Friends of African Village Libraries (I post regularly here)- Organisation d’une séance de lecture suivie de discussion
- Organisation de deux séances de lecture et d’une séance de dessin à la bibliothèque de Koumbia
- La lecture au cœur des esprits à la bibliothèque de Koho
- New library assistant at Sumbrungu Community Library
- Echange avec une usagère au Centre de Lecture et d’Études de Béréba
- Community libraries of Uganda association (CoLAU) updates for May 2026
- Sumbrungu community library packed with readers, Upper East, Ghana
- Organisation d’une séance de lecture individuelle à l’école Sainte-Thérèse de Houndé
- Animation littéraire à la bibliothèque de Boni
- Some photos from Bereba reading center
Monthly Archives: January 2013
L’Harmattan Burkina
The other day I met with Hermann Some director of L’Harmattan Burkina. They have a nice little bookstore and office on Ave. Mouamar Kaddafi (!) after the echangeur on the left. Great selection of books, and he has published several … Continue reading
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Ethnic tension and warlord dynamics – settling accounts in northern Mali
Given the 20 year history of massacres and killings in the region, economic incentives to control power, huge escalation in weaponry over last year, and disarray in Malian army, it seems too much to think that suddenly there would be … Continue reading
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It’s that time again…. Summer reading camps in Burkina Faso
FAVL is starting to plan the 6th edition of the summer reading camps here in Burkina. We’re hoping to be able to invite 25 kids from all of the libraries (including the newly opened 12th library in Ouargaye), for a … Continue reading
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Africom sees return to 2011 as realistic?
Speech by General Carter Ham. (HT Sahel Blog). Seems like they should be aiming for something more enduring than a return to what was, in hindsight, a terribly unstable situation. “Realistically, we would all like to see the elimination of … Continue reading
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Jeffrey Page, le chorégraphe de Beyoncé est à Ouagadougou
I came to Ouagadougou and finally met a celebrity! He was really nice. Dans le cadre de l’évènement « Ouagadougou International Dance Festival (OIDF) », qui se tient du 19 au 26 janvier 2013, Jeffrey Page, le chorégraphe de Beyoncé, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso, Culture
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Politics in Burkina Faso
After four days of short conversations with people here and there, seems like the “consensus” position among elites is that Zepherin Diabre’s UPC ascent has really challenged the CDP, and the restructuring that has been happening has meant there is … Continue reading
First day in Ouagadougou
I had a good long meeting with Donkoui Koura and Dounko Sanou, FAVL representative and FAVL regional coordinator in Burkina Faso. We talked a lot about our micro-book project, and how we might move forward with the Rotary project for … Continue reading
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Why did France intervene last week in Mali?
Someday we will know the insider story, but my only hypothesis, really, is that some analyst suddenly realized that the Islamists could come all the way to Bamako (in one day, as did JEM in 2008 in Omdurman and also … Continue reading
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Mali and Colonne Voulet-Chanoine
Mali was launching pad for the infamous French foray into Sahelian Africa…. here’s a repost from this past June. I am sure the book and movie are doing very well right now. Despite the ridiculous (truly!) cover this novelization of … Continue reading
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And fodder for conspiracy theories can be found at the bottom of every river
At the same time, the crash in Mali has revealed some details of the commandos’ clandestine activities that apparently had little to do with counterterrorism. The women killed in the wreck were identified as Moroccan prostitutes who had been riding … Continue reading
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First Campaoré, now uranium in Nigeria
The list of misspellings and lazy deadline-induced must-have-story-now inaccuracies is stunning…. all a repeat of Mamdani’s 999 mistakes when writing about Darfur…. The latest … OK maybe was just some kid who didn’t know there are actually two countries with … Continue reading
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Pourquoi l’ADF/RDA n’est pas dans le gouvernement
Lefaso.net starts its own reporting…. nice insider info from Joachim Vokouma: Après recoupements de plusieurs sources, Lefaso.net est en mesure de révéler certains « détails » qui ont fait capoter les discussions. Dès la reconduction du premier ministre, les tractations … Continue reading
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Mali “analysis”: Foutaise
Well I learned the word from Bejot and I want to keep using it. But really, go back and look at the blogosphere, and the writing on Mali is exactly the same as the writing on Darfur back in 2004. … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
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Four basic scenarios for Mali
OK, pure speculation ensures, but it seems worthwhile to ask, what’s the two year scenario now that France has entered what for Francois Hollande is a place where he has no idea where he is going…. I think France could … Continue reading
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Strong words on the French intervention and Malian military from Jean-Pierre Bejot
Arc-boutés sur une position offensive dont ils n’ont pas les moyens (ni l’ambition, les « va-t-en guerre » vont rentrer dans leur coquille : « ça tue dehors » comme on disait en Côte d’Ivoire en octobre 2000), les militaires … Continue reading
Posted in Mali
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France enters the war in Mali
Les Mirages français basés au Tchad ont effectué des raids aériens dans la région Konna pour faire reculer les troupes jihadites. Les avions de chasse ont pris pour cible des colonnes de véhicules et un bâtiment servant de quartier général … Continue reading
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Oh man after reading Barefoot Gen I am seriously depressed… Raina, you ruined my life!
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Trouble possibly at boiling point in northern Mali
via BBC News – Mali Islamists ‘enter’ Konna after clashes with army. Militants Islamist in Mali say they have entered the key central town of Konna, advancing further into government-held territory. This is the most serious fighting since Islamist groups … Continue reading
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Local politics alive and well in province of Tuy in Burkina Faso
Most of the action is within the CDP, as local factions vie for power. I wish I had time to do quantitative analysis on voting patterns and local commune efficacy. Conformément à la directive du Ministère de l’administration territoriale et … Continue reading
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Wisdom from Mo Yan
I’m not saying our retreat leaders in high school couldn’t have benefited a little (a lot?) from this hard-won humility…. but boy I sure would have appreciated it: When I was a third-grade student in the 1960s, my school organized … Continue reading
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Michael Kevane 