Magazines to read
août 31, 2007
Africonference:Aeronautic industry and services in Morocco
Marrakesh- 24 th October- 27 October 2007
Aeroexpo is bringing together major aeronautics players. Aeroexpo represents a platform of local and international sector players, including : aeronautics and space sector, aircraft manufacturers, design and subcontractors.
The aeronautic and space sectors aims like many other industries at subcontracting and outsourcing some aspect of the production chain. Africa ,especially the northern region, offers promising perspectives to European companies.
Obtain entry rights here.
Related websites
Conference official site.
Royal air Maroc
Moroccan aeronautic web portal
African markets essential Airlines:
Afriqiyah Airways
Ethiopian Airlines
Virgin Nigeria Airways
Air Madagascar
Senegal International
TunisAir
Air Mauritius
Air Algerie
South African Airways
Jubba Airways
Air Ivoire
Air Botswana
Gabon Airlines
Kenya Airways
août 29, 2007
In the media:Concert in Paris
Paris- Fally Ipupa,kaysha,Anofela,Awilo,JB Mpiana performed in Paris,France September the 7th.
Afriurban sound presents:Top Afriurban dance craze
Afriurban sound-
This is part one of the series on Afriurban dance craze. The youth of today urban Africa living on the continent as well as overseas create enough choreagraphy to last the enteratainment industry two centuries.
What are the companies that would better understand how to channel all this creativity that can be diivided and directed into music,fashion,lifestyle magazine/TV shows and much more.
Hip hop so far has been the only platform succesful into the commercialization of its content. Let's see how the other manage.
Afriurban sound presents: Soul ja boy @106 and park
Atlanta-
Soulja Boy, performs the latest dance craze to hit the professional music business. He performed live @ BET's 106 and park. BET is an American ,Washington DC based cable network. The network is owned by the media conglomerate Viacom( NYSE:VIAB).
Befriend him @ hisspace
You know you have a craze when this happens:
août 28, 2007
août 27, 2007
Afriurban sound presents: Famlay feat Pharrel
Norfolk- Famlay ,an Hip Hop performer signed to Pharrel Williams record label, Star Trek, brings off his ability to rap on one of rap music greatest producer.
août 26, 2007
Africaincorp: Consciousness and wealth
Africaincorp-
A Consciousness dominated by fear,guilt,greed,jealousy,envy and the ultimate decision of constantly choosing the negative is the observable pattern for many a young venture seekers.
The young businessmen,leaders of industries,talented and/or skilled labor, as well as the futurists,builders,and the entrepreneurs have to be able to distinguish behaviors,attitudes and actions that lead to financial abudance,job creation,intellectual wisdom,sound and clean environment and a higher level of existence.
A lot of critics say that most Africans are dangerous egomaniacs,thus not in the mental position to realize and understand reality.Whether it is true or not, young Africans should no longer resigned themselves to passively pay the price of ignorance- whether intellectual,scientific,technological,cultural,spiritual- for it is a price to high to pay.
They say that if you stand on the shoulders of giant , you should be able to see much further, so let's stand on the shoulder of thinkers and achievers of the past to further our agenda.
août 25, 2007
The beautiful things than heaven bears
The book written by Ethiopian writer Dinaw Mengestu ,was published in the US, in March 2007 by Penguin Riverhead
Seventeen years ago, Sepha Stephanos fled the Ethiopian Revolution after witnessing soldiers beat his father to the point of certain death, selling off his parents' jewelry to pay for passage to the United States. Now he finds himself running a grocery store in a poor African-American neighborhood in Washington, D.C. His only companions are two fellow African immigrants who share his feelings of frustration with and bitter nostalgia for their home continent. He realizes that his life has turned out completely different and far more isolated from the one he had imagined for himself years ago.
Purchase the book here, here,here , here,here,here,and here
in the media: Khartoum, the Dubai of Africa
In the media-
According to many analysts and observers of the booming economies in Africa,Khartoum, Sudan capital is set to become the Dubai of Africa
Virtual city of Khartoum
Real city of Khartoum
Essentials about Khartoum
Pop- 4 million
Afhad University for women
University of Khartoum
The Academy of medical science and technology
Industries include but not limited to,Printing,glass manufacturing,textiles,food processing,petroleum.
Watch video
Travel there
Afribusiness:Gateway connecting Africa
Afribusiness-
Gateway Communications is the largest independent provider of carrier and business network solutions in Africa with a local presence in 37 countries, our network already connects over 583 million people.They provide secure, high speed, reliable voice and bandwidth services, to other 900 corporations across Africa,utilising the world's best next generation technology.
The industries they service are:
Mining and construction
Retail
Banking and Finance
Manufacturing and Service
Oil and Gas
Some facts about Gateway:
85 million telephone subscribers
750 million minutes of traffic per annum
200 million telephone calls a year
Contact them
août 24, 2007
Africaincorp best: Best vacation cities in Africa
Best of-
Culture,Shopping experience,nightlife,weather,safety,and exquisite food are most of the items tourists check for when looking for a vacation destination.
Below are some of the best locations to visit in Africa, some offer the most culture, some offer you food you will kill for, others deliver the most amazing shopping experience. The luckiest vacationers will enjoy a combinaison of all.
Banjul
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Cairo
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Cape Town
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Maputo
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Tunis
View Larger Map
Mombasa
View Larger Map
Casablanca
View Larger Map
Accra
View Larger Map
Abidjan
View Larger Map
In the media: Rwanda attracts investors and entrepreneurs
View Larger Map
Kigali-
An article in Business 2.0 Magazine reveals what has been going on for the past 8 years in many- Think Tunisia,Algeria,Congo,Botswana,Angola,Ghana,Nigeria,Senegal,Uganda,Sudan,Ethiopia,Mauritius- markets in Africa. Sectors such as Real estate,farming,mining and retail are awaiting the mavericks,risk-takers and first movers.
Google(GOOG,GGEA )is one such company as they are scouting the country for their first African computer center.Qualcomm(QCOM ) will follow suit when they open their first training center in Rwanda.
Are Nigerian,South African,Ivorian,Ghanaian,Kenyan,Tunisian companies and entrepreneurs ,going to be next ? A nation of 8 million that is meticulously preparing to become a Knowledge-based economy , Rwanda is going to be a nation of skilled workers and financially abled unhabitants.
In the media: South African companies invade Congo
Kinshasa-
According to analysts "Congo's large population and huge mineral reserves have proven to powerful a magnet for South Africa's investors and businessmen. Large blue billboards advertising South African mobile
operator Vodacom the capital Kinshasa. The supermarkets stock products like biltong (dried meat) are readily available."
The South African department of Foreign affairs addresses the fact that the governement of South Africa is itself following the trends started by its private sector and want to evaluate to Economic, financial and infrastructure related co-operation includind but not limited to spatial development initiatives, mining, geology and metallurgy, energy, civil aviation, technical assistance in financial administration and agriculture.
Afrimedia: The power of social networks.
Afrimedia-
Let's jump to the core of the issue, can social networks,e.g: http://afriville.com help
companies sell their products and services to an international and multicultural customer base.
What leverage does a company like Afriville have to offer to construct a virtual community and give customers a gateway to their needs,desires,wants and more importantly their attention.
There are two groups of interest that crowd- aggregators such as Afriville allow you to talk to: The first group that we call the "Abled", live mostly in western urban settings such as, Paris,London,Dublin,New York,Atlanta,DC,Milan,Toronto and Brussels.They are called the "Abled" because the nature of the environement they live in render them able to have access to the internet and new technology devices which are necessary for social networks to reach their audience.
