COMING UP!>>Episode #69 (Season 4; Ep.4):East Africa Rising(4): Remembering & Reflecting on Rwanda@22

Episode #69

(Season 4; Ep.4):  

East Africa Rising(4): Remembering & Reflecting on Rwanda@22

We continue Season 4 STILL on the theme of “making money for Africa”.

We started the Season with the Creative Economy, and concluded that Film, more than any other cog in the Creative Economy wheel, was probably the most dominant within that Economy. In episode 2, we appreciated how, if managed properly, Sports could become the biggest employer in Ghana, the sub region, and the Continent.

Last week, we started to unpack customer service, concluding that, Ghana can achieve an “insanely customer-centric culture” as seen in the West, but it takes exposure and training of frontline staff to do that.

Today, we revisit East Africa, which we commenced back in Season 1.

On 17 June, 2014, we initiated a discussion on East Africa.

Still as part of this show’s “East Africa rising” programme, we are reprising the focus of East Africa on the Show, with a view to reminding listeners about the urgency of catalyzing and capitalizing on synergy with East Africa.

The Southern African country of Namibia recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of its High Commission in Ghana, but, really, how many East African countries have diplomatic representations here? If not, why not? (Kenya has none in Ghana yet, though there is talk that after Kenyatta reciprocates a visit to Ghana sometime this year, there may be one; Rwanda has a diplomatic representation, now based at Weija, here in Accra; Uganda has none at all – never mind, Burundi or Tanzania). 

In February 2015, Ethiopia tested light rail. Rwanda has bought new planes to fly to Europe. Can it give is lessons on sanitizing our sanitation day? In November 2013, Kenya unveiled a US$13.8bn high-speed train. Is this something we can learn from them? What about Ghanaian businessmen and their ability to take advantage of doing business in Ghana at a time Ghana Tourism Authority are talking about learning from Kenya?

While these are important questions to be asked, one would have hoped we would not be asking them in 2016, when ECOWAS turns 41 and President Mahama invited Kenya’s President Kenyatta to the country’s independence celebrations in March.

Today’s edition is special for the specific reason that it comes at a time when 2 April was exactly a year since the Garissa attack in Kenya that claimed some 148 lives at the university.

But it is especially significant because Thursday 7 April will be the sixth commemoration of the official International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Rwanda Genocide since the day was mooted by the UN in 2010. The day commemorates the deaths of 800,000 people murdered during the 1994 genocide in that country.

Today, however, is not a celebration on a somber note, but one that is excited by all that is East African and Rwandan – for which reason I will be speaking to Martin Ankrah of Global Media Alliance, with whom the host of “Africa in Focus” was priviledged to join in being part of a Media Familiarization tour back in July 2014.

In the fourth episode of Season 4, we will move from the general appreciation of East Africa by a Nigerian lawyer living and working in Kenya to the specific case of an AU Official from Rwanda, living in Addis, speaking about his country to the studio, where we will discuss synergies and the future of East & West Africa.

AIF started in 2014 with a recognition that East Africa is rising. Is Ghana listening?

Join us if you can at 2.05pm on 6 April, 2016.

Call us on the following numbers

+233(0)289.000.931

Guests in the studio:

Ø Martin Ankrah, Global Media Alliance

v  Guests on PODCAST:

Ø  Osai Ojigho, Lawyer & Coordinator of State of the Union(SOTU), Nairobi, Kenya

Ø  Prudence Sebahizi, Economist & Advisor, Continental Free Trade Area Negotiations, African Union, Addis Ababa

   

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*more details will be available soon on www.africainfocusradioshow.org ; africainfocusshow.blogspot.com.

*Follow the conversations on #AfricainFocus on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14.

Tweet Emmanuel ahead of time on www.twitter.com/ekbensah, using #africainfocus.

Call Radio XYZ93.1FM on 0289.000.931 / 0289.931.000.

Follow 24/7 on https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.radioxyzonline.pc

STORIFY Feature: What you missed from the 31st March Edition of Africa in Focus Show -- #EastAfricaRising

PODCAST!>>Ep.37: East Africa Rising(2)

EPISODE #37
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr
Technical  Producer: D.J. Stagger

"Dear friends,

We used the thirty-seventh edition of the Africa in Focus show to reprise the very important issue of what we consider to be "rising" East Africa. We believe it to be rising a lot more than is talked about in this part of the sub-region. 

