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OBAMA'S Legacy in Africa AFRICA DESIGN CENTER
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#UberWomen Love In honor of all the amazing women driver-partners in Kenya, we hosted a luncheon at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi, on Wednesday 14th September 2016 to show our appreciation for their amazing contribution to Uber and Nairobi. Our guests were Principal Secretary of Gender Affairs, Zeinab W. Hussein, United Nations Women Country Director, Zebib Kavuma, Journalist and Broadcaster, Radio & Print, Caroline Mutoko and Eva Muraya, CEO & Founder of BSD group to join in on the celebration! Our women-driver partners were treated to motivational talks on the importance of women in society and their contribution to the economy. We also got to hear some amazing personal stories from our women driver-partners. Uber is a blessing for Eunice, who is a mum because she gets to chose her working hours. Caroline enjoys the safety the platform offers while she is driving and Laetitiah, who owns her own NGO, shared her support of the platform because it’s provides a great side hustle “I can pick my own
hours”. On the Uber platform, drivers can drive whenever they can or whenever they want. Driver-partners can set their own schedules while maintaining a steady, independent source of income. Many women drivers in particular say the need for part-time or flexible scheduling is the major reason they drive with Uber. Women partners also like that all trips are GPS tracked and that drivers can provide feedback and rate each other after every trip. And that if something happens in a car, whether it’s a traffic accident or tech issue, Uber customer support staff are ready to respond to any issues 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Uber has enabled over 1,000 economic opportunities since launching in Kenya and recently completed its 1 millionth trip. “At Uber we believe in empowering women to become small business owners and we are well on track to enable hundreds more economic opportunities for women over the next year.” Nate Anderson, Uber General Manager, East Africa
Creating possibilities for riders, drivers, and cities
A big thank you to Radisson Blu for hosting us and for providing the perfect ambiance for appreciating our women driver- partners. An even bigger thank you to our amazing guests who showed their love for #UberWOMEN – we are thrilled that we got to share
this special moment with you. Special thanks to all the women driver-partners for everything you do. You are the everyday smiles and faces of Uber. Check out some cool photos of the luncheon, and do join us in spreading the #UberWOMEN love!
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EDITOR'S NOTE Dear TAP family, Following the huge success of the last issue and all the positive feedback we’ve received since then, it is with great honor that we bring you another issue of The African Perspective Magazine. Issue number 8 takes it a notch higher where rich and premium content is concerned and I’m sure that you will all be thrilled after reading. Within its pages, you’ll find informative pieces on entrepreneurship, education, lifestyle, fashion, politics and even a special feature on a cool project that some of the diaspora youths are working on.
Editor-in-Chief MOSES MUTABARUKA
On the cover is President Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan man who went on to become the 44th President of the most powerful nation in the world. We chose this cover story for two reasons. First- to pay homage to Obama for his extraordinary triumphs of becoming the first African-American president of the US and in the process inspiring millions of African youths with his message of hope. Second- as Obama's presidency narrows to a close and his legacy among Africans continues to be divided, we wanted to dig deeper and hopefully ask much more meaningful questions that we should be reflecting on. Questions like: What is it that made us think that Obama owed Africa and Africans anything when he was never the president of "Africa”? Are we still suffering from a messiah/savior complex?
VOL 1 | ISSUE 8 | NOVEMBER 2016
This issue also follows up on the travel series from previous issues and brings you an Accra night-life experience. For the business minded, we’ve also featured a long and detailed article on how you can get into the trillion dollar African agribusiness industry. Among many other premium articles, this issue also showcases how a group of young African diaspora youths are connecting with their roots with impact. It is rich from page one to the end, so make sure you peruse through it all. On behalf of the whole TAP team, I’d like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this issue in one way or the other. Special thanks go to JP Iwouha, Yvonne Nyawira, Brandon Wint, Thuli Mac, Fana Makonen, Eden Hogan, Gabriel Myers Hansen, Katlego Molaolwa, Siya Beyile and Dennis Ansah for Designing and illustrating this issue’s awesome cover. Last but not least, I want to thank all TAP enthusiasts once more for your constant love and support. More than ever before, we are committed to telling the African story to the world: Unbiased, Uncensored and from a Balanced perspective. Enjoy your 8th issue and PLEASE share with your friends and family! Moses Mutabaruka CEO, TAP Magazine mutabaruka@tapmagonline.com
“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter”. African Proverb
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COVER STORY 36
Enheed - Diaspora youths creating impact
Design: African Design Centre opens in Kigali P14
Entrepreneurship: How to Explore Africa’s Trillion-Dollar Agribusiness Opportunity P20
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DESIGN
African Design Centre opens in Kigali African Design Centre, which opened its doors in Kigali this past fall, aims to be a fellowship-based hub of creativity, innovation and education that will be integral in building the houses, schools and health care clinics needed to preserve the integrity of African cities as the population grows.
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TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
I
t almost goes without saying that Africa is an everchanging, ever-growing place. However, according to a 2013 report published by United Nations Development Programme in conjunction with UNESCO, Africa is due to see globally unprecedented population growth and urbanization in the next several decades. The same report cites that by the year 2030, more than half of Africa’s population will be urban residents. This, in combination with a population that is expected to grow to include as many as 1.2 billion people by 2050, means that current and future generations of African architects, designers and engineers will have to devise creative strategies to cope with the shifting needs that such a population boom will create. African Design Centre, which opened its doors in Kigali this past fall, aims to be a fellowship-based hub of creativity, innovation and education that will be integral in building the houses, schools and health care clinics needed to preserve the integrity of African cities as the population grows.
When one looks into the facts, the need for African Design Centre becomes even more obvious. For instance, Christian Benimana, the Rwandan-born architect who is leading the implementation of the ADC notes that, to date, the relatively tiny European nation of Italy has four times more licensed designers than the entirety of Africa. Facts like this illustrate the rather massive dearth of homegrown training and education that exists on the continent in the fields most relevant to the building of
'THE ADC WILL TRAIN AND EMPOWER THE LEADERS WHO WILL DESIGN A MORE EQUITABLE, JUST, AND SUSTAINABLE AFRICA'
infrastructure. The existence of African Design Centre hopes to tackle this: to mold the next generation of architects and designers whose perspectives and skills can bridge these pre-existing gaps. The Centre is being built under the stewardship of MASS Design Group, a leading, impact-driven, humancentred design firm with offices in the United States and connections to Rwanda. The approach outlined by the African Design Centre is multidimensional, but its primary aim is to create sustainable, project-based educational opportunities for young Africans with degrees in such fields as Urbanism, Landscape Architecture, Industrial Design, and Engineering, among others. Fellows and apprentices of Africa Design Centre will be trained in impact-driven, missionbased architectural approaches, through the design of much-needed houses, schools and hospitals. In every way, ADC’s approach to training and educating young creative Africans prioritizes the ability of architecture and design to participate in the health, well-being and overall
The Centre is being built under the stewardship of MASS Design Group, a leading, impact-driven, humancentred design firm with offices in the United States and connections to Rwanda.
NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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DESIGN
'By creating poignant, clear, localized and context-specific objectives for every one of its projects, African Design Centre hopes it will play a necessary part in helping Africa adapt swiftly and skillfully to the complexities of exponential population growth and urbanization. '
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dignity of communities. However, the thinkers behind ADC also realize that in order for architecture and design to have their maximum positive impact, students of the Centre will need to be trained to embrace the multi-disciplinary nature of the tasks at hand. Broadly speaking, this multi-pronged pedagogical approach might be referred to as Design-Build Education. This model will involve site and context analysis, construction, design and evaluation in order to give ADC Fellows a true sense of how many modes of study and examination must be brought together in order for any architectural project to truly and appropriately serve the public good. For instance, ADC Fellows will play an important role in the construction of schools in Musanze, Rwanda. Following from African Design Centre’s commitment to human-centred design approaches, special consideration will be given to making these schools child-friendly, safe, and ultimately, conducive to learning. Within the next decade, African
TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
Design Centre aims to positively transform the continent, as the encroaching demands of the population boom will require great investment in infrastructure and human capital; ADC will achieve maximum positive impact, it hopes, by offering to its students comprehensive training which emphasizes the virtues of hands-on experience, interdisciplinary education and research in techniques, materials and elements of craft that can lead to design innovations. In these ways, African Design Centre will change the landscape of architectural and design education, and in so doing, help to build a better future for the entire continent. In fact, each project the ADC and its Fellows carry out will have a clear mission: a simple, legible, transmissible idea that speaks to a greater societal goal. By creating poignant, clear, localized and contextspecific objectives for every one of its projects, African Design Centre hopes it will play a necessary part in helping Africa adapt swiftly and skillfully to the complexities of exponential population growth and urbanization.
35K AFRICAN DESIGNERS
153K ITALIAN DESIGNERS
The relatively tiny European nation of Italy has four times more licensed designers than the entirety of Africa. Facts like this illustrate the rather massive dearth of homegrown training and education that exists on the continent in the fields most relevant to the building of infrastructure. NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
How to Explore
Africa’s TrillionDollar Agribusiness
Opportunity
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TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
Africa's future billionaires will be farmers. According to the UN, Africa’s agribusiness industry will be worth $1 trillion by 2030! By all accounts, agribusiness will become the “new oil” on the continent.
W
hen most people think of agriculture in Africa, images of poor and overworked farmers with crude tools on a rural farm easily come to mind. Many people on the continent, especially young Africans, still think that agribusiness is a poor man’s occupation. It’s no surprise that nowadays everybody wants a white-collar office job in the city. Agribusiness is hardly on anyone’s mind. But did you know that since 2009, investors from the USA, Europe, Middle East and Asia have been buying and leasing millions of hectares of African land for agribusiness
purposes? Many people may not know it but there’s a trend of serious land grabbing by foreign interests for African land. Did you also know that Foreign Direct Investment in African agribusiness, which was $10 billion in 2010, is projected to reach $45 billion by 2020? That’s not all. According to the UN, Africa’s agribusiness industry will be worth $1 trillion by 2030! By all accounts, agribusiness will become the “new oil” on the continent. With a current population of just over one billion people, and projected to reach 2.2 billion by 2050, it’s hardly surprising to see why investors around the world are drawn to Africa’s untapped agribusiness potential, both as a major producer and consumer market.
NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP Sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly 50 percent of the world’s fertile, usable and uncultivated agricultural land. The size: over 200 million hectares. This is one of the biggest reasons the continent is widely considered to be the future breadbasket of the world. It is this abundance of unused land resources that gives Africa a strategic opportunity to feed the world. If you’re looking into the future, and have nursed a few thoughts about joining the agribusiness revolution on the African continent, this article will serve as a great introduction. I started my journey as an urban farmer in Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital and one of Africa’s largest cities. Without any formal guides, I followed my entrepreneurial instincts and started an agribusiness operation in the outskirts of the city. The content of this article is based on my hard experience and on-the-ground observations of the workings in the agribusiness industry, and I’m sure you will find it very useful.
What exactly should you produce? In my opinion, this should be the first and most important question on your mind before you get started with agribusiness on the continent. Do you want to grow crops or livestock? Do you want to produce heavilyconsumed local foods, or imported and niche products? This decision is very important because it largely determines your requirements for land, labour, equipment, seedlings, start up and working capital and several other requirements.
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TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to nearly 50 percent of the world’s fertile, usable and uncultivated agricultural land. The size: over 200 million hectares. This is one of the biggest reasons the continent is widely considered to be the future breadbasket of the world. It is this abundance of unused land resources that gives Africa a strategic opportunity to feed the world.
In my case, I opted to produce a heavily-consumed local crop – cassava. In my country, and in many parts of Africa, cassava and its derivatives are a staple, and a key source of edible starch in diets across the region. It didn’t take me long to figure out why we worked so hard on the business, but earned so little. A lot of people, especially in the rural areas, have been cultivating crops like cassava for generations. Many of them use crude farming techniques and I found their production cost base to be significantly lower than mine. Unless my farming operations were fully mechanised such that I could produce at scale and lower cost, there was no way I could outcompete the smallholder farmers. Being a seasonal crop, we all planted and harvested cassava around the same time; thereby suffering from market glut and very low prices. And that’s how I stumbled on an uncomfortable truth. You see, production isn’t really the problem with agribusiness in Africa. I have found that more than 50 percent of perishable agricultural produce never make it to the final consumer. Due to logistical challenges like bad road networks, poor preservation and storage, and a limited shelf life for most of these products, heaps of rotten tomatoes, cassava tubers, fruits and vegetables are common sights during the post-harvest period, and in many major markets on the continent.
Africa’s agribusiness opportunity isn’t really production. It’s value addition. If you can differentiate your products through adding some extra
value beyond the farm gate, that’s when you start to make progress in agribusiness on the continent. A key aspect of adding value is processing perishable produce into stable products that have a longer shelf life. I’ll give you an interesting example: Nigeria is Africa’s top producer of raw tomatoes, with an average annual production of 1.5 million tonnes. Ironically, the country is also the continent’s largest importer of tomato paste, spending up to $300 million on the product in 2013. While tomato farmers in Nigeria are faced with losses and poor sales due to logistical and perishability challenges, importers of tomato paste are the biggest winners. This interesting gap in the market has brought in players like Tomato Jos and Erisco who have started processing locally-grown tomatoes into paste in Nigeria. In fact, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, could not resist the lure of this lucrative market as he set up a $20 million tomato processing facility in Northern Nigeria to explore this interesting market. Do you see where this is going? Yes, I know it sounds counterintuitive, but you should be thinking of a different kind of production if you’re considering agribusiness in Africa. You should be thinking of interesting ways to add value to the existing agricultural produce that can be sourced from local farmers. The goal is to differentiate your product in ways that give you an advantage in a market that’s dominated by smallholder farmers. If you must go into basic agricultural production – of crops or
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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
BEWARE OF THE LEARNING CURVE:
THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR When you’re getting started with agribusiness in Africa, you need to ready yourself for a very steep learning curve. While the rewards can be attractive, agribusiness is by no means a get-rich-quick adventure. Here are 5 important things you should always look out for:
1. LAND
can throw you some curved balls in Africa. Access to land and ownership tussles on land matters are common place on the continent. You don’t want to spend your hard cash acquiring acres of farm property only to find yourself in the middle of a dispute. In my case, I opted for a short 3-year lease. That way, I could limit my financial risk while testing the waters. Of course, this strategy may backfire if you’re interested in producing perennial crops like oil palm or fruits that require significant land preparation and upfront investments.
