Samuel Brown

Guinea-Bissau prepares from presidential run-off

As elections press forward in Guinea-Bissau, two leaders, representing two conflicting parts of society, remain in the contest. Kumba Yala has strong ties to the Balanta ethnic group, and thus to the Balanta-controlled military. ...

Guinea-Bissau: On the brink of collapse

Guinea-Bissau, a small West African country, has a calm, almost jubilant atmosphere as elections approach to replace recently-murdered President Vieira. While Bissau-Guineans like to believe that elections will put their impoverished country on the road to...

FIFA gives Africa chance to shine

As the Confederations Cup nears its conclusion, Africans have much to celebrate. Egypt became the first African team to ever defeat Italy's top-notch team. More importantly, South Africa hosted the Confederations Cup smoothly, the major...

Madagascar's politics in turmoil

Andry Rajoelina enters the capital in victory (Jerome Delay/Associated Press)Madagascar is in crisis. For months, the country has been held in suspense as Andry Rajoelina, mayor of the capital Antananarivo, challenged elected president Marc...

Libya's eccentric leader as influential as ever

Muammar al Qaddafi is no ordinary head of state. He's not even an ordinary human being. He is described as eccentric at best, and completey off his rocker at worst. Watching his family interact is more...

Obama's visit to Ghana: Establishing priorities

In just over a month President Obama will make his first visit to Sub-Saharan Africa. When Mr. Obama sits down with newly elected Atta Mills in Ghana on July 10-11, he will be doing much more...

Defying logic: Nigerians are happiest in the world

If something can go wrong in a country, then it has probably happened to Nigeria. Rebellions, bloody civil wars, massive corruption, violations of civil rights, military coups, and religious violence are only scratching the surface. So why did...

The origins of art in Africa

The Western notion of art- creative expression appreciated solely for its aesthetic qualities- is a recent import to African culture. While African societies have been creating statues, masks, and carvings of appreciable aesthetic quality for centuries, their purpose was...

Traditional music in Africa

For as long as humans have been banging sticks together, Africans have been using music to celebrate, mourn, pray, and communicate. Where undisturbed by the uprooting pressures of globalization, music continues to hold the same revered place as the...

Conflict in Sudan: root causes

That there is a devastating genocide in Sudan is well-known; but are its causes equally evident? The media keeps you up-to-date with events in Sudan: check out The New York Times page on Sudan and you...

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