The cacophony of voices prescribing solutions for the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa reached an ironic crescendo with George W. Bush's proposed increase in US funding to combat the epidemic. Meanwhile, in most African nations, there is a huge gulf between the HIV rhetoric and reality, with their leadership either unwilling or unable to fully engage the issue as it affects their respective populations.

On February 28th, 2002 95 photojournalists from 26 countries spread across the African continent for a 24-hour photo shoot. Their mission was to capture the day-to-day life of Africans. Over 50,000 photos were taken and 250 were selected for the book "A Day in the Life of Africa" the proceeds of which will fund AIDS-education programs in Africa. The photo exhibition has toured across the United States and is presently on display in the lobby of the United Nations building in New York City.

West Africa's markets are legendary and none more so than the famous Makola market in Ghana's capital, Accra. Join Ofeibea Quist-Arcton on her favourite shopping trip. It will do you good.

The 'quiet giant’ of the South African liberation struggle against apartheid, Walter Sisulu, was laid to rest at Croesus Cemetery near Soweto on May 17, 2003 in the same way he lived his life - with quiet dignity and honour.

More and more Liberian civilians are being uprooted from their homes and forced to flee by fighting between government forces and rebel groups. In April 2003 there were also reports of armed men directly attacking and ill-treating civilians and forcibly recruiting them. The U.S. Committee for Refugees published this map of displaced people's movements.

Over one thousand children are living as slaves on the banks of Ghana's Volta Lake, being used as free labour by local fishermen. The International Organization for Migration is negotiating with fishermen to release the children and reunite them with their parents.

Africa's biennial film festival, Fespaco, took place for the 18th time in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso, at the end of February. As always the city put on a dazzling display to welcome the festival. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton was there to report for allAfrica.com and to host the BBC's daily radio show, Fespaco Live.

On the last day of December 2002, Kenya's President Daniel Toroitich arap Moi, 78, came to the end of almost a quarter-century in power, bowing out of office and State House in the capital, Nairobi.

Photojournalist Ben Phillips was travelling in August 2002 with another journalist in the Kailahun district of Sierra Leone. After a day spent with the Sierra Leone Army (SLA), who were patrolling villages at the Liberian border, his hosts took him to visit an abandoned building.

The drawings displayed here were made by the children of the Child Rescue Center in Bo, Sierra Leone, during a medical psychological mission team visit organized by the United Methodist Church shortly after peace was declared in January 2002.