Africa Issue by Visionnaire MM

NO1 SPRING-SUMMER 2022

THE AFRICA ISSUE

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Inspired by the teachings of H.H. The Dalai Lama & The Hopi Indian prophecies Available on Amazon worldwide

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STAFF Nermin Ahmet CEO & President Liliya Tippetts Vp Monaco (liliya@artelia.co.uk) Carlos Mundy The Africa Issue Producer & Content strategist Magda Jerez The Africa Issue Art Director H.E. Prof. Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal y Nuñez Head of International press development for Africa and Europe Dr. Yana Leonova Business Communication Director Dubai, uae Estelle Arielle Bouchet Style editor Renu Choudhary Jewellery contributor Shalini Passi Fine Art & design contributor Margarita Pogosyan Research Maria Hall Editor Rosita Bhagwandin Business Development Director for the GCC Tove McCney Digital Advertising Director, Netherlands and Luxembourg

EDITOR´S LETTER

ear reader, You are about to discover our first Special Issue: THE AFRICA ISSUE. The idea was born out of curiosity and a sense of unexplored relevance that the African continent poses today to its immediate neighbour continents and its equally profound mark on its trans-Atlantic neighbours.

We wanted to highlight the World's largest continent and its stories in the very first special issue of two planned this year, to appreciate the scale and importance of the continent's influence in all fields of business development and cultural growth. This issue was made possible through a team of a dedicated group of creatives led by Carlos Mundy. Being an award-winning and the world's first art and eco-luxury magazine we will cover varied topics related to sustainable travel, impact investment and art in the special issue but oriented to promote the African names. Thus the special issue will transcend all political issues, but will instead discuss areas that unify this beautiful continent. This maiden special issue includes a number of stories that sets the scene of how we are framing the series of special issues, which are published with the intent to give us the ability to identify and celebrate people who are doing great things within and outside this beautiful continent called Africa. In the first part, we focus on people who are doing great things — working hard and being successful, but with a style that befits their position in business or whatever they do. Our maiden issue highlights interviews with skilled businesswomen and men, who give inspiration to the younger generations, which are going to transform the continent forever. I really enjoyed this segment, and I hope you do too. Africa is referred to as Mother Africa and the key feature will be women naturally — we endeavour to cover varied issues from design to entrepreneurship. And I see this becoming the most powerful part of the future special issue series.

Moralmoda Magazine is the world’s first and only publication dedicated to art and sustainable luxury. Exclusive insight with interviews and luxury destinations, thanks to teams in Monaco, Geneva, Madrid, Dubai, Istanbul, London and Paris.

Finally, we are at our very early stage now — with this issue, although we have already published 45 regular issues so far, covering royal and elite events from LA to Dubai and New Delhi.

Digital issues on webpage: www.issuu.com/moralmoda

Moral-Moda Magazine´s THE AFRICA ISSUE is a tribute to past, present and future Africans. It is a celebration of Africa's contribution to the world and its significance in its future.

Please direct all advertising inquiries: email: designersyou@ymail.com or directly to telegram/iphone:+46767012609

We look forward to bringing you soon more art and inspiring stories on sustainability from these wonderful cities. As always I wish you a nice moment reading these pages.

Nermin Ahmet CEO & President

Vol.IV Special Edition No. 1 THE AFRICA ISSUE www.moralmoda.com

Issuu Inc. Presidents Joe Hyrkin & Rolf Ussin, John Sturnino, VP of Engineering. Palo Alto CA. Offices in Copenhagen and New York City

Cover Photography Steven Lyon

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SUMMARY

Africa & its brilliant destiny

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Steven Lyon

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By Farzam Kamalabadi

By Carlos Mundy

Made in Africa Traditional African Kings Africa’s future will be shaped by its optimistic, entrepreneurial and innovative youth. By Ivor Ichikowitz

Pharmalagasy: From traditional remedy to modern medicine

30 34 40 42

Interview H.M Queen Diambi Kabatusuila

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By H.E. Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal y Núñez

Can the Monarchy save Libya? By Carlos Mundy

Morocco’s New Dawn By H.E Karima Benyaich

Ethiopia, fights for its Golden Age By His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie

Iconic Africans Past & Present African Literacy Project by Bisila Bokoko

Interview Idrisse Ahamed

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Africa’s wildlife through the lenses of 2 award-winning photographers

78 82

The Ubuntu Tribe

86 90 94

Tangier

by Nicholas Peter Smith

by Mamadou Kwidjim Toure

A journey of thousand miles from Colombo to Nairobi by Ignatious Joseph

by Charles Markeaton-Mundy

The Magical island of Principe By Juan Antonio Nuñez

The Contemporary African Art Scene By Victoria Aristrain

African Jewels Fadila El Gadi

MAGDA JEREZ Our art director has a degree in Art History from the Complutense University of Madrid. Founding partner of Red Monster Studio, she has worked in the last twenty years as art director in several Advertising Agencies, has collaborated with the design and communication departments of the Reina Sofía Art Center Museum, Leroy Merlin and Toys'r'Us to carrying out different communication campaigns. Specialized in editorial design of publications such as magazines, books, catalogs, reports, brochures, posters, company reports, etc. She has carried out various works for AENA, TourEspaña, Editorial Bruño, IMSERSO (Institute for the Elderly and Social Services), MPDL (Movement for Peace), Editorial Santillana, SEGIB (Ibero-American General Secretariat), SEGITTUR (State Society for Information Management and Tourism Technologies)… magda@redmonster.es

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ESPECIAL TRADICIÓN | TRADITION ISSUE

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VIAJES

Japón Finlandia St. Andrews

Quiénes forman el CIPYC

El BID, la OCDE y CAF trabajan de manera regular en generar análisis y propuestas para mejorar la productividad y la competitividad de las economías de Iberoamérica, y apoyan al CIPYC en la elaboración y discusión de informes para sus asambleas generales, mesas de diálogo y foros de reflexión.

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HOMBRE

Bazar Relojes Motor

El CIPYC está copresidido por Enrique V. Iglesias y Enrique García, con amplia experiencia en organismos internacionales, quienes han acercado las iniciativas a los gobiernos iberoamericanos y las han enriquecido con la participación de las universidades e institutos de investigación.

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MÉXICO

COLOMBIA

ARGENTINA

BRASIL

CHILE

PERÚ

PANAMÁ

Bimbo Grupo Salinas Mexichem Softtek

Grupo Aval Johnson Control Promigas Valorem

APIL Grupo los Grobo INSUD

Banco ITAU Brasil Foods

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RESUMEN DE ACTIVIDADES

OTOÑO 2020/Nº54

108 114 116

Tanzania

I VA N

100 104

by Carlos Mundy

Jardín del Edén

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Jenny Severinenko

CULTURA CREATIVA | CREATIVE CULTURE

FINANCIADO POR:

COLABORAN:

ESPECIAL SOSTENIBILIDAD | THE SUSTAINABILITY ISSUE

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N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Trends Manifesto Africa Model i nFuture g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e wfor Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w by Farzam Kamalabadi T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w origins human civilization, continent Model i nAfrica, g N the ew Meofc h an i s m stheNmagical e w Met h blessed odolo g i es with a brilliant destiny, endowed with the richest human, material, N e w A fr i cmental, aNe x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w and cultural resources, is where the fate of humanity has a T h o u g h tchance P roofcrenewal esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w and rebirth. Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es The urgent need yet distant goal and the missing mission of designing, N e w A fr i ccreating, a N eand x timplementing P h ase aRlasting estr u c tmodel u r iand ng Up g rade N e w planetary perpetual for mega wealth generation and equitable T h o u g h tmechanism P ro c esses New S trate g i eswealth N e w S y ste m s N e w distribution at the same time, has defined my entire being ever Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met hsince odolo g i es early childhood. N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w Model i n g N e w Me c h an i s m s N e w Met h odolo g i es N e w A fr i c a N e x t P h ase R estr u c t u r i n g Up g rade N e w T h o u g h t P ro c esses N e w S trate g i es N e w S y ste m s N e w

AFRICA & ITS BRILLIANT DESTINY

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Future Trends Group 12 | MM

his compelling imperative has mysteriously created in me a strong urge, to converge my half a century of uniquely combined experiences in USA, Europe, China, the Gulf States, coupled with my consciously created vastly accumulated resources in over 100 countries, to gather and bring them together as a whole system, and utilize and contribute all these for the service of Africa and the uplifting of its Nations. In utter humility, and realistically knowing full well how limited the powers of one individual or an enterprise can be, I have been forced for over four decades to breathe and think, and discover and invent a series of new global systems and methodologies, that can affect and accomplish something substantially decisive, meaningfully effective, and truly fate changing well beyond my limited self and again in humility for the destinies of humanity. To this end, during the Holy Year in 1992, I had conceived and in 1993 I had created Future Trends Group as an umbrella organization, a hybrid futuristic ideal institution, inclusive of wealth and welfare, a new paradigm and a sustainable model platform for simultaneous wealth generation and wealth distribution at the same time and within the same system, a combination organization of forprofit and non-profit, humanitarian and financial, governmental relations and non-governmental institutions, a bridge covering the gap between the idealists and the pragmatists, which will set the trends of the future and be emulated by numerous others during countless generations. To establish a perpetual model, which will remain for ages as the lead agent and catalyst for positive change. Within three decades of history, in Future Trends we developed and perfected a vast global network and proprietary system for “exponential growth by mega multiplication” applied to the economies of “companies” and “countries”, both “corporate” and “governmental” programs, strategies, and initiatives.

The pan-African Master Strategy

y vision for Africa was Africa not simply as passive follower and recipient but as the leader and contributor to the world society and global community, with its future abundance economy; Africa not as a third-world or second-world citizen, but as the mega wealth creator and contributor to the world. The idea was to trigger the existing human, mental, psychological, entrepreneurial, financial, managerial, and mineral resources “of Africa, in Africa, by Africa, for Africa”. To achieve faster and more drastic yet realistic and solid collective results in transformation to uplift the entire Africa, I had to achieve the following:

1. Collective Participation: To bring in much more readily, easily, and smoothly a much larger and vaster body of global community’s responsible investors and appropriate technologies and operators in all the key sectors, with the right attitude and in a manner they would proactively wish and seek to join, in a concerted and highly organized manner, converging as a mega impact spaceship for Africa’s warp speed growth with its takeoff engine and jump-start fuel. For this, I have created “vortex” methodologies for faster and larger inputting of a vast number of right caliber companies and entities, coupled with my invented modeling of “opportunity allocation” for more efficient and better placement of these large numbers of global participants into their optimum proper position. 2. To make the destination, that is, the entire Continent with all its 54 nations, to become much more attractive, viable, prepared, ready, well organized, arrayed, and in unison. To this end, I started the monumental process of “shared vision” and “consensus” creation among all the national leaders in all the countries of Africa, coupled with the methodologies of “aggregation” of all key industries, project series, resources, and assets.

3. To create mega multiplication of the values of all the

converged assets and resources, developed or undeveloped, and the total national economies of Africa. For this, I had to plan and prepare entire elaborate proprietary systems for the digitalization of Africa and its assets and operations in a uniquely arrayed manner, and pre-arrange the most qualified global enablers and their mature systems.

Paradigm Shift

to the creation of unified digital national economy, and the ultimate creation of Future Generation Funds and Sovereign Wealth Funds for the nations in the digital economy, the first of their kind in the world.

My innovative mega strategy of “converge, merge, integrate, aggregate” at Future Trends for Africa, with participation and full contribution of all visionary leaders of the Continent, whether political, financial, industrial, entrepreneurial, humanitarian, and leaders of thought, is to create a “grand consensus” among all the national leaders and a “mega aggregation” of all national assets under various ministries, centered around financial restructuring and upgrade, leading

Up to this moment and only within half a year, Future Trends has created momentum and gathered staunch support and endorsement for such lofty joint Initiatives in PPP format with most of the collective leadership and the cabinet of some 20 African countries, and has communicated by writing two hundred letters, and has held a series of over one hundred one-on-one lengthy meetings of in-depth brainstorming with the national leaders in three tiers; the Presidents, the Chairmen of the various Parliaments, and the Prime Ministers, collectively as the “Head”, also the Ministers of Finance, the Governors of the Central Banks, and the Ministers of Digital Economy, collectively as the “Heart”, as well as many relevant key asset holding Ministers as the “pillars”, and has received several letters of endorsement or invitation to develop the above initiatives in their various respective countries.

his would create a new situation and paradigm shift reality for Africa and in the African psyche, that Africa does not need the outside world, but that it is the outside world that really needs Africa, hence, the ideal healthy relations will emerge as mutual interdependence and balanced benefit to all participants and constituent elements, and all the domestic and global beneficiaries, while the priority will be given to the masses and populations of Africa first, then their respective governments and national and local private and public enterprises, and of course also the global community, all in unison and with a perfect balance of interests.

Creating Consensus and Aggregation

oupled with such “consensus” building process among the key national leaders, Future Trends has now created a mega “aggregation” system of key industrial sectors, and lead-projects and initiatives, as well-prepared baskets of opportunities, by virtue of having been entrusted, on priority or exclusive basis, with several key national projects and even industries for proper development, deployment, and implementation. An exhaustive list of the projects and related files has been prepared in a well-organized data, which will be updated from time to time. Mirroring the above array of creating consensus and aggregation order within the Destination Nations, only within the past few months, Future Trends has also effectively communicated the vision, and has already gathered solid support and expression of interest and desire for participation by nearly 800 companies, corporations, enterprises, government entities and agencies, financial institutions and other humanitarian entities or otherwise prominent personalities from some 50 countries. The exhaustive list of both classic heavy duty investments and the digitalization plan top enablers include, for classic economy the Global Federation of Chinese Chambers of Commerce which

has 365,000 global Chinese enterprises in over 90 countries, Chairman Li Nonghe, my friend and partner of over 22 year; the Tiller Capital Group and its Chairman Mr. Anthony Georgiou; and for digital economy a large array of top players from the zero layer protocols, to top players for wide usage applications, such as the Spatial Web Foundation and its Founder and the Chairman of Verses company, the legendary Mr. Dan Mapes, and the early block-chain pioneering Verus protocol and its related block-chain applications for the best decentralized private ID enabler as the industry Guru, Mr. Nicholas Lyons and Bradley Kohn, among countless other highly value-driven, morally-responsible global enterprise leaders. In a symbolic analogy, at Future Trends for Africa we have prepared a “Noah’s Ark”, with 20-30 specimen of back-up solutions, as enabler-investors and operators and with ready-to-deploy plans, for each line and each project of the diverse industrial sectors and sub-sectors of the key national projects in our hand on priority basis. On the receiving end, where Future Trends has captured enormous interest MM | 13

and overwhelming response and support from over 20 African countries and their collective leadership, there is also positive competition pressure on the destination countries and their leaders to act faster and perform better to become the priority beneficiaries of Future Trends unique system and global resources. To reinstate for more clarification, I have designed combination “vortices” machinery, the core of which is one vertical “vortex”, which in itself will merge and translate into a horizontal “vortex”. The vertical vortex two parallel curve lines are the collective leaders on array in “consensus” on the one side, and all assets and industries and projects in “aggregation” on the other side. The horizontal vortex two lines are back- to-back matching array of all sources of global capital and investments, technologies and innovation as well as operations and management companies from 100 countries on the upper curve, and the 54 African destination countries and their respective private and public markets and partners in a well-organized array as the lower curve housing the incoming global players systematically and on automated modeling arrangement. The power of the above “vortex” arrangement is that within it both the receiving countries and also the incoming companies will all need to win by merit, both the receiving 54 Africa countries and their respective leaders and project owners, and the thousands of enterprises from the 100 diverse countries excited to enter Africa under this new super formula, all need to compete to earn. Players line up on each side, will only receive their shares of benefits by entering the vortex via positive competition if they wish to be the partakers and beneficiaries of this “golden opportunity allocation”. So it is a perfect convergence and matching methodology, creating a full spectrum of asset and opportunity allocation in the market countries, to which we bring both our own Future Trends member companies and partner organizations in 100 countries, as well as the international business community at large, to come in systematically and take their portion of the opportunities. 14 | MM

