Friends of African Village Libraries (I post regularly here)- Recent photos from Ghana libraries
- Animation au centre de lecture et d’étude de Béréba
- Update from Nyariga community library
- Séance de jeux de mots croisés
- 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
Monthly Archives: May 2013
I want this in our house in the village….
“I re-built the gazebo in the garden, installed hammock hooks and Malian hammocks, and thatched the roof. After some weeks of searching, I found a man who came with a lorry load of grass from the Gambia, leapt on the … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
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A nice story leading to a great quote about trust… West Africa and Other Notes
I’ve been friends with Abass since Christmas, when he sold me a length of cloth with the letters ‘VIP’ printed in green bubbles. There was something very straightforward about him and especially I liked his choice of cloths, a small … Continue reading
Posted in Development thinking
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Afrobarometer results for Burkina Faso
From Afrobarometer. Majorities against extension of presidential term limits and against creation of the Senate. Selon l’enquête menée en décembre 2012, environ 6 personnes sur 10 sont favorables au principe de la limitation du nombre de mandats présidentiels. Cette proportion … Continue reading
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“Scientific” approach to philanthropy
Here’s how it works, apparently: (1) Start with tiny mistake of not recognizing that you got really really rich because you were lucky. (Right place, right time, born in U.S. not in Colombia, father not a drug addict or violent … Continue reading
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In a semi-authoritarian democracy, you just have your legislative super-majority do your bidding
In the case of Burkina Faso the super-majority CDP packs the house by creating a Senate (which many of them will enjoy the air-conditioned privileges of) and displays some false modesty by stripping away apparently the part that says that … Continue reading
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New favorite phrase: jirané nyimi
I may have the spelling wrong. Three Dioula speakers I’ve talked with may all be saying the same exact thing but I swear I am hearing three different sounds. It literally means griller, manger in French which means “Grill, Eat” in … Continue reading
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Our book launch at U.S. Embassy on leFaso.net
Thanks to all the friends and supporters who came out, and thanks to the Embassy for hosting. Les conclusions du livre ont été partagées par l’assistance. Le Dr Yves Dakuyo, enseignant à l’Université de Ouagadougou parle de son expérience : … Continue reading
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Debate over specifics of the new Senate in Burkina Faso
In December 2011 the National Assembly revised by 3/4 vote the Constitution. One of the changes was to introduce bicameralism, with a Senate. Who is in the 90-person Senate? (Well, for starters older people only please… you have to be … Continue reading
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Good growth in Burkina Faso… all those children are working in the gold mines instead of tending goats.
Ms. Laure Redifer, IMF mission chief for Burkina Faso, issued the following statement in Ouagadougou today: “Despite external shocks, economic activity in 2012 was robust, with estimated GDP growth reaching 9 percent, due to a strong 2012 agricultural harvest, stronger … Continue reading
Posted in Economy
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Chantal Terrasson de Fougueres and Blaise Compaore
They keep a very, very low personal profile in the press. Neuf juillet 2008. L’antenne française de Transparency International dépose à Paris une plainte pour recel de détournements d’argent public visant les conditions dans lesquelles un important patrimoine immobilier et … Continue reading
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Now that’s entertainment…. a Michael Jackson DJ-Dancer-clown at a first communion party in Ouagadougou
Posted in Burkina Faso
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Mining industry and transparency in Burkina Faso
Shocked… the whole point of EITI is that civil society push government and industry into more transparency… this news story on a meeting yesterday (notice the prominent World Bank logo on the banner… another 200.000 FCFA wasted on a banner)…. … Continue reading
Posted in Economy
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George Packer Whining about Celebrity
George Packer’s Togo Peace Corps memoir is known as “In the Village if Whining” but if you didn’t know that you’d think he was a sharp, insightful person (which he is, I’m just being mean and snarky) … but this … Continue reading
PM in Burkina Faso visits construction projects
State-led development still has its place…. government organizes planned urban development, building 1500 housing units in Bassinko north of Ouagadougou on road to Yako then selling them to individuals (chosen at random supposedly in a lottery) who have to obtain … Continue reading
Posted in Economy
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Joe Penney on Burkina Faso and Mali… beautiful photos, but the accompanying sentence is disingenuously wrong
Not sure what metric Joe Penny uses for the “no development” criteria. Burkina Faso is still way at the bottom on the global scale of human development, but that is not the same as no development. There has been very … Continue reading
Posted in Economy
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Huh? Discovered in Burkina Faso?
Who knew it would take me to come to Burkina Faso to first hear Girlfriend by Jesus and Mary Chain. I missed a decade of music, you know. So that means there will be lots of gems like this out … Continue reading
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What are teachers and students striking for in Burkina Faso?
C’est pour toutes ces considérations que nous attirons une fois de plus l’attention de tous les acteurs de l’éducation dont l’Etat autour des problèmes ci-dessous : 1. La construction d’infrastructures dans les différents ordres d’enseignement ; 2. L’amélioration des conditions … Continue reading
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Cars for $100,000 each anyone?
Government of Burkina Faso buying 15 cars for $1.8 million dollars? What kind of cars are these? Cadiallac SUVs judging from what I see driving around the big important Ministries… Le premier rapport est relatif à la conclusion d’un contrat … Continue reading
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Abyei, Sudan… things just get worse
Following the AJOC meeting, several Ngok Dinka officials told UNISFA that they wanted to visit the Missiriya-occupied north of Abyei, including the area around Defra. A UNISFA convoy, including the head of mission, accompanied them. The convoy visited Tajalei, and … Continue reading
Posted in Sudan
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Best francophone blog per RFI: Ma guinée plurielle
A Conakry on ne se rend pas à la plage pour faire du surf, ni même pour se baigner. Encore moins pour bronzer. Comme sur la plupart des plages de Conakry (Rogbané, Tokonko, Camayenne, Kipé etc.), la propreté de l’eau … Continue reading
Posted in Culture
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Michael Kevane 