Thembani Biyam was appointed Head of Strategy &amp; Monetisation for OLX South Africa when he was only 28. Now, as the Head of Growth at Orderin, one of the top three online food delivery companies in South Africa, he is responsible for strategic projects, product, design and growth marketing. He speaks about his best and worst investment experience. 



What do you splurge on?



Definitely
food; it’s the way to my heart. Then travel. Then tech toys, mostly photography
and videography stuff like drones and stabilizer sticks for shooting vlogs. I
love vlogging and editing for fun.



What has your worst investment blunder
been?



My
best and worst experience was investing in cryptocurrency. I got in late but
bought some Bitcoin and Ethereum, and my investment grew about 350% in six
months. Problem is, it crashed real quickly too. I got a lot of it out in time
but lost a lot of it as well.



If you had to work but didn’t need the
money, what would you choose to do?



Develop
high school, university and professional basketball in South Africa to, at
least, the European level. It’s the one thing I want to do before I die. I was
an aspiring basketball player in high school but there were no proper
structures in place to fully develop and the options for me to play professionally
didn’t exist. I want that for my kids.



Where do you not mind waiting?



At
home. If I am out in the world, I hate waiting for anything. 



Fast food or home cooking?



Home
cooking anytime. But fast food delivery every now and then doesn’t hurt (especially
if it’s from Orderin).



Do you own anything you consider
priceless?



Nothing
material. More memories and perspectives.



Should people work for money or
fulfilment?



Both.
We all have to eat and do nice things, right? Those things cost hard-earned [money].
I would say, if you can continually optimize your career towards work that
provides a combination of both, but increasingly nearing fulfilment versus
money, that would be a win.



READ MORE | &#8216;<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/entrepreneurs/2019/05/01/worth-millions-and-billions/">Worth Billions and Millions</a>&#8216;



What kind of debt is okay?



The
type that is income generating is the ‘most’ okay. Robert Kiyosaki talks about
debt that generates income like property loans, business loans, and even credit
card used for positive income-generating activities. Then, there are scenarios
where you may really need debt to bail you out, but hopefully, you have savings
and liquid investments for that. Then, there is a grey area around things like
cars, phones etc. For this category, I would say, just make sure you can afford
it from your income.



Do you follow a strict budget?



I
do my absolute best to. There are some ‘treat yourself’ months sprinkled in
there.



Would you rather never be able to
express yourself accurately or always have to say the exact truth?



I
always have to say the exact truth. A world of never being able to be a little
colorful and fun in expressing myself would be a dark world.

‘The One Thing I Want To Do Before I Die’

Gastronomic tourism based on African food could easily
increase and create new value chains that unlock billions in untapped wealth
for the continent, but what is stopping us?



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



Food and tourism are an integral part of most economies,
globally. Food is undeniably a core part of all cultures and an increasingly
important attraction for tourists. To satisfy their wanderlust, contemporary
tourists require an array of experiences that include elements of education,
entertainment, picturesque scenery and culinary wonders.&nbsp; The link between food and tourism allows
destinations to develop local economies; and food experiences help to brand and
market them, as well as supporting the local culture and knowledge systems.



&nbsp;This is particularly
important for rural communities, where 61% of sub-Saharan Africans live,
according to the World Bank last year. These communities have often felt the
brunt of urbanization, which has resulted in a shift away from rural economies.
If implemented effectively, Africa could get a piece of the gastronomic tourism
pie, which was worth $8.8 trillion last year, according to the World Travel
&amp; Tourism Council. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="407" height="602" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African10.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41790" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African10.png 407w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African10-300x444.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African10-203x300.png 203w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 407px) 100vw, 407px" /><figcaption> World-renowned chef Nompumelelo Mqwebu and author of her self-published cookbook, Through the Eyes Of An African Chef. Picture: Motlaban Monnakgotla</figcaption></figure></div>



However, there is currently very little public information to pique the interest of tourists about African food. World-renowned South African chef Nompumelelo Mqwebu sought to remedy this with her self-published cookbook, Through the Eyes Of An African Chef. 



“I think where it was very clear to me that I needed to do
something was when I went to cooking school. I trained at Christina Martin
School of Food and Wine. I thought I was actually going to get training on
South African food and, somehow, I assumed we were talking indigenous food.



&nbsp;“I was shocked that
we went through the whole year’s curriculum and we didn’t cover anything that I
ate at home; we didn’t cover anything that my first cousins, who are Sotho, ate
in Nelspruit (in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province); we didn’t cover anything
that would come from eSwatini, which is where my mother is from,” Mqwebu says.



By self-publishing, she has ultimately contributed to a
value chain that has linked local food producers and suppliers, which includes
agriculture, food production, country branding and cultural and creative
industries. 



“I am a member of Proudly South African, not only my
business, but the book as well. Part of the reason is that the cookbook was
100% published in South Africa. So, everybody who worked on the cookbook, and
printing, was all in South Africa, which is something quite rare these days
because authors have their books published abroad.” 



The Proudly South African campaign is a South African ‘buy
local’ initiative that sells her cookbook on their online platform as its
production adheres to the initiative’s campaign standards. Self-publishing has
allowed Mqwebu to promote her book for two years and to directly communicate
with her audience in a way she thought was best, while exposing her to a vast
community of local networks. She recalls her first step towards creating her
own body of work. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="467" height="615" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41791" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African7.png 467w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African7-300x395.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African7-228x300.png 228w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px" /><figcaption>Amadumbe gnocchi. Picture: Nompumelelo Mqwebu and Nicole Louw Photography </figcaption></figure></div>



“I was in culinary school when I wrote the recipe for amadumbe (potato of the tropics) gnocchi. We were making gnocchi and I thought, ‘so why aren’t we using amadumbe because it’s a starch?’ and when I tasted it, I thought, ‘this could definitely work’. I started doing my recipes then.



&nbsp;“And there was talk about, ‘we don’t have desserts as Africans’. I did some research and found we ate berries, we were never big on sugar to begin with. That’s why I took the same isidudu (soft porridge made from ground corn) with pumpkin that my grandmother used to make and that became my dessert. “I also found that when I went to libraries looking for indigenous recipes, I couldn’t really find something that spoke to me as a chef. I found content that looked like history books. It was not appealing. It was not something, as a chef, I could proudly present to another chef from a different part of the world, so I knew I had to write my book,” Mqwebu says about the award-winning recipe book that chronicles African cuisine. 



