SANGONeT will host a Thetha forum on 29 June 2005 for South African civil society organisations to reflect on the objectives of WSIS.
Read more!6/22/2005
Tele-Health and African baskets online
I just came across this website and these amazing African baskets while visiting The Stockholm Challenge.
Read more!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!
Read more!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.
Read more!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:
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.
Read more!
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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.
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.
Read more!
BBC: Africa Calling
Peter Day reports on how technology is touching the lives of ordinary people in Africa. Listen to the whole program here.
Read more!6/18/2005
The Game Rich Countries Play Against Africa
George Monbiot writes about the game rich countries play against Africa and the rest of the developing world.
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!
Read more!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.
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.
Read more!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.
Read more!The day chickens visited Tony Blair...
Yes, chickens paid him a visit to draw attention to the plight of chicken farmers.Watch the video...
Read more!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.
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.
Read more!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.
Read more!WTDC Youth Forum in Nigeria
Africa Regional Youth Preparatory Meeting for WTDC in Abuja next month...
Read more!6/12/2005
Commission for Africa report launched in Tanzania
Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa launches the Commission for Africa report in parliament.
Read more!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.
Read more!Voices from Kiswahili Blogosphere
Voices from Kiswahili blogosphere, which I posted on the Global Voices website. I somehow forgot to cross-post them here!
Read more!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.
Read more!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.
Read more!
6/11/2005
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.
AFRICA'S COMMITMENTS FOR WSIS 2005
The Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for the World Summit on the Information Society
adopted this document.
6/10/2005
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).
Read more!Conference on Electronic Transaction Security and Digital Signature
In preparation fot the World Summit on Information Society, the African and Arab Regional Conference on Electronic Transaction Security, Digital Signature and the PKI takes place this month in Tunisia.
Read more!
Positive Impact of African Languages on FM Radio
Here is a study showing positive impact of African languages on FM Radio.
Read more!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.
Read more!African nation on debt cancellation
A regional meeting in Nairobi calls for debt cancellation ahead of the G8 Summit next month. More...
Read more!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).
Read more!
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.
6/08/2005
Digital/Smart village model in Nigeria
Youth For Technology Foundation is the pioneer of digital/smart village model in Nigeria.
Read more!OPEN ONLINE ICT TRAINING
Open ICT lessons for everyone (especially those in the South!). Here...
Read more!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.
Read more!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.
Read more!Africa: the focus of 2005 G8 Summit
The 2005 G8 summit at Gleaneagles (july 6-8) focuses on climate change and Africa.
Read more!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...
Read more!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...
Read more!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.
Read more!
6/05/2005
Tanzania Education Website
I just came across this informative website. This is one of their projects.
Read more!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."
Zuckerman interviews Sokari of Black Looks
Here is the interview that Ethan Zuckerman conducted with Sokari Ekine of Black Looks and Afrotecnik.
Read more!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.
Read more!5/31/2005
Rip, Remix, Sample, Reuse the BBC...do you have 68 years to spare?
Paula LeDieu, the former Joint Director of BBC Creative Archive, spoke on the first day of the Commons-sense conference in South Africa about the BBC initiative to provide access to public service audio and video archives to the British public to rip, mix, re-use, and share the BBC (not for commercial purposes). The project, modelled after the Creative Commons, was launched in 2004. The Creative Commons model, which was the theme of the conference, proposes a flexible and customisable rights management. So instead of the strict "all rights reserved," individuals and organizations can opt for "some rights reserved," or "no rights reserved."
LeDieu told conference participants that to access all their archived materials, one needs to spend 68 years of non-stop video watching!
Read more!
5/30/2005
VIDEOS FROM THE COMMONS-SENSE CONFERENCE
Here is a video gallery from the Commons-Sense conference. The videos were taken by students and staff of the New Media Lab.
Read more!WATCH MY INTERVIEW WITH NEW MEDIA LAB SOUTH AFRICA
I arrived last night after a long, and tiring flight from Egoli/Jozi (Johannersburg) where I was attending the Commons-Sense conference. I was interviewed by Rhodes university's New Media Lab. Watch the video here.
Read more!5/27/2005
A STORY ABOUT KENYAN BLOGOSPHERE ON OPEN SOURCE RADIO
I just opened the email from Kenya Unlimited about a show on Kenyan bloggers on Open Source Radio next week.
I am still at the commons-sense conference. This morning there was a very moving panel on Blogging the Commons. I am overwhelmed. Dont click...as I promised I will post detailed information about all these panels, the conversations, and discussions. Lots of ideas and information to chew.
