This week in education, forensic science, cultural studies, and heritage research, we highlight ten new open-access studies from African and global scholars.
📊 This week at a glance
🌍 African-led research
Ghanaian students assessed in English may be disadvantaged in demonstrating reading proficiency compared to assessment in their home language.
The study of 590 Junior High School students across three language groups in Ghana found that assessment language influences reading proficiency performance. This challenges the assumption that English-medium assessment is neutral and equitable. For African multilingual classrooms, it implies that assessment policies must consider learners’ linguistic backgrounds to ensure fair evaluation. The findings matter for policy discussions on language of instruction and assessment in postcolonial education systems.
Foot dimensions and bimalleolar breadth can accurately estimate sex in a Nigerian population, but population-specific standards are needed.
This cross-sectional study of a Nigerian university sample shows that foot measurements are useful for sex determination in forensic contexts, particularly when other body parts are unavailable. It changes the practice by emphasizing that global standards may not apply due to anthropometric variations. For African forensic science, it highlights the need for locally derived databases to improve identification in mass disasters. The preliminary nature of the study means further validation is required.
Transnational coproduction can preserve cultural specificity when writing and filming prioritize cultural equality, as seen in the Irish/New Zealand crime drama The Gone.
The case study of The Gone (TVNZ/RTÉ, 2023-24) demonstrates that ‘conspicuous localism’—foregrounding local culture—can be maximized in coproductions without sacrificing authenticity. This challenges the view that transnational collaborations dilute cultural identity. For African screen media, it suggests that coproductions can be a pathway to global reach while maintaining local narratives. The findings are relevant for policy supporting cultural industries and international partnerships.
Decolonization in North Africa during the 1960s and 1970s was not just political but also intellectual, as explored in Idriss Jebari’s book Leaping Decolonization.
The review highlights how Jebari’s work excavates the intellectual archive of decolonization, showing that colonial legacies persist through language, thought, and economy. It changes the understanding of decolonization as an ongoing process rather than a historical event. For African scholarship, it underscores the importance of engaging with postcolonial intellectuals like Said and Ngũgĩ to address contemporary challenges. The book provides a nuanced account of North Africa’s role in global decolonization movements.
Indigenous graphic narratives like Subhash Vyam’s Water use decolonial eco-testimonials to challenge Western storytelling formats and assert Indigenous relationships with nature.
The article analyzes how Water employs Indigenous art forms to create a visual-verbal testimonial that defies colonial representations. It changes the way we read graphic narratives by centering decolonial ecology and Indigenous epistemologies. For African scholars, it offers a model for decolonizing literary and visual studies through local art traditions. The work contributes to broader discussions on Indigenous sovereignty and environmental justice.
The biblical prophecy of Hosea remains relevant in Nigeria today because it addresses socio-political corruption and cultic instability similar to contemporary issues.
The article argues that Hosea’s critique of social ills—swearing, lying, murder, corruption—mirrors the challenges facing the Global South, particularly Nigeria. It changes the interpretation of Hosea from a historical text to a living prophetic voice for social justice. For African theology, it provides a framework for engaging sacred texts with pressing societal problems. The study underscores the role of religion in addressing moral and political crises.
🔬 Global breakthroughs
Pride and shame mediate the relationship between classroom environment and English learning engagement among Chinese EFL learners.
The study shows that achievement emotions like pride and shame play a key role in how classroom ecology affects engagement, even as AI and digital tools grow. It changes the focus from purely cognitive factors to emotional mediators in language learning. For educators globally, it implies that fostering positive emotions can enhance engagement. Although not African-focused, it offers insights for similar contexts in Africa where English is a foreign language.
Enjoyment significantly correlates with second/foreign language learning outcomes, according to a meta-analysis of 80 studies with over 43,000 participants.
The three-level meta-analysis confirms that enjoyment is a consistent positive predictor of language achievement, updating previous syntheses. It changes the field by providing robust evidence for the role of positive emotions in language acquisition. For African language classrooms, it suggests that promoting enjoyment can improve learning, especially in resource-constrained settings. The findings are generalizable but context-specific applications need further research.
User perceptions of industrial heritage parks in Changsha, China, vary by park type, affecting post-occupancy evaluation and renewal outcomes.
The comparative study of three parks reveals differences in how users experience heritage conservation and public use. It changes the approach to industrial heritage by emphasizing user feedback in post-occupancy evaluations. For African heritage management, it highlights the need to consider local user perceptions in renewal projects. The methodology can be adapted to assess heritage sites in African cities.
The Pearling Path in Al Muharraq, Bahrain, exhibits ‘brutalification’ of heritage through simulacra that lack authentic referents, challenging heritage authenticity.
The study introduces the concept of ‘brutalification’ to describe how imitations in architectural heritage can undermine intangible traditions. It changes heritage discourse by questioning the authenticity of simulacra in representing culture. For African heritage sites, it warns against commodification that erases original meaning. The findings are relevant for tourism and cultural change policies.
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