Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from January, 2012
Nigeria 2011: A Year of Small Victories and Great Challenges
2011 will go down in Nigeria's history as the year of the nation's third presidential election since independence. For the first half of the year, the blogosphere was abuzz with discussion of the election: protests, campaigns, debates, the role of technology, preparations for the polls, election day itself.
Global Voices in Dutch Looks Back on 2011
While the year 2012 is already well on its way, the translators of Global Voices in Dutch look back on 2011. Which posts stood out and what makes Global Voices so special?
Guinea-Bissau: President Passes Away Amidst Political Upheaval
After being hospitalized for almost three months, the President of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanhá, passed away in Paris on Monday, January 9. He was 64 years and died of diabetes, leaving the small Portuguese-speaking African country in a delicate political situation.
Zambia: Former Diplomat Calls on West to Engage Iran Through IAEA
A Zambian veteran politician and erstwhile diplomat who once served as the country’s permanent representative at the United Nations, Vernon Mwaanga, has told a citizen radio that the West should not be dismissive of Iran because it has become a nuclear power.
South Africa: On #ANC100 Debate
Mohammed Keita shows how #ANC100 debate lays bare divisions over South Africa media: “The lively social media debate illustrated both the discomfort many Africans feel toward criticism of their leaders, and the role as scapegoat that the media is currently playing as the ANC struggles to hold onto a decisively...
D.R. of Congo: Writings From DRC
Throwing Down the Water: Writings from the DRC is a blog by Emily Cavan Lynch: “I am currently working in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where internet and roads are both quite limited; please excuse any temporary disruptions in posting, or in responding to your comments,...
Côte d'Ivoire: Uproar Over Unauthorized Press Use of Blogger's Photos
For the blogger and professional photographer Audrey Carlalie, the Christmas 2011 holidays were marked by the fact that her photos of a celebratory firework display were used by certain Ivorian newspapers without her authorization. Kanigui reports.
South Sudan: Humanitarian Crisis in the World's Newest Country
Less than a year since declaring its independence in July 2011 to become the world's newest country, South Sudan continues to face a humanitarian crisis especially in the wake of recent tribal clashes.
Israel, Ethiopia: Ethiopian Jews and Other Black Immigrants in Israel
Sibo Kanobana wrote in the blog Afro-Europe: “I visited Israel en Palestine during the Christmas holidays and saw many things I didn’t expect to see. One of these things is the striking presence of black people in urban Israel. They represent a diverse people of whom most are Ethiopian Jews...
Africa: ICTs for Refugees and Displaced Persons
In Africa and elsewhere, ICTs have become an important tool at times of crisis with technologies such as SMS, VOIP, and mobile phones becoming especially invaluable for refugees and displaced persons.
Mauritania: Terror Grips Town
Terror grips city of Kiffa in Mauritania: “Poet and filmmaker Mohamed Ould Idoumou, a Kiffa native, told Magharebia that that the city has never seen cases of terrorism before because of its isolated location in the desert.”
Zimbabwe: The “E” Word and Future of Democracy
Beven Takunda talks about the “E” word and the future of democracy in Zimbabwe: “Election continue to haunt Zimbabweans to the point that when any politicians mention the “E” word, people start to quiver and shake. There is no sense of celebration that should come with exercising our democratic rights....
Nigeria: Meet the Organiser of Occupy Nigeria in London
MyWeku interviews the UK organizer of Occupy Nigeria movement: The removal led to petrol prices doubling overnight and triggered a spate of protests that seem to be gathering momentum. The demonstrations are being led and organised by Occupy Nigeria under the globally recognised “Occupy Movement”.
Malawi: Moving Windmills: The William Kamkwamba Story
Moving Windmills is a documentary that tells the true story of William Kamkwamba, a young innovator from Malawi, Africa who taught himself to generate electricity by building a windmill from found materials and scrap parts.
Burkina Faso: Samuel Kiendrebeogo: 1949-2012
R.I.P. Samuel Kiendrebeogo: “The African media community lost a central voice this week with the passing of Samuel Kiendrebeogo, the veteran host of weekly media magazine Médias d'Afrique et D'Ailleurs on Voice of America's French service. Sam, as he was known, died while vacationing in his native Burkina Faso. He...
Africa: Facebook in full expansion in 2011
Joan Tilouine of Africa Tech, on the blog.slateafrique.com blog.slateafrique.com comments [fr] upon the researches made by african internet users during 2011: ‘the most researched term on Google was ”Facebook”. The Social Network, is expanding on the continent, which counts already 32 million users, that is 27% of african internet users....
Africa: Algiers and Dakar Competing for Cultural Leadership in Francophone
The blog edouardtamba.com has published a note by Maurice Simo Djom, from the University of Yaounde stating [fr] that: ”Through two competing festivals, the Fesman and the Panaf, the two countries (Senegal and Algeria) battle for the cultural leadership in Francophone Africa. In fact, this cultural battle underscores a harsh...
Global Voices Most Read Posts in 2011
Global Voices is no longer as lonely a media voice when it comes to reporting tweets and blog posts. Still, where mainstream media interest wanes, we're the ones who continue documenting local citizen media. Discover our top 20 list of most read posts for 2011.
Zambia 2011: Two Events That Shook the Country
Two events in Zambia will go down as having shaken the country to its core in 2011. The first was the death of Second Republican President Frederick Chiluba and the second was the defeat of the ruling MMD after clocking 20 years in power.
Rwanda: How Free Eggs Affected Farmers
A View From the Cave explains how free eggs for communities in Kigali, Rwanda from a church in Atlanta affected farmers: “However, the influx of eggs meant that prices suddenly dropped due to large supply of freely distributed eggs. Farmers who sold eggs in the market could no longer compete…”
Africa: Recapping Mighty African's 2011
Mighty Africa blogs about his highlights and lowlights in 2011: “After 10 years in the USA, I returned home to Ghana. I abandoned my dream of going home with the US’ money, the lure of creating impact in Ghana was too large. And I could make money doing it. The...