Bridging the Business Gap Between the U.S. and Africa

A little over four years ago, a few friends and I sat around the dining table drinking tea (classic activity in the home of most people of Kenyan origin).  As always, debate ensued around the state of affairs in Africa, and we touched on politics, education, health, AID, trade, AIDS, assembly plants, and tourism. After discussing business models that effectively bring about change in international trade, we determined that we needed a mechanism that could bridge the gaps in business between the US and Africa. Needless to say, our tea went cold as we contemplated what needed to be done!  After months of planning and advice, we established the Sub-Saharan Africa Chamber of Commerce, (SSACC, www.ssachamber.org). So here we are today thankful for all the champions who have supported the conversion of a problem statement into a solution that enables trade and investment between the US and Africa with strong ties that bring together over 1500 public and private institutions.

The question around why Africa didn’t seem a good business destination was raised continuously throughout our debate, and we recognized that we needed to change the lenses through which businesses looked at Africa, by telling Africa’s story and creating awareness around the bustling business community on the continent. 

Rarely when questioned would a business person describe Africa as the continent that yields a minimum of 8% Returns on Investment, has 85% cell phone penetration in some countries, develops innovative banking solutions such as MPESA in Kenya, boasts robust stock exchanges in Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi or that the origins of PayPal are in South Africa. An acknowledgement of overhauled governance structures as is seen in Rwanda, enhanced gender empowerment, and increased health and education access throughout Africa are usually distant thoughts. 

Many are not cognizant of the African designers working for the coveted Italian, French or even American branded lines using African leather and organic cotton, nor is there a realization of the state of the art manufacturing facilities all over the continent.  The burgeoning middle class with high buying power is always missed. It is the rare business person who will mention the 6-12 lane highways, a super successful FIFA 2010 in South Africa, large malls scattered throughout the continent, brain surgeries in state of the art hospitals, beautiful golf courses that attract many business people, African naval oranges and pineapples in our grocery stores, wholesome and variant meals, college students chatting on facebook, rich beer that has even the Germans wondering what they could do to augment their ale, vibrant cities with young entrepreneurs, ice skating rinks at hotels, rural life that doesn’t evoke tears. 

The tall cranes dotting the landscapes due to the density of construction that is going on throughout the continent don’t get mention.  Universities that have thousands of faculty who were either trained locally or abroad are usually overlooked as hubs of innovation and creativity, yet they are pumping out students that deck the halls of Ivy league colleges, World Bank, Wall Street, United Nations, biotech companies, Centers for Disease Control, and even NASA. 

Documenting and Educating Future Generations

Not long after the civil war broke out in Somalia, I began to see a great number of Somali people coming to Columbus, Ohio where I lived.  Columbus is a welcoming place, and at the time, jobs were available.  Still, the Somalis and the main stream communities did not immediately understand or adjust to each other.  As the numbers began to increase, I began to ask myself how I could help these people from my homeland.  I was not a doctor, a psychologist or a social worker; I was a photographer with a desire to help. 

As people from Somalia kept coming, I formed the Somali Documentary Project (2003).  The mission of SDP is to provide a documentary history of the worldwide Somali Diaspora, to educate the hosting community about Somali culture, and to advocate for the plight of refugees.

The Somali Documentary Project has been more successful than I ever could have imagined.  We have had shows at the Riffe Gallery in Columbus, OH, the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, OH, the Bates Art Museum in Lewiston, ME, the Plains Art Museum in Fargo, ND, the Wiseman Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN and the Open Society Institute in New York, NY. We have delivered essays in Mosques, Churches, and Universities in this country and around the world.  We have also published a book, and produced a video.  Hopefully, these shows and presentations have helped the Somali and mainstream communities come to understand each other, so that they could form respectful, working relationships.  The idea has never been that refugees should lose their heritage, but rather that Somalis and Americans can respect each other’s cultures and live together with common goals.

Youth Leadership and the Transformation of the Community

Being involved in my community and taking initiatives to affect positive change has been my passion since I was 14 years old. I grew up and live in Cedar-Riverside area in Minneapolis, a culturally diverse and thriving neighborhood. This community faces many challenges such as unemployment, good education and access to better health care. As a socially-active youth in the community, I was fortunate to have the support and guidance of experienced and dedicated group of people who mentored and helped me learn the robes in community engagement. Being a community leader is a challenging feat, but I believe it is through challenge and adversity that one acquires the strength and character to become a strong leader.

My passion for community involvement began in my early youth. Ever since I was kid, my mother always taught me to give back selflessly to one’s community. I strongly believe that young people need to take active role in shaping a better future for themselves and for their neighborhoods. As the co-founder of the Cedar Riverside Youth Council (CRYC), a youth-led organization that has undertaken ambitious projects including Youth Awareness Week held every Summer to highlight pressing youth issues such as crime, safety, drug and substance dependency and organize rally against youth violence. The organization also organizes Awards night to recognize and appreciate the contribution of select youth for their outstanding contribution in their community.