Media & The Africa Promise Pan Africa Media Conference 2010

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FREEDOM & RESPONSIBILITY > First published in Kenya in 2011 By Nation Media Group Acknowledgements 18-20 Kimathi Street P.O. Box 49010, Nairobi-00100 In compiling this book, I called upon the resources and talents of a number Nairobi, Kenya of close ertake this project, and his entire board directors for supporting it. I www.nationmedia.com wish to thank also Joan Pereruan, the Nation’s picture editor, for getting all the photographs together, and corporate a!airs manager David Maingi, for All rights reserved. coordinating the book’s production and printing. I must also acknowledge the No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or immeasurable input of the extremely talented Kelly Frankeny, the American transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in designer who first came to the Nation’s stable to help redesign NMG’s print writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or products. Without her deft touch, the book would have been just another run- cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition of-mill product. I must not forget the constant friendly needling of colleagues including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Charles Onyango-Obbo, Joseph Odindo and Mwikali Muthiani, to expedite the book. To all who helped in one way or another, I owe you a debt of Editors: Wangethi Mwangi assisted by Wanjiru Waithaka gratitude. Design and Layout: Kelly Frankeny, Kelly Frankeny Design – Wangethi Mwangi Photographs: Joan Pereruan, Fredrick Onyango & Elizabeth Muthoni, Nation Files, AFP, Getty Images Text copyright Nation Media Group

The Conference

What’s Africa famous, or, to put it more bluntly, notorious for? There is no shortage of vocabulary to describe the brand that is Africa, ranging from the “dark continent”, characterised by a history of savage internecine warfare and deep- rooted corruption, to the deprived continent whose “resource curse” undermines its ability to feed its people or guarantee them a decent standard of living. In short, Africa is largely all about doom and gloom, that is, if you narrow your field of vision. But there is another more pleasant and inspiring image of Africa, rooted, yes, you guessed it, in its incredibly enormous wealth of resources. The bountiful and spectacular wildlife immortalised on film by such dramatic events as the annual wildebeests migration of Kenya, exotic cultures, art, music and dance, the awesomely breathtaking geographical formation that’s the Great Rift Valley, and the surprising warmth of its people. Which of this is the authentic reality of Africa depends, essentially, on two things – your knowledge of Africa on the one hand, and particular persuasion, or bent of mind, on the other. The challenge of depicting the true reality of Africa is one that the Nation Media Group has wrestled with since its inception some 50 years ago. So when the planning for the Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations started eight months earlier, the possibility of generating an insightful and exploratory conversation on the enigma of that’s the continent at once became obvious. A few months earlier, the Africa Media Initiative steered by Amadou Mahta Ba, had hosted a media leaders forum in Senegal. He was looking for a follow-up session in Nairobi and o!ered to incorporate the Nation’s anniversary in the AMI agenda. The Nation had a more grandiose plan, though, and invited Amadou to co-host a Pan Africa Media Conference with the Group. A conference team was quickly put together with Charles Onyango-Obbo and Wangethi Mwangi at the helm and with representation from the NMG board, marketing, corporate a!airs, HR and finance departments, AMI. Its brief was tight and concise – the conference must be truly representative of the continent’s five geographical regions – North, South, East, West and Central Africa -- in both form and content. The team’s first task was to agree on a theme, date and duration of the conference; then came the arduous task of crafting the programme, identifying the various talking points and sourcing speakers, panellists and moderators. For the theme we settled on Media and the Promise of Africa to help focus the conversation of the contradictory perceptions of the continent. An earlier proposal to incorporate a presidential roundtable in the opening session was abandoned for logistical reasons. Gradually it all came together and after numerous programme drafts and months of lengthy meetings it was time to start conversation and, hopefully, agree on the true reality of Africa. 7

Forward

ifty glorious years – from 1960 to 2010 – of a news corpora- tion Media Group’s CEO Linus Gitahi and Amadou providing the initial tion’s history. Starting out as a single print title publishing thinking and support, we obtained critical support from the NMG Fhouse, the Nation Media Group has over the past 50 years board and quickly constituted a committee to plan the Pan African transformed itself into a formidable multi-media powerhouse, tow- Media Conference. We reached out to the rest of the media in East ering over the East African landscape like a colossus. It is, in every Africa for support and harried our contacts to help us gather a galaxy sense of the word, a titan of African media, extending its influence of top speakers. My friend and journalistic soul mate Charles Onyan- beyond its mother country, Kenya, with its ubiquitous print titles, go-Obbo was particularly resourceful in this respect. With a weekly television and radio stations. schedule of meetings, there was little time to indulge in niceties and From a narrowly focused and inward looking agenda in the early tempers occasionally ran high as the NMG board representatives sixties, the Nation Media Group has progressively broadened its vi- on the committee insisted on a strict regimen of detailed presenta- sion and rightly positioned itself as the media of Africa for Africa. It tions of the nuts and bolts of the agreed course of action. As we the is that Pan Africanist agenda that defined the key activity of the com- weeks and months went by, the conference programme came neatly pany’s 50th anniversary celebrations in March 2010. together, its choice of speakers and topics a ringing testimony of A few years earlier, the company had been co-opted into discus- the intensely reflective conversations that had been going on about sions whose singular objective was to explore opportunities for help- Africa and its media, and their place in the world. And it was not just ing African media companies develop into more stable and enduring about how it was being reported, but, more importantly, how it was entities. This e!ort was a direct outgrowth of the Blair Commission reporting itself. on Africa, which had a significant accent on the media in the form of This book is a compilation of the papers and ideas generated at the African Media Development Initiative (AMDI). It was one AMDI’s that conference, which was held on March 18-19 and aptly branded formative meetings that the Nation hosted at its headquarters at as the Media and the Africa Promise: Reflections of the Past, Present Nation Centre in Nairobi. Soon, out of AMDI came Africa Media Initia- and Prospects for the Future. I had the privilege of editing the book, tive, the brainchild of Amadou Mahta Ba, who, jointly with American with the able assistance of Wanjiru Waithaka, a former colleague at Reed Kramer and other entrepreneurs, had many years earlier dem- the Nation Media Group (now a budding writer) and sincerely hope onstrated remarkable foresight when they founded AllAfrica.com, that it will provide a valuable reference for continued discussion on an Africa news and information aggregation website. It added to the Africa and its media. Most of the papers have been edited for brevity, growing e!ort of focusing attention on the kind of news and informa- style and clarity with great care taken not to alter the original mean- tion themes that were resonating with international audiences at the ing or argument. time. Today, the proliferation of news aggregator sites has, inevita- bly, significantly diminished the value of that business model, but not the interest in news from and about Africa. Wangethi Mwangi It is this agenda – media and the Africa promise – that we wanted Pan African Media Conference Thought Leader to bring to the core of NMG’s 50th anniversary celebrations. With Na-

9

Contents

MEDIA AND EXPANDING FIXING THE THE CHANGING CULTURE AND NEW MEDIA: REPORTING ENVIRONMENT, MAKING OF THE EXPANDING MEDIA AND MEDIA FREEDOM: THE AFRICA POLITICAL REALITY THAT’S PERSPECTIVES OPEN DOORS: The possibilities, CHANGE AND MEDIA AND JOURNALIST THE PEOPLE’S CONFLICT: A balance sheet – a PROMISE: PARTICIPATION: AFRICA: OF GOVERNANCE HOW CAN AFRICA limits and risks are CRISIS IN AFRICA: AFRICA’S IN THE NEXT VOICE AND Countering long walk to the A continent A collaborative The continent’s AND DEMOCRACY: EXPORT ITS massive, pointing It’s no longer the RESPONSIBILITY: DECADE: INTERACTION: propagandists, promised land of coming into its agenda driven by the image is the sum of Focusing on CULTURE? to a new world of same superficial Declining fish Critical thinking The right mix of dishonest press freedom, own in the new need to give citizens all the things that citizens and their A film industry is communication and and biased story. stocks paints a will make a world information for journalists and but there’s some century. a better deal. are not right. common wealth. leading the way. information flow. It’s getting better. picture. of di!erence. the common good. foreign press. progress. 1 P. 12-25 2 P. 26-35 3 P. 36-45 4 P. 46-57 5 P. 58-63 6 P. 64-69 7 P. 70-73 8 P. 74-79 9 P. 80-83 10 P. 84-97 11 P. 98-107 12 P. 108-115 H.H Aga Khan is the 49th Critical lessons of the last 50 years for NMG and modern journalism in and current Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Imami Africa, and the voices that have been locked out and need to be heard. Ismaili Muslims, a position he inherited from his grandfather, Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga am genuinely pleased to join you at this corporation, and then its transformation this role, to share our understanding that 1 Khan, in 1957 at the age of 20. conference - an event which looks back from a private venture into a public com- independence from parties, or interest at a distinguished past, and ahead to a pany – owned principally today by many groups or governments should not and He is also the founder of the I daunting future. thousands of local shareholders. We also does not mean some sort of reflexive op- Nation Media Group, the largest The presence at this conference of Pres- worked to stay ahead on the technology position to them. Not having a special multi-media corporation in ident Kibaki and many other government front, determined not to burden Africa agenda does not imply some counter- East and Central Africa, and leaders, past and present, has immense with outmoded production techniques. agenda. Being independent is not the of the Aga Khan Development importance for me personally and for the What we may not have foreseen is how same thing as being oppositional. Network, one of the largest Nation Media Group. For there is no doubt the company would diversify and expand Truly independent media cannot be private development networks that relations between governments and into the whole of East Africa, into televi- predictably partisan, narrowly politicised, in the world, which is active in the media are central to the future of Af- sion and radio, and now onto the Internet, nor superficially personalised. Journalistic the fields of the environment, rica, challenging and even exasperating as enabling us to connect our work intimately shortcomings cannot be disguised behind health, education, architecture, that experience at times may be. with the wider world. political or partisan agendas. So the idea In many respects, this has been a new But even as we look back with pride, we of “best practice” became a second NMG culture, microfinance, rural challenge for Africa. Prior to independence must also take this occasion to look for- goal: To try to identify, educate, and har- development, disaster reduction, there were no national media owners, no ward. As we do, our goal, I submit, should ness the best media talent we could find. the promotion of private-sector national newspapers, television or radio be a future in which Africa will be served Recent studies from the Freedom House enterprise and the revitalisation stations, no indigenous corps of trained by some of the greatest, most respected organisation report that media freedom of historic cities. journalists. Newly independent govern- media enterprises of the world; an Africa is increasingly threatened globally. For ments had to work with media, which had in which both governments and the media every nation that moves forward in terms no African antecedents, even as both respect and abide by their appropriate of press freedom, two nations are s aid political leaders and journalists wrestled roles in your still young democracies. to be slipping backward. Media freedom with massive debates about capitalism, What should those roles be? This ques- requires continuing vigilance. communism and nonalignment. tion, too, has been with us from the very It was against this backdrop that I de- start. For we were also aware back then cided to create the first East African media of a critical historical pattern: The fact group. I was 24, and had no background – that, in many places, much of the time, the whatsoever – in the media field. In Swahili, transmission of news had been the work of I was kutia mkono gizani. Or as we say in advocates – organisations with agendas English, “the blind leading the blind.”1 – political parties, special interest groups I am tempted to reminisce at some and governments. length about those early days – our big News media that sought independence, Media & The Africa Promise dreams and the steps we took to achieve generally speaking, had a di"cult life. them. And I would be remiss if I did not One of them was the now defunct British take this moment to salute those who newspaper, the News Chronicle, edited by H.H. Aga Khan, Nation Media Group Founder have devoted so much time and talent to the late Michael Curtis,2 who later played the progress of the Nation Media Group – such a central role in the Nation story. in those opening days and ever since. With him, we believed that the tradition What did we hope and predict for the of non-aligned newspapers was the most Group 50 years ago? We certainly aspired appropriate for Africa. We still believe that for its transformation from a loss making today. infant enterprise to a profitable blue chip It has not always been easy to explain 12 13 Media & The Africa Promise 1

“I am convinced that the best way Kenya, for example, Kiswahili readership has been developed: Law, medicine, education, nursing, public for media, in Africa and elsewhere, shrinking compared to English readership, while in administration . . . and journalism. In some profes- to maintain their independence, is Tanzania, the opposite is true. How should public sions remuneration was inadequate to attract the policy makers and the communication industry sup- most talented. Today, that is improving. to prove their indispensability.” port traditional languages? In my view, the time has come when a sometimes- AGA KHAN On another front, I think we must focus more on dysfunctional relationship borne out of government questions of media ownership. For as long as I can inexperience or media shallowness can be replaced remember, the quality of African journalists has by a new level of constructive intellectual empathy. But here let me sound a word of caution. Freedom, been topic number one. But I wonder if the principal I am convinced that an improved relationship is now in any area of human activity, does not mean the issue is not rather about the aims and intentions of possible. No! It is essential – if African development moral licence to abuse that freedom. the owners of communications enterprises. What is to progress at the pace African peoples need and It would be a sad thing if the people of Africa in the are their agendas – personal, religious, political, want. name of freedom, were expected to welcome the economic? Spirited debate, intelligent inquiry, informed criti- worst of media practices, whether they are home Crisis management is another issue where the in- cism, principled disagreement; these qualities must grown or imported. dustry must be better prepared. During times of cri- continue to characterise a healthy media sector. At I am convinced that the best way for media, in Af- sis, how do African media leaders respond? We know the same time, advancing the cause of media re- rica and elsewhere, to maintain their independence, the challenges; NMG experienced them during the sponsibility, grounded in professional competence, is to prove their indispensability. Kenyan crisis two years ago, as did so many others. is nothing less than a moral imperative. But all of This is not an easy task. Information flows more Tribalism, gangsterism, disinformation, corruption these aspirations must be rooted in better education. quickly, over longer distances at lower cost than ever and religious intolerance are horrible forces, which I take up this topic today in my role as Chancel- before. But sometimes more information – in and of the media in Africa must sometimes face. lor of the Aga Khan University, an institution which itself – can also mean more misinformation, more Of course, we also have seen, here and elsewhere, is now 25 years old and based in eight countries, confusion, more manipulation, and more superficial courageous, and even heroic, media e!orts to re- including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Pakistan, Af- snapshots of events, lacking nuance, lacking context, spond to these crises and to point the way out. But ghanistan, the United Kingdom, Syria and Egypt. or hiding agendas. can African media do more? This university, which originally focused on health We talk a great deal, in Africa in particular, about When there are strong and legitimate opportuni- sciences and education, is now pursuing a widening protecting and improving our natural environment. ties to give credit for positive African initiatives, are array of subjects. Similarly, we should be increasingly vigilant about African media paying attention? So many countries I am pleased to tell you that the Aga Khan Univer- protecting and improving our media environment. So where I work, for example, have dysfunctional consti- sity is planning to establish a new Graduate School let us take a closer look at what this could mean in tutions, but in many African countries this problem of Media and Communications, based in East Africa practice for African media. is being wisely addressed. Do we recognise such and dedicated to advancing the excellence of media First, it should be, in my view, more Africans taking e!orts? In many African places, as well, intelligent performance and the strengthening of ethical media the lead in addressing Africa- specific concerns intel- regionalism is replacing narrow-minded nationalism, practices throughout the developing world ligently and wisely. but I wonder if the media give su"cient credit. The School will be driven, above all, by an absolute As African media work to sustain African identity When independence came to most sub-Saharan commitment to quality. It will have several compo- and culture, one of the issues we face is language. In African countries, nearly all professions were under- nents. It will o!er a Masters Degree programme, 14 15 Media & The Africa Promise 1

serving recent university graduates as well have mentioned, such as crisis management, “Truly independent media as media owners, managers, and mid-career trivialisation, incompetent analysis, and cor- journalists. It will also o!er continuing edu- ruption. cannot be predictably partisan, cation classes, short courses designed to This new School will also work on the cut- narrowly politicised, nor enhance media skills and to nurture media ting edge of media technology, embracing superficially personalised. values. It will establish a special programme especially the new on-line world, its compli- Journalistic shortcomings in media management, one of the first in cations and its potentials. Here, as in other the developing world devoted to enhancing areas, Africa has the capacity to leapfrog into cannot be disguised behind more robust media institutions. Journalistic an advanced position in applying these new political or partisan agendas.” independence, after all, depends on financial technologies. The rapid spread here of mo- independence. bile phone technology supports this view, as AGA KHAN In addition, the new School will create do recent advances in broadband availability, a Forum on the Media Future, a place for including the new SEACOM undersea cable media entrepreneurs could well be born from conducting and disseminating cutting edge development. programmes, which blend economic and research that will help shape public commu- A new campus hosting this programme media disciplines. nication in the decades ahead. will be developed in Nairobi over the coming We hope and trust the new School will In all of these e!orts, the School will be year. It will work closely, of course, not only contribute to achieving the objectives I have driven by an active public service agenda, with the Nation Media Group, but also with discussed with you today, and I hope these providing a resource for the media com- other local, continental and international reflections and opportunities of the African munity throughout Africa, and in places media organisations. media future will be taken into account. May beyond. The School’s emphasis on the de- Over the longer term, the Graduate School it be a future in which Africa will be served by veloping world will be reflected in its faculty of Media and Communications will ally itself some of the greatest most respected, media and student body, as well its curriculum and with another new project of the Aga Khan enterprises of the world.„ research pursuits. We foresee, for example, University, a Faculty of Arts and Sciences, to a strong emphasis on using the case study be created over the coming years in Arusha. The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the method in our courses, as many law and In a world of growing complexity, jour- Ismaili Muslim sect, founded the Nation business schools now do, drawing lessons nalists must increasingly understand the Media Group 50 years ago. from concrete historical examples. We in- substantive, sophisticated dimensions of the tend to develop case studies, which grow fields on which they report, from medical and 1 The more literal translation is, groping in the dark – editor H.H. Aga Khan out of African media experiences, while also environmental sciences, to economic and fi- 1 Michael Curtis was the Aga Khan’s point man in setting up speaks with Nobel reflecting global best practices. These case nancial disciplines, to legal and constitutional the NATION MEDIA GROUP. He passed on in 2004. Peace Prize winner studies will address recurrent media issues I matters. And a new generation of African from Kenya Prof. Wangare Maathai. Opposite page: President Mwai Kibaki Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Aga Khan, Information Minister Samuel Poghisio and Nation Media Group Chairman Wilfred Kiboro are taken through the conference photo gallery by Editorial Director Joseph Odindo during of- ficial opening at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. At extreme right is NMG’s Chief Executive O!cer, Linus Gitahi. 16

Mwai Kibaki, third President of Kenya. An economist educated at the London School of Economics, he was elected to Kenya’s first parliament in Media & The Africa Promise 1963, served as minister of 1 finance and economic planning, vice president and minister of finance, of home a!airs and of health. In 1991 he formed the Democratic Party. He won sible because of tools such as S.M.S., blogs, “With freedom comes The Pan Africa Media conference is taking help in promoting the gains we have made as the presidency in 2002 as the and social networking websites such as Face- place at a significant moment in the devel- a continent. You must avoid the easy tempta- candidate of a broad opposition book, YouTube, Twitter and Myspace. responsibility. It also calls for opment of the East African Region. In East tion to be Afro-pessimists who think nothing coalition. I am, therefore, happy to note that you will a great degree of tolerance Africa, the process of regional integration has good can come out of Africa. Undoubtedly, be spending some time discussing how these and the need for objectivity deepened with the signing of the Common we have had our share of challenges. We have new media tools can deepen democracy on Market protocol. Today, the East African Com- overcome many of them in shorter periods the African continent. You will also be looking to remain a key pillar of munity comprises a large and robust market than our counterparts in the West did when into their role in fighting the vices of corrup- journalism.” with a population of 125 million people and a faced by similar circumstances in their long tion and nepotism and addressing the environ- combined G.D.P. of US$70 billion. This endow- histories. mental challenges Africa must deal with due to MWAI KIBAKI ment o!ers our region a unique opportunity to As you report on Africa you may also want the e!ects of climate change. become a lucrative economic hub in Africa. to begin laying more emphasis on the evolv- The media play the critical roles of inform- a key pillar of journalism. The media must Personally, I am excited and positive about ing relations between Africa and its external ing, educating and entertaining the public. always be guided by the notion of public good the prospects for our region. As the regional partners. Momentous changes are now taking By providing information, the media enable for in many ways you hold the communication integration process intensifies, the E.A.C. will place with new highs in South-South co-oper- citizens to make responsible and informed channels as custodians of the general public. It be challenged to achieve and demonstrate ation. The unfolding events in this cooperation country the epitome of media freedom on our decisions. In appreciation of the crucial role of is to this public that you owe the need to pass greater visibility of its programmes. The con- will herald new global dynamics in the years Ours is a Story Worth Telling continent. the media here in Kenya, the Government has on information that will help shape societies of tinued success of the integration process will ahead. President Mwai Kibaki, Keynote Address The theme of this meeting is appropriate in the last seven years remained committed to informed and responsible individuals capable require greater ownership by the people. In conclusion, I am happy to note that the and indeed captures the essence of the African the creation of an open society anchored on a of making rational decisions. It is in this context that we appeal for closer African Media Initiative, which was unveiled Promise. It provides a unique opportunity to free media. The issue of managing the media in many engagement and partnership with the media. in Maputo in 2008, has chosen to set up its reflect on the past, present and future prospects Consequently, the media have enjoyed countries has often given rise to heated de- The media are best positioned to promote head o"ce here in Kenya. Your decision is of the media in Africa in the context of the chal- greater freedom than at any other time in bate on the level of regulation needed in the awareness, discourse and a lively conversation well received and we stand ready to assist you am pleased to join you for the Pan Africa journey. From humble beginnings, his vision of lenges of a dynamic and globalised environment. the history of our country. This has resulted industry. Here in Kenya we have for some with the broad range of stakeholders in our achieve your mandate. Media Conference. May I take this early op- serving a country on the verge of independence This is an important theme considering that the in an unprecedented increase in the number time now debated this matter as we seek con- region. The media should, therefore, take a Finally, I once again commend the Nation Iportunity, on behalf of the Kenyan people, has given birth to the Nation Media Group, the media has a unique contribution to make in the of media outlets. For example, in 1999 there sensus among various stakeholders. Several deliberate interest in our region’s integration Media Group on this auspicious occasion of to warmly welcome all visitors to our beautiful largest media house in East and Central Africa. social, political and economic life of our conti- were 16 radio stations mainly operated by the proposals have been put forward, including agenda. You should pursue innovative ways your Golden Jubilee. I am fully aware that one country -- Karibuni Kenya. I congratulate all those who have played a part nent. national broadcaster, and eight television sta- key regulations from the Government. It is my and means of presenting it in captivating ways of the recurring stories that you have covered Allow me to especially acknowledge His Excel- in the growth of the Media Group. I salute the In the next few days you have a great opportu- tions. Today, we have 80 radio stations on air considered opinion that ultimately the media to the people of East Africa. You may want to in Kenya is our 20-year search for a new Con- lency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of many men and women who have chronicled our nity to digest the challenges and opportunities around the country and 19 television stations. must rise up from the current understanding know that the East African Community is the stitution. I am confident that you are about to Rwanda, and retired Presidents Benjamin Mkapa history and heralded the future prospects and of new media. The increased access to mobile The growth of the media is a good positive of media freedom and embrace the concept of most advanced regional bloc on the African embark on writing the final chapters of this (of Tanzania) and Joacquim Chissano (Mozam- challenges of our country and region. These men phones and the Internet has given rise to new indicator for our nation. We must, however, responsible journalism. At the end of the day, continent. Indeed many other blocs are at- long journey. I am optimistic that Kenyans are bique). and women have sought to define our place in media that resonate well with our young popula- continually challenge industry players on the professionalism in the industry can only be tempting to replicate this model. On the other now resolved in getting a new Vonstitution. I would also like to congratulate the Nation a global village as new technologies bring to life tion. However, even those of us born before the use and application of the media freedom they achieved if the media stakeholders in general hand a number of other countries have shown I appeal to you to support this development Media group as it celebrates its 50th anniver- what looked almost impossible in yesteryears. computer age appreciate the contribution of currently enjoy. With freedom comes respon- made it their issue to regulate the industry. great interest in joining the E.A.C. It is a story and give the country the necessary encour- sary. Fifty years ago His Highness the Aga Khan We salute past sta!ers and the new generation these new avenues of communication. Indeed, sibility. It also calls for a great degree of toler- Solutions must be found and the Government worth telling. agement as we embark on a great journey of embarked on what we can now call a formidable of journalists for their contribution in making our the advent of citizen journalism has become pos- ance and the need for objectivity to remain stands ready to negotiate. As leaders, we also look up to the media to building a NEW KENYA. „ 18 19

Media & The Africa Promise 1

n 2005, on the eve of the G-8 Summit in July 2009. He said: “An independent ment as a way forward to a bright future. change within the continent’s media sector “While an independent Highlights of Windhoek in Gleneagles, the Africa Commission, press is part of the capable, reliable and This conference is an opportunity for all and is fast becoming a powerful advocate voice, the African media are Declaration, 3 May 19991 Iotherwise known as the Blair Com- transparent institutions that will lead Af- Africans, media practitioners, academics, poli- among key regional institutions, development nonetheless the friends of mission, released its report “Our Com- rica to success in the 21st century.” We ticians, businessmen and women, students, partners, funders and civil society groups that eì 2ì-2()4)2()28Aì4096%0-78-'ì mon Interest”. One of the overarching know Africa can claim the 21st century if the elderly and all segments of this continent’s recognise the critical role media play in gover- African progress, the partner and free press is essential to the findings was the centrality of media in its children reflect on the past, to learn one billion people to reflect on the state of the nance and development across the continent. of African success and one of development and maintenance of the development process of the conti- from it and be guided by today’s realities Motherland and the role of African media now Over a 10-year period, AMI will help create the main keys to ensuring a democracy, and for economic de- nent. with the firm desire to build a common and in the future. Let me hasten to assure you and support lasting African media institutions velopment. The G-8 adopted the recommendation vision on how to chart the course for a that most of the African media were not, and committed to the public interest and operating brilliant future for Africa and eì,)ì T7ì)2)6%0ì 77)1&0=ì that “ . . . independent media institu- successful tomorrow. are not, the enemy. African media must never with the highest standards of ethics. Initially, her people.” should declare censorship as a tions, public service broadcasters, civil The African media have to be at the be the enemy of their people. Indeed, while our goals are: grave violation of human rights. AMADOU MAHTAR BA society and the private sector, with vanguard of this process. That is pre- an independent voice, the African media are > Improving the economic enabling environ- African States should be encour- support from governments, should form cisely why at the African Media Initia- nonetheless the friends of African progress, ment for independent media. aged to provide constitutional a consortium of partners, in Africa and tive we thought it was perfectly timely the partner of African success and, one of the > Strengthening media markets to increase by May 3rd, 2011 – on the 20th anniversary guarantees of freedom of the press outside, to provide funds and expertise and natural to partner with the Nation main keys to ensuring a brilliant future for Af- investment and revenue. of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an and freedom of association. to create an African media facility”. Media Group to organize this first Pan rica and her people. > Building leadership, management and pro- Independent and Pluralistic African Press – we eì28)62%8-32%0ì*92(-2+ì7944368ì Unlike most reports on Africa that African Media Conference. The time is To help African media achieve their part, the fessional capacity. can seal a New Partnership which fully recog- is essential for establishment of languish as nothing more than words right. Seventeen African countries are African Media Initiative aims to transform the > Promoting technological adaptation. nises the media as a central pillar for Africa’s non governmental news media that Amadou Mahtar Ba heads the African Media on a page, the best African and interna- celebrating the 50th anniversary of their media landscape by providing independent > Providing intellectual leadership, research development1. reflect society as a whole and its Initiative, is a co-founder and chairman of AllAfrica tional expertise breathed life into this independence. In this partnership, you media houses with the necessary environment and information among media and develop- In closing, on behalf of the African Media Ini- diverse voices. recommendation to place media at the have one of the continent’s oldest and to make a greater contribution to Africa’s de- ment communities. tiative Board and its partners, I want to reiter- Global Media, Inc – owner and operator of allafrica. eì92(-2+ì7,390(ì%-1ì83ì)2'396- center of Africa’s progress. The result is most important media houses celebrat- velopment. Media practitioners are also sons and ate my appreciation to the government of the age pluralism as well as indepen- com, and member of the World Economic Forum’s the African Media Initiative (AMI). ing 50 years as an independent voice To this end, AMI and its partners support the daughters of Africa and are fully cognizant of Republic of Kenya for its continued support. It dence. Global Council for the Future of journalism, the I am delighted to report today that on Africa’s triumphs and pitfalls and a development of a private media sector that is the challenges and opportunities facing them is my hope that the Host Country Agreement – eì78%&0-7,1)28ì3*ì8690=ì-2()4)2- Advisory Committee of the Knight International in AMI, African media owners and new pan-African institution – created professionally proficient, financially sustain- as they strive to use their voices to improve o"cially requested in November 2009 by the dent, representative associations Journalism Fellowship, the Africa Policy Advisory practitioners have firmly and resolutely by Africans to contribute to the e!ort of able, technologically adaptable, and socially the lives of their people. AMI will help to en- African media leaders at their second gather- of journalists, editors and publish- Board of ONE, and sits on the advisory board of the embarked on an unprecedented pan- empowering our people. responsible so that it can best serve the public sure that African media remain steady and ing in Lagos Nigeria – will be approved as soon ers is a priority. Reporting Developing Network Africa. African e!ort to create the tools they This conference is about Africa. It is interest. Through a holistic programme of unwavering partners in the quest for an Africa as possible so that the AMI secretariat can eì%8-32%0ì1)(-%ì%2(ì0%&396ì6)0%- need to play an e!ective and construc- about reflecting candidly on the past— activity that combines strategic partnerships, where its people are empowered, its govern- start functioning immediately and e"ciently tions laws should ensure that press tive role in building strong democracies, its successes and failures, which —in advocacy and targeted pilot projects, AMI will ments are accountable, and its vast resources from Nairobi. associations can exist and fulfill economies and societies. rare instances –resulted in helping trig- work to bring about much needed legal, fiscal are finally used to ensure that no African man, Together, we will ensure that African media their important tasks in defense of With AMI, the African media sector is ger the worst of human nature. We want and economic policy reforms, increased ac- woman or child lives in ignorance and poverty. remain the independent and honest voice of press freedom. Putting Africa on Solid Footing poised to fulfill its role, the living exam- to reflect on that past in order to avoid cess to financing, state of the art management As we celebrate and reflect today and the African people as we declare our vision for eì3962%0-787ì.%-0)(ì*36ì8,)-6ì463- ple of the role expressed by President the same mistakes. But we also want to and technology capacity-building, and greater tomorrow, I want to challenge African govern- a better tomorrow in which all of Africa’s chil- fessional activities should be freed Amadou Mahtar Ba, Africa Media Initiative Executive Director Barack Obama when he addressed the examine the present, truthfully sharing emphasis on leadership and ethics. ments, African media and our development dren have the same opportunities as children immediately and those in exile en- continent from the Ghanaian parliament our experiences in constructive engage- AMI is a catalyst for transformational partners to commit to work together so that across the globe. „ abled to return home. 21 Linus W. Gitahi is the Nation Media Group’s Chief Executive O"cer. Previously served as a senior executive with GlaxoSmithKline in East and Media & The Africa Promise West Africa, the Middle East and 1 Europe. He is a board member of the Federation of Kenya Employers and Property Development & Management Ltd, Chairman of Africa Investment Bank and into exile between 2001 and 2009. This is forty rican population may actually not be the likely “The next 50 years belong to urban areas. The real challenge that technol- Governor Kenya Private Sector per cent of the 389 journalists forced into exile outcome. the continent of Africa. We in ogy poses is that we do not know how to write Association, and trustee of Africa worldwide. In the past ten years, Africa has enjoyed the media have a critical role about or do media business with people in Leadership Initiative. Therefore, the real story of the media in Af- some of the highest economic growth rates small towns and in deep rural areas, which rica is primarily not one of repression, but one in the world, averaging many times above five to play to help speed up this is where the majority of new media consum- of resilience. This is a story of so many journal- per cent annually. And with a rapid urbanisa- reality. While remaining fiercely ers will be as they get more and more mobile ists who have stood their ground and kept the tion rate, many Africans will be living in urban independent we must also phones. Actually, it is the failure to master faith to keep the media scene alive today. So, environments. At current rates it is estimated that, which is the real threat rather than news- even without the revolutionary mobile phones that about 742 million people will be living in seek to partner with the forces papers. and mobile internet in Africa that have jointly urban areas on the continent, compared to of good in order to drive the For a long time, we have talked of the eco- transformed reporting in both continental and just 294 million in 2000. growth of this continent.” nomic and development gap between Africa international media, there is a lot to celebrate. The stark reality of this outcome will be and the West, and lately with Asia. We have For this reason, NMG was encouraged to increased urban unemployment, slums, crime, LINUS GITAHI not focused enough on the emerging markets include as the theme of our conference, the and violence, but it is also likely that Africa will in Africa, especially between countries. For “African promise”. Given the idea that every take over most of the world’s labour-intensive A lot of things are going to change, and instance, Mauritius o!ers 100 per cent ac- Re-telling the Story of Africa: It is Time to Fly self in di!erent ways in di!erent countries. I African cloud has a silver lining, we should manufacturing. It is also likely that such a we are prepared for some, and probably not cess to safe water. Somalia o!ers about 20 will speak of part of that story, the bit about have very interesting conversations over the large urban population will provide a great prepared for others. Today, entertainment per cent. Mauritius o!ers about 76 per cent Linus W. Gitahi, CEO, Nation Media Group the African media. next two days of this conference. opportunity for modernisation, the growth of news is ghettorised into weekly pullouts and access to contraceptives. Chad o!ers 2.8 per The statistics of media freedom in Africa I want to highlight one such cloud. In 2009 a good middle class, and huge markets with flu!y stu! mostly targeted at young people. cent. We must ask ourselves for how long we tell a rather tragic story on the face of it – the UN reported that Africa’s population was high incomes. However, with the growing popularity of local can avoid political crises when we are in an but that picture is even more complex if you going to be a billion people in 2011/12. The UN Most people in this room will be alive in programming and Nollywood in particular, in a environment where small prosperous Afri- look deeper. also forecast that by 2050, the population of 2030. A few may be alive in 2050. This con- few years this could easily become the biggest can nations neighbour huge poor ones. How ften the most di"cult questions to dence and, subsequently, list it on the stock underreported, many times misreported In 1964, for example, there were 220 daily Africa will reach a record two billion people. ference is an important watershed for the film enterprise in the world. prepared are we for both those troubling and answer are the simple ones. One such exchange in 1973 when most of Africa did and, in fact, most times not reported at all. newspapers in Africa; a very impressive Many wonder then and rightly so, how Africa remembrance of the past 50 years peppered In five years, more than 30 per cent of Afri- potentially exciting scenarios? Oquestion today is: “Why are we here not have stock exchanges. We firmly believe that it is us in Africa who number then. Six years later in 1970, there will feed that many people when we know quite with the murders, jailing and sending to exile can countries will have reached 100 per cent Again, according to recent World Bank today?” Indeed, the Nation Media Group, which should be able to deliver Africa to the right were only 179. Most had died o! because of well that we struggle to feed 850 million of us. of those journalists that I talked about. This mobile phone penetration, and mobile Internet figures, Seychelles has Africa’s highest life Well, the easiest answer is that we are was then only a newspaper company, went position on the world stage. harassment by government, which is a sour In his latest book, The Next 100 Years, should be the moment when we should begin, will have reached “critical mass” in over 40 expectancy at 73 years, similar to that of the here to celebrate the 50th anniversary on to become a multi-media house with a However, NMG is also part of something story. Today, however, the number of daily George Friedman, one of the world’s leading in earnest, to imagine the future that we have per cent of them. Nearly all the countries will industrialised countries. However, Mozam- of the Nation Media Group. True, NMG is leading television station in Kenya, leading larger. A bigger African story because, fifty newspapers is up to 386 and reflecting an forecasters, reports that by 2050 advanced just spoken about. have more people using mobile phones to ac- bique has a low life expectancy at 42 years. among Africa’s – and in some respects one radio stations in Kenya and Uganda; lead- years ago in 1960, the same year when we upward trajectory. That is how far Africa has industrialised countries will be losing popula- The one feature that we at NMG hope to cess the Internet than computers. There is a In the same vein, in Seychelles, 92 per cent of the world’s most successful media com- ing newspapers in Tanzania and, looking started our journey, a record seventeen come. tions at a dramatic rate. These countries’ cur- support as part of that future is to hold more lot of talk about how this will kill the “legacy/ of women are literate, but in Niger it is only panies. It o!ers an invaluable experience beyond because the vision of NMG is, has African countries became independent from Further, since 1990, some 290 journal- rent anti-immigration policies, he argues, will conferences like this one. Some visionary Af- traditional” media. But I think that should be 15 per cent and it is even worse in Chad, at 13 on how to insert oneself into the trust of a been and remains: Being the media of Africa colonial rule. That was and remains a world ists have been imprisoned in Africa and 160 be replaced by a new scramble for immigrants ricans have suggested that collectively, every the least of our worries. We should adjust our per cent. Countries that free their women with country and a region, because its leadership for Africa. That has been thought about and record. (footnote list of the 17 countries) murdered since 1992. According to recent from less developed places such as Africa. Is two years we should have a festival of African outlook and create new opportunities. Today, knowledge and economic opportunities will had the vision to start it as a voice for help- is being driven by the fact that we firmly Our story today is only a small part of a figures by the Committee to Protect Jour- this the fate that we should look forward to? I media looking at the future. And why do we 70 per cent of our revenues – be it newspa- flourish. ing the majority in our quest for indepen- believe that today Africa is often times wider African movement that expressed it- nalists, some 157 African journalists went want to suggest that this scramble for the Af- say this? pers, FM radio, or TV – come from the main We have so far explained national failures 22 23 Media & The Africa Promise 1

