It is important that procedures surrounding funerals are developed by public health officials alongside traditional and religious authorities.
Cultural norms
Politics and Society COVID-19 has blown away the myth about ‘First’ and ‘Third’ world competence
Some of the worst health performers in recent weeks have been ‘First World’.
Arts and Culture Social norms stop Ethiopian girls from making safe choices about pregnancy
Over 60% of girls in Ethiopia are married by the age of 18. Many don’t have support in negotiating with their husbands and families to take control of their own fertility.
Lifestyle Everyday women riders of Mali
It is still uncommon to see women commercial motorcyclists in many African cities. In Bamako, Mali however women are not only commercial riders but every day women use motorcycles to go about their daily lives.
Arts and Culture Dads too soon: The Central African Republic has highest prevalence of child grooms
A UNICEF report has found that an estimated 115 million boys and men worldwide were married as children. Of these, one in five (23 million) became child grooms before the age of 15. Of the 82 countries analysed, the Central African Republic was found to have the highest prevalence of this practice.
African identities Attitudes to gender and sexual diversity: changing global trends
Global attitudes to gender and sexual diversity are changing. Some embrace the diversity; others push back.
Arts and Culture Guinea gives first wives the legal right to approve a polygamous marriage
The Guinean parliament has enacted a civil code that, while in favour of monogamy, stipulates that at the time of marriage, a husband has to declare that he opts for polygamy and gain the explicit agreement of his first wife.
Arts and Culture Niger’s practice of selling young girls as an unofficial “fifth wife” has been outlawed
Niger’s top court has outlawed ‘”Wahaya”, a unique form of slavery currently practiced in that country. It involves the sale of young girls from Tuareg communities to wealthy and prominent Hausa individuals as an unofficial “fifth wife”.
Arts and Culture The Ghanaian village where childbirth is prohibited
None of the about 5 000 inhabitants of Mafi Dove, a village in southern Ghana, was born there. The village is considered to be holy land and consequently has a myriad of customs and traditions that have been upheld throughout its existence. One of these is the belief that childbirth in the village is an offence to the gods.