'African Shirts' - African Shirts (http://africanshirts.blogspot.com/2006/11/nigerias-finest.html) points to a report by Amnesty International on the rape of Nigerian women by the Nigerian police force:

“What do Nigerian police do when they're not killing innocent people, taking bribes, and doing nothing? They rape Nigerian women. An Amnesty International report is doing the rounds…”

Nothing new here. The Nigerian Police, their paramilitary brethren, the Mobile Police locally known as the hated MOPO and the Nigerian Army have been raping and beating women and girls in the Niger Delta for the past 15 years. Hardly any of these acts of violence have been reported in the Nigerian or foreign media despite numerous reports by Human Rights Watch.

'The Concoction' - The Concoction (http://theconcoction.blogspot.com/2006/11/i-should-have-used-pankhurst.html) compares the different organisational structures of traditional organisations in Northern Ethiopia with those of Western and Western like NGOs.

“I examined the organizational structures of the traditional organizations in one region in Northern Ethiopia and selected NGOs working in the country. Surprisingly, the traditional organizations are democratic, with the members on top of the organizational chart and the CEO all the way down. NGOs have the opposite - never mind the 'we-are-governed-by-our-contributors' marketing line. My recommendation to the organization that sponsored the research was you're damn fool if you don't make traditional organizations your development partners, especially in the program design stage."

Her point is that it is unfortunate that Western NGOs have failed to learn from traditional knowledge systems, not just in Ethiopia but throughout the Global South. Instead they work on the premise that their knowledge and organisational structures are superior and transferable to other cultures and systems.

'The African Uptimist' - The African Uptimist (http://agbe.typepad.com/the_african_uptimist/2006/08/putting_water_i.html) writes on the possibilities of producing and using hydrogen as a fuel in Africa.

“In a few years, we could be seeing hydrogen fueled cars, public mini-buses and other vehicles on African roads, running with nothing more than water in their fuel tanks. That was one possibility that came to mind upon reading David Adam's interesting piece ‘A fuel tank full of water’ (New Scientist, July 29, 2006). He reports that Tareq Abu-Hamed of the University of Minnesota, and colleagues at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel have developed a practical approach to producing hydrogen from water.

"This approach, which relies on simple, high-school chemistry (as described below), overcomes many of the obstacles that till now have prevented the dream of a hydrogen-powered car becoming reality."

'Jangbalajugbu' Jangbalajugbu (http://www.edwardpopoola.com/blog/?p=71) congratulates a young Nigerian student blogger, Edward Popoola, for winning the Top ICT Educator in Africa, an award by Forgeahead, a South African based ICT research and consulting house.

“I got to the final rounds and was mentioned among the top three finalists. At that point, it got more interesting and I was happy with myself. I googled Forgeahead and from their loud profile all over the Internet as a respected firm in South Africa, it was not enough for me to be just among the finalists, I hoped to be the winner…I got invited to the award ceremony, but as a result of the lateness of my visa application, I couldn’t make the award night in J’burg. Though it was not a case of visa denial, I was not happy all the same. I was however able to get Titi Akinsanmi, my sister from another mother, who is based in SA to accept the award for me.”

It was unfortunate that due to visa problems Edward was unable to attend the ceremony. Interesting that it is harder to enter South Africa with an African passport than with a European one. Nigeria is probably one of the most difficult passports to hold when it comes to getting a visa to travel anywhere!

'Friends of Ethiopia' - Friends of Ethiopia - (http://friendsofethiopia.blogspot.com/2006/12/hazardous-hand-me-downs-un...) reports on an environmental conference held in Nairobi last week - The Basel Convention - a treaty which regulates the movement of toxic waste across national boundaries. Friends refers specifically to the recent dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast.

“On Thursday the Nairobi conference convened a high-level World Forum on E-Wastes to confront the growing reality that, in addition to its many benefits, the global consumer goods revolution is generating massive quantities of end-of-life computers and other obsolete electronic equipment…Some 20 to 50 million metric tonnes of e-waste are generated worldwide every year, comprising more than 5% of all municipal solid waste. When the millions of computers purchased around the world every year (183 million in 2004) become obsolete they leave behind lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous wastes…Similarly, the use and disposal of mobile phones - which like PCs barely existed 20 years ago - is increasing dramatically. By 2008 the number of cell phone users around the world is projected to reach some two billion. Leading cell phone manufacturers are collaborating through the Basel Convention's Mobile Phone Partnership Initiative to find better ways to reduce and manage this growing waste stream.”

'Black Looks' - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/12/mining_violations_in_ghana.html) reports on the actions of multinational mining companies operating in Ghana. They are destroying the local ecological system as well as committing acts of violence against local communities. Only last week activists were arrested for meeting with local community leaders and are presently in prison having been refused bail.

“Ghana is presently on the edge of a biodiversity disaster as mining companies such as Anglo Gold Ashanti (AGA), Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) and Newmont Gold Ghana (NGG). The use of toxic chemicals from the mining has led to contaminated water supplies. The forests which have been reduced from 8.3 million hectares in 1957 have been depleted to a mere 1.2 million with over 700 varieties of trees, plants, birds and animals all at risk of being destroyed forever. The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has been monitoring the activities of both the multinationals and the EPA. One of the main problems is the weakness of the environmental laws plus the Ghanaian governments unwillingness (like in the Niger Delta) to insist on the multinationals meeting international standards in their mining activities. Protests by WACAM and local communities are met with violence and intimidation.”

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

This week in the review of African blogs, I am going to focus solely on blogs by African women. The number of women blogging has quadrupled over the past year and each week more and more African women in the homeland and the Diaspora are blogging. The majority could be described as journals – postings on thoughts and daily experiences - but there are also a number of blogs that, for example, specifically deal with politics, social justice, sexuality and literature.

'Adaure' - Adaure *href="http://according2adaure.blogspot.com/2006/11/celebrating-nigerian-women-...) guest posts on Bella Naija - Bella Naija (http://bellanaija.blogspot.com/2006/11/pen-ladies-by-adaure.html) in which she “celebrates Nigerian women writers” from Flora Nwapa through to today’s gifted writers such as Sefi Atta.

“Nigerian women have proven themselves to be great story tellers. You see and hear them in action every day. From the kitchen to the office and school, the market place to the river bank, the beer parlor-canteen to the hair and nail salon. They are telling all sorts of stories be it about love, money, sex, religion or tradition. It is no wonder there are more Nigerian women blogging, and that number keeps growing daily. We have even coined a distinctly Nigerian hobby called gisting, not to be confused with gossiping. While men have dominated the literary and publishing field, some women have certainly made their mark, both in the past and present. The 21 century has also seen a new wave of Nigerian women writers many of whom are young, possess a freshness that had been lacking and are fearless in the approach.”

