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The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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3:03
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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Every year, Africans mark May 25th as an official Africa Liberation day. The date is celebrated to push for an onward progress on the liberation movement and symbolize the determination of the people of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation. A casual observation of many groups that celebrate this great day reveals that we are still entrenched in the mindset of entitlement - the belief that some other entity owes us, due to past misdeeds. Our problems and challenges are of our own making: talk of press freedom, bungled elections, food crisis... Read MORE
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21:25
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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4:23
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 By Timothy Kalyegira As I focus these days on the dark deception at the international level, we turn today to the most extreme example: Zimbabwe. I have followed world media reports extensively but there is something I have not once heard asked or discussed: Why is Zimbabwe, once one of Africa’s most promising countries, where it is today? Or more pointedly, why is Zimbabwe reported and portrayed to be where it is today? Read More
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2:49
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 INDIANAPOLIS – Illinois Senator Barack Obama has the Democratic presidential nomination firmly within his sights today after scoring a huge victory in North Carolina and battling challenger Hillary Clinton.... Read More
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0:42
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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I’ve been preoccupied with risk these days. Or risk mitigation to be exact. I’m tired of watching my TD Ameritrade account get whipsawed. It’s got me thinking. Would a portfolio invested solely in African markets be a tragedy waiting to happen? The chart below shows the correlations (or lack thereof) between the dollar-adjusted monthly returns of 10 African local stock indexes over the past 16 months. This is a relatively short time frame, but I think it’s sufficient to get an idea of some of the relationships between the countries that we cover in this newsletter. Unsurprisingly, the strongest positive correlation we see is between the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (SA) and the Emerging Market Index (EEM). South Africa is a full-fledged emerging market. It is large and liquid, making it a favorite of funds desirous of exposure to the continent. But this also means it is likely to be hit first and worst in the event of a global economic downturn. The next strongest correlation is that between South Africa and Namibia. The neighboring countries share a customs union, a currency linkage, and a lot of history. Thus their stock indexes move in a concerted fashion. Similarly, the markets of Kenya and Uganda exhibit a strong relationship. Investors from both countries can easily invest in one another’s markets. And landlocked Uganda is almost entirely dependent on trade routes through Kenya. Thus, Kenya’s political crisis early this year hurt the Ugandan index more than the Nairobi Stock Exchange itself! Continue Reading at Cheetah IndexOf course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbook
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3:47
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 It is emerging that many local and international investors were cheated into buying shares in the recently concluded East Africa's largest ever Initial Public offering (Safaricom IPO). The company recently issued a revised Safaricom prospectus raising eyebrows as it borders on reneging on a sworn affidavit that's binding. Read More CLICK HERE
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23:44
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Excerpt from the interview between the Cheetah Index and Zahid Torres-Rahman, Director, Business Action for Africa. "Below is the interview with Mr. Zahid Torres-Rahman.
Please tells us a little bit about your personal story and how you became involved in this endeavor?
Ever since my time as a teacher in Zimbabwe in the late 80s, I have been passionate about Africa. After a career in the private sector, I joined the UK Government and ultimately joined UK Prime Minister Blair's Commission for Africa to head the work of economic growth and private sector development. 2005 was an exciting time for those of us wanting to support African-led development. But for me there were three things very wrong with the headlines on Africa at the time.
First, the non-government organizations, while very successful in raising Africa high up the policy agenda, were missing a big part of the story. In focusing on aid and debt relief, hardly any attention was being paid to the priorities of Africans themselves: the opportunity to get jobs, grow their businesses and trade in a fair world market.
Second, Africa was being portrayed as if it were one country on the brink of disaster. In fact the Africa that any one who knows Africa will tell you about, is one of huge diversity and immense opportunity, the role of business as the drivers of long-term growth and poverty reduction had been all but written out of the story.
We set up Business Action for Africa (www.businessactionforafrica.org) as an informal network of businesses, business organisations and development partners to take action on these fronts – to provide an alternative voice on the policies needed to make poverty history; to promote a more balanced view of Africa; and to showcase and promote the role of business in delivering positive change for Africa and its people.
