· June, 2009

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from June, 2009

Burkina Faso: Rugby Star From Burkina Faso

  15 June 2009

Do you know the rugby hero from Burkina Faso? “Burkina Faso is not usually known for its success at rugby. However…In France's 22-27 defeat of the All Blacks in New Zealand on Saturday, one of the stars of the French team was a Burkinabe called Fulgence Ouedraogo.”

Zimbabwe: Faces of the crisis and a cry for help

  12 June 2009

The CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation organization has published Time 2 Act, an online video in which people in Zimbabwe present the various ways in which the crisis the country is going through is decimating the population and the quality of life of the survivors. In the following 3 part video, citizens discuss how the mega devaluation the currency is going through affects their ability to eat and clothe themselves, speak about violence and plead for help from mediators such as the South African Development Community.

South Africa: Trailer of the film “Prodigal Son”

  11 June 2009

Leo Africanus writes posts a video of the movie “Prodigal Son”: The trailer for “Prodigal Son,” a film by Kurt Orderson, a South African director, who sets out to retrace his great-grandfather’s journey from Barbados (he was a merchant sailor ) to Cape Town at the beginning of the 20th...

Tanzania: One the road in Tanzania: a videoblog

  11 June 2009

“On the road: Tanzania” is a videoblog of Marcus Prior, spokesperson for the World Food Programme in East Africa: “Travel with Marcus to Tanzania and see what life is like in the deep field. Visit nutrition centres, see school kids showing up for their daily meals and get a taste...

African photographers, writers and artists find their voice in blogs

  11 June 2009

As more Africans come to realize the power of blogging as a tool for expression on a global scale, the number of bloggers has increased and so has the themes in focus. In that number of growing blogs, a lot of African artists have also joined in with a huge increase noted in poetry blogs as well as emerging photography and visual arts blogs. We review some of them.

Mozambique: Attack on Presidential candidate

  10 June 2009

Mozambican bloggers respond to the attack yesterday against politician Daviz Simango, in the northern Mozambican port city of Nacala. In addition to the reactions from the blogosphere, Simango's party tweeted the attack.

Africa: Gay and lesbian voices in African blogosphere

  10 June 2009

Despite being victims of politics and culture of exclusion in Africa, gays and lesbians on the continent have found a space to communicate and assert their rights: blogosphere. Haute Haiku, our new author covering LGBT blogs in Sub-Saharan Africa, points to conversations taking place in gay and lesbian blogs.

Nigeria: Wiwa v Shell: $15.5 million settlement

  9 June 2009

Sokari writes about Wiwa's case against Shell for human rights violation in Nigeria: “The case has been settled out of court with $10 million going to the 10 plaintiffs and $5 million being gifted to the Ogoni people.”

Africa: If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere

  9 June 2009

“If it works in Africa, it will work anywhere,” says White Africa in his post about Gmail Preview in Africa: “Google realized what slow connections were doing to people’s interaction with their email accounts. So, they sent in a team of engineers to work in cyber cafes in Ethiopia to...

South Africa: Amandla! News Diary to support community media

  9 June 2009

Brett writes about a new project to support community media in South Africa: “The Alternative Information Development Centre (AIDC) is working in partnership with the National Community Radio forum (NCRF) to produce a quarterly Amandla! News Diary. The Diary aims to support community media projects in South Africa…”

Gabon: On President Omar Bongo's death

  8 June 2009

Sunday night, French media announced the death of President Omar Bongo of Gabon, who had spent 41 of his 73 years in power. Bloggers write about Gabon after Bongo and what Bongo's death means for Francafrique.

Malawi: Busting the myth of skyrocketing prices of homes

  7 June 2009

Siku Nkhoma identifies factors behind high prices of homes in Lilongwe, Malawi: “Following today's (06-06-2009) article in the Malawi News by Stanley Kenani on Rentals in Lilongwe i felt it needed a proper response. The Myth being propagated by Kenani is that rentals in Lilongwe are that high because of...

Malawi: Blogger wins BlogHer International Activist Award

  6 June 2009

We first wrote about her in a post that profiled four Malawian female bloggers, on November 4th, 2007. This time we write about her exclusively, and her recent achievement solely to do with her blog. Malawian blogger Pilirani Semu-Banda has won a scholarship award that will take her to the...

Nigeria: The New Afrika Shrine closed by police

  6 June 2009

The New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria built and operated by Femi and Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, the eldest son and daughter of cultural icon, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was forcibly closed down last week by the authorities who gave less than 24 hours notice and claimed “noise nuisance, illegal street trading,...

Ghana: Speculation, excitement and hopes over Obama's visit

  5 June 2009

Bloggers around the world speculate about President Obama's choice to visit Ghana first in sub-Saharan Africa. Across the continent Africans have been asking, “Why Ghana?” Many commentators are suggesting that the choice to visit Ghana first is an explicit endorsement of the nation's recent peaceful elections and that the USA values peace and democracy above personal affiliations and more powerful nations.

Liberia: Miss Grand Bass County wins Miss Liberia 2009

  4 June 2009

Nat blogs about Miss Liberia 200: “The long-delayed and much awaited Miss Liberia 2009 Pageant was finally staged Saturday night, May 9, 2009 at the historic Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia (at an unusual venue) with Miss Grand Bassa County (Shu-rina Wiah) being named the Queen that will ably represent...

D.R. of Congo: First field visit after the war

  4 June 2009

Makambo shares his thoughts on his first field visit after the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “The eastern DRC near Virunga National Park went through some rough times due to the recent war. Consequently, field visits have been very limited. I am happy that I can now travel...

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.

Dércio Tsandzana
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.