In case you are wondering...I was here.
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Now, mark your calendar: ICT Africa 2006.
5/08/2006
ICT Africa 2006
12/03/2005
11/19/2005
Bloggers who covered WSIS in Tunisia
After a long week working on the details of the project I am leading to write a people's constitution in Tanzania using simple social software, I have spent the day reading informative posts from bloggers who attended the WSIS in Tunisia. Here are some of them: Andy, Ethan, WSIS blogs, i-witness (PANOS), APC blog, Civiblog, Rebecca, and ICANN Watch.
Read more!
WSIS: Speakers at Expression Under Repression
A panel entitled "Expression Under Repression" was hosted by Hivos and organized by Global Voices during the WSIS summit in Tunisia. Read Ethan's posts about the panel: the opening remarks, Taurai Maduna (from Kubatana), Nart Villeneuve (from Citizen Lab), and Isaac Mao.
Read more!
WSIS: Hossein on Iranian Bloggers
Ethan writing from Tunisia: Hossein Derakshan at Expression Under Repression
Vote for Global Voices: Deadline November 20
Vote for Global Voices for the best English Language blog in the Best of Blogs Awards. The link to where you can cast your vote is here.
11/06/2005
The State of Open Source in Africa
Black Looks has a detailed post on the state of open source software in Africa. Anna, you have to read it!
Read more!11/01/2005
Somebody's got to help me...
In my culture, when somebody writes about you like this, people will come running to help you with carrying your head!
Read more!Africa in Camden, Maine
Ethan has written an excellent summary of the sunday morning session at Pop!Tech, which featured 10 young African innovators.
Read more!Congratulations Anna and all Open Cafe folks
Open Cafe celebrated its first birthday on 21 October. One year of building open source communities in Africa. Check out their art initiative, ArtMarketOnline. And their Szavanna blog and OpenCafe blog.
Read more!10/22/2005
Pop!Tech Conference
I have been live blogging in Kiswahili the Pop!Tech conference and havent been able to do anything on this blog. However, those who dont speak Kiswahili can follow the conference on Ethan's blog. Yes, and Ory (Kenyan Pundit) is also blogging in English.
Read more!
10/20/2005
Peter Diamandis: Ndege za Binafsi za Kwenda Sayari za Mbali
This is what happens sometimes when you have more than one blog. I wrote the post below for my primary blog, Jikomboe, but made a mistake of posting it here!
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Peter Diamandis anaongea dakika hii ninayoandika hapa. Huyu bwana kampuni yake inajihusisha na utengenezaji wa ndege za kibiashara za kibinafsi za kurusha watalii kwenda sayari za mbali. Mwaka 2001 Dennis Tito alikuwa ndio mtalii wa kwanza wa sayari za mbali. Safari za aina zinaelezewa kirefu katika kamusi elezo ya kiingereza. Bonyeza hapa.
Read more!
Pop!Tech Conference - Camden, Maine
I am in Camden, Maine attending this year's Pop!Tech conference as one of the young African leaders participating in this year's conference. I will mostly blog on primary blogging space, Jikomboe, in Kiswahili. Ethan and Ory are blogging in English...in case you dont speak Kiswahili!
Read more!
10/08/2005
Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia, Hoder...
Had a good conversation with Jimmy Wales about Kiswahili Wikipedia. I have just written about it on my Kiswahili blog. I have to go to my first session this morning. Ruby Sinreich of Lotus Media is talking about using the web creatively for political activism.
We have just learned that Hoder was not allowed to enter the country. He was going to lead a session later today on International Community and Blogging.
10/07/2005
ConvergeSouth: evening events
As part of the ConvergeSouth evening events, David and Jinni Hoggard have invited conference attendees to their house for barbecue...and that's where I am heading to right now. You can check out ConvergeSouth technorati links. Tommorow I will be working with an intern from Somalia, Warsame Guled, a second year print journalism major at A and T. I guess I may ask him to do some posts here while I am concentrating on my primary blog, Jikomboe. I have to go. After barbecue we have the choice of going to any of these venues ( free for conference participants).
ConvergeSouth Going On...
ConvergeSouth conference is going on right now. I attended a wonderful session led by Sue Polinsky and Ed Cone. I have a detailed post here (yes, in Kiswahili!). Also a post in Kiswahili about We Media conference.
Read more!10/04/2005
10/02/2005
Blogging in Gikuyu
A Kenyan poet and PhD student in the US, Gatua Wa Mbugwa, has started a blog in Gikuyu. My friend Gatua released a poetry CD in Gikuyu, Maitu ni Ma Itu (Our Mother is Our Truth), early this year.