So how exactly does doing business in Africa help to improve living conditions on the continent and where does Business Action for Africa fit into this conversation?
Nearly all poor people are in the private sector: as producers or employees - whether this is in small family farms and small businesses or as part of the supply chain of a large multinational. In a survey of 60,000 poor people published back in 2000, the majority saw self-employment, getting a job or starting a business as the best way to escape poverty. That is, poor people themselves see business as integral to their strategies for improving their living conditions.
Business Action for Africa tells this story and calls on governments and international donors to help small businesses grow. We also showcase the role that larger national and international companies can play in fighting poverty through their core business: creating jobs, building opportunities for small businesses as suppliers and distributors, developing products and services that meet the needs of poor people, and paying taxes that then go on to fund social spending.
When did you begin to see the organization's efforts yield fruit both in terms of achieving the main three objectives of Business Action for Africa and with respect to attracting some of the corporate sponsors that you have? Was there ever a time when you felt like this journey would be an uphill battle?
The focus of Business Action for Africa is to catalyze business-led collective action. In addition to our advocacy work and best-practice sharing, we have supported a number of projects on the ground. One of these is called Business Action Against Corruption. BAAC is founded on the view that change requires indigenous and international private sector actors to find practical ways to collaborate with governments to tackle corruption. Led by organizations like Royal Dutch Shell, the Commonwealth Business Council, and Southern Africa Forum Against Corruption, there are now programmes running in Botswana, Cameroon, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia."
Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbook
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4:42
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Images of rioters in Egypt, Senegal, Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Mozambique (among others) clashing with police in protest against soaring food prices and Kenya’s abandoned internally displaced people all tell a similar story: Africa needs to ........... Click to Read MORE
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1:42
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Raila Odinga, the 63-year-old newly appointed Kenyan prime minister, is described by both friends and foes as the engine that drives politics in Kenya. Odinga was born in January 1945, in Maseno, Nyanza Province of Kenya, the second son of nine children of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who was Kenya's vice-president and doyen of opposition....... READ MORE
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6:03
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 HOST Africa is the latest magazine offering a new approach to the hospitality industry news, information and analysis in East Africa. The magazine set to go out in June is already testing its new website VIEW HEREIt is published by All Times Media Kenya, and will be distributed exclusively via suscription to Top industry decision makers in the hospitality industry (Airlines, Hotels, Restaurants, Industry Suppliers, Business Travellers). Copies of the magazine will also retail at major newstands throughout East Africa and parts of South Africa, the US and Europe. you can suscribe to recieve exclusive copies of HOST Africa magazine through this blog CLICK HERE
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5:41
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Rogue stockbrokers, not the electronic trading system, are to blame for the financial crisis facing Nyaga Stockbrokers and other ills afflicting the Kenyan stock market. CLICK TO READ MORE.......
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1:46
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Do you have the ability to be a top-notch journalist? Could you write the sort of articles that can be published in international press? Click Here to participate in an international writing competition to stand a chance for your work to be published alongside some of the best journalism in the UK plus computing equipment worth $1500. ENTER HERE
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6:31
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 With all indications showing that a large number of small investors are likely to be locked out of the forthcoming Safaricom sale, the spotlight must turn to Finance minister Amos Kimunya over his timing of this offer that is billed as East Africa’s biggest..... CLICK HERE for the rest of the story
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22:48
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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| Post Election Kenya: No Need to Re-Invent the Wheel Dr. George B. N. Aytittey , Free Africa Foundation |
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|  Days after Kenya post elections, riot police block Uhuru Park. Photo by DEMOSH.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kenya’s Crisis – A Synopsis
George B.N. Ayittey
1. Africa’s political elites never learn from their own foolish mistakes (Kenya’s own 1992 political violence), nor those of other African countries. The crisis in Kenya is an exact replica of what happened in Cote d’Ivoire in 2000, following a disputed election.
The country is now divided between the Muslim north and the Christian south. Remember that Cote d’Ivoire used to be the most stable country in West Africa.
