The Cultural Review

Africa

2 articles

African civil society representatives collaborating at UNESCO's Africa Week 2026, emphasizing their crucial role in continental peacebuilding efforts.
Culture

UNESCO NGO Forum Africa Week 2026 Highlights Civil Society's Peace Role

For the first time in its history, UNESCO's Africa Week 2026 opened its doors to the NGO Forum, directly integrating civil society into its high-level peace agenda.

Eleanor Voss·May 29, 2026
An evocative image of an extended African family in a village setting, illustrating the rich social fabric and communal bonds that underpin traditional marital institutions like polygamy.
Culture

Why Polygamy Persists in Africa: Traditional Functions, Documented Costs, and a Legal Landscape in Tension

Polygamy persists in Sub-Saharan Africa due to its deep-rooted traditional functions in social organization, economics, and lineage, while also presenting documented costs such as reduced women's autonomy and resource strain. The practice navigates a complex tension between customary arrangements and modern legal commitments to gender equality.

Eleanor Voss·March 31, 2026