This is an excellent post. The only disappointment is that Diane Evans who wrote 26a was not included and in that respect a particular comment stood out.

“Diane is half Nigerian so she might be worth adding to your list”. I take issue with the statement as I don’t see people as being half this or half that. Particularly offensive is the “she MIGHT BE WORTH adding to the list” – or maybe she might not! Who is to decide? I do not know Ms Evans but I do know she has visited Nigeria recently and has arranged with Nigerian publishers to have her book published locally. Her father is Nigerian so as far as I am concerned there is no problem about her being included in a list of Nigerian women writers. She is one.

'Kameelah Writes' Kameelah Writes (http://kameelahwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/mugabe-and-ahmadinejad-oh-my-...) comments on the emerging alliance between Robert Mugabe and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Kameelah, although definitely no apologist for Mugabe, sees the economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by the West as influencing Mugabe’s search for alternative alliances such as China and now Iran.

“Mugabe’s land reform program (seizing white-owned farms for redistribution to new black farmers), matched with allegations of election fraud in 2000 & 2002 (which without being an apologist for Mugabe, America has no moral upper hand in critiquing) and political repression have earned Zimbabwe coveted membership in Condoleezza rice’s illustrious ‘outpost of the tyranny’ club.

Joining such stars as Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Belarus and Myanmar, Zimbabwe became officially ‘evil’ and has been subject to a the host of diplomatic pressures to surgically remove Mugabe from office. It seems as if this club has the ability to bring together kindred spirits as Zimbabwe and Iran are joining forces to challenge Western hegemony. During Mugabe’s four day visit to Iran this week, Iran and Zimbabwe signed five memoranda of understanding to boost agricultural, energy, development aid, economic, technical and education cooperation.”

The truth is that Mugabe has lost all credibility and whilst he looks to the East for economic and moral support whilst condemning the West, he is destroying the lives of his own people and his country.

'Kenyan blogger and poet Mshairi' - Mshairi - (http://www.mshairi.com/blog/2006/11/26/a-change-is-gonna-come/) pays tribute to her sister, Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro who passed away on October 12th after nearly 4 years in a coma.

“A distinguished economist, Dr. Wanjiru Kihoro graduated from Columbia University and went on to earn an MA in Development Studies and a PhD at Leeds University. Over the years she gained the respect and admiration of many for her dedication to matters of gender, equality, justice and democracy.

“A long time London resident, Dr. Kihoro was one of the founders of the Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners in Kenya formed in 1982. The Committee fought to highlight the plight of university lecturers, students and other so-called “dissidents” incarcerated in various Kenyan maximum security prisons. Largely as a result of the Committee’s pressure, most of the prisoners were adopted by Amnesty International and other international human rights organisations as prisoners of conscience.”

'Rosemary Ekosso' - Rosemary Ekosso (http://www.ekosso.com/2006/11/dr_george_ayitt.html) points to an article by Dr George Ayittey on China (France) and Africa. Ayittey discusses what China wants in Africa and how Africans should view this new pragmatic "friendship".

"The real problem was the retinue of clueless African clods, who attended Chopsticks Conference at Beijing in October. ‘Clueless’ because that was no Berlin Conference for sure. No European powers were present; only one Asian power, China. And no Maxim gun was needed. But lying prostrate at China's feet were 40 African heads of state, offering themselves for voluntary economic enslavement. Disgusting.

“Elementary principles of demand and supply suggest that that was a buyer's market. When 40 desperate suppliers are competing for one buyer's attention, the buyer calls the shots. With chopsticks dexterity, China can pick platinum from Zimbabwe; oil from Angola, Nigeria and Sudan; cocoa from Ghana; diamonds from Sierra Leone; etc. – all on its own terms because of its strong bargaining position. Few radical intellectuals and African heads of state see nothing wrong with this huge imbalance because China is perceived to be a ‘friend of Africa’ since it is ‘anti-West.’

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend' has been the seductive fallacy. Those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it."

What a breath of fresh air to hear someone actually look both East and West in the face and speak the truth of their interest in Africa in the past, now and in the future.

'Nigerian blogger', Reflections 2 - Reflections 2 (http://bettyboopu.blogspot.com/2006/11/repost-made-in-nigeria.html) has a hilarious post commenting on the Nigerian government’s drive to improve exports. The blog renames a host of Nigeria’s favourite foods so we end up with these (just a selection and am sorry the names just don’t hold up for me):

“Kilishi - Beef Crackers; Roasted Corn - Corn Aflame; Ogi/Akamu - Corn Caramel; Garri - Grain O Fibers; Ikokore -Continental Yam Casserole; Kunnu - Grain Alive.”

'Freedom for Egyptians' - Freedom For Egyptians (http://freedomforegyptians.blogspot.com/2006/11/cairo-international-film...) comments on the Cairo International Film Festival where this year’s guests of honour are Latin American films.

“Believe it or not, Cairo Film Festival is hosting for the first time movies from Saudi Arabia and Oman. Yes, Saudi Arabia... It is the first movie production for Oman. And, the Saudi movie is starring Saudi actors and actresses and is written by Egyptian script writer Belal Fadel…Late Egyptian Writer Naguib Mahfouz will be honored in the 30th round for the festival. Mahfouz passed away this year at the age of 95.”

'Black Looks' - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/11/1189.html) has expanded by inviting three African women to contribute to Black Looks as often as possible, a move she hopes will broaden the base of the blog. This week, she comments on the response from various African governments and media to the passing of the “Same Sex Marriage Bill” in South Africa earlier this month. A number of countries that had never previously discussed the issue of homosexuality in public are now doing so, such as Burkina Faso and Mozambique. The Kenyan Times came out publicly stating that:

“I am not sure that homosexuality has a European lineage otherwise the holy book would not have mentioned and discussed about it. I think it is very true and probably so that homosexuality is practiced (but not spoken openly about) in Africa by African peoples. I stand to be corrected to the contrary with empirical evidence.”

Other countries such as Nigeria and Uganda remain intransigent in their views, refusing even to discuss the matter as a human rights issue.

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

'' describes his experience in the town of Juba in Southern Sudan.

