· July, 2007

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from July, 2007

Kenya: Protesters arrested

  31 July 2007

Mzalendo reports the arrest of Kenyan activists who are opposing the proposed Kshs 1.4 billion bonus for MPs: “Finally, we URGE Mzalendo users to support the protest in your own small way by letting your MP know exactly how you feel about the proposed gratuity by leaving them a comment...

South Africa: Is blogosphere a decent place?

  31 July 2007

Anne writes about a very interesting case for bloggers and net activists, “The 39-year-old man suspected of posing as the male prostitute who blogged about having sex with prominent South Africans has appeared in a magistrate's court in Cape Town on charges of theft and crimen injuria*. The crimen injuria...

Uganda Responds – and Doesn't – To “Stop Trying To Save Africa”

  31 July 2007

“Maybe I just go where the weather is better,” says Josh of In An African Minute. He’s referring to why he chooses to work in Africa rather than where his family is from in Eastern Europe, but also to the current ruckus that’s been unleashed by the essay "Stop Trying to Save Africa,” in the Washington Post by Uzodinma Iweala. The American raised and Harvard educated Nigerian novelist wrote a compelling essay, one which the Expats in the Ugandan blogosphere have almost all felt necessary to formulate a response to.

Namibia: Namibian rugby online

  30 July 2007

Namibia Forum on Namibian rugby website: “It was about time: NamibianRugby.com has finally become a reality for all those eager to follow the developments in Namibia online.”

Ethiopia: new music from Ethiopia

  30 July 2007

Addis Journal reviews a new CD by the Ethiopian musician, Gossaye Tesfaye: “It’s been some three weeks since Gossaye Tesfaye’s newest Amharic CD, ‘Satamagn bila’ was released.The Amharic phrase ‘Satamagn Bila’ is normally used to higlight political conflict when one party is trying to rationalize its act of bad deeds.But...

Somaliland: Arrest of opposition politicians condemned

  30 July 2007

The Voice of Somaliland publishes a statement from the Qaran Party:”It is regrettable that at this day and age, having all experienced the horrors of bad regimes in the past, the people of S/Land are once again reliving the abusive powers of yet another callous regime.”

Africa: United States of Africa debate

  30 July 2007

Bills writes about the United States of Africa debate: “What is also interesting are the historical origins of this debate and the passionate arguments being presented from prominent African figures such as the flamboyant Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi, Nigeria’s new President Umaru Yar’Adua, AU Chairperson and President of Ghana John...

Africa: Design Africa

  30 July 2007

Ugo points readers to Design Africa: “Design Africa’s mission is twofold: to help today’s distinctive African design emerge, and to accelerate the economic development of the communities and countries involved through the positive impact of exports.”

Africa: how to take care of African fabrics

  28 July 2007

Ladybrille blogs about African fabrics: “Ladies, especially those in Europe and America, have you ever tried buying African fabrics? They never seem to come with instructions! How frustrating is that? What do you do with them. Where is the back, where is the front? Should they be dry cleaned or...

Africa: Stop trying to save Africa

  28 July 2007

Joshua joins the “Stop trying to save Africa” debate: “Those in the Afro-blogosphere have heard these points many times, though they seem to stick more when they come from a provocative headline penned by a much acclaimed young novelist whose classmates (he graduated from Harvard in 2005) are the ‘perky...

Zimbabwe: Economics by terror

  27 July 2007

Cry Beloved Zimbabwe: “5000 business executives and store managers have been arrested in Zimbabwe since Mugabe started his crackdown on business accusing them of hiking the prices of basic commodities in order to topple his government.”

Madagascar: Community, Identity and the Malagasy diaspora

  27 July 2007

As it is sometimes the case for sub-Saharan African nations, the Malagasy diaspora carries a substantial weight of the cultural, political and virtual activities related to Madagascar. In the World Wide Web, the bandwidth limitation is a major encumbrance to a larger participation of bloggers from Madagascar in the global...

Fighting HIV/AIDS in ‘post-Islamist’ Sudan

  27 July 2007

Despite the challenges of preventing the spread of HIV in what remains a deeply conservative society, a Tunisian blogger working in Sudan's national AIDS prevention program observes a growing openness to once-taboo ideas.

South Africa: commodification of poverty

  26 July 2007

What is this commodification of poverty in South Africa?: “The commodification of poverty is becoming more fashionable by the hour. For instance, a new restaurant in Greenside, a trendy suburb near Johannesburg ’s CBD, allows its patrons to enjoy their dining experience as if they were in a shack.”

Israeli Security at a South African airport?

Walton Pantland is outraged that Israeli security police are operating in South Africa where they detained, interrogated and strip searched Xolile Nxu, the Vice-President of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) at O R Tambo Airport (formally Johannesburg International).

Botswana: fighting HIV/Aids with billboards

  26 July 2007

Latest efforts in the fight against HIV/Aids in Nata village, Botswana: “Another new billboard in the fight against HIV/AIDS has appeared in Nata. This campaign is aimed at the men of Botswana. The men in Botswana have had a history of not taking part in the numerous AIDS programs that...

Nigeria: This is Port Harcourt

  26 July 2007

Titilayo remembers her experience in Port Harcourt: “I am writing this from Kaduna, a commercial hub of northern Nigerian. I had to travel from Abuja to Kaduna by road and by Nigerian standards, I will call the roads…smoo0ooth roads. This prompted me to reminisce on my first visit to Port...

D. R. of Congo: Miracle-peddlars, musical hippos and scary lightbulbs

  26 July 2007

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 Kinshasa, the country's heavily populated, run-down capital. Returning from a recent visit to Europe, Cédric found himself wondering whether the...

Tanzania: Swiss government removes all tariffs and quotas

  24 July 2007

Gillian writes about the decision by the Swiss government to remove all tarrifs on trade with Tanzania: “The Swiss government has removed all tariffs and quotas standing in the way of Tanzanian exports destined for Switzerland. The new regulations came into force in April 2007, and are expected to benefit...

Africa: New exhibit by Ghanaian architect in New York

  24 July 2007

Annansi writes about a new exhibit by the Ghanaian architect, David Adjaye, at the Studio Museum of Harlem, New York City: “The exhibit, Making Public Buildings, introduces Adjaye’s architecture to American audiences by carrying viewers through his working process-from inspiration to completion-through ten projects, both built and uncompleted.”

About our Sub-Saharan Africa coverage

Zita Zage
Zita Zage is the Anglophone Africa Editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.

Jean Sovon
Jean Sovon is the Francophone Africa. Editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.

Dércio Tsandzana
Dércio Tsandzana is the Lusophone (Portuguese) editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.