on colonialism or unfair international his conference, whose political landscape in Africa. “I call upon all systems. When you have very contrasting theme is reflecting the past, Kenya has entered the digital media to scale up fortunes on the same continent, how shall Tpresent and prospects for age with the deployment of two we explain those di!erences? In an Africa the future, is aimed at creating a fibre optic cable systems in 2009. positive reporting on that is so divided economically, shall discussion forum for accelerating The East African Marine Systems development as well continental institutions like the African the improvement of the informa- or TEAMS cable, and another one Union still work? Those are some of the tion sector and capacity for Afri- called SEACOM, are both now as the social political conversations that we should he having. can media practitioners. serving the East African region to landscape in Africa.” Who shall hold this continent of over one The forum brings together vari- access international networks. SAMUEL POGHISIO billion people together? Are we ready to ous stakeholders of the media This brings the new challenge tell this story as media people? domain from Africa and is an of new media. We must, there- Finally, whether we succeed in all these opportunity for participants to fore, use technology to keep up the key pillars in development. I requires that we get one thing right – the share knowledge and experience with the pace that has been set must single out the government politics. Today, more Africans live in rela- best practice for the promotion by a new world of knowledge and of Rwanda for taking the chal- tive freedom than at any other point in of quality reporting through an aim to modernise, to prove our lenge very seriously and it is now the past 50 years, and a majority of coun- improved teaching and learning professional standards. a global leader. tries elect their governments. However, process. My ministry is in the process of It is often said that media build in many cases elections are disputed, and This is a milestone in Africa’s completing the second phase of and also destroy. This calls for this threatens to tear countries apart. renaissance and I wish . . . to ac- our terrestrial national optic fibre careful and balanced reporting so When there were no elections, people knowledge with appreciation the network to cover all our districts, that we do not sacrifice our own launched bush wars to demand elected role played by the organisers of having already set the network to economic development at the government. Now that we have the vote, this event, particularly the Nation cover the provinces. altar of expediency reporting and Samuel Poghisio, Minister for Information and sometimes we spend time tearing each Media Group, whose 50th an- This is what is going to be a big business. Communications, Kenya, and currently serving his fourth other apart. Elections, therefore, are We in the media have a critical role to One Africa is saying ‘give me a chance This is that rarely-ever moment; his- A gallery of Ke- niversary the conference is com- challenge not only to the media, Rumours and unverified infor- term in Parliament. Previously served as an Assistant today’s greatest threat to the survival of play to help speed up this reality. While and I will prove myself’. The other Africa tory is turning over a page. For over half memorating. but also for us in development mation sells faster than the truth, nya’s historic Minister for Education, Science and Technology and as a many African countries as united nations. remaining fiercely independent we must says, ‘prove yourself first and maybe then a century Africa has sprung, stumbled, moments as The role of the media is to set and in politics because, with this but the media must be firm and Member of the ACP–EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. If Africa does not find a way to hold free also seek to partner with the forces of you’ll have a chance’. One Africa lives in run, fallen, rolled over, got up and dusted captured on the agenda for our economic technology, we are playing catch firmly drive in professionalism. „ elections, then there is every possibility good in order to drive the growth of this the optimism of our hearts, the other Af- herself o! and sometimes lurched on. the front pages development. It is, therefore, up and the media must, there- that countries could break up. continent. We must be big catalysts of rica lurks in the scepticism of our minds. But now… in over 50 years of self rule, of the Nation incumbent upon media profes- fore, be at the forefront of train- But for the media, the task is first, not development. One Africa wants, the other Africa hopes. the ride has brought us to the edge of newspapers. sionals to continuously upgrade ing their personnel to use these to be catalysts for such situations. And I want to paraphrase the words of Am- One Africa leads, the other Africa fol- time’s greatest precipice. And one Africa their reporting skills to improve technologies so that we can also secondly, to look at ways in which we can itabh Bachchan, a great Indian actor in lows. And quietly…while the world is not – a tiny little voice at the back of the head analytical reporting and make catch up with development. A Call to Scale Higher Heights of Reporting create a movement for accountability, a campaign launched in India called the looking, a pulsating dynamic new Africa – is looking down at the bottom of the development top of their news My challenge to Africa is to fairness and governance. The bottom line “Lead India Movement.” I passionately is emerging. An Africa that no longer boy- ravine and hesitating. The other Africa is agenda. I call upon all media to rapidly enhance their uptake of Samuel Poghisio, Kenya Minister for Information and Communication is that I firmly believe that the next 50 believe this. cotts foreign made goods, but buys out looking up at the sky and saying, it is time scale up positive reporting on the incoming capacity of broad- years belong to the continent of Africa. There are two sides of Africa today. the companies that make them instead. to fly. „ development as well as the social band to fast track ICT as one of 24 25 Paul Kagame, President of The issues confronting Africa in the 21st century can be solved Rwanda. Family fled pre-independence ethnic persecution in 1960 and he through collaboration with political leaders, media and civil society. spent 30 years as a refugee in Uganda where he also served in the military. Returned home in 1990 and led the n eminent persons roundtable per- perhaps Raila’s supporters will buy the society and generally all citizens – have 2 Rwandan Patriotic Army to defeat the spective of how politicians, the civil paper. So it is not actually the choice of come forward and participated in discuss- genocidal government in July 1994. Asociety and media can collaborate in the politicians to dominate newspaper ing and trying to understand what went order to solve Africa’s problems in the 21st headlines, it is the choice of the media. wrong in our country for us to have faced Initially served as Vice-President Century. (Newspaper cutouts of politicians hogging such a tragedy. and Minister for Defence in the Moderator John Sibi-Okumu: Allow me the headlines in Kenya) Based on that, in the last sixteen years Government of National Unity and was to suggest at the outset that the politi- I am on record as having asked the we have been involved in building insti- later elected Chairman of the RPF. cian is exercised by the will to acquire and media and the country not to be dragged tutions that will outlive individuals who Subsequently elected President and to hold on to power, the member of civil into a campaign mode because we still caused serious problems in the first place. now serving his second term. society by the will to social improvement, have three more years to go. We have a Secondly, the people have to take full and the media practitioner by the will to country to develop. We have the pledges responsibility for themselves first even inform and monitor. These are by their that we made to the country just the other if they are to receive support from else- very nature contradictory rather than day when campaigning and, therefore, we where. Thirdly, build on these institutions collaborative ambitions. But perhaps our should not continue to be politicking, talk- as we move forward. panel might think otherwise. ing about the year 2012 (election year). Moderator to Former President The mistake is partly of the politicians, Mkapa: What is the Tanzanian experi- FIRST ISSUE: POLITICIANS HOGGING THE but largely that of the media, which would ence? We hear that somehow way back HEADLINES like to see politicians on the front page all when by astute use of the media and the the time. Politicians are not in the news- language question, as suggested by His Moderator: Politicians in Kenya are too rooms. They don’t choose editorials or Highness the Aga Khan, you managed to busy politicking rather than creating poli- what is to be on the front page. create a more cohesive society in Tanza- cies for nation-building. Going by newspa- Moderator to President Kagame: You nia. Is this correct? Are all things perfect per headlines, politics seems to be a full don’t seem to hog the headlines as much where you come from? time job. Politicians hog the headlines and as our politicians do. Did you muzzle your Former President Mkapa: While we are permanently in campaign mode yet journalists? have been successfully united in building the next election (in Kenya) is three years President Kagame: There is not much away. noise in Rwanda today, even though we’re Prime Minister Odinga: They say that nearing elections, because we made so “Tribes cannot come together to politics and development go hand in hand. much noise in the past that we had to calm feel that they belong to one nation... Like a previous President said: Siasa down. We had many years of making noise mbaya maisha mbaya (Swahili for “bad and also killing, losing a large segment These are realities that should not be Expanding Political Participation politics destroys lives”). I don’t think that of our population in the process. We’ve excused in terms of how slow we are it is the choice of the politicians; I think done enough of that and we’ve learnt our getting to overcome them; we just Roundtable Panelists: President Paul Kagame, Rwanda; Former President Benjamin Mkapa, Tanzania; Prime Minister Raila it’s the other way round. You find that a lessons and are now down to serious busi- need to work hard to overcome them, number of politicians talk about develop- ness. Odinga, Kenya; Prof. Wangari Maathai, environmentalist and Nobel Peace Laureate. Moderator: John Sibi-Okumu, Kenya ment most of the time. But then the media Moderator: Define serious business so be it government, civil society or the writer, actor and media consultant. choose to reduce this to some kind of that perhaps we in Kenya might learn from media, and stop succumbing to these campaign. This, of course, is natural; the you. external influences that continue to media like to get politicians in the head- President Kagame: We’ve learnt our lines for commercial purposes because lessons from the tragedies of our history divide our societies, our countries and, they sell newspapers. The logic is: If there and we’ve moved on and made sure that subsequently, our continent.” is a photo of Raila on the front page then the people of Rwanda – the leaders, civil PAUL KAGAME 26 27 Expanding Political Participation 2

“Until we rethink our position Gordon Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy, there is son I have a reputation for talking to foreign never have done it without the Press. (side bar ruler and created untenable boundaries for the in this world, until we recognise always a reference to the idea of regular press journalists rather than local ones. It isn’t my on Uhuru Park saga) African continent. Is it totally inconceivable that we can only develop on our briefings. Is this a culture that we are too preference, but they prepare themselves to that we can have a conference of African lead- young to adopt here? Our theme is collabora- talk to the President, to ask questions, to get SECOND ISSUE: NOTION OF PAN-AFRICANISM ers who try to resolve this very divisive issue bootstraps, until we embrace tion and surely one facet of collaboration is to information so that they can pass it on. If jour- of national boundaries so as to create what the notion of self-reliance sustain dialogue so why not the regular press nalists are not well prepared I wouldn’t blame Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Is the notion of would be entities that make some sense to instead of looking for charity briefings? politicians if they make their encounters with Pan-Africanism a pipe dream? We have di- cohesion in an African context? or benevolence, until we have President Kagame: Yes, we have regular the media more sparse than usual. vided ourselves into Francophone Africa, Arab President Kagame: That would be very press briefings in my country. Personally, I Moderator to Prof Maathai: Did you feel Africa, and Anglophone Africa. Is Pan Africa ideal and is really what we should be working a leadership that is not only have a monthly press briefing with all the jour- in your travails that the local Kenyan media integration possible? towards. That is a discussion that has gone on courageous but thoughtful, nalists in the country, whether they are from were there helping you to spread your story President Kagame: Pan-Africanism and for a long time. But it is a process. However until we have media that do outside or based in the country. This has been and, if not, do you think that things have real integration should be seen in the context we approach it we should be moving faster going on for the last four years. So in our own changed for the better? of the struggle Africa is engaged in to bring than we are today. And evidently there are our nation, I think it’s because politicallead- oppressed the Press, sooner or later people not just criticise, but also experience we are not too young for that. Prof Maathai: I feel very strongly that together African nations, to give Africa the di!erent reasons for the slow pace. Africa has Benjamin Mkapa, a ers and the media realised that the primary do get out of that oppression and begin to advocate, until we have a civil Prime Minister Odinga: They say that because the issue of the environment and relevance it deserves and to make Africa act fifty-three nations and di!erent influences journalist, diplomat and politician, task we had was to build a nation. These three fight for the right to express themselves. society that holds both citizens information is power. So a public that is specifically the issue of allocation of public with one voice, which will give it more strength have acted in history to divide Africa continue served two terms as Tanzania’s groups – political leaders, the media, civil so- History has shown us that politicians, left to and rulers to account in terms informed is empowered and it is important land to private individuals was such an issue and also eventually transform it into the global to do so in a subtle way. This has prevented President. His long diplomatic ciety and NGOs – agreed on a common vision themselves, can misuse their power. And it is, that the public should receive information among the ordinary citizens, there was a lot of player that it should be, but isn’t. Africans from overcoming those barriers of career included a number of high and a common purpose. Having a common lan- therefore, very important for the people who of their conscience, it will be on a regular basis. This is something that we interest and the Press helped to maintain that Integration and Pan-Africanism will work in the past as fast as we should. But we should postings, including Foreign A!airs guage made the task of unity out of diversity elect them or whom they represent to be able generations before we integrate recognised and you will recall that we have a interest by exposing the issues. as far as we the African politicians, civil soci- be working very hard to achieve going beyond much simpler. to hold them accountable. government spokesperson who does brief the I felt that there was a lot of support for what ety, and the media make it work. We are the those barriers. Minister and Ambassador to the and unite.” I can assure you that while our politicians are It is not always easy for the people to know media on a weekly basis. I also do hold meet- we were saying both locally and internationally ones to make that happen. But, of course, if Just that the other day Gada" (Muammar USA. As President he continued not quite as venal as they are in other coun- what the politicians are doing in the board- BENJAMIN MKAPA ings with members of the Press in my o"ce and I do know for sure that without the Press, we remain divided and not accountable to our- Gada", President of Libya) said, let’s wake the economic liberalisation that tries, they also know what their self interests rooms, the cabinet, and in the hidden back- during which time they have an opportunity to and I say so in my memoir, we would never selves and to each other so that we are seen up and make Africa a continent that is without began under his predecessor. He are and pursue them as vigorously as other doors where we are told that these are secret raise issues of concern to the public. have been able to reach out to the people to be working together for the common good borders, so to speak. That is what everybody is active in conflict prevention, politicians do. They are not angels. matters of the state. It is, therefore, very amongst themselves. We needed the Press Former President Mkapa: I am a traitor to who mattered, who eventually convinced the even though we are operating from di!erent would wish to see, but it is easier to say than management and resolution in the Moderator to Prof Maathai: In the Kenyan important to have a vibrant Press that exposes to raise our voices and to have these matters my class because I left journalism and joined international community that the people of platforms, then we’ll remain weak and divided. to do because of these realities on the ground. Great Lakes Region of Africa, and context we know that she went through a ter- them and helps the public to hold leaders to exposed. I still remember that not until the Na- politics. In my time, in fact, at home I have a Kenya and Nairobi in particular wanted their For example, in our country as we seek to How can we bring Africa together as one entity is active in regional economic co- rible period and her relationship with both poli- account. tion exposed the allocations in Karura forest reputation for not talking to the local media. open green spaces. So the Press was definitely unite our people at the national level, we see all of a sudden when we’re still struggling with operation within the East African ticians and the media was somewhat troubled. That in many ways is what we were doing in did this country wake up to the fact that there There’s only one reason, which is the condi- very important and, as President Mkapa says, that unity in a much wider context where bringing together sub-regional entities as one? Community, and the Southern Do I speak on your behalf? Are journalists and this country when we tried to draw attention was a lot of public grabbing of public goods tion that the people who come to my news the Press was very conversant with this issue, it should be our country uniting with other For example, we’re still struggling with put- politicians your best friends? to the fact that the politicians and leaders, among politicians. conferences be well versed on the issues that it knew that the public was interested and for countries, starting with the East African Com- ting together an East African Community. African Development Community Prof Maathai: I think that politicians, civil who were supposed to manage the country’s Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Prime Minister we are going to raise with them and know once it was the politicians who were really on munity and beyond. We’re happy that we’re making good progress, of which he is Chairperson. society and the Press are an extremely im- resources accountably and responsibly and and Mr President, when we look at the news the background to the problems that we are the defensive. When they realised that the Moderator Sibi-Okumu: We are told that but bringing together one continent overnight portant part of any nation. And while we have to ensure that these resources were equita- emanating from the so-called First World, and going to discuss. When they are ignorant, it’s public and the international community were in Africa this awful fellow called Otto von is simply not workable because of these reali- seen nations that have developed and have bly distributed, were the ones dividing them we see President Barack Obama, Tony Blair, a real ordeal talking to the media. For this rea- against this, Uhuru Park was saved. We would Bismarck and his friends sat together with a ties of the past that have divided Africa and 28 29 Expanding Political Participation 2

Sedar Senghor (Senegal), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya), Uhuru Park, a monument to freedom “The rest of the world is not Haile Selassie (Ethiopia), Ahmed Ben Bella (Algeria), going to wait until the leaders of Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt – some of them wanted “When I see Uhuru Park and contemplate its meaning, I immediate integration, the others were saying, ‘let us feel compelled to fight for it so that my grandchildren may Africa wake up and unite before go slowly and first have the regional blocs as the build- they come and scramble for the share that dream and that joy of freedom as they one day ing bricks of African union’. I don’t believe that these walk there.” resources of Africa. It’s already building bricks will eventually translate into African – Wangari Muta Maathai - Unbowed pg 192. happening. African leaders, union. I think maybe the time has come for those who are ready to move on and let the conservatives come please save the African people and join later. ,969ì%6/Aì32)ì3*ì)2=%T7ì1378ì')0)&6%8)(ì49&0-'ì from this exploitation that is Integration is important because Africa will only be parks, sits on the edge of Nairobi’s central business dis- trict as a monument to Kenya’s long road to freedom, beginning all over again.” able to compete against the rest of the world if it is united. And let us not cheat each other with the ritu- political and constitutional reform. From its highest point, WANGARI MAATHAI als of going to Addis Ababa year in year out. First it a favourite spot for photographers, the park o"ers a was the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now it is breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. Every so often its African Union (AU). In those days you would find that lawns reverberate with the din of revelers who turn out in continue to divide Africa. We should also not Afro-pessimists are those who look at Africa as – those forces for Pan African integration, and credentials were not (su"cient) criteria for leadership. their hundreds for political, religious or social activities. It Prof Wangare Maathai, hosts and gives succour to all and sundry without discrim- winner of the Nobel Peace Prize excuse the Africans themselves, who actually a lost cause and afro-optimists are those who nationalist forces who want to compartmen- Idi Amin could slaughter the people of Uganda and still embrace these delusions that have existed believe in the ability of the African people to talise Africa – and this is why African unity has be elected as the chairman of the OAU. Jean-Bédel ination. Over the years its grounds have held firm against in 2004 “for her contribution in the past. You’ve just talked about Franco- develop Africa. remained an illusion. Bokassa transformed himself into the Emperor of the the weight of political combatants and their supporters to sustainable development, phone, Anglophone and so on and so forth; we We know that this subject has been very It is not right to talk about colonial history, Central African Republic and was welcomed all the during violent political confrontations, all in the name democracy and peace;” founder have not even talked of tribes. Even in single divisive. Right from independence the founding language barriers and tribes. Those are ex- time with kid gloves to OAU meetings. Mobutu Sese of promoting peace, good governance and democratic of the Greenbelt Movement in nations tribes cannot come together to feel fathers of African independence had di!er- cuses, because if you talk about Anglophone Seko is another example. First there is need to ensure rule. In 1989, the park faced its biggest threat when the Kenya, a grassroots initiative to that they belong to one nation; people are still ent visions about African unity. If you read Dr and Francophone, Britain and France are in the there is good governance, quality of leadership and then ruling party, Kanu, led by President Daniel arap Moi, Her letters were largely ignored, as was the groundswell conserve the environment, and struggling with that. Kwame Nkrumah’s book, Africa Must Unite, he European Union. Why should language divide parity in terms of polices that will enable many African devised a plan to construct a multi-storied media tower of protest against the project. In a show of single-minded first woman to get a doctorate These are realities that should not be ex- was very clear that for Africa to be able to har- us here when it has not divided our colonial countries to advance. on its grounds to house the party’s headquarters and its determination, a ground-breaking ceremony was held media operations, a trading center, o!ces, an auditorium, degree in East and Central cused in terms of how slow we are getting to ness its resources, both human and natural, masters in Europe? The EU has managed to I believe strongly that African unity is a possibility, at the park on November 15, 1989. It was now time to go overcome them, we just need to work hard to for future social economic development, it was bring in the former communist countries in but only Pan Africanists not afro-pessimists can do it. galleries, shopping malls, and parking space for 2,000 court and Maathai immediately sought an injunction to Africa. In 2005, both Time and cars. Maathai led a long drawn-out campaign against the Forbes magazines listed as overcome them, be it government, civil society necessary for Africa to unite. It’s a paradox Eastern Europe as equal partners. You can Former President Mkapa: I am a realistic optimist. stop the construction, but the case was thrown out on De- and the media, and stop succumbing to these that Africa is the richest continent as far as travel from Greece to Ireland with just your The reality is that now there are building blocs in East, project, writing numerous letters to the President, the cember 11. In the intervening period, Wangari came under one of the 100 most influential external influences that continue to divide our natural resources are concerned yet it is the identification card. Yet if you want to travel West, and South Africa and the Maghreb. You must 6)0):%28ì ì%+)2'-)7Aì8,)ì%-63&-ì -8=ì 311-77-32ì%2(ì intense character assassination in Parliament and the people in the world, and one of societies, our countries and, subsequently, our poorest. from Kenya to Nigeria, you need so many visas strengthen those so that each will get the courage to anyone she felt had enough clout to scuttle the project. political arena. But the protests against the project con- the 100 most powerful women continent. It is the poorest because of the way Africa before you can reach Nigeria. reach out to the others. I know we have the African Records indicate that she also wrote to the then British tinued to gain momentum and in January 1990 the foreign in the world respectively. Prime Minister Odinga: First let me say has been ruled from independence until a few If you look at Africa’s leaders such as Union and the sentiment of Pan Africanism is legiti- high commissioner in Nairobi, urging him to intervene with investors who had been brought on board cancelled the that I am a Pan Africanist and I am also an years ago. There have been two forces pull- Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), Ahmed Sékou mate, but transforming it into a working institution will 8,)ì0%8)ì ì1)(-%ì13+90Aì3&)68ì%<;)00Aì;,3ì,%(ì%ì1%.36ì project. And so it goes, and the park continues to pack in afro-optimist as opposed to an afro-pessimist. ing in two diametrically opposed directions Touré (Guinea), Modibo Keita (Mali), Leopold take a long time. stake in the project. revellers in their hundreds. 30 31 Expanding Political Participation 2

The reason why I am a realistic op- form of Berlin conference. Our ances- African people from this exploitation Berlin Conference 1884-85 timist, and why I want the process of tors told us very wisely: Fool me once that is beginning all over again. building blocs being strengthened to the shame is on you, fool me twice The fragmentation of Africa into its current miliar politico-geographical map of Africa. move faster, is that this is the way to the shame is on me. THIRD ISSUE: PACE OF ECONOMIC political entities is blamed on the Berlin Con- In November 1884, the imperial chancellor rid ourselves of the scourge of aid to Prof Maathai: I want to speak as DEVELOPMENT ference of 1884-85. It’s a matter of historical and architect of the German Empire, Otto von our countries. It is holding us back in a civil society person representing record that in 1884, German chancellor Otto Bismarck, convened a conference of 14 states the integration process. We are com- the people of this continent, who Moderator Sibi-Okumu: At some von Bismark convened the conference with one I-2'09(-2+ì8,)ì 2-8)(ì8%8)7Jì83ì7)880)ì8,)ì430-8-- peting for aid; this is ridiculous! are the poorest amongst the people point in the 1960s we were at the specific agenda – to share out Africa among cal partitioning of Africa. Bismarck wanted not In that process we will be able to of the world yet they are constantly same stage economically as South the major western powers in what is dramati- only to expand German spheres of influence in decouple ourselves from these aid being told that they live on the richest Korea and it has become an eco- cally portrayed as the Scramble for Africa. At Africa but also to play o" Germany’s colonial givers who, instead of being satisfied continent. nomic tiger and we haven’t. the time, his country and three others -- France, rivals against one another to the Germans’ with influencing our governments, As a people of Africa we want to ask The other thing is that we came Britain and Portugal -- had already curved out advantage. Of these fourteen nations, France, want to teach us how to govern our- our leaders for how long are we Afri- here to discuss the roles that people their spheres of influence, mainly along the Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal were the selves. cans going to live on this richest con- could play to establish a form of col- coastal areas. However, greater participation major players in the conference, controlling The third reason I am in favour of tinent of the world and at the same laboration. I would like two answers of the other European powers was required in most of colonial Africa at the time. integration is that, we must establish time be the poorest in the world. That to this question: If we’re taking until the context of the geopolitical exigencies of the The Berlin Conference was Africa’s undoing our place in the sun of this world. We can only be answered by our leaders. 2015 to achieve the millennium devel- time, and there was also the hinterland of Africa in more ways than one. The colonial powers must locate Africa and we can’t do I think the African Union is a great opment goals; if Kenya is looking to to share out. In the end, Africa was balkanised superimposed their domains on the African that without integration. As individu- step forward, I think that the e!orts a vision 2030 to achieve its vision of into 50 incoherent countries mainly under the Continent. By the time Africa regained its inde- als we cannot – and here is where I being made along the blocs are also a a wonderful society, how long are we colonial rule of Great Britain, France, Germany, pendence after the late 1950s, the realm had have to ask the media, particularly in great step forward. I look forward to going to take this excuse that we are Colonial rule Portugal, Belgium, Italy and, to a lesser extent, acquired a legacy of political fragmentation that Eastern Africa, to be alert and to help the day Africa will have one president, only young nations, only forty years in Africa Spain. With a few exceptions, those political en- could neither be eliminated nor made to operate us politicians to wake up and rethink. not fifty-three. Can you imagine the old, and we’ve got to go through very tities have survived to this day. satisfactorily. The African politico-geographical We are being pushed into EPAs (Eco- budget of keeping fifty-three state many motions? Are we going to wait France This is how one historian has recorded it: map is thus a permanent liability that resulted nomic Partnership Agreements) with houses on this continent? Compare until the year 2115 to extricate our- In the second half of the nineteenth century, from the three months of ignorant, greedy the European Union so that we’re on that to one state house in the United selves from our problems? Great Britian after more than four centuries of contact, the acquisitiveness during a period when Europe’s an equal basis with regard to govern- States of America and you can begin Prof Maathai: I have been trying European powers finally laid claim to virtually search for minerals and markets had become ment, investment and competition to see where we put our money. to make changes on this continent Belgium all of Africa. Parts of the continent had been insatiable. policies. Comparing Africa with EU I feel that our leaders are really try- using the environment as the entry “explored,” but now representatives of Euro- The French dominated most of West Africa, countries, which have taken centuries ing, but as one of them said, we don’t point, trying to empower people, try- Spain pean governments and rulers arrived to create and the British East and Southern Africa. to develop, is a way of building a bloc have much time. The rest of the world ing to make people understand that Italy or expand African spheres of influence for their The Belgians acquired the vast territory that against our integration. is not going to wait until the leaders unless you take care of the environ- patrons. Competition was intense. Spheres of became The Congo. The Germans held four Africa, the only change in possessions came Otto von Bismarck’s Berlin Confer- of Africa wake up and unite before ment the rest will go down the drain. Germany influence began to crowd each other. It was time colonies, one in each of the realm’s regions. The after World War I. Germany’s four colonies were ence of 1884 was a false integration they come and scramble for the re- After three decades I reflected on it in for negotiation, and in late 1884 a conference Portuguese held a small colony in West Africa placed under the League of Nations, which es- of that time. The European Union sources of Africa. It’s already happen- a book that I called, The Challenge for Portugal was convened in Berlin to sort things out. This and two large ones in Southern Africa. tablished a mandate system for other colonizers coming with EPA, in my view, is a new ing. African leaders, please save the Africa. It is not simple or easy for Af- conference laid the groundwork for the now fa- After colonial rule was firmly established in to administer the territories. Independent 32 Expanding Political Participation 2

