Gery Karantzas, Deakin University If you listen to any number of love songs, dating “experts”, or plunge head first into a romance novel, you’re likely to think it’s in our destiny to find that special someone – your soul-mate. But how do you know if you’ve found “the one”? Will the birds sing? Will you see fireworks or a shooting star? And for those who are yet to find “the one”, should you keep searching, or is it a misguided quest? Research into the science of relationships spanning the last two decades shows maintaining a “destiny” mindset – that we…
Author: Pride Team
Born and raised in a small town in Massachusetts, New England, the award-winning, Nigerian-American actress, Uzoamaka Aduba is our Woman Crush Wednesday. Popularly known as the queer character, Suzanne “crazy eyes” on the Netflix series, Orange Is The New Black, Uzo has sculpted herself into a role model for young African girls. Our first crush off-screen stemmed from a video with The Improper Bostonian. In the video, Uzo could be seen addressing young girls on her experience growing up. It was a funny, yet an insightful story of her resolve to embrace her very traditional name after her mother wisely…
Daniel Ogunniyi, University of Nottingham It is 30 years since countries across the world adopted the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child . Yet, to date, the terms it sets out to protect children remain far from reality in many countries. This is true in Nigeria too, even though its federal government ratified the convention in 1991. After years of complex negotiations, Nigeria passed a new law – the Child Rights Act – 16 years ago. The law was designed to bring the country into line with the provisions of the convention. The act deals with a range…
Libby Sander, Bond University Surveys of the key skills employers seek in graduates continue to place so-called “soft skills” – like verbal and written communication skills, the ability to work collaboratively in teams and to influence others – in the top ten. But a 2016 report found that other skills – such as critical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail, and writing – top the list of missing skills among job-seekers. These skills are rated as being important across all jobs and industries. And employees not having these skills costs businesses thousands of dollars per year. In the first major review…
Victor Odundo Owuor, University of Colorado Boulder When one talks about young Africans using smartphones, the dominant narrative is that these gadgets serve mostly as platforms for connection so that users can communicate and share greetings and information via text and images. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and Signal take pride of place in that description, despite their murkier side. What has perhaps been overlooked is how smartphones are also affecting other facets of young people’s lives. One area is the ever-growing community of sports betting in Africa. The phenomenon of sports betting among African youths has taken the region by…
You come when I lay asleep My body thoroughly beaten by day Flesh subdued by the sun, no strength You come when my eyes cannot see. It is often that you come Never when I lay awake. Mother told of your betrothal At my very birth to you With the waters of Okija our covenant. You come when I lay asleep Never when my eyes are open Your face you pleasurably hide, Yet your voice is revealed Your touch a lesson learned Your presence, a shiver. Father fears your anger, your wrath For the whip he used…
Reading 1 2 Mc 6:18-31 Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as people ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him,…
Holy Humour Catastrophic The Weary Evangelist Knocked On Another Door, Fully Expecting To Have It Slammed In His Face. Sure Enough, The Older Woman Who Answered Angrily Demanded That He Leave Once She Figured Out Why He Was There And Slammed The Door. The Door, However, Bounced Back Open, And The Woman Shouted, “Get Your Foot Out Of My Door!” “But Ma’am…” The Evangelist Began, When The Woman Again Slammed The Door In His Face. Once Again It Bounced Back Open. “I Said Get Your Foot Out Of My Door!” The Woman Yelled Again. One More Time She Slammed The…
Madhukar Pai, McGill University The field of global health has evolved from colonial and military medicine, tropical medicine and international health. While it is evolving for the better, research shows that global health is still struggling to shake off its colonial past. Equity is at the heart of global health. And yet, research studies show that global health researchers, funders and journals are not walking the talk on equity, diversity and inclusion. Global health research is driven by funders and agencies that are dominated by experts from the Global North. A survey of 198 global health organisations showed that nearly…
Alex Ezeh, Drexel University and Garumma Tolu Feyissa, Drexel University Population growth rates continue to pose lingering challenges to development efforts on the continent. The population of Africa is expected to roughly double by 2050. This will add 1.2 billion people to Africa’s 2019 population of 1.3 billion people. What’s driving population growth on the continent, and what can be done to slow the trend, is one of the subjects that will be addressed this week at the 8th African Population Conference in Entebbe in Uganda. A focus of the debate will be the role of behavioural nudges – interventions…