comm-UNITY!

In Episode 5 of season 9 of the comm-UNITY! Podcast series, courtesy of CivSource Africa. Nabou Fall, a cretaive entrepreneur, coach and author committed to Africa, from Senegal speaks to us about her work in the incubation and acceleration of artists by equipping them with the tools to become artistically viable entrepreneurs. She opens up about her work with artists to develop a long-term business plans centered on the value chain, which facilitates the sale of artwork and increases the artists' global profile.

She also discusses how talent alone isn't enough to make it as a successful artist-entrepreneur; visibility is essential. Nabou encourages visibility of artists in areas where their work can be viewed and appreciated by kindred members of their community. She continues to explain that investors and consumers belonging to the same "tribe" all have similar values and goals in life. The most valuable asset is the ability to discuss creative ideas with people who share one's values.

Nabou then encourages African artists to continue sharing our true narratives. That way, not only will we be in charge of the story, but these tales will live on in our culture for quite some time as they are passed down from generation to generation.

Personal branding is one of her main focuses as a coach; she says, "I try to do for others what I have done for myself." Nabou is convinced that all artists and creatives should have access to a space where they can both give back to their local community and make a living from their work.

“As Africans we have so much to give back to the world.” _ Nabou Fall

More Information About Nabou Fall:

Nabou Fall Akademy founder and CEO Vizeo

“As long as we are alive, we have opportunities within us that we can exploit and choices we can make for ourselves. No situation is the end of our lives.”_ Nabou Fall

A training and coaching academy in leadership and transformative communication, Nabou Fall Akademy was founded by Nabou Fall, CEO of Vizeo since 2007. Vizeo is an ad agency with offices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, and Mali that specializes in strategic advertising and public relations for multinational corporations throughout the continent of Africa. To begin, she worked with MTN in Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a board member for 15 years before rising to the positions of director of sales and marketing, vice president of corporate strategy, and finally president.

Because of her dedication to the empowerment of her fellow African women, Nabou Fall is a sought-after public speaker and a well-known personal development coach. She has spoken at TEDx and is an author and mentor for a number of women's empowerment NGOs. The president of Wimnet, WICCote-d'Ivoire(Women Investment Club) and co-founder of Impact Hub Cote-d'Ivoire, she holds a degree in Computer Science, an MBA from ISG Paris, and an engineering degree from the École Supérieure de Génie Informatique de Paris with a focus on information systems and networks.

In addition, she has a Harvard Business School diploma in leadership, an IOD London certificate in Boardroom Africa delivery, and certificates from idep and ECA for women investors. An ICF Executive Coach and a Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, she is a Certified Personal Branding Strategist (CPBS). Nabou Fall is an active member of numerous boards, including Africa Design School in Benin and ADU Niamey, as well as two women's organizations, Empow'Her worldwide and Zahara's Dream.

Nabou Fall is passionate about the rise of African women in leadership positions!

#OmutimaOmugabi #KutoaNiMoyo #GivingInTheArts

Loupa describes in this episode how the growth of the Manyatta institutions has led in a shift in emphasis from collective to individual acts of kindness. And how preserving the Kraal as communal property encourages a sense of belonging and sharing among members of the community. When asked what it means to give in the Karamojong Pastoral communities, he says it means keeping what is given secure until it is time to pass it on to another member within the community. Young shepherds who volunteer to care for the community's herd often receive gifts of young animals, which they are expected to raise till adulthood before keeping them as their own, as a sign of appreciation from the community's elders. Furthermore, he speaks to us about his photographic Endeavor with the Kuonyesha Art Fund 2021 cohort, during which he produced a pastoral photo book depicting the tales and lives of the Karamojong pastoral communities. This is his way of giving back to the community that raised him, a gift of inspiration to the next generation.

#OmutimaOmugabi #KutoaNiMoyo #GivingInTheArts

In this episode, we speak with Raul Rugamba, the CEO of Rwanda's Hobe Agency, who has more than ten years of experience in the African cultural and creative industry. He also founded Africa in Colors, a pan-African business effort devoted to collaborating with varied creative and innovative organizations in the development and production of African content, as well as promoting and developing the African creative industry ecosystem. Raul tells us about what it means to "do things differently" and about his own experiences as a creative entrepreneur. He describes how he navigates cultural and creative settings using technology and education to create homegrown solutions that enable the creation of original African products while also ensuring the sustainability and survival of art professionals. Raul's objective is to improve the value of artists, to accompany them, and, eventually, to increase the sector's contribution to the continent's growth while also creating jobs.

#KutoaNiMoyo #OmutimaOmugabi #GivingInTheArts

According to Nabaggala Maximilian Lilian, a dancer, model, creative artist, and choreographer of #FADED who is also Kuonyesha Art Fund partner 2021, the definition of generosity is the act of giving up a little bit of oneself without the expectation of receiving anything in return. According to her, giving is defined as carrying out an essential task that a person would perform voluntarily rather than being compelled to do so.

In this episode, we embark on a journey to discover how her parents instilled a sense of generosity in her at a young age. The impression and busyness that came with having a home in downtown Kampala, as well as what that meant to relatives who came to visit from their home village, was too much for them to handle. Nabaggala and her siblings were taught how to care for their visitors, making her experience of generosity more personal.

According to Nabaggala, every one of her birthdays is a chance for her to give back to the community. She is of the opinion that giving is about sacrificing your best in the expectation that the recipient will regard it as an equally meaningful gesture. She emphasizes how important it is to share what one loves with others.

