Tweeting the #WEFAfrica Made In Africa session

I am a big proponent of Made in Ghana and Made in Africa products. So when I saw the "Made in Africa" panel session at the World Economic Forum event on Africa, I was interested in attending it. Seeing Anant Singh on the panel had me sold. Joining Singh in the session were Xavier-Luc Duval (Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mauritius), Jubril Adewale Tinubu (GCEO, Oando Plc), Rich Lesser (global CE and president, The Boston Consulting Group) and Tabitha M. Karanja (CE, Keroche Breweries Ltd). It was moderated by Robyn Curnow (CNN Africa correspondent) and the session was broadcast on CNN. I had been in a session with Wale Tinubu earlier that week where I learnt a lot. See the blog post here.

One thing I always do when I am in South Africa is look to buy the latest local movies that are great. Anant Singh has been directing and producing a bunch of them. Amongst his work include Sarafina, Cry, The Beloved Country, Yesterday, Jozi, Shooting Bokkie and the upcoming Mandela: The Long Walk to Freedom. Funny thing is, everytime I saw Anant Singh's name while watching a movie, I thought of him as an Indian. Seeing him speak on this panel about the local (Mzansi) movie industry made me realize he's really South African. And then again, via Trevor Noah, I had learnt that Durban has the most number of Indians outside in India. I am not going to believe that till I visit Durban and see it myself and dance to the house hits under an Afrotainment haven.

Either way, here are some tweets from myself and others that captured the session

Mentality we drove right through the company, "Think global, but act local" - Jubril Adewale Tinubu in "Made in Africa" session #WEFAfrica.
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

Africa needs to open up and look inward, and breaking down the African national barriers is a sure way forward. #WEFAfrica
— Oluwaseyi Abidoye (@Seyidoye) May 9, 2013

Attending the #WEF Africa with my fellow Global Shapers Marina-Abidjan hub and Gabrielle-Lomé hub ! Go #shapeafrica twitter.com/LoveLeeR/statu…
— Yousra Cherif (@LoveLeeR) May 9, 2013

"In Mauritius, we have created a reputation whereby industries are able to benefit from it. Benefit from the brand" - PM. #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"We've seen an evolution of trade, with indigenous businesses employing 1000's & creating a better quality of life - Tinubu". #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"Through an #Mzansi incentive program, the local film industry has expanded & grown so well". - Anant Singh (Film Producer). #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

Anant Singh produced the famous movie Sarafina and is now working on Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Excellent cinema. #WEFAfrica. #Lekker!
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

Nollywood started off with many home movies with bad quality, but now sees much better films. Some incorporate corporations too. #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"I've been to different places around Africa and switched on the TV & seen #Nollywood movies". - Wale Tinubu of OANDO #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

I love how Wale Tinubu of OANDO keeps on repeating homegrown success stories. We think alike. This is what we should be doing. #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

There's an Indomie Noodles mention from the BCG CEO. Yup, great case of a localized quality product. #WEFAfrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

yay @abocco asking a question. that's whats up! #wefafrica1. how do we produce quality movies! 2. how to manage scale & distribution?
— kc odonkor (@kcodonkorGH) May 9, 2013

"First n foremost, it's about the story. Not so much the budget behind the movie". Anant Singh #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

We need to see more co-production n treaties between various African countries n produce movie collabos. Via Anant Singh. #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"We worked with a Kenyan cast to produce a Kenyan film which has also been awarded. Get an engaging story". - Anant Singh #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

Tinubu: Nigeria limited spending n stuck to it. Government has pretty mucu privatized everything except power. #PHCN #NEPA!!! #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"We have a thriving indigenous private sector. Wale Tinubu is gonna become my @patrickawuahjr person in Nigeria". #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

Robyn of @cnn talking about her show called Marketplace Africa where stories of business are told. Good she brought that in. #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

"Even in talking about HIV-AIDS in a movie, like in Yesterday, you can have a story of triumph"- Anant Singh (film producer) #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

What's the outlook? Is it off the 84 year old man who never went to school or the one who has finally decided to go to school? #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

1 word to communicate #madeinafrica from panelists - originality, confidence, success, opportunity, diversity, exciting. #wefafrica
— Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@Abocco) May 9, 2013

You can watch the full session here