Win-win-win Formula T his will create win-win-win formula for the international investor communities, as well as the destination African Nations, first for the masses and peoples of Africa, then the governments and institutions, then for every domestic or and global stakeholder in Africa, reflecting a mega plural multi-win arrangement. Another series of in-built key multiplier “vortices” modeling on top of the above mechanisms, will enhance the wealth thus created, and will multiply them into a grand national digital economy, for which Future Trends has proprietary know-how and precise methodologies which will be unraveled gradually beyond the scope of this Manifesto. The adoption of digital market economy, with its various digital exchanges and assets floating, specially the securities tokenization described below, wherein the developed and undeveloped assets of the nations will be liquidly traded and monetized in the newly emerging robust domestic digital markets, will involve the large participation of the newly online registered masses of the African people, specially the youth. This will serve as another automated modeling and methodology for wealth disbursement and the creation of middle class affluent community and mid-wealth popular society. For the total national economy value multiplication, suffice it to say that this system will have a core unified financial platform on digital economy on PPP methodology where the official

fiat currency and the central bank itself will be digitalized on stable coin yet not stagnant coin, and the developed national assets will be all tokenized on securities tokenization platforms merged into this stable coin account but within a universal unified wallet with stable coin on the top layer, a fractional reserve data coin for gold and all other precious mineral assets under the ground as the below layer, and an investment coin designed for growth of value without the dangers of volatility, cleverly positioned in the middle. On the upper horizontal line of this financial digital “vortex” mechanism, is the stable coin line related to the assets developed and added to the GDP and the national economy in an increasing rate, initially pegged to match with the “national currency digitalized”, which reflects the total value of national economy, like a power grid which in itself is stable to avoid any volatility and fluctuations, yet the loops of power generation input entering its web-like system enhance and add to the total capacity, hence, the total value of the stable coin reflecting the total value of the national economy still increases as an aggregate, like the tidewater flux by collective rise. On the lower horizontal line of the financial “vortex” formation, is the reserves data coin, reflecting the untapped under the ground total reserves as they are discovered, prospected, and recorded. These assets under the ground are like the body of the iceberg, whereas the extracted physical assets by the fractional mining of these assets are like chipping off the tip

The actual supply chain operations block-chain of the fractional artisanal mining logging of physical gold or other precious metal reserves and assets produces value similar to oils current physical trading, where as the data of the underground estimated total asset reserves serves like much larger financial value of futures trading of gold and other national reserves, which can be qualified as accurate reserve assets, very much like a prospecting or exploration function for the assets, therefore can become liquid and transactional, and be monetized as futures trading of untapped hitherto dead yet gradually developing assets. In this manner, by comparison, only a small fraction of the mining assets of Africa will need be mined by smart planning of smart mining, and thereby generating wealth while protecting the environment. The bulk of mega wealth generation will be the monetization of mineral assets while still locked in the ground. To give perspectives, the Arab Nations Sovereign Wealth Funds are backed only by one asset, oil, or gas, whereas just the classic assets of many African Nations include oil and gas, plus gold and diamond, and agriculture products, and other precious metals and minerals. Yet, the current 15 Sovereign Wealth Funds of Africa total no more than $120-130 Billion USD, perhaps slightly more than 1% of only one Arab Nation Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, ADIA.

“Embedded Benevolence”

of the iceberg. The information of the exact quantities, quality, content, and value of these hitherto dormant or dead assets which exist all over Africa most abundantly, is now accurately estimated while being gathered from the on the ground artisanal mining of physical assets by the information collected from the daily logging recordings of extracted fractional mining.

or the actualization and realization of this fate changing new order of the lives of billions of the underprivileged masses of humanity, I had invented the mechanism of “Embedded Benevolence” to be built-in as automatic processes within the zero level protocols and 1st and 2nd layer block-chain and its myriads of applications and operations, aided by AI and other powerful enabler technological tools in the digital economy era. The systems would produce humanitarian digital pairings of all commercial and entrepreneurial activities and processes on hyper ledgers and distributed ledgers automatically based on in-built equations and formulas, within the framework of philanthropic smart contracts, thereby continuously generate an automatic seamless regenerative spiral upward wealth generation and affluence distribution ecosystem at the same time. Our designed features on the one hand include another “vortex” mechanism, the merit record of the recipients of various causes and impact initiatives on KYC, coupled with effective and efficient mechanisms of measurements, applying automatic fractional spread and distribution of the wealth by smart contracts on merit basis, and utilizing AI enabled compliance and accountability mechanisms. On the other hand, the system would be equipped with better practices act and better results performance smart monitoring and auto audit, all enabled by unbiased AI, and would generate ratings and grading of all beneficiaries’ programs and initiatives again on fair play AI, which in turn would produce massive trust and confidence of the systems thus enabled, and create an automatic stimulating spiral up circle of mass adoption and support preferences by the enduser communities, for all humanitarian causes. The Rise of Africa, based on the vision of Future Trends, will be holistically on all levels, including material, financial, mental, and psychological levels, and in a model and manner that is non-threatening; that is, the emergence of an Africa which is neither threatening nor threatened, rather in a state of perfect reciprocity, balanced union, and perpetual harmony internally and with the rest of the world. The geopolitics of Africa, can, must, and will move Africa into stability and order via these vortices of growth. In Africa, I envision and promote establishment of multinational, diversified and balanced-interest neutral zones, similar to Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Switzerland, the first of which should be the Central African Republic. Future Trends model and system does not reduce the benefits of any national vested interest parties, but rather enhances and compounds all interests in a balanced pro- rated manner. In this model, the Rise of Africa serves all nations. The Future Trends Vision laid down in this Africa Manifesto is available in its complete form on www.moralmoda.com.

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Steven Lyon

Photographer, Film Maker & Wild Life Activist by Carlos Mundy

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Steven Lyon desert shoot 2019

Elephant Arusha series 1_Tanzania 2012_40x60 silver geletin selenium toned 20k

have known Steve Lyon since the 80’s when he was one of the few male super-models. Now he is one of the most sought after fashion photographers in the world so, I was thrilled when he accepted to participate in the Special Africa issue by donating his beautiful cover photograph. It was on an editorial trip in 2004 to Namibia photographing super model Lara Stone amongst the nomad Himba tribe that his love affair with Africa and its people began. Love that has blossomed to become part of his life and has influenced him as a human being and as an artist. Since that first trip he has found himself travelling through Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa capturing breath taking wildlife photographs and visiting nearly forgotten tribes. Steven admits to being a huge fan of Peter Beard and the rawness of his wildlife photography and admires the life he led. In 2013, he founded Lyon Heart Love: An NGO with the purpose of educating people on the horrors of poaching, and the joys of wildlife conservation. Its goals have expanded to fund outside projects and charities in line with environmental and animal issues facing our planet.

The film documentary Something that Matters is the inaugural project under the auspices of the organization. It’s a film about a 1,000k trek across Africa discovering the harsh truths about the poaching crisis. It’s been a journey for Steven and his team and it’s still in the making. He originally walked the 1,000k with an amazing guide and crew. They ran out of funding but fortunately now has found an investor, so the film is back in production and will be debuting his documentary, “Something That Matters”, in Spring 2022. One of his great concerns is the ongoing slaughter of the rhinos and poaching in general but he has a few other projects in store that will help raise funds for wildlife. I can only say how much admire Steven Lyon. His career is extraordinary. From being discovered by Andy Warhol in 1982, becoming one of the greatest male models of his time and then recycling himself to one of the greatest photographers and a wild life conservationist and activist. For more information on Lyon Heart Love please visit https://lyonheartlove.org/ www.stevenlyon.com IG: @steven_lyon MM | 17

MADE IN

AFRICA By Chid Liberty

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hat do the words “Made in Italy” conjure up in your mind? What about “Made in France”? America? China? Now, what does “Made in Africa” mean to you? For so many, it is either ambitious or laughable to imagine the 54 countries of origin on the African continent as potential major players on the global world stage of manufactured goods. Taken further, despite two diaspora Africans recently leading their own maisons at LVMH, we continue to overlook the creative power of Africans and our diaspora.

Kojo Annan

But what Louis Vuitton shows are remembered but Virgil Abloh’s contributions over the past 3 years? What would the Nike swoosh mean without its historic attachment to Michael Jordan or Serena Williams? How many people around the globe learned about Louboutin’s (also now known as Red Bottoms) from Cardi B? A few years ago, I started a luxury group called Made in Africa with serial entrepreneur Kojo Annan, the son of the late UN SecretaryGeneral. Our goal is to create a platform for African creatives that also creates economic impact (from farms to factories) on our beloved continent. Soon Kojo and I were joined by award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o, Grammy-winning artist Burna Boy, and a growing group of strategic investors who wanted to make our vision a reality. In The World Ahead 2022, The Economist predicts an African fashion boom this year, citing the creative energy buzzing throughout the continent and investments made by legends like Dr Precious Motsepe and Omoyemi Akerele in creating fashion weeks in South Africa and Nigeria, respectively. At the heart of our collective effort stands the belief that no region in the world has a monopoly on design, innovation, and luxury. If African designers and artisans are allowed to compete, we believe they will make lasting contributions to the world of luxury for centuries to come. If left to us, the future of luxury will be Made in Africa.

Chid Liberty with Nobel Peace Laureate and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

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Traditional African F

rom 1988 to 1991, French photographer Daniel Laine photographed 70 African monarchs, “whose dynasties marked the history of Africa until the middle of the twentieth century.” With hundreds of monarchs to choose from, Laine focused on those who continued to “retain a traditional and spiritual authority that is difficult for the Western mind to comprehend.” The photographs were published in an extraordinary hardcover book that sadly is no longer in print published in 2000 by Ten Speed Press titled African Kings: Portraits of a Disappearing Era. Fortunately some copies can still be found on Amazon both new and used. Danie Laine had major difficulties in the production of the book and had to travel 9 times to finalize it. The sensitive diplomatic negotiations involved to arrange the permissions for the shoots were mammoth but the result worth all the efforts.

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With each striking photograph, the artist provides a brief biography and historical notes about the tribe and its rituals. The book includes historical background by Pierre Alexandre on the origins and significance of African kingdoms. Never before had anyone tried to capture the images of the living custodians of Africa’s millenary history and the result is pure visual poetry. These photographs are from over two decades ago and in this period of time many occurrences have taken place. It is most likely that much has changed and that even some of these Kings may no longer be alive. Our special issue on Africa would be not be complete without these magnificent historical images. Moral Moda highly recommend our readers to try and purchase a copy of this extraordinary book. Daniel Laine has captured the soul of traditional Africa.

Abubakar Sidiq, Sultan of Sokoto (Nigeria)

Bouba Abdoulaye, Sultan of Rey-Bouba (Cameroon)

Aliyu Mustapha, Lamido (King) of Adamawa (Nigeria)

El Hadj Mamadou Kabir Usman, Emir of Katsina (Nigeria) MM | 21

El Hadj Seidou Njimoluh Njoya, Sultan of Fumban and Mfon of the Bamun (Cameroon)

Goodwill Zwelethini, King of Zulu (South Africa)

Halidou Sali XII Lamido (King) of Bibemi (Cameroon)

Hapi IV King of Bana (Cameroon)

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Igwe Kenneth Nnaji Onyemaeke Orizu III, Obi (King) of Nnewi (Nigeria)

Agboli Agbo Dedjlani, King of Abomey (Benin)

Naimi Mabintsh Kok III, King of Cuba (DR Congo)

Ngie Kamga Joseph-Fon (King) of Bandjun (Cameroon) MM | 23

Oba Joseph Adekola Ogunoye, Olowo (King) of Owo (Nigeria)

Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, King of Akropong-Akuapem (Ghana)

Salomon Igbinoghodua, Oba Erediauwa (King) of-Benin (Nigeria) Sijuwade, Oni (King) of Ife (Nigeria) 24 | MM

Africa’s future will be shaped by its optimistic, entrepreneurial and innovative youth By Ivor Ichikowitz

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or 35 years, I have been travelling the length and breadth of Africa; meeting people and investing in their futures and mine.

Recently, I had an epiphany. Despite the overwhelming clamor to the contrary and the negative headlines, I was struck by the feeling of goodwill and optimism —among young Africans— that kept occurring, wherever I went. I have always believed that the redemption of Africa would only be possible when those who were not born either under the yoke of apartheid or carrying the scars of colonialism, were finally ready to take their rightful place. I firmly believe that time is now — some 27 years since the democratic liberation of South Africa, the last oppressed country in Africa. But the more I tried to articulate my prodigious optimism about the continent of my birth; in Europe and North America, to political and business leaders alike, the more I struggled. This would in turn become the catalyst behind my Foundation finding a way to actually prove, once and for all, whether my instincts had been right all along. The African Youth Survey which we launched in 2020 was a huge undertaking, due to the sheer scope of the scientific research involved, comprised of conducting in-depth, faceto-face interviews with thousands, across a vast geographical spread. We didn’t want something that would test just political sentiment, or inquire on merely social issues or the economy, nor gage just young Africans’ aspirations. We wanted all of it — because Africa has the youngest and the fastest growing population in the world. We are quite literally talking about the leaders of tomorrow and yet no one knows what they feel, think or even hope for — and we knew that we needed to know what they think now in order to chart that evolution afterwards. We wanted to find out, despite our efforts as Africans to evangelize to the rest of the world that Africa is actually made up of 54 countries, not just a monolith suited for a ‘one size fits all approach’, if there actually was such a thing as a pan-African identity, an African consciousness, an African psyche. Our survey revealed that over three quarters (76%) of the thousands polled agree that there is a common African identity, with “culture” (40%) and “shared history” (24%) key drivers of this grandiose sentiment. The African Youth Survey was in itself also a huge risk; its findings could have indicated that my gut instinct was totally off kilter and that the Afro-pessimists were wholly justified in their long-held prejudice - Actually it’s proved entirely the opposite. We have found that youth in Africa are imbued with optimism about the future — however, they want to shape their own destiny. 82% of all respondents believe that their standard of living will improve in the next few years; 72% are confident about their financial future at home in Africa. Among those

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whose standards of living are poor, a strong majority (67%) believes that their positions will also improve. They are unprecedentedly entrepreneurial and will be the champions of what will be Africa’s truly great start up culture - 76% polled say they intend to start their own business in the next five years; if given $100, nearly half (49%) suggest that they would use it to invest in or start their own business. 81% believe that it is technology will change the fortunes of Africa. However, Africa’s youth are also acutely aware of the barriers to their entrepreneurial success, such as their present lack of technological inclusivity when compared with the global north — 79% thus believe that WiFi and the ability to connect to the internet should be considered a fundamental human right. Critically, 65% believe that the 21st Century will indeed be, “The African Century.” Bolstered by this belief, we have found a youth population that refuses to shy away from the very real challenges of Africa; a population that is nonetheless honest about what needs to be done and what their role has to be to achieve success — and they are overwhelmingly keen to make that difference themselves. This survey was limited to 14 countries initially, due to the sheer volume of data that has been collected. We will however run the survey on an annual basis moving forward and expand it to more countries every year. It is our intention to make the African Youth Survey the preeminent source of information on Africa’s youth. We are now able to use our 2020 findings as a benchmark to test some of the future assumptions that we are coming up with already. The purpose of this study is ultimately to empower; to change the stereotypes about Africa, not by shouting it from the rooftops as the loudest voices, but through irrefutable quantitative data that is then subjected to proper academic rigor.

We want to help African countries understand their future leaders and give them the power to address their own problems. Importantly, we so too want to let today’s youth know that they are not alone; that their brothers and sisters in other countries share the same hopes and fears. Most of all, we want to replace past assumptions with verifiable data. We want Africans to go out and shape their destinies the way they dream of doing, by getting them to believe in themselves unlike the generations before who had been repeatedly told by foreigners that this was a pipe dream; that they could do nothing without their help. The crises in our north have been a godsend for Africa, because now the continent has to look within for solutions, not hold out its hands for assistance. When Hillary Clinton arrived here as the Secretary of State of the United States, her message was just that – Africa had to find its own answers; when it did, America would help. Likewise, South Africa’s own challenges with state capture and its own isolationism following the Mandela era, have further encouraged this process. This new self-reliance is something that regular travelers to and across the continent will attest to in the shape of the massive infrastructure investment that has taken place over the last decade. It is telling that when respondents were asked to name one individual whose life had made the most impact on their own, Nelson Mandela was the out and out favorite for more than half surveyed (55%), while former US President Barack Obama was second, but with only 12% of the votes.

They are not just optimistic about the much-vaunted African century, they are determined to shape that century because, unlike their forebears, they have never been downtrodden; they know that their destiny is theirs alone and yet that they can achieve greatness. Because of that, they have every chance of making that greatness their reality — as borne out by this research which we have the privilege of sharing with the world. Ours is a Survey which has not just backed up my claims on the highly capable hands we will be leaving the world’s largest marketplace to, but one that offers the rest of the world actionable intelligence on the contemporary opinions, attitudes, concerns and ambitions of that marketplace. Our African Youth Survey has achieved its mission and one which we will expand upon in future — Our 2022 study is presently being administered and will be launched in the new year. I have been considered to be an influencer in the African investment arena for the global community, a badge I’ve worn with pride. It is a privilege to make a contribution and find solutions to the challenges that our continent faces to achieve its inevitable trajectory, but moreover, espouse the numerous opportunities for effective investment on the continent. I implore the intrepid — It’s time to take a refreshed look at the African opportunity. Mark my words — The 21st Century will be the African century. We’ve asked its future leaders, Africa’s next generation, who will make sure of that.

