Post-colonial African leaders. Quite an eclectic bunch of statesmen that have ranged from military dictators to pan-African philosophers to global icons. Recent events have put two of them in the spotlight.

From the 18th-20th of March 2011 Sesotho Media & Development (SM&D) hosted the first edition of the Lesotho Film Festival. Funded by Movies that Matter, in Amsterdam the festival was held at the Pioneer Mall Cinema in Maseru and outreach screenings were conducted at Limkokwing University and the National University of Lesotho.

In the international arena, Botswana is often portrayed as the shining example of democracy in sub-Saharan Africa. However, at the University of Botswana, students recently questioned this claim through a broader discussion on the principles of democracy and the reality of many present-day democracies around the world while also reflecting on the one within their own country.

You wouldn't consider the Kingdom of Swaziland a hotbed for civil unrest, however this tiny nation of just over one million people has made the headlines for very important reasons.

Right, 2011, it's here (although two weeks in) but nonetheless filled with a mix of tragic and hopeful events ranging from floods in Australia to secession in Sudan.

There's no doubt that 'Please Vote For Me' is a great film. Hilarious kids, dirty tricks and a fascinating peak into Chinese society makes this film a must-see in the Why Democracy? collection. Have a look at this New York Times review if you don't believe me.

The Why Democracy? Flickr photostream has been recently updated with photos from our workshops in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho.

Have a look at the photos here.

Following the success of Why Democracy?, Steps International is developing the next global project. Asking one of the most important questions of our time, Why Poverty? will have more films, more broadcasters and a bigger worldwide audience.

For more information about the project, visit www.whypoverty.net 

 Political satirist, Jon Stewart, gets into how ineffective the media can be when it comes to protecting its own interests.