Read more!We Media Conference - October 5, 2005
As a result of a fellowship from the Media Center, I will blog the "We Media: Behold the Power of Us" conference, which will take place next week wednesday ( October 5, 2005) at the headquarters of the Associated Press in New York. The conference is about collaborations, collective intelligence, and participatory media. Here is the full program: WeMedia
Read more!9/28/2005
Kiswahili Wikipedia
Kiswahili wikipedia needs your help in case you speak Kiswahili. Find out about what you can do to improve it.
Read more!9/27/2005
Breaking Silence: Updating Kiswahili blog
UPDATE: The transcript of the IRC chat is here.
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I am currently updating my Kiswahili blog.
Do not forget that the Internet chat with Reporters Withouth Border Internet director, Julien Pain about the Handbook for Bloggers and Cyberdissents is today. More information...
9/09/2005
Helsinki conference ended today
The Helsinki Process on Globalisation and Democracy was initiated in 2000 by the Finnish and Tanzanian governments to address critical issues relating to globalization and democracy such as health, security, small arms, corruption. The Helsinki Process seeks to strengthen North-South cooperation and encourage a multi-stakeholder networking involving labour unions, academic institutions, civil society, private sector, media, and governments. The ultimate goal of this conference was to build commitment for the implementation of of neccessary steps towards eradicating poverty.
The conference ended today at with concluding remarks by co-Chairs of the Helsinki Process
and commitments to change.
Read more!
The conference ended today at with concluding remarks by co-Chairs of the Helsinki Process
and commitments to change.
Tanzanian President
Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa, speaking at Finlandia Hall, Helsinki, yesterday.
There are 2 bullets for every person in the world
"Small arms are weapons of mass destruction. They kill half a million people every year." "There are 2 bullets for all of us in the world today."
"In order to achieve the millennium development goals, development has to be understood in the context of right and not aid or charity."
"I am an oxymoron because I am a prince who is promoting civil society."
"Globalization debate should focus on the creation of universal moral majority."
- His Royal Highness EL Hassan Bin Talal, the president of the Club of Rome.
Read more!
Pastoralism is no longer viable in Africa
"Pastoralism is no longer viable in Africa. Conflicts in Somalia, Northern Kenya, even Darfur, are to some extent related to the fact that pastoralism as an economic model is not viable. The Maasai in Tanzania are very peaceful that is why there hasn't been intense conflicts between farmers and the Maasai...they have abandoned pastoralism as a way of life to become security guards in urban centers in Tanzania."
"There is an assumption in the developing world, particularly in Africa, that moving to urban centers is a neccessary step if one needs to succeed..."
"For Africa to prevail, it need to prevail against two major problems: HIV/AIDS and chaotic organization of political systems."
- Mrs. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka, the Executive Director of UN-HABITAT.
9/08/2005
Why talk?
I am introducing a guest blogger from Malaysia, Vkii. Vkii is the editor of the Malaysian online newspaper, Malysiakini.
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Hi! I´m Vkii and I am from Malaysia. I know Macha by reputation only previously but here in Helsinki I have met him finally. If you ask me - cool dude with cool principles.
The Helsinki Conference is all about talking. But believe me, here the talk serves a purpose. You have to talk FIRST. Then only can u sort out your differences. And that is what the world is about. Differences.
So let´s talk about them. Let´s meet. It is the first step. The whole problem may not be solved just by talking with each other but at least we will know how the others FEEL. And that is the bridge that will take us a step closer to an answer.
Let`s recognise that there are a lot of us in this world and each and every one has a right to be here. There is going to be friction (it is inevitable. we`re humans) but that is not insurmountable.
Know that we can work together, know that we can sort out differences. know that all can be satisfied. Know also that this can be achieved.
Have first faith in the talk.
Tanzania's first photoblogger
One of my memorable moments today was when Muhiddin Issa Michuzi, Tanzanias leading photojournalist, decided to enter the blogosphere. On this photo I am "officially" welcoming him to the Tanzanian blogosphere. Another journalist, Charles Nzo, is seriously working on his blog right now here in Helsinki.
What is the difference between Bono and God?
The former Irish president, Mary Robinson, cracked this joke: The difference between God and Bono is that God does not think that he is Bono!
Read more!MARY ROBINSON AT THE HELSINKI CONFERENCE
Earlier today, Mary Robinson, the former Irish president of Ireland (her Irish name is Máire Bhean Mhic RóibÃn), and the Director of Ethical Globalization Iniative, said that the world leaders have a very serious moral obligation to ensure that poverty is tackled, not with wordy reports but concrete actions. Speaking during the plenary session on the Helsinki Process Outcome and the Way Forward at the Helsinki Conference 2005, she said, "The world is not short of good report or good ideas. There is a sense of frustration about these reports, we don’t get to the stage of implementation."
What makes the Helsinki Process a unique iniative, she observed, is its inclusive approach, which emphasizes the role of a vast range of stakeholders such as trade unions, academic institutions, governments, civil society, the media, private sector, etc., and its commitment to putting human rights and dignity at the center of the globalization debate.
