Erotica from Angola
Region: AngolaWritten by Janet Gunter Rosie Alves is a young Angolan blogger and “cronista” living in Luanda. The crónica is a Portuguese writing form that is very suited to blogging – originally published in newspapers, they are tales, sometimes true and sometimes fictionalized, that convey a point or a conceit in a very short form. In her blog “Sweet Cliché [1]“, Alves writes shor... more
Views: 976Pope’s Resignation Provokes Reactions in Africa
Region: AngolaBy Abdoulaye Bah The announcement by Pope Benedict XVI of his intention to resign with effect from February 28, 2013 provoked many reactions in Francophone Africa, both in traditional media and on social networks. The predominant feeling was that of admiration for the Pope combined with the wish that certain African leaders would follow his example. Varied opinions, with underlying admiration In a well-reported ... more
Views: 681Angola Shocked Over Video Showing Brutal Beating
Region: AngolaBy Vania Negrao [All links lead to Portuguese language pages.] On February 7, 2013, Angola awoke to the sounds of screams of pain and the sound of two women customers of a store being whipped. In just three days the 13 minute video that showed two women being brutally beaten had more than 25,000 views on Youtube, was aired on state television and shocked the Angolan community. Accused of stealing soap and champa... more
Views: 556Angola: “Every city has its history, and ours is no different”
Region: AngolaSince January this year several blogs have been announcing a petition in defence of what remains of Luanda’s [en] historical architecture. Sponsored by the Architects Association of Angola, and mainly addressed to the President of the country, José Eduardo dos Santos [en], it aims to protect Luanda’s heritage and monuments. In defence of the idea that “every city has its history, and ours is n... more
Views: 2573Op-Ed: How I Stayed HIV-Negative in Zimbabwe
Region: AngolaPope Benedict XVI's maiden visit to Africa was, at best, a disaster. The controversy-laden trip concluded on a sad note when two Angolan teenage girls died in a stampede to enter a stadium where the Pope presided over a youth rally. At least eight people were injured. For what, exactly, did Africa lose these two precious lives? I wouldn't die for God. I wouldn't hurt another for God. The Pope, a mere mortal, i... more
Views: 1615Angola Electoral Campaign Fails to Excite Voters
Region: Angola
Angola has been enjoying a taste of the election campaign atmosphere for almost a month now, but the truth is that there is little or nothing happening on the streets of Luanda, the capital city, that could attract the electorate's attention, and since its very first day the campaign has proved to be lukewarm. As the blog Eleição 2008 attests [pt]: Quase não há cam... more
Views: 2504All in the Family: Private Ties behind Vernon Group’s Lucrative Contracts
Region: AngolaWhile Angola’s Vernon Group is a public entity and money-making venture, as exhibited by its luxurious office building in Luanda, Angola’s poverty-stricken capital, insider reports suggest Vernon’s success is partially attributable to close family ties between the company’s partner and the CEO and chairman of Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company. Is Vernon Group a family company... more
Views: 2607Unmasking Angola’s Diamond Giants
Region: AngolaMuch has been written about the subject of diamonds in Africa, from the plethora of the luxury jewel on the African continent to the human rights abuses that often surround the harvesting of diamonds. What fewer people know is that diamond-rich countries like Angola survive by arranging complex business deals with resource-needy countries like China and billionaires such as Lev Leviev—a Uzbekistan-born Israeli-b... more
Views: 1825Angola's Manuel Vicente of Sonangol Exploiting Chinese-Angolan Relations
Region: AngolaAs chairman and CEO of the highly-secretive and incredibly powerful Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, Manuel Vicente’s role in helping China exploit Angola’s natural resources is significant and yet complicated to comprehend. To begin, all arrows point to a suspect group of companies U.S. intelligence operatives nicknamed “the 88 Queensway Group.” The group’s ni... more
Views: 2445Chaos and Hopes Mark First Election in 16 Years
Region: Angola
At last Angola went to the polls last Friday September 05. The electorate attended the polling stations in an orderly way and provided their votes hoping for a better future for the country. After sixteen years, Angolans had waited for this historic moment with excitement and some fear. Soba L [pt] says voting was as he had always dreamed: “Esperei por este dia com muita ansiedade e cur... more
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