Parliament has mourned the passing of Hon. Rhoda Nsibirwa Kalema, a trailblazer in Uganda’s political history and a champion of women’s rights, who passed away on 3 August 2025.
She was 96.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, while opening the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 5 August 2025 described Kalema as “a remarkable leader whose legacy will live after her demise.”
Hon. Rhoda Nsibirwa Kalema was one of the first two female members of the National Consultative Council (NCC), the third Parliament of Uganda, serving from 1979 to 1980, and later represented Kiboga district in the Constituent Assembly that drafted Uganda’s 1995 Constitution.
“She served in several cabinet positions, notably as Minister of Culture and Community Development and Deputy Minister for Public Service. On behalf of Parliament and myself, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the people of Kiboga, and all the women of Uganda,” Among said, before leading the House in a moment of silence.
AUDIO: Speaker Among
Hon. Christine Kaaya (NUP, Kiboga District) said the people of Kiboga had lost a mother, mentor and strategist.
“She was a woman activist who always offered guidance. When I was elected, she told me she would push for three more years and I thank God she lived to see them,” Kaaya said.
Hon. Gorreth Namugga (NUP, Mawogola South), speaking on behalf of the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA), described Kalema as a commendable figure who served with distinction as a public servant, politician, and cultural leader in Buganda.
She urged Parliament to use the tribute sessions to highlight issues of human rights, including the pending bill on labour externalisation.
“As women, we have lost a hero. Her work in human rights should inspire us to pass legislation that protects migrant workers and vulnerable citizens,” Namugga said.
State Minister for Trade, David Bahati, said that government will release the official burial programme on Wednesday.
Speaker Among also directed the government to ensure that local leaders from Kiboga district are incorporated in all funeral arrangements.
Born in 1929, Kalema was the daughter of former Buganda Katikkiro Martin Luther Nsibirwa. She studied social work in the United Kingdom before returning to Uganda, where she rose to prominence in 1979 as a member of the NCC and went on to shape Uganda’s democratic journey during turbulent times.
– on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
“The best way to build peace is when people sit down together to talk, forgive one another and reconcile.”
Archbishop Samuel Enosa Peni is a great believer in the power of traditional justice processes to resolve grievances and ensure accountability for wrongdoing.
The Chairperson of the Inter-Church Committee in Western Equatoria was among 45 influential faith-based leaders and chiefs from Ezo, Tambura and Nagero counties who gathered for a workshop on the implementation of provisions for traditional justice mechanisms, contained within the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Since 2021, Western Equatoria has been plagued by a surge in violence between armed groups which has cost hundreds of lives and displaced thousands of families from their homes. Mother of seven and prominent women’s advocate, Aida Kazima, is among those affected.
“There has been no accountability for the huge harm that we have suffered,” she says. “Justice is essential for peace. It’s also crucial that women can access and actively participate in these mechanisms because, too often, we are excluded.”
Nagero resident, Clement Ali Leben, says the workshop will enable him to strengthen understanding about traditional justice processes among others back home.
“I will inform all community leaders about the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation for achieving peace,” he says. “Resolving conflicts needs grassroots engagement so that all parties can voice their concerns and find solutions together.”
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan is protecting civilians through proactive peacekeeping patrols across Western Equatoria, particularly in Tambura where it established a temporary base in response to increased violence. The mission is also focused on bringing diverse communities together to build trust and confidence, and to work together to progress the peace agreement at the grassroots level.
“Our role is to support all efforts to promote human rights, justice and accountability, and sustainable peace,” says UNMISS representative, Opubo Goodhead. “This workshop provided an opportunity for community leaders to come together to discuss locally led solutions.”
The event was organized by UNMISS, in collaboration with the Western Equatoria Inter-Church Committee, the United Nations Development Programme, South Sudan Council of Churches, and National Ministry of Peacebuilding.
– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Rebecca Zuagin remembers a time when simply selling tea and porridge in Pibor town was a struggle.
Her small restaurant, her lifeline, faced a relentless onslaught.
“The experience was painful,” Rebecca recalls. “We faced challenges on two fronts: insecurity and flooding. My restaurant would be under water almost every day, and it was nearly impossible to do business.”
