Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2011
Africa: How Social Conservatives in Africa Use Anti-Globalization Struggle
Graham shows how social conservatives in Africa use the anti-globalization struggle: “They use the same arguments and language as the radicals, but they are not revolutionaries. Their language of liberation, of African independence and opposition to aid, seeks not to liberate but to constrain. They seek to ossify culture and...
Zambia: Blogger Thinks Late President Fixed Election Date
Zambia’s President Rupiah Banda on July 28 2011 finally announced September 20 as the election date. There has been debate in the country to have a fixed election date instead of depending on the whims of a sitting president. Zambian netizens have welcomed the date with mixed reactions.
Africa: First African Demo of Sixth Sense Technology
Bontle Moeng blogs about the first African demo of sixth sense technology: “Basically, Sixth Sense is a mini-projector coupled with a camera and a cellphone—which acts as the computer and your connection to the Cloud, all the information stored on the web.”
Malawi: A Chronological Account of Protests in Malawi From Afar
Read Dadakim's account of protests in Malawi: “It’s also important to realize that the protests were not spontaneous. Civil society organizations had previously attempted a similar protest in February and university students and lecturers successfully staged protests in May primarily rooted in demands for academic freedom. It is thus important...
Africa: Membership Opens For mLab SA
Application for membership for mLab Southern Africa has opened: “The mLab SA provides incubation support to mobile developers and entrepreneurs through the following services: subsidised office space with meeting rooms – to allow members to benefit from being part of the mobile startup community; training and accreditation on mobile technologies...
Angola: Bloggers Meet Rappers for a Socially Responsible Soccer Match
Dino Cross, from the blog Hip Hop Angola, announces [pt] a soccer match between Angolan bloggers and rappers that will take place on the 30th of July. All the attendees are invited to bring goods to the stadium which the organization will take care of donating to social institutions afterwards.
Republic of Congo: Is the New ‘Made In Africa’ Tablet Actually Chinese?
A new ‘made in Africa' tablet computer from the Republic of Congo was announced in June 2011 to much fanfare. While technical innovation in Africa is worth celebrating, it's worth double-checking whether the new VMK tablet is actually designed, developed and engineered in Congo as advertised.
Botswana: Ocean in the Desert
Read about Kelly's experiences of ocean in the desert in Botswana: “The Makgadikadi Pans are the largest salt pans in the world, located in the Kalahari Desert near the centre of Botswana. For Seretse Khama Day, I ventured out to the Pans for my first time and headed to Kubu...
Zimbabwe: Video: Zimbabwe's Alternative Hip Hop Scene
Bunmi shares a video about Zimbabwe's art scene: The Nomadic Wax crew that shot the mini documentary above about Zimbabwe's alternative hip hop scene talk at length about the capital's famous hub of cultural activity, “Book Cafe”
Africa: Participate In Photo Competition And Join NEPAD’s 10th Anniversary
Participate in a photo and essay competitions to win a prize in celebrating celebrating NEPAD’s 10th Anniversary: “This contest also falls in the framework of CTA activities on Youth, Women and ICTs. In line with these objectives, CTA and the NEPAD Agency are searching for enthusiastic Africans, who want to...
Africa: Africa Cartoon Stirs Famine Pornography Debate
Natasha Elkington looks at satirical newspaper cartoon commenting on media priorities around the Murdoch scandal and the East Africa famine which has sparked debate about pornography: “The image, labelled “Priorities”, depicts three naked, emaciated children holding empty bowls, with swollen bellies, ribs sticking out and flies swarming above them.”
Malawi: Interview With Frederick Bvalani, Creator of Malawi Fuel Watch
Global Voices' Steve Sharra talks to Frederick Bvalani, the creator of Malawi Fuel Watch Facebook page. Malawian netizens use the page to inform each other about where they can find fuel.
Guinea: Guinean Music Mourns Manfila Kanté
The passing of Manfila Kanté, a Guinean music star, has been announced via the Facebook account La Presse guinéenne en ligne [fr]. Aly Cherif (Prince Cherif) wrote [fr]: “The Guinean cultural scene is in mourning. Manfila Kanté died in Paris this Wednesday, July 20, following a long illness. A huge...
Kenya: Kenyan Poet Podcasts
Kenyan poet invites readers to her new project, KenyanPodcast: “Hi, for those who were on twitter yesterday, I announced about my pilot podcast; the first in many to come which seeks to bring the blog to life for the followers to have something they can take away with them and...
Kenya: Ex-Minister Records Rap Song
From politics to music and back to politics in Kenya: “Suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto donned a new hat, that of a recording artistes and hit up the Click Track studios with rappers Juliani and Emmanuel Jal on July 10.”
Zambia: Facebook Group Leads 2011 Poll Debate
Can a Facebook group, 'Zambian People’s Pact', tip the Zambian elections due in the next few months against the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), which has been in power for 20 years now? Gershom Ndhlovu investigates.
Malawi: Malawi On The Brink
Malawi on the brink: “Contrary to stereotypes about the docility and peaceful nature of Malawians, Malawi has a long history of mass protests going back to the colonial era including the struggles against the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland that saw the demise of the federation and the country's independence...
Africa: Start-Up Cafe Africa launched
Start-up Cafe Africa launched: “The platform seeks to offer resource support to all businesses springing from within Africa through Weekend Start-up Cafe’s, Start-up Seminars, Web and Mobile portals.”
Malawi: Majority Not Happy To Be Called Satans
Most Malawians are not happy to be called satans by Malawi's presidet: “According to an opinion poll conducted late last night on 21st July by a Faith Based Relief and Development Non Governmental Organizations in Bangwe Township, in the outskirts of Blantyre, over 90% of the citizens interviewed felt the...
Zambia: Football Icon's Facebook Account Faked
Kalusha Bwalya is probably one of the most recognised Zambian faces because of his outstanding achievements in football. However, when it comes to Facebook, it is difficult to tell whether an account in his name is genuine or not.
Cape Verde: Blog Tears Down Statements on Climate Change
“Droughts are a well known fatality in Cape Verde (…) long before CO2 started rising”, argues the blog EcoTretas (EcoBullshit), while tearing down alleged misinformed statements from Al Gore's The Climate Reality Project.
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