Pablo Thiam: Of course, thank you very much for inviting me. I am a former professional soccer player who played in the 1st Bundesliga for 14 years. I started my career at 1. FC Köln in the early 1990s and then moved to FC Bayern Munich via VfB Stuttgart. In 2008, I hung up my boots at VfL Wolfsburg, where I held several managerial positions, including head of the youth academy. Most recently, I held the same position at Hertha BSC. I’ve lived in Germany for almost 50 years, having moved with my parents from Africa to Bonn in 1978 when I was four years old. My father was a Guinean diplomat from the capital, Conakry. When my parents moved on, I decided to stay in Germany to finish school and pursue my career as a soccer player.

What was it like for you to grow up in Bonn?

Pablo Thiam: I had a great time. This quiet city is still one of my favorite places in Germany. Being the seat of government, Bonn was special, exciting, and multicultural. I felt safe.

How important was a good education at home for you?

Pablo Thiam: No argument: it was very important! I was lucky that my parents had a good education, and we had certain opportunities thanks to my father’s job. That’s not necessarily a given when you come from a pretty poor country in Africa. Education was a priority and very valuable. I grew up speaking French and graduated from a Belgian high school. My parents also brought one of my cousins to Germany to give him a better perspective by allowing him to study. Many relatives did the same. My parents always said, “If you study or train in Europe, you will have an advantage in Africa. Then you can go back home and help the country and help the people. That was very important to them.

Do you know of any Africans who returned to Africa after their education?

Pablo Thiam: Yes, a lot of them. They showed a lot of commitment when they came back and did a lot for their country and the continent. The fact that I stayed in Germany was a combination of personal and business reasons.

When did playing football become your dream job?

Pablo Thiam: I didn’t realize it until I was 17 or 18. I wasn’t discovered until I was 16. That’s unthinkable nowadays. At that time, I said to myself: “Wow, maybe I can do more.” I may never have been the most talented player, but I always tried to make the best of the situation. That’s how I achieved what many people dream of. I was grateful for that, which in turn helped me understand the bigger picture, the beautiful but often tough business of football. When I joined the club as a six-year-old, I just wanted to play football; I never thought I would become a professional. At home, football was omnipresent. My father played for Guinea’s record champions Hafia FC and knew many African football greats such as Petit Sory. Unfortunately, my father suffered a very serious injury and broke his neck. It was a shock, I have to say: luckily, he survived. But after that, his career was over. At the same time, he was able to take the opportunity to work as a diplomat after his studies.

You have worked with famous coaches and football stars. Is there an encounter that you particularly remember?

Pablo Thiam: Frank Schäfer discovered me back then, brought me to 1. FC Köln always believed in me. I would describe him as a mentor who has become a friend over the years. But I have to say: at every station, I was lucky enough to meet people who stood by my side, inspired me, and supported me. I wanted and still want to learn more, no matter what. I would therefore describe myself as outgoing and open – even if it’s not always easy. This may be due to the mix of African and European culture. Looking back, I can count myself lucky that I met a lot of great people who are still in my life. I have been able to learn a lot from them. It started with my coach when I was young and continued with my consultant, who has since become one of my best friends. We have also become a good team outside of our work as advisors. Of course, there were also encounters and experiences that I remember negatively, but in their way, they also helped me to recognize what I didn’t want.

When did you decide to stop working on the pitch and start working off the pitch?

Pablo Thiam: It was a bit of a process. I could see in the 2007/08 season that I wouldn’t be playing at the highest level for much longer. I asked myself whether I wanted to be a footballer who would continue playing in the 2nd or 3rd division, even though I had always played in the Bundesliga. Some professionals miss the jump and can’t stop – I didn’t want to be like that.

What was the decisive factor?

