Higher Education Today posted about a month ago a 29-minute podcast titled "Culture and History of Somaliland" hosted by Steven Roy Goodman with Jama Musa Jama, Hargeisa Cultural Centre, and Lee Cassanelli, professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania.
This is a positive account filmed in Hargeisa of Somaliland's history and culture, interspersed with video clips of the country.
Ethiopia Insight published on 3 March 2026 a commentary titled "Tigray and Eritrea Must Cooperate to Survive" by Negasi Awetehey, University of Aksum.
The author argues that successive governments in Addis Ababa view relations between Eritrea and Tigray with suspicion and find it in their interest to keep old wounds active. He calls for dialogue between Tigrayans and Eritreans, adding that Tigray and Eritrea must challenge war narratives by amplifying the public's desire for peace, rehabilitation, and economic cooperation.
Ethiopia Insight published on 2 March 2026 a commentary titled "The Welkait Quagmire Neither Bullets nor Ballets Can Resolve" by Zola Moges, PhD in international law.
Welkait is a district that has been part of Western Tigray since the Tigray People's Liberation Front annexed it following the demise in 1991 of the Derg regime. Prior to that, Welkait was part of Amhara Region.
Welkait's strategic location at the intersection of Ethiopia's borders with Sudan and Eritrea complicates the ability to find a solution that manages to overcome long-standing ethnic, language, and cultural differences.
The author suggests as a solution creation of a self-administered territory that might take the form of a special autonomous zone or even an additional regional state with bilingual Amharic and Tigrinya administration.
The Africa-China Centre for Policy & Advisory, an Accra-based think tank, published in January 2026 a paper titled "Why People Matter: Reimagining the Future of Africa-China Cooperation" by Paul Frimpong.
The Africa-China connection needs to shift from a primarily state-to-state model toward a society-to-society approach. Governments remain essential, but durable cooperation is built when universities, collaborate, journalists exchange perspectives, businesses form partnerships, and communities interact directly.
A second shift is from delivery-focused engagement to experience and impact-focused cooperation. Success should be measured not only by outputs--kilometers of road or megawatts of power--but by outcomes such as skills development, technology absorption, and local enterprise growth.
The third shift is from delivery exposure to mutual learning. People-to-people exchanges are most effective when they are reciprocal, allowing Africans and Chinese alike to learn, adapt, and innovate together. This mutuality strengthens trust and reinforces the principle of partnership.
The South China Morning Post published on 18 January 2026 an article titled "How China Is Stepping Up Africa China Offensive to Boost Cultural Ties, Deepen Influence" by Jevans Nyabiage.
China began 2026 by emphasizing its people-to-people and soft power interaction in Africa. This was one of the features of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Lesotho.
Ethiopia Insight published on 5 January 2026 a commentary titled "Cultural Roots of Ethiopia's Political Failure" by Nagessa Dube, a lawyer in Seattle, Washington.
The author argues that Ethiopia's long-standing governance problems stem from deep cultural patterns: silence, secrecy, conformity, authoritarian reflexes, and unquestioned group loyalty. Foreign analysts often misunderstand Ethiopian politics because they overlook these cultural dynamics.
China Africa News published on 1 January 2026 an article titled "What's at Stake in 2026 for AU-China Cooperation?" by Cremilda Macuacua.
People-to-people exchanges, and training programs will highlight China-Africa relations in 2026. There will be a focus on health care, food security, rural development, and expanded trade.
Ethiopia Insight published on 12 November 2025 a commentary titled "Diagnosing Delusion in Ethiopia's Political Discourse" by Daniel Hailu, multidisciplinary researcher.
Cognitive rigidity seems to be a fixture of Ethiopian culture. Is this what makes compromise so difficult in Ethiopia?
Deutsche Welle published on 28 September 2025 an article titled "How China Promotes Its Language and Culture in Africa" by Martina Schwikowski.
China's Confucius Institutes offer courses on Chinese culture and Mandarin language in 49 African countries. There is some concern, however, that this instruction comes with an effort to propagate Chinese political values.
Ethiopia Insight published on 1 October 2025 a commentary titled "The Grammar of Aggression: Ethiopia's Culture of Confrontation" by Daniel Hailu, a multidisciplinary researcher.
The author argues that aggression and confrontation are a major feature of Ethiopian society. These characteristics eclipse behaviors such as cooperation, mediation, and restraint. As a result, force governs Ethiopian society.
The author concludes that "only by addressing the emotional, psychological, and cultural underpinnings of aggression can Ethiopia create the conditions for lasting social cohesion."
Ethiopia Insight published on 7 July 2025 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Vanishing Heritage: The Crisis in Archaeology and Cultural Preservation" by Negasi Awetehey, former head of the Department of Archaeology and Heritage Management at Aksum University.
Ethiopia's extensive archaeological heritage crumbles daily while the experts trained in Ethiopian universities who could save it are jobless or stuck in roles that ignore their training.
The Heritage Institute for Policy Studies published in June 2025 a document titled "Somalia's Post-Conflict Experience: Political Rifts, Security Challenges, and Social Crises."
