SAMPLE ISSUE

The SPECIAL REPORT: 50 Years of Independent Zambia

AFRICAN COURIEROctober /November 2014 • No. 98 / Vol.17

  ISSN 1867–0105 | International Magazine Published in Germany | www.theafricancourier.de

Ernest Koroma Helen Zille Ben Ali Bongo Ondimba Raila Odinga
Mohammed IV Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi
Nana Akufo-Addo Adams Oshiomole
Asha-Rose Migiro Attahiru Jega Christiana Thorpe Babatunde Fashola
Thabo MbekiNkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Kayode Fayemi Akinwumi Adesina
Kofi Annan
John Kufuor Aliko Dangote Bethlehem Alemu Ashish Thakkar Andrew Rugasira

Best Key actors
of driving the
progress of
Africa the rising
continent

Tony ElumeluGervais Djondjo Acha Leke Mo Ibrahim Paul Fokam Mo Abudu James Mwangi
Damisa MoyoStrive Masiyiwa Donald Kaberuka
Botswana Ozwald Boateng Baffour Ankomah
Cape Town Shoprite DStv Leymah Gbowee Hugh Masekela Denis Mukwege
Biram Abeid Stephen Keshi Samuel Eto’o Haile Gebrselassie Lupita Nyong’o Koffi Olomide

Youssou N’Dour Chimamanda Adichie Nollywood

Germany € 3 • Austria/Benelux/France/Spain/Italy € 3.20 • Denmark DKr 27 • Sweden SKr 35 • Switzerland SFr 5.20 • UK £ 2
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COVER Contents Africa

ISSN 1867-0105

Publisher
Femi Awoniyi
Associate Publishers:
Ken Chukwudi Alaekwe, Musah Ibrahim
Musah, Dr Osei Asante Gyapong, Cecil
Okwu, Issa Abdullahi, Bugs Steffen
Address

Best Key actors driving the The African Courier Verlag
of progress of the rising Klingenweg 17/1
continent 69118 Heidelberg
Africa Germany
Pages 10 – 41
Phone: +49 - 6221 - 434 39 24
Mobile: +49 - 162 - 104 6039
Fax: +49 - 6221 - 434 39 25
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.theafricancourier.de

SPECIAL Editor-in-Chief Femi Awoniyi

Zambia at 50 Associate Editors Charles Ofoji
Isaac Umunna
Seun Akioye

• “This country is the Photographers Alexander Bauer
envy of Africa!” Martina Markwart
Stephen Puni

Bugs Steffen

• Interview with Design/Layout Sahar Aharoni

Ambassador Bwalya Senior Contributing Editors
Pages 6 – 9 Jojo Cobbinah, Mickie Ojijo
Chiti
Contributing Editors
Across Mali Ekpenyong Ani, Ken Chigbo, Jacob Crawfurd, Taiwo
in uneasy travel Danjuma, Sab Ekeh, Alex Macbeth, Sylvester Katua
times Mutuku, Mathias Victorien Ntep, Kunle Oladapo,
Isaac Umunna, Eleonore Wiedenroth-Coulibaly

CULTURE Correspondents

Wole Ajuwon, Kwame Appiah, Ousainou Bayo, Larry
Bello, David Boahene, Prince Dare-Abiola, Onu
Onson Ethelbert, Victor Francis, Jonathan Gangman,
Isaac Izoya, Sola Jolaoso, Gyavara Lasana, Evelyn
Mensah, Janet Mor, Dimson Edobong Ntarok, Austin
Ohaegbu, Alfred Oryeda, Herman van Wietmarschen

Correspondents in Africa

Seun Akioye (Nigeria), Gbenga Alaka (Nigeria)
Tim Apau (Ghana), Ernest Maximore (Liberia),
Mohammed Mubarak (Ghana), Zachary Ochieng
(Kenya), Kunle Oladapo (Nigeria), Lugard Osayande
(The Gambia), Emmanuel Wongibe (Cameroon)

Pages 42 – 48 African fashion subscription
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The African Courier  October | November 2014  3

P u b lis h e r ' s N o t e editorial

Best of Africa 50
Sustained economic growth in many African coun- In August at the US-Africa Business Forum, a joint ven-
tries is lifting millions out of poverty. Owing to the ture was announced by the Blackstone Group of Ameri-
abundance of natural resources across the conti- ca and the Dangote Group. Each will contribute US$2.5
nent and its rapidly growing middle class, Africa has now billion to a joint venture to build power plants across the
become a major destination for international trade and continent. This is powerful evidence that the game has
investment. changed and it illustrates vividly that African business-
In August, at the inaugural US-Africa Leaders Summit people are holding their own.
hosted by President Barack Obama, American compa- Not to be left out are outstanding intellectuals – in-
nies pledged to invest US$37 billion in Africa. They are novative thinkers and visionaries who are helping Afri-
following the trail ca to chart the way
of their Chinese, into the future. For
Indian and Eu- Our selection tells the example, Damisa
ropean counter- story of an Africa that is Moyo, the Zambi-
parts, who are al- rising and some of the an-born economist
ready in the con- and author, is forc-
tinent to benefit ing Africa to take
from the unfold- another look at de-
ing opportuni- velopment aid and
ties in one of the actors lifting it up she argues compel-
world’s most dy- lingly in her best-
namic and fast- seller book on the
est-growing issue that this for-
regions. eign benevolence is holding the continent back.
In this issue we single out some of the actors driving We also recognise humanitarians and rights activ-
African progress – political leaders, entrepreneurs and ists who at great personal risk fight against injustice
managers, humanitarians and rights advocates, artistes and struggle to expand the latitude of freedom in their
and entertainers. We also pay homage to Botswana, ar- countries, an important precondition for peace and
guably Africa’s most successful country, and Cape Town, development.
the continent’s most beautiful city, and we recognise The legion of international awards, including the UN
some companies that have become a good factor in the Human Rights prize, bestowed upon the Congolese gy-
quality of life across the continent. naecologist Denis Mukwege in the past seven years, have
Our Best of Africa 50 is no ranking and we’re claiming shown how much the world recognises his heroic efforts.
no comprehensiveness. What we have done here is at His humanitarian work and courage in speaking out
best a selection, and a subjective one at that. But our se- against those fuelling the war in his country set a shining
lection tells the story of an Africa that is rising and some example of what each of us can do to change the world.
of the actors lifting it up. The world of entertainment and the arts is another es-
Political leaders necessarily dominate the list of per- sential industry that plays a key role in Africa’s recent
sons profiled here because they bear the chief responsi- evolution. Artistes and entertainers create a pan-African
bility for creating the enabling environment for sustain- fan base, promoting continental unity without preach-
able peace and development. ing political sermons,
Take the Ghanaian lawyer and politician Nana Akufo- and they serve as a win-
Addo, who has played an important role in the democrat- dow through which the
ic development of his country for about 30 years. His wis- rest of the world per-
dom and patriotism at critical moments have contribut- ceives the continent.
ed in no small way to the peace and stability that Ghana The growing reach of
enjoys today. the Nigerian film indus-
We also profile entrepreneurs and managers – who try is just one example
are creating jobs and wealth with their investments and of such influence.
skills and are shifting the discourse on Africa away from Now take your trip
poverty alleviation by external actors to homemade ef- through a continent of
forts for prosperity. opportunities via the
Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian, is the biggest African inves- inspiring stories of our
tor in Africa today and he presides over a business em- Best of Africa 50!
pire that is active in the major sectors – banking, manu-
facturing, telecommunications, trading, transport, agri- Femi Awoniyi

culture and food-processing.

4  October | November 2014  The African Courier

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BAAUffsrIiNccaEaSS

Special Report | 50 Years of Independent Zambia

“This country is the
envysked to name of Africa!”
tively efficient, transparent gov-
Zambia’s great- ernment for which it is reputed?
est achievement Analysts give credit to Zam-
since independ- bia’s founding father, Kenneth
Kaunda, who made fighting cor-
Aence in an ex-
clusive interview ruption and ethnic factionalism

with this magazine, its ambas- fundamental issues of nation-

sador to Germany, His Excel- al policy right from early on. He

lency Bwalya Chiti, chose peace discouraged the politics of dis-

and stability. Most Zambians unity during the struggle for in-

and even foreign observers will dependence and ran the coun-

offer a similar response if the try in a way that gave all sections

question is posed to them as the a sense of belonging. “National

country celebrates its 50 years of interest has pacified what would

independence on 24 October. have otherwise permanently di-

In a continent with its share of vided the people of Zambia,”

military coups, upheavals, wars Ambassador Chiti says.

and the resulting mass popula- Offering another explana-

tion displacements, the south- tion, Ignatius Bwalya, a histori-

ern African country has truly an at the University of Zambia,

fared well; it has generally been describes the country as a com-

trouble-free. munity of immigrant groups that

Guy Scott, speaking in the fled wars elsewhere in Africa

Zambian National Assembly several hundred years ago, con-

two years ago, trumpeted: “This tributing to a collective aversion

country is the envy of Africa!” to conflict.

In a way, the politician is an apt
person to make such an asser- President Michael Chilufya Sata has projected a forward-looking and Peaceful power succession
tion. He is Zambia’s Vice-Pres- pragmatic foreign policy focused on facilitating trade and attracting Zambia’s successful transi-
ident and he is White. Dr Scott, foreign investment © LTN tion from a one-party state to a
whose parents emigrated from multiparty democracy has also

the United Kingdom, was born by the country. played an important role in its

in 1944 in Livingstone and his rise in That Zambia has been peaceful de- recent peaceful evolution. In 1991, Pres-

Zambian politics is an eloquent testimo- spite the fragility of its geopolitical lo- ident Kaunda opened Zambia to multi-

ny to the unusual degree of unity enjoyed cation makes the achievement the more party elections after 18 years as a “one-

admirable. The landlocked state shares party participatory democracy”, invited

boundaries with no fewer than eight oth- international observers and then grace-

er countries. This multiplicity of neigh- fully accepted the verdict of the people

bours, combined with what was for many when he was defeated.

years a frontline location in the libera- Kaunda’s successor, President Fred-

tion struggle against the White minori- erick Chiluba, leader of the Movement

ty-ruled states in southern Africa, made for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), re-

Zambia prone to conflict. In fact, the sponded with equal magnanimity by ac-

country contributed gallantly to, and knowledging Kaunda’s exceptional con-

sacrificed enormously for, the decoloni- tributions as the father of the nation and

sation of the region. by asking MMD supporters to seek rec-

Secret of peace onciliation rather than confrontation.

Until the 1991 elections, Zambia had

So what is the recipe for Zambia’s re- been governed solely by the Kaunda-

markable degree of stability and the rela- led United National Independence Par-

6  October | November 2014  The African Courier

A nation at Zambia at 50 Afriiccaa
peace with itself.
Zambia’s capital rica, provides excellent export market
city, Lusaka © IFII opportunities.

Vice-President Guy Scott’s success in Zambian Zambia’s other merchandise exports
politics shows the exceptional unity enjoyed by have grown briskly in the past decade
the country alongside copper exports, which grew 29
© LTN per cent annually during 2002-12. Agri-
cultural exports such as sugar, tobacco,
contested election to simply retire quiet- wheat, soya bean and maize have also
ly from public life. grown at 27 per cent annually since 2000.

Founding father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who Strong economic fundamentals The Zambian government actively
governed Zambia from 1964-1991, laid the foun- Zambia has enjoyed strong economic seeks foreign investment in all sectors,
dation for its peace and stability growth averaging more than 6 per cent offering a wide range of incentives. Ac-
© IFII in the past decade. In 2010, the World cording to Ambassador Chiti, “Legal re-
Bank named Zambia, which is Afri- quirements for doing business in the
ty (UNIP) from 1964, when it gained in- ca’s biggest copper producer, one of the country have been reduced to an abso-
dependence from Britain. From 1972 to world’s fastest growing economically re- lute minimum and time-wasting proce-
1991, Zambia was a one-party state, with formed countries and this year it predicts dures that may confront foreign inves-
UNIP the sole legal political party. that the country will continue its growth tors elsewhere are being eliminated in
above 6 per cent. Zambia.”
From 1991 to 2002, Zambia was gov-
erned by President Chiluba, during Zambia’s good economic performance “Prospects for continued econom-
which the country saw a rise in economic has been credited to a variety of factors – ic growth in Zambia look bright,” Todd
growth and diversification. Levy Mwana- increased foreign investment in mining says. “According to forecasts by the IMF,
wasa, also of the MMD, succeeded Chi- and agriculture, the rising internation- Zambia will rank among the ten coun-
luba as the third President of Zambia. He al price of copper, and sound fiscal and tries worldwide expected to have the
presided over the country from January monetary policies that have encouraged highest GDP growth rate over the next
2002 until his death in August 2008 and savings and investment. five years, with an average growth rate of
is credited with having waged an effec- around 6.9 per cent.”
tive war on corruption and attracted for- “Backed by strong macroeconomic
eign investment to the country. fundamentals, Zambia offers attractive One of Seven Wonders
trade and investment opportunities, es- Zambia, home to the Victoria Falls, one
The 2011 polls, at which the incumbent pecially in mining, water, energy, tour- of the Seven Natural Wonders of the
President Rupiah Banda of the MMD lost ism and agriculture,” writes Carryn Todd World, is a popular tourist destination
re-election and graciously conceded de- of the Southern African-German Cham- in southern Africa. Experts describe the
feat to Michael Chilufya Sata, the can- ber of Commerce and Industry. country as one of the best destinations
didate of the opposition Patriotic Front, on the continent for walking and river
further strengthened the country’s dem- Furthermore, the country’s central ge- safaris, hot springs and waterfalls.
ocratic credentials. ographical location with common bor-
ders to eight countries, as well as mem- “According to fore-
It is now a tradition for an incumbent bership of the Southern Africa Devel- casts by the IMF, Zam-
president in Zambia who loses a hotly opment Community and the Common bia will rank among
Market for Eastern and Southern Af- the ten countries
worldwide expected
to have the highest
GDP growth rate over
the next five years.”

