President Bingu wa Mutharika in Malawai is facing growing criticism for authoritarianism, from both internal and external critics. He has been...
Malawai: growing discontent over censorship and suppression of opposition
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Thembi Mutch
Thembi Mutch
The Kony debacle: South speaks to North
Suddenly, bad African leaders are under the torch of public scrutiny: George Clooney is arrested while trying to draw attention to Sudan’s president...
The dirty face of Bongo
Inspired by Tupac, Public Enemy and others in the USA around 2004, a new tsunami of music crashed over hit Tanzania. Bongo Flavah: raw, real,...
Information or Honesty? Life on a very isolated island
Over 70 per cent of East Africa's population lives in rural communities: despite the proliferation of radio stations, weekly and daily newspapers,...
In Zimbabwe, it’s not the media that spreads the news
In places like Zimbabwe the need for "outsider" critique is essential: solipsistic regimes create complex narratives about betrayal and patriotism; ...
Reading in Africa: The lost art
“It all comes down to reading! If you read properly, you evaluate, you notice, you critique properly. It’s depressing, flying across Africa there’s...
Uganda: Radio stations taken off air
On 9 January, in a bizarre move, at least 10 radio stations, including BBC Radio, Radio France International (local relay channels), and the Italian...
Coca Cola: It’s bubbling up in Swaziland
There’s renewed attention internationally on Swaziland with King Mswati III excesses. He’s getting it from all angles: criticised for squandering...
South Africa: 100 years after the founding of the ANC, dissenters take to Twitter
The 8th of January 1912 saw the founding of the ANC, by key South African intellectuals, including author Sol Plaatje, poet John Dube, and editors...
Tales of taboo: Homosexuality in Africa
In East Africa, Homosexuality and lesbianism is totally taboo. At best the the attitude is to ignore homosexuality, at worst, there are deaths,...
Uncut – Sub Saharan and East Africa
Hello, welcome to Index on Censorship Uncut for Sub Saharan and East Africa. I am honoured and excited to be part of this global team, and hope you...
Nando’s axes ‘dictator’ advert after Zimbabwean threats
A satirical television commercial for the South African-owned Nando's restaurant group has been axed. The ad depicted Zimbabwean President Robert...