Slums, Ebola, Boko Haram, Thomas Sankara, ICC - all under discussion in the first newsletter of 2015 View this email in your browser Africa at LSE Newsletter Scroll down for our latest posts In this first newsletter of 2015, we feature our recent series looking at the social development challenges facing a number of African countries. We also feature interesting perspectives on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as well as Boko Haram and Burkina Faso. Upcoming Events The LSE Department of Media and Communications warmly invites you to a screening and discussion of The Awra Amba Experience on Wednesday February 4th 2015 at  5.30-8.00 in Tower 1, TW1.G.01.   The Awra Amba Experience is an interactive documentary telling an inspiring and hopeful story about an Ethiopian village, that has dared to re-imagine and put into practise a new societal model. An online, cinematic experience allows audiences to explore the story through an immersive, 360° tour of the village, where they meet the community's inhabitants and learn about their way of life in short films, infographics and photo stories, as well as connect with the community through an online discussion platform. Please RSVP to Dr Shakuntala Banaji (s.banaji@lse.ac.uk) or Dr Wendy Willems (w.willems@lse.ac.uk).   Shifting African digital landscapes LSE Africa Talks Public Lecture Date: Tuesday 17 March 2015 Time:  6.30-8pm Venue: New Theatre, East Building Speaker: Dr Sean Jacobs, The New School Chair: Dr Wendy Willems, Department of Media and Communications, LSE Developments and changes to the online media sphere point to interesting possibilities for how Africans are engaging in the global public sphere. Whether via irreverent Youtube prank videos, blogs, Instagram, song remixes, or producing independent online media (such as the Nigerian-focused Sahara Reporters), among others, and addressing topics such as homosexuality, gender relations, economic relations, African subjects are taking their place more and more as audiences and agents, rather than as receivers of aid and information. Visit the Events page to see more of what is coming up this term. Recent Video/Audio Conor Gearty in Conversation with Chaloka Beyani Dr Beyani will talk about international human rights, working with the UN and his duties as Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons.  Chaloka Beyani is Associate Professor of International Law at LSE. Listen From Transformational Leadership to Mafia State? Observations from South Africa's Two Decades of Democracy Widely considered to be Africa's oldest liberation movement, the African National Congress (ANC) played a historic role in ending apartheid in South Africa and has been the country's ruling political party since 1994. More recently, however, the ANC's legacy has been tarnished by allegations of corruption and inefficiency. Dr Mzukisi Qobo will discuss his view that political governance in South Africa has collapsed, and explore the possibilities of the country's political future. Listen Follow us on twitter @AfricaAtLSE. What Clean Sewers Tell Us about Development in African Slums Development scholars advocate community mobilisation for effective home-grown solutions to local problems. In this post, Jeffrey Paller explores mitigating factors that determine how community leaders wield power to generate collective action.   Healthcare Needs of Older Slum Dwellers Deserve More Attention Despite carrying a high burden of disease, Gloria Langat points out that older people living in Nairobi's slums are being overlooked in public health programmes.   A Farewell to Africa Rising, and Other Grand Narratives on Africa LSE's Atta Addo discusses the impact of Ebola on the grand narrative on Africa.   Living with Ebola: Initiatives from Below LSE's Kate Meagher highlights a local initiative which is providing support to areas devastated by the Ebola virus.   Burkina Faso: Echoes of a Revolution Past Ernest Harsch discusses the enduring appeal and influence of the revered revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara.   Does Gender Sensitisation Work? The strategy of gender sensitisation encourages critical reflection on prevalent assumptions to mount a challenge to gender stereotypes. Can it undermine embedded beliefs? The success of gender sensitisation programmes in contexts such as Zambia is an urgent question, argues LSE's Alice Evans.   Industrialisation as a Driver of Sustained Economic Growth in Africa LSE's Michael Mbate looks at how industrialisation can foster Africa's development.   From Transformational Leadership To Mafia State? Observations From South Africa's Two Decades of Democracy LSE's Connor Vasey uses the recent LSE Ideas lecture delivered by Dr Mzukisi Qobo as a springboard to discuss ways in which South Africa's democracy exhibits features of a so-called "mafia state". Can Slum Tourism Reverse the Plight of Johannesburg's Marginalised Communities? As slum tourism takes off in inner city Johannesburg, Fabian Frenzel asks whether it is enough to break the cycle of advanced urban marginality.   Uganda: Waste(d) Infrastructures     LSE's Jonathan Silver explores the challenges facing mid-sized cities such as Uganda's third largest metropolis Mbale.   Africa: Paving a United Path from a Deadly Disease Olivier Bucyana calls for a collective, well-coordinated response by African governments and African regional institutions in the fight against Ebola.   Band Aid: Stop the stereotypes As the controversy continues over the stereotypes perpetuated by fundraising initiatives like Band Aid 30, David Coles highlights some commendable efforts that have been made to counteract stereotypes.   Long before Boko Haram, Dissenters were Driven to the Brink in Northern Nigeria As Boko Haram continues its deadly campaign in Nigeria, Shobana Shankar explores parallels between Boko Haram and other marginalised groups in the history of the northern part of the country.   The collapse of Uhuru Kenyatta's case could be a potential deathblow to the International Criminal Court As the ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda drops all charges against Kenya's leader, LSE's Fiona Mungai and Yusuf Kiranda argue that it is time for African countries to strengthen their judicial institutions.   Concern and Optimism as Nigeria Seeks to Galvanise its Educational System LSE's Connor Vasey explores some of the issues facing Nigeria and its girls with regard to their education and suggests that while there is cause for concern, there is room for optimism.   Film Review: We Were Rebels LSE's Cameron Demetre reviews the film We Were Rebels, which tells the story of a former child soldier who returns to South Sudan at independence to help rebuild his country. Copyright © 2015 London School of Economics & Political Science, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in on our website or you are an LSE academic or student working with an interest in Africa. Our mailing address is: London School of Economics & Political Science Houghton Street London, WC2A 2AE United Kingdom