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Book Review - Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunities by David Flick

“All citizens of Africa will benefit and all can become successful in Africa if they have the imagination, education and persistence,"

 

I have doubts about this book for example of using Sudhir Ruparelia as business owner??? Truly many Ugandans have done enough research on that and know where those assets belong. But, I will bury my feeling and let those who have read it enlighten me on its pros…

 

in this digital age I would love an audio version I don’t think I still have time to sit and read… it’s the information age reading while on the road on mp3 or flac…

I understand there is software that can turn audio in2 text & vice versa. Any free but good versions available. The Microsoft version never worked 4 me.

(In Europe, u can actually send an sms 2 a landline. A computer reads it to the receipent!) 

Why should Africans have to follow a western or caucasian blueprint in order to sustain themselves? So what if Africa has so many natural resources? These studies have been done to death and obviously have not worked for African situation. These so call experts should leave Africans alone to develop in an 'organic' manner without having to succumb to genocidal/dictatorial pressures for the so called greedy capitalists of this world to live in comfort or feel good about themselves.

Well stated Nanganda at africans succumbing to genocidal/dictatorial pressures... It's partly cause we lack confidence in who or what we are always preferring to copy or mimick what's set before us.  Guess its not easy to be strong when you are poor and greedy... We disrespect our own persons in favour of foreign ways believing them to be better.

We need to work around ideologies that fit in with our way of life so that ideas develop along with us rather than us playing catch-up all the time! Ideas which incorporate and take into account the varying traditions and cultures of regions rather than enforced adoption or duplicate finished prototypes.

Conceptx - I  have had difficulty reading this book especially as I am researching into various ventures and projects of employment or business within Ug.  Thing is -  time to incorporate actions required to research and top up on knowledge from such areas is a tough challenge.  An audio transcript would be good though I am not entirely certain about the authors copyrights pertaining to such but since you raise such it - this is an avenue that can be perhaps exploited.

The book I've found to be informative and one that to me as a lay person who has been out of the country for too long, is one by Margaret Synyder - "Women in African Economies - From Burning Sun to Boardroom..."

Am I the only in here who is willing to listen to people's ideas on how to create wealth? Has anyone actually read this article?

Lets pretend for a sec the book was written by  David "Mukasa" who had migrated to the States and gone to the prestigious business school- Wharton(just Mr. Fick did)... and then published this book with the exact same information.  Would the idea of reading this book become more palatable to you all?  Should Mr. Fick have hidden his identity.  I'm finding this reaction strange... particularly being here in the United States where my boss is from Turkey, the three other engineers I go to lunch with are from India, Jamaica and white America... the guy who controls my project is white American... we have groups of engineers flying in and out from India... I hang out with one of them over the weekend in DC...etc... Basically it is a melting pot over here...lol.

QUESTION: HOW CAN WRITING A BOOK about something you went to school for become a racial/colonialist issue? The dude went to probably the best school in business  in the U.S and spends a lot of his time studying African markets.  The least you can do is listen to what he has to say and respectfully spit out what you don't need. 

My understanding of this book is that for the most part it documents business as it is being done in Africa... like Businge wrote- " It is more of a description of successful businesses and entrepreneurs that the author managed to find."- IT IS NOT a "do-it-yourself" book.  Infact Businge is somewhat disappointed because he was looking for a "do-it-yourself" book.

That said... I don't understand this reaction to the book??? For the most part he is not telling you what you should do when conducting business, and when he does it is his own opinion which he is entitled to....lol... please explain.

 ...and would you by the same book if it was written by  David "Mukasa"

... or maybe you you guys have read the book and know much more than I do about this book. 

"wa wa wa" (Borat)

 

you are not the only one bro, and to post for my self...

 

conceptx:

..., I will bury my feeling and let those who have read it enlighten me on its pros…

 

I expressed my doubts cos of Sudhir Ruparelia.

Probably some people would have doubts if I wrote about democratic African leaders with Museveni as a good example and some would agree with me.

Its a judgmental world.

Finally - true I haven't read this book for reasons already stated so cannot comment on the actual book. Though I gotta ask: Does commenting on the statements made by other members infer it to be directly in relation to the book or to other areas of their take generally?

I couldn't give two figs who wrote the book so long as the research and outcome of it took into account of incorporating practical ideologies already in place on ground in the subject communities.

Africa has always been  a continent  of potentials and it does not take some one like this author to tell us what we  already know.In most african countries what we have is an economically dominant minority dominiting the indegenous majority. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL BOMB WAITING TO EXPLODED.Think of it, when 1-2 % of  foreigners control 60- 80% of your wealth you know there is something fundamentaly wrong.

