Celebrate Africa Day- Africa Day Media Roundtable

Celebrate Africa Day! Africa Day Media Roundtable

Transforming Narratives: Strategies for Effective Engagement Between the African Diaspora and African Media

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Description

Celebrate Africa Day on May 25! Join us as we explore approaches to transforming the African narrative through effective engagement between the Diaspora and African Media.

The African Diaspora contributed over 83bn USD to the African continent in 2020, making them the largest investor in the continent. Meaningful engagement between the diaspora and the African media can improve awareness and amplification of the role of the African Diaspora as a major contributor to the continent’s growth. Yet, a disconnect currently exists between the African media and the African diaspora. There are few avenues that bring the African media and African diaspora together. There is a need for these two powerful groups to work collaboratively to amplify the needs, successes, and affairs of the continent and its diaspora.

In celebration of Africa Day, the African Diaspora Network and Baobab Consulting host a one-hour roundtable event, welcoming African journalists with the aim of improving relationships between the media and the diaspora and fostering an improved pipeline of information flow between both sides. Join us as we explore the needs of the African media, what interests them in the African diaspora, and how to access and use their platforms to amplify and exchange news and inform communities on current events and trends on the continent and the Diaspora.

Speakers

Evelyn is a multimedia journalist at KAFTAN TV Nigeria. She leads the Library, Content, and Broadcast (LCB) department in digital asset management and strategic communications. Evelyn joined Baobab Consulting, an Africa-focused social impact firm, as Catalyst in April 2021 and contributes to the production of multimedia content for family foundations and international organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering from All Nations University, Ghana and a masters degree in Communications, Culture, and Technology from Georgetown University, USA. Evelyn is an IMF Youth fellow and anchors the weekend news on KAFTAN TV – StarTimes CH124. She also writes a dedicated column, Global Perspectives on KAFTAN Post where she covers issues relevant to public policy development, including media, education, and technology policy.

Ciku is an author, journalist, communication and strategy specialist, adventurer and travel writer. She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She is a longtime contributor to Quartz Africa, and has authored almost 50 articles for the site, on topics as wide-ranging as the perils of traveling with an African passport to the optimism inspired by Africa’s first NFT art collections. She is the author of two mystery novels (Dance of the Monkeys and Of goats and poisoned oranges), and has written for a variety of outlets, including African Arguments, OkayAfrica, and The Africa Report. Ciku has a wealth of communication and project management experience, having worked for and served as a communication advisor to Dalberg Advisors, Open Society Initiative of West Africa, and The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund. Ciku has a bachelor of science degree in management from MIT and speaks English, Swahili, and French.

Akindare Okunola is a multimedia storyteller, journalist, podcaster and communications strategist. He is currently the Content & Communications Manager, West Africa at Global Citizen. Prior to Global Citizen, Akindare covered technology, pop culture, lifestyle, and social development across Africa for publications like TechCabal and Pulse Nigeria, before leading Communications at fintech startup FairMoney. When he isn’t working, you’ll find him listening to music, recording his podcast (The Shrine), or window shopping sneakers.

JC Whittington is currently a video journalist at POLITICO in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Bowie, Md., just on the outskirts of the United States of America’s capital, where she cultivated her interests in politics and journalism. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master’s degree from Georgetown University in journalism. At POLITICO, Whittington covers the White House, Congress and all things policy/politics. She also is a professor at Georgetown University, where she is teaching the next generation of journalists.

Felix Maringa is a Kenyan journalist and a Deutsche Welle News (The German International Broadcaster) International Correspondent based in Nairobi Kenya. He Previously worked at Kenya’s 24 Hours news Channel KTN-News where he produced Morning Express show and Bottomline Africa amongst other shows.He also worked with CHAMS Media Limited where he produced features and documentaries that ran on various media outlets within the Kenyan space. He is a an events Moderator and Corporate MC with the ability to turn the energy in a room anytime, he steps on stage. In his Five years as a journalist Felix has covered the Kenya 2017 election, reported for DW News on Somalia and Kenya, covered Health, Agriculture, The Covid-19 pandemic and other regional human interest stories. He has traversed the East African Nations and believes there is so much more to be told about the pride of our continent. Felix holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, from Daystar University. He is both A youth leader and a media practitioner per excellence.