2. Last December, I urged Kenyans to vote out ossified politicians like Odinga and Kibaki and bring in fresh new faces.
3. Much of the blame for these unnecessary deaths and destruction should be reserved for Odinga and the opposition. I am not an admirer of Kibaki, so forget about him. We all know that EVERY incumbent African president will do everything possible to RIG an election and MANIPULATE the results to return himself to power. We know this; it is a FACT.
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Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbook
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8:17
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 The world risks loosing over 33 million people in Kenya’s post election violence that has rocked the country over the past one month. The European Union, The commonwealth and the African Union raised concerns that presidential vote tallying was deeply flawed and fell short.... READ MORE
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4:46
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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Another opposition (ODM) MP has been killed in Kenya, as violence continues over last month's disputed election. David Kimutai Too was shot dead Thursday and his body taken to Moi Teaching and Referal Hospital. The man was shot dead in the western town of..... READ MORE
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1:03
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 A rigged election, ethnic violence, economic dysfunction and now a political assassination -- the crisis in Kenya has hit a sad superfecta. Worse, the politicians who loosed these forces don't look capable of reining them back in. It's been a month since....... READ MORE
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4:46
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 There is a very grave situation in Kenya at the moment that calls for international support to end violence that has rocked the country over the past one month. Just Yesterday, a Kenyan Lawmaker was killed fuelling READ MORE
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5:54
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 The year 2007 was marked by a notable setback for global freedom, Freedom House reported in a worldwide survey of freedom released today. Kenya is now being pronounced in the same breath as the Lawless Somalia among other unstable countries.... READ MORE
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22:33
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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I just noticed that this blog has now passed the one year mark. It is my hope that you have enjoyed this 1st year of blogging on Africa Ready for Business. What we have tried to do here is to illustrate how Africa's free market economies have been on the rebound and are providing the means for their respective groups of citizens to empower themselves to achieve their needs and wants. I hope that this is what we have done. As for how blogging has the last year of my life...The differences between the "before " and "after" for me have been quite stark. Prior to blogging my personal mission was the same as it is today but my daily activities were, for the most part, out of line with my goals. Where the change is even more evident is in my rolodex. If you had seen it a year ago it would have looked like the rolodex of someone who was all over the board, so to speak. But today there is a more of a specific type of a profile within my contact list-there are more professionals on the other end who are already doing business in or within the African continent or they might like to, than not. This means a lot to me. For that I have you, the reader, to thank-thank you! My dream for this blog has been to make it a platform for multiple bloggers( a group blog) to be able to post stories on entrepreneurship in Africa. We managed to find a stellar writer in Branded, however, overall we haven't fared well in this category. But maybe in the big scheme of things it's ok-because within a few days I will be unveiling such a platform and it will be published on a different system alltogether. So, we would like your opinions on what you'd like to see more of this year from this blog. Please let us know what you might like more of in the upcoming year. In summary the year has been great-thank you all! Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbook
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4:34
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 The Kenyan finance minister is showing great signs of underhand economic mischief specifically because of an impending major IPO (Initial Public Offer) of Safaricom, a mobile phone service. Apparently, he is so determined to get into the books of history as the man who pulled off a deal worth over 34 Billion Kenya Shillings. With the country's elections just weeks away you may be forgiven for assuming that this is just a ploy to get money to fund the elections given that the incumbent is faring not so well in recent opinion polls that put him at 37% against his major challenger who gannered 53%. May be best way would be....... .........[Read the rest of the post HERE ]
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7:00
