1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,800 Speaker 1: The challenge that we have to form a united Africa 2 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: is that nobody wants to see a united Africa, and 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: the resources that are applied to keep a separate a 4 00:00:14,440 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: real answer. 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 2: Welcome, Welcome, Welcome, you're listening to my next chapter, and 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,919 Speaker 2: we are grateful for our heart's distribution of this product 7 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: as we have a glorious opportunity to engage some very 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 2: very important subjects. At this time, we're dealing with the 9 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: global exchange and how we can throughout the diaspora come 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 2: together more as a family and interchange ideas, customs, products, insights, 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: and creativity for the betterment of us as a whole. 12 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 2: We started as a whole. We are gradually coming back 13 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 2: to that place, and I am delighted. We are here 14 00:00:55,520 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: in Martha's Vineyard, which is a historical site where many 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 2: former slaves, African slaves came and bought property and owned 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: property for the first time. And we're here in Oaks 17 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 2: Bluff where they begin to break the presidents of the 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: eighteen hundreds by owning their own property and taking up 19 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 2: residents in this place. So now every year in August 20 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 2: it has become a mecca for us where we come 21 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:25,440 Speaker 2: and we have all types of events all over the island, 22 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 2: commemorating those slaves who own and still own through their 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 2: descendants much of the property that you see in Oaks Bluff. 24 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 2: And so we're glad to have you here in our 25 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: special special guest is Shanghai and Karen Matassa who are here. 26 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:45,759 Speaker 2: Who I've met is Zimbabwe and Harari and had a beautiful, 27 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: beautiful time with them, and I want to welcome them 28 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 2: to be a part of this. I want to tell 29 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: you a little bit about that my rosom things down 30 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 2: is so much because they're both poly masps. He is 31 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: a business magnet, a visionary and the force behind some 32 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 2: of Zimbabwe's most ambitious developments. Shanhai Mutasa is the mastermind 33 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: behind join Us City, one of the tallest buildings in 34 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: the capitol, and sits on boards of leading companies across 35 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: the continent. He is accompanied by his lovely wife. She's 36 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 2: an entrepreneur in her own rights, investor, philanthropists with a 37 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 2: special emphasis on the mark of beauty and beauty care 38 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,480 Speaker 2: for more time. Would you clap your hands and welcome 39 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:42,639 Speaker 2: them to be here with us today. I am so excited. 40 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: I don't know what in the world to do. I 41 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 2: couldn't believe it. But when I got word that you 42 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 2: both were coming, and you are what we would call 43 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: a power couple in America because you have done so 44 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: much and you have accomplished so much. Chapter one, power couple. 45 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 2: So I'm going to take you back for a moment 46 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 2: and tell us how you met and how you came 47 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 2: to be a couple. 48 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: I'm going to let you do it. Shingah. So I 49 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 3: was saying to my son this morning. First of all, 50 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 3: thank you so much that we're here from that seed 51 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 3: that you planted, you know, maybe eight months ago, and 52 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 3: you said you we want you to come to Martha's vineyard, 53 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 3: and here we are today. So thank you very much. 54 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 3: I think that I always say that how we met 55 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 3: was it was by divine appointment. I just never knew 56 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 3: it at the time, and I probably knew for sure 57 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 3: that this was my soulmate and my partner maybe ten 58 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 3: years after actually meeting him, and when that moment happened. 59 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 3: Here we are thirty three years later, and. 60 00:04:00,160 --> 00:04:05,760 Speaker 2: He's still smiling. He's still smiling. That's a good sign. Together, 61 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 2: you have built quite an empire, and you have done 62 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 2: some of the most amazing accomplishments, and which seemed to 63 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: me with both of you having so many different lanes 64 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: that you function in, companies that you run, a real 65 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: estate initiatives that you're engaged in, buildings that you have built. 66 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 2: I met you at your restaurant, and they came and 67 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: sat down at the table with me and then invited 68 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 2: me to their home. And I went to their home, 69 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 2: and it almost blinded my eyes. It was so beautiful, 70 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: it was so opulent, it was so classy, it was 71 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 2: so dim that I was just amazed and just taken 72 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 2: in by the hospitality, the food, the fund. Yeah, you've 73 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 2: fed me real good. We had a great time together 74 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: and it was a wonderful experience. I'm wondering, though, I 75 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: could really ask each one of you, how do you 76 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,400 Speaker 2: manage so many diverse, commpletely diverse things. That's why I 77 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 2: called you a polymath? And then how do you manage 78 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 2: that and still manage each other. 79 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: I'm lucky. I'm really blessed because I've married somebody who 80 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:20,040 Speaker 1: fits into me incredibly well. I'm able to do so 81 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: many things because she's really the pillar of our home. 82 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 1: Everybody around us just does not know how she manages 83 00:05:31,240 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: to keep that groundedness off the home, but still run 84 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 1: the business and do so many charitable things. So I'm 85 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: the blessed one because I'm allowed to do what I 86 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: want to do, how I do it, when I want 87 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: to do it. And I'm at home with a very 88 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 1: very strong, strong pillar. So the question is how does 89 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 1: she cope? 90 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,559 Speaker 3: So you know, they have a saying that behind every 91 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:06,239 Speaker 3: successful man is a woman, and the women say, behind 92 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 3: every successful woman is a man who tried to stop her. Now, 93 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 3: in my case, behind my success is my red bull. 94 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:22,559 Speaker 3: So he gives me wings to fly, and I think 95 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 3: that it's a true partnership in that we compliment each other. 96 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:36,559 Speaker 3: He is the most incredible visionary and I have learned 97 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 3: and so do many people learn from him. There and 98 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:49,480 Speaker 3: his patience and his guidance. So and I've never had 99 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 3: any issues with my role as a woman. I've embraced 100 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 3: it from my mother who always said, you know, make 101 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 3: sure that you don't embarrass us by not knowing how to, 102 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 3: how to what is your role and embrace that role. 103 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 3: And he has when I say aloud, it's not allowed, 104 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: he has made sure to enable me to be authentically 105 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 3: me and guide and help for him to then be 106 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: able to do what he does. So I say to people, 107 00:07:35,560 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 3: he is my king because I am his queen, and 108 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 3: there's no conflict there. 