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="467" height="611" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African9.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41792" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African9.png 467w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African9-300x393.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African9-229x300.png 229w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 467px) 100vw, 467px" /><figcaption> Isidudu (soft porridge made from ground corn) with pumpkin. Picture: Nompumelelo Mqwebu and Nicole Louw Photography </figcaption></figure></div>



Financial and health benefits 



According to the World Travel &amp; Tourism Council, in
2018, the tourism sector “contributed 319 million jobs, representing one in 10
of all jobs globally and is responsible for one in five of all new jobs created
in the world over the last five years. It has increased its share of leisure
spending to 78.5%, meaning 21.5% of spending was on business.”



To narrow in on how lucrative food can be, the World Food
Travel Association estimates that visitors spend approximately 25% of their
travel budget on food and beverages. The figure can get as high as 35% in
expensive destinations, and as low as 15% in more affordable destinations.
“Confirmed food lovers also spend a bit more than the average of 25% spent by
travelers in general.”



However, there is a widely-held view that the African
continent is not doing enough to maximize its potential to also position itself
as a gastronomic tourism destination, using its unique edge of indigenous
knowledge systems (IKS). 



“We are not a culinary destination and we will never be
while we are still offering pasta as the attraction for our tourists,” Mqwebu
says.



Dr George Sedupane, who is the Coordinator of the Bachelor
of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems program in South Africa’s North-West
University, echoes Mqwebu’s sentiments. 



“I often cringe when I go to conferences and there are guests from all over the world and we serve them pasta. Why would they come from Brazil to eat pasta here? They can have pasta in Italy. Why don’t we serve them umngqusho (samp and beans)?



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="463" height="617" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African8.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41793" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African8.png 463w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African8-300x400.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African8-225x300.png 225w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 463px) 100vw, 463px" /><figcaption> Umngqusho (samp and beans). Picture: Nompumelelo Mqwebu and Nicole Louw Photography </figcaption></figure></div>



“We need to be creating those experiences around our
culture. We are failing to capitalize on our strengths. There is a lack of
drive to celebrate what we have,” says Sedupane, who also teaches modules and
supervises research in indigenous health and nutrition. 



Writer and historian Sibusiso Mnyanda says current
innovations in African food technology are born out of necessity, rather
tourism and cultural ambitions.



“Food security is becoming an issue that is leading to IKS
around farming being prioritized. In Nigeria, they are innovating dry season
farming, because of deforestation and soil being de-cultivated.&nbsp; 



“So those indigenous knowledge strategies are being used in
countries where it is a necessity and where there are enough advances related
to the fourth industrial revolution. The traditional ways of producing food are
not only much more organic, they are also crop-efficient,” Mnyanda says. 



Nigeria may have inadvertently innovated a health solution
related to colon cancer through its diet. Sedupane tells FORBES AFRICA an
anecdote.



“There was a study where the colons of an African country
that did not consume a lot of meat was compared to Europeans. The Africans had
a much better profile as a result and there are people who want to buy African
stool to get that kind of rich bacteria, that you get on an African plant-based
diet.”



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="402" height="613" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/african2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41794" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/african2.png 402w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/african2-300x457.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/african2-197x300.png 197w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px" /><figcaption> Dr George Sedupane, who is the Coordinator of the Bachelor of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure></div>



The study Sedupane is referring to was conducted in Nigeria
and it states that: “Nigeria showed the average annual incidence of colorectal
cancer was 27 patients per year. This shows that even if it seems that
incidence rates are increasing in Nigeria, such rates are still about one-tenth
of what is seen in the truly developed countries.”



In a bid to find reasons for this rarity of colon and rectal
cancer, the study concluded that, among other reasons, the protective effects
of Nigeria’s starch-based, vegetable-based, fruit-based, and spicy, peppery
diet, and geographical location which ensures sunshine all year round, played a
role in the country’s colon health.



Interestingly, it seems the potential value of African food
could not only be based on what goes in but what also comes out as healthy
faecal matter is big business globally. In 2015, The Washington Post published
that one could potentially earn $13,000 a year selling their poop.&nbsp; 



The American-based company OpenBiome has been processing and
shipping frozen stool to patients who are very sick with infections of a
bacteria called C.difficile. It causes diarrhea and inflammation of the colon,
leaving some sufferers house-bound. “Antibiotics often help, but sometimes, the
bacteria rears back as soon as treatment stops. By introducing healthy faecal
matter into the gut of a patient (by way of endoscopy, nasal tubes, or
swallowed capsules), doctors can abolish C. difficile for good… And yes, they
pay for healthy poop: $40 a sample, with a $50 bonus if you come in five days a
week. That’s $250 for a week of donations, or $13,000 a year,” the publication
stated.



Sedupane is of the view that a diet which includes indigenous
foods could vastly improve one’s quality of life. 



He says small changes could be made, such as including more
of indigenous greens, namely sorghum and millet, to breakfast. The grains are
gluten-free and produce alkaline which boosts the pH level of fluids in the
body and reduces acidity.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="616" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41797" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African6.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African6-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African6-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African6-768x511.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption>Moringa fruit which is an African superfood. Picture: Getty Images </figcaption></figure>



“Moving to our legumes, we have indlubu (Bambara groundnut) which is very rich and helps in the secretion of serotonin in the brain. This so important nowadays with the increase of depression. It’s easy to digest, and is great for cholesterol and moderating blood sugar,” Sedupane says.



&nbsp;Mnyanda is also of
the view that food is imperative to health and medicinal properties. He says
traditional healers primarily use natural herbs in their practice. “These are
used in pain relief and healing. Things like cannabis, camphor, African potatao
and red carrots. So, food is not just used for nutritional purposes.”



Other African superfoods include, Baobab fruit, Hibiscus,
Tamarind, Kenkiliba, Amaranth, Moringa and pumpkin leaves.&nbsp; 



Cultural and historical benefits 



Gastronomic tourism also includes the promotion of heritage
sites that are known to revolve around dishes that are of historic importance.
They enhance the travel experience, they encourage the acquisition of knowledge
and a cultural exchange.



There is a unanimous view that vast amounts of knowledge
have been lost to history and there is a huge knowledge gap in African
societies as a result of colonization and urbanization.



