An Interview with Eva Sonaike, the Nigerian Interior Designer On a Mission to Bring More Color To the World (OkayAfrica)

Eva Sonaike is on a mission to bring more color to the world.

What started as a home décor project intended to infuse some of Nigerian style into her London home has morphed into a growing design empire. The striking, vibrant designs of her eponymous luxury line can be found in the premier global department stores from Liberty to Fenwick of Bond Street—and she’s only just getting started.

I caught up with Sonaike as she explored the Greek Isles to learn more about her journey from fashion journalist to interior designer. You can find the full interview here. 

An Interview with Nana Oforiatta-Ayim, The Ghanaian Creative Preserving Africa’s Artistic Past (OkayAfrica)

Ghanaian art historian, writer, and filmmaker Nana Oforiatta-Ayim is one of the foremost architects of the contemporary African arts scene. As the creative director of Accra’s Gallery 1957 and director of the cultural research initiative, ANO, Oforiatta-Ayim is building a flourishing arts ecosystem. I spoke to Oforiatta-Ayim about her efforts to preserve Africa’s artistic past and shape its future. You can view the interview here. 

An Interview with Zoe Adjonyoh, the Ghanaian Restaurant Owner Sparking an African Food Revolution In London (OkayAfrica)

A self-trained home cook, restaurant owner and, most recently, acclaimed cookbook author, Zoe Adjonyoh has been an early pioneer in the African food revolution. In 2010, Adjonyoh launched a supper club that later evolved into a food stall. In 2015, she took a leap and launched her eponymous Brixton restaurant, Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, which we featured on our Best African Restaurants in London list.

Over the last seven years, Adjonyoh has introduced thousands of Londoners to traditional Ghanaian meals remixed for the modern kitchen. Whether British or Burkinabe, people from all walks of life find themselves elbow-to-elbow over a delicious plate of slow-cooked red-red and cassava. OkayAfrica spoke to Adjonyoh in the midst of her book tour about the ingredients behind her success.

Check out my interview with Zoe on OkayAfrica's website. 

An Interview with Bolanle Austen-Peters, the Woman Behind West End’s First Nigerian Musical (OkayAfrica)

After a high-flying career as an international lawyer, Bolanle Austen-Peters returned home to her native Nigeria to pursue her passion for art. In 2003, she founded Terra Kulture, Lagos’ premier arts and culture center, to celebrate Nigeria’s rich cultural traditions.

Over a decade later, Austen-Peters is now one of Nigeria’s foremost producers whose theatrical productions have received critical acclaim from Lagos to London. OkayAfrica spoke to Austen-Peters about her journey to success as she prepares to take her latest musical, Saro!, to London’s famed West End.

Check out my interview with Bolanle on OkayAfrica's website. 

Francophone Africa Should Follow France’s Lead in Creating Start-up Nations

While I will continue to use this blog as a repository for all my writing  — published work, haphazard thoughts and, of course, recipes — I'll be publishing a lot more on Medium in the future. I've been mulling over this decision for some time, but my friend Emmanuel Quartey over at The Flint is the one who cinched it for me with this point: Medium stories get a lot of reach because it works hard to surface stories to the people who are most likely to enjoy it.

My recent Medium piece takes a look at how Francophone Africa can cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship and attract more investment. I've been following Emmanuel Macron's blueprint for making France the next start-up nation with some interest. As always, I have been thinking about what lessons can be garnered for Africa. In this case, particularly for Francophone Africa. 

You can find my thoughts here, which center on 5 key propositions:

1. Leverage fiscal and regulatory synergies
2. Position Abidjan as a regional finance hub
3. Manage perception of risk
4. Ensure access to Internet
5. Developed a skilled workforce

Anything else you would add? Comment on my article, or shoot me a message. 

The world’s two largest cocoa producers want you to buy their chocolate, not just their beans (Quartz)

I care about many things, but chief among them are food and all things Africa. With that, I share my first piece for Quartz Africa on Ghana and Ivory Coast's growing local chocolate industries.

Image courtesy of Midunu Chocolates

In a bid to meet the budget shortfall of their struggling economies, Ivory Coast and Ghana have accelerated efforts to support local grinders and producers of finished producers. Instead of selling raw materials for export, both countries now hope to make their chocolate just as iconic as their cocoa. New policies and initiatives aimed at local entrepreneurs may help them move up the value chain.

A few of the Ghanaian and Ivorian chocolatiers mentioned in this piece: Instant Chocolat, Midunu Chocolates, and '57 Chocolate. If you find yourself in Abidjan or Accra, be sure to check them out and let me know what you think.

Image courtesy of '57 Chocolate