Pablo Thiam: I knew I didn’t want to be a coach. One or two training sessions a day, games at the weekend, plus a lot of traveling and hotel stays – I didn’t want that treadmill anymore. That’s why I accepted Felix Magath’s offer to assist him at VfL Wolfsburg. At the time, he was coach, general manager, and sporting director all rolled into one. I started as team manager of the Bundesliga team, and after a spell as assistant to the general manager, I was promoted to head of the youth academy. None of this could have been foreseen, but I am glad I made the right decisions at the right time. It soon became clear that I wanted to pass on my experience to the players and, at that time, increasingly to young talent.

What do you think about digitalization?

Pablo Thiam: Progress, new ideas, and generally things that move our society forward are exciting. Digitalization is one of them, as it now affects almost every area of life and ideally provides practical solutions. Processes that bring people together and encourage collaboration. We can see children growing up with new technologies and having completely different opportunities than we did at that age. Digitalization simplifies and speeds up communication and the flow of information. On the other hand, we all must use digital achievements responsibly and learn from them. Keyword: fake news or misuse of data. We need to weigh up the pros and cons, the opportunities and the risks, to find a positive and sensible approach to how digitalization can help society.

Thank you, Pablo, for your time and the interview.

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BBC News

Three years later, their first short film became a sensation, drawing the attention of millions of people, including Hollywood Stars.

The BBC’s Damilola Oduolowu met the young film-makers in Nigeria to hear their story.

The Click | short film

TIMOTHEE | THE VFX BREAKDOWN

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Originally from Ivory Coast, born in France and now living in Germany for over 14 years. Bienvenue Angui has a solid knowledge of European and African cultures. She has worked as Director of Marketing and Communications for the German office one of the largest networks promoting French trade shows abroad.

Mrs. Angui is now the Director of the professional network „Le Mittelstand BVMW“, which connects German SMEs with European Francophone SMEs. She is also the Managing Director of the « Mittelstand Alliance Africa » (MAA) (www.maa-bvmw.de), the German-African Entrepreneur Network of the BVMW, which supports German companies that want to become economically active on the African continent and vice versa. The MAA works in cooperation with governments, embassies, civil society and entrepreneurs on the African continent with the aim of being a strong voice for small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa and Germany and promoting the African continent as a place of opportunity and a strong partner.

afrolifestyle: Hello Bienvenue! You are the managing director of the Mittelstand Alliance Afrika “MAA” of the BVMW. The BVMW is the biggest SME Association in Germany. That means a lot of responsibility every day. You meet high-level delegations and medium-sized companies from Africa and Europe and you offer them a chance to boost their business. Your claim is “together for success”! Why was Germany a good option for your career?

Bienvenue: Since my school days I wanted to live in Germany. I studied international business with a focus on Franco-German cooperation. It is then quite natural that I decided to start my professional career in Germany after obtaining my Master’s degree in Franco-German international trade and management.

What inspired you the most?

What I always liked about Germany was the culture and the language. The land of poets and thinkers.

afrolifestyle: In times of digitalization and the covid-19 pandemic, what are the biggest challenges and biggest opportunities for SMEs in Africa and in Germany?

Bienvenue: The bottom line of the covid-19 pandemic is that the business location Africa is more important than ever before. Since the supply chain bottlenecks in China, alternative production locations have to be tried in order not to be completely dependent on China or other markets. The pharmaceutical companies were the most affected by the supply chain problems. Africa can get a completely new value and new market opportunities.

What does digitalization mean to you?

I associate digitalization with the future, inclusion, creativity and startups. Digital reality will be everyday life for us.  Since the pandemic, everyone is aware of this.

afrolifestyle: Knowledge transfer at eye level is one of the key perspectives when it comes to networking. Can you name successful collaborations between Africa and Europe?

Bienvenue: The dual education system is a good example to create a knowledge transfer at eye level on both continents. There are many examples where knowledge transfer works out pretty well. It is often the personal efforts of SMEs such as the company Hansen Korbwaren from Germany, which works in Senegal and trains its labour force locally. During the pandemic, the company invited young Senegalese trainees to Germany to learn more about the work processes, taking into account the strictest health requirements. The company is currently planning to set up a production unit in the department of Podor in northern Senegal that will employ around 1,000 people.

