Upon selling his share in Celtel International, the African telecommunications company he founded in the 1990s, Mo Ibrahim set his focus (and money) on more philanthropic efforts on the continent. He established the Mo Ibrahim Foundation that works to harness good governance in Africa through their very comprehensive Ibrahim Index, which assesses government practices, and the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, which rewards democratically elected African leaders whom have exhibited outstanding service to their countries and have not overstayed their term in office.
The Foundation announced on Monday that former Cape Verde president, Pedro Verona Pires, has been selected as this year’s winner. The Prize consists of $5 million over the course of 10 years, and $200,000 per year thereafter until death. Past recipients include former president of Mozambique, Joaquim Alberto Chissano in 2007 and former president of Botswana, Festus Gontebanye Mogae in 2008. 2009 and 2010 were rough years as no one made the cut. Interesting.
The objective of the Prize is three fold: to reward responsible leaders, inspire up-and-coming good leaders to pursue political office, and encourage former leaders to invest in distinguishable causes on the continent after leaving office. The selection committee (prominent people such as Kofi Annan and the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, sit on this committee) will consider granting an additional $200,000 per year, for ten years, “towards public interest activities and good causes espoused by the winner.”
Because it is a substantial amount of cash, the Prize has been discussed with unmasked skepticism. Many question whether a reward of this magnitude (the largest annually awarded prize in the world) is the appropriate approach to “good governance” in Africa. Critics also argue that there is no monetary value that can dissuade greedy crooks from dipping their hands into state coffers (even though Ibrahim has specifically said that he is not in the business of buying off crooks), and that there are too many other causes in Africa that are more readily in need of financial aid to the tune of $5 million.
While these are legitimate concerns, consider this: Ibrahim’s largest asset seems to be his uncanny ability to envision global currents. In 1974, decades before its time, Ibrahim wrote his doctoral thesis on mobile telecommunications (cell phones in ’74?!). When cell phones hit a boom in the 1990s, investors had a hey-day in Western markets, but Ibrahim took his business to Africa in what later became one of the continent’s largest telecommunications network. When he established Celtel International in 1998 to work exclusively in Africa, there were just 2 million cell phones on the continent, when he sold it seven years later there were more than 100 million. Ibrahim’s vision garnered him a spot on Time Magaizine’s “World’s Top 100 Most Influential People” list in 2008. Given his track record for remarkable foresight, this Prize might actually start a trend of responsible leaders who stimulate good governance.
While the Prize’s “reasonability” is vulnerable to debate, ultimately, it is most important that the debate is taking place. The Prize has drawn attention from commentators in Africa and abroad who have subsequently engaged in a dialogue about good governance in Africa. In many ways, the Prize is not about the monetary award as much as it is about the discussion created because of it.
- Allison Swank
An African Minute: Botswana’s New Podtape
Nothing gets us ticking more than seeing young Africans sharing their dopeness with the rest of the world. We recently spent “An African Minute” with James Kebu – a young dude based in Gaborone who started a podcast called Podtape showcasing urban music from Botswana’s up and coming artists.
1. What inspired you to start Podtape?
Back in the year when I was younger, can’t recall the exact timeframe, there was a rap show on Radio Botswana’s RB2 called “Strictly Hip Hop Live” hosted by Salim and Draztik of Cashless Society. The radio show came on once a week for I think 2 hours, lasted a few months then disappeared. Nothing similar ever came back on any local radio station, rather nothing that grasped me as that show did. Along with that, I happen to move in circles of people that make really good music, being producers, rappers, poets and singers. Not to say I chose these friends, but destiny just had it that I happen to find myself in the midst of such alike. I then reached a point when I couldn’t stand not hearing my peoples’ good music on radio, yet every station I tuned into was preaching the same rant of ‘local support’. I was never satisfied, went around production houses to collect music that appeased my taste, and then there was Podtape.
2. You must surely be getting quite a lot of music submissions/request from artists. What’s the criteria for the music that goes on Podtape?
When it comes to music, I feel you have so-called artists who solely try to make it onto radio countdowns, following a formula that seems to work for those who make it onto the billboard charts. You also have artists who just want to be heard, making music as an art form and not a gimmick. The thin line between these types is where my inner ear plays a role, I just listen out for what sounds good to me first. If I don’t like it then I don’t like it, doesn’t mean that I hate, but rest assured you will not hear it on Podtape. To date, 2 years since inception, I still receive music links via social networks to check out. I have no certified description of what it is I seek in the type of music, it just has to be dope to me. One rule of engagement that I find important is that the music needs to be made in Botswana, or have a citizen involved in its production.
3. What are your future plans for Podtape?
Seeing as my taste in music has acquired a wide-reaching following, I would love to see Podtape introduce nonexistent royalties to local musicians, turn it from a hobby to a business, and create employment. Future plans are to get this below radar music acknowledged by broadcast masters. I’m yet to have a solid blueprint on how to go about it, but the plan is to get it all into motion and realise this dream I’ve been having.
Stream an episode of Podtape:
4. Podtape seems to be an independent passion project. Do you fear that corporate involvement or market pressures might take it on an undesirable path?
Since Podtape, on plenty an occasion I’ve been told that no one does what they really want to do. It’s human nature to reach a compromise and blame it on responsibility, or whatever. I’ve already had my share of fallouts with a select few people I’ve been building Podtape with, of which I take as lessons on my people skills and knowing when to say ‘no’ and standing by my word. One other thing I’ve been told is how I’m too innocent regarding my approach in the music industry, whatever. Still, I look forward to the challenges of corporate involvement.
Previously on An African Minute: Congolese superstar rapper Hugo Million, South African fashion designer Gareth Cowden, Nigerian songstress Zara Gretti, Zimbabwean celebrity hair and make up stylist Jackie Mgido, Kenyan comic artist Chief Nyamweya, and Tunde Kehinde co-founder of an online dating community for Africans.