I am a consultant and freelance journalist currently living in Kinshasa.
I used to keep a blog called Extra Extra. These days I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of a new, anonymous one.
Latest posts by Fred
D. R. of Congo: Independence Cha Cha
The Democratic Republic of Congo is celebrating the 50th anniversary of independence from Belgian rule. As the state proudly wheeled out some expensive new military hardware for the delectation of visiting dignitaries, bloggers Kakaluigi and Congo Miliki describe the parades in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, while other Congolese bloggers reminisce about the era of independence.
D. R. of Congo: The hazards of neglect
Congoblog is a marvel. Every post deserves a mention, but here are some of the more arresting posts to have appeared so far in January 2010.
D.R. of Congo: Streamline architecture in Bukavu and getting by in Kinshasa
Do you want to buy something in Kinshasa? Don and Marsha of Congo Chatter have a detailed post on ‘how things are sold' in Kinshasa. Whether you're looking for a European used car, a Coke bottle full of diesel, a walking stick, a football, a 10 cent bag of drinking water, a hard-boiled egg, a bunk-bed or a full sofa suite, it's all right there on the side of the road
D.R. of Congo: tough questions abound
Tough questions abound in the Democratic Republic of Congo as bloggers discuss, among other issues, the recent peace agreement in eastern Congo.
D. R. of Congo: Interview with ‘Best Francophone Blogger’ Cédric Kalonji
It's always heartening to see a good blog make the leap from a niche audience to wider recognition. Global Voices interviews the Kinshasa-based author of this year's 'Best Blog in French' (as chosen by the Best of Blogs jury).
D. R. of Congo: Trouble in the Kivus
This month’s round-up from the Democratic Republic of Congo will focus on bloggers in North and South Kivu. Bordering Rwanda and Burundi, these two provinces represent the troubled epicenter of Central Africa’s picturesque Great Lakes region.
D. R. of Congo: Miracle-peddlars, musical hippos and scary lightbulbs
Probably the most consistently interesting Congolese blog is kept by Cédric Kalonji [Fr], whose photographs and commentary bear humorous but often sorrowful witness to the struggles of ordinary life in...
D.R. of Congo: Rhumba stars of today and yesterday
As Francois recently observed in Du Cabiau à Kinshasa [Fr], “Music and dance probably share the podium with Jesus among the top reasons for living for a majority of the Congolese people.” For a hint of the obsessive enthusiasm with which Congolese music fans trade gossip about the star musicians and debate their merits, you only have to visit forums such as AfroMix, AfricaAmbience and CongoPage [Fr]. However, despite the massive popularity of Congolese music all over Africa, the blogosphere remains relatively quiet on the subject.
D. R. Congo: Park Rangers Attacked, Flying over Katanga, Music meets Social Activism, and Ants 2 – Brian 0
Access to the Internet in the Democratic Republic of Congo is gradually improving (World Bank figures suggest there are already over 6 million users), but will remain prohibitively expensive as long as service providers are dependent on satellite connections. In such a context, it should come as no surprise that there are only a handful of Congolese bloggers. Chatrooms and instant messaging are very popular, however, and with the influence of the Diaspora, it’s easy to imagine that many more young Congolese people will soon be following the footsteps of pioneers like Cedric, perhaps blogging in Lingala, Luba, Kikongo and Swahili as well as French.
