· December, 2007

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from December, 2007

Africa: Africa's modular machines

  31 December 2007

Afrigadget has a video showing Africa's modular machines: “The video below shows how the machines are used in wood workshops to make design cutouts, carve out pieces for furniture and to split planks of wood. It is essentially the same machine pieces, motor, pulleys and frame, just customized for different...

Lusosphere: Wishes and hopes for 2008

  31 December 2007

The new year is inevitably soon arriving and the Lusosphere is booming with posts about traditions, resolutions, wishes, and reflections. Here is a short roundup of Portuguese speaking blogs from Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Mozambique and Portugal - although countries far apart, they share the language and hopes for a better future.

Kenya: Total media blackout

  31 December 2007

Kenyan Pundit on total media blackout in Kenya: “I have no news to report. It’s a total total blackout. Watching TV feels like watching TV under some crazy dictatorship. I mean we all know that the country is on fire, but KBC is airing Just for Laughs. WTF???”

Angola: Welcome to a new blogger

  30 December 2007

Soba L [pt] is a new blogger from Luanda, Angola, who likes examining carefully daily events. In his first posts, he analyzes the actual situation of the RAP music in  Angola, the consequences of the civil war, and the recent summit Africa-Europe.

Kenya: A new President must be sworn in today

  30 December 2007

Kenyan Jurist points out that according to the Kenyan constitution a new president must be sworn in today: “My further thoughts after listening to the contestants; H E Mwai Kibaki's term expires today, a new President must under our Constitution be sworn in today.”

Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba, Now Available in French

  30 December 2007

Francophone music blog Roots and Culture interviews Samuel Malher, a religious scholar from Strasbourg who has written the first unabridged French translation of the Kebra Negast, a sacred Ethiopian text. It describes the heritage of the Ethiopian monarchs, who trace their lineage to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and how the Ethiopians became God's new chosen people when the Ark of the Covenant was taken from Israel to Ethiopia.

Mali: Old map of Timbuktu

  29 December 2007

Sociolingo posts an old map of Timbuktu, Mali: “Here is an old map of the ancient city of Timbuktu from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas.”

Kenya Elections 2007: Should Raila Supporters Celebrate?

  29 December 2007

Although the official presidential results have not been announced by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, Kenyan blogger, Gerald Baraza, has already declared the winner on his blog, “Kenya has a new President: Hon.Raila Amolo Odinga!… Congratulations Your Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga, 4th President of the Republic of Kenya!”

South Africa: What if Jacob Zuma is found guilty?

  29 December 2007

J.S wonders what will happen if Jacob Zuma is found guilty: “I keep wondering what this is going to mean for us especially in terms of his election victory in the ANC. What will the outcome be if he gets found guilty? Some people have speculated that the ‘groundroots’ supporters...

Morocco recalls ambassador from Senegal

  29 December 2007

Blog politique au Senegal writes [FR] about the King of Morocco's decision to recall his ambassador from Senegal in a spat over Western Sahara: “It must have been a nasty blow to [the king's] ego when a socialist ex-minister dared refuse to adopt the Moroccan line on the fate of...

Burkina Faso and the Hajj

  28 December 2007

QuophyBlogeur writes about the perils of Burkinabe muslims [FR] making the pilgrimage to Mecca: “Fortunately Allah is merciful enough to tolerate the late arrival of poor pilgrims at the mercy of an organization practically on the verge of chaos.”

Burkina Faso Soon a Biofuel Producer

  28 December 2007

Last month, Burkina Faso and the French company AgroEd signed a framework agreement for developing a biofuels industry. Netizens express their skepticism about whether Burkina can become a competitive producer of biofuels, and whether ordinary people, in particular the farmers, will benefit.

Congratulations New, Rising Voices

  28 December 2007

The Rising Voices citizen media outreach initiative will start out 2008 with five new and innovative projects based in Kenya, Madagascar, Uruguay, Jamaica, and Iran.

Ghana: Akuffo Addo and the ruling party

  28 December 2007

Novisi writes about the recent nomination of the presidential candidate for the ruling party in Ghana: “self-so-called stalwarts of democracy of our country Ghana, the NPP, have just obtained or found or taken or norminated or acclaimed or chosen or whatever it is that they have done, to have Nana...

Ghana: The Opposition and Election 2008

  28 December 2007

Sarpong writes about Ghana election 2008: “Prez Kufuor faces his last term in office which expires next year.The CPP elected their presidential candidate, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, along other executives. Now, Dr. Nduom made some remarkable statements when he was declared winner ahead of Prof. Badu Akosah.”

Ghana: Christmas with Ofori Amponsah

  28 December 2007

Ghana Music blog on Christmas celebration in Ghana: The mother of all the events took place at the National Theatre on Monday December 24, where thousands of Ghanaian and foreign music lovers came to take part in perhaps the biggest show in town, dubbed “Ghana Rocks With Ofori Amponsah and...

Kenya: Kenya elections in photos

  28 December 2007

Afromusing posts photos from the Rift Valley of Kenya elections: “Here are some shots i took yesterday at a few polling stations around Eldoret.It was so hot, but people braved the heat and queued in order to vote. By and large it went smoothly in some stations, though in the...

About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage

Zita Zage
Zita Zage is the Anglophone Africa Editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Jean Sovon
Jean Sovon is the Francophone Africa. Editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Dércio Tsandzana
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.