Nigeria’s Women’s Bobsled Team Qualifies for 2018 Olympics, Country’s 1st Ever Winter Olympians
Next Cassava Tuesday, we will discuss the challenges facing the brand of Nigeria. The success of power and influence of a country is based on a country’s reputation regionally and globally. What happens, when a country is in the green economically(ON PAPER) but in the red with reputation?
We will discuss next Cassava Tuesday
This is an oldie but goodie in explaining Water Security.
In the beginning of the month, we touched on just how close Cape Town, SA was to Day Zero of having no water supply. The imbalance in distribution of water across the region including weak water policies have contributed to the water shortage in Cape Town. Other issues such as failing waste water plants and poor water system infrastructure to treat sewage that needed a major upgrade also made this situation worse. South Africa is the largest food producer for Southern Africa, the agriculture sector consumes about 60% of all water use in the country. This water shortage crisis in Cape Town will result to water stress towards neighboring countries that will also lead to Food, Water, and Energy security towards the entire region.
Cape Town has officially announced that each person in the city will be given an allowance of 25 liters a day (6 gallons) of water. Yet the public has heard no immediate solutions from the government on making sure this catastrophe does not repeat itself years later. Cape Town has failed to look at the other dangers that come with hygiene and water access.
This is repeated so often in discussions with water access and challenges that face women in global south spaces, Menstrual Hygiene. The inadequate access to water, sanitation and hygiene for women brings more challenges than solutions and should never be gambled or minimized.
Put aside that poor menstrual hygiene leads to a host of health issues such as: UTI’s (ask any woman in your life just how great this feels), Constipation and a Range of infections.
What do you think school attendance will look like for girls attending school in the region compared to boys?
“Do you know that washing your hands can prevent over half of the water borne related illnesses? Granted the WATER IS CLEAN.
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Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. Inadequate W.A.S.H(Water Sanitation and Hygiene) affects Public Health, Waterborne Diseases, Vector-Born Diseases, Nutrition, Gender, Education, and Disaster Management. The Cape Town government has been reactive and not proactive even at this moment. While Citizens are being asked to sacrifice their health and wellness, the government is still not working on the real issues.
The city recommends people take no more than 2 showers a week
The city also encourages using the ocean for washing. However, if people cannot flush often, care to guess how quickly Open Defecation might be an issue?
How much water do you use daily? Try this Water Calculator out!
It is reported that numbers of tourists are cancelling their trips to Cape Town. You can imagine tourists might not be okay with one flush a day, personal hygiene in the ocean or showering twice a week.
Cape Town Food Designers, are making the best of no water in Cape Town, by making sure to use only salt tolerant vegetables. This is the type of unique ingenuity expected from Chefs of the “Rainbow Cuisine”. Rainbow Cuisine is the term used to describe South African Gastronomy. This ingenuity makes South African chefs, cooks, and food designers important players in the overall narrative of African Gastronomy. This is also a tool that can be used for their niche Gastrodiplomacy in interacting with other countries that are experiencing similar water shortage issues.
Want to know more about his products?
See you next Mulday
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Capital: Victoria
Population: 94,677 (2016)
Official Language Spoken: Seychelles Creole (Seselwa), English and French
Religion: Christianity, Islam, Bahai and Hinduism
President Danny Faure
“Seychelles was part of the Paradise Papers, which revealed financial dealings of politicians, celebrities, corporate giants and business leaders.”
1502- Vasco Da Gama sailed from India to Africa at his arrival, he named the islands after himself, Les Amirantes (Admiral Islands). He is credited for discovering the island because none of the colored folks within distance ever dared to visit. I mean Seychelles is a hop and skip from two continents, but it took a European to “discover” this Island.
ESTIMATED SHIP ARRIVALS TO SEYCHELLES
10 days from India
10 days from Saudi Arabia
4 days from Kenya
23 days from Portugal
I find it hard to believe that no one from these spaces “discovered” the island. In the late 1700s, the French colonized Seychelles and will name the island in honor of Viscount Jean Moreau de Sechelles (Minister of Finance, 1727 to 1743).
Portugal's Vasco da Gama explored the Seychelles (1502)
“Seychelles has the highest Gross Domestic Products (GDPs) per capita in Africa ($15,410 in 2016), but increasingly the effects of climate change are placing its economy—which relies heavily on high-end tourism and exports of tuna—at risk.”
As our other stories with "Empire" and Africa spaces go, there was a struggle from the French, British, Dutch, Arabs, and the Italians. They stopped by the island for precious stones, spices, and slaves. Similarly, to the early stories of Australia, Seychelles was used as a place to hold prisoners or exiles by the British.
Oddly enough, Seychelles keeps Somalian prisoners and it is all funded by the United Nations.