Apart from the majestic waterfalls,
Zambia is blessed with abundant wildlife
in national parks and game reserves, riv-
ers and lakes. “Please come and explore
Zambia!” is Ambassador Chiti’s enthusi-
astic invitation to leisure travellers.

Sola Jolaoso

See next page for exclusive interview with
Zambia’s ambassador to Germany, His
Excellency Bwalya Chiti

The African Courier  October | November 2014  7

BAAUffsrIiNccaEaSS Zambia at 50

Germans showing increasing
interest in Zambia

- Ambassador Bwalya Chiti

Zambia’s ambassador to
Germany, His Excellency
Bwalya S.K. Chiti, talks about
peace in his country, the govern-
ment of President Michael Sata,
and why investors and tourists
should come to Zambia, among
other issues.

Your Excellency, what would you describe

as Zambia’s greatest achievement since

independence?

Zambia stands out among other countries
on the African continent as having expe-
rienced a stable and peaceful socio-polit-
ical environment.

What is the secret of the enduring peace in Ambassador Bwalya Chiti, talking to The African Courier in his office in Berlin, says Zambia has a
Zambia? market-oriented liberalised business climate and is welcoming of international investors
Zambia offers a unique example of uni-
ty in diversity, binding together 72 ethnic © Stephen Puni/TAC
groups in one nation. This did not come
about by sheer luck, but through concert- are held regularly and accepted in princi- The support Zambia gave to the libera-
ed efforts of earlier leaders who steered ple as the means of filling leadership po- tion movements of southern Africa is a
the country to its independence. And im- sitions. In this regard, Zambia has suc- strong theme in Zambian history and na-
mediately after independence, the var- cessfully elected five presidents and has tional identity. It was done at great cost
ious political interests were quickly har- experienced peaceful handovers of presi- in terms of human lives, infrastructure
monised and subordinated to a greater dential power but also changes of the gov- damage and lost opportunities for eco-
national aspiration. Hence, national in- erning parties. nomic growth and development. It was
terest has pacified what would have oth- not by accident, therefore, that the first
erwise permanently divided the people of The democratically elected president African country visited by the late icon-
Zambia. and parliament have the effective powers ic global statesman, Nelson Mandela, af-
to govern. A separation of powers is basi- ter his release from prison happened to be
President Michael Sata was elected in Sep- cally observed. Zambia.
tember 2011. What is the scorecard of his
government three years on? Your country contributed gallantly to, and Therefore the promotion and pursuit of
President Michael Chilufya Sata has pro- sacrificed enormously for, the decolonisa- cordial relations with other countries in
jected a forward-looking and pragmat- tion of southern Africa. What’s your rela- the region is a driving force of Zambia’s
ic foreign policy focused on facilitating tionship with the other countries in the re- foreign policy. Zambia appreciates the
trade and attracting foreign investment. gion today? opportunities offered by regional bodies
This is evident from the continued court-
ing of Chinese foreign direct investment
and the maintenance of cordial relations
with China despite President Sata having
been an outspoken critic of Chinese in-
vestment while in opposition.

How strong is Zambia’s democracy today?
Zambians acknowledge the state’s consti-
tution and legitimacy. General elections

8  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Zambia at 50 Afriiccaa

Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Zambia. A natural wonder of the world, it is the largest waterfall in the til recently that tangible business rela-
world by volume tions have come forth, especially regard-
© Ray Muzyka ing German foreign direct investment in
Zambia.
such as the Southern Africa Development bling the amount that was registered in
Community (SADC) and the Common 2011 (US$4.7 billion). This clearly shows The German private sector is now
Market for Eastern and Southern Afri- the attractiveness of Zambia as an in- awakened to the opportunities in Zambia
ca (COMESA) as its foreign policy focus- vestment destination for international – mining, agriculture, infrastructure de-
es on economic growth and development. companies. velopment, manufacturing, energy and
information technology, among others.
In 2010, the World Bank named Zambia one Furthermore, Zambia’s membership German business delegations regularly
of the world’s fastest growing economically of SADC and COMESA provides prefer- visit Zambia, most recently in May 2014.
reformed countries and this year it predicts ential conditions for trade through the Germans are showing increasing interest
that Zambia will continue its growth above free-trade areas, offering investors duty in Zambia. Among the recent investors
6 per cent. What policies are responsible for free access to regional markets. in my country is Amatheon Agri Holding
such an admirable economic performance? Company, which prides itself as the first
Zambia is a multiparty democracy and pro- The country’s central location in the major German agro-business investor in
vides a market-oriented liberalised busi- region as well as a combination of key Zambia.
ness climate. The government, through strengths, such as abundant natural re-
the central bank, has created a favourable sources, skilled manpower, laws guar- In order to strengthen the still very
macroeconomic environment that has led anteeing investor security, being a good modest economic relations between
to a downward trend in the cost of borrow- place to live and work and a thriving pri- Zambia and Germany, the German-Zam-
ing and an improved access to long-term vate sector, makes it an ideal investment bian Business Information Linkage Desk
finance.  destination. was established at the Zambia Develop-
ment Agency in 2011. The department pro-
The Chinese are a big investor in Zambia. What incentives are you offering prospec- vides information on business opportuni-
Is your country still open to other foreign tive investors?
investors? Continuous and concerted efforts are be- A visitor inspects a calf at Zambeef’s Kalundu
Zambia welcomes investors from all over ing made to streamline the company li- Dairy Farm. Endowed with 75 million hectares
the world and across various sectors. In censing procedures. Legal requirements of arable land and abundant water resources
fact, the laws relating to investment pro- for doing business in the country have for irrigation, Zambia has been described as
vide for incentives to promote increased been reduced to an absolute minimum one of the most attractive destinations for
levels of investment and international and time-wasting procedures that may agro-business investment in Africa
trade. confront foreign investors elsewhere are
being eliminated in Zambia. Licences are ties in Germany and Zambia for German
Why should an investor come to Zambia? issued at reasonable costs and with mini- and Zambian companies and facilitates
That Zambia currently holds a B+ credit mum bureaucracy.  trade between the two countries.
rating, according to the international rat-
ing agencies Fitch and S&P, strengthens In addition, the Zambian Development If I were a leisure traveller, what reasons
the country’s standing as an investment Agency in Lusaka is now a one-stop shop would I have to visit Zambia?
destination. that provides local and foreign investors Zambia is home to the mighty Victoria
with all information and services required Falls which is the world’s largest sheet of
The Zambian government has al- to set up their operation in the country. falling water. It is absolutely amazing! The
ready taken advantage of this and is- Victoria Falls is roughly twice the height
sued a US$750 million Eurobond in 2012 Germany has the biggest economy in Eu- of North America’s Niagara Falls and
and US$1 billion EuroBond in 2014, both rope. How important is it to Zambia? well over twice the width of its Horse-
of which were oversubscribed. In 2012, While economic relations between our shoe Falls. This is one place every person
Zambia registered investment pledges of two countries go as far back as 1966 when should have the opportunity to see before
around US$10.1 billion, more than dou- a Bilateral Investment Protection Treaty they die. You will never forget it.
was signed, promoting and protecting in-
vestments in both countries, it is not un- Zambia is also the land of the legend-
ary African walking safari, the wild Zam-
bezi River, abundant wildlife and raw wil-
derness. Most people in my country speak
English and are extremely friendly and
helpful.
Please come and explore Zambia! •

The African Courier  October | November 2014  9

COVER

Best Key actors
of driving the
progress of
Africa the rising
continent

Ali Bongo Ondimba

Ernest Koroma Raila Odinga Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi

Mohammed IV Nana Akufo-Addo Adams Oshiomole
Asha-Rose Migiro Attahiru Jega Christiana Thorpe
Babatunde Fashola Helen Zille Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Kayode Fayemi Akinwumi Adesina Thabo Mbeki Kofi Annan
John Kufuor Aliko Dangote Bethlehem Alemu Ashish Thakkar
Andrew Rugasira Gervais Djondjo Acha Leke Mo Ibrahim Tony Elumelu

Paul Fokam Mo Abudu James Mwangi Strive Masiyiwa Donald Kaberuka
Damisa Moyo Botswana Ozwald Boateng Baffour Ankomah
DStvCape Town Shoprite
Leymah Gbowee Hugh Masekela

Denis Mukwege Biram Abeid Stephen Keshi Samuel Eto’o
Haile Gebrselassie Lupita Nyong’o Koffi Olomide

Youssou N’Dour Chimamanda Adichie
Nollywood

On the following pages we write about some key into the future, and icons and pioneers, who bra-
drivers of the rising Africa. From political lea- vely shatter limitations and conventions, ope-
ders, who are creating an enabling environment ning up possibilities for others.
for peace and stability and hence for develop- We also profile humanitarians and heroes, who
ment, to entrepreneurs and managers, who are at great personal risk fight to expand the latitu-
creating wealth and jobs. Moreover, we acknow- de of freedom in their countries, and artists and
ledge brands and places that promote Africa’s re- entertainers, who serve as a mirror for self-reflec-
putation and are a good factor in the quality of tion and a window through which the rest of the
life on the continent. world perceives the continent.
We have not left out the intellectuals and visio-
naries, who are helping Africa to chart the way Femi Awoniyi

10  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Leaders & Politicians Africa

OAnlidBimonbgao

President of Gabon

Making poverty history in Gabon

The President of oil-rich Gabon is working hard at ending © Paul Kagame
the paradox of poverty in the midst of plenty in his coun-
try. Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba assumed office in 2009 af- Ondimba has been praised for staking out a vision of a Ga-
ter the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who ruled the country bon whose citizens will enjoy the full benefit of its resources.
for 42 years. Although Gabon is prosperous owing to its oil de-
posits, critics have pointed to the wealth gap between the ur- Adira Kallo
ban elite and the rural poor.

Since assuming office, Ondimba has diversified his coun-
try’s economy and reduced its dependence on a seemingly sole
partnership with France. He is working with companies from
countries such as China, India, South Korea and Singapore on
projects ranging from a fertiliser plant, an export processing
zone, roads and palm oil plantations to social housing.

The current industrial development initiative of the 55-year-
old President is expected to create jobs for Gabonese and re-
duce poverty in a country that should have no business with
poverty given its 1.5 million inhabitants and a book GDP (pur-
chasing power parity) per capita of US$ 19,200.

KEronroesmta © Patrick Hamilton/CHOGM At his inception
of office, the insur-
President of Sierra Leone er vowed to run the
country “like a busi-
Making Sierra Leone strong again ness concern”, to em-
phasise agriculture
One of the tragedies of the Ebola epidemic is the nega- and tourism rath-
tive effect it will have on the economies of the worst-af- er than mining, and
fected countries. Since the election of President Ernest to fight corruption.
Bai Koroma in 2007, things have been looking up for Sierra Le- Koroma has clear-
one, which recorded economic growth rates of 15.2 per cent in ly delivered on those
2012 and 16.3 per cent last year. It was expected to grow by 14 per promises as he has
cent this year before the West African country was hit by the Eb- been credited with
ola epidemic. cleaning up govern-
ment of graft, revived
The almost phenomenal growth rates are not only a result of tourism and food
rising commodity prices but also due to sound economic man- production, and at-
agement by the Koroma Administration. tracted foreign investment to the country.
The Koroma presidency has also focused on rebuilding the
country’s infrastructure destroyed during the civil war and im-
proving the healthcare system.
Powerful proof that the quality of life has improved in Sier-
ra Leone under Koroma (61), who was re-elected as President
for his final term in November 2012, is the increasing number of
its nationals who are returning home after many years in exile.

Mohamed Bah

The African Courier  October | November 2014  11

Africa

Abdel-Fattah The land- © Ahmed Hendawy
al-Sisi slide victory of
Al-Sisi at the
26 May pres-
idential elec-
tion is clear ev-

idence that he

President of Egypt has the back-
ing of most

Egyptians. Ex-

Saving Egypt and Africa from chaos hausted by
three years of

post-revolu-

One has only to look at the situation in Libya today to tion chaos, or-
imagine what could have happened to Egypt if Gener- dinary people
al Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (59) had not intervened in June wanted a strong leader to restore stability.

