I will be taking part in Social Media Week Lagos on the Change Makers panel with Gabrielle SmithRoxanne L. Scott & Patrica Patton http://bit.ly/WdlAzu For me this is really special i have always wanted to travel to another African country, as embarrassing as it sounds i have travelled the world but have not been to any African country aside from Ghana. 2013 is the year this changes. So when this opportunity came i grabbed it with both hands. I could not start with any better city than Lagos. In my head i think i know what Nigeria looks feels and smells like but i hope to be blown away by the bustling people. I also hope to meet some cool Nigerians and build. As Nkrumah said Africa must Unite - One small trip for Kwabena One big step for Africa.
Who’s coming to Lagos?
About the Panel
Kayobi creative director Kwabena Oppong Boateng will be on the panel and will be bringing his experience with kayobi, Ghana Decides and Nkanee to the table. Are you in Lagos? Will you be attending? Follow the conversation on twitter hashtag #smwchangemakers
I just had a long fascinating conversation with an older business man, here are a few things that stuck in mind.
1) Get experience when you are young, this is when you make others rich 2) Make yourself rich/comfortable by doing something you enjoy (your own business) 3) Sometimes in business money may not be the most important pay ( shares may be smarter in the long term) 4) In business one needs to have a good reputation to succeed 5) One needs access to the people that matter 6) Ghana is a patronage economy and the wealth is concentrated 7) Whats important is to visualise when or what you want to be and go for it 8) You never know what knowledge others (especially older people) have - network and use them I must say taking the unconventional route and working for yourself is not for the faint hearted but the rewards can be great. I hope more Ghanaians and Africans would be more entrepreneurial. I personally will be taking this advice on board and applying it to my businesses.
The video team of the Ghana Decides Project has launched a new campaign to promote discussion of electoral issues via video format- it's called the Ghana Decides Tag. If you've heard of Ghana Tag on YouTube, then you've an idea what I'm talking about. Basically, you get to choose from a set of questions pertaining to Ghana, development and election 2012. We thought we should let BloggingGhana in on this before we make it go viral. Enjoy and get involved
It’s Monday 30th April and I am sitting in a hot internet cafe
in Accra surrounded by 419 boys (internet fraud) and the ac isn't really
working but the windows are closed. My journey from London to Ghana via Lisbon
was long as we were delayed for a day in Portugal as TAP Portugal could not
find a co-pilot (worst excuse ever) but at least the hotel they put us in was
nice.
It feels great to be back home and I loved the way the African
humidity slapped my face when I left the plane at Kotoka International Airport.
As soon as I got of the plane I touched the ground with my hand
to the bemusement of some of the airport attendants, but who cares there is
something about African soil that brings out weird rituals in people and this
just happens to be mine.
I am welcomed home in typical Ghana time as brother got my
arrival time mixed up as Ghana is an hour behind hence I was left waiting at
arrivals for 30 minutes before I got picked up.
As usual Accra is hot and buzzing even at 9 pm on a Sunday. I
got home and the AC in my room was not fixed - no surprise here as my mum had
warned me that there had been low voltage and frequent power cuts lately, hence
there was no use in fixing it. It seems all was conspiring against me as I was
attacked by a roach as I tried to unpack - and yes I screamed a bit as it
fluttered about but in the end the bottom of my slippers prevailed.
Then the power socket in my room decided to go on sabbatical - wow
my first night back without an AC or fan. Luckily for me after harassing the
switch for a while it decided to work and I was back to enjoy my first night
back in the humid heat. I am not complaining at least the killer mosquitoes
spared me last night; I am guessing it just a temporary reprise and tonight
will be a different story.
So why have I moved back to Ghana despite all these hustles? Not
only is Ghana home, the sun makes me happy, the people are alive and smiles are free, Ghana in also sailing on the back of the
African renaissance.
You might not be aware but Africa is on its way up especially in
the field of technology and this is where my path
collides with the Ghana
Decides project.
