Submitted By G. Kofi Annan For Africa 2.0 on New Assignment.net.

Project Manager: Saba Kennedy-Washington

On March 9, 2008, the 2008 South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas hosted the Africa 2.0: Affecting change Using technology panel. Four African bloggers and entrepreneurs took their conversation about African development and technology’s influence to the forum which is known for sparking new ideas. As the only Africa-focused panel during SXSW interactive, the panel was part of SXSW’s effort to develop more diverse conversations during the week-long festival. Erik Hersman, Uduak Oduok, Nii Simmonds, and, G. Kofi Annan, lead a discussion about the activity of Africans online and many of the issues affecting the development of Africa. After introductions were made, the discussion started with insight by panelists on their experiences using technology to change their community and many of the hurdles they had encountered. During that initial discussion, it was made clear that the panel reflected only the english-speaking segment of Africans online and there was more work that had to be done to amplify the voice of other Africans who speak languages such as French, Arabic, and Portuguese.

The discussion highlighted the growth of the Nollywood (Nigerian Hollywood) film industry and how digital tools played a part in it’s growth and expansion. Examples of how the African experience was reported online lead an audience member to ask whether the scope was more of a utopian view of Africans and technology. The discussion highlighted the use of technology in various situations including during community unrest with many examples being given. The mobile phone as a platform for information sharing on the African continent was an important point. Discussion of the mobile phone introduced the topic of the effectiveness of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project and whether it should indeed be considered a failure as many in the media have indicated. A lively debate ensued with audience members sharing their thoughts on the best tools to support African citizen journalism and information sharing. A question from the audience highlighted the need for innovation in the technology area instead of a re-appropriation of foreign solutions. There were many questions about the best areas and countries for entry for companies looking to create new platforms for innovation in Africa. The panelists shared many of their personal experiences with the audience as the question and answer part of the forum continued past the scheduled end of the panel. As the panel concluded, panelists and many attendees continued the conversations at a nearby restaurant well into the evening. In all the Africa 2.0 panel allowed attendees to have some questions answered, sparked some new ideas, and allowed the panelists to take their online conversations to a lively audience.

Inside the front flap of Starbucks’ box are African Arabica beans grown on a plantation in a threatened mountain rain forest. Behind the lofty phrases on the back label are coffee workers who make less than a dollar a day and a dispute between plantation officials and neighboring tribal people, who accuse the plantation of using their ancestral land and jeopardizing their way of life.

“We used to hunt and fish in there, and also we used to have honeybee hives in trees,” one tribal member, Mikael Yatola, said through a translator. “But now we can’t do that. When we were told to remove our beehives from there, we felt deep sorrow, deep sadness.” (via Organic Consumer)

Last year, I remember receiving an email that beckoned me; No, it “screamed” at me to fax, phone, petition and join an online protest against Starbucks, the giant coffee chain known for turning a cup of JOE into the Yuppie beverage of choice.

Surprised by the allegations, I began my research, becoming even more interested in the apparent coffee revolution brewing around the African coffee trade. As a descendent of people who had often discussed their coffee farms in the Voinjama Mountains of Liberia, West Africa, it felt like life had come full circle with that email – almost karma like.

So, in my continual exploration of how technology is affecting change in Africa, I again received an email (from partner) about an organization know as CROP TO CUP.
Crop to Cup describes itself as a “network of partners and farmer entrepreneurs working towards the improvement of livelihoods through the digitization of coffee farming.”

Interesting concept I thought, so I headed over to the website and sure enough – Coffee has gone 2.0! On the site (croptocup.com), one can order products, network with the Ugandan Farmers producing branded Bugisu AA and Citizen’s Espresso Blend. Through this online business concept, one can literally “track a cup of coffee from point of purchase back to the people who produce it. For those living in the United States, there is even a list of restaurants and places to buy. Through the use of technology and an interactive model, consumers and farmers form an intimate connection – ultimately creating brand loyalty.

After reviewing Crop To Cup, seems this group is out to prove that Java is not just a 2.0 application but a way of bringing dignity back to the African coffee trade.

