I continue to be amazed and excited by the ingenious use of cell phones and cell phone applications in Africa.  Just today comes news of another innovation.  This one is endorsed by the Kenyan government.  The app is from mPedigree.  It has been tested and proved effective in Ghana and Nigeria.

Here is how it works:

Article announcing mPedigree use in Kenya:
Kenya launches mobile phone application to fight counterfeit Medicines By:Claire Wanja/KNA,

Kenya has begun piloting a system that will make it possible for consumers to use text messages to find out if a particular medicine was wholesome or counterfeit. Kenyan minister for Medical Services, Professor Anyang Nyong’o has said.

The mPedigree website has additional information.

Watch the video “If Symptoms Persist” about the new app and system.

Video presented for The Tech Awards 2009 Nokia Health Award

Additional Stories of Africa article on the use of Cell Phones in Africa:
Africa’s Use of Mobile Technology Assists Healthcare

Report the News

I have just witnessed a video that has penetrated my deepest emotions. I lived in Kenya for 16 years (1972-88). I am attached to her and her people. The religious, political, and ethnic rivalry and violence pains me, but nothing like in pains the people of Kenya. It is there country. The Kenyans under 35 years of age are disenfranchised from sources of change and power, yet only they can alter the future.

This video, produced by Kuweni Serious (be serious), is about Kenya, yet it speaks words and stirs up emotions that are helpful for the young throughout Africa.

See more from Kuweni Serious at http://www.kuweniserious.org/

3 Important Articles on Nigeria’s 2011 Election

Nigerians, in fact all Africans, and those concerned for Africa’s future need to keep informed Africa’s most populous country’s elections to be held in 2011.  Below are some recent, well rounded commentaries and opinions on the approaching polling:

2011 Elections - Impending Catastrophe or Transformative Moment?
by Richard Joseph in AllAfrica.com

Nigeria: Closer to the Brink? by John Campbell, Council on Foreign Relations.

Nigeria 2011 Elections: The Worst That Could Happen by Aina Mason-Olatunji in Sahara Reporters.

A review of “On Becoming an Activist” by Kenyan Ory Okolloh at a TED Conference, June 2007

Oyo Okolloh received an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and earned a doctorate from Harvard Law School in 2005.

Okolloh is a Kenyan activist, lawyer, and blogger.  In 2006 she co-founded Mzalendo (Swahili: “Patriot”), a website to hold Kenyan parliamentarians accountable.  She is more widely known for writing one of the most popular blogs concerning Kenya, the Kenyan Pundit.

Okolloh is part of the new generation of young Africans who are using the power of blogging, SMS and web-enabled openness to push their countries forward and help Africans to truly connect.

Watch the video below of Okolloh’s TED speech “On Becoming An Activist.”

If you are unable to watch the video, a written transcript of the speech is also available, click here.  Then, in the right hand column, click on “open transcript”.

Here is what I heard Ory Okolloh say:

• The media focuses on the negative things in Africa.
• Okolloh is influenced by the western and private school education she received.  How much she identifies with poor Africans is another matter. (my own observations)  Very few American students get to go to Harvard.  Harvard Law school, where Oholloh got here law degree, has produced American Presidents.
• Her father died of HIV/AIDS.
• If you only knows the sad things about peoples’ lives, then you look at them with pity.  This is how outsiders look at Africa.  It is a damaging view.
• Africans need to do a better job of telling their own stories.  (I would love for you to tell your story right here on Stories of Africa.  Write me if you would like to tell your story.)
• Africans who live overseas should return and contribute to Africa.
• Africans need to challenge their leaders to take more initiative. There are websites and blogs that can help people talk to or make comments about their parliamentarians.

What do you think about Oyo’s speech?  Do you agree or disagree with her?

Report the News

The number of grassroots reporters in Africa is growing every day.  You could easily be one of them.

I hope that you have read my blog article, “Mobile Reporters in Africa.” It introduces an organization, Voices of Africa, which is loyal to the thousands of self promoted, local reporters.

If you are part of a community outreach or development program, take some photos with your phone and type a report and send it to us.

There have been cases where grass roots reporters have presented photos of security or government officials accepting bribes.  Some have gone as far as to take photos of ‘work sites’ where money was reported as spent for specific projects yet photos show no progress at all.  And, you probably have seen or heard about photos and videos sent from remotes villages hit by a typhoon or earthquake.

Stories of Africa is set to be an outlet for such stories.  We will begin accepting photos, videos and stories right away.  We will begin posting them on the Stories of Africa site starting July 15th.

Here is what you you do:

1.  Use your cell phone or PDA to take photos or videos of a significant event, such as a disaster, a development project, a rescue, an accident, or officials misrepresenting the situation to donors, whatever you see that is NEWS.  We are looking for news stories, not requests for donations.

2.  Write a shot 100-300 news article discussing the news in the photos.

3.  Attach the story, photos or video an email and send them to me at newsdesk@storiesofafrica.org

4.  I will post the stories here and make news outlets aware of their presence.

While I was busy composing this blog I received a job announcement for African reporters and photographers.  Find the announcement at http://africamedianetwork.ning.com/profiles/blogs/wanted-african-freelance. Stories of Africa is positioning to be an outlet for grassroots news generated by reporters via cell phones, ipods, and PDAs.

Remember we now ready to receive your reports and will post them beginning July 15th, 2010.  I will be back with another post concerning this project before that date arrives.

2009 was the deadliest year of the decade for African Journalists, according to a recent report from World Focus, a nightly broadcast focused exclusively on international news. The story is accompanied by links to further reports of most of the killings.


African journalists are some of the are some of the most underpaid reporters on the globe, yet they must be some of the most dedicated and brave as they continue to risk their lives to cover corruption, war, and violence.

If you see an African journalists today, tell you understand and appreciate his dedication to keeping the rest of us informed. The stories reported by these world servants change lives for the better, even if it often ends their own.

My hat is off to them, and my heart aches for their families.