I often see criticism of terms like “Third World,” “Sub-Saharan Africa,” and “Global South”, but not as much explanation of why they’re problematic. Let’s explore how these labels impact the way we view the world:🧵 2/ “Third World” was a Cold War term used to describe nations not aligned with NATO or the Soviet bloc. Today, it’s seen as derogatory, implying that these nations are inherently “less than,” reinforcing outdated hierarchies.

🧵 China’s DeepSeek just launched a game-changing AI breakthrough that’s turning the tech world on its head. I spent some time trying to understand it from a layman’s perspective. Here’s what this development could mean for those in Africa (using the hypothetical example of a young creative in Uganda). 2/ Meet Miriam, a young artist from Kampala. She dreams of sharing her vibrant art inspired by Ugandan culture with the world. But there’s a problem: her art is confined to small local galleries. Miriam promotes her work to a few thousand followers on social media, but she doesn’t have access to the high-end tools or expensive software that artists in other parts of the world use to scale their work. Could Deep Seek change all that for her?

Did you know that nearly half of all diamonds on engagement rings are now grown in labs? As synthetic diamonds become more common, traditional diamond markets—like Botswana’s—are facing a major disruption. Here’s what that means: 2/ Botswana is the world’s second-largest diamond producer, responsible for about 20% of global diamond output (Russia is first). Diamonds contribute to around 25% of its GDP and 80% of exports. But with prices dropping and synthetic diamonds on the rise, this dependence is becoming risky. (Source: )shorturl.at/9fwQl

A recent report by the World Bank says South Africa is the world’s most unequal country, where 10% of the population owns 80% of the wealth. These photos by Johnny Miller highlight the architecture of separation and inequality. The report (Published March 2022): documents.worldbank.org/en/publication…

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, got his US visa 24 hrs before the race of his life. A flight from Kenya to Oregon is 18+ hrs. He has 3hrs after landing to clear customs, get to the arena, pick accreditation, warm up, then compete with the other (well-rested) athletes. The drama some athletes have faced getting to the World Athletics Championships in the US highlights the visa problems faced by Africans especially. The crazy thing is, Africans donate millions to rich countries every year through high visa fees (which aren’t even reciprocal)

Zimbabwe’s parliament just got a new home and it’s a gift from Beijing; China built the US$160 million complex. It’s just one of many jewels in China’s ‘palace diplomacy’ crown in Africa, there are reported to be more than 180 such projects. Here are some others:🧵 In 2003, China committed US$18 million for a new parliament building in Guinea-Bissau. It was completed two years later, but reports stated that the actual cost of the building was only US$6 million.
China had already built the country’s national stadium and a government palace.

How many of us were ever taught that the modern-day “cesarean section” surgical procedure was practiced in Africa as early as the 13th century, long before the arrival of European doctors? #AfricaDay2020 In 1879, Scottish medical anthropologist Robert W. Felkin witnessed a cesarean section performed by a Ugandan surgeon on a young woman in the Bunyoro kingdom. The patient recovered well, and Felkin concluded the technique was well-developed and had existed for a long time.