West Africa: new languages Pidgin and creole emerged to serve trade, but what of their longer-term use and acceptance? By Simon Akam When I lived in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, my house had a collection of books...
Freetown
Living on the frontline
Development efforts by local authorities in a bid to deal with urbanisation have increased incidences of forced evictions, sometimes with deadly consequences The bulldozers arrived late at night after residents of...
A shark’s tale
European commercial trawlers are encroaching on west African fishing grounds, challenging governments to improve their natural-resource governance George Francis, 63, is a rugged fisherman and harbour master of Lumley...
Informal transport versus the state
Informal transport operators in the Sierra Leone capital face levies, bans, fines and government disregard Ibrahim Shaw has driven a taxi in Freetown for 16 years. The constant sound of his horn as he weaves in and out...
EDITORIAL: The lifeboat of informality
African governments and their formal business sectors often hold up the informal sector as the nemesis of formalised growth and organised development – yet for many citizens on the continent (and elsewhere),...
Creole rising
Pidgin and creole emerged to serve trade, but what of their longer-term use and acceptance? I lived in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, my house had a collection of books on the shelves on one wall. There were copies...
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