Given the universalist ideology of the Muslim Brothers, Al-

2013, ousting President Mohamed Morsi. Sisi not only saved Egypt from peril. With radical political Is-

The popularity of the action of the army officer, who emerged lam on the rise in many countries in Africa, a Muslim Brother-

from the shadows of the military in 2012 after his appointment hood regime in Cairo would have been a source of instability

as Defence Minister, made millions of Egyptians appeal to him on the continent.

to shed his uniform and enter the electoral ring. Felix Dappah
Raila Odinga
Opposition leader, Kenya

Kenya’s indefatigable fighter for multiparty democracy

Raila Amollo Odinga has loomed large on Kenya’s political landscape for nearly three
decades. The former Prime Minister (April 2008 - March 2013) can claim credit for
having suffered immensely for the vibrant democracy enjoyed in his country today.
Raila (he is known by his first name in Kenya rather than Odinga) has fought like no oth-

er contemporary Kenyan politician for multiparty democracy and a new constitution. He

was detained several times, including a six-year spell in prison without trial in the 1980s, by

former President Daniel arap Moi.

The opposition leader, son of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who was Kenya’s first post-inde-

pendence Vice-President, ran for the presidency last year but lost to Uhuru Kenyatta.

Raila (69), who is still a powerful force in Kenyan politics, is likely to take another shot at

the highest office at the next general election. Zachary Ochieng

Mohammed VI Despite inheriting an absolute

King of Morocco monarchy in 1999 after the death

Sustaining Morocco’s political stability of his father, Hassan II, Moham-

It was a Chinese thinker who once said that governing a large med has initiated democratic re-
country should be done like frying a small fish. Softy, soft-
ly.. No leader has imbibed this philosophy more success- forms including rewriting the
fully in North Africa than Mohammed VI, King of Morocco. No
wonder his country has avoided the chaos and tumult of the Ar- country’s constitution, which was
ab Spring.
approved in a referendum in Ju-

ly 2011.

When the moderately Islamist

Justice and Development Party

© MNA won the parliamentary elections

the same year, Mohammed duti-

fully made its leader prime minister. That smooth transition,

say analysts, has helped to sustain Morocco’s impressive polit-

ical stability. Toro Abalu-Diehl

12  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Leaders & Politicians Africa

Nana © GNA Amember of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo
Akufo-Addo served as Minister of Justice and Minister of
Akufo-Addo Foreign Affairs under former President John Kufuor and
Opposition leader, Ghana has twice run unsuccessfully for the presidency.

Playing politics without bitterness The lawyer, who prominently championed the cause of hu-
man rights and the rule of law during the Rawlings era, narrow-
ly lost the run-off election to the late Prof John Atta Mills of the
National Democratic Congress (NDC) in December 2008/Janu-
ary 2009 by a margin of 40,586 votes, representing 0.46 per cent
of the total votes cast – the smallest margin of defeat in Africa’s
electoral history. The NPP candidate accepted the result with-
out even calling for a recount.

Akufo-Addo (born 29 March 1944) was famously photo-
graphed beaming with smiles at the inaugural ceremony of his
rival, President Atta Mills, on 7 January 2009. It was a gesture
that the whole world praised for providing an inspiring exam-
ple in a region where politics is often suffused with bitterness.

In 2012, Akufo-Addo lost again to the NDC’s candidate, Pres-
ident John Mahama, but this time went to court to challenge
the results, which he alleged were doctored. After a gruelling
seven-month legal battle in Ghana’s Supreme Court, his peti-
tion was dismissed.

Though Akufo-Addo disagreed with the judges, he accept-
ed their verdict and called on his supporters to maintain the
peace, which brought succour to an apprehensive nation that
had practically been at a standstill.

In March 2014, Akufo-Addo announced that he would seek
his party’s nomination to run in the 2016 presidential election,
and many analysts predict that he might be successful this time
around.

Kwame Appiah

The African Courier  October | November 2014  13

Africa

Adams Oshiomole ©OsaRen
Governor of Edo State, Nigeria

Championing development as a right the police.
One of his major achievements as NLC leader was a 25 per
The governor of Edo State, 62, started out as a trade un-
ionist in a textile factory in the northern city of Kaduna, cent wage increase for public sector workers, which he success-
rising through the ranks to the presidency of the Nige- fully negotiated with the administration of President Olusegun
ria Labour Congress (NLC) in 1999, the year democracy was re- Obasanjo, triggering a rise in salaries across all sectors.
stored in Nigeria.
It was inevitable that Oshiomole would embrace politics after
Adams Aliyu Oshiomole presided over the rejuvenation of his tenure ended. In 2006, he pitched his tent with the opposi-
the 29-union umbrella body that had been severely weakened tion Action Congress of Nigeria (now All Progressives Congress)
by more than 14 years of military dictatorship and an econom- and contested the governorship of Edo State in April 2007.
ic crisis that had forced many companies to close and lay off
workers. Oshiomole won but the Nigeria Independent National Elec-
toral Commission denied him victory by unlawfully declaring
The early 2000s was not the best of times to lead the NLC, the candidate of the federal ruling People’s Democratic Party
but Oshiomole saw the newly restored democracy as a prospec- the winner. The activist headed to court.
tive catalyst for the rejuvenation of the economy and reasser-
tion of workers’ rights. And he charged at his job with unpar- After months of litigation through two judicial instances, Os-
alleled enthusiasm, touring the country to rouse workers from hiomole was finally declared the lawful winner of the election
their complacency. on 11 November 2008 by a federal appeal court sitting in Be-
nin City.
As a result of his conviction that labour was a social agency
for change, Oshiomole threw his weight behind the public is- Oshiomole went to work immediately, repairing roads, clear-
sues of the day. He called for a crusade against poverty, for in- ing blocked drainage systems, rehabilitating schools and hos-
creased federal funding for public education and a decent min- pitals, and carrying out an overhaul of a state that had been in
imum wage. The labour leader led many protest actions against development despondency.
the price increase of petroleum products and on other major
issues, for which he was arrested and detained many times by Oshiomole was re-elected with a landslide victory for a sec-
ond term in 2012. Progressive forces in the country are putting
pressure on the governor, who is famous for his austere per-
sonal lifestyle, to contest for the presidency at next year’s gen-
eral election.

Adebola Adeoye

14  October | November 2014  The African Courier

© DSA Leaders & Politicians

“Endeavour to win the confidence of the Christiana
electorate” Thorpe

Chief Electoral Commissioner, Sierra Leone

As the chairperson of Sierra Leone’s National Electoral
Commission (NEC), Dr Christiana Thorpe has played a
central role in the democratic stability of a country in the
throes of painful reconstruction after surviving a civil war that
had lasted for almost a decade.

Under her stewardship, the body has conducted elections
that have been agreed upon by all stakeholders and the inter-
national community as being free, fair and transparent.

Thorpe (59), who has headed NEC since 2005, has received
several international awards for her work, the latest being from
the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

When asked what advice she had for election commission-
ers around the world who wish to increase the integrity of their
country’s electoral processes, Thorpe said: “Endeavour to win
the confidence of the electorate and voters rather than politi-
cians – be they in the ruling party or the opposition.”

Mohamed Bah

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©SNO Asha-Rose Tanzanian lawyer and politician Asha-Rose
Migiro Migiro (58) is the ultimate trailblazer. She
was the first woman in Tanzania to become
Minister of Justice, Tanzania Minister of Foreign Affairs and the first woman to
The ultimate trailblazer inspiring be appointed Deputy Secretary General of the Unit-
women in Africa ed Nations.

From 2000 to 2006, Migiro was Tanzania’s Minis-
ter of Community Development, Gender and Chil-
dren’s Affairs. She became the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and International Co-operation in January
2006. Exactly a year later, in January 2007, she was
appointed by Ban Ki-moon, the new United Nations
Secretary-General, as his deputy, a position the le-
gal scholar held until July 2012.

One of Africa’s most successful female public offi-
cials, Dr Migiro, who is currently her country’s Min-
ister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs as well as
the UN’s Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, has
always held women’s issues close to her heart. One of her many
accomplishments at the UN was helping to create the United
Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of
Women.
Migiro, who earned her doctorate in law at the University of
Konstanz, Germany, and can look back at a distinguished aca-
demic career, believes women in positions of political and eco-
nomic responsibility are crucial to Africa’s ability to surmount
its formidable development challenges. “We still have a long
way to go before we reach equality in all areas of life, but we will
succeed,” she says optimistically.
In a continent where it is rare to see women in high-power
positions, Asha-Rose Migiro is an inspiration for women in Af-
rica and around the world.

Zachary Ochieng

AJetgtaahiru

Chief Election Commissioner, Nigeria

Making the votes of Nigerians count

Amajor challenge confronting young democracies in Af- © CSIS
rica is the credibility of the electoral process. Nigeria’s
general elections of 2007 were so badly manipulated puted for his fierce independence and radicalism. Jega came
that they have gone down in history as the worst ever in the to national prominence in the early 1990s when he headed the
country. Academic Staff Union of Universities and opposed the military
regime of the day.
To change the situation and restore the confidence of Nige-
rians in the democratic process, President Goodluck Jonathan Four years after his appointment, Jega has not disappointed
took a gamble to popular acclaim in June 2010 when he ap- Nigerians. The 2011 general elections were countless times bet-
pointed Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega as Chairman of ter than the ones held four years earlier. And today, Nigerians
the Independent National Electoral Commission. have far more confidence that their votes count.

The left-leaning former university vice-chancellor, 57, is re- Kunle Oladapo

16  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Leaders & Politicians Africa

BFaasbhaotluande
Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria

© LASG

Transforming Lagos to Africa’s model slide victory.
megacity More than seven years on, Lagos is a much cleaner place and

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial city of about 20 million peo- its roads are better. Though traffic jams are still common at cer-
ple, is a difficult place to manage – its traffic infamous for tain times of the day, the suffocating gridlocks of the past are
gridlock, its layout a nightmare to any urban planner, its gone. And the Fashola Administration has been carrying out
infrastructure grossly inadequate. an urban renewal programme that has few parallels anywhere
in the world.
Babatunde Fashola (51), a lawyer and member of the opposi-
tion Action Congress of Nigeria - now known as the All Progres- Although Lagos still has a long way to go to become Fasho-
sives Congress, was elected governor of the state in April 2007, la’s dream of Africa’s model megacity, it has no doubt become
one of the few credible outcomes of those discredited polls. a better place to live, work and do business.

Fashola went to work immediately after he assumed office, Eko Atlantic City, a most ambitious extension of the Lagos
clearing unsightly public places and replacing them with well- metropolis on land reclaimed from the sea which is current-
tended public parks, and establishing an effective refuse man- ly under construction, is expected to become the new financial
agement system. Old roads were widened and new ones built, epicentre of West Africa by 2020.
and the education and healthcare sectors received a boost.
Eko Atlantic, which is being developed by the Lagos State
The visible transformation of Lagos turned Fashola into a government in partnership with private investors, promises to
household name in the country. As a mark of public apprecia- become a source of great national and continental pride.
tion of his service, Fashola was re-elected in 2011 with a land-
As the lawyer will have spent the maximum two terms in of-
Helen Zille fice by next year’s general elections, many voices are calling on
the governor to seek a higher national office.

Sola Jolaoso

Opposition Leader, South Africa

On a mission to deracialise South
African politics

The Premier of the South African province of the Western DA
Cape is also the leader of the biggest national opposition
party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The White politi- police in 1977.
cian of German heritage has succeeded where her male coun- Convinced that absolute power corrupts absolutely, Zille is
terparts failed, building a credible and active opposition to the
overwhelming power of the ruling African National Congress. constantly on the heels of the ANC-led national government. A
fierce critic of President Jacob Zuma, she warns against allow-
Since Helen Zille (63) took over the DA’s leadership in 2007, ing a culture of executive impunity and reckless corruption to
the electoral fortune of the party has been on a constant rise. At put down roots in South Africa.
the last general election in May, the party increased its share of
the popular vote from 16.7 per cent in 2009 to 22.2 per cent. The Observers say Helen Zille’s greatest ambition is to deracial-
result shows that the DA is reaching beyond its core supporters ise her country’s politics.
of Whites and South Africans of mixed race, who account for
less than 20 per cent of the country’s population, say analysts. Toro Abalu-Diehl

A former journalist and anti-Apartheid activist, Zille was one
of the writers who exposed the truth behind the death of Black
Consciousness leader, Steve Biko, who was murdered by the

The African Courier  October | November 2014  17

Africa

Akinwumi Adesina ©FMARD

Agriculture Minister, Nigeria

On a mission to help Africa feed itself

If there is any area in which President Goodluck Jonathan rivers, it is a paradox that Africa’s most populous nation spends
could indisputably be said to have done well, it is in agricul- billions of dollars annually to import wheat, sugar, rice, cook-
ture. And the man driving the Nigerian leader’s Agriculture ing oil and other foods that it could produce itself.
Transformation Agenda (ATA) is Akinwumi Adesina.
Since Adesina’s assumption of office, Nigeria has recorded
Dr Jonathan could not have chosen a better person for the one feat after another. Just three years ago, the country had on-
job. Dr Adesina (pictured holding a microphone on a wheat ly three rice mills. Now it has 18. The number of seed compa-
farm in Kadawa, northern Nigeria) is a distinguished agricul- nies has also increased from five to 80. Nigeria’s declining food
tural development expert with 24 years of experience in devel- import bill, which went from US$6.9 billion in 2009 to $4.3 bil-
oping and managing successful programmes across Africa. lion last year, is powerful evidence that the ATA is bearing fruit.

