· July, 2012

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2012

Tanzania: Newspaper Shut Down by Government

On 30 July, the government of Tanzania banned indefinitely a popular weekly investigative newspaper called Mwanahalisi. Tanzanians received the news with great astonishment, although the same newspaper was previously banned for three months in 2008.

31 July 2012

South Africa: Celebrating First Gold Medal in 8 Years

Congratulations have been pouring in for South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh who picked up South Africa's first gold medal after the country's dismal failures at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also South Africa's first male swimming Olympic gold medalist.

31 July 2012

Ethiopia: Messages of Solidarity from Christians for Muslims

Messages of unity from Ethiopian Christians have gone viral in the Ethiopian digital public as Ethiopian Muslims persistently kept their peaceful protest in a bid to end government’s meddling in their religious affairs. A multitude of Christians have changed their Facebook status by announcing their allegiance with Ethiopian Muslims.

31 July 2012

Mauritania: Diplomat Sets Himself Alight

A few minutes before Iftar, Hassan Ould Abba, a Mauritanian diplomat who used to work as an advisor at the Mauritanian Embassy in Kuwait, set himself alight in the district of Ksar, North of the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. An ambulance rushed to rescue him, but he passed away upon arrival at hospital. Ahmed Ould Jedou summarizes online reactions.

30 July 2012

Africa: Contemporary African Artistry Online

Usanii Afrika is a blog that showcases contemporary African artistry: “Usanii Afrika (meaning Artistry Africa in Swahili) is a blog born out of passion. Innately creative herself, blogger, Kirsty Macdonald...

28 July 2012

Africa: Speaking My Language

Read Ngugi wa Thiong’o's address at the 2012 Sunday Times Literary Awards in South Africa: “One of the basic, most fundamental means of individual and communal self realization is language....

28 July 2012

Nigeria: Rediscovering the ‘Osun-Oshogbo’ Sacred Groove

Train locals on the use of social media tools and they will tell their own stories, posits a Nigerian documentary producer Immanuel Afolabi while talking about his journey to the Osogbo Sacred Groove and the role of social media in reviving dying or invisible African religious practices.

27 July 2012

London Olympics: Ambush Marketers Be Warned!

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has taken stringent measures to try to ensure no ‘ambush marketing’ tactics are used during the London 2012 Olympics. A common feature at modern major sporting events, ambush marketers try to sneak in promotions of their brands and companies in front of the crowd and, most importantly, the TV cameras. Sports law bloggers and marketers posted their opinions on ambush marketing and the London Olympics.

26 July 2012

Kenya: Schoolgirl Skirts-How Short is Too Short?

Kenyan Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo defense of schoolgirls who want the length of their skirts reduced has sparked a debate about culture, modernity and morality in Kenya. Kenyan media quoted the minister saying, "These girls do not want to be nuns; they want to be modern like Mutula!"

26 July 2012

Madagascar: Three Soldiers Killed During Uprising in Military Barracks

Three soldiers were killed and four injured during a confrontation at Ivato barracks, Madagascar on Sunday July 22, 2012. This revolt took place shortly before a meeting between the interim leader Andry Rajoelina and ex-president Marc Ravalomananana, scheduled for July 24 in the Seychelles. This latest incident follows a pattern all too familiar to Malgasians as they ask themselves who benefits from the unrest that occurs before each attempt at mediation.

25 July 2012

Kenya: Javelin Throwing Olympian Trains Using YouTube

There is something special about Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego who will represent Kenya during the London Olympics. Yego turned to social media for guidance. After using YouTube to hone his skills and techniques, Yego's record improved to 81.12 metres.

24 July 2012

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.