Latest posts by Ndesanjo Macha from March, 2011
Nigeria: StandUp Naija 2011
StandUp Naija, a project run by The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), is a series of videos highlighting the expectations of average Nigerians along with policy areas the 2011 elections should address.
Africa: Blog by African feminist artists
Nyangoma is a blog managed by a collective of African feminist artists. The idea was born at the first African Feminist Forum in Accra, Ghana in October 2006. A group of photographers, painters, filmmakers, writers and publishers came together to discuss the role of art in our feminist work.
Ethiopia: Prime Minister Needs to Wake Up
Teodros Kiros says that the Ethiopian Prime Minister has to wake up: “The Prime Minister is indeed blind to the lives of most Ethiopians who are swimming in the murky waters of poverty, political darkness and civil boredom. The Ethiopian youth are marred in a vicious cycle of poverty, which...
Eritrea: How we celebrate “Meskel”
A holiday in my country, Eritrea: “I’m from Eritrea which is in the horn of East Africa. We have a religious holiday called “Meskel” which means “cross”. The holiday is about how our ancestors find the holy cross. It is in September.”
Angola: Celma Ribas new album
Celma Ribas is an Angolan musician who's based in Germany. Celma has been busy promoting her upcoming album which has singles like One love, Commando, Gangsta love, etc.
South Sudan: The UN and civilian protection
Maggie discusses the UN and civilian protection in South Sudan: “As the Southern Sudanese army’s fight continues against rebel forces it claims are backed by the Khartoum government, the question of how everyday southerners caught in the crossfire can and should be protected is becoming increasingly urgent.”
South Africa: Acacia Africa to host tweet-up
Acacia Africa partners with AfricaFreak.com to host tweet-up in South Africa: “Not just an event directed at consumers, Acacia Africa believes their forthcoming tweet up, scheduled for Saturday 19 March, will also be helpful to its trade representatives.”
Africa: Increasing Female Participation in Science and Technology
Gamel looks at practical ways to increase female participation in Science and Technology in Africa: “I disagree with attempts to “level the playing field” through the practice of admitting females into science and technology programmes, in high schools and universities, at lower grades than males.”
Africa: Of Africans and misogyny
Lady Jaye discusses Africans and misogyny: “It would seems Africans (yes, yes, I know I am generalizing) – both men and women – hate women. I can't think of any other explanations for it.
Africa: Database of Social Conflicts Launched
A database of Social Conflicts in Africa has been launched, Mac-Jordan reports: “The Social Conflict in Africa Database (SCAD) will provide information on over 6,300 social conflict events across Africa, including strikes, riots, protests, coups and communal violence dating from 1990 to 2009.”
Nigeria: Vote for “Umblerra”
Nigerian First Lady asks Nigerians to vote for “umblerra”: “An audio recording has emerged of Mrs Jonathan speaking at a rally of the ruling party. She was “trying to persuade her listeners to vote for the ‘Umbrella’, the unmistakable symbol of the Peoples’ Democratic Party.”
Angola: Music with identity
Mário Rui Silva takes us through the musical life of Angolan legend Carlos Lermartina: In 2005 came his fourth record “Frutas do Chão são Coisas Nossas” (Fruit from the ground belongs to us) a “tribute to the life style of the Angolan people and a special focus on the country’s...
Botswana: Maun International Poetry Festival 2011
Maun International Poetry Festival 2011 in Botswana is just around the corner: “Performance poetry is taking Botswana by storm and if you are a fan like I am then on the 26th of March all your roads will lead you to Maun for the inaugural Maun International Poetry Festival 2011.”
Côte d’Ivoire: The making of a new language
Dr. Peter Vakunta speaks to Mema Bamba about the making of a new Ivorian language, Nouchi: “Nouchi is a vernacular language, nonstandard French of sorts, spoken predominantly by the urban youth in Côte d’Ivoire.”
Ghana: Free download of Anajo Black’s Human Like You
MyWeku shares a link to a free music download of Anajo Black’s Human Like You: “Anajo Black is a 21 year old Ghanaian musician who says his music is influenced by Asa, Sade and Dolly Parton amongst others. His album MOMMA was released in October 2010.”
Nigeria: Nigeria Votes 2011
Myweku.com speaks with Bayo Lambo about his new site, NigeriaVotes2011: “It’s a website and platform where potential voters and the curious alike can visit to view, research and indeed review all the candidates running for office in the 2011 elections.”
Cameroon: Twitter Ban Will Stifle Innovation and Development
The government of Cameroon has forced mobile operator MTN to end its five-month old partnership with the microblogging site Twitter and to discontinue its Twitter short code service, Cameroonian blogger Dibussi Tande reports. Dibussi argues that the ban will stifle innovation and development.
Ghana: Follow Ghana Internet Governance Forum on Twitter
You can follow Ghana Internet Governance Forum on Twitter using the hashtag #GhIGF.
Kenya/Nigeria: It feels good to be queer and African
Kenyan filmmaker and activist, Kagendo Murungi talks with Nigeria Queer performance poet and dancer, Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene and filmmaker Selly Thiam project director of None on Record. They talk about their art, coming out and what it means to be Queer and African.
Côte d'Ivoire: Ushahidi gaining popularity among citizens
Collins discusses the deployment of Ushahidi platform in Cote d'Ivoire: “The website is rapidly gaining popularity among the Citizenry of Cote d'Ivoire as Users update via Facebook and Twitter on incidences of violence,events ,humanitarian crises ,unusual occurrences …etc.”
Kenya: Women and political office
The next election will be a good one for women candidates in Kenya: “According to the poll 60 percent of those surveyed would vote for a woman candidate. Women’s performance in public office gets a 62 percent approval rating at parliamentary level, 29 percent at ministerial level and 24 percent...