now. I have confidence that it is actually to fill the gaps. As long as we don’t lay out “When we look at the John Sibi-Okumu, actor, writer, achievable. But we must move together, a roadmap and say this is what we ought to news emanating from the teacher, broadcaster, publicist and open up the society, which is what we’re do and we go ahead and do it, we’ll have a so-called First World, and currently associate director of Audio “We must move together, open doing, empower the civil society to be able vision and remain with a vision forever and Visual Synergy Ltd., a media consultancy. up the society, which is what to hold the government to account and also stay where we are. This is, unfortunately, we see President Barack He’s member of the governing council we’re doing, empower the civil allow the media to exercise its freedom. the reality that we have to talk about. Obama, Tony Blair, Gordon of the Kenya Cultural Centre and society to be able to hold the Media freedom is very crucial here. Finally, we Africans won’t have any ex- Brown, and Nicolas Sarkozy, National Theatre and a trustee of Let me be contro- cuse for not holding ourselves to the high- government to account and also President Kagame: there is always a reference several foundations. He has undertaken versial and suggest that we should move est standards, and to have ownership of assignments as speaker, adjudicator, away from the drawing board, from the our processes, and build on our values that to the idea of regular press allow the media to exercise its judge, tutor, editor, translator, interpreter, vision and the rhetoric to doing things that we have been made to dislike or to drop by freedom.” briefings. Is this a culture facilitator, moderator and MC. He has give us results. external influences that we say are to be that we are too young to RAILA ODINGA You can have a vision that only stays on seen in our past. We need to be ourselves narrated award-winning documentaries paper. How do we move from the vision and do the best that we can to come out adopt here?” and commercials in English and French and acted in a number of films. to actually doing the right things that give the best that we can be.„ JOHN SIBI-OKUMU Raila A. Odinga is the rica to overcome all her problems, both histori- I can try as a civil society person and as leadership has been the problem because, in us results? We can talk about the logic cal and those she has created for herself. But a citizen. I want to call upon all our African the sixties, we said that we would attain de- of integration and even make reference Prime Minister of Kenya in a we do need to get out of this trap otherwise we people to try. But no matter what we do, unless velopment status by the Year 2000. As 2000 to the champions of Pan Africanism who coalition government formed shall continue to be the doormats of the rest of we have visionary, selfless leadership that will approached the goal posts were shifted to lived thirty to forty years ago. But why do in 2008 following a brief period the world. show us which way to go, we shall continue to 2010, then 2020 and now 2030. We were not we keep referring to that and not doing it? of post-election violence. A son In my reflections, every time I would think of go round in circles. able to come up with a clear vision as to where I think today we need to move to practi- of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, how we would do it I would come back to the Former President Mkapa: I’m not a sooth- we wanted to go, and that was why a lot of time cal realities and start doing things to give touted as the father of Kenya’s leadership. I would see that every country that sayer and, unlike the Chinese, the older I get and resources were wasted. us results. I’ll give quick examples. We opposition politics, Mr Odinga has been able to get out of poverty and misery the more pessimistic I become. But the fact of There was also bad governance, which have had our own vision 2020 whereby studied engineering in East and move forward has done so because there the matter is, until we rethink our position in tended to divert valuable resources into pri- we thought that by 2020 Rwanda should Germany and worked as a was visionary leadership in that country. So this world, until we recognise that we can only vate people’s pockets. Most African countries become a middle income country of lecture on returning home. He I’m still hoping that Africa will produce vision- develop on our bootstraps, until we embrace are impoverished by debts, money that never US$1,000 per capita. We started with ary leaders. I’m not saying that the leaders we the notion of self-reliance instead of looking went into development, but instead into pri- US$180 per capita and we’re now at spent six years in detention have now are not visionary, I want to tell them for charity or benevolence, until we have a vate people’s pockets. US$500 per capita. We have invested in and was subsequently arrested that they are challenged by the many things leadership that is not only courageous but Yes, we have now learnt the lessons and this education, health, agriculture, infrastruc- twice for his opposition politics. that we face. I also want to say that visionary thoughtful, until we have media that do not just is why we’ve come up with vision 2030 and a ture, and ICT even with the limitations that He is vying for the presidency a leadership is also selfless leadership. It is lead- criticise, but also advocate, until we have a civil strategy of how to achieve it, depending pri- our country has. second time in the 2012 General ership that will not encourage corruption. We society that holds both citizens and rulers to marily on our own resources and our own peo- Every three years we take stock and Election. have created an “eating society” and we tend account in terms of their conscience, it will be ple to move this economy from a Third World understand what progress we’ve made, or to live in Africa as if there is no tomorrow, as if generations before we integrate and unite. country to a middle income economy by the where we haven’t made any progress, and there is no future generation. Prime Minister Odinga: Lack of visionary year 2030. That is exactly twenty years from ask ourselves why. Then we go back and try 34 35 Paul David “Bono” Hewson, as How has Africa been shaped by its image in both the local and the lead singer of the rock band U2, he is adored and admired both within and outside international media? How can education and a “new journalism” of the music industry. He combines his music talents with a passionate crusade for help change the evolution of the continent over the next 10 years? the world’s poor, which regularly sees him 3 crisscrossing the globe to help humanitarian causes. He’s co-founder of organisations EXCERPTS FROM KEYNOTE SPEECH: spite years of debate the continent is still media impact on domestic views. depicted as wild, savage, a vast black hole, Having illustrated how bad realities like DATA and the ONE Campaign and has frica’s image will be fixed when “dark continent”, corrupt, Aids-infected, had fed into the negative media coverage gained deep respect from politicians and Africa’s reality is fixed. That was conflict ridden, full of child soldiers and of Africa, Prof Berger then moved to the global statesmen as well as music fans AProfessor Guy Berger’s proposition. perpetually short of food. question of what African media could do to and manifests a rare ability to e!ectively And that reality would need the support Such media coverage, Prof Berger fix Africa’s problems. He noted that Afri- straddle the spheres of both entertainment of Africa’s media to help fix it. He noted noted, had a tinge of racism to it. However, ca’s independent Press had played a great and politics. that Africa generally got a raw deal in the whether interpreted in racist terms or not, role in this e!ort especially with regard to international media, citing the example of many of Africa’s realities were problem- promoting democracy. But there was still the media coverage that attended South atic or abhorrent. He said Afro-pessimism a long way to go. For instance, the media Africa’s President Jacob Zuma during a was not just external; many Africans had were not really exploiting ICT, particularly visit to the United Kingdom. a deep pessimism and resignation about mobile phones, to disseminate news and The Daily Mail called President Zuma “a their own continent. However, there was that particularly applied to state-owned or sex obsessed bigot with four wives and 35 an alternative to defensiveness on the one controlled media. children” and wondered why “Britain was hand and defeatism on the other. Community radio stations, on the other fawning over this vile bu!oon”. President Professor Berger argued that the media hand, had weak ethics, which a!ected the Zuma and the ANC bashed the British could not be blamed for telling bad news way they broadcast news and information. Press over the unfavourable coverage, but because they do not make good news out Overall, Africa still needed many more the South African media have also poked of bad practices, which always come to media. He singled out new innovative fun at him, with one cartoon showing the light even (and especially) when govern- media like the Reporting Development head of state taking the oath of o"ce ments try to conceal them through media Network Africa (rDNA) launched on the under a showerhead, a throwback to his controls. He added that neither defensive- eve of the Pan Africa Media Conference, as court trial on rape charges where he said ness nor public relations could deliver the way forward. he had taken a shower to avoid getting good news. He also praised the strategy used by the infected by the HIV virus. He told delegates that negative cover- Africa Media Initiative hinged on three key President Zuma was, therefore, fodder age in the international media had real pillars of context (law and policy), for the tabloid Press even in his own coun- consequences for the continent, because Fix the Reality and a Fresh Image Will Emerge try, unlike his predecessors, Nelson Man- it undermined the dignity of the people, dela and Thabo Mbeki, who enjoyed more promoted “half empty” thinking, deterred “If Africa is to be seen as a brand, then Keynote Speaker: 63*@ì9=ì )6+)6Aì,3()7ì 2-:)67-8=@ìPanelists: 323Aì ì)%(ì-2+)6ì%2(ì'3O*392()6ìì%2(ìIJCì favourable and respectable coverage. The investment, and created a “basket-case” reality then, was that President Zuma was image. However, the more important point the brand managers would have to be 63*@ì 2832ì%6&)6Aì)%2Aì',330ì3*ì3962%0-71Aì 2-:)67-8=ì3*ì!-8;%8)676%2(Cì%6-)ì3+)6O -03%Aì Aì *6-'%ì28)62%8-32%0ì “damaged goods and not defendable”. was that Africans should dispense with the the media and civil society. I think that )(-%ì6394Cì 01%7ì-;%2-Aì6)7-()28ì 2-8)(ì%8-327ì):)0341)28ì92(ì*36ì!31)2Cì%-ì!90ïAì%2%+-2+ì-6)'836ì3*ì For his next point, Prof Berger reached inferiority complex that took this kind of media need to play a role in creating out to Ama Biney (1999)1, who said that, coverage as the primary reference point African stars such as Mohammed Kenya Data Networks. Moderator: 6@ì)8)6ì%6)-8,-Aì3962%0-71ì63*)7736Aì)22ì8%8)ì 2-:)67-8=@ “When one is asked to think of Western “and we get so upset by it”. images that come to mind when thinking African media could help this happen Ibrahim and John Githongo. Instead of of Africa, the overall mental images are of by changing the focus to what Africans focusing on the past, work on shaping primeval instability, flagrant corruption thought of their own continent instead of the next forty years.” and incompetent leadership.” The classic concentrating on what foreigners thought complaint of African’s today is that de- of Africa. The focus should be on how our BONO 36 37 Fix the Reality and a Fresh Image Will Emerge 3

“The media should not be to present a di!erent story of the African blamed for telling bad news continent, a story of peace, democracy and because they do not make good investment”. South Africa would, therefore, stand-in for news out of bad practices, the continent, both the good and the bad. For which always come to light instance FIFA, the world soccer governing even (and especially) when body, was already on record as having asked governments try to conceal Africans to improve on their sense of time dur- ing the World Cup, saying there was no room them through media controls.” for “African time” if its schedules were not to GUY BERGER be compromised. There is already talk of “Brand Africa” with many saying that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will o!er a unique opportunity to change the image Africa got to host the tournament through the and perception of the continent internationally. capacity-building (know-how) and capital e!orts of Nelson Mandela and his successor, Prof Berger said that the World Cup is a global (business and economics), which, he said, Prof Guy Berger is a media Thabo Mbeki, who had said: “The true legacy news event which will be covered by 18,000 were essential in promoting independent jour- academic/activist and heads the of the World Cup will be showcasing South journalists, 300 broadcasters and viewed by nalism and the media. School of Journalism & Media African and African hospitality and humanity, an estimated audience of ten billion according He noted that Unesco (the United Nations to change, once and for all, perceptions of our to FIFA. It is a chance for the 400,000 foreign Studies at Rhodes University, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi- country and our continent among the peoples visitors expected to attend the matches to test Grahamstown, South Africa. sation) was supporting the development of of the world. We want, on behalf of our conti- their mediated-knowledge of Africa against He has worked in the press and journalism schools into internal, external and nent, to stage an event that will send ripples of their actual experience. If no bad things hap- television, and has a PhD from future oriented training grounds for journalist confidence from the Cape to Cairo, an event pen, there’s a chance for positive stories about Rhodes. He was deputy Chair of and media practitioners. That e!ort would cul- that will create social and economic opportu- Africa to come to the fore. minate in bringing the World Journalism Edu- the SA National Editors Forum nities throughout Africa…We want to ensure But the converse also applied and the World cators Conference to South Africa. That would 2003-4, and remains an active that one day, historians will reflect upon the Cup could be a mega disaster for “Brand Af- Jacob Zuma and be a significant milestone for the continent, as member. Berger also writes 2010 FIFA World Cup as a moment when Africa rica.” The Cup may intensify the story of Africa it would expose journalists and their trainers the UK Press Converse - a fortnightly column stood tall and resolutely turned the tide on as a chaotic, violent and repressive zone, as from all over the world to experience the reality for the Mail & Guardian online. centuries of poverty and conflict. We want to a place to pity, not a destination to desire. The South African presi- of Africa first hand. He has authored numerous show that Africa’s time has come.” Indeed, a German security expert had advised dent is a ready target publications on the media and WORLD CUP: OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT? Reflecting on the World Cup, SABC (South his country’s team to wear bullet-proof vests 3*ì8,)ì ì46)77Aì;,-',ì journalism. Prof Berger saw the World Cup (hosted by African Broadcasting Corporation) had as- during their visit. One British newspaper, The caricatures his as a buf- his native South Africa in June 2010) as both serted that, “South Africa is the stage, Africa Sun, had warned football fans in 2008 not to foon due largely to what an opportunity and a threat in terms of media the theatre…”, while UN Secretary General Ban indulge in casual sex if they went to the 2010 critics see as his uncon- coverage for the continent. He said South Ki-moon had said, “The Cup has great power World Cup because “half of South Africa’s ventional conduct. 38 39 Fix the Reality and a Fresh Image Will Emerge 3

“Africa internalises its bad in imagery. ous and we must challenge it in every way. to tell new stories about Africa. I slightly Education and training of journalists image, leading to more self- Prof Berger proposed a three-step process Secondly, I want to say that in a way the disagree with what Prof Guy Berger said to fix Africa’s image: The first was to address debate begins with us. We haven’t been that we don’t make news, we tell the news. As everywhere else in the world, Af- casting and that technology, in addition criticism and malediction, the continent’s realities with the help of the good at telling our story in a credible, But there has been a widespread tempta- rica’s journalism is shaped by the tech- to the growing social enlightenment, instead of building on success media. The second was to assist the media to e!ective, powerful way. We have great tion, particularly from the foreign media, nology of the day and the socio-political is imposing heavy demands on journal- stories that would comfort, play this role by being assured of a free envi- stories to tell, but we haven’t always been to feed the same diet to the international dictates of the time. The training of ism education and training. Top of the ronment, building sustainability and capacity. telling them as countries and as a conti- audience. journalists is thus rooted in that real- agenda is the need, as Prof Hussein strengthen and impact how The third step was to capitalise on the World nent. Dr Mensan Mawugbe, Centre for Media ity. Hence, in its formative years in the Amin observes, “to create and enforce Africa sees and sells itself to Cup as it o!ered a great opportunity to change Ms Roger-Biloa: The image of Africa Analysis in Accra, Ghana: This debate has 20th century, Africa’s journalism train- ethics to ensure responsible journal- the rest of the world.” the image and perception of the continent has been the most recurring topic over always been one sided. We (the African ing was defined by the technology of ism”. Just as important is the need to internationally. the last twenty years. Africans tend to media) have never tried to look at the typewriters, teleprinters and analogue help journalists through education and MARIE ROGER-BILOA Panel discussion: internalise the image that the West has of African image in an African way. From broadcasting. Today it is a di"erent ball training to adapt to the new reality of Moderator Kareithi: The last forty years have them, leading to a situation where all that my own research of two of Ghana’s most game. It is the age of smart phones, converged multi-media newsrooms. witnessed a big debate about the international people abroad see is the image and not the important and elite newspapers, I found iPads, the Internet and digital broad- possible images of Africa. The first, an Africa media’s portrayal of Africa. Was this debate substance of Africa. Africans, and more so that between 2006 and 2009, 93 per cent that was a charity case, incompetent, danger- necessary or was it a distraction? politicians trying to fix this image without of African news stories came from inter- ous, Aids-ridden, and time insensitive. The Prof Harber: The debate has been absolutely fixing the real underlying problems, which national news agencies. Only two per cent second was an Africa full of warmth, rhythm, critical and it remains important as shown by not even heavy investments in elaborate came from Ghana. Have Ghanaian journal- prostitutes are infected with HIV or Aids”. So exoticism and ubuntu-ism. But yet a third con- Guy Berger in the treatment and coverage of public relations e!orts, as is currently the ists abandoned their gate-keeping role to Marie-Roger Biloa is the there was a risk that the World Cup in South struct reinforced another stereotype of Africa, our President, Zuma, in Britain in the last few practice, cannot e!ectively address over Western journalists? We need to redefine Chief Executive Director of the Africa could in actual fact exacerbate some of one that combined nobility and savagery. weeks. His treatment by some of the newspa- the long term. where we are going. We’ve been blaming Africa International Media Group. these images. But that was not what Africa wanted. “We pers – it wasn’t all of them – was a throwback Mr Bono: If Africa is to be seen as a the West for too long. We need to ask the She is a journalist by profession, At the other end of the spectrum was want to dismantle all the stereotypes of Africa. to the kind of racial stereotype that we have brand, then the brand managers would question: Who should define Africa’s image being the editor of the political FIFA’s Sepp Blatter, who was quoted as say- We can do this by exploiting a moment in his- to challenge again and again. We have to do it have to be the media and civil society. and what is the role of the African media in magazine Africa International, ing: “Africa as a continent is unlike boring, tory in which actual realities can disrupt both through the coverage of the World Cup, con- I think that media need to play a role in this direction? and founding editor of ICI-Les boring, boring Zurich. In Africa, you have not the negative and the romantic reductionism,” stantly challenging doubts about our capacity creating African stars such as Mohammed Moderator Kareithi: For those who may Gens du Cameroun (2004) and only rhythm, but you also have music, dance asserted Prof Berger. to host it successfully. Ibrahim and John Githongo. Instead of say the debate may not have been valuable ICI-Les Gens du Gabon (2008). and, importantly, the ability to dream.” Prof He said that if that worked it could ratchet But I want to challenge the terms of that focusing on the past, work on shaping the what is the evidence of the price Africa Berger argued that Blatter’s remark played to realities forward in that people would have debate in two ways. The first is, I don’t think next forty years. paid for unfavourable portrayal abroad? She has also been a frequent talk the “noble”, expressing envy for a people pre- a much more realistic appreciation of Africa it should be a debate about whether coverage Comments from the audience: Mr Wul!: I’m the odd one out because show guest in Europe and Africa. sumed to be uninhibited and with pre-modern, as a construct, not look at Africa as all bad or is good or bad and I think that we fall into that Andrew Simmons, Bureau Chief for Al I’m running a company that has done Ms Biloa is also president of the naive and child-like qualities. The Aids and se- romantically noble. Just like the 1997 Rugby trap often. Obviously there’s going to be bad Jazeera South Africa and Zimbabwe: I something that was perceived to be impos- Club Millennium in Paris, a think curity story underscored savagery: the threat World Cup when Mandela wore the Springbok coverage and we can, and we’ll live with that. think the challenge we’ve been facing has sible. People said to me: “Lay a cable in a tank for Africa. of warlike people in a place that was dark, Jersey, which worked to undercut white South What we must challenge is when the coverage been the temptation by editors to continue country like this? Are you crazy? You put unpredictable and dangerous. African racism, the 2010 FIFA World Cup could is simplistic, lacks complexity and is based on feeding the same diet to our international money in the ground, you have lost it.” So At the heart of this construction were two move history forward a little bit, in reality, and stereotypes. That’s when it becomes danger- audience. Most editors are weary of trying it’s very easy to tell you the price we paid; 40 41 Fix the Reality and a Fresh Image Will Emerge 3

“The last 40 years have self-criticism and malediction, instead of build- African Society and former editor of the tonishing story. Ethiopia, the country best “My biggest hope in this Kai Wul" is Kenya Data witnessed a big debate about ing on success stories that would comfort, Economist: I have covered Africa as a jour- known for the Live Aid campaign 25years discussion is that with all the Networks Chief Executive strengthen and impact how Africa sees and nalist for the last 25 years. I’ve tried to write ago, has seven per cent growth rate, one of O"cer, which he joined from the international media’s sells itself to the rest of the world. a book about all the places I’ve been to in Af- the highest in the world. That’s an incredible social media that is now out there, African Safari Club Group portrayal of Africa. Was this Right now we are preparing a big conference rica, and as a journalist you go to bad places story, but it’s not getting out there. Twitter and so on, we will no longer of companies where he was debate necessary or was it a in Berlin to mark the 125th anniversary of the at bad times and cover bad people doing Comment from Roby Kokonge, an Ameri- rely on the perception that is the marketing director & Scramble for Africa. The idea is to come back bad things. When I tried to write my book I can born in Uganda: She compared the CIO then rising to be the distraction?” with a sense of unity that Africa has got over found that all my narratives were very nega- African situation with that of the African- created by individuals that have to sell papers, but the perception we managing director African PETER KAREITHI its past and is projecting itself into the future. tive, but there was something that I knew Americans in the US. To her, Africa was Safari Club, African Safari We are doing this in Berlin and have been in was missing. It took me 14 years to work out a hopeful continent, but she was worried create ourselves going out there Airways. He has a doctorate discussions with a public relations company. what it was; it was that word “hopeless.” that in the next forty years, “we shall only and telling our story.” the borders of Africa. But if something hap- However, they are telling us that it’s di"cult to In all of those places I’ve been to, and I’ve absorb without being part of the media and in Economic Science and pens in Yugoslavia, it is not taken to apply to have a conference on Africa that is not about been to very bad places at very bad times being part of their conversations”. She com- KAI WULFF is a trained o"cer of the the whole of Europe. We have to think of our babies dying of hunger or some catastrophe. – I did the Rwandan genocide, covered the plained that Africa was portrayed negatively, German Air force. branding as well. And I think the best way is by The image of Africa is so bad that people out pre-election in South Africa and have seen but in areas such as culture, television and going out there and being diverse and telling there think all Africans are corrupt. The leaders a lot of people get killed – but I never came film, African-American producers had taken our success stories as much as the failures be- have the worst image and they don’t want to across hopelessness. I live in North London, the reins in the USA, changing the dynamics Prof Peter Kareithi is an it is self-respect that is lacking. Editors put out cause if we hide the failures we will not correct work with the rulers in Africa today, they have and there is more hopelessness there than of how African-Americans were discussed Associate Professor of Humanities there what we want to read. So if we believe them. It needs to be a balanced and more of a crafted a new expression “the second genera- in the whole of Africa. That was the discov- and portrayed. She challenged Africans to image out there. Kenya had the post-elec- and Communications and head that we are inferior, that we can’t do it, the one-to-one approach rather than a few people tion” who they could be willing to speak with ery I made, that this is actually the hopeful do the same. tion violence in 2008. We cannot just hire of the Communications Program editor will do his job, he will try to sell papers. speaking for the whole continent. but not the current crop of leaders. This image continent. Even at its worst I’ve never seen Comment from Joel Muinde, journalism PR people to go to Washington and make at Pennsylvania State University, Yes, journalism has a social responsibility, I chose this as my home, I’ve been here for has been built over decades and will not be despair in Africa. I totally agree with Guy student from the University of Nairobi: How us look good. We have to stop fighting each Harrisburg in the U.S. He previously but journalists have a responsibility to their twelve years and I wouldn’t stay here if it was changed in one day. Berger that you change the reality to change can we complain about the image the West other and fight poverty instead and then shareholders as well. My biggest hope in this as bad as you are trying to make me believe. Prof Harber: If we want to tell our stories and the image. We don’t have any other image of has when about thirty per cent of African solve our other problems. So please stop held senior editorial positions at discussion is that with all the social media that Moderator: Ms Roger-Biloa, why are Africa’s tell them well we need the space in which to Africa other than the bad places. When New states have had civil wars in the last twenty complaining and work on those problems so the Daily Nation, Weekly Review and is now out there, Twitter and so on, we will no media unable to create radically di!erent nar- do it. Clearly, we do have more media freedom Orleans was under water, we didn’t think years? Right now Somalia is a failed state that we can feel good about ourselves. Financial Review in Kenya. He holds longer rely on the perception that is created ratives about the continent? in many countries than we had ten or twenty that the whole of America was under water right next to us; in Sudan we have the war Moderator Kareithi: What elements can several national and international by individuals that have to sell papers, but the Ms Roger-Biloa: There are two problems. years ago, but I think we still have to address because we have other images in our minds in Darfur, a problem that has been there for be introduced in journalism training and awards for both journalism and perception we create ourselves going out there The first one is technical, and the second is those countries where there are limitations on of America. We don’t have any other images twenty years. There is Madagascar, Zimba- newsroom practices to change the domi- teaching, including the Lillian and telling our story. that they didn’t have the outreach. But now media freedom, where people are restricted of normal, just getting on with it Africa and I bwe, and South Africa, which has the high- nant media perspective on Africa? Hellman-Dashiel Hammett Award (for One problem I see with this current debate you have global African media reaching out from telling our story, where there are insult think that is a media problem. est rape cases in the whole world. Prof Harber: The critical thing is what defense of free expression) and the about media and Africa is that we are pushing to the world such as Allafrica.com. That is a laws in many countries restricting what one Mr Bono: One of the most extraordinary We have countries that depend on aid all values we pass on to new young journalists. Northeastern Association of Graduate Africa as one brand with no di!erentiation. If start and it will be improved with the develop- can say about government and where we still stories is that seventeen African non-oil the time. So how then are we going to build Most important is to teach the importance Schools (NAGS) Master’s Level something burns 4,000km away from here it is ment of media and the development of self- have a lot of government control over the economies in the last ten years have had an image that says we are a confident and of an independent critical journalism and the whole of Africa that is seen as bad, and yet consciousness, which was also lacking. Africa media, for example, state broadcasters. growth rates of like nearly six per cent. assertive people yet we have all these is- the need to have institutions in Africa that Teaching Award. at that distance, you have not even reached internalises its bad image, leading to more Comment from the Director of the Royal That’s not reported, that’s the most as- sues? What we do here is what will a!ect our reflect that. Ethics is also important. 42 43 Fix the Reality and a Fresh Image Will Emerge 3

thing and I guess the newspaper would be very So it would help if media houses hired pro- Participants at “What we must challenge is happy if we give them a targeted view of what fessionals for the job, not just someone who the conference. when the coverage is simplistic, we want to read. looks cute in front of the camera, because There is an advert for the World Cup which you can find both. lacks complexity and is based I want to mention. It’s by the pay TV company Rasna Warah, Columnist with the Daily on stereotypes. That’s when called Multi-Choice DStv from South Africa. It Nation: I just recently left the development it becomes dangerous and we has someone sitting in front of a shack, which business industry partly because I realised must challenge it in every way.” is worse than the shacks I know here, talking that the images of Africa that you’re talking about an event 30 years ago that changed about actually serve the interests of both do- ANTON HARBER Africa. The event being referred to here is the nors and recipients. Very often African gov- 2010 World Cup in South Africa. But the man ernments would want to portray Africa as a in the advert sits in front of a shack; he has not poor, hopeless and hungry continent so that moved on; there has been no improvement, they can get more donor aid. As we all know and this is an advert being played by an African donor aid has not assisted in lifting people Prof Berger: There is a process taking place information on agriculture and technologies TV channel, in Africa for Africans. Why is every- out of poverty in the last forty or fifty years Prof Anton Harber through Unesco to try and develop a model syl- which we want to pass on to the people and the body not in an uproar about it? I rest my case. so there’s no hope that it’s going to do that is the Caxton Professor labus for Africans primarily, but also for people media can play a very important part in pass- Mary Beth, communications student from in the future. Are we as Africans perpetuat- of Journalism and Media outside Africa, how they can teach courses on ing on these on in a simplified manner. There is Daystar University: I would like to comment on ing this image so that we can get people like reporting Africa. This would be stu! that cov- need to collaborate or integrate media with the the complaint that there is not a lot of train- Bono to give us a lot of money? Studies and director of the ers the history of Africa, the debates around scientific community which has been ignored. ing of journalists to get a better perspective Mr Bono: I think that the whole donor- Journalism Programme Africa, and how to report conflict, Aids, multi- Mr Wul! responding to the above question: of Africa. I totally support the issue of having recipient relationship is over. I personally at the University of linguism, development, poverty and resilience I said it before; it’s about what we want. If we more content developed in Africa by Africans like to campaign for “make aid history.” I the Witwatersrand in in Africa. believe politics is such an important part in our because, as a university student, 90 per cent think new smart aid is di!erent from the Johannesburg. He has had Ms Jiwani: There should be a balance and lives that is what the newspapers will report. of my textbooks are from the USA and from old aid. I got into this through the anti- a long career in the media a bridge between myth and reality, and geo- I’m getting tired of opening the newspapers the UK, talking about Fox News instead of talk- apartheid movement and then got into debt and was a joint winner of the graphical specifity to increase the coverage and seeing the same people doing the same ing about Nation Media Group. cancellation and it wasn’t about charity but Pringle Award, the premier of business opportunities that exist on the things over and over again without any aspect Secondly, I think it’s important for profes- justice. I’m very proud to say that we worked South African award for continent. of learning. sionals to be in the media running the media, together as North and South on cancelling contributions to press Prof Mary Abukusta Onyango, Jomo Ke- This morning the President of Rwanda chal- being in front of the camera. In Kenya, you find about US$ 70 billion of African debt and nyatta University of Agriculture & Technology, lenged us to stop planning and start to act. If that some of the top radio and TV personalities that money was well invested by African freedom. Kenya: Why is it that media have a tendency we stop reading what we don’t want to read are lawyers, economists, and you find that the governments, and there is an extra 35 mil- of covering more of politics than professional and we tell the newspapers what we don’t want aspect of lack of ethics in the media comes lion children going to school. So I don’t think issues? There are many professionals in Kenya to read may be they’ll put in what is more valu- from not having professionals trained in jour- you should throw the baby out with the bath and Africa who have been ignored by the able to our lives. We should stop consuming nalism. Some of the stories they report on are water. The new generation of Africans won’t media and they have information that can help what is served to us. If we don’t like the res- not ethical; the way they do it is not ethical, but need the old kind of aid that leads to depen- solve the problems of Africa. We have a lot of taurant we go elsewhere. This is a very simple they’re not journalists; they’re not trained in it. dency. „ 44 45 Human rights and diversity (gender, ethnicity, marginalisation, children); are we giving the media too much of a role? Are they that important, really, in dealing with these issues? 4 he main issue we face in Africa is that We remember what happened in Kenya Africa? of good governance. The failure of during the last elections. The role of the We need to start with ourselves. We, the Tgood governance is the only reason media in reporting responsibly and ethically African media, need to start covering Africa, why fifty years after independence many Af- is important. People can die as a result of not only our local news. We have to start rican states are where they are. Many peo- sensational reporting or unethical behav- cultivating the interest of our readers in ple still blame colonialism for the failures iour. Unfortunately, many of our media in- news from the rest of Africa. We’re still talk- of Africa, but if we are to move forward we stitutions are financially weak. At the end of ing about African integration as essential must acknowledge our own shortcomings. the day media as an industry needs finance for development because there is no other It is for this reason that we produce the to be profitable and sustainable. When I talk way for us to move forward. Already, here in index of good governance annually. In trying about media, I don’t talk about the govern- Kenya we have some building blocks in the to measure good governance we measure ment owned newspaper and o"cial chan- East African Community, but what we need eighty-six parameters and produce a most nels because for me this is not unbiased is an African medium that is connecting comprehensive set of data. We have many media. Africa with news from all over the continent, partners who help us in this process, in- In my day there was only one newspaper, not just its own country and immediate cluding the World Bank, United Nations, one television station and one radio station neighbours. Transparency International and national all owned by the minister for information. Once a media house is in a good place statistical o"ces where they exist. Many They would tell you every little thing the financially it can a!ord to have more African don’t exist any more in Africa, and this is a president did that day then move on to the correspondents, more African stories and big problem. ministers. By the time they finished with turn itself into an African newspaper, not an Dr Mo Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, is also the People need to have access to informa- them there would perhaps be a minute left East African newspaper. That’s what I really founding chairman of Satya Capital Ltd, an investment company focused on tion to measure exactly what their govern- to the end of the news and that’s when they hope to see developing. opportunities in Africa. His Foundation recognises achievement in African ments are doing in terms of real facts and would tell you the real news, such as killings Mo Ibrahim is the founder of the Mo Ibra- leadership and stimulates debate on good governance. It publishes the Ibra- figures. Our presidents all have speechwrit- in Somali or an earthquake somewhere. him Foundation, which initiated the Africa him Index of African Governance in collaboration with the Kennedy School ers who specialise in producing flowery Today, there are many media outlets and Leadership Prize in 2007. of Government, Harvard University. The Foundation also established the an- speeches, but this is not the way to com- the Internet. nual African Leadership Award, as the largest prize in the world. municate amongst ourselves. We should try Despite this, the media business is still PANEL DISCUSSION: giving our people the facts like: How many weak and, unfortunately, this exposes the kilometres of roads were built last year? media to situations where they can be con- Moderator Nduka Obaigbena: In his How many schools have been opened? How trolled by bad money. Turning media into keynote speech Dr Mo Ibrahim spoke gener- many hospitals? How many jobs have been financial powerhouses is a challenge, but we ally about a crisis of dominance in Africa created? That is the kind of information our need to do it. people need. I was sitting at the back listening to the Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives This is a very important issue for the earlier session on African image and there’s “You need to make sure that good media. You need to make sure that good one point I’d like to make. Before we start Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mo Ibrahim, Founder Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Panelists: Rwanda Foreign A"airs Minister Louise Mu- honest information is given to people be- complaining about CNN or foreign media honest information is given to people cause information is power. It empowers coverage of Africa we should ask: How are because information is power. It shikiwabo; Ali Mufuruki, Chairman and Founder of the African Leadership Initiative, East Africa; Eric Chinje, World Bank. civil society to have an informed discussion media on the continent covering Africa? empowers civil society to have an Moderator: Nduka Obaigbena, Founder and Editor-in-Chief “This Day.” with their leaders. It is also useful for gov- How many correspondents does the Nation informed discussion with their leaders.” ernments themselves as a checklist of how Media Group have in Africa? When I open they are performing. the newspaper, how much of it is news from MO IBRAHIM 46 47 Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives 4

and the role of the media. He spoke about access to infor- climate and so on. When you look at mainstream media mation, the financial weakness of the independent media in America, that’s all they are talking about, quality of life 2010 Ibrahim Index results* The Ibrahim Index and its susceptibility to controls and media coverage of issues. %2/ìì '36)ìI398ì3*ì

