I am a blogger, journalist, lawyer, digital activist and new media consultant. I am interested in the relationship between social media and development in the developing world, particularly Sub-Saharan Africa.
I am the Sub-Saharan Africa Editor here at Global Voices. Follow me on Twitter: @ndesanjo
Latest posts by Ndesanjo Macha from February, 2012
Africa: Vote for the Most Influential African Thinker Alive
Africa is a Country blog wants readers to vote for one influential African thinker from a list of 12 candidates. The list includes Chinua Achebe (Nigeria), Mahmood Mamdani (Uganda), Mamdouh Habashi, (Egypt), Kwame Anthony Appiah (Ghana/United States), J M Coetzee (South Africa/Australia) and Issa Shivji (Tanzania). Voting is open until 5 March, 2012.
Kenya: Kenya Blogger Wins Annual World Media Awards
Kenyan blogger Collins Mbalo is the winners of the first Annual World Media Awards in Best African Blog category: “Collins Mbalo tells the African story from a different perspective. This blog covers issues and topics concerning the everyday African person. A recent interview of ” Sue” a Kenyan prostitute inspired...
Liberia: “Kill the Gays” Bill Spreading
Former Liberian first lady Jewel Howard Taylor has introduced a bill making homosexuality liable to a death sentence. Homosexuality is outlawed in 38 African countries.
Sierra Leone: Postcards From Freetown: Then and Now
Babak uses old postcards from Freetown, Sierra Leone to compare what was then to what is now: “The series of “Once Salone: Freeown’s then and now” is a photography project that sent him sometimes to the most unlikely places to identify the locations.”
Equatorial Guinea: AFCON 2012 is Over, Corruption Fight Continues
The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations is over but the fight against corruption continues: “The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations might have come to an end at the weekend, but rights groups are determined to keep co-hosts Equatorial Guinea in the media spotlight and draw attention to the government’s inherent...
Africa: African Arguments Online
African Arguments Online is a multi-blogging platform that covers contemporary African events and develops debates on themes that are important to an ever changing continent. The platform has 6 blogs: Making Sense of Sudan, African Politics Now!, Rethinking Zimbabwe, Business Africa, The Central Africa Forum and Diaspora Debate.
Africa: Weaving the African Dream Through Social Innovations
Gamel identifies social innovations that weave the African dream: “Tech in Education: This project is the main motivation behind today’s post. Tech in Education is a 48hr gathering of ideas, people and digital tools aimed at creating novel web and mobile solutions to improve learning amongst primary and secondary school...
Africa: Colonial PR Films Provide a Window to Africa's More Recent Past
African Urbanism discusses the UK's Colonial Film Catalogue, a database of more than 6000 films, which provides a window into British colonial period: “…these videos find their value in providing a fantastic trip through time into life in these places — showing people as they were (or, rather, how the...
Swaziland: The Hypocrisy of King Mswati III
Richard Rooney discusses the hypocrisy of King Mswati III of Swaziland: “King Mswati III of Swaziland is being hypocritical when he expresses disappointment at individuals who continue to plunder state resources for personal benefit. That’s because he is the biggest plunderer of state resources and he has bled his subjects...
Gambia: International Chef Talks About Working in the Gambia
Kathryn interviews Jonathan Groves, the executive chef at Ngala Lodge in the Gambia: “Have you ever cooked for 900 people for a wedding and have 1,500 turn up! No, unsurprisingly, me neither. Jonathan Groves, the superb chef at Ngala Lodge has.”
Africa: Do You Need a Handbook For Bush Flying?
“Low timer pilots handbook to bush flying?,” Bush Pilot in Swakopund asks: “I was wondering if any of you would be interested in an e-book that has all the information about the where's, how's and what's of the job hunt in Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania (and also some other information I...
Ghana: Three ICT Books Launched
Three ICT books have been launched in Ghana, Seth Bokpe reports: “THREE books on Information Communication Technology (ICT) have been launched in Accra to enhance the teaching and learning of the subject in educational institutions.”
Uganda: What Lies Beneath the Cloak of Exclusivity?
The formation of a Facebook group called ‘Mzungus in Uganda' has stirred up controversy and a heated debate on Facebook. Mzungu is a term commonly used in southern, central and eastern Africa to mean a white person. The group's description reads, "This is a group for all the Mzungus living in Kampala…to share your likes, dislikes, advice or interesting (or boring) stuff…."
Uganda: The Plight of Urban Poor
Rosebell discusses the plight of urban poor in Kampala, Uganda: “Right in the middle of down town Kampala is a slum called Kisenyi. It’s a place with a mix of many language spoken in Uganda, Eastern Congo, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. The roughest Kampala neighbourhood I have ever...
Kenya: War, Guns and Votes
What will be the impact of Kenya's war with Al Shabaab on the 2012/13 elections?: “A number of questions: will the heightened security requirements associated with the threat of terrorism from Al Shabaab also help secure the country against election violence? Or will security forces be used to intervene in...
