Your podcast discovery platform
Curious minds select the most fascinating podcasts from around the world. Discover hand-piqd audio recommendations on your favorite topics.
piqer for: Global finds
Ciku Kimeria is a Kenyan author "Of goats and poisoned oranges" - (https://www.amazon.com/goats-poisoned-oranges-Ciku-Kimeria-ebook/dp/B00HBBWPI6), development consultant, adventurer and travel blogger (www.thekenyanexplorer.com). She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She has worked on diverse pieces for various international and local publications including Quartz, Ozy, The East African etc. She has travelled to 45 countries – 16 of them in Africa. 153 countries to go and 63 territories!
"Of goats and poisoned oranges" has been extremely well received in Kenya and beyond. It tells the story of a Kenyan middle aged power couple and their complicated marriage. The novel explores issues of greed, revenge, betrayal and murder. It runs from the 1960s to 2013. It has been described as “Wicked, funny, poignant, wacky, human, a big ball of fun and danger”, “A unique and captivating book”, “Fun and intriguing”, “Impossible to put down once you start reading.”
She recently moved to Dakar, Senegal from Kenya to work on her second novel. She also works at as the Africa Communication Manager at a leading global strategy consulting firm.
She holds a B.S. in Management Science from MIT with minors in Urban Planning and International development studies.
Ghanaian President Surprises Macron With His Tough Talk On Foreign Aid
We can no longer continue to make policy for ourselves — in our country, in our region, in our continent — on the basis of whatever support that the Western world or France or the European Union can give us, ...It has not worked, and it will not work.
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo was not holding back when speaking at a joint press conference in Accra with French president Emmanuel Macron, who was making the last stop of his first Africa tour on November 30th. The video that has gone viral strikes a chord with millions of Africans who are tired of hearing how their countries can only survive on foreign aid.
Akufo-Addo diplomatically added a line that for the discerning viewer will highlight a truth often discussed in African circles: foreign aid is not coming from a purely benevolent standpoint, but serves the interests of the countries that give it and in many cases negatively impacts the countries that are receiving it.
France will do whatever it needs to do for its own sake, and when those coincide with ours, 'tant mieux' [even better] as the French people say. But our main responsibility as leaders, as citizens, is what we need to do to grow our own countries.
If foreign aid was the answer to Africa's problems, then by now the continent would have reached its full potential. For those who would like to believe that they are saving Africa, they should be reminded that Africa loses up to ten times as much money to illicit financial flows as it gains from foreign aid. The same hands that give us aid are also on the other hand pilfering ten times as much from Africa. Who really is benefiting from foreign aid?
Instead President Akufo-Addo urges the continent to capitalize on our greatest assets – the fact that the youngest population is found in Africa – people who are extremely innovative, hardworking and resilient, but need good governance and enabling policies to unlock the continent's full potential.