The second group can be dubbed the "Soon-to be- able", they are the millions of young African urbanites who, because of the investment in, the internet -related- infrastructures being made from Casablanca to Cape Town combined with the cheapening of internet-ready mobile devices and computers,will have access to the world wide web in a way inimaginable just 4 years ago.
août 23, 2007
Afrimedia: Transforming African economic markets through leadership
Arusha-
A very interesting TED Global 2007's video presentation.
Africaincorp: Afripolls
Africaincorp- Do not forget to check out our polls and share your thoughts.
We will have more polls and questions for you in the coming days.
Afriurban sound presents: M.I.A
London-
M.I.A's latest musical effort "kala" with production assistance by Timbaland and Afrikan boy is available on the market.
Check out three videos- two of her latest single and one retro-
In the media: Glass industry
In the media-
Timbuktu chronicles reports on the operations of -the Nigerian company -West African Glass Industry whose primary market covers the entire Ecowas- Nigeria,Cote D'ivoire,Ghana,Liberia,Togo,Benin,Sierra Leone,Mali,Senegal,Niger etc..- Their major customers are found in the following industries:
Breweries
Pharmaceutical
Soft drink
Distilleries
Amsale
New york-
Amsale's elegant designs have made her the number one couture wedding gown designer in the United States, and won her the reputation as the creator of the modern wedding dress.Her designs gained in popularity as more brides began seeking classic dresses with a modern point-of-view. Today she is known for creating timeless and fashionable gowns that combine luxurious fabrics with fine hand-crafted beading, laces, silk flowers and tailored bows to create a strong, yet feminine look. AMSALE brides radiate style and confidence. With estimated 30 million annual sale revenues,Amsale’s bridal and evening collections are available at the finest boutiques and specialty retailers in the US, in Canada and the U.K., and at her Madison Avenue boutique/flagship.
Official website
Call 212-940-2269 for an appointment
Watch fashion show
In the media: Bamboom
Addis-Abeba-
"Following the increase of commercial and residential building construction in the country that was led to ever-increasing demand of bamboo products for finishing materials, a local investor has launched a 50 million birr investment on a bamboo processing factory.
Mirga Wood Industry, is to construct a factory on 3 hectares in Egere, Addis Alem, 40 kms from Addis Ababa. The factory plans to start with products such as floor parquet, incense sticks and toothpicks from bamboo."
"..prior to Mirga Wood Industry, Land and Sea Development Company (LSDC), an Indian, Chinese and Ethiopian joint venture has finalized construction of a bamboo processing factory in Ethiopia."
"..These days, due to the strength and long quality services, many train and bus manufacturers choose floor board bamboo for their products interior equipments such as chairs, etc....Cement particle board, bamboo curtains, floor board, floor parquet, toothpicks and tools handlings such as hammer and screwdriver, etc are among the major applications of bamboo."
In the media: Music entertainment moment at the garden
Afrilitterature: International Migration and Economic development
Afrilitterature- Edited by Caglar Ozden and Maurice Schiff, International Migration, Economic Development, and Policy also confirms that migration reduces extreme poverty in developing countries.....migrants can command higher wages in their home country than workers with no international exposure.
The book also shows that there is significant migration between developing countries, with more than 42 million migrants- one fourth of the world migrants- having moved South-South rather than South-North<>
Patterns in the new data reported in this book confirm, for instance, that migration is heavily influenced by a common language in the host and receiving countries, distance that migrants have to travel from home, and expectation of increased income upon migration.”
The book goes to show that, the impact of migration on development goes well beyond the impact of remittances.
août 22, 2007
Africinema presents: Alive in Joburg
Johannesburg-
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Producer: Neill Blomkamp, Simon Hansen, Sharlto Copley, Shannon Worley,
Production Company: Spy Films
Neill Blomkamp is a South Africa born director of short films, animations and advertismements.
Previous work includes:
- Alive With Technology for Citroën ( UG)
- Evolution for Nike ( NKE)
- Crab (Nike)
- Tetra Vaal
- Alive In Joburg
- Adicolor Yellow for Adidas ( FRA:ADS)
- Tempbot 15:00
- Halo (film)
Stian Louw
Afrifashion-
The team @psfk.com conducted an interview with South African fashion designer Stian Louw
Sample:
How closely do you look at international trends?
South Africa is still strongly influenced by international trends and for this reason it would be natural for local designers to investigate current trends. But I do believe it is also exceptionally important to create an individual identity as a South African designer. When I do reference current trends, I do it from a garment-construction perspective, investigating cutting-techniques.
What local/uniquely South African inspirations go into your collection: where do they come from? And how do they fit into your design process?
The current collection was a study of flowers, which were not only present in the prints but also in the shapes used in the clothes. We studied local flora which were used in the developmental stages of the prints for the collection. In a previous collection the colour palette and sensibilities of the Voortrekker were an inspiration. But I believe that it is not necessarily essential for South African designers to include local references in their work for it to be uniquely South African. What non-fashion sources do you look at when developing your work?
I find inspiration in a variety of different fields related indirectly to fashion and have in the past collaborated with graphic designers, fine artists such as
London based Pamela Thorpe as well as jewellery designers and a sensory branding agency Aromalogo. There is a wealth of information in these fields which can be inspiring and be incorporated into fashion design.
Africonference:African Telecoms billing and revenue management forum
Africanconference- 3rd to 7th September 2007
IIR’s 4th Annual African Telecoms Billing and Revenue Management Forum will bring together leading operators to address commercial address the specific Revenue Management and Billing challenges currently being faced by African Telecoms Operators and Service Providers. The weeklong event offers two back-to-back conferences and presents an invaluable opportunity to hear real-world experiences in a series of cutting-edge case studies and workshops led by African, European and American operators.
- Developing A Successful Billing System Implementation Strategy: Creating A Benchmark For Implementation And Project Management Best Practice
- Exploiting Prepaid Recharge Mechanisms To Maximise Revenues By Boosting Both Customer Acquisition And Retention
- Examining How The Increased Convergence Of Telecoms With Other Industry Sectors Will Impact Key Revenue Protection Functions Like Billing, Revenue Assurance And Fraud Management
- Deploying A Prepaid Charging System To Effectively Deliver Prepaid Content And Next Generation Services
- Developing
- Understanding Why It is Essential For African Operators To Move Beyond Revenue Assurance To Revenue Management To Successfully Respond To Emerging Requirements Of A Fast-Paced And Increasingly Convergent Telecoms Market
- Addressing The People Factor In Revenue Assurance And Billing – Finding, Retaining And Training Staff With The Appropriate Skills
- Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) To Benchmark And Quantify The Performance Of Your Revenue Assurance Strategy
- Developing A Successful Revenue Assurance Solution Implementation Strategy: Creating A Benchmark For Implementation Best Practice
- Understanding How To Structure An RA Team And Where To Position It Within The Company For Maximum Benefit
- Addressing The Challenges Of Managing Revenue Assurance For Prepaid Services
- Minimising Cost And Revenue Losses Incurred By African Operators Through Infrastructure Failure, Damage And Theft
Africonference: Mineral resources
Algiers- 2nd to 4th december 2007
Algeria benefits from world-class mineral and metal deposits and the mining and mineral industry provides vast opportunities for profitable business.
More than 1800 mining titles and authorizations have been granted to Algerian and foreign mining companies. Two agencies have been set up to regulate and control the mineral assets.
