This article originally appeared on 28 Mar 2012 in The Daily Maverick. Some of the most successful tales in recent years have been of imaginary worlds. From Star Wars through Harry Potter, The Matrix and now The Hunger Games, these “alternative” worlds have been phenomenal in every sense of the word. Maybe a re-imagined alternative world is what keeps ordinary Zimbabweans […]
Zimbabweans Re-imagine their Dreams Read More »
Justice must be done for the sake of our society, for healing the memory of our terrible past and, most importantly, to bring some closure to the families of the victims.
The Truth About the Cradock Four, and Who Ordered the Murders, Matters Read More »
In memory of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and those who have opened new connections between us and all sentient beings.
The Haunting Beauty of Gorillas Read More »
It was in Hemingway’s book about the Spanish Civil War, For Whom the Bell Tolls, that I found something so true about humanity that it helped me make sense of what I had witnessed in covering wars on our continent and beyond — war is a monstrosity.
Hemingway’s genius lay in showing us the truth of our human fragility Read More »
I shall never forget the haunting voices in Boipatong that day, calling out ‘Rooikop! Rooikop!’ — trying desperately to bear some witness to what had happened and to who they believed was responsible.
Roughly the size of New Jersey, Eswatini — formerly known as Swaziland — is governed by a monarch who has absolute power. On Wednesday, officials said that five deportees from the US were being held in isolated units in its jails, acknowledging “widespread concern” but insisting the deported men “pose no threat to the country or its citizens.”
In Afghanistan, I was thrown into a world beyond my emotional understanding, writing, filming and taking one step after another. I was trying to comprehend this strange world of constant battle on the front lines, and to understand the men who lived in the midst of it.
A Lot of Marines Join Up Bcause They Want To Know What Its Like to Kill Somebody Read More »
Crocodiles are one of the oldest surviving species on earth. Their presence is recorded in the works of Herodotus, Shakespeare and many other classical writers. They have been part of Africa and African mythology since ancient times, but years ago crocodiles were mysteriously dying off in the rivers of South Africa’s Northern provinces in the area around the Kruger Park. Some 120 carcasses were found and scientists were studying what is happening to the animals. Many believe that the deaths of the crocodiles are linked to climate change.
The Meaning and Mystery of Crocodiles Read More »
In the years that I have been working and travelling as a journalist on this continent, some of my most memorable experiences have been on aeroplanes. For me, that precise moment when the wheels lift off the ground is always a thrilling experience. As you hang in the sky in that first ethereal split second, time itself seems to be suspended, holding you in the thrall of the promise of the destination that lies ahead. But sometimes, the flight itself is as much of an adventure as the place you are going to.
Wild Flights and Hard Landings over Africa Read More »
I can proudly say I have covered Africa from south to north – from lovely Cape Town to fascinating Algiers…
The Many Faces of Algiers Read More »