**Photo: Mary Robinson speaking to reporters this afternoon.
Photo by Muhidin Issa Michuzi.
Read more!
This is Finland
This is my second day in Helsinki. I am not planning to say anything related to what president Chirac said in July this year about Finish food.
Finland is a very interesting country. It is a country where an epic poem led to a succesful independence movement. I remember attending a moving theatrical performance of Kalevala by Parapanda Theatre Lab at the National Museum in Tanzania in 2000. The building where the conference sessions are taking place, Finlandia Hall, was designed by the famous Finish architect, Alvar Aalto.
Finland is a very interesting country. It is a country where an epic poem led to a succesful independence movement. I remember attending a moving theatrical performance of Kalevala by Parapanda Theatre Lab at the National Museum in Tanzania in 2000. The building where the conference sessions are taking place, Finlandia Hall, was designed by the famous Finish architect, Alvar Aalto.
Finland, which gave Nokia to the world, is the least corrupt country in the world according the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.
It is also the the most Globally Competetive country in the world according to the World Economic Competetiveness Index.
Despite Finland being one of the most wired nation in the world, blogging hasnt become popular yet. The Finish world for blog is verkkopäiväkrija. One of the leading bloggers in Finland is an America IT professional.
Read more!
TANZANIAN DELEGATION AT THE CONFERENCE
Tanzanians attending the Helsinki Conference 2005.
* Photo by Muhidin Issa Michuzi.
Michuzi, a leading photojournalist with the Daily News in Tanzania, started photoblogging today...my latest disciple!
Read more!
MKAPA AND HALONEN SPEAKING IN HELSINKI
Benjamin Mkapa, the outgoing Tanzanian president and Tarja Halonen, the Finish president speaking this morning during the plenary session, Implementing Commitments: Mobilising for Change. They reiterated the fact that the current global economic and social structure requires massive readjustment. They emphasized that The Helsinki Process is a step towards building a multi-stake holder approach to addressing poverty in the world.
**Photo by Muhidin Issa Michuzi.
Read more!
Are Africans so poor?
During the discussion on women, globalization, and economy yesterday, Mama Maria Shaba, the chairwoman of Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, asked participants to redefine poverty. She argued that African have been told that they are poor for so long that they end up believing to be poor while they are neccesarily not poor.
She asked, "If we are so poor why do western multinationals so busy investing on the continent? If we are so poor that we cannot even pay back our debt, why do western nations and banking institutions keep on lending us?"
Read more!
9/07/2005
Helsinki Conference Live Webcast
I am in Helsinki already for the Helsinki Conference 2005. I missed the Global Media Workshop. But had a good conversation with the editor of the Malaysian online newspaper, Malaysiakini, S, Vicknesan.
I am still trying to figure out the conference schedule, rooms, etc, and to locate people that I want to interview. There is a live webcast of the conference.
There a lots of participants from Tanzania...which is good for me. There is a feeling I miss back in the US from being away from Kiswahili speakers....I have been speaking Kiswahili non-stop. I have to get ready for the reception later this evening. I have posted a longer piece on my Kiswahili blog. I will probably write a longer one today for this blog after the reception or tommorow.
Read more!
9/04/2005
Blogging Helsinki Conference 2005
I was supposed to be leaving tommorow for Finland. But since my passport has not been delivered, and tommorow being a public holiday (it will be delivered tuesday morning), I will leave on Tuesday. I am going to attend the Helsinki Conference 2005, which is a result of a joint initiative between the governments of Tanzania and Finland addressing issues of democracy and globalization. The first conference was in 2002.
Lots of activities related to the general theme of the conference have been taking place. For example, a number of organizations have arranged various events in Helsinki around the theme: Democratising Globally. Also, there is a Youth Conference.
As part of the Helsinki process, civil society actors from both the North and South are brought together to tackle the negative impacts of globalization through a participatory mechanism called the Citizens' Global Platform.
Take a look a the list of speakers and the conference program.
Take a look a the list of speakers and the conference program.
I will report on the conference and other related activities on this blog, my primary blog (in Kiswahili), Jikomboe, and also Global Voices weblog.
Read more!
Reinforcing Journalism in the Information Society
A conference organized by the Highway Africa News Agency, Reinforcing Journalism in the Information Society, is taking place in South Africa, 12-14 September 2005.
Read more!Prof. Kelly Askew on Taarab
Here is a very informative interview between Prof. Kelly Askew and Afropop Worldwide on Taarab, Kiswahili poetry, national identity, etc., in Tanzania.
9/01/2005
Is Tanzania waging propaganda war against Kenya?
I wonder what will be the future of the East African Community. Read the entire article...
Read more!Foreign "AID": Who benefits?
