Column: The journey so far Pages 30 & 31 - The self-taught inventor making waves in

In the early 1980s, the southern part of Uganda was hit by a ‘strange’ phenomenon. Being at the border of Uganda and Tanzania, it was believed that a group of Ugandans had ‘misbehaved’ having crossed to the Tanzanian side. A ‘jjini’ (bad omen, supernatural powers) was sent to the Ugandans and their respective communities in retaliation. Months later, hundreds of people were dying under unclear circumstances. However, the deceased presented similar symptoms; rapid weight loss shortly before their death. Hence, the locals named this new disease ‘silimu’, a phrase coined from the English word ‘Slim’ due to the small appearance of the patients. Crossing over to the western part of the world, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had on 5th June 1981 officially reported the first five cases of what later became known as ‘Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, (AIDS)’ among some gay men. This report heralded the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Coincidentally, it was the same scourge that had hit the southern part of Uganda. Nonetheless, even after the government intervention, the locals continuously associated this ‘strange’ illness with witchcraft or even bad luck on the side of the victims. Consequently, many families started abandoning their own relatives and migrated to other neighbourhoods once one of them started showing signs or symptoms of ‘silimu’. This was done to avoid transferring the bad luck to the rest of the family members. This was the origin of stigma and discrimination against People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Uganda. Nearly 40 years later, the stigma still exits. It is both internal and external. External stigma manifests in the negative attitude and belief towards people living with HIV, labelling them as socially unacceptable, making judgments upon those who get infected because of their perceived ‘wrong’ life choices, making moral judgments about those trying to prevent HIV transmission, to mention but a few. Internal stigma is characterised by loss of hope, selfcondemnation and suicidal thoughts especially among those patients who have just been tested positive. Discrimination involves treating people living with HIV differently than those without HIV, the behaviours that result from those attitudes or beliefs like distancing oneself from people living with HIV, health care providers refusing to treat them, not having casual contacts with them and referring to them as HIV Positives or HIVers, to mention but a few. My twin sister and I were born with HIV to a HIV Positive mother who had apparently contracted the virus through blood transfusion. As a young woman born and living with HIV, I have had my fair share of stigma and discrimination. The more people found out about my status, the more they stigmatised and discriminated against me. About 3 years ago, a job opportunity came up and I attempted take it on. However, a friend of mine who was already working in the organisation immediately disclosed my status to the team leader. The team leader suggested that I don’t take on the job since some of his employees had seen me on TV before from where I had disclosed my status and that they were going to make my life uncomfortable. Consequently, I painfully abandoned the opportunity despite my dire need for a job then! As teenagers, a neighbour once told her sons to stop being around my twin sister and I because she suspected us to be HIV positive. When the boys asked their mother how she got to know about our status, she simply stated that she had always seen my twin sister and I travelling to town on some specific days of the month and that it was obvious to her that we were heading to the hospital to pick our ARVs! Also, whenever I would have misunderstandings with friends they would use it as an opportunity to use demeaning remarks like ‘…after all you’re HIV positive, what can you do?’ Some of my boyfriends also considered me the ‘desperate one’ and hence they hardly valued my inputs in some of the relationships. Over time, I have developed a thick skin and I have been able to overcome the stigma and discrimination due to my HIV status. Some of the People Living with HIV are yet to undergo this transformation as well. As we continue to do what we do, we should note that the attitudes and behaviours that discriminate and stigmatise people living with HIV is extremely dangerous. I believe we can continue talking about HIV openly especially in rural areas to help normalise the subject and help correct misconceptions about it. This will also help people learn more about the dangers of HIV stigma and discrimination. As a parent, I plan on teaching my son how to treat and live around people living with HIV. I know for sure that one day he will come across interviews of me sharing my story and I would like to prepare him on how to deal and respond to what people will say. Despite all the stigma and discrimination, I have lived a very normal life. I have studied, graduated and now have a healthy HIV negative son thanks to the effective prevention interventions like Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) and Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), among others. In this journey, I have learned to respect and treat people the way I would want to be treated.

Eva Nakato is a Ugandan based writer and she wants to read from you so write her through info@thevoicenewsmagazine.com

His Excellency, Dr. Dr. h.c. Raphael Nagel: “Distinguished Philanthropist and Investor”

Dr. Raphael Manuel Nagel is a renowned Investor, a Lobbyist, Philanthropist and Senior Advisor to Royal Families. He has been doing business in Dubai since 2001, where he heads a private equity firm. In 2020, he founded the Abrahamic Business Circle, an inclusive business group that includes members from all religious organizations and creeds from around the world.

His philanthropist mission has always lead his way in business, as he believes everyone deserves an opportunity to be educated in order to have a better world. Dr. Nagel has been awarded as “Distinguished Philanthropist 2021” from the Embassy of Senegal, “Outstanding Contribution to Economic Diplomacy in the Middle East” from the Global European University, and “Excellence in Civil Society by the Grenada Ambassador among others. Amongst other relevant activities his engaged with includes being an active member of the Scientific Committee of the Chair in Security at the Andorra’s Universitat Europea. Additionally, he is the co-founder of a Spanish investment bank specialized on cross-border transactions and debt restructuring. The Abrahamic Business Circle, was inspired by the Abrahamic Family House, a beacon of mutual understanding, harmonious coexistence and peace among people of faith and goodwill. The Circle is a business organization composed of high-profile level individuals from around the world sharing the same vision and dreams in fostering economic diplomacy through business and trade throughout the world. Most recently he was recognized again by the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan, the newest and still growing country in Africa. The award was presented to him by Ambassador Deng Deng Nhial- Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to the UAE. In his response, Dr. Raphael Nagel thank the embassy for honoring the work he has continuously does to improvement the life of majority of the people globally. “My sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It is indeed a great privilege for me to receive this humble Award “2021 Excellence in Philanthropy” presented by the country’s Ambassador on behalf of the government of South Sudan. Thank you for believing in me, it motivates me more in helping the youth with their education. He also gave a Special thanks to PhD Studies Accredited Degree Experts program for granting full Academic Scholarships to deserving students from this country. Positions he has held includes the Chairman of the board of the Abrahamic Business circle based in Dubai where he is spearheading the further cooperation through tolerance and business relationships by exemplifying tolerance, prosperity, and peace, the Abrahamic Accords inspired the creation of the Abrahamic Business Circle. The Circle, like the UAE and Israel, realizes the importance of tolerance and prosperity as indispensable prerequisites for achieving a lasting peace. The Circle is determined to expand on these

values by incorporating high profile individuals from all over the world. He is also a Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the SJM group, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Juma Al Maktoum. HH Sheikh Juma bin Maktoum Al Maktoum is an accomplished businessman from the UAE with extensive interests in the Real Estate, Construction, Pharmaceutical, Natural Resources, Maritime and other related sectors to name a few. Dr. Nagel is the Global Union’s Ambassador for GUs Global Women & Youth Assn. Equal & Peace Affairs in the United Arab Emirates. He is General Manager at Tactical Management responsible for Foreign Direct Investment. Tactical Management is an independent, award winning private equity firm based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Their investments derive from close relationships on the ground with local understanding and global insights in discreet acquisition, bespoke restructuring and dynamic wealth creation as major outcomes of their investments. Finally he is also an Advisor and Industry Leader for California Metropolitan University In united States of America where he also holds a doctorate from the same university. He holds doctorate degree in Engineering and Management of the Natural Environment from Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Spain; another doctorate in Business Administration from California Metropolitan University and doctorate of philosophy (PHD) from Paris College of International Education (PCIED), France He is a member of Rotary International, a life member of Capital Club Dubai and a member of the Jewish Agency for Israel among many other international bodies he is involved Mr. Mitch Lowe, an advisory board member of Abrahamic Business circle has this to say about Dr. Nagel: “Dr. Nagel is a smart, thoughtful, and charismatic leader who embodies a man who cares about friends and family before himself. I have been the beneficiary of his advice and incite that i will always value”. Rena Krakowski-Riger write this about His Excellency, Dr. Magel on her Linkedin page - H.E. Dr. Nagel has created a business entity which is based on the premise of peace through prosperity. As chairman of The Abrahamic Business Circle he is nurturing global businesses which will thrive.

The self-taught inventor making waves in Sierra Leone

Emmanuel Alie Mansaray recently became a social media sensation in the West African country of Sierra Leone. This is after his invention of a solar-powered engine car was spotted on the streets of Freetown. His innovative solar car hit the headlines not only in his home country, but also internationally, leaving many people amazed by his outstanding creativity. So, who exactly is this

Emmanuel proudly display his work

young man and what is the force behind his passion for inventions?

Emmanuel Alie Mansaray, a 24 year old Sierra Leonean turned his vision to reality by making a solarpowered car made from trash and scraps that left many in awe. What you may not know is that this is not his first invention. He began his eco-friendly inventions from a very young age. He describes himself as a selftaught engineer, a creative thinker and a renewable energy expert. His inventions are focused on offering solutions to curb the growing rate of pollution in Sierra Leone. It has been rated as the 17th most vulnerable country in the world, when it comes to air pollution. According to him, there is a high risk of contracting incommunicable and respiratory diseases like lung cancer and asthma among others. These are health complications that are often derived from inhaling hazardous fumes emitted by vehicles using fossil fuel.

Born different

“At the age of twelve was when I realized I had a special gift, a talent, and that I was born different. Growing up I was more interested in what was hidden in the trash than anything else. I would collect durable items that had been disposed like milk tins, bottles and used batteries. With these I would try building things like cars, contrary to what many children my age did. I tried matching my mates’ talents like singing, dancing and many others but I was very terrible at them. I guess no one person can possess a variety of talents, you can only be really good at one thing,” he said with a giggle. Indeed he is different; he sees trash as treasure since that is where his raw materials come from, and every need is an opportunity for him to offer a solution through critical thinking. “In the community where I reside in, it is very difficult for people to access information. Growing up I realized that we were always lagging behind in knowing what was happening across the country. Even the common radio was hard to come by around here, leave alone a television, and so these people knew very little of what was going on elsewhere. This was the genesis of my creativity as I yearned to come up with my own radio transmitter,” he recalls.

Without attending any training whatsoever, and at that tender age, Emmanuel embarked on a mission to come up with his own radio station. “We had a lot of trash littered around, so I would collect what I felt would be useful to me like used batteries and cables. I would bring them home, wash the washables then store them well. Through trial and error I was able to come up with a complete circuit and eventually I had my very own radio station,” he told me. He became the talk of the village after his successful innovation. To his surprise and joy, his radio station was used to sensitize the people in his community about the spread of the Ebola disease which was ravaging Sierra Leone by then. This was a mission accomplished for him.

Fuel Free Generator

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention. For him lack of electricity and seeing how students, him included, suffered was saddening and prompted him to act. It was especially worse when they had to work on assignments or study at home after school. “I tried to offer a solution after a comprehensive research. I was in high school at the time, and had come up with a couple of concepts from the little physics knowledge I had. Electricity is one of the greatest problems in Sierra Leone, especially in the rural villages. Lack of access to electricity in households has also contributed to teenage pregnancies and early marriages. This is because some girls get lured easily by boys whose households have electricity, a luxury that many wish to enjoy,” he disappointedly admits. Believe it or

not, Emmanuel managed to invent a fuel-free generator. According to him, the generator is meant to be of economic benefit and a blessing to inhabitants in rural and remote communities where poverty is rampant and largely felt.

“This generator does not produce smoke or noise. Its main power source is a button and not a crank, because it does not use fuel. With an internal cooling system when powered on, it constantly and efficiently supplies Alternating Current (A/C) as can be desired for days, weeks or even months. The in-built generator is made up of a mixture of waste electrical components, including two rectified diodes, two transformers, two transmitters, two circuit boards, two earths and two switches. It has a life span of six years if the precaution is adhered to by the user,” he asserted, confirmation that indeed he is a renewable energy expert. At the moment, he is in the process of upgrading it. he would struggle with it to the very end. “You may have talent and the ability to solve problems, but there is no support. There is an absence of raw materials needed to realize my dreams, no equipped facility for inventors like me and often, I have lacked moral and financial support,” he laments.

He is in a tertiary institution now as a third year student though surprisingly, isn’t pursuing a course related to engineering where his passion lies. “I am currently studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology at the University of Sierra Leone. However, my wish is to get a scholarship and study a course that will enhance my talent in invention and innovation. I have received fake promises which often hurt and disappoint me because no tangible help has ever come my way since I began to hit the headlines. You will be shocked to learn that I have fee arrears of almost two years. It’s a really tough journey. I wish I could get international recognition or maybe donations to help me come up with a workshop and source for better materials,” he says. Indeed this is very disheartening.

Solar Tricycle

For Emmanuel, every problem has a solution, a concept that he has taken to heart by offering one to each problem he comes across. If only political leaders would emulate him! “I quickly noticed the hustle that the disabled people were going through whenever I visited the town, being discriminated especially when it came to boarding the public vehicles. Some of these people come from really far and seeing the frustrations written all over their faces, I desired to help. This pushed me to research even further so as to come up with a solution,” he says. The result of his research was a single-seater solar tricycle. Emmanuel hails from a poor family background and is in dire need of financial support for his projects. He says his dream is to make his contribution in developing Sierra Leone, as well as achieve a successful career in his field of passion. His aim is to address the seventh goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which advocates for affordable and clean energy for all. His message to the youth of Africa is that they should know they are the future of today, and not tomorrow, and it is their mandate to contribute towards the development of the continent. In a world where climate change has become a global crisis, young people like Emmanuel are truly a blessing and one of a kind.

The solar tricycle covers about 50 kilometers per hour. This, he points out, can be of immense importance and benefit to persons with disabilities, considering their challenge of movement and the acute shortage of transportation in Sierra Leone. This solar tricycle does not require peddling, it moves just by the press of a button. He is however disappointed that some people spread negative information and make a mockery of his creativity instead of encouraging and empowering his dreams.

Challenges Experienced

All these series of inventions, including his latest, the solar power car, have not been a walk in the park. It took a lot of resilience and hard work since none was realized within a year. It would take two to three years of nothing but hard work and perseverance. There isn’t a single project that he started and abandoned midway, once he commences Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which is a platform spearheaded by young African journalists who are keen on telling the African story from the youth’s point of view by creating socially conscious content through blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

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Story by Cynthia Omondi

Pictures courtesy of Emmanuel Alie Mansaray

How you tell a story can build or destroy the world. Eunice Mwaura, coordinator of Vice Versa Global talks about the power of a positive narrative, three months after the establishment of this platform. Through it, great untold stories have been brought to the fore. Positive remarkable stories that have invoked social change.

Amonth ago I visited Rusinga Island, one of the many fishermen islands that lie east of the largest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria. I can vividly recall the beauty over the horizon of the lake when the sun goes down. A deeply lighted expanse that would be easily mistaken for city lights. Yet, it’s just another fishing night for the fishermen who use lanterns to attract fish to their nets. The vast majority of the community here still prefers fishing as their main economic activity. However, with a growing population and overfishing, it is no longer as viable nor sustainable as before. From the bay, you would be forgiven for thinking that’s it’s just another fisherman island. Be that as it may, when you drive deeper into the island, what captures your eye is the green banana farms spread all over. This is in a community that has believed, for years, that agriculture cannot thrive there and fishing is the only economic activity they can engage in. Over the years over reliance on fishing has sparked a series of social upheavals. The one that most identify the island with is Jaboya (The term refers to a phenomenon where female fish traders have no choice but to extend sexual favours to fishermen so that they can secure their supply of fish). Women have borne the brunt of this practice for they lack the resources. None of them is a boat owner, nor has the expertise to venture into the lake from dusk to dawn for fish. Therefore, they have to rely on the fishermen. This narrative is what has been prominently and sensationally published in the mainstream media about the island. Such negative spotlight has deprived the power of a positive narrative by a society striving to diversify their economy against perceived odds. With women being the greatest beneficiaries, such diversification would consequently scale down, if not completely eradicated, the vice that is Jaboya. Suchlike negatively angled narratives only give us one story. A Journalistic Platform by the Youth It has been three months since the inception of Vice Versa Global, a journalistic platform spearheaded by young African journalists so as to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change. We hope we shall play an instrumental role in influencing behaviour, changing mind-sets and spurring action. Our mantra, journalism for social change, has been at the core in our endeavour to bring you the best stories as well as invoke social change. We believe in the power of a positive narrative, best told from a youthful lens. A story like that of the young innovator from Sierra Leone,

Emmanuel Alie Mansray by Cynthia Omondi. Emmanuel has immensely contributed to bridging gaps within his home country by coming up with inclusive and climate friendly inventions. His solar powered car and other ecofriendly inventions have garnered him admiration from scores of people around the globe. Unfortunately he couldn’t pursue a career of his passion, in engineering, due to a lack of school fees. Thanks to a feature on Vice Versa Global, a reader came forward and funded his education. Now he can better address the seventh SDG of the UN which advocates for affordable

and clean energy for all. We have more young local journalists working for Vice Versa Global, bringing you inspiring stories. To mention but a few; Our Ugandan correspondent, Eva Nakato. Aside from being a columnist, she also runs an inspirational blog called Up Close with Eva Nakato on Vice Versa Global. On this platform she provides an in-depth interaction with the leading game changers. They range from

business and community leaders, to peer influencers and all top shots around the globe. In one of the episodes she features a beauty queen, Miss World Africa Quinn Abenakyo. She sensitizes women and girls from less privileged areas on matters sexual and reproductive health. Be sure to check it out and to also subscribe and watch the other amazing stories she has done. Truly inspiring. Nicera Wanjiru is our informal communities’ correspondent. Currently, she resides and works in one of the largest informal settlements in the world. Hence, she not only understands, but also represents and vocalizes on scalable initiatives by people within her community committed to realize sustainable change. She strongly advocates and writes about a need for climate action in informal settlements, end to gender based violence, innovation and technology, to mention but a few. Apart from writing stories and coordinating Vice Versa Global, I have my own YouTube channel, Youth Canvas, an affiliate of Vice Versa Global. Through video documentation on this channel, I feature scalable initiatives by the youth, to influence fellow youth to take on the wheel of leadership. Like Rahmina Paulette, the 15 year old environmentalist saving Lake Victoria from getting suffocated by recycling the hyacinth and making eco-friendly products. As always, don’t forget to subscribe to it and share as much as possible. A Fresh Perspective Our stories confirm that the youth are conscious about contemporary critical issues in the world. Time and again, they have been the lot in the frontline to challenge and offer solutions. The phrase “the youth are the leaders of tomorrow” no longer holds water. It’s a phrase that has further alienated them from making a contributory injection to some of the issues that plague our continent and the rest of the world. We seek to develop a deeper understanding for our audience and the rest of world on their insights and thoughts on critical topics, and offer a fresh way of looking at things. It is time for more young people to be invited to the table, for they are the resources that we have to invest in. We should also optimise on them, their diverse ideas and innovative minds and skills. Through this we can cohesively integrate their ideas and the older generations’ experiences to achieve the change we want to see.

Positive and Constructive Narratives

The nature of telling stories has greatly evolved over the years. A majority of those who hold the tool of telling stories have subscribed to a culture of playing judge and jury. This is what we seek to challenge and hopefully earn the positive story its right of place. We have enriched the negative with so much power it overshadows the positive. Aside from all the negative stories splattered on the cover pages of our newspapers every morning, there lies a collection of

untold stories of phenomenal people. Individuals within our society catalysing change and moulding a habitable and sustainable society for this generation and the next. As Vice Versa Global, we have chosen to take the standpoint of a positive narrative. This doesn’t mean that we are oblivious of the numerous issues still abound globally. Far from it. We are well aware that the monster that is FGM is yet to be slayed. GBV cases have shot up tremendously in the last year and human rights abuse cases are still on the rise. At Vice Versa Global, we are recognizant of the fact that there are people out there who are trying to bring about justice and social change. These are the individuals that we choose to shine the spotlight on by highlighting their achievements and telling their stories. A standpoint from which we hope to build and transform our society one story at a time. The past three months have allowed us to harness the power of telling a constructive narrative through support from our readers across the globe. It has created opportunities and amassed recognition for some who have been featured on our platform. Vice Versa Global is the beginning of the end of the culture of telling one sided negative narratives. Narratives that have uprooted and stifled the power that can be harnessed through a positive story. We have not been walking alone and we are calling out for more of you to join the bandwagon. Together let’s build our society, one kind act and one story at a time. You can empower us to tell it better through your support. Your readership and subscription to the links pinned below and sharing our work with your web of connection shall be our building block in our mission that is “Journalism for social change.” Story by Eunice Mwaura. She is co-founder and coordinator of Vice Versa Global. She works and resides in Nairobi. Courtesy of Vice Versa Global which is a platform spearheaded by young African journalists who are keen on telling the African story from the youth’s point of view by creating socially conscious content through blogs, columns, video, articles and discussions in order to share ideas and spark dialogue about social change around the world. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook. https://web.facebook.com/viceversaglobal/ https://twitter.com/globalviceversa

Nigerian Christians under persecuation HELPUS PLEASE.......

It is a well known fact that Nigerian Christians are under severe perecuation particularly in the Northern part of the country. They continued to be attacked, properties destroyed, thousands of people dead, many more displaced, farm lands destroyed, children left homeless, orphans and desolate in a nation of plenty of resources. A government unable to protect his people. We have receieved a request from an organization helping these persecuted Christians to get some type or relief. They are calling on us on the Diaspora to support and help through our kind donations. The organization is coordinating assistances, see the flyers published below for details of how you can support their efforts. We approve the flyers so you can send support directly or contact them for clarification or more information. God bless you all. TV Management

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg52LK6cJlw&feature=youtu.be

Meet the Sisters Making Revolutionary Chocolate in Ghana

Priscilla and Kimberly Addison are using beanto-bar chocolate to celebrate the heritage of their ancestral home and shift the conversation around a controversial crop.

“African art and culture are at the forefront of what we do,” says Priscilla Addison. “We want Ghana to be known for its chocolate, not just its cocoa beans.” Along with her younger sister Kimberly, she founded ‘57 Chocolate in 2016, when they relocated to the capital city of Accra to be closer to their parents. “Craft chocolate like ours gives you an experience rather than just something sweet to munch on,” says Kimberly, who left her tempering room still wearing a hairnet to join our overseas video call. “And we’re trying to alter the narrative. There’s been lots of stigma against ‘Made in Africa’ products. We want to change people’s perceptions and prove that high quality can come out of the continent.” Starting a bean-to-bar chocolate business in Ghana wasn’t the sisters’ original career trajectory. Kimberly, 31, studied French and international relations with a concentration in social justice at Boston College; Priscilla, 33, majored in French and international development, with a focus on food security, at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Both were interested in non-profit sectors addressing women’s education, human trafficking, value chains, and agriculture. But then a visit to one of Switzerland’s largest chocolate factories inspired their venture into confectionery. “Work brought me to Geneva, where our parents were living at the time,” says Kimberly. “And my dad talked to us about entrepreneurship, and the potentials of going back to our native country.” “I remember telling him, okay, when you officially retire, we’ll move back to Ghana with you. About two weeks before leaving, a group of friends from church invited me on a chocolate factory tour. Part of the exhibition was a display showing where beans were sourced— Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire—and that was the aha! moment.” Once they returned to their homeland, the sisters started small. Really small. Roasting raw cacao with a standard kitchen oven in their Accra home. (Craft chocolatiers use the term “cacao” for the unfermented pod and beans, and “cocoa” after the fruit has been processed.) “At the time, we were using a hairdryer for winnowing,” says Kimberly, referring to the process of removing the outer chaff from the cacao. “Rolling pins for crushing beans. We had our tabletop grinder, and needed a bowl and a spatula for tempering. When it comes to chocolate making it’s kind of like an orchestra: Not one piece of equipment is the most important, because they all do their part.” Priscilla chimes in. “And electricity! We were getting up at three in the morning to use the machines because, initially, when we moved to Ghana, the lights would go off quite frequently.” Early in the 19th century, Portuguese colonists introduced cacao, a tropical fruit from the Americas, as a cash crop on the island of São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea, a transit point for ships engaged in the Atlantic slave trade. But it was a Ghanaian agriculturalist named Tetteh Quarshie who is credited with bringing the pods to mainland West Africa around 1876. The export of cacao from the Gold Coast began by 1893; today, Ghana and neighboring Côte d’Ivoire produce nearly two-thirds of the global cocoa bean supply, in an industry worth more than $100 billion in annual sales. Most of this crop is dedicated to commodity chocolate:

candy bars produced by multinational corporations like Hershey and Mars. While the cacao being raised on small-plot farms in equatorial Ghana usually winds up on supermarket shelves in Europe and North America, many of these growers had never tasted a chocolate bar themselves. That is, until Kimberly and Priscilla Addison came back. “Straight from the bat, we went to farmers,” says Kimberly. “Obviously, we hadn’t lived in Ghana for some time, so we explored in the field, and that’s how we started sourcing.” Priscilla adds, “When Kim and I visit the farms now, we always bring bars of chocolate so that our business partners know what their cocoa is being used for.” The cacao grown for ’57 Chocolate is interplant with plantain and coconut trees on two small family farms, each less than three acres, in the Eastern and Western regions. (Hints of coconut are decidedly present when a chunk of the sisters’ dark chocolate melts on your tongue.) The beans are sun-dried and fermented before arriving in Accra. Additional drying takes place at the ’57 Chocolate facility, which now employs 10 people in a larger production space, where the Addisons currently produce about 1,000 bars per week. Kimberly’s favorite is the dark

chocolate bar with sea salt; Priscilla’s go-to is milk chocolate with almonds and sea salt, or sometimes the moringa-flavored white chocolate with toasted coconut. They also make bite-size pieces stamped with Adinkra symbols, visual representations of philosophical ideas at the core of life in Ghana. Duafe, a wooden comb, stands for femininity and beauty. Denkyem, the crocodile, represents cleverness. Aya, a fern, means independence; the ’57 in the company’s name refers to the year Ghana became a republic, breaking away from British colonial rule. The Addisons are also in the process of developing their own farm to build a stronger supply chain for Pan-African chocolate. Knowing where your food comes from is a vital part of educated consumption, especially when it comes to chocolate. A forcedlabor suit currently awaiting an opinion in the U.S. Supreme Court alleges two major American food conglomerates— Nestlé USA and Cargill—knowingly aided and abetted human rights violations for profit in the West African cocoa supply chain. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs estimates that up to 1.56 million children may be engaged in hazardous work on cacao farms in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire alone. Some experts believe helping farmers out of poverty is a key part of the solution, and last year the two West African governments established a benchmark premium for cacao futures, intended to increase prices to enable growers to send their children to school rather than work in the fields. Big Chocolate doesn’t like the price hike, but which mass market or artisan candy bar makers want to be accused of child

enslavement or other exploitative practices? Accountability is a core value for the Addisons, along with other bean-to-bar makers practicing sustainable farming and direct trade ethics in Africa. Some include Beyond Good in Uganda and Madagascar, and MonChoco Artisan Chocolatier in Côte d’Ivoire. Kokoa Kamili collaborates with 2,000 smallhold farmers in the Kilombero Valley of Tanzania’s Morogoro Region to supply raw organic cacao to international bar makers like Original Beans. “When we first arrived, there were a lot of European chocolates in stores here,” says Priscilla. “A lot of people thought those were superior. We want to revive our country’s consciousness of taking natural resources and transforming them into finished products. So that’s exactly what we’re doing with the cacao bean, and we wanted to inspire the youth to continue to do the same.” One of their most compelling Adinkra chocolates is stamped with the Sankofa bird, its beak arched towards its tail feathers. This imagery is closely associated with the proverb: “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi.” (It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten.) Or, for the Addison sisters, returning home to grow the future they envision. By Shane Mitchell

Tribute to Late Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda: the last giant of African nationalism

Kenneth Kaunda, the former president of Zambia, who has died in hospital in the capital, Lusaka, at the age of 97, was the last of the giants of 20th century African nationalism. He was also one of the few to depart with his reputation still intact. But perhaps more than any of his contemporaries, the standing of the man who ruled over Zambia for 27 years is clouded with ambiguity.

Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda Former President of Zambia passing on at 97 years of age. May His Soul rest in Peace. The charismatic president who won accolades for bowing out peacefully after losing an election was also the authoritarian who introduced a one-party state. The pioneer of “African socialism” was the man who cut a supply-side deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The nationalist leader known for personal probity planned to give huge tracts of farmland to an Indian guru. The revolutionary who gave sanctuary to liberation movements was also a friend of US presidents. He exuded an image of the benign monarch, a much-loved father to his people, known for his endearing quirks – safari suits, waving white handkerchiefs, ballroom dancing, singing his own songs while cycling, and crying in public. And yet there was also a hard edge to the politics and persona of the man, whose powerful personality helped make Zambia a major player in Africa and the world for three decades.

The early years

Kenneth David Kaunda was born in Chinsali, Northern Zambia, on October 24 1924. Like so many of his generation of African liberation leaders, he came from a family of the mission-educated middle class. He was the baby among eight children. His father was a Presbyterian missionary-teacher and his mother was the first qualified African woman teacher in the country.

He followed his parents’ profession, first in Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia), where he became a head teacher before his 21st birthday. He also taught in then Tanganyika (Tanzania), where he became a lifelong admirer of future president Julius Nyerere, whose “Ujamaa” brand of African socialism he tried to follow.

After returning home, Kaunda campaigned against the British plan for a federation of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland, which would increase the powers of white settlers. He took up politics full-time, learning the ropes through working for the liberal Legislative Council member Sir Stewart Gore-Browne. Soon after, as secretary general of the Northern Rhodesian African National Con-

gress, he was jailed for two months with hard labour for distributing “subversive literature”.

After his release, he clashed with his organisation’s president, Harry Nkumbula, who took a more conciliatory approach to colonial rule. Kaunda led the breakaway Zambian African National Congress, which was promptly banned. He was jailed for nine months, further boosting his status.

A new movement, the United National Independence Party (UNIP)), chose Kaunda as its leader after his release. He travelled to America and met Martin Luther King. Inspired by King and Mahatma Gandhi, he launched the “Cha-chacha” civil disobedience campaign.

In 1962, encouraged by Kaunda’s moves to pacify the white settlers, the British acceded to selfrule, followed by full independence two years later. He emerged as the first Zambian president after UNIP won the election.

The challenges of independence

One challenge for the newly independent Zambia related to the colonial education system. There were no universities and fewer than half a percent of pupils had completed primary school. Kaunda introduced a policy of free books and low fees. In 1966 he became the first chancellor of the new University of Zambia. Several other universities and tertiary education facilities followed.

Long after he was ousted as president, Kaunda continued to be warmly received in African capitals because of his role in allowing liberation movements to have bases in Lusaka. This came at considerable economic cost to his country, which also endured military raids from the South Africans and Rhodesians. ca’s hard-line prime minister BJ Vorster in mediating a failed bid for an internal settlement in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1975. He attempted the same in South West Africa (Namibia), which was then administered by South Africa. But President PW Botha, who succeeded Vorster after his death, showed no interest. Kaunda helped lead the Non-Aligned Movement, which brought together states that did not align with either the Soviets or the Americans during the Cold War. He broke bread with anyone who showed an interest in Zambia, including Romania’s Nicolai Ceausescu and Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, while also cultivating successive American presidents (having more success with Jimmy Carter than Ronald Reagan). He invited China to help build the Tazara Railway and bought

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16 MIG-21 fighter jets from the Soviet Union in 1980. African humanism

Kaunda’s economic policy was framed by his belief in what he called “African humanism” but also by necessity. He inherited an economy under foreign control and moved to remedy this. For example, the mines owned by the British South African Company (founded by Cecil John Rhodes) were acquired as a result of colonial conquest in 1890. Kaunda’s threats to nationalise without compensation prompted major concessions from BSAC. He promoted a planned economy, leading to “development plans” that involved the state’s Industrial Development Corporation acquiring 51% equity in major foreign-owned companies. The policy was undermined by the 1973 spike in the oil price and fall in the price of copper, which made up 95% of Zambia’s exports. The consequent balance of payments crisis led to Zambia having the world’s second highest debt relative to GDP, prompting IMF intervention. Kaunda at first resisted but by 1989 was forced to bow to its demands. Parastatals were partially privatised, spending was slashed, food subsidies ended, prices rocketed and Kaunda’s support plummeted. Like many anti-colonial leaders, he’d come to view multi-party democracy as a western concept that fomented conflict and tribalism. This view was encouraged by the 1964 uprising of the Lumpa religious sect. He banned all parties other than UNIP in 1968 and Zambia officially became a one-party state four years later.

His government became increasingly autocratic and intolerant of dissent, centred on his personality cult. But Kaunda will go down in history as a relatively benign autocrat who avoided the levels of repression and corruption of so many other one-party rulers.

Julius Nyerere, who retired in 1985, tried to persuade his friend to follow suit, but Kaunda pressed on. After surviving a coup attempt in 1990 and following food riots, he reluctantly acceded to the demand for a multi-party election in 1991.

His popularity could not survive the chaos prompted by price rises and was not helped by the revelation that he’d planned to grant more than a quarter of Zambia’s land to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (who promised to create a “heaven on earth”). The trade union leader Frederick Chiluba won in a landslide victory in 1991.

The last years

Kaunda won kudos abroad for what was considered to be his gracious response to electoral defeat, but the new government was less magnanimous. It placed him under house arrest after alleging a coup attempt; then declared him stateless when he planned to run in the 1996 election (on the grounds that his father was born in Malawi), which he successfully challenged in court. He survived an assassination attempt in 1997, getting grazed by a bullet. One of his sons, Wezi, was shot dead outside their home in 1999. The 1986 AIDS death of another son, Masuzgo, inspired him to campaign around HIV issues far earlier than most,

and he stepped this up over the next two decades. After Chiluba’s departure, he returned to favour and became a roving ambassador for Zambia. He reduced his public role following the 2012 death of his wife of 66 years, Betty. Kaunda was always closely supported by his wife, Betty (nee Banda), whom he married in 1946. She died in 2012. They had nine children, one of whom, a son, Wezi, was shot dead in 1999 in what appeared to be a random carjacking, but the Kaunda family believed to be a political assassination. Another died of HIV/Aids in 1987; in retirement, Kaunda worked for organisations combating the spread of the illness.

Kaunda will be remembered as a giant of 20th century African nationalism – a leader who, at great cost, gave refuge to revolutionary movements, a relatively benign autocrat who reluctantly introduced democracy to his country and an international diplomat who punched well above his weight in world affairs.

Kenneth David Kaunda, politician, born 28 April 1924; died 17 June 2021