admin— Can Africa deliver?
Among the high-profile delegates were two Global Shapers from Zimbabwe. Not only did these two youngsters in their 20s represent Zimbabwe, but they participated in a big way. Global Shapers is a group of 20-year-olds with high achievements and potential that are committed to improving the state of the world one life at a time.
Ms Odert Komisini, the co-founder of ConnectLink and vice president of Global Shapers Harare Hub, sat on the panel that comprised Ashish Thakkar (known as Africa’s youngest billionaire and founder of the Marar Group), Eric Kacou (Entrepreneurs Solutions Partners) and Judith Rodin (Rockefeller Foundation) that discussed the topic “Entrepreneurship Unlocked”.
Ms Komisini talked about the role of women in entrepreneurship. At the end of the discussion there was consensus that there is need for more mentorship as Africa was ripe with ideas and opportunities that require capital, but the gap between mentors and entrepreneurs needed to be closed first.
The other global shaper from Zimbabwe, Tommy Deuschle (co-founder of Emerging Ideas, and director of Cmedia Production House), the newly elected president of the Global Shapers Harare Hub, moderated the conversation on “Africa’ Art’s Culture and Media”.
He was joined on the panel by global shaper Temesgen Gebru from Ethiopia on the panel, Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South African superstar), Garth Japeth (CEO of Heartlines) and Tara Fela-Duroyoye of Nigeria whose discussions generated a high degree of conversation and debate.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka stated; “I don’t get money from my cd sales – my sales numbers are from pirated copies. I do this for a bigger reason.”
The interaction focused on the fact that Africa shouldn’t wait for a business model necessarily or for an invitation to share it’s creativity, but that we should tell stories with Art’s and culture and use the platforms readily available.
Online Reporter