Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Mozambicans return home after Xenophobic attacks in South Africa - 2008

May 2008 saw violent xenophobic attacks in South Africa that had over 20,000 Mozambicans return home.

Mozambicans return home after xenophobic attacks in SA



(Radio) http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/18411

Cuba: African angles to Cuban stories

I went to Cuba twice in 2008 to look at the Afro-Cuban connection. Here are two stories:

Many Africans go to Cuba to study medicine. Given Cuba's excellent reputation in Public Health and the socialist altruism to assist developing nations, it is no surprise to find the Cuban government sponsoring thousands of African medical students (natural sound).
Produced for Reuters Africa, 02/2008.




The Yoruba religion has its origins in West Africa. Arriving with the slaves to Cuba during the slave trade, the religion has take a strong hold in Cuba, mixing with colonial Catholicism. Known as Santeria, nearly 80% of Cubans practice the religion (natural sound).
Produced for Reuters Africa, September 2008.

DRC - 2007/2008

I went to DRC several times since the 2006 elections. Here are a few of my favourites. Some of these pieces have natural sound, while others I have edited with voiceover.

Demobilized militia in Bunia are now successful fishermen thanks to a project of UNDP (with voiceover).




Artisanal gold miners in the village of Tindika can't dig much deeper. Industrial miners Kilo Gold are prospecting the area and say there is plenty of gold to justify moving in (with voiceover).




The Okapi is endemic to DRC, and the special animal serves as a Flagship for conservation of the World's second largest rainforest after the Amazon (with voiceover).




Known throughout Africa and the world for its ndombolo and soukous music, the DRC music scene showed different colours by hosting its first International Jazz Festival. Musicians from South Africa, the United States and Belgium traveled to Kinshasa to play with talented locals (natural sound only).

Nigerian Elections - April 2007

In April 2007 I went to Nigeria for the elections with a small HDV cam and my 12-inch laptop, and was able to capture several stories related to the elections for Reuters.

(Video 1) Stakeholders Democracy Network, an NGO based in Port Harcourt, set up a blog (including video) for Nigerian voters to speak out about voter fraud and discuss concerns leading up to election day.

(Video 2) Young Rappers in Port Harcourt talk about politics, and their hopes for the Nigerian elections.

Again - this is video with only natural sound, no voiceover.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Democratic Republic of Congo - Elections - 2006

My Coverage in DRC as a reporter began in July 2006 when camerawoman Jo Higgs and I went up to Bukavu and Goma to cover the 1st round of elections. We returned in October 2006 for the second round, traveling to Lubumbashi and Kalemie. Nearly 30 stories were filed in the 2 months we spent in DRC (TV and Print) on politics, humanitarian and environmental topics.

Please note that there are no voice overs for these pieces as the news agency preferred a script without voice.

Welcome to my Show Reel.

This blogspot is meant to serve as a gallery to my work, particularly my work as a Videojournalist in Africa and Cuba, as well as give interested parties an idea of my writing and radio work.

It will be updated regularly, so please come check out the latest.