Pan-African Colors

The ancient Ethiopian/African flag has a lion on it. The lion represents Jesus Christ, according to the Ethiopian Orthodox Towahdo Church. Many African and South American flags’ are inspired by the above Ethiopian flag. The colors, green, yellow, and red became known as the Pan-African colors, because Ethiopia was able to defeat colonialism.

Countries that have the Pan-African colors on their flags include Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, São Tomé and Príncipe, Togo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The following Flag is one example from Zimbabwe.



The inclusion of the Pan-African colors in many countries’ flag is one of the testaments to the unbreakable bondage that still exist amongst Africans internationally. What do you feel about the Pan-African collors?

Peace on Africa.

Ethiopia Loves Langston Hughes

The Love is mutual!




As it is evident in many of his works, on the poem bellow, Langston Hughes writes positively about Africa. Some Africans are currently translating Langston Hughes' poems to different African languages.





The Negro Speaks of Rivers

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow
of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.

I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln went
down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy bosom turn
all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

-- Langston Hughes

One of the rivers that Langston Hughes wrote about is the Nile river that is found in East Africa and is the longest river on earth.

The Nile River is mentioned as flowing out of the Garden of Eden in the Bible. Here are some pictures of the magnificent Nile, also know as Abay and Ghion River.

How big is Africa?

Africa is one of the largest content in the world. Africa is larger than China, USA, and Europe combanied. The continent is also the least crowded place on earth.

The involuntary and semi voluntary migration out of Africa continue to weaken the mother land.

As one African singer reminisces:

“Since you (the African Diaspora) are gone,
it has been such an empty home.
Come on back to where you once belonged.
You are always welcome home.
Welcome home...”

To hear this lovely and empowering song tune into Kofi Dompere's African Rhythms radio show, every Sunday at 10:00pm. You can find the radio show at www.wpfw.org

We thank Alah for giving us such a beautiful, rich and enormous continent. And we ask God to give us the wisdom to enjoy our land.


Source: http://www.bu.edu/
EgziAbhear African Tebek

African Americans' Gift to the World

Menghistu Lemma's poem “Basha Ashebir in America” vividly recounts the experience of Basha Ashebir, an Ethiopian diplomat who was thrown out of a whites-only restaurants in Washington DC, in the early 1950s. After a verbal confrontation with the restaurant manager, Basha Ashebir had to resort to using his stick, to no avail. Seeing how Basha was perplexed by the ordeal, it was an African American who explained to him why the manager refused to serve him and eventually kicked him out: becuase of his skin color.

Learning from each other is not new for African Americans and Ethiopians. As far back as the 18th century, Ethiopians and African Americans have worked together. To move away from the segregated setting of the Church, they established the Abyssinian Baptist Church, which became the first African American Baptist congregation in New York and the fourth in the nation. Similarly, in 1930s Harlem, African Americans rallied around Dr. Malaku Bayen, Ethiopia’s envoy to the Black World, to help him put an end to Fascist Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia throught the Ethiopian World Federation.

Furthermore, thanks to great civil and human rights advocates such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and countless generations of conscious individuals who fought discrimination, African immigrants are able to take advantage of political and economic refuge in the United States. Nowadays, not only can Ethiopians eat at any restaurant, they are also the proud owners of African restaurants all over the United States.

Ethiopian artists and scholars in the Diaspora also drew their inspiration from the African American experience. Haile Gerima, who lives and works a pan-African life, learned from decades of personal encounters with African American issues and personalities. Haile, who teaches film at Howard University, has in his film Sankofa, taken us on the harrowing journey African Americans took through the middle passage and struggling through the arduous life of an African slave in an American plantation. Throught the movie Sankofa, we are re-born anew by the rediscovery, grounded in the present but connected to the past and to the spirits of our ancestors.

Skunder, which we will publish his history on this blog soon, also studied and often discussed the African American experience as it related to Africa. He voraciously consumed and learned from all African American creative productions. Through studying Black music from childhood, he incorporated what he learned from Jazz and Blues to his art. Hearing Ornette Coleman and Miles Davies create their own unique and revolutionary improvisational Jazz, Skunder similarly revolutionize African traditional art.

Continuing to work together improves the likelihood that our children will have role models, philosophers, historians, architects, scientists, artists and freedom fighters, that look like them. Then, we can start to utilize our bestowed gifts and by doing so, give back to the Black culture that nurtures us.

In this spirit, Ephraim Isaac, one of the first Africans to obtain a PhD at Harvard, and establish the African American department there, stresses the importance of mobilizing the Greater African Diaspora to celebrate the upcoming Ethiopian Millennium. The Ethiopian Calendar, which turns 2000 in less than one year, is one aspect of the rich Black heritage that goes back to the birth of humankind.

What better way to thank Dr. King and countless others for their brave vision, than to celebrate this Black Millennium and to fulfill the dreams of visionaries who had used Ethiopia as a rallying call for freedom, justice and peace. For it is one of the things that can continue to shape our shared experience, and most importantly, works to unite us.

In the words of Menghistu Lemma, the Black Diaspora should focus on what unites us: understanding that we are one people with different names.

The Amharic Version of the poem, coming soon.

African Unity Founders

Safori’s Colorful & Soulful Art

Safori will exhibit his art at the Artful Gallery from September 22 to October 21, 2006. The opening reception will be held on Friday September 22, 2006 from 6:30 to 9:30pm.

Artful Gallery is located at 1349 Maryland Ave, NE, Washington DC 20002.

To find out about this colorful artists visit the following website:
http://www.houseofsafori.com/biography.htm

African Union Flag & Anthem

AFRICAN UNION ANTHEM

Let us all unite and celebrate together
The victories won for our liberation
Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together
To defend our liberty and unity

O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life

Let us all unite and sing together
To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny
Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together
For lasting peace and justice on earth

O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us Make Africa the Tree of Life


Let us all unite and toil together
To give the best we have to Africa
The cradle of mankind and fount of culture
Our pride and hope at break of dawn

O Sons and Daughters of Africa
Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky
Let us make Africa the Tree of Life

The Nitty Gritty of African Unity

On September 2006 the African Union will conduct a seminar to harmonize statistics throughout Africa. The seminar will be held in Bamako, Mali. The African Union invites all national statistics offices and regional Economic Communities to attend.

Abezash - Amen

Creativity + wisdom + beauty + courage + compassion + action = Abezash T.

To meet this inspiring artist and the epitome of a fine human being, be on the look out for the 4th Annual Blen Art show, in Washington, DC: blenartshow.com

Also check out Abezash’s fruitful organization at: http://www.artistsforcharity.org

Congo: The Heart of Africa

Many African countries claim to be the heart of Africa, including Malawi, which is probably the thigh.

As the heart is essential for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, Congo is important for Africans to move freely throughout the continent.

It is difficult to travel from southern to northern or from eastern to western Africa, with out passing through the green and beautiful Congo or its neighboring counties. Without the free movement of the Africans, it is imposible to create mutually beneficial economic ties between different African people. That is why Congo is the heart of Africa.

Additionally, Congo is one of the richest countries in the world. Found the in center of Africa, now Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was formerly known as Zaire.

DRC is home to the second longest river in the world, the Congo River. The longest river is also found in Africa and its name is the Nail River. As the heart is the provider of the power needed for life, the Congo River has one of the highest potential to produce hydropower that could light the entire Africa.

Other natural resources in DRC include diamond, gold, petroleum, natural gas, copper, cobalt, uranium, lead, potash, forest, coltan and many more discovered and undiscovered precious minerals. Eighty percent of the world’s known reserves of coltan is found in DRC. Coltan in used as a “vital components in electronic devices, ranging widely from mobile phones to laptop computers,” according to wikipedia.org.

DRC is also rich in human resources.

Not only rich in minerals, forest, and water, but DRC is also blessed in arts. For example, the National Geography describes Congo as “one of the most musically fertile regions on earth.” “Congolese music is sexy…. In Congo, almost everyone can dance or sing.,” reports the Economist.