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4. WORKING CAPITAL The fourth thing to look out for is working capital. You should
2. LABOUR
Another thing to look out for is labour. Finding the right people with the right levels of skill, experience, commitment and motivation is a big challenge. In my case, we hired and fired several times that I lost count. This experience is not typical for all agro entrepreneurs, but you should anticipate this challenge all the same.
3. MIDDLEMEN
Land, arguably the most important factor of production in agribusiness,
systems and contacts. As a result of this ‘market power’, these guys know how to drive a hard bargain. As you learn the ropes of your agribusiness, these middlemen are a necessary evil. Over time, you will develop your own contacts and distribution networks and depend less on them.
The third thing to look out for are the middlemen. Depending on your choice of product, you may have to deal with these people. They are very influential in the market and have access to extensive distribution
TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
never underestimate the amount of working capital you will need to sustain your agribusiness. A friend of mine has a fish farm and ran out of money to purchase feed for his fish stock which was going through a critical growth spurt. There were two reasons for this. First, he didn’t anticipate the sudden jump in market prices for fish feed. Second, he didn’t realise his fish stock would consume so much feed!
5. RULES The last point is to understand the rules. This especially applies if you’re planning to export products to foreign markets where the guidelines and standards for food products are very strict. I find that many agro entrepreneurs are unaware of the basic principles, technicalities and requirements of export trade. Make sure you understand the rules before you risk your investment.
When you’re getting started with agribusiness in Africa, you need to ready yourself for a very steep learning curve. While the rewards can be attractive, agribusiness is by no means a get-rich-quick adventure.
livestock – I strongly recommend that you focus on niche foods that may not be available locally, or target niche customers (like supermarket chains and export markets) that have high quality and service standards that limit the competition. But if you must focus on heavilyconsumed local foods like I did, you may have to invest in a mechanised production model that allows you to produce on a large scale at lower unit costs.
Are you ready for Africa’s new oil? Africa’s agribusiness landscape presents a two-fold opportunity. In addition to its large and growing domestic market, Africa has the scarce resources and potential to produce enough food for itself and the world. But this opportunity can only be unlocked by entrepreneurs who are keen to take on the challenge of this industry and find innovative ways to solve the continent’s agribusiness conundrum.
This window of opportunity will not be open forever. The time to act is now. JOHN-PAUL IWUOHA is an impact entrepreneur, business strategist, and founder of Smallstarter Africa. He works with entrepreneurs and investors to start up and grow businesses in Africa. He is also the co-author of '101 Ways To Make Money in Africa', the widely-acclaimed book which reveals several interesting business ideas, market opportunities, and inspiring entrepreneur success stories across Africa. For the latest updates on business and entrepreneurship across Africa, follow Smallstarter on Twitter @smallstarters.
NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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Africa is closer with MoneyGram
DIASPORA
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TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
ENHEED DIASPORA YOUTHS CREATING IMPACT
Enheed is an organization that bridges gaps between Ethiopia and generations of its diaspora youth living in Canada, and throughout the world. Enheed is the Amharic phrase for “let’s go”. NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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DIASPORA
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Background
Ethiopian Canadian
t one time in my life, the distance between Ethiopia and myself was not something only to be measured in kilometers. It was something I could measure in the form of the longing I felt from oceans away. To heal that longing, to cure the wound of that distance, was as simple as saying ‘Enheed, let’s go!’. My life has not been the same since.
I was born in Ethiopia and raised in Toronto, Canada. In many ways--more ways than I can easily describe--as a child I lived in this duality. I felt myself between homeland and homeland. One, in the language, flavours and sounds of Ethiopia, which I felt inside my parent's’ house every day, and another land, which was also a sort of home--outside of my parents’ house, where the world
TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
I, like many people of my generation, was (and am), a child of diaspora, a person forced to live between the sense of myself as an Ethiopian-as I undeniably was inside my home - and the sense of myself as a Canadian, as I was asked to be in every other space, particularly as a child
demanded that I be a Canadian and navigate its cold weather, its English language, and its expansiveness. I, like many people of my generation, was (and am), a child of diaspora, a person forced to live between the sense of myself as an Ethiopian-as I undeniably was inside my home - and the sense of myself as a Canadian, as I was asked to be in every other space, particularly as a child. As I got a little older, I was able to begin assessing the dynamics of the city in which I lived. I could see it with a more acute, mature eye. In some ways, its gaps widened for me; I understood that I was even further away from a real sense of Ethiopia, and a sense of myself than I ever realized as a child. I recognized that despite the fact that my family and I belonged to a meaningful
community of Ethiopian-Canadians, there were nuances and dynamics that kept me from seeing the full and diverse ways Ethiopians lived and thought, even within Canada. It was alarming to understand, for instance, that growing up, I did not ever come to know any Muslim Ethiopians, despite the fact that almost half of the people in Ethiopia are Muslims. This fact, this somewhat limited exposure I had to Ethiopians as a child, proved to me, as a young adult, that we are often products of what we can see or the experiences that are close enough for us to touch. As I grew, I wanted to expand my vision and test the limits of my reach in the world. Years later, the same impulse took me to South America. I lived and worked in Bolivia, a country of rich history, profound landscapes
NOVEMBER 2016 | TAP MAGAZINE
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DIASPORA
I want young EthiopianCanadians to learn, as I learned, that it is often not enough to inherit stories from our elders about our ancestral homelands; we benefit so greatly from visiting these places, living in them, breathing the air of these profound lands.