5/26/2005
LIVE BLOGGING FROM THE COMMONS-SENSE CONFERENCE
A team of 15 students and two staff members from the New Media Lab at the School of Journalism and Media Studies (Rhodes university) are live-blogging from the conference. Amazing! Follow the conference here.
5/25/2005
Hello from Commons-sense conference
I am in attending the Commons-Sense conference in Egoli (the Zulu name for Johannersburg), South Africa. The conference started yesterday and ends tommorow. I bloged about it some weeks ago while in the US. I will post more detailed information about the conversations taking place around here about Intellectual Property (IP) in Africa in the information age. We had some very interesting speakers yesterday. One of them was the father of "free culture" and the founder of the Creative Commons, Lawrence Lessig. The woman behind Creative Commons South Africa, Heather Ford spoke about the South African creative commons initiative. Yesterday was the official launching of Creative Commons (South Afica). I will blog in depth about the conference when I get back to the US. A lot of interesting stories and projects. This conference is organized by Wits university, Creative Commons (South Africa), and the Link center.
Read more!
5/18/2005
CREATIVE COMMONS AND SOUTHERN AFRICAN ORGANISATIONS
The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT), in collaboration with the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), is hosting a Thetha forum on Tuesday, 24 May 2005, to discuss whether Southern African organisations should use Creative Commons to licence the information that they produce. More...
Read more!5/17/2005
BLOGS IN ETHNIC LANGUAGES (AFRICA)
My friend Mokhtar, who teaches Arabic at the School for International Training, has started blogging in Tamazeight. Mokhtar is a storyteller. He has been telling stories orally and in print media. Now he goes digital. There is also a Shona blog and Chagga (which happens to be my language) blog from Texas.
Read more!5/13/2005
5/08/2005
5/02/2005
BISHARAT: A LANGUAGE AND TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE
Bisharat focuses on research, advocacy, and networking relating to use of African languages in software and web content
Read more!CONFERENCE ON MULTILINGUALISM IN CYBERSPACE
The conference on “Multilingualism for Cultural Diversity and Participation of All in Cyberspace” is taking place in Bamako, Mali, on 6 and 7 May 2005. Follow it here. Read the agenda.
Read more!4/24/2005
CONFERENCE: TOWARDS AN AFICAN DIGITAL INFORMATION COMMONS
From 25-27 May, 2005, participants from around Africa and the world will gather to strategise towards the realisation of an African Digital Information Commons. Here for detailed information.
Read more!4/21/2005
TANZANIA'S FIRST INTERNET ELECTION?
This year's presidential election in Tanzania might be rightly called the first "internet" election. I will be blogging more information on this between now and October. Visit this innovative website that covers election news and issues (in Kiswahili). Here.
Read more!TEXT MESSAGING FOR JOBS IN KENYA
People who don't have easy access to the Internet in Kenya are using sms to search for jobs. Read the complete story here.
Read more!4/17/2005
AFROGEEKS CONFERENCE IN SANTA BARBARA
This year's Afrogeeks conference is taking place in May19-21, 2005 at the university of california, Santa Barbara. I will take part in the panel discussion moderated by Bruce Bimber, on May 21. The title of the panel is: Geek Speak: Decipherin' Digital Heiroglyphs.
The theme of the conference is Global Blackness and Digital Public Sphere.
This is the panel:
1:30-2:45
Panel: Geek Speak: Decipherin’ Digital Heiroglyphs
Moderator: Bruce Bimber
Ndesanjo Macha "Decolonizing the African Blogsphere: The Case of Kiswahili"
Jarita C. Holbrook "Cultural Astronomy, Black Physicists, and Total Solar Eclipses"
Skip Ellis "Project NEEM: Technology for Enhancement of Distributed Meetings"
Here is the full program. Visit this site for last year's conference.
4/04/2005
SIMPUTER: KEY TO SOLVING AFRICA'S DIGITAL DIVIDE?
Is simputer one of the solutions to problems of access in Africa? Read here and here.
Read more!WATER BOTTLE WIFI IN MALI!
In the great tradition of DIY wireless comes another project underway in Mali. The project is investigating best practices for building small DIY antennas and router enclosures at low-cost to serve the Malian television and WiFi markets. Designs were taken from numerous sources and adapted to use materials readily available in Mali such as plastic water bottles (peep the “BottleNet” antenna at right), used motorbike valve stems, and window screen mesh. More...
