mweshi

So the BBC has been running this series this week on whether Africa is open/ready for business. In my opinion, I think it’s ripe and ready and it’s definitely time we started building or enhancing our entrepreneurial spirit on the continent. I had the chance of watching a documentary called Africa Open for Business earlier this year and I must say, definitely inspiring stuff by all the businesses featured! So to all my brothers and sisters still away from the continent, I say, come home and setup something! The small business sector’s growing and this is one of the best times to get into business in a lot of countries on the continent. I believe if we do not take the initiative to build our businesses, then the continent will be left behind for a good time to come. Several governments have began improving their policies towards small businesses and we can only hope that this trend continues all across the continent.

BBC series on doing business in Africa + Africa Open for Business

Whooooa…nice and long…wait, short vacation Can’t imagine how fast 3 weeks went by so fast! I did enjoy myself though. Spent a week in Lusaka, where I also had the chance to check out the first Fashion Week event for Zambian designers! Really enjoyed the show and I wish the organizers and designers all the best as preparations for next year’s event are already underway and I’m sure it’ll be an even bigger event! Also, went down to Jo’burg for some shopping and partying for a weekend with my cousins. Returned to Lusaka for a few days & here are a few pictures I took along the way…

Blogging from Addis Ababa, it’s past one o’clock in the morning…just got into the hotel after my flight from Accra was delayed by two hours! I must say, Addis done changed since the last time I was here in 2000.

The first thing I noticed of course was the new Addis international airport…very nice, very very nice! Well done Ethiopia. It’s definitely bigger and better than the last time I was here; the design is definitely on par with some of the best airports on the continent…simply lovely.

When I was booking my flights this time around, I decided to take a break from the usual Accra - Narobi - Lusaka route and it’s good that I did that. Glad to be back in Addis even though it’s only for a few hours as I have to be back at the airport in the next 5 hours…was supposed to link up with my cousin and aunts had we arrived at the scheduled time of 9:30PM. Hopefully, the trip back to West Africa in a couple of weeks will give me more time to hang around the city albeit for a few more hours than I have now.

Will blog some more once I touch down in Zed.

For everyone who’s always had an aversion to office/cubicle space, this one is for you! Check out Web Worker Daily, a new blog from Om Malik & Co. for all you ‘digital nomads’ that want the freedom to work outside the conventional office space and from anywhere in the world with a laptop, cell phone, and wireless connection!

So a couple of weeks ago I finally got this Toumani Diabate album I’ve been waiting for the good people at Apple to get onto iTunes and it was definitely worth the wait! So as it goes with most iTunes purchases, I found out that other favorites of mine had released new albums. If you’re a fan of great African Music from the finest African musicians, be sure to check out Toumani’s “Boulevard de l’Indépendance”, one of the greatest albums I’ve ever picked up! Other fine pieces of musical work I got were Salif Keita’s “M’bemba” and Césaria Evora’s “Rogama”, another fine offering from the Barefoot Diva!

Sadly enough though, we lost a great griot in Ali Farka Toure this year, but to experience the genius that was and will continue to be Ali Farka Toure take some time to pick up “In the Heart of the Moon”, his last collaboration album with Toumani Diabate. Farka Toure’s final album called “Savane” is out as well, but I haven’t had a chance to pick it up…

Today’s turned out to be a better day, still trying to complete the customization of my new blog. Shoud I have done it before going live? Well it’s done already and I’ll continue making little updates and changes here and there over the coming week(s). Just added some links to blogs by friends and others that I enjoy reading on a regular basis. Do check them out!

Alright, so this is my first ever blog and what a day to have it on! I’m just a little too excited! Have to get over this…okay, okay…the name’s Mweshi!

HELLOOOOOO WORLD!