and equally profound people. The experience of living there and immersing myself in its cultures and communities changed the trajectory of my life. Also, below the surface, it filled me with longing and a strange but precise sense of guilt. I had to ask myself: why is it that I’m able to revel in the beauty of Bolivia, rejoice in the warmth and compassion of its people, and even learn one of its languages, but I have never re-visited my own culture, my own language, my own ancestral homeland of Ethiopia? ‘Enheed. Let’s go!’ Enheed As soon as my time in Bolivia
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ended, I devoted myself to resolving the guilt and mysterious sadness that had hit me in the pit of my stomach. I needed to find a way to get home to Ethiopia and reconnect with my roots. At first, I began to look for organizations I could volunteer with that would take me to Ethiopia. I found that there were none particularly aimed at engaging youth like myself. The pull and the intrinsic drive to get to Ethiopia was still strong. I signed up to volunteer with an organization that was local to Ethiopia. I bought a one-way ticket and embarked on a journey that would take me home, mostly alone, without much of a safety net to hold me. I lived and worked in Ethiopia for four months. In that time, I was able to see much of the country. Of course, I was struck by the natural beauty of the land itself, but it was the historical sites, the ancient landmarks of my people and culture that moved me emotionally and gave me an enduring, personal relationship to the land, its people, their struggles and their histories. I felt a joy and an immense pride that I knew would alter
TAP MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016
the course of my life forever, and which I knew I had to share with others if I could. In these moments, I decided I would devote my time and energy to creating a way, a portal, a vessel that would connect other people of my generation to the remarkable feeling of calm and belonging that overtakes the body when the tug of history calls your name, and you respond. From the indescribable spirit of moments like these, the idea for Enheed was born. ‘Enheed... Let’s go!’ The direct and profound meaning held within this word, this phrase is the catalyst for our desire to create a safe space for Ethiopian-Canadians to reconnect with their heritage. Beyond that, we want Enheed to be an experience that allows young Ethiopians in the diaspora to express their ideas and strengthen the common bonds that bring Ethiopian communities together. We work to promote the consciousness and positive values that lay at the core of Ethiopian life and culture. We want Enheed
to educate through experience. We ask participants to work with local NGOs and immerse themselves in the local communities of everyday people who give the country its life, spirit, and character. In this way, young Ethiopian-Canadians can gain a visceral sense of their relationship to Ethiopia; they can feel the place for themselves and develop emotional bonds built from that experience. For its participants, Enheed is not a vacation. It is a month-long experience where youth come together to learn and contribute. Ultimately, my vision for Enheed is that it creates for its young participants an introduction to Ethiopia that is meaningful, eye opening and indelible. I understand that for many of the people who join our program, it is their first time being in Ethiopia without the comfort and security of their parents. In that way, too, I want Enheed to be a catalyst for them. It should create a spark in them that says: ‘I can come back here on my own terms and stay longer than a month’. Furthermore, there is room in Ethiopia for my skills, education and
Ultimately, my vision for Enheed is that it creates for its young participants an introduction to Ethiopia that is meaningful, eye opening and indelible. I understand that for many of the people who join our program, it is their first time being in Ethiopia without the comfort and security of their parents. contributions, even if these skills are coming from as far away as Canada. I want our program to be a bridgebuilder that lets these young people know that there is a place for them in Ethiopia, irrespective of where they were born or raised. I want young Ethiopian-Canadians to learn, as I learned, that it is often not enough to inherit stories from our
elders about our ancestral homelands; we benefit so greatly from visiting these places, living in them, breathing the air of these profound lands. We can create our own ties to our ancestors and find a sense of how we might contribute to the growth and beauty of a country whose legacies we already carry in our blood.
Partners Enheed is proud to have partners like Ethiopian Airlines, Cuso International, and African Unity 6th Region Canada working with us. We look to partner with organizations that are heavily engaged in helping to resolve issues for people in the African diaspora. Anyone who is interested in partnering with Enheed can contact info@enheed.org.
BY FANA MEKONEN FANA Is the founder of Enheed, an organiza-
tion that bridges gaps between Ethiopia and generations of its diaspora youth living in Canada, and throughout the world. Enheed is the Amharic phrase for “let’s go”. For Fana, Enheed is not just an organization, but also a reminder that it is possible, and often necessary, to take action in pursuit of one’s dreams.
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Exploring
OBAMA'S Legacy in Africa
B
Background arack Hussein Obama, the native of Honolulu, Hawaii rose from relative political obscurity in 2008 to become the first black president of the United States of America. In the months leading to the elections, Obama used his easy charm, Harvard pedigree, and importantly, the embodiment of a unique Blackness, to become the political darling of a country and a world reeling from the aftermath of eight years of violence and folly under the presidency of George W. Bush.
In 2008 and the months preceding it, Obama’s presidential campaign built momentum through a rhetoric of hope and “Yes We Can” verve. Whether it was spoken or unspoken, those who found themselves persuaded by the ebullient wave of Obama’s broad political hopefulness understood that this hope was inextricably tied to his body, which is to say, his combination of relative youth, intellect and Blackness. This combination was nearly unprecedented in the history of United States politics. Those who, in those early days, saw hope and the possibility of change (or even, for some, revolution) in Obama’s Harvard earned confidence, charisma and
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COVER STORY
"Artwork by Dennis Owusu Ansah for The African Perspective Magazine Issue 8"
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More meaningful questions that Africans should be asking themselves also loom large as Obama's presidency narrows to a close. Questions like: What is it that made us think that Obama owed Africa and Africans anything when he was never the president of “Africa”? Are we still suffering from a messiah/ or savior complex syndrome? As well, shouldn’t the level of demand and expectations we placed on Obama be better directed toward the many leaders we've chosen to put in power and in charge of looking after our affairs and protecting our interests?
trustworthiness, saw it in part because of this personification --a noteworthy marker of difference in the context of the aggressively, brutally White history of American Political power. This uniqueness was seen, therefore, as an opportunity to create a necessary interruption and grasp a form of justice many thought was impossible within their lifetimes. At home in the United States, African-Americans wondered whether Obama’s Blackness would, for its
symbolic and tangible political power, bring forth a new era of justice and compassion for them considering how their rights and freedoms had been ruthlessly trampled with for centuries. Meanwhile, those in Africa, as well as those Africans living throughout the world in diaspora, honed in on Obama’s ascent for slightly different reasons; it was not just Obama’s darkness of skin and pedigree; he was also the son of a Kenyan man, an “African” (Obama has since described
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COVER STORY
On the other side of the spectrum, many Africans argue that Obama’s message of Hope in particular to young people on the continent is his ultimate and lasting legacy on Africa. 40
himself as “the first Kenyan-American” president of the United States). All this made the prospect (and eventual reality) of Obama’s presidency such a tantalizing idea. However, an additional question lingered in their minds: would Obama’s Africanness, his memory of, and proximity to, the life of his Kenyan father, change the way the United States of America would interact with African nations during his administration? Now, eight years removed from Obama’s first inauguration, cusping on the official end of his presidency, Obama still enjoys a cult hero status among Africans globally but
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opinions on his legacy on Africa are severely divided. Hence, we are intrigued to look at the ways Obama’s foreign policy has particularly impacted Africa. Did Obama’s brand of hope and the energy it inspired among his millions of supporters do the hard work of traversing the many kilometres between Obama’s seat in the Oval Office and the many Africans who stood to benefit from his power and privilege? This is the question we wish to explore.