Until his appointment as Nigeria’s Federal Agriculture and Adesina believes that transforming agriculture in Africa re-
Rural Development Minister in 2011, Adesina was the Vice-Pres- quires a shift in mentality: “We were not looking at agriculture
ident (Policy & Partnerships) at the Alliance for a Green Revo- through the right lens. We were looking at agriculture as a de-
lution in Africa. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Yara velopmental activity, like a social sector in which you manage
Prize in Oslo, Norway, for pioneering innovative approaches to poor people in rural areas. But agriculture is not a social sector.
improving African farmers’ access to agricultural inputs. Agriculture is a business.”

Adesina has been on a singular mission to reduce the de- Last December, Adesina was named Forbes African of the
pendence of Nigeria on imported food, spearheading major Year. “He is a man on a mission to help Africa feed itself,” said
reforms and ending decades of corruption in the fertiliser dis- Chris Bishop, editor of the business magazine.
tribution system. A vast country with plenty of arable land and
Kunle Oladapo

18  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Leaders & Politicians Africa

KFaayyeomdie

Politician, Nigeria

Proving that rapid progress is possible

For a man who became prominent as an activist for de- © EC
mocracy and development, his performance as governor
of Ekiti State (16 October 2010 – 15 October 2014) would ism and also including women’s empowerment and the ac-
normally come under greater scrutiny. While such a media fo-
cus normally has a negative impact as every single mistake of tive engagement of the citizenry in governance, it is a most
the government is magnified, in the case of Dr Kayode Fayemi
it was a blessing. The many achievements of his government comprehensive document designed for social progressive
quickly turned him to a national political star.
transformation.
Fayemi’s administration’s Eight-Point Agenda, because of
the conceptual clarity of its policy prescriptions, will go down Fayemi, who lost his re-election bid in June to the consterna-
as one of the most thoughtful programmes of governance ev-
er formulated in Nigeria. Spanning everything from health, ed- tion of the whole nation, proves that rapid progress is possible
ucation, ICT, agriculture and industrial development to tour-
even in the most difficult environment where politics is chiefly

business and many politicians are, in fact, entrepreneurs seek-

ing only profit.

The Nigerian scholar politician believes that a poverty-free

Africa is possible and should, in fact, be the goal of governance

on the continent. Femi Awoniyi

NDZulkmaomsaainzia- na
South Africa, AU Chairperson

Driving African integration

Her election as the African Union Commission Chairperson two years ago
was a fitting culmination of the long political career of a Pan-Africanist to
the core. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (65) was an anti-Apartheid activ-
ist in exile until 1990 when her party, the ANC, was unbanned. She has served her

country gallantly and at various times as ministers of health, of foreign affairs and

of the interior.

After her election as the AU chief in July 2012, she said: “No single country, not

even South Africa, can develop to its full potential if the rest of the continent is not

developing. Our fortunes as Africans are intertwined and therefore anyone who

thinks they are not part and parcel of Africa and feel they can flourish as a country

on their own is making a big mistake.”

Dlamini-Zuma believes that the only time Africa can realise its full potential is

© EKSG when it scales down its export of raw materials. Vivian Asamoah

The African Courier  October | November 2014  19

AKonfni an © Africa Progress Panel

Diplomat, Ghana

Tireless worker for African progress

The former Secretary-General of the United Nations and better Africa. He famously brokered peace among the warring
Nobel Laureate for Peace will go down in history for his
effective moral leadership on international issues. Kofi parties after the 2007/8 election violence in Kenya, paving the
Annan was the chief architect of the Millennium Development
Goals and a leading proponent of the creation of the Global way for the unity government that many say averted a possible
Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria. He also worked
to bolster the UN’s relationship with business and civil socie- civil war in the east African country.
ty, sponsoring the Global Compact to promote corporate so-
cial responsibility. Moreover, the former UN boss (76) chairs the Africa Progress

Since leaving the UN, Annan has been active in the cause of a Panel and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, as well

as the jury of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership. His

Kofi Annan Foundation works for a fairer, more secure world by

promoting peace and security, sustainable development, and

the rule of law and human rights. Kwame Appiah

MThbaebkoi Former South African President Thabo Mbeki popularised
the African Renaissance concept during his term of of-
Politician, South Africa fice (1999-2008) as it was the driving force behind his do-
Exponent of African renaissance mestic and foreign policies. He made peace in Africa a priority

of his government and garnered several successes in his efforts

to find solutions to conflicts on the continent – Burundi, Côte

d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe.

Mbeki (pictured with President Joseph Kabila during peace

talks between the DR Congo and rebel groups) also played a

key role in the transformation of the Organisation of African

Unity into the African Union and the founding of the New Part-

nership for Africa’s Development, whose aim is to develop an

integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa.

First articulated by the Senegalese scholar and thinker

Cheikh Anta Diop in a series of essays beginning in the 1940s,

African Renaissance is essentially the rise of Africans univer-

sally, on the continent and in the Diaspora, from slavery, colo-

nialism, segregation, Apartheid and neo-colonialism.

To meet the contemporary challenges that Africa faces, Mbe-

ki (72) has interpreted African Renaissance to mean promoting

social cohesion, democracy, economic rebuilding and growth

on the continent, and the establishment of Africa as a signifi-

cant player in global affairs.

Since Mbeki resuscitated African Renaissance there have

been many conferences held across the continent, numerous

deliberations have taken place and many articles and books

have been written, all devoted to this subject. An African Re-

naissance Institute has even been established in South Afri-

ca and the concept has become a rallying point for Africans in

many spheres of life.

Mbeki powerfully stakes out a clear vision of an Africa that

can hold his own and he urges Africans to take pride in their

heritage and to take charge of their affairs. Adira Kallo

© IRIN

20  October | November 2014  The African Courier

KJouhfunor Leaders & Politicians

Statesman, Ghana Many journalists and scholars were surprised that the
Playing politics with tact and wisdom Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership was not
awarded to the Ghanaian statesman when he left
office in 2009 and peacefully handed over power to the vic-
torious candidate of the opposition at that year’s presiden-
tial polls. The candidate of President John Agyekum Kufuor’s
New Patriotic Party had lost the 2008/9 election by the slim-
mest of margins in the political history of Africa (fewer than
50,000 votes in an election at which about nine million peo-
ple voted).

At his election in 2000, Kufuor had vowed to deepen de-
mocracy in Ghana. It is universally agreed that the Oxford-ed-
ucated lawyer delivered on that promise. Kufuor had led the
opposition to the Jerry Rawlings’s National Democratic Con-
gress government and many analysts believe that his tact and
wisdom made the peaceful defeat of a powerful ruling party
– one with a military background and which dominated the
country like a colossus – possible.

At a time when many opposition parties in Africa boycott-
ed polls to protest against lack of fair play, Kufuor never lost
hope in the promise of democracy. He stayed the course and
encouraged Ghanaians to have confidence in the democratic
process despite its many flaws. His victory over John Atta Mills
after the end of Jerry Rawlings’s second term marked the first
peaceful democratic transfer of power from one political par-
ty to another in Ghana since its independence in 1957.

Kufuor is also widely credited for opening up the country
to foreign investment and stabilising its economy during his
eight-year reign as president.

At 75, Kufuor is not yet tired of serving Africa and human-
ity. The elder statesman is active in international diploma-
cy, brokering peace or waging war against neglected tropi-
cal diseases.

Femi Awoniyi

© EC

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  21

Africa Entrepreneurs & Managers

Aliko Dangote

Businessman, Nigeria
Driver of Africa’s industrial development

© TDG

The Kano, Nigeria-born mogul started business as a trader stone Group of America at the US-Africa Business Forum in Au-
in building supplies in 1977 at the age of 21. He had been gust. Each will contribute US$2.5 billion to a joint venture to
loaned the seed capital by his uncle, who was then one build power plants across the continent in the next five years. A
of the country’s richest men. week before the Washington event, the conglomerate signed an
agreement with the Nigerian federal government that will see
Today, Aliko Dangote (pictured at a press conference flanked it investing more than US$1 billion in commercial rice cultiva-
by executives of his company) is the biggest African investor in tion and milling in the country, the largest single investment in
Africa and he presides over a business empire that is active in food production in Africa.
the major sectors – banking, manufacturing, telecommunica-
tions, trading, transport, agriculture and food processing. Dangote, whose scale of business operation in the continent
is unprecedented, has been praised for investing in Africa and
The Dangote Group owns cement factories in Nigeria, South driving the continent’s industrial development.
Africa, Cameroon, Zambia, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania and Ethi-
opia, with plans at an advanced stage to build new plants in Ga- Reputed to be Africa’s richest man with an estimated worth of
bon, Guinea Bissau, Kenya and Mauritania. US$25 billion, Dangote is also a cheerful giver. His Aliko Dan-
gote Foundation focuses on helping the desperately poor, es-
With the goal of becoming a world leader in cement produc- pecially in northern Nigeria, where poverty and ignorance fuel
tion, Dangote recently announced that it was warming up to violent Islamic extremism.
expand into the Middle East and Latin America.
Austin Ohaegbu
The Dangote Group signed an energy deal with the Black-

22  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Africa

Gervais Koffi
Djondo
Businessman, Togo Africa’s future lies in pooling its efforts and resources.
© WEF At 80, Djondo is still active in business. In 2011, he launched
Champion of business Pan-Africanism
his latest venture, an airline to improve air connectivity with-
The Togolese entrepreneur co-founded Ecobank in 1994. in Africa. Lomé-based Asky Airlines carries nearly 10,000 pas-
Today, the Pan-African banking group operates in 34 sengers weekly to and from dozens of destinations in West and
countries on the continent, fulfilling the vision of Ger- Central Africa.
vais Koffi Gbondjidè Djondo, who believes passionately that
“The private sector in Africa needs to work together across
Bethlehem country borders. Greater wealth and the creation of jobs across
Alemu Africa are possible through boosting regional trade within Afri-
ca,” the elder businessman said in a recent interview.

Felix Dappah

Businesswoman, Ethiopia

Recycling to wealth

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu (34) founded SoleRebels, a successful eco-
sensitive footwear brand, in 2004. The company, which produces
sandals, slip-ons and lace-up shoes that are hand-crafted from re-
cycled tires, now has more than 100 employees pulling in US$5 million in

annual revenue. The Ethiopian entrepreneur recently launched a second

company, The Republic of Leather, focusing on custom-designed, sustain-

able, luxury leather goods.

Alemu is a big role model for African female entrepreneurs, which is why

she has received so many awards across the continent for her ingenuity,
© Eric Roset
© NIBcourage and powerful example. Vivian Asamoah

Ashish Thakkar
Businessman, Uganda

Role model of success

The Ugandan businessman of Indian descent is often cited as an example of Af-
rica’s recent economic resurgence. And his success is truly dazzling. Ashish Th-
akkar (33) has built a conglomerate of IT, real estate and manufacturing com-
panies with operations in 19 African countries.

The founder of Mara Group is also a remarkable philanthropist. His Mara Founda-

tion works to create opportunities for young business owners in Africa. ZO

The African Courier  October | November 2014  23

Africa

Andrew © GAC supports farmers by giving them inputs
Rugasira © USSD
and providing training in best practices
Businessman, Uganda
to improve the quality of their crops.
Making profit with good conscience
It has been a win-win game; farmers
Uganda’s Andrew Rugasira developed a business model
that the former Communist countries would have been began to produce higher-quality coffee
happy to have invented.
The trading company he founded ten years ago, Good African as they saw higher prices for their crops
Coffee, gives 50 per cent of its net profits to the community in
which it operates via sustainable empowerment projects, and it and benefits for their communities.

And Good African has become a global

brand.

Rugasira believes his operational model is the antidote to the

paradox of international companies posting billions of dollars

of profits annually trading and processing cocoa, coffee, etc,

while the farmers who produce these crops in Africa, Asia and

Latin America are poor.

The exemplary social entrepreneur, who calls on the world

to trade fairly with the weaker nations instead of offering them

aid, shows that solutions to problems affecting Africa don’t al-

ways have to emanate from outside the continent. He argues

that Africa should take its destiny in its own hands and dictate

the future that it wants and deserves. Zachary Ochieng

Mo Ibrahim ship, which awards

Businessman, Sudan a US$5 million ini-

Promoting political achievers tial payment, and

Dr Mohamed “Mo” Ibrahim was the founder of the tel- a $200,000 annu-
ecommunications company Celtel, which had more
than 24 million mobile phone subscribers in 14 African al payment for life
countries before he sold it in 2005 for US$3.4 billion.
to African heads
Through his Mo Ibrahim Foundation, the Sudanese business
icon encourages good governance in Africa. In 2007 he initiat- of state who deliv-
ed the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leader-
er security, health,

education and eco-

nomic develop-

ment to their peo-

ple and transfer

power democrati-

cally to their successors.

Ibrahim (68) believes that “Africa is still a long way from re-

alising its potential” and that only good leadership can get it

there. Collins Obi

Acha Leke
Corporate Manager, Cameroon

Changing Africa’s narrative

The Cameroon-born management guru is dedicated to changing the narrative of
the continent. As the head of the Lagos-headquartered Africa operations of McK-
insey & Co, Leke has transformed the global consulting firm into the leading busi-
ness adviser in Africa, growing it from just one office in South Africa to six across the re-

gion, with its consultants working in 30 countries.

