Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from August, 2007
Sierra Leone: Blogging the Elections
Sierra Leone held its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 11, 2007. The exercise marked a peaceful transition to democracy after years of civil war. None of the presidential candidates won at least 55% to prevent a run-off, which is set for September 8th, 2007. Now on to the Sierra Leone Blogosphere to see what bloggers have had to say about the process...
Producing traditional music in Benin
Benin couleurs posts photos of a Solidarite Internationale project to build a sound studio (Fr) that will produce traditional music.
Ugandans and Expats Face Off in the Blogosphere
"I can also tell an American blogger when I read one—they are different in a way that neither makes me laugh or angered. See this entry, for example. Well, maybe some aren’t that American, but the Americans—most expats, anyway—tend to lean towards that. To them, Uganda is little more than an experiment in hard living." This quote comes from 27 Comrade’s blog....Read on.
Mauritania : Ignorance and Tradition
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Generously endowed women are favored in Mauritania. The fatter the woman, the more beautiful she is thought to be. Being big is also a sign of wealth and the search for beauty and signs of exterior wealth leads to some unorthodox methods...
Madagascar : Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa on why he writes
Malagasy Author-Musician-Sculptor Andriamanankoavy Jonny r'afa explains his art : “D'abord, à travers l'Art, entretenir et enrichir la ” Mémoire Collective ” des Malgaches. Celà reste un devoir par respect des origines. Trouver alors ce qu'il faut préserver, et les transmettre, les traduire.” “Through art, one can maintain and enrich the...
Tanzania: Before Mandela there was Mwalimu Nyerere
Who is Mwalimu Nyerere?: “Before Nelson Mandela there was Julius Kambarage Nyerere. But who is Nyerere? Many do not recognise the name.”
Gambia: Gambian Hip Hop
The global reach of Hip Hop phenomenon: “This is Gambian hip-hop artist Dr Olugander, one of the opening acts of the 2nd International Sable Litfest in Bakau last month.”
Africa: Celebrating 100 posts
Fashion blog, Ladybrille, celebrates 100 posts: “Yay!!! Ladybrille celebrates its 100th post!!!! To mark our celebration, I thought it best to receive feedback from YOU, the readers. What do you like about Ladybrille's Blogazine, what are your favourite features?”
Sudan: Sudanese Saint Josephine Bakhita
Remembering the Sudanese Saint Josephine Bakhita: “Reading St.Josephine Bakhita's story made me want 2 cry, at the time when most of us had a pretty decent childhood, she spent hers as a slave.”
South Africa: Mandela statue in London
Nelson Mandela has a statue in London: “Attended by large crowds and graced by a gospel choir and some pomp and circumstance, a statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled today in London, at Parliament Square, alongside those of Jan Smuts, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Disraeli and Abraham Lincoln.”
Congo: Lack of new work by Black Francophone writers
Alain Mabanckou regrets the lack of new works by Black Francophone writers at the 2007 “rentrée littéraire” in France.
Mali:Abandoned wives and children
Faits Divers d'Afrique relates the fates of abandoned wives and children left behind by men who emigrate.
Rwanda: Reporting the plight of Gorillas in Rwanda
Dr. Lucy Spelman blogs about the plight of Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda: “I'd just started out on a hike near Visoke with friends when I got a call from Elisabeth (the ORTPN vet tech) saying that a young female gorilla in Kwitonda group had been snared and was still attached...
D.R. of Congo: BBC Diary: Protecting Mountain Gorillas
Two Congo Rangers are keeping a weekly journal at the BBC website: “This is fantastic exposure for the Gorilla Protection blog. It includes a summary of the weekly activities of the Rangers – and at the bottom there is a profile of both men.”
D.R. of Congo: The War on Charcoal
The War on Charcoal at Virunga National Park: “For the last month we have been on patrols daily to crack down on those who are making charcoal in the Southern Sector of Virunga National Park.”
South Africa: The biggest online publishers in South Africa
Who are leading in the online publishing industry in South Africa?: “There are spreadsheets that show monthly figures for unique browsers locally and internationally organised by publisher or by site.”
Tanzania: Mobile Veterinary Unit
When Mara Mobile Veterinary Unit reached Tanzania: “We have been vaccinating domestic dogs along the escarpment (wildlife reserve boundary) and today we are happy to announce that we now reached the Tanzanian border! Total number of dogs soared up to 1,250 as of today, too!”
Africa: The 4th Carnival of African Enterprising
Nubian Cheetah is hosting the 4th Carnival of African Enterprising: “So what is a blog carnival anyway? Bloggers submit their best articles to that months host via the Blog Carnival website.”
Africa: Crowd Sourcing the mapping of Africa
White African writes about Tracks4Africa: “Tracks4Africa is an organization based out of South Africa that has integrated their services into Google Earth. Their goal is to focus on the rural and remote areas of Africa that aren’t well defined and who’s roads, bridges and villages shift over time.”
South Africa's Health Minister Under Fire
The South African Blogosphere has been abuzz with allegations against the South Africa's Health Minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, of alcoholism during, her conviction for theft and using undue influence in order to get herself a liver transplant. Various bloggers have aired their opinions of the matter as well as jokes and cartoons.
Africa: Using ICT to promote culture
Using ICT to promote culture: “This can however only be achieved by using the ICT infrastructure as a tool in promoting science and technology education, enhancing our culture by producing local digital content and nurturing home-grown ideas.”
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