109 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 2: I'm wondering. I'm wondering when you talk about your role 110 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 2: as a woman. Yes, there's so much controversy in our 111 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 2: country about what that means, the role of a woman, 112 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 2: and it's a cultural dynamic tied to that. From your 113 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 2: perspective being raised in Malawi, how do you define the 114 00:07:57,960 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 2: role of a woman. 115 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I had this discussion this morning with my son. 116 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 3: Ishe who's here? And I was so, I was saying that, 117 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: you know, God in his wisdom made us different, a 118 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 3: man and a woman. 119 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: Yes, And. 120 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 3: You know, there's simple, very simple ways to put it. 121 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 3: He's the head of our home. He's the provider, he's 122 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 3: the protector, he's he's the hunter. Okay, if we go 123 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:46,439 Speaker 3: to the animal kingdom and I'm the neck and without 124 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 3: each other, nobody will go anywhere. Without each other, none 125 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: of us will go anywhere. So when I say I 126 00:08:54,880 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 3: don't have a conflict, the woman is there as the 127 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 3: care the nurturer. The woman is there too. In the 128 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 3: Bible when it speaks about women submit to your man, 129 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 3: to your husband. I never look at that as a 130 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 3: degrading or degenerating thing. I know that God gave us 131 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 3: our load to bear. And what that means is that 132 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 3: when you submitting, you're not submitting because he's supposed to 133 00:09:29,559 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: be this male dictator exactly. It is that he's got 134 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 3: his role, and while he's doing that, you are his helper. 135 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 3: But at the same time, if he didn't respect the 136 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 3: role that I play and what I do just like 137 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 3: he's supposed to, which is to love the church, and 138 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: the church is the community. The church is his wife 139 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 3: and his family. So he plays his part. I play 140 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 3: my part. I'm not. I don't even the way I've 141 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 3: brought up my daughter. We have a daughter as well, 142 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 3: who's you know, And I say to her that if 143 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 3: you don't fight who you are what God meant for 144 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,920 Speaker 3: us to do. If you don't fight it, you will 145 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,479 Speaker 3: have joy, You will have peace, you will have happiness 146 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 3: because there respect so all the values that we are 147 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 3: taught from the Bible to our parents. That is what 148 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 3: we bring into our marriage and into our relationship and 149 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 3: into how we parents as well. 150 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 2: Chapter two, Beauty, let me ask you this. One of 151 00:10:53,120 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 2: the businesses that you have centers on beauty, beauty and 152 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,240 Speaker 2: care as a woman. There's so much plastic surgery going 153 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 2: on over here, some of it to imitate features of 154 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:12,440 Speaker 2: African women, thicker lips, broader hips. I guess it's not 155 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:16,080 Speaker 2: really plastic, but we call it plastic surgery. And then 156 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 2: on the other hand, there are some people that are 157 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: using whitening creams to brighten themselves. From your perspective, how 158 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 2: do you feel. 159 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:28,600 Speaker 3: About that, It's been a huge challenge. I've spoken about 160 00:11:28,640 --> 00:11:31,680 Speaker 3: it over the last probably fifteen years. I've been in 161 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 3: the cosmetic distribution industry for about thirty years. And it 162 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 3: stems from colonization, and that's how colorism was born. And 163 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 3: there's this systemic it's where there, you know, are women 164 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,440 Speaker 3: and men were made to believe that the fairer, the 165 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 3: lighter complexion you are, the more beautiful you might be. 166 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 3: You even have a higher bridal price in many nations, 167 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 3: even in India, in Japan, in the it's all stems 168 00:12:10,400 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 3: from the colonial mind. So we need to, you know, 169 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:21,959 Speaker 3: address it because it's actually killing people. The whitening. Brightening 170 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 3: in Nigeria, for example, almost eighty percent of people and 171 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 3: that's from Hollywood. Nollywood Bollywood, they take pills to lighten 172 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 3: themselves and to decrease the amount of melanin, and melanin 173 00:12:36,920 --> 00:12:41,720 Speaker 3: is a hormone. Melon is what protects us from bacteria 174 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,240 Speaker 3: from It's something that we should make sure that we 175 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:50,400 Speaker 3: preserve and we protect. So it's a very important subject 176 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 3: to talk about, but we can't really We shouldn't really 177 00:12:54,200 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 3: be dealing with how to avoid it or how to 178 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 3: talk against it. We should be going back to the 179 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 3: root and the route, like I said just about five 180 00:13:06,280 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 3: minutes ago, is that we need to go back to 181 00:13:09,320 --> 00:13:17,240 Speaker 3: the books and recreate the curriculum. The curriculum education for 182 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 3: our children and generations to come is not about just 183 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 3: decolonizing the mind. It is about the emancipation of the mind. 184 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: And then once you've done that, you now need to 185 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:37,400 Speaker 3: feed the mind to uplift the people for true transformation 186 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 3: to happen. 187 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 2: You know, there's been some interesting articles that have come 188 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 2: out recently about a lot of hair care products for 189 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaker 2: women Black women, particularly in this country, being toxic, leading 190 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,959 Speaker 2: to cancer, leading to diseases, and that sort of thing. 191 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,600 Speaker 2: How do you make your products more holistic and more 192 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:57,880 Speaker 2: healthy for women? 193 00:13:58,679 --> 00:14:01,280 Speaker 3: So I think that going back back to basics in 194 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: the sense that God gave us every plant and every 195 00:14:04,760 --> 00:14:12,319 Speaker 3: flower naturally, and you can find almost every cure in 196 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 3: what we have. We just have wanted to fast track, 197 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:21,440 Speaker 3: so we go to the synthetic and the artificial when 198 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 3: really going back to basics and back to nature in 199 00:14:25,760 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 3: herbal and natural and plants and so forth. So that 200 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 3: for me is very important and using the technology wisely. 