These hardships had a devastating impact on Rebecca and her family. Providing food for her loved ones and paying school fees for her six children, who sought refuge in Uganda during the civil war, became an insurmountable task.
The flooding poses a threat far beyond disrupting daily life. It has forced thousands to abandon their homes and seek protection on higher ground as well as inflicting severe damage on critical infrastructure, with impassable roads making it almost impossible for communities to access markets, humanitarian aid or to connect for peacebuilding.
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in collaboration with humanitarian partners and local authorities, are doing their utmost to help communities combat these challenges.
Peacekeepers have increased efforts to protect civilians and deter violence by patrolling to all corners of the region and bringing feuding communities together for reconciliation and peacebuilding.
“Our priority is to protect and connect with those we serve, particularly women and youth. We are relentlessly focused on innovative ways to engage all diverse communities across Jonglei in activities that promote trust and confidence and build peace,” says UNMISS Head of Field Office in Bor, Geetha Pious.
The peacekeeping mission has also constructed five kilometers of new dykes, which protect communities from the ravages of the rainy season and the airstrip, which is the main entry point for humanitarian supplies.
“Today, I can confidently do business without fear because the security situation in and around town has improved and the new dykes are protecting my shop,” explains Rebecca. “On a good day, I can earn enough money to feed my family and ensure my children can go to school.”
Judia Oleyo Ngare, a bread maker in Langachot residential area, echoes these sentiments.
“Unlike previous times, I am no longer afraid, and I can feed my family of 10.”
Youth are also profoundly impacted.
“All we need is harmony and it is only achievable through conflict resolution,” shared Aphir Cham Agada, underscoring the transformative power of community dialogue in preventing violence and promoting much deserved peace.
– on behalf of United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Jens Kraus-Massé, has taken formal leave of His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio after two years of service as Germany’s official diplomatic representative in Sierra Leone.
In his remarks, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Musa Timothy Kabba, expressed gratitude to President Bio for granting the audience. He described Ambassador Kraus-Massé as a true friend of Sierra Leone, noting that during his tenure, the Ambassador had worked on a range of initiatives to strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
In his farewell remarks, Ambassador Jens Kraus-Massé thanked President Bio for the hospitality extended to him, his wife, and the Deputy Head of Mission. He described his time in Sierra Leone as exciting and impactful, and said he was proud of the country’s progress under President Bio’s leadership.
“Your Excellency, we are proud of the strides Sierra Leone is making under your leadership and your unwavering commitment to transforming this nation,” the Ambassador said. “I want to congratulate you on your recent election as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.”
He acknowledged that President Bio’s appointment at ECOWAS came during a challenging period but emphasized that it was a significant achievement for both the President and the country. He also commended President Bio’s contributions to Sierra Leone’s presence at the United Nations Security Council.
Ambassador Kraus-Massé praised President Bio’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, stating, “The composition of your cabinet stands as one of the strongest indicators of your dedication to promoting women. Thank you, Your Excellency.”
He went on to share a personal reflection from one of his provincial visits, noting that more girls are now pursuing science subjects than boys, an outcome he attributed to the President’s investment in human capital development. “This is incredible,” he said. “Investing in the future of your country through education is truly commendable.”
In his response, President Julius Maada Bio thanked Ambassador Kraus-Massé for his invaluable contributions to Sierra Leone’s development agenda and diplomatic engagement over the past two years.
He acknowledged the Ambassador’s role in strengthening bilateral relations between Sierra Leone and Germany, as well as enhancing cooperation with the European Union.
President Bio concluded by wishing Ambassador Kraus-Massé well in his next diplomatic assignment and extended an open invitation for future visits to Sierra Leone.
Le Chef de l’État et Commandant en Chef des Forces de Défense et de Sécurité, Son Excellence Evariste Ndayishimiye, a rehaussé de sa présence les cérémonies marquant trois événements majeurs tenus ce mardi à l’Institut Supérieur de Police (ISP) de Mitakataka, en Commune Bubanza de la Province de Bujumbura à savoir l’incorporation définitive des candidats officiers de la 9ème promotion, la prestation de serment des officiers et d’aumôniers de la 4ème promotion, ainsi que l’ouverture officielle de l’année académique 2024-2025.
