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Friday, August 7, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
/ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC-SOUTH AFRICA: Legendary Singer now Cultural Diplomat
Miriam Makeba, the legendary South African singer whose zest for life infuses her songs and make them seem eternally youthful, turned 70 last month, a fact that seems to astound her.ECONOMY-AFRICA: Indian Ocean Islands Top Performers
During a year of world economic downturns and a regional recession that affects all Southern African nations, the island states off the continent's Indian Ocean coast are performing better than their mainland counterparts.TRADE-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Pinning Hopes on Investors, World Economy
By all accounts, what is heard from regional politicians and economists is that the 14 nations of the African sub-continent who formed an alliance modelled after the European Union had a good idea, and still do.POLITICS: Ethnic Tensions Rising in Madagascar
Political and now ethnic tensions are rising as Madagascar's presidential impasse continues, with rival contenders proclaiming governing decrees they are powerless to enforce.TECHNOLOGY: Wire Theft Renders Swaziland Phoneless
At any given time, ten to 20 percent of Swaziland is without conventional telephone service because thieves are stealing wires.ECONOMY-BOTSWANA: Too Much Reliance on Diamonds
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, as the song goes but, for the Botswana economy, total reliance on this profitable gem is considered unwise by government planners and economists.TRANSPORT-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Vital Lifeline for Emerging Economy
Rail transport in Southern Africa has a history of glamour, but today travel glamour is associated with air transport and new auto highways.TRANSPORT-AFRICA: Too Many New Airports Fighting for the Same Customers
A kind of airport fever has taken hold of the neighbouring nations of South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique, with major new international airports opening, under construction or planned within close proximity of each other.RIGHTS-SWAZILAND: Courts in Turmoil
Swaziland's court system has been called the nexus where "African traditional monarchy coexists with modernity", in the words of one local lawyer who is often quoted, though his identity seems to have been forgotten by the people citing his wisdom.POLITICS-MADAGASCAR: Rival Govts, Neither is Fully Operational
Reports that this Indian Ocean island nation is somehow functioning with two governments following a contested presidential election are contradicted by the reality that neither government is fully operational.CULTURE-AFRICA: Beauty Contests Evolve a New Image
They are ubiquitous social and entertainment events, featured in virtually every non-Muslim African nation, and some nations where Muslim culture predominates: beauty pageants that display the talents and pulchritude of a nation's choicest young women, and in some cases men.CULTURE-AFRICA: Crack Down on Witchcraft on the Soccer Pitch
Lwazi Dlamini, sports writer for the Times of Swaziland, feels so-called witchcraft practised in African soccer to ensure good performance for a favoured side and bad luck for opponents is "primarily psychological".//REPEATING//TRADE-AFRICA: ‘Hijack Car Caravan’ Route Comes Under Scrutiny
A sophisticated trade route recalling the days of the Oriental Spice route connecting China and Europe or, more notoriously, the slave route used by Arab traders to bring captives from inland villages to the African coast, connects South Africa with Congo, and all nations in between.POLITICS: The Island Nation of Madagascar on Brink of Civil War
Parallel governments, rival capital cities, martial law, unrest in the streets: the island nation of Madagascar has all the elements that easily combine into full-fledged civil war, but have not yet ignited in that combustible scenario.ECONOMY: Southern Africa Goes on Tourism Offensive
A "triple threat" of a local political crisis, a regional economic downturn, and a worldwide tourism freeze following the Sep 11 terrorism bombings in the United States caused a precipitous drop in tourist numbers in Southern Africa last year.CULTURE: Harvest Festivals Still Vital in Southern Africa
The Swazis believe the welfare of their country and people depend on the successful outcome of their national pageant.POLITICS-SWAZILAND: “Rubber Stamp Parliament” Wants Respect
The near unanimous opinion of political observers expressed in the Swaziland media when parliamentarians voted themselves a 31.9 percent wage increase was, "What for?"DEVELOPMENT-SWAZILAND: Rural Sprawl Threatens Bucolic Kingdom
Swaziland is a picturesque kingdom wedged between Mozambique and South Africa./ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/MUSIC-SWAZILAND: Defining Traditional Swazi Male
Henry Ndlangamandla is a singer who defines the traditional Swazi male in one respect: he is an umbutfo, a member of King Mswati's warrior regiments.ECONOMY: Southern Africa Goes on Tourism Offensive
A "triple threat" of a local political crisis, a regional economic downturn, and a worldwide tourism freeze following the Sep 11 terrorism bombings in the United States caused a precipitous drop in tourist numbers in Southern Africa last year.POLITICS-SWAZILAND: King Seeks to Set Course in Age of Democracy
King Mswati III, 16th ruler of the House of Dlamini that has headed the tiny Southern African kingdom for over 400 years, delivered his shortest but some political observers say his most significant State of the Kingdom speech when he opened Parliament this week.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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