“Some people die. Some survive. When bullets went off three meters from my tent, my first instinct was to unzip the tent and peep, my second instinct was to save my life -- keep the head to the ground, [and] -- as the shooting continued… – [I decided that what I needed to do] was to take the first car/plane -- or whatever -- out of Juba the following day. The instinct for survival trumped the instinct to be an eye witness. I lived to tell the tale.

“Gunshots went off at 4 a.m. Thursday, reverberating through half of Juba, less than a kilometer from Southern Sudan's Parliament buildings. Seconds into the breakout of the gun exchange a car raced along a lane between homesteads, firing back as it drove off, and as its engine died down into the distance.”

Last week I listened to the first report on Al Jazeera’s English channel on Darfur. It was an interview with the General in charge of the AU troops who basically said his presence had minimal impact on the lives of the people he was supposed to be protecting. He had only one soldier for every two square kilometres and he needed at least 17 000 more in order to make a significant difference.

'fleur d’ Afrique' writes that she sometimes wishes she came from a different country – not the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Election results were out a few mins ago. Folks are patiently waiting for the crazy shit to start. Isn’t it sad when you actually patiently wait for things to explode? *sigh* Today I really really really hate my country. Some things can’t be undone.

“I’d still go back to live there but things will never be the same again. Call it nostalgia or whatever. There were certain things I was looking forward to experience again...won’t happen”

Since writing this piece, there have been clashes between Joseph Kabila’s forces and those of his opponent, John Pierre Bembe. The truth is that for most people like Fleur the only acceptable winner is peace and this does not seem to be happening. The leadership and opposition in the DRC, like many other countries, are selfish and think only of themselves – the people they elect to serve are the least of their concerns.

'Just Thots by a Naijaman' writes an excellent piece on Nigeria’s political mindset called “Nigeria: Snippets from our ‘nascent’ demonstration of craziness aka democracy! Where politicians leave it to God to determine all things including who is in control and indulge in sychophancy and the idol worship of those who call themselves ‘leaders’ of the nation."

“Journalist: How do you feel about your present position?
Governor Etiaba: It is the will of God.
Journalist: Why the visit to the President?
Governor Etiaba: I came to pledge loyalty to the President because he is the father of the nation.
Journalist: What is the political situation in Anambra State?
Governor Etiaba: God is in control.
Journalist: What are your priorities?
Governor Etiaba: Good governance.”

‘God’ indeed is in control of arson, political brigandage, massive looting of the treasury, circumventing the will of the people, and godfatherism. While the people groan under the burden of misgovernance, political office holders are busy pledging their ‘loyalty’ to the ‘father of the nation.’

'Ijebuman’s Diary' continues continues with the religious theme in Nigerian society. This time it is the failure of Nigeria’s politicians to follow the scriptures or be ‘Godly’ that is the source of Nigeria’s present day problems.

“Our problem is not global recession, it all started in 1977 when we used God's oil money to promote and display demons of Africa under the pretence of rich African culture, all nations of Africa brought their idols (He is referring to the Festival of Arts and Culture, Festac 77 held in Nigeria in 1977), we built a town for them called Festac town and a big theatre, the capital expenses ran into millions of dollars. God was up there, repenting he ever created us. There was no time our government ever sponsored a gospel crusade.

“The whole world has turned against us, threatening sanctions
all over, it is not that we don't have good government but the sins of our fathers will not permit them to perform, the demons we invited have taken their permanent residence here.”

'Scribbles from the Den' reviews ‘The Lion Man and Other Stories’ by Peter Vakunta. The book is a collection of short stories from the village of Bamunka in Cameroons.

“It is truly a mirror that reflects the socio-cultural life of the inhabitants of the region. It is a pointer to the worldview and value systems of the people. Each story is an entity in itself harboring a moral. The stories deal with life yesterday, today and tomorrow. They constitute a bridge between the near and the far. The book’s special merit resides in its suitability to the young and the old. High school and college students with an interest in African folklore and literature would find the collection indispensable.”

'Black Looks posts two pieces' involving Kenyan writer and academic, Professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o in which he was asked to leave a hotel he was staying in San Francisco just last week. In the incident, the professor was sitting on the verandah of the hotel when an employee came up to him told him this place was for guests only and asked him to leave. The professor related the experience…

"This place is for guests of the hotel. You have to leave.”
Handling the matter calmly and intrigued by the assertion of the man, the Professor asked “How do you know that I am not a guest of the hotel?” The man continued unabated “You have to leave. This is for guests of the hotel.”
“But how do you know that I am not a guest?” the Professor asked again. “You have to leave.” “But you have not even asked me if I am staying in the hotel”
‘Okay. Are you staying at the hotel?’ The tone and demeanour was of a man who had made up his mind that the Professor could not be a guest. “Let’s us go to the reception desk,” the Professor told him. “It is not necessary,” he said. “Just leave.”

The blogosphere responded to the racist incident via comments and some took up the call to write to the management and the CEO who responded personally stating he would make a public apology and wrote:

“Prejudice still exists in America. It is real and palpable. While we’ve all witnessed superficial changes in America over the past four decades, the reality is that people 'pre-judge' each other way too much, whether it’s based upon skin color, religion, sexual orientation, age, economic status, or some other factor that makes one 'the other.'"

Unfortunately the matter did not end there, as a comment was then left anonymously by an employee which contradicted the CEO’s statement. Black Looks posts the employees comment - Black Looks

“THIS IS NOT AN INCIDENT OF RACISM. As an employee of the spoken restaurant I am appalled that this can even be considered an incident of racism. This is San Francisco, a city with the worst homelessness problem in the nation. Daily we have people from the street wander in and disrupt service. Crack addicts, prostitutes, etc. disturb people who are paying good money to eat and stay here. Constantly we have to escort disgusting trashy people from our restaurant on the embarcadero in order to ensure a sense of security amongst out guests. It does not matter whether you are black, white, pink or blue, if you come into our restaurant reeking of body odor, adorning dreadlocks, and wearing filthy clothes, you run the risk of being escorted from any fine dining establishment. Any restaurant in the state of California reserves the right to refuse service to ANYONE. Service was refused to this man based on his appearance not his race. If anyone has strong enough evidence than I to contest this statement I would like to know. We are a tolerant community and a diversely employed restaurant, how dare you try to bring down our good name for an issue that has been dead for years.”

