Sub-Saharan Africa

I have so many Africa-related stories in tabs on my laptop that my whole system is slowing down. You know what that means: Here are a bunch of stories that have caught my eye, with commentary, much drawn from my recent trip to South Africa, as apt. This is the South Africa edition (a more […]

In April of this year, Malawian president Bingu wa Mutharika delivered his state of the nation address, entitled “A Promise Delivered.” From what is currently happening in the country (which some observers liken to the ongoing uprising in the Arab world), nothing even remotely resembles the fulfillment of this speech. As far as I can […]

Tonight PBS’ acclaimed “Point of View” documentary series is showing Mugabe and the White African. Here is a description: “Mugabe and the White African, much of which was filmed clandestinely, tells an alarming story from one of the world’s most troubled nations. In Zimbabwe, de facto dictator Robert Mugabe has unleashed a “land reform” program […]

Quoted directly from John Campbell at his Council on Foreign Relations’ Africa in Transition blog: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has released ten case studies on “Assessing Risks to Stability in Sub-Saharan Africa.” The reports cover Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia,  Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan and Uganda. The papers, commissioned by the U.S. […]

For over a week, the international news media has zoomed in to the Horn of Africa for two reasons; to celebrate the birth of South Sudan as a new nation and to report the resurfacing of drought in the sub region. Aid agencies have come out in force in recent days, launching appeals for funds […]

Due to a family tragedy back home I am at OR Tambo heading back to the US (well, Delta willing) tonight, several days early. I do, however, have a great deal of reportage and commentary stored up and plan to be posting about the state of South Africa for the next couple of weeks.

So, I suppose it is about time for a few words on the state of South African politics. Two related caveats. First, forgive an inordinate amount of typos. And second, forgive a lack of links. The reason for both is that on this trip I have had only an iPad and while it is a […]

My travels have taken me from the sub-tropical coastal city of Durban to the raw and rainy coastal city of East London. The drive was long and slow, if uneventful, and divided by a night at a B&B in Mthatha. Within seconds of finishing this morning’s breakfast I knew something was seriously awry. To make […]

The University of KwaZulu-Natal hosted this year’s Southern African Historical Society (SAHS) biennial meeting. As a result of my travel fiascos (thanks again, Delta) I missed a good hunk of the meeting. Still, what I did get to experience over the final day-and-a-half was a wonderful combination of fellowship, intellectual inspiration, networking, and book buying. […]

Oh, Delta Airline – is there no way you won’t find to abuse and screw over your passengers? The Atlanta to Joburg flight last night was delayed multiple times totaling nearly six hours. Throughout the communication was dubious, but once we finally we prepared to get off the ground Delta officials insisted that we would […]

Forgive the silence. Mrs. FPA Africa Blog and I gave a trip to southern California to ourselves for our anniversary. We met some good friends and have been enjoying Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and it’s surrounds for the last week or so. There has been a U2 concert and lots of beach time. Tomorrow we […]

At The Mail & Guardian Percy Zvomuya has a piece recalling last year’s World Cup, which, as he aptly says, “A year later, the Fifa World Cup seems like it was hosted decades ago.” And yet many of his best memories are akin to mine: We witnessed a spontaneous outburst of passion: cars draped in […]