6/30/2005

Does Tony Blair Play for Manchester?

I asked a friend of mine in Tanzania to find out if Tony Blair, the chair of the Commission for Africa, is known in rural Tanzania. Does he play for Manchester? He was asked by a primary school student on the way to watch a local soccer game.

When he told one old man, "Tony Blair is the chair of the Commission for Africa." The old man wanted to know the name of the village he comes from. It did not occur to him that the man who heads the Commission for Africa is not an Africa. But a white male born in the UK!

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Propa Propaganda

Benjamin Zephaniah has a book titled, Propa Propaganda. I guess what the UK government does with new films on the G8 summit website (UK) is propa propaganda about how "aid" has helped "poor" African countries.

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We met two British experienced bloggers

I am working on a detailed post about some of the things we have been doing since we got in the UK. We met two experienced bloggers earlier today: Paul Mason from BBC Newsnight and Rafael Behr who blogs for the Obsever. Paul Mason already has a post about our meeting this morning. Colin from the BBC has just interviewed me for the program Go Digital about blogging and the new Panos blog. He will conduct another interview with all of us when we get back from Edinburgh.

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6/28/2005

Launching of Panos Africavox Blog

I arrived in the UK yesterday morning. We had a busy day with Sameer Padania from Panos. Tomorrow is a great day because Panos will launch its Africavox blog, which will have stories written by a team of African journalists visiting the UK as part of Panos G8 Media Fellowship Programme. I will post the blog link and other stuff tomorrow.
peace!

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6/26/2005

I am on the way to the airport...

I am on the way to the airport. The next time you hear from me I will be in London, then in Edinburgh to blog this summit.

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Debt Trap Still Haunts Tanzania

Despite the G8 ministerial decision to cancel debt owed by Tanzania and other 17 nations, debt trap still haunts...

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HIV/AIDS: online helpline in Tanzania

The Tanzania Youth Alliance will soon introduce a new online helpline desk service for detailed information as one of its efforts to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

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6/25/2005

e-Africa Commission

e-Africa Commission, which was established in 2001, manages the development of the ICT sector on the African continent.

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Bending the Arc to take place next month

Bending the Arc is an event organised by The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Secretariat on July 4th in London. The key aim of the event is to mobilise resources to obtain the Millennium Development Goals in Africa in partnership with the G8. Reports from the event will be presented to the African Union summit in Libya and to G8 Summit leaders in Scotland. Bending the Arc is co-sponsored by the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP), the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships(UNFIP) and the United Nations Information and CommunicationTechnologies Task Force. NEPAD is designed to empower Africans to address socio-economic challenges facing the African continent.

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What Tony Blair and Willy Brandt have in common

It is not Go back 25 years ago, and then reflect. More...

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Declaration for a free Internet

Global Voices Online tells us about recommendations released by Reporters Without Borders and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which governments and corporations should follow in order to ensure a free internet.


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Debate: Can the G8 Fix Africa?

On Friday July 1st at 1900 GMT, 2100GMT, and 2200 GMT and again on Saturday July 2nd at 1100 GMT, BBC World Service Radio will broadcast a debate called, Can the G8 Fix Africa? Presenters will be Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, Director of Justice Africa, Madam Rosemary Museminali, Rwandan ambassador, James Shikwati, Kenyan economist, and Lord David Triesman, Minister for Africa (to be confirmed).

The event and the recording will take place at the Africa Centre, 38 King Street, Covent Garden by 7pm onWednesday, 29th June. The recording will start at 7.30pm and will be finished by 9.00.

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6/24/2005

We will meet George Monbiot

While in the UK for the Panos G8 Media Fellowship Programme, we will be able to meet George Monbiot, a well known author, broadcaster, and a radical columnist for the Guardian Newspaper .
George Monbiot is the author of The Age of Consent: A Manifesto for a New World Order, Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain, Poisoned Arrows, and No Man’s Land (an investigative journey through Kenya and Tanzania). Monbiot, who has lived and worked in Indonesia, Brazil, and East Africa, is a visiting professor of planning at Oxford Brookes University. Visit his website for more information about him and read a collection of provocative essays and articles.
I am excited!