Gertrude Chelimo

Azeez Gomda

For which reason, we invited a Kenyan national -- Gertrude Chelimo, a student at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre -- to help join the two Ghanaians in the studio (author Arnold Boateng who wrote a book about Rwanda's ICT Sector; and Public Relations Officer of Ghana Youth Integrity Initiative Azeez Gomda) to discuss the trajectory of East Africa.

Kenya has Vision 2030; Ghana has...what, exactly? The country seems to have become bereft of the Pan-African vision it was reputed to have in the days of Nkrumah. It is in this spirit we at Africa in Focus believe it is important to create synergies between 
West and East Africa, hence our #EASTAFRICARISING initiative, which we initiated back in June 2014, when we commenced the first edition of "East Africa Rising". 

Arnold Boateng

We have taken a step forward with this by establishing BOTH a facebook page (www.facebook.com/eastafricarising), and twitter presence (www.twitter.com/eastafricarisng) to enhance the synergy with the already-existing whatsapp group, which is populated by journalists; activists; and professionals from East Africa; Southern Africa; and West Africa.




Kindly find a link to download the podcast below:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/267nk8b47t3476i/AFRICA%20IN%20FOCUS%20%2031-03-15.mp3?dl=0

Kind regards,
Emmanuel

COMING UP!>>Ep.37: East Africa Rising(2)

On 17 June, 2014, we initiated a discussion on East Africa.

As part of our “East Africa rising” programme, we are reprising the focus of East Africa on the Show, with a view to reminding listeners about the urgency of catalyzing and capitalizing on synergy with East Africa.

The Southern African country of Namibia recently opened a High Commission in Ghana, but, really, how many East African countries have diplomatic representations here? If not, why not? (Kenya has none in Ghana; Rwanda has a diplomatic representation; Uganda has none at all – never mind, Burundi or Tanzania) .  

In February, Ethiopia tested light rail. Rwanda has bought new planes to fly to Europe. Can it give is lessons on sanitizing our sanitation day? In November 2013, Kenya unveiled a US$13.8bn high-speed train. Is this something we can learn from them? What about Ghanaian businessmen and their ability to take advantage of doing business in Ghana at a time Ghana Tourism Authority are talking about learning from Kenya?

While these are important questions to be asked, one would have hoped we would not be asking them in 2015, when ECOWAS turns 40 and President Mahama is E COWAS Chair.

AIF started in 2014 with a recognition that East Africa is rising. Is Ghana listening?

Join us if you can at 1pm on 31 March, 2015.

Guiding questions

• What is especially vibrant about the ICT sector in Rwanda Ghanaians can learn from?
• Kenya has had its fair shares of challenges, but is considered one of the strongest economies in the region. Apart from its strong and reputable journalism, and its world-class tourism, what can Ghana learn from it?
• Ethiopia now has light-rail; Kenya has high-speed rail. Even Abuja has considered light-rail. What is East Africa doing more seriously than Ghana on infrastructure?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Arnold Boateng, Author/entrepreneur/youth development advocate

Ø  Azeez Gomda, PRO, Ghana Youth Integrity Initiative

Ø  Chelimo Gertrude, Kenyan national studying in Ghana

On the line:

·        Eunice Marfo, Executive Secretary, Ghana Association of Savings & Loans @13h15

·        Kobby Blay, EbolaWatch @13h30

FEATURE from "Kigali Today" Paper: "For Rwanda, more mountain gorillas means more revenues"

Jul 7, 2014

For Rwanda, more mountain gorillas means more revenues

At the foot of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains, Northern Rwanda, thousands of villagers gather to celebrate the birth of 18 mountain gorilla newborns just meters from the bambooforest up in the hills.
Hundreds of tourists and foreign dignitaries attend the annual baby gorilla naming ceremony, locally known as KwitaIzina. Local foods are prepared. Chefs roast fresh goat meat and fish.  Beer and soft drinks are in abundance.

Rwandan Intore warriors, dressed in traditional attire,brave the freezing mist, thunderously thumping their feet on the floor, jumping high and rhythmically swaying their neatly weaved toupees.The crown suddenly gets wild, with applause in response. Speeches are said and praises made. Selected individuals are given the advantage to give names to the newborns.

On July 1, 2014, Rwanda held the 10^thKwitaIzina festival. American Ambassador to Rwanda, DonaldKoranwas given the privilege. He enthusiastically stepped on the floor and named one of the babies ‘Twiyubake’,loosely translated as self-reliance.