Points on Obama’s Foreign Policy in Africa Besides authorizing the killing of Gadhafi by the US and their NATO
allies, which left the whole of North Africa in turmoil and created multiple other security issues on the continent, Obama didn’t really get going where Africa is concerned until after his first term in office. It wasn’t until June 2012 that the administration issued the “U.S strategy towards SubSaharan Africa,” a document with a clear vision and framework on how the U.S would engage with Africa. With most of Obama’s key signature policies on Africa still in their infantry, some argue that the jury is still out on the full impact of Obama’s legacy in Africa. Others have even argued that he might have a big impact on the continent post-presidency than he could while in office. Nonetheless, in the quest to explore Obama’s legacy on the continent, it is imperative to reiterate that he came into office facing a unique set of barriers. Particularly, in his first term in office as president of the United States, his political and ideological opponents asserted that Obama's Blackness, and in particular, his Africanness, somehow made Obama not American enough to occupy the country's most significant political office. While the so-called “birther” movement—which demanded that Obama present his birth certificate as a way of legitimizing his status as an American-- was ultimately a petty, racially-motivated tactic, it also had a meaningful impact on Obama's relationship to Africa during his first term. The fact that his political opponents (and their allies in American news media) sought to undermine his status as an American, and stigmatize his Kenyan lineage, meant that Obama was hesitant to
Now, eight years removed from Obama’s first inauguration, cusping on the official end of his presidency, Obama still enjoys a cult hero status among Africans globally but opinions on his legacy on Africa are severely divided.
align himself with African nations in his policy and trade decisions. In the early months of Obama's presidency, he also had to contend with the on-going Afghan and Iraq wars, as well as the emerging reality of a hard hitting American economic recession. On the heels of the frustrations of George W. Bush's political tenure, the United States of America was facing nearly unprecedented levels of unemployment, as well as the widespread economic instability, which prompted the controversial bailout of American banks in 2008. With all of this domestic turmoil to contend with in the early days of his first term, it is sensible to see why Obama was both cautious and late when it came to foreign policy initiatives where Africa was concerned. Nevertheless, during his second term, Obama's administration was responsible for introducing the USAfrica Leaders’ Summit in August of 2014. Three key initiatives emerged out of the summit: Power Africa, which aims to improve Africa's electric grid; Trade Africa, which focuses on
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COVER STORY economic development in East Africa (and select other countries on the continent), and Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which provides young Africans with internships at companies and public institutions. The US-Africa Leaders’ summit was unique particularly in the sense that it involved the president of the United States meeting with state representatives from nearly every African nation. One of the major highlights of the summit was that the White House announced $33 billion in commitments aimed at increasing US ties with Africa. However, due to the fact that some of the commitments came from such companies as CocaCola, General Electric, Marriot and IBM, it could be said that one of the primary legacies of this Summit was in marking a shift away from government-led US-Africa relations, toward more private sector-led relationships. This is something that Obama should be commended for since many believe that this is the way forward. Experts have argued against “Aid” to developing nations saying aid undermines the development of local state capacities. Gainsaying the above progressive policies, Obama’s administration has been lamented especially when it comes to United States combatant Command and its expansion. During Obama’s administration, USAFRICOM, which is responsible to the US Secretary of Defense, has grown extensively (today has relationships with 53 African nations2016). During Obama's presidency, there has also been a remarkable increase in Drone operations and covert military actions on the continent. Programs to militarily train
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and equip Africans now exist in at least 49 countries, including Djibouti, Ethiopia, Niger, and Somalia. As well, there are currently more than 30 warships from 20 countries that are engaged in maneuvers along the western African coast. Considering the role the U.S has played in amplifying the military activity in Africa during Obama's second term, it is clear that promoting economic growth, free markets and democratic governance has not been a higher priority of the United States in its relationship to Africa. Interestingly, while looking at President George W. Bush tenure, some contend that he was more successful in establishing positive foreign policy with Africa than Barack Obama’s presidency has been. For example, Bush was responsible for increasing foreign aid to Africa by more than 600%. Bush was also celebrated for creating the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation; initiatives that have helped curb the AIDS epidemic and save millions of lives on the continent. President Bush also increased developmental funding for other sectors such as education in the process helping a lot of countries in providing access to primary school education. As a result of budgetary pressures imposed by the recession, Obama was forced to cut funding for PEPFAR and The Millennium Challenge. As Barack Obama era in the White House comes to a close; with some perspective, we can now look at the spectrum of his successes and failures as it relates to his legacy on the continent of Africa. All in all,
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some argue that Obama's record of foreign policy in Africa contrasted with the nearly unbridled optimism, excitement and hope that many felt when he emerged as a presidential candidate in 2008, on the surface; it seems that while in office, Obama has failed to fully capitalize on the hope and potential so many people saw in him eight years ago. On the other side of the spectrum, many Africans argue that Obama has done his job, that his message of Hope in particular to young people on the continent is his ultimate and lasting legacy on Africa. Now, as Obama fades into a much less visible phase of public life, it is only through time that his legacy will be truly clear. In concluding, other, potentially more meaningful questions that Africans should be asking themselves also loom large as Obama's presidency narrows to a close. Questions like: What is it that made us think that Obama owed Africa and Africans anything when he was never the president of “Africa”? Are we still suffering from a messiah/ or savior complex syndrome? As well, shouldn’t the level of demand and expectations we placed on Obama be better directed toward the many leaders we've chosen to put in power and in charge of looking after our affairs and protecting our interests? These leaders, undoubtedly, are more directly responsible to the African people than Obama is. Perhaps they owe us more than Obama ever did. Perhaps, too, if we direct our energies, desires and careful criticisms in their direction, it will seem less reasonable and, ultimately, less necessary to cast our hopes toward charismatic political figures from abroad.
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FOOD
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Food &
Race and how the two intersect
What does food and race have to do with each other? Apparently, a lot! According to BlackFoodie.co, food experience is never neutral and one’s culture plays a big role in this.
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to pursue a business in the food world instead. I am now the founder of Black Foodie, a platform that celebrates food from a Black perspective in a variety of ways. Regardless of where I am, two things I can’t live without are hot sauce and my passport!
Please introduce yourself to the TAP audience My name is Eden Hagos, I grew up in a small city in Canada to East African parents. I have an educational background in sociology but decided
What is BlackFoodie? How did you end up in the food industry and how does your business make money? Black Foodie is an online platform that explores food through a Black lens, celebrating the best of African, Caribbean and Southern cuisine. We create & curate unique content, experiences and products that celebrate
hat does food and race have to do with each other? Apparently, a lot! According to BlackFoodie.co, food experience is never neutral and one’s culture plays a big role in this. We've reached out to Eden Hogan, founder of BlackFoodie.co to find out more
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FOOD food & life from a Black perspective. I’ve always been interested in food and, of course, I love to eat! My family opened one of the first Ethiopian restaurants in Windsor Ontario and my grandparents previously owned a cafe and spice market back in Asmara,
The way people experience food is never neutral. For example, think of the negative stereotypes about black people that influence the way we are served when we go out to eat. Assumptions that: black diners are difficult, that they don’t tip, that they’re disruptive and ultimately unworthy of good service; the list goes on.
