African news and blogwatch
Because, after all, I’ve been promising it for a week at least. I’ll try to keep more current with these.
In Zimbabwe, Tsvangirai and Mugabe are still not in agreement on the new cabinet, and Tsvangirai has suspended talks while waiting for the return of mediator Thabo Mbeki. Meanwhile, IRIN asks, of Zimbabwe, How do you rein in 231 million per cent inflation?
Kenyans, unsurprisingly, are excited about Obama’s lead in the polls. But I’ll skip the Obama related posts, and instead link one in which jAnaM discusses the limitations of circumcision in preventing AIDS/HIV.
Following some African countries government’s advice that circumcision lessened chances of contracting HIV/Aids, many young men formed very long lines outside health centers to have their foreskins severed. Innocent “Onyango” had just given the nod to circumcision when he acknowledged that he has been made a ware that, men who are circumcised are 60% more likely to be protected against HIV during sexual intercourse….
Young men like “Onyango” point out that, these Aids people(activists) have spoken for long about fighting the disease, but they had never come up with a practical solution as good as this one(circumcision). Don’t have sex, don’t do this, don’t do that. Eh, man, how can a young man such as I forfeit sex, eh? And the condoms – where is the sense in putting on a condom when you are having sex? Sex is about feeling, and so no young person likes them!”
You can view it from young men’s side and be humbled by it, but you should be doubly afraid for the future as far as the hydra known as HIV/AIDS is concerned, and its potential to wreak more havoc against a young population that loves and values fun more than security of life….It is counseling that will help those young men who are rushing to get circumcised in order to ‘enjoy’ their sex unhindered, to get informed that there are many things to consider before they place their unprotected little friends into the mouth of infected vessels, placing all their faith in their circumcision hype. This is not bashing circumcision per se but rather looking at things in perspective….
In other news, the Kenyan government is launching an anti-malaria campaign.
‘A Child of Nigeria’ won the Nobel prize for literature.
Women were jailed in Juba in south Sudan for wearing trousers.
It all resulted from a local order by the Juba County Commissioner that got loose. Anyway, he came out and apologized, the edict withdrawn and the madness stopped….
Contrary to popular belief, Africa is not completely absent from the Internet….
This is absolutely true. Several members of my sister-in-law’s family, for example, are on Facebook.
Environment: South African bloggers herald SA’s first electric car.
Kenya: Role of technology in post-election crisis.
Don’t cut aid to Africa, AU head pleads to world.
October 11th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
The fact that a French-man won the Nobel Prize for Literature will certainly annoy the anglophiles. After all, everyone now accepts that English is the international language.
I apologise for the satire, but speak as a native English speaker. Then, if English is unacceptable, on grounds of linguistic imperialism, what about Esperanto?
Yes Esperanto was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature, in the name of Icelandic poet Baldur Ragnarrson.
This is true. Esperanto does have its own original literature. Please check http://www.esperanto.net to confirm.