We are finding that Africans are pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. They have constructed a very different reality for themselves. And, despite the constraints of late, due to COVID-19, Africans have accomplished hard-fought gains in poverty reduction across large parts of the continent. Historically lower-income regions are growing rapidly, giving birth to rising, youthful middle classes. I’m privileged to contend wherever I continue to travel that Africa is one of the last great frontier marketplaces, while hosting already today one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the world; consumer expenditures on the continent are projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2025, and $2.5 trillion by 2030. Furthermore, if the African Continental Free Trade Area (AcFTA) is properly implemented, a singular market for goods and services will be operational well ahead of that timeframe, offering liberation from trade restrictions and providing businesses with innumerable points of entry to the benefit of a market nearing 1.5 billion. The majority of that marketplace will be a new generation of young people, a vibrant demographic who are connected to the world like never before. They are already out there doing incredibly innovative things with next to nothing.

Ivor Ichikowitz is an African industrialist and philanthropist. He is the Chairman of private equity firm, TransAfrica Capital and Founder of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation. He is one of New African Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Africans of 2020.

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Pharmalagasy: From Traditional Remedy To Modern Medicine

«We can change the history of the entire world» By H.E. Sir Manuel Freire-Garabal y Núñez*

n the 8th March 2020 I returned to Madrid from a trip to Comoros Islands and 2 days later the spanish government declared total 3 month lockdown and most of the planet did the same as the world population was bewildered by the terrifying news on all the different TV channels and on-line. Doom and gloom at its best. In this scenario, my local pharmacist recommended to take Ravintsara essential oil pills (the strongest anti-viral in existence in nature) and drink 2 cups of Artemisia tea a day as well as Vitamin d3, Zinc and Quercitine tablets. She assured me this protocol would protect me from catching Covid. I followed it to the letter as so did my family and friends and until now we are all Covid free.

From local plants to modern medicine Two weeks later, in the midst of the pandemic that affected the planet as a whole and researchers from the big pharma companies were studying how to combat the Coronavirus, the scientists of Madagascar discovered that a combination of local grown plants not only cured Covid but it also helped prevent it. This medicine was launched as Covid Organics and was developed by the Malagasy Institute of Applied Research. It’s main ingredient is Artemisia (60%) combined with Ravintsara and other medicinal plants and they cure the symptoms between 7 and 10 days. I was amazed by the coincidence that the two main ingredients of Covid organics were the same ones my pharmacist had recommended.

Promising research results The first clinical tests were encouraging as an effective treatment against the disease and the remedy was launched as a drink by the Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina on Monday 20 April for official use against the Coronavirus. Since then capsules are being produced. Madagascar has distributed Covid Organics to all the 14 members of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), to other African nations that have requested the medicine and also Caribbean countries. In their statement, the WHO welcomed every opportunity to collaborate with countries and researchers to develop new therapies encouraging such collaboration for the development of effective and safe therapies for Africa and the world. 28 | MM

It is important to sate that in May 2020 at the height of the infection levels globally, Madagascar had only confirmed 149 COVID-19 cases with no deaths and 99 recoveries, according to figures compiled by the US-based Johns Hopkins University.

The World Health Organization and the curative development Later on, a team from the World Health Organization (WHO), including members of the Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicine for the Response to COVID-19 (REACT) and the secretariat, reported a visit from February 14 to 18, 2022, to the political authorities of Madagascar and the institutions involved in the development of the “more curative CVO+” for the treatment of COVID-19. Indeed, as soon as the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Madagascar in March 2020, national health research institutions collaborated intensely to explore local treatment possibilities and propose a rigorous scientific approach for the valorization of traditional pharmacopoeia. In the treatment of disease. A clinical research protocol has been adapted from the Framework Protocol developed by WHO and its partners, approved by REACT and implemented to assess, among other things, the quality, non-toxicity and efficacy of CVO+ Curative. After taking stock of the clinical trials on the more curative CVO, the mission recommended that the sponsors move on to filing a complete marketing authorization application file with the Medicines Agency from Madagascar. “This means that the product can now be marketed provided that each country can grant a marketing authorisation according to the legislation in force” according to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pharmalagasy, Holijaona Raboana. In addition, “the mission noted with great satisfaction the good practices, in particular the National Center for the Application of Pharmaceutical Research (CNARP), one of the 9 National Research Centers of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which has a clinical research unit with experienced researchers and adequate infrastructure.

Converging the needed infrastructure and production needs The Government of Madagascar under the visionary leadership of President Rajoelina who has not succumbed to the international pressure of the big pharma companies and is encouraging farmers to cultivate Artemisia in order to increase production capacity amounting to 3,000 tons per year. The value in tonnes of Artemisia is $3,000 vs $350 for rice. So Artemisia is a source of valuable income for the impoverished country. Especially since Madagascar “has a complete chain of pharmaceutical development, from the cultivation of medicinal plants to the marketing of effective and quality drugs, including public-private partnerships for industrial manufacturing, without forgetting the commitment and the involvement of those responsible for traditional medicine with the Ministry of Public Health”, underlined Professor Motlalepula Gilbert MATSABISA, President of REACT at the end of the visit. “We are delighted with the commitment of national authorities, researchers and the Malagasy people and this encourages us to further support Madagascar in the research and development efforts of drugs against COVID-19 and other diseases that hinder the well- be Malagasy and African populations,” said Dr Marcellin NIMPA, Acting WHO Representative in Madagascar. It is a paradox that the 63 most poor country on the planet has developed a traditional remedy into a modern medicine with which as President Rajoelina said: «We can change the history of the entire world.»

Holijaona Raboana, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pharmalagasy, Madagascar

The Malagasy Institute of Applied Research

Covid organics

*Lawyer, Journalist, Educator & Political Analyst. Al-Khalifa Business School

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An interview with H.M Queen Diambi Kabatusuila Tell us a Little bit the history of your family and when and why you became Queen? I was crowned as the ruler of the Bena Tshiyamba People of Bakwa Indu of Central Kasaï Region part of the ancient Luba Empire in the Democratic Republic of Congo on August 31st 2016. I was enthroned by all the Bakwa Luntu Chiefs on July 15 2017 and now I hold the title of Diambi Mukalenga Mukaji Wa Nkashama Wa Bakwa Luntu (Queen of the Order of the Leopard of the Bakwa Luntu People). I was invested in Kinshasa by the Association of Congo Traditional and Customary Authorities on August 5th 2017. What is your connection with Brazil? On March 3, 2019, the I was crowned in Salvador de Bahia, Queen Mother of the Bantu People of Brazil, the Historical African Diaspora, which has a population of nearly ninety million people and I was awarded with the title of Grande Mãe do Povo Bantu do Brasil and received the Tiradentes Medal, highest honour from the Brazilian parliament in March 2019. Please, tell us a little bit about yourself I was born in Belgium to a Belgium Mother and Congolese Father who was a Diplomat. I grew up in Kinshasa and I consider that I have an extensive experience of multiculturalism not only because of my mixed heritage but

also because she has travelled and lived in many different countries. From a young age I have always been very interested in all matters concerning the restoration of the African Identity through the study of African history and of the cultural traditional Heritage of the continent and beyond. What projects do you cherish? One of my main projects, besides the enterprise of rural development of Central Kasaï is to seek alliances to change the narrative about African People. I work on promoting the restoration of the African Identity by encouraging people to learn about their true history, and by promoting the appreciation of their African Ancestral heritage in cultures, languages, folklore and traditions, all of which place the greatest value on compassion, respect, solidarity and the primordial role of the Creator in all aspects of existence. I believe in promoting a culture of peace in the world. I travel across the globe to seek friendship and alliances between my People and diverse communities by encouraging people to go outside of their comfort zone to reach out and share about their experiences, culture, history and traditions as well as to learn about others.

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As your kingdom is part of the Democratic Republic of Congo what is Your Majesty’s role? With colonization, however, Europe imposed on us an exploitative, Western structure of governance that destroyed these kingdoms. Our traditional leaders were killed or put to the backseat but fortunately most of these traditional kingdoms have been restored. I was told by the elders that I was the embodiment of the ancestors manifested, and that I could perform ceremonies and rituals. I realized I had to use my capacity, my talent and my resources to do what I could to help my people, because they needed help. I wanted to provide relief through clean water, medicine, education and so forth. But I also wanted to share my story, to reclaim the dignity we Africans lost because of our history, and to understand our traditions and customs to find solutions to our problems that are designed by us for us. My role is therefore ceremonial and a link to our glorious past. I am above politics and my role is protected by the Constitution. There are over 100 traditional Kings in Africa. What is in your opinion your role as monarchs in the Africa of the XXI century? Very few of the African kings govern. We are mainly a strong symbol and the embodiment of the history, cultural heritage of the people and a sacred symbol of our ancestors. There are 54 countries in Africa but they are not a creation of our own will. In 1885 after the Berlin conference the European powers carved Africa for themselves and after the colonization these countries emerged in may cases with borders that did not take into account the traditional decentralized form of government provided by the royal families. In most cases, still the royal families in their different territories have much influence, are at the service of their subjects. As traditional leaders we must be an example of the values of our culture: honesty, respect and integrity. My aim is to be an inspiration to the young people who do not know about our history and culture so that they can emulate these values. 32 | MM

Tell us about your work and the Elikia Hope Foundation I created the Foundation in New York over 3 years ago as a vehicle to fund raise for different projects for my people: provide clean drinking water to villages by developing a solar power well system, self-sustainable, solar powered and relocatable medical facilities in rural and underserved communities, build fully equipped schools and vocational training centres and currently working to protect the street children of Kinshasa. I also now am working to help the most underprivileged of the Bantu people in Brazil. Your children are half Puerto Rican would one of your children be able to succeed you as monarch? The succession in African traditional royal families is not as in Europe from the monarch to the first born. The Council of Elders decides in a complex process, which member of the royal family is best suited. It could be any of my children, or my nephews or any other member of the family best suited for the role. 70% of the African population is below 30 years of age. What do you think are their aspirations? There is a big image deficit about Africa in the world and ignorance about the people. We are now recovering from the voracious appetite of the former colonial powers. Africa is now an amazing, vibrant ,dynamic and creative and innovative continent. This youth in Africa will lead a major shift in the next few years to come. Africa will become the terrain of the future direction the world will be taking. What is your vision for Africa? Peace, prosperity and respect for the environment and nature. We must learn from the mistakes made by the developed countries. I want to imagine an Africa with no starvation; no lack of clean water; access to good quality of education that reflects who we are by teaching knowledge of our history, culture and traditional values; freedom of expression and good quality health care for our amazing creative courageous, resilient ingenious and brilliant people.

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CAN THE MONARCHY SAVE LIBYA? By Carlos Mundy

he reality is that for countries that had a monarchical tradition or countries with populations divided along tribal lines, the Crown is the only viable solution to prevent savage warfare by the tribal population. Afghanistan, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Iraq would have benefited from this solution as did Spain under the extraordinary reign of King Juan Carlos or Cambodia with the restoration of King Norodom Sihanuk. Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania also benefited from the return of their sovereigns after a long exile .Though the monarchies in those countries have not been restored the Royal families play an active role Libya is another country that has been suffering a bloody civil war since the fall of General Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. The current intra-Libyan violent conflicts and ferocious rivalries has crippled the country. There is optimism now among the diplomatic and business communities over Libya’s future since the formation of the GNU. Such optimism is based on UN-sponsored talks breaking the political impasse of the past seven years and the ongoing October 2020 ceasefire between the eastern-based self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) and armed groups aligned with the former GNA in northwestern Libya. Finally there is a date set for presidential and parliamentary elections for the 24th of December. This is probably the last opportunity for peace and prosperity in the country as if it is not successful Libya may head to another

civil war, this time ending in the country’s final fragmentation, flinging open the gates for a flood of terrorists into Libya and illegal immigrants to Europe. In other words, the potential for another Afghanistan is very real. The blame for Libya’s predicament lies primarily with the failure of the US, along with its allies, to understand Libya’s history, beliefs and current idiosyncrasies. But now there is renewed hope of a solution. Such optimism led many European and neighbouring countries to either reopen their embassies in Tripoli or pledge to reopen them soon and businesses to consider re-entering the country or expanding their presence there but the big question is how to unite Libyans, in all their diversity, under a common banner so that the country can begin to move towards as stable society under the rule of law. The only viable solution so far seems to be a proposed constitutional monarchy put forward by former foreign minister Mohamed Abdel Aziz. The idea of establishing a monarchy with the Al-Senussi dynasty, he said, would be a “political umbrella”, which would serve as a “symbol of unity for the nation.” Almost three-quarters of a century ago, following the defeat of the Axis forces in Libya during World War II, the international community was split on how to deal with Libya. Interestingly, the same major international players currently present on the scene were already there in the 1940s. The United States, the Soviet Union, the

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United Kingdom, France, and Italy were all competing for some amount of presence in the country. Turkey, now heavily involved in Libya, was not an influence, but only after several centuries of Ottoman domination of Libya, which ended with its surrender of the country to Italy in 1912. Then as today, the stability of any of the three Libyan territories was dependent on their unity. Despite vast expanses of desert separating them, the three territories are closer to each other than to any neighbouring region. They have far too much connecting them demographically and culturally to be treated as separate entities and those days the solution was found with Emir Idris Al-Senussi. As Emir of Cyrenaica, and having garnered the allegiance of the people of Tripolitania in 1920, Idris was the only national figure who enjoyed both nationwide consensus and international confidence. Had it not been for King Idris, who was the right man at the right time, and the convergence between national and international interests, modern Libya would have never been born as a nation. The founding fathers of Libya were wise and put the interests of their fellow men before their own personal ones. They were conscious that none of the three provinces could survive apart from each other and the eighteen years that followed were an era of unity, stability, and prosperity, especially when compared to the Gaddafi era after he overthrew the monarchy. Libya’s independence in 1951 was one of those rare examples of an auspicious confluence of national and international concerns and interests. The needs of a poor, occupied country for independence, economic support, stability, and unity were reconciled with the interests of the international powers. The fact that the flag that united Libyans in their revolution against Ghaddafi was that of the 1st Kingdom of Libya. This is very significant and should be noted by all interested parties. The next presidential elections would benefit from a candidacy of a member of the Royal Family, of an Al-Senussi. A prominent member of the family who is a seasoned politician respected world-wide is Prince Idris Al-Senussi, cousin to Prince Mohammed Al-Senussi who is considered the Crown Prince of Libya. Libyans are fed up with the long civil war of the post Ghaddafi era and the meddling of foreign powers in the internal affairs of the country. An AL Senussi candidate can become a unifying force above political strive and lead the Libyan nation to peace and prosperity and turn Libya into a model of tolerance, as well as a synthesis of the best of Islamic and modern political thought. In the times of the reign of King Idris, the 1951 Constitution was drafted under the auspices of the UN and was seen to include significant mechanisms for the protection of human rights. The Magna Carta established an institutional apparatus that promoted transparency 36 | MM

and safeguards against antidemocratic power accumulation. It envisioned mechanisms to guarantee accountability in the exercise of public functions and equality of all Libyan citizens before the law. At the time it was produced, it was received as a positive and forward-thinking model of good governance and balance of powers for the region. Since Gadafi’s coup d’Etat, Libya has been fragmented and divided across the fabric of society. An Al-Senussi candidate as an apolitical figure, exempt from party loyalties can play a crucial role in disseminating ideas of peace, inclusion, trust and compromise and become an arbitrator, ensure the protection of the minorities, attract international investment, boost growth, increase living standards and form a government of national reconciliation. If this is achieved it will be up to the Libyans once they live in peace to decide if they want to create the II Kingdom of Libya without any foreign interference. We must not forget that after failing to establish a Western-style democracy in Iraq, it is fair to suggest that the US might have thought twice before applying a similar recipe elsewhere in the Middle East. Iraq would not be in the state of chaos it finds itself in if the Hashemite monarchy had been restored.

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In the 21st century, the monarchical institution, more than ever, may be the only effective solution to resolve armed conflicts resulting from the vicissitudes of politics, given that the Crown stands above these vicissitudes and acts as a nexus between all the different political currents. Politically, it would be difficult for the United States to support a political system not based on Washington’s idealised concept of democracy, but it is hard to deny that the idea has merit. Perhaps it is time for the United States to recognise reality and give constitutional monarchy a chance. Libya is at its final crossroad. May the elections be the solution and the preamble to peace and prosperity for the war torn country.

