ReBranding Africa
The Revolution Begins
I’ve been studying the concept of ubuntu, a South African philosophy, since I was about 15 years old. The ancient philosophy posits that we are all intrinsically connected, unable to reach our full human potential as individuals. We can only manifest our truest, most enlightened selves through consistent interaction with other humans. I’ve detailed my…
Read MoreNEW BLOG FEED
Friends, I am so appreciative of everyone that subscribes to my blog. Unfortunately, due the ole Google and Feedburner merger, my subscribers are lost in cyber space. After months of trying to recover them, we’re still no further along than before. The record is gone. So I need to create a new blog feed. I’ll…
Read MoreTHE INDUSTRY OF AID: Charity or Business?
Giving to a charity feels good. If you were raised in America or the UK, you’re likely very comfortable and familiar with giving to various causes. It’s part of the fabric of modern developed society. We know there is a need for charity work, especially in developing regions like Africa. We need emergency food, access…
Read MoreWho Needs Celebrity Philanthropy?
The masses continuously lambast the likes of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Bono, complaining about their incessant philanthropic focus and how it only serves to bolster their careers. Why are these celebrities using their star power to generate millions of dollars for charity and garner backing from influential political leaders when they could just keep…
Read MoreTHE INDUSTRY OF AID: Inspire Me
I just read an excerpt from a book called “The Last Lecture”. Mr. Pausch said, “When you use money to fight poverty, it can be of great value, but too often, you’re working at the margins. When you’re putting people on the moon, you’re inspiring all of us to achieve the maximum of human potential,…
Read MoreTHE INDUSTRY OF AID | Introduction
Africa is the second largest continent, bursting with more natural resources than any other, yet still behind much of the rest of the world in terms of economic development, peace and health. Why? There is no simple answer, but there are some consistently predominant contributors. Pre-colonization Africa was peaceful and self-reliant. Colonials moved in and…
Read MoreREBRANDING AFRICA: Expectations
Developing Nations are not often recognized for excellence. However, this has little to do with the level of talent and determination found in these areas. There are thousands of extraordinary artisans and competent entrepreneurs yet to have the opportunity to present their design and product to the international market. Decades of focus on the negative…
Read MoreREBRANDING AFRICA: Environment Matters
In 2007, The Washington Post did an experiment on context, perception and priorities in which Joshua Bell, an internationally acclaimed musical virtuoso, stationed himself in the Metro, playing his violin (valued at $4 Million) for passersby. He was perceived as any other bum trying to make a buck in the subway station. You can read…
Read MoreREBRANDING AFRICA: Image is Everything
Building a solid brand that fuels a better image for Africa can create an even bigger impact than the direct jobs you are creating with your business. For instance, with KEZA, we stand to generate 200-500 lucrative careers for African artists and entrepreneurs over the next 2 years. This is powerful and easily quantified. In…
Read MoreREBRANDING AFRICA: This is Better Than That
If I’m a photographer working in Africa, I’m going look for the most mind blowing and disturbing images I can capture. That’s my purpose. I gather pictures of starvation, disease, filthy hospitals, rebels with guns, dictators with gold plated vehicles and children with distended bellies and flies on their faces. I will use these photos…
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