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6/23/2005

6/22/2005

Theta for WSIS in South Africa

SANGONeT will host a Thetha forum on 29 June 2005 for South African civil society organisations to reflect on the objectives of WSIS.

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Tele-Health and African baskets online

I just came across this website and these amazing African baskets while visiting The Stockholm Challenge.

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Who Rules the Internet?

Is the Internet ruled by netizens? Find out...

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Translation of my G8 entries

Mshairi, a Kenyan blogger in the UK, has volunteered to translate my G8 Summit postings from my Kiswahili blog, Jikomboe, for her audience. Asante sana dada!

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Completing the Revolution in Africa: Panos on Rural Telephony

In order for the revolution, which will no longer be televised, to be ditized in Africa and the desire to bridge the digital divide to be realised, policy-makers and other key decision makers need to pay serious attention to rural connectivity. Read the report on rural telephony by Panos London, Completing the Revolution: The Challenge of Rural Telephony in Africa. The report is based on case studies from Senegal, Zambia, Uganda, and Burkina Faso. There is also a media brief, which is designed to be a useful guide for journalists. You may also learn about Panos' activities around the World Summt on Information Society.

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6/21/2005

BLOGGING THE G8 SUMMIT

Seven African journalists, including myself, will be in the UK for about two weeks covering the G8 Summit through Panos London G8 Fellowship Programme.
The Panos fellowship programme has two objectives:
1. Through a targeted programme of meetings with representatives of the UK media, policy-makers, business, civil society organisations and the public, to support the journalists in bringing an African perspective to UK and international media coverage of the development challenges at stake at the summit, wherever possible securing the commissioning and publication of relevant material.
2. To strengthen the knowledge of the journalists on international policy-making relevant to development and poverty reduction in Africa so that on return to their countries they can use the expertise developed to strengthen reporting and media coverage on the international issues affecting this challenge at home.
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While in the UK, I will blog the summit and other related activities and events on this blog, my other Kiswahili blog, Jikomboe, and a new blog currently being set up by Panos London.

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6/19/2005

The Commission for Africa Report Review Meeting

The Commission for Africa Report Review Meeting and Consultations for Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa took place in Kenya from 6—7th June, 2005. Attended by representatives of learning institutions, civil society, media, private sector, government, regional and international organisations, the meeting released this final communique. One item caught my eyes: the meeting urged government of the EU and G8 to take all necessary legal and administrative measures to disallow and repatriate illicitly acquired state funds and assets.
If the western legal systems continue to allow corrupt and inefficient African rulers, I dont want to call them leaders, to keep funds stolen from the African people in western banking institutions, the idea that money saved in debt repayment will be used for Africa's development is nothing but a dream. Read Eduardo Galeano's piece on Swiss banks, Souls of Discretion.

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BBC: Africa Calling

Peter Day reports on how technology is touching the lives of ordinary people in Africa. Listen to the whole program here.

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6/18/2005

6/17/2005

The Global Aid System Benefits the West

According the UK charity ActionAid, western consultants and companies pocket $20 billion of global aid!

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ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE...

There will lots of activities and campaigns to end global poverty during the G8 Summit next month in the UK. Make Poverty History Campaign is organising marches and demonstrations in the UK, where up to over 250,000 people are expected to turn up. The Working Group on Climate Change and Development is holding the GW8 in Edinburgh, Friends of the Earth is working on a "climate alarm." Visit the G8 Alternatives website.

There will be lots of cultural activities calling for the world leaders to combat poverty. Apart from Live 8, which is to be held on 2 July in Londo, Berlin, Rome, Paris, and Philadephia, organisers of Live 8 announced yesterday that there will be an Africa-only event in London as part of the worldwide call to end poverty.

