The subject of this article is the application of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) to Africa's cultural economy, and its implications for development. Drawing on extensive research, including field work in Africa and interviews with key people in the field, the study explores the concept,...

In June 2005, the major industrialized nations of the world, the G-8, agreed on a plan to relieve the debt of the worlds poorest and most indebted nations. Many of the nations which qualified for debt relief under this initiative were in Africa. The plan, supported by the World Bank,...

Creative work has enhanced human development since early times; similarly, the latter can expand the former. But the links are not automatic. Creative work can be rife with exploitation and gender bias. Writers can advance human welfare, yet illiterate people may not benefit. To expand the...

The music world has had its share of Internet-led shake-ups. Digital piracy and the advertisement rules of platforms like YouTube are major concerns. But there are also opportunities: online marketing, arts education, cultural awareness, and nation branding are particularly notable. How can...

The focus of the last two decades (1994–2015) on the world’s Indigenous peoples has highlighted a number of critical issues that are central to Indigenous empowerment and resurgence in the quest for decolonization. The key issues include Indigenous peoples’ full and effective participation...

This review essay critically interrogates the discourse and practice of development. It is argued that models of alternative development remain imprisoned in the ontological categories of the development project, an ideological and institutional devise to consolidate the hegemony of the West...

Sierra Leone’s long term development aspirations and plans are defined in the country's third, 2013-2017, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) better known as the “Agenda for Prosperity”. This piece attempts to reconcile such aspirations with quantifiable, welfare-related indicators in...

This paper examines the resources available for Burundi's economic development from both the quantity and quality perspectives. Examining how much Burundi has for development leads to the conclusion that it is not enough. When examining the quality of the resources available, it is possible to...