What is your vision regarding the economy in Africa?

Through my work  I see the difference between Africa and Europe. African countries need to start programs to help young people and women build an economic structure. A change in the economic structures is important to make the African SMEs more secure. The informal sector represents over 85% of the economy in many African countries. In comparison, the percentage in Europe is about 25%. A transformation of the informal sector in Africa is needed to implement a secure economic structure for the upcoming young generation and for businesswomen.

afrolifestyle: How do you evaluate the economic partnerships between Africa and Europe, such as the new Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) between the EU and Africa?

Bienvenue: In these new negotiated Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and Africa, the African countries commit to open their markets to 80% to Europe. In return, they get full duty-free access to the EU. However, the danger for the African states is the potential for cheap competition from Europe, e.g. in the food sector, which could lead to the collapse of their own agriculture. That is, even if this agreement is better than the Cotonou Agreement, not optimal and still not on an equal footing! That’s why many African countries are fighting against it.

What is your biggest achievement so far?

When I was a teenager I had a dream: to live in Germany and make a career there. Now I have been in Germany for 14 years and I feel I have arrived in Berlin. I am part of a great dynamic that wants to see Africa presented in a different and better light than before.

afrolifestyle: What does diversity mean to you?

Bienvenue: I look at diversity very positively and for me, it means cultural enrichment, tolerance towards others and inclusion.

What do you do when you are not at work?

I play the piano and sing along with it. I was a singer in a soul band for several years, and yes, I miss the stage sometimes. I also like reading  and for my health and well-being I like to jog when I have time.

afrolifestyle: As a businesswoman with African roots, what would you like to share with afrolifestyle?

Bienvenue: Africa is more than the savannah, dancing, and safaris. There are a lot of beautiful people with talents. Creativity can be found everywhere in Africa, it is inspiring! It is worth taking the time to discover the diversity of the people and the continent.

afrolifestyle: Thank you very much for your time and for the interview!

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afrolifestyle

Hello Marcel! “Zum Goldenen Hirschen” is one of the most successful advertising agencies in Germany and the holding company behind it called “Hirschen Group” has many “high roller” budgets. Do you remember the times when you started in a small office, with this funny name that sounds like an old German pub?

Marcel

Indeed. The weird name was one reason for our later success. Everyone kept it in mind instantly. Which is the first job of an advertising company. And of course, I remember when I started in this tiny office. I think no entrepreneur will ever forget his first steps.

How did you get the idea for the agency name?

The name came out of a crazy creative process. It’s like naming your baby. You have a thousand names on a sheet but there is a problem with every single name. So we took the weirdest name of all. 

Did you have some key perspectives?

We were sure that we needed a spectacular name. As we were young and nobody knew us. The name could be the differentiator. It worked out well.

afrolifestyle

You called the company an “idea agency” that time. How did you convince clients to work with the brand new agency in town?

Marcel

The first steps are the hardest. Nobody knows the new kid on the block. So we had to come up with something new and different. We sent out a syringe full of green water and a real needle – and our name on it. That was it. No explanation, nothing. We sent it to the Chief Marketing Officers of the top 500 companies in Germany. It was 1995. Back then you could do it without setting off an Anti-Terror- System. Although the reactions were mixed. The conservative ones hated it and called the police, the progressive marketers loved it. At the end of the day, MTV became our first client. 

afrolifestyle

Hirschen Group’s track record is remarkable. The company has big clients and many advertising budgets. As one of the managing partners, you were always responsible and certainly you had some ups and downs. 

What were the biggest challenges?