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 In the last part of The Carnival of African Enterprising we present more views from bloggers about Africa in the 21st Century. Speaking on “AfricanPath”, Jeffery Kimathi marketing manager of “an African fashion” company based in New York-USA, advices Africans to follow his business model that allows customers to subtly and stylishly speak messages that showcase the vibrancy and diversity of the African continent. Kimathi believes that Africa has the capacity to solve its own problems because no one understands the continent better than Africa itself. It’s all about passion and hard work; there is no elevator to success and Africa has to take the stairway just like everyone else. He advises Africans to strive to earn respect for their resourcefulness, ideas, and creativity. According to him Africa should endeavor to contribute to the modern world culture. “This is why Italian handcrafted garments go for thousands of dollars each and yet similar quality handcrafted African goods usually go for much less,” he says “Joshua Wanyama” believes that any business is only as valid as its value in the eyes of a consumer. This also holds true for African businesses. He advises Africa to aim at creating a prominent global brand by strategically building a position within the mind of the consumer (world) and steadily defending that position. If a company offers Internet connectivity in Cairo, Egypt it can do the same in Bujumbura, Burundi as long as a market exists. For it to develop a strong position within the marketplace, it has to develop a strong brand. The name this company occupies in the Egyptian marketplace has to be the same as the one occupied in a Burundian’s mind or a Togolese for that matter. Branding then presents a strong foundation on which Africa can build its market share in a vibrant global economy. “Wanyama” believes that a Pan-African company will also need to have a home country, for example, Coca Cola (an American soft drink company) is a global brand with 80% of its annual sales coming from foreign markets, it will be ill advised to disown its American heritage. According to “Benin Mwangi” Africans should re-orient their thinking, step out of the past and see markets as what they are - big and underserved. Benin proposes a public-private approach as one way to take Africa into the 21st Century. If an African government intends to invest in wiring classrooms and has both the scale and technical savvy to pull it off, that’s great. However, if the private sector has the muscle to do it much better, then the government should support the sector by allowing such investments but still play its role as a facilitator. “David” advises African businesses to adopt better business strategies so as to attract more investors. He reckons that Africa should carefully strengthen all aspects of business that investors look for to ensure that the opportunities Africa present achieve results. For a successful business, he advises Africans to put more strength in what investors look for when evaluating opportunities which include; the people who manage the company, concept value, price of the deal, deal structure and the exit strategy.
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3:51
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 This is the first part of the 5th Carnival of African Enterprising presenting views of bloggers based on the theme Positioning Africa in the 21st Century. This edition was first published in The African Executive on 10th October 2007. The second part will be presented on the 17th of October 2007. According to Timothy Kioko, Positioning is the aggregate perception that people (target market) have of a particular continent (product) in relation to competitors in the same category. A country like India is positioned as a business outsourcing hub; China on the other hand, is growing super fast as a major force in the international trade arena and is in the process of positioning itself as a major trading partner in Africa. Saying that Africa is already positioned as the highest recipient of foreign aid, he advises the continent to re-position itself as a business hub by embracing democracy, efficiency, respect of property rights and encourage innovation. Africa should not sleep as the other regions take over the world! Kenyanomics holds that adopting sound economic policies that encourage economic freedom will lead to economic prosperity. He adds that obsession with poverty eradication is a major threat to economic freedom in developing nations as it increases central planning and crowds out individual effort. Kimani argues that the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) only serve to widen avenues of corruption and increased budget imbalances, both of which have crippled Third World economies for decades. Randy Nichols believes that developing a market based education system that encourages careers in business will boost the continent in its bid to position itself as a source of international labor. Experiential knowledge gained from such labor exports will form an integral part in Africa’s development. He advises Africa to embrace any opportunity to get training in fields that will see its marketability soar to greater heights. According to Gustav S going to university does not mean that one is highly educated. Many Africans believe that the only way to achieve goals in life is to go to school, learn a profession and then get employment. Becoming a professional, going to the University or taking required steps to land your desired job are important but it is just the beginning of one’s way to success. He urges Africans to develop Discipline, Self Control, Consistency, Perseverance and Faith in order to move forward as a continent. Finally, G. Kofi Annan says that the continent needs to develop its own film and broadcasting industries with focus on local content. By producing local themed movies in the “right way” we can better present African in the international media. In his opinion, one of the ways that will change the process of making African films for Western audiences is to tie the African film industry to the strong African-American film community. While the film industry at large struggles to make a return on the production costs, with blockbusters not making the numbers they used to, the African-American film community has a great opportunity to align with the African film community and continue to grow professionally and financially. But creativity and authenticity is the real key.