Coco De Mer, I am sure you can guess the Male and Female one right?
“World Bank approved a $9 million loan to help indebted Seychelles to restore economic stability.”
“Seychelles is ranked 93rd out of 190 economies on the Doing Business ”
Seychellois Rupee
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Seychelles is the smallest country in Africa ”
We discussed country branding last year, with the Sega Branding of Mauritius
“ 40 out of 168 (No ranking available in 2016)”
The country has also taking a proactive approach instead of a reactive approach to dealing with sustainability and the blue economy of the country. Read below to understand more on the Seychelles Blue Economy Strategic Roadmap.
Country Branding done the right way “CAN” lead a country to the path of Soft Power. Remember, you can have a brand that is “sellable” but have no soft power. Despite the word SOFT, it is not easy to craft or apply into foreign policy.
The Maldives has a recognizable brand, spectacular views that really are “The sunny side of life” but struggle with poverty and health care.
The Republic of Seychelles was first to scrap visa requirements for other African nations, despite the feelings not been mutual. In return, the country now has the most powerful African passport. The Seychelles passport ranks number 1 in the continent, 26 globally with a total of 141 accessible countries.
“Seychelles is home to one of the heaviest land tortoise, The Aldabra Giant tortoise born in 1846. ”
“Majority of the 115 islands are uninhabited, they are dedicated as nature reserves ”
We have discussed the importance of a country having a reliable safe country carrier. Air Seychelle might be a small airline but enjoys six major code share partnership agreements with Alitalia, Jet Airways, Air Serbia, Air France, South African Airways, and Etihad Airways that owns 40% of the airline. Tourist can also enjoy authentic creole music on board. Your airline is supposed to celebrate and sell your country brand but with your culture constantly on the background.
The traditional meal for the country is this delicious fruit bat. It can be served as a warm curry, stir fried or in coconut milk.
This is a blend of reggae and sega, very popular with African Island countries.
SEGGAE MUSIC
Kolonel from Seychelles Island Title : Parey Mon Devret Production : Dreamventure Special Thanks to : Darren Ladine : Hillary Rita
“The use of wood or charcoal is illegal in the island”
See you next Cassava Tuesday!
![temp[7326].png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/58feb00686e6c0d9650eacf5/1512451858609-BLVIFZ2QV509E63H4M9K/temp%5B7326%5D.png)
“The thread to the fibers of the Green Cape
The heart beat of cape verdean people ”
My younger years, this was the flag of Cabo Verde. The current flag came to be in 1992 but this flag below shares the familiar colors we associate with Pan African Colors.
Pan-Nationalism is quite a common theme throughout Africa. Western Asia and North Africa States sometimes labeled as Pan-Arab States share similar flag colors. Think of the following countries and the colors of their flags: - Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and United Arab Emirates.
“The (10)gold stars represent the (10) islands of the country.
Dark blue represents the Atlantic Ocean
The Red Stripe - Represents the road to economic progress.”
“ On a scale of 0 (Highly Corrupt), 100 (Very Clean)
Cape Verde scores 59 ”
Capital: Praia
Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Creole
Religion: Christianity, Islam(Very small minority)
Population: 539,560
Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva
President Jorge Carlos Fonseca
“Depending on which Island, Self- Identity/Cultural Identity can be tricky. The countries listed below influence Identity Politics and Cultural Hertiage:
Brazil
Portugal
United States
Netherlands”
“Cabo Verde scores 56.24/100 on the ease of doing business.
”
Cape Verde currency...Does that face look familiar??? Look Below.... She sang with no shoes in solidaritary of poor women that could not afford shoes.
“Do you know your phones?
Lusophone- Portuguese
Arabophone-Arabic
Francophone- French
Anglophone-English
Hispaniphone-Spanish
Rusophone-Russian”
Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral, (G.O.A.T). (1924-1973)
Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral, we shall call him (Grande Irmao) of African Lusophone spaces. He is credited to be the architect of freeing Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde from Portugal. He founded and lead the organization, Partido Africano da Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC). This is the reason for the still close relationship between Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. Both countries still consider each other as brother countries because of their joint colonial past in fighting for independence. He is also one of the founding fathers of the Angolan political party, MPLA (Movimento Popular Libertação de Angola). I hope to touch on the other founder Agostinho Neto on another Cassava Tuesday for my take on Angola. All two were close to Mozambique’s Eduardo Mondlane a force to be reckoned with on his own right. Our three musketeers were mates at the University of Lisbon. All three men are very important to the Lusophone political narratives in Africa.
