A new Amharic e-book titled Theatres for Change by Mihret Massresha was officially launched this week.
The e-book is a methodology handbook focusing on how to generate, develop, direct, act and stage research based interactive dramas. Seven plays the author of the e-book wrote, directed and staged through 2006 to 2017, one with Afan Oromo version, are included in this book.
“The book is intended to serve as a practical guide and a resource material for in-school and out-of-school youth groups, theatres, government organizations and civil societies, as well as for amateur and professional theatre practitioners. They can use this material as they employ drama as a tool of addressing various social issues,” Mihret says.
According to the author, the book can help raise awareness and communication efforts on wide-ranging social causes such as health and education, agriculture and service provision, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, ethics and anticorruption, corporate social responsibility and social accountability, human right and democracy, environment protection and conservation and so on.
Such efforts can be more effective with the use of research based interactive approaches like Theatre for Change, a change that the country is striving to achieve. The book can also be a good policy input for shaping the future of Ethiopian Theatre.
“Critics, trainers in the area, art correspondents, students, scholars, translators, potential patrons/ partners, policy makers, publishers, development communicators and anyone interested are warmly welcome to contribute in this instrument of change, which in its own way can play a vital role in the development and democratization process of Ethiopia, through reading and reflecting on this material,” Mihret said.
“Interestingly, the book is completed during this covid period. The method can be customized to covid preventive mode, and expected to be widely promoted in the post-covid period. I am extremely glad to present this book for the Ethiopian public,” the author concluded.
Theatres for Change
Small businesses in Africa must innovate to survive COVID-19
Dorothy Tembo is the acting Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, (ITC) a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. In June, the ITC launched a report titled “COVID-19: The Great Lockdown and its Impact on Small Business.” In an interview with Africa Renewal, Tembo discusses the report, the role of women and youth in post-pandemic recovery in Africa, among other topics. Excerpts;
What key messages does your newly released report on COVID-19 and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) convey?
The first is that MSMEs matter, and they must be at the center of any post-pandemic recovery effort. Second, there is a disruption of the global supplies that these MSMEs are a part of. The third message is that, going forward, we need to think carefully about how we support MSMEs, making sure we push in a direction of more resilient value chains that can withstand disruptions in the future.
The report states that MSMEs, especially in poor countries, are disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Why is this the case?
Poor countries face huge economic challenges. The pandemic compounded an already bad situation. For years, these countries have cried out for assistance to build infrastructure that supports economic development. In these countries, businesses are relatively small and cannot access finance. Some of these countries are landlocked and therefore the cost of doing business is much higher than in the others.
The Africa Union’s Silencing the Guns 2020 campaign, if successful, could strengthen countries’ resilience in recovery. Is that correct?
Absolutely. If we could have a situation where peace reigns in countries, that would be an opportunity to consolidate development efforts.
Your report paints a gloomy picture of the situation of MSMEs in Africa. For example, one in five small firms would be bankrupt within five months and $2.4 billion worth of exports is expected to be lost this year. Any good news at all?
You’re right. We should not underestimate the impact of COVID-19 on countries. But I think there is a glimmer of hope. The current situation presents an opportunity to reflect on what to do going forward to enable MSMEs become more resilient. There are potential opportunities.
First is the possibility for countries and companies to start innovating, because small enterprises tend to be agile and able to adapt. For example, some companies we are working with are able to conduct e-commerce and have survived. So, innovation is a possibility in terms of existing value chains or in doing something completely new.
Second, we have an opportunity to rethink how we develop more resilient value chains that can accommodate future difficult situations.
Third is to explore more sustainable production options that, in the long term, are cheaper and environmentally friendly.
The final point is, there is an opportunity for countries to consider their product range. Many countries depend on a single or a few commodities. They could now look at a broader product range as well as diversification of markets. Africa can look at the opportunities that come with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in terms of value add, within the continent, even as countries look at the global markets.
Many people believe that African youth can capably lead the innovation charge. What are your views on this?
I agree. This is something we have observed from our work with young people in Africa. If you look at some of the sectors where the shift has occurred, the digital side of things for example, it’s the youth who are involved, and they are pushing the trend and showing their ability.
Also, the youth tend to think outside the box and can reposition themselves quickly. We must give them priority. They are the future and we cannot leave them behind.
Your report offers a 15-point plan of action. How do you ensure that your recommendations are implemented by the MSMEs, the business support organizations and the various governments?
The action plan provides some guidelines in terms of what the three stakeholder groups should be looking at, that is the immediate steps they can take. These guidelines were drawn from our engagement with different companies in different countries. And the guidelines speak to the core issues that are affecting these countries.
