Archive for the 'Heroes' Category

President Barack Obama’s speech on Africa in Ghana.

Published on July 11, 2009 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

I have just been watching the much anticipated speech by President Barack Obama in Accra, Ghana this afternoon to the Ghanaian Parliament on his first official trip to Africa as President of the United States of America. Much of what President Obama had to say we already know as African’s. He has delivered a speech that encapsulates the negative and positive aspects that we know about Africa, ranging from corruption to peaceful elections, from war to peace, from tribalism to entrepreneurship.

In a nutshell, President Obama is well appraised on what is going on throughout the African continent as his speech clearly demonstrates. He has articulated many issues that are familiar but what is different is the actions he proposes that deviate from his predecessors. This is what Africa has been waiting for from the leader of the free world – a new direction and attitude from the US on Africa.

In his speech, President Obama has made a firm commitment to Africa, provided that we ourselves start to change our ways and aspire for more. That we become committed to change in Africa that will yield positive outcomes. If President Obama’s speech is not a strong enough call to action for ALL Africans, then who will stir us out of our decades long reverie of pain and hurt.

He is asking us, as Africans, to take responsibility for our destinies as individuals and communities. He is asking Africans to finally do the right thing and live up to their full potential and greatness. Indeed, is such a thing possible? Can we do the right thing as he has asked? I certainly hope so! YES WE CAN fellow Africans! Its time for new beginnings and time for a new Africa!

Is Edi Gathegi Kenya’s first Hollywood Movie Star?

Published on July 4, 2009 in Heroes. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

I just found out that Kenya has a bonafide movie star in Hollywood, and his name is not Barack Obama! No, Edi Gathegi is the real deal. He has been a recurrent character on the popular TV show HOUSE as Dr. Jeffrey Cole and last year he acted in a small role in the hugely popular movie “Twilight” as Laurent, a vampire. Edi was born in Nairobi, Kenya but grew up in the US and is also an American citizen.

Edi is reprising his role as Laurent in the upcoming “Twilight Saga: New Moon”, a follow-up to last year’s Twilight which will premiere later this year. In the second Twilight movie, Edi has a larger role than he did in the first one. The Twilight series of books have been a massive success worldwide and are being adapted for the big screen in the same way as the fantasy-based Harry Potter books. For more details on Edi, you can read his full profile on Wikipedia here>

Don’t deny your inner Michael Jackson.

Published on June 26, 2009 in Heroes. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

This is an off-topic post but one that I just had to do. This morning, I and the rest of the world were greeted with the shocking news that “King of Pop” Michael Jackson died yesterday the 25th June 2009 from a massive heart attack in his home. Michael Jackson, or “MJ” as he was affectionately nicknamed by his fans was only 50 years old.

Since MJ’s rise to super stardom in the late seventies with his “Off the Wall” album and the eighties massive “Thriller” album, he clearly redefined what success was as a musician and entertainer extraordinaire. He broke album sales records globally and Thriller is still the most successful music album of all time. MJ made us want to “moon walk” and be just like him! We all bought his music, posters and other paraphernalia like the “glove” and the “jacket” in droves.

MJ was undoubtedly a living icon, albeit one who over the last decade slipped further and further down a very dark hole. His financial mismanagement and recurrent child abuse court cases completely destroyed the man, or rather he destroyed himself. MJ became less and less the man we admired as his fans and more and more a freak of nature with his recurrent plastic surgery “experiments” and ever lightening skin – even being referred to regularly by the media as “Wacko Jacko”. But, nevertheless, we loved MJ, we adored him. MJ was THE MAN!

So, as we mourn the passing of one of the world’s most gifted and entertaining icons, let us not deny our inner Michael Jackson – He was after all, only human. He had to grow up so much faster than most of us as the child lead singer of the original Jackson 5 – he had no childhood to speak of so can we really blame him for what he became and the bizarre things he did? His life was always in the spotlight and even now we are shocked at the sudden passing of MJ – has it really happened? MJ represented the best and the worst in humanity. He made us want to soar like him but he also showed us that you can crash hard. MJ, you will be missed. Rest in Peace.

Ken Njoroge of Cellulant talks mobile banking.

Published on June 4, 2009 in Heroes. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

“The greatest number of merchants and retail customers will be reached over mobile operators, not banks.” – Ken Njoroge

Just came across this great post about Cellulant’s Ken Njoroge at Erik Hersman’s Whiteafrican Blog. Ken is a personal friend and former colleague from my days at 3mice, almost a decade ago. Last year, Celluant, the mobile services company he started some time back was ranked Kenya’s leading business in the KPMG sponsored Kenya Top 100 mid-sized companies survey. Clearly, Ken is a visionary and entrepreneur who has succeeded in building a Pan-African mobile services powerhouse, Cellulant. For the full story, go here>

Blog ‘miracle’ saves Christmas for hard-luck family

Published on December 27, 2008 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

In the last 12 years or so that I have been “online”, I am still awed by the power of the internet to impact the world in a positive way.