Drapeau national à la main, 17 officiers et 2 aumôniers ont prêté serment de fidélité au Chef de l’État, s’engageant à respecter la Constitution, les lois du pays et à servir la Nation avec intégrité.
Dans son discours de circonstance, le Président de la République a rappelé que le Burundi s’est résolument engagé sur la voie de la Vision 2040–2060. Il a exhorté les forces de l’ordre à redoubler d’efforts pour garantir un climat de paix et de sécurité, condition essentielle à l’épanouissement socio-économique des citoyens.
Saisissant cette occasion, le Chef de l’Etat a invité les agents de sécurité à s’adapter à la nouvelle configuration administrative qui réduit les provinces de 18 à 5, un changement exigeant plus d’efficacité:
“ A présent que les provinces ont été élargies, vous devez fournir davantage d’efforts pour assurer la sécurité sur l’ensemble du territoire”, a-t-il martelé après avoir appelé à l’adoption de la digitalisation en vue de moderniser et améliorer la rapidité des services de sécurité.
Revenant sur le thème de l’année : « L’Institut Supérieur de Police, source des connaissances techniques dans le maintien de la paix et la sécurité, chemin vers la Vision 2040–2060 », le Numéro Un burundais a insisté sur l’importance de l’autoévaluation et du sens de l’anticipation :
“ Commencez dès maintenant à bâtir une base solide pour que nous ne soyons pas en retard dans la mise en œuvre de la Vision 2040–2060 », a-t-il lancé.
Créé en 1981, l’Institut Supérieur de Police joue un rôle clé dans la formation des cadres de la Police Nationale. À ce jour, il a formé 1 648 officiers, dont 1 546 hommes et 102 femmes, a précisé le Directeur de l’ISP, Dr Major Pamphile Mpabansi.
Distribué par APO Group pour Présidence de la République du Burundi.
MSF suspend toutes ses activités dans les comtés de Yei River et Morobo, dans l’Etat d’Equatoria Central au Soudan du Sud, pour au moins six semaines, à la suite de l’enlèvement d’un de ses employés, heureusement libéré quelques heures après. Cet incident intervient quatre jours seulement après un autre enlèvement d’un membre du personnel du ministère de la Santé qui circulait dans la même zone à bord d’une ambulance de MSF.
Ce dernier incident s’est produit lors de l’évacuation du personnel de MSF de Morobo vers Yei, dans un contexte de détérioration des conditions de sécurité. Le convoi de quatre véhicules a été arrêté par des hommes armés. Ils ont ordonné au chef d’équipe du convoi de sortir du véhicule et l’ont emmené dans les buissons, laissant les autres véhicules poursuivre leur route vers Yei.
« Cette attaque délibérée est scandaleuse », déclare le Dr Ferdinand Atte, chef de mission MSF au Soudan du Sud. « Nous sommes déterminés à fournir des soins à ceux qui en ont besoin, mais nous ne pouvons pas laisser notre personnel prendre de tels risques pour travailler. »
Cet enlèvement s’inscrit dans une tendance inquiétante de violences ciblant les travailleurs humanitaires et les professionnels de santé dans ces comtés. En seulement trois mois, sept incidents ont impliqué l’enlèvement de travailleurs humanitaires et différentes structures de santé ont été incendiées, pillées ou endommagées.
« Nous exigeons des autorités et de toutes les parties impliquées dans le conflit, y compris les groupes armés des comtés de Morobo et de Yei River, qu’elles nous fournissent des garanties concrètes. C’est à cette seule condition que nous pourrons reprendre nos activités. Nous demandons un accès sûr et sans entrave aux populations dans le besoin et la protection des civils, des professionnels de santé, des patients et des établissements médicaux », ajoute le Dr Ferdinand Atte.
Les habitants des comtés de Yei River et Morobo vivent dans des zones reculées et difficiles d’accès, souvent dépourvues de services essentiels en raison de l’absence d’infrastructures et des conflits armés. Ils dépendent donc d’organisations humanitaires telles que MSF pour bénéficier d’un accès aux soins.