201 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,880 Speaker 3: We have a new brand that we're distributing and we 202 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,320 Speaker 3: have the master distribution for the Middle East and for 203 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 3: Africa that my daughter is Yes you can, it's called 204 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 3: Q and Mess, but it's a medic cosmetic So it's 205 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:57,440 Speaker 3: the first one hundred percent collagen that is vegan because 206 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 3: it's derived from starch and they use technology to be 207 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:05,920 Speaker 3: able to reduce the size of the molecule by one 208 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 3: trillion in order to have penetration. So you've got technology 209 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,760 Speaker 3: and the vegan and plant. 210 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: So it's environmentally clean. Technology technology is involved in it 211 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 2: as well. We're learning more and more in America that 212 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 2: all businesses are tech businesses in some way or another. 213 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 2: When you start talking about Beriyonna Fente, you start talking 214 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 2: about these opportunities to connect, and the more we connect, 215 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 2: whether through arts or through music or whatever idiom of 216 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 2: thought that we connect through. It helps to tear down 217 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,000 Speaker 2: the wall because there are people like this gentleman here 218 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 2: who are trying to scale the wall to make things better. 219 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 2: What do you think about it? 220 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:55,280 Speaker 3: So I'll go to your question on Fenti. As we know, 221 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 3: I'm sure you all know that fenty is Rihanna, but 222 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: it's also so we did have it. It took five 223 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 3: years to get it into Africa. So she launched in 224 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 3: twenty seventeen, but we only got it in twenty twenty two, 225 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 3: and it was a challenge. It was a huge challenge 226 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 3: because there were loads of reasons on why it was 227 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 3: not yet in Africa, which I saw as excuses to 228 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 3: just keep us out, and she actually spoke up about it, 229 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 3: and when we did get it, we celebrated it and 230 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 3: we were very excited. We had a very successful launch, 231 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 3: and they were very strict on which retail markets it 232 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 3: will go into, so it was a lot of lobbying 233 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 3: that needed to be done because it was not up 234 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 3: to her. She still had to go through the very 235 00:16:53,040 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 3: strict guidelines and structures and walls that the LVMH's big 236 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 3: cosmetic you know, companies have and so, but once it 237 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:11,439 Speaker 3: was there. The beauty industry, for example, is massive, but 238 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:16,720 Speaker 3: it is a very difficult industry because you need deep 239 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:25,200 Speaker 3: pockets because of marketing and you know, having people getting 240 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 3: paid to influences, for example. So it is very difficult 241 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 3: to you need deep, deep pockets to compete with the 242 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 3: big cosmetic companies. That's why for somebody like me, I 243 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 3: decided a long time ago that instead of doing my 244 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 3: own brand, which I'm going to now have to put 245 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 3: and compete with the Big five for example, I would 246 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 3: rather be the master distributor of brands that I align 247 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,520 Speaker 3: with that have the right value values, and then they 248 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:07,479 Speaker 3: are happy for us to represent them and distribute and 249 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 3: we make the profits just like they make profits. We 250 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 3: probably make more than the actual manufacturer does as the distributors. 251 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 3: So that's the model that I've used in terms of 252 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 3: cosmetic distribution and not really encouraged people to go ahead 253 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 3: and make your own brand because it takes a lot 254 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 3: of money. 255 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 2: Chapter three colonization. When you talk about colonization, I don't 256 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 2: want it to slip over the head of our listeners 257 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 2: because where I said is a common term in the 258 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,159 Speaker 2: continent of Africa. It is not as well known or 259 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 2: as well taught over here as it would be over there. 260 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 2: Can you spend a little time Shanghai talking to us 261 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 2: about the road you all traveled. While we traveled through slavery, 262 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 2: you traveled through colonization, and can you talk a little 263 00:18:55,960 --> 00:18:57,680 Speaker 2: bit about the dynamics of that. 264 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:09,080 Speaker 1: Can you hear me? You know, the African race, the 265 00:19:09,119 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: African race was interrupted about five hundred years ago. Now 266 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:25,239 Speaker 1: part of it is slavery, and you African Americans are 267 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 1: the product of slavery. But what happened and it took 268 00:19:30,840 --> 00:19:37,199 Speaker 1: real hold in the eighteenth century when the concept of 269 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:43,399 Speaker 1: slavery became abhorrent and they started to look at how 270 00:19:43,440 --> 00:19:49,360 Speaker 1: do we still maintain control of this continent, and they 271 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 1: did it through colonization. Through colonization, they started to work 272 00:19:57,119 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: on the minds of the African no disrespect, But the 273 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:12,400 Speaker 1: biggest tool that was used was religion. Through religion, they 274 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:18,120 Speaker 1: began to disrupt how we as Africans began to think, 275 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:24,640 Speaker 1: how we thought about God, how we related to God. 276 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:31,400 Speaker 1: It then went into the corruption of our cultures. So 277 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: you'll find over the last two hundred years, especially from 278 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,000 Speaker 1: my part of the world, we have ceased to see 279 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:45,720 Speaker 1: ourselves as Africans, but we continually try to become westernized, 280 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: and that mindset is really what colonization is about. There's 281 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: a friend of mine who put it really succinctly. Our 282 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:01,520 Speaker 1: problem as Africans is not that we want to modernize, 283 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: but we want to westernize, and we have to get 284 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 1: back to modernizing ourselves being comfortable with the cultures that 285 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: we originally were given. So you, as African Americans, are 286 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:24,960 Speaker 1: continually fighting the vestiges of slavery. We are we are 287 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 1: fighting the vestiges of colonization. But it's a job. It's 288 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: not an easy job. It's not a one generational gain. 289 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 1: We're talking about half a millennia of subjugation. You're not 290 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 1: going to change it in one generation. And our belief 291 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: is that colonization is something that has to be dealt with, 292 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:54,240 Speaker 1: has to be understood, has to be re restructured. 293 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:57,439 Speaker 2: One of the most amazing things that I read about 294 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:00,480 Speaker 2: you is that you are a strategic thinker and you 295 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 2: made a statement, or at least the article said that 296 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 2: you did that the change that you hope for for 297 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,520 Speaker 2: Zimbabwe and Malawi and the surrounding area of South Africa 298 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,199 Speaker 2: may take one hundred years. And you said, wow, that 299 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 2: seems like a long time. That's really not that long. 300 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 2: It's the length of time between your grandfather and your grandchild. 