Cameroon

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?

Pope’s visit to Cameroon only adding to troubles

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:55:17 +0100

Posted on Flickr by "schlachthausfunf78".

Benedict XVI's trip to Africa was hoped to bring the pontiff out of a troublesome spot after various recent controversies put him, and the Catholic Church, in it. Things, however, are not going as planned. Between his public denunciation of condom use and questions over the real reasons why Cameroon's President Paul Biya wanted him there, the Pope will certainly not be redeeming himself in Africa.

Pope Benedict, who decided to make 2009 the "Year of Africa", began his work on the continent in Cameroon, where a quarter of the population is Catholic. A supposedly symbolic trip which was hoped to represent reconciliation and peace, but before even touching ground, the pontiff had managed to cause outrage afresh. He announced on the plane to Yaoundé that the AIDS crisis "cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems". A comment which has infuriated both Europe and Africa. And in Cameroon, it only adds to another controversy. Paul Biya, in power since 1982, is accused of organising the visit in order to serve his own interests.

Price hikes leaving people hungry from Jakarta to Memphis

Julien — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:08:00 +0200

The world's worsening food crisis has finally made the headlines and grim forecasts for the endemic problem are causing widespread panic. We asked our Observers in Cameroon, Indonesia, Haiti and the USA to tell us how they're affected by the crunch.

CAN final: "One of the greatest matches in the history of football"

Julien — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:42:28 +0100