Elia Varela Serra · January, 2009

Latest posts by Elia Varela Serra from January, 2009

Senegal: Beach wrestling

  16 January 2009

George Esunge Fominyen writes about the popularity of traditional wrestlilng in Senegal's beaches, and posts a video shot in the touristic resort of Mbour. He writes: “wrestlers competing in the championnat de lutte avec Frappe, earn fabulous sums of money. Youngsters are dreaming of emulating their local champions”.

The beauty of Sudan in pictures

  14 January 2009

Memoirs of a Sudanese breath has been posting a series of pictures of Sudan under the title “Beauty of Sudan“: battling women, traveling by donkey or camel in rural areas, a gula water container, landscapes, public transportation vehicles, and more landscapes.

Comparing Illinois governor Blagojevic and his Nigerian counterparts

  14 January 2009

Grandiose Parlor draws a parallel between the impeachment of the Illinois State Governor (U.S) Rod Blagojevic over corruption charges, with Nigerian governors: “while the two are corrupt – well, maybe not in equal measures-, the political system in the state of Illinois is able to self-correct, promptly”. The blog also...

Guinea: Civil society is key

  13 January 2009

Black Star Journal reviews and analyses the latest developments in Guinea. He concludes: “With the former opposition political parties impotent and incoherent, an organized and assertive civil society might be the difference between a military junta that keeps its promise to cede power via democratic elections this year and one...

DR Congo: A musical roundup

  13 January 2009

With so much bad news coming from the Democratic Republic of Congo lately, we decided to show a different perspective on the country and looking at a completely different type of blogs for a change - those highlighting Congolese music.

DR Congo: ICC trial for Bemba?

  13 January 2009

Bana Congo [Fr] and Wronging Rights report that Jean-Pierre Bemba‘s confirmation of charges hearing began at the International Criminal Court on January 12. Bemba is alleged to be criminally responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Central African Republic (CAR) between October 25, 2002 and March...

Ghana: Is ‘largely’ free and fair enough?

  11 January 2009

Belle of Catalyzing Change wonders why irregularities during the recent Presidential elections in Ghana have been overlooked: “Of all the media I have seen and heard though; both African and broader international, there has been little mention of any irregularities. This bothers me because it is not as if there...

Zimbabwe: Running out of money and zeroes

  11 January 2009

World Bank economist and blogger Shanta Devarajan of the Africa Can blog, posted a letter sent by a friend in Zimbabwe describing the long lines at the ATM's and banks to withdraw money. On the other hand, This is Zimbabwe describes the confusion people experience with zeroes, since everything costs...

South Africa: Why condemning Israel is wrong

  11 January 2009

Justin Hartman is upset about the ANC, the ruling South African party, condemning the attacks on Gaza by Israel: “…this upsets me is because our leaders are quick to jump on this political band-wagon while they’ve done absolutely nothing about the bigger problem just outside our borders – Zimbabwe. Why...

Côte d'Ivoire: Former combattants’ life today

  10 January 2009

Yoro has been writing about former rebel combattants in Côte d'Ivoire at Chronique Ivoirienne [Fr], with photos of Camille Millerand. In one article, he describes the life of 10 female former combattants who fought during the 5 years of wars in Côte d'Ivoire since 2003, and who are now demobilised...

Cameroon: Little Bright Fuh passes away

  10 January 2009

The Bright Fuh Supporters blog reports that Bright Fuh, a four year old Cameroonian boy suffering from a rare orbital tumor passed away on January 8th. George Esunge Fominyen reposted in his blog a comment left at the Friends of Bright Fuh online forum pointing at the defficiencies of Cameroonian...

Africa needs God?

  7 January 2009

Rombo of What an African woman thinks criticises a recent article by Mathew Parris for The Times UK titled “As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God“. And she wonders: “why does everybody assume that no African had ever climbed the mountain before the adventurous foreigner came along and...

Ethiopia: Poor maintenance of historical buildings

  7 January 2009

A few days ago Arefe of Addis Journal posted a picture of a historical building in Addis Ababa from the 1920s, and has now posted one of another building from the same period complaining about the poor maintenance of such building. He says: “…there is a booming of buildings which...

Nigeria: No tolerance for same sex relationships

  7 January 2009

Ebekuo of Icheoku wonders if Nigeria is becoming more intolerant towards same sex relationships, after Ruth Simon and Clementina Jerome, two police-women serving with the Nigerian police force in Sokoto State were recently dismissed from the police for allegedly engaging in “lesbianism or somewhat lesbian acts of affection”.

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