Review of African blogs

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Blacklooks.org, run by Sokari Ekine, has won the public choice for the Best Weblog in English by the Bobs Award (http://www.thebobs.com/). She is far too modest to mention this herself. But Pambazuka News is proud of this well deserved achievement! Congralutions, Sokari.

The Editors
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This is a well deserved award

'African Painters' - African Painters has a feature on ‘fantasy coffins’ made in Ghana which are fast becoming tourist attractions.

“Coffins crafted as hammers, fish, cars, mobile phones, hens, roosters, leopards, lions, canoes, cocoa beans and several elephants”.

However despite the fanciful wooden carved coffins, the business of death is still taken seriously at prices ranging up to $400.

'Jewels in the Jungle' - Jewels in Jungle http://jewelsnthejungle.blogspot.com/2006/11/china-africa-summit-2006-view-from.html reports on the China Africa summit which he heads as “The Battle for Africa’s Hearts and Minds… and Black Gold – Round 2.” His report focuses on the World Bank’s reaction to the summit:

“The World Bank on Thursday welcomed China's increased involvement with Africa but urged the rising Asian power to learn lessons from past donors when helping the impoverished continent. ‘My summary take on the Chinese engagement in Africa is that it is broadly positive,’ said John Page, the World Bank's Chief Economist for Africa. ‘We witnessed the emergence of one of the most significantly successful developing countries as a development partner for Africa, and therefore perhaps a source of ideas and innovation,’ he told reporters in Tokyo after attending China's weekend summit with delegates from 48 African nations.”

Jewels is very much on the pro-China/Africa investment side and though his report is highly informative and interesting it does not address issues of how China’s investments in Africa will filter down to the masses. Nor does he address China’s possible influence on national government policies, press freedoms and human rights.

'Kenyan Pundit' - Kenyan Pundit http://www.kenyanpundit.com/?p=247 comments on the growth of the ICT sector in Kenya where, as recently as 2003, VOIP and Wi-Fi were actually illegal in the country.

“In a case over the issuance of a competing gateway license, the Communications tribunal ruled that the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) was to ignore any policy guidelines of a specific nature coming from the Ministry as the [Communications] Act was clear that CCK was to give ‘due regard to policy guidelines of a general nature’. This means that CCK’s independence as a regulator has been reemphasized and underlined. This is HUGE. Most regulatory bodies in Africa suffer from a lack of independence due to constant interference from the government, ICASA is South Africa is a good case in point.”

'Grandiose Parlor' - Grandiose Parlor http://grandioseparlor.com/2006/11/nigeria-impeaches-the-fifth-governor-in-12-monthsreports on the fifth Nigerian Governor to be impeached in 12 months. The latest victim is the Governor of Plateau State, Chief Joshua Dariye:

“Dariye’s impeachment saga was a long-drawn battle that started sometime in January 2004, when he jumped bail following his arrest in London for money laundering. Since then he has been able to manipulate and checkmate all impeachment moves by the state legislature. His capitulation may not have been possible without the interference of the feds, particularly the EFCC.”

Increasing the drama is the Governor of Ekiti who has actually disappeared and is believed to be in hiding – is this really possible in a modern day democracy? What kind of leaders do we have in Nigeria?

'Kiuyumoja’s Realm' Kiuyumoja's realm shows how to make a water filter using alternative technology using every day household products.

“Almost all supermarkets in Kenya sell bottled water, and many also sell special water filters with about 1-3 filter candles inside. These filters are available in different sizes, often made out of stainless steel and will cost about Ksh. 1800/= (~ US-$ 25,- // EUR 20,-). To filter the water, all you have to do is put a litre of it on the top container and wait for it to percolate through the ceramic filter element into the container below which of course takes some time.

“I also wanted to have such a filter system to filter the tap water, but I wasn’t willing to invest so much money. Also, I’ve seen this alternative filter system at use in our office - so it became clear that I had to build my own and see that I don’t spend too much money on this DIY project. Many households all over the country use these water filter systems these days - which is good!"

Kiuyumoja provides full instructions, plus lots of diagrams, so if you need a simple cheap water filter I suggest you try this one out.

'This is Zimbabwe' - This is Zimbabwe http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/451reports that 129 out of 1000 children in Zimbabwe will not live beyond the age of five. In the US the number is eight out of 1000 and six out of 1000 in the UK.

"Those statistics are for 2004, and things have no doubt got worse since then. By contrast, in 1985 the rate was only 59 deaths per 1000…In human terms, that means that for every 1000 children born in Zimbabwe, only 871 will make it to their fifth birthday."

'Black Looks' - Black Looks http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/11/we_always_have_the_right_to_say_no.html[/ur] reports on a new documentary film called “NO” which highlights the realities of rape in the African American community and also focuses on the healing process for victims.

“This is one of the most important films on sexual violence against women which is endemic in our communities. Silence is no longer an option on sexual abuse in our communities and this film exposes the realities of rape but also addresses ways in which healing can take place. In South Africa the rape statistics are unbelievably high - where POWA reports that a woman is raped every 26 seconds. Rape in our communities speaks to how society perceives Black women’s bodies. The policy and system of Apartheid constructed the Black woman as the lowest of the low, denigrated and despised condoning our bodies to zones of violence and abuse.”

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org
• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org