Global Voices » Ndesanjo Macha

Lesotho: Lesotho vs Corruption

Ndesanjo Macha — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:04:14 +0000

Help make a documentary about how Lesotho, a small country, took on Big Corruption and won. An African success.

Africa: Young Farmers Idea Contest

Ndesanjo Macha — Thu, 31 May 2012 08:54:17 +0000

Through the Young Farmers Idea Contest, the African diaspora and volunteers alike are invited to share their ideas on new ways to engage youths in sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 18 through educational projects, community-building initiatives, and social programs, all centered around agriculture and farming.

Lesotho: Peaceful Elections You Did Not Hear About

Ndesanjo Macha — Wed, 30 May 2012 14:53:50 +0000

Lesotho held peaceful parliamentary elections on Sunday. The ruling Democratic Congress of Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili won most votes but fell short of the required majority. Lesotho opposition parties have formed a coalition in order to form government.

Why is Western mainstream media not telling you about Lesotho's peaceful election? JohnsonJJ says you should not be surprised. He explains how Western pundits decide what is newsworthy in Africa:

It’s unsurprising that this has garnered little attention. In fact, the country receives very little international media attention except in the form of poverty porn that stresses how horrible, destitute and AIDS-ridden Lesotho is.

A voter in Lesotho supporting Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili. Photo courtesy of Simon Allison&dailymaverick.co.za

Lesotho, he argues, is too insignificant to sell in the United States:

The media establishment knows us pretty well. It knows that simplistic – sensationalized – stories sell in America. We’re not so great with nuance. This is why we were so sold on the idea, for example, that the Rwandan genocide was the result of “ancient ethnic hatreds” rather than geopolitical context. It’s also how we learned that failed state Somalia failed mainly because of its hordes of angry terrorists obsessed with killing Americans. And it’s how we came to learn that all African children have distended bellies and flies on their faces all day. It’s also how we learned from (the ever-obtuse) Nicholas Kristof that most African women suffer from “female genital mutilation” and that FGM poses the greatest threat to women on the entire continent.
—

It’s that Lesotho is too small and insignificant to warrant our attention, and in any case, a tiny country with a burgeoning civil society? That’s never going to sell in the United States. If our uncritical engagement with media is any indication, we’re not even particularly engaged with our own.

Zachary Rosen notes that even when Lesotho receives media coverage, the articles are usually about AIDS and poverty:

The little coverage it does garner often assumes readers are completely ignorant and takes great pains to emphasize dismal statistics about rates of HIV/AIDS and poverty.

Overall, few articles have attempted to move beyond superficialities and actually delve into the complexities of the local political atmosphere and the implications of the election outcome.

Well, even South African media ignored Lesotho elections. Lesotho is completely surrounded by South Africa.

@fanamokoena: It's embarrassing that SA media gives us daily updates on French elections but fail to do the same for sister country Lesotho. Irresponsible

@BelindaaPheto: Saddening to see SA's media houses showing little or no interest on the Lesotho elections.

@simonallison: Strange but true: I was the only journalist from any SA print or online pub. covering Lesotho elections. All other content from wires. Crazy

@sheofnations: @simonallison Makes sense for Int'l content,but it's highly problematic that news about the continent is filtered through Int'l media houses

@simonallison: @sheofnations yep, almost everything we read about Africa in SA is handpicked by European and American editors for their audiences…

Lesotho is a landlocked country completely surrounded by South Africa. It is a constitutional monarchy. The Prime Minister is head of government while the king has ceremonial function. The name Lesotho translates roughly into the land of the people who speak Sesotho.

Kenya: #NairobiBlast Rocks Nairobi, Trends on Twitter

Ndesanjo Macha — Mon, 28 May 2012 13:17:21 +0000

An explosion struck one of Nairobi's major roads, Moi Avenue, in Kenya's capital Monday afternoon. Initial investigations suggest that the blast resulted from electric fault in the area. Kenya's Police Commissioner has refuted rumors of bomb attacks linked to Al-Shabaab.

Kenya has been hit with a series of bomb and grenade attacks in Kenya since the country's military incursion into Somalia against Al Shabaab dubbed “Operation Linda Nchi” (Swahili for “Operation Defend the Country”).

On Twitter, netizens use the hashtaga #NairobiBlast and #MoiAvenueBlast to discuss the tragedy and share information.

