Category Archive
The following is a list of all entries from the africa category. Noteworthy entries are filed topmost.
Kenya Telkom Website down several days now?
For several days now I have been trying to access the webpage of Kenya Telkom in order to get some information on alternative phonelines around Nairobi. They offer wireless phone connections via radio incl. web access. Is it possible that Kenya Telkom Site is down for such a long time!? Unbelievable! Does anyone use such a connection in Nairobi and can give me some details? Or are there any good VSAT alternatives for Kenya? ADSL seems to be supplied only to a few places until now. All I know about are very costly inmarsat solutions like BGAN or dead slow connections via Thuraya Sat-Phones. Are there any new field reports form users in Kenya? All I know is from my time in NBO in 2003. I would highly appreciate some links and advice.
4 million Laptops ordered
DesktopLinux reports that four countries (Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina, and Thailand) have comminted themselves to buy 1 million Laptops of the “One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)” project.
One Laptop per Child (OLPC) is a non-profit association dedicated to the research and development of a $100 laptop—a technology that could revolutionize how we educate the world’s children. This initiative was first announced by Nicholas Negroponte at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland in January 2005. Our goal: to provide children around the world with new opportunities to explore, experiment, and express themselves.
I’m excited that this project seems to take the next level.
ati, what’s this one called?
I couldn’t remeber the name of this former neighbours of mine. But the African Wildlife Foundation has a beautiful site with a wildlife library. Ok, Kongoni was the name I lost. Get yourself a full update there, incl. wildlife sounds, screensavers and wallpapers. But before you adopt an animal, think of supporting a child.
cutting edge jua-kali* news
Whiteafrican today launches afrigadget.com, a community blog around jua-kali* work and african innovation. I’m exited and honored to be part of it and hope to contribute.
On the other hand I feel quite far away from creative african work and get really jealous about JKE visiting NBO right now and HASH planning for July. Maybe I should plan a visit en of this year? Well, such things always depend on the job situation and whether I’ve some pesa for the flight. Hey, or maybe someone wants to offer me a job in Nairobi? 
* Jua-Kali is Swahili for Hot Sun. The term is used for small african handcrafted work mostly done open air, beneath the burning sun.
Today Chapati
What to do on a Sunday morning without any bread for breakfast? First of all keep calm and make a cup of chai or coffee. Pancakes, yes Pancakes! After a swift check through our cupboard we realized that we were missing the eggs. So the only thing we could think about were chapatis.
All you need is
- some flour (500gr for 2/3 ppl),
- a little salt,
- oil,
- warm water,
- well and quite some time (that’s why you’ll fist need the cup of chai).
First put some salt in to the flour, then mix the warm water into the flour and form a stiff dough. Place the dough in a warm place and cover it for some 30-40 minutes. Then divide it into approx. 8 small portions. Roll out each ball on a floured surface and brush a little oil on it. Then fold the disk into half, roll it to a bar and form a spiral. Roll out the dough to a disk again. Repeat these steps about three times. Then fry the cakes in a hot iron pan with a little oil until they turn brown.
Eat most of them on the spot. If some are left they probably could be served with Dengu-Soup, Sukuma or Cabbage.
For all who want some more Kenyan recepies have a look at the “Sukuma-Wiki” and feel free to add your own favorite Kenyan recepies (since this is the purpose of a wiki).
greetings from home
The famous kikuyumoja visited my parents home and published this shot for me on his blog. This is the amazing view from the balcony over Narobi National Park. Some days you’ll find rhinos, impalas, giraffes, buffalos … just some steps across Athi River. This is where I spent some 17 yrs. Asante sana ndugu kikuyumoja, I appreciate this alot!
ZANGU - how White African revolutionizes the continent
White African put
up really thrilling plan that could connect Africa to the web-world. GSM Networks are currently flooding Africa, enabeling people to interact. White African takes thoughts to a new dimension, by offering Africa-related news on a global and regional basis within these expanding networks. I especially like the idea of local market portals and communities. An example from White Africans article:
“A villager from a town in Uganda decides that they will buy a bicycle.
They go to the free Zangu portal on their mobile phone and select the “marketplaceâ€?. The portal automatically recognizes their location and shows them results for both new and used bicycles available within a given area. Our buyer also has immediate access to the sellers contact information and can move on to communicating with the seller with a touch of a button.”
Yes, Mobile Phones are Africa’s PCs! I think that there is great potential in that idea. But sadly such ideas are mostly realized by some cash-hungry investors, instead by people that care.