Hacker News with Generative AI: Africa

Remembering 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, Obituary

49 points by dxs 6 days ago | 40 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

258 points by impish9208 8 days ago | 218 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 26 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 27 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 30 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 45 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 45 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 48 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 57 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 58 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 62 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 68 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 73 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 79 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 82 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 84 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 92 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 93 days ago | 0 comments

19th century lions preyed on humans and giraffes (phys.org)
In 1898, two male lions terrorized an encampment of bridge builders on the Tsavo River in Kenya.

Wildlife, History, Africa, Lions

51 points by wglb 98 days ago | 71 comments

Dramatic images show the first floods in the Sahara in half a century (theguardian.com)
Dramatic pictures have emerged of the first floods in the Sahara in half a century.

Climate Change, Weather, Africa, Sahara Desert

8 points by prmph 99 days ago | 0 comments

Africans recruited to work in Russia say they were duped into building drones (apnews.com)
Africans recruited to work in Russia say they were duped into building drones for use in Ukraine

Russia, Ukraine, Labor Exploitation, Africa, War

8 points by paulcarroty 100 days ago | 0 comments

An unusual shift in the weather has turned the Sahara green (cnn.com)

Weather, Climate Change, Africa, Sahara Desert

6 points by thunderbong 100 days ago | 1 comments

Rwanda to receive experimental vaccines to combat Marburg outbreak (statnews.com)
Experimental vaccines and therapeutics to combat the deadly Marburg virus will begin arriving this weekend in Rwanda, where they will be used in clinical trials expected to begin soon, a U.S. government official confirmed on Friday.

Vaccines, Public Health, Africa, Viral Outbreaks, Clinical Trials

4 points by geox 105 days ago | 0 comments

Oldest DNA discovered in South Africa rewrites human history (studyfinds.org)
In a discovery that challenges our understanding of human history, scientists have successfully decoded the oldest DNA ever found in South Africa.

Genetics, History, Africa, Archaeology, Science

6 points by Brajeshwar 118 days ago | 0 comments

A $90B world bank plan to electrify Africa has started (bloomberg.com)
A plan to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, backed by an initial pledge of $30 billion from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, has begun to be implemented with an assessment of the first potential beneficiaries.

Africa, Development, World Bank, Energy, Infrastructure

25 points by Capstanlqc 120 days ago | 13 comments

Mpox: Sweden confirms first case of 'more grave' variant outside Africa (theguardian.com)

Mpox, Sweden, Health, Variant, Africa

43 points by tosh 155 days ago | 32 comments

TikTok cuts jobs in Africa as part of global layoffs (techcabal.com)

Social Media, Layoffs, Africa, Business

6 points by laurex 158 days ago | 0 comments

Africa CDC to Declare First-Ever Continental Health Emergency as Mpox Surges (healthpolicy-watch.news)

Africa, Public Health, Health Emergencies, Mpox (Monkeypox)

15 points by bookofjoe 162 days ago | 8 comments

Namibia turns the visa tables on Western nations (bbc.com)

Namibia, International Relations, Immigration, Politics, Africa

34 points by andsoitis 177 days ago | 40 comments

Elon Musk's Starlink struggles with regulations in Africa (semafor.com)

Space Exploration, Regulation, Africa, Elon Musk, Starlink

6 points by rustoo 180 days ago | 2 comments