Part of Black Looks's response, which hopefully will again be taken up by the blogosphere and mainstream media, was:

“The most significant aspects about this comment are first that he denies that racism exists yet his statement is so loaded with prejudice and discrimination, not to talk of lack of humanity. Secondly, is his more emotional reaction which is the manifestation of his attitude towards other human beings and basically boils down to making judgments about people which includes one’s skin colour and any other “visible statement of difference” because that is what this is about. It’s about not respecting and accepting difference in a land where wearing “no brand name” clothes is seen as subversive, dreadlocks as seditious and deviant and “prostitutes” the lowest of the low - he obviously has no thought on the punters who presumably are the “clean shaven, baldheaded, beardless, Tommy Hilfiger dressed white” acceptable guests in his hotel”.

The names and address of the hotel senior personnel are published on the website and it is hoped that as many people as possible will write to them expressing their disgust not only at the incident itself but the comment by one of their employees.

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org

• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

**********************************************************************************************
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
*********************************************************************************************

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

Kameelahwrites - KameelahWritew (http://kameelahwrites.blogspot.com/2006/11/mandela-say-it-aint-so-are-yo...) comments on the tributes made by South African President, Thabo Mbeki and former president Nelson Mandela on the death of PW Botha, who she describes as the “defiant face of apartheid”. She writes:

“Mandela has been at the center of attention for quite some time as a greater leader and example of progressive nation building tactics, but when he goes on to lead the tribute to Botha, I began to get worried. There is forgiveness of folks who do wrong and apologize and then there is leading a tribute to a man who clung onto white-control, never apologized and never acknowledged his wrong. Then there is the forgiveness of a man, which is conflated with the forgiveness of apartheid - a problematic and hasty conclusion. There is forgiveness, then there is praising your colonizers, slave owner and the man who put his foot in your neck. Botha died without ever apologizing or ever acknowledging his wrong. Apparently, his wife Barbara believes that her husband had been ‘terribly misunderstood’ and that South Africans would come to realize what they had lost.”

My response is this sounds more like appeasement and an insult to all those who suffered and died under the rule of Botha but then when did our leaders ever care about the opinions of the people they are elected to serve?

For more comments on PW Botha see South Africa (http://www.southafrica.to/history/Apartheid/PW_Botha/PW_Botha.htm)

Zimbabwean blogger, Dumisani's Blog - Dumisani's Blog (http://dumisani.tigblog.org/post/60139) is frustrated over the reports in the mainstream US media on the death of PW Botha. It seems revisionism is at work on all fronts from the South African leadership to the US media. Expect the same when Ariel Sharon finally gives up the ghost, but as Dumisani comments lets see how they cover the death of Robert Mugabe?

"So PW Botha, one of the worst leaders of an African country EVER died last night. It's interesting how the NY Times gives this extra long obituary, but doesn't even paint him in the negative light that he deserves. The whole thing tastes like a cucumber. Plain and bland. This guy, who was responsible for one of Africa's most brutal regimes EVER gets this, as an obituary? He is not even referred to as a racist in this article. Not once. In fact, the WORD ‘racist’ comes up once to refer to ‘racist policies’. When people like Idi Amin died, I bet their obituaries didn't read this rosy. When other African 'dictators' died, there are articles of good riddance to bad rubbish. This guy was a dictator. Let's call a spade a spade. He was a horrible, cold, mean, racist, unrepentant brutal dictator who led one of Africa's worst governments ever.”

Chippla’s Weblog - Chippla's Weblog (http://chippla.blogspot.com/2006/11/china-africa-summit.html) reports on the China-Africa summit held in Beijing and attended by most African leaders in what Chippla’s describes as “probably the largest gathering of African leaders outside the UN”. (I would hope more would attend AU summits?)

“China's interest in Africa is, without a doubt, greatly linked to the latter's huge pool of natural resources, much of which remain untapped. And with rapid development and modernization occurring across China, there is an increasing need for raw materials to continue fuelling such development. African leaders in a position of strength (those who govern nations rich in resources of interest to China) must negotiate sensibly. The need to gradually curtail the export of raw materials and focus on the processing or conversion of such materials before export has become all too obvious. Non knowledge-based societies would simply be unable to compete favourably in today's fast-changing world.”

The summit is evidence that China’s move into Africa is to be an all pervasive one that will include all aspects of commerce and industry and one also has to wonder how much influence the Chinese will have on respecting national governments and issues of human rights.

Timbuktu Chronicles - Timbuktu Chronicles (http://timbuktuchronicles.blogspot.com/2006/11/urban-agriculture.html) reports on the advantages of “urban agriculture” as a way of alleviating household expenses, of obtaining small extra income from sale or bartering of foodstuffs and recycling waste in the form of fertilizers.

“The practice is thus component of any strategy for poverty alleviation. Urban agriculture can also benefit the urban environment in profound ways. Large cities produce vast amounts of wastewater and organic waste, whose disposal is often a problem. By using waste as a productive resource, however, urban agriculture can help reduce the pressure on municipal waste disposal systems. Further, these natural fertilizers reduce the need for chemical additives, which in turn prevents groundwater contamination. Moreover, while agribusiness uses ten to 15 calories of petroleum energy to deliver one calorie of food energy, urban agriculture uses between one and three calories to do the same…”

The practice of urban agriculture has been part of Zimbabwean urban life for many years and has recently been introduced and encouraged in South Africa. I am sure other African countries are also involved in this practice. However with government support such as through publicising the advantages and providing seedlings, the practice could become far more widespread, particularly amongst the very poor who would benefit in terms of cost and diet.

The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora - The Voice of Somaliland Diaspora-Ottawa (http://waridaad.blogspot.com/2006/11/obstacles-on-way-to-international.html) publishes an interview with “New School New York” and Dustin Dehez on the “Obstacles On the Way to International Recognition for Somaliland”. Dehez asks what is the most important point from the perspective of the international community?

“I see two major concerns: firstly international recognition could be quoted as a precedent for state secession by other independence-movements throughout the continent. Secondly, but with less impact: Recognition could spark violence between the South and Somaliland and thus creating regional instability.

Talking to Western foreign policy makers there is one clear question nearly every diplomat puts forward: Who would have an interest in recognition? Clearly most of them do not think that recognition is a necessity for the country’s development in the first place. Secondly, the benefit/impact that recognition would have: a strong signal to Muslim states in the Middle East that democratic transition would be appreciated by the West – is not yet in all minds.

Furthermore the reluctance to recognise Somaliland in order to avoid a precedent might change within the next five years, when the Sudanese in Southern Sudan will vote on their independence. If they vote in support of independence international politicians might recognise Somaliland in what they see as a shortly open window for change in the Horn of Africa.”

