- Fighting Nigeria’s other drug war.
- Africa: Continent’s leading social entrepreneurs honored by Ashoka.
- Pope accuses rich of plundering Africa.
- Deola Sagoe for Caribbean Fashion Week June 6-10.
- Engineers want Europe-Africa train.
- Opposition protests erupt after flawed Nigeria poll.
- Ghanaian music is more than Highlife.
- Madonna filming her African trip.
- UN helicopter gunships get go-ahead to patrol Darfur.
- Nigerian Elections 2007: What’s hot and what’s not in the media coverage.
- Nigeria: Blogging the historic election (Part 1).
- Ghanaian musician Rocky Dawuni joins (RED).
- Telenovelas catch on in Africa.
- Africa on Mexico’s cultural radar
- Africa: Black Africans must tread carefully over the USAfrica Project.
- Nigerians voters hope for president who really is “of the people”.
Puma adds Namibia to list of 2010 African World Cup teams
Puma recently announced a sponsorship deal with the Namibian Football Association (NFA). Namibia’s national team, the Brave Warriors, will be supplied with Puma’s latest v-Series technical apparel and footwear beginning with the African Cup of Nations 2008 qualifier home game against the Democratic Republic of Congo on 16 June 2007 and for the next several years through the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. While I’m not really a sports fan, I’ve been following Puma’s push to “increase its African footprint” by sponsoring the most African football teams by 2010. Having already signed deals with Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Tunisia, Senegal, Togo, Morocco, Mozambique, Angola and Botswana, Puma is already on it’s way to reaching that goal in the build-up to the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana and 2010 World Cup in South Africa. As I reported previously, Puma began this journey last year by sponsoring the most African teams for the 2006 World Cup. Along with their sponsorship last year, Puma launched a targeted campaign in support of African football which included a huge press event with notable African personalities including Akon, a book “The African Game” by Nigerian photographer Andrew Dosunmu, a music CD, “Africa Plays On”, featuring music from various artists including Akon, John Legend, Amadou & Mariam, Cheikh Lô, and Daara J, and the related Puma Charity Collection. If last year’s campaign was an example, it looks like Puma be living up to its goal of pulling out all the big guns for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Now that’s what I call strategy.
“This association underlines PUMA’s commitment to African Football and specifically to the growth and development of Football in Namibia. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the NFA.†– Jochen Zeitz of PUMA AG
Event: Africa to Brooklyn
This should be a good show for anyone in the NYC area this thursday.
Going home with a business plan
On the train ride home last week I ran into a Ghanaian friend of mine and we got to talking about what else, doing business in Ghana. As we compared stories and ideas, my friend expressed to me his frustration with building a house in Ghana. Granted he still lives in the US, it is taking him 3 years to begin the process due to land disputes. The way he tells it, the land he purchased had been sold to another person by the same chief who was now dead. And because of the “light” record keeping, he was now stuck trying to haggle with another developer who stood to gain a lot more from the land. The discussion brought about one of my many fears of going back to Ghana with a Western mentality of doing business. I’ve heard from more than enough people about the complicated processes which slow down or even halt business in many countries on the continent, and at least for now I can’t get my head around it. In my rationale it serves a government entity, or even a businessperson, well to maintain processes that allows for ease of enterprise, particularly when that entity already has a bad reputation with foreigners. I’m not saying that we should kneel to foreign investments, but it doesn’t do anybody any good to run things as if it were a personal household. When we are in a position where we need all the help we can get, it serves us well to go beyond our comfort zone to make things easier for both foreign and domestic businesses. I guess Ghana in particular is in a transitional stage right now, with many of us returning home after living for so long in the UK and US, and trying to create a way of life we are already used to. In an allafrica.com article Benin highlighted in his Africa Investment series we are made aware of the Ghanaian ambassador’s investment “tour” of the US. In the article the ambassador, Dr. Kwame Bawuah-Edusei, says,
“The right environment should be created in the country so that those who have shown interest in setting up businesses in Ghana would not be frustrated. For example, the registration of businesses should take a day not days or weeks. That is the only way we can attract more investors into the country.”
