Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2010
Angola: Coins Gleaming Again
Last May the National Bank of Angola brought into circulation kwanza coins again. In a country where the population uses US Dollars along with Kwanza in the daily life, people are getting used to a new practice and discussing its purpose.
Ghana: Meet Co-founder of Global Voices Online in Accra
Are you a blogger or a social media activist living or visiting Ghana, especially Accra? Meet-up with follow the co-founder of Global Voices Online, Ethan Zuckerman, this weekend.
Ghana: Ghana's Police Force Online
Emmanuel is happy about Ghana's police force being online: “That they have a website, which can be reached at http://www.ghanapolice.info/main.htm can only go to confirm that they're well-ensconced in the 21st century.”
Malawi: An eye on charcoal trade
An eye on the charcoal trade in Malawi: “Like the rest of the world, forests in Malawi play a vital role. They are the engine of survival to millions of poor Malawians, but at the rate with which forests are being cleared, mainly through illegal logging and burn agriculture, the...
Niger: Offering choices to unheard voices
Niall Tierney writes Concern Worldwide and hunger in Niger: “Concern launched an early, groundbreaking response using “short-harvest” seed varieties, mobile phone technology and cash, and emergency nutrition programs to reach the most vulnerable before the food ran out…”
Africa: Maker Faire Africa 2010 T-Shirt Design Competition
“In celebrating African creativity; Maker Faire Africa 2010 and African Digital Art network are partnering up to encourage designers throughout Africa to showcase their talent through a T-Shirt Design Competition,” writes Ghanaian blogger Mac-Jordan.
Rwanda: Tension Before The Presidential Election, Except for Kagame
The incumbent President of Rwanda Paul Kagame has officially launched his campaign for another term in office. The electoral campaign which ends on august 9th, has been marred with challenges for the political opposition, ranging from arrests to mysterious deaths.
South Africa: Mandela not the greatest in Africa
Nana Yaw Sarpong argues that Mandela is a great South African but not the greatest in Africa: “But I have wondered why the rest of the world hails Mandela so much.”
Mozambique/Brazil: “Ethanol diplomacy” meets criticism
NGOs furiously denounced last week's trilateral accord between Brazil, Mozambique and the European Union promoting ethanol production in Mozambique for the European market. The blogsphere provides some background to this "ethanol diplomacy" and questions its future social and environmental impacts.
Nigeria: Nollywood movies online
TechMasai writes about Izogmovies: “Izogmovies is a Nigerian start-up which streams Nollywood movies online. At Izogmovies you can watch one free film after sign up, or pay the membership fee to access their entire database.”
East Africa: Whive: Connecting Africa
Watch a promotional documentary about Whive. Whive is an East African social network created by a Kenyan entrepreneur.
Africa: Brain drain and African governance
Gregory Simpkins argues that African governments spend an average of US$4 billion a year to hire about 100,000 Western experts to handle functions, which could have been performed by the African professionals in the Diaspora.
Benin: Interior Ministry Repudiates Wolosso Dance Before His Dismissal
Wilfried Léandre Houngbedji reports that the Interior Ministry Armand Zinzindohoué ordered that night clubs in Cotonou curbed down the excessive practice of a dance called Wolosso [fr]. Unrelated to the previous matter, Zinzindohoué was dismissed and arrested later in the week for fraud.
Botswana: Court denies Bushmen access to water
“There was outrage today as Botswana’s High Court denied the Kalahari Bushmen access to water,” Survival International reports.
Kenya: The Kenyan driving experience
Kaboro blogs about the challenges of driving in Kenya: “When I think of some of the pointless things I’ve done in life, I’m tempted to think driving school is one of them. Why? No one in Kenya follows the rules.”
Somaliland ready to join international community
“Successful Presidential election means the country is now in a position to move forward and join the other independent states of the world,” reads a press release from Somaliland Forum.
Mauritania: Sketching in Mauritania
Sketching in Mauritania is a blog by Isabel Fiadeiro, a painter based in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Could Nigeria become a one-party state?
Could Nigeria turn into a one-party states?” “There is nothing more dangerous for a developing democracy than for it's citizens to have no idea of when the next elections will be. For some reason, in this, the 21st century, that is indeed the case for Nigeria.”
Mauritius: Wooden sculptures at Caudan
Photos of beautiful wooden sculptures at Caudan in Mauritius: “Somehow, each time I go to Caudan, I need to go near those guys sculpting those wonderful crafts.”
Kenya: E-Tourism East Africa Conference 2010
“The E Tourism East Africa Conference will help the sector understand and leverage the online opportunities and the new technologies available in the region,” reports Muzi Mohale.
D. R. of Congo: Searching for Bonobo
Read field notes from Dr. Terese Hart, Searching for Bonobo in Congo. Bonobos great Apes falling in the same group with chimpanzees.