“Democracy works only when it has evolved within a specific socio-cultural environment and fused into the traditional political systems such that it is seen as an indigenous product, but unfortunately Africa has not been given the opportunity to develop this.” - Friday 26 November 2010

A new dance, known as the "Leumbeul", is attracting a growing number of Senegalese women who do not mind showing off their otherwise private parts. Controversy has been raging on for several months in Senegal over the "Leumbeul" dance, especially after the release of sexually provocative videos on the Internet. One of the videos shows women gyrating and rolling their behinds to the rhythm of drums without hesitating to show their most intimate parts. Many believe that "Leumbeul", which is originally a traditional dance, has morphed into a practice that they deem detrimental to the image of the Senegalese woman. - Friday 26 November 2010

An attack on south Sudan positions which left four southern Sudanese soldiers and two civilians wounded, has been described by the south as an effort by the north to disrupt the south’s independence referendum. The situation has prompted the United Nations to consider the deployment of a 2,000 peacekeeping force to the region. - Thursday 25 November 2010

China-Africa Overseas Leather Products S.C. and China Africa Development Fund (CADFund) on Wednesday inaugurated a 27 million dollar factory in Ethiopia. The company has expressed its ambition to launch a second phase US $25 million investment project which, if successful, would significantly increase an initial target of 500 local job openings. - Thursday 25 November 2010

Is the Catholic Church changing its discourse on the use of condoms as a means to fight against HIV-AIDS? Pope Benedict XVI’s book, Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times, a series of interview, was officially unveiled at the Vatican on Tuesday. - Wednesday 24 November 2010

United Nation’s programme on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS has announced that HIV-AIDS infections have reduced in Africa, but are increasing in Eastern Europe and central Asia. However the report shows an overall decline of the epidemic. - Wednesday 24 November 2010

Whilst the candor and the maturity of those two young people describing their intention to spend the rest of their lives together was surprisingly moving, the British media’s wall-to-wall fawning coverage of the royal engagement exposed the fact that the United Kingdom remains a deeply class-ridden and sexist society. - Wednesday 24 November 2010

“I feel as if I have witnessed something miraculous,” says 75 year-old Ross Sinclair as he gazes on the ice shimmering against the fairytale backdrop of the Royal Pavilion. As a former ice-hockey player for the Brighton Tigers, Sinclair had been invited to christen the new ice-rink that has sprung up in the heart of Brighton for the festive period and he is itching to get his skates on. - Wednesday 24 November 2010

The Gambia and the Islamic Republic of Iran have broken diplomatic ties following reports that Iran was involved in an illegal arms shipment to Gambia including rockets and grenades. All Iranians representing their government have therefore been asked to leave Gambia within 24 hours. - Tuesday 23 November 2010

NYSE Euronext Inc. — the home of the New York Stock Exchange and other exchanges — has seen a threefold increase in the trading of African stocks on its exchanges over the past five years and a doubling of exchange traded funds focused on Africa in the past 12 to 18 months. Altogether, these increases stand as clear evidence of a “strong and growing focus” on doing business in Africa. - Tuesday 23 November 2010