If Bill Lawry and Tony Greig can learn to pronounce the names of the players in the Sri Lankan cricket team, then American and British newsreaders can learn to pronounce the named of Madagascan politicians

American newsreaders won't be troubled with learning these things. You see, Surviver isn't taking place there this season and therefore is not newsworthy.

JAAFU

(just another African fuck-up)

OK, Kim, I'll put my ignorance on public display here: What makes this "JAAFU"? What have we done to cause/exacerbate the civil disorder in Madagascar?

And Ross, while there is some general merit to your snide remark (Americans by and large are rather insular and unaware of events outside of the country), please tell me why I should have any interest in the internal affairs of an irrelevant country literally half a world away? Are you saying that my status as an informed individual is in jeopardy because I don't pay attention to every local conflict anywhere on the entire planet? Or are you suggesting that the US should intervene there as we have in so many other places? I doubt that many denizens of this blog would agree with that. (I certainly don't.)

The BeeB cant even manage Rhiwbina, in Cardiff, it always comes out "Ribena", so what chance have Madagascan Generals got?

Laird, I think you are searching for a much deeper meaning of my comment than I intended. You see, I'm not that deep. I'm also at fault for not making clear the focus - What media outlets decide what is and isn't newsworthy.

But now I can't help but wonder on your question applied to my example. What would the American public think of military intervention if say Surviver was being filmed there.... and it was down to the final weeks.

Ross, your response to Laird confirms Laird's reaction to your original one. Show some class.

Laird, if you were familiar with Kim Du Toit, a long time commenter here, you'd know that he pretty much thinks most (all?) of Africa is one big fuck-up... all on it's own without any help from us.

I still have a lengthy comment of his on the subject pasted into a text file somewhere that was very good.

But I'm sure he'll tell you that.

Rhiwbina in Cardiff.
Can't the BBC in London phone someone at BBC Wales to get the correct pronunciation?
When I lived in Wales the BBC Wales presenters got it right every time.
I suspect they still do.

Now I hear Gaynor Howells on the World Service; it'd be easy to ask her, she would know.

Maybe the BBC really is as bad as I've been told it is after all if they can't be bothered to ask their own people.

Kim, apologies are in order. I read your post as saying it is an "American" fuck-up. Sorry about that; my bad.

So, having now read your post correctly, I concur.

Kim du Toit gets a drink.

I know a fellow in Eastern Europe, who had not traveled much outside the region, and had to go to Madagascar on a business trip (early 90's). He flew Sofia, Bulgaria - Paris - Antananarivo. His impressions, synthesized: "I saw Paris, and I knew how bad we have it. Then I saw Antananarivo, and I knew we don't have it bad at all, after all. Nice wood carvings."

Laird, no problem. I sometimes misread key parts of comments myself (to my eternal embarrassment).

In general, however, it can be fairly stated that Africa requires absolutely no assistance from the West to cock things up, massively. The continent has a long and storied history of self-advancement in this issue.

It's about the only thing Africans CAN do well.

Even South Africa, the one-time "racist republic" is experiencing Africa Syndrome, now that the country is being run in the true "African" fashion.

I give you: electricity shortages, in a nation which used to export electricity, just as Zimbabwe, once a food exporter under a similar racist regime, now has to beg for food from outside.

Don't get me started.