3 #DumsorMustStop Vigil Lessons

Here are my three take-aways from today’s #DumsorMustStop vigil.

1. A few people, in this case celebrities, can make a difference. Thanks to their leadership, we were given a venue to speak up. The feeling of walking down the street with 1000 (2000?) others who also think we deserve better was like…a cold shower after a night under a non-moving fan.

2. We can do better. More people can show up next time, but more importantly, those who come should know how powerful we are if we optimise the protest in terms of:

  • spacing (one arms length to the person in front of you one to the person next to you),
  • speed (slowly, like a tortoise winning against the hare!) and
  • place ( you want to walk ON THE ROAD to create maximum impact of the protest, not on the curb, etc).

3. Clearly, Ghanaians are tired of sitting in the dark. Seeing thousands of Ghanaians dressed in black floating down the street holding candles and kerosene lamps – and one fridge! –  must be the government’s nightmare.

Tomorrow Sunday 17 May, 2015, at 3.30pm BloggingGhana will discuss the vigil and how social media can play a role in #DumsorMustStop. If you want to attend, let us know here.

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#BlogCamp15 Coming Soon

BloggingGhana proudly presents the fourth BlogCamp – in Kumasi –  with the theme “Social Media for Good” this Saturday May 9th, 2015.
BlogCamp 13 collage
BlogCamp is a full day networking and educational event is for bloggers and social media enthusiasts, and as I know I have many among my readership, I hope to see some of you there! There will be a PhotoWalk in Kumasi suburbs, talks and panels on the topical topic as well as general workshops on blogging, photography and social media for business.

Register to secure your free ticket. (Information on buses from Accra when you have your ticket)

I will be Tweeting away, shaking as many hands as I can and try to in every possible way embody BloggingGhana’s two foundational pillars: technology and friendship!
So, if for some reason you cannot be physically present, follow #BlogCamp15 on Twitter and other social media channels on Saturday!
Photo Collage from BlogCamp13. Read about BlogCamp12, 14.
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Carry Me Home: Gotland, Sweden

This video is an advert for vacation on the island where I am from, Gotland. As you can guess it means good land. The advertising concept is the same as last few years: Gotland is so diverse, a vacation is like a world tour! Scotland? Greece? Kenya? Jamaica?

Regardless if you agree, seeing so many familiar vistas brings a smile to my face. The film also portrays dreamy moments such as the ones we hope for when we think of vacation: sun kissed faces, skips into blue water, road trips filled with laughter, delicious meals and orange sunsets – less of the crying kids due to hunger and poor planning, water too cold to swim in, arguments with family, expensive and drab food you had to queue for, cursing when you lost your way to the beach and arriving only when the party is over…

Still, it is a beautiful film and it makes me clinch the printout of this year’s ticket home. Or around the world. 

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The Next Big Thing: Adomaa

Among dumsor and awards, a new Ghanaian star is rising on the dark sky. Adomaa is a young singer who has become a YouTube phenomenon with two well-produced videos.

The first one is chronicling the history of Ghanaian music (seen by 7800 at this moment).

The second one a single of her own*, a mash-up between a StoneBwoy cover, Baafira, plus a Sarkodie feat. (the late) Castro song, Adonai, that sounds a bit like Asaa or Efya, but with a more Ghanaian beat and a few more “alleluia’s” in there…(seen by 18 000 at time of writing)

My friends who know music are terribly excited and, I have to say after watching the videos, I feel it too, Adomaa could be the next big thing from Ghana!

Find Adomaa on SoundCloud and YouTube.

*Edit thanks to someone who ehum, knows the Gh music scene and has me on speed dial, thank you!

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Busy Week and Ghana Blogging and Social Media Awards

Last week was spectacular and spectacularly busy. The semester at Ashesi is wrapping up, my daughter is on break from school and BloggingGhana has its events season. Last week, as I mentioned in an earlier blog post, was Ghana Blogging and Social Media Awards. This week is BlogCampGhana in Kumasi (get your own free ticket here!).

 

The awards night was amazing. The highlight for me was walking the red carpet and seing the venue in all its beautiful lighting and décor courtesy of PlanIt events. My colleagues were also looking fabulous and it was a pleasure to talk to a joined social media crowd away from keyboard as we say…

GBSMA collage first

I spoke about the journey of BloggingGhana from 2008 until today.

GBSMA collage general

I also presented the award to best new Blog. The award was given to YesiYesi, Ghana’s first satire news site, much well deserved in my view.

GBSMA collage Present

The team had done a great job and the energy of Ghana’s most active social media users in one room was palpable. I wish you had all been there!

 All photos courtesy of BloggingGhana’s FB page and tweaked by Pixlr.

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