Over time, it has become evident that Africa 2.0 is a growing force in technology. The SXSW Festival being held in Austin, Texas will bear witness to the relevance of this growing movement. The SXSW Interactive Festival features five days (March 7-11) of panel content and parties. Over its 21year history, the event producers describe their audience as “digital creatives and visionary technology entrepreneurs.” Of the event, they comment that “it celebrates the best minds and the brightest personalities of emerging technology.” So it is no wonder, this year’s Keynote Speaker is Mark Zuckerberg, Founder and CEO of Facebook.

The first year for this event was 1987 when it debuted as a Music focused event. In 1994, it took on its current life as the SXSW Interactive Festival executing as a film and multimedia conference. By 1995, film and multimedia became two separate events, giving birth to Interactive in 1999. ScreenBurn, which is focused on video game technology, was added to the mix in 2006.

As an active participant and witness to the Africa 2.0 emergence, it is exciting to see a panel gathered to discuss this growing area, at this important industry event. Africa 2.0, is scheduled for March 9th and will be moderated by G. Kofi Annan, Entrepreneur, Strategist and Author who has previously posted here. Panel experts will include:

Erik Hersman (WhiteAfrican.com, AfriGadget.com)
• Uduak Oduok Ladybrille.com
• Nii Simmonds (Nubian Cheetah)
• Chosan (Silverstreetz Entertainment)

The discussions will follow how technology is being used to affect change in Africa. Specific points being explored is how technology is factoring into efforts in different industries including fashion, entertainment, finance, and marketing. This looks to be a very lively and educational session and should lead the way in centralizing key players in the field of Africa 2.0.

For individuals interested in participating during the event, visit meebo.com to debate show topics and meet other SXSW Interactive registrants.

I look forward to follow-up interviews with the participants and getting reactions from attendees regarding this ground-breaking event.

Stay Tuned for more!

We’ve taken note in recent months of the growth and innovative use of Web 2.0 in Kenya and how it has really taken root in light of severe adversity that still continues in the aftermath of the most recent Presidential election there. Apparently, we’re not the only ones
taking note of the growth in tech usage in Kenya, as Google announced a search in Nairobi today for at least five senior executives for its African operations, according to All Africa.

Part of the Africa 2.0 series.

“The night vigil went off successfully. About 250 people attended, speeches made, songs sung.”
* Flower Power will take place on Wednesday 30th January at 10am with flowers being placed at Freedom Corner, Uhuru Park
* Received advice, information and expertise from religious leaders in Sierra Leone, Sudan and elsewhere on how to find a way out. Want faith based leaders to help find solutions
* Patients at Kenyatta Hospital are being discriminated against. A women’s delegation meeting today at Silver Springs Hotel at 3pm will discuss, fact find and report back
— Kenyan Pundit

The above statements are excerpts from three highly regarded Kenyan Bloggers who have kept the world in tune with the on-the-ground activities and experiences in their homeland. These previously mentioned bloggers were “broadcasting live” even before the current situation hit boiling point and the rest of the world began to make Kenya front-page news. The above group of bloggers and others has been a key connection for those in Africa and the Diaspora interested in getting to the root of the matter, connecting with loved ones on the ground, and those wanted to sift through images of a sometimes-removed newscaster. To many, these bloggers represent “the real story,” as well as the heart and soul of a Nation.

So, in this post we will explore the impact of bloggers during the recent Kenyan crisis and how they have helped to democratize the newsgathering and dissemination process.

Kobia Interactive, shut down the message board, on Mashada.com twice during the height of the Post Election violence because the discussions just seemed to be adding fuel to a very volatile and deadly situation. Mashada.com is arguably one of the most popular sites accessed by Kenyans in the Diaspora as well as Kenya itself.

The Kenyan Blog Webring, which gave out awards last year to their extensive network of bloggers that share, disseminate and focus in on a subject matter, is a great example of the crowd sourcing phenomenon, rapidly becoming a part of new media reporting.

Finally, as the violence continued to ensue in Kenya, this same network of “digital activists,” has given birth to the Ushahidi website. The group’s purpose is further described on related sites;

“One major concern in the aftermath of Kenya’s disputed elections has been the possibility that the media is undercounting the dead and injured in incidents of election violence. Ory Okolloh (Kenyan Pundit) suggested a project to document incidents of violence and place them on a web-based map. The idea was quickly picked up by Kenyans in the country and in the Diaspora, and over the weekend, Kenyan developer David Kobia put together the Ushahidi website, based on a design sketch from White African blogger Erik “Hash” Hersman and input from a wide range of Kenyan bloggers and activists.”