Unfortunately, as most of our stories go with fighters of colonialism in Africa, Mr. Lopes was murdered by some disgruntled PAIGC members with the help of the Portuguese police and never lived to see an independent Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde. I should note that American Intelligence deny any intervention of the Portuguese and claim that this as an issue of Creoles(Mulattos) not wanting him to be leader of the party and president of the country.
“Our Lusophony brothers and sisters are passionate about him as the Francophones feel about Patrice Lumumba and Thomas Sankara. The Anglophones on Steven Biko and Kwame Nkrumah. The Arabophone on Gamal Hussein.
All those phones in a sentence.. go use a phone today..”
A song for our Lusophony friends by the Cape Verdean Queen of Morna, Cesaria Evora. That is the lady on the currency above this text. This song could be an ode to Angola during the time of civil war about still seeing and loving the beauty of Angola. This song also has some Cape Verdean Creole, which makes it a bit difficult to translate. It is still such a beautiful song, I hope you enjoy.
A country that is: Clean, Modern, Secure, (Outside)
Safe/Attractive Airline Carrier, Culturally Seductive, Positive Reputation and Behavior (Inside)
Benefits: Media and Tourists love you and it feels like this
Let's take a look at the Republic of Mauritius through the lenses of Air Mauritius
A country that is: In-War, Transitioning out of War, High Crime, Severe Poverty(Outside)
Corruption, Citizens abuse Tourists, Poor or Inadequate Infrastructure (Inside)
Expectations: No Tourists and the Media will show more of this below.
Let's look at Libya through Libyan Airlines just in case the media is biased.
Do you see yourself excited for that trip to Tripoli? Libya or Mauritius?
“Cape Verde Scores
72.2- Overall Governance Score
76.1-Safety & Rule of Law
78.0- Participation & Human Rights
60.6-Sustainable Economic Opportunity
74.0-Human Development”
This is the importance for branding your country correctly. This issue was so important that the country asked the United Nations to formally recognize a name change to Cabo Verde.
There is something missing in the brand of Cabo Verde. There are tools in their branding box, but the government is not investing in the box to promote the brand effectively. We will go through problems and opportunities for Cabo Verde in this section.
The lack of appreciation towards country branding and working on investments that support the brand of the country thoroughly is the norm with some African countries. This is not to bash our Cape Verdean friends, few African countries truly invest in their brand and even their soft power, which we refer here to as Cassava Diplomacy. Interesting enough, despite the lack of investing in infrastructure that supports brands and soft tools, there are no issues with enjoying tools and brands from China and from former colonial countries.
As discussed earlier with our Cassava Tuesday entries, part of the country brand must include a country carrier. The role of a country carrier is not just for quick safe transportation but to sell the country. This separates countries that are Developed, Underdeveloped and “the other”.
Inflight Magazines and Infight Entertainment highlight key players and areas of your destination. They are purposely designed to promote: Investment Opportunities, Culture, and Tourism, they are tools found in the country brand box. In this age of International Relations or state play, never forget that if the global community does not eat like you, drink like you, watch your entertainment, vacation with you, wear you as fashion. You do not matter, you are other and fair game to push other states’ soft tools or brand.
TACV Cabo Verde Airline is the country carrier of Cabo Verde but have you seen this airline before? They fly to ten destinations in North America, South America, and Europe, still does not ring a bell?
You can have a country carrier but if you do not market your brand effectively, you might as well not have one. It becomes an expense and not an asset for the country brand. Speaking of expenses, as of last year Loftleidir Icelandic will take over all marketing and business operations as the new strategic management partner of TACV. In return Loftleidir Icelandic, will have “right of first refusal” to own majority stake in TACV and Cabo Verde will be a minority holder. TACV is currently in the red of about $100 +million and as of last month, Cape Verde has decided to privatize the airline by March 2018.
Icelandair Group owns Loftleidir Icelandic which is the largest corporation in Iceland. So, let us say Thank you to Cabo Verde for pushing the country brand of Iceland. One country's lack of understanding in branding is another's soft power. In case you were curious, the Nordic country is part of a collective in diplomacy known as Cool North Diplomacy.
“Cabo Verde’s (Cape Verde’s) Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 4.9% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017, compared to 3.0% in the previous quarter”
“More Cape Verde Citizens stay in Brazil, Portugal, United States and Netherlands”
The Ghanian Company, Trasacco group purchased land in Sal Island for the purpose of tomato production.
““We expect an investment of approximately 140 million euros, employing 3,600 workers, providing housing for most of them, to export approximately 150,000 tons of tomato per year, worth approximately 300 million euros”
“Tourisim accounted for 44 % of the GDP in 2016.”