* Open access to mining activities for any investor
* Equal treatment for all investors
* Transparent procedures for granting mining titles (single authority)
* Legal value for mining titles
* Automatic right to exploitation shall be granted to the holder of an exploration title who discovered the mineral deposit
* Specific and adapted mining tax system
* Stability of fiscal, legal and technical conditions during the period of validity of the mining concession
* Protection of environment
* International arbitration
Conference discussions centered around :
* Legislation and mining regulations
* Algeria’s economic geology
* Financing mining investments
* The experiences of operators and investors
* Mineral commodity market trends
* Environmental protection and training
Detailed discussions will touch on:
Upstream services: Mapping,databases,laboratories
Exploration and mining development-Advantages and Obstcales
The uranium market
Iron and steel market
Mining Finance
Financig mining projects through the Stock Market
New technologies and their role within energy and mining sectors
in the media: Capital flowing back to the African markets
In the media-
In an interview conducted by the African Banker,UBS's( NYSE:UBS, SWX:UBSN)Tutu Agyere reveals multiple trends that are positively shaping African investment market.
“The capital markets in Africa are beginning to open up and open up significantly. That has surprised many bankers. For example who would have forecast 12 months ago that, by this time this year, Nigeria’s markets would see $3bn worth of new issuances? Countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, even Zimbabwe are all offering investment opportunities.
“Nigeria’s market has made average returns of over 30% this year and Zimbabwe’s returned over 100% this year even after adjusting for inflation, so there’s a lot of interest, a lot of investment. Yes, there is strife and there are problems in Africa; problems in Côte d’Ivoire, in DR Congo, in Guinea, in Sudan, in Eritrea, in Somalia, but the risk/potential balance is right in many countries. “You’ll hear different schools of thought about Nigeria but there is probably a lot of pent up interest in the country, people waiting to see how it goes. Ghana is another jewel in the crown, but its power crisis might affect growth – we’ll have to see what effect the West African Gas Pipeline project has. However, Kenya’s economy is showing great strength and economies like Tanzania and Mozambique are growing by 7-9% a year. A lot of investment is going into Angola, Liberia is rebuilding and even in Sudan, which is a restricted country for a lot of people, I’m told there are huge amounts of money going into the south of the country to build infrastructure on the back of the oil and gas industry.”
"Now you are beginning to see more and more Africans taking their money out of their foreign bank accounts, earning 3% interest, and putting it back to work in their own countries. We’re seeing a huge flood of that.”
Read more
African businesses
Afrilitterature-
The latest African business issue:
2020 Vision
Nigeria’s Grand Plan
IT in Africa
Africa’s telecom’s revolution
Kuwait giant looks to Africa
A TV channel for mobiles
Hotel chains wake up to Africa
Ghana: Flying with oil
Senegal: Dubai takes Dakar stake
Nigeria: Oil on troubled waters?
Zambia: Westward route to sea
Zimbabwe: Crisis is a way of life
Mauritius: Tobacco industry hot
S Africa: Political muscle flexing?
Subscribe to the magazine
août 21, 2007
Deola Sagoe
The Deola Sagoe brand" ostensibly depicts earthly feminism in tasteful designs. Deola Sagoe refreshing exploration of that which is genuinely African evokes a subhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giftle nostalgia for history by her favored use of hand woven fabrics, accessories like cowries, crystals, and beads, as well as the extensive use of gold. She is well-known for her dynamic signature high fashion pieces as well as vibrant prêt-a-porter colletion."
Purchase Haute couture,Pret-a-porter or Denin collection.
Creativity and multiplicity of ideas in Contemporary African fashion industry
Afrifashion-
Designs from "design from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zimbabwe" will be showcased during the NEWAFRICA exhibit held from August 17th to September 30th in Rundetaarn.
In the media: Africa 2.0
In the media-
Africa 2.0 affecting changes using technology" will discuss how blogs, social networks, digital media and mobile technology are being used by businesses and citizens — both African and foreign — to affect change in Africa. The group of panelists will discuss adoption of mobile technology, community activism online and offline, and digital media’s effect on African."
The panel presented by G.Annan editor in chief @ Annansi.com represents a great opportunity for the business community to realize the impact of technology in the daily lives of Afrian consumers and assess how big of room there is for creative use of technology to the benefit of end-users and investors/companies.
Vote for this panel to be included in the 2008 SXSW interactive conference.click here to find out more.
août 18, 2007
Afriurban sound presents: Lupe Fiasco
Chicago-
Track by Wasalu Muhammad Jaco is songwriter/producer/rapper from chicago,USA.
Discography
Food and Liquor ( 2006)
The cool ( 2007)
août 17, 2007
Afribusiness: Afro coffee
Cape Town-
Afro cafe is a cultural coffee shop located in Cape Town,South Africa,that sells in addition to coffee,
Tea
Food
Fashion
Graphic design
Art
Any inquiries ?
Darkie
Capetown-
"A young design team creates fast-forward, fresh and youthful street wear with a recognized laidback feel. Interesting colour combinations, innovative patterns and funky prints, inspired by local heroes and humour, characterize Darkie style. Merging memories and future dreams- that’s what it’s all about."
Darkie offers Womenswear and Menswear collections.
Eritria
Afritravel-
(source Travelistic)
Essentials:
GDP- $4,500 billion
Pop- 4 million 400.000
Afriurban centers-Asmara,
Afriurban music-Hip hop
Africonference:The Nigeria Outsourcing conference
Abuja-
October 11-12 of 2007
The conference topics would center around:
. Outsourcing services for the banking, telecommunications and oil and gas sectors.
• Outsourcing services for the public sector
• Strategies and technologies to build effective contact centres
• Capacity building and training for the outsourcing and contact centre industry.
• Building an outsourcing industry for the international market.
août 16, 2007
Cousine Island
Cousine Island offers a relaxing and dream-like getaway from the hustle and bustle of Abidjan,Lagos,New York , Paris or Johannesburg. Located in the Seychelles a nation of the coast of continental Africa,Cousine is one the most exquisite sand beach Africa has to offer. Other sand beaches,such as the ones in Madagascar,Dakar,Zanzibar,Gd-Bassam,Cotonou,Cap Verde can hardly compete with this one amid the naturalistic rendered feeling of heaven that encompassed that geographic space.
€1400 per villa per night for 2 persons sharing:
-All meals
- All soft drinks and mineral water
- All alcoholic beverages (except selected wines on the reserve list)
- Complimentary meet & greet representative at Mahe International Airport
- Complimentary his/hers welcoming foot massage
Make a reservation
Contact for more information
août 15, 2007
Afriurban sound presents: Akon- Sorry blame it on me
Dakar-
The latest single by Sengalese artist Akon addresses among other things recent current affairs the singer had to face.
Congo
Afritravel-
(source travelistic)
Essentials of Kinshasa:
-Third largest metropolis in Africa after Cairo and Lagos
-Pop 9 million
-City of Kinshasa website
-University of Kinshasa website
août 14, 2007
Afriurban sound presents:Akala
"In 2006 Kingslee 'Akala' Daley, 24, redefined hip hop with his debut album "It's Not A Rumour", and the revolutionary, trance sampling underground smash hit "Shakespeare". The album, which he released on the independent label Illa State Records, received critical acclaim from the British press and earned Akala the Best Hip Hop Artist award at the 2006 MOBO awards in England where he beat out U.S. heavyweights Kanye West and Busta Rhyme."
Befriend him on Myspace
Befriend him on Bebo
Afritravel: Afriurban cities to live,work,learn and play
Afritravel-
Monocle magazine helps us identify some of the best Afriurban- places where a large number of citizens of African descent have settled - cities to live,work,learn & grow,and play.
Johannesburg:
Africa's financial powerhouse, built on the rewards of years of mining the surrounding goldfields, marches to the beat of its own, uniquely Afro drum beat. Huge inner city regeneration is rapidly making "Jozi" a real city again, and increased security means the rising upper class, or "Black Diamonds" have found a new playground to show off their wealth.
