February 23, 2026
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February 16, 2026
Featured Article

Between Memory and Disappearance: Facial Scarification and Lip Tattooing in Sudan

By Wisal Bakheet

This essay explores the traditional Sudanese beauty practices of shulukh (facial scarification) and dagg al-shaloufa (lip tattooing) as markers of identity, beauty, and tribal belonging. Tracing their historical roots and symbolic meanings, it examines their social and gender dimensions and documents their gradual decline due to education, urbanization, globalization, and health concerns.

Featured Article

Beyond Shakahola: Traditional Medicine, Faith Healing, and Public Health in East Africa

By Teryani Mwadzaya

In Kenya, where millions rely on traditional medicine for primary care, the Shakahola Forest massacre, over 400 deaths under extremist religious teachings, has exposed the dangers of unregulated practices. Newly discovered graves in Kwa Binzaro have reignited trauma, highlighting gaps in accountability, community support, and oversight.

Featured Article

War and Hate Speech: the Weaponization of Language

By Albashir Dahab

This article examines hate speech in Sudan as a historically rooted phenomenon shaped by colonial legacies, state policies, cultural practices, and political manipulation. It shows how hate speech evolved from implicit social hierarchies into a central weapon in contemporary conflict, especially after April 2023, fueling violence, social fragmentation, and institutional collapse. The paper also highlights Sudanese cultural and civic resources that can counter hate speech and support peacebuilding if strategically activated.

Featured Article

Kenyan Gen Z Women Lead a New Era of Tech-Driven Activism

By Grace Kerongo

This article examines how Kenya’s Gen Z–led tech activism has challenged state surveillance, repression, and restrictive cyber laws, highlighting how coders. especially women, use digital tools to defend democracy, amplify civic participation, and resist tech-enabled authoritarianism.