African Diaries from the BBC

The BBC is running a year long special on Africa called "Africa Lives on the BBC". It includes news and information about Africa beyond the media headlines. My favorite part of the site is a section called "My Africa" which includes diaries of ordinary Africans. You get a great insight into the life of a:

• Zambian policeman who tried to aid a severely wounded man but "There was no vehicle at the office at that time, so I was left with no option but to pick my up AK47 Rifle and stand in the road".

• Radio DJ in Uganda who tells you about the hottest nightlife spots in Kampala (way off the tourist map).

• Married Senegalese woman offering advice on how to keep your man happy including "for those who want a torrid night, you can take a good bath and take care of your body, because you must look attractive for the arrival of your husband".

There are several more entries and it looks like this project just recently got started, so there should be plenty more gems to come. The beauty of it is that these are ordinary people and they represent ordinary life in Africa. Africa is not all poverty and violence nor is it a continent filled with luxury safari camps and pith helmets; it's somewhere in between and it's waiting to be discovered.