[Imc-africa] Rural Africa

[John Bwakali]

Hi Friends,
It is a bright sunny morning here in Nairobi and I am happy to be alive. My country Kenya is doing okay, apart from the usual national challenges that are faced by just about every other African country. We now have a coalition government and this being unprecedented, there seem to be quite a number of teething problems. But life goes on.
 
For those of you who were in Senegal, you may recall that we talked quite a bit on the African context of Indymedia. There was a general consensus that the Internet will not be that useful in rural Africa because it just isn't there. So what are the alternatives? Suggestions included; community radio, newsletters, caravan videos....Im interested in knowing what you are doing in your rural areas and what you plan to do. Have you been able to organize any meetings in such areas and what has been the outcome of the meetings? If there are any existing traditional forms of communication in your respective communities, do you think you will be able to fully utilize them? 
 
This Easter weekend, I will be going to a part of Kenya near L. Victoria. This lake is the second largest fresh water lake in the world and is the source of River Nile. It is shared by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. We are going to try and establish a media initiative between the L. Victoria communities in these three countries. Some of the issues to be addressed include; exploitation of the communities by large fish companies, HIV/AIDS, child labor, wife inheritance, female genital mutilation, community dignity and self-esteem, family values, gender victories (triumphs of village women groups) and music as a positive force. 
 
All these issues affect the communities in question and are very important to them. Our idea is to hold village meetings, film different aspects of the above issues, print 4-page newsletters in local languages and conduct baseline surverys on possibillities of community radio. All this will take a lot of time, efforts and resources but we are confident that with full cooperation, a measure of success will be realised. One step at a time. There are a number of small Kenyan media and social outfits that can be useful in these ventures. We hope to mobilize these outfits to be an active part of the Indymedia collective here in Kenya. We also want to focus more on social, as opposed to political issues. A lot of social issues are done a lot of injustice by the mainstream media and can be generally ignored by the alternative media. 
 
Must go now. Have a fabulous week. And Grace, hope you are doing okay in Mombasa. I will let you know when we can meet there in Mombasa. Most likely the last weekend of this month. All the best. Gilberto my brother, have a great time in South Africa. Maybe you could link up with the Indymedia people there? Nicolas and the others. I'll write to you soon. Frank, how is good old Yaounde? Are you now with another radio station? Is your wedding still soon? Ha ha. Jean ca va? Er....er..my French fails me. 
 
Kwaheri,
John
 
P/S Mambo vipi Oloo?


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