LeoniCuelenaere, the Netherlands Ambassador to Rwanda named the baby ‘Inzozi’, meaning dreams. Some names are so expressive, the crowd cheers when they are announced.


 Normally, after the naming exercise, the real party kicks off. Traditional instruments are played to set the mood right.The national troupe, a selection of beautiful and exemplary women dancers seizes the dance floor; swinging their attractivelycurved bodies to the heart-shattering sounds of drum-beats.International and local pop artists perform too. The crowdgets even wilder.

It is a privilege to name a baby gorilla. The Bill Clintons and Bill Gates have once been given such privileges.In June 2006, Bill Gates visited the Sabyinyo familyfrom which he named their new baby ‘KEZA’ [cute].

Biggest names present
KwitaIzina, launched in 2005, which has grown to become an international event, creates a global buzz. Global media networks, such as National Geographic, Discovery Channel, SABC, Reuters and M-Net Studio 53, Animal Planet, all broadcast the event live to millions of viewers around the world. International celebrities, such as Star Wars heroine Natalie Portman have attended. In 2008, Natalie Portman named a baby ‘Gukina’ [to play].

The late crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, was represented by his former manager John Stainton who named a baby ‘Ingufu’ [strength], in memory of Steve. Renowned American conservationist Jack Hanna, Marjorie Kaplan of Animal Planet and Terry Lundgren,the President of Macys’have attended the festival. Famous actor Don Cheadle was invited to the ceremony in 2010 and named a baby gorilla Zoya, meaning life.

According to Valentine Rugwabiza, theChief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board, the eventemphasizes the conservation of the gorillas. Since 2005, KwitaIzina was launched, 163 newbornshave been named.

Due to the festival, the mountaingorilla population in Rwanda has increased to over 600from 10 families of the remaining 880 gorillas found in Rwanda, Uganda, and the Eastern DR Congo, owing to collaborative efforts of the government, the local communities neighboring the national park and conservation partners.

“Because of the country’s community-led conservation efforts that led to a 26.3 percent growth in the population of gorillas since 2003,” Rugwabiza said.“That constant growth in the gorilla numbers is a clear sign of good conservation policies by the government of Rwanda.”

More gorillas, more revenue
And for Rwanda, more gorillas meanmore revenues.Gorilla trekking permits count for the large share. In 2010, from 666,000 visitors, Rwanda generated $200m. In 2013, from 1,137,000 visitors, the tourism industry generated about $294m. The industry has grown exponentially, it made only $62m in 2000.

The government allocates 5 percent of the revenues to local communities around the national park.  A school of six classrooms was built with funds from the ‘Shared Revenue Scheme’. More than300 projects have been rolled out, including construction of more than 50 primary schools, roads and clean water supply.

Rwanda’s Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi, who presided over the ceremony, and named the baby ‘Birashoboka’ [it is possible], said conserving the nature is integral to Rwanda’s developmentagenda.

Particularly, he said, “local residents are the primary beneficiaries as it has helped set up community businesses and income generating projects that has improved lives and the communities’ economy.”
The Prime Minister strongly advised residents to keep up the conservation practices in order to maintain the current benefits from tourism.

To emphasize the importance of KwitaIzina, cerebrations are organized with themes.  This year’s theme for example was; “A Decade: Conserving-Empowering-Growing”, with emphasis on how gorilla tourism empowers communities through revenue sharing programs.

Conservationists and gorilla admirers such as Ambassador Cuelenaere, say Rwanda’sconservation effort for the Mountain Gorillas is remarkable.

Emmanuel Bensah, a Ghanaian who attended the carnival said, “Rwanda should serve as an example that Africa can link conservation and tourism.” “This is a message that Africa should not leave conservation to the [foreigners].”

