Afromusing

crossposted on the Ushahidi blog

Ory Okolloh is not only a blogger, founder of Mzalendo.com, co-founder of Ushahidi and colleague, she is also an inspiration to all of us. Below is the video of her talk at TEDGlobal 2007 - Arusha Tanzania.

The making of an African Activist

Ory, we are sambazaing this whether you want to hide or not

Friend of the blog Ethan Zuckerman will be speaking on September 2nd 2008 at the Berkman luncheon series, so is Eric Osiakwan of AfriSpa. The event will be webcast live at 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US) Bookmark the link and tune in if you can.

The Climate of Innovation Around Information Technology in Sub-Saharan Africa
Ghanaian internet entrepreneur and researcher Eric Osiakwan and the Berkman Center’s Ethan Zuckerman will discuss the climate for innovation around information technology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Eric and Ethan will talk about projects to improve connectivity to the continent and the business models these projects are pioneering, novel uses for mobile phone networks and the use of citizen media as a political force on the continent.

This is the San Fransisco Solar Map.

You can enter your address and it would give you relevant information such as the potential size of a PV system, and its approximate cost. This is definitely an example of how technology can be used to help people make informed decisions about renewable energy.
More on TreeHugger

Before you ask…when are we going to have something similar for Kenya/Africa? Soon, very soon. I refuse to use the phrase ‘Watch this space’. So ‘Soon’ it stays.

These 419 scam emails are often the source of much hilarity….This one cleverly appeals to your concern for Orphans and apparently emphasizes that you are a child of GOD, and inheritor of the orphanages’ late founder?! Who falls for such ploys?

I’m the Director of Faith Orphan Home charity and humanitarian foundation. This letter comes to you simply because of the circumstances surrounding the death of our late founder we need your help to save the life of this children and i know as a child of GOD you will handle this process with me in one faith.
He established this foundation to help less privileged minority people and orphan children in our society which we were doing marvelously before his unfortunate death in 2005, i have been called upon to conduct a standard process and to provide the beneficiary to our late founder since he was a foreigner i will need your help on this process with the Bank here in Ghana.

This involves private funds deposited in a foreign currency account with The Bank in Ghana, as a miracle from God the bank contacted me a month ago as the director of this foundation and a trustee to recommend a next of kin to the funds since he (Our Late founder) died intestate and nominated no successor in title over the fund deposit made with the bank amounting to (Nine Million United States Dollars) The essence of this communication with you is to request that you provide me with information/comments on any or all of the issues below as regards nominating you to inherit the fund left behind since you are a foreigner hence eligible to stand for claim of the funds.

I have therefore contacted you to be legally nominated as next of kin (inheritor) to Our Late founder after all inquiries and investigation even with the relevant embassy has yielded results showing that there is no known or living next of kin. You are required therefore to answer this questions to enable me make my recommendation to The Bank in Ghana

Can you confirm your willingness to accept this inheritance if you are legally and legitimately nominated through my recommendation to the bank and approved to stand as inheritor to this funds, Would you agree to donate 50% of this inheritance to our charity organization for the continued upkeep and securing of a better future for the orphans in our care, if you are officially recommended to the bank in my powers to stand as the Inheritor?

Please write and let me know your interest towards the issues mentioned. You must appreciate that I am constrained from providing you with more detailed information at this point. Please respond to this mail as soon as possible to afford me the opportunity to provide you with more information on this matter and upon your consent proceed with the recommendation to the Bank as the inheritor of the funds.

Thanks for your care.

Pastor Samuel Kojo

Last year during TEDGlobal Erik, Ndesanjo and I were rather stunned to be invited to a press conference where President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete, Dr. Larry Brilliant of Google.org and Bruce McNamer of Technoserve announced the ‘Believe Begin Become’ business plan competition. The competition ran in Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana. From the 5000 submissions entered in Kenya, 100 were selected as winners and a movie about them is currently being made by Carol Pineau. Carol made the highly acclaimed ‘Africa is Open for Business’ documentary, and also spoke about entrepreneurship during TED.
To view a full list of the 100 winners, please click here. There are businesses that range from Biogas production,rural cyber-cafe’s to high end Art galleries. Just reading through the list inspired optimism in me, and I think there are some really good ideas showcased there. There is also a blog, do check it out here.

The botanist Corneille Ewango talks about his work in the Congo to protect the forest giraffe or ‘Okapi’. He touches on the effect of the war, mentioning the mineral coltan which is used in electronics like your cellphone. Do note that coltan has fueled the war in the Congo for many years.

He also goes over his life story, which personifies courage and endurance in the face of difficult circumstances.
If you are not able to view the video, you can read a summary by EthanZ.