J The Ibrahim Index assesses governance against 88 criteria, making it Africa by Africans. Now, in Kenya, which is one of our developed countries 1 Mauritius 83 the most comprehensive collection of qualitative and quantitative mea- Eric Chinje: The question of governance in Africa is on the continent, we should be having a discussion in 2 Seychelles 79 sures of governance in Africa. The criteria include: something we really need to put into context. I hate to use the mainstream media on tourism because that’s where 3 Botswana 76 Personal safety: the level of criminality in a country, prevalence of the term, but I come from an institution that has signed on money is coming from. I challenge you all to go out tonight, 4 Cape Verde 75 violent crime, prevalence of violent social unrest, government e"orts to that terminology and will not let go of it so “governance” pick up any newspaper and see how much discussion there 5 South Africa 71 to combat human tra!cking, government respect for citizens’ rights to is everywhere in the World Bank. I think we should be talk- is about tourism, about facilitating entry and exit, about 6 Namibia 67 freedom from torture, extrajudicial killing, political imprisonment, and ing about, basically, how we manage the common wealth, the quality of services in hotels, about immigration issues. 7 Ghana 65 disappearance, and levels of state-instigated political violence and ter- how we govern ourselves, how we can ensure a better We should be talking about horticulture, how the flower Sustainable Participation and 8 Tunisia 62 ror. quality of life for our people. That’s what good governance market is performing, co!ee and tea and so on. And I’m not economic human rights 9 Egypt 60 Rule of Law: the extent to which the judicial process is subject to is all about. If we can move away from the term and look talking about reporting press releases, a picture of Presi- 10 Lesotho 60 interference or distortion by interest groups; degree of independence, opportunity country scores* at these real things – young people coming out of schools, dent Kibaki or Raila Odinga signing a new loan; I’m talking 11 São Tomé and Príncipe 58 separation of powers, and a system of checks and balances within the who will not have jobs, a young African population and an about digging deep into the issues, talking to the man on country scores* 12 Benin 57 judicial system; degree to which private property rights are respected ≤ 30 31-40 41-50 economy that’s growing at three per cent when our popula- the street and the farmer to hear their views. 13 Morocco 57 and enforced; extent to which government ensures a clear process for ≤ 35 36-45 46-50 tion is growing at a higher rate, it’s almost a certainty that Louise Mushikiwabo: We cannot as Africans be led 51-65 ≥ 66 14 Senegal 56 ownership and acquisition of property; the extent to which property in the next ten to fifteen years there may be massive chaos to believe that free media and human rights and political 51-60 ≥ 61 15 Algeria 55 and contract rights are guaranteed and protected; ability of individuals across this continent. We should then start looking at real space are a remote entity that does not make sense to us 16 Tanzania 55 35 Ethiopia 44 to accumulate private property, secured by clear laws that are fully en- issues and asking ourselves: How do we do it? and that it is something that we have to reference and bor- 17 Zambia 55 36 Mauritania 43 forced by the state; and extent of clarity, establishment and acceptance We should be looking at our heads of state today and row from the outside world. I want to throw a challenge to 18 Gambia 53 37 Nigeria 43 of constitutional mechanisms for the orderly transfer of power from one almost feeling sorry for them because they should be media practitioners. When we talk about governance, it’s 19 Mali 53 38 Liberia 43 administration to another. wondering, ‘If I don’t respond to these real issues, if I don’t not some big scary word coming out of the World Bank, 20 Mozambique 52 39 Togo 43 Accountability and corruption: the extent to which safeguards/sanc- have our economies growing at ten to eleven per cent, this it’s rather the level of delivery by the governors to the 21 Burkina Faso 52 40 Niger 42 tions exist to ensure public o!cials are accountable and perform com- grand term – governance – means zip, nothing.’ I think it governed and the importance of citizens having a say in the 22 Malawi 52 41 Congo 42 petently; level of vested cronyism in, and corruption of, public o!cials; really comes down to that. We should be looking at what’s way they are governed. We cannot talk about governance, 23 Libya 51 42 Angola 39 extent to which there are legal or political penalties for public o!cials, happening on this continent and asking ourselves what it human rights and some of the important aspects of free ìì +%2(%ìì  43 Guinea-Bissau 39 who abuse their positions; how obstructive state bureaucracy is. This will take to improve on the quality of life and to grow those media without the citizen factor. Citizens must be factored 25 Swaziland 51 44 Côte d’Ivoire 37 includes the amount of red tape likely to be encountered, as well as the economies at double digits. And when you start asking the in. 26 Kenya 51 45 Guinea 36 likelihood of encountering corrupt o!cials and other groups; provisions real questions, that’s when the media step in. When we Often when African leaders try to put their political and 27 Gabon 50 46 Equatorial Guinea 35 put in place to: Encourage decentralisation of management of public start asking the real questions then maybe . . . just maybe, democratic development into its proper context it is taken 28 Madagascar 49 47 Sudan 33 finances for rural areas, and promote accountability and transparency in Safety and rule Human we’ll have the real answers. that we’re actually trying to distance ourselves or trying to 29 Comoros 49 48 Central African Republic 33 decision-making and disclosure of information at local level. As countries develop you begin to see a narrowing of justify our behaviour from the principle of the interconnec- of law country development 30 Djibouti 49 49 Zimbabwe 33 The Ibrahim Index is compiled using indicators based on either Expert the gap between those things that make the quality of life tivity of good governance, media and the importance of the scores* country scores* 31 Rwanda 47 50 Eritrea 32 Assessment or O!cial Data. (Source: Mo Ibrahim Foundation) better and media content. If you look at the United States average citizen. 32 Sierra Leone 46 51 Congo, Democratic Rep. 31 today, what is it that the Americans are concerned about There are other methods by which democratic processes * All scores are for 2008-2009. For the purposes of graphical illustration, country scores ≤ 40 41-50 51-60 ≤ 40 40-49 50-59 33 Burundi 45 52 Chad 29 the most? It’s healthcare, jobs, the war in Afghanistan, can work. An example is my own country where we have have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Note: Western Sahara is on the United Na- 34 Cameroon 44 53 Somalia 8 tions list of non-selfgoverning territories. 61-70 ≥ 71 60-69 ≥ 70 48 49 Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives 4

our governance system or our human rights the population which makes up about 95 per comprehensive ranking of African countries than the ones above such as Hitler and Mus- ambitions. cent of Africans has given up and considers according to governance quality. It aims to be solini. So there is this unfortunate perception Ali Mufuruki: Good governance is probably itself too small and too powerless to do any- Africa’s leading assessment of governance of African leadership that we are trying to the most debated subject in Africa over the thing about the vices in our society. that informs and empowers citizens to hold change by highlighting good role models on “We cannot as Africans last ten years, very fashionable and very nec- The other five per cent that could have done their governments and public institutions to the continent. be led to believe that free essary if you want to be listened to. Yet I worry something about it is either dishonest or in- account. When Joaquim Chissano, the former Presi- that this debate about good governance is volved in these acts of bad governance or has The Index measures the delivery of public dent of Mozambique, was awarded the Mo media and human rights becoming increasingly dishonest and charac- simply become cynical and also given up. goods and services to citizens by government Ibrahim Prize in 2007, many people, not just in and political space are a terised a lot by cynicism on the one hand and What then is the future of this continent and and non-state actors. It uses indicators across Europe, but in Africa as well, had never heard remote entity that does by despair and resignation on the other. for this issue? I think that we need to figure four main pillars: Safety and Rule of Law; Par- of him and the Foundation was inundated with Africa is not just one homogenous group out a way of empowering the 95 per cent of ticipation and Human Rights; Sustainable Eco- requests for information. Why should that not make sense to us and of people especially when it comes to gov- the population who su!er the brunt of poor nomic Opportunity; and Human Development be the case? And this is a question for the that it is something that ernance. We have the elite made up by the governance to not believe that they are power- as proxies for the quality of the processes and media. Why are our villains so dominant that we have to reference and ruling class and people like myself who are in less and helpless, to actually understand that outcomes of governance. everybody knows them, but there are leaders business. Then there is the general population. they can do something about the five per cent The Ibrahim Index assesses governance who come to power, achieve peace, liberalise borrow from the outside When these two groups discuss governance of the population that doesn’t seem to care or against 84 criteria. These are divided into four their countries, achieve democracy, move world.” you’re going to see a fundamental di!erence. is simply too comfortable to be bothered by main categories and 13 sub-categories. The their countries forward and yet nobody speaks LOUISE MUSHIKIWABO When I play golf with my friends we always poor governance. indicators that make up the sub-categories about them? The same thing happened when make comments about the latest headlines, Moderator Nduka Obaigbena to Dr. Ibra- are based either on o"cial data (OD) or expert Festus Mogae, former President of Botswana, political corruption or latest scandal and by him: You spend lots of your money promoting assessment (EA) won in 2008. I go to major conferences with Louise Mushikiwabo is platforms of discussions by citizens where discussions about press freedom and good the rights of our people or good governance the time we have reached the second hole governance in Africa, giving fat cheques to for- Some people think we’re anti government, a thousand people in attendance and ask the Minister of Foreign A!airs and we meet in our community, work at the end governance our discussions. These are seriously. Human rights and good gover- we’ve forgotten about it. We pretend to be mer African leaders. It’s often been criticised but we’re not. We’re just providing informa- how many people know him and only two or Cooperation of the Republic of of every month and decide what is good for discussions that we in Africa with the col- nance are not the preserve of one group and outraged, we wonder how these politicians as encouraging corruption and it’s also been tion about who’s doing what to whom. We’re three people raise their hands. And one of the three just happens to be the Ambassador of Rwanda and was previously Minister our community; whether we need a water laboration of our media need to bring home shunned by another group. I think this is one could get away with it but that’s almost it until greeted very well. How has it gone and what not against leaders, we want to know the facts we meet the next Sunday to speak about the has been its impact in assisting governance in and if there is an exceptional, wonderful leader Botswana. When I follow up with the ques- of Information. She is the co-author well; whether we need to pull our resources and make them our own discussions. This area where our media really should shape up previous day’s headlines. Africa? who took millions of people out of poverty tion: Who knows Mugabe? Everyone in the of Rwanda Means the Universe and together to provide basic health coverage for morning somebody talked about the fact that and bring the discussion back home. everybody in the community or whether we President Obama never appears in the news- My third point is a reinforcement of what When I go to a barber shop to get my hair Dr Mo Ibrahim: The governance index or achieved peace, did something wonderful hall raises their hands, even the waiters at the is a newspaper and online magazine think it’s appropriate as Rwandans to inte- papers of our continent yet our leaders, our my president (Paul Kagame of Rwanda) cut there is usually a TV running all the time is actually the flagship of what we do at the in the continent, the whole world should cel- venue know him. This is not fair. This is why we contributor. She has given numerous grate into the East African Community. civil society and our media are always appear- talked about this morning. We do not need to and every now and then there will be a head- foundation. The huge amount of information ebrate that person. bring forward the issue of governance whilst television and radio talks on There is no better democratic exercise ing in the foreign, Western, North American wait to achieve a high level of development to line about corruption and something terrible generated is published in all the languages of My problem is that, because I live in Europe, at the same time celebrating wonderful lead- Rwandan issues, and collaborated on than that. So media play an important role, press and not always in a good light. discuss media, governance and human rights. happening in the country. You will notice that the African Union and it gives people the abil- everywhere I go people ask me, “what about ership in Africa. We need to have that balance award-winning documentary films. but while talking about good governance we So my challenge to you media practitioners It’s not an either/or, these are parallel paths the people in the room pay very little attention ity to have a snap picture of where a country Mugabe? What are you Africans doing about in our debate. She is the recipient of the 2004 should show some of these other platforms is this: What can we do to make sure that the and they have to be discussed together. to those stories and when they do, there will is today, where it’s coming from, where it’s Robert Mugabe?” Others bring up leaders who Moderator Nduka Obaigbena to Ms. Outstanding Humanitarian Award and mechanisms that allow citizens to have a discussions on the lives of Africans, our aspi- I say that first and foremost, so that what- be a comment like, “Ah those guys are lying. going, and what’s happening there. This is are long dead like Idi Amin and Mobutu Sese Mushikiwabo: There will be elections in your from American University’s School of say in the way they are governed. rations and our desires to advance our own ever else I say I do not take out of context They must have stolen more than what they valuable information that enables our people Seko and I keep telling them that we need to country this year, but there is no excitement. are acknowledging on TV and nothing’s going to know what’s going on around them. The change the conversation because Europe, Are we building a benevolent dictatorship in International Studies. My second point is to media practitioners condition are primarily our discussion? We the importance of having media freedom, a and influential media houses. We must make should not, and do not need to be told to take level of maturity in our reporting away from to happen.” It seems to me that that part of Ibrahim Index of African Governance is a too, had its tyrannical leaders, some worse Rwanda? 50 51 Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives 4

a leader he’s also made sure that he’s got a telecommunications, roads and so on. The Ibrahim: We laud your e!orts in pioneer- have to sign on. team of people that work on institutions. We Bank that you will see going forward is an ing entrepreneurship and the example that In Africa because our states are still young have seen good leaders come and go and that institution that wants to help Africa build an you have given in terms of what is possible. the presidency as an institution is very power- has not necessarily meant that the countries economy. Without that we will be out of busi- However, your Foundation at the moment is ful and usually backed by armies. Parliaments have remained as stable and prosperous. So ness. focusing on political leadership in terms of are still struggling to get on in various coun- what Rwanda has been doing in the last fifteen Moderator Nduka Obaigbena to Mr. Mu- recognition of the leaders that we want to hon- tries and the media and civil society are still years besides rebuilding the nation is to really furuki: You talked about the African masses our. If one were to go by the Kenyan example, weak in many countries. The judiciary is not “We should be talking start putting in place institutions. God forbid being too tolerant or helpless about poor gov- one learning that we had as a country is that always independent or strong enough and so a about, basically, how but should President Kagame fall ill, we know ernance and corruption. What do we need to the time has come for us to redefine the whole lot of power is concentrated in the presidency. we manage the common for a fact that there are many other Rwandans do to turn that around? issues around leadership. As important as So we have to point a finger at the president wealth, how we govern that are ready to take over. Ali Mufuruki: African citizens need to rec- political leadership is, it is just one aspect of and say “You are responsible for our problems Moderator Nduka Obaigbena to Mr. ognise that there is nobody other than them- leadership. Why is the Foundation anchored or our success.” This is why we focus on the ourselves, how we can Chinje: The World Bank was created from the selves who is going to get them out of this on just political leadership and not addressing president because so much of the decision ensure a better quality of crisis of the 1930s or 40s and came to Africa situation. Those we would like to change from issues around leadership in a broader sense? making is focused there and not in institu- life for our people. That’s with conditionalities along with the Interna- their position as oppressors, looters and viola- If I grow up and I have a Foundation you would tions. The Chinese have a very good saying: tional Monetary Fund. Following the last eco- tors of our human rights left to themselves be my first candidate as a person that should “When the fish starts to go bad it starts at the what good governance is nomic crisis has the World Bank lost its way in would certainly not come to the realisation be honoured in the field of leadership. Is it head.” This is why we focus on presidents. all about.” Africa? What is its relevance today? that what they are doing is not right, but I think any wonder that the pipeline is drying up? Am Every year there are about ten to fifteen Eric Chinje: I do not think that the Bank has that we can. I right in saying that this year there were no candidates for the prize so it’s quite a small ERIC CHINJE lost its way. I think there is a fundamental re- I remember a story that was widely covered candidates? Are you planning to broaden the pool. The candidates are gauged by a very thinking going on in the institution on its Africa around the turn of the century when there was scope of your Foundation’s eligibility criteria competent committee comprised largely of Eric Chinje heads the Global Louise Mushikiwabo: In 2003 Rwandans bit of noise about what Rwandans are looking trine of necessity and empowered an acting programme, fundamental in what and how we an election in Côte d’Ivoire and the incumbent to recognise leadership in a manner that will Africans and half are women. There are three engage with Africa. This will be coming out in president tried to steal the election. For the go beyond the normal confined definition of Nobel laureates on the committee and three Media Program, World Bank Institute. voted for a new constitution. The people felt for in a new president. I think what was going president. The army stood aside and let that it was time to have a discussion about on in the 2003 election was that many Rwan- democracy take its course. Should the presi- the next few months and there is a programme first time in Africa we saw a mass resistance to leadership as just being limited to political ex-presidents. This is one of the most compe- In that capacity has launched the the important principles that lead us as a na- dans voted for issues that were important at dent fall ill, what happens to Rwanda? called the Africa Action Plan that is being dis- that act. People who had no guns or weapons leadership? tent committees anywhere in the world. They Independent Media for Accountability, tion because we were coming out of a most the time, and these were security and a level Hon Louise Mushikiwabo: These are discus- cussed. The thrust of it is that the Bank wants went to the streets and said they were not Dr Mo Ibrahim: We have focused on presi- select the winner in confidence and I am not Governance and Empowerment Network critical phase of reconstruction, sort of start- of social stability. What you will start hearing sions that Rwandans have had over the last to be more agile as an institution in terms of going to accept this theft of a vote and I think dents for good reason. In all mature states, involved in any way. If they come to me and and Academy to build a corps of ing a post-genocide era and the referendum more of this year is that Rwandans are voting few years. President Kagame has a level of disbursements, wants to be driven by results that guy didn’t regain power. power is shared with checks and balances. say we had some very credible candidates this development journalists. He is on the on the constitution of Rwanda was something for economic growth and economic stability. psychological impact on the Rwandan na- and not by approval of loans. That was proof that we can have our own You have the Executive branch, a strong par- year but we decided to withhold the prize, I say Board of the African Media Initiative, that every Rwandan participated in, includ- I’m going to sound like Prime Minister Odinga tion just because of when and how he came We want to see facts and numbers. We’re orange or purple revolution that we’ve seen in liament, congress, or senate, an independent fine. When we launched the prize we said there is a Founding Co-Convenor of the ing those who live abroad. They decided earlier and ask, why isn’t the media reporting into political life. He’s taught us that we are getting to the point where the institution will other countries. Our people have power; they and powerful judiciary, a powerful media and would be some years when we wouldn’t award African Media Leaders Forum and Vice that they were not ready to go back into the that? capable, that we have to believe in ourselves no longer be relevant if it cannot point to facts just need to realise it. The media can play a big a powerful civil society. These five institutions anyone, it’s to be expected because it’s a prize President of the Advisory Board of the heat of politicking and they decided that the Moderator Nduka Obaigbena: I’m Ni- and that we have to start doing our own thing, on the ground – number of children coming role in that sensitisation of our people. create checks and balances. The Executive for exceptional leadership. We have already whole campaigning part of elections should gerian. On November 23rd my president fell hoping that somebody else will come and out of school and the quality of that education, cannot just do whatever it wants. You can awarded three people and that’s not bad. National Museum of African Art of the QUESTIONS FROM AUDIENCE: be made short. So you’ve not heard anything ill and was flown to Saudi Arabia; we never help us. He’s brought a level of confidence number of roads built, and whether Africa has see for instance that a charismatic popular Withholding the prize is also useful because it prestigious Smithsonian Institute in because we’re not in July yet and the election heard from him, but somehow our national and dignity in the people of Rwanda, and we power or not. You’ll see a lot of our investment president like Obama is still struggling with his generates debate about leadership. This is our Francis Okello, Director NMG to Dr Mo Washington DC. is in August. In June-July you will hear quite a assembly put together what it called a doc- really would not want him to get sick. But as going into these areas, into infrastructure, healthcare plans because other institutions main goal, not a question of awarding money 52 53 Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives 4

ticular time, fifteen short years after the geno- scheme by the government to stay in power. the African Union to have insult laws taken o! doing? You are all groping in the dark. How can “We need to figure out a way cide, is not unusual. And I would not expect the Delegate representing Media Institute the statute books of Africa. They are already you drive a whole country without data? This ruling party to go out and create its own op- of South Africa: Dr Ibrahim put his finger disappearing in South America and we are is one of the things the Foundation is doing. of empowering the 95 per cent position; I don’t think that happens anywhere. on the real problem about prospects for the very far behind. We’re trying to create a platform where other of the population who su!er I’m telling you this in terms of helping you future of Africa when he said that the key is The problem is not just accessing informa- people can come and partner with us in pro- the brunt of poor governance analyse what’s happening with political parties access to information. But one of the factors tion but disseminating it to the people. We viding information. to not believe that they are and the upcoming election in Rwanda because that he didn’t mention is that access to infor- tried the Internet but found that most people Moderator Nduka Obaigbena: Let us wind this party is not insecure and it’s not threat- mation is impeded by the insult laws that exist in Africa don’t have access to it. We’ve been up this session with the panel making their powerless and helpless; to ened by either one of the two parties that are throughout Africa. Forty eight of the fifty three producing DVDs and CDs for distribution to commitment to Africa. I’ll start with Dr Mo actually understand that they starting to register. In fact they are having countries in Africa have insult laws. Those universities, parliamentarians and we’ve also Ibrahim, who has committed seed money to can do something about the di"culties fulfilling some of the basic require- are the laws that prevent information from published small booklets for schools. We try create the Al Jazeera model for Africa. That is ments, including having a minimum number reaching the public because they allege that to engage with governments about freedom his commitment today. five per cent of the population of supporters with authentic signatures and they are too critical of the government or gov- of information but there are two types of in- Dr Mo Ibrahim: I’m happy to participate, that doesn’t seem to care or is register to start political activities. So, really, I ernment personalities or presidents or prime formation. One kind which I worry about is the but we need to have a good discussion about simply too comfortable to be don’t see any reason why any of these parties ministers. These laws are used to smother in- almost demise of African statistical o"ces. I this. There is a major issue concerning gover- should be threatened by the ruling party. formation throughout the continent and keep get surprised when everyone is talking about nance and editorial control. We need to decide bothered by poor governance.” Thirdly, there is no such thing as interna- information away from the people. the Millennium development goals – World how the model will operate and who will have ALI MUFURUKI tional politics; all politics is local and I can tell This continent is sliding backwards. Bo- Bank, United Nations, governments; I was editorial control. Will it end up being a tool in you that for the politics of Rwanda, no political tswana is heading in the direction of insult shocked when we published our index this somebody’s hands? party or individual is going to be allowed to laws; South Africa arrested a student the other year and measured 86 parameters, including Al Jazeera is a creation of the Saudi Royal divide Rwandans any time soon. That is an day for pointing a disrespectful finger to the poverty. We found that there was no reliable Family, which has endless amounts of money is the Executive but to get people thinking and debating about ways of doing it and I would urge people on there are a couple of parties that are trying to Ali Mufuruki absolute. Anyone trying to run for o"ce has president of the country. Two journalists had indicator of poverty in Africa and yet it is one and they created it because of what they Chairman of InfoTech Investment leadership and governance. I believe that this continent who would like to see this hap- register and be part of the presidential elec- if we talk about it Africa’s problems will be pen to think creatively about how funds could tions in August. Please check your facts and to take into account the fact that Rwanda is a their cameras taken away from them by body- of the most important measures of the Millen- wanted to achieve politically for the country, Group LTD, based in Dar es Salaam, solved and we’ll have done our job whether a be raised to create an independent television establish what is really going on. We have no- country that is rebuilding itself, trying to bring guards because they took a picture of Presi- nium goals. How can we measure progress if and also for status as well. Al Jazeera talks Tanzania. A mechanical engineering prize was awarded or not. news service that serves the continent and ticed that some stories about Rwanda stick, together people who live next door to some- dent Zuma in his car parade, so whereas South we are not able to reliably measure the levels about everybody except Qatar, so is that the design graduate, he previously James Lee, director NMG: Both Mo Ibra- also promotes the word about Africa to the nobody questions them, nobody investigates body who killed their child or husband or raped Africa does not have insult laws, the police and of poverty? This is because statistical o"ces model we want? A benevolent Emir or presi- worked for Daimler-Benz in Germany. him and the minister suggested that Africa rest of the world. them so I doubt the accuracy of the informa- their wife. Therefore, there are certain limits the authorities are acting as if it did and we’re in Africa are dying away and they are a very dent who will agree to fund it but we end up He is currently the Lead CEO of the needs an African media. I’m absolutely con- Dr Matanga from Uganda but based in tion that you have. that are very particular to Rwandans that are sliding back as a continent. important source of information. with a guy like Rupert Murdoch, who controls Tanzania CEOs’ Roundtable that vinced that the launch of Al Jazeera changed the UK representing Africa World Media: Secondly, the ruling party of Rwanda, probably not limits in other countries. I appeal to you to use the financial gifts you Later this year we are convening a workshop half of the media in the UK, or Silvio Ber- brings together CEOs of the top 50 the view of the world of the Arab part of the Is it true that the new party that has been which is not my party, I’m an Independent, One of the founding principles of our con- are bestowing on presidents who campaign in Mauritius and inviting people from statisti- lusconi, who controls half the media in Italy? Is companies in Tanzania, is a member of world. I personally would encourage people formed in Rwanda to create good governance but I happen to be the spokesperson of the stitution, which sometimes even to us sounds for access to information and for the repeal cal o"ces in Africa, the OECD (Organisation this what Africa wants? It’s a critical question a bit like a paranoia trait, is that unity is criti- on insult laws. Mr Chinje, if you could use the for Economic Co-operation and Development), and we need to find a solution. If we want to the Presidential Investors Roundtable, to have a hard look at how an equivalent has met with a lot of resistance, and if so government of Rwanda, is a very strong cal. So any political party that is coming into World Bank and its granting of loans made the European Commission, the World Bank start from the top and have a Pan African insti- a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen television news organisation covering the what steps have you taken to remedy this so party for historical reasons. It is led by men continent could be created. Unfortunately - I that people don’t flee this country and then and women who stopped the genocide, who Rwanda right now might be di!erent, ten, conditional on increasing access to informa- and donors interested in this field. Our chal- tution we need to answer this question first. Institute and Chairman of the Africa know because I’ve studied it - it cannot be create more chaos? rebuilt the country. The party has had a lot of twenty, thirty years from now. Talking about tion and removal of insult laws and then if all lenge to the donors will be: You people give The other approach is a bottom up model Leadership Initiative. sustained from commercial sources, pay tele- Louise Mushikiwabo: I’m not sure which success especially as time moved on. So to how justice is skewed is not necessary; the of you could persuade the leaders who were so much money. How e!ective is it? Have any where an already successful media house vision and advertising. But we must find other party was mentioned but it doesn’t matter, have a very strong political party at this par- Hutu and the Tutsi living together is not a with us this morning to use their influence at of you measured the outcome of what you’re like NMG grows from a local media to a Pan 54 55 Governance and Democracy: Changing Perspectives 4

World Bank’s Africa Action Plan “On November 23rd my president fell ill and was flown to Saudi 2()6ì8,)ì40%2Aì *6-'%2ì'39286-)7Aì in two years. It lays out plans for the Arabia; we never heard from supported by their development part- Bank to expand its Malaria Booster Pro- him, but somehow our national ners, will design strategies to acceler- gramme by 150 percent in 17 countries ate economic growth and create the and foresees the scaling up of lending assembly put together what it opportunity for more people, particu- support for HIV/Aids programmes in 10 called a doctrine of necessity and larly poor people and women, to partici- countries, as well as additional invest- empowered an acting president. pate in and benefit from that growth. ment to ensure the progress required The Plan focuses particularly on to achieve the gender MDG goal in 10 The army stood aside and let supporting African countries in three countries by 2008. The Action Plan democracy take its course. broad areas: also envisages working within the Afri- Should the president fall ill, what eì 9-0(-2+ì'%4%&0)ì78%8)7ì%2(ì-1463:- can Infrastructure Consortium to mo- ing governance; bilise resources for both country and happens to Rwanda?” eì86)2+8,)2-2+ì8,)ì(6-:)67ì3*ì cross-border regional infrastructure NDUKA OBAIGBENA growth—like building a vibrant private projects. sector, expanding exports, increasing During the last two decades, Africa’s investment in infrastructure, mak- poor have doubled from 150 million ing agriculture more productive; and to 300 million, more than 40 percent Nduka Obaigbena is a Nigerian African media. This is what we need to think sure policy of any development institution media leaders continue to come together. investing in the assets of poor people of the region’s population. Yet Africa media magnate, entrepreneur about. and we’re hoping to use that to encourage We had over 200 of them in Lagos, Nigeria, and the disadvantaged, including is also at a turning point: Stronger and founding editor-in-chief and Louise Mushikiwabo: I would like to governments to open up more, to make in November, and this year I think they’ll be women, by furthering their education, leadership is emerging, with African chairman of ThisDay newspaper commit myself and my country to work more information on development avail- meeting in Cameroon. We will make sure health and access to economic oppor- countries taking ownership of and ac- with the Africa Media Initiative to track able. that this group not only comes together, and also publishes African Markets tunity; countability for their development pro- good news on the continent. The negative My own personal commitment is that I but also becomes a powerful instrument magazine. Besides numerous business eì86)2+8,)2-2+ì8,)ì-14%'8ì3*ì4%68- grammes; there is better economic and portrayal of Africa is having a toll on the was involved with the Africa Media Initia- of change. If media owners determine that nerships among governments, donor social performance, with 16 countries investments, he’s also a public a!airs morale of our people. If we put our energies tive from its inception, and I continue to be media will change, especially independent commentator. Since 2000 he has countries and development agencies. posting average annual GDP growth in together we can bring some of the brilliant involved as a board member. I am person- media, they will change. The Plan establishes specific com- excess of 4.5 percent; two thirds of the honoured Nigerians who exemplify journalists that are here to track good news ally committed to working with the new One of the problems of access to infor- mitments, like increased financial sup- region’s economies are now recording good governance and also sponsors about Africa and make it widely available. CEO and others in Africa to make this the mation is the fact that journalists cannot port for free primary education in 15 some progress in reaching one or more a summer concert series promoting Eric Chinje: Responding to earlier ques- most powerful instrument of change for understand it even when they have it. One countries through the Education for All of the MDGs; and average scores from Nigeria’s economic and political tion about what World Bank is doing about development of media. We also have the Af- of the things we’ll have to do is to develop Fast Track Initiative; increased funding the Bank’s Country Policy and Institu- progress. He was detained in the late information disclosure: If you check the rican Media Leaders Forum, which was put capacity within the media, improve journal- for roads, power and other infrastruc- tional Assessment have been rising for 1990s during a press crackdown and website you’ll realise that we’ve come up together two years ago and has already had ists’ ability to understand the issues so that ture programmes from an annual in- the past ten years. with the most radical information disclo- two meetings. We will make sure that these they can analyse and explain them well. „ later fled into exile for two years. vestment of $1.8 billion to $2.8 billion (Source: World Bank) 56 57 A rich and vibrant culture, but just how to export it to the rest of the world is a big challenge for Africa.

KEYNOTE BY PIERRE BARROT compared to the local production of films. 2007). 5 That means it produces very few films and Kenya is number two in sub-Saharan ost of the world is dominated by Hollywood content dominates the cinema Africa after South Africa, if you consider the stories and pictures generated by distribution network. number of celluloid films produced (11 in Mtwo giants: Hollywood of the United However, its film industry is aimed at pro- 2007) and the number of screens available States of America and India’s Bollywood. ducing a small number, but with a very high (34, with 1.7 admissions in 2007). The do- The population of India is almost 1.2 bil- standard of quality. If you take into account mestic market share of local films was five lion people. The country produces more this specific approach, you have to consider per cent during the same year. than 1,000 films a year. The number of South Africa as very successful. Burkina Faso is one of the poorest coun- admissions to movie theatres was 2.5 billion Very few countries in the world could tries in the world (number 177 in the Human in 2007. Bollywood overwhelms its own do- have gathered so many top awards or prizes Development Index). Despite that, it leads mestic market with a market share of Indian during the past five years as SA has done. francophone Africa in both cinema and TV films above 90 per cent. Drum received the first prize at the Pan production. This 15-million-people country In the USA, the number of admissions is African Film and Television Festival of Oua- produces one or two full-length films a year. 1.4 billion. The number of screens is much gadougou (FESPACO) in 2005. U-Carmen It also organises the biggest film festival higher than that of India – 38,947 against e-Khayelitsha received the Golden Bear in on the African continent: FESPACO. The India’s 14,000 – despite the fact that the Berlin during the same year. Tsotsi received example of Burkina Faso shows that poverty population is four times smaller. Like in the Oscar for the best foreign film in 2006. cannot stop people from developing their India, the market share of American films in The South-African actress, Charlize Theron, own culture. the USA is almost 100 per cent. was also the first Oscar-winning lady from Africa accounts for 15 per cent of the Africa in 2004. THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE world’s human population, but produces But whatever the international recogni- only two per cent of the global audiovisual tion, the weak point of the South African If you take into account video production, content. The result is that most of the films model is its low impact on the national mar- Nigeria is the leading country in Africa. It screened and broadcast on the African ket (the market share of local films was only might also be the global leader, after India continent are either from Hollywood or Bol- two per cent in 2006). (if you discount the production of porno- lywood. Egypt is in a much di!erent situation, with graphic films, especially in the USA’s San Let’s review some data about the most 40 films produced in 2006 and 231 screens Fernando Valley). Nigeria’s yearly produc- significant movie producers in Africa. South for a population of 77 million. Unlike South tion of full-length films is between 1,500 Africa is generally considered as the lead- Africa, Egypt overwhelms its own market, and 2,000. It produced at least 13,000 ing country. The total admissions to movie with a share of 81 per cent for local films. It films between 1992 and 2009. At the same Culture and Open Doors: theatres were 29.7 million in 2006 (for a also overwhelms the markets of all the Arab time, only two 35mm films were shot and population of 49 million). But this country countries. A few of its films are also distrib- released, one in 1992 and the other in 2005 produced only 10 films in 2006 (15 in 2005). uted internationally. (The Amazing Grace by Jeta Amata). The How Can Africa Export its Culture? The amazing thing about South Africa In Morocco, the film industry has been is that it has the highest ratio in the world growing steadily during the past 10 years, Keynote Speaker: Pierre Barrot, Department for Cultural Co-operation and Action, French Embassy. Moderator: Wachira for the number of screens (780) available thanks to a clever government policy. With “Lack of resources in Africa denies the quite a significant number of screens by continent the ability to make films to the Waruru, CEO, Royal Media Services, Kenya. African standards (97 for a population of 32 Opposite page: Young Ivorians look at million), the current market share of local match Hollywood standards. Africa is Nollywood CDs and DVDs in a street films (13%) is excellent, if you take into ac- dependent on foreign investment.” store in Abidjan (KAMBOU SIA/AFP/Getty count the number of films produced (18 in Images) PIERRE BARROT 58 59 59 Culture and Open Doors: How Can Africa Export its Culture? 5

