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
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
“
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!
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“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!
We will touch on an incident that involved TICAD & the U.N Security Council. This is very important to understand the piece of Aid in our series as a soft power tool. While this is a strong soft power tool for the country, it is also a challenge for Japan.
We will start here and TICAD much later.........
Cultural Diplomacy from Japan can be a touchy subject for the Asia Pacific Region. This Japan brings back memories of “Empire” and “War”. There is no soft power in this Japan below, this is pure Hard Power and Realism. Depending on you ask, Japan has never apologised for the war.
“We are not going to apologize every year based on the new elected administration
We are not going to give funds for every new administration
We are not going to apologize for every former minister that speaks harshly about this topic
Take your statues down and then we can speak of shrine visits.”
This tension will push Japan to go inside and not invest on Cultural Diplomacy because Japan is viewed through the lenses of this flag.
This flag was in use during the Edo period or Tokugawa period (徳川時代) about some 200+ years before the war.
However, it should be noted that this flag is controversial and painful for people of South Korea and China. Think the swastika for Germany, The Confederate Flag in America, Afrikaner Oranje, Blanje, Blou Flag of South Africa and Namibia.
This flag is a reminder of Colonialism and Imperialism.
There are three major players in Africa from Asia: China, Japan, and South Korea. Currently, there is an unspoken competition between all three on just who can be the most influential friend for Africa but that will be addressed later with TICAD.
In 2013, there were some serious tensions brewing between China and Japan on the role of “influence” and “leadership” with ASEAN. China accused Japan for trying to “assert complete leadership” in the region.
Just because Japan invested a tiny $1.5 billion into the ASEAN union and I forgot to mention the “soft loans” that topped over $500 million from Japan to Myanmar......
Japan has also made sure that with every natural disaster in the Asia Pacific region, before the U.N, International Red Cross, like this Sting song... It is first to help with recovery efforts.
I will touch more on ASEAN states later with this blog. The ASEAN way can also serve as a great platform for some African States. Here is a tiny bit about ASEAN.
This competitive relationship between the two is creeping into Africa.
“So, you understand now that Korea and China would not mind if Japan was out of African Affairs.
There will be no wasabi tears to shed here..
But
This does not mean Korea is simply so happy with the presence of China in Africa.
However, China and Korea could care less for Japan in Africa and for that matter Asia Pacific Affairs.”
However as with most things (not all), time mends and shapes everything. Japan is now known for its own unique soft power known as Cool Japan. Cool Japan was birth in the 1980’s and since then we are all trying to keep up with the cool factors of Japan. Japan is cool in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia but Africa???
“... THE LACK OF RESPECT AND AWARENESS OF YOUR COUNTRY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TRANSLATES TO
YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A MEMBER OF THE OTHER, aka “SUBALTERN”.”
“Antonio Gramsci used this term to refer to people considered infererior be it race, class, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion.
This term is forever stamped in International Relations Theory because of an essay by Gayatri Spivak. She asked a simple question,
Can the Subaltern Speak?
This blog is about Africa and Asia, so I do not see a problem using this word in both spaces. I should note that academically, this word is getting a bit trendy and abused. ”
At this point of the Water & Cassava Blog you are versed on Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy. But if you need a refresher, just go back to any Silk Road Thursday Entry or Cassava Tuesday entry.
“A state’s public diplomacy is a direct response to its culture, foreign policy, and political ideologies.
These three elements drive attraction and create a unique soft power for the respective state.
All three elements must be present for the soft power effect to occur.
Cultural Diplomacy is a soft power tool that occurs during the long-term run while Public Diplomacy focuses on the short-term run of the country.”
Officially the name of the Japanese flag is called Nisshōki ("sun-mark flag"). Commonly people refer to the flag as Hinomaru ("circle of the sun").
SIDEBAR #1 : "SOFT CONNECTIONS" CHINA IN AFRICA.
“Do you see the problem here? The China culture must be understood and learned but noticed the African leader not advocating that this street be a two-way street.
Japan can use this as an entry tool to Africa. Korea and China still don’t understand this piece on diplomacy in Africa must be fluid. ”
Japan does not have a strategic plan in this area for Africa. It is a yada-yada approach! The assumption here on both sides is, in the name of TICAD all will be great. Diplomacy must be fluid and Soft influences must go both ways. Majority of African leaders suffer from forms of the colonialism disease that range from early stages to fatal stages in development, so they do not invest in their “soft influences”. They have no problem absorbing other soft influences on the behalf of aid and relief. Africa has made no efforts to work on the art and execution of niche diplomacy in Asian spaces.
Culture is an extended arm in International Relations. A successful relationship between Africa and Japan will be expected for Japan not to downplay the role of culture and identity of Africans in Japanese spaces.
Festivals do not count per-se, because they are just extra pluses towards the city brand. It benefits cities in Japan that have “African themed festivals”, it shows the global stage, “Japan is DIVERSE!!”.
International Relations can be best described today as Intercultural Relations. The U.S vs. West Asia is a great example on just how the lack of respect and appreciation of Intercultural Relations can bring countries to their knees.
The very definition of International Relations that is “relations with other nations” rests on the shoulders of that each country has unique traditions, social interactions, political dynamics, and intellectual orientations that make up the country. Japan must understand, with interactions towards any African country, it will go favorably if they start to pay attention to those shoulders.