DRC is also blessed with many revolutionary intellectuals such as Marie-Léontine Tsibinda Bilombo, Pierre Mumbere Mujomba, Jean-Baptiste Tati-Loutard, Kamanda Kama Sywor, and many more. My favorite writer is Philippe Wamba, who is father is Congolese and his mother is African America.


Unfortunately, most of these valuable resources are extracted and exported cheaply and rarely are used to develop the content.

Since 1961, after the assassination of a competent leader who fought for DRC’s independence - Patris Lumumba, DRC became a place where civil wars and other countries’ wars were fought.

“This [conflicts] has been fueled and supported by various national and international corporations and other regimes which have an interest in the outcome of the conflict,” according to globalissues.org

There is a glimpse of hope in DRC, therefore there is a hope for peaceful and progressive Africa, since DRC is the heart of Africa. Different rebel leaders, who once fought each other furiously, have now agreed to hold elections.

To read more about DRC’s election go to www.blackstarnews.com

Gonder, Ethiopia

Source: http://www.etiopiamagica.it/index.htm

The Precious Advocate for Africa

Dr. Leonard H. Robinson, an advocate for progressive and peaceful Africa, passed away on Tuesday July 25, 2006 in Washington, DC. He was 63.

"He was a true servant of the public, whose leadership and dedication changed lives on two different continents….….He was committed to making Africa a full partner in the global community," said Judith McHale, president and CEO of Discovery Communications.

Dr. Robinson’s carrier in civil service started in the early 1960s as a Peace Corps volunteer in India from 1964 to 1967. Among many posts he held in the U.S. government, he served two terms as deputy assistant secretary of State for Africa.

In themid 1980s, he was a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Additionally, for six years, Dr. Robinson served as president of the U.S. African Development Foundation, which was established by Congress in 1981 to provide financial assistance for grassroots enterprises in Africa.

In early 1990s, he coordinated U.S. policy toward parts of Africa. He demonstrated his superior work in conflict resolution as the director of U.S. diplomatic efforts to end Liberia's civil war.

In 1997, Robinson established the LHR International Group, which is a firm that provided consulting services for African and Asian leaders.

To expand his effort to build support for African the United States, he joined the National Summit on Africa as a board member the same year. Mr. Robinson was also advisory councils of the National Peace Corps Association, and Discovery Channel's Global Education Fund.

In 2001, Mr. Robinson and colleagues founded The Africa Society. The mission of the Africa Society is to educate Americans about the greatness and the resourcefulness of Africa.

In 2004, the University of Virginia appointed Robinson as its first Diplomat Scholar in Residence.

Dr. Robinson was born in North Carolina. He attended Ohio State University and the State University of New York, Binghamton, the American University and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He received two honorary doctoral degrees and taught African Studies at the University of Massachusetts.

Among many of his valuable contribution to the development of Africa, his work on conflict resolution is important for the current and future generation. To mention some of his findings, “Simply put: the wars in Africa must stop!! (there are hopeful signs that resolutions are occurring in at least nine (9) conflict zones)… African-Americans - - as the core of the African Diaspora can and have played critical roles in helping to resolve and prevent conflict in Africa.”

According to The Africa Society, “Robinson is survived by two daughters, Rani Robinson of Washington, DC, Kemberley Robinson of Houston, Texas, his mother, Winnie T. Robinson of Durham, North Carolina, and a brother, Dr. Michael Robinson of Los Angeles, California.

A memorial service will be held on August 15 at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC at 10:30 am. Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young, who is chair emeritus of the Africa Society board, is scheduled to deliver the eulogy.”

The Candle

Journalist, Bapuwa Mwamba, was assassinated in Kinshasa on July 10, 2006.

Congolese journalists stopped working on July 18, 2006 to protest Mr. Mwamba’s killing.

Bapuwa Mwamba always yearned to return to his homeland while he was living in France. Eventually, he returned to Democratic Republic of Congo to directly contribute to the development of his land.

May God bless his soul and his effort to help Africa.

Brazil hosted Pan-African Intellectuals

The President of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, hosted the Second Conference of Intellectuals from African and the Diaspora (CIAD) from 12 to 14 July 2006.

CIAD took place in Salvador, which is one of the predominantly black cities in Brazil.

The event was co-chaired by the Minister of Culture of Brazil, Gilberto Gil, representing the Diaspora, and Kenya's Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace Price Laureate, representing the African Continent.

The general theme was “The Diaspora and African Renaissance,” aiming to create a strong working relationship between the Africans and the African Diaspora intellectuals.

African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konaré, stated that although physically separated, Africans and the African Diaspora share the same values, history, culture, and destiny.

Mr. Konaré also expressed the belief that Africa's renaissance cannot be realized without the contribution of intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora, and explained that the continent's fate will be transformed by solutions developed by Africans and implemented by Africans.

The "Salvador Declaration" was adopted at the end of the conference, which announced that Africa's Diaspora, scattered across the planet, has an essential role in the African renaissance and aspired to strengthen departments in African Union that deal with the Diaspora.

Participants included heads of states, ministers, Noble Prize winners, scientists, and many other Black intellectuals from around the world.

Prime minister Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica, presidents Festus Mogae of Botswana, Pedro Pires of Cape Verde, Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial-Guinea and John Kufuor of Ghana, and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal were among the leaders who participated on the conference. The total number of participants was estimated to be between 1,000-1,500 people.

The first CIAD was held in Dakar, Senegal, in October 2004. Brazil was selected to host the second CIAD because it is one of the countries with a large African population outside of Africa.

The President of Africa

The Pan-African Parliament elected the Dr. Getrude Mongela as the first president of Africa under the African Union. Dr. Mongela will be the highest ranking person in Africa until her term is over in 2009.

She is known around the world as “Mama Beijing.”

The Pan-African Parliament is one of the most important organs in the African Union because it is expected to unify Africa and the African Diaspora politically, economically and socially. The African Union inaugurated the Pan-African Parliament in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 18, 2004.

Most Africans who have heard about this gigantic legislative body are excited that the Pan-African Parliament will eventually have full law making and governing power over the individual African countries starting in 2009.

Dr. Mongela is expected to build up the current the Pan-African Parliament that has consultative and advisory powers only to a full Pan-African legislative office. The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is run by legislators from 44 African counties.[1] Each African country is expected to bring five representatives to the Pan-African Parliament.

By law, at least one of the five representatives must be a woman.

Up until June 2006, the PAP also has four Vice-Presidents: Prof F. Jose Dias Van-Du’Nem, an Angolan, in charge of Southern Africa; Dr. Mohammed Lutfi Farahat, a Libyan, responsible for Northern Africa; Mrs. Loum N. Ne’loumsei Elise, a Chadian, in charge of Central Africa; and Mr. Jerome Sacca Kina Guezere, a Beninois, responsible for the west Africa.

The President of the PAP, Gertrude Mongella, is a Tanzanian woman. She is married and has four children.

She is also an international figure who has demonstrated her superior skills as a teacher, a human rights activist, peace maker, experienced diplomat, and strong politician.
Dr. Mongela has promised to work on conflict resolution, poverty reduction, and fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. She has demonstrated ability to transform words into action on the international stage.

“She took an active leading role in setting up a mechanism which enables African women to participate effectively, at all decision-making levels, in the continent’s peace and development process,” according to the African Union.

In addition, her commitment to helping women around the word, specifically in China has earned her a pleasant nick name: “Mama Beijing.”

"If you want to be a leader, you have to be clear what you want and what you stand for. You must stand for principle. Principle will never let you down … You have to be able to choose what are the principles worth dying for … And you have to add on a little sacrifice. Leadership needs a lot of sacrifice - personal and public sacrifice."
Dr. Getrude Mongela


__________

[1] The 44 countries that are part of the Pan-African Parliament are Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The list is expected to increase and include the African Diaspora.

Mandela & Ethiopia

"Ethiopia, always has a special place in my imagination and the prospect of visiting Ethiopia attracted me more strongly than a trip to France, England and America combined!!!"
Nelson Mandela

> 17 African Noble Laureates

Since the 1950s, more than eighteen Africans have become Noble Laureates. Because of colonialism, slavery, and discrimination, Africans and the African Diaspora didn’t have much opportunity to participate in the Noble Prize until recentle. However, as soon as the door to the Noble Prize started opening to Africans in the 1950s, they were able to demonstrate to the world their excellence in arts and peace making.

Here are some Africans whose intelligence’s have earned them international recognition.

Kofi Annan: in 2001 received the Noble Prize for promoting peace.

Ralph Bunche in 1950 for working on peace building.

John Maxwell (JM) Coetzee in 2003 received the literary prize.

Mohamed ElBaradei in 2005 received the Nobel peace prize for his attempt to prevent nuclear energy from being used for military purposes. He is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Nadin Gordimer in 1991 received Nobel Prize for her novels and her epic short stories.

FW de Klerk in 1993 was a recipient of the Noble Prize for ending apartheid.

Sir Arthur Lewis in 1979 for Economics.

Albert John Luthuli in the 1960s received the Novel Prize for a non violence civil rights leadership in South Africa

Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964 for his fight for human rights and for international peace.

Wangari Maatahi is the person who inspired me to study environmental science and to become a peace advocate. In 2004, she received the peace price for her work on sustainable development and peace.

Naguib Mahfouz in 1988 received the prize for short stories and nobles

Nelson Mandela in 1993 received the Noble Prize for fighting to terminate apartheid.

Toni Morrison in 1994 for literature.

Anwar Sadat in 1978 received the Noble Prize for his contribution to peace in the Middle East.

Wole Soyinka in 1986 won the Noble Prize for poetic writings.

Desmond Tutu in 1984 earned the Noble Prize for his struggle against apartheid.

Derek Walcott in 1992 for literature.

Source: africa-union.org

Regional Unity West Vs. East

On the road to the United States of Africa, fourteen[1] regional integration organizations have been created to unit Africa regionally first. The ultimate goals are to create one government, common monetary and commercial policies, free movement of people, goods, money and businesses within the continent.

Fragmented and small nations could not effectively compete with large economies. That is why many African regions have been attempting to join together for economic empowerment. In addition, regional integration would increase and enhance internal trade, competitive advantage, investment, bargaining power, cooperation and peace.

On this blog, I will compare the regional organizations between East and West Africa.

West Africa’s economic integration organizations are much more developed than the regional organizations in East Africa. Unlike the East African integration, the West African regional organizations have started conflict resolution negotiations, free movement of people and are close to creating a common currency and external tariffs.

For example, some West Africans, citizens of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member counties,[2] now have an ECOWAS passport that allows them to travel to fifteen West African counties freely.

Only the citizens of the three east African countries could travel freely between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Conflicts are the major barriers to regional integration, especially in East Africa.

For my readers, I have listed the recent developments of the regional organization in West and East Africa. Feel free to compare the extent of unity between the East and West.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
Recent Developments:


· The deadline for creating a new and common currency by the West African Monetary Zone28 in July 2005 was postponed to 2009. The West African Monetary Zone is a group of six ECOWAS members–Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.

· ECOWAS plans to create a customs union and implement a common external tariff in 2007.

· In October 2005, the government of Nigeria began implementing ECOWAS’ common external tariff, which should bring the country’s weighted average tariff down from 29 percent to below 20 percent. The new tariff system has four bands: 0 percent, 5 percent, 10 percent, and 20 percent. However, there are a number of temporary measures, including a temporary 50 percent tariff, which can be placed on those imports that directly compete with items produced in Nigeria until the end of 2007.

· In late 2005, ECOWAS announced plans to implement a $50 billion project to increase access to energy services in the ECOWAS region.


West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU)
Members: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo.
Recent Developments:

· The Regional Solidarity Bank of WAEMU opened a branch in Guinea-Bissau on December 12, 2005.

· On October 27, 2005, the European Union and WAEMU/ECOWAS agreed to continue Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations in 2006 and set out a precise timetable for the negotiations.

· In May 2005, a WAEMU delegation visited the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to strengthen the existing relationship between UNECA and WAEMU and share information and experience in the areas of trade and regional integration.

East Africa Community (EAC)
Members: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Recent Developments:

· Customs union among the EAC members was implemented in January 2005.

· Although the common external tariff (CET) was launched on time in January 2005, it has not been fully implemented. Administrative arrangements are currently taking place to establish the common external tariff. The CET is to have three tariff levels: zero for raw materials and capital goods, 10 percent for intermediate goods, and 25 percent for consumer goods.

· As of December 2005, the East Africa Power Master Plan was being approved by EAC ministers to improve energy supply through regional cooperation.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Members: Angola, Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Recent Developments:

· In March 2005, COMESA announced plans to set up a permanent regulatory authority to oversee the pharmaceutical industry in member countries. A committee has already been established to finalize guidelines on enhancing regional trade and cooperation in the sector, and to this end will publish minimum technical standards for the industry to address differences in the regulatory and procedural requirements of each member state.

· The COMESA Secretariat signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2005 with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization for cooperation in developing programs in the fields of education, science, culture, and communications in the region.

· Cuba sent a permanent representative to COMESA on September 20, 2005.

· As of December 2005, eleven COMESA countries44 are members of COMESA’s Free Trade Area and have “eliminated their tariffs on COMESA originating products, in accordance with the tariff reduction schedule adopted in 1992.”

· All COMESA members have agreed to a December 2008 date for the establishment of a customs union.

· The European Union is negotiating an Economic Partnership Agreement with the eastern and southern Africa region, which includes countries with memberships in COMESA, EAC, and SADC. Technical and senior level talks were held in May, September, and October 2005 to discuss regional issues, market access, trade-related areas, development cooperation aspects, agriculture, and fisheries. According to the EU, a main challenge for the EPA negotiations is the overlapping membership of various regional integration organizations with diverging integration agendas.

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[1] The fourteen regional integration organization in Africa are The Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), whose five members encompass all of North Africa; The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), whose 20 members include all East African countries except Tanzania and seven countries of Southern Africa; The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), whose 18 members are in West, Central, Southern, and North Africa; The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), whose 11 members span Central Africa; The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose 15 members encompass all of West Africa; The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD); comprising 7 countries in the Horn of Africa and the northern part of East Africa; The Southern African Development Community (SADC), whose 14 members cover all of Southern Africa; The Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), a group of six ECCAS countries; The East African Community (EAC), made up of COMESA members Kenya and Uganda and SADC member Tanzania; The Economic Community of Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL), consisting of three members of ECCAS; The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), made up of four members of COMESA and one (Réunion) that is a dependency of France; The Mano River Union (MRU), consisting of three members of ECOWAS; The Southern African Customs Union (SACU), consisting of five members of SADC; The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), encompassing eight members of ECOWAS. Source: http://www.uneca.org/aria/ARIA%20English_full.pdf.

[2] Members of ECOWAS are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo
28 The West African Monetary Zone, under ECOWAS, was created in 2001 to assist member countries with temporary balance of payment issues. EIU, African Union, found at http://www.eiu.edu,/ retrieved Mar. 12, 2006.
44 The eleven east African countries that are members of COMESA’s FTA are Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

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Peer Review in Africa

All the 53 African countries are a member of New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), which is a new branch of the African Union that focuses on economic development, governance, education, peace and health in Africa.

NEPAD was created in 2001. Its head quarter is in South Africa.

Here are recent developments in NEPAD.

· An open African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum was held in March 2005. APRM allows volunteered African leaders to review each others governance style and suggest how to improve governance among them. Under the APRM, outside African experts visit APRM member countries to investigate what economic and political reforms are needed to promote economic development and peace. Participants included civil service, civil society groups, the private sector, media, academia and the diplomatic community.

· As of December 2005, 23 African countries[1] had volunteered to join the APRM. Under the APRM, the 23 countries have agreed to hold each other accountable to various governance standards.

· Ghana and Rwanda were the first two countries to receive confidential reports on their governance[2] under the APRM at the third summit of APRM participants held on June 19, 2005 in Abuja, Nigeria. In addition to Ghana and Rwanda, the first group of nations being reviewed by the APRM includes Kenya and Mauritius. To prepare for the peer review, Uganda received the APRM review team in February 2005.

· The Peer Review for South Africa started on December 11, 2005.

· On March 21, 2005, an APRM team led a Country Support Mission to Nigeria. According to NEPAD, the purpose of the Support Mission was to assess the processes and mechanisms put in place by Nigeria to undertake its self‑assessment and subsequently draft its Programme of Action.

· Through NEPAD, Japan continued to fund 38 projects to build infrastructure, including infrastructure for water, transport, and energy in 2005.

· In July 2005, the Africa Capacity Building Foundation provided grants to strengthen the institutional capacity of the NEPAD Secretariat and the Regional Economic Communities to enable them to implement NEPAD.

· In late 2005, India started disbursing $200 million to NEPAD. As of December 2005, an $18 million credit line had been extended to the Government of Senegal for the purchase of 350 buses; $40 million had been extended to the Government of Angola for rehabilitation of the Moçamedes Railway; and a $27.7 million line of credit was being extended to the governments of Mali and Senegal for the acquisition of railway coaches and locomotives from India.

· To support NEPAD’s efforts in bridging the digital divide between Africa and the developed world, in December 2005 NEPAD launched “TechnoFuture” (a computerized educational tool) in Nigeria to teach children and adults computer and entrepreneurship skills.

· The NEPAD e-Schools initiative has been launched, and demonstrations were officially launched in 2005 in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, and Lesotho. The NEPAD e-Schools initiative aims to improve distance learning in Africa.

· In September 2005, NEPAD announced that it will begin constructing the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy) in 2006. Its main objective is to build a broadband ICT infrastructure for terrestrial and submarine cable networks for East and Southern Africa. EASSy will connect South Africa with Sudan by cable; links will connect the land-locked countries to the submarine cable. Signatories to EASSy’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include telecommunication companies from Botswana, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Burundi.

· In 2005, some African countries adapted the AU/NEPAD Health Strategy for a national health plan.

Yes, there are many positive movements in Africa. Check the blog again for more exciting stories.

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[1] The 23 African countries that have formally joined the APRM as of January 2006 are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Egypt, Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.

[2] EIU, “African Economy: Can Africa Put Its Own House in Order?” July 11, 2005, found at http://www.eiu.com, retrieved on Mar. 17, 2005.

Trip to Africa 2

Excerpt from an e-mail to my little sister.

My visit to Addis Ababa and Accra was eye opening, confidence building, and relaxing.

Here is what made me want to go back to Africa. I love the people, the food, the sky, and the water. Majority of the people are hardworking, sweet and beautiful. The traditional foods are chip, organic, healthy and fresh. The sky is closer and full of bright stars. I often went to a place where you could take a shower with hot spring water, which is soft and does wonders to your skin.

The fact that our brother is there made my stay pleasant. Johnny picked me up from the airport around 10pm and took me to a very nice restaurant that has Ethiopian traditional food and dancing. After we eat dinner, because of the time differences, I was wide-awake and I told our brother that I was not ready to go to sleep. So, we went to different nightclubs and drove by our old neighborhood, which is called Piassa.

The next day, I slept the whole day because it takes a day for your body to adjust to the high latitude in Addis Ababa. For the first week, because I was writing a research paper on remittances to Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia, I stayed in our brother’s house writing. I would weak up early in the morning and sunbath in our brother’s front yard.

I spent time with a very pleasant woman who works in our brother’s home. She made me laugh and cooked all type of food for me, including burgers and fries. At first, I was a little nerves leaving the house but after a while I enjoyed going to computer and international phone center around the neighborhood.

Originally, I was thinking to visit Axum, the historical place and where we have family members. But I didn't have enough time because we also have many family members in Addis and the surrounding areas and I felt like I want to spend time with them this time.

During the day, I visited museums and galleries. Sometimes, at night, I went out to clubs: Jazz, traditional Ethiopian, reggae, and all kind of other music with our brother.

I also gave a lecture at the Addis Ababa University on U.S. trade policy towards Africa to graduate students, which was a lot of fun. It was a dream come true to step into the University.

I was also trying to get an Ethiopian ID. They were giving me a hard time because they needed evidence that both my mom and dad where pure Ethiopians. They wanted the copy of my parents ID.

I visited our grandfather often. Unbelievably we have four aunts and uncles that are much younger than you are.

I also found some family members from my dad side.

Accra is green, clean, quite and beautiful. Because I didn't know anyone in Accra, it was kind of adventures to be in a place I never seen before. I meet Ghanaians on the flight from Addis Ababa to Accra and they took care of me during my stay. I took a four our drive from Accra to Elmina to visit the "door of no return," which was an existing point for Africans who were taken to slavery in America.

The hypocrisy of the slave traders was overwhelming. While they held thousands of people in a horrible situation in the lower part the Elmina Castile, on the upper level they used to hold church services.

I learned a lot from seeing "the door of no return." It made me question how people could commit such a horrifying act and what we should do for a history not to repeat itself.

Unlike in Ethiopia, I didn't see any panhandlers in Ghana. Most of the beggars in Ethiopia are from Tigri.

Just like in Addis Ababa, buildings are being constructed in Accra and the surrounding area. You see lots of Americans and Europeans in both places investing and living comfortably.

Similarities between the Accra and Addis are enormous. For example, there is resemblance in languages: in both places, samuna means soup. In addition, both places have Christians and Muslims and they are very religious, in general not everyone.

You also could visit our brother at any time. He would be delighted to have you.

Africa is calling.

African Union in 2005

• In October 31, 2005, the African Union adopted “the African common position” on reforming the United Nations. The African Union requested that African counties be granted permanent seats in the Security Council and gain all the existing privileges, including veto power.

• In November 2005, the AU announced the Arusha Declaration and Plan of Action on African Commodities, to improve Africa’s commodity trade performance . The Declaration lays out a plan to diversify and increase trade in commodities by accelerating intra-Africa trade.

• The AU coordinated Africa’s negotiating position for the WTO Ministerial Conference, which was held in Hong Kong in December 2005.

• Venezuela was accepted into the AU as a non-African state on December 23, 2005.

• In 2005, the AU continued to play an active role in resolving conflicts in different African countries, including Côte D’Ivoire, Togo, and Comoros. The African Union continued its efforts to defuse the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

• There were approximately 7,000 African Union peace keeping soldiers in Darfur in 2005.

Testimony from an Art Collector

Tsion Asmamaw is an art lover and collector, who currently lives in Los Angeles, California.

Her art collection includes Solomon Asfaw's three paintings. Tsion has also helped sell 14 of Solomon's artworks at a fundraising event in Los Angeles to build a cancer hospital in Ethiopia.

Her life is rich with art. Tsion's interest in art is deep rooted and well studied. In addition to have taking several art related classes and being a Graphic Designer, she delights in giving artists value by investing in their paintings.

Currently, her collection includes the original artworks of Wosene Kosrof (3 paintings), Solomon Asfaw (3), Yisehak Fikre-Sellassie (1), Yohannes Tesfaye (1), Abebe Zelelew (1), Lulseged Retta (2), Shiferaw Girma (3), Miro (1), and Chagall (2).

In her home, Solomon Asfaw's and Wosene Kosrof's art works hang on the walls. Tsion passionately explained that she loves Solomon's art because his "art work has its own vibrant and modern style." She testified that he has the skills to put attractive and bright colors harmoniously. Tsion especially admired his ability to depict scenes from Ethiopia well.

Confident in Solomon's potential, Tsion proudly stated, "his humbleness and hard work allows him to give his audience the best of his soul and this will lead him to a great place."

Buying paintings is one of the wonderful ways we could invest in ourselves. For those of you who live in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia, Solomon's art show on Friday is a good opportunity to start or continue collecting Ethiopian art.

While it brighten your home and pacifies your soul, displaying modern Ethiopian arts in your homes will give you and your family inner strength.

So please come to Solomon Asfaw's opening reception:

Time: 6pm – 9:30pm
Date: June 9, 2006
Place: Artful Gallery
1349 Maryland Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002

Peace!!!

Ethio Art in DC

Many artists who are familiar with the art seen in Ethiopia claim that people in Addis appreciate art more than do most Ethiopians in the United States. The Ethiopian community in the U.S. rarely buys contemporary Ethiopian arts.

There are only a few new successful art dealers such as Makush Art and Addis Gallary, and a few Ethiopian art collectors. Additionally, the number of attendants in exhibitions and art discussions are much less than the number of people who frequent nightclubs.

Regardless, many art shows are held throughout Washington DC metropolitan area. Some stages are easier to access than some exhibitions for Ethiopian artists. For example, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art has exhibited only a few art works by Ethiopians. However, Ethiopian businesses such as the World Space Building and Café Collage used to host frequent art shows by Ethiopian Artists.

To give a glimpse of the artistic activities in DC, I will recount Daniel Taye’s art discussion that took place at the Café Collage in Washington DC, where his art was displayed in 2004. Participants were several alumni of the School of Fine Arts in Addis Ababa including Daniel Taye, Meseret Desta, and Mekbib Gebre Sadik, friends of the artists, and art lovers.

Mr. Taye was given a stage to talk about his inspirations, techniques and life. The dialogue went on to explore such diverse topics as the way people lived in Shakiso, orphans in Addis Ababa and Jesus Christ’s missing years.

Mr. Taye said he became an artist accidentally, but he later revealed guided endeavors that grabbed and held his attention in Art. For instance, he recalled observing his childhood friend who was handicap, often drawing. Daniel said he then picked up the habit from his friend and became illustrator for his classmates in elementary school. He became a person who sketched drawing assignments for some of his classmates.

Another inspirational moment Mr. Taye discussed was a national art award he received from Mengistu Haile Marilam, when he was young. The government sponsored contest from the classroom to a national level. The award wining work was a playground painted in two colors only: red and blue. Daniel shared that his painting probably won the contest because the art related to the authorities’ desire to see uniformity in the society.

Mr. Taye talked about the celebrity status his family, school and community showered him for winning the art contest.

But he said what motivated him the most to become an artist was one persons disparaging remark that Daniel, like many Habesha youth, probably would not finish what he started. This man owned a meat shop in Mr. Taye’s neighborhood. Daniel, as child, was disturbed by the comment. He said that the criticism reinforced his desire to further explore Art. He said he felt he had to prove the butcher the comment he made was wrong.

Daniel studied at the School of Fine Arts in Addis Ababa and was eventually admitted. This prominent art school admitted only 25 to 30 students out of 700 to 1000 applicants annually.

He was asked if he got in the school through family, friends, or one of the Ethiopian orthodox Saints’ help, but the answer was not clear. However, he talked about the rigorous processes he went through to join the school: a seven weeks testing process, which involved drawing a steal life, portrait, portrait with hand, and creating a full composition.

Once he was admitted to the Art school, on one hand, he expressed his boredom he sometimes felt, on the other hand, he articulated his appreciation for the fundamental skills that the school thought him. Specifically, he communicated his gratefulness for the training the school provided to paint and draw an image to a photographic precision.

He confidently shared about his happiest memory when his favorite teacher, Professor Eshetu Teruneh, kissed him on his forehead. This experience might be yet another encouraging experience that pulled Mr. Taye even deeper into the realm of art.

After he graduated from the School of Fine Arts his government job sent him to Shakiso. When he first moved there, he wanted to spread the Christian gospel. He had studied the bible in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. However, after a staying in Shakiso for a while, he wanted to be a student instead of a teacher.

Daniel observed injustice at this southern Ethiopia in the late 1980s. The native men of Shakiso were frequently abducted to dig out minerals. They were then blindfolded so that they could not see the direction to the mines. Every night after completing their back breaking work, the men where given YeKoso Medhaanite, a strong herbal laxative and were forced to examine their own stool for any gold they may have swallowed, to smuggle. They were never paid and lived in poverty, which Daniel eventually joined. He spent most of his time there with homeless people of Shakiso. He was disgusted by the disparity between the natives living is squalid conditions while the government officials and workers lived luxurious homes.

Most of the people who had decent jobs in Shakiso came from Addis Ababa. When he shared his painful experiences and the injustices he witnessed in Shakiso, Professor Eshetu Turuneh, his mentor, told him to paint the images of the people. Mr. Taye then used his art as a healing mechanism.

Even though his supervisor Shakiso instructed him to sculpture an attractive woman from then neighboring city, Daniel sculpted an image of an older person with infected with elephantitis disease from working inside the gold mine, which is usually in swamps.

When he was asked about where he gets specific images for his work, he said he used to pray for it before. It seems like his prayer has been answered. He said now everything around him inspires him.

He said he has trained his eyes to see everything inside a framed and store the images in his mind to reproduce it at any time and place when he paints. Because of this technique he developed, Daniel said he has painted over 500 canvasses and have more than 3000 sketches.

After observing different emotions in his face, one of the participants, Azeb Mekonen, asked Mr. Taye if he is grateful for being in the profession that he chose and love. He answered his only compliant is that Emuyea, his girlfriend, is not beside him.

Azeb also asked him to explain one of his arts that depict a malnourished child sitting under a corner of a bed. He said he found that image during his visit to an orphanage, in Addis Ababa. A 12 to 13 years old girl captured Daniel’s attention. He observed that she was the oldest in the orphanage. He saw her sadness in her eyes and realized that she probably knows, because of her age and looks, no one would adopt her. This orphan girl had become a caregiver for younger kids who have more chance to be adopted. On that day, he returned to his studio and painted the girl seated in a fetus position at a corner of a bed, looking at the world scornfully.

There was a debate at the discussion between two groups of artists. One believed an art must be “finished” before it is presented to audiences. My lack of deep knowledge in Art prevented me from understanding how to assess if an art is complete or still needs work. The other group of artist believed as long as the theme of the art is complete; an artist does not have any obligation to incorporate artistic elements they learned in art school.

The moderator asked Mr. Taye if he copied Maron, An American artist, who used painting tricks that create illusions of slashed canvases. Daniel said he started to create the illusion long before he found out about Maron’s work, but once he learned about him, he started to create an illusion of the slit on a canvases being sown in some of his paintings, such as on his art titled Temesgen.

This beautiful peace of art depicts Daniel’s self-portrait, headless and holding a canvas on his left hand, standing to the left of a huge cross that towers him. The cross divides the canvas in to two. To the left of the cross, gloomy color dominates, and on the right, vibrant yellow and green colors glow. An array that comes from the right side of the cross, travel over to the left half to touch the canvas that Daniel is holding. At the bottom of the vertical part of the cross, one could see the illusion Daniel created of a tear on the canvas being stitched.

Right before the discussion concluded, an older gentle man who quietly observed the discussion shared a piece of Ethiopian Art history, even the artists did not know. Dr. Fiseha Tsion Kassa, who studied religion, philosophy, and political science in Ethiopia, Greek and France, started speak calmly by praising Daniel’s art and the art discussion.

Dr. Kassa then emphasized the importance understanding Ethiopian Art history. Artist Meseret eagerly ask Dr. Kassa to share with them some Ethiopian art history. Dr. Kassa said, in the past, all the Ethiopian church arts where taken very seriously. Artists had to be thought Kenea, an Ethiopian allegorical writing and speaking.

In addition, each of the Saints’ images had to be painted at designated places with strict procedure. Dr. Feseha expressed his dismay that currently Ethiopia is flooded with cheap and false foreign imitation of Jesus Christ, Mary and Saints’ images.

Dr. Kassa also shared fascinating information. He talked about Jesus Christ life between the ages of 12 to 30. The rest of the world describes this year as being the “missing years.”

Dr. Kassa also mentioned the Ge’ez books titled TeAmere Eyesuse (miracles of Jesus) and Dersane Raguel (the book of Ragulels) documents the full accounts of Jesus Christ’s life. Specifically, that he went to Ethiopia twice: once with his mother where he went as far as Tana and second, when he was twelve to learn among many things, Ge’ez and Hebrew languages.

Among many events, these books document an incident between Jesus Christ and one of his teachers, Memeher Semon. Specifically, at one time, the young Jesus accidentally knocked off and spilled two containers holding red and black paints. The teacher, Memeher Semon, who was also an artist and a writer, expressed his disappointment because it is a long and hideous process to make paints. Jesus Christ, then, miraculously separated the two colors. These books also describe that Jesus Christ went on a learning expedition all around the world, including Ethiopia, India, China, the U.S., and Mexico.

These types of enlightening discussions took place throughout the Washington DC Metropolitan area. The owners of Café Collage, Sankofa Bookstore and World Space Building create venues for Ethiopian artists to come together and shine.

Africa Business - Seven

I had the opportunity to attend the Annual African Business Conferences in Harvard University. In the conferences were full many bright Africans sharing their business experiences in Africa. There were also a fashion show, concert, sport, and dance events.

The Africa Business Club of Harvard Business School prepared the 7th Annual Africa Business Conference, February 11 – 13, 2005.

The keynote speaker, at the Conference, was Malik Fal, the Regional Director for Africa of the On The Frontier Group (OTF), a competitiveness consulting company. He opened the program by emphasizing that now is the time Africans fight for an economic dignity.

Mr. Fal noted that export dependence on basic commodities has kept African countries poor. Prices for basic commodities have been constantly declining underscoring the need for Africa to get out of the “commodity trap.” He argued that strategic export diversification is crucial for Africa’s development.

For example, while Nigeria is the number one producer of cassava, Thailand is the number one exporter. Nigeria has not developed cassava as an export commodity. About 40 percent of cassava produced in Nigeria is wasted because of the lack of poor refrigeration. Nigeria needs to diversify its export base and develop potential markets for cassava products. For example, cassava could also be used for cosmetics, and thus if Nigeria produces and exports cosmetics made from cassava, they could earn more from this commodity.

Further, the role of African leaders in economically developing the continent should include setting up horticultural research centers and building transportation infrastructure. African governments must also have clear and tangible goals, such as the increasing the GDP of their countries by 10 percent and exports by 20 percent by a specific year.

The private sector must understand customer needs and make products accessible to them. Instead of looking for favors from foreign governments, African governmental bodies and private entities should produce products that people overseas want to buy. The New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) should not be another “begging tool.”

Mr. Fal further emphasized the importance of developing collective goals. People must have confidence in African trade and finance misters. The approaches and attitudes of African leaders could be effective in arousing entrepreneurship or changing the behavior of people. For example, Ugandan president, Yoweri Museveni has successfully reduced the number of HIV/AIDS victims in his country through anti-HIV campaigns and education.

The first sessions were about ways to find pathways out of Africa’s commodity trap. Jason Bauer, from OTF Group, is discussed about Rwandan government’s coffee export strategy. Bauer found that Rwanda’s coffee exports are in a condition called “the commodity trap.” Coffee prices are declining because more countries are exporting this commodity. Vietnam and Brazil have increasingly dominated the coffee market. Due to the abundance of coffee suppliers, the New York Board of Trade has decreased the price of coffee.

In order to compete with other coffee-producing counties, Rwanda must increase global demand for its high-grade Arabica coffee and develop its own specialties.

OTF also recommended that Rwanda build coffee washing stations and start further processing the coffee that is exported out of the country. Mr. Bauer stated the importance of making quality products and consistently distributing them.

Because Rwanda is surrounded by other countries that have eco-tourism industries, the OTF Group also advised Rwanda to develop tourism. The OTF Group believes that Rwanda must learn from Kenya’s experience in order to be successful with an eco-tourism industry. While the number of tourists that visit Kenya is high, the duration of their visits is very low, and thus minimizes the profit that Kenya earns from tourism. The two advantages that Rwanda has are a high land forest that has over 30 species of primates, and gorillas in the south.

To capitalize on these two assets, the OTF Group suggested that Rwanda develop a research center to attract people who are passionate about gorillas and primates. Organizing a “primate discovery tour” led by primate experts would keep the tourists in the country for longer visits than just driving through parks as tourists do in Kenya. To connect the northern primate area with the gorilla site in the south, OTF Group advised the Rwandan government to build roads. In addition, the OTF Group recommended universities teach languages and sciences in order to accommodate people who have a special interest in primates and gorillas.

The second panel was about the entertainment industry in Africa. Panelists: Ngoran Assoumou, the founder of Rman Interprod; Ben Murray Bruce the Founder of Silverbird Group; Femi Odugbemi the President of Itpan; Joke Silva an Actress & Movie Director; and Toyin Subair the Principle Partner of the Abraham & Co. The panelists stated that the opportunities in the entertainment business in Africa are great. Ms. Silva, actress and movie director, said, “Nigeria … is the third largest movie and video producer in the world.” She also mentioned that Nigeria has what it takes to succeed in business--talent in distribution.” Nigeria’s movie business model is low budget, high quality, and learning on the job. However, some of the panelists argued that short training sessions for people in the industry are still necessary.

The obstacles to the entertainment business in Africa are the lack of a “legal frame work that works.” Mr. Ngoran Assoumou, the founder of Rman Interpor, provided an example based on his personal experience. He found copies of his television production in France, yet had no legal recourse for copyright infringement. Access to capital is also an impediment in entering the entertainment business. The primary source of capital for investment in Africa is from family members. The language divide between Francophones and Anglophones was also mentioned as a challenge to entering the entertainment industry.

The third session discussed the media. Panelists included: Henry J.J. Jefferys, Deputy Editor, Beeld; Phil Molefe, Head, SABC South Africa; and Mahamodo Camara, Deputy Director, Group Jeune Afrique. All the panelists agreed that investing in the media sector is high-risk, because the media must play a watchdog role in reporting corruption in government, the private sector, and NGOs.

The panelists also noted that stories about Africa are currently being written, edited, packaged, and distributed from Western cities such as London, Paris and New York and do not accurately reflect the continent. The stories that come from these entities are directed under the industry adage, “if it bleeds it leads.” This principle prevents information about Africa other than war and natural disasters from being disseminated to a western (and global) public.

The panelists identified the positive movement in the media sector as the development of the “Africa Editor’s Forum.” The panelists emphasized the importance of African journalists taking ownership in telling their own stories.

One of the challenges in the newspaper/magazine business is that in Africa, the price of a newspaper is equivalent to the price of a meal. In addition, African media disproportionately focus on politics and politicians. Furthermore, a majority of the media is owned and operated by governmental bodies, making it difficult for private companies to enter the market.

The last but most existing session was about outsourcing. The young and energetic panelists were March Dadzie the manager of Convergys; Andrew Esemezi the general manager of Supra Telecom; Karim Morsli the co-founder of Rising Data Solutions; and Nii Simmonds the founder of the NAFRICOM.

Mr. Morsli noted the potential to make money in Africa. Mr. Simmonds stated that Africa must skip the manufacturing stage of economic development and “go straight into outsourcing,” by setting up call centers and eventually moving into software development. The main challenge to expanding the “outsourcing industry” is infrastructure.

Africa’s competitive advantages in the outsourcing business are cost; language – in Anglophone and Francophone countries; time zones – proximity to Europe and the United States; and human capital – both in Africa and in the Diaspora. Currently, there are call centers operating in Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Mauritius and Senegal. Ghana’s data processing centers, however, are only working at 20-percent capacity. The next step in making call centers economically viable is to apply the learning curve to avoid stagnation and to develop other outsourcing businesses.

Kinship by Philippe Wamba

Philippe Wamba’s book is a must read for all those interested in humanity. Philippe records history that has been ignored in an engaging and interesting story telling style. The book is ahead of its time. The author digs deep into untold stories to examine the cause of division among people, from a global prospective.

Philippe’s rich observation is enhanced by his knowledge of history and a humble way of looking at his personal experiences across continents. In addition, he engages readers with an exemplary family and a coming of age stories. The writer parallels his family tale with world history and current events. In the process, he neatly packages information that is hard to find. The book will make you laugh with pleasant tales and cry with cruel stories.

It is a shame how we humans continue to ignore ideas that unite and enlighten us in favor of the old dividing stories, as we kept losing forward thinking leaders before their time - such as Philippe Wamba. The book shows us what type of history we create when we function in this world based on suspicion and ignorance.

Trip to Africa 1

I just came back from visiting Ethiopia and Ghana after 15 years in the United States.

On my journey, I realized that the opportunities to succeed in Africa is as plenty as the starts on the African sky.

Ethiopia’s International Trade

During the Durg regime, Ethiopians heard a song that praised coffee every weekday mornings for being the backbone of the Ethiopian economy. Coffee was also called the “green gold.” While the songs are no longer broadcasted, coffee is still the number one Ethiopia’s export, accounting for about 47 percent of Ethiopia’s total exports, in 2005.

After relaying on raw materials such as coffee for more than 30 years, Ethiopia still faces the challenge to diversifying and increasing Ethiopian exports. Exports are important to a country for earning foreign currency, which could be used to buy products not manufactured in the country or pay debts.

Because it is difficult to find a trade data from Ethiopia, most of the numbers used in this article are from the United Nations and the Department of Commerce. The trade data does not include arms and ammunitions because those statistics are not readily available.

In 2005, Ethiopia’s total trade was $2.4 billion: exports - 656 million, imports - $1.8 billion. Ethiopia bought $1.9 million more than it sold in 2005.

Ethiopia’s Exports

Most of Ethiopia’s exports were coffee, spices, and tea worth $314 million (48 percent of the total exports); grain and seed, $133 million (20 percent); hides and skins, $75 million (11 percent), vegetables, $22 million (3 percent).

The profit Ethiopia earns from exports was negatively affected by the following three phenomena.

Firstly, while the demand is still high and growing for organic raw materials, prices for Ethiopia’s exports, in the past decades have consistently declined. Meaning even if more coffee is being exported out of Ethiopia the money coffee earns is lower than decades ago.

Secondly, reports indicate level of efficiency in production, management, and distribution in Ethiopia are still underdeveloped. Coffee alone provides income for approximately 25 percent of the population.

Thirdly, Ethiopia’s exports were negatively affected by the recent Ethio-Eritrea war. As shown in the graph, after seven years, Ethiopian exports to the United States have not yet reached the level in 1998, which was $70 million. In 2005, Ethiopia’s export to the U.S. was $62 million.

While most of the Ethiopian exports are extractive, one of the most damaging is the exports of trees, which was the sixth largest export in 2003. Ethiopia is currently facing a very high rate of deforestation.

The European Union bought $337 million (51 percent) of Ethiopian exports; China $86 million (13 percent); Japan $74 million (11 percent); and the United States $62 million (11 percent) in 2005.

Ethiopia’s Imports

The top three Ethiopian imports in 2005 were machineries and aircrafts $664 million (34 percent of total imports), vehicles and electronic equipments $398 million (20 percent); food and medicine $212 million (10%).

In the long run, the reliance on imported machineries, medicine, and food might suffocate domestic industries in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia imported $713 million worth items (36 percent of total imports in 2005) from the European Union; $515 million (26 percent) from the United States; and 285 million (15 percent) from China.

Ethiopia’s Regional Trade

The top Ethiopian export and import partners are the wealthiest countries in the world. Ethiopian trade with the rest of Africa and other developing regions are limited. Several trade experts’ advice African countries to increase regional and continental trade for economic growth.

Many regional organizations in Africa are attempting to negotiate the lowering of trade barriers among neighbor countries.

Ethiopia is member of several enter-regional trade organizations such as Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Under COMESA, 20 east African countries has agreed “to co-operate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people'” and promote “peace and security in the region

On October 31, 2000, eleven out of the 20 COMESA member countries[1] created a Free Trade Agreement and “eliminated their tariffs on COMESA originating products, in accordance with the tariff reduction schedule adopted in 1992.”[2] Ethiopia has not yet other neighboring counties in creating a free trade area.

Joining the other African countries would provide Ethiopia with an economic opportunity. Several studies indicate if people are given the opportunity to trade, no ethnic differences or boarders will prevent them from improving their economy.

Ethiopia’s Trade with the United States

Ethiopia ranks number 78 in buying U.S. products and number 136 in selling to the United States.

To improve the trade relationship between the United States and some African countries, President Clinton signed the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) became a law in May 18, 2000. President Bush expanded and extended AGOA by amending the law twice. The latest amendment became a law on July 13, 2004.

AGOA received bipartisan support in Congress. Many individuals, lawmakers, and nongovernmental organization worked to create, expand and improve AGOA. Those individuals include Whitaker, the founder and CEO of Whitaker Group and Congressman Jim McDermott, a democrat from Seattle.

AGOA grants quota and duty free access to certain African exports to the United States from eligible African countries.

Counties must meet annual eligibility requirements in order to export some of their product to the United States duty free. The eligibility requirements include progress toward a market-based economy, free trade, the rule of law, political pluralism and support in fighting terrorism.

AGOA also provides an opportunity for African trade ministers and business people to meet with high U.S. government officials, annually. As of March 2006, four AGOA forums have taken place in Senegal, Washington D.C., and Mauritius.

Ethiopia has been AGOA eligible since AGOA become a law. Through AGOA, Ethiopia’s exports to the United States have somewhat increased and diversified. While it is a good start for diversification of Ethiopia’s export, relaying solely on apparel export is not good for Ethiopia because China and India are expected to dominate world’s textile and clothing market, especially after quotas for their exports of clothing was eliminated early in 2005.

Organizations such as the Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council have been attempting to improve trade by organizing events with the United States Trade and Development Agency for Ethiopian exporters to visit Washington DC to find buyers in the United States.

Many Ethiopian business owners need the help of the Ethiopian Diaspora to distribute Ethiopian products worldwide. The African Diaspora could take advantage of these programs to export and import goods and services that benefit Ethiopia.

United States also have export assistance programs for people who would like to ship goods and services to Ethiopia. Government agencies, such us the U.S. Import Export Bank and Export Administration under the Department of Commerce, offer such assistance.

In conclusion, while a well developed transportation system and high tariffs are barriers to Ethiopian trade, opportunities for prosperity through trade are immense.

Ethiopia must stop relaying on one backbone - coffee – and start building strong pillars of trade. Optimistically, Ethiopia will soon offer the world her blessings for a profitable return.

Stay tuned for an article on Ethiopian potential exports.

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[1] The Eleven member States that have set up a Free Trade area under COMESA are Burundi, Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius Rwanda, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

[2] COMESA, “Over View of COMESA,” found at http://www.comesa.int/about/Overview/view, retrieved Mar. 20.

The Ethiopian Millennium

The Ethiopian Millennium: Time to Annex the Ethiopian Renaissance

“Awake! Awake! Put on your strength! Put on your new beautiful garments. Shake yourself from the dust: arise. Loose your bone from your neck....”

Dr. Ephraim Isaac echoed the above Prophet Isaiah’s 3,000 years old message to the Ethiostudy members and guests at a gathering, which took place on August 14, 2004 in Washington, DC at the Sankofa Bookstore.

During his speech, Dr. Isaac stressed the importance of mobilizing the African Diaspora to celebrate the Ethiopian millennium as a way to revive the Ethiopian Renaissance, which is a network of people devoted to sublimate the consciousness and living standards of Ethiopians. Purchasing Ethiopian products, such us the traditional clothing and jewelry, is important in asserting economic independence.

Sankofa, which means there are benefits in learning from ancestors, in Akan - a Ghanaian language, fits Dr. Isaac’s message that encourages Ethiopians to study their history to find solutions to the current problems Ethiopia faces.

Dr. Isaac is a peacemaker, visionary and teacher. He is the first professor of Afro-American Studies department at Harvard University. He directed the Institute of Semitic studies in Princeton. He received a Peacemaker Award from the Tanenbaum Center in 2002 for his effort to resolve the boarder conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. In July 2004, Dr. Isacc also received an honorary Doctor degree from Addis Ababa University. Currently, he is attempting to create peace amongst Ethiopian leaders and the political candidates.

Tigest Belachew, an active member of Ethiostudy and one of the committee members of the Ethiopia Renaissance, organized and introduced Dr. Isaac’s speaking event. The Ethiopian Renaissance recently revived the Committee for Ethiopian Literacy organization of the 1960’s. Ethiostudy is a free association of Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia. The association’s goal is to understand Ethiopian history, politics, culture and economy by inviting different professionals to share their knowledge.

Dr. Ephraim Isaac began his speech by asking what language the audiences prefer him to use for his presentation. He speaks seventeen languages. The audiences chose English.

Dr. Isaac said it is crucial that more people pay attention to the study of the Ethiopian ancient languages, history and literature because we could learn how we could work together for the betterment of Ethiopia. “Ethiopia is like a combination of Kenya and Egypt,” where people could study history while they enjoy nature.

Dr. Isaac identified many research areas in Ethiopia that are helpful for the current generation. Specifically, he pointed out that there are many Ge’ez books about history, literature, music, religion, chronicles and hagiographies. <>

Millions of useful manuscripts can be found in churches and monasteries in Debre Bizen, Geshen Mariam, Debre Mariam, and many other places.

Out side of the country, Ethiopian historic manuscripts could be found in the Library of Congress, in Washington D.C., Biblioteque National in France; British Library in London; Vatican in Rome; and Ethnographic library in Russia.

<>Dr. Isaac identified four areas of researches that are important to the current generation.

First, Dr. Isaac emphasized that the ancient manuscripts provide examples of multiculturalism, which could remedy ills caused by ethnic division or economic segregation.

<>Many European visitors witnessed peaceful way of life in Ethiopia in the 15th century. For example, the humanist Damia da Goes, a disciple of Erasmus, reported Christians, Muslims, and Jews, and others lived peacefully in Ethiopia. The Pope prohibited Damia da Goes’s book.

Second, Ethiopia’s hidden manuscripts are important in the study of religion and philosophy. Beyond being a place where Judaism, Islam and Christianity coexisted harmoniously for centuries, these religions have a deep root in Ethiopia.

According to Dr. Isaac, Prophet Mohamed’s teachings and the Holy Quran reflect Ethiopian linguistic, literary, and conceptual influences. Three of the four early Muslim leaders are believed to be of Ethiopian or part Ethiopian origin, such as the Muezzen Bilal, the Khalif Omar, and the military leader Amru Ibn al.

Additionally, he pointed out because Ge’ez is one of the seven languages the bible was first translated into, a person who understand Ge’ez is a respected biblical scholar. <>

Third, Dr. Isaac shared there are plenty Ethiopian manuscripts that contain many role models that could enhance everybody’s life. For example, he discussed how several Ge’ez books record many influential women’s stories.

Dr. Isaac talked about some heroines, such as Meskel Kebra, Kerstos Semera, Zena Mariam, and Emmea Worete. Kerstos Semera, was a philosopher who always advocated peace, Dr. Isaac explained. In one of her priers, Dr. Isaac quoted her for saying “God why don’t you reconcile with Satan so we can also be friends with our enemies.” Perhaps now we should ask why don’t we become friends with our enemies so there would be a universal peace?

Fourth, the history of Ethiopians’ the Ethiopian Diaspora is also important for Ethiopians who live outside of the country.

Dr. Isaac recognizing the current Diaspora’s effort. He explained Ethiopians are currently having a positive influence to the point where their language has become one of the official languages in the world’s most powerful city, Washington, DC.

Historically, Ethiopians also had migrated to other regions of the world as merchants, sailors, and soldiers to influence their host country positively, he pointed out. For example, Dr. Joseph Harris, a professor at Howard University, who wrote “Africans in India,” and others documented that in India there was an Ethiopian Kingdom in the 13^th century. Dr. Isaac shared that the British faced the strongest resistance during their invasion in Janjira, one of the areas populated by Ethiopian descendants.

Dr. Isaac told while Ethiopian history in the past has influenced people positively, in the last 25 to 30 years’ our country has been depicted in a shameful way in the international media. He said now it is the time for Ethiopia to become an inspiration for economic freedom around the world, as Ethiopia was an inspiration to fight against colonialism and slavery.

He demonstrated how Ethiopian could rise from poverty through an old Ethiopian tongue-twister: “afean ba-malasie malasien ba-afea ka-lan-qoalanpalatakskut man yan-qoalapelataselegnal?” This proverb means, if I do not help my own tongue to speak, then who will? Dr. Isaac used this proverb to communicate if “Ethiopian are the once who could solve Ethiopian problems.”

His life is exemplary. He dedicated his life in learning and teaching since a very young age. As he eloquently communicated during his speech and through his work, he demonstrates the importance of revealing Ethiopians hidden treasury in the realms of humanities.

As a visionary, he actively advocates the idea of celebrating the coming Ethiopian millennium, which will commence in three years, in the Gregorian calendar 2006-07. Dr. Isaac advised the current Ethiopian government and various civic organizations to mobilize the country for the Millennium as a dawn and day break for an Ethiopian Renaissance.

Dr. Isaac is optimistic about Ethiopia’s near future. He shared his observation of many positive involvements of students in Eritrea and Ethiopia who yearn for peace. He talked about his personal experience with several law school students in Asmara University who denounce the separation.

On the Ethiopian side many new student organizations such as the Afro Flag group in Addis Ababa University, hope that some day the Ethiopian and Eritrean people will respect and work with each other. These groups reject divisions among Ethiopians and prepare themselves to work with anyone whose goal is to develop the country by working together.

He believes the whole Black world would support Ethiopians in African development. He has several African American who have studied Ge’ez literature under him and who admire Ethiopia for its contribution to fighting for freedom.

At a closing of his speech, Dr. Isaac introduced Tigist Belachew, Winta Tafferi, Mike Endale, and Sefanit Mesfin. He said they were “soldiers of the Renaissance.” They are also some of the active leaders the Ethiostudy group, which is a part of Ethiopian Students Association International.

For a long lasting peace in Ethiopia, Dr. Isaac suggested Ethiopian children have to be taught at least four languages: Amharic, Tigregna, Oromefa, and one other Ethiopia language they elect.

On his conclusion, Dr. Isaac emphasized, Ethiopia does not belong only to the leaders. A leader comes, a leader goes but Ethiopia is eternal. We could make the new Millennium work for us by uniting and working with and respecting each other. The solution is to use the coming Ethiopian Millennium as a way to revive the Ethiopian Renaissance: “the new beginning, a new dawn to bring solutions to starvation and diseases and make Ethiopia a strong leader in the world.”