This is good to hear from a government official especially since Ghana has been posting GDP gains for six consecutive years and is currently the most stable country in West Africa according to Inc. magazine. For those of us looking to retire to our homeland, I can only hope that processes and infrastructures back home back up the efforts of the ambassador. But despite the problems, I will continue to see the glass of opportunity as half full.
This week in African Style 3/1 – 3/16/07
• BBC launches new Africa Beyond website.
• CNN, Niger Delta and Western Media Portrayals of Africa Part III.
• Ghana: Independence? Try ‘aid-dependence’.
• Chinese Minister: African people will never welcome colonialists to plunder their resources.
• Africa and Europe set for tunnel link.
• MySpace and The New York Times sends readers on African reporting trip.
• Fighting the elusive beast: corruption in Africa.
• Will a Tough Government Save or Sink Rwanda?.
• West Africa Emerges as Drug Conduit to Europe.
• Oprah opens second S. African School through Angel Network.
Ghana: 50 years young
March 6th will mark the 50 year anniversary of Ghana’s independence. A lot can happen in 50 years, and a lot has happened in Ghana in the past 50 years. Besides the celebration of Ghana’s independence, I’ve been thinking about how many of us expect miracles when a country like Ghana has only had 50 years to catch up with the rest of the world. When you think about it, 50 years is not a long time especially if you are looking at the maturation of a nation. With that perspective in mind, I think we’re coming along. Here are some events and information sources to let you know what Ghana was, is, and could be:
• The official website of the Golden Jubilee
• Ghana at 50 Reflects on Dream of Nationhood – NPR’s recent broadcast on Ghana’s progression.
• Ghana: Celebrating 50 Years – AllAfrica.com story on celebrations
• Ghana’s Growth, Falling Poverty Rates, Could Raise Income Status in a Decade – The World Bank’s special section with research and data about Ghana’s progress
• The architect of Ghana’s independence – BBC’s profile of Kwame Nkrumah
• The Ghana Independence Day Calendar – Calendar by Ghanaian owned photo studio Stratford Studios in the UK. Procceds from the sale of the calendar will be donated to the Sickle Cell Society.
Â
• Back To My Roots – Photographer Stanley Lumax’s photo essay on his return to Ghana
• Ghana – A Portrait – Photographer Max Milligan’s coffee table book about his travels to Ghana
Â
Below are a list of events that are scheduled to take place in the New York area throughout the year. Updates will be available on www.myzongo.com
Â
March 6, 2007 (Independence Day):
• AfriPRO‘s Ghana celebration, Fusion215 located at 215 West 28th Street, NYC (btw. 7th & 8th Ave), NYC, from 6pm – until – African Professionals (AfriPRO) Network professional mixer and party as part of Ghana’s 50th Independence Day celebrations
• Press Conference and Cultural Display of Ghanaian artifacts and cultural symbols with their meanings
Venue: Ghana Mission, Second Floor or another location TBD
• A Night of Sweet independence @ Sweet Rhythm, 88 Seventh Avenue at Bleecker Street, NYC- New African Jazz vocalist Somi will appear at Sweet Rhythm and will dedicate the evening to independence and freedom. Reservations are recommended
Â
March 10, 2007:
• Awards Dinner Dance and Reception
Venue: Ghana Mission, Second Floor
Outstanding African Americans and Ghanaians will be recognized at this Awards Dinner for their economic and social contributions towards the development Ghana. There will be pomp and pageantry on Ghanaian styles and ethnic cuisine. Corporate sponsorship of this event will give your establishment the highest possible exposure in the community. A Special Commemorative Journal will be published with special messages from major sponsors. Sponsorship at the Premium Level will include pictures, images or articles the sponsors would like to include in the journal.
