http://www.africafiles.org/ Original Articles on Important Current Themes in Sub-Saharan Africa from AfricaFiles.org en-ca Copyright 2012 AfricaFiles. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:34 EST 20 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26155 No one can deny the tremendous potential of Nigeria, with its very large population, great oil wealth and rich diversity. Yet, wracked by ethnic and religious conflict, rampant corruption, and ruthless competition for power, it has had a tumultuous history thus far, and has become one of the most challenging countries in Africa to govern. In this article, Ukoha Ukiwo provides real insight into the prospects for unity and equality under the Fourth Republic. Though created through a "forced marriage" almost 100 years ago, the partners that make up this great federation are still together after 50 years of independence. The potential is still there. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26155 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26100   Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26100 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26101 In 2011, Africa's largest country, the Republic of Sudan, was divided into two sovereign states—Sudan and South Sudan. This marks the first time since the colonial era that state partition as a resolution to deep-rooted conflict has been tried. Although the creation of South Sudan was achieved with overwhelming popular support in a referendum, it nevertheless sets a precedent, raising many questions regarding the new country's own future as well as that of other African states. With the benefit of recent, first-hand exposure, Wendy Gichuru here considers the challenges of ethnicity and governance in the new Republic of South Sudan. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=26101 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25431 Recent events in Cairo, Africa's largest city, have inspired people throughout the continent. In this first venture of the Ezine into North Africa, Timothy Gachanga of Kenya shows why the liberation struggle of people in Cairo matters. In fact, many of their aspirations and problems — poverty, hunger, gender injustice, poor transportation and housing, unemployment, corruption, unresponsive government and lack of freedom — are shared by Africans in other large urban centres, as seen in the earlier articles of this series. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25431 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25302 Kinshasa, la capitale de la République démocratique du Congo, est présentement la troisième plus grande ville d'Afrique et est en voie de devenir la plus grande ville. Pour plusieurs observateurs, cette situation se traduira nécessairement par plus de problèmes, incluant des logements inadéquats, des infrastructures désuètes et une pauvreté grandissante. L'auteur de cet article nous propose en fait une thèse différente. Tout en ne minimisant pas les défis réels et énormes que devra surmonter la mégalopole, Mik Missakabo présente Kinshasa comme un "espace d'action collective" riche et créatif et insiste sur son potentiel de devenir une "ville dans laquelle il fait bon vivre".       Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is currently the third largest city in Africa and is on course to become the largest. For many analysts, this necessarily means more problems, including inadequate housing, hopeless infrastructure and grinding poverty. The author of this article argues otherwise. While not ignoring the very real and enormous problems facing the megacity, Mik Missakabo reveals Kinshasa as a rich and dynamic "space for shared action" and highlights its potential to become "a city where one can live well." Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25302 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25115 Cape Town is often considered one of the most attractive cities in the world. But appearances can be deceptive, for within Cape Town there are a number of large slums, where many people live in unimaginable poverty and squalor. Munyaradzi Makoni reveals this jarring reality, especially highlighting the lack of infrastructure and social services in poor areas. In view of Cape Town's highly divided society, he questions its commitment to basic human dignity and equality and challenges authorities and people to build a better, common future. Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=25115 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24844 Many African nations are committed to the goal of providing decent housing for all, and many Africans view decent housing as a right. Within the context of rapid urbanisation and extreme poverty, however, the provision of adequate housing has proven particularly challenging. In this article, Teke Ngomba looks at two major African cities, Lagos and Johannesburg, and examines the gaps between policy and implementation, together with small successes and wrong-headed strategies, within the larger effort to realise "cities without slums." Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24844 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24650 Nairobi today is a city of over 3 million people, but roughly half of the rapidly growing population is thought to live in slums such as Kibera, Korogocho and Mathare, which cover only about 5 percent of the city's area. In this article, Timothy Gachanga looks at the problem of social disintegration in the slums, its causes and the obstacles it poses to the realization of values. He also suggests ways to effect better social integration, ways that include the participation of the slum residents themselves. Sat, 04 Dec 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24650 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24547 From Dakar to Cairo to Cape Town, Africa's large cities are in trouble. Wracked by a host of problems from a lack of clean water and sanitation to bad government and high unemployment, these cities are growing rapidly and major parts of them are turning into extremely poor, overcrowded and disease-ridden slums. In this editorial, which begins a new series in the Ezine , J-P Thompson gives an overview of the challenges facing Africa's major urban centres with a particular focus on housing, environmental and policy issues. Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24547 http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24397     Mon, 04 Oct 2010 00:00 EST http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=24397