The city essentials are
1.built for business
2.Conviviality symbolized by handshake
3.Eleven official language
4.Wealth of game farms,private lodges and national parks
5.World cup 2010 frenzy is palpable
6.Biltong
7.Apartheid museum
8.Johannesburg Art gallery
New york:
Despite possibly the world's ugliest drive from airport to city, horrible hedge fund guys and publicists who have exploited any last sign of cool and originality from the city, it is still possible to find some magic in New York. With Barneys, the best theatre, restaurants and shopping, it's easy to be flash with your cash
The city essential are:
1.New Yorkers are friendlier than thought of
2.Subway system
3.Central park
4.Restaurant la grenouille
Sao Paulo:
South America's financial powerhouse is primarily defined by its size. Everything is enormous – the traffic jams, the number of bars and restaurants, the bodyguards and the scale of the cultural divide. As the biggest city in South America, São Paulo is the continent's melting pot. With the biggest Japanese and Lebanese communities outside their respective motherlands, São Paulo is no stranger to strangers. 1. Paulistanos love to meet visitors and entertain them even at home
2.Nightlife and exhilarating and vibrant
3.everything begins and ends in the restaurant
4.Public library
5. Art gallery
6.Restaurant Fasano
See more Afriurban cities and other cities.
In the media: The China brand
In the media-
“I’m not touching Chinese Food after all those headlines in the news.” By which we assume she really means the headlines about dodgy and poisoned goods coming out of China…
The quote taken from PSFK's" I am not eating Chinese food after all this headlines"
The power of the media on people's thoughts,perception of reality and ultimately their behavior and decisions-making are greatly influenced by the source of media they rely on to ingurgitate information.
Two things come to mind:
- How surprising !! the China brand seems to be doing quite well in the emerging markets of Africa-see here,here and here-
-If headlines,story lines and partial information/facts have that kind of pull on the psychological comfort of citizens and the behavior of consumers, it is all logical that the Brand Africa and the nations whose individual brands are attached to the Brand Africa are not able to attract but courageous and risk-taking investors,employers,employees and importers.
Afriupdate : Noella Coursaris on Afriville
Afriupdate-
The life and times of Noella Coursaris, such is the title of the conversation held on the Afriville platform between a candid and open Noella C. and the Afriville staff.
Previously announced , the first phase of a web 2.0 campaign for Noella Coursaris in collaboration with the very avant-garde African web browers- focused social network ( Afriville) might send the signal for a new marketing approach for African models,actors/actresses,writers,movie producers/directors and musicians.
In the media: What is China doing in African markets ?
In the media-
The Franco-german TV network Arte ,available on satelitte Tv and cable networks, in its program " Les dessous des cartes" discusses the market share -driven presence of Chinese companies and interests in the region.
août 13, 2007
In the media: China looks to hit rich in Africa
In the media-
An article ran by Bloggingstocks, tells of the high interest ,Chinese businesses have for African markets. Going where most American,European,Japanese and African investors and companies would not dare to, they are able to turn huge profits and along the way transfer technology and build much needed infrastructure.Read more
août 12, 2007
Afrimage: GTV
These are the channels offered by GTV a pan-African TV satellite service available in Kenya,Tanzania,Uganda,Rwanda,Burundi and other markets-Ghana,Namibia,Botswana,Zambia- in the near future.
We wonder what guided their selection of TV5 monde over France 24.
The market entered by GTV is relatively small compared to the total population- est.900 million- in Africa. Individual TV set owners are estimated at 40 millions, out this batch less than 4% access pay-per view programming.GTV 's strategy might be to position itself for a market that is deemed to grow as the size of the middle-class inflates across African markets.Moreover the pricing strategy ofGTV is on point as they want their customer to spend on their bill the normal amount they would otherwise on a night out with friends or renting out 4-6 DVDs a month,which many do.
Dstv,Canal + Horizon,GTV,who will win the Pay-per view battle in the African markets ?
août 11, 2007
Africonference: Cards Africa 2007
Johannesburg-
8-11 October 2007
The smart card industry is gaining tremendous ground in many African markets.Come and listen to the new and exciting opportunities that lie ahead for the banking,retail and mobile commerce industries in terms of payments and transactions applications.
Topics at the conference will cover notably :
* Cashless society
* Maximising revenues from both debit and credit card products
*Mobile e-money
*Industry convergence-Banks,mobile operators,and convenience retail merchants
*Customer data security
Read full programme
Register
Fly there
août 10, 2007
In the media:African leadership academy
Quick facts about the academy:
-
Outstanding students from across Africa and the world
-
Two year, intense academic program for 16-19 year old boys and girls
-
Entry based solely on merit
-
Scholarships available for students with financial need
-
Access to the world's finest universities after graduation
-
Internationally recognized A-level curriculum
-
Emphasis on leadership development, entrepreneurial training, and understanding African issues
-
World-renowned international faculty with outstanding credentials and experience
-
Average class size of 12
-
Initial school size: 100 students
-
Target total student body of 250 students; 125 per year
-
Academic year: September to June
Watch
Apply today
Donate
Contact them
Afrifashion:BezehemMaitan
Paris-
The line ,which is the creation of Mai Tan and Bezehem ,feeds its originality from multicultural sources.
Befriend them @Myspace
Official site
See also Spectrumwomen
Afrifashion: The new frontier of design
Cape Town-
The magazine Papierdoll, features a story by Marquita Harris, claiming the African fashion market as the new frontier of design. Aside from being the most culturally diverse continent in the world and possessing some of the most beautiful scenery one can encounter, fashion thrives here. Africa's fashion scene is nothing short of inspiring and more advanced than most realise. Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa alone possess a myriad of designers worthy of showing in Paris or New York. These are just 3 of the countries containing some of the most progressive and intriguing designers many have yet to see. This past March Nigeria launched its own Calabar fashion week, based on the ever-expanding group of young, talented designers, with innovative visions for Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Kenya,South africa,Nigeria,Cote D'Ivoire can be considered some of the most fashion-forward markets and should see the solidification of their fashion-retail industries in the long-term.
Read more
In the media: Ecobank enters Rwanda
In the media-
Ecobank recently expanded their network- Cap-vert,Sierra Leone,Liberia,Mali,Cote D'Ivoire,Nigeria,Togo,Benin,Ghana,Niger,Chad,Cameroon,Central Africa-by entering the vibrant Rwandese market.
Some facts about Ecobank:
2002 2006
Profits 16.6 86
Assets 1142 3504
Ecobank is listed on three West African Exchange, the Lagos Stock Exchange, the Ghana Stock Exchange and the BRVM.
In the media:Australian firm's mining interests in Guinea
The BBC reports on the discovery of large Uranium reserves in Guinea. The Australian company Murchison United ( ASX:MUR) who has been granted six exploration licenses by the government of Guinea in the exploration of minerals, made the recent discovery.
Civilian use of Uranium is limited to the supply of nuclear power plants and reactors, Africa itself has a dozen nuclear reactors in Algeria,Egypt,Libya,Morocco, and South Africa.
Murchison's official site
Some facts about Guinea
Pop-9 million 500.000
GDP- $19 billion
Afriurban cities- Conakry,Labe,Kankan,Nzerekore.
Africonference: 2007 Business partners in Africa conference
Port Louis-
2-4 September 2007
The conference organized by Pricewaterhousecoopers will have the following topics:
-Attributes that attract multinational to the region and keep successful Africa based corporations
- The telecommunication landscape, looking to the future
- The race for Nigeria
-Business process outsourcing in Africa
-Democratic republic of Congo,opportunities abound
-Venture capital in Africa
Fees
Register today
Afriurban sound presents: Kanye west
Album-Graduation- in a store near you or one click away,c'est selon.
