Blog Title: 27 months

Anthropology, Tech & the Developing World

This post was largely inspired by the views of Ken Banks, the man behind FrontlineSMS and Kiwanja. I only recently discovered him via Twitter, and feel that I’ve met a kindred spirit. His essay on anthropology’s “technology-driven Renaissance” is something everyone engaged in development should read, whether or not your interest lies in read more..

Journey to Work

This post was inspired by Steve Jackson’s “Journey to Work” Flickr video that he posted last week. He encouraged others to participate, so this is my contribution. The place I call home, Buea, is a scenic mountain town sandwiched between Mt. Cameroon and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s unique for many reasons, not the least of read more..

Cameroon “Gets” Renewable Energy

This is a follow-up photo post to my previous entry How to Light An African Village. I’m enthusiastic about the innovations my housemates from Green Step observed in their recent foray into the village, so I wanted to highlight some of their discoveries. They completed a trip from Dschang to Bafoussam, Bamenda, Kumbo read more..

How to Light An African Village

My housemates Connie and Johannes of Greenstep are getting involved in some very cool project work these days. After spending most days behind a computer, I find myself a bit envious of their trips to the remote village of M’muock (just getting there is an off-road adventure in itself) and of the time Johannes read more..

Focus on Cameroon’s ICT Entrepreneurs, Part 2

For the second interview of this series, I had a chat with Mambe Nanje Churchill, the young CEO of the AfroVisioN group here in Buea. In the short time AfroVisioN has been in business, they’ve put together an impressive portfolio that includes an outsourced project for a Swiss company. Besides his strong grasp of current read more..

Focus on Cameroon’s ICT Entrepreneurs, Part 1

When one thinks of ICT (information and communications technology) leadership in Africa, it’s often the established hubs in Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria that spring to mind. There’s no denying that a healthy mix of talent, ideas, infrastructure, market opportunity and favorable business climates exist in these regions. A casual stroll around read more..

What Obama’s Win Means To Me

I spent the night of November 4th like most Americans abroad—and indeed much of the world with cable TV, I suspect—watching the election results trickle in until dawn. We were a mix of Americans, Cameroonians and a token Canadian. Just after the networks projected Obama to be the president-elect, I began receiving congratulatory read more..

Making Every Vote Count

On the eve of this historic presidential election, I thought I’d post an entry about the lengths to which an expat goes to get his ballot counted—and of the people who proved to be indispensable along the way. Awhile back I requested an absentee ballot online from the King County, Washington elections office. I wasn’t read more..

Catching Up With Roland

On Saturday I went down to BatokĂ© to chat with Roland Boula about the events that had transpired over the last 72 hours. We sat and discussed in the shade while my roomies, Brian and our Cameroonian pals hit the beach. He told me that “the days had been short and the nights read more..

Pods and Blogs on BBC Radio

I received an email yesterday from Jamillah Knowles, host of the Pods and Blogs show on BBC Radio 5 Live, mere hours after I posted Roland Boula’s story “Podcasting the Blues From Cameroon”. She asked if we might arrange an interview to chat about blogging from Africa, the people who follow my blog, read more..