· May, 2009

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from May, 2009

Egypt: Cairo Refugee Film Festival

Integrating refugees in society is the aim of a film festival with a difference. Marwa Rakha learns about the Cairo Refugee Film Festival, being held from June 16 to 20 from the event's blog through a fellow blogger, and shares her findings in this post.

Africa: Remembering Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem

  29 May 2009

Africa has lost one of its greatest sons, Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem. He died on the eve of Africa Day in a car accident in Nairobi on his way to launch a maternal health campaign in Kigali, Rwanda. Tajudeen was the Director of Justice Africa, General Secretary of the Pan-African Movement, Chairperson for the Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme (PADEAP), Chair of the International Governing Council of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Outreach Coordinator on the Millennium Development Goals in Africa.

Zimbabwe: Is Movement for Democratic Change backing down?

  29 May 2009

Is the Movement for Democractic Change in Zimbabwe backing down?, “In a shocking about face, the MDC told the media yesterday that they could live with Gideon Gono because they can “manage and control him” through a revision of the Reserve Bank Act.”

India: Perspectives on Growing up in India

  28 May 2009

Thanks to the Adobe Youth Voices program, young people in different parts of the world are having the opportunity to experiment with audiovisual equipment and tell their stories from their perspective. Such is the case in India, where youth from many different schools and slums have been making videos to show the world that surrounds them and their concerns.

Uganda: Katine Project brings villagers to blogosphere

  28 May 2009

Uganda's Internet penetration rate is a little over six percent, a number that prevents large swaths of the population from joining Uganda's blogren or accessing the global blogosphere. For one village, the Guardian and Observer's Katine Project is working to change that.

Mozambique: House of the Flying Azagaias

  27 May 2009

In Mozambique, rapper Azagaia has continued to fascinate and infuriate bloggers. His critics claim his political lyrics amount to demagoguery. Others defend his music, to which many Mozambicans happily provide the chorus, and say his critics speak in exclusive, academic terms.

Africa: Most African Countries Do Not Recognise Africa Day

  26 May 2009

Africa Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Ethiopia. Public events have taken place in different parts of the world to honour this day. Bloggers and twitter users have also remembered this day by writing posts and...

Sudan: Government requires journalists to be registered

  25 May 2009

The Sudanese government wants journalists to be registered; “The Sudanese government started a move last week to issue a law on journalist to require them to register themselves with the government media regulator so that the government would monitor them if they misuse there power as journalist.”

Malawi elections: Upending the pundits’ predictions

  25 May 2009

With the elections over and the incumbent president Bingu wa Mutharika sworn in for his second and last term, Malawian bloggers (Mabloga) are awed by two developments that went against the predictions of many, especially the punditry. First was the suggestion that the presidential contest would be very close. It...

Kenya: First Open-Source Awards

  25 May 2009

First Open-Source Awards in Kenya will take place this week in Nairobi: “The Linux Professional Association of Kenya and ICT Consumers Association of Kenya will be hosting Kenya’s first-ever open source awards at the end of this month.”

Kenya: Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem dies in car accident

  25 May 2009

Firoze Manji reports the death of Pan-African activist and Direct of Justice Africa, Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem: Tajudeen Abdul Raheem tragically died in car accident this morning in Nairobi. We mourn the loss of this Pan African activist.

Zambia: Final thoughts on HIV discrimination case

  23 May 2009

The postponement of HIV discrimination case in Zambia is surprising: So the only reason for the postponement was that the lawyer assigned to the case from the Attorney-General’s office was unable to come to Livingstone from Lusaka for the trial today. A few reasons why I find this surprising. First,...

Malawi: Time to heal campaign bruises

  23 May 2009

It is time for Malawi to heal 2009 campaign bruises: Mutharika said it was time for Malawi to heal “bruises of a gruelling campaign” and focus on developing the country. To prove his commitment to this endeavour, the president assured the opposition and all Malawians that he will not practice...

Madagascar: Protester Freed, Journalists Demonstrate Against Censorship

  20 May 2009

The Malagasy online community was relieved to hear the news that Razily, a protester who was arrested in late March, was seen in public and he seems well and about. While much is still unknown about the circumstances of Razily's release, many bloggers hope that this event signifies the beginning of a return to normalcy with respect to the conduct of the country's security forces.

Malawi: Bingu wa Mutharika Leading

  20 May 2009

Bingu wa Mutharika is leading in the presidential election in Malawi: “Partial Electoral Commission (EC) results announced at 10:30am today show Bingu wa Mutharika, presidential candidate for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the May 19 elections, leading against hottest contender John Tembo.”

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.