For obvious reasons, I was not suprised when I read this article in the Guardian. Of £3m to Malawi relief projects by the British government through the Department of International Development, £586,423 was spent on hotels for a US consultancy agency, the National Democratic Institute and £126,062 was spent on meals!
Pens and notebooks for one project in Malawi were bought in the US while they were available locally. Read full article...
Read more!
8/30/2005
Bloggers: leading voices of dissent in Egypt
I just came across this article on Yahoo!: In a country where most major newspapers are state-owned or affiliated to a party, the Internet is offering an unprecedented freedom and platform for an increasingly bold opposition to the regime. Read more....
One of the people "blogging down" the regime is a female blogger, Baheyya.
8/29/2005
Tanzanian Blogosphere: Update
Cross-posted at Globa Voices: English, Bilingual, and Political Bloggers in Tanzanian Blogosphere.
Read more!8/26/2005
Mobile Phone Revolution in Africa
Interesting article in the New York Times about growth of mobile phone use on the continent and Andy's take.
Lately, I have been talking a lot about mobile phone use in Africa. I get asked why I encourage Africans to blog considering the fact that very few people have access to the Internet and that computers are expensive to most people on the continent. One of my many answers is that these days the Internet is not only accessible through computers, there are many other cheaper tools such as cellphones. Mobile phones are increasingly becoming affordable to most people in Africa. It is only a matter of time, for example, before my mother, deep in the village on the slopes of the mountain of Ruwa (God), Kilimanjaro, starts reading my Kiswahili blog via her cellphone. The NYT article reports that 1 in 11 people in Africa is a mobile phone subscriber, what we are not told is that in many instances, particularly in the village, mobile phones are telecenters. One's mobile phone number becomes the contact of every villager, a teacher's mobile phone becomes the school's means of instant communication, etc.
Read more!
8/25/2005
8/23/2005
Conference on Participatory Spatial Information Management
International Conference on Participatory Spatial Information Management and Communication takes place in Kenya early next month. Read more...
8/22/2005
Media Awards for African Journalists
Individual journalists and media institutions based in Africa are invited to participate in the 2005 African Information Society Initiative (AISI) Media Awards.
PANOS/GKP Journalism Awards 2005
Global Knowledge Partnership and Panos-London are offering 4 awards of US$1,000 each to print, radio, TV and web journalists from the South who produce the best works on the theme "Where is the money for bridging the digital divide?" Winners will be invited to attend the World Summit on the Information Society inTunisia in November 2005.
Read more!Women and ICTs in Southern Africa
Ekowisa is an organization in Southern Africa using e-knowledge to build a gender sensitive information society.
Read more!8/21/2005
Dismantling taboos in Africa with a blog
BBC has an article about Ekine, a Nigerian blogger in Spain who uses her blog to tackle cutural taboos on the continent. Read more...
Read more!Most wired nation and e-slates for textbooks in Africa
While Rwanda is planning on becoming the most wired nation in Africa, Eduvision pilot project in Kenya replaces textbooks with e-slates.
Read more!Blogging and Podcasting taking off in Africa
Andy Carvin was in Ghana recently. The first mobile phone podcast from Accra was one of the successes of his trip. Balancing Act has an interesting article about his experience in Ghana and some comments and observations from Ethan about blogging in Africa.
8/20/2005
Limerick for Mr. Corrupt Minister
Last month, the British goverment issued a travel ban on a corrupt Kenyan minister. Kenyan bloggers did not leave him alone. Mshairi hit the minister with a limerick, other Kenyan bloggers were inspired. Read the comments on her post.
Youth led IT initiative in Nigeria
This is one of those day that you get lost in cyberspace forgetting completely what you were looking for in the first place. I came back with KnoweldgeHouseAfrica website.
Read more!
8/19/2005
Tanzanian Blogosphere
I have been updating the Tanzanian section on the Global Voices wiki. I am trying to find the addresses of two or three other blogs that I have misplaced. Well, take a look...
Read more!Another Tanzanian blogging in English
Idya, a Tanzanian PhD student in South Africa, has been blogging in Kiswahili for a while. I guess it was after meeting Ethan in Cape Town recently that he decided to blog in English as well.
Read more!Youth is where IT is at
The World Summit Youth Award (WSYA) is an international competition for youth-led projects that encourage the active participation of young people in the emerging Information Society. You can participate if you are less than 27 years of age. The deadline is September 18, 2005.
Read more!
8/18/2005
Presidential candidate in Tanzania sets up a blog
The presidential candidate for the opposition Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (the Party of Democracy and Development) in Tanzania, Freeman Mbowe, has set up a blog. The presidential and parliamentary elections are set to take place this in October this year. So far, he is the only presidential candidate with a blog, though he hasn't started blogging yet. Three other members of his party have set up personal blogs: Dr. Slaa (outgoing Karatu MP), Mr. Zitto, the Director of Campaign, and Mr. Mnyika, Director of Youth Affairs.
