King of Africa /Business

Dicken Marshall established Rafiki Records in May 2009 after hearing a story where a choir paid £3500 pounds to record an album that never came to fruition. Solace Studios is now Rwanda’s premier recording facility thanks to a dedicated team including Marshall, Rob Hoy, Jim Mortimore and others, as well as Solace charity themselves.

Check out the Rafiki Sampler and the label’s artists.

Here’s an article in The Independent by Adam Stone. Also, check out Adam Stone’s 250 SECONDS IN RWANDA.

Audio Pro International article.

In a quest to reduce the bulkiness of the country’s currency, The Bank of Ghana embarked on a redenomination exercise that converted 100 cedis to 1 Ghana pesewa and 10,000 cedis to 1 Ghana cedi.

The present cedi is equal to 10,000 old cedi and remonetisation saw four zeros lopped off the value. Yet, on the street, the nostalgia still lives on with traders, fish sellers and bus conductors still quoting prices in the old currency.
Link to Voices of Africa article.

So be aware when catching a taxi to your favourite haunt and the driver says your fare is 15,000 cedis…

“…the days of the Imperial presidency, of domineering and threatening chief executives are over… the future belongs to us because we have taken charge of it.”

An awesome documentary chronicling the first year of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s presidency, who in an inspired move appoints other extraordinary women in key posts – such as police, justice and finance. The film gives us frank behind-the-scenes insights into the working of a fledgling democracy facing massive hurdles.

One gains a sense of sympathy and humanity from Sirleaf and her government in what they are trying to achieve, at times under dire circumstances, yet, one is also shown that tough decisions need to be made as they venture from the boardrooms of Washington DC to the streets and slums of Monrovia.

Produced by Henry Ansbacher and Jonathan Stack.
Directed by Siatta Scott Johnson and Daniel Junge.

More on Iron Ladies of Liberia here…

Why Democracy? is a documentary project using film to start a global conversation about democracy.

As we approach launch, I thought it would be pretty apt to start off this blog with the very inspiring Africa – The Next Chapter series of talks from TED.