Countries see the relevance of what we’re doing. They want to address the challenges they are facing. The ITC and others ensure that when countries decide to implement our recommendations, that we work with them to provide the necessary technical assistance or any required handholding.
Women constitute a huge percentage of Africans engaged in informal trade. Given that women are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, is it reasonable to suggest that they be given priority in any recovery assistance?
Absolutely, and not only because of COVID-19. Women’s economic participation has been very limited. In most cases, women are not very engaged or allowed to participate in business. Even when they can participate, they’re likely workers and when they own a business, they are small operations that cannot grow because of various reasons.
Women’s businesses are likely to be closed as a result of the pandemic; therefore, any form of financial assistance to companies must consider the plight of women or be viewed through the gender lens. The ITC has designed a women’s empowerment programme called SheTrades under which we aim to connect three million women to markets. Even now, women are unable to get the necessary information to access the resources being provided within the COVID-19 context.
Somebody told me a very interesting story about a border in southern Africa. At that border, two lines were formed: one for males and another line for females. The line for the males was cleared ahead of the one for the females. By the time the line for women was cleared, the men had been in the markets for hours and had sold their goods. These may appear simple, but they do have a huge impact on how business is conducted and how opportunity is lost.
What is the timeframe for connecting three million women to the market?
Our commitment is that by 2021 we will have connected three million women to the market. We have already gone beyond half of that number.
Given the disruptive impact of COVID-19, can you still meet the 2021 target?
I believe we can. For the simple reason that the demand to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is even higher now than before. I remain optimistic. We will keep pushing ourselves, understanding the challenges that we face.
How do you connect the women to the market?
We have identified some core issues that make women uncompetitive in business. One is a lack of access to finance. You still have some countries asking women for their husband’s approval before accessing a loan. And interest rates for loans are too high and unaffordable.
Also, some policies don’t support women’s economic advancement. So, we are working with governments under the SheTrades initiative to determine precisely the problems women face and try to address those problems. We must think differently regarding women’s access to finance. Can we think of nontraditional ways that women can access finance?
Is such thinking going on?
Yes, it is. We are working with different partners. We are part of the SDG 500, which is an initiative that involves other UN agencies. We are collaborating with the private sector and some foundations. The objective is to mobilize about $500 million to support MSMEs, particularly those led by women, to access resources with minimal requirements.
Developing countries export a significant amount of inputs to other regions for the production of personal protective equipment (PPEs). In the context of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, is ITC supporting Africa in producing PPEs?
Our support is much broader than just for PPEs because the foundation of the AfCFTA is trade liberalisation. It’s how Africa positions itself to maximize the opportunities in free trade.
In the current context, is there an opportunity for African countries to produce PPEs? Yes. And this is already starting to happen. But at what cost and are we in a position to produce to meet the demand of the entire continent? I believe there is scope for improvement because we are still importing from outside.
You were heavily involved in trade matters in your country [Zambia]. What are your views on Africa’s free trade area?
I am a believer in free trade and Africa should embrace this opportunity. But what needs to happen is that the level of political commitment should increase. In operationalizing the agreement, participating countries must come through on their commitments. Africa is positioned to attract investments. It has resources for domestic production. It has human resources. We must now organise ourselves better.
What support is ITC providing MSMEs in Africa in these trying times?
Our mandate includes working with MSMEs in support of economic development in developing countries. We support countries to better understand what has confronted them [COVID-19] these last few months. Through surveys, we have information on issues specific to certain countries. Our report builds on those efforts. We have the action plan, but alongside that, we work directly with businesses so they can navigate these challenging times.
We work with businesses to find different ways of managing the business-to-business interaction that used to be face-to-face. Now businesses use online platforms to trade. We have continued to provide consolidated information through the Global Help Desk, which is a one-stop shop for all trade-related information.
The post-COVID 19 geopolitics
Geopolitical rivalry, and the reasons that sustain it, has not stopped with coronavirus. Depending on its depth and duration, the crisis could lead to a more cooperative or a more divided world. Or it could lead to ongoing tension between these two alternatives for an indefinite period. Here are some core tenets of the current geopolitical environment: In absolute terms all states or groups of states are going to emerge weakened from this crisis. Andres Ortega, Senior Research fellow at the Elcano Royal Institute in Spain stated that the world may witness greater or lesser geopolitical rivalry, but based on weaker powers. This could possibly result in temptations to overreach.
However, they come along with reduced abilities to act upon them. The UN has been completely absent during the crisis. Only a restoration of trust among the great powers will be capable of establishing the centrality of the UN Security Council. The WHO has proved inadequate. A much better equipped global health system is needed. The G20 worked in 2018 because there was United States, British and French leadership.
