Sao Tome and Principe Attracts Tourists

If you love dark chocolate, fine cuisine, beautiful beaches and oil, Sao Tome and Principe beckons.

Shopping Malls Go to Algeria

Wahab, one of the potential hammer-buyers, says he thinks the shopping mall is wonderful. "It's a completely new thing for Algeria," he tells me. "We're so proud." At least one Algerian seems to be proud of the shift from market places and small shops to shopping malls.

From 'hippos" to "cheetahs"

Noted Ghanaian economist, George Ayittey, uses animal imagery to grade African leadership styles. Read what he means here.

Cameroon Gov't Slashing Budget By More Than 50%?

It is being reported by a newspaper in Cameroon that the government plans to slash the budget by over 50%? If this is true, then, it is devastation beyond measure. Cameroon will never come out of its economic crisis. This is especially disappointing given that other African countries seem to be doing better even taking into consideration the recent economic shock. About twenty years ago, or so, Cameroon devalued its currency in attempt at addressing a declining economy. In spite of this, the economy continued its free fall. Now, the budget is being cut by half, thus abandoning even the paltry projects the government had hoped to put in place. Considering that Cameroon's economy is being sustained by government expenditure, cutting the budget will  considerably undermine growth as the downsizing of the civil service did about two decades ago. If this story is true, then it will be a disaster for the country. This situation might be ameliorated if the government could liberalize the economy. However, the government has such a stranglehold on the economy that the private sector hardly flourishes. Cutting government budget is thus a double blow.

Rwanda Must Be Pressed Really Hard

Rwanda is threatening to withdraw cooperation with the UN if the results of an investigation alleging that Rwandan soldiers committed genocide in the Congo is published. The UN must not be intimidated by this threat. The fact that Kagame's government has been efficient in providing economic development for the country must not be used as an excuse for efficient murders. The Kagame government must be held accountable by the international community.

Child Abuse in Africa

One of the most vicious forms of child abuse happening in some African countries such as Nigeria and The Democratic Republic of Congo is the torturing of children who have been accused of witchcraft. This malevolent practice significantly perpetrated by Pentecostal preachers who prey on people's ignorance to exploit them. The matter has recently come to light through reports from various news sources. It is a shame that this ignominious activity happens even among Africans in the Diaspora, as is currently the case in the UK. Accusing children of witchcraft is a practice that is based in ignorance; it must be strongly challenged if Africa is to break away from those traditions that hold it back. I deal with this matter in my recent book.

Malnutrition in Northern Cameroon

Distubring report of malnutrition in northern Cameroon - a recurrent issue.

Gay Rights Fight Goes To Cameroon

Human Rights groups as assailing Cameroon for criminalizing homosexuality.

Is Sub-Saharan Africa "Rushing Toward Affluence"?

A new book by two French authors insist this is the case. But considering the source of this rosy prognostic - France! - the matter needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Loul Deng Retraces His Refugee Routes

Loul Deng who plays for the Chicago Bulls, was a refugee from South Sudan. In this moving audio clip he retraces his refugee routes.

Uganda's First Action Movie

A film titled "Who Killed Captain Alex" is being touted as Uganda's first action movie.

Relocating Cairo

To reduce the population stress on the city of Cairo, Egypt, the government is relocating the city. But does this relocation manifest the greed of the rich or is it a praiseworthy urban development initiative?

Solar Energy in Rural Africa

See how solar energy may light up some rural areas in Africa.

Egyptian Islamic Brotherhood Creates "Facebook"

The Islamic Brotherhood of has created its own "facebook" called "Ikhwan book".

Raping the Congo

The disaster that is the democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) gets awfully dramatized by the day. The organized ravishing of the country, by both its government and the rebels, is now captured by the mass rape of about 200 women, and some say, boys, by rebel soldiers. A country already on its knees continues to sink even deeper into oblivion. The DRC is probably one of the saddest places to be in right now. It is a shame that such state of affairs is becoming normal in several African countries. No wonder, some are now even talking of re-colonizing schemes on the continent. I am stunned that African leaders feel no shame at this despicable state of affairs. If they did, they would have been taking more drastic measures to see to it that such situations are not normalized in the continent.

Is Africa Going to Space?

The African Space Agency is the name that has been given to a continent-wide program to enable Africa become an important player in space exploration.

Greening the Desert in Egypt

For decades now, Egyptian graduates have been sent to make the desert productive. But is this a helpful solution to the problem of unemployment in a globalizing world?

Filtering Water in Africa

Many may benefit from clean, drinking water because of this devise invented in South Africa.

Tradition, Religion, and the Oppression of Women

The Elders decry the use of tradition and religion to discriminate against women, pointing out that poverty cannot be overcome when women are being discriminated against.

Empowering Women in Burkina Faso

Before Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary leader in Burkina Faso, was murdered, he had made it a prime duty to empower women in the country. That was in 1987. Now, over twenty years after his death, Burkinabes are still to realize his dream.