lywood standards. Africa is depen- move from culture especially after “How do we maintain Wachira Waruru is the number of screens (probably between 20 and 50) is huge local audience, which can only be compared to Audience discussion dent on foreign investment. the liberation of airwaves, by giving not significant for a population of 150 million. the impact of African music in the world. Moderator Waruru: Your state- the impression that to be sophisti- an African story being Managing Director of Royal During the past 10 years, thousands of Nigerian The Nigerian Federal Censors Board rated two Moderator Wachira Waruru: ment suggests that for a movie to cated you must sound foreign (ref- told by Africans, but for Media Services, Kenya. He films in 1994 and 177 in 1995. The landmark figure films were distributed on video throughout Africa The keynote speaker has clearly laid be successful it must receive ac- erence to radio and TV presenters) di!erent markets?” previously held at similar of 1,000 films a year was reached in 2004 and the via piracy or informal networks. The films crossed out the phenomenon of Nollywood. ceptance from the West. There is and air foreign content. Citizen TV position at the state-owned highest, 1,711, in 2005. The figures were a bit lower all borders, including language ones. In the French- I would like us to expand the discus- a need to move from this thought enjoys the best ratings without hav- WACHIRA WARURU Broadcasting Corporation in 2006 and 2007, below 1,600 films a year. speaking countries, these films are broadcast in sion to include the fact that the Afri- process. There are three leading ing a western influence. The same and Kenya Film Commission. The above table shows the growth of the turnover their original version, without any subtitling, which can context is so di!erent from the film producers in the world: Hol- goes for Classic TV. The message lifted. People also need to recognize Prior to this, he served as of the Nigerian video industry. It never stopped means that the dialogue remains incomprehensible Western one. Are we talking about lywood, Bollywood and Nollywood, here is that we don’t need Holly- growing during the past 18 years. to most of the audiences. But this does not stop that various people have various the Group Editorial Director reversing this? and they all have one thing in com- wood. DSTV is the symbol of elitism needs. Media managers and own- of The Standard Group and Nigeria is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa them from watching the films. In Cameroon, Nige- In Kenya today we have French mon - they produce content that in Africa because of its expense. An ers cannot ignore the fact that they editor of the Weekly Review, where local production overwhelms both the do- rian films are being dubbed into French through radio, Chinese radio, VOA, BBC - the is appreciated by people in their interesting thing is that it is increas- mestic and other markets in Africa and beyond. piracy. need to make money from their a political magazine. reverse has not happened in devel- respective continents. ingly adding African content, mostly content. Sometimes we reach a The Nigerian system called Nollywood has a What is also amazing is that several satellite TV oped countries. What could be the The West is very defensive about from Nigeria. If you add this to Citi- direct video-marketing scheme. Most of the films channels are almost fully dedicated to Nigerian stalemate between the government e!ect of this? What do they gain foreign content permeating their zen and Classic, a viewer has more and the media because of their are never screened and some are never broadcast. films. The first one was Africa Magic (a subsidiary from having their FM stations in our world. For example, most duty free than 10 African movies to choose But all are sold on the video market. The box-o"ce of M-Net, South Africa); “Nollywood movie” and strong positions. There is need for countries and us not having ours in shops in the West downgrade for- from at any one time. The message a third objective entity to look into does not exist in Nigeria. You just have to count the “Nigerian movie” channels were also launched in their countries? eign music in order to elevate R&B. about not needing Hollywood is reit- works the idea of regulation objectively. Pierre Barrot tens of thousands of video copies sold, mainly VCD the UK and Nigeria. It was further said that what mat- This should provoke Africa to focus erated by the DSTV move. in the department of copies. In London, other Western capitals and Dubai, it is Do not ignore the public interest. ters in Africa is the story, and the on local audiences first before ac- Question to the audience: In Contribution from Côte Cultural Co-operation It is extremely di"cult to gather figures about the possible to buy Nigerian films. But this international extent to which it represents the cepting western content. this country we are having a debate Nigerian video market. But the average number of market of Nigerian films reaches mainly the African d’Ivoire delegate: I totally agree and Action at the French African mind; however, stories that Prof Wangari Maathai: The pri- about the content being broadcast with the ideal of having media Embassy in Algiers, copies sold by one Nigerian film is estimated to be Diaspora. receive Hollywood attention are the mary reason why we find that most by radio and TV stations. We are 50,000. If you multiply this figure by the number of The possibility for non-African populations to which reflect what people are. In and is a former regional kind that perpetuate the Hollywood of our cultural content is inferior not against regulation, we are also films produced a year, which is around 1,600, you be exposed to Nigerian films is still very limited. A running magazines, I noticed that audio-visual attaché at myth of Africa. begins with us. Much of our culture parents. The question however is Africans have an inferiority complex have a total figure of 80 million copies sold on the few festivals in New York, Berlin, Milan or Nantes in With regards to story and ste- has been deliberately crushed by us. who regulates? We also have mobile the French embassy in national market. That is, one copy for two people. France, have showcased Nollywood. However, this problem. One of the contributing Lagos. He edited and reotypes: As much as Nollywood Development of language and ad- phones and these have access to reasons would be magazine con- For each video copy sold on the Nigerian market, has been limited to special sections of the festivals, tells the African stories, they in- vancement of economies are greatly the Internet and pornography. wrote the first half of the away from the regular competitive ones. tent, which lauds the western [read you have something like one US dollar going back to advertently reinforce the Nigerian impacted by culture; hence the Contribution from University introduction to the book white] people. It made a di!erence production. That means the total turnover of the in- stereotype like witchcraft. How do e!ort of the West to teach us their of Nairobi: With regard to con- on the Nigerian video film dustry is around US$80 million, which is equivalent NOLLYWOOD’S ASSETS to have a magazine that reflected we maintain an African story being languages and sell us their goods. tent, I agree with Wachira Waruru what was happening to someone industry, Nollywood: The to the production cost of a single Hollywood film. told by Africans but for di!erent Our leaders address us in a foreign that the issue of quality should be Nigeria’s video industry is probably the cheapest in Big stars: One of the key success factors of Nol- you know, what they cook, what Video Phenomenon in markets? language and most wait for vernacu- secondary. But society is complex. they do; these have been instantly Nigeria. the world! lywood is the star system. An actress like Genevieve Barrot: Lack of resources in Af- lar stations to translate the same. There is a generation of Kenyans Beyond the figures and money generated, there successful in Côte d’Ivoire. We need Nnaji and an actor like Nkem Owoh, alias Osuofia, rica denies the continent the ability Moderator: Media owners and that would appreciate technical is no doubt that the Nigerian video industry has a have millions of fans. In some Nigerian films, half of to have more African content that to make films to the match Hol- managers have played a role in the quality, it is critical that this be up- tells African stories. 60 Culture and Open Doors: How Can Africa Export its Culture? 5

the production budget goes to actors’ fees. distribution than in the films themselves. of ensuring a reasonable standard of quality in ence at home and in the Diaspora. However, E"cient stories: Unlike the situation in most NOLLYWOOD’S WEAK POINTS this system. A lot of the time the soundtrack the Nollywood system does not really allow African countries, Nigeria has dozens of full- Extremely low budget films: The average is awful; the script is not properly developed Nigeria to export its culture out of Africa, as it The Nollywood story time professional scriptwriters. The stories production budget of a Nigerian video film is and the editing is poor. Of Nigeria’s 1,600 should do. Nollywood is a multi-million dollar film industry in Nigeria. It are not only about magic, religion or boys and probably less than $50,000 due to extreme productions a year, 95% can be considered as A counter example in Nigeria: The film is the biggest in Africa and has spawned a bewildering array of girls. Rather, they explore all aspects of the competition in the Nigerian market. There is “disposable films”. They are easily forgotten a Changing Faces productions of diverse themes informed primarily by the stories, Nigerian society. The fact that Nigeria has a no “Major Company”, only hundreds of small- week after launch. Changing faces, by Faruk Lasaki, was pro- traditions, customs and modern reality of the Nigerian society. huge population, with more than 250 distinct scale production outfits. None can commit a No international recognition: Even with duced with much higher standards of artistic By some accounts, the industry is the third largest in the world ethnic groups, obliges scriptwriters to tell sto- huge budget to a film. None takes time to at- 13,000 video productions in 18 years, Nigerian and technical quality. Thanks to this e!ort %*8)6ì8,)ì  T7ì300=;33(ì%2(ì2(-%T7ì 300=;33(@ì ì'0)%6ì()- ries that can resonate with any kind of African tract private sponsors or foreign partners. films have not received a single award in any the project attracted a €60,000 French pro- rivative of these two, the name Nollywood itself has not been audience. The take-the-money-and-run system: international film festival. The only Nigerian duction funding. The shooting, editing and without some controversy, it’s main criticism being that it’s not Punchy marketing: Like Hollywood, the Marketers, most of whom only want to make filmmaker regularly invited to festivals abroad soundtrack were properly carried out this authentic enough to generate the necessary emotional appeal Nigerian film industry invests a lot in advertis- money as quickly as possible, dominate the is the veteran Tunde Kelani. Thus Nigeria is contributed to a much wider distribution of and association with Nigeria. The African Council for Arts and ing and distribution. Posters, TV and radio Nigerian video industry. Most of the time, the still expecting international recognition, but the film. Culture certainly thinks so for it’s promoting e"orts to rebrand advertisements support film launches. Some films are shot in less than a week, many of most of Nollywood’s stakeholders do not care Some 80,000 copies were sold on the Nige- the industry. marketers put more money in advertising and them in only three days. There is no possibility since they have the recognition of a huge audi- rian market and the film was shown in interna- tional festivals in Africa, Europe and America. A French version was made, as a result of which Changing Faces became the very first The boom of the Nigerian video production 15 years of dramatic growth Nigerian film to be purchased by Canal France International, which organised its distribution Number of films released Estimated turnover of the video industry in naira to 64 TV channels in Africa. This example shows that it is possible to upgrade the qual- ity of Nigerian productions without losing the impact on the African market. Conclusion: The challenge of the African film industry To be able to export her culture without alienating local audiences, Africa might have to combine the Nigerian and South African approaches: Keep contact with the local audience and develop co-produtions and joint-ventures to be able to generate higher budgets and better possibilities of access to international markets. „

62 Cell phones came in handy for Egyptians during the upheaval that brought down President Hosni Mubarak. New media provide an oppor- New media are the rave, but the risks o!ered by blogs, SMS, MMS tunity for citizens to create new perceptions and tell their own stories. (MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images) and social networks are raising concern.

In her keynote speech, Ms Nyong’o fo- eì3490%8-32ì3*ì
ì1-00-32ì4)340)Aì the Nation Media Group) use of YouTube, 6 cused on the information revolution, which which is 15 per cent of the global popula- and the growing use of Facebook and Twit- she said was engendering partnerships tion; ter in the mainstream media. between sectors. Mr Were concentrated on eì»

ì&-00-32ìì;-8,ì%ìæ:)ì4)6ì')28ì Ms Nyong’o highlighted the increasing the capacity of new media to compliment growth rate (2010 figures); number of African bloggers – estimated traditional ones. Such integration would eì ì1-((0)ì'0%77ì43490%8-32ì)78-1%8)(ì at 12,000 so far, and gave the examples o!er alternative spaces for expression and at 300 million. of Bella Naija and Ory Okolloh’s Ushahidi. plurality of voices. eì ,)ì13&-0)ì4)2)86%8-32ì6%8)ì;%7ìì The Ushahidi platform was a breakthrough Summary of keynote speech delivered per cent with 400 million subscribers, idea internationally, getting users to input by Ms Nyong’o, An Information Revolution: anad was expected to grow to 580 mil- the hotspots during the aftermath of the lion by 2012. There were more than eight 2007 election in Kenya, and was recently sis Nyong’o spoke of trade-o!s. She million M-Pesa users and the PV (present used in the tragic earthquake in Haiti. noted that more than one billion people value) growth was 374 per cent. The In- Finally, she called for a reinvention in Iwere online and that more than half ternet penetration rate on the other hand old media, noting that the consumption went online in the last decade. The mobile was only four per cent with 30 million funnel for new media was di!erent. Com- web was also growing eight times faster users, constituting roughly four per cent munication used to be one way and very than it did a few years ago. All indications of global Internet users. Growth, however, structured, but in the digital age, “it’s were that in five years, more people would had been very high at 1,400 per cent be- about sharing, reviewing and intercon- get online using their cell phones rather tween year 2000 and 2009. nectivity, and it yields new data and digital than computers. Regarding New Media, Ms Nyong’o said footprints”. The growth in the use of online services that it had fundamentally changed the vol- would be driven by broadband penetra- ume and speed of communication, blurred SUMMARY OF KEYNOTE SPEECH DELIVERED tion, the new citizen journalism (where geographical boundaries, increased inter- BY DAUDI WERE: ordinary people have the capacity of gen- activity and accelerated globalisation. The erating and disseminating news – due to volume of communication and growth of Mr Were has been a blogger since 1997 availability of friendly devices and the era the web were phenomenal. She gave the and his site, hosted at KenyaUnlimited.com, of communicating online) and the falling example of YouTube, which had more than aggregates more than 800 Kenyans with an cost of digital storage. a million videos uploaded each day, and The enduring human drivers of online had new content online every second! growth would be: Self-expression (blog- Globalisation had been accelerated “Global Voices, Journalists Without ging, social networks). Although there through sharing and understanding of Borders and other communities for was a growing interest, there was need for other cultures and ideas. She noted the more Kenyan content online, communities public’s increased access to knowledge protecting journalists, mainstream and more avid desire to search for knowl- through the ‘Wisdom of the Crowd’ driven versus new media, is an old debate. It is edge. by sites like Wikipedia and the leveraging definitely about co-existence. They play of search engines like Google and YouTube KEY INDICATORS IN SUB-SHARAN AFRICA that had taken place for both social and a complementary role. Blogs can carry TODAY business use. And there was no shortage wider space and personalise information New Media: The Possibilities, Limits and Risks of successful examples of this phenom- where the mainstream media cannot Turning her attention to sub-Sahara enal development. There was Naija Boyz of reach. . .” Africa, Ms Nyong’o cited the following as the Nigerian Diaspora with 14 million up- Keynote Speakers: Isis Nyong’o, Business Development Manager, Google Kenya; Daudi Were, Digital Media Specialist, key statistics: loaded views on YouTube; NTV’s (part of ORY OKOLLOH Kenya. Moderator: 6=ì/3003,Aì 3O*392()6ì%2(ì<)'98-:)ì-6)'836ì3*ì 7,%,-(-Aì28)62)8ì40%8*361ì%-1)(ì%8ì%++6)+%8-2+ì-2- 65 formation from the public for use in crisis response. x New Media: The Possibilities, Limits and Risks 6

eì3ì8,)ì0%&)07ì1%88)6Hì!,)8,)6ì%ì'-8->)2ì.396- nalist or professional journalist, does it matter anymore? As the country burned, the national broadcaster aired football made in Germany, comedy, cartoons and telenovelas.

EXCERPTS OF THE DISCUSSION INVOLVING THE AUDIENCE:

Moderator Ory Okolloh: When you (Google) engage with government, do you leverage with governments to place relevant content online to make it easier for bloggers and journalists to get their information?’ Ory Okolloh is the equal split in gender on the one hand and blog- united, the divisions reflected in the country Nyong’o: Governments tend to be institu- Policy Manager, Africa for gers at home, and in the Diaspora, on the other. were even more evident on blogs and reflected tions with a lot of content. There is quite a lot Google. She is a co-founder In 2002, he sent out an online protest against divisions in society. Organisation came quickly, with Google Maps as a platform to illustrate the limitation of airtime in the media to opposi- the power of the community and network – hav- information in a given country. The Kenyan gov- of Ushahidi and served as tion politicians and a reader responded, saying, ing an organised Kenyan blogging network – be- ernment is quite progressive. The ICT board and the organisation’s Executive “We know you are Daudi Were and we can find came vital. the Ministry of Information are proactive and Director from inception until you.” It compelled him to form mentalacrobat- According to Mr Were, one thing to remember show how to make information useful. December 2010. She is also ics.com and he sent the reader the URL telling is that Kenyans went online to share their frus- Moderator Okolloh: Daudi, what were you the co-founder of Mzalendo, her where else to find him! trations. He cited the attack on the Standard thinking when you went out as a citizen journal- a website that tracks the Mr Were related more of his experiences and Group and the assault on a journalist by the ist in the aftermath of the 2007 election? You performance of Kenya’s how, despite the absence of a large planned First Lady of Kenya as times when activity in the were in the story-telling business, seeing and Members of Parliament. blogging initiative, excitement around the blo- blogosphere peaked, propelling a new culture. recording and uploading the stories and images. She speaks frequently gosphere increased locally and internationally Blogs like Ms Okolloh’s KenyaPundit, which gave How did you feel? speaker at conferences on around the 2002 elections. When things began a voice to those without their own blogs, and Were: The first time I went out to get the to get strange, bloggers were the first to raise others like Mashada.com were being forced to pictures I was tired of being misled. There were Africa on the web citizen journalism, the role concerns, and in 2002 and 2007, blogs became shut down because of hate. conflicting reports coming out that Raila Odinga Africa’s presence on the web has grown phe- growth of citizen journalism; greater interest in of technology and of young the premium tool for reporting what was hap- Mr Were concluded by highlighting the les- and William Ruto had been shot. So I drove into nomenally in the last decade as the following Africa by Google; large presence of Kiswahili in people in reshaping Africa. pening. sons that had been learned: town past all the roadblocks and took pictures trends indicate: A growing community of blog- the blogosphere and rising number of African eìU6978ì&98ì:)6-*=@Vì ì977-%2ì463:)6&Cì%2(ì of the leaders of the political party and posted gers; leveraging of search engines like Google story tellers; mainstream media leveraging their SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER “hear the other side”. Kenya’s media realised them on my blog, just to say that they were and use of YouTube; growing use of Facebook and content and programmes online and the phenom- they did many things wrong and may not have alive. There was a lot of relief and gratitude Twitter in mainstream media; the instantaneous enal growth and use of mobile telephony. The Kenyan blogosphere was not politically been as fair as they should. from Kenyans. The second time I went out to 43490%6-8=ì3*ì4-32))6-2+ì-2-8-%8-:)7ì0-/)ì 7,%,-(-Cì 66 67 New Media: The Possibilities, Limits and Risks 6

“A reinvention in old media “Google is going into Daudi Were is recognised is necessary, given that the and mobilising. resulting in violence, and he was arrested. He was as one of the most influential Responding to the same question said, released when it was revealed that she had a PIN on consumption funnel for new Nyong’o: translation into African African citizen journalists. His ‘NMG, Homeboyz, Standard, and many mainstream her phone because she had a boyfriend. languages, a positive media is di!erent. Communi- organisations leverage the Internet. Kenya is ahead And from a discussant from Zambia: What per- blog, www.mentalacrobatics.com, cation is one way and struc- in Africa. Many radio stations also leverage their centage of Internet connectivity is shared access? impact on African covers issues such as citizens’ relationship with their political tured, but in the digital age, programmes online. A lot of languages are more oral A lot of people in Africa access through an Internet cultures. If you want to than written and, therefore, more useful via radio café. How can you see these millions of bloggers leaders, the growth of citizen media it’s about sharing, reviewing reach a man, talk to him; and podcasts. No comment about China. and their content? How do they circumvent govern- if you want to reach his and technology. He runs his own and interconnectivity, and it Were: There is a very large Kiswahili presence on ments? company and is also the Resource yields new data and digital the blogosphere and a number of African languages Moderator Ory Okolloh: Global Voices, Journal- heart, speak to him in Development Manager at UZIMA footprints.” just telling it in their languages. On the question of ists Without Borders and other communities for pro- his language.” Foundation Africa, a youth centred misinformation and verification, that’s the big one tecting journalists, mainstream versus new media, NGO operating in Kenya and East when it comes to the Internet. Propagation of hate is an old debate. It is definitely about co-existence. DAUDI WERE ISIS NYONG’O Africa. online and the ethics of online publication is still a They play a complementary role. Blogs can carry gray area universally. wider space and personalise information where the take pictures it was to record the respect the strategy. We have swung the other way to hear hate and false information? It is easy to sway The main issue is not whether mainstream media mainstream media cannot reach. What did these Isis Nyong’o is the Vice security personnel had for the media. They took that Facebook causes kids to fail exams, cheat masses who are not sophisticated enough to use new media, but that ethical media using new 1,500 people in 2007 die for? We are all in the story- president and Managing a protective rather than adversarial role. They on tests, and get caught in pornography. Google sift fact from fiction. Are the media that use media is the best. On civic action and the rage, Ke- telling business from di!erent perspectives, for ex- allowed photojournalists to walk behind them Director for the African is going into translation into African languages, new media the best? Is Google pulling out of nyans have learned that courage and rage on their ample, the focus by K24 on finding good local stories and take as many pictures as they wanted. Such region of InMobi, the world’s a positive impact on African cultures. If you China? Did vernacular stations play a big role in own are not enough. You have to match it with the from ordinary people. This is a niche. stories were uploaded to highlight the nuances largest independent mobile want to reach a man, talk to him; if you want to the violence in 2007 in Kenya? Does the use of appropriate strategy. But, yes, do utilise the Internet. Were: There is a lot of research on the social im- in the crisis as it happened. advertising network. Before reach his heart, speak to him in his language. local language in blogs fuel violence? We often I tell people to get an e-mail address and, better still, pact of new media. Mobile phones have increased joining InMobi she was the Moderator Okolloh: One of my pet peeves Nyong’o: There is a di!erence between the hear that in Kenya, people are where they are get onto Facebook. People could not understand why inter-generational dialogue. This is good for Africa. leader of Google’s business with new media, Internet access and local con- global networks and the relationship to Africa. because they don’t have enough anger to e!ect Safaricom would sell a Sh5 voucher. The “Bamba BBC is taking the lead in co-existence of old and new development initiatives in tent, is that when the Internet is discussed in Af- Local media ask very di!erent types of ques- change. In terms of mobilising people to civic 50” and “Bamba 20” (the lowest denominated mo- media. It validates the bloggers in some way. What Africa, specialising in mobile- rica, it always has a noble connotation. What is tions around local content sites. Google are action and engagement with policymakers, do bile phone airtime cards) are for the kids going on can be done about getting heard? Join an interna- based partnerships and content the focus of journalists with regards to pornog- interested in start-ups and local content sites. you think new media can mobilise the rage to Facebook. tional network and your networks will look out for raphy, children and entrepreneuship? How does They are also very successful in the west – bags e!ect change?’ Joseph Warungu of the BBC in London: What you. In Ethiopia the government shut down some strategy at Google Africa. Her Google see the Internet? And, Daudi, how do you and shoes seem to be the most popular. Google Moderator Okolloh: Responding to the ques- do you see as the best role for the mainstream media blogs, but the call was taken up by others. role is to drive InMobi’s African view the possibilities of technology in Africa? are interested in making the web more useful to tion said that technology broke down barriers and the Internet? What’s the relationship? Are they Nyong’o: There isn’t very good data on Internet business strategy and facilitate Were: Things have changed. It is very hard to consumers. The entertainment and local entre- for her. As a woman, it boosted her confidence. complementary? penetration. We know that there are still not a lot of the expansion of the company’s see negative stories. Facebook in particular is preneurship sectors are big growth spaces. There was still a lot of o$ine organisation And a participant from Namibia: Is there any re- people online. It also depends on which countries continental base. seen as a great enemy against which to protect A Rwandan delegate: Maybe I am old fash- needed to network and translate the rage into search on how new media are changing the social one is looking at; Mauritius has a high Internet pen- your children. Facebook gets two million hits a ioned, but I want to ask, when will we see the action and sometimes technology made you structure in Kenya? In Zambia a husband was asking etration; Kenya’s is not too bad.„ day from Kenya alone, forcing them to change day that the Internet will cease to be a source of forget that there was need for social organising for the PIN number (password) to his wife’s phone, 68 Have the media been too gloomy, and missed stories of progress? Hate speech and its consequences—where is it taking us? What are some new approaches that could be considered? 7 cKenzie started o! his presenta- and before the global recession, Africa gained some ground among scholars, tion by saying that clichés about showed massive growth. policy-makers and international non- MAfrica were easy to find and that Other stories of progress include the governmental organisations. they were not always that “bad”. Here cell phone explosion in Africa, fibre optics, Using the Kenyan post-election violence are some: The ‘dark’ continent, the ‘poor’ which are revolutionising the way people as a case study, the session postulated continent, the ‘do you live in a tree house’ communicate in countries like Kenya, that conflicts in Africa, or mainly in the continent, and the ‘is Africa one country’ Africans strutting the world state, the third world during the last decade of the continent. So who is to blame? growth of social media and South Africa 20th century, had two basic dimensions: Media coverage of Africa was dominated wining the rights to host the FIFA World They were ruthlessly violent and carried by stories about coups (democracies fall- Cup 2010. out in the public domain, and they were ing) violence and tribal conflicts and fam- In the face of all these positive develop- accompanied by unprecedented media ine with the latter having a predominant ments, coverage of Africa is changing, but complicity. theme of: “If there are flies in the eyes, a lot more needs to be done, said Mr McK- Mr McKenzie showed clips from various people will care”. A more positive theme in enzie. The world has realised that Africa global news channels to illustrate how media coverage was of wild game and ce- is an important audience. The media are they sought to handle its coverage, saying: lebrities from all over the world, who had becoming more interactive with an explo- “We tried to be fair all along, but at some come to Africa on a wild safari. sion of specialist and local media while the point you know somebody had to make a Mr McKenzie then posed the question: Internet is providing space and innovation conclusion.” “What is the role of the news media?” The for Africans to tell their own story. Several delegates faulted the media cov- answer is to report the news, to appeal to erage by these channels, with one of them, its audience, and to tell new stories to help OPEN DISCUSSION: Sylvia Mudasia Mwichuli, the communica- educate the audience. tions coordinator for the UN Millennium Africa was not always a good news story, Scarred by centuries of misreporting, Campaign, saying: “We approached Al he argued. “Nine out of the 10 poorest Africa has refused to die and is instead Jazeera and requested them to stop por- countries are in Africa. Nineteen out of the taking on challenges brought forth by the traying the violence the way they did be- 20 poorest countries are in Africa. Nearly new century. Over the decades, debates cause they were only reporting the violent half of most corrupt countries in the globe about the role the media play in conflict spots and nothing else. “We (the African are in Africa. Kenya; Madagascar and Zim- situations seem to focus primarily on media) need a paradigm shift; if we do not babwe have all recently had troubled elec- media performance and deal with journal- tions and life expectancy is down over the istic objectivity and fairness in reporting last 20 years in many countries.” conflict/war stories. Of late, much empha- “In the last 10 years, the international Despite this there was a lot of good sis has been paid to the reporting of the news, but was it being covered? “Right crises bedevilling Africa. community has recognised that we got now there is an economic boom in Africa Delegates tore into the media’s culpabil- it all wrong on reporting about Africa, ity in conflict situations, singling out the but now go to the web, go and watch Opposite page: Reporting change -- Cote international media for misreporting Af- BBC, CNN, then come to me and tell me rica. The discourse generated tremendous Reporting Change and Crisis in Africa d’Ivoire’s President and presidential what you think. I assure you that there is election candidate Laurent Gbagbo is interest, with several delegates noting crowded by the press after casting his that the discussions about the role of the much improvement.” Keynote Speaker: David McKenzie, CNN International Correspondent, Nairobi, Kenya. Moderator: Kiprono Kittony, Chair- media as instigators of conflict had also vote. (ISSOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images) DAVID MCKENZIE man, Radio Africa, Kenya 71 71 Reporting Change and Crisis in Africa 7

(Africa) need a media organisation that will report Africa Most delegates felt that it was too about it and these are all positive sto- they read or heard more horrendous “We (Africa) Kiprono Kittony is the in a fair way, the way Aljazeera does for the Arab world.” early to write-o! Africa, with George ries that make Africa a great place,” stories about the situation in Africa. need a media Chief Executive O"cer of Capital Maintaining a positive note, the CNN correspondent Mudunga, a student at the Kenya McKenzie responded. “More often than not, Africans exag- organisation Realtime, a founder director and added that Africa’s future looked promising with the World Institute of Mass Communication, “In the last 10 years, the interna- gerate the severity of problems in shareholder of Cellular Service Cup in South Africa this year, which he said would “play a noting that, “The problem with having tional community has recognised that order to get help, but the problems that will report Logistics, and also serves as critical role in improving the perception about Africa.” peace, stability and development in we got it all wrong on reporting about are not as severe as they appear on Africa in a fair Chairman of the Radio Africa Group Maria Moraa, a university journalism student from the Africa is that the western media will Africa, but now go to the web, go and TV or newspapers.” way, the way and a director of Quintica, Betting United States International University Africa (USIU), said have nothing to report about and will watch BBC, CNN, then come to me “Since the 19th Century when Aljazeera does Control and Licensing Board, that while hosting the tournament o!ered Africa a golden end up creating some crisis out of and tell me what you think. I assure explorers like David Livingstone and Sovereign Communications, Sirwo opportunity for positive coverage, any failure or ugly nothing.” you that there is much improve- Henry Morton Stanley came to Africa, for the Arab Group, Eco Plan management incident during the tournament would pile up the misery “Despite all the bad stories in Af- ment,” he added. this continent has been a playground report ourselves well we cannot expect any favours from world.” facing the tournament and Africa in general: “If all goes rica, I have reported about astronauts Perhaps, said Clive Amati, a media for idlers, loners and adventurers, amongst others. He is also the David McKenzie foreign media reporting us.” as planned, everybody will smile and say ‘Great!’ But if in Ghana, farmers in Kenya, soccer consultant in Nairobi, Africa’s biggest many of them journalists. At heart, MOKTAR GAOUAD national chairman of the Kenya Pia Tamburi, the chief of Strategy Outreach Initiatives is a correspondent anything goes wrong, then they (western media) will say, fans in Cameroon, who are going mistake was in believing that western they do not care about the integrity of National Chamber of Commerce and at the United States Africa Command, added: “All we see for CNN International ‘Well, we expected all that in Africa.’ In journalism, they about their business and are happy aid agencies would respond fast if the reporting,” said Martin Oyando, a Industry. in the United States is that Africa is a continent in crisis. I based in Nairobi. say bad news actually sells better than good news.” history student from Egerton Univer- believe there is much that can be said about the continent, He has won But McKenzie disagreed, saying that Africans were tired sity in Kenya. “Some shady groups but few news organisations are interested in looking for a international awards of letting other people run the show. “We have a media masquerade as charity organisations positive speck.” explosion in Africa, African people are not letting other in order to gain access into African for his coverage of the Mr McKenzie said that despite poverty, disease and people tell the story, they are telling their stories and that crisis points. Look at the Democratic African experience conflict being a reality on the continent, there were posi- is what happening here.” Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and was the first tive stories that journalists ignored, especially during Grace Manikin, a Daystar University communications Liberia and how natural resources foreign reporter to the world economic crisis. “Kenya, Angola, South Africa student, brought in the coverage of the conflict in Soma- were looted. Some people thrive on gain access to Sudan’s missed to be reported before the recession, they were lia, a country that has been torn apart by two decades of the crises.” controversial oil fields fairing on well, but they were not su"ciently reported.” bloodletting. “Why is it that the only story in Somalia is CNN Africa Voices, BBC Business News But all that was changing with the to report on alleged He sought to defend CNN, the world’s first 24-hour about conflict and nothing else?”, he posed. advent of citizen journalism. “Heroic pollution. He has also stills: The world media’s coverage of Af- news channel, saying that it had learnt important lessons McKenzie explained that there were also heroic stories rica has changed in the last 10 years. stories are being reported on social filmed numerous from its previous coverage of the continent specifically emerging from Somalia, but they did not get much cover- networks like Facebook, Twitter, You exclusives showing the quality of stories. “We have programmes specially age. “There is more misery than good news in areas like Tube and MySpace. We no longer the untold stories of designed for Africa like Inside Africa, African Voices, Mar- Somalia, while there are a few good stories, the majority is rely on journalists to give us their Africa and was part of ketplace Africa, Backstory and iReport. This is because just bad news.” perspectives about situations,” said CNN’s award-winning people in CNN are feeling that we are missing out of Africa Still on the same topic, Fatima Ismail complained Martin Macharia. “Everybody can log coverage of Haiti’s and missing out of the sponsorship stories on Africa,” he that the media preferred using the word ‘Islamist’ while into these sites and post a story, a said. describing Somali extremists fighting to topple the UN- blog or a video that is often raw, de- earthquake. However, Moktar Gaouad, a communications o"cer backed government. “This is unfair to 1.4 billion Muslims picting exactly what is happening on with the African Development Bank, suggested that, “We in the world, it has a negative connotation.” the ground.” „ 72 A picture of doom: This barren land, sapped of its moisture by the Sun, points to the Saving the planet: Just how bad is the situation, and what are risks risks to the environment in the next decade. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) to the environment over the next decade if we do not act?

