africa

November 23, 2011

China’s Healing Touch in Africa

Health diplomacy, and how the Chinese today are like the Celtic missionaries of old.

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October 19, 2011

Structures of Sin: West Africa Piracy

How will this affect mission ships off Nigeria?

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August 16, 2011

The Church and HIV/AIDS

Wycliffe Bible Translators writes about Kande’s story in Ethiopia: the true-to-life account of a “young woman whose mother and father die of AIDS and how members of the local church respond with support and healing through the difficult years that follow.” The story has been translated into 139 languages (including 13 in Ethiopia), and incorporates a Bible study in which participants discuss “Jesus treatment of lepers, God’s view of sexual sin, justice for orphans and widows, and much more.” Sounds like a great tool, and it’s integrated into a larger ministry.

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August 12, 2011

Is the world economy about to change?

Graeme Codrington, “Why the entire world economy is about to change.” Another post, from August 5. Interesting statistical comparison. Thought 1: China is going big into Africa–why isn’t it making an equally big splash into other places? Thought 2: The center of Christianity now is Africa. What are the possible future scenarios when China and Africa become tightly interrelated? What happens if/when Africans are heading to China rather than to Europe?

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August 12, 2011

Ignoring Africa when looking at emerging mobile markets

Graeme Codrington, “Why ignore Africa when looking at emerging market telecoms?” A short blog rant on how many research companies seem to be ignoring Africa when studying Internet access and usage. “Subsaharan Africa is the fastest growing demographic in the world, with nearly as many people as India and China, and economic growth rates above 6%.” The world’s fastest growing mobile phone market is Nigeria. Building social networking, mobile phones, and Internet access into church-based strategies for discipleship and blessing are going to be key. Whatever your strategy, if it doesn’t have a component for resource distribution via mobile phone [...]

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August 11, 2011

The dangers of democracy

“Who is going to have the most power” is the essential problem of the Arab Spring. The same problem, in different variations, is to be found in North America, Europe and China. In every variation, each group is afraid they will be put out of power, and will be kept out of power through any means necessary—including electoral fraud or oppression. Thus, while we recognize the value of democracy, we can be afraid of letting the other guy in when he wins the vote. In the context of the Middle East, a number of articles have recently been written about [...]

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July 19, 2011

Will India and China be competitors in Africa?

China and India both see the need for resources, manpower and energy, and both seem to see Africa as crucial to this future.  Indian Prime Minister Singh has offered a $5 billion credit line to African countries over the next three years to help them achieve development goals. The goal is to attract students from Africa to study in India.

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July 14, 2011

One cheap pill protects healthy people from HIV?

One cheap pill protects healthy people from HIV – health – 13 July 2011 – New Scientist. This is a report of a pill that costs just $0.25 which in two studies in Africa has successfully prevented healthy people from getting HIV. This is an interesting development in the battle against HIV. The transmission of HIV in Africa flows along different lines than in an Asian country like Thailand. In Africa, it flows mostly through semi-voluntary relationships (which can be complicated by marriage fidelity issues, sexual politics, and rich/poor relationships). In Asia, as a general characterization, it flows through prostitution [...]

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July 14, 2011

Against the Odds in South Sudan: Saving Lives One Toilet at a Time

AllAfrica.com writes about a USAID project in south Sudan to increase the number of toilets in communities. Bill Gates wants to reinvent the toilet. Toilets prevent fecal contamination (just writing those words can give you a shiver) which can lead to all sorts of diseases. Remember: lengthening lifespans can lead to the stability of the church and, in the long run, healthy church growth. So in the long run, building a toilet can actually build a church. Remember to take the long view:

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July 13, 2011

Who Is Blessing Somalis

Curated links of what is being done by NGOs and Christians around Somalia World Vision is continuing (and expanding?) their long-term work in the region. NGO members of Interaction are involved. See this long list of aid agencies.