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2:18
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }  Nana Kwodo Amoa I, originally uploaded by beninmwangi. Dr. Charles S. Brown Dr. Charles S. Brown grew up at a pivotal time for Black America. As a young student at Morehouse College he was able to witness and be a part of America's civil rights movement. After reading books written by Dr. W.E.B. Dubois and Kwame Nkrumah Dr. Brown began to become exposed to a wider perspective. Afterwards, he gradually gained an appreciation for African history. Over time this appreciation would continue to grow and less than ten years after obtaining his PhD in physics he began to research ancient African civilizations. His study was so intense that over a three year time span, he became an authority on the subject.
For Dr. Brown, learning about ancient African civilizations meant more than just being able to quote a few abstract facts, he believed that if he could help African American youth become aware of their true heritage it would be easier for them to dream big. Integrating scientific finds on these ancient civilizations into mathematics or physics curricula for his university classes would later become one of Dr. Brown's most recognizable hallmarks.
But the event that would later shape his outlook on modern Africa continent took place when he attended the First Edward Bouchet International Conference on Physics and Technology on June 11, 1988 in Trieste, Italy. The Edward Bouchet Institute is today called the Edward Bouchet Abdus Salaam Institute. One of its aims is to foster scientific and technical collaborations between African and American scientists and engineers. Prof Charles S .Brown's first trip to the African continent occurred in 1990 when he attended the second Edward Bouchet Institute Conference in Ghana. It is through the Edward Bouchet Institute that Professor Brown met the internationally renowned Professor Francis K. Allotey. In the fall of 1991, Prof. F. K. A. Allotey of Ghana visited with Prof. Charles S. Brown, who at that time was the Chairman of the Physics Department at Clark Atlanta University (CAU). The collaboration between Prof. Allotey, Prof. A. E. Bak, and Prof. C. S. Brown resulted in two published papers.
Prof. Allotey, four years later arranged the visit of Prof. Charles S. Brown to Cape Coast, Ghana, where he worked as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar (December 1995 – May 1996) and an ICTP Visiting Scholar (June 1996 – December 1996). Prof. Brown helped to develop the University’s graduate curriculum, served as a research advisor for a physics doctoral candidate, and collaborated on a research paper with Prof. S. Y. Mensah, Chairman of the Physics Department and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science at the University. The work that Prof. Brown did in Ghana did not go unnoticed; in fact it was instrumental in his enstoolment as a traditional ruler in the Assin Manso district of Ghana.
To elders and other traditional rulers in this district Prof. Brown was known as Nana Kwodo Amoah I. It is a role that he took very seriously, even until his passing. I love you Dad. I know you are in a better place.
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19:02
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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Kenya Urban Fashion Icon Also Teaches… 
courtesy of: Jamhuri Wear Just a little over an hour ago, I was doing a periodic tour of my page on myspace and to my surprise after visiting a few of my friends spaces landed on the myspace profile of Jamhuri Wear. The reason for my amazement is that there have been so many times that I searched for hours to find an entrepreneur like Jeffrey Kimathi(one that the youth can easily identify with) to profile on The Benin Epilogue and then by total coincidence I bump into such a person on myspace… To me Jeffrey Kimathi is the perfect embodiment of the term “cheetah” that Dr. George Ayittey made popular in his book Africa Unchained. 
courtesy of: WorldChanging Here is an excerpt on Mr. Kimathi, it is written by one of Kimathi’s friends & colleagues who also happens to be the founder and editor of KBR1963: 
courtesy of: KBR1963 For the few who don’t know about the Jeffery Kimathi story or just see Jamhuri today for what it is today. A lot of thought or growth has been put into the product since its inception. In that Kim actually interned for ECKO Clothing Company after moving from Dallas a while back. A lot of people thought he was crazy to work as an intern with no cash (am sure the same people are not really saying much today). After his internship which lasted about 5 months, he was hired to work with the marketing department which was working on launching G-Unit clothing for 50 and other related brands (I guess this is the part where I say the rest is history) Today Kim is developing his own brand, his own vision, his own clothing line that are communicating the heart, mood, soul and identity of many Africans living in the Diaspora. The clothing line represents our culture in a dignified manner and not the other brands that represent borrowed ideologies that make us look fragmented. Clothes make up who we are, they say a lot about an individual before he opens up his mouth, this would explain why majority of the artists who are into changing humanity end up coming out with a clothing line or t-shirts that make a powerful statement. I wear Jamhuri Wear because it represents a journey of a man I can relate to, it represents a country I have learnt to love dearly, and it represents the people that I care about the most. I wear Jamhuri wear not because of Kim but because I believe I am a King in my own right. “Made to fit Kings and Queens.” If you haven’t placed an order for an item yet, please do so and look at the attention to detail in the packaging, the delivery and the handling, its these small things that demonstrate greatness and attention to detail. It’s these little things that make me a King.