List of dignitaries who named the newborns and the respective gorilla names

1. Rt. Honourable Pierre Damien Habumuremyi- Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda named Birashoboka [all is possible]
2. H.E LeoniCuelenaere – Ambassador of Netherlands to Rwanda named Inzozi [dreams]
3. Mr. Omar Samra –Tour operator representing Egypt and the Middle East named Inkindi [high value]
4. General MushyoKamanzi  -  Army Chief of Staff named Ndengera [protect me]
5. Mr. Charles OnyangoObbo – Editor, Mail and Guardian AFRICA named Tebuka [hurry through]
6. Amb. TeglaLoroupe  – Kenyan Athlete and Peace Ambassador named Nakure [let her grow]
7. Mr. IkechiUko  – Publisher, ATQ Publisher- Nigeria named Umugeni [bride]
8. Ms. Uwamahoro Agnes – Local Community President of COPAV Mararo, Nyangye Sector named Nkurunziza [Goodnews]
9. John Sempebwa – Deputy CEO United Tourism Board, Uganda named Imikino [sports]
10. H.E Donald W. Koran – Ambassador of the United States of America to Rwanda named Twiyubake [self-relience]
11. Mr. John Mirenge  – Chief Executive Officer RwandAir named Kwigira [self-reliance]
12. Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed – Principal Secretary for Commerce, Tourism and East African Affairs, Kenya named Isange [welcome]
13. Ms. Lisa Karanja – Senior Director Business Competitiveness, Trade Mark named Umutaka [Umbrella]
14. Hon. BarnabaMarial Benjamin – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, South Sudan named Masunzu [ a place around the Virunga volcanoes]
15. Mr. Bigirimana Francois  –Volcanoes National Park Guide, Rwanda Development Board named Nkundurwanda [I Love Rwanda]
16. Dr. Adam Woo – Chief Operating Officer, Chinese Business Network gave a Chinese name which translates to Ubukwe [celebration and double prosperity]
17. Ms. Keiko Mori – Japanese Friends named Ubukombe [ experience]
18. Mr. Fidel Nizeyimana- Tracker, Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda Development Board named Ibendera [flag]

By Lillian Gahima

PODCAST>> "AFRICA IN FOCUS: "East Africa Rising: Rwanda, Rwanda!" (15 July, 2014)

From Emmanuel K: "Kindly find the podcast of the NINTH edition of the "Africa in Focus" show, which interrogated the question: "Even as we celebrate this beautiful new star of Africa, we must begin to ask important questions on how it has been able to link conservation and tourism to development in a way that is reflected through the annual gorilla-naming ceremony. As Ghana prepares itself to host the UN World Tourism Organisation international conference on Tourism Branding, what lessons can it learn from Rwanda which makes up to USD300m a year on tourism?" OTHER QUESTIONS ANSWERED INCLUDED: • When did the idea for the gorilla-naming ceremony come about, and why is it important for Rwanda? (Ignatius, RwandAir) • What are some of the best practices on tourism that Rwanda can share? • What are some of the achievements Rwanda has been able to chalk since the end of the genocide in 1994 (Ambassador Habineza) • Why did the city of Kigali decide to establish the Genocide Memorial museum? (Serge Rwigamba) • How has the genocide memorial been able to renew the spirit of Rwandans towards re-building their country? (Serge) • What has Rwanda done right which Ghana can learn from?" Click here to view (Emmanuel K shared these files using Dropbox. Enjoy!) © 2014 Dropbox

AFRICA IN FOCUS >> Coming up on 15 July, 2014: "East Africa Rising: Rwanda, Rwanda!"

East Africa Rising: Rwanda, Rwanda!

On 27 June, on the invitation of RwandAir and Rwanda Development Board, the host & Head of Research and Communications of AIF found himself in Rwanda to join other West African media practitioners, and tour operators from the East African region in what would be a whistle-stop tour of Rwanda. The invitees would first find themselves engaged in the community-based “umuganda”, which has become standard fare on the last Saturday of each month.  Then, it was off to Nyanza, which is a town located in the Southern province of the country. There, the visitors were treated to the rich culture and tradition of Rwandans and introduced to what was once the capital of the Kingdom of Rwanda from 1958 to 1962 during the stay of Rwanda’s colonizers.

It must be said that apart from visiting the two borders between Rwanda and DRC some 10 minutes from the plush Lake Kivu Serena Hotel in the Northern province, where one obtained a useful insight into life across Rwanda’s francophone neighbor that is not a member of the East African Community, perhaps the indisputable highlight of the trip was in Musanze – at the “Kwita Izina” where we played host to an amazing ceremony…to name gorillas.

Forget Sigourney Weaver in the 1988 film “Gorillas in the Midst”. We were treated to the real deal. We visited the Dr.Dian Fossey Memorial Fund for Gorillas, which inspired the said movie. Though we regrettably did not see any live gorillas, we spent a whole day in the beautiful and scenic Musanze—set against the backdrop of undulating hills and volcanoes that reached almost the heavens – where we would witness the naming of no less than eighteen gorillas.

To be present in the beautiful and clean country (that is Rwanda) to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the gorilla-naming ceremony at a time when this landlocked East African country was reflecting over 20 years of an egregious past, is more than a priviledge.

