Africa Is a Country

Yar’Adua est mort

Yar’Adua est mort

By
Sean Jacobs

Al Jazeera English is first out of the gate with an analysis of the life of the Nigerian President who died yesterday, but has been bedridden and in hiding for months–first in Saudi Arabia from November last year till February this year and from then at his official residence–while his appropriately named deputy, Goodluck Jonathan, governs the country.

As a result, Yar’Adua’s passing comes as an anti-climax, except his aides and those who were lied about his condition so as to maintain their tenuous access to power and resources and 419 scammers to whom his dead represent new plot twists to their elaborate scams to lure prospective victims to part with their money.

Western media will probably run the usual cliches tomorrow and the day after, so for some real analysis, I’d suggest checking out Nigeria’s vibrant media instead.

Think Next, The Vanguard, The Punch and, of course, This Day. Same for its blogosphere, both inside Nigeria and its diaspora: Naijablog, Nigerianstalk, Loomnie, Akin and Suleiman’s Blog.

Further Reading

Not exactly at arm’s length

Despite South Africa’s ban on arms exports to Israel and its condemnation of Israel’s actions in Palestine, local arms companies continue to send weapons to Israel’s allies and its major arms suppliers.

Ruto’s Kenya

Since June’s anti-finance bill protests, dozens of people remain unaccounted for—a stark reminder of the Kenyan state’s long history of abductions and assassinations.

Between Harlem and home

African postcolonial cinema serves as a mirror, revealing the limits of escape—whether through migration or personal defiance—and exposing the tensions between dreams and reality.

The real Rwanda

The world is slowly opening its eyes to how Paul Kagame’s regime abuses human rights, suppresses dissent, and exploits neighboring countries.

In the shadow of Mondlane

After a historic election and on the eve of celebrating fifty years of independence, Mozambicans need to ask whether the values, symbols, and institutions created to give shape to “national unity” are still legitimate today.

À sombra de Mondlane

Depois de uma eleição histórica e em vésperas de celebrar os 50 anos de independência, os moçambicanos precisam de perguntar se os valores, símbolos e instituições criados para dar forma à “unidade nacional” ainda são legítimos hoje.