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HIGHWAYAFRICA CONFERENCE 2005

HighwayAfrica Conference 2005 will take place in September in Grahamstown, South Africa. There is a limited number of scholarships for practising African journalists. The deadline is July 7th.

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6/16/2005

"Live 8" for African musicians

After many people raising their concern over the lack of African artists at Live 8 concert, organizers announced that there will be an African-only concert in London. Some of the African musicians expected to perform are Angelique Kidjo, Maryam Mursal, and Youssouf Ndour. Maryam Mursal is a Somalian musician based in Europe. She once became a taxi driver in Mogadishu, Somalia, after being banned from singing for criticising the government. Listen to her interview on NPR.

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The day chickens visited Tony Blair...

Yes, chickens paid him a visit to draw attention to the plight of chicken farmers.Watch the video...

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6/14/2005

Digital Collection: Images of Nigerian Modernity

While visiting Ory's blog, I came across this digital collection of the exhibit, Other Africas: Images of Nigerian Modernity.

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6/13/2005

The Meaning of Debt Relief for Africa

Here is a story by a christian science monitor staff writer in Johannersburg about what the debt relief means for Africa's development.

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G8 Summit Special Report

Guardian Unlimited has a special report on the G8 summit. African development in on top of the agenda next month in the UK.

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WTDC Youth Forum in Nigeria

Africa Regional Youth Preparatory Meeting for WTDC in Abuja next month...

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6/12/2005

Commission for Africa report launched in Tanzania

Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa launches the Commission for Africa report in parliament.

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So weapons can grow like trees...

I wonder where the seeds for this tree come from.

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For Richer or Poorer...

Christian Aid on economic patnership between Afrika and Europe.

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Multilingualism in Cybespace

It is because of these reasons, recommendations, and a book like this one, some of us are blogging in African languages: Kiswahili, Shona, Kichagga, and Tamazight.

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Voices from Kiswahili Blogosphere

Voices from Kiswahili blogosphere, which I posted on the Global Voices website. I somehow forgot to cross-post them here!

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Broadcasters move the Kenyan government to action

The Kenyan government has launched a new HIV/AIDS program for public taxi drivers as a result of a recent exposé by two broadcasters.

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G7 Finance Ministers Cancels Africa's Debt

The meeting of G7 finance ministers yesterday scrapped 100 percent of debt owed by the world's poorest nations to the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. The US$40 billion deal benefits 14 countries in Africa. The deal was reached as part of series of meetings and policy discussions leading to the next month's G8 summit in the UK.

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6/11/2005

Blogging vs. journalism

The Interactive Media Conference discusses blogging vs. journalism

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AFRICAN MEDIA IN THE INFORMATION AGE

Last November, the conference on "Role and Place of Media in the Information Society in Africa and the Arab States" in Marrakech, Morocco, made these recommendations.

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AFRICA'S COMMITMENTS FOR WSIS 2005

The Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on the Information Society
adopted this document.

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6/10/2005

Science in Africa

Popular science magazine for Africa.

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Tanzanian political parties online

Politics is online in Tanzania. Currently, three political parties have websites: the ruling party, Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), and two opposition parties: Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Chadema), and Civic United Front (CUF).

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Conference on Electronic Transaction Security and Digital Signature

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Positive Impact of African Languages on FM Radio

Here is a study showing positive impact of African languages on FM Radio.

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What is happening in Ethiopia? - 2

Protest continues in Ethiopia. More...

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The Burden of International Debt to Africa: Bishops Speak

Here is a pastoral letter from the Catholic bishops of Kenya calling for the cancellation of Africa's debt.

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African nation on debt cancellation

A regional meeting in Nairobi calls for debt cancellation ahead of the G8 Summit next month. More...

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Better living through corporate watch?

Corporate Watch on the 2005 G8 Summit.