Andres Ortega noted that now, with the Saudis in the chair not so much. At the present time, the G20 is being reduced to a framework lacking genuine capacity for coordination. The existing structures do not work. Here are some of the most likely structural developments: Acceleration of the process of de-Westernization. This was already underway owing to the rise of the East, which could, nonetheless, be slowed down, although not reversed by the crisis, as well as because of the internal divisions within the West. One of the intriguing questions: Will we become more “Asiatic” in terms of a general mindset, and therefore more community-minded and less individualistic?
According to Andres Ortega, the decline of Europe has been described for a long, long time. Currently, there are even real concerns about the collapse of the EU if it is not able to react in a concerted fashion post-COVID 19. Conversely, the reality shock of, and the pressures from, the COVID 19 crisis may be strong enough to bring about new economic and geopolitical progress towards European integration. During the pandemic, United States global leadership has been completely absent, in marked contrast to the Obama administration’s reaction to the Ebola epidemic. One factor that will weigh decisively on scenarios over the medium term is whether President Donald Trump is re-elected in November.
Alexei Bayer, a New York based Economic Analyst stressed that a Democrat such as Joe Biden in the White House from January – likely with a female Vice President who could replace him at any time, if needed – could drive a more multilateral approach. That would imply more attention being given to the importance of allies to the United States, while the United States distancing to Russia and China would be maintained.
Alexei Bayer further noted that, the United States Chinese rivalry will continue. This rivalry will become a structural factor in the new world order, especially with regard to the struggle for technological and ideological domination. China, following its management of the health crisis, has seen an opportunity to bolster its international image and utility. However, as more becomes known about what actually happened with the outbreak, China’s currently rather good image may change. In addition, China has major internal economic and social problems, which may undermine the financial capabilities it has earmarked for some of its geopolitical instruments, such as the Belt and Road Initiative. Even so, the world’s center of gravity will continue shifting towards the East, including in ideological terms.
Frank Vogl, Co-founder of Transparency International and author of “Waging War on Corruption: Inside the Movement Fighting the Abuse of Power” stated that there are many other pressing issues to be dealt with. On most of them, trendlines are not moving in a positive direction. For example, the need to prioritize national aid for the underprivileged will reduce development aid even further and also cast even greater doubt on the attainment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. And, of course, we are back at a time where countries only a short while ago being deemed as emerging may well be submerging. That isn’t just true for Africa and Latin America. Due to the steep fall in the oil price, Russia faces severe problems.
Andres Ortega adamantly argued that there will be three scenarios for the path ahead. Amidst this convoluted and heavily burdened global landscape, let me set out three illustrative examples as base scenarios. In doing that, I am fully aware of the dangers of simplification. But one way or another, we need to attempt to get a grasp of a reality that is enormously complex.
The first scenario is “Each for himself”. Andres Ortega stated that the United States, the self-ascribed richest country on earth, has already reached a staggeringly high unemployment levels. But it certainly isn’t just there that the lure of deglobalization (“my country first”) is offered up as a way out. Social unrest can further strengthen the populists and authoritarian regimes. Presumably well-established democracies will possibly have to contend with the collapse of the middle classes. If not global chaos, the forces of de-Westernization and de-Europeanization will find further fuel.
The second scenario is “Collective international intelligence”. According to Andres Ortega, this is the rosy scenario. While the health crisis persists over the mid-long term, the spirit and logic of real international cooperation kicks in, both in the fight against the virus and in the recovery from the economic crisis. The G20 provide useful fiscal stimulus measures and there are moves toward a global health system. There is a gentle reform of capitalism, providing for a greater role for the public sector. Social protests are limited thanks to direct aid and lines of credit for companies.
Thus, there is limited de-globalization. We even see greater European integration, with the financial and political institutions working in the same direction. Trust in governments recovers. Geopolitical confrontation between the United States and China, and with Russia, is considerably lowered. At times, it seems as if the spirit of a single humanity could thrive.
The third scenario is “Step by step muddling through”. Andres Ortega noted that here is the middle scenario: The crisis persists over the short-medium term. There is a degree of international cooperation in the healthcare field, but there is no coordination in the fiscal-economic realm. The economy in the EU as a whole starts to recover slowly, but it does not revert to its position prior to the crisis, remaining for a time in depression. Social protests rise due to the high levels of unemployment which show no sign of abating, but the system does not collapse. While there are localized coronavirus events, we do not see a reactivation of global flows.
