Global Voices Online

Registan.net reports on the Uzbek president's Constitution Day speech, in which he announced the theme for the new year.

Leila writes about a Czech musician eager to learn about her roots in Kazakhstan.

Onnik Krikorian marks the 18th anniversary of the 1988 Armenian earthquake that killed 25,000 and continues to impact northern regions of the country.

Afrigadget writes about a foldaway house in South Africa: “Rajan Harinarain, a South African entrepreneur and inventor has come up with a temporary foldaway house for use in emergency situations complete with electrical wiring and fittings, doors and windows that can be erected by a small team in 5 minutes.”

Grandiose Parlor weighs in on Black Looks' post, Technorati Bomb for Africa.

UDPS Liege announces (Fr) that 5 supporters of party leader Etienne Tshisekedi were arrested in the Matonge neighborhood at a demo on Wednesday. The blog provides four names: Passy Mutombo, Jean Robert Bongeye, Kelly Mukendi and Pepe Lokaso.

L'Odyssee de Tattum just discovered the band Alafia of which she writes (Fr): “With more than 300 concerts in tow, Alafia is a presence at numerous festivals … Alafia's sunny sound is partly inspired by malagasy rhythms such as Malesa and Salegy, but it is first and foremost a melting pot, both human and musical.” You can sample the group's music in the post.

Blog Politique du Senegal writes (Fr): “If Wade was as wise as Mandela, he would retire …”