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Musings from some West African Blogs

Chippla’s Weblog muses about nepotism in a prose titled: The Minister’s Son. The setting of his narrative is Nigeria. Here is an extract:

“I asked why the Internet connection at the office wasn't working. They said the contract had been given eight months ago. I asked to whom the contract was given. They said no one really knew, but rumors had it that it went to the Minister's son. “Which Minister?” I asked. “The Minister of Science and Technology,” they replied… I was later able to confirm that the contracts to get the internet connection working as well as lay fiber optic cables across the complex were shamelessly given to the son of the Minister of Science and Technology.”

Christians worldwide will celebrate Easter this weekend. Easter is a celebration of death and resurrection of Jesus. Black Looks discusses the holy week (Semana Santa) in Spain:

“Its Semana Santa here in Spain (Holy Week). I love it - 7 days of processions which last for hours until the early hours of the morning, the ritual, the street atmosphere, the people participation, the noise, the music, the rhythm of the swaying pasos de la pasion (floats) with the “imagenes” carried by up to 52 men hidden under red, black or white velvet. I love the lament to the Virgin Mother of the lone singer, the knocking (martillo) by the guides on the pasos, the intermittent shouts of “adelante” (forward) and “Valiente” (have courage) as grown men crawl on their knees in penance carrying the paso and imagene up and down ramps in and out of churches and cathedrals - is that perverse, some sort of sadism rearing its head in my mind? ”

The Black Star Journal gives an update on the Guinean crisis, stating the “political situation in Guinea remains in flux.” This “flux” emanates from the sacking of reformist prime minister Cellou Dalien Diallo hours who ironically was given increased powers via a presidential decree before he was sacked. The blog states the crisis “appears to be merely the start of what could become a prolonged succession crisis.”

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The Moroccan blogosphere reacts to the threat of laying off one of its member and pays tribute to the late Fadi

Farah Kinani · 03:58 · Middle East & North Africa

This week, the Islamic world is celebrating the birthday of the prophet (PBUH). Merry Eid Al Mawlid to all Muslim bloggers.

To fire or..not to fire!

It's a “premiere” in Morocco. A blog about a misuse of the Moroccan money leads to the resignation of the misuser(French). But, the good news end here, since no good deed goes unpunished. Rachid Jankari(French), the journalist blogger, author of the scoop had to delete the post about the scandal from his blog , or to loose his job! .
The blogger deleted the post only to find it published in many other Moroccan blogs as a form of solidarity.

Othmane Boumaalif(French) who was among the first bloggers to express his support to Jankari(French) received an email from the employer of the journalist blogger stressing that he has never threatened Jankari(French). Still, the boss wrote in his email that blogging is not that private.

As long as your music is not loud , no one would bother disturbing you. The minute it gets out of control, your neighbours will knock at your door asking you to adjust the volume. They're not kicking you out of your place but asking you to respect the neighbourhood.

Hmm..Got it Jankari?

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Links for Wed, 2006-04

Americas

Brazil's Varig has joined Mexico's Aerocalifornia and Bolivia's LAB on the growing list of Latin American airlines struggling to get by according to Made in Brazil.

Americas

Mysterious as it is informative, the weblog The Wolf Report continues its series of “The Importance of Being Ecuador.”

Americas

Jorge Arena has an almost comprehensive list of Anglophone Venezuelan bloggers who remarked on the fourth anniversary of the April 11th coup which temporarily removed Chavez from office. Oil Wars also comments on the anniversary including a partial translation of the “Carmona Decree” issued by the ever-so-brief transitional government.

Central Asia & Caucasus

Registan.net writes about the attempted assasination of Edil Baisalov, the president of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society and blogger, arguing that it's yet another sign that the political situation in the country is quickly deteriorating.

Americas

With descriptive words and somber reflection, Jim Shultz describes his time in Cochabamba's cemetery, where family and friends gathered to remember Victor Hugo Daza, killed by the military at the age of 17 while protesting against the privatization of local water supplies.

Eastern & Central Europe

“Tajik Boy” writes about racist attacks on foreigners in Russia, a situation that worries the many Tajiks who work in Russia or have a relative who does. He says that neither the Russian nor the Tajik governments pay enough attention to the situation.

Americas

A.M. Mora y Leon hopes that the vote from abroad will carry conservative candidate Lourdes Flores into the second round of presidential elections. Enrique Mendizabal (ES) says that it would be difficult, but possible. In a comment, Giovann Alarcón says that he is doubtful of Flores' chances.