“Part of the colonial agenda was to make sure food security
did not belong to indigenous groups. Therefore, archiving of these knowledge
systems was not a priority. Especially during industrialization, where people
moved from their villages to the city you found that the knowledge got left
behind,” Mnyanda says. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="930" height="611" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41795" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African-6.png 930w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African-6-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African-6-600x394.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African-6-768x505.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 930px) 100vw, 930px" /><figcaption> Abathwa (the San people) hunting. Picture: Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



He offers a contemporary example of how modernization continues to push African practices to the fringes: “To this day, abathwa (the San people) hunt their meat, but you find that because of changing agricultural practices and land reform on the Kruger National Park, they are being forced to move into the cities and industrial areas, therefore they are no longer able to practice their culture of hunting. As a result, their diet is changing.” Sedupane shares the view that the fundamentals of farming and astrology have also been exiled from public knowledge. 



“The fundamentals of IKS were based on the understanding of
the laws of nature – how and when things were done. Harvest cycles were linked
with understanding astrology. They would not harvest until certain stars were
visible in the sky. There was a dependence on nature. 



“With industrialization, rather than working with nature,
humans are seen as being above, as controlling, as directing it. The natural
cycle is often tempered with rather than trying to work with it.”



Not all is lost however. There are historical practices that have stood the test of time and continue to be a part the few foods that are internationally associated with South Africa. Mqwebu says that, “historically, we ate more plants than meat because our ancestors had to hunt and the game back then was not tame. So, there were no guarantees that you would return with meat. And that’s where things like umqwayiba (biltong) come from. They had to preserve the meat, because wasting was not part of the culture”.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="926" height="617" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-41796" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African3.png 926w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African3-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African3-600x400.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/African3-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px" /><figcaption> Umqwayiba (biltong). Picture: Getty Images </figcaption></figure>



According to a 2015 exploratory research project conducted
under the guidance of research institute Tourism Research in Economic Environs
and Society director Professor Melville Saayman, biltong contributes more than
R2.5 billion ($163 million) to the South African economy.



Perhaps, like the faecal transporting company, Africa will
soon realize the ‘wasted’ opportunity and that there is loads of money to be
made in gastronomic tourism for all its inhabitants, whether they are rural or
urban, technological or indigenous.

African1

No Seat At The Global Table  For Indigenous African Cuisine

Patrick Odier of Swiss wealth management firm Lombard Odier on why Africa offers immeasurable possibilities for investors, particularly those not risk-averse.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



Climate change events such as floods, drought and cyclones
have had a cataclysmic effect on the lives of Africans and their economies,
with many having to rebuild with little to no resources, placing more strain on
economies that are already over-burdened. 



But are there ways to forecast these events so people are
better able to weather the storm? Wealth management firm Lombard Odier thinks
it has what it takes to minimize risk on the continent, and they have the years
of experience to back it up. 



“We are a 223-year-old company. In the financial industry,
it means we have probably learned how to weather turbulences and financial
market crises – we’ve survived 40 already,” Patrick Odier, chair of the board
of directors at Lombard Odier, says. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“We have made South Africa central to our strategy. I think South Africa has a long history with entrepreneurship. This idea of organizing wealth, planning and optimizing the responsibilities between the members of the families – all that belongs to it.”</blockquote>



With that said, the bank still holds firm to its roots of
running a lean organization where the idea is not to grow in quantity, but
rather in quality.



“We cannot be everywhere. We don’t want to be, we’re not a
giant. We are private. It makes it a bit different from other organizations
where the concerns are more operational… we are purely a service-oriented
company,” Odier says. 



With a client-based outlook where the bank focuses on
investment advisory, execution and fiduciary services, each client is handled
based on their unique circumstances, but what does this mean for Africa?



“We are trying to look at the African continent with a very open eye, to look at how we can add value to those potential clients or families who may want to organize their estates and perhaps, diversify their risks. I think agriculture, together with new technologies, will represent new opportunities.” 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Big Bank Theory: South Africa’s Banks Of The Future (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wealth/2019/06/04/the-big-bank-theory-south-africas-banks-of-the-future/" target="_blank">The Big Bank Theory: South Africa’s Banks Of The Future</a>



Odier says the interests of the firm are based on enhancing
and not disrupting banking ecosystems that exist in the African environment. 



“While Lombard Odier occupies over 2,500 people, we are
still of a modest size as a financial institution. So we really want to focus
on our existing client base and not disperse ourselves too much. We are not in
the business of buying infrastructure banks and trying to take over. We are not
in the business of competing with the local banks. We believe in teaming up, or
perhaps diversifying the offering. I think when it comes to investing, we can
be very useful to this market 



“We believe the best institutions to serve the local market
are the local ones. We are here to bring something else, which is basically,
what is not offered here,” he says.



However, the continent, like any other, has challenges unique to it and thus, require nuances in resolving. It should not be discounted that, although Africa has made gains in catching up to the rest of the globe, a vast majority of its nations are still developing.&nbsp; 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Explainer: South Africa’s Central Bank – Ownership, Mandate and Independence (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/economy/2019/02/03/explainer-south-africas-central-bank-ownership-mandate-and-independence/" target="_blank">Explainer: South Africa’s Central Bank – Ownership, Mandate and Independence</a>



“The world in general is changing. You see it in everything in your life. You see it in the way you consume, the way you expect your employers to treat you and the way you think of prices. Unfortunately, you’ve seen it the way water becomes scarcer in some periods, you see also how difficult it is to produce electricity correctly, in some respects, and you see it in how climate change is affecting your life. 



 “All those elements are part of mega-trends we believe as a firm we could try to interpret quicker and better than some. We are transforming the way we invest to invest more sustainably. In South Africa, we want to be a leader in bringing this approach to investing in resources. 



“Some say you have to have luxury to think this way, I say
not doing it will create much bigger risks than doing it,” Odier says.&nbsp;

Patrick

Private Wealth: Banking On Climate Change In Africa

African media can reverse the downward spiral affecting
newsrooms across the continent, says APO Group chairman, Nicolas
Pompigne-Mognard.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



The media landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade. As a result, newsrooms have been forced to make monumental changes such as reducing the staff complement to keep up with the demands, or they have simply had to shut down. 



With some African newsrooms being written out of history, there has been an emergence of international media setting up shop on the continent. This interest serves as a double-edged sword for African media that often finds itself under-resourced.&nbsp; 



Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, the founder and chairman of the APO Group, is of the view that the African media landscape has faced challenges that precede digital migration, which have compounded existing problems. An incident that stands out for him, before the digitizing of media, was a lack of access to information for African reporters, and that propelled him to start one of the foremost media relations firms on the continent.