Before the keynote address and dis- to nowhere. Every dial on the natural or men are catching less and less big fish. In- 8 cussion, the moderator asked delegates nature-based resource clock is ticking and deed, by some estimates, only 10 per cent to introduce themselves and state their in many cases accelerating downwards. of all large fish remain, both open ocean interest in the environment. Mr Hough- Perhaps one of the starkest examples is species – including swordfish – and marlin ton encouraged the discussants to think fisheries. found o! coasts, including East Africa and about diversity of interest among di!erent One issue has been headline news glob- the large groundfish such as cod, halibut, groups as a way to push conversation. ally – that is the plight of blue fin tuna or, skates and flounder. He also pondered, for instance, what the more precisely, the western Atlantic stock. So is it about fish? Well, yes and no. It pastoralists in the Sahel share with other By some estimates, this fishery is down is also very much about people and very non-pastoralists. Climate Change issues 80 per cent since the 1970s, the dawn of much about the economy. are common to all and need to be taken industrial fishing. By other estimates the It is about fishing communities and jobs as being of interest to di!erent types of spawning stock of females could, on cur- and about coastal communities that de- people in order to be addressed in the con- rent trends, be gone in less than five years. pend on fish for protein. So it is also about text of the media. It is good news that governments are food security, human security, nutrition Mr Houghton noted that the environ- finally considering significant steps to re- and health. mental situation in Africa is bad, and that verse this trend, based on sound science. It is also about health and safety. not much action was being seen by govern- It is breathtaking that humanity with all The decline in fish stocks o! Africa’s ments and Africans. The forum noted that its extraordinary intelligence, the creature West coast, linked with industrial, sub- there were new opportunities and partner- with the biggest brain could have presided sidised boats mainly from Europe, mean ships for governments in the environment over such a disaster and reached such a local fishermen need to spend a month at and that the role of the people who work in crisis point where only draconian action is sea to catch the same fish they used to the media and education was important to an option. catch in four days. environmental protection. Still as part of Tuna may be hitting the headlines now, It is also about the knock on e!ects in the introduction and setting the scene for but cod, or the lack of it, regularly hits the terms of impact on fish-eating marine the discussion, the moderator asked how headlines in Europe and North America. creatures. Ultimately, fisheries are part much of the story on the environment may When John Cabot, the explorer, arrived o! of a vast jigsaw puzzle that underpins have been missed by the media, as China the coast of Canada’s Newfoundland some the health and productivity of our oceans enters the race for resources worldwide, 500 years ago, cod was so plentiful they upon which we all depend in one way or what Africa could learn from the exploita- slowed the passage of the sailing ships another. tion of the environment by other nations and the crew scooped the fish up in buck- And it is also about human rights and for more than 150 years. These new op- ets. Not anymore. the skewed economic structures that portunities for Africa could be explored by Fisheries almost everywhere are declin- Africans through the media. ing, fished out and in some cases they are so far gone that scientists believe the “The decline in fish stocks o! Africa’s KEYNOTE BY ACHIM STEINER once abundant stocks will never return. West coast, linked with industrial, In 1987, around 15 per cent of global fish subsidised boats mainly from Europe, o be involved in the environmental stocks were classed as collapsed. UNEP’s agenda in 2010 is to be both inor- last Global Environment Outlook-4 says mean local fishermen need to spend a Tdinately concerned, but also rather this has roughly doubled to 30 per cent. month at sea to catch the same fish they The Environment, Media and Africa’s Responsibility excited. Twenty years ago around a fifth of fish used to catch in four days.” Firstly, on being concerned: Wherever stocks were deemed over-exploited. This Keynote Speaker: ',-1ì8)-2)6Aì<)'98-:)ì-6)'836Aì @ìModerator: Irungu Houghton, Pan Africa, Oxfam GB, Kenya. you look humanity appears to be on a road has now risen to about 40 per cent. Fisher- ACHIM STEINER 74 75 The Environment, Media and Africa’s Responsibility 8

billion, rising to over nine billion by 2050. the lives, livelihoods and economies of this gen- and act fast. Highlights of the Copenhagen Accord The facts about water are even more astound- eration, but those of future ones, already here Last December was meant to be the moment when the ing. and yet to be born. So it is an intergenerational world evolved its response to climate change onto a far eì 0-1%8)ì',%2+)ì-7ì32)ì3*ì8,)ì plement mitigation actions” to slow Globally, two million tons of sewage, industrial issue too. more comprehensive and decisive level. It did not hap- greatest challenges of our time and growth in their carbon emissions, and agricultural waste is discharged into the The fact of life in the early 21st century is that pen. But neither was the meeting in Copenhagen the big requires a “strong political will to and submit these by 31 January world’s waterways. At least 1.8 million children the environment is not about protecting one or breakdown that had seemed possible in the final days and urgently combat it in accordance 2010. under five years die every year from water related other species, be it the whales, the elephant, a hours. Indeed, there are the elements of a truly coopera- with the principle of common but eì):)034-2+ì'39286-)7ì;390(ì disease, or one every 20 seconds. Over half of butterfly or a dung beetle. Nor is it about saving tive deal in the so-called Copenhagen Accord. di"erentiated responsibilities and report those actions once every two the world’s hospital beds are occupied by people a much loved beauty spot, lake or woodland. It is Pledges have now been received from over 100 coun- respective capabilities”. =)%67ì:-%ì8,)ì @@ì'0-1%8)ì',%2+)ì su!ering from illnesses linked to contaminated about saving ourselves, for the impact humanity tries, including the United States, China, the European eì)'3+2->)7ìU8,)ì7'-)28-æ'ì:-);ì secretariat. water. More people die as a result of polluted now is having on the planet, from degradation to Union, Brazil, Japan and India. Are they enough? that the increase in global tempera- eì):)034-2+ì'39286-)7Aì)74)'-%00=ì water than are killed by all forms of violence, pollution, is fundamentally changing the planet By our estimates and those of several key research ture should be below 2 degrees Cel- those with low-emitting economies including wars. and the rules of the game. institutes, there is a significant gap between the ambition sius”, to combat climate change. should be given incentives to con- Discharges of wastewater, combined with run Climate change is perhaps the most over- and where we need to be in 2020 if the world is to keep eì)'3+2->)7ìU8,)ì'6-8-'%0ì-14%'87ì tinue to develop on a low-emission o! of agricultural fertilisers and aggravated by arching and high profile challenge of all. global temperatures below two degrees Celcius by 2050. of climate change and the potential pathway. eì):)034)(ì'39286-)7ì;390(ì6%-7)ì Achim Steiner is operate in this globalised world; fishing fleets emissions from the transport sector, are linked It has been described in many terms, but it Are they a start and a foundation upon which we can impacts of response measures on countries particularly vulnerable to funds of $30 billion from 2010-2012 under-secretary general are enjoying government subsidies of US$30-34 with the emergence of de-oxygenated dead goes to the heart of the global economy and the build? Yes. of new and additional resources. billion a year of which $25-27 billion are for the zones in the seas and oceans. Hundreds of these foundations upon which it has been built, namely, Like the crisis in fisheries or land or forests, climate its adverse e"ects” and stresses of the United Nations and eì)87ì%ìU+3%0Vì*36ì8,)ì;360(ì83ì large-scale, mainly developed country opera- zones, covering an area of 245,000 square km, energy. It pits the old economy, the vested in- change is multifaceted. It represents multiple challenges, “the need to establish a comprehen- executive director of the raise $100 billion a year by 2020, to tions. This is part of th e absurdity of our world. now exist, threatening the health of the marine terests of industries and businesses that have but also multiple opportunities. And it is those multiple sive adaptation programme includ- Unep. He has worked both help developing countries cut car- I mention fisheries, but I could equally be dis- environment and its productivity. defined their economic models on the use or opportunities for defining a di!erent and more sustain- ing international support”. at the grassroots level and bon emissions. cussing the way we manage forests or land or a So is this an issue for the water ministry or the abuse of fossil fuels, against a new one. It chal- able development path that brings the excitement to eì))4ì'987ì-2ì+03&%0ì)1-77-327ì at the highest levels of eì78%&0-7,)7ì%ì 34)2,%+)2ì6))2ì whole host of other environment-related sectors. agricultural one? Perhaps the minister of trans- lenges our collective comfort zones. It requires the environmental agenda in 2010. In response to the are required and “a low-emission Climate Fund, as an operating entity international policymaking Or the way society promotes certain kinds of port has a role and, of course, the minister of and requests us to think about the vulnerable and economic and financial crisis, preceded by a fuel and food development strategy is indispens- of the financial mechanism, “to sup- to address the interface food production systems above others – unsus- fisheries needs to be involved? Given that a lot of the ill-prepared, like the people of the continent price crisis, UNEP launched its Global Green New Deal/ able to sustainable development”. port projects, programme, policies between environmental tainable versus, sustainable agriculture; intensive this kind of pollution is transboundary and many of Africa. Green Economy initiative. eì):)034)(ì'39286-)7ì7,%00ì and other activities in developing sustainability, social versus organic. pollutants literally travel around the world, could So it requires us to be generous, sensitive, The essential concept was that society might harness a provide adequate, predictable and sustainable financial resources, countries related to mitigation”. To equity, and economic The fact is that wherever you look we are mis- it be the responsibility of the minister of foreign forward-looking, intelligent and bring a new dis- significant slice of the huge stimulus packages, aimed at this end, creates a High Level Panel. managing the environment and our nature-based a!airs? Where does the environment minister fit course to what we want from globalisation and stabilising and reviving the global economy, to catalyse a technology and capacity-building development. His eì78%&0-7,)7ì%ì)',2303+=ì)',- asset-base. We are dismantling the natural sys- in? the institutions that operate at this level, not transition to a low carbon, resource e"cient 21st century to support the implementation of professional career has anism “to accelerate technology tems that generate multi-trillion dollar services, Perhaps someone needs to make the case and least the United Nations. Above all, it requests Green Economy. An economy that better understands adaptation action in developing included assignments development and transfer...guided yes, multi-trillion dollar, at an unprecedented the links, join up the dots and make sense of what and requires change and to think and to plan be- the realities and choices it needs to make and one that is countries”. with governmental by a country-driven approach”. rate. Instead of managing natural resources, we is in reality a multi-faceted challenge about the yond our day-to-day lives, something that human far more intelligent about the way it directs markets to eì):)034)(ì'39286-)7ì83ìU'311-8ì and non-governmental eì %007ì*36ìU%2ì%77)771)28ì3*ì8,)ì are mining them. This is fine on a planet of a few way humanity governs its most fundamental re- beings find tricky to sometimes grasp unless achieve multiple goals. to economy-wide emissions targets implementation of this Accord to be organisations in di!erent million, or even billion people, but not a recipe for sources and its life support systems. there is a full-scale emergency. Climate change Renewables are a good example: A country like Kenya for 2020” and these to be submit- completed by 2015 parts of the world. success, security and stability on one of over six Resources and systems that not only underpin will be that full-scale emergency, unless we act needs energy. ted by 31 January 2010. eì):)034-2+ì2%8-327ì;390(ìU-1- 76 The Environment, Media and Africa’s Responsibility 8

“The environmental situation I am referring here to the debate surround- makers to take transformative action and me- scramble for the continent’s resources. and a capacity building framework to pass there was a need to correlate the environment in Africa is bad, but not ing the Mau forest complex, an environmental diate genuine change. Like the environment During the open session, a participant noted knowledge to farmers. and its impact to livelihood. He added that much action is being seen by issue for sure, but a Green Economy one, too. itself, being an environment correspondent that if environmental education started early, Dr. Mensan Mawugbe, CEO of Ghana’s while policies existed, there was no sense of It is a human rights issue, a land tenure issue, a is challenging, not least in the breadth of un- the next generation would be better informed Media Analysis Centre, said Ghana’s coverage urgency to take it to the ordinary person. governments and Africans.” governance question and one that touches on derstanding needed. It is a constant learning and placed to protect the environment. It was of environmental issues, though aggressive, Until people start seeing it as part of their IRUNGU HOUGHTON every aspect of the health of this economy from process. agreed that the media could play a special role remained one-dimensional since it only ad- own problem, it would not be treated as an tourism and hydropower to water and the future Sometimes it is going to be gloomy and if environmental specialists worked as jour- dressed specific issues and not wider environ- urgent subject. Cost considerations were of agriculture. more about set backs rather than steps for- nalists by practising preventive investigative mental ones. He suggested that there was a also advanced as one of the reasons journal- sickness and healthcare costs. Less pollution, It encapsulates the challenge facing a journal- ward. But above all, it is intellectually bracing. journalism that could help bring environmen- need to be responsible in terms of what was ists with little environmental know-how were too, of the kind that can damage forests and ist, and de facto the public, trying to get to grips And, given the opportunities for catalysing tal issues to the attention of the public and said and how it was reported. often assigned to deal with the subject. The lakes. with the complexities and contradictions of our real sustainable development and opportuni- civil society groups. The group also noted that A participant added that the debate on the group noted that the media should be seen as Yes, but who is going to pay for the additional, contemporary world. Moreover, it is a subject ties for billions of people, must be one of the websites could take information and activ- environment had been going on for a while responsible because of e!ective research. In up front costs? that underlines the challenge linked with trans- most exciting, fresh, demanding and forward- ism to another level, encouraging people and and was lately the ‘sexiest’ subject. He noted conclusion it was noted that the custodians of Irungu Houghton, Many companies would be keen to sell fossil One avenue is the carbon markets, one reason lating that complexity not so much into simplic- looking beats around. groups to speak out on the environment. that health was still a major African issue and the environment were the people. „ Director of Oxfam’s Pan fuel power stations to Kenya; they have these old why the geothermal is taking o! in Naivasha ity, but into a language understandable to a The participants also suggested that by technologies, as it were, on the shelf and would and one reason why Africa has a big stake in the businessman in the industrial area; a politician in ISSUES AND DISCUSSION mobilising farmers, Africa could have a ‘green Africa Programme, which be delighted to dust them down and ship them UN-led climate change negotiations. Only a few Parliament and a man or woman living in Nakuru economy’ that would not harm the environ- A picture of hope: Responsiblity for the environment promises a bountiful harvest. works with partners across to East Africa. For Kenya or for any country in Af- weeks ago, international carbon market support or Nairobi. How bad is the situation and what are the ment. This could also result in low energy (Photo/TOM OTIENO) the continent to campaign rica, they may at first glance look like a cheaper was also announced for the 300MW wind farm That skill, that ability to be a polymath, as the risks to the environment over the next decade costs as farmers became better informed by and lobby governments option. under development in Turkana. Greeks termed it, and later a Renaissance man if we do not act? the media and more aware of environmental and the African Union on But a cool, more calculating and more long Governments can also play a key role in creat- or woman, is one of the marks of a good environ- How much of the environment story have issues and the use of energy. It was noted that everything from climate term analysis of costs and benefits can give very ing the right kinds of conditions that will attract ment correspondent. Is it alive and well in African the African media missed? there was a lot happening already, with the change to women’s di!erent results if a wider, Green Economy lens carbon market investors: Not subsidies, but journalism? In my experience, yes, and increas- What new partnerships between govern- creation of bodies like the National Environ- rights to access to health is used. Kenya has no coal, oil or natural gas - so smart market mechanisms. Kenya’s feed-in tari! ingly so. ments, media and civil society can be formed mental Management Authority (NEMA), but services. Based In Nairobi, these will have to be imported day in and day out is a case in point. Renewables is one aspect of Picking up the Nation newspaper yesterday to roll back environmental destruction? this was not enough to protect the environ- he previously served as at prices which may one year be $40 a barrel and the Green Economy, and there are others. and reading its 50 Golden Years supplement, you What price has Africa’s environment paid in ment. next year $150 a barrel or more. (footnote of coal One has, in Kenya, been played out in the see the images of Kenya’s first President, Jomo the push for natural resources by both local Numerous unresolved and arising issues, the policy advisor and deposits in Kenya) media over the past year, one that underlines the Kenyatta, and the birth of an independent Kenya. and international players? such as people building on wetlands, corrup- executive of ActionAidUSA. In contrast the wind, the sun and the geother- role of the media in public debate, in raising real As the years tick by the images of troubles and of Why is Africa so resource-rich yet and so tion and impunity, were seen as a continual Has also represented and mal are indigenous ‘fuels’, which are essentially awareness of real and very challenging issues. triumphs emerge and then the image of the Mau poor? Why the paradox? threat to the environment. In particular, the worked with a number of free and price-wise stable. Renewables also One that celebrates the power of the pen over comes into view, near a page on “looking to the What are the good examples of resource challenges that these issues posed to journal- membership organisations represent one of the fastest ways to get electric- the slash and burner or the bulldozer—that in the future”. and environmental management practices in ists were serious, challenging them to bring such as the Kenya National ity to the poor and rural communities — so they long tradition of good journalism has been expos- To be a journalist in Africa covering the envi- Africa that deserve to be told? scientific knowledge to the field through the Council of NGOs. can quickly fire up development and overcome ing the few, vested interests that often benefit at ronment is to be part of that future. And part of Using China’s entry into Africa’s natural media, which would particularly benefit farm- poverty. There are other abundant reasons to the expense of the many, the vulnerable and the that animated public debate that shines a light resource space as an illustration, explore ers. Media were expected to deal with that choose this option – less air pollution, thus less poor. on choices and enables others, including policy- the international implications of the possible through an interface between unique media 78 The making of the journalist and journalism in the next decade – the need for a new paradigm.

KEYNOTE BY HUSSEIN Y. AMIN In this new world, developing countries able share of the market will be intense. In 9 could actually lead the way in setting trends, short, the economic challenges from audi- r. Amin began the session with a fu- revenue models and ways to save costs with ence fragmentation and a smaller advertis- turistic scenario of the media’s global these technologies as witnessed with the ing base may be financially devastating. Dcontext in the next decade. He pre- mobile phone revolution. Dr Amin cited the dicted that population growth would con- case of India and China, which are currently ETHICS tinue to apply pressure on limited resources manufacturing low-cost devices that are ad- and infrastructure. Water scarcity, changing dressing the need for cheaper communica- Dr. Amin predicted that this loss of mo- weather patterns, and population growth tion in the next decade. nopoly will have an impact on ethics. “Ten- would create potential for national and re- “Journalists must be able to respond to sions will increase between free-market gional conflict. The end of oil and cheap gas these changes to remain relevant. We need journalists and their media organisations. would impact on the airline and transport journalists that have skills in both new and Tensions will increase between free Press industry, creating economic crises and re- old media for newsroom convergence. They systems and journalists and lines will blur trenching of first world countries. must be able to navigate innovations such between journalists and public relations As the world became more global, popu- as podcasting, blogging and the plethora of practitioners, marketers and advertisers.” lations would have access to information social sites and networking sites like Face- Demands will be made for “ethics” in jour- and governments’ ability to censor it would book and YouTube,” said Dr Amin. nalism as illustrated by the battles between be virtually eliminated. This in turn would He noted that citizen journalism would Fox and MSNBC, and the debate about what increase pressure on governments to be become increasingly important as economic is commentary and opinion versus what is transparent, democratise, modernise, and and market pressures tightened on media news. become more responsive to the needs of organisations. “With everyone reporting There will be increased focus on at- their citizens. As expectations rise, there from everywhere, how will we evaluate tracting audiences. The public will have a will be a rise in demands made on govern- for quality, objectivity and accuracy? Do multiplicity of sources further eroding the ments by their citizenry. we have time to evaluate? Do we use it to traditional barriers to information. It will Technological change would be fast and expand coverage, or do we use it to replace be imperative to remove barriers to media furious, driven by wireless networks, a coverage?” development. “The conversation is no lon- boom in Internet and broadband services, Dr Amin singled out the waning monopoly ger controllable – we must be proactive to which will increase storage capacities and of journalists and news media on knowledge speed up development, build the economy, data transfer speeds. Television will no as the most significant change caused by and promote citizen confidence in the longer be about pixels but interactive and new information and communications tech- media,” he said. viewable on a wide range of devices. It nology trends: “There will be large-scale would be a time of Virtual Worlds and 3D. fragmentation of communication audiences The Making of the Journalist and Journalism Smart phones will rule, enabling consumers because of unlimited opportunities to use to communicate and surf the Internet at any alternative news and information sources. “Failing education systems that time using hand-held devices. The number The only defence for journalists to stay rel- stress rote memorisation rather in the Next Decade of mobile phones in the world will outnum- evant is to strive for a comparatively higher ber personal computers many times over. quality product than their competitors. This than critical thinking, analysis and will be a challenge for authoritarian or state- debate harm media development as Keynote Speaker: Hussein Y. Amin, Professor Dept. of Journalism & Mass Communication School of Public A"airs, American owned media systems, which will lose their agenda-setting abilities,” he said. do lack of professional standards and 2-:)67-8=ì-2ì %-63Aì+=48@ììModerator: Prof Kwame Karikari, Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, Ghana Opposite page: The journalism of the organisations.” future is all about new tools and fresh For the commercial free Press on the mindsets. other hand, competition for a financially vi- HUSSEIN AMIN 81 The Making of the Journalist and Journalism in the Next Decade 9

hand is a barrier to attracting foreign capital. journalists, defamation laws, licensing, o"cial geographical boundaries and getting around tions should be encouraged. rules and regulations across Africa was also Prof Kwame Karikari is The cost of national telecommunications censorship, seizure, travel restrictions, jailing, government restrictions, governments are Investment in ICT would also be key to questioned, on account of the extreme cultural the executive director of the systems, satellites, and other infrastructure death threats, lack of protection for journalists, always looking for ways to control its use.” He building a media workforce with the skills and di!erences between countries and regions. Media Foundation for West requires resources that poorer countries do and death. gave the example of China, which had blocked knowledge to compete and take advantage of Another delegate added that governments Africa, a press freedom advocacy not have. Larger countries have economies of “Political leaders can ban political parties access to YouTube and developed localised the potential of new communication and infor- were not necessarily the biggest threat to and promotion organisation scale and expertise in production and market- and minority groups to maintain power, control search engines that restricted access to the mation technologies. media freedom, but rather, the lack of profes- based in Accra, Ghana. He ing and can produce higher-quality media at access to newsprint, and advertising agencies. Internet. Dr Amin suggested recognising and reward- sionals in the media industry, giving the exam- has taught at the School of lower costs than smaller or developing coun- Control of newspapers and broadcast can Lastly, the media also had their own internal ing good journalism by inaugurating annual ple of the broadcast industry where it is often tries. The costs of starting a media operation control flow of information to large portions of barriers, which hindered their development. prestigious awards and training. “Prepare a those who can attract the largest audience, and Communication Studies at the or purchasing an existing one are often too developing country populations,” he argued. The first was poorly trained reporters and edi- cross-disciplinary programme in print, broad- not necessarily the most professional or quali- University of Ghana and has high for most individuals, particularly in devel- Fortunately, new media were slowly overcom- tors because formal journalism education was cast, interactive media, and multimedia to fied who succeed. also been involved in training oping countries. ing this barrier. non- existent in many developing countries. prepare students for the new protocol of the In conclusion, Dr. Amin emphasised the journalists in several countries in Government barriers were becoming less Technological barriers often required expen- Even where formal training existed, quality was industry. need to create and enforce codes of ethics and Africa. A former Director-General important but could still be e!ective in stall- sive remedies to address and, additionally a a an issue. “Failing education systems that stress Consider regional, international linkages with conduct, through continent-wide co-operation. of the Ghana Broadcasting ing development of media. Dr Amin noted literate populace to use and exploit. “The Inter- rote memorisation rather than critical thinking, best programmes and pursue professional He called for more awards and recognition for Corporation, Prof Karikari serves Hussein Amin, current BARRIERS TO MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND POSSIBLE that many developing countries in Africa had net requires a literate population with access analysis, and debate harm media development accreditation; also establishing an African ac- outstanding journalism to encourage profes- on the boards of a number of chair of the Department SOLUTIONS authoritarian regimes, forcing journalists to to computers and networks – often a preserve as do lack of professional standards and or- creditation association.” sionalism, alongside the establishment of cen- African and international rights of Journalism and Mass self-censor due to intimidation, which took of the elite and educated young,” said Dr Amin. ganisations,” he said.. Training of journalists could also be boosted tres of excellence in the training of journalists organisations. Communication at the There are cultural barriers given that norms, values the form of impromptu tax investigation of “While the Internet is useful in overcoming Greed and corruption was another major by using existing centres of excellence in to develop the profession further. „ American University in Cairo and taboos are not universal. “The freedom to anal- issue. This manifested itself in selling of favour- Africa to train professionals, creating an an- where he serves as a senior yse and criticise religious institutions, leaders, other able news stories, payment for embedding nual academic and professional conference in fellow at the Adham Center public figures, and other organisations di!ers be- product promotion in articles, PR and coverage journalism and mass communication on new tween countries. There are also fears of cultural im- Conference media centre: of events, and burying stories unfavourable to media, and closing the gap between academia for Television Journalism. perialism,” he noted. These will require countries and Time to get the story out. someone. Media organisations whose owners and industry by constantly upgrading media Professor Amin holds regions to agree on what is acceptable, develop and had private agendas or ties to political parties programmes and internships. key positions in national, enforce regulations while developing multilingualism, could influence news reporting and broadcast Another critical area would be to reform regional and global media. which will require journalists to be able to produce schedules. “Poor wages, particularly in devel- media laws to remove legal barriers in order to Former president for the information in several languages. oping countries, encourage corruption,” he better protect journalists and stimulate growth, Arab-US Association for Illiteracy is another prime barrier to media develop- noted. hold media organisations accountable for Communication Educators ment. It is most di"cult to overcome because solu- The solution, according to Dr Amin, was to responsible journalism and encourage media and past chairman of the tions often require change in deep-seated beliefs. create and enforce codes of ethics to ensure industry growth and diversity. International Division of Another barrier is economic. Nations with well- responsible journalism, broadcasting, markets, During the open discussion, a delegate the Broadcast Education developed media systems tend to have strong and non-discriminatory access to infrastruc- wondered whether African media had really economies, stable monetary systems, and educated ture. Regional charters, professional organisa- progressed in terms of technology given the Association. workforces. They are more likely to support profit- tions, governmental regulation, cross-border continued use of obsolete equipment and oriented media. Economic instability on the other regulations, and pan-African media organisa- technology. Dr Amin’s proposal to harmonise 82 Expanding the peoples voice and interaction: Is it good for democracy?

ohn Sibi-Okumu: According to a New peasants. Some were combatants, the ma- tion, in Mozambique there were no political 10 York Times Review of American Presi- jority were just farmers and many of them parties before the creation of my party or Jdents, the American founding fathers did not know how to read and write, they the creation of the liberation movement. did not see people as equal in all respects. were speaking their own languages through Politics was reserved for the Portuguese, But Abraham Lincoln set up a standard translators, but our leader at that time and not all Portuguese because as you know maxim for free society which would be con- was amazed by the wealth of wisdom of Portugal our colonialist was a fascist regime stantly linked to sound democracy, deepen- these poor people who were sustaining the and even in Portugal there was only one ing its influence and augmenting equity to struggle for independence. And he had this so called party, a Nazi type of party. So we all people of all cadres, everywhere. to say: “Now whatever happens to me, I am were a single party and change was a slow He then addressed the first question to certain that the struggle continues.” This is evolution but a time came where we found former President, Joaquim Chissano what is now repeated all over Africa - Aluta it possible to negotiate and bring peace Moderator John Sibi-Okumu to Continua. back to Mozambique and that was in 1992 Former President Joaquim Chissano: Then came what you call the civil war - in with the help of Kenyans and other people Former President Chissano, you come from Mozambique we call it the war of stabilisa- including Italians. a country where you managed a civil war tion - and the people are the ones who We thought even before that, that in and brought reconciliation to the country su!ered, not the elites. So when we speak order to sustain peace and to have a sound with you at the helm. Mozambique has just about “people” we speak about the people democratic process which is understood by gone through a superb management of a who are in the countryside. However, I don’t everybody in the world, we should try and mass acceptance of development of a new like to limit it to just those people. I include revise our constitution. When it was written constitution. I want you to think back to people who don’t live in the countryside, before independence, we knew that it had to the notion of “the people,” would you mind and even though not poor, came from these be revised and the time for a deep revision sharing with us, in response to the Kenyan very same people and haven’t forgotten of the constitution came in 1987/8. situation in December 2007 and the post their roots. The revision of the constitution could not election fracas that we had here, your ex- But normally when the government says be done in a room or by the parliament of perience from the ground of how the media the people we know what they are referring that time because it was a single party par- held the power in the reconciliation process to. When my party says the people we know liament, so we had to go out to the people. in Mozambique? who they are referring to. Whether these We went to the villages, to the communi- Chissano: You have said that I come people are organised in organisations to be- ties and asked them what they wanted. Of from a country which has achieved recon- come what we call civil society or not, these course we had proposals, which we ciliation but you should also add that I come are the people. from a country which conquered indepen- There is nothing which can be successful dence through a struggle. That struggle was if the people are not involved. If there is no “Mobile phones break news all the time waged precisely by the people. We had the interaction between the leadership and the but we may need to cross-check exactly Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction. leadership at that time which recruited peo- people, there cannot be any deliverance of what is happening about that particular ple here and there for training, political work public goods to these very same people. issue. So how do we facilitate these but on one occasion our leader happened to There cannot be any improvement of their Is This Good for Democracy? have a meeting in the bush with the people, livelihoods. So the people must participate journalists to cover all these stories and and their voices must be heard. If we want report in a timely manner and also in a Roundtable Panelists: Former President, Joaquim Chissano, Mozambique; Princess Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko, Minister a real democracy, a constant interaction factual and accurate manner? That is Opposite page: Ghana’s President John between the leadership and the people is a 3*ì2*361%8-32Aì +%2(%Cì!%2+)8,-ì;%2+-Aì361)6ì(-836-%0ì-6)'836AìCì)2)6%0-ì 0-1;)2+9Aì)(-%ì74)'-%0-78Aì%2>%2-%@ì Atta Mills meets the press. Regular brief- must. still a bit of a challenge.” ings are a key to political interaction. (IS- Now coming to the issue of the constitu- Moderator: John Sibi-Okumu, Kenya media consultant. Master of Ceremonies: Linus Kaikai, Managing Editor, NTV. SOUF SANOGO/AFP/Getty Images) KABAKUMBA LABWONI MASIKO 85 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

“Freedom of the press is are about survival, having to sleep through the night without sultative and transparent. There is no way we in cabinet or spoliation of natural resources that the government acts with essential to listen to the being woken up by bullets and other people chasing them. But parliament can sit and pass a law without consulting all the the necessary goodwill and speed to see to it that what we are even when you come to the city, the people you talked about stakeholders including the journalists, the people and even complaining about is addressed and redressed. di!erent voices from the who are very rich are also concerned about their businesses so the owners of the media houses. I want to assure everybody, We now have what we call the Journalists for the Environ- people. There must be a you can’t completely remove them from this debate. whether in this region because either way you’ll be a!ected, or mental Tanzania (JET) working with environmental protection plurality within media which In Uganda many people appreciate the NRM revolution be- in the world, that we shall continue respecting the press free- agencies to ensure that we contribute to raising public con- cause they can peacefully sleep and wake up in the morning doms in Uganda and it is within my mandate also to ensure that sciousness on the environment. would reflect the di!erent and go and do their businesses whether it is tilling the land or the policies that are put in place will enable the press and the I was intrigued by the question you put to us concerning the points of view and also which having investments that are secure. media to operate favourably in Uganda. construct of “The People”. Does opening up the space for the would help the leadership Moderator Sibi-Okumu: From what you’re saying can I take Moderator Sibi-Okumu: May I move on to the case in people necessarily help democracy thrive? I think this is a rhe- it that what we’re striving for is a peaceful environment, where Tanzania? Let’s have a public perception, Mr Ulimwengu, of torical question because really there is nothing that we do that to understand di!erent people sleep peacefully and create laws that make it possible? Tanzania being a place blessed with wonderful national parks opens up the zeal for people to participate in processes that approaches to the problems However is it not being suggested that Uganda is creating laws teeming with wildlife, and that there is rampant destruction a!ect their lives that will not help democracy to thrive. that people have.” to curtail press freedom? Or is that an unfair question. of this ecosystem, and somehow even as you report and write The issue is who the people are. We have to look at the peo- Masiko: I’m saying people are assured of peace and security for the East African, the Tanzanian press is not overseeing ple as the nation in its di!erent components whether it’s the JOAQUIM CHISSANO so they will be able to invest when they wake up in the morning and putting checks and balances on the destruction of what majority which has its way, but the minority has its say. And the and their investments will not be destroyed in a minute. is the primary wealth of the country. In other words, I put it to concept of building a people out of the diverse di!erent tribal When we come back to the press and the laws, I must state you that the press in Tanzania has been deficient in being the groups that we have is the major preoccupation because when clearly and emphasise that the media in Uganda is the most watchdog of the people. we achieved independence in the 1960s we were Luhyas and was installed. liberalised whether it is print or electronic. Jenerali Ulimwengu: That is possible Sibi, there is a certain Luos, the Kikuyus and Wasumkuma and Makondes and so on. It Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Princess, Minis- Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Liberalised in which context? In level of incapacity, commitment, know how, the ability to ac- takes political will to forge out of this diversity one people and ter, I would like to turn to Uganda. The great the world? cess the information we need. The traditional media in Tan- that quest is not something you can do and finish with in one majority of people here are journalists or Masiko: The media in Uganda is the most liberalised in Af- zania is handicapped by so many of the things that handicap short process. It has to be a continuous process, a conversa- Joaquim Chissano is a former explained to them and heard their reactions. We knew that parliament was a single indeed they read newspapers. At this time rica, even in the world and I will substantiate. I will come to your media in Africa in terms of its capacity to intervene and get the tion that lasts for as long as that nation will last. President of Mozambique. He is the There was a lively discussion which involved party parliament and therefore we left ar- the relationship between the press and the point later. correct and accurate information, process and broadcast it. In Tanzania we have been able to do this and yet the job is founder of the Joaquim Chissano about three million people including the ticles in the constitution which people had people of Uganda is contentious. Is that put- But now we have a problem, and actually the people are But it’s unfair to say that the Tanzanian media has not done not done. We’re not out of the woods yet because what has Foundation for Peace Development citizens who lived abroad. Of these three said should be dealt with through a special ting it mildly or insu"ciently? complaining that we have liberalised the media, but how can its part to conserve the environment and natural resources. been achieved is not necessarily irreversible. There are cen- and Culture, and has led various million who participated in public gather- law to be adopted later. That meant after Princess Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko: it be regulated? I think there can’t be complete press freedom Most of the noise you get where people are talking of hunting trifugal forces at work, deepening poverty, di!erent political ings and so on at least 300,000 spoke. the elections when parliament would be I think you are putting it insu"ciently. In without responsibility and regulation. In Uganda now there is a and despoliation comes from Tanzanian media. We are still orientations and ways of looking at things and all these can international peace initiatives on We summarised what they said and built a a multiparty parliament. We would come Uganda the people are doing fine. I do agree debate on whether we should leave the press as it is or whether backward, we’re not fully developed as you know but it’s not work towards undermining even that little unity, that people behalf of the United Nations and the sense of consensus on emerging issues. The back to these articles and first adopt laws with former president Chissano about how there should be some kind of regulation. There is a proposal to true, I wouldn’t agree with former president Mkapa when he ness that Tanzania has been able to construct. But we have to African Union among others. In 2007 process ended with a big conference which which would have a constitutional value he defines the people. I only add that there amend the Press and Journalists Act; this is basically to do with said yesterday that Tanzanian journalists are necessarily ill continue with this conversation, it’s a permanent conversation; he was the recipient of the inaugural comprised about 1,500 participants who and then make revisions in order to incor- are di!erent segments of the people de- the print media and journalists. The principles have already informed, ill prepared and so forth, that is his own version of there should be no letting up because we know that what has Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in discussed the opinions generated from the porate these into the same constitution. An pending on their interests and to me all of us been passed in cabinet and we are due to discuss the draft of things. We try within the limits of what we have and we have been achieved can be reversed. African Leadership in 2007. people and it’s only then that we took a draft example is the law on citizenship. This was constitute the people. When you go to the the Press and Journalists Amendment Bill. been very vocal. It’s not always that when media comes up Moderator Sibi-Okumu: I’d like now to go to the Kenyan text of the constitution to parliament. re-discussed after the multiparty system villages, their interests are di!erent; they But there is no need to worry; the process is very con- with exposes of this type, when we have disclosures of the de- veteran journalist that we have here, Mr Mwangi. It’s not quite 86 87 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

the rhetorical question you’re suggesting pectations of the political class, whichever Media laws in Africa because it can work either way. The people side the political class was divided into. So can be given a voice and it’s so monitored it’s the ordinary citizen who su!ered. So The annual survey of press free- as to be an instrument of repression. I when I hear - maybe I misunderstood that dom by Freedom House points to a think that’s why there is that little nuance - His Excellency Chissano saying at one paucity of an enabling legal frame- there. And I will say that in the Kenyan level that “The People” includes the entire work for the media. Indeed, the context when we have what we described nation or even my friend here making the phenomenon of judicial terrorism, as the post election violence, those of us same reference to “The People” as refer- where overbearing courts impose who were Kenyan and were here remem- ring to the nation I get worried because we obscenely huge damages on de- ber that at some stage in the conversation have a class system in our societies that famatory media, is all too familiar. the order was given to cut media out of defines the place that we each occupy. Governments frown upon e"orts to what was going on. You were the veteran And the people, the ordinary citizens, the establish self-regulatory mechanisms journalist who was there. Can you put us “Wanjiku”, the workers in industry are as in Kenya, and in extreme cases through the process that led to that? Were totally di!erent from the people we see up 0-/)ì +%2(%Aì8,)ì8,6)%8ì3*ì'03796)ì you forced to do what you did or did you there in the ivory tower, the ones who call of critical media is a constant one. think deeply and say that in the interests the shots, and the ones who govern us. But as Prof Guy Berger of Rhodes of national unity, it is on occasion a good That’s the way I would like to look at the 2-:)67-8=Aì ì238)7BìU,)ì6)')28ì thing to repress the media? people’s construct. expansion of the media sectors in Wangethi Mwangi: Let me first of Going to the question of the post elec- most African countries has been ac- all dispose of the question of who “The tion violence and what kind of suppression companied by an extremely prolific People” are. For me as a media person it is of information was witnessed or wasn’t and intense media-related legisla- clear that when we talk about the people, witnessed, there are two things here. The tion production. Several countries we are simply referring to the ordinary situation wasn’t as simple as those who around the continent have equippe d citizen and in Kenya we actually give it weren’t involved in it would like to look themselves with laws establishing for another euphemism and we refer to that at it. Journalists were drawn into the fray instance broadcast regulators that citizen as “Wanjiku.” both intellectually and emotionally and are formally independent from gov- If you want an illustration of that con- it got to a point where one had to make a ernmental interference, or recogniz- struct you can’t get it any better than from decision on what kind of information one ing systems of media self-regulation the experience we went through in the threw out there and what kind of informa- or co-regulation.1 He notes that, the post election violence of 2008. When the tion one kept in. right to access to information has interests of the political class were not met At one level the government was con- been recognized in some countries it’s the people who were required to exer- cerned about the very liberal manner in I0-/)ì)2=%Jì;,-0)ì1%2=ì2%8-32%0ì cise their individual rights to make choices which we were releasing information but media legislative frameworks have about who to govern them that su!ered we within our own newsrooms were having been aligning towards international because the total sum results of the votes our own battles trying to decide whether standards on freedom of expression. that they put through did not meet the ex- what we are doing was fuelling the fires of 88 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

NEPAD? “When you look at the so public companies but the public companies have the obligation them. MySpace or Mespace, the fact that he allowed his speechwriter Masiko: I will speak for Uganda. Yes, we called citizen journalists, what to work according to the same rules of competition with other Our president has even taken that debate to the people. He to retain references to Twitter, Facebook and MySpace in his are walking the talk as far as press freedom companies. It’s the same for the press. The responsibilities are goes direct and interacts with them, they are free to put for- speech suggests that the future is very bright. It can only get is concerned and we will ensure that free- they generate has no ethical the same, the rules are the same and the errors which you will ward their concerns and he is always there to answer them. As better. doms are guaranteed for the press and the framework at all. To my mind find in the press you will find both in the public and the private government we also have weekly press briefs from my o"ce. I There’s a lot happening within the training schools of journal- media. then that says a lot about sectors. always invite the press to the media centre and I address them ism with new universities coming up and existing universities About the peer review mechanism, of the value that traditional Question from Dr Musanga, a Ugandan who lives in on whatever questions they want me to answer. changing their curriculum to direct their e!orts and energies to course we have the panel of eminent per- exile in the UK: I have worked with former president Chissano Taking it further, we have also put in place the Baraza sys- teaching this new kind of journalism. sons and good governance was one of the journalists continue to bring on conflict on this continent. At the moment we are still pursu- tem. This is a meeting at sub-county level where leaders and Whether that new kind of journalism indeed will help us in things that were peer reviewed and I’m not to the table in terms of ethical ing General Joseph Kony to make sure that he signs the agree- technical people come and the people do interact and put their terms of generating quality information that will empower peo- so sure why the press freedoms were not value of the news and the ment. My question is this: I was in Tanzania last year. When concerns. So it is as liberal as that and as transparent as that. ple in the manner that they require; that’s a di!erent question reviewed. For us we’re very eager to be I tuned on my television I saw President Kikwete answering Ugandan leaders are always there, the president is always altogether. But in terms of capacity building I have no doubt in peer reviewed on how we’re performing in gate-keeping role that they questions from the Tanzanian public. I was amazed and wish there for the press and the press is never gagged. my mind that we may not have that capacity now but in time we Uganda and we’re ready for that kind of re- continue to play so well.” all African leaders took his example to take questions from the Moderator Sibi-Okumu: I would like to put an end to that are going to see it growing in leaps and bounds. view and assessment. public once a month, however bad they are, so that they are discussion and say that the idea of presidents coming forward Moderator Sibi-Okumu: A country assessment of Tanzania? WANGETHI MWANGI Chissano: Yes, I think that freedom of not misinterpreted. How far has Uganda, Mozambique or Kenya to meet their people is a desirable outcome. I think everybody Ulimwengu: I think we have the capacity in new media, it’s al- the press is essential to listen to the di!er- gone to open up to the press and to the people so that every will agree to that and I think every panellist given the chair will ready being used. The other day I was in the south-western part ent voices from the people. There must be month presidents come on television to answer questions? give reasons as to why that’s not quite happening now. of Tanzania and found people digging trenches and I what it a plurality within media which would reflect ferent types of debate. Mwangi: First of all let me say that our president does not was and I was told it was people digging fibre optic in some vil- the di!erent points of view and also which You had asked me before what was the take questions and does not entertain the press. But it’s all NEW MEDIA (SMS, MYSPACE, TWITTER ETC) lage in Mjombe. I receive more than 200 emails every day and Wangethi Mwangi, Editorial Director discontent and whether indeed if we didn’t would help the leadership to understand role of the press in bringing peace and very well for presidents to go to the podium and take questions these are citizens, they are not necessarily accredited journal- of the Nation Media Group until August put it all out there, it would reduce the fires di!erent approaches to the problems that process of dialogue. Their role was very big. no matter how hostile they may be. But it’s a di!erent question Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Do we have the capacity to adopt ists but they feel that they have something to say and they do 2009. Previously served as the Group’s and save our nation from crumbling. So people have. In my country when we intro- At that time we had some diversity of news- for them to walk the talk because what they are doing when these modern day technologies that are making for an all per- say it. I think the capacity is already there because the mobile managing editor of the Daily Nation and there was information suppression at two duced the freedom of the press it was a very papers but not based in a really free press. addressing press conferences is hoodwinking us. In Tanzania, vasive as opposed to localised journalism? telephony incidence in Tanzania is very high; this is of course Group Managing Editor. An MBA and levels- at government level and at the news- interesting process because the journalists It would be good to have at continental Kikwete addresses press conferences but it’s only in Tanzania Mwangi: We don’t have the capacity yet but there is no rea- the result of the fact that fixed telephony was very limited. journalism graduate, he guided the editorial room level. themselves didn’t agree among themselves level, instruments which would help to bring that I know of, where media houses are closed down and press son to suggest that capacity will not grow. I’m encouraged by Some 15 or 16 years ago there was an election in Senegal and strategy of the Group through some of Moderator Sibi-Okumu: From Ethiopian how to define press freedom. We asked freedom of the press to all countries, to all freedoms suppressed to the extent that you don’t find in Kenya the activity I see in the media scene today whether you’re talk- there was this application of the power of the mobile phone them to go and draft a proposal for a law the peoples of Africa and to be implemented the most trying and repressive political publisher and press freedom researcher for instance. ing about training in the institution of journalism or the rapid combined with the FM radio stations which made sure that the directed to former president Chissano and and they failed to bring one. We had to have according to the environment which can be Masiko: Thank you very much Dr Musanga, you’re free to growth of the ICT sector. We heard yesterday that a second or field for rigging was restricted. We thought it was a one-o! situ- periods of East Africa’s history. He sits Princess Masiko: As African Union members the party structures and the government to created in each place. come back to Uganda from your self imposed exile. To put third submarine cable is going to be hitting the coat of Mom- ation but now we are seeing that people everywhere in Africa on the Advisory Board of the Aga Khan you have signed so many agreements re- intervene to produce a draft which was later In Mozambique we have independent it kindly, our president does address the press on a monthly basa this week if it hasn’t already and we see a lot happening in where mobile telephony is growing are using these instruments University’s Graduate School of Media and garding press freedom such as the Namibia discussed by the press. Finally, it came back papers and the public press including televi- basis but because of the many television houses and many the other sectors. to communicate information about elections, about tallying Communications and continues to serve on Declaration, and you also have the NEPAD from the press and was adopted into law. sion and radio. But all of them act as if they radio stations, he cannot go hopping to each and every one. So But the more significant thing for me is what I witnessed and so on. the boards of the Nation’s subsidiary boards agreement. Are you walking your talk? And Since the introduction of this law we have were all independent. They have absolute all these people are invited and they are free to ask whatever yesterday and I think we must all have been bowled over by the More and more young people, not only in the towns but also in Uganda and Tanzania. why don’t you make press freedom as one had a multiplicity of newspapers, radio and freedom even if they are free. It’s like in question and the president will respond. When he has had time remarks made by President Kibaki which tells us that he him- in the villages, are linking on to the Internet; we hope that is of the evaluation points of peer review in television stations and they are open to dif- the corporate sector. We have private and he has gone to studios, been asked questions and answered self has recognised even though he couldn’t say whether it was going to develop. We know that the fibre optic option is going 90 91 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

sarily on a one-o! television programme “Press freedom is that space comes on our Internet and email or just leave it? If you go to laying down cable. We do not have capacity in terms of the capacity in terms of media devices, that everybody who’s got a but a permanent structure that allows the that is created for citizens of these Internet cafes the most popular activity especially for the journalists who know what journalists out there are doing these mobile phone and can send a picture o! to Al Jazeera is a jour- government to interact and interface with any given policy to interface. youth who are very vulnerable is surfing pornography. Are we days. Please comment. nalist now? Where has the professionalism gone? Think of all the citizen. And that is not there and it is still going to leave our people to get and absorb all this junk? My Chissano: In Mozambique, the media have no capacity to be the time that you spent honing your skills to be called veteran true that in Tanzania we still have a law that It cannot therefore mean view is there should be a limit. really present all over the country much less all over the world. journalists and pretty soon someone in the streets out there allows a minister for information to sit in his the freedom of a reporter to So for government, we’re trying to ensure that the infrastruc- For instance, you can find BBC correspondents anywhere. But will be calling himself a veteran journalist just for sending an or her o"ce with a few advisors and declare report anyhow he feels like ture is in place and then the content can also be developed our media don’t have that capacity. SMS. a publication banned. And you have no re- reporting. It cannot mean the from the community journalism we were talking about. We’ve The second capacity issue is how the journalists themselves Ulimwengu: The question of who is a journalist and who course after this ban has been announced. moved a great deal but there is still a lot to be covered. are trained in order to cope with this situation. I have the im- isn’t is almost as vexed as the question of “The People”. But I That is a problem because that kind of law freedom of the proprietor Chissano: Capacity has to be built by doing things. In pression that the schools of journalism have to be streamlined think there is one thing that is important. Journalism is about can be deployed at any time. It has been to publish whatever serves Mozambique we have radio stations almost in all districts. in order to change media organisations so that when we go to information and knowledge and you cannot pretend to want to deployed in the past and this worries us. his commercial interests. It Before, we didn’t think that this was possible but we started read the newspaper or see the television we may get a sense inform other people if you don’t know much yourself to begin We’re still in consultation with the govern- doing it anyway and now we have the radio stations. Purchase of what is happening in the world. I can give the example of with. The advent of all these gadgets that we have now- the ment over the new media law, negotiations can only have meaning if it of radios has increased as a result. The same happened with my country, where radio stations give news for three minutes hand held telephone, the computer and so forth just provides have taken about two years now and we does empower the people, mobile phones. When we first established these we wondered or five minutes and keep on repeating this news because they us with a vehicle but what material, what substance do those haven’t come out of the woods as yet so the the citizenry to come out and whether people in the countryside would be able to use them don’t have the capacity of getting the news of what is happen- vehicles transport? You could be dealing with a very e"cient struggle continues. but now we are astonished millions of people have cell phones ing elsewhere. So they are very much limited. Capacity building and very e!ective method of fast transportation of poison. Masiko: In Uganda we have moved a utilise the space that has in the country. We are taking the Internet to the countryside of both the journalists and their organisations is needed. So over and above the fast modes of transportation you have great deal, the fibre optic is now about to been created by a newspaper, in Mozambique and teaching the people how to use it. So in a Masiko: Yes it is true that journalists lacking capacity is a to deal with the issue of substance and that’s why I’m saying cover the whole country and as you may radio, television station to nutshell if you provide services, the people will find their way to very big challenge especially in Uganda. People think that when for journalists who are supposed to be working in a knowledge know we have the Access to Information Act exchange views about their get the capacity to them. This may take time but it’s a question you’ve done a degree in mass communication it confers you industry, it is imperative that they themselves be informed so in place and it’s been implemented 99 per of priorities. to be a journalist, but I don’t think so. I welcome his Highness’ the reading of books and other modes of gathering information )2)6%0-ì 0-1;)2+9ìis the to make us access information at cheaper cent. There is the one per cent that we’re own lives about governance Comment from Tanzanian businessman: I have a chal- o!er to set up a post graduate school here in East Africa to has to be encouraged. Even when you search on Google you chairman of the board of Raia Mwema rates, I think yes, in Tanzania this is develop- sorting out. We’re also trying to develop issues and about their lenge for us as media and as Africans. The media has been train journalists who will report objectively and remove opin- know what you are searching for, because if you don’t you’re newspaper in Tanzania. A veteran ing very fast. a government web portal including local development.” able to advocate the Diaspora to come in and support with ions and emotions from the stories that they report. This is going to end up searching for pornography. We should take journalist, political commentator and Let me very quickly say that what Presi- governments and the plan is to go up to sub- resources. My first challenge is: Can the media advocate the going to be very important and necessary as we move to digital into account the fact that Bill Gates after all the things that he dent Kikwete did last year as your guest county level. We do believe that when we JENERALI ULIMWENGU Diaspora to come in and support or take Africa to the next level transmission. We are going to have a lot of space but getting did; still had to write a book in hard copy. Let’s encourage the civil society activist, he was at one said was a very positive move and we’re en- reach there, then those who will be able to by giving their time and their knowledge so that the public and content to fill all that space will be a bit of a challenge. young fellows to read so that they acquire information some of time in the early 2000 stripped of his couraging him to do it more and more often can access this information. the civil society can move to the next level? The second chal- That’s why journalists have to be trained and of course there which is not available on the Internet. There are so many books Tanzanian citizenship for exposing because there are so many questions that But there is still a bit of a challenge and lenge for us as Africans: in Tanzania in 2008/9 TSh90 billion is another issue of facilitation in terms of mobility for the jour- in the world which are valuable, which can give you knowledge, corruption in government. Previously need to be answered. we need a lot of sensitisation of the people. shillings was used for marriages. If we could have saved only nalists. Mobile phones break news all the time but we may need culture and wisdom which are not yet available on these new served in various government But as Wangethi said, this could be a The mobile phone is okay but the Internet 50 per cent of that we would have been able to purchase nine to cross check exactly what is happening about that particular media. positions, including as a member of smokescreen because in the space of one is a very big challenge. And of course when million treated mosquito nets. So the challenge is that if we issue. So how do we facilitate these journalists to cover all Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Are Kenyan journalists lousy and is parliament. Was also active in the or two hours you can’t answer all the ques- you open the Internet what is there? That Africans can prioritise our indigenous philanthropy, I believe we these stories and report in a timely manner and also in a factual the new technology going to make them more so? ruling party. tions. You need to have structures where is another aspect we are looking at. Should can make good progress. and accurate manner? That is still a bit of a challenge. 0Let me first of all say that when you’re trying to define people can access their leaders not neces- we have the provision of sieving whatever John Sibi-Okumu: We talked about capacity in terms of Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Is the fact that we have this new journalism you’re forced to go back to the older traditional 92 93 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

supposed to a!ect the media industry in a big and perhaps duplicate the Tanzanian experi- tioned the word race because at one point in this discussion “Is the fact that we have this new capacity because we want to promote Kiswahili. Why can’t we o!er it at way in terms of democratising news coverage, ence? we were trying to suggest that Africa is a continent so to speak two or three or four levels? the opposite has happened. What the Internet Chissano: I would not buy the idea of get- only for black people, that there aren’t south Asians and Chi- in terms of media devices, that everybody That is to say a young child is brought up if he’s Kikuyu by has done is to narrow the news agenda in that ting rid of the other languages. But I would buy nese and Portuguese people. who’s got a mobile phone and can send his Kikuyu mother, learning Kikuyu then graduating to learning most of the websites that you see today whether the second part that we should choose in each Chissano: That’s wrong. Africa should be one as Mozam- a picture o! to Al Jazeera is a journalist Kiswahili alongside other Kenyan languages Luo, Kamba and so created on your mobile device or created by country a language that should be used because bique is one. You know as members of Frelimo (Mozambique now? Where has the professionalism gone? on then from there go on to English and who knows to French, other people and accessed on computer or other it would cover more people. This question of Liberation Front) we su!ered a lot and people were killed in Spanish, or Arabic. Why do we think that our intellectual ability devises are simply aggregating the information languages is related to culture, we have values in rioting over this question of race because some would defend Think of all the time that you spent honing is only limited to one language like we can’t walk and chew gum that is already published in the mainstream each language which should not be lost. the struggle as one against the whites and we were saying it your skills to be called veteran journalists at the same time? media and o!ering it to a wider public. So the Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Are the values ger- was against colonialism and we wanted to build a nation that and pretty soon someone in the streets Moderator Sibi-Okumu: The new technologies are creating space has improved in terms of the people who mane to one tribe? Are the values of one people was not based on race. That is why this merger of cultures is a form of illiteracy of their own. In order to operate on the world receive that information but the quality of that di!erent from the next? Are the values of the very important. out there will be calling himself a veteran stage, for me to be on this stage, I have to have a mastery of information hasn’t changed much. French man di!erent from my values because Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Mr Mwangi, fresh from our post election journalist just for sending an SMS.” a language, not just be able to say how are you? How is your When you look at the so called citizen journal- he happens to be French? I find that di"cult to violence what is your feeling on this topic? father? All that sort of thing is wonderful; you can learn it in a ists, what they generate has no ethical frame- believe. Mwangi: I’ve always been tempted to advocate the notion of JOHN SIBI-OKUMU day. What languages are we going to master as a people? work at all. To my mind then that says a lot about Chissano: In my country before independence a single language as a panacea for the kind of tribal divisions Ulimwengu: My experience is if a child is properly tutored in the value that traditional journalists continues to and before we started the war we did not know that we have in Kenya. But then I often find myself thinking that his or her mother tongue, this prepares him, gives him a base bring to the table in terms of ethical value of the each other and so we did not know what values that is too simplistic. I look across the border at Somalia and I that is so elusive. Kiswahili today is spoken in nine countries in for acquiring another language because he or she has a refer- Kabakumba Labwoni definition of a journalist being a person whose news and the gate keeping role that they con- were in di!erent cultures. We are now studying see a country that has one language and yet is not a nation. It Africa and could easily graduate into the many languages of the ence point every time he or she is in trouble. I’m a student of Masiko is a Ugandan main sustenance is drawn from their business tinue to play so well. this and trying to discover what is in di!erent has never known any peace for as long as most of us have been UN but it hasn’t. Why? languages and I’m still learning languages today. I’m learning politician currently or their activity in reporting, writing, editing for a Moderator Sibi-Okumu: We were challenged areas in di!erent districts. President Eduardo alive so that becomes a very di"cult proposition for me. Ulimwengu: I think this is a very important question because German and all the times I have a problem in the German I refer serving as the Minister of news publication or stu! like that and of course yesterday by His Highness the Aga Khan to hold Mondlane said in 1967 or 1968 that tribalism Going back to the period of the post election violence, what we are now faced with the real possibility, almost probability, of to the French which I have also learnt. All the time I discover Information. She is also that has changed with the new media technolo- on to our languages and you (referring to Former is very bad but the tribe itself has got values one found was that language was used to maximum e!ect having the disappearance of our indigenous languages. There that the previous language I learnt well, for instance English a Member of Parliament, gies. Now you don’t need to be an employee of President Chissano) talked about radio being which we have to cherish and then convert into to create divisions that eventually erupted into the kind of is a study by UNESCO that shows that among the languages prepares me to learn French well and so on. But the base has to representing Bujenje County any media house to become a communicator available in every village and we had somebody a common good. This is what we are doing, try- violence that we saw. And that therefore leaves one with a that are going to disappear in the coming decades, many will be be, in terms of our spiritual nourishment and sustenance, the and therefore the question we should be asking from Rwanda on the panel on the role that lan- ing to discover what we did not know, what was dilemma. One is then forced to look at the whole question of on the African continent, although other continents also have mother tongue. The language that your mother speaks is the in Masindi District. From ourselves is whether the new technology is turn- guage played in disseminating hatred. I’m sure destroyed by the long period of colonialism and unity. Is it language that defines our unity or is it much more their share of this problem. most important language. 1986 until 1996 she worked ing all of us citizens into journalists or simply the Kenyan experience speaks to the same kind the attempts of assimilation of the people to the complicated than that? It’s our own character, our own up- It’s not a zero sum question. It’s not a choice between having Masiko: I think it is important for us not to let go of our lan- as a party functionary for the communicators. of experience in itself. As Africans how many Portuguese culture. We’re trying to discover and bringing and the influences that define what we see and the a national language and having indigenous languages because guages. In Uganda we have learnt that and it is a policy now for ruling National Resistance I think it goes to the heart of the question re- languages might we need for the continent? I’m to bring together and to make this part of the perspectives in what we think we see. May be it’s in our genes these can co-exist side by side and actually cross fertilise each students to be instructed in their mother languages from P1 up Movement. Ms Masiko garding the quality of the information or data dis- going to put it to you that tribal languages are reconstruction of the nation. Each value coming also. As human beings perhaps our genetic makeup is such other. If I take the case of Tanzania for instance where Kiswahili to P4 then they can add on other languages. previously served as Minister tributed through those news channels or devises inimical for the development agenda and that we from one tribe or race comes together. It’s true that we cannot be at peace with ourselves unless we are fight- is predominant, there are certain things in these languages that There are values in our languages. We can have English but of Parliamentary A!airs and whether hand held or desk top. I was encouraged should get rid of them in favour of three African there are values in France which we do not recog- ing somebody else and we subjugate them and then move on. I know of that carry certain cultural traits across the country the local languages even when they are devolved will help our Government Chief Whip. by a research finding I was reading the other day; languages- Kiswahili perhaps, an international nise because we do not know them and there are That’s the only thing that gives us total freedom. I know I’m not which have not been taken on board by Kiswahili and Kiswahili country and our people to move on. I don’t see why as Africans I think it was done in America. They found that language and educate our children only in those values here which the French don’t know. answering your question; I’m trying to illustrate just how dif- is therefore that much poorer for it. It would be a tragic loss we can also drop our languages up to the international level. whereas in the early days of the Internet, it was languages, broadcast only in those languages Moderator Sibi-Okumu: I’m glad you men- ficult it is to suggest that language can actually bring the peace if we accepted the loss of our indigenous languages simply If we are going to communicate in this global village called the 94 95 Expanding the People’s Voice and Interaction 10

A section of the confer- minds when we talk about press freedom. There “Everyone has a right to speak the ence participants. are two parties in our environment that give o! truth but everyone else has a right di!erent definitions. We as journalists and the people who we pretend to represent give it a to knock you down for it. Today, meaning that is not the same one that is accepted journalism is on the spot..” by the ruling class so that we can talk about LINUS KAIKAI liberalised media environments while in fact the reality is di!erent. Ulimwengu: To me press freedom is that space are anxious about the press Freedom Amendment that is created for citizens of any given policy to Bill. Of course there must be a sense of responsi- interface. It cannot therefore mean the freedom of bility. Whatever your concerns, they are catered a reporter to report anyhow he feels like reporting. for and the debate is on and we shall agree on it It cannot mean the freedom of the proprietor to together. This conference is just another platform publish whatever serves his commercial interests. for people to air their views and we welcome Linus Kaikai, world we must all be able to know and commu- It can only have meaning if it does empower the them. nicate with each other. If you move down to the people, the citizenry to come out and utilise the Chissano: Peace, security and economic devel- managing editor of the countryside you should see how people appreci- space that has been created by a newspaper, opment are the most important common goods Nation Media Group’s ate when you communicate to them in their local radio, television station to exchange views about and so the media should work to create condi- NTV operations. He is a languages so it’s not yet time. their own lives about governance issues and about tions to preserve peace, security and to make two-time CNN African But as we devolve and move on it will come their development. Too often, we tend to confuse development work in a more speedy way. The Journalist of the Year almost automatically. My children know both my what is private and what is personal. You have media should create interactions for this to hap- Award winner and local language and the international languages newspaper and radio proprietors who behave like pen between the state and the people and among previously worked with the but there are many elite people whose children restaurant owners who decide that they are going the people themselves. Politics seldom enters the Kenya Television Network do not know these local languages yet when they to cook only what they want to eat and everyone minds of people through the mouths of the politi- and the South African go home they must communicate. So how are we who wants to eat must buy that sort of culinary cians but a large percentage of the knowledge going to synchronise these aspects of language? items or go and eat elsewhere. This should not be they have comes from the media. Promotion of Broadcasting Corporation. Language is key if we are going to move forward the case. democracy, enhancing creation of nations is a big He has considerable local but I don’t think we should discard the African As we liberalise this sphere, as more and more responsibility of the journalists so sensationalism and international news languages. We can attempt to sort of regulate citizens come into new media to express them- should be measured by the need to balance criti- coverage experience as we go up but I know and believe and trust if selves and communicate information, may be this cism of state in a responsible manner. gathered from major we have a base as he said in the mother tongue, will be less obvious. There will be less control by Democracy is the possibility and capacity of assignments such as civil you can make it even in these other international the media owners of the information and views the people to participate in all phases of the wars in Somalia, Congo and languages. that are circulated. But for the time being Tanza- leadership and governance of a country from the Darfur in Sudan. Moderator Sibi-Okumu: Let’s have the final nia is replete with media organisations that serve elaboration of laws to their implementation. The word from the panel. the interests of the proprietor. press must be present to moderate the debate in Mwangi: We need to have a convergence of Masiko: I want to allay the fears of those who an environment of peace and security. „ 96 97

Post-election violence in Kenya in 2008. The media’ skewed coverage of the mayhem came Sectarian reporting as seen in Kenya in the 2008 post-election under much criticism. (REUTERS/Noor Khamis) violence, Rwanda genocide and religious incitement in Nigeria etc: Why do the media take up hate reporting? 11 KEYNOTE BY JOESPH ODINDO or show any form of sympathy or empa- which followed Kenya’s elections in 2007 thy. This is not an easy invocation to obey and resulted in the coalition government am tempted to start by stating a fact when you are working in a sub-Saharan we have now. What we learnt in Kenya is well known to most Kenyans – the Africa newsroom in the middle of a conflict that it is far from easy to practice good Imedia is one of the most trusted insti- situation. public service journalism in a situation tutions in this country. But I am hesitant The Daily Nation newsroom in January, where emotions are overheated. to do so, heeding the advice of a German 2008, o!ered a dramatic illustration of According to the report of the Judicial thinker who warned that those who tout this dilemma. In normal times, the calls Commission of Inquiry into Post Elec- their strengths too readily might soon be you will expect at the news desk are from tion Violence, one of the factors that shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods. people o!ering story leads or irate readers contributed to the tensions around the On a more serious note, however, re- complaining about a missing clue in their country was the live broadcast of the an- search indicates that the media is the crossword puzzle. The calls to the Na- nouncement of election results in this very most trusted institution in Kenya. The tion in those unforgettable weeks – when building, (the Kenyatta International Con- most recent poll found journalists enjoy Kenya seemed to be sliding towards civil ference Centre). a trust rating of 80 per cent among the war – were chillingly di!erent. They were a Viewers across the country were able to ordinary public, placing them comfortably recording – in real time – of man’s brutal- see the tallying of votes done in real time. ahead of political personalities and other ity to man. They saw the bitter arguments between institutions. This is quite unusual. The We had an anguished mother calling to agents of the rival presidential candidates. British editors who founded the Nation five say that her neighbour’s house had been They witnessed paramilitary o"cers decades ago will tell you that the media in torched – and their own would in all likeli- known in Kenya as the General Service their country commands the confidence hood be next. We had people in populous Unit walk in and push out the observers of a paltry three per cent of the popula- city estates ringing to scream that their and agents. Then they saw the chairman tion. Yet the trust enjoyed by the media flats had been surrounded by armed in Kenya and in other parts of the Third raiders and could the Nation please save World is both a blessing and a curse. them. You could hear screams through the It is sometimes the result of diligent crackle of cell phone interference. They “Africans must insist on telling their journalism. But often it is the outcome of expected the Nation to save them. Yet, like own story because in a conflict situation, a serious erosion of faith in other institu- the metaphorical eunuch, we found our- tions. The trust in journalism is won al- selves in a position where we bore great nothing beats local knowledge. Next to most by default. Because ordinary citizens responsibility but little power. the mischief of political propagandists do not trust organs of state such as the The best we could do was to call the po- and dishonest journalists, the police and judiciary, they turn to the press lice and impress on them how serious the for justice. situation was. We also alerted our nearest distortions brought to African conflicts This places the journalist in a grave correspondents. This is not a situation by the slanted or inaccurate reporting of dilemma. The good reporter, according we are trained to deal with in journalism ignorant foreign correspondents must to many media scholars, is supposed to schools. It is my wish that we examine be countered by African journalists Media and Conflict stand above the fray. He must position whether or not it is possible to practice himself outside the action. He has to avoid good journalism in times of conflict. themselves.” taking sides; he must, in the words of one To this end, I will share with you the JOESPH ODINDO Keynote Speaker: Joe Odindo, Editorial Director, NMG. Panelists: Mathatha Tsedu, South African National Editor’s Forum; commentator, not reveal personal biases experiences of editors during the violence Shyaka Kanuma, Chief Editor, The Rwanda Focus; Desmond T. Orjiako, Communication Adviser; Amadou Mahtar Ba, Execu- 99 tive Director, AMI. Moderators: 37)4,ì!%692+9Aì ì);7Cì63*ì 2832ì%6&)6Aì 2-:)67-8=ì3*ì!-8;%8)676%2(Aì398,ì *6-'% Media and Conflict 11

in their mother tongue, even when they them before it is too late. machete in my hands. At around 4am, I took with the emotional tools to cope with the know their stories are being broadcast to a a cold shower and sat thinking what had be- stress on the battlefield is one of the lessons national audience. Another ominous sign is THE JOURNALIST IS PART OF THE STORY come of Kenya. we took away from the crisis. We have also when politicians increasingly refer to other I had literally forgotten my role as a jour- moved to deal with the physical challenges ethnic communities with contempt and The crisis had traumatic consequences for nalist and did not have the urge to report on involved and will be purchasing bullet proof publicly ridicule their physical and cultural many journalists. Because the Nation tries what was happening around me. The follow- vests as part of our election reporting gear. attributes. to ensure the sta! of its bureaus around the ing morning, I had to go for duty around the Later this year, we’ll be inviting security You should worry when the security forces country are multi-ethnic; some journalists town to cover the events as they unfolded.” experts to give our journalists safety tips for appear to be taking sides and the political who hail from what were labelled ‘enemy’ It is probably too much to expect a re- the battle field. leadership encourages it. Journalists must communities immediately came under threat porter who has gone through such an experi- take a stand and warn that these positions of physical attack once the violence began. ence to be objective in his stories. THE BANANA SKIN OF TRIBE DURING CONFLICT spell danger for the nation. In the case of Several reporters were uprooted from their One reporter who had just fled from the Kenya, it is fair to say the crisis could have homes. We had to invest in shipping report- battlefield where he had come under attack A Nation policy that came under severe been averted if a number of confidence- ers and photographers out of their work sta- received a call from the Nation news-desk test during the fighting was a clause in our building measures had been taken before tions to the relative safety of Nairobi. shortly thereafter. The editor demanded editorial guidelines, which forbids mention the General Election and if the media had The dilemma reporters faced was vividly to know how many people had died. The of ethnic identity in stories about community insisted on it. An impartial electoral commis- captured in Healing the Messenger, a report reporter later told me he thought it was an conflict. This policy, ideally meant for peace- sion that was truly independent should have by the advocacy group International Media unfair question. He was still reflecting on the time, was found wanting during the conflict. been appointed. Support. This is what a reporter based in fact that he had narrowly escaped being part Not naming the ethnic identity of attackers A pre-election agreement struck by politi- Mombasa had to say after he witnessed his of the body count. almost meant o!ering them a free pass and Joseph Odindo, took over as the of the electoral commission announce those circumstances. Censorship is to be nalist in a conflict situation. cians in 1997 required that all parties should sister-in-law violated by raiders. encouraging impunity. Nation Media Group’s Editorial Director results in a secluded o"ce after private abhorred in journalism, where the facts are be involved in nominating electoral commis- “I must confess that I was not myself as JOURNALISTS MUST BE EMOTIONALLY AND Taking the opposite approach and indicat- in August 2009, looking after the firm’s broadcasters had been put o! air. Violence indisputable and authorities are being held THE MEDIA HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN sioners. The agreement was not signed into I was filled by anger, hatred and I felt like PHYSICALLY EQUIPPED TO COVER CONFLICT ing the identity of raiders meant increasing editorial portfolio in East Africa. Was erupted soon after. to account. So we broadcast live the an- PREVENTING CONFLICT law – and was ignored in the run up to the taking a weapon to kill some of them. I went the risk of inciting retaliatory attacks. There previously the Group Managing Editor, In this situation, the media did little nouncement of the contested results. We 2007 General Election. This was a misstep by straight to my house, pulled out a machete Some of the individuals mentioned above are no easy answers as to what the best ap- having headed the Daily Nation for six years more than play its role – it beamed live an were condemned for it by the government. Looking back to the run up to the Gen- politicians. But the media did not do enough from under a cupboard and came out pant- su!ered trauma from their experiences. In proach is. and founded the Group’s premier regional important national event to households When the violence began, we refrained eral Election in 2007, there were many to protest this decision and force a rethink. ing, ready to slash any man from the ethnic the period that followed, they refused to talk paper, The EastAfrican, in 1994. Also held across the country. The government did from broadcasting statements we thought early signs we should have spotted that We ought to have foreseen the dangers of an group whose members looted our shop. about what they had seen. One flatly refused POISON FROM VERNACULAR RADIO STATIONS not like it. A ban on live broadcasts was amounted to inciting the public. We were indicated the nation was sliding towards electoral commission that did not enjoy the “When I stepped outside, I hesitated and to return to the scene of an attack he had senior editorial positions at the defunct later imposed by the information minister. condemned by some media watchdogs, conflict. It is the journalists’ job to spot trust and confidence of the major election thought about what I wanted to do and its covered when the news desk demanded a One of the worst aspects of the crisis was Weekly Review political magazine and Some private broadcasters defied it. But in accusing us of self-censorship. You were these signs – and to do what they can to contestants. implications. And then I thought about the follow-up. the role played by vernacular radio stations Kenya Times newspaper. An MA graduate in the weeks that followed, many newsrooms damned if you did and damned if you stop the march to disaster. The challenge for journalists is to invest in people I was likely to attack. Surely these The Nation facilitated counselling for re- in fanning the violence. The Kenya National media studies, Odindo represents the Kenya opted to edit out statements by politicians didn’t. But out of all this we took away Some of these indications of danger understanding situations in which they re- could be my basketball game playmates or porters and photographers. This was done a Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) was Editor’s Guild in the Media Council of Kenya. that could inflame the situation. valuable lessons. And I would like to were obvious, others more subtle. Your port. And where decision makers make calls the neighbours, who were frequent visitors few months after the crisis. We intend to do damning in its assessment of FM stations in Currently on the advisory board of the Alfred Even with the benefit of hindsight, it is discuss some which might be of value to guard should go up when you see more that are likely to lead to conflict, journalists to my brother’s shop? better in future. the lead up to and during the crises. It noted Friendly Press Fellowships. tough to divine what the right call was in scholars considering the role of the jour- and more politicians addressing crowds should have the confidence to challenge I felt numb and just stood there with the The importance of providing journalists the role of a Kalenjin-language station in 100 101 Media and Conflict 11