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Try print subscription 5 x Moralmoda printed issues with complimentary gift card WE CONVEY ARTFUL LIVING IN A SIMPLE YET POWERFUL WAY The world's first & only magazine dedicated to art and sustainable-luxury. Award winning and history making, Swiss based media features every month the latest news and trends from impact investment, elite events, luxury, exclusive interviews and regular royal cover stories. Our high integrity in journalism, focus on art, style and luxury experiences, captures readers from +150 countries. Our teams based in Monaco, Dubai, Geneva, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Milan, Casablanca and Paris, deliver the latest and most exclusive content from art, leisure, fashion, investment, jewellery, and travel. Distributed at elite events, family offices, fine art galleries, luxury resorts, royal residences, private aircrafts, helipads and VIP lounges. Thank you for reading Moralmoda

Morocco’s by H.E Karima Benyaich, Ambassador to Spain of the Kingdom of Morocco

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s New Dawn

MM | 41 Ménara Marrakesh

Culture Traditions synthesis of a great civilisation Morocco’s influence and promising prospects are the results of a perfect alchemy between its thousand-year-old history and a strong political will, based on openness and the constant search for a balance combining the preservation of its values and modernity. Due to its geographical position and its state stability of more than twelve centuries, Morocco, a true crossroads of civilizations, has known throughout its history, how to take advantage of the best components of these civilizations, the Morocco of today is the reflection of it, conferring it this so special and singular stamp. Morocco’s rich and diverse heritage is characterised above all by a mixture that transcends all borders and eras. Built over the centuries at the crossroads of cultures and influences, Arab, Berber, African and Jewish, Morocco is the story of a fine synthesis of all these encounters.

Bank of Africa Tower

This cultural and civilisational heritage has been used as a lever for development, particularly in the tourism sector, where Morocco offers vibrant travel experiences. To take the pulse of this thousand-yearold heritage, one must allow oneself to be seduced by the splendour of a Muslim art of Arab-Andalusian inspiration which permeates the country right down to its art of living, Mosques, Medinas, Medersas or Riads are so many architectural treasures and jewels, whose walls, impregnated with history, carry the living memory of this civilisation.

HM King Mohamed VI

The constant embrace of progress has never disfigured the precious beauty of the rich landscapes, for Morocco is a land of light where the most astonishing contrasts are offered to the spirit of those who visit the Kingdom from its northern Detroit to its Atlantic Saharan slope, passing through Rabat, the city of light, the Moroccan capital of culture, Marrakech, the city of permanent renewal, Fez, the spiritual and timeless capital, Essaouira, the City of the Wind, Chefchaouen, the blue city, Ouarzazate the Hollywood of the desert. 42 | MM

Tangier Med

An art of living based on living together Subtly composed of a wide variety of striking flavours and scents, Moroccan cuisine draws its originality from a subtle blend of Berber, ArabAndalusian and Jewish culinary traditions. Living together is also a sui generis component of Morocco’s DNA. Indeed, Morocco is a true haven of peace and a model of coexistence. Contrary to a dominant trend of fear of the other, in Morocco, there is a logic of otherness, constitutive of society, home to a cultural life that must allow each person to develop his or her sensitivity and spirituality while remaining faithful to his or her roots.

Mausoleo Mohammed V and the Hassan Tower in Rabat

Moroccan Sephardic culture bears witness to this model, which has few equivalents worldwide since it is the result of several centuries of cohabitation. An emerging and united Morocco The preservation of Morocco’s stability has not been achieved without effort and sacrifice. Indeed, the most convincing example is the recovery of our southern provinces, which has forever forged Morocco’s identity and united all of the nation’s living forces around a fundamental and primordial issue, namely the constant defence of territorial integrity. Morocco has also been able to capitalize on its strengths to build an economy in phase with today’s world, united and modern, under the avant-garde vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who in the space of two decades, has been able to build an economy that has become a true development model in the region. His Majesty King Mohammed VI has put in place development plans in a number of key sectors of the economy in order to strengthen and revitalise the strong sectors of the Moroccan economy while specialising in new segments and industries capable of generating wealth and growth.

Entrance to the Mamounia Hotel in Marrakesh

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This emergence has been favoured by the development of industry, the expansion of sectoral ecosystems such as Tangier Med, the launch of high-tech activities (Moroccan satellites in 2017-2018), while a strategy and a model of sustainable development have taken the form of a policy focused on renewable energies and environmental protection, all accompanied by major projects, works and development, which have seen the deployment of an important network of infrastructure: ports, airports, motorways, high-speed train and industrial zones. Morocco, resolutely turned towards the future and the preservation of the environment, was among the first countries to commit itself to a clean and ecologically sound energy transition, notably by installing one of the largest solar power plants in the world and by equipping itself with all the existing technologies in order to eventually succeed in this transition and have energy mainly from clean and renewable resources. Moreover, true to its past and its African roots, Morocco, under the impetus of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who has always considered Africa as a priority and strategic axis, has spared no effort to develop South-South cooperation and thus deploy the economic model turned towards Africa, thus demonstrating a continuous willingness to offer its expertise to sister countries in a win-win framework and to provide solidarity to their economies.

Democratic progress as a pillar of development. Presenting Morocco today as a country on the move is the result of a global reform dynamic marked by numerous initiatives that have led to spectacular economic, cultural and social development. Thus, Morocco has always taken care to accompany its economic development with a political vision aimed at bringing stability and security to the region. This political vision has resulted in the implementation of major reforms such as the 2011 Constitution, which was the result of a popular referendum, constituting an important step in the construction of a state based on the rule of law, citizen participation, political pluralism, transparency and the emergence of Moroccan women as a major player in public, political and economic institutions, the result of a process that has been underway for many years under the impetus of a strong political will emanating from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. From the Moroccan Sahara to the Strait of Gibraltar, from yesterday to tomorrow, the new dawn of the Kingdom is the new face of Africa today. 44 | MM

THE INDIA ISSUE OUT IN DECEmber 2022

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Prince Ermias Sahle Selassie

Ethiopia,

Fights for its Golden Age By His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia

thiopia —storied as a place of great beauty, hope, and dignity— has been in crisis, sadness, and indignity almost all of my life. There is now very real hope that this veil can be lifted. But we may not feel relief until we are forced, once again, to learn the harsh lessons of the world. That I can now write of Ethiopia’s travails, and work for the restoration of its joy, is thanks to my Grandfather, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, who sent me to school in the United Kingdom just before the coup of 1974. That coup claimed his life and plunged us all into more than four decades of a hell of grave inequity, very real personal risk, starvation, and loss of identity. Worse, it engendered a loss of hope for many; a sense of futility; a loss of past, present, and future. My Grandfather, and my Uncle, Emperor Amha Selassie I, handed to me a duty which was impossible to reject: to re-unify Ethiopia; to give comfort and hope to Ethiopians scattered around the world; and to revive the sense of pride which would be a beacon not only to all Africans but to the world. And to do all this with no resources other than my name and my belief in God and the mission He has handed to all the descendants of King Solomon and Queen Makeda over the millennia. My Grandfather took me into the Palace under his personal tutelage when my Father —the Emperor’s youngest son, Sahle Selassie— died unexpectedly in 1962 at the age of 30, when I was only two years of age. Then, on July 15, 1993, Emperor Amha Selassie I reformed the Crown Council and named me as its President. The Crown Council, under the 1955 Constitution, acts as the Crown itself during an interregnum, and our current interregnum —the periods between kings or emperors— began on January 17, 1997, when Emperor Amha Selassie died in exile. And so it has been, now, some 60 years since my training began in my duties; a solitary apprenticeship which continues. It is more than a quarter of a century since I have had no other task than to toil at the yoke of the welfare of Ethiopia. The great enemy for much of that time was not the lack of funds or tools to fight the good fight, but the reality

that there were those in Ethiopia who had seized the rights and properties of Ethiopians and who felt that the Crown’s very existence, even in exile, threatened their illegal gains and dominance over the lives of their own countrymen. There have been few opportunities since that coup of 1974 when it was possible to pause and look at the sunshine breaking through the clouds and to feel hope. But now I feel hope. And I pray that we have the strength to fight the final fights to see Ethiopia once again back in the hands of all Ethiopians, their lands restored, their dignity and faith revived, and the opportunity to once again break bread baked from their own grain and on their own hearths. Only now has that sense of Ethiopian identity, stretching back more than three millennia, begun to re-crystalise from the mists, along with the determination of the dispossessed —and here I say that all Ethiopians were dispossessed when their land was seized— to regain their sovereignty. A sense of self is the pre-requisite to the recovery of prestige, confidence, and control. Let me state before anything else that I have been fortunate. And most fortunately humbled. Most of my family —the Imperial Family— were imprisoned or killed. Those who survived bore great scars. But all families in Ethiopia were scarred, even as successive imposed totalitarian warlords attempted to erase Ethiopian history and identity from all books and teaching. Our family is at one with all those Ethiopians who suffered at the hands of the invaders of 1896 and 1935, and the revolutionaries of 1974 who took their selfrighteous deprivation of our lives from the teachings of a new wave of foreigners who invaded their minds. What is the lesson we must constantly re-learn? It is that we can survive only through unity, self-reliance, and selfawareness. Today, as in 1896, 1935, and 1974, the world essentially cares nothing about who we are as Ethiopians; neither will the world come to our aid when we are besieged. This is not cynicism, paranoia, or hubris: look at our history and you will see a progression of invaders who have been restrained neither by their peer nations, nor by ethical considerations. MM | 47

During an offcial visit to Jamaica

You will see attempts by outside powers to buy off segments of our people; to pit one against another until we surrender our riches. That happened during the 1960s until the coup of 1974; it happens today as a range of outside powers attempts to proselytize their religions, or their ethnic divisiveness, among Ethiopians. It comes even from powers we had regarded as friends. And what are the riches of Ethiopia which they seek? Firstly, they include our greatly diverse people who have mastered the art of survival while creating a society which embraces incredible complexity and historical literacy. Yes, we may be a people who are inordinately proud of our heritage, tracing back to —and before— the historical union of King Solomon and Queen Makeda of Saba. But it is this intrinsic pride and confidence which also gave us as an example to all of Africa: we were the unconquered society, with ancient and unique written languages, and 48 | MM

deep foundational participation in the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the linguistic and cultural links common to the founding peoples of those faiths. But if we have excessive pride then we also endure the humbling lessons of suffering, particularly at the hands of invaders against whom we have had mostly to resist alone. The world did not stir on our behalf when the British invaded us in 1868, resulting in the death of Emperor Tewedros II. The world did not stir, except for discreet aid from Russia, when Italy invaded us in 1896 and was resoundingly defeated The world did not stir when Ethiopia was to become the first victim of World War II as Italy invaded us in 1935. Yes, the British came to support our dark struggle to evict the invaders when, in 1939, it became clear that Italy would be part of the Axis powers rather than the

Allies. But we bled largely alone until 1941. Our dead lie uncounted, but for their grieving families. The world did not stir when a coup overthrew my Grandfather in 1974 and its foreign-inspired protagonists of the Dergue, a year later, murdered him, and then led us into an orgy of genocide which remains yet unaccounted and unmourned except in the privacy of broken families. The world did not stir when, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, its puppet Dergue Marxist tyrants fled Ethiopia. Rather, then, the US anointed the Tigray Popular Liberation Front (TPLF) —another marxist group with tenets alien even to those of the United States who favored them— to rule all of Ethiopia. And this, despite the reality that the Tigrean people amounted to less than six percent of the overall population, and that the TPLF represented Marxism rather than the Tigrean people, suppressing even the Tigreans.

And the world has not yet begun to stir as, once again, foreign powers with which Ethiopia actively desires friendship engage in attempts to break up our country; to seek control of another of our great assets, the source of the Blue Nile River: the fount of life for all north-eastern Africa. They seek to ensure that Ethiopia does not resume its place as one of the great Red Sea powers, capable of guaranteeing security of that vital world sea lane. To do this, these governments who risk little by working through proxy warriors have stimulated and fed a civil war among our people. This is the current era of struggle in which Ethiopia is engaged.

HM Emperor Haile Selassie with his grandson Prince Ermias

It will not be over until we once again assert our unity and take a determined view on our over-arching sovereignty. Those extremist groups claiming to be “struggling for independence” from Ethiopia certainly do not represent the majorities in their regions; nor do they have a vision which would deliver security and prosperity, or even greater identity, to their constituencies, if they indeed have constituencies. They are not their own people; they are the tools of proxy warfare. So what can the Ethiopian Crown do to help us into a sunlit future? Firstly, we can stand guard as a moral guarantor of constitutionallyprotected freedom and democracy for the Ethiopian People, so that they may have faith in the integrity of the electoral processes and the rights of the individual to property, freedom of speech and belief, and the rights of assembly and movement. Secondly, we can deliver prestige and integrity to the representation of the concept of Ethiopia, so that the Ethiopian State remains above political considerations and above desires for power for the sake of personal enrichment. Has the Crown not demonstrated since the coup of 1974 that it will continue its determination to uphold the dignity and unity of the concept of Ethiopia even though we

Prince Ermias and his twin sons, Prince Sahle-Selassie Ermias, Prince Fesseha Zion Ermias

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have had no funds, and have avoided seeking personal enrichment in order to pursue the monastic cause of Ethiopia’s holy identity? I do not say that the earthly poverty of the Ethiopian Crown today was a goal, nor do I feel pride in the reality that we must struggle along with the poorest of our countrymen. Rather, I am driven by the need to ensure that the poorest of our countrymen should be enriched and empowered. But I am grateful for the humility which has driven me into introspection and given me whatever compassion I have for our People and for the rights of people everywhere. It is not my desire to perpetuate the Crown’s poverty but to raise all the Ethiopian People and their institutions to great riches, spiritual as well as temporal. This was the profound calling of my Grandfather. Thirdly, the Crown can deliver unparalleled levels of trust in our dealings with governments around the world. The fact that we have, these past decades, been welcomed into the homes and hearts of leaders around the world testifies to the great moral impact which my forebears achieved for the Ethiopian Crown and for Ethiopia. And which we continue to achieve today. The great Ethiopian leaders of the past have ensured that the Ethiopian Crown is not a political instrument; it is above politics, and it seeks a more noble outcome than merely immediate gratification. We seek and can represent the eternal aspirations of a people to feel their special purpose, and understand that the pursuit of greatness as a nation is something which transcends physical wealth but embodies the confidence of self-awareness and therefore compassion. We are there, and the Ethiopian People are there, for the long march into history, without even the need to look over our shoulder to know the great length of our lineage which has brought us to this point. Our Solomonic blood represents the longest unbroken line of human historical awareness. As such, it embodies not only the history of the Abrahamic Peoples but it is literally the spinal cord of Western civilization. We are a tool to be used by the peoples of the greater Ethiopian family, and we have been redoubled in our intensity and strength by the years we and our nation have been in the wilderness. Prince Ermias and Princess Saba Kebede

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A id in g in A f r ic a ’s d e v e l o p m e n t

www.developmentwb.co.uk

ICONIC AFRICANS

PAST & PRESENT

Africa is a continent with 55 nations if we count Somaliland and has produced many international recognised icons in all fields: politics, sports, music, activism, literature and science. This brief gallery is a tribute to all Africans. Many more deserve to be mentioned.

Ali Farke Touré

Amantle Montsho

Anwar Sadat

Boutros Boutros Ghali

Cesaria Evora

Charlize Theron

Chinua Achebe

Christian Barnard

Desmond Tutu

Didier Drogba

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Gisèle Rabesahala

Haile Gebreselassie

HM Emperor Haile Selassi of Ethiopia

HM King Farouk of Egypt

HM King Hassan II of Morocco

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HM King Idris I of Libya

HM King Kigeli V of Rwanda

HM King Mohammed VI of Morocco

HRH Princess Alia Al-Senussi of Libya

Huda Shaarwi

Iman

Kenenisa Bekele

Kofi Annan

Lupita Nyong’o

Miriam Makeba

Nelson Mandela

Nick Price

Omar Sharif

Omar Sy

Oum Kalthoum

Sade Adu

Samuel Eto’o

Sir Seretse Khama

Wangari Maathai

Yossour N’Dour

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BISILA BOKOKO “I am a cultural hybrid. I was born in Spain to African parents, became an American citizen by adoption, and I have been living in New York City for the last 21 years.”