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Why Science Matters So Much In The Era Of Fake News And Fallacies (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/focus/2019/05/09/why-science-matters-so-much-in-the-era-of-fake-news-and-fallacies/" target="_blank">Why Science Matters So Much In The Era Of Fake News And Fallacies</a>



&nbsp;When he was a
journalist for online publication, Gabonews, and the deputy president of the
Pan-African Press Organisation in France, between 2005 and 2007,
Pompigne-Mognard says this was a recurring problem hampering the productivity
of African reporters.&nbsp; 



“If you wanted the right to attend an international press
conference, you would need an official card. 



“As an African correspondent, the only way for you to have
that card and get access was to prove that you were getting at least €1,000
($1,121) of earnings, and most of them didn’t have that,” says
Pompigne-Mognard.



“It was rooted in disparity. If you have two journalists and one of them has the right card and the other doesn’t, then of course, the other one cannot do his job. He cannot earn money or write articles.&nbsp; 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Google, Facebook, Twitter Fail To Live Up To Fake News Pledge (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2019/02/28/google-facebook-twitter-fail-to-live-up-to-fake-news-pledge/" target="_blank">Google, Facebook, Twitter Fail To Live Up To Fake News Pledge</a>



“More than that, it reinforced the dependence of African
media on international media. They had no other choice but to rely on the
information provided by the biggest media.”



To remedy the circumstances that seemed to disempower his
peers on the continent, Pompigne-Mognard founded APO from his living room,
using $11,000 in savings. 



APO has grown since its inception as it provides a variety
of media offerings such as press releases, videos, photos, documents and
audio-files. 



The company has sources such as global Fortune 1,000 companies, reputable international and Africa-based PR agencies, governments and international institutions.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“I didn’t start it to make money. I didn’t start it as a business. I wasn’t an entrepreneur at the time. I was a journalist and I wanted to address a problem. At the beginning, I wasn’t even aware that companies were paid to distribute press releases.”</blockquote>



Pompigne-Mognard has since realized many things through the
medium of his company as APO delivered growth of 60% in 2018, representing a
turnover that has more than doubled in two years.



As a correspondent of Gabonews, before the inception of his
company, Pompigne-Mognard was covering Europe, and he had to report
Africa-related news and needed information. As a result, he would ensure he was
receiving as many press releases as possible; however, this came with its own
logistic challenges.



“That’s when I realized it was extremely difficult to
actually ensure I received all the press releases from institutions like the
United Nations, as an example. There was not one point where I could get all
the African information issued by the international system.&nbsp; 



“Journalists had to rely on information that was on
websites. It was very time-consuming to get access to all the content&#8230; 



“It got me thinking about how if international media was not
receiving information from our most important institutions, then what does that
say about our voices in the world?”



A single conversation propelled him to make decisive change,
Pompigne-Mognard says. 



“I had a serious meeting with the president of the African Development Bank at the time, Donald Kaberuka, and he told me something that was instrumental because that’s when I decided I wanted to do something about it. 



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“What he told me is that the destination of information about African economies contributes to the growth of the continent, because at the time everybody was talking about poverty, war and struggle.”</blockquote>



Over the years, Pompigne-Mognard has observed a similar
trend in the way press releases are compiled and disseminated. 



He feels this has contributed in transforming the narrative
on Africa. 



“Something that is specific with press releases is that 95
percent of them convey good news. Usually, when a company issues one, it is to
say that they are appointing a new CEO, they are opening a new branch, or they
are expanding into new markets. 



“We (APO) have been participating, for several years now, in
changing the African narrative. We are in a unique place where we have a chance
to influence the narrative and make sure that Africa has its own voice and is
not influenced by the bias of international media. 



Although information is accessible to those who seek it, he
says there is currently another challenge that African media needs to resolve
in order to maintain autonomy and make money to sustain itself. 



“I think there is a big problem coming towards us and it is
coming fast,” says a concerned Pompigne-Mognard.



“Nigeria is starting to watch more international media than
the local media. Think about the international companies which are willing to
expand on the continent. What if 10 years from now, the conclusion is that in
the most developed economies on the continent, the nationals are watching more
international media? Where exactly do we think the international companies are
going to spend on advertisements?



“As an international company, why would I deal with five
national TV stations in different countries, if I can approach a single
international station and get, not only those five countries, but also better
coverage?”



Pompigne-Mognard says the continent is ripe with potential and
international media companies, which have observed the budding possibilities,
are striking while the iron is hot. 



“They know the population is going to grow, the middle class
is growing and that purchasing power is growing.”



Finances remain a colossal inhibiter to the growth of
newsrooms, as many have had to retrench to make ends meet. 



The ripple effect is that the quality of the content
produced eventually suffers. 



“On a global scale, the media landscape is in a challenging
position. It has become very difficult to finance content and to find new ways
to make money. Africans also have the same challenges, but often they don’t
have the same means or resources. 



“I would prefer to be wrong on this matter, but if I’m right, in 15 years’ time, the media landscape in Africa will be completely different – in a bad way. 



READ MORE | <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="How New Media Platforms Have Become Powerful Across Africa (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/technology/2019/02/05/how-new-media-platforms-have-become-powerful-across-africa/" target="_blank">How New Media Platforms Have Become Powerful Across Africa</a>



“I want Africa to have a strong media landscape. But in
order to do that, people need to understand that media companies need to be run
as businesses.”



But it’s not all doom and gloom for African media;
Pompigne-Mognard sees hope. He says the status quo can be reversed if there is
a joint effort to curb the problem.&nbsp; 



“One of the solutions is to create pan-African media,” he
says. “The person who is going to crack the code and make it happen could be
extremely rich. It doesn’t have to be [entirely] pan-African, even 30-35
countries are more than enough.



“There’s a thing about Africa which is a strength and a weakness; it’s that doing something here will always be more difficult. But the good news is that for those who manage to do that thing in Africa, they can do it anywhere.”

Nicolas

Rewriting The News On Africa

People carry some ailments for decades before symptoms
manifest and it’s too late for treatment. Those who do get diagnosed must
grapple with expensive medical costs. What then is the solution?



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



How do you test for a virus when you don’t know you have it?