Kenya crisis

Scenes like the one on the left and below captured the brief but dramatic moments when Kenya degenerated into the abyss of vio- lent political competition. But even with their fiery and teary details, they only tell half the tragic story of Kenya during the three months following the disputed presidential elections of 2007. For a country touted for much of its history of political independence as an island of peace and tranquillity, the eruption of civil strife seemed to sug- gest that the country had all along been living a big lie. Neighbouring communities descended upon one another with uncharacteristic ferocity, butchering, burning and zoning o" sections of the country as no-go areas. When the clash of machetes finally fell silent and the last embers of the flames of discontent and madness were put out, at least 1,300 people lay dead and thousands others assumed the un- familiar title of internally displaced people. Kenya had always played host to thousands of people displaced from their home countries by years of civil war. It was time to look to its own. Mathatha Tsedu which listeners were asked to “get rid of the “Every society gets the media weeds,” a not-too-subtle reference to people heads the Training it deserves because in the final from rival ethnic groups settled in the Rift analysis, every citizen must Academy of South Valley province. Africa’s multi-media Kikuyu radio stations repeatedly played realise that media is simply a giant Media 24. He is a songs which referred to “beasts from the reflection of themselves.” former political editor West”. In like manner, a Luo station repeat- of the Sowetan, editor edly aired a song referring to “the leadership MATHATHA TSEDU of Sunday Times and of baboons”. deputy chief executive This behaviour has to be condemned. But of SABC. Currently he better still, we must examine the environ- sion banned Radio Unity, an FM station that ment in which these stations operate and stood accused of inciting hatred, the station is chair of the African formulate nuanced approaches to dealing went to court claiming it had been banned Editors Forum and with the culture of hate speech. It is tempt- because it was aligned to the opposition of the South African ing to advocate an outright ban on these sta- Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP). Banning National Editors Forum. tions, as the government readily does. But stations sets a precedent open to abuse this is an option that is both retrogressive by the government when it next wants to and open to abuse. silence media which expose its excesses and When the Sierra Leonean media commis- properly hold it to account. What, then, is 102 Media and Conflict 11

situations where there was risk of escalat- “The main di!erence (between the mainstream media that has stayed within Rwanda’s poor leading culture fuelled the vio- President Kagame and Adolf Hitler and won- Joseph Warungu ing the conflict. The mainstream print media Kenya and Rwanda) was that ethical boundaries as it seeks to deal with er- lence and still presents challenges in attempts dered how to address a situation that calls started his journalism career largely observed this rule during the crisis. rant FM stations. This is the wrong approach to build a vibrant and responsive press which for fellow journalists to raise the alarm, but at the Kenya Broadcasting You could also say that the joint editorial pub- in Rwanda the ethnic violence and, again, a more nuanced solution must be can question authority and remain a watchdog probably end up being condemned by media Corporation and Kenya lished on January 2, 2008 calling for an end was sponsored and carried found. There is also merit in the establishment for the populace. watchdog organizations such as Reporters Television Network before to the fighting stands as an example of break- out by the State. Rwanda’s of credible complaints commissions, along the Desmond Orjiako, the African Union’s Com- Without Borders or Amnesty International joining the BBC Swahili ing away from tradition. It might come across poor reading culture fuelled lines of the Media Council of Kenya, which can munications Advisor contributed by saying as practicing censorship only to realise the Service. Until recently, he as giving up part of your independence, but hear complaints sent in by news subjects and that the organization was actively setting up danger in not taking action, when the situation the violence and still presents was the head of the BBC the alternative could have been far worse. media consumers. institutions to not only address the problem gets out hand. Network Africa and Focus on In the post conflict phase, the journalist challenges in attempts to build Many other challenges remain. The task of of conflict, but to also train journalists on best Africa, the first African to hold must escalate the search for justice averting a return to conflict remains a major practices in handling and helping avert such a vibrant and responsive press that position. He was at Bush In the same fashion that editors have a priority. Training across the board must situations. duty not to make the situation worse during which can question authority not only be enhanced but also qualitatively Mathatha Tsedu of the South African Na- “Is good journalism not just a House in London for 20 years conflict, they must play an aggressive and and remain a watchdog for the improved. Above all, Africans must insist on tional Editors’ Forum joined the discussion by matter of fire-fighting but of and has retired to pursue enhanced role in demanding justice for vic- populace.” telling their own story because in a conflict saying that Rwanda’s case of incitement that anticipating events?” other interests. tims when the guns fall silent. They must be situation, nothing beats local knowledge. Next led to the genocide represented the lowest aggressive in pitching for implementation of SHYAKA KANUMA to the mischief of political propagandists and point in African media, especially in as far as JOSEPH WARUNGU reforms that could avert a return to violence. dishonest journalists, the distortions brought the growth of vernacular stations is concerned It is in part due to the advocacy of various to African conflicts by the slanted or inaccurate especially in the context of promoting local media houses in Kenya that the action by the state instability, fuel division and conflict in reporting of ignorant foreign correspondents languages. Shyaka Kanuma is the the antidote to this deadly toxin in the African International Criminal Court in investigating society and act as a brake on state develop- must be countered by African journalists them- He shared the experience of South Africa Chief Editor of The Rwanda media? perpetrators of the violence enjoys great pub- ment”. selves. which is trying to address the issue of free Focus, which is touted as the When the fighting starts, the journalist lic support. I take a slightly di!erent view. I accept the speech at a time when stereotypes and xe- premier investigative, whistle- must also do what he can to avoid escalating thesis that a free media is an essential source PANEL DISCUSSION: nophobia have taking an ominous nature and blowing journal in Kigali. the situation FINALLY, WE MUST ADDRESS THE CHALLENGE of government accountability and a central e!ectively replaced apartheid. He gave the He previously worked as an An important part of the oath physicians OF MEDIA REGULATION pillar of an informed and democratic soci- The discussions were dominated by the example of the increasing use of terms such as information consultant for the take is summarised in the Latin phrase which ety. I also accept there is a risk that a media question of hate speech in the African media ‘aliens’ being used to describe foreigners, and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) translates into “first, do no harm”. This A school of thought that emerged from the that becomes too free too fast can pose and how it can be tackled without seemingly the imbalance in reporting ills committed by means that it is important to exercise caution Rwanda genocide is that a major contribu- challenges to the peace. But the solution is infringing on the individual freedoms such as foreigners compared to South Africans which in Kigali and has been a news when an action the doctor might take carries tor to the crisis was the method in which the neither state control nor doing without a free those of expression and opinion. are increasingly leaning towards hate speech. correspondent for Ugandan an obvious risk of harm but a less certain Rwandan media was liberalised. The aca- media at all. Rather, the challenge lies in im- Shyaka Kanuma, Chief Editor of The Rwanda The moderator Joseph Warungu then posed and Kenyan newspapers as chance of benefit. That was the situation we demic James Deane argues that the Western posing a system of robust self-regulation that Focus started by drawing parallels between a series of questions to the panellists, asking well as a freelance writer in found ourselves in when the violence broke ideal which views the development of free keeps watch on ethical standards and reins in Rwanda and Kenya ethnic violence experiences first if, as Joe Odindo had proposed, good jour- Johannesburg, South Africa. out. It led to our doing things that would ordi- media as a key pillar of democracy can have errant players. pointing out that the main di!erence was that nalism was not just a matter of fire-fighting but narily be anathema to an editor. its drawbacks in a fragile state where there is In Kenya, sweeping state-sponsored regula- in Rwanda the ethnic violence was sponsored of anticipating events. For instance, we deliberately understated a possibility such policies “risk accentuating tion has been proposed that seems to punish and carried out by the State. He lamented that In response Kanuma, gave the example of 104 Media and Conflict 11

Recording the day’s “The media was not free from blame conversa- in cases of violence. In the recurring tions. tensions in the city of Jos in Nigeria, the international media erroneously and consistently referred to (the conflict) as religious instead of multi-ethnic, further flaring up tensions and divisions.” DESMOND ORJIAKO

Tsedu on his part did not disagree with this question posed to him, on his thoughts about multi-ethnic further flaring up tensions and divi- Desmond T. Orjiako view but, insisted that it was imperative to raise now the Kenyan media will handle the 2012 elec- sions. is the spokesman and acting the alarm whenever a problem came up in order tions, Odindo said that he was confident that Amadou Mahtar Ba of the African Media Initia- head of communication and to attract enough attention that would lead to the media will handle them di!erently, having tive reminded delegates that “nobody owns the a solution being found, adding that the idiosyn- learnt important lessons from the 2007 elec- truth” and that depending on the perspective, information of the African crasies of each country’s situation presented tions and those before it. He added that the Edi- di!erent conclusions could be drawn. However, Union Commission in Addis a real challenge. As an example, he mentioned torial Policy of the Nation Media Group had been he added that the agenda of media owners can- Ababa, Ethiopia. He has also the racist history of South Africa during apart- changed to allow for the mentioning of ethnic not be ignored as there are many situations served as communication heid which was used to trample on the rights of groups perpetrating violence against other com- where politicians own the media organizations adviser with the Joint UN/AU Black South Africans, but two decades after the munities. He believed this would be important in giving the example of the Fox TV and Radio Secretariat of the International end of apartheid, xenophobia is proving to be a bringing pressure on the powers that be to deal Network in the United States and Italian Prime Conference on the Great Lakes problem, but is still at the bottom of the ladder firmly and decisively with electoral violence. Minister, Silvio Berlusconi’s dominant interests Region, in Nairobi, Kenya, and in terms of being addressed by the media and Orjiako on his part added that even so, the in the Italian media industry. is regarded as a distinguished leadership of the country. media was not free from blame in such cases of In conclusion, Tsebu said that every society African diplomat, scholar and violence, giving the example of recurring ten- gets the media it deserves because in the final LESSONS FROM RECENT CONFLICTS sions in the city of Jos in Nigeria which he said analysis, every citizen must realize that media is international speaker. the international media had erroneously and simply a reflection of themselves. „ When drawn into the debate through a consistently referred to as religious instead of

106 107 After 50 eventful years of political independence, what is the state of press freedom in Africa?

KEYNOTE BY JDAVID DADGE space they cannot hope to meet their twin and Zimbabwe, where President Robert 12 duties of providing information to the pub- Mugabe has ruled since 1980: 186th. earning to let go: How the refusal of lic and holding governments to account. With regard to entrenched ruling politi- African Presidents and political par- Unfortunately for the media, it is the de- cal parties, Ethiopia, where Prime Minister Lties to relinquish power harms media nial of the free flow of information to the Meles Zenawi and the Ethiopian People’s freedom public and the evasion of accountability Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) When I examine the profit and loss sheet and scrutiny that often enables presidents have ruled since 1995, is ranked 165th; of African press freedom, there is one and political parties to remain in power for Eritrea, where the ruling People’s Front figure on the loss side that, to my mind, years. for Democracy and Justice has twice can- stands out from the many others; the one In these countries, each election, each celled national elections in 1995 and 2001, line in the balance sheet that I believe has discussion on amending the constitution, is ranked 190th. perhaps the greatest impact on the Afri- creates a contraction of the open demo- Nevertheless, there are exceptions. can media. cratic space that I mentioned. This hap- South Africa is one such country, where This is the refusal of some African pens as presidents and political parties the African National Congress has ruled presidents or political parties to relinquish seek to ensure that their voices, and not since 1994. The country is ranked 66th; power, and by doing so create a truly par- the voices in opposition, are heard in the but there are genuine concerns about the ticipatory democratic system. debate. ANC applying pressure on the South Afri- Obviously, in raising this issue, I do not In such volatile environments, the media can Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). argue this to be specific to Africa; the so- are not viewed as a “gateway”, but as a While we have to be careful with such called “strong man” of politics exists just “barrier”. The result is an electoral cycle statistics, I do believe there is a clear cor- as much in the Balkans and Eastern Eu- reduced to a vicious conflict in which the relation between press freedom violations rope, and the story of aged and tired gov- public are the biggest losers. and the desire of presidents and political erning parties having power literally torn Where there are weak or non-existent parties to cling to power. from their fingertips is a feature elsewhere opposition parties, the media are often As an example of how presidents behave in the world. forced to fill the vacuum and they pay a when criticized for prolonging their stay However, I believe that on no other high price for their criticism. in power, it is worth looking at the case continent does this trend have such a It should come as no surprise that, in a of Garonde Djarma of the private weekly, disastrous impact on press freedom. The Zimbabwe or an Eritrea, the independent L’Observateur, who was imprisoned and existence of presidents seeking to amend media were ruthlessly suppressed by gov- fined in 2005. The freelance contributor constitutional term limits, one party ernments that viewed them as their only was arrested for “defaming the president” states, or even multi-party states masking remaining opponents. and “inciting hatred” after a June 15 the rule of the one party, create di"cult Before coming to this conference, I commentary in the newspaper criticising and challenging media environments for looked at the 2009 press freedom stand- President Deby’s attempts to amend the journalists. ing of a number of African countries where All journalists rely on the open demo- the president has sought a third term. cratic space that exists within societies The position is calculated by the organiza- to express themselves; without this vital tion, Freedom House, and North Korea is “It is when the media refuse to change ranked 195th as the worst country in the from curious watch-dog to incurious lap- Media Freedom: A Balance Sheet world in terms of press freedom. Burkina dog that the press freedom violations Opposite page: A press freedom protest in the Faso, where Blaise Compaore has gov- streets of Nairobi in 2006 following a police erned since 1987: 86th; Chad, where Idriss begin.” Keynote Speaker: David Dadge, IPI Director. Panelists: Dr Messan Mawugbe, Chief Executive O!cer, Centre for Media raid on the Standard Group. (SIMON MAINA/ AFP/Getty Images) Deby won a third term in 2006: 165th; DAVID DADGE 2%0=7-7Cì3&)68ì%&97,)2+%Aì ,-)*ì<)'98-:)ìî')6Aì);ì -7-32Aì +%2(%Cì6):36ì'9&)Aì9&0-7,)6ì%2(ì)286)46)2)96Aì 109 founder of the Mail & Guardian, Zimbabwe; David Makali, Media Critic and Editor, Xpression Today. Moderator: Tom 7,-2(-Aì%2%+-2+ì-6)'836Aì%8-32ì);74%4)67ì-:-7-32ìIJ@ì Media Freedom: A Balance Sheet 12

“We should be a bit more refined to print daily newspapers and to broadcast tions as their enemy,” he said. “What (people) forget is that Trevor Ncube is the owner of M&G in the way we use language; to news; and are shown by the individuals “The message we want to send across there is a direct link between Media in South Africa, which publishes the who start new media organizations in is that the African media is a partner in Mail & Guardian newspaper and the M&G term politicians as criminals in countries where the independent media development. We need to make that link the environment these African Online, among other publications. He is also were suppressed, and who are guided by very clear to African leaders and citizens a public forum does not create dictators have created and the publisher of the Zimbabwe Independent cohesion in society.” the sustaining belief that the public has a so that when we talk about press freedom, press freedom.” right to know. we do not mean journalists have a right to and the Standard in Zimbabwe, and acting MESSAN MAWUGBE That is the true success of African jour- write what they want. It means that people TREVOR NCUBE chair of the Commonwealth Press Union. nalism. Long may we all continue to profit have a right to say freely what they want. He also serves on the boards of the African from it! Unless we make that link very clear, there Media Initiative and African Media Leaders and citizen is the willingness to let go of power in is a problem.” Forum. However, David Makali dismissed such order to maintain and support that democracy. PANEL DISCUSSION: Furthermore, I would argue that this “willing- ness to let go” is an essential condition for a free Trevor Ncube congratulated the Nation and open media environment that meets the Media Group for arriving at the 50–year highest standards of Article 19 of the Universal mark since his Highness the Aga Khan Declaration of Human Rights: started the paper: “Nation, you have “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion made us proud; you have set standards for constitution to achieve a third presidential term. Speaking about political power, Abraham Lin- and expression; this right includes freedom African media,” he said. David Dadge is a for- It is my contention that the arrest and impris- coln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adver- to hold opinions without interference and to He said the media had grown expo- mer director of the Vienna- onment of journalists, the shuttering of newspa- sity, but if you want to test a man’s character, seek, receive and impart information and ideas nentially: “We have seen an important based International Press pers, the closure of radio stations, the banning give him power.” And I think this statement is as through any media and regardless of frontiers.” milestone in the last 20 years, which saw a Institute. He has authored of political programmes, assaults on the media true today as it was in the past. In terms of a balance sheet, I think what multiplicity of newspapers, radio stations Casualty of War, The Bush at political rallies and by police o"cers and the What, then, is my message to the presidents stands out most is the bravery and courageous- and TV stations in the African continent. military, the ejection of foreign journalists, and and the political parties who desire to retain Administration’s Assault ness of journalists all over Africa. That period also saw the rise of multiparty the jamming of foreign broadcasts often happen power. It is, quite simply, you must, if you be- on a Free Press; Silenced: According to IPI’s Death Watch figures, be- democracy. Then there was a rollback not because governments are intent on further- lieve in democracy, “Learn to let go.” International Journalists tween 2000 and the end of 2009, 53 journalists -- when African governments started cre- ing the process of democracy, but because they If you do not like the talk on the political televi- Expose Media Censorship; were killed, including 14 journalists in 2009, nine ating press councils. This was designed to are engaged in the self-serving cause of further- sion programme: Learn to let go. and The War in Iraq and of them in Somalia limit media freedoms.” ing their own grip on power. If you do not like the opinion piece in the lead- But, this bravery and courageousness go far Explicitly using the word “dictator”, Why the Media Failed Us. To achieve this, they need silence rather than ing newspaper: Learn to let go. deeper: They are shown in the dedication of the Ncube argued that the longer an African He previously edited IPI’s debate; they need compliant media asking “soft” If you do not like the comments on the popular journalists around the continent who continue President wanted to stay in power, the World Press Freedom questions; media willing to overlook the damage radio show: Learn to let go. to report on corruption issues while knowing the more he would keep a close watch over the Review and holds an LLB being done to democracy and the constitution. It All democracies rely on free speech, free elec- dangers; they are shown by the editors and jour- media or keep it under the rule of thumb: (hons) law degree. is when the media refuse to change from curious tions, free association and the many other rights nalists, who in the face of overwhelming di"cul- “African heads of state who have been in watch-dog to incurious lap-dog that the press and duties that go to create a modern society; ties with infrastructure and technology, continue power for too long start seeing radio sta- freedom violations begin. but also implicit in the contract between state 110 Media Freedom: A Balance Sheet 12

“The struggle for press control the press.” He said the future relation- that the real reason why regimes and Presi- Tom Mshindi, Managing Director of the ship between governments and the media was dents would want to suppress freedom was “The issue of press Nation Media Group’s newspaper division. freedom has no end; there is bleak: “I don’t see this changing soon. May be because they were less secure especially if freedom should not no time we will say that we new politicians need to be born to redefine this they had reason to hide their actions from the be looked at from one Previously, he served as the Chief Executive have reached the Promised relationship.” public eye. perspective.” at The Standard Group Limited and managing Land because politicians will Robert Kabushenga said it was dangerously Uganda’s Information Minister, Princess director of Monitor Publications in Uganda. narrow to believe that government and politics Kabakumba Masiko, was not amused when a TOM MSHINDI He has also worked for the United Nations in not willingly bestow freedom were the chief enemy of the media when the panelist lumped nearly all African leaders in New York and Nigeria. He studied journalism to the press. It is a fight that main culprit was poverty: “This is a lazy way the category of dictators. “Let us not pick one at Nairobi University after attaining a BA will go on for a very long of approaching a complex problem. What or two cases and generalize them as dicta- degree from the same institution. does the longevity (of governments and politi- tors,” she cautioned. “I don’t think all African time.” cians) have to do with paying your journalists leaders are dictators. Yes, there must be press ROBERT KABUSHENGA poorly?” freedom, but it must be accompanied by re- “I think it is a bit patronizing,” he added. sponsibility.” “For instance, the fact that Ugandan President However, Ncube had a di!erent opinion: a partnership as unworkable, giving the Yoweri Museveni had been in power for 24 “We cannot run away from the fact that example of Kenya’s National Rainbow Co- years does not mean there is no press freedom African dictators exist.” He reiterated that alition (NARC) government that came to in Uganda. A lot of the media institutions run- journalists needed to be well paid because power in 2002, pledging a raft of reforms, ning around are financially unviable; the Na- financial freedom was just as important as tion Media Group is successful because it has press freedoms. In an environment where the Robert Mukholi Kabushenga Messan Mawugbe is the chief David Makali, director of the Media including fortifying media freedoms. But it was merely a pledge. money to stand up to politicians in comparison media practitioners were forced to live from a trained lawyer, is the Chief Executive executive o"cer of the Centre for Institute in Nairobi, has been a reporter, to the journalists in southern Sudan, who do hand to mouth, how were they expected to O"cer of The New Vision Printing and Media Analysis, an independent media editor, trainer, publisher, researcher, “The media and government cannot cope as partners in development; that is why not have the same luxury to indulge.” function?, he posed, adding: “At the end of the Publishing Company, which publishes the monitoring, research and poll agency in media critic and press freedom activist some governments relapse into suppress- But Ncube pressed on with his argument, day, I would like to see all African publishers government-owned New Vision family of Ghana. It provides research results for for over 20 years. A graduate of political ing the Press. The NARC government cam- saying: “What (people) forget is that there is and broadcasters being in a position to pay newspapers. Previously, he was the firm’s an e!ective and strategic information science, he studied journalism at the paigned on a platform of press freedom, but a direct link between the environment these decent salaries.” company secretary and had also been management for corporate institutions University of Nairobi and Columbia once it was in power, there was a roll-back African dictators have created and press free- When Tom Mshindi opened the floor to the in charge of the Uganda Media Centre, and policy-makers. Mr Mawugbe believes University School of Journalism, where on their promises,” he added. dom.” audience, Irungu Ndirangu, a training editor a position he had been appointed to by the media has a role to play in mobilising he was the recipient of a Jack R Howard Makali explained that some governments Makali weighed in with the observation that with the People Daily newspaper of Kenya, Iran was the biggest jailor of journalists in asked the panelists to give their opinion on the President Yoweri Museveni. Ghanaians to be interested in activities in Fellowship for International Journalists. ended up tightening the noose on the the world – on the basis of complaints about current ‘breed’ of African politicians: “Are our the agricultural sector. media. “Even those governments that come to power on a platform of reform exit from the elections. “Journalists are jailed because political parties genuine organizations meant power with nothing to show for the media. politicians refuse to relinquish power and the to bring development or are they criminal or- Others introduce instruments like media media in Zimbabwe was suppressed because ganizations?” laws, including the O"cial Secrets Act. of the desire to retain power.” This question rankled Messan Mawugbe, Every government needs instruments to Joshua Komen, from the Kenya Institute of who protested that it was inappropriate to Mass Communication, agreed and suggested brand anybody a criminal without evidence: 112 Media Freedom: A Balance Sheet 12

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ìIÄJ financial freedom was as much a requirement in any introduce instruments like media other profession as it was in journalism. He explained TOTAL 193 6,683,191,000 that in 1977 it was the small newspapers that spear- laws. Every government needs head a revolution that evicted Indira Gandhi as India’s instruments to control the press.” Prime Minister. A Tanzanian journalist likened press freedom to a DAVID MAKALI mirage: “Press freedom is going to be elusive for a Freedom House map long time; for instance, 70 percent of journalists (in was a factor a!ecting coverage: “What do you do if of Press Freedom Tanzania) depend on news sources for transport to you are to cover a negative story about the govern- Freedom House’s survey and from functions,” he said. ment yet the advertising revenue comes from the of press freedom in 2009 Kabushenga said media freedoms were unattain- government? It is the issue of biting the hand that rated eight African coun- able in the long run: “The struggle for press freedom feeds you.” tries as free, 23 partly free has no end; there is no time we will say that we But Frank Mwangi from the Kenya Human Rights and the rest not free. It have reached the Promised Land. It is a continuous Commission said that some editors and owners bases the ratings on politi- struggle.” were also enemies of the profession: “How about the cal rights and civil liberties He cited the case of Alistair Campbell, former internal freedom that we do not give journalists?” he where the existence of a British Premier Tony Blair’s spokesman, who had asked. broad scope for open politi- compelled the BBC to withdraw a statement that In conclusion, the panelists agreed that the bal- cal competition, a climate the British government “sexed up” a report on Iraq’s ance sheet had worsened in recent years and would of respect for civil liberties, weapons of mass destruction, which subsequently continue to get worse. Kabushenga capped it with the significant independent civic lead to the exit of the management. observation: “The struggle for press freedom has no life, and independent media Politics had also forced the former editor of the end; there is no time we will say that we have reached qualifies for a Free rating. It Daily Mirror newspaper, Piers Morgan, out of his job: the Promised Land because politicians will not will- rates partly free countries “If that had happened in Africa, people would have ingly bestow freedom to the press. It is a fight that as those characterised by said that press freedom is contracting.” will go on for a very long time.” some restrictions on political A member of the audience complained that tough The moderator, Mshindi, wrapped up the discus- rights and civil liberties and economic times and consumer shifts to new media sion with a reminder to the delegates that the issue not free as those where basic were a!ecting journalism careers. But a member of of press freedom could nt be looked at from one political rights are absent, the Aga Khan Foundation said that conflict of interest perspective. „ and basic civil liberties are widely and systematically denied. 114 115 Wilfred Kiboro chairs the board of Nation Media Group, where he previously served as the company’s Group Chief Executive O"cer. A trained civil engineer, he previously worked with Rank Xerox and in various capacities within Shell and Esso. He Epilouge is also the Chairman of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited, and a non- executive director of East African Breweries Ltd. And, finally, the prognosis is clear, this century belongs to Africa’s development.

he eighties and nineties were This inaugural Pan Africa Media Con- touted as Africa’s decades when ference has been a unique opportunity Tthe continent was expected to for government ministers and media Participants at the confer- experience its greatest growth and practitioners to discuss on the same ence. (Liz Muthoni) thereby exert a greater influence on footing issues they have grappled with the global plane. A number of countries over time, and it is my hope that the stu- were posting impressive GDP growth dents in attendance will treasure what rates and the political leadership was they have gained from the discussions. unrestrained in its optimism. Africa has made some progress over It’s nearly two decades since and the last 50 years and I am optimistic although Africa didn’t quite surge for- that the vital lessons learned during ward as expected, the optimism has that period will shape the next 50 years. not waned. This time, though, the talk I wonder, though, whether indeed this is about the African Century. As World will be the African Century as eloquently Bank President Robert Zoellick put it put across by speakers at the confer- following his visit to the continent in Au- ence but, most importantly, as the un- gust 2009, “This can be the Centrury of realised dream of former South African African Growth and Opportunity.” President Thabo Mbeki upon leaving The Pan Africa Media Conference re- o"ce in 2009. newed that optimism, with its focus on By the time Thabo Mbeki was leaving the promise of Africa as the continent o"ce the dream he had of Africa being grapples with the challenges of feeding the continent of the 21st century was its burgeoning population, exploiting faltering. Africa was still trying to come and managing its enormous natural to terms with the Aids pandemic with wealth and harnessing its intellectual over 20 million adults and children in- property to swing the development pen- fected. As we speak Africa, is still strug- dulum in its favour. gling with the aftermath of political And as Nation Media Group’s Chair- violence. In the past few years we have Can the 21st Century Still be The African Century? man Wilfred D. Kiboro concluded at become hosts to our own displaced the end of the conference, Africa is the aside from the displaced that we are continent to watch. The following is a already hosting. We are also struggling Closing Remarks: Wilfred Kiboro, Chairman Nation Media Group slightly edited version of his closing with corruption. remarks. This scourge has pervaded both the 117 Can the 21st Century Still be The African Centrury? Epilouge

private and public sectors with the latest Africa’s resources statistics standing at 62 per cent for South “Now Africa can claim eì3;)6ì3*ì8,)ì%,%6%ì792 African and 52 per cent for Kenyan compa- its global position as the According to the February 10, 2011, issue of the eì03;ì3*ì+6)%8ì6-:)67 nies. More worrying, though, is the fact that continent to watch.” Economist, six of the 10 fastest-growing countries eì T7ì+)38,)61%0ì438)28-%0 despite the more than one trillion US dol- in the world in 2000-10 were African with Angola eì%0*ì3*ì;360(T7ì(-%132(7 lars channeled to the continent in the last WILFORD KIBORO growing faster than anywhere else on the planet, eì%0*ì3*ì;360(T7ì40%8-291 30 years, there is very little to show for it. thanks to its enormous wealth of resources. Despite eì2)ì8,-6(ì3*ì+30( Notwithstanding that, I still see some its negative image as a poor continent, Africa is eì2)O8)28,ì3*ì463:)2ì3-0ì6)7)6:)7 light at the end of the tunnel for the conti- technology developed by the Kenyan mo- first among equals in resource wealth. It produces e2)O7-<8,ì3*ì*36)78ì'3:)6 nent. Certainly, we have made good strides bile company Safaricom. It was a first in the 46 per cent of the world’s chromium, 48 per cent of e%0*ì3*ì8,)ì;360(T7ì',631-91ìI,%6(ì;,-8)ì1)8%0ì in fostering good governance and democ- world, building on the impressive growth its diamonds, 29 per cent of its gold and 48 per cent 97)(ì-2ì78%-20)77ì78))0ì%2(ì38,)6ì%003=7J racy as our history of elections confirms: of the mobile industry in Kenya in the last of its platinum. Between 1960 and 1985, only one African decade and Africa as a whole, which has leader, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam 60 percent coverage by the mobile signal – of Mauritius, had ever lost an election. higher than the United States. Contrast this with the 12 who have been Scientists are now looking to the enor- hounded out o"ce through the ballot box mous solar energy potential in the Sahara since then. Desert, and the potential of Africa’s rivers Beyond the political arena, it is a mat- to generate enough energy to power the ter of record that, between 2005–2007, whole continent. These fetes, alongside African countries recorded an average GDP the continent’s prowess in most sports are growth of five percent largely due to the achievements that should easily put Africa improved performance of the private sec- in the top league globally. That this hasn’t tor and general business environment. The happened is largely due to bad politics and upshot of this was that the continent re- a passive civil society. corded some of the best tax growths in the The light at the end of the tunnel hasn’t world between 2008 and 2009, leading to dimmed, though, and can wax even brighter increased investments in health, education if we take these three messages to heart: and infrastructure. eì%:)ì8,)ì'396%+)ì83ì&)0-):)ì-2ì8,)ì437- Now Africa can claim its global position sibility of the future – an African future. as the continent to watch. Admittedly, not eì '/23;0)(+)ì8,)ì(39&0)ì&0)77-2+7ì3*ì all is well on this huge land mass and it be- today’s young journalists, that is, yester- hoves us to remain optimistic and steadfast day’s mistakes and the present opportuni- in engaging governments to address these ties. problems and o!er solutions and innova- eì '')48ì8,)ì',%00)2+)ì83ì+-:)ì *6-'%2ì%9- tions that are African, like M-Pesa, the diences what no one else can give them in revolutionary mobile phone money transfer order to remain relevant and e!ective. „ 118 Credits This book would not have been possible without the conference and we would like to express our gratitude to the following organisations – and the individuals who run them – for helping with the conference’s planning and organisation. Their cooperation and support made our work all the more pleasurable:

Fiona Kahugu X&R technology Susan Linnee Kenya Data Networks Nation photojournalist Frederick Exhibitors Onyango and Elizabeth Muthoni Highway Africa Africa Media Initiative Kenya Airways Media Owners Association Intercontinental Hotel Kenya Editors Guild Carnival Restaurant Kenya Government I&M Bank Safari Park Hotel Digital Branding AY&R Delegates, moderators, panelists Diamond Trust Bank and speakers ì1&%77= Coca Cola The management of the confer- Special thanks to Ndu Okoh and ence venue, Kenyatta International AFP for generously allowing use of Conference Centre their photographs in this book. Serenity Group

Opposite page: The conference registration desk at the Kenyatta Interna- tional Conference Centre. Right: Getting the conference grounds ready for the big event. 120 121 To our sponsors, thank you! On the steps of the conference venue, a fitting endorsement of the promise of Africa: From left, *361)6ì3>%1&-5%2ì46)7-()28ì3%',-1ì ,-77%23Aì +%2(%T7ì Information and National Guidance minister Princess Kabakumba Labwoni Masiko (partly hidden, Kenya’s Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, his permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Africa Media Initiative’s Executive Director Amadou Mahtar Ba, the Aga Khan, Kenyan parliamentarian Shakeel Shabbir, President Mwai Kibaki, President Paul Kagame, former Tanzanian President Ben Mkapa, NMG Chairman Wilfred Kiboro and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.