The big crises were the most challenging. I remember the collapse of the Dotcom bubble in June 2000 when we lost half of our clients within six weeks and in 2001 after the 9/11 incident the telephone didn’t ring for three months. The problem for me was never my own fate. I was concerned about the future and how does it affect our people. When you lose half of your clients and you have to fire people. This is a situation I always hated.

afrolifestyle

Even 25 years ago, you favoured home office. In the Hirschen magazine „the truth” (die Wahrheit) you wrote that the result of the task is important, not the hours spent sitting in the agency. 

What was the strategy behind that statement?

The strategy behind this statement is about freedom. I profoundly believe that you must let people organize and decide themselves. And then good things will come out. This was our belief 25 years ago and this is still our credo today.

afrolifestyle

Today, in the age of digitalization what does it take to create a successful advertising campaign?

Marcel

The success behind creating a good advertising campaign today is not to think like an advertiser. Of course, creativity and being different and spectacular still counts. But as the world has changed the people have changed. Your communication spirit is equally important. People don’t want to be “advertised”. They want to communicate with you. They want to feel like a partner and not like the dumb listener of your messages.

What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity is still the core of our industry. It is what makes us different. It is what separates us from a traditional consulting or accounting company. But I think the creativity is even more. That creativity is at the center of every big and striving company’s success. Look at the top 10 most successful companies in the world e.g. Google, Facebook, Amazon, Alibaba, and Tencent. To me, these companies are not mainly digital companies but creative companies. Their innovation speed, their organization, and their culture are often more comparable to an advertising company than to a traditional production company. In our 2019 book “Let’s creativate” we created a special word to describe this phenomenon: Creativation. 

What do you do when you’re not at work?

Chilling. Traveling. Football. Binge watching CNN in election time. Binge watching Netflix in normal times.

afrolifestyle

As an entrepreneur with German-African heritage, what would you like to share with afrolifestyle?

Marcel

Confidence and a you-also-can-make-it spirit is the base. When I grew up in Germany in the 1970s I was one of two black guys in my grade level in school. I often was the only black guy in the train. The most important lesson to me was: don’t let the people reduce you to your race or different look. Always act as it is the most normal thing in the world that you are leading the show. That you are the top manager at the table. That you are the president. 

afrolifestyle

Thank you for your time and for the interview!

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Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo was born in Minta, Cameroon, into a family of musicians, which enabled him to start learning music from a young age. His grandfather was a griot – a West African singer of praise and storyteller – and percussionist, as his mother was a singer. When he was four years old, Bona started to play the balafon. At the age of five, he began performing at his village church. Not being wealthy, Bona made many of his own instruments: including flutes and guitars (with cords strung over an old motorcycle tank). His talent was quickly noticed, and he was often invited to perform at festivals and ceremonies. Bona began learning to play the guitar at the age of 11, and in 1980, aged just 13, he assembled his first ensemble for a French jazz club in Douala. The owner befriended him and helped him discover jazz music, in particular that of Jaco Pastorius, which inspired Bona to switch his focus to the electric bass.

Richard Bona | “Vocal solo” enjoy!

Bona performing at TED Talks, April 2019

Career | Grammy Award 2002

Richard Bona emigrated to Germany at the age of 22 to study music in Düsseldorf, soon relocating to France, where he furthered his studies in music. While in France, he regularly played in various jazz clubs, sometimes with players such as Manu Dibango, Salif Keita, Jacques Higelin, and Didier Lockwood. In 1995, Bona left France and established himself in New York, where he still lives and works. In New York he played bass guitar with artists including Joe Zawinul, Larry Coryell, Michael and Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, George Benson, Branford Marsalis, Chaka Khan, Bobby McFerrin, and Steve Gadd. In 1998, Bona was the Musical Director of Harry Belafonte’s European Tour.