Hepatitis B is one such. Often times, it remains undetected
until it is viral, at which stage, it is often too late. 



It leads to an infection of the liver that can cause both
acute and chronic disease. When chronic, it attacks the liver, eventually
causing scarring (cirrhosis) of the organ, liver failure, and cancer. 



There are various types of hepatitis viruses including types
A, B, C, D and E. Types A, B, and C are the most common. All five hepatitis
viruses can cause acute disease, but the highest numbers of deaths result from
liver cancer and cirrhosis that occur after decades of chronic hepatitis B or C
infection.



According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an
estimated 257 million people are living with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)
infection, however, the rate of diagnosis is extremely low, at approximately 9%
of all HBV-infected persons.



In February, Abbott Laboratories announced, “the world’s
most sensitive rapid diagnostic test for the detection of hepatitis B surface
antigen… This highly-sensitive, easy-to-use, rapid lateral flow test enables
identification of those with the virus and facilitates linkage to care in every
healthcare setting”.



This is a monumental victory for healthcare practitioners,
who are working on the ground to eradicate the virus, says Dr Andrew Scheibe, a
medical doctor who focuses on HIV, viral hepatitis and infectious diseases
among key populations, specifically people who use narcotics.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="464" height="509" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-40223" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-4.png 464w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-4-300x329.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-4-273x300.png 273w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px" /><figcaption> Dr Andrew Scheibe, a senior technical advisor for TB and HIV Care. Picture: Supplied </figcaption></figure></div>



“What’s useful about it is that it’s very easy to use and
you get results in 15 minutes. Compared to the previous test, you’re able to
detect more people who are infected… [as] it detects more hepatitis B surface
antigen (HBsAg) in the blood… this is very useful in the field as it is a rapid
test,” he says.



Scheibe is a senior technical advisor for TB and HIV Care
and has research affiliations with the University of Pretoria’s Department of
Family Medicine and the Urban Futures Centre at the Durban University of
Technology. 



The rapid diagnostic test by Abbott Laboratories is likely
to empower health practitioners to fight a battle that has seemed
insurmountable on the continent.&nbsp;&nbsp; 



A report released by WHO states that the organization “has
set baseline targets to diagnose 30% of HBV-infected individuals by 2020 and
90% by 2030. In order to reach these targets, rapid testing is imperative.
Testing and diagnosis of HBV is the gateway for access to both prevention and
treatment services and is a critical component of an effective response to the
hepatitis epidemic”. 



From an economic perspective, it is imperative that
hepatitis B mortality rates be reduced because a significant number of the
people who become symptomatic manifest from middle to late life. 



“Those are people who should be economically active, so that
has a huge economic consequence. And the treatment of people who have liver
failure is very expensive,” Scheibe says.&nbsp;




In sub-Saharan Africa, the overall hepatitis B carrier rate
in the general population is 5%-20%, which is amongst the highest in the world.
Viral hepatitis is also a growing cause of mortality among people living with
HIV. 



“About 2.3 million people living with HIV are co-infected
with hepatitis C virus and 2.6 million with hepatitis B virus,” according to
WHO. 



There are other socio-economic factors that make the virus
endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, these are dictated by lack of basic resources,
as well as population density.&nbsp; 



“A lot of the factors are linked to socio-economic and
environmental factors. With hepatitis B in particular, it’s transmitted through
bodily fluids, so if there aren’t good personal and public hygiene practices,
that can foster an environment where these infections are spread,” Scheibe
says. 



“If you are in an area where there’s a high population
living with an infection, it means that the likelihood of people contracting it
is higher… This is a concept we call the community viral load. If, in
sub-Saharan Africa, there already is a lot of hepatitis B, people will
automatically be at a higher risk of contracting it, because they are more
likely to come into contact with people who have the infection.”



The virus is transmitted through contact with the blood or
other body fluids of an infected person. 



“The virus is a hundred times more infectious than HIV. It’s
one of those conditions that people can live with without knowing they are
infected… a proportion of those people will go on to develop live cancer, which
we have few treatments for,” Scheibe says.



In South Africa, the lack of political will to meet the
goals set out by WHO has been criticized by medical practitioners who feel
dealing with the virus decisively would be beneficial for all.&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“I think a lot of work needs to be done to get government to
put it on their political agenda, particularly, if it’s affecting people who
are at high-risk, that government may not want to deal with. 



“For example, [these are] men who have sex with men,
sex-workers and people who take drugs. In many contexts, those are politically
sensitive topics, but it would be very important for government to embrace,”
Scheibe says.



Happy Phaleng, the MSM (men who have sex with men) Programme
Coordinator at OUT-LGBT Well-Being in Pretoria, South Africa, says the rapid
diagnostic test serves as a much-needed form of assistance for a queer
community that, at times, is not prioritized because of stigma. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="927" height="617" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-40224" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis1.png 927w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis1-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis1-600x399.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis1-768x511.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 927px) 100vw, 927px" /><figcaption> Happy Phaleng, the MSM Programme Coordinator at OUT-LGBT Well-Being in Pretoria, South Africa. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla</figcaption></figure>



Phaleng, who was vaccinated as a result of a study that was
taking place at work, says his hepatitis B awareness was scant prior to the
vaccination. He says in some cases, people resist getting vaccinated.



“I remember when they started the study, it was quite a
struggle to get people vaccinated… You look at things like PrEP (Pre-Exposure
Prophylaxis), you still find people who say, ‘let me go think about it,’ even though
it’s free and on-the-go.”



However, on the day he meets FORBES AFRICA, he is armed and
ready with the hepatitis B and C pamphlets that are laid out in front him as he
has a frank conversation about risky lifestyles. 



He says there’s a certain demographic of people who are
privy to information as a result of being privileged to access, he also says
there are cost implications to purchasing certain news items and money is not
easy to come by.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“Class plays a role. There’s a certain class of people, in
this case, the medical space, who would know about medical developments. Some
people don’t read, and those who do, won’t take it in because it doesn’t affect
them directly,” he says. 



Phaleng also frankly states that people tend to be their own
worst enemies as a result of unfounded fears that prevent them from accepting
help.&nbsp; 



“We are too resistant to new things and we also have the
notion that, ‘I’ve lived before without this vaccine. Why am I complicating my
life with medications and vaccination?’ This ties in with the concept that,
‘what you don’t know, won’t kill you’.”



