</i>With traditional advertising revenue continuing it's downward spiral, mobile advertising continues to dominate advertising growth areas globally. BuzzCity, a global provider of wireless communities and consumer services, <a href="http://www.mobile-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=67945&full_skip=1" target="_blank">recently released</a> it's Global Mobile Advertising Index report for the second quarter of 2009, showing some good numbers and areas of interest. Among the top 10 ranking countries for ad banners served in the companies mobile internet advertising network, South Africa holds the #4 spot behind Indonesia, India, and the United States (numbers 1 - 3). Egypt comes in at #7, followed by Kenya (#10), Nigeria (#14), Libya (#17), and Tanzania (#18). These numbers support what many analysts have been saying for years, mobile phones and their use in Africa and other emerging markets are the growth areas of the 21st century.<p /> Full list of the top 20 countries by the number of paid advertising banners delivered in each (compared to Q1 2009 results):<br /><ol><li>Indonesia: 3.78 billion (-14%)</li><li>India: 1.07 billion (+28%)</li> <li>United States: 487 million (-8%)</li><li>South Africa: 461 million (+8%)</li><li>United Kingdom: 133 million (+17%)</li><li>Philippines: 124 million (-1%)</li><li>Egypt: 108 million (-34%)</li><li>China: 95 million (-27%)</li> <li>Saudi Arabia: 92 million (+63%)</li><li>Kenya: 92 million (+15%)</li><li>Malaysia: 81 million (2%)</li><li>Canada: 79 million (5%)</li><li>Thailand: 73 million (11%)</li><li>Nigeria: 60 million (-34%)</li><li>Bangladesh: 57 million (-49%)</li> <li>France: 50 million (26%)</li><li>Libya: 48 million (-44%)</li><li>Tanzania: 48 million (-42%)</li><li>Italy 43 million (23%)</li><li>Brunei 42 million (-42%)</li></ol>(via <a href="http://africa.bizcommunity.com/Article/410/78/37919.html#" target="_blank">BizCommunity</a>)
via herwigphoto.com on flickrWhile most of us rarely think of or use wheelbarrows in our daily lives, for a large group of post-war Liberian youth, pushing a wheelbarrow through the streets of Monrovia is decent work and steady income. The otherwise simple tool allows many of them a means to make money without much initial investment or extensive training. The wheelbarrow workers are generally divided into two main groups – those selling products like food, clothing, etc, and those hired by individuals and companies to transport goods throughout the busting city.
"The wheelbarrow is very important to the Liberian economy because most people cannot afford cars and trucks to transport goods," says T.R. Sieh, who makes wheelbarrow deliveries in Duala Market, north of town. "And many of our roads are narrow, so we use the wheelbarrow to reach customers where trucks cannot go." Wheelbarrows are so ubiquitous that some corporations have taken to purchasing ad space on the sides of the bins, much as they do on buses and taxis in more developed cities.
The wheelbarrow and the mostly young men who wield them have become such a booming business that they have been organized into several competing unions.
At least three competing unions are struggling to organize the wheelbarrow operators in the post-war economy, where unemployment is estimated at over 80% and droves of new young people migrate into the city every day in search of work. "You register with the Association and we paint the serial number on the side of your 'wheel' like a license plate," says George Wilson, Financial Secretary of NAWOAL's Duala Market branch. "Our branch has 394 members. We've been here since 1991. It's in our constitution that it's every member's duty to make a contribution. Then when you get sick, or if you die, NAWOAL can help with the arrangements."
Fun sign for a fish restaurant in Tanzania.The sign maker has gone through the pains to correct their own spelling in an effort to communicate with and attract english-speaking customers. The red arrow above is a nice touch as it reinforces the intent of the sign. While the spellng and grammar is a little off – note the comma after “To” -, the sign sets a welcoming tone and speaks directly to the needs of the intended audience, english-speaking visitors looking to experience local cuisine.
