Contents: To Our Readers / Lennart Wohlgemuth -- Commentaries: Ghana, gateway to West African stability? / Takwa Zebulon Suifon -- Agendas on HIV/AIDS in 2003 / Catrine Christiansen -- Dynamics of national service in Eritrea / Redie Bereketeab -- CODESRIA 30 years: Celebrating and institution: CODESRIA 30 years -- Research: 'Gender and age in African cities': Themes, perspectives and approaches / Amin Kamete -- A ruthless author and a guilt-ridden audience: JM Coetzee wins the Nobel Prize for 2003 / Kirsten Holst Petersen -- Guest researcher: Kopano Ratele on sex and identity making -- Andrew Kiondo in memoriam -- Library: Change of chief librarian -- Publishing: Recent publications -- Conference reports: Conferences -- Scholarships: Awarded scholarships