· June, 2010

Stories about Sub-Saharan Africa from June, 2010

Cape Verde: Bau Talks On Being a Musician in a Small Country

  30 June 2010

In an interview for blog Café Margoso [pt], musician Bau shares his dream of creating a music school for the children of Cape Verde. The artist says that because he is based in “such a small country”, he finds many restrictions to the possibilities of growing as an artist.

World Cup 2010: Who's to blame for Nigeria's performance?

  30 June 2010

Nigerian football fans were dismayed Tuesday when the team's final chance of advancing in the 2010 World Cup evaporated in a 2-2 tie with South Korea. In the blogosphere, disappointment was the prevailing emotion, though many fans were not surprised by the outcome.

Angola: Once Upon a Time in Roque Santeiro

  29 June 2010

The development experienced by Luanda holds one of the most frequented commercial spaces in the city. The Roque Santeiro Market, that generates thousands of dollars a day, to account, is about to close its “doors” to reopen in a more dignified and modern area, in Panguila.

Africa: Africa's old men

Africa's old men: “I haven’t checked the maths but here’s something interesting sent in to us from a subscriber: Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) age 86, Hosni Mubarak (Egypt) age 82, Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia) age 74, Rupiah Banda (Zambia) age 73, Mwai Kibaki (Kenya) age 71…”

Africa: The vuvuzelization of world football

  29 June 2010

“The vuvuzela, much like Ghana’s Black Stars, has beaten odds to become more than a cheering instrument. It has now attained the status of an African metaphor for the unacknowledged ways in which Africa determines particular discourses at the global level,” writes Steven Sharra.

Africa: The Great Green Wall of Africa

  29 June 2010

Gold discussing the Great Green Wall of Africa: “The Great Green Wall of Africa was first suggested by the ex-Nigerian Prez Olusegun Obasanjo, in 2005…”

Mauritius: 30 Prisoners escape from jail

  28 June 2010

“Around 30 prisoners have escaped from the GRNW jail in Mauritius this evening. The prisoners attacked the jail officers at around 18.30 hrs today and fled as members of the public watched the scene with an utmost astonishment,” Island Crisis reports.

South Africa: Rethinking customary law

  28 June 2010

Pierre de Vos discusses South African customary law: “When I studied law at Stellenbosch University, we did not study a single aspect of customary law. It was as if customary law (and the millions of people who lived in terms of it) did not exist.”

Cape Verde: My life in Cachaço

  28 June 2010

Steven blogs about his life as a volunteer in Cape Verde: “Cape Verdeans bathe regularly, sometimes twice a day, and fully half of each bath is devoted to cleaning the feet. Baths are generally taken outside, while wearing underwear.”

Zimbabwe: Celebrating World Cup in Harare

  28 June 2010

Bev Clark on celebrating the World Cup in Harare, Zimbabwe: “Some of the Kubatana team have been moving around various pubs in Harare to watch world cup games. Our favourite haunt so far is Boleros in Chisipite.”

Rwanda: Update on Semadwinga's murder

  27 June 2010

Update on the killing of a senior political figure in Rwanda, Denis Ntare Semadwinga: “Semadwinga was linked to a dissident faction of the CNDP that had written a letter denouncing the party's leadership back in May. The signatory of that statement, Patrice Habarurema, was arrested by Rwandan police shortly afterwards.”

Kenya: Social media reality check

  27 June 2010

The state of social media in Kenya: “The rush to use social networks in Kenya today is appearing more like a bandwagon effect and not a solid business strategy.”

Rwanda: Worrying signs in Kigali

  27 June 2010

Worrying signs in Kigali: “Jean-Leonard Rugambage, the editor of the Umuvugizi newspaper in Kigali, was gunned down in front of his home on Thursday. A man came up to his car as he was driving into his gate and shot him in the head and chest, killing him immediately.”

Ghana: Obama, we are sorry

  27 June 2010

“Obama we are sorry,” says Ghanaian photographer and blogger Nana following Ghana victory USA at the FIFA World Cup: “It’s quite unfortunate you’d have to skip dinner today. We know you’ve been terribly stressed lately: BP, Flotilla, Health Reform, Overweight recruits… and then this happens.”

Guinea-Bissau: Are Armed Forces linked to Narcotraffic?

  26 June 2010

General António Indjai, who led the military unrest of April in Guinea Bissau, was yesterday appointed [pt] Armed Forces Chief of Staff by President Malam Bacai Sanha. The blogosphere has been talking about his aledged active role with narco trafficking [pt].

Worldwide: The oil spills that don't make the news

  26 June 2010

The tragic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has the world's attention on the devastation that badly managed oil extraction can bring. However, in some places around the world, people live with toxic spills such as these and through videos people try to bring the world's attention to their plight.

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.