En mai, MSF avait déjà été contrainte de réduire ses activités dans le comté de Yei en raison de l’insécurité, et avait également suspendu ses activités dans les camps de déplacés dans le comté de Morobo. Aujourd’hui, MSF a dû prendre la décision difficile de suspendre toutes ses activités dans les deux comtés jusqu’à nouvel ordre. Dans les comtés de Yei River et Morobo, MSF fournit des soins primaires grâce à un soutien à quatre établissements du ministère de la Santé, qui proposent des consultations ambulatoires, des vaccinations de routine et des soins de santé maternelle et infantile. MSF organise également des cliniques mobiles et soutient les centres de santé communautaires dans le cadre du programme Boma Health Initiative dans la région. Entre janvier et juin 2025, MSF a effectué 14 500 consultations externes, 1 192 consultations prénatales et assisté 438 accouchements dans cette région.
Distribué par APO Group pour Médecins sans frontières (MSF).
F6 Group, une entité nouvellement créée intégrant le capital-risque au soutien entrepreneurial, annonce son lancement officiel, en s’appuyant sur deux axes fondamentaux : F6 Ventures, une nouvelle firme d’investissement en phase d’amorçage, et Flat6Labs (https://Flat6Labs.com), la plateforme d’accélérateur de startups la plus reconnue de la région. Ensemble, les deux entités représentent une évolution audacieuse des 14 ans d’existence de l’entreprise, apportant un focus plus précis, une portée élargie et des capacités renforcées pour soutenir les fondateurs et les écosystèmes à travers le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique.
F6 Ventures, le capital-risqueur du Groupe qui gèrera six fonds avec plus de 90 millions de dollars d’actifs sous gestion et un portfolio de plus de 300 startups. Axé sur les investissements en amorçage et en early-stage au Moyen-Orient et en Afrique, F6 Ventures se positionne comme future leader du capital d’amorçage dans les écosystèmes émergents, en répondant à un besoin de financement dans la période la plus critique du développement des startups: les phases de pré-amorçage et d’amorçage.
Cofondée par Dina el-Shenoufy et Ramez El-Serafy, la nouvelle société d’investissement s’appuie sur la présence régionale du F6 Group et sur son héritage dans le soutien à l’entrepreneuriat, grâce au travail de longue date de Flat6Labs précédemment sous la direction d’el-Shenoufy et d’El-Serafy, pour accompagner des fondateurs visionnaires, accélérer l’innovation technologique et générer de la valeur durable pour l’ensemble de ses parties prenantes.
« F6 Ventures marque le début d’une nouvelle ère dans notre parcours , en apportant un capital ciblé et une exécution plus affûtée pour soutenir les fondateurs les plus audacieux de la région », déclare Dina el-Shenoufy, cofondatrice et General Partner de F6 Ventures. « Nous renforçons notre engagement envers les startups en phase de démarrage afin de les accompagner dans leur passage de l’idée à l’impact ».
Soutenu par une vaste présence régionale et l’héritage entrepreneurial du F6 Group, basé au Caire et présent à Riyad, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Tunis et Nairobi, F6 Ventures est piloté par une équipe de Partners régionaux : Eyad Albayouk, Ryaan Sharif, Rasha Manna, Walid Triki et Christine Namara. Ensemble, ils forment une direction expérimentée qui cumule plusieurs décennies d’expertise dans le capital-risque, l’entrepreneuriat et le développement de marchés à travers le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique.
« Depuis plus de dix ans, nous avons accompagné des milliers de fondateurs et aidé des idées audacieuses à devenir des startups leaders sur leur marché. Je suis ravi d’entamer ce nouveau chapitre avec F6 Ventures pour aider les fondateurs à évoluer plus rapidement et à stimuler la prochaine vague d’innovation », déclare Ramez El-Serafy, cofondateur et General Partner de F6 Ventures.