Ok, so that says a little bit about the visionary behind Jamhuri Wear. But there is more, Jeffrey is also a blogger. And with what must be a non-stop, no sleep, 24-7 type schedule he still makes time to write quite a number of superb posts. He then ties some of the posts into any one of his many unique product offerings. Below is a post where he talks about a very special city in Senegal called Touba. courtesy of: Wikipedia 
Touba is the home of an astonishing group of people called the Mourides; they are renowned for their entrepreneurial prowess. This is something that they display not only in Senegal, but perhaps to an even greater extent outside of Senegal. It is Emeka Okafor who first introduced me to the Mourides. But anyhow here is an excerpt from the grandmaster of urban African Fashion: Their “you can and should do for yourself” work ethic was inherited from Bamba himself; Mourides have developed their own financial and spiritual independence. They are not dependant upon donations from Saudi Arabia or other wealthy Islamic societies. Touba - Now is the second largest city in Senegal- is an autonomous municipality. Touba does not pay taxes or answers to the federal government. There is no smoking or drinking allowed, nor do residents pay water bills. Women participate in the public life: many with their own businesses. The brutally strict interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia) that some societies have adopted is nowhere in sight. More on this great icon
In closing, let me say that this post was aimed at the current hip hop generation. If anyone reading this post feels that you fit this definition, then this is for you. Reach for the stars. At one time Kimathi did the type of work that he does today as an intern (read-he did it for free), but all that time he kept his eyes on the prize and look where he is today, this reminds me a lot of something that I read in Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad Poor Dad. So Kim teaches us that if we can make the sacrifices early and stay the course, then we can achieve in business to infinity! Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbookTags: Jamhuri, Jamhuri Wear, hip hop, Kenyan Fashion, entrepreneur, Tanzania, Kenya
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3:20
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 The 5th Carnival of African Enterprising will be hosted by “Branded in his blog Business in Focus” and in the prestigious “African Executive Magazine”. This edition will also be featured in the annual Africa Resource Bank meeting where Branded will present all views expressed by The Carnival participants. The Carnival Topic "Positioning Africa in the 21st Century" is sponsored by The “Africa Resource Bank Meeting” which will be held in Tanzania from the 11th to 14th November 2007. (All interested bloggers who may wish to attend The “Africa Resource Bank Meeting” meeting in Tanzania are welcome to register “HERE”. The objective of the Carnival theme is to Explore the reason behind the success of the West and Emerging Eastern Economies and how they can be applied in Africa. All intrested Bloggers are requested to submit their content/Articles along any of the following topics or any other topic that you may find relevant to Africa in the 21st Century: 1. Effects of colonization on Africa's Economic Development 2. Who invented Africa and how can Africans gain from it? 3. The role of Aid and the future of Africa 4. Migration and the brain drain debate 5. Global warming and the future of trade in Africa. 6. Business and Entrepreneureship culture - Lessons from the East 7. Leveraging on China's thirst for raw materials to develop Africa 8. Economic Intergration in Africa 9. Tax harmonization in Africa 10. Alcohol policies in Africa 11. Reviewing the education system to meet the needs of Africa 12. Promoting the African Voice. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!!!!! Submit your articles today.