Afribusiness: Kencall
Nairobi-
This leading outsourcing company provides its clients with professional and affordable remote service and sales support. We do this by taking our staff through psychometric testing, attitude management and extensive skills training. Kencall believes that in raising the confidence level of its staff it empowers them to provide world class client support.
Kencall revenues have grown to $ 3.8 million since the beginning of operations,mainly from providing satisfying services to firms like Earthlink ( NASDAQ:ELNK).
Services includes:
-Inbounding customer service and support
* Help desk support
* IT support
-Outbound sales and marketing
*Lead generation and customer prospecting
*Appointment setting
*Telesales
*Market and customer surveys
Industries of expertise:
- Mobile phone
-Mortgage brokerage
-Telecommunications
-Web development
-Intranet development
-Insurance
-Health care
-Media
-Banking
Contact them
Official site
In the media: Resident Evil
In the media-
Trailer 1 and 2 of the Video game "Resident Evil 5" created by Capcom ( Public:TYO:9697) a Japanese international developer and publisher of video games. Creator of global brands such as Pokemon and street fighters, the company develops games for Sony(NYSE:SNE, TYO: 6758 ) playstation,Nintendo(FWB:NTO,NASDAQ:NTDOY) Wii and Microsoft(NASDAQ:MSFT ) Xbox. The plot of the game, set to be released in the last quarter of 2007, takes the main character of the story to a African country that sees its citizen threaten by an unknown virus.
The virus put the individuals contaminated by it in a zombie-like trance.
Previously in the media
août 09, 2007
Africonference: The emerging market conference
London-
While the conference will focus a bit more on the highly covered BRICs ,seeing the growth rate in Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana,South Africa,Ghana,Rwanda,Kenya,Angola ,Egypt and other high growth emerging African markets, the lens offered by the conference will allow you to establish the foundation for an African strategy as well.
The September 24Th-25Th 2007 Emerging markets summit: prospect for long term sustainability held in London,will address key lessons for success for those that are taking emerging markets seriously.
Topics:
-Investment prospects which predicts the most rewarding investment locations for the years ahead
-Increasing market size across sectors
-Best organisational structure for building business in emerging markets
-Burgeoning middle class for attractive talent resources
-Why is R&D increasingly moving to emerging markets and what are the preferred locations ?
-Comparatively low costs
-Emerging innovations to overcome the lack of basic infrastructure
-Technologies that are driving growth and revolutionising the way businesses are conducted
-Lessons from the business models of emerging-African- markets investing successfully in emerging markets.
-Best practise for off-shoring, and outsourcing
-Best practise and strategy--demonstrated through case studies
-Raising capital-investment opportunities in emerging markets
-Real estate challenge in emerging-African-markets Lawyer in Ivory Coast
-Customising your country risk management strategy
-Importance of employer brand
This is an economist conferences production
Register
août 08, 2007
Afrimedia: The mobile generation
Afrimedia-
In more ways than one, young adults of today are the mobile generation. They have traveled -much more -the world and have been exposed to more than one culture by the time they turn 21. Compare to them, their parent generation look like reclusive nuns or monks preserved from any contact with the worldly world.
Technologies have allowed this shift in the way we experience the world, planes have shortened distance, television and movies have created common memories, the Internet and cellphones have reduced space-time.In other words, the youth of today is nowhere and everywhere at the same time, an they are loving it and experiencing it with all their heart.
The digital evolution-software and hardware-which is enabling an abundance of information to move faster,cheaper,in more intelligible form,in more directions. They are roughly 100 million wireless subscribers in Africa-Pop 900 million- and that number is expected to triple. The mobile devices-Smartphones,Mp3 players,Laptop- are easy to use ,widespread and intimate.
An entire generation of young African adults will see a change in the way they work , play, interact with one another-within their nations and with their neighbors- and think. Businesses ,institutions and individuals are adapting to the new possibilities offered by the technology.
Possibilities
M-banking
M-health
M-jobsearch
M-trade.
The Mobile telephony marketplace
Essential companies in the African markets are
MTN group ( Public:JSE:MTN ) servicing 44 million customers and presents in: Cote D'Ivoire,Benin,Ghana,Cameroon,Guinea Bissau,Liberia,Nigeria,Rwanda,Sudan,South Africa, Swaziland,Uganda and Zambia.
Orange S.A a subsidiary of France Telecom( Public:NYSE:FTE,EURONEXT:FTE ) operates in: Cote D'Ivoire,Cameroon,Madagascar,Mali,Senegal,Egypt,Botswana.
Vodafone ( Public:LSE:VOD,NYSE:VOD,FWB:VOD) services in : Democratic republic of Congo,Egypt,Kenya,Lesotho,Mozambique,Tanzania,and South Africa.
Celtel services over 22 millions in:BurkinaFaso,Tchad,RDC,Congo,Gabon,Kenya,Madagascar,Malawi,Niger,Nigeria,Sierra Leone,Sudan,Tanzania,Uganda,Zambia.
Realities of the mobile landscape
-Hundred of millions of text messages are sent everyday among friends,lovers,married couples,political activists and workers to carry messages of affection,love,commerce and warning.
- Content and utility rather than conversation are more important
-Each culture absorbs and internalizes technologies indifferent ways,what young adults will do in Abidjan,Dakar,Tunis or Addis-Abeba is different of what others will do in Durban,Mombasa,Lagos,Kigali,or Brazzaville.
Shifting cultural behavior and perceptions
Will mobile devices and technology lead to ,a shared experience for young African adults,the acquisition of a commonality and a pan-African social glue. The new set of skills-e.g:texting- has become an everyday part of life for many youths in urban- rural as well- centers throughout Africa.
The new economies of the mobile Internet societies are bending the new wireless tools in different directions, there is the possibility now to send a text to a SMS- enabled device to make a purchase.SMS text messaging revenues are greater than Hollywood box office,global music sales,and video game software revenues combined.
Mobile Internet can really open doors to multiple avenues of monetizing products,services and content.
Mobile content industry structure
-Content provider creates or owns the broadcasting and distribution rights.
-Broadcaster buy,produce,transform into broadcast ready formats,content.
-Mobile aggregators adapt content to the requirement of handsets and package programs for mobile delivery.
-Network operators supply infrastructure for broadcasting operating.
-Operating system producers make the software that powers the mobile TV devices
Customer service and M-governance
Mobile phone accounts for 75% of all telephone connections in 19 markets in Africa.Individuals and businesses can shop around for supplies,contractors or consultants.In Nairobi,Kenya, a text messaging service has been set up to alert employment seeking workers to position openings.
Fishermen in Tanzania uses the cellphone to get fishing,weather and market information to know when to go to sea and the demand and market price.In Zambia, vendors of coca cola(Public: NYSE : KO ) order in new inventory by sms.
New mobile technology has changed how business services and institutions relate to their constituencies. There is an ongoing immediate and more organic dialogue between the general public and private and public service providers.Individuals can query and receive information on directions to a location,the stock market,commodity prices,time of arrival and departure of train,plane ,or bus.
Aspen institute roundtable
on information technology
Our world is in constant motion and permanently involving.Customers,Producers and governments are embedded in a web of changes, let's get used to it and make the most out of it.
Afribusiness: Fourth Quarter around the corner- Tax haven
Afribusiness-
Africa's tax havens offer the entrepreneurs and the owners of firms in Africa a chance to avoid high rates of taxes in their countries of origins.
