneath it a dense array of square and angular old buildings of different sizes

Read more on African cities

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