Innovations are good and well, however, studies and pilots
defeat the purpose of what they are intended for as they are, at times,
exploitative and not reciprocal. He alludes to the idea that citizens tend to
be treated like guinea pigs by those who work on the ground on fact-gathering
missions. 



“In South Africa, we have had so many piloted studies and,
as people, we get tired… I’ve worked with people who conduct studies can’t
enter our communities and urge us to try new things and, the next thing you
know, the medication no longer exists because of the outcomes of the study.” 



“They just want to use our bodies to get their PhDs and
launch their products.”



Scheibe, who has been working in the field of harm reduction
and substance use for the past eight years, says that more people in high-risk
groups may acquire the infection and they should also be vaccinated. 



According to NCBI, these include, but are not limited to,
people who frequently require blood or blood products; people interned in
prisons; persons who inject drugs; and people with multiple sexual partners.



Duncan Tsegula, who is a peer outreach team leader for the
Harmless Project at OUT-LGBT Well-Being, is a recovering drug user who used to
share needles while homeless in the streets of Pretoria. 



The Project, which has been running for four years, focusses
on reducing the risk of harm, with particular focus on homeless (needle) drug
users. Tsegula has been a leader for two years.



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="411" height="528" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-40225" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-5.png 411w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-5-300x385.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/hepatitis-5-234x300.png 234w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 411px) 100vw, 411px" /><figcaption> Duncan Tsegula, a peer outreach team leader for the Harmless Project at OUT-LGBT Well-Being. Picture: Motlabana Monnakgotla </figcaption></figure></div>



“Before I became a member, I was a client of the same
project. They were giving out needles, to us, guys using on the street. It got
to a point where people were discarding them on the street. We came up with a
solution which was a needle exchange,” Tsegula says.



“If we give you 10 needles this week, we come back next week
to give you more, and you return the old ones. That’s when we are sure that you
are not discarding them on the streets. So far, for the past year-and-a-half,
it has been working and the city council has stopped complaining.”



He confirms that he’s witnessed people sharing and
repurposing needles. Some of the sharing of needles was due to desperation
because homeless people are profiled and turned away from many businesses even
when they are purchasing products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 



“I was one of the people sharing needles. It was not easy to
access a needle even if you had money because of the way you look.&nbsp; 



“About 12 years ago, when my boss needed a needle to inject,
the pharmacy refused him and he eventually broke a window. He was withdrawing
and because of anger, he broke a window and was arrested.



“Our project is peer-driven and people who were there and
used drugs have links with the clients, so it’s easier for them to communicate
with us, but it’s not easy. 



Along with the clean needles, the project provides homeless
clients with toiletries, condoms, lubricants, showers, haircuts, water, a
weekly meal of choice and a weekly movie of choice. 



They also provide alcohol swabs to prevent infection when
users inject. “Some of the guys go through bins while they collect litter for
recycling, they might cut themselves while doing that. The swabs are used to
clean the surface area where they are going to inject,” Tsegula says.



Along with drug users, sex-workers are also profiled and are
not afforded equal rights. 



Phaleng says, “there are many people who take drugs for
their own reasons but what we’re saying is, ‘even though you’re using for your
own reasons, do it the safe way.’ Because, you can imagine if I’m injecting
drugs and I still have that I’m going to – I might infect that person with a
range of things.



“Sex-work is work. Everybody has the right to health. They
also deserve to be treated fairly and access medication.



“A healthy society is a very productive society. If we get
to a point where we succeed in preventing illness rather than treating them,
will save large amounts of money,” Phaleng says.



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="914" height="601" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-40226" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis-3.png 914w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis-3-300x197.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis-3-600x395.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Hepatitis-3-768x505.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px" /><figcaption> Along with the clean needles, Harmless Project at OUT-LGBT Well-Being provides homeless clients with toiletries, condoms, lubricants, showers, haircuts, water, a weekly meal of choice and a weekly movie of choice. </figcaption></figure>



Scheibe echoes his sentiments.



“We must understand that we need to move away from
criminalization because that has very negative public health consequences
which, in turn, have very negative financial implications.”



For his work with hepatitis, he’s the light at the end of
the tunnel, but he is cautiously optimistic. 



“It’s important to be optimistic that progress can happen,
should happen and is already happening. It’s very clear that we have the tools,
and we know what needs to be done. 



Scheibe says very little will change, “unless there is a
recognition that policies that criminalize sex work and drug use, or are
discriminating on women, are re-evaluated. There needs to be a lot of focus in
addressing those, or we will never be able to eliminate hepatitis or HIV.”

hepatitis

A Hundred Times More Infectious Than HIV

Businessman Looking Secretly to Woman Using Laptop

Is Forex A Scam Or Money Goals?

The exuberance of youth might be just what the doctor has ordered for Africa. There is no doubt that the zest this minister has for her responsibilities will take the continent far.&nbsp; 



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Bogolo Joy Kenewendo has hit the ground running in her role
as Botswana’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, while making history
as the youngest person to be appointed in the position. She, however, takes it
all in her stride as she has always wanted to impact people’s lives.
Kenewendo’s outlook injects a fresh perspective on how she, and her
counterparts in strategic positions, intend on enriching a continent brimming
with possibilities. She shares her views on education, finance, empowerment as
well as traditional practices. 



Q. Are you Africa’s youngest minister, and how does it feel to be “a first” in your career path?



A. I’ve heard rumors that I am the youngest but I have no
confirmation. It’s been a great surprise and an honor. I was so humbled by all
the good wishes and cheers from around the world. I, however, say youth
leadership was the flagship of the political independence and revolution, and
so it should be for the economic independence revolution that I believe our
generation should lead. 



Most of the revolutionary leaders who brought Africa its independence were younger and some of the same age [as me]. 



Patrice Lumumba was 29 when he was, unfortunately,
assassinated as Prime Minister. Kwame Nkrumah, Sir Seretse Khama and Julius
Nyerere were in their late 30s, early 40s. Graça Machel was 30 years old when
she became Minister of Education in Mozambique.



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/politics/2019/03/04/botswanas-president-denies-report-of-600-million-loan-to-zimbabwe/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Botswana’s President Denies Report Of $600 Million Loan To Zimbabwe (opens in a new tab)">Botswana’s President Denies Report Of $600 Million Loan To Zimbabwe</a>



Q. Why did you choose politics?



A. I have always wanted to do something that I felt could
have an impact on people’s lives. I studied Economics and worked as an
economist because I believed it was a good choice for those looking to
interrogate policy and make informed adjustments to the benefit of all. Where I
am at the moment, I get to be part of the highest decision-making body in the
country that directly affects people’s lives.



