Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from March, 2006
Chad: Peace and Mika Yondoloum
Le Pangolin posts (FR) a reader's comment about the potential for Liberal Party presidential candidate Mika Lelita Yondoloum to bring peace to Chad. The reader, Citoyen Lambda, feels strongly that Yondoloum has what it takes to forge a government of national unity. Lambda also nominates Yondoloum for the Nobel Peace...
Africa: We Can't Blame Everything on the West
Le Pangolin writes (FR): “So long as we fail to entertain critiques of our destructive ways, we will always be dominated by the West. Imagine for a moment all Africans living in Europe creating investment funds; they could then purchase on [various] stock markets the very companies that determine the...
African women blogging this week
It is that time of the year for those of us in the Diaspora, long nights and dark days in Europe set the heart and mind to thinking of life at home. Mshairi expresses her homesickness through a poem “Home (Again)” I want to stand by the shore as graceful...
New blogger in Uganda – HipFlaskSwigger
Peoplehouse is a recently-started blog which appears to be by Ugandan journalist David Kaiza and consists, so far, of selected pieces of his writing. His most recent post is an appreciation of the novelist V.S. Naipaul written in the year that Naipaul won the Nobel prize for literature.
Nigeria's census – nearly over but could do better
There are great pictures of Nigerian census-takers on Edward Popoola's Jangbalajugbu-Homeland Stories but he feels the operation, while necessary, could be better organised. “We do not use the social security number system in Nigeria and I am not sure our births and deaths are perfectly monitored and well documented. It...
Swahili hip-hop
Msanii XL has posted a hip-hop podcast which features artists from a range of countries, but if you want your hip-hop in Swahili don't forget to check his radio blog player in the sidebar.
A new website about DR Congo
At Congo Watch there's the announcement of a new website called Friends of the Congo. There is also a Friends of the Congo Blog. Both sites have as their masthead a quotation from famous former Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba: “We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people...
The dark side of blogging – intimidation
Most articles about blogging emphasise the positive empowering aspects, but as black looks points out it also gives freedom to abuse. She says speaking out is the best way to combat the bullying.
Kenya: Banking & Investment
Bankelele posts his thoughts and tips on Kenyan banking and investment with details on each of the country's banking institutions.
Kenya: Parliament resumes
Kenyan Pundit comments on the Kenya's current parliament which resumed yesterday which she describes as “Congregation of fools“.
Ethiopia: Afwerk Tekle
Addis Abba Rocking Fun Zone points to the work of Ethiopian artist, Afwerk Tekle who recently sold a painting for $10 million!
Zimbabwe: Weekly inflation
The Beareded man has a series of reports from Zimbabwe ranging from, Air Zimbabwe now charging in US$, weekly inflation, assasination conspiracy and an ex Rhodesian soldier.
Burkina Faso: Water
Under the Acacias has a report on access to water in rural Burkina Faso..”The lack of a ready source of clean water means either a walk – usually for the women – of several miles to the next pump – which will of course then be twice as crowded.”
DRC: How Many Take Part in Opposition Protests?
At UDPS Liege, Raphael Doly Tshipamba questions (FR) European journalist Marie-France Cross’ assertion that less than 400 attended opposition party UDPS’ March 10 and 22 protests. Says Tshipamba: “That is a terrible lie contradicted by AFP and local reports on the one hand and TV5 Monde images on the other.”
DRC: Elections and “Rwandanization”
For Musengeshi Katata from Forum Realisance (FR) a victory for Joseph Kabila in the upcoming election would only prolong the “rwandanization” of the Congo. The “rwandanization” of the Congo started when Laurent Kabila, Joseph's predecessor and father began hiring rwandan and ugandan mercenaries to keep himself in power, says Katata....
Jamaica: Commonwealth Games
Leon wonders why the 18th Commonwealth Games aren't getting more media attention. “Is it because the mighty U.S is not involved, since the Commonwealth games only include former territories of Britain? (But wait, America is a former territory of Britain!).”
Nigeria: And it's Census Time Once Again
Nigeria is having another population census after 15 years since the last one was held. Unsurprisingly, the Nigerian blogosphere is buzzing with information and opnions about the national activity. Grandiose Parlor is pessimistic about the whole exercise, and bears his mind on the issue: Census 2006: Another Nigerian Spectacle? Despite...
Africa: development economics
Idland on the continued “Scramble for Africa” and the business of development economics and creative statistics.
Nigeria: Progressive?
Grandiose Parlor comments on the Nigerian census and wonders despite 4 censuses and the widespread violence reported around the census whether Nigeria has what it takes to exist as a progressive nation.…”How does the insurgency in the Niger-Delta impact the census in this area? Is there any provision (by the...
Kenya: Dare to be Different
What an African Woman Thinks writes about “daring to be different” and discusses what is normal and what is deviant…..Because sometimes, too often in fact, it seems to me that that question degenerates into who is like us and who is not. And, it can, in this cruder form, make...
Kenya: Water conflicts
Kikuyumoja’s realm also posts on World Water Day. He forcuses on the global water statistics and conflicts that arise over access to water. …”Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries. To date, the UNESCO’s International Shared Aquifer Resource Management project (ISARM) has inventoried over 150 shared...