Read more!
8/16/2005
Kenyan journalist denied work permit in Tanzania
I wonder what this means in the context of the revival of the East African Community.
Read more!Chocolate made in Switzerland, no...in Africa!
Now I am going through all kinds of papers that I collected and notes that I made while reporting on the G8 Summit at Gleneagles. I have just come across a leaflet from a chocolate company in Ghana that was set up by local farmers in 1998. I don't usually eat chocolate, but considering the "pan african" sentiments in me, I had to try this one. I did not regret. Explore the heavenly chocolate with a heart...
Read more!WiFi in Africa: empty water bottles, coffee tins, bicycle spokes...
I once reported about this amazing project in Mali using water bottles to make antennas. Mereka Institute in South Africa uses a coffee tin and a section of bicycle spoke to make antennas, which are called cantennas.
8/15/2005
Globalization and Democracy: the Helsinki Conference 2005
The Helsinki conference is a global dialogue initiated by the governments of Tanzania and Finland to address the challenges of globalization and democracy. The first conference took place in 2002. The Helsinki Conference 2005 will be held 7-9 September 2005 in Helsinki.
Read more!
8/13/2005
Global Voice is Global!
Global Voices Project has been around for seven months. It is becoming a truly become global voice. Ethan tells us that the project:
- averages over 7,000 unique visitors a day
- recorded a quarter million visits in July
- it is one of the two hundred most cited blogs (on a monthly basis)
- it has been ranked in the top hundred most cited blogs in the past month
- it has been linked to in the past month by bloggers in at least 36 countries, writing in 11 different languages
- it has been extensively linked to by conservative (yes, conservative!) and liberal bloggers
Read Ethan's blog entry and his post in Global Voices about how "global" the voices have become.
Read more!
8/12/2005
World Information Technology Forum 2005 in Botswana
I announced some months ago about the World Information Technology Forum (WITFOR) taking place in Gaborone, Botswana 31 August- 2 September, 2005. This information might be late (I am not sure): The African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group) is sponsoring one ACP Country representative involved in the technical management of ICTs and ICT development and policy design in their country to participate in WITFOR 2005. The sponsorship is limited to one person per country. Visit the WITFOR website for more information and application form.
Read more!
8/08/2005
Educational Technology and eLearning in Southern Africa
SANTEC is a network of educational technology practitioners working in the area of educational technology and eLearning for development focusing on Southern Africa. You can join them for free if you are interested in issues of educational technology and eLearning.
Read more!8/07/2005
New English blog from a female teacher in Tanzania
Esther blogs in English from Tanzania. She is interested in indigenous knowledge.
Read more!New Multilingual Blog from Tanzania
Florence blogs in both Kiswahili and English from the commercial capital of Tanzania, Dar Es Salaam.
Read more!8/06/2005
ICTs for Education in Southern Africa
The International Journal of Education andDevelopment using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT) has a special issues on ICT for Education and Development in Southern Africa. I will spend my sunday morning going through some of the articles. I am little bit behind on issues of education and information technology on the region since I have been focusing on media, IP, community technology, and politics (in relatioship to ICTs).
Read more!8/02/2005
7/19/2005
Back soon...
Will be back soon. Time for this and this.
The revolution was last night, did you miss it?
7/11/2005
Talking about blogging and G8 on BBC
John and I just got back from Bush house where we had two interviews for BBC Go Digital and BBC Kiswahili Service on blogging, journalism, G8, etc. Tomorrow morning (5:30am and 6:30am) I will be on BBC Network Africa talking about blogging at the G8 summit. That will be few hours before I leave for the US.
Read more!
BBC interview
This morning, John Kamau and I are going to have an interview with Colin Grant for the BBC programme, Go Digital. I am leaving tomorrow for the US. There is still a strong feeling of sadness all over London. I must admit, on my way here I was a bit scared.
Read more!7/08/2005
What do Scottish farmers think about subsidies...
I spoke with Scottish farmers about subsidies. Here is what they said...
Final communique
It has come to an end. African presidents came, dined, wined, took photos, and left...not even a word to African journalist, to borrow a line from Fela Kuti, JUST LIKE THAT!
G8 leaders came, pretended to care about poverty, and issued this communique, which has been criticized by World Development Movement and Friends of the Earth.
I am still at Gleneagles, it is about 11pm. I will be heading to Edinburgh very soon.
The African President who was not allowed to attend the G8 summit
I just found this article. I am not sure if I find it funny or sad. All the way from Africa to London, on the way to Gleneagles, but....
Read more!If you could meet the G8 leaders for coffee...
What would you tell them? Read my piece on Panos Africavox.