Raul Midon + Richard Bona | State of Mind

Debut solo album and world tour with Pat Metheny

His debut solo album, Scenes from My Life, was released in 1999. He has also been prominently featured in Jaco Pastorius Big Band albums, as well as many other albums by various top-tier jazz musicians. In 2002 Bona went on a world tour with the Pat Metheny Group. The release of the successful Speaking of Now album that year had marked a profound change in the group’s direction by adding younger musicians to the band, notably with Bona as bassist, vocalist, guitarist and percussionist, along with drummer Antonio Sánchez and trumpet player Cuong Vu.

In 2005 Bona released his fourth solo album Tiki, which included a collaboration with John Legend on one track, entitled “Please Don’t Stop.” The album was nominated for Best Contemporary World Music Album at the 49th Grammy Awards. Richard Bona’s music took on a distinctive Afro-Cuban flavor with the 2016 release of the Heritage album with Cuban band Mandekan Cubano. The album was released under Quincy Jones’ Qwest label.In 2015 he opened Club Bonafide in New York 52nd Street together with restaurateur Laurent D’antonio. He held a professorship of jazz music at New York University.

Background information

Birth name
Bona Pinder Yayumayalolo

Born
28 October 1967 (age 52)
Minta, Cameroon

Genres
Jazz fusion, world fusion, ethno jazz, Funk

Occupation
Musician, composer

Instruments
Bass, guitar and vocals

Labels
Universal, Columbia, Sony, Verve, GRP

Associated acts
Pat Metheny Group, Zawinul Syndicate, Mike Stern, John Legend and many more…

Website
www.richard-bona.com

Richard Bona + Lokua Kanza

Richard Bona | Jarasum Jazz Festival 2015

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Kamala Harris | impressions

Born in Oakland, California, Harris graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, before being recruited to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office and later the City Attorney of San Francisco’s office. In 2003, she was elected district attorney of San Francisco. She was elected Attorney General of California in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.

US Election 2020

As a senator, she has advocated for healthcare reform, federal descheduling of cannabis, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the DREAM Act, a ban on assault weapons, and progressive tax reform. She gained a national profile for her pointed questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings, including Trump’s second Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault.

Harris ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination and attracted national attention before ending her campaign on December 3, 2019. 

She was announced as Biden’s running mate on August 11, 2020. On November 7, 2020, the race was called in favor of the Biden-Harris ticket. She will be the second vice president of significant non-European ancestry, following Charles Curtis, who served from 1929 to 1933. 

Harris will also be the first African American, the first Asian American, and the first female vice president in U.S. history.

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She was born in the United States but moved to Ghana at six months old. The family returned to the United States and settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado when she was 12.

Bozoma Saint John | Yes, Girl!

The best person for the job

Saint John is the best person for the job. Her experience at the intersection of marketing and culture is unparalleled. Her first full-time job was working as an assistant to Spike Lee. It was on her suggestion that Beyonce headlined the half-time show at Superbowl XLVII in 2013. Prior to Endeavor, she was the Head of Global Consumer Marketing at Apple Music & iTunes and the Chief Brand Officer at Uber. Netflix is at an inflection point that requires the best of the the best. Of course they would want her to lead marketing.

Bozoma Saint John talks building your own brand

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Un outil numérique né en Afrique pallie ce manque : Ushahidi (« témoignage », en swahili). Cette plateforme a été créée en quelques jours lors des violences post-électorales en 2008 au Kenya. Une carte alimentée en temps réel permet de savoir ce qui se passe, d’alerter, de localiser ces violences et aussi de s’informer sur la façon de rester en sécurité. Ushahidi s’appuie sur l’information géographique collaborative, ou, en anglais, VGI (« Volunteered Geographical Information »). D’autres organisations se sont lancées sur cette piste de développement sans connaître le même succès que Ushahidi. Facebook a mis en service sa propre procédure de « Safety Check » en 2014, mais elle est instable et ne permet que de dire que « Tout va bien », tout comme « People Finder » lancé par Google en 2010. En France, le ministère de l’Intérieur a lancé une application d’alerte attentat en 2016 mais, face à ses loupés, elle n’aura vécu que deux ans.

l’innovation numérique africaine au service de l’entraide

Mais à la différence de ces plateformes,Ushahidi permet la transmission d’informations par messages sur Internet, mais aussi par SMS. Cela lui offre une plus grande audience, car la plateforme est de ce fait accessible dans les zones sans couverture internet, encore nombreuses en Afrique. Autre avantage : elle ne s’intéresse pas qu’aux grosses catastrophes naturelles ou humaines, mais aussi aux violences plus sporadiques qui sévissent sur le continent.