So, as we examine the blogging phenomenon facilitated through the use of technology and its effect on the current Kenyan Crisis, we see an evolution that unlike mainstream media, is more than just sound bites, sensationalism and ratings. There is a human component that allows groups of people to gather, disseminate information and then ultimately take action to inspire CHANGE. The network of Kenyan Bloggers is an illustration of how everyday people are coming together through technology and across continents, not to just report information but to take action and quite possibly play a role as global leaders meet to write and implement policy decisions.

One of the best summaries I have read on the effect of Bloggers on the Kenyan situation comes from the blog Mental Acrobatics, where in we found this statement “I would argue that it is stories like this that rather than showing the danger of blogs, HIGHLIGHT the importance of blogs and other citizen media. While the MSM was stuck in its procedures, bloggers wrote about what they had heard, seen or were told. There is nothing wrong with quoting primary sources. The historians amongst us can confirm the importance with which primary sources are regarded on any historical event. The eyewitness account, the man on the street as it were. If you wanted to know what Kenyans were thinking and feeling at the time the blogs were a very good place to start.”

Crowdsourcing Kenyan News …..what an interesting concept and challenge to mainstream media!

This is part of the Africa 2.0 series.

Who can’t remember the image of a sickly African child with flies buzzing around his/her nose while Sally Struthers pleads for television viewers’ help. In the days when citizens only learned about news outside their community through mainstream media channels such as television, radio, and newspapers, that image grew to define the global community’s perception of what Africa and Africans were. But in this age where mobile technology and the Internet easily connect individuals from remote corners of the world, the voices of Africans have created a new image, exposed a new market, and changed the conversations about Africa and what can be referred to as Afri-activism - strategies where a person, group, or company engages Africa through aid and charity.

In today’s digital age access to popular sites like Global Voices Online, Myspace, and Flickr combined with the ease of use of mobile technology have allowed Africans to broadcast their individual experiences worldwide and engage their foreign counterparts in conversations about solving Africa’s societal issues. Tools such as blogs, Skype, and SMS are connecting consumers and accelerating the time it takes to exchange ideas and collaborate with Africans. As more individuals communicate across cultural lines and share experiences, their choices of products and services begin to reflect their new frame of mind, forcing a change in the way companies and organizations do business. For products and programs to maintain their relevance in this new connected age they too must find a way to become part of the conversations that technology has facilitated.

The growing conversations online, and the ongoing popularity of Africa in the media fueled by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey’s school for girls, George Clooney and Don Cheadale’s campaigns against the continued genocide in Darfur, and the numerous baby adoption stories, continue to push social responsibility as a cultural norm. A recent survey by GMI (Global Market Insite) of more than 15,000 online consumers in the U.S found that Americans place a high value on corporate community involvement. Businesses are now being forced to publicly re-define their social and environmental responsibility programs. Gone are the days when corporations could piece together a social responsibility program without direct engagement on all levels. With increased communication between individuals, consumers are more educated and critical of companies who develop programs and products that are uninspired and disconnected. Today consumers require that businesses become active participants in community conversations both with the consumers themselves and recipients of aid; and as technology allows more Africans to join the conversations, the effects and results of Africa development programs are more transparent. Companies who exhibit a multi-layered social responsibility program today enjoy a strengthened brand image.

The use of technology has encouraged a growth in the number of sustainable African development models and Africans are joining the foray into creating socially responsible products and programs also. Technology has allowed individuals in developing countries to create new business models and take their products global easily. More Africans are flexing their entrepreneurial muscle both at home and abroad. Technology continues to level the playing field for all sizes of for-profit and non-profit efforts, and where African development is concerned, there are many more options to affect change. As the ubiquity of technology continues, we are sure to see social enterprise, Afri-activism, and Africa as a whole reap the benefits of the new conversation age.