1) whites in Zimbabwe

2( whites in South Africa

3)Indians in east Africa ( Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya)

4) the Labenese in west Africa.

We are talking here is racial layering.where the indegenous people are so dispropotionately empowered in favour of forieigners.

It can only happen in mother Africa.

 sometimes i feek i cannot be cynical enough

 Would i be suprised if this book turns out to have be sponsored by the IMF OR THE WOLD BANK? NAAAAAH!

Ok...ok... u know me.... always lookin for drama in here I guess....lol.

I actually want to get this book... Just to have a record of how these people are doing it... Ofcourse we should read anything critically to make up our own minds/judgements.... but I think I would learn a lot here.  Doing business in Africa is unique.... Take Sylvia Owori for example... Goes to London... gets ideas.... comes back and look at her now.... She is in dmand all over the continent.... enough to have been asked to do the costumes for Last King of Scotland.

Perhaps instead of expressing doubt on this thread, maybe we could share these small stories of success.  What interests me most are Ugandans going back to Ugandan and doing big things... Oh wait... there is Aydee from Ngoni, Tshila, Babaluku... from the entertainment interviews.

SB... i wonder what u r starting....  maybe we could join you. :)... start a UGPulse Ltd. ...lol

Africa, Continent of Economic Opportunity (November 2006 www.ste.co.za)

 

INDEX:

Chapter 14: Uganda

 

Mulwana, James

Kalema, William

Wavamunno, Gordon

Uganda Flower Exporters Association (UFEA)

Roy, Captain Joe

Thome, Wolfgang

Nile River Explorers

Hirji, Karim

Kigongo, Olive

Crater Valley Kibale Beach Resort  

Madhvani Family

Tilda Estate (Kibimba)

Alam Group

El-Gendy, Moustafa

Bitature, Patrick

UltraTec

Crystal Clear Software

Mango Tree Uganda

Baliddawa, Edward

Omalla, Julian Adyeri

Kogere Bagg

Tumusiime, James

Kibuuka, David

Nnyanzi, Nuwa Wamala

James Finlay (Uganda)

Sheltam Corporation

St. Mary's Lacor Hospital of Gulu

Mugyenyi, Dr. Peter

 

 

Thanks WheelingEagle.

I placed my order this morning from Amazon.

Thank you Finally, I would appreciate more suggestions on which entrepreneurs to feature. 

Author's file notes for African Entrepreneurs in the 21st Century (2008),

Sylvia Owori
Proprietor, Sylvies Boutique

SYLVIA Owori is one of today’s leading figures in Uganda’s media, modelling, advertising and fashion industries. Owori is famous both for her entrepreneurial skills as well as for her creative talent. Today, her designs are appreciated in the region and her participation in a variety of prestigious events all over Africa have made her a respected designer throughout the continent. Sylvia’s contribution towards Uganda’s development was recently recognised by Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, when in June 2006 she received the Presidential Transformers Award.

Using her training in London, innovative imagination and natural talent, Owori has managed to cut a niche and brand herself with style, both bold and approachable. Owori says she draws her inspiration from her Ugandan roots and the African lifestyle, as well as from her extensive travels to the USA and Europe. Her break into fashion happened when she took on the challenge of revitalising the Miss Uganda Beauty Pageant (2001-2004) which due to her efforts became one of the most significant events on the Ugandan social calendar. She also designed outfits for the contestants of the M-Net Face of Africa in Dar-es-Salaam (2000) and Cape Town, which resulted in immense acclaim from the fashion industry. Owing to this success, Owori was commissioned to design the Nokia Face of Africa’s Ugandan finalist’s outfit in 2001.

In 2004, Owori launched her own label, “Sylvia Owori”, with a style that she describes as a balanced mix between smart and elegant outfits for work and trendy casual wear for leisure. “They are all designed with the sophisticated and modern working woman in mind,” she says.

She has participated in a number of events, among them, Kenya Fashion Week 2004, and has designed costumes for the main characters in the Hollywood movie, “The Last King of Scotland”. The movie was filmed in Uganda in 2005.

Owori’s was the first modelling agency in Uganda, “Ziper Models”, in 1999, supplying professional models in the Ugandan market. The company, now renamed ZIPA, is still one of the most eminent agencies in East Africa, scouting and selecting the best female and male models from across the continent. Last November she launched, “African Woman”, the first high quality women’s magazine In Uganda. “This is following a philosophy of focusing on themes ranging from fashion to lifestyle and health; topics that are pertinent to the contemporary women of East Africa.”

