Boris Kodjoe Discusses Why We Should Go Full Circle Back To Africa
Boris Kodjoe Discusses Why We Should Go Full Circle Back To Africa
The inaugural Full Circle Africa Economic Conference (FCAEC) took place in Accra, Ghana on Dec. 28 and Dec. 29, led by its co-founder, Boris Kodjoe. The importance of recognizing the culture and heritage of the country while bringing economic advancement is just one of the purposes of the conference through the organization that Kodjoe started in 2019.
Through his organization, Kodjoe gathered international dignitaries, business leaders, activists, academics, and entertainment icons to join in this first Full Circle Africa Economic Conference to bring the people back home, so to speak, and allow the world to realize the opportunities that are available in Ghana and Africa in general. Discussions crossed a wide spectrum to address opportunities across the African continent, ranging from educational infrastructure, urbanization, STEM entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, sustainability, housing, and various other subjects affecting the African Diaspora.
“This year is the inaugural Full Circle Africa Economic Conference as we undertake a mind shift from charity and aid dependencies towards economic development opportunities and investing,” Kodjoe said. “Which is sort of the next frontier, entertainment industry, real estate infrastructure, tech. Africa represents, you know, 54 countries and a vast spectrum of potential opportunities. Now that the African Continental Free Trade area has been established and all countries can trade with each other without crazy tariffs or having to go through through European countries.”
Kodjoe also mentions that they had invited 50 of the most notable speakers. Dignitaries like the CEO of African Leadership Group and Sand Technology, Fred Swaniker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Nicole Hannah Jones, the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as other prominent politicians.
One of the most important things for Full Circle is to change the narrative that Africa doesn’t have a rich story or must rely on anyone else to function and/or grow and manufacture its resources. It functions well on its own.
“So taking control of our narrative means we need to be in control of telling our own stories,” Kodjoe says. “We need to be in control of developing, producing, and distributing our content to the world. And not letting somebody else tell our stories. That’s the first step to changing the narrative and changing our own stories; that’s very, very important. And I don’t care which sector you’re talking about. Manufacturing is another example where we have to take a bigger part of the value chain instead of letting our raw materials, the shift down and then making a fraction of the value chain rather than doing our own processing, our own manufacturing, and then, you know, exporting goods and services. Keeping, protecting, and powering, and keeping our talent on the continent and exporting goods and services is the goal. Rather than exporting our talent.”
Kodjoe also feels that there is a disconnect (with Black people) between the United States and our ancestry. The lack of identity with relating to Africa because our language and customs were taken from us. We need to reestablish a connection with our ancestry. Knowing where we came from while investing in Africa will help get the reconnection.
The actor made it known that his calling is to empower people and to create an impact in the lives of as many people as he can.
“I think it’s my calling and my purpose. To use my platform in order to create impact in order to touch as many people as I can in a positive way. So what you call giving back, I call stepping into my purpose and empowering those who haven’t been able to empower themselves.”
And with the Full Circle Africa Economic Conference, Kodjoe has done that and more.
Boris Kodjoe Discusses Why We Should Go Full Circle Back To Africa
