All Blogs / Local Interest / Africa / Popular
David | Toymaker
Niti Bhan reporting in Prepaid Economy:
Image courtesy of Niti Bhan
This is David, he’s an apprentice at the local furniture workshop. But since he was a young boy he has dreamed of building toy cars, trucks and other vehicles. Now, he scrounges around for scrap materials and builds these beautiful scale model toys in his spare time...[continue reading]
Moving to Maputo
POLANA CANIÇO lies just two miles from the city centre of Maputo, Mozambique’s capital (pictured). Almost all the houses in this small residential neighbourhood stand one-story tall and are owned or rented by Mozambican families. That is unlikely to be the case in a few years. Show More Summary
On Appraising Threats
Yesterday I published a piece at World Politics Review on assessing the threat that armed West African Muslim movements like Boko Haram might pose to the West. The piece is a sequel, in some sense, to two posts from earlier … Continue reading ?
Nigeria’s Experimental Steps Toward an Amnesty for Boko Haram
The Nigerian government, amid a military crackdown against the Boko Haram sect in the country’s northeast, is experimenting with measures that may lead to an amnesty for the group. These experiments seem like an effort to build good will with … Continue reading ?
RLG Communications
In Ghana founded by Roland Agambir: RLG Communications is a computer and hand-set manufacturing company, and one of the first indigenous African companies that assembles laptops and mobile phones:
Of great friendships and natural partners
ON JUNE 6th Angola’s president, José Eduardo dos Santos, gave his first major interview in 22 years. In it, Mr dos Santos said that the statesman he most admires is Brazil’s former president, Lula da Silva, because of his work to forge a more inclusive society. Show More Summary
African Furniture - Built for the World
Trish Lorenz writing in the FT: Hamed Ouattara image courtesy of David Crookes African furniture is undergoing a transformation. Forget village handicrafts; today’s designs are contemporary, high-end and beginning to sport “Made in Africa” branding. Show More Summary
The Rise of the 254Makertrons and Chumabot I
iHub's Jessica Colaço reports on the nurturing of a maker group, the 254Makertrons. Please stay tuned these folks are awesome:
Liz with the Picopter Photo credit: @whiteafrican
As a Mobile and Robotics Tech Evangelist in Kenya, I have...Show More Summary
Farm Shop | Agricultural Supply Chain Service
In Kenya:
Farm Shop is building a franchise network of agro dealers located in rural, underserved areas of Kenya. Farm Shop says its retail shops are clean, modern, and professionally managed. The business wants to increase the earnings and productivity of Kenyan farmers by providing them with high quality products, services and information. Show More Summary
Consequence of war
A colleague passed on an invitation to this year's Hargeysa International Book Fair in Somaliland. Its Sheeko iyo Shaahid short atory competition for "young short story writers" takes entries from people aged up to 40 because "we believe some older...
Praying for his comfort and dignity
ALL over South Africa, Nelson Mandela looms large: beneath the 8-metre-tall statue atop a hill in Bloemfontein, the judicial capital, visitors posing for photos barely come up to his knees. Yet though the image of him remains as strong as ever, nearly 10 years have passed since he withdrew from public life. Show More Summary
3D Printed Medcine
From TED:
Chemist Lee Cronin is working on a 3D printer that, instead of objects, is able to print molecules. An exciting potential long-term application: printing your own medicine using chemical inks.
Image from the Cronin Research Group
What did Emperor Tewodros II look like?
Not like this - the image you see on T-shirts and walls all over Addis Or this Definitely not like this Here's the closest thing I've found to, if not a life study, then one directly from death. A sketch...
Eastern Congo, the Central African Republic and Kenya
AS WELL as our leader and article on the new UN force in eastern Congo, this week's issue of The Economist includes a look at the Central African Republic, which is drifting deeper into crisis under an unruly band of rebels, and a report on Britain's quasi-apology to Kenya's Mau Mau veterans. Follow paywall rules
Once a rebel always a rebel?
THIS week's print issue of The Economist includes an article on the new UN force in eastern Congo as well as a leader on whether that force is a good thing (on balance we think it is). The story is focused on what is going to happen militarily in North Kivu province and along the shores of Lake Kivu. Show More Summary
Sakaramenta Bicycle Carts
A Bid Network profile: Sakaramenta develops low cost and strong quality design models that respond to people’s needs. Transport becomes cheaper, higher in volume and more flexible. From a health perspective it is better to push 230 kg then carry 40kg on your head. Show More Summary
Linking news and action
Swiss author and entrepreneur Rolf Dobelli recently pub [...]
Niger Has Received at Least Four Streams of Refugees Since 2011
Yesterday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees announced that some 6,000 refugees have arrived to Niger from Nigeria, fleeing the Nigerian military’s offensive against Boko Haram. Reuters provides additional context. Refugees from Nigeria add to existing and recent refugee … Continue reading ?
The 'Danfo Reloaded' game
From mobile media company Pledge 51: “Danfo Reloaded” is the second generation of our popular mobile game title “Danfo”, which garnered over 100,000 downloads in less than 6 months of going online. In the game, players get a chance to play as Kunle, a Danfo (local parlance for privately owned commercial buses) driver who is in dire straits. Show More Summary
Media and Nigeria’s 2015 Elections
Professor Attahiru Jega, chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, at a recent event: INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, in Abuja on Monday attributed the success of the 2011 general elections to the commitment of the Nigerian media. [...] The … Continue reading ?
