African media also emphasise the west as superior and Africa as inferior.
Decolonisation
Politics and Society What Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral can teach us about the value of cultural continuity
African historical and cultural records were damaged and erased by colonisation, but even after independence, Africans have not invested adequately in restoring and safeguarding cultural and historical heritage.
Politics and Society A Dutch government fund will help raise awareness about the legacy of slavery
In lieu of a formal apology the Dutch government which might or might not come later this year, is setting up an approx. €200 million fund to ‘raise awareness about the legacy of slavery’.
Politics and Society Cartoon | Queen Elizabeth II’s chequered legacy evokes mixed reactions across Africa
The death of Queen Elizabeth II has elicited mixed feelings. Some remember the Queen as a steadfast guiding figure, a symbol of stability and resilience, but for others across Africa, her country’s colonial legacy will remain a stain on her contested legacy.
Politics and Society Queen Elizabeth, colonialism and land: ghosts of the past still haunt Cape Town today
The British empire brought the practice of commons enclosure to Africa to claim land. Its effects continue today at sites like the Liesbeek River in Cape Town.
Politics and Society China has waived the debt of some African countries. But it’s not about refinancing
The latest cancellation reflects the pressure China feels it’s under in the international debt debate.
Politics and Society A very British way of torture
A documentary exploring abuses committed by British colonial forces against the Mau Mau in the 1950s has been released. It details systematic torture, including murders, rapes, and forced castrations, and the measures taken to suppress evidence.
Politics and Society Benin’s 30m ‘Amazon’ statue honours the women warriors of Dahomey
The Amazons of Dahomey are the only documented female army in modern history and one of the world’s unresolved curiosities. As the West turns their story into fetishised cinema, their nation of origin has immortalised them in bronze.
Politics and Society Belgium is reviewing its colonial past in the DRC: it’s a sensitive but necessary process
Belgium wants to frame its relationship with Congo, Rwanda and Burundi as one looking into the future – but the past weighs heavily.