301 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,159 Speaker 2: Did you say that? Okay? I got you right, I 302 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 2: got you right. Okay, good? 303 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 1: Wow? 304 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:30,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, So the distance between your grandfather and your 305 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 2: grandchild is what you expect it takes to really write 306 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:38,520 Speaker 2: the course of what is going on over there, and 307 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: perhaps over here are there steps along the way that 308 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 2: become metrics that we can see the laying aside of 309 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:53,560 Speaker 2: the bruises and scars of colonization or slavery or low 310 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 2: self esteem that you think that we need to use 311 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 2: as mild markers along that one hundred years. 312 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:06,840 Speaker 1: You know, one hundred years is not a long time. 313 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 3: Two. 314 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:18,919 Speaker 1: Our challenge as Africans is our mindsets, because colonization is 315 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: about decomposing or deconstructing the mind and reimposing something else 316 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:29,399 Speaker 1: into that mind. That process of re engineering your mind 317 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: takes a long time. So the beginnings is how do 318 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:38,719 Speaker 1: we change the mindsets of Africans? And when I say Africans, 319 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: you know, no disrespect. When you move out of America 320 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: and you are traveling anywhere else in the world outside 321 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 1: of America. You guys are Africans, So the decomposition of 322 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: that mind is say, journey. But first of all, we 323 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:05,240 Speaker 1: have to want to change, and I think that's part 324 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: of the problem that a lot of us now have 325 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: because it's nice. We already are able to wear good clothes, 326 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,159 Speaker 1: to eat well. Why should we have to change the 327 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:16,920 Speaker 1: way we are. 328 00:24:17,520 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 2: You hit on a very strong point when you said 329 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 2: the rest of the world looks at African Americans and 330 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 2: they see us as Africans. I think that we have 331 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,679 Speaker 2: been We have been negroes, we have been colored, we 332 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 2: have been darkies, we have been African Americans. We have 333 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:36,919 Speaker 2: been so many things that we don't really always know 334 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: how to categorize ourselves. And I think coming into a 335 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:45,840 Speaker 2: fuller awareness that we are Africans, separated by waters, but 336 00:24:46,040 --> 00:24:49,920 Speaker 2: not by genetics. I found out who I was, who 337 00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:54,480 Speaker 2: my ancestors were by DNA testing to be sure, and 338 00:24:54,560 --> 00:24:58,560 Speaker 2: the percentage was about eighty or almost ninety percent EBO. 339 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 2: And I learned that did not know that don't have 340 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 2: a last name, don't have any clue what my name is. 341 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 2: One of the things you fought for was language and 342 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 2: names and bringing back to life names that were true 343 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,639 Speaker 2: to your ancestry. Can you talk about the importance of 344 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:20,760 Speaker 2: language and names, you know, I. 345 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:23,880 Speaker 1: Would start with names because language is a tough one, 346 00:25:25,160 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: especially in my country where the British settled in my country. 347 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: In most parts of the continent they administered, they did 348 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:41,360 Speaker 1: not settle, but in my country they settled, and therefore 349 00:25:41,640 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 1: the impact of that was to try and to destroy 350 00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:50,040 Speaker 1: not only the language but the culture. So the first 351 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: thing is you find that in my country most people 352 00:25:55,760 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: have an English name and a Zimbabwean us name, and 353 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: that is the beginning of the destruction of the mind. 354 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: So you find that if I go to West Africa 355 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 1: where the administrators the English administered, you find that on 356 00:26:16,680 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 1: the whole, the West Africans still have pride in their names, 357 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:27,800 Speaker 1: and I love it. In South Africa, finally, because of 358 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:32,840 Speaker 1: apartheid and because of segregation, you have this situation where 359 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: a lot of the South Africans still have their names. Unfortunately, 360 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: in Zimbabwe, we love love being called John and we 361 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: actually throw away our natural names. Shinghai, that's my name. 362 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 1: So the first thing I say to myself is how 363 00:26:54,720 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 1: do we change the mindset to love ourselves. And part 364 00:27:01,320 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 1: of that is being called Shinghai, not being called John, 365 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:10,280 Speaker 1: you understand. And there's something that I always say is, 366 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: you know, in the seventeen hundreds there was a guy 367 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:18,640 Speaker 1: called John Smith and he left England and he put 368 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:24,440 Speaker 1: his sons in Australia, in New Zealand, in South Africa, 369 00:27:25,040 --> 00:27:30,640 Speaker 1: in America, and they truly became citizens of those countries. 370 00:27:31,359 --> 00:27:35,480 Speaker 1: And today if you watch rugby, you'll find that the 371 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 1: Australian team or the New Zealand team does the Hacker, 372 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:46,720 Speaker 1: which is like the ethnic dance of the Maoris, which 373 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:51,959 Speaker 1: tells people globally that I'm a New Zealander. The funny 374 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:56,439 Speaker 1: thing is he's still called John Smith. It doesn't change 375 00:27:56,480 --> 00:28:02,840 Speaker 1: his name because identity matters. We, on the other hand, 376 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:07,080 Speaker 1: have a problem that we now accept and a comfortable 377 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 1: using somebody else's identity, and that is the biggest challenge 378 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: I think we we have. When it comes to language, 379 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:16,719 Speaker 1: it's even more pervasive. 380 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, it's a it's a very interesting thing. I 381 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:26,120 Speaker 2: was in Nigeria in Abuja and the pastor leaned over 382 00:28:26,160 --> 00:28:28,560 Speaker 2: and told me, this is what your language sounds like, 383 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:33,160 Speaker 2: and he started talking in that language and I think 384 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 2: you have been to Okay, and we're just learning all 385 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:46,520 Speaker 2: of that because when we studied African American history, it 386 00:28:46,640 --> 00:28:49,680 Speaker 2: started with the ship's landing. Yes, So when I went 387 00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:54,520 Speaker 2: to Africa, I felt like Columbus discovering America. I found 388 00:28:54,520 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 2: my roots, I found my history. I found out why 389 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,080 Speaker 2: I moved the way I moved while I danced the 390 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 2: way I dance, I feel the way I feel. And 391 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 2: it was quite healing to understand that it was not 392 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 2: wrong to be soul full, and that it was appropriate. 