Author Archives: mkevane

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About mkevane

Economist at Santa Clara University and Director of Friends of African Village Libraries.

Ou sont les moustiquaires promises ?

An incredibly important public health issue.  A description of the 2013 campaign (10 million bednets) is here.  Alizeta Ouedraogo’s companies had some of the contracts for the  distribution I believe.   An article in Bendré by Jean Paul Bamogo reviews … Continue reading

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Traditional chiefs of Koudougou area get organized…

The brief article via Baromètre du leFaso.net doesn’t give much context. Les chefs traditionnels de Koudougou ont décidé de se mobiliser pour “Œuvrer pour le maintien de la paix, agir pour aider au développement de la ville de Koudougou, revaloriser … Continue reading

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Burkinabè photographer (to the President!) Warren Saré visits U.S. and my colleague David Pace

Le dynamique artiste-photographe, Warren Boureima Saré, est de retour au Burkina Faso après un séjour studieux aux Etats-Unis. Dans ses bagages, il est revenu avec de nouvelles connaissances photographiques et des projets pour ses pairs notamment les membres du Centre … Continue reading

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Harsh words from Le Reporter on the elite presidential guard

Pour rappel, avant l’assassinat de Norbert Zongo, la seule évocation du nom du RSP ou de leur quartier général d’alors (le Conseil de l’entente) ou encore de certains de ses éléments pouvait susciter une peur bleue. Les «commandos à la … Continue reading

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Great video of the Burkinabe in San Francisco region

Posted in General | Comments Off on Great video of the Burkinabe in San Francisco region

In Washington DC for a workshop on Burkina tomorrow

Went for a run on the mall, past White House, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial… gorgeous day, very inspiring. Felafel burger 10:30 pm last night when I got in at BTS/DC Commons. Pretty good but not as good as felafel in Le … Continue reading

Posted in United States | Comments Off on In Washington DC for a workshop on Burkina tomorrow

My sister sent me this… Tati in derrumbe Bayamon… so neighborly, so many fences…

Posted in Development thinking | Comments Off on My sister sent me this… Tati in derrumbe Bayamon… so neighborly, so many fences…

Fantastic photo spread from Burkina Faso’s quarries by photog David Pace

Here is the link to PDN which I am told is the leading magazine for professional photographers.

Posted in Burkina Faso | Comments Off on Fantastic photo spread from Burkina Faso’s quarries by photog David Pace

Quel est le plan du President Compaoré et le CDP pour la transition et ou alternance en 2015?

Il y a deux questions… 1) Avoir un plan, avoir plusieurs plans, ne pas avoir de plan, laisser les évènements déterminer le plan….? 2) Annoncer ou ne pas annoncer 1), ou bien annoncer des nuances, ou bien mener campagne de … Continue reading

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Les hiboux au regard gluant: à bas !

That is all… enough, really.  You know what I am talking about.

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Me Paul Kéré suggests that the Senate simply be postponed until after 2015 election

I like better my suggestion of having the President use his 29 picks to fill the Senate with opposition persons, to give a platform and process for greater transparency.  CDP will still have majority, but not so comfortable.  Opposition can … Continue reading

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Hermann Yaméogo comments on the Senate controversy… well-worth reading

Read the entire open letter (link below).  Very lucid presentation.  Reasonable suggestions.  As I wrote before, the CDP did a very bad job digging this W.C., it is caving in…. the worst part is that, as Yaméogo notes, any reasonable … Continue reading

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Nice profile of Bongnessan Arsène Yé by Jean-Pierre Bejot

Mais s’il demeure « l’homme du parti » (l’ODP/MT, qu’il préside de 1993 à 1996, puis le CDP qu’il présidera jusqu’en août 1999), Yé n’est plus en adéquation avec l’évolution de la société burkinabè. Au tournant du siècle, son nom … Continue reading

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Video about Balai Citoyen in Burkina Faso… will it really turn into a citizen’s movement?

I always think of Tiken Jah’s song Le balayeur balayé… and Jah Verity’s Président Boulanger … don’t know why.

Posted in Burkina Faso | Comments Off on Video about Balai Citoyen in Burkina Faso… will it really turn into a citizen’s movement?

Pretty but tired words from the university student union in Burkina

Sankara wanna-bees need to move on: what is the program, concretely?  Nationalize CFAO and have the state sell itself Toyota Landcruisers?  How will that happen is neo-liberal imperialist Toyota doesn’t appreciate the nationalisation? Or, maybe the Burkinabe state should set … Continue reading

Posted in Economy | Comments Off on Pretty but tired words from the university student union in Burkina

Dunno, I see Effective Altruism self-importance = confusion

Givewell first writes: Thinking of all beliefs as being open to change, and therefore potentially worthy of debate and analysis. Effective altruists research and debate a broad range of topics… Then down a couple paragraphs… We take a different view: … Continue reading

Posted in Development thinking | Comments Off on Dunno, I see Effective Altruism self-importance = confusion

The future of Burkina Faso

A picture by Sanou Dounko of three youth enrolled in our “Les Jeunes du Tuy Lisent” program, where 270 youth are receiving a novel/BD every week.  The kids are still (after three months) very enthusiastic and appreciative.  The problems are … Continue reading

Posted in Education effects, Reading | Comments Off on The future of Burkina Faso

Great short profile of Wole Soyinka by Teju Cole in The New Yorker

Loudest among the voices of protest raised against the Dame [Nigeria’s first lady] was Wole Soyinka’s. He took her to task for imposing herself on the people and for acting like a “parallel head of state.” Soyinka called a press … Continue reading

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Over the top French in unsigned article defending Blaise Compaoré stance on Senate in Burkina Faso

It’s really too much!  Half of the comments make reference to the rococo style.  And the comments are really well-written too.  A good debate; just wish there were more about the actual issue itself (i.e. the CDP did a bad … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Over the top French in unsigned article defending Blaise Compaoré stance on Senate in Burkina Faso

I think what he means is…?

Partha Dasgupta has written many fine papers, and his talent and work at theoretical analysis are vastly superior to my own… but in this oped Getting India wrong he just doesn’t make much sense.  He writes for example: If the … Continue reading

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