International dialogue on creativity and innovation from Africa The Forum de Saint Louis

International dialogue on creativity and innovation from Africa The Forum de Saint Louis / Senegal in Berlin from 19.09.-21.09.19 Held annually in different countries, the Forum de Saint Louis is a conference that brings together representatives from Africa’s creative industries, politics and science with multipliers from around the world. Founder and president of the forum is Amadou Diaw, who also founded 1992 very successfully the first private business school in West Africa, the Institut Supérieur de Management (ISM Dakar). At this year’s forum panels and presentations discussed what makes Africa strong and how this affects the future development of Africa. Particularly noteworthy are the examples of successful entrepreneurship, such as the company of the Senegalese top chef Pierre Thiam. He cultivates the almost forgotten crop type “Fonio” that is healthy and robust against drought. The product is already very successfully exported to the US. Also examples of sustainable architecture were impressive. Filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff presented his documentary on the agricultural scientist Tony Rinaudo, who has developed a method for reforestation of dehydrated soils in the Sahel region. Speakers such as Rama Yada, former French Secretary of State and UNESCO Ambassador to France, or Andre Azoulay, advisor to the King of Morocco, and Mouna Kadiri, Director Africa Development Club of Attijariwafa Bank, provided further insights into the political and economic developments on the continent.
Monika Gerdes, (africon), talking to Inge Herbert, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa and Middle East North Africa at Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. Monika Gerdes (africon ) speaking to Ingo Herbert, German Ambassador of Bukina Faso