Leke was a lead author of the seminal McKinsey report Lions on the Move: the progress

and potential of African economies, a publication that adjusted Africa’s growth potential

to a realistic level and which has drawn new attention to its development prospects and

© LIB its trade and investment opportunities. Ade Abiola

24  October | November 2014  The African Courier

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  25

Africa

Mo Abudu

Media entrepreneur, Nigeria

Showcasing the best of Africa
for a global audience

She has been called Africa’s Oprah Winfrey, but Mosun- © TWM
mola “Mo” Abudu (50) is an African original. The Nigeri-
an media entrepreneur launched the EbonyLife TV net- owners of DStv, Africa’s biggest pay TV operator.
work in July 2013, and it is now available via satellite in about
50 countries in Africa. Abudu says that EbonyLife TV was founded with a mission to

EbonyLife TV, which offers original content across different create “original, premium and inspiring content with an Afri-
genres – from reality to talk, drama, entertainment, lifestyle,
teleshopping, news, sports, music, politics, religion and come- can soul that showcases the best of Africa for a global Black au-
dy, has gained prominence as Africa’s first global entertainment
and lifestyle channel. dience”. Jessica Okoye

“EbonyLife TV is the perfect example of how entertaining lo-
cal content can travel across the continent,” says Aletta Alberts,
general manager for content at MultiChoice, the South African

Paul Fokam
Banker, Cameroon

Mathematical formula for wealth creation

Founder of the able wealth.
only success-
ful indigenous The author of many publications on economics and finance
© JAE private bank in Cameroon, Afriland First Bank, Paul Fokam
promotes entrepreneurship in the country by making capital has even developed a mathematical model for wealth creation
accessible to small and big businesses alike.
Dr Fokam, 65, who is passionate about eradicating poverty which is based on the principle that Victory over Poverty (VP)
in Africa, believes that the development of a strong entrepre-
neurial class in the continent is important to creating sustain- is possible if the Means (M) and the Competences (C) of the

Community are combined: that is, VP = MxCxC = MC².

Experts say the network of rural development micro-banks of

the MC² approach developed by Fokam has helped more than

a million people to escape poverty. Adira Kallo

Tony Elumelu geria’s biggest banks with opera-

Banker, Nigeria tions in 19 African countries as well

Exponent of Africapitalism as in New York, London and Paris,

The visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist fervently Elumelu established Heirs Hold-
believes that the private sector must play a leading role
in Africa’s development. Tony Elumelu (52) calls his phi- ings Limited, a pan-African invest-
losophy “Africapitalism”, using long-term investment in stra-
tegic economic sectors to create sustainable jobs and wealth. ment vehicle with interests in fi-

In 2010, after retiring as chief executive of UBA, one of Ni- nancial services, power, oil and gas,

agribusiness, real estate and hospi-

tality. He returned to UBA as chair-

man in August.

In 2010 the star banker founded

the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an © TEF
Africa-based and funded philanthropy, to promote entrepre-

neurship across the continent by providing seed capital, train-

ing and mentoring to young businesspeople. Austin Ohaegbu

26  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Entrepreneurs & Managers Africa

James Mwangi © Ken Lennox

Banker, Kenya

Most successful banker in the history of modern Africa

Dr James Mwangi (54), chief executive of Kenya’s Equity technology platforms. The bank began its astounding growth.
Bank, is a giant in the world of corporate managers. He Today, Equity Bank has more than seven million accounts
transformed a failing microfinance institution into the
largest bank by customer base in East and Central Africa and representing over half of all bank accounts in Kenya, with
has been described as the most successful banker in the histo- branches in most towns and villages of the country. It also has
ry of modern Africa. operations in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania.

When Mwangi (pictured above in Monte Carlo with the World Last year, Equity, the largest African majority-owned compa-
Entrepreneur of the Year trophy) joined Equity in 1993, it was ny in Kenya, was the most profitable bank for investors in Af-
to wind up a building society which had already been declared rica, giving its shareholders a 54.68 per cent return on capital.
technically insolvent. The institution had 27 employees, 27,000
customers and five branches, and stood at number 66 out of 66 Mwangi says a primary objective of his bank is to alleviate
in the financial sector rankings. poverty and enable a larger part of the population to partici-
pate in economic activities and contribute to the country’s de-
Mwangi, who has a solid reputation for honesty, convinced velopment through micro-credits.
his employers to change his brief as he saw a chance of rescu-
ing the sinking company. He successfully rescued Equity and In 2012, Mwangi was named the World Entrepreneur of the
in August 2004 turned it into a bank, entered into partnerships Year - the most eagerly coveted global business award - by the
with international lenders and adopted up-to-date information management services giant Ernst & Young.

Zachary Ochieng

The African Courier  October | November 2014  27

Africa Entrepreneurs & Managers

MStarsiviyeiwa

Businessman, Zimbabwe

Crusader against corruption and for rule of law Donald © Brookings Institution
Kaberuka
© EWG
Economist, Rwanda

The founder of Zimbabwe’s biggest telecommunications Visionary banker for a prosperous
company, Econet Wireless, is a significant contributor to African future
the economic development of his country.
The Econet Wireless Group, with operations, investments When the former Finance Minister of Rwanda took
and offices in more than 15 countries in Africa, Europe, the over the African Development Bank (AfDB) in
USA, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, has invested US$1.2 bil- 2005, the institution’s operational credibility was in
lion in the Zimbabwean economy since it was licensed in 1993. doubt. Today, the AfDB has become a major driving force of
the continent’s economic development.
In the pursuit of his vision of bettering people’s lives through
technology, Masiyiwa (53) is now involved in renewable energy Kaberuka (63), who is currently serving his second five-year
solutions and agriculture. Econet Renewable Energy Systems term as president, has presided over a major redirection of the
focuses on developing products made specifically to perform bank’s strategy for development and poverty reduction in Af-
in African conditions – from low-voltage lighting solutions to rica, placing emphasis on infrastructure and partnership with
solar-powered televisions and radios. the private sector.

EcoFarmer, a mobile-based agricultural information and When Kaberuka, whose term is expected to end next Ju-
trade platform, aims to boost agricultural productivity in Zim- ly, leaves the AfDB, his most powerful legacy will be the Pro-
babwe by helping to cover farmers during drought periods and gramme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), an
informing them about markets for their crops. initiative to bring together various regional and continental
infrastructure projects in transport, energy, ICT and trans-
Masiyiwa is internationally recognised for his campaign boundary water into a coherent programme for the benefit of
against corruption in Africa. He is also a leading business voice the entire continent.
championing the establishment and promotion of the rule of
law as an important determinant of economic development in PIDA’s Priority Action Plan has identified 51 projects across
the continent. Africa to be implemented until 2020 at a cost of US$68 bil-
lion. Among these are Ethiopia’s Great Millennium Renais-
The Econet Development Foundation, founded by Masiyiwa, sance Dam, the Inga III Hydro Power project in DR Congo and
invests in the education of orphans and underprivileged chil- a road project that will connect South Africa, Botswana, Zim-
dren, fighting HIV and Aids, and developing entrepreneurial babwe, Zambia, Malawi and DRC.
skills among young people, among other activities.
AfDB, which conceived PIDA in partnership with the Afri-
Masiyiwa is a devout born-again Christian who devotes much can Union Commission and the planning and coordinating
of his time to educating African youths on entrepreneurship agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, is
and on how the power of the Christian faith is key to achieving responsible for providing the financial support needed to im-
success with integrity. plement the projects.

Adira Kallo Kaberuka is a visionary who believes that a prosperous Af-
rican future can be assured only by promoting regional eco-
28  October | November 2014  The African Courier nomic integration.

Ken Kamara

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  29

Africa Intellectuals & Visionaries

DMaomyobisa

Economist, Zambia

Making a compelling case for a © James Duncan Davidson
confident Africa

With her impressive academic credentials, including de-
grees from Oxford and Harvard, the Zambian-born
economist is well equipped to play the role of an in-
formed interpreter in a complex world of constantly changing re-
alities.

Dr Dambisa Moyo (45) has written several books on the dynam-
ics of global economic relationships and development. Among
these is the best-seller Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How
There is Another Way for Africa. She argues in the controversial
book that foreign aid helps to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and
hinders economic growth in Africa. Her view has been endorsed
by many international scholars, journalists and leaders, including
the former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan who says: “Dambi-
sa Moyo makes a compelling case for a new approach to Africa.”

Moyo was honoured by the World Economic Forum as one of its
Young Global Leaders in 2009 and named by Time as one of the
world’s 100 most influential people in 2013.

Vivian Asamoah

© Humanitaas Afrik a ABanfkfoomuarh

Journalist, Ghana

Exposing the West’s role in Africa’s troubles

It seems that the life mission of the long-standing editor of ca’s place in it.
New African is to jolt Africans to the realities of the world in
which they live. Baffour Ankomah tirelessly exposes West- A devout believer in Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of a united
ern hypocrisy and double-standards in its relationship with
Africa and how the West lurks behind most of the continent’s continent, the Ghanaian-born journalist almost singlehanded-
troubles. In fact, no intellectual has had a more powerful influ-
ence on how African journalists interpret the world and Afri- ly reshaped New African, which he has edited since 1999, into a

veritable agent of pan-Africanism.

You can disagree with him on Zimbabwe or Charles Taylor,

but you cannot but salute his courage of conviction and admire

his prodigious intellectual energy. Sola Jolaoso

30  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Africa

Ozwald Boateng
Fashion designer , Ghana

© Museum of LondonImagining a perfect future for Africa vision beyond fashion. He would like to see Africa connected
by roads, rail, airports and sea ports, driving trade and invest-
Born in London to ment to an unprecedented level on the continent and lifting
Ghanaian par- hundreds of millions of Africans out of poverty. A big dream?
ents, Ozwald Yes, but don’t think he is a lazy dreamer.
Boateng remains the
youngest and the first In 2011, Boateng and the Nigerian businessman Kola Alu-
Black designer to open ko, owner of Atlantic Energy, founded Made in Africa Founda-
a shop in Savile Row, an tion (MIAF), to support and fund feasibility studies and master-
area in Central London plans for transformational and large-scale infrastructure and
famous worldwide for development projects across Africa.
men’s tailoring. In 2006,
Boateng was honoured The target of the UK non-profit organisation is to raise US$400
by Queen Elizabeth II million, which it believes would develop more than US$100 bil-
for his contributions to lion of infrastructure projects, creating a trillion dollars of val-
the British tailoring in- ue across Africa. In September 2013, MIAF and the African De-
dustry. velopment Bank launched the Africa50 Fund to co-manage and
market initiatives on projects.
Boateng (47) now has
his eyes fixed on a grand Boateng says: “As a fashion designer, I have taught myself to
look at what is there and ask myself what can be made of it.
For Africa, that requires us to consider what would be its per-
fect future.”

Kwame Appiah

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  31

Africa Brands & Places

Botswana

Visionary leadership and good fortunes

Botswana is arguably Africa’s most astonishing suc-
cess story. When independence came in 1966, it
was one of the poorest countries in the world but,
© TCO since diamonds were discovered there a year later, vision-
© : IFII
ary leadership has allowed it to emerge as one of Africa’s

first middle-income countries. It has now enjoyed near-

ly 50 years of unbroken peace, prosperity and democrat-

ic rule. According to Transparency International, Botswa-

na is the least corrupt country in Africa and ranks close to

Portugal and South Korea.

Since independence, Botswana, famous for its sprawl-

ing wildlife reserves, has maintained a strong tradition as a

stable representative democracy, with a consistent record

of uninterrupted democratic elections. Its political sta-

bility is complemented by socioeconomic prosperity; the

country of about two million people has a GDP (purchas-

ing power parity) per capita of US$17,106, giving it a stand-

ard of living close to that of Mexico and Turkey.

Botswana’s government stands out in Africa in the way it manages the country’s natural resources. It negotiated two fantastic

deals to ensure that the people enjoy the resources available in their country: first, for De Beers, a cartel of companies that dom-

inate the international diamond business, to pay Botswana around 70 per cent of the value of each diamond it finds, and sec-

ond, since 2006, for De Beers to bring all processing of Botswana’s diamonds from London, so the country now benefits not on-

ly by selling its raw materials but also by producing finished goods.

“We shouldn’t - as a country or as a continent - put all our eggs in one basket,” says President Ian Khama (pictured), son of the

country’s founding father, Sir Seretse Khama. “Anything that you do should be a win-win situation, dealing with any country,

whether it’s China or anybody else.” Cyprian Kessy

Shoprite

Changing the way Africans shop

If you have ever shopped in Makola Market in Accra or Teju- The company, which operates more than 1,200 corporate and
osho in Lagos, with the loud, noisy and generally chaotic 270 franchise outlets in 16 countries across Africa and the In-
atmosphere that pervades such markets in most of sub-Sa- dian Ocean Islands, also drives entrepreneurship as it inspires
haran Africa, you will know how good it is to shop in a prop- the founding of local supermarkets in every country in which
er store. it operates.

Since opening its first outlet outside its South African base Lekan Arasi
in the Zambian capital city of Lusaka in 1995, the retail and fast
food company Shoprite has been growing across the continent
to the delight of Africa’s rising middle class. The location of a
Shoprite store in a neighbourhood immediately confers on it
stylishness and worth, increasing estate value.

Shoprite (one of whose outlets in Luanda, Angola, is pic-
tured) says its goal is to provide all communities in Africa with
food and household items in a first-world shopping environ-
ment, at the lowest possible prices.

