Stories about French from October, 2010
Tidiane Deme, Director of Google Francophone Africa on the Future of Internet
Although it is estimated that 8.8% of the population in Africa is connected (twenty times more than in 2000), the director of Google Francophone Africa, Tidiane Deme argues that the cost of broadband on average in Africa is still too steep [fr] for individual consumers but that there is a very palatable market...
Burkina Faso: Folk Singer Icon Mahama Konaté Is No More
Le Faso.net reports that the Mahama Konaté, icon of the Senoufo traditional music passed away today [fr]. Konaté was the founder of the band “Farafina” and insisted on making his own instruments, arguing that “music is just a way of giving back what nature has to offer”.
Video: French Burqa Ban Protest in Minishorts and Niqab
Tea and Politics wonders about the definition of full veil, as two French Muslim girls walk around in niqab (face veils) and minishorts to protest the “Burqa Ban” in France.
Madagascar: A Referendum on the New Constitution Proposal
A referendum on a new constitution has been scheduled for November 17. The holding of a referendum is still heavily disputed by both the opposition and the international community. Malagasy bloggers have dissected and analyzed some of the changes suggested in the proposal and offer their own perspectives.
Sahel Region: On Paying Ransom for Hostages
Hostage-taking by a militant Islamist group called Al-Qaeda in The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is on the rise in the Sahel region which spans across several countries in the north of Africa. In order to free hostages, governments and companies have put political pressure on the African nations involved, or opted to pay ransoms directly. However, the strategy of paying ransom is often decried as ineffective and dangerous in the long run.
