My name is Alice Backer. I am founder and former team leader of GV Lingua, which amplifies Global Voices in languages other than English. I used to be Francophonia Editor. I was once an editor of New York University School of Law's Review of Law & Social Change. I have been blogging about Haiti, Haitian-Americans and the Caribbean for 5 years at kiskeácity and I tweet from @kiskeacity. I am also a lawyer and campaign consultant.
Latest posts by Alice Backer from February, 2007
Burundi: Where No means Yes
Expat blogger BeneBurundi is learning about local culture (Fr): “Communicating with people from Burundi is all about subtlety and interpretation; for example if you're proposed to and you decline with a ‘no’, it is highly possible that what will be heard will be ‘yes, maybe one day if you insist’....
Senegal: Youssou N'Dour Cinematic Debut
California-based Congolese blogger Alain Mabanckou has nothing but praise for Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour's big screen debut in Amazing Grace (Fr):”to see the few clips featuring Youssou N'dour, I think we'll need to to follow him closely. His future is bright if he chooses to concentrate exclusively in this direction...
Morocco: Vintage Larache Postcard
MarocAntan, a blog dedicated to “documents and souvenirs of past Morocco” posts (Fr) an old postcard depicting an aerial view of Larache.
Martinique & Guadeloupe's Music Opened French César Awards
Martinique-based Internetrapide.com was happy to see the music of Martinique and Guadeloupe featured on the French equivalent of American Oscars(Fr): “The mistress of ceremony of the 2007 edition of the César Awards kicked off the show … by singing a boisterous zouk song, true invitation to celebration and travel.” He...
Senegal: Thumbs Down for the Minister of Justice
Semett alleges that (Fr): “The justice minister … has unjustly broken into the voting center at Ndatté Yalla, in Saint Louis, while votes were being counted and his men have spread chaos in this republican space. They have pushed around the center's managing team and this, in front of police...
Senegal: Voting Process Report Card
Semett ‘s voting process report card (Fr): “The Presidential election took place peacefully and with a participation rate estimated at 70% by the vote's organizers. The electoral body went from 2 to 5 million. More than 2,000 observers were deployed. Generally, the voting process has been positively evaluated and Senegalese...
Haiti: Who Was Louis-Jean Beaugé?
Haiti d'Outre-Mer shares some delightful folk anecdotes about legendary Jérémie native Louis-Jean Beaugé and his descendants. The mythic figure's name has become a Haitian Creole expression to designate people who are fierce. The blog explains that (Fr): “Louis-Jean Beaugé was an officer in the Jérémie garrison in the beginning of...
Tunisia, France: How To Wash the Dirty Laundry At Home
Mouwaten Tounsi deplores (Fr) that ex-Tunisian diplomat Khaled Ben Saïd is being judged in France for torture. He would have liked Ben Saïd judged in Tunisia. He proposes a reconciliation-based justice. The process would focus on indemnification of torture victims by the government rather than on prosecution of officials who...
Senegal Elections: Towards Another Wade Term?
“Senegal Wants Its Freedom Back” headline. By R-Nesto. Yesterday was election day in Senegal. A campaign marked by some violent clashes started about a month ago and most of the Senegalese bloggers were hoping to see the incumbent, PDS [Social Democratic Party] leader Abdoulaye Wade, defeated. Wade has been in...
Haiti: Picture of 1901 Port-au-Prince
As its “historical image of the day,” Alterdestiny posts a picture of Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1901.
Gambia: The Healer President
Blog Politique du Sénégal isn't sure (Fr) whether to laugh or cry about Gambian President Yahia Jammeh's new healer functions: “[He] has taken up a career as a marabout healer. And he is coming into some success. Commercial, that is because I can't put my hand in fire for his...
Africa, China: The Role of Local Governance
Sanaga Peregrinations disagrees (Fr) with commentators who believe Africa is going towards a recolonization by China, suggesting that the point is not to worry about the consequences of Chinese investments but rather to bring local leaders to better manage all foreign investments. She quotes and endorses Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda:...
Cameroon: Journey Through Basaa Country
Sanaga Peregrinations posts (Fr) pictures of a recent trip through “the red land of [her] ancestors”, Basaa country in Cameroon. The photo-journey takes us through Edea, Boumnyebel, the pierced grotto of Ngog Lituba and finally the entrance of her village.
Haiti: Reinforcing Judicial Independence
At Ailleurs Vu d'Ici, Roody Edmé cites (Fr) a recent International Crisis Group report on the Haitian judicial system as “underlining the weakness of our judicial culture when it comes to judges’ ethics and responsibility” and adds: “Legislative proposals are being announced in the Haitian Parliament that seek … to...
French Guiana: Carnaval of Cayenne
Photoblog de la Guyane Française posts (Fr) a picture of women in tree costumes taken near the end of capital Cayenne's carnival.
” Africa Paradis”: A Film on Immigration
Le Pangolin posts (Fr) the synopsis of new film “Africa Paradis” (Fr), a film about two struggling Europeans attempting to migrate to a mythic, rich, future Africa. He also posts an english synopsis.
Martinique: Miss Carnaval 2007
Amandine posts (Fr) pictures of this year's carnival in Martinique, including one of Miss Carnaval 2007.
Guadeloupe: Burning “Vaval” King of Carnival
Vert-Tige Tropical posts pictures of Guadeloupean Carnival and adds (Fr):”The parade starts with a float carrying the King of Carnival ‘Vaval’ who will be burnt at the end of the 3 partying days “
Guinea, Senegal: Lansana Conté Must Leave if He Loves His Country
At Pourquoi l’ Afrique Claudique, Senegalese novelist Ndické Dieye tells (Fr) Guinea’s embattled head of state: “Lansana, leave if you have even an inkling of conscience or patriotism left! Leave to avoid an unnecessary blood bath! … I ask the police … to refuse to execute any illegal order given...
Africa: Manifesto for the United States of Africa
Le Pangolin posts (Fr) a Manifesto for the United States of Africa written by the Working Group of African Students in France. The document was presented to Alpha Omar Konaré, the President of the African Union Commission, in March 2004 and was inspired by other country unions around the world...
Haiti: Live Carnival Online
Haitistream.com, belradio.com and sakapfet.com broadcast Haiti Carnaval 2007 live starting at 4pm today and tomorrow.