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6/09/2005

Remix Digital Culture Competition

Creative Commons South Africa invites digital video, artwork, and interactive displays that expresses your view of African digital creativity, remixing and innovation. Make use of public domain, Creative Commons-licenced materials or your ownoriginal work - or a mixture - to create something truly inspiring! The prize is R6,000.
To enter the competition, produce either one of the following:. a digital video (max. 60 seconds); Or a digital artwork; or a digital info-graphic that, in your view, expresses the essence of African Digital Creativity, Remixing and Innovation. Interactive work that requires an internet connection is encouraged.
The deadline is 31 July, 2005. Email submissions to HFordSA@gmail.com.
Copyright licencing: All submissions will be licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 licence (More details 'Free Culture' by Lawrence Lessig ; the creative commons; the Internet Archive; and creative commons South Africa.
Judges include LarryLessig, Christo Doherty, Marcus Neustetter and Nathaniel Stern.
This prize is sponsored by the International Development Research Centre(IDRC).

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What is happening in Ethiopia?

Andrew Heavens, a freelance journalist in Ethiopia is reporting the crisis that has left several people dead. Look at his photos.

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6/08/2005

Digital/Smart village model in Nigeria

Youth For Technology Foundation is the pioneer of digital/smart village model in Nigeria.

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OPEN ONLINE ICT TRAINING

Open ICT lessons for everyone (especially those in the South!). Here...

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6/07/2005

There will be resistance...

Get news from independent media center about resistance and protests during the G8 summit in the UK. There is also a network of resistance against the G8, the G8 Alternatives, and Stop the War Coalition.

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Report by Commission for Africa

The decision by the UK, which assumes the presidency for the 2005 G8 Summit, to focus on Africa can be understood in the context of the UK-led Commission for Africa. The commission released its report early this year. Here are some reactions.

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Africa: the focus of 2005 G8 Summit

The 2005 G8 summit at Gleaneagles (july 6-8) focuses on climate change and Africa.

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6/06/2005

Bloggers: Fellowships to Cross-Platform Media Teams program

The Media Center at the American Press Institute The Media Center invites bloggers and leaders of small, independent, alternative or start-up media ventures to submit applications for two fellowships. More...

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Lawmakers and Policymakers discuss Africa before the G8 Summit

International lawmakers and policymakers opened talks Monday morning to formulate recommendations on Africa for the G8 summit. More...

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G8 SUMMIT 2005

I will be posting a lot of information and articles about the G8 Summit that takes place from 6-8 July in Scotland. This summit will specifically focus on Africa. Right now I am posting information and links about the summit on my Kiswahili blog for Kiswahili speakers in Africa and the Diaspora.

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6/05/2005

Tanzania Education Website

I just came across this informative website. This is one of their projects.

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My Interview on Radio France Internationale

I just finished doing an interview with RFI (Radio France Internationale's English service) about multilingual cyberspace. Below are instructions and time from the person I spoke with for those who want to follow. It will be on air/internet tomorrow.

"You go to http://www.rfi.fr/, then click in the top left-hand corner where it says "english". Then when you are on that page, all the programmes are on the right-hand side. The interview with be broadcast on one of the first four programmes ("English to Africa" 04.00 GMT, 05.00 GMT, 06.00GMT, 07.00GMT). Monday's programme will stay online for 24 hours after it is broadcast, and then gets replaced by Tuesday's show.

The programmes always start with the news, and then at around 15 minutes past the hour there is a section where we broadcast interviews."

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Zuckerman interviews Sokari of Black Looks

Here is the interview that Ethan Zuckerman conducted with Sokari Ekine of Black Looks and Afrotecnik.

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6/03/2005

Kiswahili version of Firefox

After launching of the first ever Kiswahili version of OpenOffice.org 1.1.3 (Jambo OpenOffice.org 1.1.3) , the klnX Team has started the localization of a Free and Open Source web browser called Firefox 1.0.1. Here.

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Creative Commons at Yahoo!

You can search works under creative commons on Yahoo! Here.

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