My next piece is up at Global Voices Online:
A post by Gay in Uganda last week reveals the discrimination the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population faces when applying for travel documents.
Category: ugandan culture
The Kampalan: Overhaul
In light of a recent spate of posts and comments asking what its purpose is — one-stop entertainment hub? blogren free-for-all? — The Kampalan is running a poll. What do you think should happen to the site?
If you think The Kampalan should stick around and you want to become a contributor, e-mail me at jackfruity@gmail.com.
Jackfruit of the week (11.14.07)
Jonathan Dommer explores The Rules of Beeping in Rwanda and India:
Reports from the economic development community suggest that the practice is common across many African nations (Chipchase & Tulusan, 2007; McKemey et al., 2003; Oestmann, 2003; Samuel, Shah, & Hadingham, 2005) and is not limited to teens. Slater and Kwami (2005) describe flashing as both an economic and symbolic practice, noting how “Michael, a man who flashes the same five people every morning, is not merely keeping in touch but also discharging obligations and responsibilities” (p. 10). Sey (2007) describes flashing in Ghana as one of a set of cost-saving strategies developed by users. Others note that beeping conventions in Africa differ between men and women (Alhassan, 2004; Chango, 2005).
The Uganda Search Swicki works to “harness the knowledge, passion and behavior of online communities to improve the search experience.” A search for coffee + internet turns up exactly what I was hoping for: links to information about internet cafes in Kampala that serve lattes. You can also see a tag-cloud-inspired representation of what other people are searching for.
The Daily Monitor’s Discover Uganda site is a one-stop portal for CHOGM visitors, but its pages on art galleries, internet access, national parks and Uganda’s major towns are a great resource for other travelers.
So. Cool.
CitizenUganda is a new site covering politics, business, fashion, citizen media (including a series of blog profiles that’s hit up Dennis and Glenna so far, among others) and other goodies.
The site’s still under construction, but a steadily growing body of editorial posts already talks about Facebook, the iPhone and the Daily Monitor’s redesign.
XOXO, and can’t wait for more.
Ugandan Blogumentary online
The documentary made by the four Danish women who were in Uganda earlier this year is online, both at the Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke website and on Google Video:
It makes me miss you guys.