Slides

August 7, 2012
Malawi’s Activists Turned Politicians: What Standards Should Joyce Banda’s Administration Be Held To?

Malawi’s Activists Turned Politicians: What Standards Should Joyce Banda’s Administration Be Held To?

In the wake of the death of Malawi’s former president, Bingu wa Mutharika due to cardiac arrest, the country’s political leadership has welcomed a new guard. Joyce Banda, an outspoken activist and leader of the People’s Party, became the president of the country making her the second female president in Africa. In the relatively short period of time until... Read more »

August 2, 2012
A Twitter Moment with Africa’s Straight Shooter: George Ayittey

A Twitter Moment with Africa’s Straight Shooter: George Ayittey

During the past five years of my stay in the United States, I have come across different members of the African diaspora who are passionate about the future of the continent. I’ve talked to ambitious educated individuals who’ve expressed their determination to one day go back and contribute. On the contrary, I’ve also come across... Read more »

July 29, 2012
A Growing Case of Shooting the Messenger: Africa Coverage

A Growing Case of Shooting the Messenger: Africa Coverage

You’ve come across this. I’m sure of it. Imagine watching an important speech about something groundbreaking and getting interrupted by an annoying comment about what the speaker is wearing instead of what he is saying. If you’re an active social media user like I am, you probably have seen what I call the “snark bombers”... Read more »

May 4, 2012
A Melancholic Day: World Press Freedom in the Horn of AfricaBumps in the Road Ahead

A Melancholic Day: World Press Freedom in the Horn of AfricaBumps in the Road Ahead

On World Press Freedom day, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released its annual list of the best and worst countries as it relates to press freedom. The usual suspects, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea, were singled out in a list of the 10 worst countries for censorship. Many other African countries received failing marks. Since, in most cases, national security... Read more »

April 20, 2012
Eritrean Culture on Trial: Assimilation Gone Awry

Eritrean Culture on Trial: Assimilation Gone Awry

As a former Missourian and an Eritrean immigrant, I was heartbroken when I came across the April 15th St. Louis Post Dispatch front page story detailing the statutory rape case against an Eritrean immigrant in St. Louis who impregnated a 12-year-old. As I scanned through the story, I spotted several ambiguous parts which begged for perspective.... Read more »