Â
• Ghana Independence Dance @ Gauchos Gym, Bronx, New York – BDN (Boogie Down Nima) & NCOGA (National Council of Ghanaian Associtions) INDEPENDENCE DANCE! ARTISTS: Reggie Rockstone, Wanlov The Kubolor, Bright of Bukbak, Papa She’ee, Rascalimo & more… DEEJAYS: Roni Ron, E-Love, Sam Q, Nasei & more… MCS: Flip & Rab “The International”. DO NOT FORGET: $10 off if you dress traditional. Visit www.bdnvision.org for more info.
March 18, 2007 (unconfirmed):
• Interfaith Service
Venue: Armenia Archdiocese Banquet Hall, 630 Second Avenue, NYC
There will be an interfaith service representing the three major faith organizations in Ghana – Traditional, Islamic and Christian. There will also be cultural displays prior to the service. This event is expected to attract a large audience with the greatest exposure because of the venue and its historic significance in New York.
Â
April 7, 2007(unconfirmed):
• Discussion on “Ghana @ 50, Past, Present and Future”
Venue: African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan (if available)
This event will be a collaborative effort with the African Studies departments from some of the universities in the city. There will be a panel of experts and we hope to have a special guest from Ghana such as a Minister or some other VIPs.
Â
May 2007 (confirmed):
• Ghana Film Festival
Venues: To Be Determined
We will be collaborating with the African Film Festival in New York City. The African Film Festival will be in Lincoln Center and then on to Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Before the event moves to BAM, there is a ’dark period’ of one week, and we will use this period to show some films produced and or directed by Ghanaians around the city. The film festival itself has intentions of showing a couple of Ghanaian films, so this is really a high profile media event.
Â
June 16, 2007 or Sunday June 17, 2006 (Unconfirmed) :
• Grand Parade in Harlem
The First ever Ghana Parade in New York City featuring floats showcasing the diversity of Ghanaian culture. There will be music with a mini-concert at the Harlem State Building Plaza at the end of the parade.
Parade Route: Seventh Avenue from 145th to 125th Street.
Â
Saturday July 7, 2006 (unconfirmed):
• Ghana Children’s Day
This is will be in the form of a workshop focusing on the children in our community. There will be highlights of some interesting stories about some of these children. There will also be a mentoring session.
Â
Saturday August 4 or 11, 2006:
• Annual Picnic and Concert
Venue: Orange County Fair Grounds (tentative)
The biggest event within the Ghanaian community anywhere in the world and we hope with the success of last year’s event, next year’s will exceed expectations. The biggest challenge is getting a place closer to the City. Currently, the estimated crowd is over 10,000.
Damon Dash goes to Ghana for the UN
For those wondering where Jay-Z’s former partner, Damon Dash, is these days, he’s been doing his part for the United Nations World Food Programme, which launched in April of 2006 to raise monies towards halving the number of hungry people in the world, particularly children, by 2015. A few months ago Dash and his family, including wife fashion designer Rachel Roy, took part in the CatWALK the World event held in Ghana. Dash joined Ozwald Boateng (Ghana/UK), Stoned Cherrie (South Africa), Tina Atimeo (Ghana), Deola Segoe (Nigeria), Kofi Ansah (Ghana), and Hiplife artists Tic-Tac and VIP for a day of fashion and world hunger awareness. While in Ghana, Dash also visited a place called Orphanage Africa. It’s weird seeing Dash involved in this type of event since for hip-hop heads like myself his image is more of a harsh Harlem businessman. Maybe marriage and the Rocafella split has calmed him down a bit. Either way it looks like the event was a success. Future CatWalk the World events are planned for Benin, Ethiopia, and Florida (USA). Check out a video of the event below.
Ghanians define foreign films
Not too long ago Dazed & Confused magazine put together an exhibit of Ghanaian film posters. Besides the artistic value, these posters are a glimpse into how foreign movies translate to African communities. The collection is online at the magazine’s website.