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6:38
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 Kenyan citizens living in Tanzania are now under close scrutiny and suspicion from police and members of the public following a spate of crimes allegedly committed by Kenyans. The suspicion is so deeply rooted that vehicles bearing Kenyan registration plates are not only stopped at every police roadblock but plain-clothes policemen also trail them. According to Tanzanian police, suspected Kenya criminals have gotten away with at least 5 major bank robberies over the last 6 months alone. This was not to be last week when a record 14 suspected criminals were shot at close range 13 of whom were Kenyans. All Mystery surrounding the killings in the northern Tanzanian town of Moshi, put to test the fate of the proposed East African Federation. What the Tanzanian police called.... “Click HERE to read the rest of the post”and other posts about the East African Federation
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1:51
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
Read This Entry & More At The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
 On 20/08/2007, after the 6th ordinary session of the EAC Heads of State, I waited with bated breath for the announcement of a fully integrated East African Economic Union, a union redeemed from the fear and suspicion that previosuly led to breakup. To my dismay, the same structural failings and issues that necessitated the first collapse still exist. During the first collapse it was easy to blame ideological differences between Tanzania and the rest of the East African Community since the latter was socialist while the former shared capitalistic ideologies. This aside, the real reasons as time came to reveal was the fear that Kenya dominated the rest of the community. Following the collapse of the EAC and prior to the recent haphazard re-integration, arose the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA ) the only remaining workable regional organisation that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania had in common. This was until Tanzania opted out again to join South African Development Cooperation (SADC) , allying itself to what is clearly a grouping for Southern African countries.......................(please read the rest of the post at http://businessinfocus.blogspot.com)
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13:50
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
Read This Entry & More At The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
Recently I did an interview with an entrepreneur from Cameroon with a law practice. In fact he is the same gentleman that I mentioned in an earlier post- here.  One thing that I really enjoyed about this interview is that we did it on the phone, so it felt like a more natural flow than the email interviews. I am now going to have to do one by web chat-that is the only thing besides phone (skype included) or in person interviews that might be more convenient or fluid to post. Here is an excerpt of the interview with Mr. Tiku, by the way: African Path: So Mr. Tiku, why is this topic of immigration something that looms so heavily in the minds of our nation's (The USA) African immigrants and why should attention be given to this topic?
Mr. Tiku: Well Benin, right now 2 out of 5 immigrants in the US either have a problem with their visa status or know someone who does.
Wow, Mr. Tiku, those numbers seem to convey that this issue is very serious. Now does this mean that immigrants from Africa are in the same predicament as those from Latin America or is there a difference?
Latin American countries in South, Central America, and Mexico are in a slightly different position, because they can easily get into the United States through Mexico which shares the largest boarder with the United States. This unique situation explains the reason why by far the greatest numbers of immigrants both legal and undocumented are from that area. On the other hand, when we talk about African immigrants, because there is no shared or common border with the United States, almost all African immigrants that are in America were came here with some type of a visa. However, most often these visas expire thus making them illegal.
I see, Mr. Tiku and if I remember correctly there was a new law that the President, Mr. George W Bush tried to pass that could have resolved this problem. But that law did not make it past U.S. Congress. Many folks from different parts of Africa have asked me whether I thought such a law, if passed, would benefit immigrants from Africa or if it would be more targeted to the immigrants from Latin America. What do you think about this Mr. Tiku?
If we go strictly by the numbers (the number of Hispanics in America), Hispanic immigrants stand to benefit a lot by this type of legislation. However, had the law passed it would have applied universally to all immigrants within the United States, so it would have helped immigrants of all national origins. Right now Congress is pre-occupied with the upcoming elections (that might be one reason that the bill failed to become a law). So although the bill failed, it is likely that after the 08' elections it might be presented to Congress again. Also, something I'd like to mention is that in US Politics this immigration topic has become large and at times very divisive with strong opinions on either side. The immigration issue has replaced affirmative action, Rowe Vs Wade, and abortion law as the new hot button issue.