At a time when the whole world is reeling from the financial crisis during the holiday season, this report on CNN.com shows how blogging can drammatically assist those in need. Never underestimate the power of one person leveraged with the internet!

Kenya shines at the Dubai Rugby Sevens

Published on December 1, 2008 in Heroes. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

I have been keenly following the exploits of Kenya’s Rugby Sevens Squad over the last couple of years. In time, they have matured and become true ambassadors of Kenya’s growing sporting dominance. This weekend at the Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens was no exception.

Once again, Kenya’s Rugby Sevens team demonstrated their sterling credentials by beating the Arabian Gulf team 28 – 7. This was followed by Kenya beating Scotland 38 – 0, a huge result all things considered. They then fell to eventual winners South Africa 31 – 0 at which point they managed to get into the quarter finals of the main cup event. They then played New Zealand who only barely managed to beat them 21 – 5 before they exited the main cup and entered the Plate event.

It was in the Plate that they beat Argentina 26 – 24 after a hard fought game after coming from behind 19 – 0 at half-time. Finally, in the plate semi-final, Kenya lost to Samoa, one of the world’s renowned Rugby Sevens Teams by a narrow margin of 7 -12. All in all. this means that Kenya go into the next IRB round in South Africa with confidence that once again they can take on the world’s best teams and come out as winners!

Serena Williams opens school in Kenya

Published on November 15, 2008 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

Serena Williams, currently ranked second in women’s tennis world, flew in to Kenya this week to open the Serena Williams Secondary School. This is really great stuff! The school was partly funded by her as a charity project as well as Hewlett Packard, the global ICT products and services company. The school is located in Makueni District and was completed in a record one month – much shorter than the time it normally takes to do normally. You can see the the full story here on the Daily Nation.

Paul Newman’s Own Legacy

Published on October 2, 2008 in Heroes. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

Paul Newman

Last week, Paul Newman, one of Hollywood’s icons and founder of Newman’s Own passed away peacefully in his home from cancer aged 83 years old. He is probably better remembered for the silver screen but by far I think his greatest legacy is Newmans Own. He founded the company in 1982 together with A.E. Hotchner. Newman’s Own is a leading (and growing) premium food company that offers more than 150 varieties of delicious all-natural food and beverage products. The inspiring and charitable mission of Newman’s Own is “Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the Common Good.” Inspiring yes? Even more impressive is that Newman’s Own Foundation donates all profits and royalties after taxes for educational and charitable purposes. Newman’s Own Foundation have given more than $250 million to thousands of charities worldwide. Now, thats a legacy! Rest in Peace Paul Newman.

Sebastian Vettel wins record-breaking Italian Grand Prix!

Published on September 14, 2008 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

And so, it has come to finally pass. A new star is born in the exciting area that is Formula One Racing! Yesterday, every one was mesmerized when Sebastian Vettel took pole position in Monza for the Italian Grand Prix. Today, in what was an amazing race of rain, strategy and driving guts, Vettel won the race to become the youngest winner of a Grand Prix ever.  At the same time, he demonstrated that it is possible for the underdog teams, in the right conditions, to win a Grand Prix. Congratulations Sebastian, you deserve it!

Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel is Formula One’s youngest-ever polesitter!

Published on September 13, 2008 in Heroes. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Sebastian Vettel Scuderia Torro Rosso Pole Position at Monza 2008

I am really really loving this year’s Formula One Season! There have been so many unpredictable outcomes and the class of the field is so close that its hard to tell from one race to the next what the stacking order will be. This is a HUGE change from the days when Ferrari (and Michael Schumacher) so effortless dominated the sport which led to numerous regulations to limit their performance. I am starting to think that this strategy has worked since so many teams are proving that its possible to achieve superior performances without the super budgets of Ferrari, BMW, Renault, Toyota and McLaren.

This weekend should be fun in what were totally unexpected qualification standings at Monza, the home of the Scuderia! Torro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel became the youngest Formula One driver (ever) to win pole position at the tender age of 21. The conditions at Monza we’re appaling with rain drowning the track and lots of slipping and sliding on track by many of the elite drivers and teams of Formula One. However, at the end of the day, its who’s on top and who’s not! After threatening with impressive finishes the entire season, Sebastian Vettel showed his mettle with an outstanding drive the in today’s qualification that landed him the pole. The most interesting thing for me is that everytime a special talent emerges in Formula One like Vettel did today, you know that we are going to be seeing lots of him in days to come! Congratulations Sebastian and good luck this weekend!