Tout en maintenant la renommée régionale de la marque, et sous la direction de son nouveau CEO, Yehia Houry, Flat6Labs recentre ses efforts sur le soutien des fondateurs, la promotion de l’innovation et le développement des écosystèmes sur les marchés émergents. Forte de plus de 14 ans d’impact avéré, l’organisation demeure la principale plateforme régionale pour les programmes d’accompagnement de startups de classe mondiale et les initiatives de renforcement des écosystèmes, approfondissant sa mission de soutien à l’entrepreneuriat et de stimulation de l’innovation régionale.
Les deux entités opèrent sous la structure unifiée du F6 Group dirigé par Dina el-Shenoufy, CEO, et Hany Al Sonbaty, fondateur et président du conseil, assurant ainsi une stratégie unifiée qui combine le capital-risque et les programmes de soutien aux entrepreneurs afin de promouvoir l’innovation sur les marchés émergents.
F6 Ventures prévoit de lancer plusieurs nouveaux fonds régionaux à travers l’Afrique, le CCG et le Levant, dans le but d’atteindre 200 millions de dollars d’actifs sous gestion et d’investir dans plus de 200 entreprises au cours des cinq prochaines années.
F6 Group rassemble le capital-risque et le soutien aux fondateurs au sein d’une seule plateforme spécialement conçue pour servir les startups des marchés émergents. En alignant son expérience en investissement et en programmation, F6 Group offre un accès inégalé au capital, aux programmes et à l’expertise pour permettre aux fondateurs visionnaires de devenir des leaders de leur secteur.
Distribué par APO Group pour Flat6Labs.
Pour les demandes de médias, veuillez contacter info@f6.vc
F6 Group, a newly formed entity integrating venture capital and entrepreneurial support, announces its official launch, anchored by two powerful arms: F6 Ventures, a newly launched seed-stage investment firm, and Flat6Labs (https://Flat6Labs.com), the region’s most recognized startup accelerator platform. Together, they represent a bold evolution of the company’s 14-year journey, bringing sharper focus, expanded reach, and deeper capabilities to support founders and ecosystems across the Middle East and Africa.
At the core of this transformation is F6 Ventures, the Group’s dedicated venture capital arm to be managing six funds with over $90 million in assets under management (AUM) and a track record of 300+ companies invested into by the Partners. Focused on seed and early-stage investments across the Middle East and Africa, F6 Ventures is positioned to become a market leader in seed-stage investing across emerging ecosystems, as it addresses a pressing funding gap at the most critical phase of startup development: the pre-seed and seed stages.
Co-Founded by Dina el-Shenoufy and Ramez El-Serafy, the firm leverages F6 Group’s extensive regional presence and legacy of empowering entrepreneurial talent, through the long-standing work of Flat6Labs, previously under the leadership of el-Shenoufy and El-Serafy, to back visionary founders, scale tech-driven innovation, and create lasting value for stakeholders.
“F6 Ventures marks a new era in our journey, bringing focused capital and sharper execution to support the region’s boldest founders.” said Dina el-Shenoufy, Co-Founder and General Partner at F6 Ventures. “We are extending our commitment to early-stage startups to help them scale from idea to impact.”
Backed by the extensive regional footprint and entrepreneurial legacy of F6 Group and headquartered in Cairo, with offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Amman Tunis, and Nairobi, F6 Ventures is also led by the regional partners, namely Eyad Albayouk, Ryaan Sharif, Rasha Manna, Walid Triki, and Christine Namara. Together, this seasoned leadership team brings decades of experience in venture capital, entrepreneurship, and market development across the Middle East and Africa.
“Over more than a decade, we’ve empowered thousands of founders and helped bold ideas grow into market-leading startups. I’m excited to begin this new chapter with F6 Ventures helping founders scale faster and drive the next wave of innovation,” said Ramez El-Serafy, Co-Founder and General Partner at F6 Ventures.
Meanwhile, maintaining the regionally renowned brand name, and with the leadership of newly appointed CEO, Yehia Houry, Flat6Labs sharpens its focus on founder support, innovation, and ecosystem growth across emerging markets. Building on more than 14 years of proven impact, it remains the region’s leading platform for world-class startup programs and ecosystem-building initiatives, deepening its mission to empower entrepreneurs and drive regional innovation .
