Global Voices Online

Benin couleurs posts photos of a Solidarite Internationale project to build a sound studio (Fr) that will produce traditional music.

China 's new focus on investing in Africa has been well documented. However, Eloi Goutchili thinks that Africa should also embrace the Chinese influence on culture (Fr). Goutchili advocates the practical application of Senghor's theory: the need for Africa to open itself to the whole world and not only the western world.

Benninese blogger Blaise Aplogan writes about the upcoming festival of Voodoo, set to take place in Paris this week, and the ongoing Voodoo debate (Fr): “More and more, prophetic religions, notably Christianity, are investing in a dialogue with traditional African religions…[and] traditional African religious leaders are asking themselves what meaning to give to democracy, scientific and technological reason, [and Christianity]…”

Babilown writes about the decision to move independence celebrations (Fr) to Abomey, capital of the historic kingdom of Dahomey.

Babilown posts an article that asks whether the Beninese press is living up to its responsibility (Fr) to act as the “fourth branch” of government. “Whether the executive, the legislative, or the judicial branch…in all spheres of public life, too often we are content to wallow in mediocrity, in the so-so and minimum service becomes the rule. The press should not limit itself to this “classic” model.”

Togo played Benin in Cotonu this Sunday, the fifth day of qualifying matches for the 2008 Africa cup. Benin won (4-1), but not before their supporters engaged in what Togo-iTunes calls “gratuitous violence” (Fr). Togo-iTunes has photographs of the match and the rowdy fans, taken by a Togolese journalist posing as a Congolese.

Babilown writes about a new edition [Fr] of Les Appels du Vodun (The Call of Voodoo).

Babilown points to an article in Le Matin (Fr) about rumors that Benin's government plans to create a Ministry of Religion, and outlines the potential of such a ministry to erode the constitutional separation of church and state (Fr). In a comment, T. Nouatin agrees that although a Ministry of Religion can hijacked by religious interests seeking to exert control over the state, it can also be a means of easing tensions between religious communities and preventing sectarian violence.

At Babilown, French-Beninian author Blaise Aplognan describes the religious and political function of human sacrifice (Fr) in ancient societies: “…its goal was to channel violence toward a (sacrificed) individual, toward the sacred realm, institutionalizing violence by supervising it and practicing it according to very precise rules and rituals.”