Hacker News with Generative AI: Africa

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
44 points by pseudolus 9 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 14 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 19 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 24 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 34 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 37 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 37 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 49 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 56 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 61 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 62 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 78 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 81 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 83 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 101 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 102 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 105 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 120 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 121 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 123 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 132 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 133 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 137 days ago | 3 comments
How dangerous is Africa's explosive Lake Kivu? (nature.com)
An unusual lake in central Africa could one day release a vast cloud of greenhouse gases that suffocates millions of people. But it’s not clear whether the threat is getting worse.
Africa, Environment, Climate Change, Natural Disasters
6 points by dest 143 days ago | 0 comments
Civilian support for military coups isn't a bug – it's a feature (theconversation.com)
In September 2024, authorities in Benin detained the country’s former sports minister and a prominent businessman for allegedly plotting a coup against the West African nation’s president, Patrice Talon. Had a putsch materialized, Benin would have joined a growing list of African countries to have experienced a military coup over the past four years.
Politics, Africa, Military, Coup d'état
8 points by PaulHoule 148 days ago | 2 comments
U.S. military makes first confirmed OpenAI purchase for war-fighting forces (theintercept.com)
Less than a year after OpenAI quietly signaled it wanted to do business with the Pentagon, a procurement document obtained by The Intercept shows U.S. Africa Command, or AFRICOM, believes access to OpenAI’s technology is “essential” for its mission.
Military, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, U.S. Government, Africa
52 points by kawera 155 days ago | 27 comments
Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman Wants US Tech to Take on China in Africa (bloomberg.com)
As ambassador to Kenya, the former eBay and HP CEO has made a priority of counterbalancing Chinese influence on the continent.
Africa, Technology, International Relations, Business, China
4 points by elsewhen 157 days ago | 0 comments
Akon's Cryptocurrency City in Senegal Has Evaporated (foreignpolicy.com)
American R&B singer Aliaune Thiam, professionally known as Akon, has long wanted to help Senegal, the country he grew up in. He started Akon Lighting Africa in 2014 to install cheap Chinese solar-powered lighting systems across the continent. He hoped to do something more significant for Senegal. But how to fund it?
Cryptocurrency, Senegal, Africa, Music, Development
33 points by teractiveodular 159 days ago | 20 comments
Negative stereotypes in international media cost Africa £3.2B a year – report (theguardian.com)
Africa loses up to £3.2bn yearly in inflated interest payments on sovereign debt due to persistent negative stereotypes that dominate international media coverage of the continent, according to a new report.
Africa, Media, Economics, Stereotypes
6 points by adrian_mrd 168 days ago | 2 comments
The models who found their likenesses had been used in AI propaganda (theguardian.com)
The well-groomed young man dressed in a crisp, blue shirt speaking with a soft American accent seems an unlikely supporter of the junta leader of the west African state of Burkina Faso.
AI, Propaganda, Social Media, Ethics, Africa
6 points by robaato 168 days ago | 0 comments