Olympic glory has melted in the glare of media attention shining a spotlight two athlete’s most intimate moments. Firdose Moonda reports
South Africa: From glory to uncomfortable glare
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CATEGORY: Africa
South African band that wrote song about Mugabe denied entry to Zimbabwe
Freshlyground were turned away at Harare International Airport just hours before they were set to play at the closing night of a festival in the capital, Firdose Moonda reports
Boko Haram: “If it can happen in Nigeria, it can happen here in Pakistan”
More than three weeks after the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from the northern Nigerian town of Chibok by Boko Haram (BH), an Islamist militant group, the world is finally awake to the tragedy. Zofeen Ebrahim reports
Gambia: Erykah Badu calls off concert for dictator Yahya Jammeh
The American star cancels scheduled performance at the International Roots Festival. She is not the only musician who has faced criticism over plans to perform for leaders with questionable human rights records, writes Buya Jammeh
South Africa: ANC ahead in media coverage as country votes
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has received an overwhelming majority of media coverage ahead of the country’s fifth democratic election which is it expected to win. Firdose Moonda reports
Gambians campaign for press freedom at UN
The campaign for media freedom in the Gambia lobbied the United Nations to push the global body to take measures to address media freedom in the West African state.
Naming and shaming: 8 countries egregiously violating religious freedom
The U.S. State Department names and shames eight “Countries of Particular Concern” that severely violate religious freedom rights within their borders. Now an independent watchdog is naming and shaming the State Department, saying its list should be doubled. Brian Pellot reports
Uganda: Pushing journalists toward self-censorship
In Uganda, journalists are not only dealing with outright censorship. It seems the government of president Yoweri Museveni is employing a strategy that is aimed at pushing journalists towards self-censorship, Jos Van Steelandt writes
Burundi: Nkurunziza targets the press
After a bloody civil war, Burundi looked like it had turned the corner, until the country’s president rounded on the press with repressive legislation, Jos Van Steelandt reports
Swaziland: On trial for criticising the judicial system
Human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and journalist and editor Bheki Makhubu return to court today facing charges of “scandalising the judiciary” and “contempt of court” for writing about corruption and lack of impartiality, writes Gia Armstrong
Freedom of expression in Africa. Index on Censorship covers free speech, freedom of religion, artistic freedom on the continent of Africa.