Q. Being young, African and a woman, what does representation mean to you?



A. Representation is very important. We all need to be
reminded of what is possible in the world. People from what is termed
“backwater villages” need to see the girl from Motopi and be comforted in that
you don’t need to come from big cities, or have a “known name”, or be of “a
certain age”. If you work hard and represent yourself well, someone will take
note. The world is always watching.



Q. Describe your academic/career path and the plans you have for Botswana.



A. I have a BA in Economics and MSc in International Trade
and I’m pursuing some more higher learning. 



My team and I have plans of making Botswana the startup
capital of the region and we are repositioning Botswana as a gateway into the
rest of southern Africa. 



We are doing so by working on our business reforms, to enable doing business in Botswana and working on a one-stop border post services with our neighboring countries. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/11/the-businesses-of-the-future-20-new-wealth-creators-on-the-african-continent/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent (opens in a new tab)">Businesses Of The Future: 20 New Wealth Creators On The African Continent</a>



We are also investing in transport and ICT infrastructure
and of course, providing incentives, including a competitive corporate tax rate
of 5% in designated and reserved areas, as well as, government offtake
agreements with manufacturers who meet government needs most importantly. We
offer hospitality that is synonymous with our proudly Botswana culture, all
premised on Botho, democracy, accountability and peace.



Q. Africa has a prominent rural population that often has less civic participation because of lack of resources. What would you say to them?



A. Living in a modern economy doesn’t mean we should abandon
some traditional ways of engagement and accountability. We should enhance them
and demand for governments to notice them for the purposes of inclusivity. 



No government should wish for a disengaged population, it’s
in their best interest to ensure inclusivity and, therefore, such efforts
should be rewarded. In Botswana, the government holds the rural and traditional
courts highly and uses them as a key consultative and engagement/ participation
platform. 



The kgotla system has now been copied and exported by
thought leaders, recognizing Tribal Management of inclusivity, a community
spirit and ensuring that each gets the chance to voice his or her opinions,
every stage along the way. Echoing the true meaning of lekgotla, “I am because
we exist,” which in the West is democracy, ‘for the people, by the people’. 



Q. Share your highlights and the most challenging moments you’ve had so far.



A. Leading this ministry and working for the people of
Botswana is an everyday highlight. Every moment has been quite intense because
I’m aware that the hopes of many rely on this ministry and our cooperation with
the rest of government. 



I thank God every day for the strength, wisdom and joy
(especially in the face of adversity) he gives me to do this role.



My first international engagement following my appointment was to chair a SACU Ministers of Trade meeting which had some high temperature issues. There was no easing into the job. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/woman/2019/03/27/her-brush-with-business/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Her Brush With Business (opens in a new tab)">Her Brush With Business</a>



It felt like I was David thrown into the ring, before sizing
up Goliath. Fortunately, as it did for David, it went well for me. I am
currently coordinating and chairing trade agreement negotiations on behalf of
SACU+Mozambique with the UK (to deal with the potential trade disruptions due
to Brexit). It is a landmark event and, as a result, so is this agreement. 



At home, our investor after-care company visits bring my
team and I so much joy as they show us what’s possible – the productive
capacity in Botswana. These as well as removing roadblocks for companies and
seeing them flourish. In this short space of seven months, we’ve seen great
progress and this is reassuring. 



Q. What are your economic views of the Africa continent?



A. I am pan-African. I love Africa, I believe in Africa.
Some say the ‘Africa rising’ story is no longer valid but I say ‘dismiss this
beautiful continent at your own peril’. 



I’m hopeful about opportunities, of increased intra-African
trade, that will be unlocked by the&nbsp;
AfCFTA [African Continental Free Trade Area] as well as Tripartite Free
Trade Area. 



Many more African leaders and up-and-coming leaders are alive to [the idea] that it’s only through our cooperation that we can pull ourselves out of our current debilitating state. And to that end in Setswana, we say “kgetsi ya tsie e kgonwa ke go tshwaraganelwa” (Together, we can do more).



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2019/03/05/the-monk-of-business-ylias-akbaraly-talks-about-secret-to-success-and-plans-to-african-with-him/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Monk Of Business: Ylias Akbaraly Talks About Secret To Success And Plans To Take Africa With Him (opens in a new tab)">The Monk Of Business: Ylias Akbaraly Talks About Secret To Success And Plans To Take Africa With Him</a>



Q. What message do you have for Africa’s girls and women?



A. Never let anyone make you believe that you are not
enough. 



You are enough. 



Public spaces, leadership spaces, money spaces are female
spaces too! The most important thing is to ensure we are not comfortable in
being the ‘only woman’ at the table. Any space can do with diversity. 



Please be your sister’s keeper, send the ladder down, extend
a hand (a helping one, even a comforting one, will be most welcome).&nbsp;

Bogolo

Bogolo Joy Kenewendo: Dismiss This Beautiful Continent At Your Own Peril

The story of love, loss and triumph. The story of humanitarian, model and mother, Noëlla Coursaris Musunka.



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



This is a tale of generational loss. A tale about how, at the tender age of five, a child lost everything she held dear. She lost her mother, her father, familiar surroundings and was relocated from the country she’d come to know as her home. However, in losing so much, she seemed to have gained everything and insists on sharing it with others. 



After the death of her father, when Noëlla Coursaris Musunka was five years old, her mother could not afford to keep her and was forced to give her only child (at the time) away in hopes that she would get better opportunities. 



Musunka moved to Belgium, and later Switzerland, and was away for 13 years with very little communication with her mother back home in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 



READ MORE |<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2018/12/20/ravaged-by-ebola-and-war-congo-named-most-neglected-crisis-of-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Ravaged by Ebola and War, Congo Named Most Neglected Crisis of 2018 (opens in a new tab)">Ravaged by Ebola and War, Congo Named Most Neglected Crisis of 2018</a> 



“It was a tough time… I received two or three letters from my mom and spoke to her only twice on the phone,” says Musunka. On her return, at 18 years, she was so struck by the abject poverty that she vowed to contribute to the education of her brothers and sisters, and would give back to her country. 



And she has done so in spectacular fashion. 



