Tuesday, July 27, 2010Reclaiming the Sword: 50 years later, a Brief Account of Africa’s Road to Independenceby Olusegun Obasanjo, Former Nigerian President and Malik Dechambenoit, CEO SankoréOn 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.
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010Fashion African Style - Africa.com at New York Africa Fashion Weekby Lacie Thorne, Fashion BloggerContributing 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.
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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.
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010Engaging the African diaspora at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Artby Africa.com Editorial Staff , 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.
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010Does Africa have the staying power?by McKinsey Global Institute , All eyes turned to Africa as the continent played host to the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the competition’s history. That might be over; but beyond the excitement of the football, an important economic story is also unfolding.
Africa’s GDP, up 4.9 per cent per annum in real terms between 2000 and 2008, has been accelerating at more than twice the rate of growth the continent achieved in the 1980s and 1990s. The size of the region’s 53 individual economies, as measured by GDP, now collectively bear comparison with Russia and Brazil. And beyond the thriving resources sector, so vital to a continent with 10 per cent of the world’s oil and 80 to 90 per cent of metals such as chrome and platinum, industries from telecoms and banking to retail and construction are quietly flourishing.
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Africa’s GDP, up 4.9 per cent per annum in real terms between 2000 and 2008, has been accelerating at more than twice the rate of growth the continent achieved in the 1980s and 1990s. The size of the region’s 53 individual economies, as measured by GDP, now collectively bear comparison with Russia and Brazil. And beyond the thriving resources sector, so vital to a continent with 10 per cent of the world’s oil and 80 to 90 per cent of metals such as chrome and platinum, industries from telecoms and banking to retail and construction are quietly flourishing.
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Thursday, July 01, 2010Africa’s Hidden Weapon: Harnessing the Power of a Youthful diasporaby Africa.com Editorial Staff , According to Denmark’s Africa Commission, by the end of this year, Africa will be the youngest region in the world. By the year 2025, one in four young people on the planet will be African. The United Nations adds that Africans are three times more likely to pursue education outside of their home countries, more than any other region in the world. Given these trends, I believe that the growing diaspora of doctors, lawyers, businessmen and athletes have a huge potential to shape and influence the development of the continent throughout this century.
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