Ivory Coast

A dangerous desire to have fairer skin

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:05:41 +0100

Baking yourself in a tanning booth remains a popular activity among the vain and pasty of Caucasian descent, despite increasing health warnings. But at the other end of the spectrum, skin tempering practices are just as risky, and ever growing in popularity.

Since it emerged in the US in the 1960s, the practice of skin-whitening has worked its way across the world. If certain African, Asian and Latino societies consider fair skin a symbol of beauty and higher social standing, then the success of lighter skinned stars in the media has only confirmed their beliefs.

Skin-whitening involves the application of products made with strong toxins, which rarely carry a health warning. Increasingly popular, the hazardous "beauty solution" is posing a serious problem in many countries in Africa and elsewhere. On Tuesday (Nov. 3), a French MP launched a nationwide awareness campaign about the dangers of skin whitening.

Tightening the noose on online money scammers

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:13:52 +0200

Who hasn't received an email asking them to send money to the other side of the world? One country where online scammers are making a very profitable living, the Ivory Coast, is threatening to launch a crackdown on the fraudsters.

In general, people are tricked into sending money after an exchange of friendly and/or desperate emails from a pastor renting his flat in London/a millionaire who lost his cheque book, a penniless bride etc. Online scammers, who think up new ways to swindle your money daily, have become masters of persuasion with fake documents at the ready for those of us harder to convince.

Either the person is too trusting or a victim of blackmail (compromising photos included...), the money is then wired through a money transfer agency and happily withdrawn by the trickster at the other end, with a slice handed over to the unquestioning cashier at the desk. A fraud expert tells us here how they're closing in on these anonymous scammers.

Have you been victim to an online money transfer scam? Post your account.

Michael Jackson, Black or White?

Julien — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:41:36 +0200

News of Michael Jackson's death spread like wildfire across Africa and the world. But do Africans still consider the performer - who spent much of his life attempting to whiten his skin - as a black singer they can identify with?

What do you think?

Torrential rains in Abidjan: “The ground gives way and homes too”

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:38:50 +0200

Photo taken by Israël Yoroba Guebo.

Rainy season in Cote d'Ivoire has taken a heavy toll on the country's financial capital, where 19 people have been killed by mudslides. Our Observer in Abidjan says that it's negligence on the part of the authorities that's to blame.

19 trampled to death in Abidjan stadium – 'because of corruption'

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:04:55 +0200

Nineteen people were killed in a stampede outside a stadium in the capital of the Ivory Coast on Sunday. One of our Observers in the country, who was at the scene with his camera, told us that corrupt police forces and stadium staff are at fault for the catastrophe.

UPDATE (3.04.09) : The figure originally given out by news agencies has been amended. Nineteen people died, not 22.

Christian is an Ivorian film-maker who works in New Delhi. He was on a return visit to Abidjan.

I went to the game between Malawi and the Ivory Coast with friends. The stadium's got a capacity of 35,000, but I'd say there was almost double that number inside. This happened because of corruption. Let me explain. The police and stadium staff stop you at the entrance, only letting those through who hand over a bribe. Even if you have a ticket it's impossible to go through. You need to give between 100 and 300 CFA [West African] francs [15 - 45 euro centimes] to get in.

Tickets for the match were supposed to be pre-booked only so that the audience number would be capped. But people came anyway because they knew they'd be able to offer a bribe at the entrance. The fact that there was only one barrier 200km from the stadium supposedly keeping non-ticket holders out, is proof enough. Nobody was turned away.

Those who did have tickets were really annoyed. They saw people getting in easily and started pushing against the stadium railings, which subsequently collapsed. People were getting trampled on but the situation was still under control. It was after when the police let of smoke bombs [1:05 into the video] that it deteriorated. I was just next to them when they let them off. I ran away so that I could carry on filming. A policeman tried to take my camera but I refused.

What shocked me was that when I watched the news that evening, the national TV barely mentioned the incident. Here, everyone's talking about the responsibility of the police and the Ivorian Federation for Football. We're waiting for the results from the investigation."

Egypt and Cameroon go through to the semi final

Julien — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:25:16 +0100

The posts for the semi finals are almost complete. The Black Gazelles were mowed down by the Pharaohs and the Eagles of Carthage were devoured by the untamable Lions. In both cases, it wasn’t easy. We saw two of the best matches of the competition. It’ s the experience that makes the artist, as we say. In any case it’s what let Egypt bring Angola to an end. They were solid team who until now astonished us. No doubt they’ll confirm their great play in the next edition of CAN, which will take place at home for them; in Angola. Egypt really enjoyed a great feat when they beat the Ivorians, but a revenge could be on its way. This will surely be the hottest game in the competition. For Cameroon, the task couldn’t have been harder, and was long and intense to boot. The Tunisians lacked a bit of luck but finished holding their heads high: they fought till death, and Lemerre can only congratulate them for their efforts. Cameroon’s strength grew as the event went on…the next match for them will be a challenge for their competition.”

The Ivory Coast will flatten all the animals in the CAN

Julien — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:28:39 +0100

The last game between the Ivory Coast and Mali was one of the best [IC won by 3 -0]. Because they'd already qualified for the quarter-finals, the elephants gave themselves wholeheartedly. Everyone was waiting for a goal from Drogba, because his wife is originally from Mali. He had said before the match that if his wife and their beautiful family wanted to have a party after the game, then it would be better to support the Ivory Coast! The Malians were disappointed because the elephants could have let them continue in the competition. A draw would have been enough. But the elephants could not spare the eagles of Mali; no more than the ‘super eagles' of Nigeria. The Ivory Coast is going to flatten all the animals of the CAN."

The elephant turned carnivore just to gobble up the squirrels

Julien — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:09:44 +0100

For us the match was ours before it started. But after half an hour of play, we started to get a bit worried. And then, Drogba scored. There was euphoria in the streets- it was as though the match was already over. Actually we had been really waiting for our team captain to get a goal because he hadn't in the fist match.

After the match in Yopougon, which is Abidjan's most happening area, the roads were blocked from rue des Princes to rue de Princesse, the place where everyone always goes to celebrate. Some fans were getting on the roofs of cars or hanging on to the back of them cheering. Going through to the semi-finals was a proud moment and people in the streets were draped in the national colours. Forget about vegetarianism, the elephant turned carnivore just to gobble up the squirrels.

Our Observers follow the African Cup of Nations

Julien — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:32:58 +0100

The African Cup of Nations (CAN), which kicked off its 26th yearly edition on Sunday, is followed worldwide and rivals the UEFA Euro competition and the Copa America in popularity. The atmosphere is, of course, heating up most in Africa’s major cities, from where our Observers will be sending us post-match updates with photos and comments. Here are comments and predictions from Abidjan, Casablanca, Cotonou and Accra.