Musunka has since had a flourishing career as a model and has graced the pages of fashion magazines like Vogue, Vanity Fair, Marie Claire and Elle. The exposure propelled her to pursue her passion for humanitarian and philanthropic work. 



When asked about what accolades, such as the one she received from the Nelson Mandela Foundation (in November 2018) and the Enhle Cares Foundation, mean to her, Musunka beams and says: “It’s very special. I’m a pan-Africanist. I love Patrick Lumumba, I love Mandela, I love Sankara. I love all these revolutionary people… who want the best for Africa… The spirit of Mandela is [his] legacy. When people remember Noëlla, I want them to remember my legacy. And my legacy and my message is to give back.” 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="959" height="719" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-School-She-built-in-The-DRC.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39746" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-School-She-built-in-The-DRC.jpg 959w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-School-She-built-in-The-DRC-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-School-She-built-in-The-DRC-600x450.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/The-School-She-built-in-The-DRC-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 959px) 100vw, 959px" /><figcaption>The Malaika school. Picture: Supplied</figcaption></figure>



“I’m very happy that the Mandela family contacted me and said ‘this is what our dad would want. You are a young woman investing in education and that’s the reason we want to honor you’. It’s very touching and I’m not into awards, but this one is very special.” 



Since founding the non-profit organization Malaika in 2007, it has grown from a one-room school house to a world-class school that accommodates 314 students of all ages. As the school continues to operate, it plans on adding approximately 30 girls each year. 



The Malaika Foundation, which is in the village of Kalebuka, in the southeastern region of the DRC, has also established a community learning center, recreational facilities, 17 water wells and farm land. 



This is due to the tenacity and collaborative efforts of 31 Congolese staff members working on the ground in the DRC, and support from a team of 30 volunteers working in the US, Europe, the DRC and other locations. In Kalebuka, the community plays an integral role in the daily running of the school. 



“We have 30 parents a day who come to maintain the school. The whole community is driven. The village takes care of the program and protects it. The community center is good because it’s also important to teach the parents. We have the youth and the parents who come to the community center to learn to read, write, sew, and we have key messages. We also distribute malaria nets. 



“So, we have 5,000 people who go there and all programs are free. The school is for free. The staff [members] give of their time, their skills and their money. We have a pro-bono lawyer, pro-bono auditing … [and] we teach the mothers to make the uniforms. We give the girls underwear, socks and shoes.” 



The colloquail term ‘say it with your chest’, means to say something with determination, self-assurance and without fear. During her interview with FORBES WOMAN AFRICA at the Da Vinci Hotel in Sandton in Johannesburg in November, Musunka was wearing a t-shirt with the word ‘Revolution’ across it. The education revolution has swept the village of Kalebuka, in the form for Musunka and her team. 







“Two years in a row, we [Malaika School] have passed the national test. The minister of education came to our school and said, ‘this is an excellent school’. We really want to create scientists, businesswomen, politicians, presidents and journalists.” 



The developments go beyond the classroom, and focus on the holistic care of pupils. 



In 2018, the International Rescue Committee named the DRC one of the countries “most at risk of humanitarian catastrophe”. Similarly, according to the Reuters Foundation, “six of 21 agencies polled, including WFP, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, ActionAid, International Rescue Committee, and Christian Aid, named Congo as the most neglected crisis”. 



The ongoing conflict and rampant spread of Ebola are among the reasons the DRC tops humanitarian crises. 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39748" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built-600x399.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Scholars-at-the-School-She-Built.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption> Pupils at the Malaika school. Picture: Supplied </figcaption></figure>



For many of the pupils, the school serves a lifeline in a country where little to no assistance is offered during a time of crisis. 



“The trust that the parents have in the school is very touching. One of the students came to me and said, ‘Noëlla, I’ve been at this school for eight years, and the school changed my life… I cannot believe that in four years, I will have to leave’. That’s their home. That’s their refuge. Taking care of the school is motivating [for them]. 



 “I want critical thinkers. I want them inspired by the beauty around them. They have music, they have sports, they have leadership classes, they have people from all over the world who come to talk to them,” says Musunka. 



READ MORE | <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2019/02/02/education-quality-and-the-youth-skills-gap-are-marring-progress-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Education Quality and the Youth Skills Gap Are Marring Progress in Africa (opens in a new tab)">Education Quality and the Youth Skills Gap Are Marring Progress in Africa</a>



Due to conflict and other humanitarian challenges in the DRC, news reports about the nation have predominantly been about discord. Musunka says the socio-political challenges should be viewed with nuance. 



“Where we are in the southern east [of Congo], there is no conflict, but Congo is a very challenging country. It’s an economic war, not a civil war. It affects us, in a way, when we have to raise funds because the only press [coverage] that people see is the conflict, the rape, [and] the minerals. 



“The question is, who’s behind this conflict? Who’s giving arms to the rebels? Who’s destabilizing the country? Who’s taking the minerals? For me, when I see all of that, the only way to elevate Congo is through quality education… And, these minerals of conflict need to be minerals of peace, minerals of transformation, minerals of elevating the country and being invested in the people. 



“Right now the minerals don’t benefit the people, they don’t benefit the health system, the infrastructure, the education, and people live under one dollar a day, and seven million children are out of school.” 



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1365" height="2048" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39747" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-300x450.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-600x900.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/4.jpg 1365w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1365px) 100vw, 1365px" /><figcaption> Humanitarian, model and mother, Noëlla Coursaris Musunka. Picture: Franklin Thompson </figcaption></figure>



The overwhelming reports of discord and conflict about the DRC have not gone unnoticed by Musunka, who is often invited to speak at events about her work. She says that beyond Malaika, she would like to create a different image of Africa. 



“When I go on stage, I’m not Congolese, I’m proudly African. And, there are a lot of women who are doing [just] as well on the ground, but they don’t have the opportunity to come [and speak]. It is this woman that I’m representing.” 



Educating a girl child is important to her, as she would like to see the narrative and perception of African women change. “If you invest in a girl child she will be less likely to be affected by HIV. She will invest in her community. She will take care of her family, probably her country and her continent…” 



Musunka’s parting words to African women and girls are as follows: “Give 100% in everything that you do. This is our time. This is our call to stand, to have a place in society, and let’s have a voice. There’s a proverb, ‘if you go alone you don’t go far, but if you go together, you go far’.”

Unathi Shologu

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