Read more!7/07/2005
Voices from African Civil Society
We left in the morning for Gleneagles. The bomb attacks in London have shocked everyone at Gleneagles. We had a long, long day. Maura and I came back to the apartment around 1am. Earlier today I talked to few representatives of local and international organisations in Africa who are attending the summit to get the exact messages they have brought all the way from Africa.
Monica Naggaga is the policy coordinator for Oxfam Uganda. I started our conversation by asking her the reasons for coming to Gleneagles. “I am here to lobby the leaders of G8 to end poverty in Africa,” said Naggaga who mainly uses the media to get her message across to world leaders and the British public.
Naggaga's main message to leaders of the G8 is clear: African governments should be allowed to decide their own trade policy. “If they decide to open up their markets, let it be so, if they decide to protect domestic markets, let it be so.” She said with conviction.
On the issue of debt, Naggaga believes that what Africa need is better and appopriate aid “so that we can effectively deliver the Millenium Development Goals.” Better aid, according to Naggaga, means aid not tied to conditionalities, which usually amounts to giving money with one hand and taking it away with the other. She maintains that Africa requires extra $50 billion this year.
Naggaga also wants world's advanced nations to to commit themselves to a clear time-frame to phase out farming subsdies, which negatively affects African farmers.
Mulima Kufeksa Akapelwa, the head of deparment of Justice and Peace for the Catholic Centre for Justice, Development, and Peace in Zambia, is in Gleneagles to ask world's richest nations to extend debt cancellation beyond the 14 African countries that have benefitted from the first phase of the deal.
She wants debt cancellation to be accompanied by more and effective aid. She elaborates: “Africa does not benefit from aid designed in a way that huge chunk of the money comes back to the West as payment for consultants, technicians, and purchase of equipment.”
“Another critical area that we have raised our concern is trade. Africa will not be able to stand on her own if the international trade regime is not reformed,” she said, adding that fair trade alone will not help Africa. “Africa needs the economic capacity to give incentives to her people to be more productive, and also improve the necessary physical, telecommunication, and financial infrastructure and systems needed for high and quality productivty,” Mulima noted.
On the role of Africa in fighting poverty, she observed that more foreign aid cannot is needed even where it seems as if the problem is under Africa's control. She points out that corruption, which is one the the major problems in Africa, requires huge investment to wipe it out. Referring to her country of Zambia, in Southern Africa, she said, “Zambia reguires about $4million to install new technologies for tracking use of public funds. This is a lot of money for a country like Zambia but very crucial.”
After attending the 2003 G8 Summit in France, Caroline Sande, the Director of ActionAid, Southern Africa, promised herself that she was not going to attend more G8 summits: “Historically, these meetings are about rhetorics and sometimes leaders are only scoring points against each other.”
However, this year's summit, “is very unique and brings with it hope and optimism that has never been felt before.” Mass demonstration that took place in Edinburgh last week, Sande believes, showed that ordinary people are asking questions and at the same time Africans have started to critically sift through grand statements and look at small prints.
Despite her optimism, she will not be surprised if nothing significant comes out of the summit “since it will not be the first time Africa is one of the key issues of the summit with lots of promises made but not fulfiled.” She points to the contradiction within western governments such as the UK as an indicator of how difficult it might for promises to be delivered.
“Look, the Home Office wants to kick out asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, the Trade Department's policy papers talk about working towards opening up Africa's markets to British corporations, the UK is the second largest exporter of small arms to volatile regions of Africa, at the same time the Prime Minister leads other G8 leaders in ending poverty in Africa. How can you explain these contradictions?” She asks.
Another contradiction, she adds, is in the fact that members of the G8 want African countries to practice the pure form of free market economy while they forcefully protect their domestic markets.
Caroline has speficic messages from Africa for G8 leaders, “We need time-frame for impementing promises, solutions cannot be found in singular programmes; it is about a package of fair trade, better aid, debt cancellation and so forth.”
The basis of our message is that the lives of African people should be valued. “We dont see, for example, why plans to put every HIV/AIDS victims under treatment are targeted for 2010. Why not now? We are talking about human beings who will not be around in 2010,” she complained.
7/06/2005
Back from Gleneagles
We have arrived back to our apartment from Gleneagles where high priests of capitalism are meeting. We missed Bono and Geldof. We were busy eating and sipping not knowing what was going on the other side of the tent.
Maura, who was very disappointed for missing Bono, writes about rap music in Mozambique for Metro newspaper. Earlier today I was in Simon Mayo's BBC Radio Five Live Show talking about the power of protests. Right now Joel is on air discussing Africa and the G8 Summit.
I am going to write a short piece about my first day at Gleneagles for Panos blog before going to sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day, we are all going to Gleneagles early in the morning.
We have arrived in Gleneagles
We have arrived in Gleneagles after over an hour drive from Edinburgh. We are drinking wine and eating Scotish food while talking to people. This is part of "Taste of Scotland Evening" with the First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell. I have met journalists from Nigeria, Ghana, and Uganda and have just spoken to the minister of education and young people of Scotland. Will write more later.