32  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Africa

© CTTO in Africa, attracting more than 100,000 visitors monthly from

Cape all over the world.
Town
What makes the South African city so charming? It’s the
The beautiful African city
unique combination of world-class cultural attractions, its
Cape Town, with 3.74 million inhabitants (2011), is the
capital of the South African Province of the Western proximity to pristine nature, its good climate and well-devel-
Cape. As the seat of the national Parliament, it is also
the legislative capital of the country. oped infrastructure.

The city is the most popular international tourist destination Famous for its harbour, for its natural setting in the Cape flo-

ral kingdom, as well as for such well-known landmarks as the

V&A Waterfront, Table Mountain and Cape Point, Cape Town

is a very beautiful place of world renown.

It has won so many international recognitions such as “One

of the World’s Top 20 Cities” (by Condé Nast Readers’ Trav-

el Awards 2010), “One of the World’s Most Beautiful Cities”

(Forbes.com, 2010), “Africa’s Leading Destination” (World

Travel Awards, 2009 and 2010). The city was named the best

place in the world to visit by The New York Times for 2014.

No wonder more than 50,000 Germans live and work in Cape

Town, investing and trading in this fabulous city and creating

wealth for South Africa and the continent. Violet Mejerah

DStv

Connecting Africa to the world

Africa’s biggest pay TV operator was launched in 1995, and
its subscription-based digital satellite service is available
throughout the continent.
DStv provides bundles of channels (about 150 in September
2014) dedicated to news and business, general entertainment, movies, lifestyle and culture, sports, documentaries, children, mu-
sic, religion and teleshopping.
DStv, operated by MultiChoice, a South African company, connects Africa to the world.

Jessica Okoye

The African Courier  October | November 2014  33

Africa Humanitarians & Heroes

DBairhaAmbeid

Freedom fighter, Mauritania

Fighting against slavery in the 21st © UN
Century

Biram Dah Abeid is a long-time peaceful advocate for the human rights groups say enforcement of the laws has been ra-
abolition of slavery in Mauritania. Up to 600,000 people
or 20 per cent of the population still live in conditions of re to non-existent and full chattel slavery, as well as slave-like
slavery in the West African country.
working conditions, persist in many parts of the country.
Dark-skinned sub-Saharan Mauritanians are victims of bla-
tant racial discrimination in the country, dominated culturally, In July, Abeid vied for the presidency, even though he had al-
politically and economically by the minority light-skinned Ar-
ab-Berber community that constitutes only 30 per cent of the most no chance of being elected. His candidacy, the first ever
population. The situation is similar to that in which the Whites
dominated South Africa during Apartheid. of a sub-Saharan politician, was a symbolic act of defiance of a

As president of the Initiative for the Resurgence of the Aboli- traditional order in which Black Mauritanians are entrapped in
tionist Movement in Mauritania, Abeid challenges the Maurita-
nian authorities to enforce anti-slavery legislation in the coun- a position of subordination.
try. Slavery was formally abolished in 1981 (Mauritania was the
last country in the world to do so) and criminalised in 2007, but The son of freed slaves himself, Abeid has been arrested and

tortured multiple times by the authorities for his work. Despite

the personal danger to which he is exposed, Abeid courageous-

ly struggles on for a democratic Mauritania that is “rid of slav-

ery and racism” and that allows for “fraternal relations between

ethnicities”.

Last December, Abeid received the UN Human Rights Prize,

which is awarded every five years. Ousainou Bayo
Leymah
Gbowee
Peace activist, Liberia

“Don’t wait for a Mandela. You are your
own Mandela”

© James Hill The story of the women’s peace movement, told in the poign-
antly moving documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell, is a story
Leymah Gbowee rose to international recognition in 2003 of uncommon valour in the face of unbridled evil.
during the Liberian civil war, which had ravaged the
country for 14 years and led to the deaths of more than The women’s and African leaders’ uncompromising demand
250,000 people. A mother of four young children who was just for peace led to the agreement that ended the Liberian war in
31 at the time, Ms Gbowee, overcome with the fatigue of war, fi- 2003, culminating in the exile of Charles Taylor and the elec-
nally decided to take a stand. tion of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first female head of state.

Gbowee galvanised Liberian women across ethnic and reli- Gbowee stressed that with a Higher Power accompanying
gious divides to come together and demand that the warlords you: “Don’t wait for a Gandhi, don’t wait for a King, don’t wait
put down their guns and agree to a truce. for a Mandela. You are your own Mandela, you are your own
Gandhi, you are your own King.”

Leymah Gbowee co-shared the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize with
President Sirleaf and the Yemeni activist Tawakkol Karman.

Moco Macaulay

34  October | November 2014  The African Courier

© UN Africa

DMeunkiswege The legion of international awards, including the UN
Human Rights prize (2008), bestowed upon the Con-
Medical doctor, DR Congo golese gynaecologist in the past seven years has shown
Humanitarian of rare courage how much the world recognises his heroic work in eastern
Congo. Denis Mukwege and his colleagues have treated
more than 40,000 women, victims of mass rape, since 1999
in his Panzi Hospital in Bukavu.

The humanitarian icon (59) is also a man of immense cour-
age. Two years ago, Dr Mukwege publicly spoke out against
the impunity of the Rwanda-backed rebel fighters who are
responsible for most of the atrocities, including mass rape
and massacres, in the region.

In a speech at the UN on 25 September 2012, Mukwege
called for the “unanimous condemnation of the rebel groups
who are responsible for these acts” and for “concrete actions
with regard to member states of the United Nations who sup-
port these barbarities from near or afar”.

On the root cause of the conflict in Congo, he said: “In re-
ality, this conflict is not about ethnicity, but a territorial con-
flict about mineral resources.”

These bold truths nearly cost the doctor his life a month lat-
er. Assassins invaded his home in Bukavu, killing his driver,
holding his daughters hostage and shooting at the doctor but
narrowly missing him.

Mukwege and his family fled to Belgium as a result of the
incident. Luckily for his patients, he has since returned to his
base to continue his work of mercy and he is now constantly
accompanied by two armed bodyguards. Laurent Peleke

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  35

Africa Icons & Pioneers

Samuel Eto’o

Footballer, Cameroon

Powerful example of African footballing success

Eto’o was the youngest participant at the 1998 World Cup when he appeared
in a match against Italy at the age of 17. Since then he has established him-
self as one of the world’s most lethal finishers, with more than 350 goals
in his career.

The Cameroonian is the most decorated African player of all time and has won
almost everything apart from the World Cup. He has won the Spanish and Italian
league titles with Barcelona and Inter Milan, three Champions League titles, two
Africa Cup of Nations titles and an Olympic gold medal in 2000.

In 2006, he was La Liga’s highest goalscorer, the best forward in the Uefa Cham-
pions League and top scorer in the Africa Nations Cup in 2006 and 2008. He is
the only player in history to have won the African Player of the Year award three
times consecutively in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The millionaire professional, one of the highest-paid footballers in the world,
is a powerful example of African footballing success and a great inspiration to
young players on the continent dreaming of taking their skills to the world stage.

Charles Ofoji
© MTNfootbal
© PUMA/FOOTBALL GALLERY
SKetsephhi en
Nigeria’s national team trainer was one of only two Af-
National Trainer, Nigeria rican coaches at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On a con-
Opening up new opportunities for others tinent where the rule is that national teams hire Euro-
pean coaches, Stephen Keshi has also coached Mali and Togo.
36  October | November 2014  The African Courier
He shows that Africans cannot only play well but also man-
age teams, and is bravely shattering a convention and opening
up new opportunities for others.

Keshi (52), who is one of only two people, along with Egypt’s
Mahmoud El-Gohary, to have won the Africa Cup of Nations as
both a player and a coach, is defeating prejudice against Afri-
cans by Africans in Africa.

Africa’s most successful African trainer is providing an inspir-
ing example to a continent in need of can-do role models.

Charles Ofoji

Africa

© G4SSPORT

Haile Gebrselassie

Athlete and Entrepreneur, Ethiopia

From modest beginnings to the pinnacle of international sport

The Ethiopian athlete (41), arguably the greatest distance courage young people to pursue their dreams irrespective of
runner of all time, rose from modest beginnings to the the circumstances of their birth. His business empire employs
pinnacle of international sport by dint of hard work. some 600 people and his interests range from coffee to auto
Haile Gebrselassie’s record includes two Olympic 10,000-me- trading. He also runs a property business, which financed the
tre gold medals, four World Championship 10,000m titles, nine construction of seven of Addis Ababa’s tallest buildings.
marathon victories and the distinction of being the first man in
history to run a marathon in under two hours and four minutes. Gebrselassie’s tip for success in anything you do: “Discipline,
hard work and, before everything, maybe, commitment. No
The athletics superstar is also a very successful entrepreneur one will make it without those three. Sport teaches you that.”
and generous philanthropist in Ethiopia, where he seeks to en-
Zachary Ochieng

The African Courier  October | November 2014  37

Africa Artists & Entertainers © Radio Okapi

OKlooffmi idé

Musician, DR Congo

“Good music comes from the heart and not
out of love for money”

From Dakar to Dar es Salaam, from Lagos to Nairobi, from Africans in a list that also included Kofi Annan and Nelson
Yaoundé to Johannesburg, in Accra, Abidjan, Kampa- Mandela.
la, Harare…. Koffi Olomidé (58) has achieved fame with
his music. He has performed to jam-packed venues, setting re- Asked early this year, what advice he had for young musi-
cords in attendance figures throughout sub-Saharan Africa. cians, the Congolese superstar said: “They should do whatever
they do with love, they should not do it for money. Good music
A well rounded artiste – singer, musician, composer – Koffi comes from the heart and not out of love for money”.
topped the African music charts throughout the 1990s, and
maintained his success well into the new millennium. In 1998, Ken Kamara
he won the maiden Kora Award for the Best African Singer. It
was the first time television viewers continent-wide voted over
the phone for a musician of their choice during a live show in
Africa.

In 2002, Jeune Afrique, the leading French-language week-
ly on Africa, chose Koffi Olomidé as one of the 25 most famous

© JCW LNuypointag’o

Actress, Kenya

Showcasing African beauty and creativity

Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o (31) caught the world’s attention
and won an Oscar for her performance in 12 Years a Slave, a film
based on the true story of a free Black man who was abducted
and sold into slavery in pre-civil war America. Since then she has be-
come the toast of the international media, showcasing African crea-
tivity to the world.
Nyong’o was named “The Most Beautiful Woman” for 2014 by the in-
ternational celebrity magazine People.

Vivian Asamoah

38  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Africa

YNo’Duosusrou term after controversially amending the
constitution. Wade lost.
Musician and Politician, Senegal
The African superstar, whose own
Pushing art as an agent of presidential ambitions were truncated
political change by Wade, served as minister for culture
and tourism in the government of Presi-
Youssou N’Dour has won several Gram- dent Macky Sall until September last year.
mys and toured the world with greats He’s now a presidential adviser. “I’m still in-
such as Bruce Springsteen, Sting and volved in politics,” he assures us.
Peter Gabriel, taking African music across all N’Dour shows that being a successful artist
cultural frontiers. No wonder the Senega- carries social responsibility and that art can be
lese singer has been hailed as “world mu- an agent of political change.
sic’s only real star”.
Ousainou Bayo
N’Dour also uses his music to promote
mutual understanding among Africans © James Mollison/Benetton Group
irrespective of their religious differences.
In 2012 he led popular protests in Dakar The African Courier  October | November 2014  39
against the attempt of President Abdou-
laye Wade to get re-elected for a third

Africa Artists & Entertainers

Tunde Kelani (right) directing on the set
of his film Arugba (2009) on the famous
Olumo Rocks, Abeokuta, western Nigeria.
The veteran director/producer is Nigeria’s
foremost cinematographer with a reputa-
tion for quality films that stand apart in
Nollywood

Luc Beu

Nollywood

Cultural industry, Nigeria

Showing Africa how to tell its own story

Nigeria recently became Africa’s largest economy, over- more than 500,000 cassettes of the film had been sold, gross-
taking South Africa, after a rebasing of its GDP. One of ing $1.3 million. Nollywood was born.
the contributors to this dramatic leap is the country’s
home-grown film industry, Nollywood. Twenty-two years on, Nollywood, which produces more than
2,000 feature films annually, has overtaken America’s Holly-
It all started by chance in Lagos 22 years ago. An importer of wood and become the second biggest movie industry in the
blank video cassettes had so many of the tapes in stock that he world after India’s Bollywood, according to a global cinema
didn’t know what to do with them. A jobless young graduate survey conducted by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics in
of film/TV production had been dreaming of making a film for 2009.
more than three years but had no means. Providence brought
the two men, Kenneth Nnebue and Okechukwu Oguejiofor, to- Nollywood’s example has been followed across Africa. There
gether and the result was a film shot with a video camera. is Camwood in Cameroon, Ghollywood in Ghana, Riverwood
in Kenya, Sollywood in Sierra Leone, Swahiliwood in Tanza-
Made with a budget of about US$10,000 and within two nia, Ugowood in Uganda, Zollywood in Zimbabwe, Jollywood
weeks, Living in Bondage, based on a tale of the occult, was in South Sudan etc.
copied on video cassettes and released to the market in Nige-
ria on 12 September 1992. Within the first month of its release Nollywood has shown Africa how to tell its own story.