Both entities operate under the unified structure of F6 Group led by Dina el-Shenoufy as CEO and Hany Al Sonbaty, Founder and Chairman, ensuring a unified strategy that combines venture capital and entrepreneurial support programs to advance innovation across emerging markets.
Looking ahead, F6 Ventures plans to launch multiple new regional funds across Africa, the GCC, and Levant, with a goal of expanding its AUMs to $200 million and investing in over 200 companies within the next five years.
F6 Group brings together venture capital and founder support under one platform, purpose-built to serve startups across emerging markets. By aligning investment and programmatic expertise, F6 Group delivers unmatched access to capital, programs, and expertise – turning visionary founders into market leaders.
African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies is proud to announce that Seyi Oladapo, Group CFO of Pan Ocean and the Newcross Companies, will be joining the continent’s premier energy event in Cape Town. His participation brings one of Nigeria’s most strategically positioned private energy players to the forefront of conversations on upstream growth, local capacity building and unlocking new investment across Africa’s hydrocarbon value chain.
As one of Nigeria’s most established oil companies, Pan Ocean is accelerating its growth – deploying advanced technologies such as aerial drones and ultrasonic meters to enhance asset security – pursuing an ambitious well-drilling campaign, and supporting Nigeria’s goal to reach 2 million barrels per day by 2025, while working to eliminate gas flaring by 2030. Pan Ocean and NewCross recently held a high-level meeting with NNPC leadership, underscoring their commitment to aligning with national strategic priorities and strengthening partnerships across the oil and gas exploration and production sectors.
Together with its sister company NewCross, Pan Ocean is carrying out drilling on OML 24, which is expected to add approximately 1,500 barrels per day of oil and around 4 million standard cubic feet of gas per day. The company also recently commissioned a vapor recovery unit compressor that channels gas to a processing plant, reducing flaring and improving efficiency. At AEW 2025, Oladapo’s participation will provide valuable insights into how Pan Ocean is using financial strategy to scale operations, manage risk and build strategic partnerships amid a rapidly evolving regional energy landscape.
“Pan Ocean and Newcross exemplify how indigenous private leadership can deliver meaningful growth and infrastructure value in Nigeria’s energy sector. Their participation at AEW 2025 reflects Africa’s shift toward home-grown, investment-ready energy operators that can partner globally and deliver local impact,” says Oré Onagbesan (http://apo-opa.co/4m5UV7g), Program Director (http://apo-opa.co/4m5UV7g), AEW: Invest in African Energies (http://apo-opa.co/4m5UV7g).
Oladapo’s engagement at AEW 2025 underscores the importance of Nigeria’s private sector in driving upstream capacity, aligning with broader continental goals of self-reliance, energy infrastructure development and investment draw. His participation also highlights how innovative financing and strategic partnerships are essential to unlocking Nigeria – and Africa’s – vast energy potential and securing sustainable growth.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
About AEW: Invest in African Energies:
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.
Elephants are known for their intelligence, strong social bonds, and good memories. But do they communicate to show real intention? A new study suggests they do. The research showed that elephants gestured to ask for food when a person was around and that they kept gesturing when they didn’t receive all the food. These are signs that the elephants are trying to communicate with intention.
We spoke to lead author Vesta Eleuteri, a PhD candidate, to learn more about what this means and why it matters.
Why did you study how elephants use gestures to communicate?
Most of the research on elephant communication is on their calls and chemical signals, likely because of their extraordinary hearing and smell. How elephants communicate with gestures is comparatively less studied. But there are descriptions of elephants using many different body movements and displays in different contexts, which suggests a key role of gestures in elephant communication.
But whether elephants gesture intentionally to others to communicate goals in mind has not been systematically explored before. My colleagues and I study the cognition and communication of animals to understand how complex cognitive skills evolved, which is what this article is based on.
In our study led by the University of Vienna and in collaboration with the University of St Andrews, the University of Portsmouth and City University of New York, we show that semi-captive elephants use many different gestures intentionally to ask a human to give them apples (their goal).
We found that the elephants used 38 different gesture types intentionally. The elephants kept gesturing when they only got half the apples (only partially reached their goal), while they changed gestures when they got no apples (did not reach their goal), both key behaviours to establish intentional use.