Angela Oduor Lungati a rejoint Ushahidi en tant que développeuse de programme il y a 10 ans. Aujourd’hui, elle en est la directrice générale de cette plate-forme, qui est devenue une ONG. « Comme cette technologie vient d’Afrique et que cela fonctionne bien sur le continent, alors forcément cette technologie n’a pas besoin de ressources énormes. Elle peut marcher partout », dit-elle en riant. Depuis, la plateforme open source a pris de l’envergure. Elle est utilisée dans 160 pays, traduite en 46 langues et a recueilli au total 50 millions d’alertes : ouragans, tremblements de terre, atteintes aux droits de l’homme, témoignages de violences, corruption, harcèlement. Cette technologie permet à ceux qui sont en situation de crise ou d’urgence de recevoir une aide plus efficace ou de se protéger.

Des projets sur tout le continent

En parlant d’entraide, l’ONG Ushahidi a contribué à d’autres projets comme le développement de hubs sur le continent. On compte aujourd’hui 600 espaces deco-travail, fab lab et incubateurs de projets technologiques dans 51 pays d’Afrique. Ces espaces s’adressent pour l’instant à une population éduquée qui partage les mêmes valeurs, sont un peu geek et ont envie de s’épauler. Mais les promoteurs de ces hubs essaient d’en installer dans les zones rurales du continent.

Lors de cette conférence, il a aussi été question de paiement par téléphone, notamment de M-Pesa qui permet depuis son téléphone de déposer, retirer ou transférer de l’argent, mais aussi de payer des biens et des services. Lancé en 2007, ce service n’est plus aujourd’hui limité au Kenya et à la Tanzanie, mais s’est exporté entre autres en Afghanistan, au Mozambique ou en Égypte. Des conférenciers de Brazzaville devaient venir pour contribuer sur ce sujet, mais ils font partie des participants, comme ceux du Nigeria, qui se sont vu refuser un visa pour entrer aux États-Unis. 

Pour Northup Temple, le directeur de la Valenti School, « ce genre de conférence sur des enjeux mondiaux de communication est rare. Ce sont pourtant des sujets qui méritent vraiment que l’on s’y intéresse ». L’an prochain, la thématique de la conférence est déjà toute trouvée: ce sera autour de la communication sur la santé et les épidémies. Un sujet dont tout le monde parle déjà en ce moment.

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Mme Dème a une vaste expérience dans le domaine des médias et des arts. En tant que responsable culturel, son expertise est largement reconnue. En 2009, elle a co-fondé Agendakar.com, première plateforme web dédiée aux arts et à la culture au Sénégal. Elle a travaillé avec des organisations telles que la Biennale de Dakar, Amnesty International, Oxfam et Save The Children.

Après un diplôme en informatique à l’École Supérieure Polytechnique de Dakar, Mme Dème a été employée de banque pendant 5 années, mais décide de s’éloigner du secteur bancaire pour se lancer dans la promotion des arts. Pour ce faire, elle reprend des études pour un Master en communication.

« Être présidente de la Fondation Music In Africa, qui couvre déjà 26 pays sur le continent, est un défi stimulant. Je le prends avec une grande humilité », a déclaré Mme Dème après son élection en Éthiopie. « Je rends hommage à mon prédécesseur, le Dr Ribio Nzeza Bunketi Buse pour son travail et je remercie la Fondation Music In Africa de m’avoir fait confiance », a-t-elle ajouté.