7/04/2005
From London to Edinburgh
Everything seems to be happening extremely fast since I arrived in London last Monday to cover the G8 Summit for Panos London. We left London for Edinburgh last Friday. Other journalist who are Edinburgh for the same reason are Hilary Mbobe, Machrine Birungi, John Kamau, Maura Quartoze, and Salamatu Turay.
A lot has been happening in Edinburgh. Follow our coverage (photos, features, blog entries, etc) here and here. Metro will be featuring stories from us. We are going back to London this coming Friday. London gives me a feeling of being tightly squeezed by old buildings with thick walls, tiny cars, throngs of people running to catch the next train, narrow roads, and tiny bedrooms. London, in a way, reminds me of New York: rush, rush, rush…catch the bus…is it number 38 or 28? Catch the train…what time is the next train leaving?
Back in London we were able to meet different political and media figures. We met Hugh Bayley (Member of Parliament for York), the chair of Africa All Party Parliamentary Group. While seated on a side table in his office, he briefly told us the progress that has been made by his group in bringing to the attention of British politicians and policy-makers critical issues relating to Africa.
Last Tuesday, John and I went to talk to the former CEO of City Water, Cliff Stone, about the Tanzanian governement decision to deport him and cancel its contract with City Water. We did not have enough time to finish the interview; we might do it again face to face or over the phone before we leave the UK. We are still working in this story. The same day, we went to London School of Economics to a public forum entitled: Make G8 History. We got there a little bit late. But I was glad that we did not miss Tariq Ali, George Monbiot, and Mark Curtis.
On Wednesday we met Clare Short (Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood) at House of Parliament. Before meeting Clare Short, Francesca, Nicky, John, and I visited BBC online offices to see what they do. John, apart from blogging for Africavox blog, will also blog for BBC online.
On thursay, the day before we left for Edinburgh, we had informative discussions with two amazing and experienced UK bloggers. Paul Mason writes about our meeting. Rafael Behr talked about being the only blogger at the Observer and showed us the last public speech by Ceausescu. Colin Grant-Bu interviewed me for the BBC programme, Go Digital. He will conduct another interview with all of us next Monday.
Back in London we were able to meet different political and media figures. We met Hugh Bayley (Member of Parliament for York), the chair of Africa All Party Parliamentary Group. While seated on a side table in his office, he briefly told us the progress that has been made by his group in bringing to the attention of British politicians and policy-makers critical issues relating to Africa.
Last Tuesday, John and I went to talk to the former CEO of City Water, Cliff Stone, about the Tanzanian governement decision to deport him and cancel its contract with City Water. We did not have enough time to finish the interview; we might do it again face to face or over the phone before we leave the UK. We are still working in this story. The same day, we went to London School of Economics to a public forum entitled: Make G8 History. We got there a little bit late. But I was glad that we did not miss Tariq Ali, George Monbiot, and Mark Curtis.
On Wednesday we met Clare Short (Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood) at House of Parliament. Before meeting Clare Short, Francesca, Nicky, John, and I visited BBC online offices to see what they do. John, apart from blogging for Africavox blog, will also blog for BBC online.
On thursay, the day before we left for Edinburgh, we had informative discussions with two amazing and experienced UK bloggers. Paul Mason writes about our meeting. Rafael Behr talked about being the only blogger at the Observer and showed us the last public speech by Ceausescu. Colin Grant-Bu interviewed me for the BBC programme, Go Digital. He will conduct another interview with all of us next Monday.
You might be interested in visiting other G8 Blogs:
Read more!
John Kamau on G8 in the guardian newspaper
John Kamau, one of the african journalists who are blogging and reporting on the G8 Summit has an excellent article in the Guardian today.
Please visit the Panos G8 blog where we are reporting from an African perspective on what is happening, or not happening, here in Edinburgh. We also just learnt that we got media accreditation to actually brush shoulders with GW and his buddy, Tony.
Right now, a group of anarchists are demonstrating.
7/03/2005
Yes Men in Edinburgh
Another long day in Edinburgh, we attended some events in town where we got to see and hear Samir Amin, Walden Bello, George Monbiot, Trevor Ngwane, etc. We also spoke to a person from the World Development Movement about water privatization in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. I think these guys made my day. On our way back we met a group of anti-war demonstators. We wanted to stay but it got so cold and we were hungry. I have to start working on my stories for Panos.
Read more!blogging in tanzanian politics
Tanzanian's opposition party, Chadema, has blogs for its national leaders. I will be watching closely to see how they will use blogging technology in this year's presidential and parliamentary election.
Here in Edinburgh, we are about to start our day with a full Scottish breakfast. Remember visiting our new blog.
7/02/2005
Do I have to go back to London?
