Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from April, 2011
Zambia: Live Updates of FAZ AGM
Follow live updates of the long awaited Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Annual General Meeting:”Kalusha [FAZ President] is calling for security now as Livingstone based Mr Kasoka is leading the petitioners. Its total confusion…. Zambia Police officers are now in.”
Nigeria: Nigerian Governor on Twitter
Nigerian Governor Kayode Fayemi is on Twitter, Nigerian blogger Lord Banks reports.
South Sudan: Prose/Poetry Magazine for South Sudan
TORE is a poetry/prose magazine for South Sudan: “There are some great stories & poems in here as well as a few opinion peices on Sudan. There is also some excellent layout and design if I don’t say so myself.”
Chad: White Gold Opens Income Stream For Women
Franseca writes about white gold in Chad: “Shea nuts are indigenous to southern Chad, and have been traditionally pressed into a black oil to add to foods. While nutritious, it has an odor that many find unpleasant. Processing the Shea nuts into a white butter gives it all kinds of...
Zambia: President's Son Threatens Journalist
A senior Zambia journalist recently received threats from the son of the Zambian president Rupiah Banda, James, following a story that appeared on the Zambian Watchdog, a leading investigative journalism website, alleging that James was a thief and was involved in major government deals and also State House officials are drunks and start drinking as early as 15.00 hours during working days.
Uganda: Citizens Outraged by Violent Re-Arrest of Opposition Leader
Uganda opposition leader Dr.Kiiza Besigye was re-arrested in the capital Kampala for participating in the Walk to Work Campaign one night after he was granted bail. Besigye had been granted bail on the condition that he would not engage in the campaign that has put the Ugandan regime in the headlines for three weeks now.
Rwanda: Ask Rwandan President Questions on YouTube
On May 5, 2011 President Paul Kagame of Rwanda will be the first African leader to be interviewed on YouTube World View. World View is a series of monthly interviews with the world's foremost leaders, where you ask the questions.
Uganda: Opposition Leader Arrested Again
Rosebell Kagumire reports from Uganda: “After spending Easter in a jail, Uganda’s opposition leader Dr.Kizza Besigye was granted bail with ridiculous conditions that he would not participate in walking to work [protest] for seven months. As it would turn out Besigye’s freedom was short-lived as the military and police blocked...
Zimbabwe: Bloggers Discuss President Mugabe's Legacy
Zimbabwe is a country where public discussion about the President's health or a future without him can land one into jail. Blogs have become the only forum where "sensitive" political issues can be discussed by Zimbabwean netizens.
Zimbabwe: Revolution has no blueprint
Upenyu Makoni- Muchemwa from Kubatana.net writes: “Rumours of a revolution in Zimbabwe have been greatly exaggerated. Filled with hope but little practical knowledge, several unidentified groups took to Facebook in an attempt to replicate the Egyptian revolution here.”
Ethiopia: Read Latest Posts By Ethiopian Bloggers
Are you interested to know what is going on in Ethiopia at the moment? Read the latest posts by resident Ethiopian bloggers here.
Madagascar: Here We Go Again with Land Grabbing, minus the Outrage
Tananews reports that the government of Madagascar leases out land for 50 or more years at prices as low as $15 per acre a year (fr) to Indian farmers (via the IndiaTimes). The blog wonders why such stories fail to stir up the same outrage at the national and international...
D.R. of Congo: Donors wary of involvement in elections
Donors are wary of involvement in elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “With only seven months to go before elections in the Congo, donors are trying to calibrate their political and financial involvement in the polls. One forum where this is playing out is the UN Security Council, which...
Nigeria: Women Protest in Abuja
Nigerian women say no to violence: “Nigerian women in Abuja protesting against the post election violence in the north of the country. Nigerian women have always at the forefront of anti-violence protest in the country. Last year hundreds women from the Jos region gathered in Abuja in a day of...
Kenya: Poets and Writers Meet in Nairobi
Poets and writers meet in Nairobi, Njeri Wangari reports: “Last Saturday, 23rd April was the inaugural POWO event – a forum for Poets and Writers that seeks to encourage Kenyan Creative writers to exploit the various opportunities presented by their internet for promotion of their writing.”
Zimbabwe: Does Violence Deter Women From Entering Politics?
Simon Moyo wonders whether violence in Zimbabwe deters women from participating in politics: “Since the emergence of the MDC as a credible challenger to Zanu PF domination in 2000, violence has been a consistent feature, and often it is women who have been the greatest victims. Some have totally withdrawn...
Nigeria: Elections commenced in peaceful atmosphere
The governorship and state assembly elections commenced in a peaceful atmosphere, 234Next reports: “At about 10am, some polling booths began to witness large crowds as more people came out for the accreditation exercise. At some polling units, residents brought plastic chairs and canopies to provide shelter for the voters to...
Ghana: The Day I Detonated My Twitter Account
Ghana based blogger Fiona Leonard writes about the day she detonated her Twitter account: “I signed up for a trial of one of those automatic follower programs. Despite my trial lapsing somehow the autofollow lingered and I ended up with 7,500 followers, the majority of whom were pure spam.”
South Sudan: Taking Prevention Message to Times Square
According to Sally Smith South Sudan takes its message to Times Square: “As we inch closer to July 9, the date when South Sudan will become the world's newest independent country, the Sudan Now campaign is working hard to remind everyone – from average citizens to world leaders – that...
Ghana: Accra Hustling in Photos
Photos of Accra hustling by Ghanaian blogger and photographer Nana Kofi Acquah. Accra is the capital city of Ghana.
Cote d'Ivoire: The Music of Espoir 2000
Abena writes about the Ivorian music group Espoir 2000: “I've been listening to one of my favorite Ivorian music groups Espoir 2000 (Hope 2000). Their 2006 album Gloire et Dieu (God and Glory) is not only laden with infectious ‘zouglou’ tracks but with lyrics full of wisdom and a little...