The Big Lie of Foreign Aid
An interview with Michael Maren, who spent nearly twenty years working in Africa as an aid worker and then a journalist, on why NGOs and “feed an African child” charities do more harm than good.
An interview with Michael Maren, who spent nearly twenty years working in Africa as an aid worker and then a journalist, on why NGOs and “feed an African child” charities do more harm than good.
Michael Maren, Stephen Hubbell Might Magazine Mar 1997 20min Permalink
How the illegitimate son of Liberian ex-President (and accused cannibal) Charles Taylor went from being a small time Florida hoodlum to one of Africa’s most notorious killers.
Adam Higginbotham Details Nov 2007 25min Permalink
On the golden anniversary of her first trip to study chimps, an ode to Jane Goodall.
David Quammen National Geographic Oct 2010 15min Permalink
A blow by blow account of the seizure of a French cruise ship by Somali pirates.
William Langewiesche Vanity Fair Apr 2009 45min Permalink
Arts Business World Media Music Religion
A new Egyptian TV channel called 4Shbab—“for youth” in Arabic—aims to get young people interested in Islam through music videos and reality shows.
Negar Azimi New York Times Magazine Aug 2010 Permalink
Refugees arriving in the U.S. after receiving asylum face challenges that have led some to return to their war-torn homelands.
Mary Wiltenburg CS Monitor Jul 2009 10min Permalink
After a racial hazing incident, the first black head of South Africa’s University of Free State confronts the myths of the reconciliation era.
Eve Fairbanks The New Republic Jun 2010 20min Permalink
It is agreed that the 1977 political murder of a couple in Johannesburg was a political killing that covered up mysterious Swiss Bank deposits. Various reports implicate Cuban Nationalists, Italian Fascists and the CIA.
James Myburgh PoliticsWeb Jun 2010 Permalink
The improbable and true story of how Al Sharpton, Cornel West, Marion Barry’s wife, and Tucker Carlson (yes, that Tucker Carlson) flew to Liberia to negotiate a ceasefire in the midst of a civil war.
Tucker Carlson Esquire Nov 2003 30min Permalink
In nine hours, Guinea-Bissau’s President and military leader were assassinated in separate incidents. Their dealings had turned the country into the runway of choice for drug smugglers and Hezbollah.
Marco Vernaschi The Virginia Quarterly Review Jan 2010 20min Permalink
China is securing sub-Saharan Africa’s natural resources at a staggering rate. With the buying spree comes contracts, workers, and of course, politics. (Part 1 of a 6 part series, rest here)
Richard Behar Fast Company Jun 2008 Permalink
The inside story of how an ABC nature shoot in Africa end up producing a snuff film.
Jeffrey Goldberg New Yorker Apr 2010 1h5min Permalink