Wikipedia and Africa

Wikipedia is expanding in Africa. The founder Jimmy Wales has big ambitions for the developing world according to this BBC article Article. And why is that? Well a continent that has with 53 countries, more than 2000 estimated Languages spoken needs to be considered and given attention on Wikipedia. I think its very wise that Jimmy has announced this move. Not only this expansion will bring an enormous value on content management and archive for Africa but it will help African people to move from an oral tradition to online written tradition. Africa is content, African people can take this opportunity to write world class stories about their continent, re -brand it and make contents more credible and accurate. They are no many African leaders biographies, stories on Wikipedia, the one you read is not written by African people or has a little African input. Real stories needs to start emerging, and I think Wikipedia can collaborate with Africans to make this happen. African People are today using the clouds to make themselves heard. This Wiki addition is just awesome.

This is an excellent move!
Thank you Jimmy and Wikipedia!

From @mjamme!

Africa is Content

Africa, the continent everyone is talking about even the biggest PR company in the world such as Google. Is 2010 the year to PR and Market the African continent better?
Africa will not be the Africa we knew 20 years ago, as its own people have taken the PR role via the social media web Twitter, Facebook and many others.
The Real stories of Africa will be told by Africans. Its time that good stories from starts Africa emerging from the continent itself- African leaders, professionals and businesses needs to start communicating with the rest of the world by writing, blogging, collecting and archiving for the next generation to come.  We need to create credible contents. Through my travel to Africa recently, I came across wonderful individuals and stories that has never been written or told. Friends of Africa should encourage and empower the locals to write their stories and share the journey in order to keep it authentic.  I invite you to listen to this wonderful video.

Chimamanda Adichie: The danger of a single story

Thank you for reading my blog!

ICT in Africa- Mozambique 2009

Just retuned from Mozambique where I was a Keynote Speaker for AITEC Africa, www.aitecafrica.com. This year event was held at the National Convention Centre of Mozambique, opened by Sean Moroney the Chairman of AITEC Africa and held under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technology, represented by Americo Muchanga. AITEC Mozambique was outstanding, unique and informative. Without a doubt from my experience it’s the best and leading ICT platform in Africa today.  This unique and remarkable African Event has demonstrated the progress on ICT in Africa, especially in Mozambique. It also reflected the commitment of the Government of Mozambique, particularly the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Venancio Massingue.

The events was not only marked by the presence of top African CEO’s coming from the Southern and Eastern Africa regions with varied expertise on Mobile Technology, Banking, Investment Banking, Management Services and IT Governance in Africa but also Executives and Software companies, vendors travelling from all over the world to attend this event.

Presentations, talks varied from Rebranding Africa via Social Media, East African Internet connectivity, IT Governance, Data Management, Content Management, Marketing, and New Media to the importance of e-Government in Africa. Mozambique is one of Africa’s more progressive countries in e-government and was recently awarded fourth place in Africa for successfully implementing it.

AITEC Africa is a growing platform in Africa, the most powerful series of ICT events in Africa. Founded 21 years ago by Sean Moroney, South African-born and managed by his beloved wife Helen Moroney and their sons, the AITEC team really rocks as they understand the information needs of ICT in Africa. More than 450 people attended this Mozambique event not to count Exhibitors.  The event attendees varied from business professionals in Mozambique to establish and reputable organisation in Africa such as the Accounting Firm Giant KPMG, Microsoft Africa, SAP Africa, Oracle Africa, Dimension Data, VODACOM and SEACOM, also sponsors at this event.

Whilst Africa is dominating the world news at present, these sort of events need to continue to take place in the whole continent as they bring people from all walks of life to meet, collaborate, share and learn. ICT solutions are key to the sustainable progress in Africa. AITEC Africa is really leading the way in Africa. For more Aitec Africa events, please visit their website, www.aitecafrica.com or contact the team directly.

Obrigada!

(All the conference presentations are available on the AITEC web site www.aitecafrica.com.)