The scene of the blast in Nairobi. Photo shared on Twitpic by @JoeWMuchiri.

Please stay away:

@__RamzZy__: Unless you're the press, If you've no business near the scene stay away. Let the Police & Rescue teams do their work. #MoiAvenueBlast

@cobbo3: Dangerous for pple to gather on Moi & Kimathi St after #MoiAvenueBlast. If terror bomb, usuallly a 2nd bomb is nearby to hit crowds.

Media responsibility:

@jaydab: @mckenziecnn,we r waiting to see n hear what ul say about #nairobiblast. report as it is and dont exaggerate.

@CyrusNjoroge: When social media landed in town,we all became ‘experts'.We never wait for facts. #Nairobiblast

@saddiqueshaban: I sincerely hope @MediaCouncilK is keenly watching the conduct of media houses as they report on the #nairobiblast. Resposibility a must

@Kevin2Tek: #NairobiBlast now trending globally.Please watch what you tweet,dont spread panic or pander lies!

What caused the blast?:

@iAMneshynsky: people should stop jumping into conclusion and say its an al shabaab atack..it could be anything at this point #NairobiBlast

@careywinnie: oh God,i hope my movie stalls friends are ok and everyone else!! #NairobiBlast #moiavenue wtf happened?

@jowac50: RT #NairobiBlast Police boss Mathew Iteere says explosion caused by electrical fault - Reports

@Fionaakumu: The words “blasts” and “explosions” need to be re-examined. Since when did they become synonymous to each other? #MoiAvenueBlast

Government irresponsibility:

@tonybkaranja: We really need a disaster management plan that's not just on paper #nairobiblast

@MisterAlbie: Again our lack of proper disaster awareness and preparedness bites us in our behinds. #Firehydrants etc #MoiAvenueBlast

@TeamKonshens1: Just shows how incompetent our Emergency response teams are!! Looks like a movie on live TV! #NairobiBlast

@iCabway: #MoiAvenueBlast reminds us why fire hydrant installation MUST be enforced in this troubled age. African cities are hopeless in that regard.

Looting amidst tragedy:

@iAMneshynsky: Looters doing what they know best on moi avenue #NairobiBlast

@rmunene: Kenyans “siphoning” shoes and clothes from the stalls at the scene of the blast. #nairobiBlast #KTNLiveStream

Police inefficiency:

@ArybaStacks: I don't know why police are still allowing people along the whole Moi Av. stretch… What if there is a second blast? #MoiAvenueBlast

@Mwanikih: Cops making a bad situation worse by forcefully trying to evacuate the crowds. Now guys are shouting “Mlikua wapi?” [where were you?] #NairobiBlast

Kenyan police say 27 people who were injured in the blast were undergoing treatment.

Somaliland: Sectors for Potential Investment

Ndesanjo Macha — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:14:49 +0000

John identifies sectors in Somaliland that are attractive for potential investment: “Although not blessed with mineral wealth, arable land, or a large population, Somaliland does have a few sectors that might interest seasoned investors or savvy entrepreneurs. Infrastructure is one major area.”

Eritrea: Visit Eritrea Blog

Ndesanjo Macha — Sun, 27 May 2012 17:07:08 +0000

Learn about Eritrea from Visit Eritrea blog: “The Visit Eritrea blog is designed to provide readers with a regular update on issues relevant to Eritrea.”

Africa: Hands Off Africa Event in London

Ndesanjo Macha — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:46:38 +0000

Hands Off Somalia blog announces hand Hands off Africa! meeting: “Join us at 2pm on Saturday 16 June at the Horn of Africa Community Group centre to listen to speakers discuss the recent new scramble for African resources by Britain and its imperialist allies in Europe and around the world.”

Africa: Kwani? Manuscript Project Announces Literary Prize

Ndesanjo Macha — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:25:30 +0000

“To celebrate the African novel and its adaptability and resilience, Kwani Trust announces a one-off new literary prize for African writing. The Kwani? Manuscript Project calls for the submission of unpublished fiction manuscripts from African writers across the continent and in the Diaspora,” Nana reports.

Zimbabwe: On “Look East Policy”

Ndesanjo Macha — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:50:39 +0000

Rumbdidzai Dube discusses “Look East Policy” in Zimbabwe: “I am told the “Look-East Policy” is a lucrative alternative to the West, it is supposed to be about fighting neo-colonialism and resisting Western Hegemony over our sovereign affairs and welfare as a society.”

