A recent Brazilian film entitled Pedra da Memoria (Memory’s Stone), follows the journey of a prominent Afro-Brazilian priest to Benin where many of Brazil’s former slaves came from. A history of tradition, slavery and voodoo. While visiting the Brazilian city of Sao Luis, BBC Africa’s Manuel Toledo saw the documentary and a photo exhibition about […]
Once a princess, always a princess
16 May 2013 by
A lawsuit arguing that daughters should be allowed to succeed their fathers as chiefs in Lesotho has been rejected by the Constitutional Court. The judge said the current law did not discriminate against women, as chief’s widows could inherit the title. South African lawyer Priti Patel, who was involved in the case, said the ruling […]
More than $4bn pledge for Mali recovery
15 May 2013 by
International donors pledged more than $4.22bn on Wednesday to help Mali recover after a conflict with al Qaeda-linked fighters, French President Francois Hollande has said. The sum exceeds the goals of Mali which had asked donors for $2.57 for this year and next. The donors’ conference, held on Wednesday in Brussels, was organised by French President […]
Greedy pigs for a ‘greedy pigs’
15 May 2013 by
Kenyan demonstrators have released a litter of pigs and poured blood on the pavement outside the gates of parliament in Nairobi to protest a proposed law that would raise wages for parliamentarians.Police and parliament officials chased the pigs after using tear gas, batons and water cannons to disperse the nearly 250 protesters who marched through downtown […]
Objects of attraction: Uganda proposes to ban miniskirts
13 May 2013 by
Anything above the knee is outlawed. If a woman wears a miniskirt, we will arrest her,” pronounced the minister in a confusing bid to preserve the nation’s modesty. Film maker and columnist Farai Sevenzo writes about plans to ban miniskirts in Uganda. Letter’s from Africa: Miniskirts and morals
Kofi Annan: Africa plundered by secret mining deals
10 May 2013 by
Africa plundered. Tax avoidance, secret mining deals and financial transfers are depriving Africa of the benefits of its resources boom, ex-UN chief Kofi Annan has said. Source: BBC News
Zambian men charged with “engaging in homosexual acts”
10 May 2013 by
James Mwape and Philip Mubiana, both 22, have been charged with four counts of committing “unnatural” sexual acts. Zambia is a socially conservative country and homosexual acts carry a jail sentence of up to 14 years. The government has resisted pressure from campaign groups and Western governments to scrap the law. Amnesty International called for […]