Owori participated in the “Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week” in October 2006 and has been selected as one of the 10 designers to dress a Nokia Face of Africa finalist in Sun City in August 2007. Without a doubt, this event will be the next step in her successful career and fashion enthusiasts from all over the continent are impatient to see her new collection unveiled.

Source: "Uganda’s leading women," by Jacob Ngetich, January 10, 2007, www.businessinafrica.net

Sylvia Owori is one of today's leading figures in East Africa's media, modelling, advertisement and fashion industries, famous for both her entrepreneurial skills as well as for her creative talent. Today, her designs are appreciated by a very large public in Uganda and her participation in a variety of prestigious events all over Africa have worked to make her a respected designer throughout the continent. Sylvia's contribution towards Uganda's development was recently recognised by President Museveni himself, when in June 2006 she received the Presidential Transformers Award.

Having studied with some of the most skilled professionals in London, her design ethos is the result of the excellent training she received, added to her unique imagination and natural talent. Drawing her inspiration from her Ugandan roots and the African life style as well as from her extensive travels to the USA and Europe, Sylvia's style is recognised as being bold while staying approachable.

Her break into fashion happened when she took on the challenge of revitalising the 'Miss Uganda Beauty Pageant', (2001-2004) which following her input became one of the most significant events on the Ugandan social calendar. She also revealed her innovative talent by designing outfits for the contestants of the M-Net Face of Africa in Dar es Salaam (2000) and Cape Town, which resulted in immense acclaim from the public as well as from fashion critics. Following this positive feedback, Sylvia was appointed to design the Nokia Face of Africa's Ugandan finalist's outfit in 2001.

In 2004, Sylvia launched her own label 'Sylvia Owori', providing a range of prêt-a-porter exclusively on sale in her flagship store in Kampala and in an outlet in Nairobi. Her style can be described as a balanced mix between smart and elegant outfits for work and trendy casual wear for leisure, all designed with sophisticated and modern working women in mind.

Since then, Sylvia has participated in Kenya Fashion Week 2004, after which her designs were featured on the front page of both Kenyan and Ugandan daily newspapers. In 2005, her talent and reputation attracted the interest of the makers of the Hollywood movie 'The Last King of Scotland' for which she created the costumes for the main characters of the movie filmed in Uganda.

But Sylvia's achievements go much further than these acknowledgments for her designs.

Parallel to her design work, since 1999, she has shown her capacity for looking ahead and taking risks by starting the first modelling agency in the country: 'Ziper Models' supplying the best professional models on the Ugandan market. The company, now renamed ZIPA is still one of the most eminent agencies in East Africa, scouting and selecting the best female and male models from across the continent. 

East Africa, scouting and selecting the best female and male models from across the continent. 

Next, in November 2005 Sylvia launched 'African Woman' the first high quality women's magazine of the kind in the region, following a philosophy of focusing on themes ranging from fashion to life style and health; topics that are pertinent to the contemporary women of East Africa.

Sylvia has just been selected as one of the ten designers to dress a Nokia Face of Africa finalist in Sun City this August and is also preparing for her show in the up coming 'Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week' in July. Without a doubt, this event will be the next step in her successful career and fashion enthusiasts from all over the continent are impatient to see her new collection unveiled.

Source: http://www.sylviaowori.com/biography.htm

Sugarbabes:

The book I've found to be informative and one that to me as a lay person who has been out of the country for too long, is one by Margaret Synyder - "Women in African Economies - From Burning Sun to Boardroom..."

Excellent book Sugarbabes, book was used for reference concerning Daisy Roy's story on page 345 of the book Africa: Continent of Economic Opportunity

I am very intrigued by your ID name wheelingeagle!  As for the book I chose to bring me up to speed on whats going down in Ug, thank you.  I think it's very good too - if only I could bring myself to finish it!!!  Only by having such literature availed can those of us out of Ug in addition to those within start to take a step back and see where we need to alter in our approach to facilitating change. 

Finally in answer to you - (and I apologise for the delay I've taken in getting back to you btw) we all have our styles of approach to issues that move us and there is no one prescribed remedy!  Perhaps what ugpulse can build upon to the already educative format is mobilisation of community based interaction within Ug!  A challenge I know because it already has enough on its plate!

I would like to base what I am researching on putting back what I have gained living abroad,  skill-wise to non-profit projects in rural settings where such aid is needed.  Just like we would arrange social functions to meet up in the diaspora - it would be worth looking at hooking up on working holidays back in Ug to work on projects akeen to what some aid agencies are doing already,  just a thought....

Persons on ground are not all necessary lacking in ambition, they just need positive incentive and direction whereupon emphasis on non corruptive means can perhaps be a beacon for reward...