Global Voices Online

Carlos Serra [pt] reports some more protests against the increase in the cost of living, this time in Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire, where food prices have gone up. The sociologist-blogger forecasts these may not be the last ones: “I remember similar manifestations taking place recently in Cameroon, Burkina Faso and in our country. I predict that this phenomenon will be widespread in our continent.”

Misi writes about the popularity of African prints: “Everywhere you turn, Ankara is in-demand; you see people wearing ‘Ghana’, ‘Ivory Coast’ and ‘London Wax’ Ankaras. And the best part of it all is that it is affordable, in some cases cheaper than buying a cell phone recharge card.”

Emmanuel writes about the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana: “The surprise of yesterday was Ivory Coast's ouster from the championship. The Ivoirians probably underrated the Egyptians initially and before they started taking them seriously it was already late.”

Kangi Alem announces an artists' residency [Fr] in Lome for young francophone African writers.

In Africa, rising food prices [Fr] have led to protests in Morocco, Mauritania, Cote d'Ivoire, DRC and Senegal, writes the ADP blog.

African journalists working in France are calling on the two remaining French presidential candidates, Nicolas Sarkozy and Segolene Royal, to begin a new chapter in Franco-African relations (Fr), according to the blog of the Alliance for Democratic Progress. “We have to reconsider everything, make a fresh start, a sort of “big bang,” so that France stops treating us like children. Africa must be a partner.” (Fr)

Arkayog posts (Fr) a video of a performance by Ivoiro-Cameroonian French reggae artist Toko Blaze who — if you aren't yet confused — was born in Niger.

Le Blog d'Olivier Gabirault points to a Jeune Afrique L'Intelligent article stating (Fr): “A consultant to Prime Minister Charles Konan Banny denounced the shortcomings of President Laurent Gbagbo in a recent toxic waste scandal, confirming tensions between the two men two days from an international summit on the Ivoirian peace process.”