Africa: Music From Saharan Cellphones

Ndesanjo Macha — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:40:46 +0000

Chris Kirkley presents “Music From Saharan Cellphones”: The music on the compilation was collected from cellphones in the Northern Malian town of Kidal. In much of West Africa, cellphones are are used as all-purpose multimedia devices.

Cameroon: Announcing Cameroon Startup Challenge

Ndesanjo Macha — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:35:12 +0000

VC4Africa announces Cameroon Startup Challenge: The competition offers a cash prize of USD $5,000 for the most innovative web, mobile or hardware-based business venture in Cameroon.”

Africa: Celebrating Africa Liberation Day on Twitter

Ndesanjo Macha — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:04:38 +0000

Africa Liberation Day is the annual commemoration on May 25 of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Africa Liberation Day 2012, originally called Africa Freedom Day, marks the 49th anniversary of Africa Day and the 10-year existence of the African Union (AU).

Africans and friends of Africa have been tweeting Africa Liberation Day throughout the day.

@Chrisfordshind1: It's africa freedom day.but what i know you can't be ignorant and be free at a same time,but knowing the truth is a begining of freedom.

@Luyanda_Peter received a t-shirt to celebrate Africa Day in 2010. Photo courtesy of Twitter user @Luyanda_Peter

@Thagman_Hits: Its not just a matter of celebrating “africa freedom day”.its a question of,”are people experiencin real freedom?”

@laokov: Happy Africa Freedom day people,but is Africa FREE?

@NikiMapoma: Good Morning! Today is Africa Freedom Day. I've read Zambia is one of only four countries where it's a Nat'l Holiday. How will YOU spend it?

@Thato_wally: Its nt a happy africa day if our ppl r stil in the illusion of freedom,if corruption is seen as a norm nd a common practise…

@Pepuzani: Africa freedom day, well I guess there is some freedom to celebrate. Freedom Of using Facebook.

@champoj: Do not make the same mistakes your parents made,learn from them n make your life bright even as we are celebrating africa freedom day!

@Mutakala88: Am celebrating Africa Freedom Day by reading the Zambian Draft Constitution #ZambianPride #fb

@khadijapatel: RT @khayadlanga: Since it's Africa day, here Thabo Mbeki's great “I am an African” speech. Refamiliarise yourself http://bit.ly/LxspGq
View media

@lead_sa: RT @williamwealth: @702JohnRobbie @lead_sa Are you an Afri-CAN or an Afri-CAN'T? I believe we can! Enjoy Africa Day!

@stwala20: Happy Africa day. People be proud of being an African with your cultural practices. Forward with economic freedom in Africa forward.

Kenyan Poet celebrates the day with a poem:

It all started as a vision of one man,
A the dream of one son,
A son of Ghana, a Nkrumah who sang a song
whose words were written with the blood of our brothers sailed off
to plantations as slaves to white masters.
A song whose rhythm and tune was hummed
by the cries of our people
Feet shuffling, hands trembling, mouths begging

We don’t know them!
We don’t know the freedom fighters

The rhythm of whips cracking on their backs
The sound of gunshots reigning in the dull yet sunny days,
Dark, yet moonlit nights.
The sounds had become a dirge to their ears
Maafa, Maafa [atrocities in Swahili]

Africa: Talking About Africa's Digital Future

Ndesanjo Macha — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:53:16 +0000

Will Mutua talks to CEO and co-founder of buni.tv, a new internet video platform specifically focused on content created in Africa or about Africa.

Ghana: Make Petroleum Revenue Management Bill Public

Ndesanjo Macha — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:08:29 +0000

Seth Bokpe reports that a coalition of civil society organisations in Ghana has called on the government to make the draft Petroleum Revenue Management Bill public.

South Sudan: South Sudan Theatre Company Online

Ndesanjo Macha — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:56:07 +0000

South Sudan Theatre Company online: “Advised and led by three of South Sudan’s most respected cultural leaders, a group of artists and dramatists have come together to form the South Sudan Theatre Company. Under the shadow of war, southern Sudanese artists experimented with theatrical form and created performances in streets, camps for displaced people, towns and the countryside.”