Miss Mabrouk of Egypt - Ms Mabrouk of Egypt (http://missmabrouk.blogspot.com/2006/11/low-iq-and-curse-of-africa.html) comments on a report by the London School of Economics which said that “African states were poor and suffered chronic ill-health because their populations were less intelligent than people in richer countries.” Once again there is a return to the whole issue of IQ and race. Ms Mabrouk asks two questions which relate to poverty and diet. It is these that need to be addressed rather than questioning intelligence based on race and as she says can you really measure intelligence and what does it matter anyway – to who does it matter?

1)What effect does poverty have on intelligence over generations? In richer countries, researchers are now pointing to how low nutrition diets and in particular bad fats are directly affecting how brain cells are connecting to each other. Good food = many connections = fast working brain. Bad food = few connections = slow thinking.

2) Does IQ really matter? In other words, is it an adequate method for measuring intelligence?

Black Looks - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/10/access_to_arvs.html) comments that having access to Anti Retrovirals (ARVs) in South Africa by all sections of the community does not in itself mean that Black women will receive equal health care even if they have private medical care. She reports on a specific case which provides an excellent example of racism that exists in the provision and treatment of HIV/AIDS patients.

“However Neidhardt points to one aspect of the discussion around HIV/AIDS that is absent. How race is played out in South African society and how this influences the fight against HIV/AIDS…how white supremacy still impacts the struggle against HIV/AIDS, how it orders relationships between people, countries and institutions. It is as if we are violating some unwritten code of conduct, especially in this country if we want to speak aloud that racist thinking is still entrenched in the psyche of all South Africans. Perhaps we think we are disrespecting the new democracy if we speak the reality that racism still does dictate for us who is and who is not worthy of the basic human and economic rights, care and dignity that are outlined so eloquently in the 1996 Constitution.”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks,

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

'Scribbles in the Den' - (http://www.dibussi.com/) points to a Reporters Without Borders report on the 2006 “Worldwide Press Freedom Index”. The good news is that some African countries are moving up such as Togo. Since the new regime took office, the country has risen 29 places. Interestingly, Côte d’Ivoire (which is 99th) moved up 41 places - more an expression of how bad it was previously than how good it is now. The USA has also fallen by nine places since last year. Other African countries comparable with the West areBenin (23rd), Namibia (26th), Mauritius (32nd), Ghana (34th), Mali (35th), South Africa (44th) and Cape Verde (45th).

The bad news is that other African countries are ranking very low like Eritrea (166th), Gambia (149th), Somalia (144th), Democratic Republic of Congo (142nd), Zimbabwe (140th) and Equatorial Guinea (137th).

The report is based on a questionnaire on violations against journalists (such as murders, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats) and news media (censorship, confiscation of issues, searches and harassment).

'Two' - TWO (http://everchange.blogspot.com/2006/10/grameen-bank.html) comments on this year’s Nobel Peace Prize which was awarded to “Gameen Bank” founder “Muhammed Yunis, for his groundbreaking work providing microcredit to the rural poor in Bangladesh.” Everchange wonders if the prize has lost its meaning.

"Promoting economic development is not the same thing as creating a culture of peace. I see that the Norwegians are trying to ‘expand’ the definition of peace in order to honor different kinds of change agents, but for gods sake, do we really need new posers for an award that is so straight-forward? This is not the Nobel Poverty Eradication Prize. There are numerous individuals around the world braving imprisonment, torture and persecution in order to promote democracy and end armed conflict in their home countries. Give them the Nobel peace prize."

I have to agree. Whilst acknowledging the achievement of the Gameen Bank in fighting poverty, surely the prize committee could have found one of many individuals that are working to promote democracy and peace.

'You Missed This' - You Missed This (http://kumekucha.blogspot.com/) writes in support of Tanzania’s President Jakaya Kikwete, but nevertheless believes the state of the country’s economy is cause for grave concern.

"But by far the most worrying aspect of the whole Tanzanian crisis is the reaction of the administration. There has been a deliberate effort in recent times to release positive economic figures and news on the performance of the economy. Most of the figures are from last year and not the last 10 months that President Kikwete has been in power. There was a unique exception last week when it was revealed that the government's debt had in 9 short months (from January to September, this year) shot up by a staggering $302 million to a total of $9.383 billion. The main culprits, experts say are "unrestricted domestic borrowing and unnecessary foreign debts."

He concludes that the outlook for Tanzania over the coming months is not good and that this will place enormous pressure on the government of Jakaya Kikwete.

'The Sudanese Thinker' - Sudanese Thinker (http://www.sudanesethinker.com/) comments on the decision by Khartoum to expel UN envoy, Jan Plonk, from the country.

"You know what amazes me? That a group like these people are happily pushing around major countries like Britain & the US. I honestly think the NCP is so clearly sticking its finger up in the air for all to see. If Bush and Blair can’t even make pressure on Sudan work to ease the Darfur situation, how the hell do they both want to fix Iraq? Sometimes I tend to think that the NCP is confident UK and US can’t do crap since they’ve already got enough to deal with on their hands namely Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran’s nuclear program.
“The Southerners are rightly pissed off about this. People call the current Sudanese government, the National Unity Government. Ya, sure thing! As if the SPLM gets any say in things like this. Whenever the SPLM tries to say or do something that is against the wishes of the NCP, it gets threatened. National Unity Government or whatever crap people wish to call it, the show is clearly being run by 'democratically elected' Bashir’s NCP. Sigh!"

As Sudanese Thinker states – “a replacement for Plonk will take some time. Time for Khartoum to continue killing people in Darfur, starving them to death, raiding their homes, raping the women. Time for the genocide to continue….”

'Aba Boy' - Aba Boy (http://ababoy.blogspot.com/2006/10/remembering-dick-tiger.html) remembers and honours one of Nigeria’s greatest sportsmen, Dick Tiger, who on the 23rd October won the WBA Middleweight boxing title.

"Dick Tiger was one of the great fighters to come out of the African continent. Tiger became a two-time undisputed world middleweight titlist. Tiger helped keep boxing alive during the 1950s boxing industry recession. Tiger earned an undisputed Light-Heavyweight world championship. In 1962, Tiger won the world middle weight boxing championship. Tiger inspired other Nigerians to go into boxing."

Dick Tiger, an Igbo from Imo State, was also an ardent supporter of Biafran secession and even returned his CBE in protest against Britain’s lack of support. Tiger actively participated in the training of young recruits into the army.

'Black Looks' - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/10/prison_number_4.html) still in South Africa, reports on her visit to the Old Fort prison complex in Johannesburg – particularly the infamous Number 4 prison which was for “non-white” prisoners.

