FreeeAfrica, FreeeAfrica, FreeeAfrica

Let’s go Hollywood for a minute.

One of the best scenes ever captured on the big screen was in the movie Braveheart as William Wallace was asked to beg for mercy or his life as he knew it would be over. As on-lookers and the locals chanted and pleaded for him to just utter the word MERCY; William, a man of great conviction yelled out FREEE-DOM!!!!

And just like that his legend grew and his life was celebrated.

So why did I bring this up?

Ok people; let me get focused...

How many centuries, decades and lost generations have we as people thrown away due to greed, hypocrisy and discontent? Myself, I am three decades into musical chairs of propaganda. If there is one thing that I want in my next three decades, it would be the experience of seeing a rebirth of life put back into my beloved continent.

This week’s post is not about Nigeria and Nigeria's problems alone. It is about the birth place of man, AFRICA! You know that one place people often typically consider an after thought and make there way around in their travels as if it does not exist.

Growing up, I had difficulty understanding the concept of "TEAM" playing amateur sports. Well; “TEAM” stands for "Together Everyone Achieves More" and in Africa it is imperative that we come together and work collectively as one.

A young man that lives by this principal and is working to better the continent is the founder of Freeeafrica Mr. Hamid Bundu.  In recent months we have connected and shared with one another our ideas and vision for our respective countries, people and homeland. Mr. Bundu’s energy, commitment and passion for the continent of Africa is unwavering.

Here are excerpts from a recent interview recently conducted with the man promoting his Freeeafrica Enterprise.

Panko:         Tell me about Freeeafrica

Hamid:         Freeeafrica is an organization that encourages Africans to contribute to their communities through entrepreneurship. Our motto is: Entrepreneurship – Enterprise – Empowerment. These three components can solve many socio-economic ills which continue to plague our communities while providing Africa with a permanent seat in the global economy. As part of our research on the success of entrepreneurship in Africa, we identified groups that are vital to its success:

1.      Entrepreneurs – Individuals and groups that have the ideas, the passion and a burning desire to see projects through

2.      Advocates – Individuals and groups that believe in the ideas of the entrepreneurs and provide endless resources and support towards the projects

3.      Investors -  Individuals and groups that invest in projects

Freeeafrica provides an online community where African entrepreneurs come together and crowd source on entrepreneurial ideas and/or ventures that can solve economic and social problems in Africa.

Panko:            Why did this type of work interest you? And how did

                   you get started?

Hamid:           We believe that Africa can sustain itself and provide durable solutions for its problems. We believe that Africans (In Africa & Diaspora) can contribute by building Small & Medium Sized Business (SMEs) that will create economic opportunities and satisfy consumer needs. We wanted to create an online community that gives information on entrepreneurship and the benefits of having enterprises that can drive innovation and empower the people of Africa.

Panko:            What part of this work do you personally find most satisfying? Most challenging? What do you like/not like about working in this industry?

Hamid:         It is my passion to help Mother Africa in every little way that I can. The most challenging part of this work is connecting the groups. It is difficult to get people to work together; “it’s tough”. Here is the thing, it’s like we (Africans) are all in the same classroom working on the same project (Development). We are all unique in our special ways, and instead of working together towards the common goal we choose to work separately. This makes it challenging; we often fail to see that we need to work together. Africa needs a paradigm shift; - we need to change our approach and how we perceive African economic problems. Synergy.

                        The most satisfying is definitely connecting the dots and helping others.

Panko:            How does Freeeafrica make use of technology?

Hamid:           Our platform revolves around technology. We strive to use Information and Communicational Technologies (ICTs) to bridge the gap between the continent and the Diaspora. We believe in Project Management and we understand the importance of technology in the context of economic development. We use technology to connect Entrepreneurs and also to help them manage and execute their projects.

Panko:            What changes are occurring in your industry at the moment?

Hamid:           We are seeing more entrepreneurs stepping up to the plate. Africa is rising; in Africa we have approximately 900 million consumers and the market is flexible, meaning there is a demand for various products and services in every sector. Technology is coming to Africa at a very fast pace, the use of the internet has grown, mobile penetration is increasing. Moreover, the digital divide (the difference between those with access to internet and those that do not have access to the internet) is narrowing and that is good for entrepreneurs, business and African economies. We are looking forward to governments introducing policies that will encourage e-commerce. The business culture is changing, many African countries are rebranding, the new message across the board is “Open for Business”; a good example of this transformation is with post conflict countries like Rwanda and my home country Sierra Leone.

Panko:            What are the keys to advancement for Africa in your

                   opinion?

Hamid:           In the field of entrepreneurship, we need more Venture Capitalists.              
1. The Entrepreneurs are dedicated. They have the drive to see their ideas come to life.
2. The Advocates are buying into innovative and sustainable ideas of the Entrepreneurs and the
last piece of the puzzle.
3. The Investors, they hold the key to allowing these ventures to grow. After all is said and done, Africa needs political stability for Entrepreneurship to thrive.

Young men/women between the ages of 18-40 are the key to Africa’s advancement. This group wants to have a stable political and economic environment in order to flourish.

Panko:            What advise would you give someone interested in your profession? Are there any written materials you would suggest as a good resource?

Hamid:           The main thing is to do what you love and evidently Africa can use your skills. So whatever line of business you are in, there is a good chance that there is a demand for it in Africa. It’s a win/win situation, you can fulfill your dreams while satisfying consumer needs and creating a better life for millions of people.

                        The following books are very informational and they can certainly help:

1.      The Blue Sweater by Jacqueline Novogratz

2.      Dead Aid by Dambisa Moyo

3.      Africa Rising by Vijay Mahajan

4.      Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs by Moyo Makura

Take Charge!!!