She donates her time to a number of different community outreach programs, where she puts her artistic ability and talent to good use. Nabaggala finds that giving to her is a form of rejuvenation, and that it enables her to give from a cup that is full to the brim rather than one that is empty.

Giving is a very important concept to Nabaggala; in fact, the act of giving is what gives her art new life!

#OmutimaOmugabi #KutoaNiMoyo #africanphilanthropy

Sire Simon Loduk is a fashion designer by profession and a Kuonyesha Art Fund 2021 partner. In episode 1, season 9 of the comm-UNITY! Podcast series, he discusses how fashion changed his life and inspired him to give back to his community. Simon attributes his entire success to his community, particularly the encouragement to return to and further his education at a technical institute for fashion design. 

He compares his product's popularity in his community to rats that have smelt river fish. He says they absolutely adore his products and that he is responsible for launching the majority of Kaabong's fashion designers' careers. In this episode, Simon gushes about his love for his community and their unwavering support for his career. He says this is one of the reasons he is always giving back through various skill training projects so that other people can get the experience he would not have gotten if his community had not consistently and timely supported him.

Sharing is caring for Simon, and his faith remains a strong foundation for him when it comes to the principles he follows when it comes to giving. He says;

"Generosity is the heart of God, not a human heart." If you put on a man's heart, you can never be generous."

"I am a living example of how generosity releases God's hand to move in someone's life! My community is my family!"

Giving Beauty:

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Season 9 of the CivSource Africa Comm-UNITY! podcast series.

In the last 3 years, we have been exposed to several harsh realities that created moments of shared crises, the most notable being the COVID-19 pandemic that catapulted a series of challenges and struggles in our communities. These crises have helped us become more aware of the fact that we are all connected to one another. Our actions have a significant influence not only on our immediate neighbors but also on our entire community, our country, and the rest of the world.

In this season, we will profile Arts and Culture practitioners from Uganda, Rwanda, Cote d'Ivoire and Mali, sharing how they have contributed to the growth and wellbeing of their communities. Additionally, we will discuss how creatives have used their talents and skills for the purpose of philanthropy in these countries.

Join us, in this conversation, as we highlight philanthropy, through the Arts lens, more understood and approachable by recognizing the significance of the role that culture, creatives and artists play in our communities. Our goal is to build a body of knowledge on philanthropy and shape narratives on giving and generosity in Africa.

In this episode, we follow Marion Natukunda, current president elect of Rotary Club of Kiwatule, through her personal journey of cultivating a generous spirit. Marion currently works for the Ministry of Health and has served in Rotary for the last ten years. It was her mother's battle with polio that inspired her to get involved in charitable endeavors that took her on a journey of selflessness generosity. She sees Rotary as an avenue to give with no regrets, and she encourages others to do the same. Marion is always on the lookout for those in need, and she believes that generosity is a concept that everyone should be aware of.

“There is a need to raise awareness of how Rotarians and non-Rotarians give while remembering that accountability, transparency, and trust are the most important currencies in rotary giving! People must 'TRUST' what you are doing! People need to 'SEE' what you're doing!

Generosity comes in many forms, including the donation of time, resources, goods, and, of course, treasure. Whatever is given, generosity is ingrained in our blood in Africa; it is our legacy, how we express ourselves, and our way of life. Francis Xavier Sentamu, former District Governor D9211 (Uganda and Tanzania) and of Rotary Club of Kiwatule, speaks to us in this episode about generosity in action, how it is more than just an outward behavior, but about caring for one another and looking out for one another, particularly in the African context.

According to Francis, generosity consists of a person's underlying thoughts, feelings, and motivations to give. It is more than just a monetary expression of generosity; it is the use of classifications, skills, and professions and the use of time to be fully part of the solution, making it easier to reach out to the community. Francis speaks fondly of ‘TRUST’ virtue within Rotary as a currency and unseen component in generosity that keeps the giving flowing. His philanthropic journey is a seed that he has seen multiply a thousand-fold to demonstrate Rotary's impact in transforming communities.

The truth is that generosity is a practice that can be learned. It's something you can work on over time in your life. It's just like any other habit. Even better, being generous provides a wealth of opportunities for learning about yourself, others, your community, and the world at large.

There is no such thing as a "one size fits all" solution. This is what happened to Chris Kayongo, Chair of the Service Projects Committee of the Rotary Club of Ssese Islands, one of Uganda's oldest Rotary clubs, founded in 1991 and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

With his membership in this club, Chris has found the perfect outlet for his generosity. It allowed him to use his time and resources to make a difference in his community as an individual. From medical outreaches to the establishment of health centers, the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands, which has 97 active members, is dedicated to generosity driven by the community and the needs of the community. Working with the community when generosity is involved is a true testament to ensuring long-term impactful change.

Chris speaks of time and individuals as the driving forces behind generosity and that people have to work together to actualize the change they want to see. It begings with ‘YOU’ and ‘I’.

Harnessing the power of collective giving in Rotary Club Kiwatule, often transitions into giving circles, bringing people together to focus on community needs and community-driven solutions. When like-minded givers come together to discuss community needs and give of their treasure, time, and talent, a giving circle is born- ‘Philanthropy with the Spirit of Ubuntu’. Robert Kiggundu former President of Rotary Club Kiwantule walks us through his personal and clubs' journey of philanthropy in an Afrocentric space that tells a story of who we are a people and how the message is spread to others that he and club get to interact with. He calls on every Ugandan that is able to give to give and that leveraging of vocations to give really does make a difference.