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The first time I traveled to Africa (Ghana) was nearly 11 years ago. Like many visitors who have had the great privilege of visiting this country, I fell in love with the people and the country itself, and I returned home with a desire to help Africa develop and grow. As with any developing country, there is a need to build infrastructures to empower people though education, healthcare, social programs, etc. I have chosen to help Africa develop by supplying something that is very close to my heart: books. I have always loved to read. Books have inspired me and introduced me to a world of new ideas and concepts, and I would like to share this gift of inspiration and new ideas with my African brothers and sisters. Through my own experiences, I have come to understand the impact books can have on people’s lives. As an example, William Kamkwamba from Mali in West Africa has served as a case study for our organization. William’s family could not afford his tuition fee; therefore, he was unable to continue his education. Something interesting happened after he read a book on windmills, however, and learned they could become a powerful source of energy: He was inspired to build a windmill, which created enough electricity to power his own household and, eventually, his entire village. I believed there were more young men and women like William Kamkwamba in other parts of Africa, and I wanted to supply them with books to inspire them in similar ways. Therefore, I decided to start the Bisila Bokoko African Literacy Project (BBALP), with the goal of building libraries around Africa. I decided that the first one would be established in the town of Kokofu, in the Region of Kumasi in Ghana. MM | 55

Why Kokofu? Something magical happened during my trip to Ghana: an unplanned visit to Kokofu gave life to a new project. John Hutchinson, my tourist guide, asked if I would mind passing by Kokofu on our way to Kumasi to check the house of a former U.S. resident who was building a home in the area. I agreed to do so and ended up meeting Barima Offe Akwasi Okogyeasuo II, the Chief of Kokofu, who named me Nana Akwa Serwah and granted me the honor and title of “Queen Development Mother.” Chief Okogyeasuo II offered me a piece of land, where I decided to build the first BBALP library. As some of you may know, I am a cultural hybrid. Born in Spain to African parents, I later became an American citizen, and I have been living in New York City for the last 21 years. I know that being born in Europe of African heritage is a privilege. Over the years, my family’s background has given me access to elementary and higher education and allowed me to grow up in an environment where books and intellectual stimulation have impacted my life in a positive way. Therefore, it is only natural for me to want to give back to the community and to help others achieve the same fortune. Witnessing the excitement of children when they receive their books is priceless, and seeing their joyful faces when entering the library does my soul good. What is more important to our organization, however, is the fact that the library becomes a community project – a focal point for the families and communities to practice togetherness and to emphasize our common love for books. We are very thrilled for the children who have benefitted from our library projects in Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. We have cooperated with various schools, educational institutions, and other organizations to send books to Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, and South Africa. Additionally, we have recently created

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the BBALP Scholarship Fund to help talented kids gain access to education in countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Ghana. The important lesson I have learnt from this experience thus far is that “It takes a little to do much.” Everyone can help in their own capacity, and at BBALP, we always concentrate on giving people nets and teaching them to fish instead of just giving them the fish. We believe that education open doors to new opportunities. Along the way, I have found many wonderful people who have helped support my vision, for which I am very thankful. Just this week, I had the chance to witness the power of books, and I learned that cooperation is essential. In collaboration with several universities in Spain, we shipped 28,000 books to the University of Equatorial Guinea, which has changed the landscape of education in this institution. Last September, I visited our library in Kenya, located in Maasai Mara. While there, I got the opportunity to empower the youth and women by sharing with them that education is the key to obtaining the freedom to make their own choices. Education may not be a direct passport to success, but it gives people the chance to choose among different possibilities. Each library and country represents an adventure. Collecting books for children, finding the right partners, meeting the children in person, and having the opportunity to read to them is a beautiful experience. I would like to pursue this same experience in other countries with the simple goal of spreading the love for books. Before the Covid pandemic, I took part in an African tour that spanned from the west to the east. Most of my trip was spent in Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. I also had the chance to travel to Equatorial Guinea and Kenya, and I was amazed by the vibrant energy that lies in the continent. Through my participation in

discussion panels, I had the chance to mentor young men and women. I was truly impressed by the way these young people strove for greatness, and I learned that despite a lack of education, which leads to a lack of opportunities, the desire to excel still exists. There are many cultural barriers preventing African youth from having a voice, but I also met young people with a vision who broke through in order to make their voices heard. After all, big problems create big opportunities. During my trip I had highly productive conversations with representatives from governments, international organizations, and the private sector, and many initiatives were launched in order to shape a better future for entrepreneurs living on the continent. I visited several company facilities and engaged in multiple conversations with young professionals and established businesspeople. One thing that is clear after my journey is that Africa’s outlook and potential is often overlooked by many. The remarkable progress Africa has made in the past decade is not widely recognized or covered by the local media, but I have personally witnessed the numerous success stories across the continent. Even though there are many problems to resolve, African citizens and the diaspora are working every day to transform the continent. The key to this transformation is to give voice to the youth and women and to achieve pan-African cooperation. I am an Afro-optimist, and Africa’s rising is not a myth. I firmly believe that a bright future lies ahead for the African continent, and that we (the sons and daughters of the continent) will be the crafters of such a future. As stated in the African Union’s opening statement, “The time has come to build an integrated Africa, a prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.”

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EDUCATION AND INNOVATION IN AFRICA An interview with Idrisse Ahamed by Carlos Mundy

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I met Idrisse Ahamed by chance at a charity ball in Madrid in 2019 and I was impressed by his eloquence and passion. He was born in the Comoros Islands, his late mother being a prominent member of the Royal Family and his father a seasoned politician. When we met he was the Advisor on Economic Affairs to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Since then, he left politics temporarily and is fully dedicated to his business group Groupe A. An African company open for business with the world to benefit Africa, as he likes to say. Just before Covid I was invited to visit his beautiful country, a tolerant land that is very undeveloped but has all the potential of becoming an important hub in the Indian Ocean specially if Idrisse’s vision comes true. He has made his own Nelson Mandela’s premise: “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.” Why are you so interested in the promotion of education in Africa? There are many articles in the media about the situation of education and innovation in Africa. Very often we are given a depressing picture of the situation. Statistics do not make policy, what we need is action. I place myself in this perspective. I am doing everything in my power to do my part as in the legend of the hummingbird. I am proactive and I intend to be among the impact entrepreneurs playing my role as a catalyst for the deployment of an education that values humanism and is rooted in innovation. How can the challenges be solved? We are faced with the many challenges of education in Africa but a dynamic entrepreneurial movement is emerging that offers innovative solutions. Impact investors, characterized by their intention to generate a positive social and/or environmental impact, are providing decisive support to this dynamic. Groupe A intends to be at the forefront of this battle. What is the current situation? Despite immense progress made since the early 2000s, African education

systems are in a critical situation and are struggling to guarantee successful learning and integration for young Africans. Primary schooling is gradually reaching its goal of universality in Africa, but 34 million children are still not in elementary school, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected countries. In addition, numerous national and international assessments have shown that the majority of African pupils do not acquire basic knowledge and skills at the end of compulsory schooling. Schools are confronted with numerous deficits in human, material and pedagogical resources and the ever-increasing number of students in many public schools generates more frustration than learning. Can we remain insensitive to this state of affairs? Obviously not but what solutions do you foresee? A minority of enrolments access higher education and vocational training. While youth unemployment rates in Africa are no higher than in other regions of the world, rates of informal employment and working poverty remain critical and constitute a growing risk of social and political destabilization. There is an entrepreneurial dynamism towards education emerging in all corners of the continent, raising as much promise as new challenges to be faced. From e-learning solutions to SMS-based course platforms to teacher coaching sessions, entrepreneurs are not short of ideas to experiment with new pedagogical models to break free from the physical constraints that have long hampered entire education systems. The role of technology and cloud-based education in African education systems is also becoming a key issue for all stakeholders in the education system (governments, entrepreneurs, teachers, parents and learners). I will encourage my partners to participate fully in accompanying the actors involved in this field. The is much to be done and many challenges to be tackled. Yes, definitely. Entire areas of impact finance dedicated to education remain to be built. Impact funds must find ways to support less mature projects, for example

in technical and vocational education, where the State and its partners are not involved. It is therefore imperative for these investors to define support instruments as well as profitability and impact requirements that are adapted to a social sector with a long time horizon and that must include all social groups, particularly young women and the most vulnerable learners. To meet the challenges of quality, access and relevance of education in Africa, impact investors will have to design and mobilize innovative strategies and modes of intervention adapted to the realities of a social sector in crisis and a burgeoning entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together with philanthropic actors who are experts in the sector, these new initiatives will have to support schools and ancillary activities within training cycles and channels that are priorities for local development. It is with this spirit of innovation, cooperation and partnership that impact investors will be able to make a relevant contribution to the challenges of education in Africa. Africa has no choice. In the 21st century, nations and countries will be judged, not by their natural wealth or their subsoil resources, but by their capacity for innovation. Innovation is the only way out of poverty. Climate change is a challenge for the whole planet that can affect us all. What is your opinion on its effect in Africa? Now that we are faced with the challenges of climate change and the biodiversity crisis, we cannot continue to do agriculture as we did 150 years ago. Today, we talk about precision agriculture, which takes into account the exact measurement of the quantity of water needed for a vegetable crop, for example. Innovation allows for increased productivity and efficiency. We believe that Africa has everything it needs to innovate and that now, more than ever, is the time. What would be your formula? The first step is to invest in human capital. Africa is the youngest continent on the planet. In two generations, 40% of the world’s youth will be Africans. This is an extraordinary demographic resource that we must invest in training and MM | 59

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research to successfully transform the continent. When you have a well-trained human resource, a skilled workforce, good researchers and quality technicians, you have the basis to develop an innovation strategy. Thus, Africa will be able to use innovation as an engine for development. The second level to pay attention to is basic infrastructure: roads, electricity, digital infrastructure, internet connection, etc. Today, we are hovering around 26 to 27% connectivity on the continent, whereas in advanced economies, we are at 67% or even more. What are the hurdles? IA: Scientific cooperation and integration are at an embryonic stage. Today, the balkanization of our countries is an obstacle to the emergence of a major African scientific and technological pole. More than ever, the word “collaboration” makes sense. In Africa, it can be implemented within the same region or between several regions. We need to work hard in this direction. Innovation is not just about technology, machines and systems. Innovation can be based on endogenous cultural values. Take the example of pharmacopoeia. Its specialists can tell you all about the virtues of certain plants. The question now is how to value endogenous innovations specific to the African continent in the same way as innovations developed elsewhere. Science and knowledge ecosystems are being set up. In these ecosystems, there is not only training with a view to awarding diplomas. It is about allowing young Africans who have something to show, who have an idea with a transformative dimension, to be able to interact with their peers, whether in medicine, epidemiology, physics, or any other subject, in order to be able to cross-reference the advances and results of their research. Ecosystems must be put in place that allow this young person to interact with another young African who may have studied at the École des Mines or Polytechnique, and the two of them can pool their creativity and their knowledge. I must point out that the concept of ecosystem is very important because universities do not offer this environment that invents the gateway

through which the young self-taught person can evolve and develop his concept. Do you think that innovation in education should be a priority? Universities as they have been built today do not promote innovation. They are designed to transmit book knowledge, but something else is needed to develop the capacity for innovation and creativity in young learners. We need to amplify the ecosystem of innovation and knowledge. We need to encourage more students to pursue master’s degrees and doctorates. We need to implement initiatives in quantum science and technology, artificial intelligence, and development issues of particular interest to Africa. Biodiversity, climate change, public health and epidemiology, for example. One only has to look at what is happening with tropical diseases. Many of them are neglected by research in Western countries. It is therefore necessary that researchers work on these diseases. What would you tell the young people in Africa? I would encourage young people who do not go through the centers of excellence, those who do not want to go into research and labs for the benefit of the business world, to create their own companies or are able to do so. The objective is to train young Africans to solve problems through their creative genius, to go work in companies, to create them too. An innovation fund must be set up to support the development of these young people and their start-ups. What is your opinion of AI in Africa? By seizing artificial intelligence, Africa is putting itself in a position to transform itself and move its economy forward. It is the responsibility of the leaders and policy makers of the African continent to create an environment conducive to innovation, because innovation is not decreed, it is prepared. They must increase investment in scientific research and technology if they do not want to miss the rendezvous of the 21st century and be in a situation of digital recolonization whose consequences

will be harmful. To do this, there is legislation to be put in place, a regulatory framework to be defined, and ecosystems to be put in place to facilitate the emergence of African talent in the field of innovation. Do you think parents have a role to play? Definitely. They have a very important role. They must accompany their children in their physical and psychological development. More clearly, children must be able to study without social constraints weighing on them. Africa will become a major and respected geopolitical entity on the international scene depending on its place in the sciences. Tell us more about Groupe A On one side, as an international engineering and construction company, Groupe A, in association with Groupe PINGAT, creates and operates infrastructures and intelligent buildings capable of responding to the climate emergency and the major challenges of our time, by enabling more balanced, sustainable and resilient land use planning. We also, whether consulting to the public or private sector we are active throughout the world and particularly in Africa, across the entire life cycle of infrastructure. We operate in a variety of ways: direct investment, PPP or BOT. We also serve governments, public entities and the private sector to guide their development and investment strategy. We accompany public and private economic operators from the diagnosis and identification of their needs, the implementation of their investment strategies until the raising of funds. At Group A, we strongly believe in corporate social responsibility and it is an integral part of our group’s ethics and values. Africa is in our hearts and we support the extraordinary work of the Imperial Council of Ethiopia. For us, art and culture must always be at the centre of all development strategies and processes, because culture is a condition for the very development of any nation. That is why we are committed to a collaboration with the Friends of Mewar Foundation. www.groupea.build MM | 61

Africa’s wildlife

through the lenses of 2 award-winning photographers

Anamaria Chediak anamariachediak.com

Having grown up in one of the planet’s most biodiverse and culturally-diverse nations, I cultivated an intense interest in both the natural world — and wildlife in particular — as well as for identity and cultural manifestations, keen to celebrate the power of diversity in our increasingly homogenous world. I am driven by an insatiable curiosity, born from my early explorations of the Andes and the Galapagos Islands, and by an indomitable passion for understanding; then sharing what I have captured with a wider audience. Over the years, my work has led me to travel across five continents, with a passion for capturing the essence of the cultures and natural worlds I encounter, while also keenly aware of the inner journey one experiences, the insights and perspectives one acquires that nourish our lives in unexpected and remarkable ways. I was born in a country crossed by the Equator, “The Middle of the World,” and scythed by the towering Andes. Africa is also cross by the Equator and climate change is taking its toll here, too, These regions, so distant and seemingly unrelated, in fact, underline how the Earth is intimately inter-connected: what we do at one end of the planet will affect every corner of our fragile globe.

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I have always felt that Africa has a unique way of touching your senses. There are few places on the planet like Africa where humans can feel so closely bound to nature and specially to wildlife. Traveling there is to experience and understand nature in its natural stage and to feel its indescribable immensity. When I am in Africa I found myself in a state of complete loneliness yet filled from the inside with the force of unforgiving nature in its most primitive state. I have been dedicated to photography for the last 30 years. When I am surrounded by nature, I find the real meaning of freedom and the true purpose of my existence. This passion of mine and my commitment to preserving the natural resources and wonders of our planet have driven my life and photography to have a better meaning and a profound purpose. My photography, stories, and experiences aim to serve as a reminder of what is at stake. If through my photography, I can connect with a wider audience and invite them to become involved in protecting the Earth’s ecosystems and the future of our planet, then my efforts will be worth it, and my dream accomplished.

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Maricruz Sainz de Aja maricruzsainsdeaja.com

I was born in Mexico. My travel photography is my passion and my work is nurtured by my deep love and respect for the planet. My commitment to photography is to show the world through my lens the extreme diversity and infinite beauty and fragility of our environment in order to impact on people’s conscience and to respect and preserve our cultural heritage and our planet. My project “Wild” starts in 2019, when I travelled to Kenya for the third time; particularly Lake Nakuru. It was shocking to compare my photographs from a few years ago. It looked like a different place. Gone were the pink clouds of Flamingos and the lake was partially dry. You could see houses in the surroundings. Humans had changed not only the landscape, but the ecosystem. I was deeply moved by the recent death of the last White Rhino and it was then that I decided to start a Wildlife Project in its habitat and to capture in photographs the sheer beauty and fragility of what will one day sadly be history. “Wild” is a series of photographs with which I want to connect with people on an emotional level, and with which I want to promote the knowledge and preservation of nature. Photography should be a medium to raise awareness and inspire human beings and to remind us that we are responsible for the extinction of species, that we are responsible for climate change and that we are responsible for poaching, industrialisation and deforestation. Today more than ever we have an obligation to educate the new generations in order to protect our planet. Conservation begins with Awareness, and “Wild” is dedicated to Africa, as a tribute to its spectacular but fragile beauty.

