Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from December, 2008
All Quiet in Guinea After Coup, Say Bloggers
Confusion reigned following the passing of President Lansana Conte and an apparently successful coup led by Guinean General Moussa Dadis Camara. However, despite early fears of bloodshed, all is quiet on the streets of Conakry, according to bloggers.
Angola: On The Lack of Human Rights
In the mood for the Human Rights Day celebrations this December, Angolan bloggers have much to say. Angola has still not ceased appearing in reports about violations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, despite holding a seat on the Human Rights Council.
Memories of Christmas in Cameroon
Expats in Cameroon blog about how they are spending the Christmas holidays in their host country, while Cameroonian bloggers abroad write about their memories of spending those special days back home.
Ghana: Upcoming conference on communication education
Communication, Culture, Democracy & Development in Nigeria announces that the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE) is organizing a conference to take place at the University of Ghana from the 4th to the 8th of August 2009 under the theme “Communication education and practice in Africa: a social contract for...
Tanzania: Fight against corruption intensifies
Tanzania's fight against corruption has taken a new turn with the arrests of former government officials, ministers and high profile individuals from early November. Bloggers react to this wave of arrests.
MSF's Top 10 Humanitarian Crises in 2008
MSF (Doctors without borders) has released its annual list of Top 10 Humanitarian Crises of 2008 and the DR Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Somalia and Ethiopia's Somali region made the cut. Several bloggers have commented on the list, including The Road to the Horizon who noted that there was “no under-reporting...
Madagascar: Television station is forced to stop broadcasting
Following its broadcast of an exiled opponent, Madagascar television station VIVA has been ordered by the government to stop broadcasting. Bloggers debate the politics of the decision and its implications for free speech in Madagascar.
The San bushmen of Southern Africa
Saharan Vibe writes about the San, a term that refers to a diverse group of hunter-gatherers living in Southern Africa who share historical and linguistic connections, including several photos.
Cape Verde: Success Stories From Peace Corps Volunteers
Christopher writes about a Peace Corps Volunteer who is working with community members in Cape Verde to start a sustainable internet cafe business.
Malawi: A decade of internet
Bennett Kankuzi reviews the history of internet in Malawi and the current accessibility challenges in the country.
“Why I blog about Africa” (Part 2)
A couple of weeks ago we brought you a meme that was doing the rounds in the Francophone blogosphere answering the question of why to blog about Africa, after which it spread into the Anglophone blogosphere. Now we bring you a selection of that new batch of reactions.
Madagascar, Kenya question wisdom of foreign land deals
Following national and international outrage, the land deal that would have let South Korean firm Daewoo Logistics lease a large swath of Madagascar's arable land, was finally rejected. However, the number of reported land deals between wealthy countries and developing nations continues to grow, and bloggers wonder if these deals will really benefit the interests of ordinary people.
South Africa: World’s First Locative Documentary for Mobile
World's first locative documentary for mobile phones is about youth culture in Soweto: “Today is a big day on the Grid – we’ve just launched a 25-episode documentary about youth culture in Soweto, the famous South African township. The documentary, called Mobikasi, is the first to be delivered exclusively by...
Adgator: Africa's First Advertising Network for Bloggers
Adgator is the first ad network for African bloggers created by Afrigator, a social media search engine and blog directory. The network is currently being tested in South Africa. Plans are underway to launch the network in Kenya and Nigeria next year.
Madagascar: France responds to alleged censorship of “47” play
Pierre Maury reports that French authorities have responded to the accusation of censorhip of “47” a historic independence play created by Jean-Luc Raharimanana and Thierry Bedard. Victoire Bidegain Di Rosa, advisor to the French ministry of Culture explains that the subject of the play is not necessarily of interest to...
Rwanda: Military leader convicted of genocide
UN Dispatch reports that Col. Theoneste Bagosora, and two accomplices, Maj. Aloys Ntabakuze and Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva were sentenced to life imprisonment for “genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes” by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda today.
Ghana: Time for decentralisation?
Omanba at Ghanaconscious gives a few reasons why handing back power to local governments would be good in Ghana, as a new government approaches after the December 7th elections.
Republic of Congo: BarCamp Congo
The first BarCamp in Central Africa will take place in Brazzaville on December 23, 2008: “BarCamp Congo is organized by the Committee for the Promotion of Information Technology in Congo (COPTIC), of which I am a member. The committee comprises officials and enterprises of the ICT sector.”
Burkina Faso: Fulani Christian Convention
Keith blogs about Fulani Christian Convention in Burkina Faso: “Tonight was the start of the conference for Fulani believers of Oudalan, our province, in the north-east of Burkina
Cameroon: Africa's “Liberation Theologian” Jean-Marc Ela dies
Dibussi Tande of Scribbles from the den writes about Father Jean Marc Ela who died in Canada on the 14th of December. He was variously been described as “the nearest Africa has come to a liberation theologian in a Latin American sense “, the “Champion of a theology under the...
Cameroon: Concern for freedom
Though Cameroon is not the focus of world attention, some recent blog posts question the reality of freedom in this African country. On his blog [fr], Édouard Tamba worries about freedom in his country: Le 8 novembre dernier, le sous-préfet de Yaoundé II débarque au Palais des congrès avec l’intention...