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Around the world, people are on the move in search of better lives. That is particularly true in Africa, where a wave of migrants is trying to reach Europe. Despite the dangers, they keep trying – and most do not succeed. Those who do are often on the move for years before they find a place to call home. In the first in a series of reports on nomadic migration to Europe and the United States, Phillip Martin tells the story of one man’s difficult journey to the US. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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Recent climate negotiations have been dominated by disputes between China and the United States, the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases. But amid all the wrangling by the giants, the concerns of small nations have often gotten short shrift. That is one reason African countries have decided to work together more closely this year. Myles Estey has more from the UN conference site in Cancun. Download MP3
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African music and culture live on in parts of Mexico, in rural communities where the descendants of African slaves live. But it’s disappearing as older community members die. Myles Estey and Grant Fuller begin our story in the Costa Chica town of Lo de Soto. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Safari tourism in Africa is changing. Tracking down big game is still central, but more and more tourists are also involved with conservation and helping local communities. Correspondent Jake Warga reports. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
In this week’s World in Words podcast, reporter Jason Margolis judges a competition to determine Liberia’s most inventive proverb. Also, is it a language? No! Is it a dialect? No! It’s Ajami: Arabic script used as a writing system for many African languages. And, language lessons at the United Nations. Download MP3
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When Sub-Saharan Africans converted to Islam more than a thousand years ago, they did so using a modified Arabic text known as Ajami. Today, Ajami is a whole writing system used by many Africans to conduct business transactions, to keep family histories, and to write poetry. The World’s Katy Clark tells us about how scholars are only now coming to understand and appreciate the value of Ajami writings. (Photo: Katy Clark) Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Young people in Morocco are getting married at older ages, largely because of economic difficulties. This has had an impact in a society in which young people who are religiously banned from pre-marital sexual relationships but have to wait longer to get married. America Abroad’s Sean Carberry traveled to Morocco to find out more (Photo: Sean Carberry)Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
It’s football season again and Iowa’s Drake University took the occasion to announce plans for its football team to play a game in Tanzania. The Bulldogs intend to take on an all-star team from Mexico in the inaugural Global Kilimanjaro Bowl in May 2011. It is considered to be the first American football game on the African continent. The World’s Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
West Africa is our destination for today’s Geo Quiz. This landlocked nation provides a home to the Tuareg. They’re a nomadic people who roam in west and north Africa. But young Tuaregs are losing their connection to their traditional language. So, can you name this west African country? (flickr image:Cultr Vultr) Download MP3
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Most of us take electric light for granted. For the most part, we flick a switch and the light comes on. That’s not the case in much of the world. The World’s Jeb Sharp reports on the promise and challenge of bringing solar power to rural Tanzania where most people still don’t have access to electricity. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The problem with a good stretch of beach is that once word gets out, the word is out. You have to fight for waves or a patch of sand. That won’t happen for a while in Liberia. The West African nation was torn apart by 14 years of Civil War. The country has been peaceful since UN peacekeepers arrived in 2003. But before Liberia descended into war, the country was a West African travel hotspot: five-star hotels, beautiful beaches, and a rich cultural history. Today, tourism dollars would certainly help that country with its economic recovery. But is Liberia ready to re-open for tourists? The World’s Jason Margolis had a look. Download MP3
The West African nation of Liberia suffered through an on-again, off-again civil war for 14 years from 1989 to 2003. The country was economically devastated: Roads were destroyed, sewage and water largely ceased functioning, and electricity was knocked out throughout the entire country. A generation of young people, many of whom were child soldiers, never received a formal education. Many were psychologically traumatized by a brutal and at-times bizarre war. The World’s Jason Margolis spent two weeks in Liberia to examine the challenges of rebuilding a war-torn nation.
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15 musician are featured on the new CD ‘Songs About Leaving Africa.’ Host David Baron speaks to two musicians on the album and the journalist Rose Skelton who compiled the music. Download MP3