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MM | 69 Maasai Mara (Kenya)

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EMERGING TANZANIA A HIDDEN GEM by Nicholas Peter Smith

have been visiting Tanzania now for several years and it has become my favourite African country which has found a place that will remain permanently in my heart. Tanzania is a country of rich diversity in many areas of life, culture and nature. As the home to the famous wildlife region, The Serengeti Plains, Tanzania attracts many thousands of visitors each year especially during the spectacular migration of the Wildebeest. This annual migration sees tens of thousands of Wildebeest in large herds moving to fresh pastures with all the drama and excitement attached to this amazing event. Arusha is the closest city and boasts many hotels, hostels and safari lodges and can cater for all aspects of tourism to suit all budgets. There are numerous Safari Companies that organise tours throughout the region with expert guides and some very well èquipped Lodges along the way where guests can wine and dine in style after a hard day’s Safari. To visit the Serengeti is a truly amazing experience and a once in a lifetime

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opportunity to see raw nature in all it’s glory. Moshi can also be found in the North of the country and is the host town to the largest mountain in Africa, the world renowned Kilimanjaro. Many tourists flock to Moshi to experience the aura of Kilimanjaro and for those that consider themselves up to the challenge there are well organised expeditions to the summit. This is a daunting challenge that many attempt and fail, with the acclimatisation to the atmosphere at such high altitude taking several days to manage. For those that do make it to the summit there is a huge sense of achievement and pride, however this climb is not for the faint hearted in every sense of the cliche. Moving to the capital of Tanzania Dar es Salaam, visitors will indeed find the hidden gem which is Oyster Bay. This peninsula is the centre piece to a vibrant and fascinating city and situated along the Bay or in it’s vicinity are a plethora of Hotels, Restaurants and bars where guests can eat, drink and be entertained by the accompanying sounds of live local bands and watch one of the most beautiful sunsets imaginable across the bay.

Serengetti National Park

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Zanzibar Island

This is a truly wonderful location and thankfully not overpopulated with tourists so as to maintain it’s local traditions. There are two local Islands accessible by a thirty minute boat trip, Mbudya and Bongoyo. These islands are uninhabited and protected as such to be used for day trips only. The white sandy beaches surrounded by Palm Trees and the beautiful clear blue/green water make these islands a day in paradise for day trippers. Freshly caught fish ,seafood and cold local beers are served in the traditional styled restaurants making a trip to the islands an extremely pleasant excursion. There are many local markets to Dar, the biggest and most famous being Kariokoo where many thousands of shoppers arrive daily from all over Tanzania and from as far afield as Uganda to buy from the many wholesalers and traders selling every imaginable item at very competitive prices. The hustle and bustle and energy from this place is something to behold and the bartering amongst buyers and sellers an experience in old fashioned trading methods. There is also a huge fish market in Dar, Kivokoni, near the Ferry Terminal and a day spent there for anyone who enjoys fresh fish is a real eye opener. Boats begin arriving at daybreak with hundreds of buyers eagerly awaiting the catch being sold in the auction. With every conceivable fish from the Indian Ocean available here, the choice of fish is incredible. Once purchased there are plenty of young willing helpers to clean and prepare the fish for cooking. 76 | MM

President of Tanzania

I have visited many African countries and I find Tanzania to be a very welcoming and extremely safe country for Mzungu (White Person). Compared to many West African countries, where a bodyguard was a necessity, I have never once felt threatened or intimidated in any way. I have visited many local bars and nightspots and have never witnessed any trouble or violence amongst the locals which I find extremely refreshing coming from a city in the North of England where a good punch up after a few beers at the weekend is the norm... I have noticed many establishments in Tanzania using Masaai guys for security purposes. These traditionally dressed tribesmen although very slender and unmenacing in appearance command huge respect from everyone in the country and their presence alone seems to maintain security and safety. Tanzanian people are exceptionally respectful of one another and foreign visitors, are extremely hard working and believe in a bright future. Despite the many hardships they have to endure, as in all African countries, there is an underlying sense of optimism here that things are evolving and improving. Based on a strong religious faith with an almost equal divide between Christianity and Islam, Christians and Muslims interact, inter marry and basically just get along. Whilst respecting each others different religious beliefs there is a strong feeling of solidarity in this country where people look to live together in peace and harmony. This is also very refreshing to witness and there are examples here which I’m sure could be followed in many other countries that are divided by religious differences. The former Tanzanian President John Magafuli instilled a very strong work ethic into the people of this country and combined with a tireless campaign to eradicate corruption throughout all government departments, there are clear signs that this country is going places. With one of the fastest growing economies in East Africa there is a feeling of well

Dae es Salaam

structured, well organised growth in many sectors, with many foreign investors looking to be part of the many emerging markets here. The new Lady President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan is also determined to see the country modernise, develop and compete in business on the International Stage. With a steely determination to continue the progress of her predecessor the new president is fully committed to developing infrastructure in the country along with health care and attracting foreign investment. This lady is encouraging all women with entrepreneurial skills to come forward and be part of the new modern approach to business here. A typical example is a lady I have been privileged to have been associated with during the last few years whilst discussing opportunities in Tanzania. Juliet Rushuli is from a traditional old fashioned farming family and studied Law at University. She now has a law firm in Dar es Salaam, is the mother of three adorable children and has a network of other businesses ranging from Security Companies to Event Management and Promotion Groups. Her husband Ed Hamiton is the Director of an Energy Calibration Company that will be supplying the latest Energy Calibration Systems worldwide. With this lady ‘s passion, energy and drive her achievements are an example of what is now possible in the new modern Tanzania from a humble background. She is a staunch supporter of the government and a passionate Ambassador for her country. If she moves into politics in the future she will be an inspiration to all Tanzanian women. All in all Tanzania is an evolving country with the potential to be a major player for East Africa in the coming years. Nicholas Peter Smith is CEO of Development without Borders Ltd.

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The Ubuntu Tribe Together we Rise!

Africa is considered as “poor”, yet we all know Africa is immensely rich, not just of its marvelous and numerous natural resources but also rich of its people with their immense talent, its culture, creativity and resilience. What Africa is truly poor of is “opportunities” to nurture, harness and showcase such tangible and intangible wealth. That’s what came to my mind and changed my life forever a few month after joining the prestigious Senior High School, Lycee Louis Grand in Paris (France). A few month earlier indeed the principal of my Junior High School recommended my parents to apply for that unique school where the French and European future high intellect elite with super high grades adolescents converge to prepare for a golden path towards occupying key positions in society or be at the forefront of scientific research and human advancement. I was the only black kid in that school. A very strong ha-ha moment struck me as I realized how fortunate and privileged I was to be surrounded by so many highly intelligent people very futureoriented. Nevertheless, this feeling of pride was strongly tamed by an even stronger sentiment of injustice. Indeed, “Why me”? I was born and spent my childhood in Africa, Cameroon to be precise, arriving in France with my parents as immigrants, I realized early that the gap in opportunities was ridiculously big. Indeed, there were so many young Africans smarter than me that deserved to be in such a school but will never get a chance and would most probably end up jobless because of lack of opportunities back home. I found it unfair and could not deal with the fact that if talent and intelligence was a human attribute evenly distributed across the planet equal access to opportunities was not evenly distributed? 78 | MM

by Mamadou Kwidjim Toure

From that moment on, I made a pledge to myself: all along my life I would do everything in my capacity to ensure as many people as possible get equal access to opportunities regardless of wealth at birth or place of birth enabled by financial freedom and interconnected humanity. As a result, I started my first NGO at 19 while studying in Business School in France, called Afrique Tandem mobilizing hundreds of African students across Europe to act collectively and launch various initiatives aimed at deploying skills transfers, mentoring programs and reverse brain-drain to Africa. More than a decade later although I was enthusiastically serving Africa as an Investment Officer with IFC (World Bank Group) in the relentless need to address such a daunting task led me to start Africa 2.0 Foundation (www.africa2point0) a Think-Do-Tank gathering collective of young leaders who designed and drafted a Manifesto articulating a Panafrican Vision for Africa and advocated to decision makers across the continent. 3 Years later we were honored and proud to watch 47 Heads of States launched Agenda 2063 illustrating a continental roadmap for the next 5 decades for Africa and its people. . Along my journey in particular with Africa 2.0 Foundation, I was lucky and privileged to receive teachings and mentoring from great Africans such as Mrs Graca Machel, President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Joaquim Chissano But somehow something was still missing within me and made me restless as I was combining this double life of investment banker and social entrepreneur. That is when I decided to leave the corporate world and embraced the “Ubuntu journey”. When we started Ubuntu Tribe (www.utribe. one) a few years ago we understood the importance of financial freedom and interconnected humanity to unlock

equal access to opportunities for all. Something struck my financier mind. Considering that Africa was host to 46% of the global gold deposit, how come African currencies keep on depreciating, and its people purchasing power constantly dwindles while Gold price jumped by 500% over the past 20 years and 5000% since Richard Nixon decoupling of dollar to gold in 1971. Unfortunately this not just the fate of Africa as many other regions and emerging markets like Latin America, South East Asia suffer the same paradox. Moreover, none of those countries local currencies were accepted beyond their local borders and this was leading to further exclusion from the global economy. Something didn’t sound right. Luckily due to my 20 years of experience in Investment Banking and Development Finance focusing on investment in technologies (Telecoms, Energy, Fintech, Greentech, etc) I was exposed early to blockchain technology. I therefore thought to myself why don’t we just use blockchain technology to democratize access to gold so that anyone, anywhere at any time could buy a gold and be delivered digital gold certificate. Indeed why not make this very asset available to all (especially those living on the very land where gold is extracted). Gold is indeed an asset class recognized for its stable growth and its worldwide acceptance? Gold always had value across human civilizations and geographies from Dar Es Salaam to Detroit from Hong Kong to Calcutta. Today, blockchain technology makes it possible to issue digital title equivalents guaranteeing ownership of physical assets (real estate, works of art, metals and precious stones, company shares, etc.). This is done by splitting the digital asset into very small units. For example, it is now possible to hold micro-parts of a company or a fraction of a flat or

property represented by digital tokens, more commonly known as “Tokens”. Ubuntu Tribe has used this method to allow the African population and the rest of the world to finally invest in gold for minute quantities of gold, as 1 mg representing a value of less than $5 cts. GIFT is the name of the digital token. GIFT coin is 100% backed by gold and our aim is to bring GIFTS to all! The gold purchased by Ubuntu Tribe’s customers is kept in highly secure vaults in strategic locations around the world renowned for their safety. This gold is not only insured but also audited monthly by major auditing firms to give the customers the assurance and comfort of the existence, completeness and value of the gold reflected in the digital certificates held on their mobile phones. As gold is fungible, customers can exchange their digital tokens with one another or honor their local, intraregional or international exchanges due to gold high liquidity. In a context where the African subsoil holds more than 46% of the world’s gold reserves, the opportunity offered by Ubuntu Tribe is therefore a unique opportunity to make Africans benefit directly from the advantages of their natural resources, which are often exported without their benefit. Considering that the digital world has no borders such opportunity is de facto available to anyone with a mobile phone. Ubuntu aims at simplifying the process and make that opportunity accessible to all. Customers will download a UWallet from Android or Smartphone and purchase GIFT digital coins. This could also be achieved without a smartphone. Our customers’ investment is in gold stored in verifiable vaults, as evidenced by the forgery-proof digital title deeds in their e-wallets enabled by blockchain MM | 79

technology. Anyone is however able to withdraw the cash equivalent amount of their gold at any time with their provided Ubuntu debit card to access liquidity. But why choose the name Ubuntu? Why is it important? I discovered the meaning of Ubuntu when I used to live in Southern Africa. It means “I am because we are”. This word is actually found across other African regions: in Rwanda “Umubuntu” which means the humans. In East Africa in Swahili they say “Utu” meaning mankind, in Congo Region Abatu means the human race or people (men and women). The very essence of Ubuntu is refers to humanity. “I am because we are” is the core the Ubuntu philosophy. This concept originating from African ancestral knowledge celebrates our human interconnectedness, and reminds us of our shared destinies. Ubuntu is a calling within each of us to finally accept our Interdependence, to live with a collective state of mind, and to act from a place of care and oneness towards our human family. We are One! In other words Ubuntu Tribe means the Human Tribe! To face our current complex challenges, Ubuntu invites us to act holistically upon our mind, body and souls. We are called to rethink our approach. Ubuntu offers us a deeper emotional and philosophical perspective in order to deal with the current crisis and build our common future. As a result we believe in a bottom up approach empowering individuals, local and global communities of citizens through greater solidarity and collaboration. I dived deeper into understanding and embodying the fundamental values and principles of the Ubuntu philosophy and its true meaning through the time I spent with leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu amongst others. In our current world, resources (material or financial) resources are not evenly distributed. In contrast, we believe that talent and creativity 80 | MM

are universal attribute shared across human kind. , it is essential to create a leveled playing field and provide equal access to opportunities where it’s due regardless of gender, race, place of birth or wealth at birth. Ubuntu not only refers to our interconnectedness as humans but also our connection to the planet we live in. We should say, “I am because we are ONE” part of a broader unity with the earth we live in and all its inhabited species. Or maybe we should say, “I am because ALL is one. “This is why Ubuntu Tribe will be deploying technologies that will allow clean ethical gold extraction increasing the yield for artisanal farmers to 50% more gold without use of mercury or cyanide in order to protect the environment. Mercury has damaged the environment and the health of millions of people in mining regions around the world and this has to stop. But why is Ubuntu ancestral wisdom as an African heritage is important to technology? In reality it has become obvious that the world we are living in is and will further be ruled or at least dominated by technology. For instance when we talk about artificial intelligence, transhumanism, biotechnologies or other emerging technologies, a key fundamental question keeps resounding. It is the

question of Ethics and Values. In an era where our lives can be programmed by apps and other computer programs, in a world where new forms of life or micro-organisms can be invented in laboratories, we are called to ponder and reflect deeply about what we stand for? What do we have to gain? Is the gain worth it? What is the trade off? Will it lead to more conflicts, greater peace or self-destruction? Are such gains in line with our value system as humans? How does it impact the planet hosting us all? What does progress mean? Does progress have value if it is only

enjoyed by the happy-few? What makes us profoundly human? What society civilization do we want for our children? Is such progress in alignment to the very essence that makes us human? In an era where the world is in identity crisis, in an era where ego-based leadership has shown its limits, wisdom, compassion and values based leadership have become of high importance to maintain the cohesion of our societies in this global village. What I personally love about blockchain technology is the value system from which it derives, the philosophical and spiritual principle that guided the cryptographers and software engineers that designed the algorithm. Why? Because it lies on the very quest to design a program answering the following question. Knowing that the current system is based on a centralized system, and considering that handing all the power and trust to a central party can lead to errors or mismanagement, how do we create a system where an information or a transaction can be validated and recorded concomitantly by various stakeholders in a tampered way as the power of the collective is stronger than the power of the individual. This is for me the essence of some ancestral values and principles relating to the Ubuntu philosophy. No wonder that the creators of Linux called their operating system Ubuntu. Interestingly enough when I tried to explain the principle of blockchain to MM | 81

the elders back home, they smiled at me and told me “son we have that principle since the ends of time over here and across many regions in Africa, for instance when the child is born or when we want to validate the area of someone’s land we have always called at least 4 respected people in the community to approve and validate the existence, filiation of the baby, the ownership or accuracy of the attributed land, so that when one of the 4 should be absent or departed we could still rely on the trusted word of the 3 others. But with colonization everything became centralized into the hands of one person that we are expected to trust”. Those words resonated deeply with me as I realized that I had so much to learn from our Ancient culture and wisdom that get so often discarded in the name of progress and throw the baby with the bathwater by discarding some inherent ancestral wisdom. In other words, if the world is heading towards being ruled by technologies anchoring humanist values become of ultimate importance so that whatever is reflected in the source codes and software programming be inspired and reflective of such fundamental human values Along my travels I had the opportunity to discuss around Ubuntu principles and integrate it as a way of life (although I am still a work in progress). I realized then that it was not an African concept but definitely a Universal concept common to mankind. For instance I had the opportunity to meet some incredible souls in the United Arab Emirates who fully embody the Ubuntu philosophy and shared similar vision without previously being exposed to this concept. I further encountered cultures naturally practicing Ubuntu but just call it differently. As an example, In Lak’ech Ala K’in is the Mayan moral code meaning “You are my other me. What I do onto you, I do onto myself.” As such, each positive action we take to safeguard all facets of womanhood is reflected back on society in kind. The world has changed and the new world rising beneath our feet. A new values based socioeconomic system is urgently needs to emerge. Ubuntu Tribe is inspired by this holistic perspective embracing humanity in all its aspects (mind, body and spirit), applying it to technology and tapping into our global collective intelligence to co-create a new world based on abundance and not scarcity, on transparency and not deceit, a world fueled by the power of love and not by the love of power, a world enhanced by collaboration and not competition, a world fueled by shared knowledge and not by orchestrated ignorance, a world of interconnection and not exclusion, a world of unity and not division, a world of solidarity and not of individualism, a world for our children, a world for humanity, a world filled with humanity. Together, we rise! 82 | MM

On Mali’s National Day, the PM of Mali, HE Choguel Maiga, and H.E Farzam Kamalabadi conducted a Mali Business Invest Forum in Dubai.

