eTyhume eMajwarheni is in the Nonkobe local municipality, Amathole District, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The village gets its name from the Tyhume river which flows from Hogsback Mountains on its journey to the Indian Ocean, and borders most of the grounds of Fort Hare University. Founded in 1916 and originally called The South African Native College, the University of Fort Hare has been awarded for its exceptional contribution to Black academic training and leadership development on the continent. Its most famous student being Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.*In this episode Ruth taps into Vuyisa Qabaka’s twenty-year experience in entrepreneurship support, engaging him in a conversation with specific emphasis on South Africa and Kenya.Vuyisa Qabaka’s passion for growing businesses on the continent, keeps circling back to the importance of information sharing and building scaffolding around start-ups and SMME’s. He highlights the importance of using an Afrocentric model as opposed to repurposing foreign models, to ensure that pertinent hurdles and deliverables are met. For Vuyisa, this is central to supporting success around key elements: Product, Customer and Distribution. What he terms - “The Village Formula”.The metaphor of “going back to the cave” struck a note with both Ruth and Vuyisa, in regard to helping others to move forward; to shine the light by being a Vision Bearer.Importantly, the role of Public-Private Partnership comes to the fore as the surest way forward to sustainable progress in Africa.Not surprisingly, the nemesis that is corruption is the elephant in the room, but not even it cannot dwarf the vast resources of the African continent and the entrepreneurial, resourceful and innovative characteristics of her people. That Africa has the youngest population on the planet can only auger well for her future. A future requiring celebration rather than denigration; to polish the diamonds that are the African people and harness their powerful light.Twendeni. Africa is ready!Connect with Vuyisa on LinkedIn: Vuyisa Qabaka | LinkedIn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wasafiriafrica.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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