by phil | Jul 22, 2013 | Mali
SOTRAMA in Koulikoro. They don’t come more patriotic than this one. Well, it’s going to happen. Despite the fact that many analysts, diplomats and even members of Mali’s own electoral body have expressed doubts over the timing, there it sits on the...
by phil | Jul 8, 2013 | Cote D'Ivoire
The following is the 3rd and final part of a piece on Toits Rouges, a neighborhood in the Yopougon quartier of Abidjan. I have spent a lot of time in this neighborhood over the past several years. I hope this offers an accurate picture of that place. See part 1 and...
by phil | Jun 29, 2013 | Cote D'Ivoire, Mali
On the film set for SOS Democracy sketch comedy that will soon be released. First thing, if you use google reader to read this site, that shit is going away on Monday. There are alternatives, though. Free alternatives. I just switched over to Feedly, and it...
by phil | Jun 24, 2013 | Mali
After an extended period of mourning following the death of Maimouna – have I shared that yet? Maimouna died. When I asked my partner Arouna what killed her, he said “fresh air.” Well, he said “fraicheur,” a French word that can refer to...
by phil | Jun 6, 2013 | Mali
I could easily make an entire blog of bamako taxi interiors. I could do the same for West African barbershops, minibus proverbs, and dibiterie sheep drawings. But, you have to start somewhere. Every now and then, you will come across a taxi interior in Bamako that is...
by phil | May 28, 2013 | Mali
If we had held these kinds of gatherings in the early 90’s, we would not be in the position that we are today. That quote comes from the dugutigi (neighborhood chief) of Bankoni, the neighborhood where we held our most recent SOS Democracy community event (help...