1. Left to right: H. E. Farzam Kamalabadi, Chairman of Future Trends Group, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Choguel Maiga. 2. Left to right: Dr. Tariq Ahmed Nizami, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Choguel Maiga, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi. 3. Left to right: Maria Hall, H.E. Farzam Kalalabadi, and Dembelé Madina Sissoko, Minister of Transport 4. H. E. Farzam Kamalabadi, Chairman of Future Trends Group

His Excellency Choguel Maiga, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, and His Excellency Farzam Kamalabad,Chairman of Future Trends Group, jointly hosted the Mali National Day Dinner & Reception Even in Dubai on February 24, 2022.

5. Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Choguel Maiga, accepting award from H.E. Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi and right Dr. Tariq Ahmed Nizami.

This high-profile, invitation only event was held in Dubai, with important locals and delegates from the Middle East and Africa in attendance. H.E. Dr Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, H. E. Farzam Kamalabadi, Chairman of Future Trends Group joined Prime Minister of the Republic of Mali, H.E. Choguel Maiga on the stage, along with Dr Tariq Ahmed Nizami.

The panel session included a speech by H. E. Mohamed Ould Mahmoud, Minister of Industry and Trade. Along with presentations of the government’s prioritised sectors within infrastructure and transportation, outlined in speeches held by H. E. Dembélé Masons Sissoko, Minister of Transport and H. E. Alhousseini Sanyo, Minister of Economy and Finance. Read more about Future Trends Group www.future-trends.u

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A journey of thousand miles from Colombo to Nairobi by Ignatious Joseph

Tea at the Corinthia Tea House in London

ea was first brought to Britain in the early 17th century by the East India Company. It was an expensive product and one only for the rich and often kept under lock and key. Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II and daughter of Portugal’s King John IV, introduced the ritual of drinking teas to the English Royal Court and the habit adopted by the aristocracy. In the early 19th century, the black tea demand was much higher in Britain, thus, the British government paid serious attention to its cultivation and industrial development in their colonies. Historians state that: “The rise of tea and sugar as a power duo was a boon for British government coffers. By the mid-1700s, tea imports accounted for one-tenth of overall tax income”. The same goes for sugar: According to one analysis … in the 1760s, the annual duties on sugar imports were “enough to pay to 84 | MM

maintain all ships in the navy … Those tea-and-sugar monies helped supply the British navy with better foodstuffs … and that navy was key to spreading British might across the globe. It’s this dominance of the British navy that allows Britain to become the major colonial power in the 19th century”. Thus, it is not a surprise that in the former colonies the British government sometimes abused its power to increase tea production. One example is the Kipsigis and Talai clans of Kericho county, Kenya that were brutally evicted by the British army between 1895 and 1963 to make way for lucrative tea plantations owned by white settlers. Starting with the crown land ordinance of 1902, 36,000 hectares (90,000 acres) of land in Kericho is alleged to have been taken from the Kipsigis and Talai, and given to white Europeans. The land is now occupied by various British and multinational tea corporations.

In a recent report, the UN has demanded that the British government must now provide responses and settle the matter with the victims, many of whom are still alive. The UN rapporteurs have told the British government that reparation should include “measures in the areas of restitution, compensation, rehabilitation”. In another former colony now known as Sri Lanka. Strange as it may seem, the story of Ceylon Tea begins with coffee. The tale begins in the early 1820s, barely five years after the surrender of Kandy, the last surviving indigenously-ruled state in Ceylon, to the British crown. By then, the rest of the island had already been a British colony for more than a generation. Its possession was considered vital to imperial interests in India and the Far East, but the cost of maintaining the military presence and infrastructure necessary to secure it was prohibitive. Attempts to raise revenue by taxation could not by themselves fill the gap; how to make the colony pay for itself and its garrison was a problem that had troubled successive governors. So in 1824, the first tea plant was brought from China by the British and planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya, Kandy. The English have left enough topics for the locals in both countries as in other of its former colonies, to discuss. Those stories and anecdotes would not disappear from the local taverns or the churchyards and there’s enough discussion on the local market and in the Parliaments too. The men would talk about the monsoon weather in their island or the drought in Kenya, the local crops, the lost cricket matches and the ladies about the falling prices for their traditional saris of Khanga. These local traditions continue, but a new change has appeared in most of the former British colonial countries. The arrival of the Internet & I-pods have changed the cultures in these countries and the old generations of citizens had to adapt to the new choices of lifestyles.

The plantation in the Meru area (Kenya)

I grew up at a time when tea barons had a word to say with the archbishops and the high Buddhist priests about the day’s events. I was born into a Catholic family in Kandy, watching cricket and drinking tea. Those times were sort of nostalgic, my siblings and I were privileged. There was the hard hand of an English teacher, trying to educate the pupils to a British way of life, which the locals would oppose. Yet I must admit it paid off. My youth was guided by the strict Jesuit priests and the college headmasters, with Shakespeare, Dickens, hot curry & cricket. A Kenyan friend, who lives in London and works as a lawyer would tell a sort of the same story. We would share some common issues and talk about our countries past and the present, The legacy that the British left. Kenya is not a test cricket nation, but the love for the game and the tea.. of course, we would argue, which tea is better and strong. Tea was first introduced to Kenya in 1900 and Kenya is ranked second after China in tea exports. Kenyan tea is also one of the top foreign exchange earners, alongside tourism, horticulture, and Kenyan coffee. Sri Lanka too is a big exporter of tea and I would order a Ceylon tea and he would order a Kenyan tea at Corinthia Tee house in London. To his dismay, the waitress would say, “Sir, we got Ceylon Brook Bond or Indian Assam, but not Kenyan”. He will of course swear and say the English are to be blamed. We would laugh and joke. Most of the Commonwealth countries, share the same traditions that the English left from Cricket to tea to good English suits which was also a point of discussion. We both, being men from former colonies and our upbringing, has made us stay with the British traditions!! We both would not agree on suits, but a good pot of tea will keep our good faith on the Crown!!

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Tangier

Morocco’s phoenix bird

by Charles Markeaton-Mundy

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rom 1923 until Morocco’s independence in 1956, Tangier was under international administration. No less than nine European powers held the reins of power. It was a golden age for smugglers, drug dealers and spies. The city was once talked about in the same breath as London, Paris and New York and during its glory years from the mid-1920s, it was an international zone, administered by a joint convention including France, Spain and Britain. It was the literary figures, most of them American, who propagated the myth of the city of Tangier in north-western Morocco as a den of permissiveness, danger and excitement. Paul Bowles came to the city sometime around 1950 on the recommendation of Gertrude Stein and fell in love with the easy Mediterranean life. He achieved worldwide fame with his Moroccan novel “The Sheltering Sky”, and stayed until his death in 1999. He arrived just in time to experience the wild years of the Tangier International Zone when it was El Dorado for millionaires, smugglers and secret agents, where every day extravagant parties took place in the villas of the high society. A cosmopolitan centre of decadence and creativity. It is not surprising that many other authors followed his footsteps, fled their prudish homelands and flocked to Tangier, where the cost of living was low and life easy and exciting. Most of them eventually left the city, but Paul Bowles remained, writing his existential stories and travel reports about growing weary of Western civilisation and the pointless search for something better. It was all these writers that made Tangier a literary fiction. Reality and fantasy were blended and a narrative was created where the Orient was made a sensual, exotic backdrop. They were barely interested in the lives of the locals. Tangier became a dream destination for pleasure-seeking Westerners in search of adventure, good weather and exotism and thus became a magnet for international socialites, artists, interior designers, MM | 87

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aristocrats and fortune seekers. Names such as Francis Bacon, Samuel Becket, Jean Genet, Tennessee Williams, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs, Truman Capote, Henri Matisse, Roland Barths, Charles de Sevigny, Yves Vidal, Barbara Hutton, Yves St Laurent, Pierre Berge were some of those fortunate to have lived the golden days of this extraordinary city, crossroad of cultures. In the 80s the city rapidly sank into cultural and political oblivion and the neglect continued until His Majesty King Mohammed VI acceded to the throne. His Majesty saw the economic potential of a city at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Tangier can be proud now of having not only Africa’s biggest port but North Africa’s biggest car factory and Africa’s first high-speed rail link to Casablanca and soon to Marrakesh. The King spends as much time as he can at his palace in Tangier and personally supervises the renovation and restoration of the city. Squares like the Grand Socco at the entrance to Medina are being redesigned and the parks of the city are planted with new greenery. On Tangier’s Corniche, hotels, swimming areas and large tourist complexes are being constructed. The city can now boast of new great 5-star hotels, charming restaurants with excellent cuisine, a new cultural vibe and the recovery of the former glory of most of its historical monuments. The old Medina is undergoing a full restoration under the auspices of UNESCO and a new wave of prominent foreigners have settled in Tangier in recent years. The paradox is that the more the Moroccans strive for modernity, the more the Europeans and Americans that settle in the city, search for tradition. Tangier sits at the crossroads of trade routes and civilizations – on African soil, but just a few miles from Europe’s southern shores. Throughout its history, this exceptional location has attracted merchants, bankers, artists, vacationers, and all manner of adventurers, becoming a cosmopolitan, multilingual place, highly tolerant of diversity. The story repeats itself and the north Moroccan city once talked about in the same breath as London, Paris and New York is back on the map as one of the most desirable destinations in the world. Tangier indeed is Morocco’s phoenix bird. MM | 89

THE MAGICAL ISL By Juan Antonio Nuñez

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he island of Príncipe, discovered by the Portuguese in 1471, was the largest producer of cocoa in the world, as well as the place chosen by the British astronomer Arthur Eddington to carry out his famous observations of the total solar eclipse of 29 May 1919, with which he and his team experimentally corroborated Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Today, part of this beautiful, sparsely populated and strategically located island is a Special Biosphere Reserve.

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Príncipe is part of São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, which is an African country made up of several islands located in the Gulf of Guinea, specifically northwest of the coast of Gabon, very close to the equatorial line and maritime proximity to the Exclusive Economic Zone of Equatorial Guinea. It is one of the microstates that exist in Africa, it is also a safe country with a population that is very attentive to the people who visit it. A few days ago, I met its president, with whom I exchanged impressions and found myself with a young person, intellectually well trained, educated, honest and eager to work to improve the conditions of the territory he governs. During the day we worked together, we saw a series of possibilities for developing the island, centred mainly on health, education and advanced research, accompanied by other activities of a more tourist and food nature, which could be very useful for Príncipe and for the whole country (i.e. Sao Tomé and Príncipe) and, of course, for the more than 400 million people who live nearby, where, unfortunately, health is not at the same level as in Europe.

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This type of initiative, such as the one mentioned in the previous paragraph, as well as in other parts of the continent, could be a good incentive for Africa to start to be a place of attention for the rest of the world and to initiate a technological take-off that is difficult to stop. I invite you from this article to get to know the island of Príncipe and I am sure that you will find a paradisiacal place, with great possibilities for various activities, both recreational and business as I have recognised, and where we will soon begin to develop an integral health project for the island, the whole country and the adjacent countries. Juan Antonio Nuñez is CEO of la Cuidad de la Salud y la Innovación

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The Contemporary African Art Scene Beautiful, Vibrant and Thrilling: Is African Art and Its Ever Rapidly Evolving Market By Victoria Aristrain

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The contemporary African art scene has boomed in the last five years proving its infinite potential. As the Head of Modern & Contemporary African Art at Sotheby’s Hannah O’Leary put it in a Sotheby’s talk this past October, in collaboration with Phaidon’s new publication African Artists from 1882 to Now;

showcasing African art within its borders, as well as collectors who are building important collections of contemporary African works like in the case of Jean Pigozzi, who has been collecting African art for over 30 years; it is only the beginning for the African art market.

“Africa represents one in five people on this planet and a much wider diaspora beyond that. That’s a huge amount of buying power, collecting power and artistic power. It’s the fastest growing continent on the planet, the youngest continent on the planet”. With a wealth creation that is growing rapidly, the continent represents twenty percent of the earth’s population and one to two percent of the art market — “The potential there is huge […] when we talk about buyer potential in Africa, there shouldn’t be any doubts”.

I recently had the pleasure to engage in a conversation with Joseph Darko, founder of the Noldor Residency in Accra and the Institute Museum of Ghana, in which he stated that there is a sense of collaboration between museums and artist residencies in order to support practitioners in a meaningful way. Joseph founded Ghana’s first independent artist residency as well as Ghana’s first contemporary art museum during the global pandemic; “the focus is to nurture emerging practitioners of the continent and the diaspora, in a place like Ghana where the arts and culture scene has received a lot of underinvestment and is deeply undercapitalized, it’s good to have a ‘glocal’ meaning ‘locally attuned to globally minded’ group of donors and supporters” he says, “it’s been great to create this artist commune and to nurture creative emerging contemporary artists from Ghana and from Africa”. Highlighting their debut museum exhibition artist Mimi Adu-Swerwaah (Ghana, b.1994) who will be the first female artist in the Institute Museum of Ghana’s history to debut a solo exhibition and artist Kwaku Owusu Achim (b. 1991) who will be part of the group exhibition titled Contemporary Painting at Brick Lane gallery in London this coming January 2022. Another compelling practitioner from the Noldor Residency is Kwabena Lartey (b. 1995) who explores the sense of loss and reduced identity in people of color. With a unique mixed medium, his work focuses on the connection between the identities of black bodies and the effects of injustice in Western Africa and the United States. “They are all distinct fellows who speak to the moment that Ghana is having” says Joseph Darko.

African art from the continent and its diaspora had long been neglected by the art historical debate. Despite the growing interest and production during the modernist era and independence movements, many publications had marginalized African art altogether, but history has now been challenged. For a long time there were no female artists or non-white artists in “The History of Art”, yet we have recently opened our eyes to the fact that there isn’t just one history of art, but many histories and many cultures in many distinct geographical areas. As South African artist Nicholas Hlobo (b. 1975) said for a CNN interview; “I think we have a wonderful opportunity because the world has started looking towards Africa, before everything was focused towards the Western World and now the curiosity has started shifting to countries that were before, perhaps regarded as inferior, they are [now] gaining acknowledgement”. A few years ago, the African art market was missing the infrastructure and public support it needed to bolster artists’ careers, but as a large amount of art schools, art fairs, museums and galleries have sprung up all over the African continent dedicated to supporting practitioners and

Gallery 1957 in Ghana, Addis fine art in Ethiopia, Dak’art (also known as the Dakar Biennale), Art X lagos founded in 2015 by Tokini Peterside, the Goodman gallery in South Africa, the MM | 95

Zeitz MOCAA opening in Cape Town in 2017, the Kampala Art Biennale established in Uganda in 2014, FNB Joburg, MACAAL Museum of African Contemporary Art in Marrakesh and countless others, exemplify that there is a possibility to change the way in which African art is exhibited. All these platforms set out to change the fact that there was little to no infrastructure that would showcase African art within the continent itself. Strong art schools in museums such as MACAAL or Museum of Black Civilizations in Dakar as well as established artists like Hassan Hajjaj (Morocco b. 1961) and Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana b. 1987) who have built a number of institutions to nurture young talent at home, show that despite the lack of gallery infrastructure and cultural policy, there is a compelling group of artists and professionals committed to the creation of a well thought out, stimulating and exciting cultural landscape across the continent. “The global discourse on visual art is incomplete without Africa’s perspectives, histories and stories”- Tokini Peterside. 1-54, the world’s leading Contemporary African Art Fair dedicated to African art from the continent and its diaspora, founded by Touria El Glaoui in London, New York, Paris and Marrakesh took place in London this past October hosting a record number of galleries from Africa. Twenty amongst a total of fourty-seven that participated in the art fair were galleries that came from the continent. In addition, partnering with Christie’s to power the online format, meant reaching a much wider audience and hub of collectors despite the global challenges presented by Covid-19. The unprecedented rate at which the African art market is evolving can be explained not only by the newly-opened museums and art exhibitions displaying contemporary African art all over the world, the interest that the secondary market has taken in African art as well as the drive from patrons and collectors, but also because we now see that many artists throughout history were inspired by African art. There is a heightened sense of awareness entering the global discussion on the importance and significance of African art as an original frame for a lot of 96 | MM

Kwaku Owusu Achim, Love Over Decisions, 2021

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existing art, with the examples of Picasso being deeply inspired by African masks, or artist Jean-Michel Basquiat who discovered elements of his new form of expressionism when he embarked on a trip to the Ivory Coast, this new and authentic sense of awareness, as Joseph Darko also explains, together with the institutional validation has been very important. When I set out to write this article I knew little to nothing about art of the African continent, yet the more I looked into it the more I fell in love with it. It is sophisticated, unique, beautiful and vibrant and it tells powerful stories. African artists have a history to share and a story to tell about what it means to be African, their identity and surroundings as well as how they engage with and respond to the rest of the world. Bringing up questions and conversations that are not only to be had within the gallery or museum space but that are worthy of having outward into society. Most interestingly is artist Ibrahim Mahama’s way of addressing the contradictions in the art market as well as the life cycle of the object that is the artwork. Non-Orientable Nkansa is and installation work that comprises hundreds of shoeshine boxes like those carried by the shoeshine boys in Ghana. The work which was done between 2014 and 2017 is an example of his discourse on the history of industrialization which he, in this case, brings into the object that is the shoeshine box by making them out of the wood and paint that was left in a decaying factory in Tema. On the other hand, Ibrahim Mahama sets the tone for the conversation of what a regular object such as the shoeshine box can become once it enters the gallery context and even more importantly points out what contemporary art is truly capable of doing in the twenty- first century. When the object is placed in an art gallery making that transition from a mere object to a work of art that has a certain value, therefore transcending into capital, the artist then poses the following question: What is the capital that it now becomes? The capital from his works circles back to Ghana in the form of new conditions and new cultural promises by building his artist-run project space Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art in Tamale (Northern Ghana), followed by the opening of the vast studio complex Red Clay also in Northern Ghana where as many as one hundred to two hundred children come in daily to learn about art while witnessing the birth of an institution and understanding the importance of building these spaces. Where the goal is to build a set of strong institutions that allows their people to have access to art at high levels, the artist also opened a third education space in 2021 in a renovated silo.