It contains 6 conference papers by different authors from the December 2022 Annual Forum for Ideas held in Djibouti and hosted by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies. The first section examines governance crises, security threats, political divisions and three key types of conflict that continue to shape the political and social realities of post-civil war Somalia. The second section presents viable solutions aimed at fostering reconciliation and social cohesion.
A key lesson to be drawn from this analysis is that the interplay between governance disputes, militant insurgencies, and social intolerance among the people demonstrates the complexity of Somalia's challenges.
Ethiopia Insight published on 23 April 2025 a commentary titled "Blood and Honor Culture Holds Us Back" by Negassa Dube, a lawyer in Seattle, Washington and advocate for Oromo rights.
Ethiopia has been entangled in a recurring cycle of war and conflict. The author argues that Ethiopia's deeply rooted warrior culture perpetuates this cycle. Ethiopian children are immersed in narratives that glorify warriors as national heroes. Ethiopian media reinforce this narrative.
Acknowledging the problem is the first step toward meaningful change. While the warrior ethos has preserved sovereignty against colonial powers and oppression, it is now perpetuating a cycle of conflict.
The East Asian Studies Center at Ohio State University in Columbus is hosting on 15 November 2024 a half day symposium titled "New Perspectives on China and Africa." You can attend in person or join by Zoom.
Speakers will present on the following topics:
David Shinn - China-Africa Security Engagement Since COVID-19
Jyhong Hwang - Built Higher, Dug Deeper: The Effect of Chinese Debt Financing on African Infrastructure Coverage
Phiwokuhle Mnyandu - The Evolution of Chinese Soft Power in Africa: Implications for Technology, African Languages and Cultures in Africa and the Diaspora
Asma Amita Belem - China in Africa, Environmental Governance and Civil Society: The Case of the Kua Forest in Burkina Faso
Joshua Eisenman - China's Relational Power in Africa: Beijing's 'New Type of Party-to-Party Relations'
The Stuttgart-based Institut fur Auslandsbeziehungen published in 2023 a major study titled "China's Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa: Cultural Investments, Perceptions and Implications for China-Africa Cultural Relations" by Avril Joffe.
This study, which is available online, provides insight into Chinese international cultural policy. There is a special focus on South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. There are sections on China's strategy in Africa, Chinese investments in cultural infrastructure, media, film, music, Confucius Institutes, libraries, studying in China, and perceptions of China in Africa.
Ethiopia Insight published on 7 December 2023 a commentary titled "Hararis in Harar Are Being Erased and Dispossessed" by Abdullah Sherif, a leader of the Harari community in Toronto.
The author argues that Oromo extremism poses an existential threat to Hararis in Harar. Given their small numbers (well under one percent of Ethiopia's population), constant intimidation, and abandonment by the central government, Hararis in Harar are suffering in silence. Harari culture is being appropriated, its land and property stolen, and politics undermined.
The Institut fur Auslandsbeziehungen published in 2023 a lengthy study titled "China's Institutionalised Cultural Presence in Africa: Cultural Investments, Perceptions and Implications for China-Africa Cultural Relations" by Avril Joffe.
The author conducted interviews with 31 artists, cultural professionals, academics, government officials, media houses, and non-governmental organizations in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.
The study's findings highlight the complexity of Chinese engagement in Africa and the various facets of its associated impacts. The author suggests that African actors should ensure that a more equitable engagement develops, where conditions are determined by local needs and culture, and more aggressively advocate for equality, needs, and respect for national sovereignty. The presence of China in Africa is largely driven by China rather than African governments.
The Africa Report published on 31 July 2023 a commentary titled "10 Reasons Why Putin's Africa Forum Flopped" by Ghanaian Bright Simons.
The author argues the Russia-Africa Summit flopped because Moscow failed to address substantial deficiencies in its offering to Africa. More specifically:
1. Unequal trade is getting worse.
2. Russia has few real trade partners.
3. There is little technology transfer.
4. African students in Russia play a limited role in advancing Moscow's image.
5. Russia lacks the capacity to follow through.
6. The summit failed to deal with priority issues such as climate change.
7. Russia ignored African civil society.
8. The event lacked any serious African cultural expression.
9. Most large African companies failed to participate.
10. There was no engagement with African entrepreneurs and startups.
The Madrid-based Elcano Royal Institute published on 30 June 2023 an analysis titled "China in the Maghreb: Engagement, Perceptions and Prospects" by Tin Hinane El Kadi, London School of Economics and Political Science.
Since the beginning of this century China has significantly increased its economic and political engagement in the Maghreb, although there are unequal trade patterns and investment remains minimal. Nevertheless, China provides an opportunity for the Maghreb to expand and modernize its domestic infrastructure, while reducing its reliance on the West.
Aljazeera posted on 13 July 2023 an article titled "Iran Signs Agreements with Zimbabwe as Raisi Wraps Up Africa Tour" and a 30 minute video with commentary by Ngala Chome, Sahan Research in Kenya, Ali Akbar Dareini, Center for Strategic Studies in Tehran, and Eric Lob, Florida International University.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi just completed a visit to Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, the first Iranian presidential visit to Africa since 2013. Raisi signed numerous agreements with each country. The goal of the tour was to revive Iran's relations with African countries and to help mitigate the impact of Western sanctions.
