Global Voices Online

Jennifer Brea

French Language Editor

Stories

August 22nd, 2008

Sub-Saharan Africa

University students in Dakar, Senegal are protesting the government's failure to pay their stipends. Seneblog writes [Fr]: “While athletes from all over the world are vying to break world records in Beijing, the students at Cheikh Anta Diop University are trying to break the record in stone-throwing.”

August 20th, 2008

Sub-Saharan Africa

Théophile Kouamouo [Fr] reviews C'était pas gagné , an autobiography of Ivoirian football star, Didier Drogba.

August 15th, 2008

Sub-Saharan Africa

Théophile Kouamouo proposes organizing “blogcamps” in Abidjan [Fr], meetings where local bloggers can share their experiences and train others who are interested in blogging.

East Asia , Sub-Saharan Africa

Yikpa-Au Village celebrates Togo's first-ever Olympic medal [Fr]. Benjamin Boukpeti won the bronze metal earlier this week in the men's single kayak slalom. “I never thought I would see this in my lifetime. This is truly sensational!!!! Congratulations Benjamin.”

Sub-Saharan Africa , Western Europe

Le blog de [moi] posts a disturbing photograph of a Nigerian prostitute, arrested during a recent raid in Italy, laying half-naked on the floor of a jail cell, covered in dust.

August 14th, 2008

Central Asia & Caucasus , Eastern & Central Europe

Frencheagle writes about Georgia's cozy relationship with the American government [Fr]: “How can we condemn Russia's actions without also condemning America's imperialist policies which use a so-called struggle for liberty and democracy to install new pawns more in line with its own interests.”

August 9th, 2008

Michèle Pierre-Louis, Haiti's new prime minister

Jennifer Brea · 13:21 · Americas

Michelle Pierre-Louis In June, Haitian President René Préval nominated civil society leader, activist and economist Michèle Pierre-Louis Prime Minister. She's faced an uphill battle ever since, her confirmation threatened by widespread rumors about her sexual orientation. (more…)

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July 27th, 2008

Middle East & North Africa

Parole de Democrate [Fr] thinks AFRICOM is a backdoor for expanding US influence in Africa and says that American troops are already conducting anti-terrorist activities on Algerian soil, according to an unnamed source.

D.R. Congo: Kinshasa's “baroque” style

Jennifer Brea · 11:22 · Sub-Saharan Africa

lingua → fr · es

Du Cabiau à Kinshasa writes about Kinshasa's love of excess in a recent post titled “Kinshasa is baroque” [Fr].

« Le baroque est un style qui se caractérise par l’exagération du mouvement, la surcharge décorative, les effets dramatiques, l’exubérance et de la grandeur parfois pompeuse.»

Alors, Kinshasa est incontestablement baroque. La simplicité est rarement du goût des kinois. A la sobriété, ils préfèrent la surabondance. De l’architecture à la musique, de la danse à l’habillement. Ici, on force le trait. En particulier quand il s'agit de frimer, on aime l’excès.

“Baroque is a style characterized by exaggeration of movement, decorative excess, dramatic effects, exuberance and a grandeur that is at times pompous.”

So, Kinshasa is undeniably baroque. Kinois [people of Kinshasa] rarely have a taste for simplicity. They prefer overabundance to sobriety. From architecture to music, from dance to dress. Here, they go overboard. In particular when it comes to showing off, they love excess.

(more…)

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Sub-Saharan Africa

In Congo, the Office of the Prime Minister has accused ten government agencies, including those responsible for collecting taxes and customs revenue, and the national water, electricity, and insurance authorities of embezzling US$ 1.3 billion, reports Forum Realisance [Fr] via Le Potential.