Nigeria

In many ways, this has been Nigeria's week. Mostly as a result of the news that Goodluck Jonathan disolved the cabinet on Wednesday. I blogged about it then (read it here), and since there have been more signs that it may be positive news - for example the response from the markets. The news have generated plent of comments, for today's editorial on The Guardian to the unavoidable and unnecessary advice given by Col. Muammar al Gaddafi: "split Nigeria in two" (so much for his vision of a United States of Africa!) - which has been responded by Nigeria recalling its ambassador to Libya.

For some background information of Nigeria's current predicament you can read this Global Voices' article on the Enough is Enough movement - and their protest on Tuesday; and this Sahel Blog entry on a conference on Nigeria and Islamic Extremism.

Zimbabwe

Zuma's been to Zimbebwe this week, where he's engaged in talkes with both ZANU-PF and MDC officials and tried to resolve the stalemate paralysing the country's government. Although Zuma called for a free and fair election, he knows this is not likely to happen- and that any alection may lead to further violence if ZANU's grip on security forces continues. The most positive outcome of the talks than is that Zuma has met not only top-officials, but he's made his round of conversations wider - including even Roy Bennet, the MD member standing trial accused of "terrorism". Furthermore, all parties in government agreed to solve outstanding issues and reprting back to Zuma before the end of the month.

Various

- The Pan African Media Conference has taken place in Nairobi yesterday and today. There has been a brilliant coverage by Tweeps. If you want to have a look ot what's been said follow the #AfMediaConf topic.

- World Bank sees Africa economies rebounding in 2010 (via Loomnie)

- Does the ongoing debate about American military support for Somalia’s government signal a small but significant step toward non-interventionism among US elites? asks Sahel Blog

- Congo Siasa reminds us that "these are important days in the future of the Congo.Two important decisions are being taken by the international community: debt relief and the future of the peacekeeping mission."

- Fela! comes closer - I can only share NaijaBlog's enthusiasm.

- Spanish blog "Héroes de Ébano" shares this classic and touching video:

The fact that you are alive is proof that you are becoming something.

What you have become today is a product of the choices, decisions, indecisions, actions and inactions of yesterday.

What you will become tomorrow is a function of today’s choices, decisions, indecisions, actions and inactions.

The truth stands that you are becoming something.

The question then is what are you becoming?

In a world where too many people are on autopilot: doing the same thing every day, without thinking, and expecting that out-of-the-blues breakthrough, we must stop and think.

If I continue living, acting and reacting as I currently do, what will I become in ten (10) years?

The answer to that question is the key to a meaningful existence

There are three great painters of old;

Leonardo da Vinci who painted Mona Lisa, Michaelangelo who painted the Sistine Chapel and Pablo Picasso who invented the art form known as Cubism

Picasso had this to say about his life:

My mum said to me

If you become a monk, you will end up the pope

If you join the army, you end up a general

So I became a painter and wound up as Pablo Picasso

What are you becoming and how well are you becoming what you are becoming?

Welcome to Become Excellence where we are committed to equipping you to Become EXCELLENCE.

You can be the best, don’t settle for anything else.

Somalia News: At least 20 civilians were killed on Thursday evening and 40 others wounded after mortars and artillery shells hit the capital Mogadishu, according to eye witnesses' account. The deadly clashes erupted after Islamist insurgents fired at the presidency building.

• Somalia: 20 killed, 40 wounded in battle (africanews.com)

Press freedom advocates are awaiting a reply from the president of Puntland, Abdirahman Mohamud Farole, to accusations of harassment, censorship, detentions, and direct attacks by police officers. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) sent a letter to protest what it called the autonomous northeastern Somali state’s targeting of U.S. government-funded Voice of America journalists and others, who have been jailed, shot at, knocked off the airwaves, and threatened by Puntland’s information ministry and local police officials.

• Puntland Cracks Down on Somali, Foreign Outlet Journalists (voanews.com)

Here are a few links that I liked during the last days. Enjoy!

1

People who want to give me money, a great blog collecting emails of advance-fee scams. While not only African, this type of fraud is typically known as Nigerian scams or 419 fraud and a great deal in the blog are Africa-related.

2

Speaking of Nigerian scammers, apparently there are a few websites that like to take revenge on them by getting them to perform all sorts of tasks in order to get those bank details and ridiculing them. Such as 419 Eater, which recently saw one poster known as Nurse Nasty persuading all manner of scammers to dress up as superheroes of her design. Brilliant. (via A Bombastic Element & Bleeding Cool)

3

'In Africa they won’t feel lonesome tonight', an article about Africa's communalism that ensures that no one is left alone (I can assure you of that).

4

A video portrait of Raki, a Michael Jackson impersonator from Goma in Eastern DRC (by the way, the bit where he sings Billy Jean making up the words because he doesn't speak English reminded me of this old Italian video).

5

Speaking of the DRC, the trial of former Congolese militia leader Thomas Lubanga resumed today in The Hague. Lubanga is accused of enlisting and conscripting child soldiers and using them to fight for the Congolese militia group Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) during 2002 and 2003, and if you're interested in his trial you should follow this blog by the Open Society Justice Initiative.

6

'Desert Flower', the autobiographical fairy tale-esque book by Somali super model Waris Dirie was one of the first African books I read as a teenager, if not the first one. So I'm really looking forward to watching the German movie adaptation (although shot in English) that came out in October. Here's the trailer (via Africa.Visual_Media)

7

Everybody's wondering if Nigeria's president is still alive, since he hasn't been seen in over 6 weeks.

8

Extremely useful fire mosquito catcher by Johannes Vogl (via Ryan Briggs), the perfect weapon to fight malaria in Africa.

9

Awesome new photoblog by Andrew Jones focused on Chantal Biya's, Cameroon's First Lady, crazy hairdos. Oh, and if you have any pictures of that work of art of a woman, email them to chantalbiyahair[at]gmail[dot]com

The World Food Program (WFP) decided to suspend its operations in most localities in the south, because of pressures on the organization by militias Shebab. Extortion, threats, pressures of all kinds, the UN body must temporarily stop distributing food to about one million people, while continuing however Mogadishu, Somalia's capital.

• The World Food Program suspended its operations in southern Somalia (pressafrik.com)

Hundreds of Somali refugees were being forced to join Yemeni rebel group as to fighting against Yemen forces in northern Yemen, a Somali diplomat, Hussein Haji Ahmed, in Aden said on Wednesday

Somali refugees forced to join Yemen rebels. (africanews.com)