The Africonomist Presents: Q&A with Clifford Sacks of Renaissance Capital

Moscow-based Renaissance Capital (RenCap), an emerging markets investment bank, is on a mission to build its footprint across the African continent. The person leading that charge is Clifford Sacks, former CEO of Merrill Lynch South Africa.

Sacks, who is currently RenCap’s CEO of South Africa and head of Pan African Equities, recently spoke to Africonomist editor David Dankwa about the bank’s investment interests and priorities in Africa and why he thinks the continent is poised to become an important growth factory globally.

Senegal Delegation in Chicago, Illinois

Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade led a delegation of his government’s ministers to Chicago this past week, where they met with some 90 businesses. The four-day trade mission was part of President Wade’s year-long celebration of Senegal’s 50 years of independence and was designed to bring additional foreign investment to the West African nation.

Reclaiming the Sword: 50 years later, a Brief Account of Africa’s Road to Independence

On June 30th of this year, in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Belgian King Albert II stood alongside 39-year-old Congolese President Joseph Kabila to celebrate the country’s 50 years of independence from Belgium. The two men watched solemnly as the Congolese military paraded along the city’s main avenue, an avenue recently renovated with the assistance of Africa’s newest “best friend”, China.

Congrats to Africa.com’s Ambassador Jendayi Frazer on Receiving One of Liberia’s Highest Honors

Africa.com congratulates Ambassador Jendayi Frazer on having been awarded the Distinction of Dame Grand Commander in the Humane Order of African Redemption by Liberia‘s President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Rumit’s African Journey June-July 2010: PART 5 — NAMIBIA

Rumit Mehta, recently returned from safari in four African countries, shares his extraordinary experiences with Africa.com. This is the fifth in a five part series being released this week (complete with photos!) detailing his travels in Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

Rumit’s African Journey June 2010: PART 4 – SOUTH AFRICA

Rumit Mehta, recently returned from safari in four African countries, shares his extraordinary experiences with Africa.com. This is the fourth in a five part series being released this week (complete with photos!) detailing his travels in Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

June 25-29 – Durban, South Africa

The buzzing of vuvuzelas on the street, in the local taverns and in the soccer stadiums signifies that Africa is competing on the global stage! The biggest party of it all is taking place in South Africa with fans packing the stadiums rooting for their favorite team.

Rumit’s African Journey June 2010: PART 3 — BOTSWANA

Rumit Mehta, recently returned from safari in four African countries, shares his extraordinary experiences with Africa.com. This is the third in a five part series being released this week (complete with photos!) detailing his travels in Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

June 17-21: Okavango Delta, Botswana

We experience four spectacular days in this unique and pristine ecosystem, located in the northern part of Botswana. The January rains in Angola slowly creep down to the Delta, permeating the bone-dry flood plains and the five large water channels, bringing bird life and animals back. By May and June the Delta is filled up, often up to two to four meters in some areas, and then slowly recedes until the rains in November begin allowing the circle of life to continue for another generation of wild life…

Fashion African Style – Africa.com at New York Africa Fashion Week

Contributing writer Lacie Thorne attended opening night of Africa Fashion Week New York, presented by Adireé Fashion Agency. Below is her impression of the event.

The beat of African music — a shiny black runway in between towering columns — beads, prints, bright colors and fringe swishing by — the Broad Street Ballroom in downtown Manhattan is alive with anticipation. Miss Black Connecticut sits in the front row, resplendant in her crown and sash, graciously posing for photographers. No stranger to pre-runway excitement myself, I feel the same nervous expectation as before Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park. This time, though, it’s Africa Fashion Week.

Rumit’s African Journey June 2010: PART 2 – Next Stop in Zambia

Rumit Mehta, recently returned from safari in four African countries, shares his extraordinary experiences with Africa.com. This is the second in a five part series being released this week (complete with photos!) detailing his travels in Zambia, South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana.

Engaging the African diaspora at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art

For many of us in the African diaspora, the recent FIFA World Cup in South Africa has been truly a wonderful excuse to get together with family and friends. One week ago I traveled to Washington D.C. to watch the final match at a unique event, organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art. It was actually two events: the first was a family-friendly viewing party for the Spain-Netherland’s final game; the second was an after-party reception for the older crowd.