Highest-corporate- tax rates per country in Africa:
1.Egypt 40%
2.Cameroon 38.5 %
3.Zambia/Morocco 35%
4.Senegal 33%
5.Tunisia/Nigeria 30%
6.South Africa 29%
Seychelles and Mauritius are the closest off-shore financial centers available to corporations,entrepreneurs and businesses in Africa. Tax havens traditionally benefit , firms that do not require a specific geographical location or are not labour intensive e.g Internet based companies,reinsurance companies,mutual funds, and life insurance. Mauritius itself has attracted over 9000 offshore entities,are you going to be next ?
Common offshore activities:
Offshore banking
Offshore insurance
Operational headquarters
International licensing and franchising
International assets management
International trading
Mauritius Chamber of commerce
In the media: African cup of nation 2008
Accra-
January 20- February 10 hosted in Ghana.
Host cities and venues
Accra
Kumasi
Tamale
Takoradi
Just a reminder.........
Official site
Also visit newly arrived social network in the web 2.0 world, Ole Ole. The site gives you the platform to discuss the players,clubs, results of the European championships, as well as major soccer events- Copa America,Euro 2008, and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa-
Africonference: Ghana West Africa's next business ?
Accra-
Amid socio-economic performance and political stability, the Ghanaian nation is turning into west Africa financial and economic hub.
The Business roundtable - 9th to the 10th of october 2007- in Accra,Ghana , will discuss the present state of affairs in this striving economy and the future of this market.
Topics
Beyond Cocoa and Gold- Kind of late on this one-
Export zones
Ghana traders and the -ending- crisis in Cote d'Ivoire
Resolving electricity crisis
Telecommunication sector
Manufacturing in Ghana
Offshore service centers
Register
Afrimedia presents:Kehinde Wiley
New york-
The artist known as Kehinde wiley is a contemporary painter that marries traditional painting techniques and modern topics and subjects,notably young urban African-Americans that usually do not get to be represented in such a modern,dignified and glamorous manner.
Visit his site
Visit the following exhibitions
@ the National portrait gallery
@ Rhona Hoffman gallery
@Portland Art museum
@ Cornell fine Arts museum
In the media : Afrobasket 2007
Luanda- The Pan-African competition organised by the African federation of basketball would see the participation of various African nations.
Group A
Angola
Cap vert
Rwanda
Morocco
Group B
Senegal
Cote D'Ivoire
Mali
Egypt
Group C
Nigeria
Central African Republic
Liberia
RDC
Group D
Mozambique
Tunisia
Cameroun
South Africa
The locations: Luanda,Benguela,Lubengo,Huambo and Cabinda.
Official site of the competition
août 07, 2007
Afriurban sound presents:Big things popping ( Remix)
Brooklyn-
Cassidy ,who is signed to Swizz Beatz 's record label "Full Surface" distributed by Interscope Records, is releasing another musical product into the market.
Discography* Cassidy*
Split personnality (2004)
I Am Hustla (2005)
B.A.R.S (2007)
Add Cassidy as a friend
Discography*Fabolous*
Ghetto Fabolous (2001)
Street Dreams (2003)
Real Talk(2004)
From something to nothing (2007)
Proven Point (2008)
Add Fabolous as Friend
Discography*Swizz Beatz*
One Man Band (2007)
Add Swizz Beatz as a Friend
In the media: The power of intellectual capital
Myglobalhustle-"When African men and women of ideas, who will give birth to new ideas, have fled to Europe and the United States, then the so-called African Renaissance cannot occur in Africa. It can only occur inParis, London and New York. There are more Soukous musicians in Paris, than in Kinshasha; more African professional soccer players in Europe, than in Africa. African literature is more at home abroad than it is in Africa. In other words, Africans in Europe are alleviating poverty in Europe, not in Africa. Until the men and women of ideas - the true healers of Africa - start returning home,the African Renaissance and poverty alleviation will remain empty slogans. After all, the brightest ideas are generated and harnessed by men of ideas."
Read more
août 06, 2007
Afriurban sound presents: Hov
Brooklyn- In the urban music industry as in any industry only a few individuals and entities are able to pull themselves above the common lot of their peers or competitors.
Quite often the pattern is that they embody values,concepts ,rules that are aligned with power.
When we say power,we mean truth,understanding-of one's self and others-patience,creativity,cautious fearlessness,love for the game of life,patience,long-term vision and talent.
Sean carter known as Jay-z is a few of the entertainer that was able to turn this one opportunity into a full branded business that generates endless cash flows and new investment opportunities.
The new campaign launched by the Rocawear fashion group in collaboration with Blackplanet,Myspace-owned by News Corporation ( Public:ASE:NWS, LSE:NCRA,NYSE:NWS)- and Allhiphop allowed them to carry in a nice fashion to the general public the slogan-I Will Not Lose- that probably permeates a lot what Sean Carter, Rocafella and Rocawear -Annual retail sale $700 million- are about.
-Jay-z featuring Pharrel-
-Young Hov featuring Bionic Beyonce-
Rocafella Records Since 1996
Afrilitterature: Half a yellow sun
"Thirteen-year-old Ugwu is employed as a houseboy for a university professor full of revolutionary zeal. Olanna is the professor's beautiful mistress, who has abandoned her life of privilege in Lagos for a dusty university town and the charisma of her new lover. And Richard is a shy young Englishman in thrall to Olanna's twin sister, an enigmatic figure who refuses to belong to anyone. As Nigerian troops advance and they must run for their lives, their ideals are severely tested, as are their loyalties to one another."
BBC 4 interview of the Author
NPR interview of the Author
Purchase the book
@Amazon US (Public:NASDQ:AMZN
@Amazon Canada
@Amazon UK
@Kachifo
@Barnes and Nobles ( Public:NYSE:BKS)
Intra-travel and tourism in Africa
T&T accounts for 10.3 % world GDP and 234 million jobs ,International arrivals amounted to 763 million in 2004.To drive intra-nation tourism growth through consumer-centric marketing should be the central part of the strategy put forth by African tourists boards, Ministry of trade and investment promotion.
All nations compete aggressively to attract tourism investment and in many instances profesional and persuasive communication is the only difference between an economic market able to attract investors and one not able.
Building adequate infrastructure
Most favored travel destinations:
Morocco
Egypt
South Africa
Botswana
Namibia
Tanzania
Gambia
Mauritania
Algeria
Zambia
Kenya
Uganda
Mali
Zimbabwe
Madagascar
Burkina Faso
Malawi
Nigeria
Benin
Ethiopia
Cameroon
Mozambique
Lesotho
Angola
Burundi
Chad
Also see:
World Tourism Organisation
août 05, 2007
In the media: The Chinese connection
800 chinese companies operate in 49 African markets. What are the names of the Chinese companies winning contracts in Africa and how many of them are listed on the Shanghai stock exchange ?
The economist frames the China-African relationship in the context of such a large presence of mostly State-owned Chinese companies in African markets. Oil drilling ,minerals excavating,roadsbuilding,railways,tourism,agriculture,stadiums,hospitals,schools and factories are some of the projects supervised by the Chinese companies throughout the 49 different markets.
China top trading partner in Africa in 2005
1 South Africa
2 Angola
3 Sudan
4 Nigeria
5 The republic of Congo
6 Egypt
7 Algeria
8 Morroco
9 Equatorial Guinea
10 Lybia
Some facts about China
Pop- 1.3 billion
GDP- 2.6 trillion
Forum on China-Africa relations
Africonference:Private banking and Wealth management
Johannesburg- "High net wealth management strategies in Africa" will be the topic dujour when banking and finance managers meet October 2nd-5th in Johannesburg South Africa.
