Cover stories So black people can't invent? In all major cities in the world today, traffic lights are indispensable. But how many people know that this essential necessity was actually invented by a black man? Probably, very few. Baffour Ankomah uncovers many more black inventions and tells the tribulations that some black inventors have had to go through to be recognised and receive the praise due to them. In many cases, black ingenuity has been hijacked and credited to white people. Lumumba - the tottering steps to the truth On 24 February, the Belgian parliament "officially" gave the final green light for the investigation into Patrice Lumumba's murder to begin. Francois Misser reports from Brussels. Around Africa Nigeria: Gunning for Obasanjo via Sharia Mozambique: Where was Africa? Kenya: Mau Mau resurrection? Zimbabwe: Running on empty and going Sierra Leone: Election bells ringing Liberia: The case for suspicion South Africa: Demarcation blues Senegal: Funds for rural growth New African Women Skin bleaching: The lie called 'beauty creams' Women on the frontline Features How Uganda led to Nyerere's downfall Diamonds: Arm-twisting Africa? Obituary: Jim Bailey - The 'African Drum' man Commentary OFF-THE BEAT: Kith and kin politics