But even as we celebrate this beautiful new star of Africa, we must begin to ask important questions on how it has been able to link conservation and tourism to development in a way that is reflected through the annual gorilla-naming ceremony. As Ghana prepares itself to host the UN World Tourism Organisation international conference on Tourism Branding, what lessons can it learn from Rwanda which makes up to USD300m a year on tourism?

Guests include:

Ø  Ignatius Ahimbisibwe, Sales & Marketing, Rwandair

Ø  Francis Agyemang, Commercial director, Eurotours

Ø  Ambassador Joseph Habineza, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Abuja & Accra

Tune in at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We’re also streaming live  www.radioxyzonline.com.

Contact us Facebook on:

http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz and radio XYZ 93.1FM. Tweet us @africainfocus14 and @ekbensah. Listen to us on #MultiTVChannel29. Thanks

PODCAST>> "AFRICA IN FOCUS: "East Africa Rising!" (17 June, 2014)

From Emmanuel K: "Dear friends, Kindly find a podcast of the 17 June edition of "Africa in Focus", which interrogated the question that: "Much of the time, there is talk that Africa can learn from the East. We play ball closer to home by asking what can Africa, especially the sub-region of the West, learn from African countries that are East of the continent!" Guests included: Ø Anthony Annan, a Ghanaian entrepreneur living in Rwanda Ø Eyob Tekalign Tolina, an Ethiopian who has worked with the UNECA, and well-versed on Trade Policy Ø Uwem Thompson, Communications Officer of Ecowas Regional Energy Regulatory Authority (ERERA) Ø Christine Njeru, a Kenyan Lawyer and Consultant living in Nairobi Ø H.E. Ambassador Joseph Habineza -- High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria & Ghana. Tune in EVERY Tuesday at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We're also streaming live www.radioxyzonline.com. Contact us Facebook on: http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz and radio XYZ 93.1FM. Tweet us @africainfocus14 and @ekbensah. Listen to us on #MultiTVChannel29. Thanks! HOW TO CONTACT "AFRICA IN FOCUS" 1. Google plus BUSINESS PAGE:http://gplus.to/contactafricainfocusxyz 2. Google plus COMMUNITY: http://gplus.to/africaonradioxyz 3. Google plus Profile: http://gplus.to/africainfocusongoogleplus *Email: africainfocusonradioxyz AT gmail.com *FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz *Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/africainfocus14, using #AfricainFocus #radioxyz" Click here to view (Emmanuel K shared these files using Dropbox. Enjoy!) © 2014 Dropbox

AFRICA IN FOCUS>>Coming up on 17 June, 2014: What can the West learn from the East?

Forget “Africa Rising”! Is it a case of East Africa Rising?

West Africa has become synonymous to efforts on maintaining peace and security. Meanwhile, East Africa, while populated by only 5 member countries, already has a track-record of successful integration efforts which collapsed back in 1977 when ECOWAS was only two years old.

So it is not as if East Africa has not done it before. The region has the erstwhile institutions available which West Africa can learn from. Coupled with the fact that individual countries, such as Kenya, Rwanda, and non-EAC member Ethiopia are all doing very well in their own right, one begins to question whether there are no best practices West Africa can learn from the East.

Much of the time, there is talk that Africa can learn from the East. We play ball closer to home by asking what can Africa, especially the sub-region of the West, learn from African countries that are East of the continent!

Guests include:

Ø  Anthony Annan, a Ghanaian entrepreneur living in Rwanda

Ø  Eyob Tekalign Tolina, an Ethiopian who has worked with the UNECA, and well-versed on Trade Policy

Ø  Uwem Thompson, Communications Officer of Ecowas Regional Energy Regulatory Authority (ERERA)

Ø  Christine Njeru, a Kenyan Lawyer and Consultant living in Nairobi

Tune in at 13h10 GMT (1:00pm Ghana Time). We’re also streaming live www.radioxyzonline.com.

Contact us Facebook on:

 http://www.facebook.com/africainfocusonradioxyz and radio XYZ 93.1FM. Tweet us @africainfocus14 and @ekbensah. Listen to us on #MultiTVChannel29. Thanks!

HOW TO CONTACT "AFRICA IN FOCUS"

1. Google plus BUSINESS PAGE:http://gplus.to/contactafricainfocusxyz
2. Google plus COMMUNITY: http://gplus.to/africaonradioxyz
3. Google plus Profile: http://gplus.to/africainfocusongoogleplus

*Email: africainfocusonradioxyz AT gmail.com
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