Tomorrow I begin work as a Social Media Coordinator for Ghana Decidesa non-partisan project, which “aims to
foster a better informed electorate for free, fair and safe 2012 Elections
using online social media tools.” It’s an initiative underGhanaBlogging,
which itself is a membership-based platform to connect bloggers both in and
outside of Ghana who write about the country. I have been a member of the Ghana
Blogging community since its inception and I am extremely excited and honoured
to be utilising my digital media and design work experience on a project that
will positively impact the future of Ghana and Africa social media terrain.
If you
would like to follow my adventures in Ghana then follow this blog
and my twitter account here: @sirboateng
Excellent documentary by Atingo Asare-Nyako about her dads journey back to Ghana.
Synopsis: Changes is an emotional portrait of a journey that started more than 30 years ago.
After spending most of his adult life in Denmark, Kwabena wants to move back to Ghana, the country that he left more than 30 years ago. This film, shot and directed by his daughter, chronicles one of his journeys to Ghana in preparation for his return. It follows him as he reconnects with his old friends and his ancestral home. The questions, that subtly unfold within the film, touch upon the profound dilemma often felt by long-term immigrants, many of whom are no longer certain where 'home' is.
Changes explores the motives that drives immigrants back to their place of origin and the implications of such return.
We had a wonderful time at the streetfest festival there was art, painting graffiti, music, skating fashion and off course KAYOBI this was our first big UK showcase and by the Grace of God it was a resounding success. Check out some of the pictures below and UK hiphop legend TY plugging Kayobi - the vent was filmed by my man Kwame from Blakkdon Films and would be uploaded soon.
All the new shirts from the event are now available online: www.kayobi.bigcartel.com
The election dust has now settled and Britain officially has a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government for the first time since the Second World War. Despite disappointing election results the Lib Dems have manoeuvred their way into government with five cabinet seats and the prized role of Deputy Prime Minister going to Nick Clegg. Was this simply a case of excellent opportunism or did the televised debates and social media have a role in creating this new dawn of British politics?
The aftermath of the first televised debate made Nick Clegg the most popular man in Britain and pushed the Liberal Democrats ahead in the polls. Even social media platforms such as Facebook’s Democracy page and the Xbox survey put the Lib Dems 30 per cent ahead of the competition. All these digital votes failed to materialise into actual votes, however, with the Lib Dems losing five electoral seats, despite gaining five cabinet positions as a result of the coalition government.
One positive outcome of the debates and the influence of social media on the elections was the increase in voter turnout from 61 per cent to 65 per cent, particularly among the usually apathetic demographic of students. It is a shame that this surge in turnout was not a victory for democracy but instead exposed the flaws in the electoral system, causing long queues, shortage of materials and, most disturbingly, disenfranchised voters.
It will be interesting to see whether there will be a resurgence of Cleggmania as a result of his newly found importance and whether his party will be able to deliver on their promise of electoral reform, albeit in the less radical form of the alternative voting system. One thing is for sure however: televised debates are here to stay and social media will definitely play a major role in any future election. If Clegg’s story is anything to go by, all future candidates should start practising now how to look straight in the camera and say ‘I agree with Nick’
Make EBA not WAR Shirt will be available(limited quantities) and posted out from the 20th of FEB - buy yours here:http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/product/make-eba-not-war-pre-order
New Canvas art online here:http://kayobi.bigcartel.com/
We are taking orders for Ghana and Africa please contact kwabena on: 0233244889225/kwabenab@hotmail.com (customization(choosing colours) available)
Check out the pictures of the updates and Eboue here:http://ghanahype.blogspot.com/
Thanks and holla if you need a discount :) Stay Blessed Kwabena Boateng
I am so proud of Kwame from GHANA who against all ODDS and no support from the GHANA Government or media has made it to the winter olympics in the unlikely sport of skiing - Yes say it loud -COOL RUNNINGS - Knick Named the SNOW LEOPARD - she sure deserves all the support he can get.
here and support him in any way - if the Govt. of Ghana can give each player on the Black stars 20 thousand dollars each for being the second best team in Africa I guess they can give Kwame something for being the first Ghanaian at the winter olympics.
You might have heard by now that Cadburys - probably the biggest purchaser and 'publicist' of Ghana and its Cocoa has been bought by American Company Kraft. As usual the Ghanaian government is still probably sleeping and has not thought about the implications this will have on one of Ghana's main foreign exchange earners( 6 percent of GDP and 30 percent of export revenue) and the relationship cocoa farmers have with the English ...errrr I mean American Company.