Ponzi Scheme Rocks Benin

I am not sure what to compare this Ponzi scheme to - the Wall Street collapse of 2008 or the internet scams? But an elaborate Ponzi scheme in Benin is threatening to bring the entire economy to its knees.
"Some had waited days outside the yellowing government structure, spending the night under a huge mango tree. Others in the crowd spoke of suicides and deaths from hypertension because of the losses. They brandished official-looking “I.C.C.” contracts with the Statue of Liberty and the stamps and seals that are a staple of West African officialdom. They said they had been enticed by seeing members of the government on television with I.C.C. officials."

Dangerous Being an Albino

It is a dangerous business being an Albino in some parts of Africa. This is because Albinos are being killed for the ignorant belief that their body parts may be used in potions that mystically generate wealth. Good to know that governments are cracking down on this dangerous practice.

Less Tears Over Water

This amazing experiment in water supply in Malawi is a good example of the fine things that may happen if ordinary people are given control of important elements of their lives. Amid a dilapidated water structure, this people-run water cooperative thrives.

Killing People to Save Animals

The travesty of conservationism in Africa. Isn't there a more humane way to do conservation?

India and Singapore Go to Gabon

India and Singapore invest in Gabon. FlourishingAfrica hopes the fruits of this investment will be visible.

Angelique Kidjo's Muse

A candid essay by the great singer from Benin.
"My dream is to see every little girl in Benin have the chance I had right after independence: access to a great and sustained education. It has allowed me to accomplish all of my aspirations: sharing with the world the beauty of my culture and my people. Today’s Beninese girls should be given the same opportunity."

Dying to Leave Africa

While much has improved in some African countries in recent years, the phenomenon of people risking their lives to leave the continent is one which must be seriously addressed by African governments. If Africans are not dying in the Mediterranean Sea trying to reach Spain, being thrown into the sea by unwary Chinese sea-people, or in the Gulf of Aden as pirates trying to benefit from the chaos in Somalia, they are dying at the border between Egypt and Israel as they struggle to leave the continent by all means possible. This is a state of affairs that urgently needs to be addressed.

Medicine Among the Baka

Conservation and medicine in Cameroon.

Caught in the Act

A shameful video of a French soldier intimidating a Togolese journalist in Togo! This is the form of leadership the French African ruling elite has learned from France.

Writing Rwanda

One author's engagement with Rwanda.

Tidbits

Reflection on Ramadan in the Gambia.

New reason for the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in Africa?

Gazing at Poverty

A fine article by a college junior. See a similar article here.

Aping China

Because the improved economic situation in Rwanda has been accompanied by the stifling of opposition, one may be forgiven for thinking that Kagame is rehearsing the play-book of China in Africa. But should economic development be antagonistic to an open government? Kagame must not be allowed to hide behind economic development and return to the police state that has come to characterize African politics.

The Crap About African Solutions to African Problems

For a long time now, the ruling African elite have been calling for African solutions to African problems. This is a shorthand that their awful ways of governing should not be held to international standards. The claim that there is a specifically African solutions to African development problems is bogus. African leaders must learn to do what others who have responsibly developed their economies are doing. There is no specifically African way to create jobs and improve standards of living.

America is Not What it Looks Like on TV

A prizewinning play.

Religion and Health in Africa

While some religious groups have played a remarkably significant role in improving the health of Africans, others are actually hurting the people's health.

Cleaning Dirty Images in Africa and Around the World

An important article on "reputation laundering" by rogue regimes. One of these is Rwanda and you may see why here.

What is Poverty?

The United Nations adopts a new definition. Called the "Multidimensional Poverty Index" (MPI), it shows that these countries, all of them from Africa, are among the poorest in the world.

Obama Meets "Young Leaders" From Africa

Young leaders from 45 African countries are meeting with President Obama at the White House from August 3-5 to discuss issues relevant to the future well-being of the continent. This is probably a good thing but for the fact that it is not clear who these young African leaders are and how they were selected for this meeting. If the young African leaders are those who have been hand-picked by the old African leaders or by America, then we are in for more of the same. And it is an aberration for young African leaders to come and discuss the future of Africa with an American president. Same old dependencies. I wonder how many Americans discuss the future of America with African leaders.

The most interesting this about this video is probably that President Obama interacts with Africans in a way that many of their leaders back in Africa would see as beneath them.

For another take on the event see this NYT article.

What Could Have Been . . .

An interesting reflection on Mobutu and Mandela, South Africa and DRC. What difference could Lumumba have made? We just can't know all of that now, can we? But read on.

On Not Knowing When To Quit: The Parable of Song

Rigobert Song is the name of an illustrious Cameroonian football player who contributed significantly in bringing glory to Cameroon football but who, alas, did not know when to quit. One of the problems with celebrities such as athletes and politicians is that they do not know when to quit, that is, they regularly fail to notice when they have outlived their productive period. Song hung on to the Cameroon national football team even when it was remarkably clear to anyone who cares about football that he was no good anymore. He created disastrous circumstances for the team in the last four years or so and everyone cried that he should quit. Just like African politicians he stayed on until his name was dragged in the mud before he retired. Song's career is a perfect parable of the career of most of the African ruling elite.