from the MIghTy African

When I first heard about BarCamp from my GhanaThink buddy, I was apprehensive. What is this BarCamp that I have heard of before? I still don’t know why it’s called BarCamp, even after helping organize BarCamp Ghana. What I do know is is that the concept of a BarCamp is excellent. It has almost everything I want in a gathering of minds, hands and people. BarCamp Ghana 08 came off yesterday, December 22nd at the Kofi Annan Center of Excellence for ICT – AITI. Ever since I arrived in Ghana on Tuesday the 16th, I’ve had many ideas of a blog and subject matters to write about, but the excitement that is BarCamp generated for me trumps all.

My first real experience with BarCamps was BarCamp Africa. It was organized by a group of people, mostly non-African who were passionate about or had some interests in Africa. Google sponsored the BarCamp, giving us a whole building for free – an auditorium, a kitchen/bar with free food all day (yay!) and more than 10 rooms all with internet, power, etc. Attendees were charged $25 which was a bargain fee, considering how much the HBS ABC costs, or even SABF. (Google these). When I first got to the Google premises, the organizers were wearing T-shirts, yes tee-shirts, not suits, smart casual shirts and slacks, but the same attire I slept with the other day. They gave me one and some info, and I proceeded to the auditorium. More people there were wearing these white T’s (you’d have thunk we were going to break to partake in some hip-hop video.

Hey Osagyefo,

Football is such a beautiful sport, is it not? The excitement level at which my last letter came to you has stepped up a few notches. Football is so beautiful that it even drives political opponents to shut their beaks and support the same team. Only God knows what would be happening in Kenya if the Harambee Stars were at the African Cup of Nations in Ghana. Don't you think the youth would sit glued to their televisions instead of running around burning down churches and killing people? Football is uniting many people and African businesses are buying into this unity.

Imagine the excitement MTN is having at their offices across Africa. MTN is the title sponsor of the Cup of Nations and so everywhere you go, MTN is there. Check out their marketing slogans - There is no stopping you, GO!; GO be part of a bigger family; GO make that call; GO stand out; GO be famous. No wonder the unofficial rallying cry for your Black Stars is GO, Black Stars, GO! MTN has a football website dedicated to African football, they are the title sponsor of the African clubs Champions league, and they have African entertainment websites. Let's just say the believe in Africa. How can't you love them?