Stories about History from April, 2009
Dominican Republic, Haiti: Gagá
“Easter Sunday marked the end of the Gagá celebrations in the Dominican Republic”: Repeating Islands experiences the Dominican version of Haitian Rará.
Rwanda: Fifteen years after the genocide
Today marks the end of a week of national mourning in Rwanda to commemorate the 15 anniversary since the genocide which killed 800,000 people. On the 7th of April ceremonies were held in the capital Kigali, and in Nyanza, where more than 5,000 people were slaughtered. At a stadium in Kigali, thousands of candles spelt out the word "hope" in three languages.
Russia: Thoughts on Stalinism
Vadim Nikitin writes about Stalinism at Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog: “Stalinism was thus the political equivalent of the Columbine massacre, on a national scale.”
Slovenia: “Ljubljana to Get ‘Tito Street'”
Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Ljubljana mayor's initiative to name a street after Josip Broz Tito, who, in Slovenia, “is remembered for things both excellent and terrible.”
Cuba, U.S.A.: “Economic Emigrants”
From Havana, Generation Y remembers “events such as the Mariel Boatlift”, adding: “Emigration happens more quietly now, in rocky coves where—in the early hours every morning—someone launches themselves into the...
Barbados: Sam Lord's Castle
“Five years ago CLICO Barbados said they would restore Sam Lords Castle as part of a major tourist development”, but the promise has not materialized; bloggers Barbados Free Press and...
Guyana: Stupid is as stupid does
Guyanese blogger Imran Khan is convinced he must be stupid – why else would he fail to see the logic behind President Jagdeo's advice to flood-besieged farmers to diversify into...
USA: No More Columbus Day at Brown University
In response to protests from Native American and other students, the prestigious Brown University in the United States has changed the name of the national public holiday Columbus Day to "Fall Weekend" on its academic calendar. Bloggers are debating this modification of a holiday that honors the European explorer Christopher Columbus for “discovering” America.
Fiji's President voids constitution, calls for elections in five years
Less than 24 hours after a Fiji court declared the country’s military backed government to be unconstitutional, Fiji’s president has voided the country’s constitution, made himself head of state and...
Macedonia: Facebook Removes Ministry of the Interior's Personal Profile
Creation and subsequent removal of the Facebook personal profile of the Ministry for Internal Affairs of Republic of Macedonia (MOI) attracted significant attention of the Macedonian public. Filip Stojanovski provides background and reviews bloggers' and media reactions to the incident.
China: 2.3 Billion Earthquake Museum
Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated netizens’ comments on government's plan to spend 2.3 billion yuan on the construction of Beichuan National Earthquake Ruins Museum.
Egypt: 90th Anniversary of Egyptian Revolution
“This month Egypt should have celebrated as a country officially the 90th anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution in 1919. I am not shocked by the poor and sad reception of...
Suriname, Dominica: Updates
Two updates from Repeating Islands Blog: a Surinamese victims’ group is considering legal action against the Netherlands for its alleged role in the country's 1980 coup and Dominica has declared...
Cuba, U.S.A.: MLK Tributes
Havana Times reports on the official Martin Luther King tribute in the capital, while Uncommon Sense blogs about the MLK tribute by Cuban civil rights activists who “gathered to remember...
Armenia-Turkey: Mixed reaction to Obama speech in Ankara
Mindful of the delicate state of negotiations between Armenia and Turkey to resolve the past, U.S. President Barack Obama avoided referring to the massacre and deportation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire as genocide during his visit to Turkey this week. Reaction from bloggers has been mixed.
Rwanda: Life after genocide
katch up discusses economic and socio-political situation in Rwanda after genocide: “Polically Kigali is stable. The leadership of President Kagame has managed to stay focused on its vision of uniting...
Ghana: Ghana from various angles
“Ghana from various angles” is a photo-essay by Peacenik Hurler, a volunteer working and blogging from Ghana.
Ethiopia: Book prompts campus protest
“Hundreds of Addis Ababa University’s Oromo students protested against the sale of a book which they said was a “distorted” history of the Oromos at the book fair being held...
Egypt: The 1919 Revolution
Egyptian blogger Zeinobia writes about the 1919 revolution in her country and notes: “How can you unite millions of people across the country where no TVs or radios or internet...
Turkey: Obama disappoints Armenian-Americans
Writing on his Frontline Club blog, Global Voices Online's Caucasus editor says that today's visit by U.S. President Barack Obama to Turkey is likely to disappoint many Armenian-American supporters. However,...
Africa: On the nakedness of Africans
“On the nakedness of Africans” is a piece written by Zunguzungu, “If clothing is an index of “culture,” then it is clear that African culture sucks. But even authentic nakedness,...
