South African black doll breaks the mould in high style

She is black and trendy, and young South African girls are learning to love her. Meet Momppy Mpoppy, who is a step ahead of other black dolls across Africa who are often dressed in traditional ethnic clothes. Decked out in the latest fashions and sporting an impressive afro, complete with a tiara, Momppy could play her own small part in changing the way that black children look at themselves.

Maite Makgoba, founder of Childish Trading and Manufacturing, told AFP she started her small business after realising that black dolls available on the market "did not appeal to children". "They were frumpy and unattractive, some in traditional attire. That is not the reality of today," said the 26-year-old entrepeneur.

The dolls are assembled in China, but the real work starts in Makgoba's tiny workspace in downtown Johannesburg, where they are styled and packaged before they are sent to independent distributors. Inside the two-room warehouse, miniature pieces of clothing are sewn and pressed by hand. Appearance is everything.

Eye-catching ballerina skirts, denim pants and "on trend" jumpsuits with bright high heels are some of the items in Momppy Mpoppy's impressive wardrobe. Among the different Mpoppy outfits are "Denim Dungaree Delicious", "Rockstar Tutu", "Mohawk Fro" and "Seshweshwe Fabolous" -- with each doll costing 180 rand ($14, 12 euros). To complete the experience, the company also makes matching clothes for girls who own the doll.

"This is more than just a business, we are creating awareness, that our dark skin and thick afro hair are pretty as they are," said Makgoba. "We want kids to see beauty in Mpoppy, to see themselves while playing with her. "Dolls are often white, people in magazines are white, even in a country like South Africa where the majority are black. "Black children are confronted with growing up in a world that does not represent them, everything is skewed towards whiteness."

Makgoba admits that the fledging company which she started in 2013 faces a stiff competition from established toy brands, but she was encouraged by the "overwhelming response" from buyers.

"Parents and children have quickly taken to the doll. But we still need to convince large retailers to sell our brand," she said, declining to reveal exact sales numbers.

Nokuthula Maseko, a 30-year-old mother of two, said her children had "fallen in love with the unusual doll" after she came across it on social media -- the company's biggest marketing tool.

"I like the fact that the doll looks like my kids, in a world where the standards of beauty are often liked to caucasian features," said Maseko.

"The kids love the doll." "This is a big social movement... it can help prevent body image insecurity among children," she added. However, the Johannesburg mother said she was not in a hurry to throw away her kid's white dolls. "At school they play with their white friends, so this is my idea of maintaining that realism, so that they are aware of different races and not that everything is just white and only look a certain way," she told AFP. Black dolls are not new, but the African market has for a long time been flooded with white dolls, creating an image of porcelain skin perfection with long shiny tresses.

The iconic 57-year-old Barbie range has dominated global sales, selling over one million a week globally -- including a selection of black dolls. It's a tough challenge to build a brand name for start-up companies like Makgoba's and others such as Queen of Africa, a popular black doll from Nigeria who is kitted out in ethnic attire. According to Johannesburg child psychologist Melita Heyns, toys have a long-term influence on children. "It's not just entertainment... dolls are a big part of a girl child's life, therefore it is important that such toys help build a child's character and self-esteem," said Heyns. Mpoppy's creators now plan to export to neighbouring African countries, changing young mindsets one doll at a time.

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Austin-based nonprofit changing lives in Africa

Despite our drought restrictions in Central Texas, water is still not that hard to come by. In other parts of the world however, it’s a much different situation.But local organization Well Aware is trying to change that. Well Aware is an Austin-based nonprofit that funds and implements clean water systems for impoverished communities in Africa.

Sarah Evans and her team just returned from a trip to Kenya, where they put in their 26th high-yielding water system. National Geographic Creative photographer Greg Davis traveled with the Well Aware team and photographed them implementing this water system.

The photographs will be on exhibit Friday night from 7-10 p.m. at for a special event.

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UAE workers and companies build bridges to Africa

Gary Robinson is flushed with success. In his recent business trip to Nairobi, he oversaw his company’s first foray into bridging the markets of China and Africa, using the UAE as its base.

As the international events director of MIE Events in Dubai, Mr Robinson was part of the team behind China Trade Week last month. At the promotion, hundreds of Chinese manufacturers exhibited in Kenya’s capital as they searched for local partners to help them gain access to an increasingly fruitful African market.

The event’s success in attracting visitors surprised Mr Robinson, who says he has booked twice the amount of exhibition space for next year’s event.

“There is a growing middle class throughout Africa who want all the accoutrements of their new financial status,” he says. “Most Africans are very similar to their Middle East counterparts inasmuch as there is a burgeoning small- and medium-enterprise (SME) market, so anyone wanting to target SMEs should do well.”

Working in Africa, as with any new market, will bring its own challenges, says Mr Robinson. He emphasises the need for research and plenty of time on the ground to find the right opportunities and partners. Poor infrastructure, he says, are among the challenges.

“Patience and adaptability are essential in order to do well,” he says. Mr Robinson hopes MIE Events can continue to take advantage of the UAE’s location as a gateway into African markets for Chinese clients. It is an opportunity that other organisations are using as well.

“The UAE is a great headquarters for Africa,” says Mitchell Prather, the managing director of Djembe Communications, which operates in Angola, Mozambique, Nigeria and Dubai.

The company, which will open an office in Ghana this year, has found success with its formula of building an African communications network that is internationally focused. It has grown from a staff of four to 27 in just over a year.

“The Middle East has a long history of doing business in Africa,” says Mr Prather. “It’s easier for us in Dubai to get to most points in Africa than it is for our colleagues in Switzerland or London.”

He believes that companies looking to venture into the African market do not necessarily need to be big brands, citing ongoing investment in a number of African countries looking to tap entrepreneurial efforts as part of their wider economic development.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for SMEs to make inroads and grow in all African markets. And for that growth to accelerate there’s a need for a lot of cross-border activity,” he says. Skills development is pivotal to making this happen.

“For clients in Africa you need to have a lot of local insights, but what you also need is to upskill local teams, teams that are passionate about communications but also about developing their skill set. Dubai is a great centre of excellence for that,” says Mr Prather. “Before Africa can continue on its growth path it needs to expand its skill set. It’s not just building bridges, but teaching too. You have to be committed to the region in order to be successful.”

It is a formula that has helped businesses from China to thrive in Africa, as they offer knowledge transfer and capital infusion to gain ground and secure a competitive advantage.

“Particularly in East Africa there is no lack of either business and investment opportunities, or access to skilled labour,” says Oscar Wendel, a former UAE resident who is now the event director for TEDx in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

“What is lacking however is both the in-depth technical knowledge and application in many high-tech areas, as well as access to capital to fund significant projects.”

He says these examples point to a role that Arabian Gulf businesses can also take on to meet a need in African markets.

“There is a lot of potential reward to be had for investors that are able to attract the right talent, hone their skills and develop market offerings to meet the increasing demand from many growing sectors,” he says.

The development of computer games and mobile phone apps is “booming right now and particularly promising for UAE companies”, says Mr Wendel.

“Real estate development, agriculture, tourism and financial services for the growing middle class, are all expanding and open for foreign investment.

“For UAE companies that can find the right blend of talent, training and endurance, Africa may put future growth in a vibrant market well within reach.”

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African collaboration helps future leaders master public policy

A new master’s degree that will be offered by 12 universities across Africa aims to develop the continent’s next generation of public policy leaders.The master’s in research and public policy will give aspiring and practising development professionals an understanding of the common challenges confronting countries across the continent, such as education, poverty and HIV/Aids, while training them in global social policy concepts.

The qualification, which was set to be officially launched on 12 August in Nairobi, Kenya, has been developed by the Partnership for African Social and Governance Research and the partner institutions.

Tade Aina, executive director of the partnership, said: “We are developing the next generation of public policy leaders in Africa.”

Already, 150 students have enrolled on the two-year, full-time course, which includes a placement in a policy or research institution.

The 12 partner universities have agreed to deliver the course using a common curriculum, with the hope that graduates will be prepared for careers in government, civil society organisations and development agencies.

The founder institutions include the University of Lagos, the University of Jos and the University of Ibadan, all in Nigeria. The course will also be offered by Maseno University and Egerton University (both in Kenya); the University of Dar es Salaam and Mzumbe University (both in Tanzania); and Uganda Christian University and Uganda Martyrs University (both in Uganda). Other providers include the universities of Ghana, Sierra Leone and Botswana.

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Europe, Asia? No - Airbnb's next big push is in Africa

Airbnb, the world's leading service to rent out rooms or properties over the Internet, has announced plans to rapidly accelerate its growth in Africa, particularly in key markets such as Kenya and South Africa.

The service has already seen its listings more than double in the continent in the last year, while the number of users in the region has increased by 145%. Now, the San Francisco-based company want to capture an even bigger share of the 60 million tourists that visit Africa each year.

Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky was one of the attendees at last month's Global Entrepreneurial Summit 2015 in Nairobi -- also attended by U.S. president Barack Obama and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta, as member of a group of U.S. business leaders committed to helping to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs around the world.

A vibrant startup scene"We were really taken aback by the strength and vibrancy of the startup scene in Nairobi and the entrepreneurs we met at the GES Summit," Nicola D'Elia, general Manager Middle East & Africa for Airbnb, told CNN.

"We found the spirit of entrepreneurialism in Kenya to be very similar to San Francisco and Silicon Valley," D'Elia added. "In fact, it's newer, more nascent and more exciting too.

Kenya alone has over 1,400 listings on the platform, with the greatest concentration in Nairobi (788). People in the country are also embracing Airbnb as a way of traveling, with the number of Kenyan guests using Airbnb tripling in the last 12 months.

South Africa leads the way
Airbnb's largest African market is currently South Africa, with 9,400 homes listed -- an increase of 138% in the last 12 months -- while the number of guests has grown by 257%.

The country is also home to two of the five largest markets for Airbnb in Africa: Cape Town and Johannesburg.

"This growth has largely been driven organically by word of mouth," D'Elia said. "By building a team to focus on the region, we hope to further accelerate this growth."

Finding tailored solutions
The expansion in Africa comes in the wake of Airbnb's recent launch in Cuba, which has already become its fastest growing market.

Some of the initiatives employed to overcome challenges around internet literacy and mobile payment infrastructure will be applied to Africa as well.

"One of my first priorities is to look at payments and how we can create solutions more tailored to Africa. M-pesa has been hugely successful here and we will certainly be looking closely at it along with other local payments services," said D'Elia.

A regulated future?
Sharing services like Airbnb operate outside of traditional regulations, which can be a boon or a bane: "Whilst an unregulated environment could mean great opportunity, it can also mean uncertainty, as regulations can change overnight, sometimes on the flimsiest of grounds," Trevor Ward, a specialist consultant in the hospitality and leisure industries with a special focus on sub-Saharan Africa, said than an unregulated environment could mean great opportunity, but also uncertainty, noting that "regulations can change overnight, sometimes on the flimsiest of grounds."

"Africa is composed of 54 very diverse nations, with huge differences among them and different legal systems, which will bring questions regarding whether Airbnb is legal, illegal or unregulated -- and the lack of knowledge on the part of the regulators won't help," he added. "I do believe it needs to be regulated in some way."

Nevertheless, the competition with traditional offering could also spark some benefits: "There are huge opportunities in some destinations, where hotel prices are incredibly high compared to the product offered. Encouraging home stays fosters greater understanding between peoples. Bringing even small amounts of money to communities can make a big difference (one night's stay can equal a month's school fees).

"Today's renters of a room are tomorrow's hotel owners. Increasing domestic and intra-african travel brings greater demand for accommodation, at a price point where many of the existing offers are very poor, or worse."

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Africa moves a step closer to polio eradication, but more work to be done – UN

Africa has made great strides towards eradicating polio but the job remains to be finished through strengthened immunization campaigns and surveillance measures, according to the United Nations.

Observing yesterday the one year mark since the last case of wild polio was confirmed on the African continent, the world body has recalled that despite such laudatory progress, the milestone could not yet be considered “official” by the Organization’s strict standards.