Cadburys as of 2009 had been trading with Ghana's cocoa farms for a 100 years (since 1908), as the main ingredient of their famous dairy milk is full of the goodness from Ghana with at least 20 percent cocoa powder per chocolate bar. Will Kraft reduce the content of cocoa powder to 10 percent which is acceptable under American rules for making chocolate?
To celebrate the hundred years of trade cadburys set up a Cocoa Partnership for Cocoa growing communities, mostly in the Eastern, Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo, have been lined up for Cadbury’s 10-year investment package designed to secure the economic, social and environmental sustainability of cocoa farmers and the communities in which they live and work. How will the sale affect this partnership and the planned 30 million pound investment which is chicken feed when compared to the 30 BILLION Kraft paid for Cadbury.
"In Ghana, there is a phrase 'Coco obatanpa', which means 'Cocoa is a good parent. It looks after you'," said James Boateng, MD of Cadbury Ghana, in a statement. - What kind of parent will Kraft be to Ghana and its farmers?
I wonder if the government of Ghana even owns a single share in Cadburys - we all know Cadburys share holders will be smiling all the way to the banks today - but after a 100 years did any of our governments see it fit to invest in one of the limbs that feed it (i seriously doubt this) and once again our destiny is in the hands of someone else.
In 2009 Ghana and Ghanaian musician Tinny became the POSTER boy of Cadburys Fair trade dairy milk UK launch - as evident in the video below:
I commend cardury for promoting Ghana on an international scale (something our current government failed to do even with OBAMA forcing the world to literally watch Ghana) from music videos to itunes to prime time UK tv to massive billboards around the UK and of course the name Ghana features on all the wrapping of their fair trade bars.
The only thing I would have liked is if a few Ghanaians were involved in the the actual production of the videos and fair trade campaign. On closer inspection of the advertising and production credits of the campaign there are no Ghanaian names not even the main act Tinny is credited on the musical production - I guess they (Ghanaians) were all hired hands - contrary to the impression the cadurys site gives - click here Once again there has been no transfer of knowledge and the foreign currency does not stay in AFRICA.
There is even a blog dedicated to Ghana - Click Here
I am not being ungrateful but music videos and blogs are lovely things but won't it have been better to take the opportunity to pass on some knowledge onto some creatives ie advertising student etc whilst the production team was in Ghana. After a 100 years cadburys does not have a chocolate production factory in Ghana. The cocoa is still shipped in its raw (unprocessed) and cheaper sate -
I am not blaming cadburys but there is even a lesser chance that Kraft will set up a plant in Ghana - In fact according to human rights activist craig murray (click here for full article) they might even do worse:
''What Cadbury’s use in the UK is from independent Ghanaian smallholders, and is the equivalent of wines from an ancient small chateau or boutique Californian estate. They pay extra for it, and their willingness to pay extra has been a key part of keeping the Ghanaian small farmer going.
Kraft on the other hand use the mass produced estate cocoa; the equivalent of soulless and tasteless wine from multiple fields and huge stainless steel tanks. They source mostly in Brazil – the World’s most tasteless cocoa – and Ivory Coast. The bad taste in the mouth from the cocoa is both real and metaphorical. The estates in both countries make massive use of child labour.
I have no doubt that in order to rack up the return on their vast investment, Kraft will switch to the cheap and nasty cocoa they normally use. This could be the worst thing to hit the Ghanaian rural economy since blackpod disease.''
I hope for the best outcome with this situation - by the time the Ghanaian government wake up and protect the famers and the interests of the nation it will be a done deal. I guess they are too busy thinking of the Black Gold (oil) Ghana will start producing this year - wow we mismanaged Gold Cocoa and probably oil - WAKE UP AFRICA
on a lighter note whilst trawling cadburys fair trade blog
I noticed they had a picture of one of my t -shirts on a chap in the midst of two Ghanaian STARS SWAY and TINNY - who ever can tell me which t shirt he is wearing I will send you the exact same shirt: email answers to info@kayobiclothing.com