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so I grew up surrounded by people who were incredibly talented and passionate about food. However, it was a negative experience that I had while dining out in Toronto for my birthday that really got me thinking about food and race more critically. I ended up leaving the restaurant that night, embarrassed, upset and feeling threatened. From there forth, I started deliberating on ways in which Black people experience the food world differently and this forced me to really reflect on my own dining choices. I realized that on the night of my birthday, the thought of celebrating at an African or Caribbean
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restaurant hadn’t even crossed my mind. From then on, I became more intentional about my dining choices and sought to explore the food world from a uniquely Black lens. I also wanted to connect other folks like me and provide Black Foodies from around the world with a great resource. After several months of traveling and experimenting, Black Foodie was born. The way Black Foodie makes money is through our events, products and consulting. In our first year we focused on building and cultivating a community. Now that we have established a name and a voice in this area we are looking to expand our products and services and move towards brand partnerships with larger companies. Speak to us about Race and food and how the two connect/ intersect? Food can do so many things; it nourishes us and brings us together. It can reveal so much about our history, our people and identity. That said; the way people experience food is never neutral. And as a Black woman who writes about food, I know this to be especially true. For example, think of the negative stereotypes about black people that influence the way we are served when we go out to eat. Assumptions that: black diners are difficult, that they don’t tip, that they’re disruptive and ultimately unworthy of good service; the list goes on. These perceptions, which are inherently racist, impact the way we experience food. But beyond what we experience on an interpersonal level, racism infiltrates the ways in which food is discussed throughout the media. It influences who’s deemed as industry experts and
creating films, products and businesses that serviced our community.
what foods are “acceptable”. By creating Black Foodie, I’ve had the opportunity to find out about many positive things happening in this space that popular media ignores- from discovering an amazing Caribbean food festival in Montreal to interviewing a group of innovative African chefs with a supper club in London, UK who created a cookbook to document their journey - there are countless resilient people influencing the food world. Tell us more about Injera + Chill... Injera and Chill was a pop up event series that Black Foodie hosted in Toronto, Atlanta, and London, UK that celebrated East African food in a contemporary and fun way. It was designed to create conversation within the diaspora. I noticed that people who weren’t from the community were leading many of the conversations about East African food. But I was interested in knowing what the conversation was amongst us: Almost every young East African in the room
Imagine if the Food network actually featured food/travel shows with Black leads talking about African, Caribbean and southern cuisine? Wouldn’t that be amazing? We certainly think so and that’s why were creating it for ourselves! could relate to the inside jokes we shared about growing up and leaving the home smelling like Ethiopian spices, which are amazing, but do have a strong smell. There were also people who weren’t East African but had their own interesting stories about Ethiopian food. The event series grew and we expanded it to not only celebrate East African food but also other entrepreneurs and creatives who were
What is your long-term vision for BlackFoodie? Where do you see the business in 5 years? The long-term vision for Black Foodie is to empower Black food lovers around the world and connect this community over exciting content, events and products that educate, entertain and inspire. In 5 years I hope to see foods from the African diaspora at the forefront of the culinary world. My plan is to expand the platform to be the premiere resource for Black food culture: a channel that empowers the people creating these amazing foods. In the foreseeable future, Black Foodie will host the leading festival/ event to celebrate Black chefs and food from the diaspora, offer culinary tourism trips, publish a series of cookbooks and produce several onscreen and web series content that show our food from our own perspective. The future is truly exciting. What is the state of African cuisine in general? There is so much diversity in our foods, so it’s difficult to answer this question. I’ve definitely seen a wave of chefs, bloggers, food entrepreneurs and restaurateurs who are putting their own spin on things when it comes to African food. They are presenting it in new ways, discovering their culinary heritage and celebrating African foods every step of the way. I think that this is a growing industry, people are hungry for more and this movement towards African foods will continue to grow. We have so much flavour, we’ve got super foods, and we’ve got it all. Who are some of the African
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FOOD
Injera and Chill was a pop up event series that Black Foodie hosted in Toronto, Atlanta, and London, UK that celebrated East African food in a contemporary and fun way. culinary heads that we should check out? There are several amazing African chefs and food entrepreneurs in the diaspora who are creating amazing foods. In the US, Nigerian food creative, Tunde Wey weaves food into important conversations on Blackness through his traveling Supper club From Lagos. Essie, a Ghanaian American is also bringing in West African flavours to the masses with her unique spice company EssieSpice. In the UK, three young African creatives have came together to create a unique and eclectic African dining experience called the Groundnut. The pair later created a beautiful cookbook named after their supper club that tells their story and shares essential African inspired recipes. In Canada, Somali Chef Bashir is bringing African food to the forefront with his Nomadic dinner series. Through Black Foodie I’ve interacted with each of these change makers and had the privilege of trying their products or experiencing their events. All of which were amazing
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and I encourage everyone to check them out! What sort of feedback have you received thus far? I’ve received quite positive feedback, when people in the diaspora see their foods celebrated and pictured in a beautiful way they love it. When we post about our collaborative event Jollof Wars or Injera and Chill- best believe, Africans and African food lovers react! People from the diaspora all over the world want to take part. I think that this is mainly because our voices and foods have been ignored from mainstream for so long that when Black Foodie began to connect our community to new chefs, restaurants, ingredients and stories from the diaspora people got excited! And it was about time. What inspires you to keep going and what should we expect next from BlackFoodie? The desire to see our voices and flavors represented is what keeps me going. I grew up on amazing African food and I have a passion to tell the stories of the resilient culinary ambassadors across our diaspora. What’s next for Black Foodie is taking our stories into video content and producing high quality content that engages our audience.
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"The desire to see our voices and flavors represented is what keeps me going" Imagine if the Food network actually featured food/travel shows with Black leads talking about African, Caribbean and southern cuisine? Wouldn’t that be amazing? We certainly think so and that’s why were creating it for ourselves! How can our readers reach you? TAP readers can find us online. Follow us at blackfoodie.co on Instagram and head over to our site blackfoodie.co to subscribe to our newsletter. We’d love to hear from you!
