Comments on: Thinking About Africa 2.0

By: Design « Wilfred Mworia’s Blog

Design « Wilfred Mworia’s Blog — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:04:06 +0000

[…] Something that strikes me as interesting is the recent trend to label new generation services as ‘2.0′, I guess it’s the Web 2.0 fad. There’s even an initiative dubbed Africa 2.0. […]

By: links for 2007-06-15 | Mike Stopforth

links for 2007-06-15 | Mike Stopforth — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:17:52 +0000

[…] Thinking About Africa 2.0 | White African Interesting reflections from Erik Hersman (tags: Africa development future technology TED) Sharing is Caring:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. […]

By: Mentalacrobatics

Mentalacrobatics — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:14:13 +0000

JKE perhaps you saying it as mzungu may cause some heads to turn. That knife cuts both ways though, you get away with saying some kyuk jokes that I would be hounded out for saying! Don’t ask me which ones!

Nice post Hash, we almost hijacked it!

By: Joshua

Joshua — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:37:36 +0000

Ha ha,

we are moving forward and I think the pace will only pick up. I have been a true believer that most of what is available for Africans hasn’t even been utilized since most keep on their own enclaves. There are already solutions on the ground in different countries and communities that need a vehicle to be transported to others.

Instead of repeating the search of solutions and reinventing the wheel, Africa 2.0 is bringing about the sharing of these knowledge bases and experiences and it will bring about new ways of doing business, combating disease and famine and raising living standards and social consciousness.

By: IT

IT — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 13:00:44 +0000

I agree totally that web 2.0 was made for Africa. I mean web 2.0 has brought about a whole new way for Africans to express themselves. The entire concept of collaboration or more so, democratization of tools of production suits well in Africa. Anything African, original or a slightly altered concept is definitely welcomed. I am impressed with South Africa’s video sharing site. Not an utterly new concept, but yet powerful. I took a look at that http://www.meshedlinks.com, and I think Al is right. It probably is a digg clone. But what I think I like about such concepts is the fact that they are African powered. Just brilliant. Africa Web 2.0 keep it up.

By: HASH

HASH — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:14:32 +0000

JKE, the reality of many fighting to survive was something brought up by some of the speakers at TEDGlobal. Of course, that question goes beyond realm of just technology, that’s a fundamental issue for this idea of Africa 2.0.

The proponents of putting business first are still understanding of the very present needs that some regions of Africa are in. They argue that wealth creation is the best way to fight poverty, hunger and disease. I agree.

However, I think that while we’re going through a time of building that wealth, there is still a need to fill the gap with some aid. It would be great to move to a point where it is all business-driven, and I think we’re getting there. We can’t overlook the time to build that infrastructure though.

By: JKE

JKE — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:08:29 +0000

Eh eh, true, Mentoolz, and me thinks that your example should also include point c) patriachalism (= waiting for someone to give orders on how to distribute the donations).

As for the talk interaction, sure, that’s 100% Africa 2.0, and we must not only look at history and the role an oral culture has played in the past to understand its importance. Only: me saying that as a mzungu would generate debate, you saying that = accepted. Ama?

I really hope that all these quick and vivid commuinities and their cluetrain-alike style of communicating one day reflects on other parts of society.

By: Al

Al — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 06:58:08 +0000

That meshedlinks site looks like a digg clone.
Anyways i give props to anyone whose trying to represent Africa doing their thing whichever way.

By: Mentalacrobatics

Mentalacrobatics — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:54:37 +0000

Exciting times indeed Hash. To quote the now much used, and threatening to be overused by me at least, yet relevant clichÃ©, African solutions to African problems.

Africa 2.0 is exactly what it is about. Yesterday I was telling a bunch of people with a bunch of money that Africa had basically skipped web 1.0 meanwhile 2.0 is practically built for Africa. All this talk about interaction, online communities, knowing your neighbours, tools to bring us together, to share ideas, to laugh together, what is more African than that?

JKE we may not be able to eat mobile phones and political ideas yet both communication and a politically aware electorate and politically awake electorate are vital for the growth of a country and that brings about a rise in the standards of living and more food. For example, in the last â€œfamineâ€ in Kenya there was more than enough food to feed everybody. The problem was, a.) information about where the food was did not get to the relevant people in time. B.) once the information was received our government was more concerned with declaring a state of emergency and asking for food aid than getting the food out to people. That situation handled different could have lead to mobile phones and a progressive political strategy playing a big role in feeding the nation.

By: JKE

JKE — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:38:11 +0000

True, BUT! this applies to technology and not environmental consciousness.

Just because Dr Ayittey has the right formula and because these few IT applications and services are relatively simple to realize/implement, we must not forget that the majority of ppl still lives below the poverty line and has a hard time fighting for a sustainable income while a few hip visionaries are celebrating their forward thinking.

I mean, let’s be honest: you can’t eat mobile phones and political ideas – as great as they are (and yes, these are great times, I am feeling you on this spirit and i am damn proud being part of it 🙂