Before I close, let me say that Mr. Tiku is an attorney, but he is also an entrepreneur who employs three and also had a similar practice in Cameroon, which also provided jobs. Anyway, I hope that after reading the full article that will have been further enlightened. Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbookTags: entrepreneur, cameroon, law, legal, immigration, African migrant
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1:25
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
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 About three months ago I received a rather short and nondescript comment in my guest book. Now around the same time I had been receiving spam comments and the like, so I didn't pay the visitor's words much mind. About one or two weeks after that I received an email from someone who said they were from IBM-huh? And the email had something to do with Africa. Ok, that got my attention. So, I read the email again, just to make sure that it was real. Indeed it certainly appeared so. The letter conveyed that IBM was working on putting a small panel together-sort of like a think tank, consisting of about 30 people, and the focus of these "deep dive" sessions would be to brainstorm about economic progress on the African continent. They are calling this forum the IBM Global Innovation Outlook (GIO) and this series is titled IBM GIO Think Africa. To make a long story short, I accepted the invitation and attended the event. What a treat it was to event to attend this event. One of the highlights for me was participating on a discussion about the impact that the continent's informal economies have had upon the lives of the participants of the event, as well as the overall impact upon the continent's economies. I also had a chance to sit down with an IBM vice-president to talk about the company's strategy on the continent. The post will be published on African Path this week. Perhaps even more major, though, were the one-on-one connections that I was able to make while there. There was a NEPAD official, several university professors, a Ghanaian King, several fortune 500 executives, two university students, and several others. Here is a snippet from the GIO blog summarizing the event: "Hubert Danso, vice chairman of the African Investment Advisory Group at NEPAD, spent years shopping positive business stories around to the international media types. He got nothing but lip service. So he finally decided that if he wanted the stories of Africa’s burgeoning economic prowess and entrepreneurial spirit to reach the world, he was going to have to tell those stories himself. Danso is now the managing editor of Africa Investor magazine. It’s as slick as anything you’d pick up on a New York newsstand, has top-notch research, and relentlessly covers business issues in and around the continent. If you want to get the other side of the business climate story in Africa, it’s a must-read. Other deep dive participants have broached the idea of a news portal that focuses exclusively on positive stories coming out of Africa."
You may find out more about the IBM deep dives by visiting their blog here. Otherwise, be on the lookout to hear what an IBM Vice President has to say about doing business in Africa. Please stay tuned! Of course, I love your comments. But, if you can't comment at this particular time- but would like to let us know that you were here; please sign and View my guestbook
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0:22
From: The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
Read This Entry & More At The Benin Epilogue Part I: Africa-Ready for Business
 There is someone that I would like to tell you about. His name is Mr. Ogo Sow, he hails originally from Senegal and to his tens of thousands of radio listeners from New York City and across the globe he is affectionately known as Mr. Africa. He is a special advisor and consultant to the Africa Travel Association and was also a special invitee to the African Union's 9th Assembly of African Heads of State in Accra, Ghana. He has many achievements, among them being an African television pioneer, a producer, and a publisher whose work has touched millions radio, but I look up to him for because for many years he has enlightened Western audiences on the untold other side if Africa; while inspiring African expatriates abroad to look back and do something for the distant land that they once called home. Something else that I admire in Mr. Sow is how balanced he is with showcasing the entire continent of Africa, not just Senegal or just that of those who speak his mother tongue-Fulani (in this regard he is kind of like someone else that I admire who is known as African Liz). Recently, he has taken me to the task of participating in some of the round-table discussions that he organizes relating to the African continent. His latest discussion interests me very much and was inspired by a speech made by French President Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy. The question that Mr. Sow or Mr. Africa asks is in light of President Sarkozy's comments made about the African continent, what can Africa do to become economically free. My response is below. This is a great discussion Mr. Ogo Sow, AKA Mr. Africa, thanks for inviting me. I have also invited others by adding them (in the bcc field )to this message, so that if they would like to participate, they can just jump in. In this instance, I am inviting anyone reading this piece...
Lets look at a statement made by former Mali President and current Chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare, "This speech was not the kind of break we were hoping for". So why was AU Chairman Mr. Konare upset? What was he expecting to hear from the French President Mr. Sarkozy? Well let's look at the statement that the French President made for a possible answer.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says about Africa should face up to its own problems he says, "Do you want to end the arbitrary corruption, violence? That money is invested instead of being embezzled. Do you want the rule of l
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