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HEALTH HAIR
How to grow AND CARE FOR YOUR NATURAL HAIR
"It makes me really happy to know that there are so many sistas who are getting inspired by the natural hair movement and are looking to embrace themselves and love who they really are." 52
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I
BY THULI MAC AND TOOANDALEE
t makes me really happy to know that there are so many sistas who are getting inspired by the natural hair movement and are looking to embrace themselves and love who they really are. As you’ve probably seen on the internets, naturalistas refer to it as a natural hair journey because it is indeed a journey. For many of us, we grew up with chemically altered relaxed hair and essentially had no idea of any other way of wearing African hair. We aspired and yearned to have the straightest, silkiest of hair types. As we grow older, we start to realize the pain (literally) it takes for us to achieve this straight hair. We start to realize that there must be something wrong, it must not be naturally who we are. Well, this is what happened to me. At around 17yrs old, I started to question my identity, my individuality and what my hair said about that. My natural hair journey began. Recently, I started to dedicate a good part of my life to inspiring and teaching others how to care for and grow their natural hair. This piece is aimed at assisting those who are seeking to begin their journeys as well as those who have already begun but may need a reminder of the true basics. We hope this will be a good starting point. Without further ado, let’s get into the beginner’s guide to taking care of, maintaining, and growing natural hair:
Big Chop/Transition If you’re not already natural, there are two options for starting your journey. The first and easiest is yep, you guessed it! BIG CHOP! Chop all the relaxed hair off. This is also the bravest of the two options. This will leave you with a cute short hair style which naturalistas refer to as a TWA (Teeny-Weeny-Afro). The second option is to transition. This is a lengthier process where you basically stop relaxing and wait a couple of months to get natural hair growth beneath the relaxed hair. Once you get to the natural hair’s desired length, you then chop off only the relaxed hair. You’re probably thinking, but how do I walk around with two different hair textures? Well, what’s going to happen is that you’ll have to add braids, twists and the like to your hair. As you’ve already guessed, transitioning allows you to not deal with the shortest hair length after you chop. In the end, you’ll have more hair to work with and style. All a personal preference really. Courtesy: WOCinTech
Keeping an Open Mind Okay so now that you’re natural. What I need you to know is that you’ve got to keep an open mind. You need to explore, learn, correct. This will be the phase of trial and error. Regard it as a new relationship with your mane. Just as you would a relationship with someone, find out its likes and dislikes. From what it likes to drink…eat…whether it
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HAIR appreciates being touched or not and how often!!
Hair Products Using the right hair products is very important in maintaining healthy hair. Even so, I still want to emphasize that brands and products should not be seen as the Holy Grail of natural hair but merely tools that assist you in achieving what you want. Natural
hair is just as happy with natural food products such as organic virgin coconut oil, just as well as it can be with branded hair products – the right ones at that. Naturalistas often become what we call product junkies. Essentially, every time another naturalista makes mention of any random hair product that is working sooo well for their hair, they jump on it without hesitation and
Before you pick up the brush, you will want to detangle the hair with your fingers as much as possible, and then resort to the brush as a finish.
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hardly any research, ending up with buckets and buckets of hair product at home, and unhappy hair. I advise against this. Natural hair is very stress free but the movement has also come with hectic consumerism that can bring on quite a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Just like Hair Type & Hair Porosity (check next paragraph), I urge that when trying new hair products, you stick
As you’ve probably seen on the internets, naturalistas refer to it as a natural hair journey because it is indeed a journey. For many of us, we grew up with chemically altered relaxed hair and essentially had no idea of any other way of wearing African hair.
with one brand’s collection for at least 4 weeks, that way you’ll be able to tell whether a product actually works or not. This will also aid you in hopefully pinpointing an ingredient your hair may not vibe with.
Hair Type & Hair Porosity Hair Type describes the manner and pattern in which your hair strands grow. This goes from silky straight (1, 2A, 2B) to the moist kinky coily pattern (4C). Although a good thing to know, it’s not nearly as important as Hair Porosity in terms of how it will help you to care for your hair and maintain your styles. Hair Porosity (low, medium, high) refers to your hair’s ability and readiness to absorb moisture and retain it. Natural hair needs a lot of moisture. It is very important to know your hair’s porosity as this allows you to choose which natural hair products are best suited for it. You’ll be surprised to know that some oils and creams will absorb into and work well for a low rather than high porosity, and that for some, the frequency of moisturizing will be different to others. We will delve deeper into porosity in the next issue, helping you find out which category your hair belongs. For now, visit this site for more info on hair type http://www.naturalhairrules.com/hairtyping-for-beginnings/
Moisture As just mentioned, moisture is very important for natural African hair. If it’s not properly moisturized, it will result in brittle hair that is prone to breakage, which means no growth. I know everyone is after that growth, length and volume! Leave-in conditioners, deep conditioners, and
protein treatments are all important steps to consider which we will get into more detail later.
Bye-Bye Comb, Hello Finger Detangling Our hair loves moisture and so if it’s touched and styled when dry, it needs to be done with caution otherwise it leads to breakage. This is especially true for the Type 4 category hair. In between washes, you need to avoid combing and detangling, in fact it needs to be left alone altogether! Ditch all your combs, invest in a Denman brush and a very wide tooth comb which you will only use when your hair is wet or damp. As well, covering the brush with conditioner makes it slip, allowing you to easily and gently detangle the strands. That said, before you pick up the brush, you will want to detangle the hair with your fingers as much as possible, and then resort to the brush as a finish.
Styling & Protective Styling While short, it’s going to be easy to style, until you reach that awkward length when hair is neither long, nor short. Consider a tapered cut, it allows you to still have short hair but gives you edge. A tapered cut also grows out beautifully giving the hair a long lasting dope heart shape. When you’ve passed the awkward stage, you can start introducing styling tools such as perm-rods, flexi-rod outs, curl-formers and the like.
Seek Inspiration Last but not least for this 101 edition, I advise you find a natural hair blogger/vlogger to follow (e.g. @ tooandalee) for inspiration, styling ideas, and tips. This keeps you in the
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HAIR HEALTH
SEEK INSPIRATION
Last but not least for this 101 edition, I advise you find a natural hair blogger/vlogger to follow (e.g. @ tooandalee) for inspiration, styling ideas, and tips.
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loop, informed, and inspired. Also keep an eye out for our top 10 natural hair vloggers/bloggers in one of the upcoming issues. There you have it good people. Do not be afraid, the natural hair journey may initially have its ups and downs but you’ve got to remember to make it fun, it’s all worth it and will consist 95% of ups in the end. One thing I can promise you is that if you’re
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not already natural, you are going to notice an immediate difference in the appearance of your hair. And even if you are a naturalista, if you make corrections based on the above, your hair is going to be at its healthiest, most vibrant state. You are going to see it smile. Catch you in the next issue! Thuli Mac TooAndALee
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TRAVEL
Accra's
Night Life
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So, where do you go to properly encounter Accra’s famous nightlife? Everywhere; the city knows not sleep, and every street leads to happiness. Remember these two suburbs: Osu and Tema –these really command Accra’s nightlife. Accra is Africa’s favourite city, and it’s not for nothing. Welcome!
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Images by Swag of Africa
ccra’s night air, around Osu, Airport, Labadi, Jamestown, is not only refreshing to breathe in, but can actually be tasted. Coloured daily by a golden sun and twinkling stars, bubbly art, ubiquitous music, and a well-known culture of superior hospitality, the city (especially at night) is a natural destination for many pleasures. Founded in 1898, Accra (Ghana’s capital), like Mumbai, or Nairobi, or New York, or Durban, is very much a palimpsest too, rebuilt by many histories: migration, war, colonialism, and constant modernization. The African model it has become since independence, the city holds on just as firmly to a quaint architecture as it embraces new buildings which rise to meet the sky.