L’organisation a également accueilli deux nouveaux membres du conseil lors de son AG annuelle, M. Faisal Kiwewa d’Ouganda et M. Adé Bantu du Nigeria, Ils remplacent M. Bill Odidi du Kenya et M. Seta Ramaroson de Madagascar – deux membres fondateurs qui continueront de travailler avec la Fondation au sein du Comité des adhésions et du Comité du « contenu et éducation ».

La Fondation Music In Africa a été fondée en 2013 à Nairobi, Kenya, et a pour objectif d’assurer le développement du projet Music In Africa initié en 2011 par la Fondation Siemens, le Goethe-Institut et des partenaires de toute l’Afrique. La Fondation a pour mission de soutenir le secteur de la musique africaine en favorisant le partage des connaissances, en créant des opportunités et en développant les capacités pour ceux qui opèrent dans le secteur.

Le portail Music In Africa (www.musicinafrica.net), portail d’informations et d’échange dédié à l’industrie musicale africaine, est l’un des produits-phares de la Fondation. D’autres activités de l’organisation comprennent la formation pour les professionnels de la musique, La création d’opportunités pour permettre aux artistes de se produire sur scène la découverte de talents, le renforcement du potentiel et du plaidoyer.

Music In Africa a son siège à Johannesburg, Afrique du Sud et a des bureaux régionaux en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), au Kenya, au Nigeria et au Sénégal.

AISHA DÈME | engl version

Aisha Dème, President of the Music In Africa Foundation

For the first time, the Board of Directors of the Music In Africa Foundation will be chaired by a woman, Ms. Aisha Dème from Senegal. Ms. Dème was elected at the 4th Annual General Assembly of the pan-African organization held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 10. A member of the foundation, Ms. Dème previously served on the board of directors as Vice President from 2014 to 2016. She was also a member of the organization’s first management committee established in 2012. In addition, she worked closely with the Foundation’s Content and Education Committee created in 2015.

Ms. Dème has extensive experience in the field of media and the arts. As a cultural manager, her expertise is widely recognized. In 2009, she co-founded Agendakar.com, the first web platform dedicated to arts and culture in Senegal. She has worked with organizations such as the Dakar Biennale, Amnesty International, Oxfam and Save The Children.

After graduating in computer science at the Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique de Dakar, Ms. Dème worked as a bank clerk for 5 years, but decided to move away from the banking sector to promote the arts. To do so, she resumed her studies for a Master’s degree in communication.

“Being president of the Music In Africa Foundation, which already covers 26 countries on the continent, is a stimulating challenge. I take it with great humility,” Ms. Dème said after her election in Ethiopia. “I pay tribute to my predecessor, Dr. Ribio Nzeza Bunketi Buse for his work and I thank the Music In Africa Foundation for trusting me,” she added.

The organization also welcomed two new board members at its annual AGM, Mr Faisal Kiwewa from Uganda and Mr Adé Bantu from Nigeria. They replace Mr Bill Odidi from Kenya and Mr Seta Ramaroson from Madagascar – two founding members who will continue to work with the Foundation in the Membership Committee and the Content and Education Committee.

The Music In Africa Foundation was founded in 2013 in Nairobi, Kenya, and aims to ensure the development of the Music In Africa project initiated in 2011 by the Siemens Foundation, the Goethe-Institut and partners from all over Africa. The Foundation’s mission is to support the African music sector by promoting knowledge sharing, creating opportunities and building capacity for those operating in the sector.

The Music In Africa portal (www.musicinafrica.net), an information and exchange portal dedicated to the African music industry, is one of the Foundation’s flagship products. Other activities of the organization include training for music professionals, creating opportunities for artists to perform on stage, talent discovery, capacity building and advocacy.

Music In Africa is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa and has regional offices in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal.

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