Two African ladies chat animatedly in this morning bus.“How is wak, by the way?”The word “work” in standard English would be pronounced “werek”- but here, it is WAK.“Wak is fine, Agnes. How is your gal doing?” Again, instead of “gayl” it is GAL.“She is doing well, thanks God. How are the boys?”You instinctively, recognise East…

For over 50 years I have been in higher education as professor and researcher and all this time I ask myself: What do we want to see in a university or college graduate? What kind of person should she or he be? As I ponder on these questions, several quotations of some prominent people come…

Q.1: For two years, every typhoid test I take comes back positive. I have seen many doctors and taken many courses of antibiotics -yet the test never clears. What is going on? A.1: The culprit is almost certainly the Widal test, one of the most overused and misunderstood tests in East Africa. This test detects…

In Tanzania, teaming up in business can be done through a partnership or a joint venture (JV) — think of it as deciding between marrying your business partner for the long term or simply collaborating on a single project. A partnership, governed by the Partnership Act, is a long-term arrangement in which partners share profits…

I pride myself on being a well-rounded, emotionally balanced, objective individual who has long accepted fair criticism of Mwalimu Nyerere’s leadership without feeling compelled to defend him. That position shifted after I encountered a social media comment blaming Mwalimu for xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Attributing the worst forms of parochial behaviour to someone who…

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and powerful ways to give a child a healthy start in life. It provides not only complete nutrition, but also protection against illness, emotional bonding, and long-term health benefits for both the baby and the mother. Despite this, many mothers face challenges or receive mixed messages about its…

For many years, education has focused primarily on academic achievement — grades, rankings and examination results. While these remain important, there is another area that deserves equal attention: Mental health. Today’s learners face pressures beyond the classroom, including peer influence, family expectations, social media and uncertainty about the future. Yet, conversations around mental health remain…

In the 1970s and 80s, one of the most feted scholars in the mother continent was, obviously, none other than the globetrotting Prof. Ali Mazrui. The Mombasa born scholar could be seen lecturing in some of the most prestigious universities and scholarly institutions in the US, UK, Europe and Africa. Notwithstanding, he never missed a…

Ghana and Mozambique have announced their decisions to pull out of the London Africa Energies Summit in mid-May, protesting discrimination and marginalisation in the hiring, planning and shaping the narrative on Africa’s energy future. Also, the two countries want discussion about Africa’s resources held in Africa and not in foreign capitals. The pushback represents a…

As fuel prices continue to climb in the country and across the world, many families are feeling the strain. Transport costs are increasing, daily budgets are tightening and frustration is understandable. Yet within this challenge lies an unexpected opportunity—one that can improve both our personal health and the health of our environment. One practical step…