Afrimage of the day: Noella on the cover of Harlem World

In the media: Black gold

As the official website states:" Coffee is not just a drink. It’s a global commodity. As one of the world’s most traded products—second in value only to oil—the coffee industry employs millions of people around the world through its growing, processing and trading. But while the coffee trade is vital to the politics, survival and economies of many developing nations, the industry’s pricing and futures are decided in conference rooms and on stock exchange floors in some of the world’s wealthiest cities."


Economists posit that increased supply control, price regulation and fair trade initiatives could help solve the current coffee crisis. Fair trade guarantees farmers a fixed minimum price for their coffee, which can equal nearly two or three times the unsubsidized market price. Fair trade also eliminates the middlemen exporters involved in the coffee trade, who often pay farmers below market rates and then sell at the rates set by the New York Coffee Exchange, pocketing the excess money for themselves.

Coffee-producing countries must also lessen their export dependency on coffee and diversify into alternative crops. But this is far easier said than done. As BLACK GOLD demonstrates, poor African countries are particularly dependent on coffee: Burundi, Uganda and Ethiopia derive more than half their export earnings from coffee alone. Making coffee production more sustainable, like Tadesse Meskela’s co-operative is attempting to do, would grant small-scale family farmers, who produce 75 percent of the world’s coffee supply, a living wage. When coffee prices fall, the economic and social effects are profound.


See trailer below:


You should get the DVD and keep it in your home collection as a reminder of the importance of being educated about how trade,finance,global production actually works.

Afriurban sounds presents: Rapper Bantu -Youssoupha

French rapper born from a Senegalese mother and Zairois father shares his past,present and future in this song.
It seems like there are a couple of artists to pass the torch to on the french rap scene, Groups such as "Mafia k'fry" and IAM would not be on the forefront for to long.
Enjoy.

Africinema: 5th and 6th installement of Ouga Saga

Here are the fifth and sixth episodes of the burkinabe film " Ouaga Saga". You would come to agree that African film cinema has what it takes in terms of directing and story-telling skills. The element that are sure lacking would be an efficient distribution channel both to the continent viewers and the international audience.
Annansi blog hints at the ways the African movie industry could increase their presence on the commercial movie circuit thus the income from intangibles by our economies.

Afrimedia presents: interview with Bambadjan Bamba

Bambadjan and fiancee Aline



The following interview by Afrimedia of Bambadjan Bamba, a cast member of the latest Chris rock Movie " I think I love my wife" , gives us an insight in the career path of a African actor in the American movie industry.

Africaincorp:Could you( re) introduce yourself to the public/readers ?

Bambadjan Bamba:

My name is Bambadjan Bamba, I was born and raised in the Ivory Coast untill the age of 10 when I moved to NYC. I then moved to Richmond, Va, after high school I moved back to NYC where I studied acting for 4 years. I recently made my move to Los Angeles, Ca.

Africaincorp:Since your last appearance in the TV serie Law and Order, What other screen projects have you been involved ?

B.B:Without wanting to sound swaggering, I want the readers to clearly understand my type. I am not your typical pretty boy or romantic comedy kind of actor. I am more of a versatile actor with a wide range of abilities.For instance I did a play titled

DO LORD REMEMBER ME,in that play I acted different characters mainly old men living in the 1930 that were uneducated former slaves. I also worked on the Sopranos for the upcoming season,I play a International student from Sudan( mind you he is from west Africa). Furthermore I dapped into comedy like the pilot I did with HBO ,Wyclef in America,in which I played a young seventeen Wyclef jean.I had to show mastery of the Haitian patois and accent.
I like to think that I bring a spectrum of abilities to the table. Kind of like the British-nigerian actor Chiwitel Ejiofor. I can confidently say that
I have been through a lot of growth and learning since my entry in the industry, I clearly understand my type now.


B.B:
I auditioned for and played a part in the upcoming Chris Rock project " I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE". an outstanding romantic comedy,if you would like to get a good laugh and meaningful message at the same time,go see this movie.


Africaincorp:What is your understanding of the American film & theater industry , has it changed from when you first entered ?

B.B:I can say I had the right understanding for someone standing outside looking in, but it is a different prospective to look from the inside in.It is really about building relationships with casting directors, film directors and other actors,especially the actors who paved the way for an African kid like me to even dream of being apart of Hollywood. Djimon Hounsou, Adewale, Chiwitel Edjiofor to name a few.

The mentor I have right now is Isaac De Bankole, he build tremendous value into his career in France and Europe, I think of him as the Sidney Poitier of Europe and francophone cinema. After 2 decades he couldn't understand why there weren't any other black faces on the screen. Because of this, he gave it all up to come to America. Even though he had to start form scratch, he ultimately found his way. He is currently working with Danny Glover on a project about Toussaint Louverture the revolutionary Haitian.

Africaincorp:Do you feel like your career is moving in the right direction ,in terms of the type of projects you involved yourself in ?