The country will exempt all E.U citizens from visas to visit the country in hopes to boost tourism by 7%. This is excellent in promoting the brand because European tourist make for a huge chunk of visitors. It would be much better if this was extended to all African states, like other African countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, and the island country of Seychelles dropping visa requirements for other African countries. Global Appeal is only believable if your neighbors do the boasting for your brand.
The “Belt and Road” Initiative is about China Soft Power in African Spaces. This is not about economic and social development for Cabo Verde. This is China playing the game of Power and Engagement. Be CAUTIOUS of state to state “friendship” in which one state has HARD AND SOFT POWER. Former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton called this Smart Power, that was the approach of Uncle Sam’s interaction with China during her term.
China is playing and Cabo Verde is getting played, you would have to go back on our MulDay entry on Africa Blue Economics and Overfishing to understand this piece.
The Brand of Cabo Verde must invest and work on diversifying the economy and even focusing on entrepreneurship.
Institute of Surfing-Cabo Verde, Do not laugh at me. There is a Cannabis University in the states making millions in revenue. To know more about Oaksterdam University and their subjects that include Business Courses, Cannabis Laws and Raising the best bud
Europe makes up for the largest trading partner and foreign investment for Cabo Verde. This is highly problematic and feeds into the poverty rate of the country. Cabo Verde needs to work with more African countries in this area not Europe. Reach out to Mauritius perhaps?
We shall leave you with the Princess of Morna, see you next Cassava Tuesday!
“Waterplomacy: The use of water as a tool in diplomacy. ”
“Santa Clause, Father Christmas or St. Nicholas is not from the North Pole. Our Brother is from Turkey.
Stop leaving him cookies, leave him some Turkish Delights or Keebabs
HO! HO! HO! ”
Get a Turk in your life so you can find an Auntie. All shall be right in your life.
“Turkish Delight also known as DRUGS, you cannot stop with just one. On a Turkish Airlines heading to Morocco, I asked four times for just a bit more. The flight attendant gave me the whole box, and everyone laughed at me. Listen, I ate that whole box from London to Morocco and I did not share with my neighbors that found my addiction to be funny. #Haters ”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
The Republic of Turkey.
“Did you know in 2016, Turkey ranked second for donor countries providing humanitarian assistance?”
TURKEY MAKING THE WORLD GREAT AGAIN!!! SOMEONE SHOULD TELL THE FOLKS IN D.C WITHOUT THE STATES, THESE STATES IN THE GLOBAL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.
President Erdoğan of Turkey made more visits to Africa in 2017, than any other head of state. The relationship between Turkey and Africa goes back to the Ottoman Empire Era. Turkey’s IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation has dug drinking water wells in Somalia for the consumption of 20,000 people daily. In addition to water, Turkey has built schools, hospitals and roads in the country of Somalia.
“The Ottoman Empire ruled parts of North Africa for over five centuries”
President Erdogan is very vocal of the exploitation of Africa and the role colonialism played in destabilizing African states. This is the seduction of Soft Power, you must have policies and a culture that is attractive to folk. On that culture piece, never forget that Intercultural Relations is the thread that holds the cloth of International Relations.
““We see that the future is in Africa. We cannot put this future aside, we cannot miss it. We didn’t come here with colonial plans. Our history does not have any trace of imperialism. Our sole aim, which I also told the Chadian President, is to ensure that Africa can stand on its own two feet.””
Turkey will be joining the United States, U.A.E in having its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu, Somalia. This base cost our Turk friends a delightful $50 million.
Officially, as of yesterday, in Cape Town the water crisis has been upgraded to Level 6 restrictions. This translates to a reduction of over 60% water use of agricultural operations and 45% in the urban business sector. The drought in South Africa is concerning since it appears to be getting worse and if you pay attention to the graphs below, it looks quite grim.
Meteorologist can calculate rainfalls by looking at El Nino and La Nina patterns. The norm is El-Niño brings drought to South Africa, while La Niña brings wet conditions. The rain patterns are so inconsistent in SA, that both Nina and Nino are quite weak, so you do not get the expected rainfall.
“The chemicals needed to make water clean are no longer available in the city or are extremely low in quantity: Activated Carbon, Chlorine, Sulphuric Acid and
Aluminium Sulphate”
Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe has released official statements on the consumption of water in the city.
““We think we are providing you with water that is good for you and your family to drink,” he said. “We have seen experiences of water that does not look good, water that looks greenish and brownish, water that froths or foams. Let’s share the responsibility. While we assume and claim that our water is clean and safe to drink; we ask you to exercise caution wherever you are and make your own personal decisions about what you see, what you smell. Is it good enough for you to drink?”
Let’s hope the new President of Zimbabwe, Bernard Manyenyeni will do something on the Public Health sector. Preferabbly starting with firing Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni immediately.
See you next Mulday!
