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Fred R.

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About Fred R.

7 posts · joined 2007-05-9

I am a curiosity-driven feature writer who has worked for Human Rights Watch, the UN, the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID).

Born in London, I speak English, quirky French and clumsy Spanish.

My blog is called Extra Extra. It's marvellous.

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Stories

June 6th, 2008

D.R. of Congo: Streamline architecture in Bukavu and getting by in Kinshasa

Do you want to buy something in Kinshasa? Don and Marsha of Congo Chatter have a detailed post on ‘how things are sold' in Kinshasa. Whether you're looking for a European used car, a Coke bottle full of diesel, a walking stick, a football, a 10 cent bag of drinking water, a hard-boiled egg, a bunk-bed or a full sofa suite, it's all right there on the side of the road

January 29th, 2008

D.R. of Congo: tough questions abound

Tough questions abound in the Democratic Republic of Congo as bloggers discuss, among other issues, the recent peace agreement in eastern Congo.

November 23rd, 2007

D. R. of Congo: Interview with ‘Best Francophone Blogger' Cédric Kalonji

It's always heartening to see a good blog make the leap from a niche audience to wider recognition. Global Voices interviews the Kinshasa-based author of this year's 'Best Blog in French' (as chosen by the Best of Blogs jury).

September 4th, 2007

D. R. of Congo: Trouble in the Kivus

This month’s round-up from the Democratic Republic of Congo will focus on bloggers in North and South Kivu. Bordering Rwanda and Burundi, these two provinces represent the troubled epicenter of Central Africa’s picturesque Great Lakes region.

July 26th, 2007

D. R. of Congo: Miracle-peddlars, musical hippos and scary lightbulbs

Probably the most consistently interesting Congolese blog is kept by Cédric Kalonji [Fr], whose photographs and commentary bear humorous but often sorrowful witness to the struggles of ordinary life in Kinshasa, the country's heavily populated, run-down capital. Returning from a recent visit to Europe, Cédric found himself wondering whether the remarkable ...

June 13th, 2007

D.R. of Congo: Rhumba stars of today and yesterday

As Francois recently observed in Du Cabiau à Kinshasa [Fr], “Music and dance probably share the podium with Jesus among the top reasons for living for a majority of the Congolese people.” For a hint of the obsessive enthusiasm with which Congolese music fans trade gossip about the star musicians and debate their merits, you only have to visit forums such as AfroMix, AfricaAmbience and CongoPage [Fr]. However, despite the massive popularity of Congolese music all over Africa, the blogosphere remains relatively quiet on the subject.