Africa’s Inconvenient Truth
When I heard Al Gore’s announcement that he will be producing Live Earth, a 24-hour concert held simultaneously across all 7 continents, I got to thinking about what part if any Africa(ns) play in the enormous eco-conscious global trend. With “An Inconvenient Truh” nominated for an Oscar, eco-trend features in both business and fashion magazines, and eco news and blog sites popping up everywhere, surely the trend seems to be here to stay. But as we Africans go about trying to deal with our societal issues, I can’t help but think that maybe we need to think about this issue as well.
I spent a good deal of my senior year in high-school in the Environmental Society (yeah, yeah, I’ve had many lives and some a bit nerdy), where myself and a group of students learned and taught about the necessity of caring for your environment. I remember some programs we ran seeming boring and redundant to me but I couldn’t pin-point why. While others became passionate about the whole “save mother earth” movement I started to wonder why I wasn’t so gung-ho about it. I certainly agreed with the efforts but i just didn’t understand why some people seem to take it soooo seriously. Later in life I came to understand that growing up in an African household we never saw the earth as something or someone separate from ourselves. It was part of our culture to respect your surroundings and live within the parameters of the environment you were in. You somewhat understood the need and uses of certain natural resources and you respected their place in your life. But I think we’ve gotten comfortable as time has gone by, and are now part of Africa’s environmental problem.
When my father visited Ghana recently after many years, he was shocked about how rampant littering was. He described how easily people threw plastic products on the ground, even when there was a trash receptacle available. In discussions we often chalked it up to lawlessness, but there might be a deeper concern. As Africans we’ve begun to assume that we innately subscribe to old cultural norms when our actions prove otherwise. Try to talk to an African about environmentalism and many times you’ll get a blank stare or a “whatever” response. But one thing that Silas Siakor proved is that our actions are causing our situation to get worse. Yes, we have big problems like corruption, famine, and drought, but those problems are also tied to how we treat our environment. It’s true we’re not any worse than any other communities, but the effects on our “problems” are worse. When we allow large corporations to drill for oil without any concern about environmental hazards we make things worse for ourselves, What’s the revenue from exports worth when it leaves us with more problems to spend the money on.
The Africa portion of the Live Earth concert will be held in…..wait for it……South Africa. Surprised? Anyway, here’s more information about the event:
LIVE EARTH
Live Earth – The Concert for a Climate in Crisis
July 7, 2007
“The global audience gathered for Live Earth, its ongoing actions, and the proceeds from the concerts, will form the foundation for a new, multi-year international initiative to combat the climate crisis led by The Alliance for Climate Protection and its Chair, Al Gore.
Concerts on all 7 continents:
• Shanghai
• Sydney
• Johannesburg
• London
• Brazil – TBD
• Japan – TBD
• United States – TBD
• Antarctica – TBD
100+ artists: Current and legendary artists across all genres performing multiple hits.
Confirmed performers:
• Pharrell
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Foo Fighters
• Snoop Dogg
• Lenny Kravitz
• Bon Jovi
• Paolo Nutini
• Sheryl Crow
• AFI
• Melissa Etheridge
• John Mayer
• Damien Rice
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Duran Duran
• Snow Patrol
• John Legend
• Black Eyed Peas
• Akon
• Enrique Iglesias
• Fall Out Boy
• Maná
• Keane
• Kelly Clarkson
• Korn
• Faith Hill w/ Tim McGraw
• Bloc Party
African Hip-Hop in LA
For all those in LA this week make sure you check out the Pan African Film Festival which opened on February 8th and will run unil February 19th. In it’s 15th year, the festival is the largest international black film festival in the United States. While you’re getting in all your African films make sure to check out two of my partners Saba Saba aka Krazy Native (Uganda), and Wanlov the Kubolor (Ghana) as they bring their versions of African hip-hop to the event. Check out the flyer:
