Reflections on the World Economic Forum for Africa

"We produce what we don’t consume and we consume what we don’t produce."

The World Economic Forum for Africa concluded on Friday May 7 in Dar-es-Salaam. We put up a post about the beginning of the forum, but this post is to draw some conclusions and invite opinions as to the direction of Africa's economy as a whole.

The title of this post is a line from Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete's speech, which was extracted from his quote on this press release. It describes the disproportionate ways in which African economies are integrated into the world financial markets. That is, the trend has so far been for African countries to produce and export goods and services while return are of lesser value. President Kikwete emphasized that it is time to "move Africa from the periphery to the centre of the global economy."

South African President Jacob Zuma also seemed optimistic that Africa is going to experience positive economic change, especially due to this summer's FIFA World Cup. According to Zuma, “in a short period of time, Africa is going to be the place for doing business globally. Foreign Direct Investment will come on its own.”

Others, including Pat Davies who co-chaired the meeting as Chief Executive of Sasol South Africa, felt that time is being wasted, and that the focus needs to be on giving "business reasonable certainty and predictability and we can [create] partnerships". That is, yes we can talk about laws and regulations, but let's get moving.

As for youth - who are 60% of what we call "Africa" - not much was said. Ajai Chowdhry, CEO of HCL Infosystems mentioned "make your human capital capable, and entrepreneurship will happen." Of course, the Young Global Leaders Summit was held in conjunction with this conference, which may have delved into the potential of youth more than the World Economic Forum for Africa.

More comments from the Forum from various individuals can be found on the press release.

That being said, it is difficult to decipher anything concrete coming out of this conference. I just checked the World Economic Forum website and it's filled with headlines about the EU bailout package for Greece. So I would like to pose a few questions in an effort to gauge what we should really be focusing on as youth who see ourselves as stakeholders in our countries' development.

Therefore, I would be keen to discuss the following:

1. Considering that the World Economic Forum has a mandate, and that this mandate is known to member countries, and further that each member country outlines its goals and responsibilities before joining such bodies, what has this latest conference changed since the last conference?

2. Considering that the role of youth is somewhat encompassed separately under the branch of the Young Global Leaders Summit, and considering that the Young Global Leaders Summit does not seem to be run by anyone under 25, where can the youth themselves go to express their ideas for sustainable change?

3. If a forum is defined as a commonplace for open discussion, do forums necessarily have a "start" and an "end"? That is, is the purpose of the World Economic Forum for Africa to meet once in a while to check up on things, or is it rather a constant engagement with the means to satisfy objectives set at each conference?

4. Considering the response to number 3 above, is there formal protocol to host a constant engagement with the political, economic, and social roles of youth Africa?

5. About that graphic above, which I picked up from the press release "illustrations" page, why are we talking about designing and organization still? Most of (political) colonialism was done about 40 years ago, folks. Where are we in our own "design process"?

For further reading:
World Economic Forum for Africa updates
WEF reflections press release
Photo gallery
Interviews
Image (above) in PDF link

Voices from Tanzania

by Stella Evelyn Tesha
MD, Green Waters Foundation, Brittenoord 21, 3070 KA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

'Voices from Tanzania' is a poetry collection to be published in 2011. Some of my previous poetry works are: Love as Flowers and A Journey into Life.

As the above title implies, the collection will be of voices from different people who have a connection with Tanzania. This means, they don't have to be Tanzanians only. Our aim is to raise awareness that will contribute to positive change and development. Also, to motivate more people to get involved in the development and positive progress of Tanzania.

Rules and guidelines for poetry submission:
1. The poetry submitted should be your own work, and it shouldn't have been published before.
2. Poetry submitted should have relevance to Tanzania.
3. All subject are allowed. We specifically encourage people to focus on development issues such as: gender, street children, youth, nationalism, democracy, corruption, farmers, situation in rural areas, the people, culture, beliefs, etc.
4. Sarcasm and humor is ok, but there should be no use of abusive language.
5. Harassment or racism poetry won't be published by us.
6. Poets submitting poetry must provide us with their full legal name. We do not discourage poets submitting poems using a pseudonym name. We can publish poems submitted by poets using their pseudonym name, however for legal purposes the full legal name is required.
7. We reserve the right not to publish your work.

Please note: This is a project under Green Waters Foundation. All (if any) resulting earnings will be re-invested in capacity building project in Tanzania.

If you have read the guidelines and decide to submit your work of poetry for publication, please don't forget to fill in the following details: Full Name, Contact Address, Location and Nationality.

If you wish, you may make a financial contribution towards the publication of the book to:
Holder of the A/C: Green Waters Foundation
Bank A/C No.: 3458111 (ING Bank)
IBAN: NL57 INGB 0003458111
Address: Groeninx van Zoelenlaan 125
Postal Code and Location: 3078 AW Rotterdam

For more details, e-mail: stella.tesha (at) green-waters (dot) org

Solo Thang arudi na Ung'eng'e!

Juhudi za wasanii wetu kujaribu kuvuka mipaka zinatia moyo na nadhani zimeanza kuzaa matunda. Njia mojawapo ni kutumia lugha ambayo watu wengi nje ya Tanzania wanaielewa. Hii ina faida na hasara zake -- inategemea unaangalia hili suala kwa jicho lipi!

Msanii mwingine ambaye anajulikana na wengi kuwa ana msimamo mkali, Ulamaa amerudi na wimbo mpya unaoitwa 'All I need':

Kama ulivyoona, kuanzia mwanzo hadi mwisho ni ung'eng'e tu au lugha ya Malkia, kama mchangiaji mmoja anavyoiita. Binafsi, nadhani jiwe limetulia. Lakini kama mmoja wa washabiki wa Solo Thang, kuna sehemu ya moyo wangu ambayo imetibuliwa.

Solo ana uwezo mkubwa SANA wa kufinyanga na kucheza na maneno ya lugha yetu ya Kiswahili. Kunuka Kunukia, Si Ulinikataa, Sukari na Pilipili, Hili Balaa, Homa ya Dunia...Vina Utata! Natumaini atarudi na nyimbo kama nilizozitaja huku akipiga danadana maneno ya Kiswahili kama Messi.

Hebu jikumbushie njia aliyopitia Msafiri (bofya)! Sikiliza 'Sikati Tamaa', 'Travellaah' na 'Usinichokoze'...

Penye Kufuka Moshi

Wanasema, la mgambo likilia ujue kuna jambo, na mimi leo nauliza kulikoni wasanii wa muziki huu wa bongo flava?. Majuzi niliandika shairi na mwisho wa shairi nilisema kwa utani, heshimu sanaa, kwani imeajiri vijana wengi zaidi ya wizara ya Kapwaya. Pamoja nilisema kiutani, lakini nilitaka watu waelewe umuhimu wa sanaa hii katika maisha ya vijana. Kuporomoka kwa muziki huu, kutaadhiri maisha ya vijana wengi waliojiajiri kupitia muziki huu, hivyo ni vyema kuutetea na kuulinda kwa kila hali na mali.

Gumzo la mjini ni juu ya vita kati ya ma-Dj na wasanii, pia vita kati ya wakongwe wa muziki wa bongo flava na wasanii chipukizi kwenye muziki huu. Afande Sele ameshutumu ma-Dj kwa kuchangia kudhofisha bongo flava. Shutuma hizi zimekuwa za siku nyingi lakini kwa muda mrefu zimekuwa ni minong’ono tu, lakini leo O-ten na Dudubaya nao wamejitoa mhanga na kuwasema Ma-Dj. Hivyo nimeachwa nikiamini, panapofuka moshi ujue pana moto.

Shutuma za ma-Dj kubeba wasanii na kulazimisha wasanii wawalipe fedha ili kucheza nyimbo zao redioni, ni ukiukwaji wa maadili ya kazi zao. Pili, kwa tabia hii basi ni kweli muziki wa bongo flava utakuwa unatawaliwa na fedha badala ya ubora wa kazi na ubunifu. Kwa mfano, mimi kama msanii mwenye kutengeneza kazi mbovu, najua nitasikika tu kwani ma-Dj watafanya kila wawezalo nisikike na hatimaye kupendwa, kisa fedha nilizowahonga. Hii inahatarisha fani na pia inahatarisha maendeleo ya sanaa hii.



Afande Sele kama mmoja wa wasanii wakongwe pia amewasema wasanii wapya katika nyongeza ya shutuma zake dhidi ya ma-Dj. Afande Sele amedai kwamba wasanii wapya hawana ubunifu wala mashairi yenye kubeba ujumbe wenye msingi. Hivyo nyimbo zao nyingi zinakosa maudhui ya kina lakini zinatamba kwani zimekuwa zikibebwa na ma-Dj. Hapa Afande amekuwa na hoja sawa na ile ya msanii Nas kipindi kile aliposema Hip Hop Is Dead.

Pamoja na baadhi kukubaliana na Afande, lakini wapo baadhi wameuliza maswali ya msingi, kama, kwanini wasanii wakongwe hawawashirikishi wasanii chipukizi kwenye nyimbo zao. Hapo hapo wengine wamedai, kulalamika kwa wasanii wakongwe ni kutokana na style zao kupitwa na wakati hivyo kukosa airplay. Mimi nimekuja kuona pande zote mbili wana hoja za msingi, kivipi?