I just realized what makes me love Edinburgh. First, people are more relaxed (and drunk?). In London, everybody seems to be stressed about something. The whole city seems to be late for something. Many Africans I saw over there have permanent frowns on their faces. Greener pastures might not be that green. Lots of them seem to be somewhere else: thinking about the landlord?
Second, in Edinburgh it is easier for me to find my way around. Somebody from Panos said something about Edinburgh being a manageable city. I wonder if Mzizima, the largest city in Tanzania is manageable to visitors.
Right now, Live 8 concert on TV is in South Africa. A group of musicians are singing the South African national anthem, Nkosi Sikeleli, which happens to be the same national anthem, in different languages though, in Zambia and Tanzania. We have been watching some of Live 8 performances. Whoever was deciding which performance was to be aired must not like African music. The few times they showed African musicians, it only lasted for 6 sconds.
G8 security and GDP in Malawi
I was told by an activist from Congo DRC during Make Poverty History demonstration that the total cost of G8 Summit security is more than the GDP of a country like Malawi! Dont forget to get to read blog entries from African bloggers who are in Edinburgh.
Read more!Make Poverty History demonstration
I guess there were over 200,000 demonstrators in Edinburgh earlier today. It was exciting and fun being among those thousands souls with banners, music, drumming, singing, etc. The last time I was in something like this was 2002 in New York at an anti-war protest.
Today I was busy tracking down African demonstrators. I met some activists from Uganda, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, and Congo DRC.
Here are some photos.
For more detailed information about what is happening here from an African perspective read the new Panos blog.
7/01/2005
Eating "leaves" in Edinburgh
I just got back from a long walk around Edinburgh. It is 1:45am, the city is still bustling with activities, mostly kissing, smoking, and arguing. Everybody seems to be staggering from alcohol. And they speak something that sounds like English...Scottish english, I am told.
I met three Tanzanians as i was about to come back to the apartment. It is always such a great feeling meeting Kiswahili speakers in the Diaspora. "Are you here for this thing?" They asked me while pointing to a piece of cloth outside an old church, which says: Unfair trade costs Africa $2700,000,000 every year.
Strange, one of the three Tanzanian comes from my village!
Before we left for lunch yesterday, I wrote about Dr. Fackson Banda, the Executive Director of Panos Southern Africa, asking us to go where he can eat "real" food, not fast food. We went to a restaurant not far from where we leave (Sameer: "dont break anything, please dont touch anything...don't, don't, dont..."). Dr Banda's food ended up being too "real"! I havent laughed so much since I got in here last Monday. Dr. Banda ordered sauteed chicken pepper, thinking it was going to be a filling. Unfortunately, he did not see the word:salad. When his meal came, his salad, to be precise, he had to ask to see the menu again before he realised that his order was for people who like eating leaves (vegetables). In less than two minutes he had finished his leaves! I advised him that next time, instead of asking for menu, he should go to the kitchen to see for himself what he is ordering.
On our way back to the apartment, we laughed so hard while discussing Banda's "leaves."
"I grow vegetables in my backyard. I eat them for free, now here I had to pay the equivalent of 150,000,000 Zambian currency (Kwacha)" John Kamau, who also happened to eat "leaves" for lunch, did a quick calculation to find out how much Kenyan shilings he had used for "leaves" that left him even hungrier. He
grabbed a mint we got from the hotel from his mouth and threw it away in disgust. Banda looked at John while cracking with laughter, " You see, that damn thing does not even dissolve!"
Oh, I am tired. Tomorrow is a long day. I have to go to sleep. There will be a big march in town. Earlier today ohn told me that next week there will be 8 leaders of the so called "wealth economies," 10,000 arnachists, and 100, 000 activists!
There are so many police officers around the town, some roads have been closed and some shops on Princes (street/ avenue/road?) have been covering their glass windows with wooden planks, mainly because of anarchists. As I told you yesterday, I will be looking for anarchists for tomorrow.
**I learnt today that John Kamau from Kenya, who is with us, is also an accomplished musician.
Live 8 on Technorati
We just arrived in Edinburgh. We are staying at a very beautiful apartment: large rooms, interesting artwork, big windows, etc. Well, we are about to go out to get some food. Dr. Fackson Banda, from Panos Southern Africa, says he doesnt want "fast food" but "real" food! Check out Technorati for info about Live 8 at: http://live8.technorati.com
More later. Down with neo-imperialism!
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!
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.
Read more!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.
Read more!
6/29/2005
Does "saint" Bob Geldof respect African musicians?
Perhaps "saint" Bob wants to help "poor" Africans but not "wealthy" African musicians.
Read more!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!
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.
Read more!Debt Trap Still Haunts Tanzania
Despite the G8 ministerial decision to cancel debt owed by Tanzania and other 17 nations, debt trap still haunts...
Read more!
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