Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from April, 2014
Fighting “Breast Ironing” in Cameroon
Josiane Kouagheu wrote a passionated blog post [fr] against breast ironing [fr] practice in Cameroon: Je n’ai jamais voulu parler de ce sujet trop sensible. Il me touche. Dans tous les sens, j’ai trop de victimes autour de moi. J’ai voulu me taire. Mais, que faire quand autour de toi, la télé, Internet,...
When Will Impunity End for Slave Traders in Mauritania ?
A protest coordinated by several Mauritanian civil society organizations and political parties was held on April 29, 2014 in Nouakchott. The protest was initiatied by members of Haratin tribe who demand more rights and the enforcement of existing laws. This protest marks the first anniversary of the Haratin Manifesto [fr]. The...
A ‘Stressful’ Taxicab System in Cameroon
Ghanaian blogger Kuukuwa writes about her experience with the taxicab system in Cameroon: There are no taxi stations, so taxi drivers move around town all day looking for passengers. And, mind you, this is a shared taxi system. Depot (“dropping” in Ghanaian English), where one person hires a taxi isn’t...
Activists Battle Religion, Tradition in Gambia's Female Genital Mutilation Fight
Aja Babung Sidibeh followed cultural tradition and became a female genital mutilation (FGM) practitioner after the death of her parents years ago in her native Janjangbureh in the Central River Region of The Gambia. But she has since “dropped the knife” and taken up the fight against the practice. “What I...
Catching Up with the Togolese E-Waste 3D Printer Makers
In 2013, we were introduced to the E-Waste 3D Printer project by Woelab engineers in Togo. My Africa Is gives the genesis of the WoeLab project and what the makers hope to achieve going forward : The Woelab team has organized conferences with individuals in the medical field in Africa, to...
So You Need to Get Around Madagascar?
Public transportation can be a challenge in Madagascar. The country's road infrastructure is antiquated and underdeveloped and overcrowded buses and minivans are often the only option.
Do Not Blame the West for Africa's Woes
Gershom Ndhlovu argues that Africa leaders are making a mistake by blaming the West for Africa's problem: At the last EU-Africa Summit held in Belgium, Zambia's president Michael Chilufya Sata reiterated what other African leaders had said in the past about the West contributing to wars on the continent through...
Hordes Flock to ‘Apparition’ of Jesus in Cameroon Home
"I am still waiting for someone to post a selfie with Jesus at Odza."
Verifying Social Media Content, and Other Tales from Nigeria's First #GVMeetUp
Many people on the Internet spread falsehoods without meaning to do so, not understanding how information appears or how they accidentally take part in spreading misinformation.
Who Benefits from Trafficking Women from Madagascar to the Middle East?
Aaron Ross reports on his investigation in the heart of the ongoing human trafficking of young women from Madagascar to Middle Eastern countries: For some enterprising businessmen, the collapse heralded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So-called placement agencies sprang up in Antananarivo and other cities across Madagascar, promising the good life in...
‘Vote No’ Campaign Urges South Africans to Shun Big Political Parties
A group of politicians launched "Wake Up! We Are Fed up!" on April 15, 2014 ahead of elections in May.
Meet Mamy and Zo, Editors of Global Voices in Malagasy
Mamy and Zo explain the challenges they face as translators providing up-to-date news and maintaining high standards for the Malagasy language.
An African Tale of The First Love Story Ever Told
The website Histoire Africaine/African History [fr] narrates the tale of the oldest love story ever told, the story of Osiris and Isis [fr] and explains what makes it stand out [fr] from the other love stories. Osiris was the king god of Egypt and Isis his queen. Set, his brother, murdered...
Pope Francis, a Pope Unlike the Rest
A global view of Pope Francis, a year and half into his papacy.
The Africanized Experience of Lisbon
The media and racial stereotypes [pt], through the perspective and experience of two specialists in the area of the study of race, both Afroportuguese, born in Lisbon, Portugal. is the topic of a new podcast. An interview with Grada Kilomba, academic of Santomean origin at the Humboldt University Berlin, translated into...
Turning Faecal Waste Into Business Opportunities
Clean Team Ghana organised a Twitter chat using the hashtag #WasteOpportunities to discuss the business potential of faecal waste.
Cameroonian Bloggers ‘Are the Future, and We Are Writing That Future Now’
An interview with Florian Ngimbis, president of the Cameroonian Bloggers Association, about language, the country's poor Internet penetration and more.
The New Government of Prime Minister Roger Kolo Announced in Madagascar
Tananews in Madagascar has published the full list of the 31 members of the new Malagasy government [fr]. Mitsangana Madagascar notes that the list includes 6 women and that 7 ministers were already part [fr] of the previous transitional government. Former prime minister Beriziky wished the new government well on twitter :...
Voters Turn Out En Masse in Guinea-Bissau's First Post-Coup Elections
About 400 citizen observers monitored elections, which are expected to put an end to the crisis that began two years ago with a military coup in Guinea-Bissau.
Jihadist Boko Haram Intensifies Its Deadly Campaign in Nigeria
In recent weeks, the Islamic jihadist terrorist group has kidnapped 100 school girls and is suspected to be behind a bus station bombing that killed more than 70 people.
President Mugabe Thinks Nigeria Is More Corrupt Than Zimbabwe
"#Mugabe has the audacity to infer Nigeria Govt is #corrupt. Nigeria Govt has the temerity to feel insulted."
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