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Kiswahili blogosphere this week

Ndesanjo Macha · 18:22 · Sub-Saharan Africa

It looks as if the controversial Zanzibar presidential election will be discussed by Tanzanian bloggers for a long time. Kasri la Mwanazuo, a Tanzanian Kiswahili instructor and journalist based in Texas, discusses reports by election observers concerning the October 20th election. The Zanzibar Electoral Commission announced the incumbent president, Amani Karume, as the winner. American observers reported election irregularities and the American embassy has called for independent inquiry into the violence that followed the October 30th elction. The Zanzibar government has rejected claims by the US.

There have been conflicting statements by election observers. While the US government has pointed out cases of election fraud, Kasri la Mwanazuo notes that observers from Tanzania Election Monitoring Committee (TEMCO), Southern Africa Development Community (SADCC) and African Union (AU) have declared the election to be free and fair. SADCC observers released this statement.

Zainathy, a female journalist from the “capital” of Tanzania, Dodoma, does not understand why only American observers witnessed election fraud. However, that is not her main concern. She would not have cared if the American observers only declared the election unfair. But they went as far as proposing fresh election: “Who are they?” Zainathy asks.

Recently, journalists were assaulted by members of the Civic United Front (CUF). Miruko, a journalist with Mwananchi Publications, remembers when he was assaulted by CUF supporters in 2000. CUF supporters are angry at journalists for what they consider close ties with the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Journalists have become a punching bag in Tanzania, writes Miruko. Two months ago journalists were beaten up by prison warders.

The only Kenyan Kiswahili blogger, Mawazo na Mawaidha, uploads radio blog on his site with some of popular old African songs from musicians and groups such as Papa Wemba and Mbilia Bel.

Pambazuko, a Tanzanian PhD student in South Africa, posts a Kiswahili feature article about policy brutality in Tanzania.

Funguajicho, a Tanzanian student in Uganda, is happy to see a president personally driving his official car.

Kiswahili bloggers sometime share poetry. Kiswahili has a long tradition of poetry production since the 17th century. Harakati shares his poem for the first time on his blog. Kasri la Mwanazuo writes about the political situation in Zanzibar. He challenges Jikomboe to write a reply, which is a common practice in Kiswahili poetry.

Michuzi, a leading photojournalist in Tanzania, shows us an aerial view of the city of Arusha, Northern Tanzania and posts a photo of Rufiji river.

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Jordanian Bloggers React to Amman Bombings

Roba Al Assi · 17:01 · Middle East & North Africa

Child carrying sign that says “No to Terrorism, down with terrorism and Zarqawi” by Lina Ejeilat from the Amman Demonstrations Flickr Set.

The Jordanian community is in a state of rage at the bombings that took place in the much beloved capital Amman on Wednesday night. Demonstration in Amman have been occurring in plentitude, Roba Assi, Lina Ejeilat, and Isam Bayazidi have been attending and you can find pictures from these demonstrations on the Flickr Pool created for the demonstrations and on Isam Bayazidi's Gallery

The news came as shock for most Jordanians despite the fact that the idea of terrorists attacks occuring in Jordan was not completely absent from everyone's mind. Hala of Café Lulu said, “I am truly speechless. All I can think of is what, why, when, who, how?”, and Isam Bayazidi said, “I am a little nervous, don’t know what to say or think.” Laith Majali meanwhile said that his day at work had stopped, “I am just going from one site to another searching for any new piece of news”, and Tololy said, “I am trying not to be emotional but the freshest incidents in Amman, the capital of Jordan, have overwhelmed me.” Abeer Bayazidi also described her initial reaction to the news and said, “I felt like it’s a small explosion, nothing will harm our country!”

Beisan, on the other hand, said, “I wasn't shocked. I think a lot of us saw it coming somehow. Many people sadly have been living in denial, ignoring the fact that terror has been spreading all over the world and very close to home.” Yazan Malakha agrees with Beisan, saying that “freedom has a price“. Lina Ejeilat remarks, “It's no surprise that Jordan has been targeted. When I pose to think about it, I can't help but wonder, what purpose did these explosions serve for those terrorists? So they are anti-US and anti-Israel and they are up against America's war in Iraq and its plans for the Middle East… how exactly does this support their “fight” and help their “cause”?“

Everyone is enraged though- Natasha Tynes said, ” Nothing in the world can justify this. Those that try to justify this can rot in hell as well! May God protect my country and my people. May God bless the souls of those barbarically massacred today. We will never forget!”

Khalaf believes that “We should looks at ourselves with more scrutiny than we are comfortable with”, then says, “We must face is that religious discourse is what is driving these young men to blow themselves up in crowds of innocent victims.” Eman of Aquacool said, ” They waste their lives brainwashing generations, and the brainwashed explode themselves with pride and satisfaction! Not for a second does it even cross their minds that they’re doing nothing but spread fear, destroy tranquility, and cross out stability and peace from countries they belong to, countries that give them shelter!“

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Pulse of the Saudi Blogosphere

Ahmed Al-Omran · 06:55 · Middle East & North Africa

Eid is an occasion of amusement, a time of the year people always relate to with happiness and joy. However, for some Saudi bloggers, this Eid was a little different. For example, Nzingha did not have fun, and thinks that Eids “are generally boring anyway.” Meanwhile, Riyadhawi have decided to break Eid traditions by boycotting the family gathering (Arabic), because some religious relatives of his will kill any kind of fun he might get. There is also Mansour, who is too depressed, and described Eid as the Eid of “loneliness, forbidden streets, and celebrations that have nothing to do with me,” pointing to the fact that most activities of Eid celebration in Saudi Arabia are restricted to families, and no single men are allowed.

Young Saudi men are not comfortable with such restrictions. According to Majoudi, these restrictions leave many people with the feeling that they are isolated and unwelcome (Arabic) by the society, which in return makes them feel discomfort with their own society. However, opening doors to the boys can be unwanted by others, like ubergirl78, who thinks that Saudi males are stupid. She provides plenty of reasons for her conclusion, including racing expensive cars in public streets, and being rude to Saudi girls in particular. Probably what is needed to solve such problem is equality; “[e]quality at all levels, in all places is what the world needs,” Random Saudi says.

On another matter, Abu Sinan, an American blogger married to a Saudi woman, has questioned the real identity of the famous Saudi blogger The Religious Policeman. For Abu Sinan, it seems that reform in Saudi Arabia is the last thing on The Religious Policeman's mind, and even if “he is interested in reform he is going about it the exact WRONG way.” Abu Sinan thinks that he is probably not Saudi, and even called him a “fraud.”

Finally, here are some random, quick snippets from around the Saudi blogosphere: Ruba, one of the youngest bloggers, is so feminist, and she blames Saudi men for that. That also led her to think about writing a book with a friend of hers. Good luck with that! Meanwhile, Rimyoleta makes a list of her 30 favorite blog posts. Fouad al-Farhan talks about his visit to a little village (Arabic) on the coast of the Red Sea. Catch-22 has not celebrated her 25th birthday, and she has some really good reasons for not doing so. Riyadhawi takes on the controversial TV series “Al-Hour Al-Ayen,” and says the hype about it was unjustified (Arabic), and Abu Joori takes on the low performance (Arabic) of the national Saudi airlines.