393 00:29:10,680 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 2: That our foods are related, our spices, our styles of 394 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 2: cooking and taste and all of that are interrelated. And 395 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 2: some of our language and colloquialisms come from different parts 396 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,720 Speaker 2: of Africa. And learning all of that, I started putting 397 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:29,080 Speaker 2: all this African art all over my house. So you 398 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 2: have to come see all my African art and artifacts 399 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:38,960 Speaker 2: and different stone carvings out of Zimbabwe and other places 400 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 2: that I bought in South Africa and brought home to 401 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 2: so that my children would, while they're proudly embrace being American, 402 00:29:48,040 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 2: they would also recognize their DNA, their roots where they 403 00:29:51,840 --> 00:29:54,680 Speaker 2: came from, and not be ashamed of who they are. 404 00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:58,600 Speaker 2: Because most of the time we see images of Africans 405 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:02,560 Speaker 2: on the news, the public on television, we don't see 406 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:06,120 Speaker 2: anything about Nollywood. We're starting to now, we're starting to 407 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:08,959 Speaker 2: through hip hop and different music. Our artists are starting 408 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,000 Speaker 2: to break down version tre don walls. But on the news, 409 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:15,240 Speaker 2: most of the time, we see big bellied children with 410 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 2: flies all around them, starving to death. We don't see shingha. 411 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:23,800 Speaker 2: We don't see what you showed me in your home. 412 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:27,880 Speaker 2: We don't see pictures like that on the news. So 413 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 2: the average African America doesn't know that there is wealth 414 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 2: in Africa, and they don't realize that it is one 415 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:39,760 Speaker 2: of the most emerging countries in the world, that it 416 00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,640 Speaker 2: has the fastest growing GDP in the world, that it 417 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:47,280 Speaker 2: is a place that while America has been somewhat reluctant 418 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:50,040 Speaker 2: to get engaged in China and everybody else has been 419 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:53,920 Speaker 2: reaching trying to get a foothold into Africa. And now 420 00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 2: the term has emerged. Now I want to hear what 421 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 2: you think about this term. The United States of Africa 422 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:09,160 Speaker 2: Chapter four are United Africa. What is the likelihood of 423 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:13,320 Speaker 2: the continent coming together in a concerted way to raise 424 00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 2: the GDP, to increase trade and to begin to trade 425 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 2: with other Africans around the world, including African Americans, Caribbeans 426 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 2: and elsewhere. 427 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:34,400 Speaker 1: You know, in nineteen sixty three, I think a few 428 00:31:34,440 --> 00:31:37,920 Speaker 1: of our African leaders got together and created what they 429 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: called the African Union. So that has been ongoing since then. 430 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 1: We now have what fifty four countries I think some 431 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:57,600 Speaker 1: call it fifty five, but fifty four countries that form Africa. 432 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:02,480 Speaker 1: The point I always make is that fifty four countries 433 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: is about one point two billion people. India has one 434 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 1: point five billion people and China has one point five 435 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: billion people. What is interesting is there's only one US 436 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:26,040 Speaker 1: ambassador in China and there's only one US ambassador in India, 437 00:32:26,880 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: but there's forty US ambassadors in Africa. So the challenge 438 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 1: that we have to form a united Africa is that 439 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 1: nobody wants to see a united Africa. And the resources 440 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:49,640 Speaker 1: that are applied to keep as separate are real. And 441 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:52,360 Speaker 1: you know, when you are poor or when there's poverty 442 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 1: and somebody gives you a million dollars, it's easy to 443 00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:00,959 Speaker 1: maintain your stances. I want to remain Zimbabwe. I do 444 00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:03,640 Speaker 1: not want to be Africa. I do not want to 445 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 1: be Sadak I do not want to be ecoas I 446 00:33:07,680 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 1: want to because I will maintain the power that I have. 447 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:18,000 Speaker 1: So I think the challenge for a United Africa, if 448 00:33:18,080 --> 00:33:23,760 Speaker 1: I was anyway close, I think I would insist that 449 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: there's only one place where international countries reside in one 450 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:34,800 Speaker 1: So we have one US ambassador for Africa, one UK 451 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,160 Speaker 1: ambassador for Africa, one Indian ambassador for one Chinese ambassador 452 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: as opposed to the plarification which separates us and continues 453 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: to separate it because it's economically correct for them. Yes, 454 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 1: when you look at that from a GDP perspective, and 455 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:58,040 Speaker 1: you're the fastest growing GDP in the world. Incidentally, how 456 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:03,360 Speaker 1: does this decease can impact the GDP of the various 457 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: countries in Africa? And and and addendum to that is 458 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 1: most African Americans and Americans in general do not realize 459 00:34:11,400 --> 00:34:16,760 Speaker 1: that those fifty eight countries U said are my age. 460 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:21,720 Speaker 1: You know, they're young countries. Yeah, they are a result 461 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:26,319 Speaker 1: of colonization themselves and the fight to be free and 462 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 1: to establish themselves as a country. My understanding is the 463 00:34:31,320 --> 00:34:35,960 Speaker 1: colonizers divided the land, even at the expensive dividing families, 464 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:39,400 Speaker 1: at the expensive dividing people so the land is divided. 465 00:34:39,480 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: So Nigeria is a fairly young country. Ghana and are 466 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:46,439 Speaker 1: almost the same age, about sixty sixty eight something like that. 467 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,440 Speaker 1: A friend of mine helped write the constitution for Nigeria, 468 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,640 Speaker 1: and a lot of us don't really realize in the 469 00:34:55,800 --> 00:35:00,399 Speaker 1: United States that all of these divisions were first done 470 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:04,279 Speaker 1: to divide the gold and the silver and the diamonds, 471 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 1: because the real value of Africa was not seen in 472 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 1: its people, it was seen in its resources. How do 473 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:16,040 Speaker 1: you get back that value within the context of states, 474 00:35:16,280 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: and how do you continue to emerge to be the 475 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: GDP that you are emerging. All eyes in the world 476 00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:31,399 Speaker 1: are looking at Africa right now. Chapter five Invest in Africa. 477 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:33,720 Speaker 1: You know, if you take a look at Africa today 478 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: as a combined economy, it's about a three trillion dollar economy, 479 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:43,640 Speaker 1: which in comparison to America is marginal, but it's a 480 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:48,120 Speaker 1: significant economy. If you take a look at the region 481 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: that I belong to, it is called sadak We have Congo, 482 00:35:52,200 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: we have South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique 483 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:04,800 Speaker 1: and a few others. Through that combination of countries. Every 484 00:36:04,880 --> 00:36:08,399 Speaker 1: cell phone that you have uses the resources of that 485 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:13,760 Speaker 1: region everything. So we could actually be saying to ourselves 486 00:36:13,800 --> 00:36:17,440 Speaker 1: as a region, let's build our own cell phones. But 487 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:22,880 Speaker 1: unfortunately it pays to us to continue to be exporters 488 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:23,800 Speaker 1: of the raw material. 489 00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 2: I was gonna ask you about that, and and. 490 00:36:27,400 --> 00:36:31,840 Speaker 1: Through that we are exploited because we have no choice 491 00:36:31,840 --> 00:36:32,799 Speaker 1: at this point in time. 492 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:38,280 Speaker 2: So that's that's not just a lithium, it's coffee, it's tis, 493 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:43,240 Speaker 2: it's diamonds, it's every aspect. They have not been manufactured. 