Hacker News with Generative AI: Africa

Trump Administration Leaned on African Countries to Get Business for Elon Musk (propublica.org)
In early February, Sharon Cromer, U.S. ambassador to Gambia, went to visit one of the country’s Cabinet ministers at his agency’s headquarters, above a partially abandoned strip mall off a dirt road.
Politics, Africa, Business, Elon Musk
13 points by jaredwiener 8 days ago | 0 comments
Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak (afro.who.int)
Kampala – Uganda today declared the end of the Ebola disease outbreak, less than three months after the virus was confirmed in the capital Kampala.
Ebola, Public Health, Africa, Uganda
6 points by c420 18 days ago | 0 comments
Ancient DNA from the green Sahara reveals ancestral North African lineage (nature.com)
Although it is one of the most arid regions today, the Sahara Desert was a green savannah during the African Humid Period (AHP) between 14,500 and 5,000 years before present, with water bodies promoting human occupation and the spread of pastoralism in the middle Holocene epoch1.
Ancient History, Genetics, Africa, Climate Change, Archaeology
53 points by gnabgib 19 days ago | 6 comments
Ancient DNA unearths a new race from a verdant North African interlude (razibkhan.com)
These 7000-year-old humans are neither Eurasian nor sub-Saharan African
Genetics, Archaeology, Africa
12 points by pseudolus 19 days ago | 0 comments
The campaign to subvert Africa's internet registry (capeindependent.com)
In ten days, AFRINIC, an NGO which functions as the internet registry for the African continent, is supposed be holding its regular board elections, but these have been postponed, and await plans from the official receiver who has taken charge of the company.
Internet, Africa, Technology, Politics
124 points by greyface- 32 days ago | 36 comments
7k-year-old skeletons from the green Sahara reveal a mysterious human lineage (smithsonianmag.com)
Researchers recently sequenced the genomes of two naturally mummified women found in Libya
Ancient History, Genetics, Archaeology, Africa
96 points by pseudolus 41 days ago | 33 comments
The 'ghost reporters' writing pro-Russian propaganda in West Africa (aljazeera.com)
Al Jazeera finds that an influence campaign using nonexistent writers is spreading anti-France sentiment across West and Central Africa.
Propaganda, Journalism, Africa, Russia, France
18 points by gnabgib 46 days ago | 0 comments
Bitcoin in the bush – the crypto mine in remote Zambia (bbc.com)
The roar of the Zambezi is deafening as millions of gallons of water crash over rocks and tumble down rapids.
Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, Zambia, Africa, Mining
45 points by pseudolus 59 days ago | 13 comments
Ancient DNA Shows Stone Age Europeans Voyaged by Sea to Africa (nature.com)
Ancient DNA shows Stone Age Europeans voyaged by sea to Africa
Ancient History, Genetics, Archaeology, Africa, Europe
120 points by gmays 64 days ago | 54 comments
For climate and livelihoods, Africa bets big on solar mini-grids (knowablemagazine.org)
To the people of Mbiabet Esieyere and Mbiabet Udouba in Nigeria’s deep south, sundown would mean children doing their homework by the glow of kerosene lamps, and the faint thrum of generators emanating from homes that could afford to run them.
Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Africa, Development
117 points by rntn 69 days ago | 90 comments
Internet shutdowns at record high in Africa as access 'weaponised' (theguardian.com)
Digital blackouts reached a record high in 2024 in Africa as more governments sought to keep millions of citizens off the internet than in any other period over the last decade.
Internet Shutdowns, Africa, Censorship, Human Rights, Politics
289 points by adrian_mrd 74 days ago | 259 comments
Evidence that our ancestors lived in rainforests 150k years ago (sheffield.ac.uk)
The earliest evidence of humans living in tropical rainforests in Africa, around 150,000 years ago, has been published in a new study in Nature by researchers at the University of Sheffield.
Human Evolution, Archaeology, Africa, Rainforests, Science
38 points by gmays 85 days ago | 5 comments
Mystery illness has killed more than 50 people in Congo (pbs.org)
KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — An unknown illness first discovered in three children who ate a bat has rapidly killed more than 50 people in northwestern Congo over the past five weeks, health experts say.
Health, Disease, Congo, Africa
5 points by shill 87 days ago | 1 comments
Unknown illness kills over 50 in Congo with hours between symptoms and death (apnews.com)
An unknown illness has killed over 50 people in northwestern Congo, according to doctors on the ground and the World Health Organization on Monday.
Health, Disease, Congo, Africa
112 points by amichail 87 days ago | 52 comments
The lottery of the snakebite antivenom industry (theguardian.com)
Investigation reveals ineffective products being sold across Africa, with poor regulation and shortage of effective medication leading to needless deaths
Health, Africa, Regulation, Pharmaceuticals
77 points by n1b0m 99 days ago | 39 comments
Out of Africa: celebrating 100 years of human-origins research (nature.com)
A landmark study reporting the discovery of Australopithecus africanus one century ago put the African continent at the centre of the story of humanity.
