· July, 2009

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2009

Africa: Obama uses new media to talk to Africans

  10 July 2009

"Ever wanted to ask our Son from Nyangoma any questions? In other words, would you like the American president, Barack Obama to answer your questions?," begins a post at Hot Secrets blog about Obama's use of new media to engage in a conversation with ordinary Africans.

Africa: Africans to text Obama during his Ghana trip

  9 July 2009

Erik discusses Obama's new media strategies for his trip to Ghana: We’re launching an SMS platform to allow citizens to submit questions, comments and words of welcome (in English and in French) . Using a local SMS short code in Ghana (1731) , Nigeria (32969) , South Africa (31958) and...

Kenya: Kenyan poet fears for his life

  9 July 2009

Kenyan Poet, singer and actor Grand Master Masese fears for his life after a series of bizarre phone incidences in the past week. On Friday night, he received an SMS threatening his life. It read: “Umekua ukijifanya mjanja but mwisho wako umefika” (You think you are clever but your end...

South Africa: Drumming to freedom

  9 July 2009

cueTV interviews a dance collective from Mauritius, Reunion and Madagascar about the dance, Ma Ravan’, a ritual and a performance, and paying homage to slaves and freedom fighters performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival in South Africa.

Ghana: Guess who's coming to dinner

  9 July 2009

Guess who's coming to dinner in Accra, Ghana: “Today's edition of the nation's flagship newspaper Daily Graphic offered a rather hefty edition, starting with key articles like these, offering reasons for Obama's desire to come to Ghana.”

Ghana: Best places to eat in Accra

  9 July 2009

Karen lists the best places to eat in Accra, Ghana: “However, it is that time of the year where dozens of people that I know are heading off for field research and people are always asking me for tips on where to eat in Accra (I am a failed food...

Cote d'Ivoire: Paul Sika's technicolor dreamscape

  6 July 2009

Glenna Gordon interviews Paul Sika from Ivory Coast about his work: “I first came across Paul Sika's photos on the blog Africa is a Country and was immediately transfixed by how he transformed scenes that seemed so familiar to me into something brilliantly technicolor and radiant. I emailed him last...

Africa: Some thoughts on African film

  6 July 2009

Sci-Cultura writes about African film: “Anyone who’s read the recent posts on this blog will know that I am enthralled, intrigued and besotted by the use of film as a medium to convey stories. This year has been good for raising the awareness of Kenya in the world of film....

Ghana: Bloggers Discuss Business Process Outsourcing

  6 July 2009

Few know that A.T.Kearney rated Ghana as sub-Saharan Africa's number one Business Process Outsourcing destination in 2005 and, as of June 2009, the nation’s achievements in this field look set to continue. Several bloggers reported on an agreement signed in early June between two leading ICT organisations that will provide unprecedented opportunities for ICT students, create thousands of jobs, and underpin the growth of this nascent industry.

Senegal: The evolution of Senegalese women in film

  6 July 2009

AFWMNCIN discusses the evolution of Senegalese women in the film industry: “Throughout the 1970s and 1980s Safi Faye was the lone woman filmmaker in Senegal. New faces were visible in the 1990s with the emergence of Adrienne Diop, Mariam Kane Selly, Rokhaya Diop, Aissaou Laba Touré and Kady Sylla; all...

Kenya: Could the Hague be God's answer to Kenyans?

  6 July 2009

Kumekucha wonders if the Hague could be the answer to the cry of Kenyans: “That said, I hope that the ICC can get its act together and start coming after all world leaders who commit atrocities against their people. Starting with Bush and Rumsfeld, Mugabe and henchmen and on to...

Kenya: Kenya Revenue Authority, Wake Up!

  6 July 2009

Thinker's Room discusses redundant procedures required by the Kenya Revenue Authority: “Countless man hours are wasted by taxpayers, accountants all around Kenya and KRA employees to collect data that they already bloody have. Mind numbing repetitive manual work at unnecessary cost to the taxpayer.”

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch

  6 July 2009

The Zimbabwe Inclusive Government Watch run by Sokwanele shows breaches by parties in the government. The breaches are recorded by daily monitoring of media reports. The counts therefore have to be viewed in the context of a repressive media environment, and as an indicator of total breaches rather than a...

Kenya: Kenya against Ireland in Intercontinental Cup

  6 July 2009

Kenya Cricket writes about Kenya's Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland: “Ireland yesterday (Sun) seized six points through a first innings lead of 73 after Kenya's last four wickets added 92 to their Saturday overnight score of 239 for 6, thereby avoiding the follow-on. Vice-captain Jimmy Kamande batted sensibly to make...

DRC: Goma's Makeover for Independence Day

  3 July 2009

June 30th marked the 49th anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Congo's independence from Belgium. This year, the official festivities took place in Goma. Bloggers react to this historic anniversary, celebrated in a city that not long ago was a war zone.

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.