There is no fluidity in cultural diplomacy between Africa countries and Japan. This is not unique to Japan because China and Korea do not value this or have no clue on a starting point. However, this gap could be the golden ticket of applying “Cool Japan Diplomacy” to Africa. The neglect or underestimation of cultural diplomacy towards Africa by Japan hinders fluid relations but because China and Korea are guilty of this issue, Japan can use this as winning attribute to building on African Affairs.
Pop Culture
Anime and Manga with African Myth and Folklore, Cool Japan!
Academic
Educational Exchanges that include professors and students from both spaces. So not just African students going to Japan for graduate studies but Japanese students and professors in Africa Academic spaces. This also means more African Professors and Deans in Japan universities that claim to teach Africa Affairs.
“If the Education Sector can appreciate the importance of “French Academics” teaching Francophone studies ....
Then it must have no problem understanding the importance of African Academics teaching African Studies”
Blue Economics (Beyond Fish)
AgriMarketing/ Agri-Economics
“Experimental” Tourism
The new diplomatic language of the 21st century diplomat rest on:-
Do your “friends” and "neighbors" speak and understand your cultural diplomacy?
Does the global stage speak and understand your cultural diplomacy?
Are you humanitarian friendly? (Later on this piece)
Cultural Diplomacy is not about countries explaining their “self” onto the global stage. It is based on Cleverness in Cultural Diplomacy.
“Applying unique intelligence base on culture, history, identity, etc. to build and increase understanding with other countries while simultaneously working on your own interests. Multiple actors, cultural promoters are needed to get this point across....”
Japan lacks international mass media presence on the global stage to promote its image. The United States has CNN and FOX. The UK has the BBC, but do you know the name of Japan’s international broadcasting channel???
Waiting……….
The NHK network could be key to setting up stronger ties to Africa. What better way to spread your message to your new friends using their language with their faces?
P.S NHK has a KiSwahili Channel but BBC has Pidgin, Hausa and so much more. NHK needs to pick up the pace.
We leave you with this video of African artist, Dobolo based in Japan.
See you next Silk Road Thursday!
Last time on Folk & Mythology, I spoke about the result of the uninterrupted imagination birthing folklore and mythology. This birth of the uninterrupted imagination shapes the identity of people. It allows us to understand a society's traditional identity but more importantly their understanding of relating to other groups.
What happens to the interrupted imagination of a society after colonialism or war?
Have you observed the prevalence of Western folklore and mythology in Asian and African Spaces?
What about folklore and mythology from Africa and Asia in Western Spaces? Do you remember learning about panchatantra stories? What about Bantu fables?
“What are the consequences from ”modernization” and technology towards societies that abandon traditional folklore and mythology? ”
Asian countries have made significant strides to celebrate their folklore and mythology out loud in public spaces. They do not feel "uncivilized" or that their "salvation" might end.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Thailand (Departure Gate)-Samudra Manthan
(The Churning of the Ocean of Milk)
A Short Video on how just how this started
Folklore and Mythology are part of a society's cultural heritage and play a role in the branding of the country. Developed countries have mastered the art of making their mythology and folklore romantic and marketable to the global community.
Snow White, a Germanic classic fairy tale is currently marketed to young girl as this:
However, this is the Original Story of Snow White
Disney World has mastered the art of marketing European Folklore and Mythology in Western spaces and in Asia with locations in Japan and China. However there are no such theme parks in the West, or in Asia and Africa that continuously promote the folklore or mythology from those spaces. Disney World resorts worldwide allow guests to meet Snow White, Ariel and even sleep in Cinderella's Castle. Disney World resorts in 2016 made a profit of $4.6 billion dollars.
The Cinderella Castle Suite at Walt Disney World.
“Should we blame Cultural Cringe for the absence of theme parks that promote folklore & Mythology originating from Africa & Asia?”
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As most stories found in mythology and folklore often begin, it stems from the imagination’s desire to survive and create a habitable world in this life and the afterlife. Without further ado, here are the Gods of the Ocean from Nigeria and Japan.
Suijin Festival
Suijin in Shinto mythology is the force found in water. This force manifests sometimes as a snake, whale or fish and has a pair of funa fish as messengers. Suijin is part of the divinity force that makes up the shinto divinity of water. This manifestation can be found in ocean, lakes, ponds and is god or goddess to all mythical creatures found in bodies of water. Suijin is also prayed to by expecting mothers to be during childbirth. This force is also charged with the responsibility of fertility, motherhood, and easy childbirth. It should be noted that Suijin is described as male or female .
Olokun Seniade
I grew up knowing this entity as a God(shaped like a merman) but there are populations that refer to this entity as a goddess. As our mentioned Japanese counterpart, he is expected to help women conceive. He appears as a mudfish as well as a black mermaid. Olokun is a manifestation known as a Orisha. Orisha's are manifestations of the universal GOD known as Olorun. He is also responsible for all mythical creatures found in bodies of water.
Olokun Festival
There is a profitable market for the commercialization of cultural heritage tangibles and intangibles such as folklore and mythology unfortunately African countries have not mastered the art of this unique form of branding.