Science, History, Archaeology, Africa, Human Origins
114 points by sohkamyung 106 days ago | 101 comments
Non-Western founders say DeepSeek proves innovation need not cost billions (restofworld.org)
Entrepreneurs in Asia and Africa believe DeepSeek is proof that frugality and innovation can go hand in hand.
Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Funding, Asia, Africa
22 points by devonnull 112 days ago | 2 comments
US spent millions on STD prevention in Gaza. But it was a province in Mozambique (middleeasteye.net)
On his second day in office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to suspend all of its foreign aid programmes to other countries, saying the previous administration of Joe Biden had allocated money to unnecessary assistance programmes.
Politics, International Relations, Foreign Aid, Middle East, Africa
14 points by Qem 113 days ago | 20 comments
Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing slave trade (2024) (nature.com)
Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analysis with reference to strontium isotope landscapes (Sr isoscapes) allows reconstructing mobility and migration in archaeology, ecology, and forensics.
Archaeology, Science, Africa, Slave Trade
29 points by benbreen 128 days ago | 13 comments
Matilda, the last survivor of the transatlantic slave trade (aljazeera.com)
January 13 marks 85 years since the death of Matilda, whose name at birth was Abake – meaning ‘born to be loved by all’ among the Tarkar people of Western Africa.
History, Slavery, Africa
49 points by dxs 131 days ago | 42 comments
Starlink is now cheaper than leading internet provider in some African countries (restofworld.org)
Starlink, launched in 2019 by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has become the leading satellite internet provider in the world.
Starlink, Satellite Internet, Africa, Internet Providers, Technology
260 points by impish9208 133 days ago | 220 comments
Ugandan runner due to arrive in London after 516 days, 7,700 miles on the road (theguardian.com)
A Ugandan athlete who arrives in London this weekend after running 7,730 miles (12,440km) from South Africa to raise awareness about racism has revealed he suffered repeated abuse on reaching Europe.
Running, Africa, Racism, Endurance, Human Interest
278 points by thunderbong 151 days ago | 165 comments
Africa will have some of the fastest-growing economies in 2025 (economist.com)
Several fast-growing economies show that not everyone is having a lost decade
Africa, Economy, Economic Growth, Forecasting, 2025
7 points by paulpauper 152 days ago | 0 comments
Mystery illness in Congo could be severe malaria, health officials say (nbcnews.com)
Health officials are narrowing in on the cause of dozens of unexplained deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that a severe form of malaria is likely responsible, based on lab tests so far.
Health, Disease, Africa, Malaria, Congo
4 points by ceejayoz 155 days ago | 0 comments
Health officials investigate mystery disease in southwest Congo after 143 deaths (apnews.com)
A flu-like disease that has killed dozens of people over two weeks is being investigated in southwestern Congo, local authorities said.
Health, Disease, Congo, Africa, Public Health
6 points by etiam 170 days ago | 0 comments
Cabo Verde's Potential for Innovation Through Drone Tech and Renewable Energy (santiago-martins.com)
Cabo Verde represents an intriguing case of potential national transformation. Situated off West Africa’s coast, this small archipelago confronts significant environmental challenges while simultaneously possessing remarkable strategic advantages.
Cabo Verde, Renewable Energy, Drones, Innovation, Africa
3 points by petrusnonius 171 days ago | 0 comments
Archaeologists reveal musical instruments shown in Zimbabwe's ancient rock art (phys.org)
A study published in Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa by archaeologists Dr. Joshua Kumbani and Prof. Margarita Díaz-Andreu explores the intriguing relationship between Zimbabwean rock art and musical instruments.
Archaeology, Music, Zimbabwe, Art, Africa
28 points by wglb 174 days ago | 1 comments
Prince Nico Mbarga’s biggest hit outsold any of The Beatles’ (2017) (narratively.com)
Twenty years ago the man who recorded one of the most successful songs of all time was thrown off a motorbike by a car in Calabar, Nigeria.
Music, Africa, History, Popular Culture
76 points by Geekette 182 days ago | 62 comments
The US Stablecoin Startup Fueling a $3B Boom in Africa (bloomberg.com)
Cryptocurrencies that track the dollar are becoming a popular workaround for companies stymied by currency shortages on the continent.
Cryptocurrencies, Africa, Finance, Startups, US
4 points by petethomas 184 days ago | 0 comments
Why are Indian and African wildlife so similar? (wanderingthru.com)
How and why is Indian and African wildlife so similar? This is a question that we as guides often get asked when guests are interested in exploring these two special places. This not only includes the large mammals, but birds and vegetation too.
Wildlife, India, Africa, Evolution, Biodiversity
6 points by rkwz 187 days ago | 3 comments