Words are difficult to describe this place but this quote from Alex La Guma who was a political prisoner in 1953 pretty much sums up the place.

“One of the reasons for my disease (typhoid) is found in this jail, filth. The mats are filthy, the blankets are filthy, the latrines are filthy, the food is filthy, the utensils are filthy, the convicts clothes are filthy. The latrines over flow and make a stench.” – Alex la Guma political prisoner 1953

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org

• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

Sokari Ekine’s blog, Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/) has been nominated for a Best of Blog Award - you can read about it and cast your vote at:

'Kubatana Blogs' - (http://kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?p=19) points to an article by Zimbabwean cartoonist, Tony Namate on the Zimbabwean Domestic Violence Bill. Namate wants a bill that covers all violence - not just domestic violence - that would include baby dumping, abortion, and failing to report violence. He also believes “that women engaging in indecent exposure should be arrested”.

“And then there are some forms of violence that are touted as women’s rights. Once upon a time I remember hearing that women had a right to wear what they wanted. Fair and fine, but when they deliberately and indecently violate other people’s sensibilities by “wearing what we want”, then surely they are committing the crime of indecent exposure and should be arrested “on sight”? Or perhaps indecent exposure is a male-only crime?”

Mr Namate misses the point about “indecent exposure” as applied to men exposing their genitals in public, since this is also sexual assault if it is directed at another person. If women were to expose their genitals in a similar way then, of course, this would be indecent exposure.

Malawian blog, 'Afrika-Aphuki' - Afrika-Aphuki comments on the adoption of an 18 month old Malawian child, David Banda by mega celebrity, Madonna. The child has left Malawi for London but the debate around the adoption in Malawi and elsewhere rages on. In Malawi the debate has centred around two issues – firstly the way the Malawian government and Madonna have bypassed Malawian law to allow the adoption to be fast-tracked, and secondly on whether the child would be better off growing up in Malawi with support from outsiders such as Madonna, or growing up in the home of a high powered celebrity white European celebrity. Afrika writes…

“Although their actions have been interpreted as jealousy and anachronism, the Malawian lawyers and activists who have drawn our attention to the way in which Malawian law has been compromised for the sake of a celebrity adoption have shown that not every African has been sold on the white supremacist bandwagon. Granted that there are NGOs who thrive on foreign money which they misuse and enrich themselves with, there are Malawians who are genuinely concerned about Malawi’s problems, and are working both inside Malawi itself and outside, to help ease the problems. The very Malawians who are making accusations of jealousy and archaic laws would be the first ones to blame the Malawian legal system the moment child traffickers learned of the power and influence of money and fame, and began targeting Malawian children. Hopefully this debate has alerted us to such a possibility, and we are embarking on a process to make sure it does not happen.”

Zimbabwean blog, 'Enough is Enough' - Enough is Enough (http://enoughzimbabwe.org/eddie-cross-the-farm-situation-today) reports on the situation of farming in Zimbabwe, particularly that of white farmers and the seizure of farm equipment by the police and army. The seizures were declared illegal by the court but by the time the equipment was returned to the owners, it had been vandalised. Zim Pundit posts a letter sent to Zimbabwean political activist Eddie Cross and comments

“The campaign is carried out on an ethnic basis - white farmers are the targets. It is completely illegal and destructive. Farms taken over in this way quickly become derelict and unproductive.”

'Redeem Ethiopia' - Redeem Ethiopia (http://redeemethiopia.blogspot.com/2006/10/lures-of-war.html) commenting on the threat of war between Ethiopia and Somalia, believes that Meles Zenawi provoked the Somalis into declaring “war on Ethiopia”, something he believes Meles learned from his predecessor, former Ethiopian leader, Mengistu Hailemariam.

“It seems that Meles has been a good student of history. He has done all that is in his power to provoke the Somalis to declare war on Ethiopia with the same hopes of gaining domestic legitimacy and external military support. The fact that there is no formidable Somali government, military or immediate threat to Ethiopia has made his job much harder than Mengistu’s. He has literally had to partially invade Somalia to get mostly empty threats from Somali Islamists, who can at best remove his soldiers from some Somali territory.”

However, unlike during Mengistu’s rule, Ethiopians of today are not ready to go to war and believe the threat from Somalia to be non-existent.

'Mental Acrobatics'Mental Acrobatics writes a moving tribute to the late Dr Dr.Wanjiru Kihoro of Kenya who passed away last Thursday following a long coma. Mental Acrobatics describes Dr Kihoro as

“a true patriot, a strong daughter of Kenya, highly principled in an age where people’s convictions change with the direction of the wind……….. In Kenya, where she took on the Moi regime on human rights abuses when most were to scared to speak out, she showed patriotism and courage. Refusing to be broken by the arrest and detention of her husband, Wanyiri Kihoro, and colleagues by Moi’s notorious security forces, she showed patriotism and courage. As the founder and director of ABANTU for Development, an international development agency, Dr. Kihoro’s vision, inspiration and direction touched and changed the lives of many.”

'African Shirts' - African Shirts (http://africanshirts.blogspot.com/2006/10/lifting-veil.html)
comments on the debate around comments made by Jack Straw about Muslim women wearing the Niqab during his MP surgery. He stated that he asked the women to remove their veils which he sees as a “visible statement of difference” and one that infringes on the communication experience, since one cannot see the face of the woman. African Shirts however points out that in an interview with Jack Straw, he let slip the real motivation behind his statement

“in an interview with the Today programme, he lets slips his actual motivation. He's worried about "community relations". In other words, the people in a community cannot communicate with a woman who covers her face, in this instance at the behest of her religion. The veil here, acts as a barrier, just as 18-year-old boys in hoodies are intimidating. And if non-Muslim and Muslims who are trying to live harmoniously alongside each other cannot interact, "parallel communities" start to develop.”

The debate around the Niqab is an Islamic debate and should not be of concern to non-Muslims. From a Muslim point of view it is yet another attack against Islam and interference in the way people choose to practice their religion.

'Black Looks' - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/10/5_days_in_south_africa.html) is in South Africa and writes a piece on her first 5 days

"The most annoying thing for me is not the fences, locks and gates but having to take taxis everywhere after 7pm in the evening. Everyone keeps telling me not to go out even in Melville at night, not to carry my laptop on the Kombi bus - basically not to go anywhere at night without a taxi. A Cameroonian colleague who lives in downtown Joburg takes a taxi to a bar 10 minutes away from his apartment and back! Coming from sleepy Granada where no one even goes out before 10pm and you can walk home on your own at 4am in complete safety, this takes some getting used to. I realise I no longer have a sense of personal security."

