African Advent Calendar – South of West

My African Advent Calendar: Day 24, BABIES OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

December 24, 2009

All 21 of them. All apparently conceived without sex. All miracle babies. It is more than five years since police in Kenya seized 21 children from two homes as part of an investigation into baby smuggling. Archbishop Gilbert Deya, who ran an evangelical church in London, reckoned he could make women pregnant through the power … More My African Advent Calendar: Day 24, BABIES OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

My African Advent Calendar: Day 23, AN ASS

December 23, 2009

Insert your own gag here. The problem with riding donkeys in Darfur is that rider is expected to hit ridee with a big stick in order to facilitate steering. For the first 30min it is possible to threaten to hit the donkey across the face in order to turn left (hit the right side) or … More My African Advent Calendar: Day 23, AN ASS

My African Advent Calendar: Day 22, A PROPHET

December 22, 2009

And lo, a prophet appeared in a faraway land. “Follow me,” she declared, “but only those that have two testicles – no more, no less. “And I will protect you with my magic potions and butter and together we will deliver the Promised Land to our people. You must kill snakes.” Alice Lakwena’s Holy Spirit … More My African Advent Calendar: Day 22, A PROPHET

My African Advent Calendar: Day 21, A BOAT

December 21, 2009

It has been another good year for the pirates – less so for the 272 sailors (as of last week) still held in or just off Somalia, including the Chandlers from Tunbridge Wells (whose boat is pictured above). With few ideas on how to tackle the menace, 2010 will hold more of the same. The … More My African Advent Calendar: Day 21, A BOAT

African Advent Calendar: Day 20, A TEDDY BEAR

December 20, 2009

Just don’t call him Mohammed… Anyone know what happened to the little chap? I seem to recall someone telling me he had been released from the Sudanese cupboard where he was locked up…

My African Advent Calendar: Day 19, A PRINCE

December 19, 2009

A king is born? A wise man? Anyway, can’t say much more about this particular snap

African Advent Calendar: Day 18, A GOAT

December 18, 2009

ME (VIA PHONE): Well I’m having a bit of difficulty getting access on election night. The place is swarming with press and the Obamas are a bit fed up with it all. I’ve just bought them a goat though so I think I should get in for that piece we discussed… ED: Oh, thanks. (CLICK … More African Advent Calendar: Day 18, A GOAT

African Advent Calendar: Day 17, A PLANE

December 17, 2009

Well… two actually, proving it’s difficult to keep your sanctions-busting arsenal secret when anyone can peruse your Chinese-built hardware using nothing more sophisticated than Google Earth. Thanks to Andrei Chang at Kanwa Defense Review Monthly for the image.

My African Advent Calendar: Day 16, A BUCKET

December 16, 2009

Each bucket weighs almost 75lb when full with sticky, white latex sap. But Amos Mulbh was still able to manoeuvre nimbly over fallen trees in Firestone’s Harbel plantation. After all, he had learned how to balance the thin wooden beam across his thin shoulders when he was just 12. I met Amos a in 2006 … More My African Advent Calendar: Day 16, A BUCKET

My African Advent Calendar: Day 15, A GOLF CLUB

December 15, 2009

The BBC’s Adam Mynott gets his feet wet retrieving his ball from a wayward tee shot at Nairobi’s Race Course par-three second hole (if memory serves).

South of West

A journalist in New York and elsewhere

Category: African Advent Calendar