GVO Uganda: Ten questions with the Comrade

My latest piece is up at Global Voices Online:

Beloved by the blogren for his prolific, provocative comments and his endless, passionate devotion to North Korea, the 27th Comrade was until recently one of Uganda's most active bloggers.

Self Portrait
27th Comrade

Two months ago the Comrade decided to take a hiatus from his blog Communist Socks and Boots, limiting his writing to the occasional post on the group blog The Kampalan. His decision was met with surprise, sadness and well-wishing on the part of the blogren, and this blogger missed his manifestos so much that she sought him out for a conversation about writing, reggae and, naturally, Communism.

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Jackfruit of the week (11.14.07)

Atis
Originally uploaded by Farl.

Jonathan Dommer explores The Rules of Beeping in Rwanda and India:

Reports from the economic development community suggest that the practice is common across many African nations (Chipchase & Tulusan, 2007; McKemey et al., 2003; Oestmann, 2003; Samuel, Shah, & Hadingham, 2005) and is not limited to teens. Slater and Kwami (2005) describe flashing as both an economic and symbolic practice, noting how "Michael, a man who flashes the same five people every morning, is not merely keeping in touch but also discharging obligations and responsibilities" (p. 10). Sey (2007) describes flashing in Ghana as one of a set of cost-saving strategies developed by users. Others note that beeping conventions in Africa differ between men and women (Alhassan, 2004; Chango, 2005).

The Uganda Search Swicki works to "harness the knowledge, passion and behavior of online communities to improve the search experience." A search for coffee + internet turns up exactly what I was hoping for: links to information about internet cafes in Kampala that serve lattes. You can also see a tag-cloud-inspired representation of what other people are searching for.

The Daily Monitor's Discover Uganda site is a one-stop portal for CHOGM visitors, but its pages on art galleries, internet access, national parks and Uganda's major towns are a great resource for other travelers.

So. Cool.

CitizenUganda is a new site covering politics, business, fashion, citizen media (including a series of blog profiles that's hit up Dennis and Glenna so far, among others) and other goodies.

The site's still under construction, but a steadily growing body of editorial posts already talks about Facebook, the iPhone and the Daily Monitor's redesign.

XOXO, and can't wait for more.

GVO Uganda: Are you ready for CHOGM?

My next piece is up at Global Voices Online:

Ugandan bloggers gear up for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, worry about the latest developments in the north and keep tabs on their favorite reality television star.

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Economist, dethroned

Originally posted October 25

EDIT: They apologized. "Freelance journalist in Uganda," you should be ashamed.

In Uganda I held the Economist as the Holy Grail of Western media. I had a friend who had somehow connived his way into a free transfer of his subscription, and Post Office Mondays were better than weekends because I knew I would find the magazine cradled in the box like a gift from the heavens. The Economist could do no wrong.

Until now, with their article on Iraq and Uganda.

I don't take issue with the content, and I think it's great that they're spreading the reporting love around. Only it's not exactly reporting, is it, to rip all your information from a Daily Monitor article written two months ago.

Imitation is supposedly the highest form of flattery, in which case David Herbert should be thrilled, but if I were him I'd be composing a very angry SIR— right about now.

GVO Uganda: Remembering Bangi

My next piece is up at Global Voices Online:

The death of Ugandan radio personality Wilfred Bangirana on Sunday has the blogren fondly remembering his talents as an oldies DJ.
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