What we see is more nationalism and protectionism. The EU remains half-built. The European Central Bank (ECB), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Commission all function, but the European Council does not succeed in coordinating itself and acting in an integrated way on the joint fiscal stimulus issue. It is clear that the second scenario is the most advantageous, while the first is the least advantageous. The likely outcome of a “new normality” is a mix.
SONS OF ETHIOPIA & SON OF THE SOIL
“Let’s build a new world together…now go get into good trouble…” Congressman John Miles Lewis.
ADMAS, a 1980’s Ethiopian band consisting of Abegasu Shiota, Henock Temesgen, Tewodros Aklilu and Yosef Tesfaye, recorded “Sons of Ethiopia” in 1984; a long lost album now revived. Washington Post’s Chris Richards, calls the Frederiksberg Records re-release “…rare…precious and inimitable…sounds like nothing else. Admas specialized in paradox, generating exquisite new grooves that felt high-tech and low-budget, worldly and local, futuristic and nostalgic, funky and delicate…an expression of exploration and loss.” Admas was trained in music during the early Derg Era, but following the Red Terror, they fled to Washington DC, creating music to fit those devastating times.
After 35 years in the music industry, working exclusively with artists on the cutting edge of social issues, I can say “Sons of Ethiopia” is a truly delightful discovery. My career in Artists Management began in New York City in 1985 so I am too familiar with the sounds of that period. The last track on the album, “Tez Alegn Yetintu,” is moving with its melodic filled two-minute intro followed by almost six minutes of keys and synthesized sounds including the good ole drum machine keeping copious timing. But if you close your eyes and listen carefully, recalling the rich history of Ethiopian music and maestros like Dr. Mulatu Astatke and crooners like Mahmood Ahmed, you can imagine a stage filled with the Ethiopian band of brothers, donning carefully coiffed afros, dressed in the best Habesha libs, pouring out their hearts – pain and hope, anger and love, despair and defiance – forcing you to sway and groove to their infectious rhythms. Needless to say, this precious find is a great addition to the discography of Ethiopian music, providing both pride and pause, available on youtube.
All things considered, humanity’s pursuit of happiness has been expressed in many forms worldwide. However, I nominate African Americans for the prize of the broadest spectrum of expressions bringing attention to injustice. Artists like Billie Holiday, John Coltrane and painter Romare Bearden were part of the 1920’s cultural explosion historically known as the Harlem Renaissance. While 1968 Olympic “fists up” athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, and most recently NFL’s Colin Kapernick, taking a knee during the anthem, have ensured representation in sports spaces. Naturally African American preachers and politicians have also taken the helm with their voices including the right Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. who preached non-violence from the pulpit of Atlanta’s Ebeneezer Baptist Church. Both King and Ebeneezer would come to the forefront this week as Congressman John Lewis, one of the “Big Six” organizers of the DC rally famous for the MLK “I Have a Dream” speech, was laid to rest at Ebeneezer. Eulogized by President Barak Obama with speeches from Presidents Bush and Clinton, it was a fitting farewell for the congressman dubbed the “Conscience of the Congress”.
Lewis endured police beatings and numerous arrests from the age of 20, all part of plans and sacrifices leading to major changes in America’s racist laws and policies including the 1965 Voting Rights Act. He was a husband, father and mentor to many; a legend who also loved Africa. His visit to Ghana during the Year of Return also commemorating four hundred years of slavery in America was exactly one year ago with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, by his side, condemning slavery as a “grave evil”. Honorable John Lewis’ last photo opp at age 80, was just a few hours after receiving chemo therapy for pancreatic cancer last month. Arms crossed, standing strong and steady on the newly named Black Lived Matter Plaza, feet from the Whitehouse and its current clueless occupant; a photo does say a thousand words. But in true Congressman Lewis form, who was always surrounded by young people, you can enjoy his presentation, more like a performance, dancing to “Happy” by Pharrel Williams in his office; recorded by his cajoling staff with the US flag, solemnly standing in the background, reminding us that even the most serious spaces dealing with the most confounding issues, find time to be happy for the blessings we do have.
Lewis’ name was added to the Diaspora African Forum (DAF) Sankofa Wall in Accra Ghana, next to his wife’s name, Lillian Miles Lewis, placed there by the Congressman exactly a year ago. Ambassador Erieka Bennett, Head of DAF Mission, reminded the socially spaced attendees of all walks of life, “As we celebrate 2020 Emancipation Day, we also celebrate the life and legacy of a dear Brother, friend and fighter for equal rights who often urged us saying, “Let’s build a new world together…now go get into good trouble…” “.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
