Monthly Archives: May 2009

Because this is the perfect example of what happens when traditional South African rhythms get mixed with Western style rock and roll. Johannesburg’s BLK JKS:

1. Rwanda continues to chant, “We Don’t Want Your Aid.”  But we will take your peace-inducing jazz bands. 2. UN Mission to Congo says prisons in the Kivus really suck; unsure whether being outside is any better. 3. Rwanda makes a … Continue reading →

I arrived in Sierra Leone a few days ago to scope out the parameters and methodological approach for an evaluation to be launched in mid-June. One part of my work has included collecting data. This means walking into a plethora … Continue reading →

I walked into the best African office I’ve been into the other day. It included in no particular order or aesthetic combination: 1. Multiple bright pink stuffed animals 2. A multi-paged Adam Smith quote from the Wealth of Nations 3. … Continue reading →

Because when dorky European musicians and a hoppy Gambian one-string fiddle players get together, it makes you want to geek out. Check out Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara:

In This Week in the Great Lakes, Burundi was caught whining about the fact that more Anglophonic countries in the East African Community (EAC) for some reason don’t speak French. According to Afriquejet: Burundi Minister of East African Community Affairs, … Continue reading →

1. Burundi begins their role as host of the East African Community Parliament; whines that they are the only French speakers left. 2. The Democratic Republic of Congo’s newest international export: female soccer players. 3. Swedish aid agency trains Rwandan … Continue reading →

Over at MICROCON, a Micro Analysis of Violent Conflict working group, Eleonora Nillesen and Philip Verwimp have put out a new working paper on Rebel Recruitment in Coffee Exporting Economy. Verwimp and Nillesen use Burundi as a case study and … Continue reading →

The UNDP is hiring for what might be one of the coolest jobs in a high security humanitarian crisis ever: Millennium Development Goals Cartoonist. The question is do you have what it takes? Somalia faces significant challenges in achieving the … Continue reading →

Because getting down to the reggae-funk Nigerian singer songwriter Asa is the only way to spend Friday afternoon: