This week we worry a bit over a Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast) which continues to wrestle with national identity while its dependency on diminishing cocoa production looms large. Despite a eurozone slowdown we explain why Egypt’s tourism sector will continue to thrive (it has a secret weapon) and we pick one company in particular to keep an eye on. Botswana’s continued woes with ‘regulating’ capital and labor mobility offer a bit of humor (hopefully the Washington intellectuals of the 1990s who painted her as the ‘shining star’ of African economic growth are all retiring from think tank influence. It takes more than diamonds to create prosperity). We also examine why an informal so-called ‘re-colonization’ effort by Portugal in Angola continues to accelerate. And perhaps, surprisingly, we argue that sport and play can produce meaningful development – in one specific way the World Cup has laid the groundwork for economic empowerment in Africa.
It’s all in the July 16, 2010 issue of Africa Prebrief. Subscribe today at:
http://www.africaprebrief.com/pages/subscribe-to-apb.php
…We’re engaged in a great dialogue with the African Development Bank’s Fragile States Unit (OSFU) who sent a very kind note our way, reading in part, “We share your view that African Diaspora should be viewed in the broader sense, including African-Americans or Africans from other geographic regions “who have ideological affinity, but not necessarily deep cultural attachment or kinship ties”. Like you, we think that the most important thing is that the Diaspora contribute to the social and economic progress of Africa, without having necessarily to relocate to the continent. On another note, we visited your web site and would like to congratulate you on the great work you are doing by providing through your newsletter, Africa PreBrief, relevant information on the business environment in Africa.”
Any serious African observer should keep the ADB’s OSFU on their radar, particularly in the difficult area of how to engage the African Diaspora in meaningful economic development. While others are rhetoric-only in this regard the OSFU is putting together progressive forums like one which recently gathered “the private sector and Governments of India, China and South Korea to exchange lessons on mobilizing the contribution of the African Diaspora for development in their countries of origin.”
There are profound lessons for Africa in the histories of these countries and several others and Africa PreBrief will continue to highlight this historical perspective for subscribers and clients.
….Economist and columnist Bruce Bartlett, whose interests and analysis on Africa go back several decades is now regularly offering his latest notations on economic activity on the continent at: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Blogs/2010/07/07/Bartletts-Notations-Focus-on-Africa.aspx. His daily commentary on broader economic issues can be found at:
http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Blog-Landing/Bartletts-Notations.aspx
…OK, now to the important stuff – the loss of my Beloved Ghana in the World Cup (yes I fall in love quick, having picked Ghana via a Facebook poll one day before the tournament started). I wish folks would leave Asamoah Gyan alone for missing the free kick. Ghana was the quickest team in the tournament but by far one of the worse in terms of kicking accuracy. Gyan’s true legacy may be in pioneering this dance that I expect Harlem to claim any week now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwvMk-M_I0g&feature=related
For those who doubted – here’s the permanent link to the shot of me donning the official Ghana baseball cap:
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/hs325.snc4/41460_1274740479_180_n.jpg
Am I a soccer fan (pardon me, Football) now?
No, but I better appreciate why so many others are.
I still don’t think the sport will take root in America anytime soon.
Although the real Football has demographic change on its side, sports in America is entertainment and a cult of personality. Until soccer ‘stars’ are branded via college competition, video game and pop culture, and regular TV exposure (and as long as international news channels like Al Jazeera continue to find resistance from American cable channel providers this ain’t gonna happen) the NFL, NBA, and MLB can sleep easy at night.
But who knows? With the NHL continuing to shoot itself in the foot, soccer fans have reason to keep hope alive.
Lastly, I must thank the #1 African DJ and new friend Karengera Eric Soul for putting me up on two hot artists. I’ve been consulting with my French-speaking friends and multi-linguists to determine who is hotter – Baloji or Lexxus:
Baloji: http://vimeo.com/8907715
Lexxus: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dJYaFfiIlo
So far Baloji’s in the lead.
Weigh in…
Cedric Muhammad
July 16, 2010