Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2008
Malawi: Healthworkers use of Frontline SMS
Kiwanja describes some of the initiatives that are using the software Frontline SMS (an collective SMS service for NGOs), such as Josh Nesbit in Malawi who's using it “to drive field communications between a local hospital and its six hundred roaming community health workers (CHWs)”.
Proposal to close Hausa Wikipedia
The blog Hausa Online reports that a few days ago a proposal had been made in Wikipedia's discussion pages to delete the Wikipedia in Hausa language, an African Chadic language spoken by more than 24 million people. This comes a few months after the blog Beyond Niamey expressed his concern...
Sudan: YouTube Blocked
Too Huge World reports that YouTube has been blocked in Sudan.
AIDS: XVII International Conference call for videos
The XVII International AIDS Conference will take place in Mexico City between August 3rd and the 8th, and Witness' THE HUB has a series of videos uploaded by community members and organizations reflecting diverse approaches to HIV-AIDS related issues. The innitiative is towards creating a repository of work, testimonies, video and photographs to be shared through their site before, during and after the conference.
D.R. Congo: Kinshasa's “baroque” style
From architecture to music, from dance to dress, in the throbbing capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, excess is in style.
Angola: Eight people murdered in Sambila
Eugênio Costa Almeida [pt] comments on a crime that shocked Sambizanga, in Angola. “People from the popular neighborhood of Santa Rosa in Sambila city said there were 8 (eight!) people killed – read it is as executed! Their names are Dadão, Lito, Terenso, Santinho (which was an assistant for the...
D.R. Congo: Audit reveals US$1.3 billion diverted by government agencies
In Congo, the Office of the Prime Minister has accused ten government agencies, including those responsible for collecting taxes and customs revenue, and the national water, electricity, and insurance authorities of embezzling US$ 1.3 billion, reports Forum Realisance [Fr] via Le Potential.
Bahrain: Omar Al Bashir and the Cross-Eyed Justice
Reacting to the news of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, Bahraini blogger Hayat [Ar] describes the decision as ‘cross-eyed justice.' Will the ruling save Darfur and its people or is it another ploy to allow the United States direct control over the region and its rich resources?
Sudan: Who's Next After Al Bashir on the US Hit List?
The International Criminal Court Prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir for his ”criminal responsibility in relation to 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.” A Sudanese blogger writing in Arabic wonders who will be next on the United States' hit list which targets Arab leaders.
Nigeria: Erin-Ijesha waterfalls
Fadekemi of the blog ConnectAfrica describes the Erin-Ijesha waterfalls in the Nigerian Osun state, “definitely a site to behold”.
Sierra Leone: Fashion designer Adama Kargbo
Naijagal comments on the work of Sierra Leonan designer Adama Kargbo, who returned to her country after studying in the US to create a fashion line called Aschobi (photos included in the post). She says: “Sierra Leone isn't the first place you'd think of finding couture, but the country is...
Ethiopia: Violence or non-violence?
Ephrem Madebo of the blog Enset revisits the old debate of peaceful versus non-peaceful struggle for democracy in Ethiopia, after listening to a talk by Professor Mesfin.
Nigeria: Corruption overview
Imnakoya of the blog Grandiose Parlor gives an overview of the recent corruption scandals and teachers’ strikes that have recently happened in Nigeria.
Africa: Failed States Index
Codrin Arsene of the African Politics blog comments on the recently released Failed States Index for 2008, noting that “seven out of the ten most failed states in the world are from Africa, namely Somalia (1st), Sudan (2nd), Zimbabwe (3rd), Chad (4th), the Democratic Republic of Congo (6th), Cote D’Ivoire...
Cameroon: Why tourists and investors avoid it
Dibussi Tande of the blog Scribbles from the den quotes an article from the newspaper Eden in which the U.S Ambassador to Cameroon explains why tourists and investors are not coming more to that country.
Zimbabwe: On the soaring inflation
Zimbabwe, that was once one of the richest countries in Africa, at present finds itself falling into economic chaos with inflation reaching record levels, and with zeroes being regularly added to the currency. Bloggers comment on the grim situation, its causes and consequences.
French Ambassador expelled from Madagascar because he was bad luck?
Malagasy and French netizens debate the French Ambassador's expulsion from Madgascar. Was it a matter of superstition?
Upcoming tech conferences on Africa
White African informs about 5 upcoming conferences around technology or internet issues in Africa.
Kenya: Kwani Lit Fest and foreign correspondents
Bankelele describes the first session of the Kwani Literary Festival in Nairobi that started Wednesday night, with the title “How foreign correspondents have formed the literary image of Africa”.
Liberia: Happy 161 birthday!
Emmanuel at Liberia Journal celebrates the 161st anniversary of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, which was signed on the 26th of July 1847. He also adds a very informative overview of Liberia's history since its birth as a country.
Guinea: Fatou Barry
Awesome Tapes from Africa posted the whole first album by Guinean diva Fatou Barry, titled Linsan.
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