(this post is part of a series I’m exploring tentatively titled “The Design of Everyday Africa”. I’ll be highlighting information graphics and user experience as it pertains to Africa. As always, feel free to leave comments and send in anything you’d like to contribute)
As President Obama embarks on his much anticipated trip to Africa this weekend, U2 frontman and social activist writes an op-ed column in this weekend’s NYtimes highlighting the significance of the President’s visit to Ghana.
But as the example of Ghana makes clear, that’s only one chord. Amid poverty and disease are opportunities for investment and growth — investment and growth that won’t eliminate overnight the need for assistance, much as we and Africans yearn for it to end, but that in time can build roads, schools and power grids and propel commerce to the point where aid is replaced by trade pacts, business deals and home-grown income.
President Obama can hasten that day. He knows change won’t come easily. Corruption stalks Africa’s reformers. “If you fight corruption, it fights you back,” a former Nigerian anti-corruption official has said.
Is Africa's version of capitalism failing? That is the question many African's in and outside of the business world continue to ask as many countries on the continent continue to move rather slowly to compete with other economies. While individual countries can be championed for their business successes, many argue that the continent as a whole must be aligned in order to see real change. A new book called Architects of Poverty by Moeletsi Mbeki attempts to explain much of the reasons for Africa's struggle to embrace modern capitalism. Moeletsi Mbeki is joined by a panel of experts including author Aly Khan Satchu in a discussion of the topic in this CNBC video. Do you think African capitalism is failing? Comments?
This week President Obama will make his first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president of the United States. The visit is greatly anticipated by Africa as a whole and Ghana specifically. In the videos below he talks to allafrica.com about Africa now and to the future. Part 1
Baird, the management consulting firm, recently asked senior officers of 30 American Fortune 100 corporations about their current attitudes on investing in Africa. While some of the results showed that not much had changed, the study also revealed that corporate America was increasingly optimistic about Africa’s role in their future business strategies. Three of the key points of the study, “Inside the Boardroom: How Corporate America Really Views Africa” are:
• USA Inc. is more interested in Africa than before, because the African market appears increasingly attractive, but Africa has tough competition and high hurdles for US investment. Education is at the top of the US corporate wish list for Africa; “educate your people so that we can employ them”
• The African countries that hold most interest are South Africa and some countries in the North, like Egypt; there are also some pockets of interest in West Africa, most notably Ghana, Nigeria and to some extent Angola; while some in the South (Botswana and Mozambique) and East (Uganda and Kenya), are also being watched
•To make itself more attractive for US investment, Africa should:
Invest in education , health and infrastructure
Ensure the rule of law and a business-friendly climate for all investing companies
Show it is serious about attracting foreign investment
Market itself as aggressively as other regions of the world
Demonstrate opportunity cost of not investing
A recent CNBC broadcast from Lagos, Nigeria (video below) also expounded on what Africa has to offer corporate America.
A recent article in African Business magazine looks at the recent boom of modern African designers on the continent and internationally. From February’s ThisDay Arise Magazine African fashion event at NY Fashion Week to architect David Adjaye being appointed to design the new African-American National Museum in Washindton DC, the influence of modern African design in global culture continues to solidify. But while there are more and more role models for budding African designers, there’s still a long way to go before Africa itself recognizes and taps into it’s strong creative capital.
To become truly competitive though, the continent must do things in its own way, with its own brand of excellence and innovation. Africans can grasp the best of design worldwide, as well as the best the continent has to offer and transform it into something new, compelling, beautiful and sustainable. Small pockets of success show that African design development has reached the point at which it can play a very real role in addressing poverty and unemployment throughout the continent. From craft initiatives in rural villages to multi-disciplinary industrial projects that boast global collaboration, design can boost a nation’s GDP. (more)
CNN also reports on a new contemporary African design aesthetic in the video below shot at the 2009 Design Indaba in S. Africa.
• Big news of ![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://i0.wp.com/img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?w=525)