494 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:46,600 Speaker 2: They are just delivered in their row form, paid very 495 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:51,319 Speaker 2: little for the initial form, and then sent around the 496 00:36:51,360 --> 00:36:53,800 Speaker 2: world where the money is added to it and the price. 497 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,400 Speaker 2: What is it being done to change that? If anything? 498 00:36:58,040 --> 00:36:58,840 Speaker 1: Not much. 499 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:02,719 Speaker 3: Anyway, I mean they try. 500 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:09,760 Speaker 1: You know, the most expensive resource in Africa is capital. 501 00:37:13,280 --> 00:37:18,520 Speaker 1: In Zimbabwe, if I want to raise money, it's going 502 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:25,320 Speaker 1: to cost me fifteen to twenty percent. Here that same 503 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:30,720 Speaker 1: money is between two and five percent. So we always 504 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:33,680 Speaker 1: say to ourselves, how can we convince our brothers and 505 00:37:33,760 --> 00:37:38,319 Speaker 1: sisters in America to come and invest in our part 506 00:37:38,360 --> 00:37:43,720 Speaker 1: of the world because their money is cheaper and could 507 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:49,000 Speaker 1: have a lot more impact on the continent. The challenge 508 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:53,760 Speaker 1: we have on the continent is capital, so it becomes 509 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:57,160 Speaker 1: easier to just keep on selling the raw materials, the 510 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:02,160 Speaker 1: lithian the gas, the cold boats, the cold time oil 511 00:38:02,440 --> 00:38:07,239 Speaker 1: oil absolutely rather than producing it. I mean, we've now 512 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:13,240 Speaker 1: had this amazing African Dangotte who now finally they said, 513 00:38:13,320 --> 00:38:18,880 Speaker 1: why is Nigeria exporting crude oil an importing refined products? 514 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:24,360 Speaker 2: Right? Buying your own oil bag had twice the price, 515 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:25,680 Speaker 2: but amazing man. 516 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:29,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think if the African American brothers and 517 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:35,799 Speaker 3: sisters invested in Africa, for example, in those particular arenas, 518 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:39,719 Speaker 3: the return on your investment will be much greater than 519 00:38:39,800 --> 00:38:42,360 Speaker 3: the return and investment that you have here in America. 520 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:45,840 Speaker 2: That's a very interesting thing because two of the companies 521 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:52,640 Speaker 2: that you started hit the stock exchange in Zimbabwe and 522 00:38:52,719 --> 00:38:56,799 Speaker 2: in the UK, so it is possible to invest in 523 00:38:56,840 --> 00:39:00,239 Speaker 2: those companies from here. You don't necessarily have to get 524 00:39:00,280 --> 00:39:02,920 Speaker 2: on a plane and go over to Africa to invest 525 00:39:03,320 --> 00:39:05,719 Speaker 2: in Africa. Talk to us a little bit about how 526 00:39:05,719 --> 00:39:07,640 Speaker 2: that can be done, because what this is really all 527 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:11,200 Speaker 2: about is a global conversation about how we can strengthen 528 00:39:11,239 --> 00:39:16,960 Speaker 2: each other economically and bypass middlemen and create opportunities for 529 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:18,280 Speaker 2: the transference of wealth. 530 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:26,440 Speaker 1: You know, the big problem is there is a silent 531 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 1: war to keep us apart as silent war, and the 532 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:39,359 Speaker 1: issue is not about money, it's about the mindset. So 533 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:43,400 Speaker 1: that's where the real challenge becomes, and actions like this 534 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:49,640 Speaker 1: that you're taking begin to fall and begins to create 535 00:39:49,680 --> 00:39:53,759 Speaker 1: the opportunity for us to talk together. One of the 536 00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:59,560 Speaker 1: ladies I was talking to says she does tours bringing 537 00:39:59,719 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 1: afric Becan Americans into Africa. Unfortunately, until we get more 538 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:06,560 Speaker 1: and more and more and more of us doing that, 539 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:09,280 Speaker 1: it will not happen. 540 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:12,919 Speaker 3: Sorry, I was going to say. I also think that 541 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 3: there's a lot this trust that needs to be built, 542 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:21,560 Speaker 3: because you'll hear many people say, oh, I'm not going 543 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:25,440 Speaker 3: to be going down to Africa because I'm afraid of 544 00:40:25,480 --> 00:40:28,799 Speaker 3: all of the scams and so forth that happened. So 545 00:40:28,880 --> 00:40:32,120 Speaker 3: it's really important when you have a platform like you've 546 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:35,480 Speaker 3: given us today that when you're going to try to 547 00:40:35,560 --> 00:40:41,400 Speaker 3: play in Africa, make sure that you identify brothers and 548 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:45,560 Speaker 3: sisters who have got a track record and who are 549 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:49,400 Speaker 3: going to be able to give you an authentic business 550 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:53,480 Speaker 3: opportunity where you're not going to have the scams. So 551 00:40:53,719 --> 00:40:58,319 Speaker 3: you know, It's about partnering and collaborating and speaking and 552 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:00,000 Speaker 3: coming together to build. 553 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:04,240 Speaker 2: There's a lot of conversation going on, not just amongst 554 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:08,040 Speaker 2: Black Americans, but white Americans as well about investing into 555 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 2: Africa and finding a clear path to do that with 556 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:15,239 Speaker 2: people who are reputable and have the integrity. What do 557 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:19,200 Speaker 2: you suggest as a litmus test to find out when 558 00:41:19,239 --> 00:41:20,440 Speaker 2: it's safe and when it's not. 559 00:41:23,960 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 3: She's a good bit. 560 00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:35,920 Speaker 1: So i invest throughout the continent. And therefore I'm just 561 00:41:36,080 --> 00:41:39,600 Speaker 1: like you. I'm going to a country and I'm looking 562 00:41:39,640 --> 00:41:46,399 Speaker 1: for opportunities. My strategy is to find somebody. I will 563 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:49,319 Speaker 1: never go into a country and think that I can 564 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:54,440 Speaker 1: do it by myself. I spend more energy looking for 565 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:59,920 Speaker 1: that special individual or those special individuals and invest with them. 566 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 1: And I have something to offer, they have something to offer. 567 00:42:04,200 --> 00:42:08,000 Speaker 1: As a combined we will make good music together. So 568 00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:15,120 Speaker 1: I would say the travel, it really is critical. You 569 00:42:15,160 --> 00:42:18,120 Speaker 1: have to go and you have to be participating with 570 00:42:18,360 --> 00:42:21,000 Speaker 1: people in that economy, wherever it. 571 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:25,120 Speaker 2: Is, wherever it is. When you talk about that, explain 572 00:42:25,239 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 2: to them the difference between whereas we can go to 573 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:31,440 Speaker 2: a bank and borrow money the banks there the interest 574 00:42:31,520 --> 00:42:37,640 Speaker 2: rate is pretty high, So you're really looking for investors, 575 00:42:38,520 --> 00:42:44,000 Speaker 2: equity investors, people, public private funds coming in that direction, 576 00:42:44,160 --> 00:42:47,960 Speaker 2: and direct funds from people who are looking for opportunities 577 00:42:48,760 --> 00:42:51,160 Speaker 2: rather than going to the bank. Am I right? And 578 00:42:51,200 --> 00:42:52,560 Speaker 2: can you elaborate on sure? 579 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:57,359 Speaker 1: I think that there's a combination equity as opposed to debt. 580 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:03,120 Speaker 1: My view is that you want to bring in capital 581 00:43:03,239 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 1: is equity partners rather than just do it as debt participants. 582 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:11,640 Speaker 1: The more you can bring in that kind of capital, 583 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:14,920 Speaker 1: I think, the more opportunities that you will explore in 584 00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:19,480 Speaker 1: all over the continent wherever it is, whether it's Nigeria, 585 00:43:19,719 --> 00:43:26,440 Speaker 1: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana. It capital is what I 586 00:43:26,480 --> 00:43:31,000 Speaker 1: think is missing more than anything else. But also skill 587 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:38,480 Speaker 1: technology which you do have access to, and if you 588 00:43:38,560 --> 00:43:41,080 Speaker 1: bring it onto the continent, I think the value that 589 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:43,200 Speaker 1: you bring is very very significant. 