Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from April, 2011
Nigeria: On “You Must Be Rich” Gospel
Fariku discusses the “you must be rich gospel” in Nigeria: “In glorifying money and the pursuit of wealth, many clergy lead their congregations astray. Church becomes a competition, who looks best, who is wearing the fanciest clothes, who is driving the most expensive cars. The materialism apparent in these churches...
Examining Africa's Growth
While the African Development Bank announced three days ago that it will downgrade its forecast for growth in Africa as a result of the turmoil in various regions of the continent, the rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing regions. Bloggers are unpacking the reasons behind the growth.
Equatorial Guinea: SOS Malabo
The team behind S.O.S Malabo has a mission: to promote “visibility, awareness, mobilization, collaboration for the people of Equatorial Guinea using social media.”
Uganda: On African Presidents
Ken Opalo writes his first installment on African presidents and the elites around them: “First on the list is Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. Mr. Museveni has been in power since 1986 and is pretty much convinced that he is God’s gift to Uganda has just won another 5-year term in...
Africa: How France Robs Africa
This is how France robs Africa: “It is the colonial pact that set up the common currency for the Francophone countries, the CFA franc, which demands that each of the 14 CFA member countries must deposit 65% (plus another 20% for financial liabilities, making the dizzying total of 85%) of...
Ghana: Film Review: Adams Apples
Jemila reviews Adams Apples, a 10-chapter movie series created and directed by Shirley Frimpong Manso, which follows the lives of the Adams women – four 21st century cosmopolitan Ghanaian women.
Nigeria: Tweeps Report And Discuss Post-Election Violence
Nigeria's presidential election was held in on 16 April 2011. Goodluck Jonathan was declared the winner. Some observers have alleged that the election was rigged to favor the incumbent. Post-election violence erupted in northern states where supporters of Muhammadu Buhari attacked churches, homes and police stations. This is a summary of reports and reaction from tweeps using NigeriaDecides hashtag.
Nigeria: #NigeriaDecides Tech Meetup in Lagos
CP-Africa announces #NigeriaDecides tech meetup in Lagos, Nigeria on April 30, 2011: “The meetup is organizing a second edition to review the use of technology in the 2011 elections – and discuss possible future directions.”
Malawi: Political Science Lecturer Talks About Blogging Academic Freedom
When Malawi's Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito summoned political science senior lecturer Dr Blessings Chinsinga over an example he gave in the lecture room, he had no idea that the incident will appear on Boniface Dulani's blog. Victor Kaonga wanted to hear from Dulani about his blogging experiences especially following the Chinsinga episode which has turned into a movement fighting for academic freedom.
Zambia: Cadre Diplomats
Zambian Economist reacts to reports that the Zambian president pleaded for funding from a supposedly non-partisan Foreign Service: “This should be considered an abuse of office. The President has turned the foreign service into a funding pot for his re-election campaign.”
Kenya: Poets and Writers Online
The power of the pen meets the power of the Net in Kenya: “The digital world remains unconquered by creative writers with platforms like Itunes offering opportunities to poets and writers who can turn their work into audio. Youtube is a free video site where one can easily upload their...
Zambia: Tweeps Discuss Need For Condom Distribution in Prisons
Issues such as HIV/AIDS and homosexuality are emotive issues in Zambia. The former has claimed a lot of lives in the last quarter of a century and the latter is an issue that people dare not talk about publicly. Some Zambians on Twitter have however, brought an interesting aspect to the homosexuality debate - that condoms should be distributed in Zambian prisons, where sodomy is known to be practised.
Zimbabwe: Interview With Zimbabwean Political Scientist
Read Upenyu Makoni-Muchemwa interview with Zimbabwean author, political scientist and commentator, John Makumbe.
Gambia: Coalition for Change Distances Itself From Government's Position
The Coalition for Change – The Gambia (CCG) dissociates itself from position of the Gambia Government regarding Cote d’Ivoire: “The most recent inconsequential state televised statement of President Jammeh calling for fresh elections and refusing to recognize President Alassane Ouattara in defiance of the international community…”
Madagascar: Censorship Comes in Different Shapes and Sizes
Blogger Achille52 reviews the state of media and free speech in Madagascar (fr), detailing the different manners in which bloggers are harassed (also explained in an Amnesty International report). He also explains that he deactivated his blog after he was told by a police officer that people are looking for...
Memories of Portuguese Decolonization
“In their dreams they still revisit Africa”, and they share their memories on the blog Retornados da África [pt]. Read the stories of those who returned to Portugal from the African colonies, after the end of the dictatorship, on April 25th, 1974.
Kenyans Continue to Dominate International Marathons
Kenyans continue to dominate major international marathons. Kenyan runners won both London and Boston marathons. Blogger Dave Solomon criticizes IAAF's decision to deny Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai the distinction of running the world's fastest marathon at the Boston Marathon claiming that he was helped by tailwind.
Uganda: Government Attempts to Block Facebook, Twitter as Protests Continue
As opposition politicians and others angry over rising fuel and food prices in Uganda continue to stage "walk to work" protests against the current regime, the government is asking Internet service providers (ISPs) to shut down access to Facebook and Twitter.
Nigeria: ReVoda Turns Voters Into Monitors
ReVoDa users in Nigeria give verdict on Nigeria’s Presidential Election. ReVoDa allows voters to report as independent citizen observers from their respective Polling Units across Nigeria using mobile phones.
Nigeria: Hackers Wish
Nigeria hackers wish: How I wish there is a place in Lagos, Nigeria where: 1. I can code without bothering about power cuts from the power company, my inverter running down, my generator running out of fuel or my laptop dying and also have REAL BROADBAND ACCESS. 2. I can...
Côte D‘Ivoire: The Regional Economic Impact of Post-Election Conflict
Aconerly looks at the regional economic impact of post election conflict in Côte D‘Ivoire: “Seasonal migrant laborers from Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali face a prospect of unemployment as a result of the upheaval caused by the political conflict between incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo and contested President Allasane Outtara.”
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