Global wealth market is currently estimated at $ 85 trillion and should reach the $100 trillion mark.
As African economies experience excellent growth and are poised to continue to do so at a faster rate for the decade to come,high net worth individuals will become as common as the circle of millionaires growing in Russia,Brazil,India and China.
Panelists and presenters are going to be leaders and experts from private banks,investment banks,merchant banks,wealth managers, insurance industry,estate planning consultancies,and pension funds.
Topics:
Strategy
Methodologies
System and wealth creating ideas
Register
Afriliterature:Understanding Power-The indispensable Chomsky
The book is a must read for those eager to bring about social change. Change can only take place when we understand the players,the forces, the interests and dynamics shaping the world we live in. There is a lot of talk of (re) building African economies and cultures , in order to do we ought to identify the elements inside and outside that are direct determinant of our environment.
The lens given to us by Chomsky allow us ,to understand how the world has been functioning in the past 50 years or so, but also to the keen of mind , to trace our own path within that environment. It is something that China and India understood and their rise clearly demonstrates that.
"Characterized by Chomsky's accessible and informative style,Understanding Power is the ideal book for those new to his work as well as for those who have been listening for years." .
Chomsky also wrote:
Manufacturing consent: The political economy of the mass media
Necessary illusions: thought control in democratic societies
Official site
Purchase book @ Amazon( Public:
août 04, 2007
Afriliterature: Transcending the African stereotypes
A venture in Africa: Transcending the African stereotypes is a excellent read that would let you in the inside of a Banking & Financial company operating in multiple markets in Africa.
The psycho-dynamics and cultural paradigms affecting productivity, investment choices, interpersonal interaction among staff and upper management.
Excerpts from the book:
"The cultural divide between the Zambian-led group and its new partners in BIAO was wide. Perhaps it should have been clear at this point that using the merger between Meridien, the ITM-owned bank, and BIAO to create an African based banking network with a better understanding of the continent’s needs, and an ability to foster development of private African enterprise, was going to be extremely difficult given the attitudes of the French and Francophone Africans. The clash of cultures is vividly illustrated by the reaction of the French managers in West Africa to Sardanis’ edict that each bank in the CFA zone keeps its spare cash in vaults in US dollar travellers’ cheques as a hedge against devaluation. The anticipated devaluation did take place in 1993. Unfortunately all but a couple of the managers sold the travellers’ cheques to foreign and settler businesses a week or so before the devaluation, at great cost to Meridian-BIAO."
"In addition to the cost of cultural illiteracy, ITM was also subjected to negative propaganda by players threatened by its success in the market place. There is ample evidence in the book of colonial bank resentment of Meridien BIAO’s success."
"The particular target of this campaign was Meridien BIAO Zambia which introduced hitherto unseen innovative products like the Meridien Card, a smart card that not only acted as an electronic purse but also verified customer identity and thus expedited service in the banking hall."
" But this book is not just about the attitude of colonial banks and multinationals towards Africans. It is also about an Africa that we are rarely shown by the media. It’s about an Africa with indigenous professional and business people capable of cutting deals with the most astute negotiators around the globe; it’s about an Africa with a determined and resilient entrepreneurial class whose vocabulary does not include the word ‘fail’."
The book is not available online for the moment, Could it be a deal for a publishing 2.0 company would acquire the copyrights for this piece of literature and sell under different formats, Audiobook, ad -supported podcast series,PDF file.
The company could partner with African social networks or social networks heavily used by Africans to promote and sell their products.
Good luck to whoever take up the challenge to distribute African oriented literature.
Africaincorp: Public announcement
We are in the process of finishing the experiment we started months ago. Africaincorp would transform into a full fledged media and information outlet that should concentrate on the trends,happenings and experiences shaping the African urban canvas.
There is a silent minority in the various African urban centers valiantly seeking outlets to express their creativity and inner visions in fields as varied as Bio-technology,music &entertainment, film,fashion,theatre,architecture,marketing,communication,finance,retail and agriculture.
A socially aware demographics that rely on their individual archetypes to mold,shape and build products,services, thus ultimately bringing about an environment that they can enjoy and share with the global village.
It is their stories and actions we want to report to you using all available media and platforms.
Through the use of inspirational writing, exclusive video-interview and video-reportage, "Sheetaisque"conferences discussing the needs/applications of contemporary African consumers/producers of goods-services, publications, innovative advertising campaigns, and intelligent partnerships.
Africaincorp will be in need of financial backing in the months to come. We are tweeking around with the business plan, trying to identify all possible revenue streams , new and improved manner to deliver information and content to a demographic that would include
Professionals
Investors
Travelers
African consumers
The plain curious
Africaincorp will be a hip,youthful,multicultural approach to African markets,consumers and culture.
See you soon
Afriurban poll: Your source of information please ?
Sondage
A lot of conversations with school educated individuals and corporate workers in the western world, when about African markets and the opportunities available there often turn to the bizarre,the grotesque and sometimes paranoia.
Tales of instability,corruption,laziness,lawlessness,and 419 haunt the verbal exchange and keep two healthy brain from birthing an idea but instead plunge them into a sea of despair and depression.
The United States,UK,Sweden,Germany,New Zealand,Australia,Japan "became " wealthy nations. They has not been wealthy since the beginning of times, they were destitute and became wealthy.
How a society becomes wealthy is dependant of many factors some, socio-economic, some psycho-cultural and some knowledge-based.
One of the main factor of wealth acquisition/building is timely access to relevant information.
Where and what type of information you gather and rely on can send a person, a corporation,an industry and a nation into a spiral of profits or tremendous losses.
When it comes to African economies:
What is the definition of relevant information
Who gathers and packages the information
Who has access to and uses the information
How fluid does the information circulate
What platforms are going to be used to distribute information ( Mobile phone,Professional Media Weblogs, Online Newspaper, Terrestrial and Internet Radio,Social Networks)
What price is information going to be sold at ( free ad-supported,subscription based,state-sponsored)
are issues that are going to shape the future of our economies for best or for worst.
The culture code
"Why are people around the world so very different? What makes us live, buy, even love as we do? The answers are in the code."
The answers are in the code according to the author of this formidable book on culture,behavior,interaction and psychology.
Whenever Entrepreneurs and businesses look to enter the African markets,they should assuredly try to identify,understand and include the codes of the societies they wish to sell products and services to.
What is the code for sex,food,money,consumption,stock market,vacation,travel,Internet,mobile phone,health and many more in the African psyches ?
To have and work with the the answers that are sure to differ from Senegal, to South Africa via Tunisia would , would make the difference between those that make it and those that do not in these modern African markets of ours.
What makes a Kenyan "Kenyan", what makes an Ivorian "Ivorian" and what makes an Moroccan "Moroccan" are answers the savvy professional,entrepreneur,investors and executives are actively seeking as we speak.
Businesses and other mediums that are able to provide the answer or at least a lead will make a lot of money along the way. These answers would then be at the core of any product and service development so that customers throughout the vibrant African economies would be offered products that are in line with the codes.
Some excerpts from the book:
"Culture is a structure ,all cultures have a language, an art , a habitat, a history."
" Every culture is composed of archetypes and of tensions between opposing archetypes"
"Individuals develop mental scripts "
Purchase the book
@ amazon (Public: NASDAQ:AMZN )
@ barnes and nobles (PUBLIC:NYSE:BKS)
@ booksense
@ walmart ( PUBLIC:NYSE:WMT )
Official site
Afrifashion: Akua Adoma by Nana Boatang
( picture by Krisztina Fazekas)
Brooklyn-
Nana Boatang is a promising couturier.The individual has very vivacious and geometrical sense of style.