B.B: I've been blessed. I've only been in the business for 3 1/2 and I was fortunate enough to work with greats like Epatha Merceson, Jesse Martin, Chris Rock, Wycleff Jean, Antoine Fuqua, Sarah Jessica Parker..... and the list goes on. Deep Inside I wish I could be nominated for an Oscar next year but everything is in God's hands and I believe and trust in his timing. So far my work received good feedback from industry insider and reviewers. My key to constant advancement towards my goal( s), and I do not want to sound cliche , is the D.P.C ,Determination,Persistence,Consistence. The following quote by Napoleon Hill embodies quite well my mind-frame " success is not a matter of fate, luck, or chance, but a burning desire that knows not defeat.


Africaincorp:What is your current take on the African film industry ? What are your favorite African directors if you have any ?

B.B: Africa is getting its long overdue chance to prove itself. Black Americans producing ,shooting on location in africa, is impactful in more ways than one. It generate economic revenues for the local industries,it allows for transfer of expertise.It also goes beyond Hollywood politics, as those movies,those stories gives a moral permission to the black American masses to go back as well.A lot of great movies to be made in and about Africa. Our traditional and contemporary history has so much more to offer than the colonial and slave stories. Think of Samory Toure, King behanzin, The Timbuktu society, The Dogon society , The Kush empire, and the list goes on.
Every African stories or film that has been made in the last three years has won an award,The last king of scotland,Hotel rwanda or Totsie. That goes to show that we can have quality and profitable movies.
My favorite African directors are Raoul Peck and Abderrahman Sissako. I also love to see actor wear the directors hat like Jean Claude Lemarre, Akosia Busia, Adewale and the list goes on.

Africaincorp:Do you feel that the creation of Satellite and cable African channels such as the African channel,Tele3asud, would have a positive effect on content creation ,thus increasing the demand for professional actors ?

B.B:What I can say is that as more households in America and the world are beamed realistic and healthy african images,it is going to to break a lot of stereotypes. These channels and their content can be a medium to get a real insight into the urban and traditional cultures and lifestyle of Africa.


Africaincorp:Can you tell us more about the current play you are part of ? What motivated your involvement in a project discussing such a controversial topic ?

B.B: To do a piece that discusses slavery has long been a desire of mine.Everytime I watched Roots I wanted to render justice to all this past souls that went through such immense human hardship. This piece gave me the opportunity to give a voice and a face to the sufferers that after all belong to my racial group. Let me add something that was a surprise to me, a lot of the young audience was oblivious to what had happened during these times. We know very well that knowing the past helps ( in a way) understand present circumstances.

Africaincorp:What can we expect in the coming months ?

B.B:We can expect " I think I love my wife" great movie go watch it , The sopranos Season" renowned show returning for another great season ,do not miss it.

Africaincorp:Any last word ?


B.B: I want to give some advice to the aspiring actors, the craft is the most valuable thing you possess. To have been to acting school greatly helped me get where I am today. we must understand that the actor is his/her instrument. You have to keep your instrument in tune,you have to be working on your craft every-single day

In the media: Rwanda gets it

BusinessInAfrica reports on the emergence of Rwanda as an IT hub for East and central Africa,better yet as its rise as an knowledge economy

Some excerpt from the article: "Rwanda has become one of the most wired countries in the region. Terracom has laid more than 220 miles of fibre-optic cable. According to Christopher Lundh, Terracom’s CEO, “Rwanda, through fibre-optic and CDMA technology, enjoys without question, the most advanced communications technology in Africa."

"Freetown is already looking to Rwanda as an example of the possibilities, with IT as one of the central objectives in their own Vision 2025. Could IT help trade for landlocked countries like Burundi and Uganda as they work to enhance exports through Tanzania and Kenya."

"Rwanda is an example of how much can be accomplished with concentration, Investment in people, clarity of vision and a focus on technology infrastructure have given the country new, entrepreneurial options for the future"

To read more

This example of turning a country completely around should serve as an example to the other markets in Africa that are seeking for ways to increase the welfare of their citizens as well as growing GDP other than by Rent incomes.

Afrimedia presents: Hip Hop activism project

Can Hip Hop reveal itself to be a weapon of Mass awareness the way it has been in the United States and France for the past couple of decades ? The youth of Africa has been long held silent by an authoritative political and administrative system,which in turn appears to be a vestige of the Colonial era.
However it is a new day, it is a new dawn and
"Across Africa, Hip Hop is helping to change and recreate the culture
and lives of youth, as it introduces new means of communication,
education, empowerment, activism, and entertainment" such is the essential message of the short Documentary that is being screened this Monday at the Harvard university campus. The event is Co-sponsored by the African Hip hop project "whose mission is use
the tools of popular culture to empower African youth and amplify
their voices."

We hope to see this documentary in many more campuses around the United States but also on African TV sets via Tele3A Sud,Africa channel,Trace TV, and MTV Africa. Let's not forget the numerous African national TV channels.


Here is an example of the newfound voice of the youth:


Afriurban videos hopes to discover and share with you more Urban African talents in the coming weeks.

Africinema presents: Ouaga Saga

Welcome back to Ouga Saga, Afrimedia brings you you the third and fourth part of the movie, enjoy !!
For those of you that are going to see on monday, what a great way to start your week.