History Archive
The Berlin Conference Continues to Plague Africa 125 Years After the Fact
By Conor Godfrey
In 1884-85, European governments essentially drew a map of Africa on the back of a cocktail napkin in Berlin. This map carved Africa into a series of illogical states and spheres of influence that took little stock of realities on the ground and laid the framework for more than a century of civil [...]
Must See: Habib Koite & Bamada – Live in the U.S.
Posted by jimheck in African Traditions, Arts and Culture, History, Music on March 8, 2010
By Conor Godfrey
This month Habib Koite and his group Bamada will be playing in venues across the U.S.—you must not miss them.
Before I rave about Habib’s music, we should talk about the Griot tradition he comes from.
When I first arrived in Guinea, I stayed with a Malinke family (an ethnic group prevalent in Northern Guinea, [...]
The Coup d’Etat is Back
Clattering Coups
By Conor Godfrey
Anyone who followed African news in the 1960s, 70s, or 80s, would be forgiven for thinking that a coup d’état once every five to ten years was written into West African constitutions. Yet, like small cars and women’s boots, shooting your way into the presidential palace is back in style.
Last Thursday in [...]
France Apologizes, America’s Turn
Apologizing is hard and noble. It’s America’s turn.
Today, France apologized to Rwanda for its actions that contributed to the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Like the Belgian Parliament’s historic apology to the Congo for its ancient king, Leopold, (which included substantial reparations) these are difficult and noble acts.
“What happened here is unacceptable and …forces [...]
Peaceful Kenyan People Power
The coalition government in Kenya was fraying at the seams last week, but a large public demonstration may have stitched it back together.
Wednesday several thousand protesters took to the streets of Nairobi in what many of us feared would be the end of the “Grand Coalition” which has held Kenya together in a fragile alliance [...]
Panthers in Tanzania
Jaguars and mountain lions don’t exist in East Africa, but Black Panthers do.
While some names like Huey Newton, Edlridge Cleaver and Bobby Seale are still recognized in the U.S. with the historic Black Panther Movement, in Tanzania there’s an even more famous panther, Felix “Pete” O’Neal.
Like many panthers, Pete sticks close to his territory, [...]
MADIBA 20
It’s hard for me to believe that it 20 years ago to the day Nelson Mandela walked out of the Drakenstein Prison after 26 years.
We all mark our lives with significant events. My generation often asks, “Where were you when JFK was shot?” – “Where were you when Apollo landed?”
When Madiba was released [...]
The Monkey & The Butterfly
Posted by jimheck in Community Based Tourism, History, Wildlife Management on January 26, 2010
The 2009 “Year of the Gorilla” ended very beautifully and very sad. The butterflies will just have to wait.
It was a sad coincidence from the start that the YOG planned so long in advance occurred as the world tailspinned into economic collapse. The whole point of these sponsored years is to focus attention [...]
Rwandan Finale?
The serious rift between Rwanda and France was deeply aggravated by a Rwandan government report released yesterday reconfirming that the 1994 genocide was started by extremist Hutus.
This may not seem like news. The rest of the world has already accepted this. But this begins what I hope is the Last Act in this [...]
INVICTUS
If you’ve traveled anywhere in Africa, or love Africa for any reason, go see Invictus and renew your best beliefs about this amazing continent.
One of the deep-seated criticisms born of racism is that however unfair an oppressed people have been treated, they are incapable of acting responsibly. The ingrained presumption is that revenge governs [...]
BORDER CLOSED
Posted by jimheck in History, Politics, Tourism Trends on October 22, 2009
The border between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara has been closed since 1977. Despite hopeful signs earlier this year, it won’t be opening, soon.
Yesterday, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TBT) announced forcefully in Dar-es-Salaam that the rumors of a Balanganjwe border crossing reopening after more than 30 years were incorrect.
As I reported in June, [...]
Nairobi Landing
My Cleveland Zoo safari began with nine people arriving a day early and enjoying Nairobi and environs.
Nairobi’s climate this year has been strange but fortunate. While most of the rest of the country suffers from serious drought, it has rained steadily on the city for nearly 9 months. The last several months have [...]
OUT OF AFRICA
25 years ago the final shots of the movie that made East Africa famous were just being shot. And today the controversy continues….
The 1985 movie, Out of Africa, was being completed in Naivasha, Kenya, almost exactly 25 years ago. The last scene shot was actually in the middle of the movie, where the [...]