Akua Adoma is the name of his clothing company, visit the official site to have an idea of the range of his collection.
août 03, 2007
In the media : The Chinese connection
Some facts about the chinese presence in Africa:
-1.6 billion in direct foreign investment in Africa
-800 Chinese companies are present and very active in the African markets
- some example of their activities,Railroad projects in Angola, Satellites in Nigeria,Mobile phone network in Ethiopia
-Establishement of a 5 billion investment fund destined exclusively to Africa ,managed by China Eximbank that has offices in Johannesburg, South Africa.
( source U.S news)
Afriurban sound : Swizz beat - The one man band
New York-
Swizz Beat is ,the sonic mind behind urban hits for chart-topping artists ,Busta Rhymes,Jay-z, T.I.P,DMX,EVE,Cassidy,Bone thugs and harmony,Beyonce, and Usher.
In addition to the music industry, Swizz is also a club owner, a fashion designer,a toy maker, and a UN music ambassador.
Flashback track:
The album is released 8-27-07
Official website
Befriend Swizz on Hisspace
Afriupdate: Africa the next chapter
This is one of the first talk from the TED Conference that took place in Tanzania a few weeks ago. The speaker Euvin Naidoo, a VP at South African Standard Bank ( JSE: SBK) shares with the attendees some highlights marking the socio-economic rise of Africa in the past years.
Key highlights:
-Inflation is going down across Africa
Inflation moved from 16% to 8 % in Egypt
South Africa,Mauritius,Namibia all have been in the single digit for years.
-Currency trends are the same across the continent stable.
-Africa is not a country .it is made up of 53 different countries,each country has its specific opportunities.
-The boom in consumer spending happening in most African economies will continue
-By 2020 Nigeria will be in the top twenty economies of the world
-2.8 billion investment industrial complex in Egypt for textile and petrochemicals.
-Tanzania launched the east African organic products standards.
-Nigeria 's banking system has only 700 ATMs for 150 million inhabitants and 10% only banking.
-In 2005 Egypt stock market returns 150%
2006 Nigeria stock exchange returned over 40%
2006 Nairobi Stock exchange returned over 60%
2006 South Africa stock returned over 20 %
-CNBC Africa has been launched
In the media: Africa equity funds
Timbuktu chronicles posts about the establishement by South African based asset manager Stanlib of African equity funds, that would target the main markets of Africa except for RD Congo,Cote D'Ivoire and Zimbabwe.
The company is the third largest manager of assets in South Africa.The company is also present and active in Botswana,Kenya,Lesotho,Namibia,Swaziland and Uganda.
It is well that Institutional African investors get on the band-wagon of Africa investment funds, and let's hope that individual investors do the same through their personal accounts or by use of investment partnerships a.k.a mutual funds.
Cape Town-"1st for Women has been looking after the interest’s of women since 2003 and was the first insurance company tailored specifically to the short term insurance needs of South African women.Women are a better insurance risk and can therefore benefit from lower insurance premiums on their cars and homes as well as additional benefits like medical, trauma and road assist."
See their information manual
Their services include the following:
_ Automobile insurance
-Home content insurance
-Portable possession( sunglasses,jewelery etc..) insurance
-Motorcycle insurance
-Building an home coverage
They even thrown in a bundle of free benefits:
-Entertainment assist( Hotel booking,general travel arrangement,etc..)
-Road assist
-Trauma assist
-Home assist
- Legal assist
Afriurban sound presents: Weezy
(source The fader)
New orleans-
Weezy the baby is the stage name by which Dwayne Michael Carter Jr is known by consumer of urban music.The songwriter, multiplatinum selling grammy-nominated, US rapper published through the label Cash money records.Interestingly enough he assumes the role of president at the aforementioned label and is also the CEO of Young money entertainement.
Discography
The block is hot(1999)
Lights out ( 2000)
500 degreez (2002)
Tha carter ( 2004)
Tha carter II (2005)
Like father,like son (2006)
I cannot feel my face(2007)
The carter III ( 2008)
Dedication (2008)
Cash money records is distributed by Universal records whose parent company is the Universal music group. The Universal Music Group also distributes or has interest in, So So def recording,Roc-a-fella records,Def Jam records,G-unit records,Star Trek entertainment,Geffen records,Konvict Music,Tuff Gong records,The Inc records, and Aftermath Entertainment among other labels.
The French media conglomerate Vivendi S.A( Euronext:VIV) with operations that go beyond Music publishing and into,television,film,telecommunication,video games and the Internet,is the rightful owner and grand beneficiary of the profits generated by these urban music producing imprints.
Befriend Weezy
août 02, 2007
Africonference: Water congress 2007
Johannesburg- The future of water delivery,sanitation,service delivery,PPP development,new markets and new technological solutions will be thoroughly discussed at the 2007 Africa water conference.
The conference theme are:
- Non-revenue water management
- Operation and maintenance of water assets
- Realizing efficiencies in water provisioning
- Integrated water resource management
- Water leakage technology
Register here
Download brochure
Afriupdate: Noella And Afriville
London- The African Urban social network Afriville and the Congolese supermodel Noella Coursaris have joined hands ,for a campaign on the social network that would build a better awareness of this particularly active and successful fashion model.
Fashion ,which is an industry that consists of the designers,mannequins, magazines,manufacturers,retailers and other information gatekeepers, needs to have its influencers and movers advertise to the public. Their experience,the knowledge of the trade as well as their aspirations are a good source of information for people interested in the industry for professional or mundane reasons.
Afriville itself has underwent another face-lift, the site is very easy on the eyes and easier to navigate. The segmentation of the site along national line and themes should make it easier for first time visitor of the site as well as "habitues" to enjoy this functional Internet platform.
Create an account
Afriurban sound presents: Will.I.Am _ From my mama
Los Angeles- This is the latest tune produced and performed by Will.I.Am from the US Hip Hop group the Black eyed Peas. The song features Nicole Sherzinger from the Pussy cat dolls on the hook and background.
A talented producer , Will is currently working on projects for the likes of Maria Carey,Amerie,Rihanna,Cassidy,Lil Wayne,Fabolous, and Nigerian-American Chammillionaire.
Get ready for his upcoming solo album"Songs about girls"
Afrimage: OGB
"Combien Savent" translate to How many know , how many really know their true worth, how many know their talents,limits,forces ,and weaknesses.
How many know their enemies and their friends,how many know the value of their culture,their experiences,their insight
How many know the wealth existing in the African markets,how many know how to exercise their right to wealth,ownership and generosity to size this wealth and offer it to the global market?
Shall we will ever know ?
Afriurban sound presents: OGB- "Sans rancunes" Et "Tristes Realites"
Algiers-
OGB is a lyricist-composer, from the greatest Hip Hop group of France. La mafia Africaine has singlehandedly shifted the paradigm in the french hip hop scene since, KeryRohff,Demon one,Rim K, AP, OGB,Mokobe,Mista Flow,Manu Key,Dry,Teddy Corona,Jessy Money,Popa,Bakar,entered the music industry with their bravado,wiit, words of wisdom to the disanfranchised crowds in the french suburbs and inspiration to achieve beyond what a racist,sexist and prejudice society tells you can. Enjoy two tracks by the second most introspective MC( out of the group) after Kery James.
Discography de OGB
Vitry club ( 1999)
Enferme Dehors ( 2006)
Discography de la Mafia k'1fry
Les Liens sacres ( 1998)
La cerise sur le Ghetto( 2003)
Jusqu'a la mort ( 2007)
OGB official site
Add him as a friend on Myspace
Mafia k'1fry official site
Add la mafia as a friend on Myspace
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