Sunny Okim

40  October | November 2014  The African Courier

Africa

ACNhdgimioacmzhainieda

Author, Nigeria
Attracting new readers to
African literature

© Chris Boland
Bugs Steffen
MHuagshekela

Musician, South Africa

Eternal inspiration to African artistes

With the successful novels Purple Hibis- Hugh Masekela, who turned 75 in April, can look back on an eventful
cus, Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah life. The great South African Jazz musician’s solo career has spanned
and the collection of short stories The 5 decades, during which he has released over 40 albums and has
Thing Around Your Neck to her credit, the award- worked with such diverse artists as Harry Belafonte, Dizzy Gillespie, The By-
winning Nigerian author is the biggest new star in rds, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Marvin Gaye, Herb Alpert, Paul Simon, Stevie Won-
the firmament of African literature. der and the late Miriam Makeba, to whom he was briefly married.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (37) provides a In 1960, at the age of 21, Masekela left his homeland to begin what would
very powerful inspiration to young writers of be 30 years in exile, living in the US, Ghana, Guinea etc. He lent his power-
African heritage and has been praised for “at- ful voice on and off stage to the struggle against Apartheid and only returned
tracting a new generation of readers to African to South Africa after the African National Congress was unbanned in 1990.
literature”.
He is currently using his global reach to spread the word about heritage
Half of a Yellow Sun, a love story that follows two restoration in Africa – a topic that remains very close to his heart. “My big-
sisters caught up in the outbreak of the 1967-1970 gest obsession is to show Africans and the world who the people of Africa re-
Nigerian civil war, has been filmed to popular ac- ally are,” he says.
claim and is now showing at cinemas across the
globe, further increasing Adichie’s influence. Masekela, who still maintains a busy international tour schedule as his fan
base around the world continues to grow, is an eternal inspiration to artistes
Jessica Okoye in Africa and beyond.

Yvonne Takame

The African Courier  October | November 2014  41

stAprfearcvTiichaeaellGaEmxbciiat-iSnegneWgaelsbtoArdferrica
post in Karang. The immigration
officials make life difficult for
travellers
© Sidi Sanneh

A West African Journey III

Gambia, Mali
and Burkina
Fasot was exactly 4pm when the For the past two years, Jojo Cobbinah, 66, our Accra-based Senior
Contributing Editor, has been touring West Africa. Cobbinah continues
car taking me from Ziguin- his narration of what he has described as a journey of rediscovery,
chor to Kaolack reached the from South Senegal through Gambia to Mali and then Burkina Faso.
Gambian border town of So-
ma. All along, I thought that if much as a glance at me. About seven bia, sir, I protested. I pulled out 2,000
the immigration officers were minutes later, he suddenly looked up CFA and shoved it through the window.
and barked at me: “You, 10,000 CFA!” I After ignoring me for about ten minutes,
Inice, I stood a good chance of knew then that I was in big trouble. I cer- he suddenly took the money and gave
ferrying across the Gambia tainly had the said amount but if I gave me back my passport.
River in time. Then it would be no prob- it all to him, I would not reach Bamako
lem driving to Farafeni to exit the Gam- the next day. There were still four more Just then, another immigration offic-
bia again. But the immigration officers borders to go through and each of them er demanded to see the contents of my
were not nice that day. In fact they nev- would cost me money. bulging rucksack. I had a big camera in
er are, as people confirmed later. there, and that could cause problems,
Ghanaians are supposed to be stub- too. “What are you doing with that type of
Border Blues born, so they are often given harsh treat- camera?” he asked. Not waiting for a re-
ment at West African borders. True or ply, he declared with a squint in his eyes:
Immediately as I pushed my passport not, it was the case that day. I tried to “Oh, we have a journalist here! What else
through a little window to a seemingly be as gentle as possible and replied that are you smuggling into our country?” I
bored officer, he took a look and beck- I had 2,000 CFA. I’m coming from Cape was shaking inside already, trying not to
oned me to step aside, not throwing as Verde and have spent all my money, sir, let it show. I began to unpack, explain-
I replied. “Look, my friend, you don’t ing that I just loved to take pictures. “You
have a visa for the Gambia and that is the don’t speak like a Ghanaian. Where are
price.” But I don’t need a visa for the Gam- you really from?” I was in a fix. If I said

42  October | November 2014  The African Courier

A West African Journey stAprfearcviiceaall

Germany, that could really be costly. So ko. I had not prayed much in the past few © www.operationworld.org
I said I was a Ghanaian living abroad and years but I caught myself murmuring a
occasionally writing travel guides. prayer. God heard it, because when I got Monsieur Atala arrived in Kaolack at
to the other side, my driver from Zigui- 1.30am. The bus was jam-packed, most
Years back I had written on Senegal/ chor was patiently waiting, with his die- travellers were fast asleep, the air inside
Gambia for Peter Meyer Verlag and, sel motor roaring. He apparently guessed thick. I was greeted and placed behind
luckily, I had a copy in my bag. I took it what had transpired, because all he said the driver. Ahead of us were still some
out and asked him to compare the name was: “C’est l’Afrique, monsieur.” 1,200 gruelling kilometres to Bamako on
on it with the one on my ID. “So you are a fairly good road with occasional pot-
a rich guy writing books?” No, sir, an Af- Arriving Kaolack! holes. The next towns before the border:
Kaffrine, Koumpetoum, Tambacounda
The peoples of Ghana, Everybody tells me that it was God who and Kidira. I expected to reach there by
in their majority, were helped me to reach Kaolack on 14 Janu- the early morning.
supposed to have mi- ary 2013. The driver from Ziguinchor had
grated down south made good on his promise. It was 10pm The harmattan regime was firmly in
from the Mali Empire. when he dropped me off at Kaolack’s charge, and it was icy cold. The entire
So I was actually head- last stop in front of the Ecobank, our ar- route from Kidira to the border was lined
ed to the original ranged meeting point. with empty or overloaded trucks trying
home of the Akan peo- to pierce the artificial bottleneck called a
ple, to which I belong. I heaved a sigh of relief, crossed my- border. We were greeted by a gust of cold ▶
self, secured my big travelling bag and
rican trying to show Africa to the world! waved goodbye. I had not eaten since Zi-
By the time the officer let me go on the guinchor and badly needed food. After a
plate of rice and cold chicken in a near-
ferry, my car was gone. If it did not wait by restaurant that was still open, I called
for me at the other end, I would not reach the bus driver’s number (Alex had texted
Kaolack in time to join the bus for Bama- it to me) to find out when he would get
to Kaolack. “One o’clock,” came the reply
from Monsieur Atala. In the meantime, I
talked with some people waiting for the
same bus. France was sending troops to
Mali, I learnt.

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stAprfearcviicaeall A West African Journey

▶ air when the bus doors opened for us to Burkinabe border as quickly as possible. mah and Sekou Touré of Guinea, had
begin the immigration proceedings. I did not want to get caught in a war I formed the first union of African states.
thought was as unnecessary as a pimple.
Plenty of soldiers I also remembered my history class-
Bamako was still 665km away. I knew es: the great empires of the Sahel: Gha-
Frequent travellers say Senegal’s border it would be a slow and painful journey. na, Mali and Songhai. These names had
guards are a peculiar sort. They are never The itinerary was set. The bus would first filled us with so much pride. Particular-
in a hurry. In our case, they collected our head to Kayes, only 40km into Mali, drop ly Mali. With its legendary kings such
passports, disappeared behind closed passengers off and take some others for as Sundiata Keita and Mansa Musa.
doors and let travellers pray or watch TV the final leg to Bamako. Yes, Mansa Musa. That is the guy whom
for well over an hour and a half. While Forbes recently designated as the richest
Bamako © IFFI man who has ever lived. He is supposed
waiting, I bought myself a baguette, bar- to have amassed wealth, selling gold and
becued mutton and a coke. Land of Mansa Musa! salt, to the tune of US$400 billion in to-
day’s terms.
When the doors finally opened, a roll We were now inside Mali and rolling
call began. Burkinabe, Ivorians, Togo- along an uneven road packed with still Mansa Musa was also the source of
lese: 1,000 CFA, Ghanaians 2,000 CFA, more of the trucks that we had seen at many other legends. History says he took
Nigerians 5,000 CFA. No reasons were the border. Here I was, on my way to Ma- a retinue of 60,000 people with him on a
given. And people started to pay. Pro- li’s famous cities that I had heard about pilgrimage to Mecca in 1325. En route, he
testing here would not help. So I paid since my childhood. I was too excited to spent so much gold that Egypt suffered
and moved on, damning all African pol- just snooze off. inflation for more than 12 years after that.
iticians for always paying lip-service to How many Africans knew this?
African unity. When we moved to the You would not call Mali an
Mali side of the border, it was the same affluent country, of course. Not only that. The peoples of Ghana,
story. I meekly paid another 2,000 CFA. But it was not as if every- in their majority, were supposed to have
body was poor and crying migrated down south from the Mali Em-
Because of the Islamist attack in North out for help, as some of the pire. So I was actually headed to the orig-
Mali, there were plenty of soldiers around statistics I had read before inal home of the Akan people, to which I
openly begging for money and cigarettes. coming suggest. belong. Were there still any vestiges of re-
Hundreds of trucks packed with goods semblance left? In the language, music,
were lined up for customs checks but no- To be honest, my arrival on Malian soil dancing and eating habits? Such were my
body seemed to care. It would take them was unspectacular, more like an anti-cli- thoughts until we reached the city gates
weeks to get to wherever they were go- max. Since my schooldays I had dreamed of Kayes and I saw River Senegal for the
ing, I reckoned. of seeing this country. I remembered the second time since St Louis. But by this
times of Modibo Keita, Mali’s first Pres- time I was too tired to care.
Mali is a huge place, the size of South ident who, with Ghana’s Kwame Nkru-
Africa. It shares borders with Côte After Kayes, we rolled on for hours on
d’Ivoire, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, end through an arid landscape of bald
Senegal, Mauritania and Algeria. It now hills and occasional shrubs. Every now
became even bigger in my eyes. My only and then soldiers would enter our bus,
wish was to traverse Mali and reach the make some superficial controls and de-
mand money. This was to happen four
more times before we finally reached
Kati, where the Malian Army has a huge
base. This is also where we saw French
troops for the first time. They looked
grim and dangerous in their armoured
cars. They were heading in the direction
we had come from and I could not im-
agine where they were going, since for
hundreds of kilometres I had seen on-
ly a wilderness interspersed with a few
villages.

Soon after, Bamako appeared in the
distance, sprawled like a prayer mat on
the flat plain that the big river must have
cut out on its long journey to the sea. As if
by order, Monsieur Atala switched on his
CD player and began to play a piece by
Habib Koité. Oh, these wonderful Malian
musicians, I thought. Salif Keita, Ali Far-
ka Touré, Oumou Sangaré, Rokia Traoré.
I could not wait to get out of the damned
bus, find a hotel, get a shower and eat a
good meal.

44  October | November 2014  The African Courier

River transport on the Niger in Bamako. Exciting West Africa stAprfearcviiceaall
For centuries the 4,180km-long river had
intrigued explorers
© Jojo Cobbinah

Tuaregs playing the fool open. You can take the north route cities I had heard so much about. A bit
through Ségou and Koutiala to the Koury of a risk it was, but life, after all, is full of
It was around 8am when our tired bus border. Or the south route via Sikasso to risks and I was prepared to take this one.
rolled into its dock at a station some- the border at Koloko. Both are safe for
where on the outskirts of Bamako. Eager the moment, at least.” My mind now set, I hailed a taxi and
to move on as fast as possible, I asked asked to be taken to the suburb of Ba-
Monsieur Atala about the situation in Another quick look on the map told me co-Djikoroni, where my son had rec-
the country and how I could get to Oua- of a third possibility. What about if I took ommended a hotel. On the way there, I
gadougou. “Well, well. No problem in the north route and continued through crossed River Niger over a long bridge.
the south. The Tuaregs are playing the For the first time in my life! A huge ex-
fool up north: Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal and to Bandiagara before turning to the bor- panse of water. I counted two more
so on. It depends on you, monsieur,” he bridges in the distance and was glad that
said. der? “Well, that one too is good, but it is I had made it to Bamako, the capital of
far and the road in Dogonland is pretty modern Mali. Wow!
I took out a map I was carrying and rough,” he replied.
looked at the points he had mentioned. Radiantly dressed women
So if I stayed away from that area I would I paused for a moment to reflect on the
information and decided there and then The next morning it was time to sightsee
be safe? “Yes. But there are two ways to to make the best of my time. I would take Bamako. River Niger, which people here
get to Ouaga from here. The buses leave the north bend to Bandiagara. Though call Djoliba, divides the city up into two ▶
every morning and the borders are still Timbuktu was closed, it was still my best
chance of seeing some of those historic