Kwabena Lartey, Dissociative Identity, 2021

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“African artists have always produced innovative work, but only recently has it truly been appreciated on the international stage” Rakeb Sile, Addis Fine Art. In the panel discussion that took place at Sotheby’s this past October also mentioned at the begging of this article, writer and curator Ekow Eshun asked Nigerian artist Sokari Douglas Camp (b.1958), what her take is on how things have changed in the past years in regards to the contemporary African art scene and whether if we were now “in a marked period in time” to which the artist replies; “in my working life I have seen an awful lot of change, we are a commercial asset now, we never were before […] there is just so much to be learned, it’s like discovering a new style of food, there is history and style and invention, [it is] our history that art historians and buyers have to recognize, have to be taught about, just because we are not new, but we are new to this market”.

Ibrahim Mahama, Non-Orientable Nkansa, 2014-2017

It is shocking to think that the African art market comprises 54 countries, 1.2 billion people, 10002000 languages and countless aesthetic traditions and backgrounds, without taking into account its much wider diaspora. But of course this has not stopped the art world from employing the allencompassing term “African art”. To the question posed by Ekow Eshun, “is this a useful term today?” artist Ibrahim Mahama replies; “African artists have a really interesting opportunity to be able to reinvent the meaning of art in itself, I see that in a lot of art that is being made now and also the attitude of artists particularly practicing on the continent these days”. He then adds that African countries have always been in crisis and that Africans have always understood so, it’s precisely that attitude which they constantly have embraced and applied through their use of materials and mediums why they are able to make work that is so unique and distinct. “It is important for us to look at individual geographical locations to look at motives and histories, but when it comes to the term African art, for me it’s interesting because there’s a certain heavy sense of responsibility to it and for artists to follow up on […] African art, it’s more like a solidarity and I think [our] future is collective, if we say Ghanaian art or Nigerian art, why not African art? because at the end of the day we bear the same problems, it’s a responsibility, it’s not as if when you go to Malawi they have a different problems […] as cultural practitioners we need to move a step further from just talking about a problem to doing what we can to somehow make new promises to it”. Ibrahim Mahama’s latest solo exhibition titled Lazarus was on view at White Cube Bermondsey in London, until this past 7th November 2021.

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Sandra Mundy´s S African inspired designer jewels

andra Mundy, Countess of Checkendon was born in Bilbao, her father was British and her mother Spanish. Her early years were spent in London. Her passion for shells and rocks come from her childhood summer holidays in Cantabria ( Spain). “Every summer I went for a three-month summer holiday... we used to go fishing on the rocks every day, always at low tide... there was everything there... even sea stars... and on the rocks there were barnacles... they became real treasures for me”, she recounts. Years later during her first trip to Costa Rica, in Montezuma (1995) she met a Mexican jeweller and was fascinated by his work. She started collecting some very special shells and ask her numerous friends world-wide to do the same for her every time they went to the beach. In Madrid she took her shell collection to a foundry and had them replicated in silver. She also started buying stones from all over the world and launched in 1997 her Barefoot Chic collection of unique and iconic necklaces and bracelets using her silver shells, ethnic stones, leather, beads etc. In 2020, she has launched the Maharaja Collection when she begun to bathe her shells from all parts of the mundi, in gold. Her new line of jewels are inspired by Africa. At the beginning of her twenties, she had three friends who travelled to Africa to bring medicines to the Nubas, they brought impressive photos of this tribe and that’s when her attraction for the African continent began. A few years elapsed but she was already making jewellery and they gave her the fabulous book Africa by Leni Riefenstahl. She claims that is when her passion with Africa really begun and she succumbed to its magic. Since those days Sandra is in love with Africa. She then had the opportunity to work with a Masai tribe, and made the prototypes, the contact was perfect. A dream had come true and this collection is born out of the utmost respect and love...!!!! IG @munding

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ELITE Global Leaders Conference July 14 -17, 2022 | Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.” — Winston Churchill

INVEST IN YOURSELF DON’T MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ULTIMATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE!

Best in Class Presenters Include: • Institutional Real Estate Managers

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Join us for an exclusive conference designed to bring together sophisticated like-minded thought leaders. The focus of the conference is to provide family offices, RIAs, professional athletes and other high net worth investors a unique blend of relevant ideas and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Education is the cornerstone of the ELITE Global Leaders Conference.

Sessions at the Conference Will Include: • Due Diligence & Risk Management

• Retirement Planning

• Succession/Legacy Planning

• Cross Border Opportunities

• Investing in Volatile Times

• Tax Strategies

• ESG / Impact Investments

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• Family Governance • Unique Income Strategies

There’s NO Conference like The ELITE Global Leaders Conference! Approved allocator conference registration includes 3 nights at Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill. Invited attendees include: Family Offices, Independent Registered Investment Advisors, Professional Athletes and HNWI (Buy Side Allocators Only) with a minimum of $100 Million of assets under management. Meetings are mandatory and require sign in for all sessions. Maximum 1 complimentary attendee from the same group

WWW.JABOYPRODUCTIONS.COM 310-341-3077 or I N F O @ J A BOYPRO DUC TI O N S.CO M

FADILA EL GADI Profile of an Icon

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t was in the medina of Rabat’s twin city, Salé, that Fadila El Gadi’s talent blossomed, and it was in Rabat that she launched herself into fashion, against all odds. The result of a classic course in fashion design for the most international of Moroccan designers, it was in Naples, the former capital of the Spanish-Italian kingdom of the Two Sicilies, that her talent shone in the eyes of the Italian intelligentsia. From there, she seduced Rome and, by a curious trajectory, saw her creations become highly soughtafter, both in the ancient imperial city of Marrakech and in Paris. It is in the Moroccan capital that Fadila’s inspirations from her travels converge today, the ultimate destination of the Silk Road, passing through Tokyo, the Cashmere Road that crosses New Delhi, the leather of Smara, the golden thread of Istanbul and the cotton of Cairo. In New York, London, Moscow and Washington, women of the world are dressed in Fadila’s timeless designs, combining the age-old Moroccan craftsmanship of embroidery with the finest materials from all over the world, brought together by the designer’s intuition and skill. Clothing is certainly not Fadila’s ultimate frontier, her talent and creativity also extend to leatherwork, jewellery, perfume and even the design of her boutiques. Concerned about the loss of an ancestral knowhow and a declining transmission, Fadila El Gadi decided to act for the preservation of Moroccan embroidery by setting up a structure dedicated to its safeguard. The Centre des Arts de Broderie de Salé CABS was created in September 2016 and welcomed

its first class of students from underprivileged backgrounds and school dropouts. In a curriculum organised around the themes of embroidery, sewing and drawing, these young people (girls and boys) aged between 12 and 18 also benefit from French, Arabic, mathematics and computer courses as well as workshops (theatre, painting, singing, personal development, etc.). A genuine human development project combining the dimensions of empowerment, learning a trade and preserving memory and intangible heritage, the Centre des Arts de la Broderie de Salé is a non-profit organisation and is financed by Fadila and also thanks to the generosity of her donors. Her father, a Sahrawi, her mother, a Slaoui, ten brothers and sisters, from a working middle class background, Fadila could have followed the path of social success through mass production, but she chose this delicate path, between art and craft, creation and handmade work, difficult and precarious, devoting her life to the concrete implementation of her inspiration born in her readings, museums, galleries, markets, craftsmen’s workshops and the fusion of her passions, while keeping a humble and accessible personality, that of an independent woman, guardian of ancestral traditions who owes her success only to herself. Fadila is an inspiration to Moroccan and African women and through her achievements, her creativity and her generosity she has become an icon.

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DE VELASCO Photographs by Mohamed Egella Shot in Tangier (Kingdom of Morocco)

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Moroccan Fashion at its best

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longside her spiritual godfather, the famous designer Adolfo De Velasco, Sana Redwani was introduced to the world of haute couture and found her vocation in fashion design. “My passion for fashion came very early, at a very young age, when I would accompany Adolfo to his workshops and he would teach me to draw sketches and make miniature patterns, she recounts with nostalgia. It was therefore quite natural that the designer ended up launching her own haute couture showroom in Marrakech, in partnership with her sister Wafaa. A skilful blend of the contemporary and the traditional, De Velasco Gallery skilfully draws on Oriental and Asian cultures to give life to clothes, jewellery and artistic objects. A hymn to evasion, travel and Moroccan tradition, between the past and the present, Sana prides herself on offering her customers refined, comfortable and original pieces with high quality finishes: “I try to combine the richness of our Moroccan heritage with modern, up-to-date fashion.” The talented designer draws a lot of her inspiration from traditional ancestral outfits from all regions, from the fabric to the embroidery to the jewellery. In the wardrobe: dresses, gandouras, revisited caftans. The real traditional touch is found in the embroidered belts, iconic accessories of timeless Moroccan outfits. The collections for men and women are punctuated with fluid and noble materials such as silk, muslin or duchess satin. Sana explains: “The signature of our brand is distinguished by the play of colour, the originality of the models and the choice of fabrics.” With harmonious cuts that discreetly reveal the body and a sunny palette, enhanced by beautiful embroidery, the pieces are chic and comfortable. Sana redoubles her creativity by mixing shapes and colours in a colour block fashion. Purple is combined with green, electric blue with fuchsia pink or apple green. De Velasco is distinguished by the play of colour, the originality of the models and the choice of fabrics. Everyone that visits Tangier or Marrakesh never misses the opportunity of visiting her magnificent ateliers. MM | 111

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Amr Diab (Egypt) / IG @amrdiab

Angelique Kidjo (Benin) / IG @angeliquekidjo

AFRICAN STARS

With millions of followers between them, these extraordinary and talented musicians are a reference to the young generations of Africans. Africa’s population is 70% under 30 years old, and the young are shaping the future of the continent. Some of these artists are already global stars and soon all of them will be. The editorial team of the magazine recommends its readers worldwide to discover the talent of these AFRICAN STARS.

Niyo Bosco (Rwanda) / IG @niyobosco_official

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Obert Dube (Zimbwabwe) / www.obertdube.com

Diamond Platinum (Tanzania) / IG @diamondplatnumz

Fally Ipupa (Congo) / IG @fallyipupa01

Burna Boy (Nigeria) / IG @burnaboyworld

Jose Chamaleone (Uganda) / IG @jchamaleon

Sauti Soul (Kenya) / IG @sautisol

Sho Madjozi (South Africa) / IG @shomadjozi

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Madagascar S

ince his swearing-in on 19 January 2019, the Malagasy President has been racing against time to fulfil his commitments to the people. It is through a precise vision clearly inscribed in the IEM that he is confidently steering the destiny of his country. Changing the history of Madagascar, transforming the economic structure step by step, greening the Big Island, industrializing each district, securing the population while improving the Doing Business indicators by region. Always with the aim of creating jobs and income-generating activities right down to the bottom of the island. These were his priorities during these first years. This approach, described as the “Emergence of proximity,” has been translated into concrete actions on the ground through the rapid rehabilitation of existing infrastructures, the modernisation of the administration through e-governance, and the multiplication of social infrastructures including 110 first sanitary infrastructures; 13 hospitals; 2424 schools. Among several projects, a solution initiated by the president, the project “titre vert” allows 133 young entrepreneurs have benefited from a loan of 39 million ariary approximately. The estimated creation of jobs in the Fihariana project is 166.752. At the beginning of the pandemic, who would have thought that Madagascar, a country classified as vulnerable by analysts in view of the high proportion of overcrowded housing, impoverishment, and promiscuity in urban areas, would fare so well? Indeed, the predictions for Madagascar in May 2020 were alarming: more than 500,000 coronavirusrelated deaths by the end of the pandemic. At present, Madagascar has only recorded 1,684 deaths with a mortality rate of 2%. This puts it among the best performing countries. At the height of the pandemic, the COVID-19 performance index, established by the Australian think tank Lowy Institute, ranked Madagascar in the top 12 African countries and among the 40 best countries in the world to have effectively managed the coronavirus epidemic. Thereafter, successive variants reached few Malagasy thanks to an unwavering determination and faith in the CVO and CVO+, which benefited from the personal involvement of the President. Although the second wave of COVID-19 in Madagascar put enormous pressure on the health system, the urgent need for a regular supply of oxygen was quickly met.

the new story

So, if at the beginning, some international press organs and a few sceptics laughed at him, today the virtue of this drug is scientifically recognised by the WHO. And by extension its strategic choices as well as the effective management of the pandemic by its administration. With this difficult phase now under control, the President of Madagascar is embarking on a real transformation of the country’s economic history. For which the top priority is energy. Indeed, the installed capacity is 729 MW. Madagascar has a potential of 7800 MW which could cover the needs of the country, according to the figures registered in the Initiative Emergence Madagascar. The transformation of the IEM into an official, cost, and bankable programme are complete. This plan, already underway for three years, is entering a phase of launching and deploying the President’s major flagship projects, the showcase project of which is the new city of Tanamasoandro, 30 km from the capital. It will be followed by the start of the Antananarivo-Toamasina highway before 2023. The extension of the port of Toamasina is being completed. Madagascar aims to create Special Economic Zones in each province and light industrial zones in each district. The PEM emphasises the extension of existing airports by transforming them into airport cities and could be extended into the development of tourist sites. Among the strategic projects is agriculture with a potential of 3 million hectares out of a cultivable area of 18 million hectares. While waiting for all these long- and mediumterm perspectives, Andry Rajoelina is working on the implementation of the social emergency plan PLUS by distributing foodstuffs, financial support, and basic equipment to all vulnerable groups without exception. As the necessary reforms are at an advanced stage, Madagascar is now ready to receive major investments. Madagascar is ready to set up its own sovereign wealth fund, welcome major international banks, secure its energy system, transform its potential into strategic resources, especially to exploit its oil deposits, to initiate win-win industrial partnerships in all fields. Its plan is ready for the take-off of its economic emergence. The new story is on track. The Plan Emergence Madagascar will change history with a declared will to fight against corruption and a goal of zero tolerance. Madagascar, the new story.

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Beautiful beaches

The baobabs of Madagascar

President Rajaoelina and his family

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Aqua Jewellers By Amit Shah

Aqua Jewelers showcases a range of statement pieces that gives a bold outlook to Indian traditional jewelry. A lot of extraordinary motifs into play: From majestic elephant motifs to fierce lions, a perfect collection of extraordinary pieces that are sure to attract a lot of attention! Mr. Amit Shah with a lot of effort crafted a range of designer brooches for the new age generation! Leveraging a lot of focus on animal motifs, he has designed a range of bold and graceful brooches. Seeking inspiration from the majesty and fierceness of these great animals, he has designed some stunning couture pieces! As jewellery has always been tied with tradition in India, it’s certainly interesting to see a fresh collection of men’s jewellery.

L'aura du lion A classic brooch inspired by the lion's aura is crafted with great detailing, eluding pure grace and ethnicity. Such pieces embody true Indian artistry. The fine detailing of the lion’s hair in an antique gold finish and the powerful aura of the lion is perfectly reflected by the speckled diamond blazes.

www.aquajewellers.in

aquajewellers

@aqua.jewellers

+91 98206 62751

Men's Collection by Artisan Jeweller from India