Wasanii wakongwe wangejaribu kushirikiana na wasanii wapya, hilo linaweza kuwasaidia na kuwakuza wasanii wapya kisanii. Hili litaongeza ushirikiano baina ya wasanii na katika ushiriano huu, itawasaidia katika kutetea haki na maslahi yao pamoja, kwani kutengana ni udhaifu. Pili, ni kweli baadhi ya styles za zamani leo hii haziwezi kuvuma na mfano mzuri ni huyu msanii Sugu au Mr. II. Leo hii ninadiriki kusema moja kati ya sababu kuu ya kushuka kisanii kwa Sugu ni kung’ang’ania kwake na kuendelea kurap na style yake ile ile ya miaka ya tisini. Albamu yake ya Veto ilinisikitisha mimi kama mpenzi wa bongo flava, kwani ilikosa ubunifu na upya.

Hivyo basi, badala ya kusukumana kati ya pande hizi mbili, mimi nadhani la msingi ni ushirikiano kati ya wasanii wakongwe na wapya, ili kuongeza chachu ya ubunifu kwenye sanaa. Muziki wa bongo flava hauwezi kuachwa ukafa hivi hivi baada ya safari ndefu ya kuufikisha hapa ulipofikia leo.

Maudhui ya fasihi za kina katika muziki wa bongo flava lazima udumishwe kwani heshima ya muziki lazima ilindwe, kwasababu hatutaki kurudi kwenye zama zile ambapo muziki huu ulionekana ni muziku wa kihuni tu. Tulinde heshima na tudumishe mshikamano. Ujumbe kwa wasanii wakongwe, mwalimu bora na mwenye mafanikio ni yule ambaye huwa mwanafunzi kwa kuwa tayari kujifunza kutoka kwa wanafunzi wake pia. Hivyo basi, tuhakikishe tunauzima moshi huu kabla ya moto kuanza kuwaka, kwani bado tunaishi kwenye nyumba ya nyasi. Kidumu chama cha bongo flava.

Mic MOJA tu?

Jana nilipata fursa ya kujikumbushia nyimbo za Hasheem. Sizungumzii Hasheem huyu -- namuongelea Dogo! Wakati nasikiliza freestyle inayoenda kwa jina la 'Naharibu' rafiki yangu akanipa wazo la kichokozi... eti tumtafute Dogo, tumuombe arudi ulingoni, tumlipie gharama za studio ili atoea angalau album moja tu.

Tuyaache hayo.

Hivi umeshawahi kujiuliza hili swali: Ingekuwa vipi kama Bongo tungepewa mic moja tu? Yaani, baada ya kuangalia vipaji kadhaa/wasanii mbalimbali, unadhani yupi anastahili kupewa hicho kipaza sauti kimoja tu ili sauti yake iwafakie Vijana wote Tanzania?

Binafsi, napenda wasanii kibao na nawasikiliza wote, lakini kuna mmoja ambaye nadhani atastahili kupewa hiyo mic: N***a Jay, Jay wa Mitulinga, Mti Mkavu, Jay Tunakuzimia, Jay Nyangema, Heavy Weight MC, Prof. Jay...

Tangu Jay atoke na album ile nzito iliyoshiba mawe na vina tokea mwanzo hadi mwisho (Machozi, Jasho na Damu) sidhani kama ametuangusha. Na utakubaliana na mimi kuwa amekuwa kama sauti ya walalahoi.

Wakati muda wa kupiga kura ukikaribia na watu wakiumiza vichwa kura zao ziende kwa nani nadhani labda mambo yangekuwa rahisi mno kama Jay angekuwa mmoja wa wagombea!

Najua wengi mna mawazo tofauti ambayo ningependa kuyasikia. Nani apewe mic?

The Question of Foreign Aid: a rejoinder

Wiki chache zilizopita, tulikuwa na mjadala hapa kuhusu Dambisa Moyo na ujumbe wake kuhusu athari za misaada ya maendeleo katika ukuaji wa uchumi wa Afrika. Leo nimetazama hotuba ya mchumi mwingine mashuhuri kutoka Ufaransa, Esther Duflo, mshindi wa mwaka huu wa medali ya Clark, almaarufu kama 'the baby nobel'.

Prof. Duflo anafanya utafiti unaojaribu kufahamu ufanisi wa misaada hii katika kupambana na umaskini. Kwa kutumia field experiments ameweza kuainisha umuhimu wa baadhi ya misaada hii katika kupambana na umasikini. Baadhi ya tafiti hizo ni; umuhimu wa ugawaji bure wa neti zenye dawa ya mbu, mapambano dhidi ya minyoo mashuleni katika kusaidia upatikanaji wa elimu, umuhimu wa incentives kwenye miradi ya chanjo, n.k. Hapa mjadala sio uwepo wa misaada au la, bali ni namna gani tunaweza kutumia kwa ufanisi fedha au rasilimali za miradi ya upambanaji wa umasikini.

Mapenzi

Anaitwa Loise van Baarle, mchoraji chipukizi kutoka Uholanzi. Hapa chini waweza tazama moja ya kazi zake, katuni fupi kuhusu mapenzi katika kijiji cha Tanzania.

tanzanian love story from Lois van Baarle on Vimeo.

Kwa zaidi, mtembelee hapa : http://loish.net/