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

'NGOMROM' -
(http://ngomrom.blogspot.com/2006/10/do-not-torpedo-peace-talks-in-juba.html) provides his perspective on the Juba peace talks between Sudan, Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA). NGOMROM seems to be supporting the position of the LRA leader, Joseph Kony. He asks why members of his army are being asked to assemble in two different locations and sees this as a set of “hidden traps and tricks” and a possible hand over of Kony to the ICC (International Criminal Court).

“Why would anybody even consider that the peace talks proceed with ICC threat unresolved? Museveni has to provide conditions to keep the ICC away from Kony and his commanders, otherwise there will be no peace involving those five men. These two issues are mutually exclusive. Without these men, there must be modified peace talks, because the people of Uganda in the affected areas still need peace from the government of Museveni.”

'Sokwanele' - Grandiose Parlor http://grandioseparlor.com/2006/10/tackling-the-culture-of-corruption/ comments on the “culture of corruption” in Nigeria. He does not believe it is possible to wipe away the mindset of corruption from the minds of Nigerians. Nor does he see the EFCC (anti-corruption apparatus set up by the state), as a wholly effective tool. The solution for him lies in the electoral system.

“The next level is through the electoral system. Would the electorate take a clue from the EFCC and do their civic duties? Would the activities of the EFCC, as biased and crude as it is, spur some decent folks to step-up and take control through the ballot system? What steps are community advocacy groups/street associations/social groups taking to ensure that the elections are free and fair in their areas? By the way, there are some innovative steps taken by some to address the issues corruption.”

'White Africa' -

“My country’s leaders need to do something for these people, before these people decide to do something for themselves.”

'The Moor Next Door' - The Moor Next Door (http://wahdah.blogspot.com/2006/10/kenyan-muslims-angered-over-us-and.html) comments on protests by Kenyan Muslims against what he describes as a "US-and Israeli-inspired Anti-Terror Unit”. Muslims in the country are being increasingly targeted by the Anti Terror Unit and the government is:

"...using an unpassed bill to arrest, harass and intimidate members of the Muslim community and those who sympathise with them."

'African Women’s Blog' - African Women's Blog (http://africanwomenblogs.com/2006/10/09/ist-african-womens-carnival-at-t...) held its first Carnival of African Women this week. The AWB was created as a “collaborative space for African women online”. The AWB also has an aggregator of blogs by African women and a webring. The focus of the Carnival was “Identity and blogging” and included poems and personal life stories from 11 African women.

“Passion’ is the response that Philomena gives to people who ask her how she manages the wife/mother/blogger balance and tell us how she is able to do this in her post.

“My secrets are in my fingers. My fingers are the expression of my passion. From my kitchen when preparing food for my husband and family, to my three children, when cuddling them with tenderness of infanthood. To my emotions when I had to express it, I prefer, through my fingers than through my voice. Perhaps that is why I am regarded by close friends as being on the quiet side.”

'Egyptian Chronicles' - Egyptian Chronicles (http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2006/10/pyongyang-response.html)
asks us to forget Iraq, the war on terror, Iran, Castro and everyone else. Why? Because “Pyongyang did it, Pyongyang did it.”

“Pyongyang announced the success of an underground detonation of a nuclear weapon, some say, or most the world say today this nuclear weapon is an atomic bomb, yes and by this N.Korea joins the Nuclear bomb owners and they are if I am mistaken the U.S and Russia for sure, France and England, Pakistan and India, China and our neighbor Israel despite they didn't announce it, yet I got a book saying they got a nuclear bomb since 1960s and their first nuclear weapon was tested in Algeria's.”

Egyptian goes on to add that Pyongyang has lots of other “toys” to play with should the need arise such as “the famous Korean missiles and rockets which Israel always accuse Egypt and Syria of having them and of course Syria doesn't deny and Egypt doesn't even respond.”

So where does all this leave the West and their allies? In an ocean raft without a paddle – in short, in a panic.

'Black Looks' - Black Looks (http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/10/niger_delta_2.html) posts two podcasts of an interview with Nigerian historian Professor Alagoa, on the Niger Delta speaking on the “changes that have taken place in the Niger Delta since the excecution of Ken Saro Wiwa in 1995, the rise of militancy in the region and the governorship of Diepreye Alamieyeseigha - ex Governor of Bayelsa State.”

• Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org

• Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

The Kenyan blogging community is one of the largest in Africa. 18 months ago the online community was created for Kenyans and friends of Kenya. It consists of a webring and an aggregator of all members’ blogs. Earlier this year the KU community held their first Kaybees Blog Awards under 13 categories.

One of the most innovative Kenyan sites is Mzalendo, set up to monitor and report on the activities of the Kenyan parliament. The site content includes Bills, Committees, Constituencies, Ministries, Motions, MPs, Political Parties, Provinces and Districts. The site is also a forum for discussion by Kenyans and in future could well form the basis of a platform for citizens to interrogate and call ministers to account for their actions.

The Kenyan Democracy Project is a blog that has just recently returned from a long hiatus. As well as some very good political commentary the site is full of interesting links on social justice and gender issues. This week KDP writes on “How the other Kenyan half subsists”. While discussions on corruption continue to be the mainstream focus, the concerns of Kenya’s marginalised groups go unnoticed.

“For instance over the last seven days, I have seen on Kenyan national television, countless stories featuring the demolition and eviction of hundreds of slum dwellers in the Embakasi neighbourhood of Nairobi. A couple of nights ago (Friday, September 22, 2006) I watched as a group of evictees, featuring a sixty something Akorino man, a forty something woman among others, complain bitterly how they were now rendered homeless despite the fact that they had spent up to 200,000 Kenya shillings (representing, in the case of the Akorino man, his entire life savings) on setting up and maintaining their structures only to be thwarted by the violent attacks instigated by a private developer...The sickening thing was that these vicious acts of inhuman vandalism were being supervised by uniformed members of the state employed and tax-payer bankrolled police force.”

Steve Ntwiga is an excellent resource for African music. Steve manages to dig out forgotten artists and music from the 60’s and 70’s as well as contemporary artists.

White African is the creator of the African Network project which is a “centralised web portal for information important to Africans, customized for their location, their tastes and their needs. It consists of: a vertical search engine, news portal and community site.”

The community site Zangu, as well as being online, hopes to enable access via mobile phone technology. White African also writes about the latest in “Web2” technology and how bloggers can use these to improve their blogs.