Why is it important to know whether their communication is intentional?
The ability to intentionally communicate goals in mind using a variety of gestures might help elephants navigate their complex social lives. By showing that semi-captive elephants gesture intentionally to humans using many different gesture types, our study builds on the evidence that this ability is not unique to primates, but that it has repeatedly emerged during evolution.
Here we consider intentionality as “goal-directed intentionality”, which is the ability to communicate goals we have in mind to others. This was in the past considered to be a unique human skill. Today we know that all the other apes and even some other primates (although in a less flexible way) communicate intentionally using over 70 different gesture types to communicate many different goals in mind. Some examples include gesturing for things like “come here”; “give me that”; “groom me”.
In non-primates, this intentionality was shown only in a few animals, from guppy fish to Arabian babblers. But typically this was done with one or two gestures and for specific goals, like “follow me”.
Elephants are distantly related to humans in evolution. We last shared a common ancestor with them over 100 million years ago. But, like apes, they are highly intelligent and live in complex societies where they have many different types of relationships (from kin to allies, friends and strangers). Also, there are descriptions of elephants using many different body movements and displays during many different contexts. These include when they greet, affiliate, play with each other or even when they travel together.
What gestures did the elephants use, and how do you know they were on purpose?
The elephants in semi-captivity often reached their trunks or swung them back and forth towards the human or the tray with apples. This made it clear they were communicating that they wanted the apples.
Elephant gestures.
To know whether the elephants were using their gestures intentionally, we applied the behavioural criteria first created to study the development of intentional communication in human infants. These are: audience directedness, persistence and elaboration.
Signallers should use gestures when there is a recipient and appropriately according to whether he/she is looking or not (audience directedness). For example, if the recipient is not looking at them, they should use tactile gestures instead of visual gestures that the recipient would not see.
After gesturing, signallers should wait for the recipient to react and, if the recipient does not react as they wanted, they should keep gesturing (persistence) or change gestures (elaboration) to clarify what they wanted.
I can make an example. If I want to ask you to pass me the salt (my goal), I first should consider whether you are looking at me and, if you are, I may reach my hand towards the salt (audience directedness). If you don’t react or pass me the wrong thing, like the pepper, I should keep gesturing (persistence) or should change gesture by, for example, pointing towards the salt to clarify I wanted the salt from you (elaboration).
You worked with semi-captive elephants; do wild elephants act the same?
We and many other elephant experts have observed wild elephants gesturing apparently intentionally to each other (and even to us!) many times in the field. Nonetheless, we cannot confirm their ability to gesture intentionally merely from our observations. Science is there to systematically test with data the intuitions or feelings we get from observations.
Elephant gesturing: the ability to intentionally communicate goals in mind using a variety of gestures might thus help elephants navigate their complex social lives.Author supplied
Whether wild elephants use the same gestures we observed in this semi-captive group is an interesting question that needs to be explored. The same goes for assessing if different elephant groups or populations use different gestures. Based on previous descriptions, wild elephants should use, intentionally, a few of the gestures we found (trunk reaches or swings) but maybe they don’t use some of the “more creative” ones like the “blow leaf in the air” our elephant Pfumo had fun using.
We want to systematically test whether wild elephants gesture intentionally to each other, describe the repertoire of their intentional gestures and the goals (meanings) they use these gestures for (they may say to each other: “travel with me”, “move away”, “stop that”). We have thousands of videos collected in two elephant populations in South Africa that I am video coding for gestures and their intentional use.
It will take time to define the repertoire and meanings of elephant intentional gestures. But we hope to someday do this and to compare the gestures of different populations to understand if elephants may have different “gestural languages”.
Studying animal communication offers “a window” into our own language, into our minds, because it allows us to understand what, if anything, makes language unique. Showing that animals have so much in common with us makes people empathise more with them and care more about them, which is important for their conservation.
Most importantly, studying animal communication is crucial because we can understand animals better and, if we know them better, we can take better measures to safeguard them.
– Do elephants make deliberate gestures to ask for things? Our study says yes – https://theconversation.com/do-elephants-make-deliberate-gestures-to-ask-for-things-our-study-says-yes-261782
