New publications

Black Minds Matter tells the story of one of the most outspoken clerics of Africa, Emmanuel Milingo, who was Archbishop of Lusaka from 1969 to 1983. Milingo became widely known for his healing ministry, which was rooted in African spiritual ideas. This brought him into years of conflict with the dominant powers in the Catholic Church, and eventually led to his excommunication in 2006. Black Minds Matter was written by Gerrie ter Haar, emeritus Professor of Religion and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam.

The Annual Report for 2020 is out now! In addition to an excellent list of publications by our researchers, you will find other highlights such as the (pre-COVID-19) conference 'Africa: 60 years of independence', the honorary doctorate awarded to Prof. Lungisile Ntsebeza (UCT), and the prolific three-month online conference Africa Knows!

This paper by Prof. Jon Abbink offers a political analysis of the development of the TPLF-induced armed conflict in northern Ethiopia and considers the international responses in media and international policy circles. In spite of the unilateral TPLF extension of the armed conflict since late June 2021, the responses of international policy circles, notably from the Western donor countries and the UN, have been negative towards the federal government and mild on the TPLF.

Knowledge about religion and spirituality is essential in dealing with migrants of West African descent in the Netherlands who may be victims of human trafficking. This is the main conclusion of a study conducted by the Centre against Child and Human Trafficking (CKM), the African Studies Centre Leiden, and the University of Humanistic Studies. A culture-sensitive approach in which knowledge about religion and spirituality is included is a primary condition for communication with this target group. 

The authors of this article, published open access in Health Systems & Reform, use three years of household panel data to analyse the effects of ill-health on household economic outcomes in rural Ethiopia. They examine the immediate effects of various ill-health measures on health expenditure and labour supply, the subsequent coping responses, and finally the effect on income and consumption. The need for health financing reforms and safety nets that reduce the financial consequences of ill-health is underlined.