The Business Council for Africa is delighted to announce that Lanre Akinola will be our keynote speaker for the 2015 Kaye Whiteman Memorial Lecture which will take place at Simmons & Simmons on the 12th of November. Africa is continually battling media perception of corruption, weak security and an unstable political environment.
Africa does not need a good or a bad story. It needs the right one”.
– Lanre Akinola
Lanre Akinola was born and raised in Nigeria and is the Editor of African Business, IC Publications. He helped found and later served as the Editor of This Is Africa at the Financial Times. Lanre is a 2014 Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow and has worked with the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa.
Lanre will focus on the continent’s relationship with the media, and the perennial issue of perceptions. What are the competing narratives shaping this debate? Is there the need for more “African Media” and what is the role of foreign media on the subject of how to “cover” Africa, and who should be doing so. Lanre will share some thoughts on journalism in Africa and the opportunity facing the Continent as it embraces the digital age.
Kaye Whiteman
“Africa has been cursed in many ways. For centuries it has had to bear the consequences of prejudice and ignorance and avarice, but it has been blessed it its friends. They may be infuriated by its faults, frustrated by its failures, but have been constant in their certainty that the continent’s time will come. There are few who kept to this faith steadfastly as Kaye Whiteman.
He demonstrated his love of the continent in so many ways. His Knowledge of West Africa in Particular was encyclopaedic, but worn lightly and imparted generously to his friends. His diffidence and modesty were among his many endearing characteristics, but they were also deceptive, for they concealed a fine mind and a sharp pen.
To accompany Kaye on one of his verbal excursions down the byways of African history was one of life’s pleasures. And when he turned this knowledge into authoritative well-informed editorials in West Africa-the magazine so close to his heart-he was at dispassionate best. The respect of his peers is a lasting tribute to a fine journalist who gave dignity to our all-too-often flawed profession”
–Michael Holman, Former Editor of the Financial Times
(Introduction to Kaye Whiteman, An African Journey: Essays 2011-2014)
BCA is pleased to announce Union Bank as sponsors for this event.