Is it time for Africa to apologise over Slavery?

Stand up and admit your ancestors played a crucial part in the trade of 11 million human beings from Africa. This is what Nigeria’s Civil Rights Congress is suggesting.

On air: “Do starving Africans a favour. Don’t feed them”

This is what Sam Kiley suggests in his article.

Is the best way of helping Africa … well, not helping it? Or helping in a different way ?
Sam’s article came up last week when we were discussing the famine in Ethiopia,25 years on, and the latest appeals for aid.

Is District 9 racist towards Nigerians?

“…The film clearly denigrated Nigeria’s image by portraying us as if we are cannibals, we are criminals… The name [of] our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings…”

Africa Connected – the internet revolution

It will change Africa forever. Within the next couple of months four high-speed fibre optic cables will link up the east and west coasts of Africa to the rest of the world. It’s going to revolutionise how the continent connects and communicates in many ways – some we can imagine, some we can’t.

Why is Africa poor? Dateline Yekepa, northern Liberia 2

This is Mark Doyle’s second post from northern Liberia
I’ve just had huge fun riding on a pickup truck which miraculously turned into a tiny railway train. The pickup drove towards the railway. Then, by some miracle of engineering, the road tyres were lifted and a set of railway wheels hidden under the chassis were lowered onto the tracks. Then we drove along the rails!

Why is Africa Poor ?

BBC correspondent ,Mark Doyle went on the road to ask that question across the continent. He’s come back with three documentaries. Part one – Africa and the world- airs Monday on the BBC World Service Radio. Mark will join us on WHYS do discuss the issue and share some of the things that he has come accross during his visit. Read on and have a look at Mark’s first post from Liberia. Why, do you think, is Africa poor? Also, post any questions you have to Mark here.

Should private firms be in charge of security in some countries?

Alex Mwange, a BBC listener, suggests that African countries outsource responsibility for security in the area to private firms. These firms have been used in Africa before. In Sierra Leone,the government hired a private security company to help it during the civil conflict. But as this paper shows it hasn’t been without its problems.

On air: Is sexism holding Africa back?

On Tuesday’s show we discussed Burma and Hillary Clinton. Michael was our last caller. He said: ‘This is typical of men in the developing world. Their attitude towards women is holding their countries back?’ Then George emailed who describes himself as an African living in Portland, Oregon. ‘The question was not only wrong, it shows the mindset of most men in African. We Africans are very chauvinistic. Next to the Middle East, African males shows the least respect to there women and usually don’t take women seriously. I’m glad Hilary put this person in his place.’

Lubna Hussein : Heroine or criminal?

To thousands of women in Africa and the Middle East, Lubna Hussein has become a heroine, someone defying religious authorities and fighting for women’s rights.

To the men who try to impose those rules (in this case the Public Order police in Sudan) she is an enemy of public morals, to be denounced in the letters pages of newspapers and in mosques.

On air: Is Islamic extremism Africa’s newest fear?

150 people were killed in Northern Nigeria after two days of violence. Residents in the state of Borno said that Islamic militants burnt a police station, a church and a customs office early yesterday.

The group, which calls itself Taliban, emerged in Nigeria in 2004. It has never been clear if it has proper links to the Taliban in Afghanistan but its leaders profess allegiance to and admiration of Osama bin Laden.