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July 13, 2011

Bless Somalis–NOW

This is the time. Somalia is dying. Over 10 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing famine, but the Somalis have it the worst. Many of them are fleeing over the border into Kenya and Ethiopia. Refugee camps are being overwhelmed. It would seem like there is no hope for Somalia. It would seem as though many people are going to die and there is little we can do about it. This is the time for the church to step up to the plate and show the love of Christ for our neighbors. This is the time when [...]

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July 13, 2011

The intersection between superstition and football

Defeat: We found charms in our dressing room – Nigerian captain creates all sorts of questions about the ongoing impact of magic, superstition, voodoo, etc. in African societies. The Nigerians are accusing the Ghanaians of putting juju charms in their dressing room, which then filled the young players with fear and explained their loss. Nigeria professes to be 51% Christian and 45% Muslim, with 3% belonging to ethnic religions. But the reality is always more complicated. As Operation World notes, “actual practice of traditional religions can be as high as 10% of the population.” Use of charms as offensive weapons to [...]

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July 13, 2011

Status of East Africa: Fall 2011

Note: The Fall 2011 East Africa 2-Hour Panel Discussion, including the presentation and the collected input of the participants, is available for purchase for a nominal fee. Tons of comments on insights from our participants on the trends below. East Africa–from the Horn of Africa south to Mozambique, and west into landlocked states like Rwanda and Burundi—has one of the fastest growing populations of any region: from 28 million people in 1900, it has grown to over a quarter of a million people today and will reach nearly half a billion people by 2025. Over a third of these are [...]

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July 12, 2011

Sudan: what could possibly go wrong?

Stratfor: 75% of Sudan’s 500,000 daily barrels of oil comes from the South. The “seemingly clean” divorce between North and South masks the “messiness” underneath: most of the sticking points (oil, etc.) have not yet been resolved. The prospect for conflict and the possibilities of violence impacting the church in the future remains high. Update 7/12 10:58pm Additional Links: AllAfrica.com: Al-Bashir says Abyei dispute could lead to war

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July 8, 2011

The chronology of South Sudan’s journey to independence

The BBC has a great history of the trials and travails through which South Sudan passed to get where it is today. It’s worth a read and consideration of the dangers that await the South. It will be interesting to see how the church is a blessing to the South in the future.

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July 8, 2011

Trends in North Sudan: War, and us ignoring them

We can all celebrate the new freedom for South Sudan. It’s a great thing–for them. The way forward will be difficult and perhaps tense at times, but at least they will have a chance. However, the downside of this is: the majority of those opposed to the policies of the north have now left. This means that the north is now free to fully implement its policies in its remaining territory, to the detriment (perhaps) of the small minority remaining there who disagree with Khartoum. The place to watch in this regard is the Nuba Mountains.

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June 22, 2011

Chinese Workers in Africa Who Marry Locals Face Puzzled Reception at Home – Damien Ma – International – The Atlantic

In response to a growing gender imbalance in their home country, Chinese men look elsewhere to find partners. via The Atlantic.

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June 21, 2011

Africa’s Explosive Population Growth

allAfrica.com writes about a new study published by the Global Research Center based on United Nations data. Will this population growth “weigh down” Africa? Of particular note: by century’s end, Nigeria will be more populous than the entire continent of Europe. 10 other countries will join Nigeria in being over 100 million in population by that date: Congo-Zaire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Several of these are highly unreached nations. The remaining task is poised to get much bigger.

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June 14, 2011

Religious Dynamics of Africa

East Africa. Predominantly Christian of the Orthodox variety. Christianity makes up about two-thirds of the region and is growing in strength. Islam has about two-tenths and is likewise growing, mostly just in pace with general population growth and slower than Christianity. Ethnic religions are growing, but only about half as fast as Christianity or Islam. Hindus, Baha’is and Agnostics all have at least 1 million members but their numbers are not growing rapidly: most of the growth comes from migrant workers. All other religions represent very small minorities. Middle Africa. Over three-quarters Christian, and Christianity continues to grow through both [...]

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May 23, 2011

On Abyei, Sudan

6/1 Ethiopia ready to send troops, North proposes rotating administration of Abyei.

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