Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from October, 2010
Eritrea: The Asmara All Stars
Meet the Asmara All Stars (Eritrean Jazz): “Love their sound! They've been getting a lot of publicity from various websites too. See more about the The Asmara All Stars at this Youtube channel. Listen to a playlist of their songs on the Addis Tunes website and read the article below.”
Zimbabwe: Minister of Commerce and Industry Uses Twitter to Air Frustrations
On October 22, 2010 Zimbabwean blogger Hope noticed a series of fast twitter updates coming from Professor Welshman Ncube, the Zimbabwe Minister of Commerce and Industry and the MDC Secretary General.
Zambia: Zambian Singing Sensation
Bling introduces Zambian singing sensation Salma Dodia: “Salma Dodia's big break came when she featured on JK's Kapiripiri which has been a major hit in Zambia this year.”
Africa: African Science Cafes
On expanding African science cafes: “Science cafes are slowly and steadily spreading across the African continent. Regular cafes are being held in South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana, and Morocco. It began in 2007 at a workshop on African Science Cafes in South Africa supported by the British Council.”
Tanzania: Where To Get Tanzania Election News
Where to find Tanzania election news online: “A few weeks ago we told you we started TZelect, an Ushahidi-based platform that aims to collect and discuss reports from East African youth about election events. Recently we were contacted by a few organizations who have put together a similar platform, Uchaguzi...
Tanzania: Mobile Phone in Zanzibar Elections
The Zanzibar Electoral Commission is going to run a service whereby, on the days running up to the election, people can find out exactly where the polling station they have been allocated to is, though the service costs TSh 300 (approximately 2 cents – which means that this service could...
Tanzania: The Opposition Can Win Presidential Election
Chambi Chachage thinks that the opposition can win the presidential election in Tanzania: “It is quite clear that Dr. Wilbrod Slaa’s decision to run as a presidential candidate has tilted the balance of power. Now the debate is no longer about whether the ruling party’s candidate will get a landslide...
Zimbabwe: Blackbook Launches a Shout Box
Zimbabwe blackbook has launched a shout box, a web page were people can say their opinions, debate, ask a question and say what they want in addition to make their views recognized.
Zimbabwe: When Will Zimbabwean Diaspora Return?
“When will Zimbabwean diaspora return?,” Glow asks: “…there is a niggling part of me that wonders how real change can come in Zimbabwe when such a large part of its wealthiest, most skilled and educated populace live and invest in faraway places.”
Benin: How to help flood victims
How to help flood victims in Benin: “So people are homeless, kids aren’t going to school, and disease is rampant. What can we do from our armchairs? I checked with the USAID director and several other international donors to find out what they’re doing. The relief effort is being lead...
South Africa: Musings on Inequality vs. Poverty
Andries du Toit muses on inequality vs. poverty in South Africa: “The central and most urgent issue facing South Africa is not poverty but inequality… our economy, while generating wealth for a few, is also a poverty machine, perpetuating and exacerbating steep and deeply rooted inequalities that threaten the basis...
Mozambique: regulations on text messaging services
Observatório do Direito à Comunicação [pt] reports on the regulations placed on text messaging services in Mozambique, after several protests were organised via SMS during September's ‘bread riots’.
Africa: Engaging Francophone/Anglophone divide in researching Africa
“Engaging Francophone/Anglophone divide in researching Africa” is a panel that invites contributions that attempt to map out specific areas of the Francophone-Anglophone polarisation in African studies as sites of knowledge production that create both opportunities and constraints for research in and on Africa.
Gambia: Harrasment of Women Defenders
Sokari posts a press release by Coalition for Human Rights in the Gambia concerning the arrest of Dr. Isatou Touray, the Executive Director and Amie Bojang- Sissoho, Programme Coordinator for the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP).
Angola: Update on Press Freedom – “Repression or Urban Violence?”
One day after Global Voices published an article about the murder of journalist Chakussanga, on October 22 another Angolan journalist from “Radio Despertar” – Antonio Manuel “Jojó” da Silva – was injured in stabbing, as Committee to Protect Journalists reports.
Benin: One of the Most Affected by the Floods in Western Africa
Blaise Aplogan posts a photo of floods in Benin [fr]. He adds a table that summarizes the number of casualties and people affected by the floods in several western African countries, noting that Benin was one of the most severely hit [RFI report in French].
Cote d'Ivoire: Reports of Violence as Elections Approach
West Africa researcher for Human Rights Watch Corinne Dufka says:”While politicians and foreign diplomats have wrangled over election preparations, residents in western Côte d'Ivoire are consumed by fear of violent robbery or of being pulled from a bus and raped.” NGO Akendewa has set up a citizen reporting platform to...
Africa: Africa Rural Connect 3.0
Lisa reports that African Rural Connect 3.0 is live: “After months of hard work, the National Peace Corps Association's Africa Rural Connect team has launched additional interactive tools and features in order to maximize the collaborative experience for members of Africa Rural Connect.”
Zimbabwe: Minister of Commerce and Industry Uses Twitter to Air Frustrations
The Zimbabwe Minister of Commerce and Industry and also the MDC Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube uses Twitter to air his frustrations.
Africa: Linking African Securities Markets
Linking African securities markets: “Technology is the driver of securities exchanges around the world – currently there are big battles for supremacy in a range of markets and disclosure and clearing and settlement after the trade are also coming to the fore. Africa should be no different.”
Cameroon: Cameroonian Blogs Roundup
We begin our roundup of Cameroonian blogs with Dibussi Tande who takes us the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania. He discusses the myriad challenges facing the tribunal- specifically the charge that the court dispenses winners’ justice. The ICTR, he argues, means different things to different people: The...