THE MAN WITH A FACE TUMOR - HE WAS REJECTED IN AFRICA AND HIS LIFE TRANSFORMED IN ITALY

The images of Kambou before and after the first surgical operation. His Italian surgeon planned for another surgery.

He has a sad story, which is often familiar in Africa when plagued by poverty, handicap, or being born with a defect. He is an Ivorian called Kambou Sie, with a nickname, 'Prosper.' 

 

AFRICA'S COCOA TRADE ENHANCES EUROPE'S ECONOMY

Cocoa in Ghana


Trade among European and African precolonial nations developed relatively recently in the economic history of the African continent. 


Before the European voyages of exploration in the fifteenth century, African rulers and merchants had established trade links with the Mediterranean world, western Asia, and the Indian Ocean region.

The goods Europeans import to Africa in the greatest volumes include cloth, iron, and copper. As trade advances, the Europeans made Africa the number one market for all their raw materials needed for goods consumption. Cocoa is one of the major products exported largely to Europe.

As the highest cocoa-producing country in West Africa, the Ivory Coast leads with the highest percentage export of cocoa beans to Europe, followed by Ghana. Other African countries that export cocoa beans to Europe are Cameroon and Nigeria.

Large tons of cocoa beans leaving the ports of West Africa end up in Switzerland, Belgium, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, Denmark, and France, where it is used to manufacture chocolate products.

The European Union and its members are responsible for about 50% of the world's cocoa consumption. 

The  European Union Association is a trade association representing the European sector and grouping the major companies involved in the cocoa bean trade and processing.  

Conflicts in Africa can sometimes affect the price of cocoa. For example, the Ivory Coast civil war escalated the price of cocoa to 3.333 dollars per ton, the highest price since the beginning of the year 2010. 

But from every angle, it is clear that the cocoa trade between Africa and Europe plays a significant role in enhancing the economy of Europe.

TIKEN JAH FAKOLY, A SHINNING AFRICAN REGGAE STAR

Tiken Jah Fakoly

Reggae music is not just music; it's inspirational, sharp, and comforting that seeks justice for the downtrodden masses or the underprivileged. 

Even though the music originated from Jamaica, there have been great African reggae stars such as the late Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, Ras Kimono, Majek Fashek, etc. One of these upcoming reggae musicians who is gradually making it to international stardom is the Ivorian Tiken Jah Fakoly.

Tiken Jah Fakoly was born Doumbia Moussa Fakoly on June 23, 1968, in Odienne, the northwestern part of the Ivory Coast. Like most reggae musicians, he discovered his talent while very young, forming his first group, Djelys, in 1987.

Concerned by the social and political evolution of his country, Tiken was writing incisive works on the political environment in his country, expressing his works in music to raise the awareness of the masses.

In 1998, Fakoly made his first international appearance in Paris. He has played several songs, including his version of "Africain a Paris," a song originally played by Sting. 

"An Englishman in New York". Shinehead, the Jamaican reggae star, also played his version, "Jamaican in New York". Fakoly's tenth album is called "African Revolution."

In November 2010, the Ivorian reggae star, based in Bamako, Mali, undertook a two-year international tour tagged "One concert, one school" to raise funds to build schools in Africa. 

Middle of this year, amongst several African and French artists, Fakoly held an 'African Week' in France, marked with concerts, film screenings, and book presentations.