Read more!4/01/2005
NetTel@Africa
NetTel@Africa is a network for capacity building, knowledge exchange in ICT policy, regulation, and applications.
Read more!3/30/2005
WOMEN OF UGANDA NETWORK
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) is a non-governmental organisation in Uganda that develops the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among women as tools to share information and address relevant issues collectively. Here.
Read more!3/20/2005
SHORT MOVIE CLIP BY CREATIVE COMMONS (SOUTH AFRICA)
Here is an interesting moving about the never ending cycle of knowledge and ideas from Creative Commons (South Africa).
Read more!3/13/2005
ComICT Project: COMPUTER AND INTERNET PROJECT IN RURAL CAMEROON
ComICT project is working to bridge the digital divide in rural Cameroon. Here.
Read more!3/06/2005
AFRICAN LANGUAGES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES
African Languages Technology Initiative (Alt-I) was set up to facilitate development of the necessary resources that will enable the engagement of information communication technologies (ICT) in African Languages. The initiative has already designed a Yoruba keyboard, which is being used in CAWD first project in Oke-Ogun rural community.
Another interesting project in South Africa is African Speech Technology at University of Stellenbosch.
Bridging the Digital Divide in a Nigerian Village
Committee for African Welfare and Development (CAWD) is a UK-registered charity organization aiming to bridge the digital divide and bring new opportunities in Africa. Its first project is in Oke-Ogun in Nigeria. More info here.
Read more!3/02/2005
EDUVISION: BRIDGING THE EDUCATIONAL AND DIGITAL DIVIDE IN RURAL KENYA
EduVision is empowering students in a remote Kenyan village to have access to a library of some 15 million books! Here.
Read more!2/27/2005
AN AFRICAN VILLAGE IN CYBERSPACE
Visit Kijiji cha Lunga (Lunga Village) in Tanzania...virtually, of course! Here.
Read more!AFRIAFYA: ICT FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
AfriAfya is a Kenyan network of health information management and communication.
Read more!FIRST VOICE INTERNATIONAL: PROJECTS IN AFRICA
First Voice is the catalyst for sharing knowledge and information to rural and urban population Africa and Asia. Click here to see their project in Africa since 1999.
Read more!2/26/2005
RESEARCH ICT AFRICA
Research ICT Africa deals with the development of a sustainable information society and knowledge economy on the African continent by building information communication technology (ICT) policy and regulatory research capacity in Africa. Visit them here.
Read more!LINK: ICT RESEARCH, POLICY, TRAINING, ETC IN SOUTH AFRICA
Link is a leading body in ICT policy, training, and research in South Africa.
Read more!2/25/2005
SOUTH AFRICA: FREE ELECTRICITY VIA YOUR MOBILE PHONE
An interesting project in South Africa.
Read more!2/22/2005
DIGITIZATION OF THE COURT SYSTEM IN AFRICA
The constitutional court in South Africa in now in cyberspace as well.
Read more!2/21/2005
ASSOCIATION OF ICT PROFESSIONALS IN KENYA
This is a website of association of ICT professionals in Kenya, The Computer Society of Kenya.
Read more!2/19/2005
AFRICAN STUDIES ONLINE
This is a list of sources for African and African American studies, history, art, etc, online.
Read more!AFRICAN VOICES IN CYBERSPACE
African Voices is a permanent exhibition that examines the diversity, dynamism, and global influence of Africa’s peoples and cultures over time in the realms of family, work, community, and the natural environment. Here.
Read more!1/18/2005
12/10/2004
OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE IN SWAHILI
The Open Swahili Localization Project (Kilinux) has just released a free office suite software in Swahili.
11/24/2004
ONLINE AFRICAN RESEARCH DATABASE
There is an online database of African university dissertations and theses. Find it here.
11/13/2004
11/12/2004
DIGITAL MEDIA AND PUBLISHING
Digital publishing presents african authors with tremendous opportunities. Read more...
HAND-HELD COMPUTERS AND DEMOCRACY IN RWANDA
Hand-held computers are being used in Rwanda to create a national database for voters. Read more...
11/09/2004
ELECTRONIC PRIVACY IN AFRICA
A symposium organised by the Electronic Privacy Information Center on electronic privacy in Africa, will take place in Cape Town, South Africa in December this year. For more information go here.
11/05/2004
DIGITAL SOLIDARITY FUND
Check out this info about the digital solidarity fund. The Inaugural Ceremony of the Digital Solidarity Fund, created during the WSIS of Geneva , will held on November 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.
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