590 00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:47,440 Speaker 2: It's starting to happen, Google and Microsoft at different people 591 00:43:47,760 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 2: are starting to set up locations over there. How do 592 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:58,560 Speaker 2: you secure your investment in such a way that you're 593 00:43:58,600 --> 00:44:01,880 Speaker 2: not fearful of it because the laws are different from 594 00:44:02,040 --> 00:44:04,760 Speaker 2: country to country. Over here, you can write a contract 595 00:44:04,760 --> 00:44:09,680 Speaker 2: that's enforceable, it's not necessarily enforceable over there is it 596 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:14,200 Speaker 2: just cut instinct. How do you get to because trust 597 00:44:14,320 --> 00:44:18,640 Speaker 2: is an emotion, but when it comes to money, money 598 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:24,440 Speaker 2: has no emotion. So how do you secure that economic growth? 599 00:44:25,719 --> 00:44:31,440 Speaker 1: I'll give you an example. I went to London in 600 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:38,080 Speaker 1: twenty ten to look for capital and I found a 601 00:44:38,280 --> 00:44:45,240 Speaker 1: US fund which was based in London that was interested 602 00:44:45,280 --> 00:44:52,560 Speaker 1: in investing in my organization. At the time, my president 603 00:44:52,840 --> 00:44:57,040 Speaker 1: was very topical. His name was Robert Mugabi, so most 604 00:44:57,120 --> 00:45:01,920 Speaker 1: people did not want to invest in Babwe. But this 605 00:45:02,040 --> 00:45:05,920 Speaker 1: particular investor said, you know, Shinghai, what you're doing we 606 00:45:05,960 --> 00:45:10,160 Speaker 1: want to be part of. But we can't invest in 607 00:45:10,239 --> 00:45:16,880 Speaker 1: you as a Zimbabwean business. If you list in London, 608 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:22,480 Speaker 1: then we can invest in a London business. Okay, And 609 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:27,520 Speaker 1: I need a capital, so I said, sure, our invest 610 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:31,520 Speaker 1: I'll create a public company. Now, these are structures that 611 00:45:31,600 --> 00:45:37,840 Speaker 1: are very feasible. Here. We can actually create those structures 612 00:45:38,239 --> 00:45:44,360 Speaker 1: which give more comfort to US investors, but still operate 613 00:45:44,560 --> 00:45:47,879 Speaker 1: on the continent. So it's about building the structures that 614 00:45:48,040 --> 00:45:52,520 Speaker 1: remove trust and focus on on on on delivery. 615 00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:57,040 Speaker 2: How have you seen changes since the removal of President 616 00:45:57,080 --> 00:46:00,759 Speaker 2: Mugabe and unfortunately later it is dead. How have you 617 00:46:00,920 --> 00:46:07,200 Speaker 2: seen changes in how Zimbabwe is perceived and received now 618 00:46:07,239 --> 00:46:09,360 Speaker 2: that it is ushering in new leadership. 619 00:46:11,120 --> 00:46:20,920 Speaker 1: You know, for me, what we saw with the exiting 620 00:46:21,000 --> 00:46:27,160 Speaker 1: of mcgabe was the creation of a new mandate and 621 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:31,960 Speaker 1: the mandate that now drives Zimbabwe is economic, whereas for 622 00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:38,040 Speaker 1: President Mcgabe it was the restoration of historical wrongs. The 623 00:46:38,120 --> 00:46:42,200 Speaker 1: new president and the future presidents of Zimbabwe, their focus 624 00:46:42,280 --> 00:46:47,000 Speaker 1: will be on the economics of the country. That's a 625 00:46:47,239 --> 00:46:51,439 Speaker 1: challenge because it's a process. So we have a new 626 00:46:51,480 --> 00:46:54,239 Speaker 1: president who's been there now for seven years, he's got 627 00:46:54,320 --> 00:47:00,760 Speaker 1: until twenty twenty eight. We have next generation of leaders 628 00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:03,439 Speaker 1: that are going to be coming through sooner or later, 629 00:47:04,160 --> 00:47:06,600 Speaker 1: and for me, the mandate will still be the same. 630 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:11,160 Speaker 1: It will be an economic mandate. I think Zimbabwe has 631 00:47:11,239 --> 00:47:18,200 Speaker 1: transitioned well when I look at our agriculture where we 632 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:24,200 Speaker 1: were prior to two thousand to where we are today 633 00:47:24,680 --> 00:47:27,960 Speaker 1: has been the market improvement in the performance of our 634 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:36,759 Speaker 1: agricultural performance. What I think still is lacking from a 635 00:47:36,840 --> 00:47:44,239 Speaker 1: Zimbabwe from a SADAC perspective, is that entrepreneurial zeal with 636 00:47:44,400 --> 00:47:47,279 Speaker 1: financial capabilities. We have a lot of people who want 637 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:50,920 Speaker 1: to be entrepreneurs, but do not have access to capital. 638 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:56,960 Speaker 2: Chapter number six, making money in Africa. 639 00:47:57,280 --> 00:47:59,920 Speaker 1: This is where I think if we can find that solution, 640 00:48:00,040 --> 00:48:04,840 Speaker 1: and we'll see the speeding apple for evolution for zimbabbling. 641 00:48:05,080 --> 00:48:09,279 Speaker 2: This is precisely why I wanted you here because we 642 00:48:09,360 --> 00:48:13,400 Speaker 2: have the same problems here. Access to capital is the 643 00:48:13,400 --> 00:48:19,000 Speaker 2: biggest problem that prohibits African Americans from sustainability. African American 644 00:48:19,000 --> 00:48:21,799 Speaker 2: women are going into business more readily than any other 645 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:25,400 Speaker 2: people group, but it's not sustainable because it's very difficult 646 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:28,480 Speaker 2: to get access to enough capital to get above the 647 00:48:29,160 --> 00:48:34,000 Speaker 2: really big, towering one percent to really get in the 648 00:48:34,040 --> 00:48:38,960 Speaker 2: game on any grand scale. Which brings to bear the 649 00:48:39,080 --> 00:48:45,040 Speaker 2: question what prohibits us from connecting across the waters in 650 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:50,239 Speaker 2: a way that develops a sustainable process. And what you 651 00:48:50,360 --> 00:48:54,200 Speaker 2: brought to mind about incorporating in the UK or in 652 00:48:54,239 --> 00:48:57,680 Speaker 2: the US gives us a middleman and a confort zone 653 00:48:57,840 --> 00:49:01,719 Speaker 2: while we grow together, closing that gap over that next 654 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:05,880 Speaker 2: hundred years or so. And it's a very interesting idea indeed, 655 00:49:05,960 --> 00:49:11,520 Speaker 2: because those countries do have contracts that enable both sides 656 00:49:11,560 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 2: to feel secure in what they're doing. I know that 657 00:49:15,880 --> 00:49:21,520 Speaker 2: your background, your education is in business. It took you 658 00:49:21,760 --> 00:49:24,000 Speaker 2: a minute. And by the way, he is a person 659 00:49:24,040 --> 00:49:26,800 Speaker 2: of faith and he comes out of the Methodist tradition. 660 00:49:27,360 --> 00:49:31,120 Speaker 2: It took you a minute to find your way. You 661 00:49:31,160 --> 00:49:37,839 Speaker 2: weren't an overnight success. You had some setbacks and some 662 00:49:37,880 --> 00:49:42,280 Speaker 2: setups and some turnarounds. For the entrepreneurs that are listening 663 00:49:42,360 --> 00:49:45,120 Speaker 2: out there, as they begin to understand that we have 664 00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:50,359 Speaker 2: similar problems, not just similar skin, not just similar hair, 665 00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:56,440 Speaker 2: We have similar problems. We also have similar struggles in 666 00:49:56,520 --> 00:49:59,640 Speaker 2: getting our businesses up off the ground that often are 667 00:50:00,160 --> 00:50:03,480 Speaker 2: can counterparts think that it's as much easier for us 668 00:50:03,880 --> 00:50:05,839 Speaker 2: over here than it is over there, But we face 669 00:50:05,880 --> 00:50:08,920 Speaker 2: some of the same things here that you do over there. 670 00:50:09,280 --> 00:50:14,200 Speaker 2: Can you speak to us a little bit about how 671 00:50:15,440 --> 00:50:20,239 Speaker 2: how we can take these common problems and find common solutions. 672 00:50:20,280 --> 00:50:23,839 Speaker 2: I've listened to several speakers from over there, and you 673 00:50:23,880 --> 00:50:26,280 Speaker 2: could have picked them up and dropped them off over here. 674 00:50:26,520 --> 00:50:31,480 Speaker 2: And the same issues apply over here that apply over there. 675 00:50:35,200 --> 00:50:35,480 Speaker 2: You know. 676 00:50:38,200 --> 00:50:41,480 Speaker 1: The way I perceive it. You guys have easy access 677 00:50:41,520 --> 00:50:45,960 Speaker 1: to capital than I do. 678 00:50:45,960 --> 00:50:47,520 Speaker 2: Don't you watch too much TV. 679 00:50:53,880 --> 00:51:00,920 Speaker 1: What we have is a continent filled with opportunity, filled 680 00:51:00,960 --> 00:51:09,600 Speaker 1: with opportunity. What we look for our partners that we 681 00:51:09,680 --> 00:51:18,920 Speaker 1: can work with to build structure that access capital. You 682 00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:25,000 Speaker 1: may think you don't have capital as a community, but 683 00:51:25,080 --> 00:51:29,240 Speaker 1: when I look at the economic size of the African 684 00:51:29,280 --> 00:51:36,280 Speaker 1: American this is what one and a half two trillion dollars. 685 00:51:36,800 --> 00:51:39,440 Speaker 1: That's almost the size of the African. 686 00:51:39,000 --> 00:51:41,440 Speaker 3: Economy in terms of spending partner. 687 00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:46,439 Speaker 1: So I don't think you don't have money. I think 688 00:51:46,480 --> 00:51:49,520 Speaker 1: maybe it's how do we harness that capital? 689 00:51:49,960 --> 00:51:52,440 Speaker 2: How do we harness it? And how do we recognize 690 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:55,279 Speaker 2: that we have larger amounts of money but we have 691 00:51:55,440 --> 00:51:56,759 Speaker 2: larger amounts of inflation? 