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TRAVEL So, where do you go to properly encounter Accra’s famous nightlife? Everywhere; the city knows not sleep, and every street leads to happiness. Remember these two suburbs: Osu and Tema –these really command Accra’s nightlife. There’s trotro (public buses) for every destination; there are okadas (motorcycles), and taxis (drivers of these vehicles particularly, regularly undergo training on receiving tourists under the auspices of the sector ministry). Accra’s beaches are numerous, because the Atlantic Ocean covers the entire length of the city. The La Pleasure Beach, fifteen minutes from key monuments as the National Museum and Osu Castle, hosts outdoor events every other night: you literally walk out of the sea into a party. During the day, it's quiet and peaceful, so you can read, take a stroll, observe the art showcases, or just lay back and take in the dazzling blue of the noon sky (the night sky is just as breathtaking, mind you). Or, you could visit Tawala (also in Labadi), Kokrobite, or Bojo (both located on the south coast). There's +233 Jazz Bar & Grill (Ring Road Central), which plays live
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Accra’s beaches are numerous, because the Atlantic Ocean covers the entire length of the city. The La Pleasure Beach, fifteen minutes from key monuments as the National Museum and Osu Castle, hosts outdoor events every other night: you literally walk out of the sea into a party. band music six times a week, aside delicious hotdogs, kebabs, chicken, and pork chops. Perfect for both an adult crowd and a low budget. There's the AM & PM Sports Bar, located in the plush Villagio Apartments (North Airport) -- café by day, sports bar at night. Quite the upscale joint, their All Star Burger, and signature cocktails have been responsible for many indelible experiences. There's the Champs Bar (Ringway CI), which, like Epo’s, Republic, Khona (all in Osu), and the Django
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Bar (founded by top Ghanaian rap icon Reggie Rockstone), suits the younger crowd. GHC 40 (roughly $15) covers all you could possibly drink throughout the open-bar Saturday nights. While this is the highlight, there's something happening every night, from Karaoke sessions to 90s dress up parties. At the same time, do well to pass by our famous blue kiosks (local bars) located virtually off every street, which serve native brews and gins; Pitoo, Akpeteshie, Brukutu, and palm wine. Like everywhere else, but especially for Accra, music is integral to the night. Ghana is pioneer of key sounds to emerge from the continent (most prominently highlife, and the Afrobeats sub-genre Azonto). That is where the many, many nightclubs come in: Kristal (Osu), Twist (Labone), Onyx, Django (Cantonments), Bedouin Lounge (East Lagon), Monte Carlo (Tema), Belaroma (Tema), Plot 7 (Labone)… This is where the new street sounds
Like everywhere else, but especially for Accra, music is integral to the night. Ghana is pioneer of key sounds to emerge from the continent (most prominently highlife, and the Afrobeats subgenre Azonto). Accra night clubs is where the new street sounds are experimented.
are experimented, and the dance floors come to life, and beers and Whiskeys touch the spirits. Alliance Française (Casley- Hayford Rd), and Brazil House ( Jamestown) witness weekly poetry slams, intimate jam sessions, gestation platforms for emerging acts, and discourse on art. The Osu Oxford Street (3 kilometres east of the central business district) is perhaps the most prominent of all of Accra’s roads, therefore a must-visit. Its repute is ultimately due to how well it typifies the wider picture of the city- a melting point for endless diversity. Stretching from the Dankwah Circle (named after one of our founding heroes) to the Osu Presby Church, it is alive with everything: bright lights, food joints and bars, casinos, indigenous clothing and artefacts, the Oxford Street Mall, and happy people. A lot else happens on the streets of Accra, like the annual Chale
Wote Street Arts Festival; perhaps the biggest assembly point for art, music, dance and performance on the continent. There's Check-Check (fast food joints serving mainly fried rice and chicken, or noodles), chop bars (local restaurants where you can sample indigenous cuisine like Banku, Fufu, and Kenkey), and hawkers who know your specific needs just by looking at you. Otherwise, you could visit any of the several malls springing up: Accra, Marina, West Hills, Osu, ANC, Junction Mall, which meet your every need from shopping, to food, to entertainment. Accra’s hospitality is top-notch, and it is witnessed just as much in lodging spaces. There's decent accommodation for low earner to high class. You should check out the Holiday Inn, situated in the very heart of Airport City. It gives you panoramic views of the Kotoka International Airport and surrounding areas. It is fitted with a large pool, a cocktail bar, two restaurants, a business centre, many freebies including breakfast and shuttle service. Closeby is the striking Ibis Styles Hotel, also high-end but worth every cedi. It stands out in both architecture and colour. Other sought after hotels in the capital include Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra City Hotel (both on the Independence Avenue), Fiesta Royal Hotel (Dzorwulu), Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel (Gamel Abdul Nasser Rd.), Golden Tulip ((Liberation Rd), Urbano Hotel (Osu) and Alisa Hotel (North Ridge). Accra is Africa’s favourite city, and it’s not for nothing. Welcome! GABRIEL MYERS Hansen is an entertainment writer from Ghana. He’s editor for enewsgh. com and contributor for musicinafrica.com. Follow him @myershansen on Twitter.
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FASHION
LOOK 1
THE SHIRT, TIE AND SHOES REPLACEMENT
Decided to keep things simple by avoiding the customary shirt and tie combination in favour of a neutral v-neck tee and swapped the smart shoes for a pair of trainers. When a large windowpane motif is set against the backdrop of a plain tee, the suit takes on a reassuringly minimal look.
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How to wear one suit
5 ways
Buying a suit is the most important sartorial purchase any modern man can make but it’s also one of the most costly, which is why it’s important you know how to get as much mileage out of it as possible. With that in mind, take a look at how I style one suit in five different modern ways. Whether worn to the office or for a night out in the city, these versatile and somewhat traditional styles will ensure you always look confident, stylish and get the best wear from your suit. Writes Katlego Molaolwa.
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Photographer credits: Neo Baepi
LOOK 2
NO PANE, NO GAIN
Flexing my sartorial muscles in a window pane suit teamed with a check shirt and a polka dot tie for a contrast ensemble. A check suit has the ability to turbo-charge your formal wardrobe this spring, if it fits right, if it’s well made, then wearing it is like being armoured with confidence.
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LOOK 3
MIX AND MATCH COMBO This combination is perfect for those who like to get the very most out of their clothing. This will not only breath new life into your existing suit collection, but is perfect for creating a wealth of smart-casual or formal looks for a variety of occasions.
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Teaming suit trousers with less formal pieces for a dressed-down yet refined aesthetic always works. This sleek and sophisticated style can be complemented with a suede crew neck top and monk straps that come in 1970’s inspired shade of brown.
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LOOK 5
OUT WITH THE BLAZER, IN WITH THE DENIM Switching your blazer for a denim jacket screams “effortlessly cool,” and is a smart choice for men who want to bring an edge to their formal wear.
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