· September, 2010

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from September, 2010

Madagascar, rosewood trafficking: an investigator arrested

  24 September 2010

The site Mongabay [in English] and the blog MyDago [in French] reported on September 17 that “a foreign journalist”, whose identity was not revealed, was arrested on September 5 in Maroantsetra in eastern Madagascar while investigating the smuggling of rosewood [in French].

Ethiopia: The Ogadeni Problem

  24 September 2010

semantic Eritrea discusses Ethiopia's Ogadeni problem: “Back in 2007, Ogadeni rebels overpowered the defenses of a petrol company. This shocked the companies in the region and the Ethiopian government.”

Sudan: How to Fix a Referendum

  24 September 2010

Lessons from Sudan on how to fix a referendum: “For not only has registration failed to begin (the stipulated date was July of this year), it is still not fully clear who is eligible to vote and what defines eligibility.”

Angola: Meet the Country Through its Windows

  23 September 2010

Uma janela aos domingos [A window on Sundays, pt], is a series of weekly posts featuring photos from Angolan windows with stories told by their authors. As Gabriel Toureg explains, “it's a way to know more about the country, its culture, remote locations, architecture and people of Angola”.

South Africa: Zuma the patriarch vs ANC gender equality

  23 September 2010

Zuma [South Africa's President) the patriach versus ANC gender equality: “It should also not be controversial to point out the obvious fact that our current President (who is also the President of the ANC) is a patriarch and – in his private affairs, at least – a Zulu traditionalist.”

Uganda: Do you trust the media?

  22 September 2010

Tumwijuke blogs about “a little-reported event occurred at City Hall in Kampala on Saturday.”: Members of the Uganda Journalists’ Association voted for a new executive. To summarize the chaotic proceedings, it was a joke. Chaos over the association’s constitution, armed police barring observers, allegations of voter bribing, the works!

Zimbabwe: Marching For Peace

  22 September 2010

“Groups in Bulawayo marked International Peace Day on Tuesday (yesterday) with a peaceful march starting at the Bulawayo City Hall. The march went ahead peacefully after police clearance was granted,” Sokwanele reports.

Nigeria: Nigeria's President Campaigns on YouTube

  22 September 2010

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is campaigning on YouTube, Solomon reports: “Another presidential aspirant, current president Goodluck Jonathan, has released a series of music videos as part of his campaign strategy. The videos, available on YouTube, feature different musical genres.”

Zimbabwe: Action Alert for Jenni Williams

  22 September 2010

Action Alert from Zimbabwe for Jenni Williams: “News update from WOZA – 1.30pm – Wednesday 22nd – 83 members released on free bail – Jenni Williams arrested outside Harare Magistrate’s Court.”

Tanzania: Running for office using Kanga and social media

  21 September 2010

A Tanzanian politician uses kanga and social media to campaign: “The fact that Zitto Kabwe is reporting via Twitter, blog, Flickr and Facebook from Kigoma North, while at the same time operating an election campaing with traditional elements – like the ngoma and the kanga – is a clear fact...

Namibia: Teaching English in Namibia

  21 September 2010

Lynn shares her experience teaching English in Windhoek, Namibia: “English is the official language of Namibia and my understanding is that public school classes are taught in English. I think most pre-school kids hear Afrikaans and/or their indigenous languages in their homes and arrive in first grade without a kindergarten...

Africa: Ajami Writing System

  21 September 2010

Do you know Ajami writing system?: “Ajami writing system has been used for at least at least a thousands years in parts of Africa. As I understand it, the script is a modification of Arabic incorporating local languages such as Hausa [mainly the northern regions of Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana]...

Africa: The Black Venus

  21 September 2010

Africa is a Country posts a 30-second trailer of the movie “Venus Noire” (Black Venus) about the life of Sara Baartman, the 18th century young Khoi woman publicly exhibited as a circus freak in Europe.

Kenya: Governance Reform From Below

  21 September 2010

Tobias writes about John Githongo‘s lecture and a new social movement in Kenya: “The lecture took place almost exactly a year ago, and in it you can see the seeds of what has become Inuka Ni Sisi, “a grassroots social movement dedicated to inspiring Kenyans at every level to take...

Mozambique: “Bread Riots” Reflections

  21 September 2010

Globally and in Maputo, bloggers reflected on the unrest in Maputo and the government's response, addressing the economic, political and social aspects of events. Critiques of "civil society", globalization and Mozambique's economic model were numerous.

Africa: Africa's mobile app marketplace

  21 September 2010

Welcome to Mobisoko: “Mobisoko is Africa’s mobile app marketplace. It is the place for you to find location and language relevant applications for mobiles, especially geared to the African market.”

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.


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