This week I’m writing from Nairobi. It’s been a bit less than a year since I left, and I needed to get my “shot of Africa.” I arrived early on Sunday morning, and I could soon hear familiar song from a nearby church. Singing and dancing is an important part of African cultures (note the plural!): “without motion, there’s no emotion,” as they say. Heavy rain and the smell of wet soil also accompanied me: I already had my shot! The counter-effects of course weren’t far behind: a young kid begging to sell a candy so that he would not be afraid to go back home.
Over the course of this year, I’ve had many chances to reflect on my experiences in Nigeria, Kenya, and – to a lesser extent – Ghana and South Africa. Today I want to share one of those occasions with you: a conversation with my colleague Alex Lago in which we discuss our perspectives on the continent. If you are interested in having a road map to opportunities in Africa, watch this conversation. I won’t write much today so that you have more time to listen to our discussion (15’ 51’’) about what it takes to succeed in sub-Saharan Africa: understanding country differences, working with local partners, taking into account all stakeholders, etc.
What’s your main takeaway from the discussion?