Nigeria, the last endemic country in the African region, marked one year without a case of wild polio on 24 July 2015. If continued lab results in the coming weeks confirm no new cases in Nigeria, and if the UN World Health Organization (WHO) African Region then goes two more years without a case of wild polio in the face of strong surveillance, it could be certified polio-free by the Africa Regional Certification Commission. Similarly, transmission in Kenya and Ethiopia has also been interrupted.

“Globally, we are on the verge of totally eradicating a disease for only the second time in history,” remarked Peter Crowley, the head of the UN Children Fund’s (UNICEF) Polio unit, on his blog. “As we approach the General Assembly’s endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals, what a wonderful time to be able to encourage the global community to set ambitious goals and to know that such goals can be met – if we believe.”

According to the UN, African leadership has been instrumental in reaching the milestone and pushing towards wider eradication through the African "Kick Polio out of Africa" campaign. Likewise, the support of the international community has also been key to success and continued support remains essential to achieve a polio-free Africa through improved vaccination campaign quality and surveillance, particularly in the Horn and Central Africa.

“With Africa now on track, we are left with only two countries where polio transmission has never been interrupted: Pakistan and Afghanistan,” Mr. Crowley continued. “Here too, despite enormous challenges, communities, governments and partners are working with courage and determination to end polio once and for all.”

Polio is a virus transmitted by person-to-person contact and spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (e.g. contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis.

Initial symptoms of polio include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. In a small proportion of cases, the disease causes paralysis, which is often permanent. There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented by immunization.

If eradication in Africa is achieved, there would be only two countries where polio transmission has never been interrupted: Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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Djibouti: Mogadishu’s SIMAD University Activities Strengthening Local Economies

Public Diplomacy and Regional Infrastructure Initiative News. A new Somalia is emerging,” believes Ahmed Tall, a business and accountancy lecturer at Mogadishu’s SIMAD University.

The former Federal Minister, Farah Abdulkadir visited Mogadishu’s SIMAD University, and congratulated the new facilities, Council members and expressed the importance of higher education in Somalia, and he added his statement, “Mogadishu activities strengthens the quality of education and investments in Somalia.”

In Mogadishu, good planning and time keeping is crucial in this superbly beautiful city of 2 million people. The mission and the vision of SIMAD UNIVERSITY is to provide high quality education, research and community services with the commitment of excellence to Strengthen Local Economies in Somalia.

Other Examples of University Activities Strengthening Local Economies: Couples are walking leisurely along the rocky shoreline, bathers splash in the waves, young boys kick a ball in the sand. Under a row of shady umbrellas, beachfront restaurants serve seafood and tea.

Only four years ago, Lido Beach was a dangerous no-go zone in Somalia’s war-torn capital, Mogadishu. Islamist militant group al-Shabaab partially controlled the city. Violence and bloodshed confined people to their homes.

Today, hundreds of families come to relax on Mogadishu’s coastline each weekend. Hotels are being built along the shore and restaurants have opened, while vendors sell ice cream on the beach.

“I was born and raised in a hostile environment, in Mogadishu, now we see a promising future,” Asho Elmi tells dpa while lugging a heavy cooler box filled with soft drinks and ice cream along Lido Beach.

“The fear has gone. We work here until 21:30″ when the sun goes down, the 20-year-old says. Somalia suffered two decades of anarchy and fighting between rival warlords after the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991.

Only since an internationally-backed government was installed in 2012 and al-Shabaab pushed out of Mogadishu and other strongholds has the East African nation of roughly 10 million people become more stable.

Its economy grew by 3.7% in 2014, with growth projected to reach 2.7% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Somalis can feel this progress in their day-to-day lives. Mogadishu’s construction industry is booming. Multi-storey buildings are being erected in the city centre, while the bullet-riddled facades the capital was famous for are disappearing behind new coats of plaster and paint.

Visitors now have a choice of more than 200 hotels in Mogadishu, up from a mere 12 in 2012. In the heart of the city, Bakaraha Market with its hundreds of shops selling fruit and vegetables, clothes and household goods – once a battlefield between peacekeeping troops and al-Shabaab terrorists – has again become a bustling commercial district where residents do their daily shopping and chat in small restaurants and coffee houses.

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