Soyapi Mumba's Blog is also a technology blog. Soyapi writes on technological developments in Malawi, East and Southern Africa. This week he reports that Mozambique may be in the picture to assemble Chinese computers.

"Indeed, it has been reported that negotiations are underway to build a plant to assemble Chinese computers in Mozambique...I haven't seen any report or news article about the negotiations. Have you? If it is true, this is good news for Mozambique and its neighbouring land-locked countries of southern Africa like Malawi, which is almost surrounded by Mozambique.”

Bankelele like the name suggests, is a blog on banking, finance and business news in Kenya. Bankelele,along with Kenyan Pundit, is also behind the Kenyan parliamentary blog mentioned earlier, Mzalendo. Bankelele also has a weekly job spot where he posts the latest job opportunities in the sectors he covers.

Finally Mental Acrobatics is a general blog by a Kenyan man who has just recently left rainy Manchester for sunny Nairobi. This week he comments on the state of Kenya’s breakfast radio which he says should be “safe” for children but instead is crazy and in fact pornographic.

“Take this example from last week. A lady wrote into a station asking for advice as a foreign man she had met on the internet had just sent her a plane ticket to go visit him. For the next half hour we were subjected to a discussion on penis size and which countries you should travel to for some good loving. A few days later another show was discussing a couple who had not had sex for 6 months and what sex advice we could collectively give to get them at it like rabbits again. Now these are all valid topics for discussion I agree, but I am just not sure why these discussions are taking place when the nation is having its morning uji [porridge consumed for breakfast in Kenya].”

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org

Over the next few weeks the blog roundup will have more of a regional focus. This week the focus is on West Africa.

‘Under the Acacias’ - (http://www.voiceinthedesert.org.uk/keith/archives/2006/09/update_and_pho...) is a blog by Keith Smith, a missionary worker in Burkina Faso who has been blogging for two years. This week Keith posts on the floods that have engulfed Gorom Gorom, on the edge of the Sahel. About 8000 people in the region have lost their homes. Keith explains:

“The disaster struck following a large rain, when 136cm (5.5")of rain fell (nearly half the normal year's rainfall) in 6 hours. A dam broke about 5 miles away, and a tide of water waist-high swept through the region. Several nearby villages were completely destroyed, as well as about half of the houses in Gorom-Gorom. Most houses are built of mud, and would have been simply washed away by the onslaught of water.”

The floods in the region from Burkina Faso through Nigeria and Niger have so far left up to 26000 people homeless. Keith’s blog provides information on short and long-term needs and photos of the disaster.

Cameroonian blog, 'Scribbles from the Den' - Scribbles from the Den (http://www.dibussi.com/2006/09/save_my_wife_2_.html) reports on a horrendous story from the New York Times of Prudence, a young woman who died in childbirth. Like so many women in the global south, Prudence died not from pregnancy but rather from general neglect of the very poor and a failure to provide even basic health care.

“Prudence, 24, was from a small village and already had three small children. As she was in labor to deliver her fourth, an untrained midwife didn’t realize she had a cervical blockage and sat on Prudence’s stomach to force the baby out — but instead her uterus ruptured and the fetus died.

"Prudence’s family carried her to the hospital on a motorcycle, but once she was there the doctor, Pascal Pipi, demanded $100 for a Caesarian to remove the fetus. The fetus was decomposing inside her, and an infection was raging in her abdomen — but her family had total savings of only $20, so she lay down in the maternity ward and began to die.”

The report also includes a video of Prudence’s last hours which, although I have not seen, I find offensive and unnecessary.

Gambian blog – 'Home of the Mandinmores' - Home of Mandinmores (http://gambian.blogspot.com/2006/09/yahya-jammeh-is-winner.html) reports on the Gambian elections won by incumbent Yahya Jammeh. Despite the huge margin of his victory, Mandinmores still believes that the people of Gambia will hold him to account should he fail to live up to expectations.

“The results were nothing political observer ever envisioned. Most Gambian political observers expect the incumbent to win especially after the opposition split, but the margin of victory that emerge from yesterdays poll has caught everyone by surprise. However unless someone can prove electoral mischief, I will venture to say that the Gambian people have spoken. They prefer the status quo to change. I don't agree with the decision, but I respect it. They are the masters of their country's destiny and have decreed with yesterdays vote that they like it the way it is. 65% is not a narrow margin. It is a whipping. Does this mean folks like yours truly will cut Yahya a slack when he trample on the rights of the citizenry....don't even think about it. He has a constitutional mandate to rule and we have a constitutional right to criticize his excesses.”

Senegalese blog, 'SEMEtt l’etincelle' - Semett (http://semet.blogspot.com/2006/09/france-ou-senegal-entre-immigration.html) comments on the visit to Senegal by France’s right wing Minister of the Interior and Presidential hopeful. The purpose of the visit was to sign an agreement with Senegal for selective recruitment of professionals. SEMEtt describes this as a new form of slavery at a time when the African population in France are subjected to marginalization in the French suburbs (translated from French)

Nigerian Literary blogger, 'Wordsbody' – a href="http://wordsbody.blogspot.com/2006/09/ifowodo-jazzhole.html">WordsBody (http://wordsbody.blogspot.com/2006/09/ifowodo-jazzhole.html) has a short piece on Nigerian poet, Ogaga Ifowodo who is based in the US.

“Ifowodo is the author of 3 poetry collections: Homelands and other Poems (1998), Madiba (Solitude, 1999) and The Oil Lamp (Africa World Press, 2005). The Oil Lamp is a volume of poems on one theme only - environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.”

'Trials and Tribulations of a Freshly Arrived Denizen' - Freshly arrived denizen (http://ekbensahinghana.blogspot.com/2006/09/re-on-us-rappers-and-water.html) takes issue with the UN’s appointment of African American rapper, Jay-Z as Water ambassador and his forthcoming trip to Ghana.

“With the hype of Jay-Z coming to Ghana in October, worth reminding you of his connection to sweatshops, which he appears clueless over.”

On the water privatization issue, Jay-Z is quoted as saying "that's just bureaucracy, I don't have any expertise in that," adding that he's about raising awareness. Later he praised Coca-Cola for giving money for play pumps.

'Black Looks' - Black Looks ("http://www.blacklooks.org/2006/09/we_dont_want_a_real_black_woman_-_i_me...) points to an article in the Guardian on the "black facing" of yet another white female celebrity - this time Kate Moss, in the UK Independent newspaper special on Africa.

* Sokari Ekine produces the blog Black Looks, www.blacklooks.org

* Please send comments to [email protected] or comment online at www.pambazuka.org