692 00:51:57,120 --> 00:51:57,480 Speaker 1: Sure? 693 00:51:57,800 --> 00:52:02,200 Speaker 2: Okay, so the inflation is so high that what sounds 694 00:52:02,360 --> 00:52:06,200 Speaker 2: large from the pay scale over there, it depletes in 695 00:52:06,320 --> 00:52:09,200 Speaker 2: value over here. And then when you look at the 696 00:52:09,200 --> 00:52:13,799 Speaker 2: fact that the tariffs that are starting to impact globally 697 00:52:14,000 --> 00:52:17,640 Speaker 2: around the world are coming home to roost, bringing the 698 00:52:17,719 --> 00:52:22,480 Speaker 2: inflation even higher. Okay, so there's less distance we make. 699 00:52:22,840 --> 00:52:26,200 Speaker 2: The average African American makes ten percent of what white 700 00:52:26,239 --> 00:52:30,160 Speaker 2: Americans make. That means a dollar for every ten okay, 701 00:52:30,520 --> 00:52:33,520 Speaker 2: a dollar for every ten. Now, the price level is 702 00:52:33,600 --> 00:52:38,080 Speaker 2: based on the general populace, not on the minorities. So 703 00:52:38,239 --> 00:52:40,319 Speaker 2: we have to take that dollar and make it work 704 00:52:40,440 --> 00:52:44,280 Speaker 2: like ten and even though it might be several dollars 705 00:52:44,320 --> 00:52:47,839 Speaker 2: by your standards, by the time we pay a house 706 00:52:47,960 --> 00:52:51,240 Speaker 2: note that's five thousand dollars and for daycare that's twenty 707 00:52:51,239 --> 00:52:54,680 Speaker 2: five hundred dollars, and pay all of those things, we 708 00:52:54,800 --> 00:52:58,560 Speaker 2: don't feel as well off as you all see us. Okay. 709 00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:02,840 Speaker 2: So these kinds of conversations where we can begin to 710 00:53:02,920 --> 00:53:08,200 Speaker 2: understand each other are important because they gender strife, create 711 00:53:08,280 --> 00:53:11,479 Speaker 2: jealousy and anger between us, because you say, why don't 712 00:53:11,480 --> 00:53:13,200 Speaker 2: you come, Why don't you care, why don't you see 713 00:53:13,200 --> 00:53:15,960 Speaker 2: about it? We can't afford to come. We're just now 714 00:53:15,960 --> 00:53:19,400 Speaker 2: starting to get passports. We're just now starting to recognize 715 00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:23,759 Speaker 2: that we're welcome to come. One of the smartest things 716 00:53:23,800 --> 00:53:27,800 Speaker 2: I've seen is several presidents over there extending an invitation 717 00:53:28,239 --> 00:53:33,440 Speaker 2: for African Americans to come home and bypassing visas was huge, 718 00:53:33,960 --> 00:53:38,240 Speaker 2: and by the hundreds of thousands, African Americans are moving 719 00:53:38,719 --> 00:53:42,960 Speaker 2: in that direction. The sustainability of that, in giving them 720 00:53:43,000 --> 00:53:47,239 Speaker 2: the lifestyle that they're accustomed to and the history that 721 00:53:47,320 --> 00:53:49,880 Speaker 2: they have never experienced in their life, is going to 722 00:53:49,880 --> 00:53:52,920 Speaker 2: be the balance that's necessary, I think, in order to 723 00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:57,359 Speaker 2: maintain it. But having you here and having these kinds 724 00:53:57,360 --> 00:54:03,400 Speaker 2: of conversations and creating pathways to success through entrepreneurship, through business, 725 00:54:03,960 --> 00:54:08,680 Speaker 2: through Nollywood, doing deals with Netflix. A lot of people 726 00:54:08,680 --> 00:54:12,520 Speaker 2: don't realize that the power of Nollywood. A lot of 727 00:54:12,880 --> 00:54:16,600 Speaker 2: Nigerian music is becoming quite popular over here, a lot 728 00:54:16,600 --> 00:54:21,279 Speaker 2: of Kenyan music, and Kenya has a lot of emphasis 729 00:54:21,320 --> 00:54:25,560 Speaker 2: on technology that is underplayed over here. There's not much 730 00:54:25,719 --> 00:54:28,359 Speaker 2: articles written about it. Talk to us a little bit 731 00:54:28,560 --> 00:54:33,960 Speaker 2: about what Africa has to offer Chapter number seven. Moving 732 00:54:34,080 --> 00:54:36,320 Speaker 2: back to Africa. 733 00:54:36,440 --> 00:54:42,200 Speaker 3: Yes, so we have a Zimbabwean dynamic woman called Aricana, 734 00:54:42,640 --> 00:54:49,400 Speaker 3: doctor Arikana Chiambori kual and she was the ambassador for 735 00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:53,239 Speaker 3: the African Union to the United States. And she's got 736 00:54:53,280 --> 00:55:00,759 Speaker 3: an organization that is facilitating the pathway to citizen ship 737 00:55:01,080 --> 00:55:07,160 Speaker 3: for African Americans in Africa. And what that organization is 738 00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:11,640 Speaker 3: attempting to do. And I was speaking to the head 739 00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:18,080 Speaker 3: of your she said it was going to be passed 740 00:55:18,080 --> 00:55:21,520 Speaker 3: by the United Nations soon. You're creating a new agency 741 00:55:22,200 --> 00:55:27,319 Speaker 3: for for for the TDJX Foundation. That's exactly right. And 742 00:55:27,719 --> 00:55:32,520 Speaker 3: explained to her that that is such a powerful way 743 00:55:33,239 --> 00:55:39,280 Speaker 3: for UH. Basically, come back home is what we're trying 744 00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:43,319 Speaker 3: to do. And that it doesn't have to be that 745 00:55:43,560 --> 00:55:48,160 Speaker 3: your genealogy happens to be in X country, whether it's 746 00:55:48,280 --> 00:55:51,120 Speaker 3: Nigeria or ghan or wherever it be. You can choose 747 00:55:52,040 --> 00:55:56,280 Speaker 3: where you want to be. You don't have to have necessarily, 748 00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:00,719 Speaker 3: you know, roots that are embedded in in one of 749 00:56:00,719 --> 00:56:04,800 Speaker 3: those countries. And there are several presidents that have signed 750 00:56:04,840 --> 00:56:08,760 Speaker 3: into the pact, into the agreement that if you've come 751 00:56:08,880 --> 00:56:14,400 Speaker 3: and you're going to go into business with other Africans, 752 00:56:14,719 --> 00:56:19,800 Speaker 3: you'll be able to have access to citizenship in that country. 753 00:56:20,360 --> 00:56:27,400 Speaker 3: And so we're definitely were supposed to have the what 754 00:56:27,440 --> 00:56:31,440 Speaker 3: did you call it, the eighth the eighth Summit of 755 00:56:31,840 --> 00:56:35,799 Speaker 3: African Union, and it hasn't. It didn't happen when it 756 00:56:35,840 --> 00:56:38,480 Speaker 3: was supposed to, but it's still going to come up. 757 00:56:38,520 --> 00:56:41,600 Speaker 3: And when that happens, we really would love to partner 758 00:56:42,520 --> 00:56:47,040 Speaker 3: with the TLEJX Foundation to be able to also offer 759 00:56:47,600 --> 00:56:52,239 Speaker 3: your congregants as well as the people involved that the 760 00:56:52,320 --> 00:56:57,120 Speaker 3: ability to also have the pathway and access to citizenship 761 00:56:57,400 --> 00:56:59,200 Speaker 3: for the previously enslaved. 762 00:56:59,080 --> 00:57:03,040 Speaker 2: I think there's a very interesting subject. The Congressional Black 763 00:57:03,080 --> 00:57:07,840 Speaker 2: Caucus went to Ghana. I've made several trips to Ghana 764 00:57:07,920 --> 00:57:12,239 Speaker 2: myself went to Elmina began where the slave ships first 765 00:57:12,280 --> 00:57:16,840 Speaker 2: set sail, and had an opportunity to see it understand 766 00:57:16,880 --> 00:57:20,760 Speaker 2: more fully how religion played a part in it as well, 767 00:57:21,640 --> 00:57:29,880 Speaker 2: in the transaction of slavery, and how religion, as wonderful 768 00:57:29,880 --> 00:57:33,520 Speaker 2: as it is, has also been corrupted by many people 769 00:57:33,600 --> 00:57:37,560 Speaker 2: to become an excuse for abuse and that sort of 770 00:57:37,560 --> 00:57:43,520 Speaker 2: thing down through our history. The invitation alone sparked huge 771 00:57:43,680 --> 00:57:48,560 Speaker 2: interests in this country that we were welcome and invited 772 00:57:48,920 --> 00:57:53,120 Speaker 2: back home, and then understanding how to get there and 773 00:57:53,160 --> 00:57:56,280 Speaker 2: become accost them to it. Because we've been raised American, 774 00:57:57,080 --> 00:58:00,600 Speaker 2: So like Moses being raised Egyptian and then going to 775 00:58:00,680 --> 00:58:05,440 Speaker 2: the Hebrews, there's an identity crisis. We are so Americanized 776 00:58:05,760 --> 00:58:10,919 Speaker 2: in our thinking, in our netflix, in our there are 777 00:58:11,280 --> 00:58:14,320 Speaker 2: the way we do things that we have to learn 778 00:58:15,480 --> 00:58:21,800 Speaker 2: the rich beauty of traditional dance and move and lights 779 00:58:22,120 --> 00:58:26,800 Speaker 2: and action. And I think it comes through relationships like this, Absolutely, 780 00:58:26,960 --> 00:58:32,640 Speaker 2: conversations like this. Investors who invest in the various businesses, 781 00:58:32,680 --> 00:58:35,400 Speaker 2: and there may be at different scales, what kind of 782 00:58:35,480 --> 00:58:40,000 Speaker 2: return do you offer the investors that would motivate them 783 00:58:40,000 --> 00:58:43,280 Speaker 2: to come out of the stock market and perhaps go 784 00:58:43,320 --> 00:58:48,560 Speaker 2: into another direction in terms of investing just in the 785 00:58:48,600 --> 00:58:56,360 Speaker 2: companies that you own, what kind of percentage. 786 00:58:56,000 --> 00:58:59,280 Speaker 1: You know, when we are pitching our companies to private 787 00:58:59,280 --> 00:59:07,240 Speaker 1: equity fund they would ordinarily look at returns of northwards of. 788 00:59:09,840 --> 00:59:10,320 Speaker 3: Which is not. 789 00:59:10,560 --> 00:59:20,120 Speaker 1: Return which is not easy, respectable which is not easy. 790 00:59:20,200 --> 00:59:25,160 Speaker 1: But you know, to attract money, you've got to pay well. 791 00:59:25,240 --> 00:59:29,280 Speaker 2: We have had an amazing time talking to you today. 792 00:59:29,320 --> 00:59:31,520 Speaker 2: We want to thank you. Can you give our guests 793 00:59:31,520 --> 00:59:32,560 Speaker 2: a round of applause? 794 00:59:33,160 --> 00:59:33,520 Speaker 1: Thanks for. 795 00:59:37,800 --> 00:59:41,680 Speaker 2: You have been listening to my next chapter. It should 796 00:59:41,840 --> 00:59:46,920 Speaker 2: spur your ideas and creativity to think beyond your zip code, 797 00:59:47,360 --> 00:59:51,040 Speaker 2: perhaps your customers across the water and not across the street. 798 00:59:51,560 --> 00:59:54,600 Speaker 2: And the more we come together and forge ways that 799 00:59:54,640 --> 00:59:57,640 Speaker 2: we can do business with each other and invest in 800 00:59:57,680 --> 01:00:01,480 Speaker 2: each other, it creates sustainability for us all. I want 801 01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:04,400 Speaker 2: to thank my very special guests for being with us today. 802 01:00:04,880 --> 01:00:08,000 Speaker 2: I want to thank you for listening to my next chapter. 803 01:00:08,360 --> 01:00:11,360 Speaker 2: I hope you find yours and find it soon and 804 01:00:11,400 --> 01:00:15,160 Speaker 2: that it is profitable to bless you and many generations 805 01:00:15,200 --> 01:00:19,640 Speaker 2: to come. Thank you, Shinga, Thank you Karen, it's been 806 01:00:19,720 --> 01:00:20,600 Speaker 2: wonderful to host. 807 01:00:21,160 --> 01:00:22,680 Speaker 3: Thank you for your hospitality. 808 01:00:23,080 --> 01:00:25,560 Speaker 2: Hey, everybody. I want to take this time to thank 809 01:00:25,600 --> 01:00:30,320 Speaker 2: you for watching the Next Chapter podcast. If this conversation 810 01:00:30,520 --> 01:00:35,000 Speaker 2: inspired you, helped you reflect on an idea, or spark 811 01:00:35,120 --> 01:00:39,280 Speaker 2: something new inside of you, make sure to like, comment, 812 01:00:39,760 --> 01:00:46,560 Speaker 2: and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes. Remember, life 813 01:00:46,720 --> 01:00:50,840 Speaker 2: isn't about how you begin, It's about how you finished strong. 814 01:00:51,560 --> 01:00:57,520 Speaker 2: So start your next chapter with us right here every 815 01:00:57,560 --> 01:00:58,080 Speaker 2: week