G. Kofi Annan is an entrepreneur, strategist and author. He is the principal at Annansi LLC, a boutique consultancy that produces Annansi Chronicles, an African style and business trends blog, and Annansi Clothing Co., an award-nominated Africa-inspired apparel brand. He will be moderating the panel “Africa 2.0: Affecting Change Through Technology” at the 2008 SXSW Interactive Conference and Festival.
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From Africa 2.0 Series. From Africa 2.0 Series – Project Manager, Saba Kennedy-Washington

According to the current trends, it appears that mobile phones will be the next technological wave in Africa. Currently, because cell phones do not require an internet connection and can use GSM, or Edge to access the internet it is both cost effective and practical to this consumer group. They are easy to carry around and can provide instant access to information. In a continent where it is easier to get mobile phones than it is to build a road, mobile phones allow people to get the information they need before they make a long and sometimes cumbersome trip.

In this, analysis we will examine the many ways that cellphone technology is being used and thus influencing economic development in Africa.

In the October 2007 issue of Forbes Magazine, cell phones were identified as one of the stocks to watch.
It has also been concluded that cell phone use in Africa is growing faster than anywhere else in the world (according to a 2005 study by the Center for Economic Policy Research). The GSM Association states that cell phone use is growing and is now at 60%, with growth potential of more than 85% by the year 2010. In Kenya alone, the number of cell phones has grown from one million to 6.5 million in a five-year period.
One very interesting look at cell phone usage can be seen with fishermen in Lake Tanzania and farmers in Senegal who use their phones to access a trading system that enables them to maximize fish and crop prices. With the current market demand, companies like Vodafone, Entesalat, and China Mobile are beginning to strategically position to meet the growing needs.

The Economist reports that there is a push to create a Pan-African market based on cell phones and notes that TradeNet, based in Accra, Ghana, is putting out a simple E-bay type store of agricultural products across a dozen countries in West Africa. Some companies are offering the prices of agricultural products in real time, which is a real boost to the farmers and a great way to stimulate competitive trade. Another innovative idea is the use of cell phones to send money. A pilot project, M-Pesa, was started in Kenya (M for mobile and Pesa means money in Kiswahili) that allows people to send money to pay for different things. One may also choose to send money to relatives and friends via this process whenever needed and in case of an emergency. Vodafone, which piloted this program, projects that once the feature goes global, it will enable people to send money to their relatives from abroad (BBC) making Africa a liquid economy. MTN, South Africa’s mobile phone giant, signed a deal with Standard Bank to offer MTN banking, a deal that allows customers to open bank accounts with Standard bank, and complete simple transactions. South Africa also has Wizzit which functions much like M-Pesa.

By examining these few examples, we see that the possibilities are endless and the potential huge for the application of cell phone technology in Africa and between it’s Diaspora relatives. As we build on this Africa 2.0 series, we will continue to focus on various sectors of the economy to see how the mobile phone is making a difference.

Authored by :Shirlene Alusa-Brown, a Kenyan born and is a Writer/Blogger, Techie, and Mom-preneur and DIM Corp Partner

Editors Note: The following is an introduction to a series of blog posts on media in Africa. From Saba Kennedy who is spearheading this series: “Africa 2.0 is not formal group but a group of organizations that are networking through individual projects - with a common interest in Africa and African Heritage. Together we are all utilizing technology to bridge the communication, technology and economic gaps across continents. DIM Corp happens to be one of the entities that is involved in this entire network.” Disclosures will be inserted into any subsequent posts, but it’s important to note that Saba has been a part of both OffTheBus.net and Assignment Zero, earning this editor’s trust.

Africa 2.0 Project , Affecting Change Through Technology

As Africa becomes the next emerging market, Africa 2.0 is positioned to be the global key to bridging the gap between Africa and the world in our respective industries.

According to internetworldstats.com, the African market segment has shown phenomenal growth within a 7 year period and the most recent statistics from November 2007 are presented here:

AFRICA — 14.2% of the world population
941,241,130 - Internet Usage
Growth from 2000-2007 ——- 879.8% vs. 241.6% for the rest of the world.

Through Africa 2.0 we will centralize and bring information on the growing impact of Africa and the African Diaspora as this group affects change through technology. We will co-author a variety of articles and bring to the fore-front the main players in the Africa 2.0 movement. We will identify and showcase those power players who are positioned to help the world better understand and ultimately - guide them into the business of doing business with Africa.

[Disclosures] As a Writer, Promotional/Marketing Professional, African-born/Diaspora raised individual as well as Partner at Diaspora Interactive Media, Inc, Africa’s newest and most dynamic media corporation, I have the opportunity of interacting daily with Africa’s best and brightest.