· July, 2008

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2008

Mozambique: Quality debate about politics

  31 July 2008

Elísio Macamo [pt], a sociologist from Mozambique, writes up an article to try to answer a question put by a reader: “How do we re-introduce quality debate about politics in our society?”

Angola: Goodbye to Kinaxixe Market in Luanda

  31 July 2008

Anabela Quelhas [pt] is extremely sad to have witnessed Luanda's Kinaxixe Market being demolished. She lists 10 reasons was this 50's market was an important building for Angolan architecture and people, concluding: “Once more, cultural asset is outweighed by the language of money and speculation”. A modern shopping center is...

Cape Verde: Blog for Education

  31 July 2008

Today is the African Woman Day and to mark the date a new blog has been launched in Cape Verde: Blog pela Educação [Blog for Education, pt], where a group of bloggers aim to collect and spread information regarding the country's mentality of banning pregnant girls from schools – and...

South Africa: Introducing Carbon Tax

  30 July 2008

Carbon tax on the cards in South Africa, “The National Treasury is investigating the introduction of a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions as part of South Africa’s voluntary commitment to climate change mitigation – government speak for…”

Africa: Mobile reporting

  30 July 2008

White African discussing mobile reporting in Africa, “Netherland’s based AfricaNews has been a pioneer in this space, starting last year with their “Voices of Africa” section of their site. I’ve been continually impressed with how they find, train and equip their journalists all over Africa.”

Zimbabwe: Reacting to mid-term budget statement

  30 July 2008

Zimbabwean blogger's reaction to mid-term budget statement, This blogger listened to the radio today in amazement…Part one aired on the radio this morning was a brief monetary statement from Gono – a digestible 20 minutes. Part two was a long, boring, dragged out drone from Robert Mugabe.

Kenya: 10,000 signatures needed

  30 July 2008

10,000 signatures are needed for political change in Kenya: “And everything goes back to normal? It can't end here. We need 10,000 signatures demanding they do something human for a change and reduce their salaries and give some of their own land to the people in this country who really...

Africa: Africa's blogging idols competition?

  30 July 2008

A Nairobian's Perspectives would like to see Africa's blogging idols competition:Well thats quite a competition and requires quite some amount of strategy, i just wish they had a special category for African blogs, alternatively we can borrow a cue and start our own competition! Any willing sponsors for Afria's blogging...

Ghana: Spices and flavours

  30 July 2008

Emeka writes about a company bringing African flavours and spices to the world: “Founded by the award winning Felicia Twumasi, Homefoods processes,packages produces all-natural red palm oil, high-quality African spices, cassava flour, shito hot sauce and traditional fruit jams.”

Angola: Important books to understand the country

  29 July 2008

Diário da África [Africa Diary, pt] posts a list of important books for those who want to learn more about Angola. Some of them, such as ‘Angola: Anatomy of an Oil State’ by Tony Hodges, are in English.

Africa: AfriGadget videos on Zoopy

  28 July 2008

AfriGadget videos are now on video sharing site, Zoopy: “Jason, and the team at Zoopy, has created a customized channel for us, that can be found at Zoopy.com/AfriGadget. They’ve been brilliant, responsive and patient all through the setup process.”

Mozambique: Why our leaders never use our hospitals?

  28 July 2008

Custódio Duma [pt] comments on the news that Mozambique's Defence Minister Filipe Nyussi was evacuated to South Africa after having his arm injured in a traffic accident. “Last week I heard the Health Minister say at the RDP Africa that Maputo Central Hospital has now world-class wards… So: Why is...

Ghana: Of goats and men

  28 July 2008

A photo of a typical Accra scene: “…is a car waiting for goats or sheep to cross. I don't think that is necessarily a reflection of the patience that Ghanaians are supposed to have, but certainly a good measure of some of it?”

South Africa: The Skype Dance

  28 July 2008

Ramon Thoma write about “the Skype Dance”: “Khaya Dlanga is South Africa’s top video blogger with over 10,000 subscribers to his Youtube channel. His most recent video is a hilarious little dance move he calls the Skype Dance.”

Zambia: Most owned ICT assets

  28 July 2008

What are the most owned ICT assets in Zambia?: “The Central Statistics Office (CSO) 2006 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS IV) results in Zambia indicate that the most owned assets were the radio at 55.6 percent, Cell phones at 24.2 percent and Television at 24 .1 percent while the least...

Kenya: Blogging workshop for marginalized youth

  28 July 2008

Kristina Rosinski, a volunteer at the Undugu Society of Kenya (USK), describes a blogging workshop in which she taught poor and marginalized youth how to blog and post photographs. She links to the blogs and Flickr photostreams of all 17 participants in the workshop.

Malawi: Pornography Scandal

  28 July 2008

Stories on Malawi reports that last week a renowned banker and the wife of a prominent lawyer were arrested for acting in pornographic materials, which were widely exchanged via e-mail causing a social scandal.

Zambia: Anti-corruption commission

  28 July 2008

Zambian Economist comments on the lack of funding of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Zambia: “Yet another example of how poor funding undermines institutional reform”.

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.