Stories about French from December, 2007
Ethiopia: Queen of Sheba, Now Available in French
Francophone music blog Roots and Culture interviews Samuel Malher, a religious scholar from Strasbourg who has written the first unabridged French translation of the Kebra Negast, a sacred Ethiopian text. It describes the heritage of the Ethiopian monarchs, who trace their lineage to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, and how the Ethiopians became God's new chosen people when the Ark of the Covenant was taken from Israel to Ethiopia.
Ethiopia: French Translation of the Kebra Nagast
Roots and Culture interviews [FR] Samuel Mahler, who recently translated the Kebra Nagast, a sacred text of many Ethiopian Christians and Rastafarians, into French.
Madagascar: Zoma market photographs
Harinjaka posts photos from Zoma market in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Morocco recalls ambassador from Senegal
Blog politique au Senegal writes [FR] about the King of Morocco's decision to recall his ambassador from Senegal in a spat over Western Sahara: “It must have been a nasty blow to [the king's] ego when a socialist ex-minister dared refuse to adopt the Moroccan line on the fate of...
Burkina Faso and the Hajj
QuophyBlogeur writes about the perils of Burkinabe muslims [FR] making the pilgrimage to Mecca: “Fortunately Allah is merciful enough to tolerate the late arrival of poor pilgrims at the mercy of an organization practically on the verge of chaos.”
Burkina Faso Soon a Biofuel Producer
Last month, Burkina Faso and the French company AgroEd signed a framework agreement for developing a biofuels industry. Netizens express their skepticism about whether Burkina can become a competitive producer of biofuels, and whether ordinary people, in particular the farmers, will benefit.
Francophone Morocco on Eid Mubarak Said
Last week, Morocco celebrated Aid el-Kebir (“Big Eid”), a festival commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and God's mercy in sparing him. Family members visit each other over the largest meals they can afford, exchange gifts (often clothing), give alms (zakat, one of the five Pillars of Islam)...
Morocco: Shock at Benazir Bhutto's Death
Following yesterday's news of Benazir Bhutto's assassination, Moroccan bloggers react to the tragedy. Jillian York and Lydia Beyoud sum up a spate of reactions from the Anglophone and Francophone blogoma.
Morocco: Seeing stars in Marrakesh
It's been a star-struck week in the French-speaking Moroccan bloggosphere, famous international figures being a primary focus of discussion. Several bloggers wrote about the happenings at the seventh edition of the International Marrakesh Film Festival, most notably on the reception there of American director Martin Scorcese and some famous Egyptian film stars.
Madagascar elections: a warning for the current regime?
The final results of the municipal elections for Antananarivo, the capital city of Madagascar, were handed out last week. The independent candidate, Andry Rajoelina, won against the candidate of the presidential party, Hery Rafalimanana, in an upset many bloggers perceive as a warning for the current president.
Dubai Real Estate Company Invests in Rwanda
Dubai World, Dubai's real estate investment holding company, announced plans to invest $230 million in the Rwandan tourism industry [Fr], writes Addax.
The Politics of Cleaning Up Dakar
Senablog writes about the Senegalese government's latest attempts to rid the streets of Dakar of informal traders [Fr], which last month prompted large protests. Senablog describes how previous efforts have been unsuccessful because of the support traders enjoy from marabouts and some politicians.
Algeria: Sitting in a Tent
Algerian blogger Jilal (Ar/Fr) has achieved a life long dream and sat in a tent – not in the Middle East, but in Paris. Click here for photographs.
Senegal: Images from Goree Island
Seckasysteme writes about the infamous Goree Island [Fr] in Senegal and its curator, Boubacar Joseph N'Diaye.
Haitian Magistrate on the Right to Die
A magistrate from Cap-Haitien shares his views on the right to die [Fr].
Polygamy and AIDS in Africa
Reseau sida Afrique on polygamy and AIDS [Fr] in Africa
The wrong way to fight AIDS in Sudan
In Sudan, Zizou from Djerba critiques what he calls a “poster of death” that uses a skull and crossbones [Fr] to warn people about the dangers of AIDS, without offering any information about treatment or prevention. He writes that AIDS is no longer a death sentence, and that the wrong...
Sudan, Nation of Contrasts
Zizou from Djerba compares the moral universe of a theatrical play [Fr] about democracy and women's rights staged at a rich international school in Khartoum with the realities of illiteracy, infant mortality and short average life expectancy the population at large must face, concluding that Sudan is a nation of...
Togo: Kangi Alem announces residency for young francophone writers
Kangi Alem announces an artists’ residency [Fr] in Lome for young francophone African writers.
Burkina Faso: What Causes Corruption?
Babilown posts a video [Fr] where the head of an NGO in Ouagadougou describes corruption in Burkina Faso and its causes, while another discusses the situation in Brazil.
The Anonymous Blogging guide is now available in French
The Anonymous Blogging with WordPress and Tor guide is now available in French thanks to this translation by the Tunisian blogger Malek Khadhraoui, and we are busy making translations into other languages. The guide outlines several methods of protecting one’s identity in order to avoid retaliation and can considerably...
