Madagascar's vanilla industry hits slump
World's largest grower of vanilla beans hit by crash in world markets.
MANDENA, Madagascar — On a recent steamy morning, Simon Vanombelona was clearing his vanilla field to make way for a rice paddy.
“If the quantity is sufficient I’ll eat first and then build some stocks,” said the 49-year-old Vanombelona.
So severe is the price slump for vanilla in northeastern Madagascar, which is home to the best vanilla in the world,...
Recent on Africa:
Mugabe at UN food summit, as Zimbabwe goes hungry
Zimbabwe Correspondent - Zimbabwe - November 20, 2009 17:16 ET
Zimbabwe agriculture continues to suffer as Mugabe seizes farms of white and black alike.
Outraged Ireland demands a replay
Conor O'Clery - Ireland - November 19, 2009 11:53 ET
A French hand ball puts Ireland out of the World Cup.
Video: The fading glory of Kenya’s "Lunatic Express"
Eamon Kircher-Allen - Kenya - November 19, 2009 11:47 ET
The Mombasa to Nairobi railway line helped to create modern Kenya but is now outdated.
Moroccan desert blooms with organic farms
Solana Pyne - Morocco - November 17, 2009 11:53 ET
Mugabe maintains media grip
Zimbabwe Correspondent - Zimbabwe - November 17, 2009 11:23 ET
Zimbabwe's state broadcaster maintains steady stream of TV and radio propaganda.
Dakar's kaleidoscope of color
Finbarr O'Reilly - Senegal - November 17, 2009 11:13 ET
Encounter with drama group offers respite to photographer
Nigeria to press First World on climate change
Shyamantha Asokan - Nigeria - November 16, 2009 12:22 ET
Growing chorus of African countries calls for pledges to a climate change fund at Copenhagen.
Swaziland's wildlife makes spectacular comeback
Nicolas Brulliard - South Africa - November 15, 2009 09:27 ET
Animal populations thrive thanks to tough anti-poaching legislation.
Moroccan carpet confidential
Erik German - Morocco - November 13, 2009 17:16 ET
Rural women weavers struggle to earn a fair price for their intricate rugs.
Opinion: Nigeria proposes reform of oil industry
John Campbell - Worldview - November 12, 2009 15:39 ET
President Yar'Adua puts forward new legislation but it looks unlikely to effectively reform the industry.
What Morocco makes of Hillary Clinton
Solana Pyne - Morocco - November 12, 2009 11:31 ET
South Africa builds fitting memorial to Samora Machel
Nicolas Brulliard - South Africa - November 12, 2009 06:31 ET
Harrowing homage paid to Mozambique's first president who was killed in mysterious crash.
Opinion: "Old fox" Mugabe outwits others
Douglas Rogers - Worldview - November 8, 2009 09:56 ET
Power-sharing government achieves some improvements but Mugabe still rules with iron fist.
Kenya battles recurring drought
Tristan McConnell - Kenya - November 7, 2009 10:51 ET
Countries of East Africa and Horn of Africa plagued by successive years of low rainfall.
Full Frame: Freedom fighters, 30 years later
David Rochkind - Full Frame - November 4, 2009 16:31 ET
A photographer tracks down anti-apartheid fighters who have since struggled to find productive places in society.
Senegal seeks long-term solution to flooding
Anne Look - Senegal - November 4, 2009 07:06 ET
Families are being moved from flood-prone suburbs to a new settlement 15 miles east of Dakar.
Hillary defends remarks praising Israel
By Solana Pyne - Morocco - November 2, 2009 12:38 ET
After Pakistan and Israel, Clinton meets Arab foreign ministers in Marrakesh.
Coming soon: Nigerians in space?
Katrina Manson - Nigeria - October 30, 2009 06:25 ET
Nigeria's space agency is no joke. It has launched satellites and aims to put Africans into space.
Obama extends sanctions against Sudan
Tristan McConnell - Kenya - October 29, 2009 06:03 ET
New policy encourages dialogue but presses for change.
Global Blogs:
Indecision 2009
Gathara's World - Kenya - November 20, 2009 18:44 ET
Teju Cole at CCA, Lagos tomorrow, 2pm
Naija Blog - Nigeria - November 20, 2009 11:18 ET
Unmissable event if you are into the arts and live in Lagos...Here.
Will Zimbabwe’s Medium-Term Recovery Plan work?
This Is Zimbabwe contributor - Zimbabwe - November 20, 2009 11:09 ET
The document published as the successor to STERP, the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme, is the MTP, or Medium Term Plan, the Zero Draft version of which has now been released by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. The document’s 133 pages...
Fry Cocks up again
6000Miles fromCivilisation - South Africa - November 20, 2009 06:31 ET
With at least eleven people including a police officer currently missing and livelihoods, houses and belongings lost in the floods in Cumbria, Stephen Fry feels that it’s a good time to make a cheap and smutty gag about the worst hit area: I’m sure this will be...
KenCall CEO talks on Customer Service in Kenya
Bankelele Blog - Kenya - November 20, 2009 05:00 ET
Nicholas Nesbitt is the Founder and CEO of KenCall, the first and most successful of Kenya’s business process outsourcing (BPO) and contact centre services providers. We had a chat about customer service in Kenya, why it’s so lacking, the cost of providing customer service...
Marrakech Film Festival to screen 44 Korean films
The View from Fez team, Authors of "The View from Fez" blog - Morocco - November 20, 2009 04:02 ET
Since the Marrakech International Film Festival began back in 2000 it has focused on the national cinemas of Italy, Egypt and Spain. This year, signaling the growing importance of Korean film and certainly spurred by recent successes such as Bong Joon-ho's "Mother - 2009" and...
Moseneke story still no scandal
Constitutionally Speaking - South Africa - November 20, 2009 03:51 ET
The Mail & Guardian continues its “expose” of the alleged dubious business dealings of Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke in their paper this week. It claims that “the Moseneke family” has Congolese Oil Rights which were facilitated by “an...
Is Your Church Relevant?
Deoluakinyemi Deoluakinyemi - Nigeria - November 20, 2009 01:52 ET
“Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them, is a dry-as-dust religion.” – MLKJR In the days we...
closing the sukuma kenya chapter
Sukuma Kenya - Kenya - November 21, 2009 00:16 ET
It's taken me a few months to think this through and now its thought... It's time for Sukuma Kenya to lay to rest. I believe it has done more than what it was originally set out to do when we...
Consumer Protection Act Series – Part Two
SA Rocks - South Africa - November 19, 2009 11:44 ET
Following on from my first post about the Consumer Protection Act, here are a couple more bite-sized chunks about the new legislation to help you get to grips with how it will affect your life and help you to realise your rights as a South African citizen. 1. The Act protects...
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Our African news coverage offers compelling reports and analysis focusing on the continent's social, political and economic events and issues. Visit the following sections for country-specific news: GlobalPost presents readers with an American perspective on Africa news. Our correspondents adhere to the highest journalistic standards. Whether it's an environmental concern in South Africa or a political situation in Ghana, our readers receive an unmatched report of the news from the ground.Featured: Special Projects
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Reporter's Notebook
Lemurs have it tough these days. The political chaos that has engulfed Madagascar this year has spurred a flurry of illegal logging activities...Read more >
As Australian media alleged that Caster Semenya, the 800-meter world champion, is indeed a hermaphrodite, a South African magazine published pictures...Read more >
Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died Tuesday following his battle with brain cancer, was hailed in South Africa as a staunch supporter of the anti-apartheid...Read more >