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The African Courier  October | November 2014  45

stAprfearcviicaeall A West African Journey The Grande Mosque in Djenne.
The whole town, famous for West
▶ halves. The government, the big market Sudanese architecture, is a Unesco
and most of the nightlife reside on the World Heritage Site and is really
left bank, while the right bank is more of worth seeing
a residential area. It was a much bigger © Jojo Cobbinah
and nicer place than I had expected, with
plenty of cars and motorcycles on broad Where did I get the impression that Ma- following day.
streets and tree-lined avenues. li was waterless? The fact is, the Riv- First on our agenda in the morning was
Where I had expected to see beggars, er Niger flows through the whole coun-
sand and rubble, elegant and radiant- try for more than 1,000km. Its tributary, to drive straight to the riverside. Fasci-
ly dressed women were walking about. the River Bani, is also not small. The nated, I just stood on the right bank look-
Gaddafi is said to have invested heavi- two rivers combine to make the popu- ing at the greenish expanse of water filled
ly here and some posh hotels were cit- lated southern half of Mali (bigger than with all kinds of boats coming from the
ed as examples. You would not call Mali France) a well-watered, fertile place. Be- other side, laden with goods and people.
an affluent country, of course. Its weaker tween Bamako and Ségou, the River Ni- I could not help but think about scenes
sides were there to see, too. But it was not ger seems to pick up a lot of water, be- in T.C. Boyle’s Water Music. For centuries
as if everybody was poor and crying out cause by the time it reaches Ségou it has this river, 4,180km long, had intrigued ex-
for help, as some of the statistics I had almost doubled its size. plorers. It was once even thought to be a
read before coming suggest. tributary of the Nile or the Congo. It took
Bamako was so peaceful that it was I had met people in Paris who had been Mungo Park several years and his life to
hard to believe there was a war going on to Ségou to attend a cultural event by the establish that it curved down in the de-
in the country. Music, good African mu- name of Festival du Fleuve and who had sert to flow southwards through Nigeria.
sic, was in the air everywhere. I would spoken of the town in glorious terms.
have loved to drink a beer in the hot sun “You should come again when it’s fes-
but unlike Ghana, it is not that easy to “If you want to see tival time. Then the city is full of famous
find where beer is sold in this Muslim so- authentic African musicians and lots of nice women!” I
ciety which generally frowns on alcohol. town architecture promised I would. But I was already sat-
I liked it here, nonetheless. before Europeans came isfied that it was not festival time and
Time was not exactly on my side. But to spoil everything, Ségou was just peaceful. What a contrast
the war was so far away that I was no Djenne is the place.” to what one would have expected, listen-
longer afraid for my life. Back at the ho- ing to the news.
tel, I decided not to race through to Oua- Now, on my way there myself, I did not
gadougou, as I had first planned. I would know exactly what to expect. Some peo- Djenne, my next stop, was 320km to
discover as much of Mali as was human- ple say Segou is Mali’s third city, others the north. In Mali this is not far, Baye
ly possible at this difficult time. Talking say fourth, but that is not so important. told me. If I wanted, he would drive me
about difficulties, Mali had suffered big In any case, let’s say it is not such a small there. Free of charge. Just for the friend-
losses in all aspects of life in recent times. place. ship. Because he would expect me to do
Before a confused but hopelessly ambi- the same for him in Ghana. I gave him an
tious soldier made a thoughtless coup A nice taxi driver, Baye his name, instant invitation to Accra and we set off
and changed everything, the country had picked me up at the bus station. Baye after I had made him at least let me pay
been quite democratic and peaceful. promised to take me to a medium- for the fuel.
With its glorious history and authen- priced hotel and to show me his city the
tic present, Mali had a lucrative tour- next day. It was getting dark and I want- The main road veers at first to the west
ism sector going for her. But that was the ed to be in bed early to get some rest. It into the valley of the River Bani, before
past tense. Now all the European coun- struck me that I had not taken any pho- heading northwards into the ancient
tries were issuing instructions to their tos since my departure from Ziguinchor, trading town. We arrived in the late after-
citizens not to travel to Mali. While walk- and I made a resolve to correct that the noon and entered the town after crossing
ing the streets of Bamako, my plans for the Bani by ferry.
Mali became more concrete. From here
I would go to Ségou, then move on to The January sun was as hot as ever and
Djenne before proceeding to Mopti and I thought it my duty to pay for a hearty
Bandiagara. meal for Baye before letting him return
home. He suggested we drive to a nearby
Segou! Djenne! dibiterie, a kind of informal restaurant.

The road to Ségou runs almost parallel
to the Niger and travels through green
fields full of cotton, rice, watermelon
and mango farms. Travelling through the
Malian countryside on a public bus gave
me time to unload some of the wrong no-
tions I had gathered reading a lot of erro-
neous stuff in Europe.

Why did I always think Mali was a
country with hardly any vegetation?

46  October | November 2014  The African Courier

A West African Journey stAprfearcviiceaall

Traditional dancers in Dogonland. The Dogon had avoided Islamisation for more than 1,000 years Home of Bozo and Fulani
and had succeeded in preserving their culture and peculiar way of life
© Jojo Cobbinah From Djenne to Mopti is not far; only
76km to the north, well under two hours
For a good meal, he emphasised. There and really worth seeing. by road. The sizable city of about 120,000
people is right at the confluence of the
a whole sheep was being roasted over an Though alarm bells were ringing in Niger and the Bani. In the olden days,
earthenUmoeaven in the open. We ordered Europe against travel to Mali, quite a River Niger, navigable for about 1,300km
between Koulikoro and Gao, served as
two big plates full of fresh, juicy mutton,Oslo few Austrians, Dutch and French tour- a huge motorway for the exchange of
Stockholm goods between north and south. Salt
and hides from the Sahara, gold and
two arm-long baguettes and plenty of ists were in town and didn’t look as if tropical products such as kola nuts from
Gothenburg the south. Slave trading also took place,
though not in the volumes of the trans-
Oslo coke. Again, beerHelsinkiwould have been more they were unsafe. I greeted the German Atlantic era.
like it,Stockholm and againTallinn I decidedEdinburgh to behave. Copenhagen speaVkilneiusrs amongMostcohw em in their own lan-
The river still provides an excellent
Then Baye insisted on giving me aGothenburg guage. Baye was obviously shocked at means of communication and the port
Riga Manchester Hamburg this and gave me strange looks without of Mopti bears ample witness. It is not
saying anything. That night, I slept in a quite clear whose city it is but two eth-
town ride before leaving.Birmingham “If you want toBerlin classy mud hotel operated by a Swedish nic groups call Mopti their home: the Bo-
see authentic African town architectureCopenhagen womanBudapest and wondered why a native of zo and the Fulani. But they live togeth-
Vilnius Bristol LondoMnoscow Hannover the place had not got the idea first. Must er peacefully here and that’s fine. It is an
Heathrow Africans always wait for outsiders first? important trading centre with an inter-
nal port which used to be a crucial link
HambburgeforGedanEsk uropeans came toParis spoilStrasbourg everyPra-gue between Djenne and Timbuktu, still
twMhPBhroiearngloiWusPneogrlqozenc,aluanwDtKeora,kjwoewisnnWana,rsiaeUwnicnsleutshdcBeiilobnaopgWKlToiaeiuvoltocussreelf.da”mLIHyGoenanoeevgaurBarisseetNlTiuacGereingMdrielaa.nBonSTlVoegidhnntiaVceeeeienna 400km upriver.
Hannover Marseille
Brussels Timbuktu! No, I would not go to Tim-
buktu. The ancient city was now in the
Frankfurt hands of the Tuareg rebels who were
busy demolishing holy sites and other
asbourg cultural landmarks there. What a pity! ▶

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Botswana

tArfarviceal A West African Journey

▶ I would have given anything to walk its tracted a guide and a SUV for a two-day The only thing was to hurry up till Oua-

ancient streets and stand in front of the tour through the stony, semi-arid ter- higouya, the next big town on the other

Sankore Mosque for a photo. But I would rain. It was a completely different setting side of the border. Here, the immigra-

have to postpone that till a later and bet- now, unlike anywhere else in Mali. I was tion officers were understanding and let

ter time. taken to see their well-hidden homes, us pass with a minimum of delay. It was

I had just arrived and was trying to toured their villages and their places of a big relief finally to arrive in Ouaga. The

unwind in a restaurant by the riverside worship, witnessed their mask danc- woman survived and we parted with mu-

when news started spreading that the es and was given elaborate descriptions tual good wishes.

rebels up north were pressing south to- about how life was organised. Bigger, richer Ouaga
wards Mopti. Before leaving, Baye had At the end of it all, I was happy to have

strongly advised me not to take chances come this far. I was also happy not to be From previous visits dating back to my

and I had promised. It was time to move a Dogon, even if the people were very schooldays, I knew Ouaga pretty well.

on, before it was too late. Anxiety took friendly and seemed to lead completely The city of about two million people had

hold of me again. changed completely

What to do? God, I in the past two dec-

had not seen much ades - for the bet-

of Mopti yet, but my ter, of course. It was

options were few. bigger, richer, clean-

I unwillingly de- er and well-organ-

cided to leave town ised. The right place

the next day for to relax after the anx-

Bandiagara in the ieties in Mopti and

south-west. The the grinding tour in

idea was to eventu- Dogonland. But now

ally hide in the Ban- I did not want to be-

diagara escarpment gin another new ex-

and await what pedition. I was tired

would happen next. after almost eight

You see, I was still weeks on the road. It

eager not to miss was February already

anything of signif- and, a little home-

icance once I was sick, I was simply ea-

in the region. Then ger to go home now.

too, I did not be- It is no big deal

lieve that the world getting to Accra from

would just sit and Ouaga. There is even

watch these people a Ghana Station,

take over the whole View of the monument Place Memorial auz Heros Nationaux in Ouagadougou. The capital city of from where several
of Mali. But if they Burkina Faso now looks cleaner, bigger and richer air-conditioned bus-
did, my plan was © Jeff Attaway es leave every day. I

to head straight to the Burkinabe bor- normal, happy lives. was even tempted to take a plane but was

der, which was not very far away. And It is true, the road to Burkina is bad af- unwilling to pay the prohibitive price at-

there were cars leaving daily for Ouaga- ter descending from the plateau and the tached. So I bought a bus ticket for the

dougou, affectionately called Ouaga, via cars plying the route are boneshakers, ride home, firmly resolving to contin-

Ouahigouya. literally. The journey was thus slow but ue my travels through West Africa after a

Happy not to be a Dogon highly interesting. Also on board was an good rest in Accra.
elderly Dutch woman who looked frail. Knowing that I would return to Oua-

If the rebels were stopped, I wanted to Probably from exhaustion, because she ga pretty soon, I had no regrets leaving

linger a bit in the Bandiagara escarp- kept complaining about the heat. so quickly. It was a night ride. Ahead of

ment, home to the Dogon people. The There was hardly any vegetation on me lay another gruelling 18-hour ride

Dogon live in and around the famous es- this stretch of road and the sun baked which I did not want to imagine. Taking

carpment that stands off the flat ground our car relentlessly. I was worried for my seat on the bus, I took two sleeping

and runs in a north-eastern direction for the White woman. Then it happened. We tablets for the first time in my life, quite

about 150km. Significantly, the Dogon had not gone more than 50km when she determined not to do the journey in a

had avoided Islamisation for more than collapsed. Big confusion. First aid was conscious state. I believe I soon began

1,000 years and had succeeded in pre- required, but from where? We pulled her to dream, because I awoke at the border

serving their culture and peculiar way of out of the car, placed her on a bed sheet and fell asleep again.

life. that someone had and fanned her. I took

I had read much about Bandiagara and a bottle of water from my bag and emp- Author’s Note: My readers should know

now wanted to see it. The town is not big tied it on her. It seemed to work because that I got home safely to plan my next

but has everything a traveller requires she came back to life after a while. Af- trip. Join me when I get on the road again

before setting off into the hills. Travel- ter drinking some water, she recovered for my next trip to Togo, Benin and back

ling alone here would be foolish so I con- somewhat and sat upright. to Burkina Faso.

48  October | November 2014  The African Courier

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Africa

All Photos: Georges Alexandre

Dina Tamba (middle) with models showcasing her Blackpearl Secret collection

African fashion Gala show hosts
dazzles in Ter Linden and
Amsterdam Nollywood
superstar Ramsey
Multicultural Netherlands be- Nouah
came an event richer recent-
ly when the African Fashion to support designers, primarily through
Week (AFWA) Amsterdam debuted to
resounding success. Founded by Diana event management of fashion shows, cat-
Tambe, a young model and designer
from Cameroon, the event took place at walk displays, workshops and network
the World Fashion Centre in the Dutch
metropolis and was graced by the pres- meetings.
ence of buyers, retailers and the inter-
national press. As well as the colourful fashion pa-

Hosted by Ramsey Nouah, the celeb- rades, the audience at the first AFWA
rity Nollywood actor, and Carolien ter
Linden, owner of the high-end boutique (from 29 to 31 August) enjoyed musical
Passarella Moda, AFWA showcased the
collections of new and established Af- performances by Miss Bess, dance and
rican and Africa-inspired fashion de-
signers to fashion-loving Netherlands urban music sensation Petit Bagaza and
and an international audience.
Nabil Nabstar. Vivian Asamoah
Among the fashion houses that par-
ticipated in the show were Nubian Col-
lection, Lovejadex Design, Habesha
Couture and Monica Creation. Others
were The House of Adjeiwaah (Thoa),
Arriz Golden, Alisha, Farida’s Atelier
and Patou Manga. The highlight of the
gala night on the final day of the Week
was Diana Tambe’s presentation of her
clothing line Blackpearl Secret.

According to Tambe, AFWA strives

50  October | November 2014  The African Courier