Banky W: Failed leadership is Africa’s problem

The R&B singer was speaking at the 2018 Africa Business Summit hosted by the London Business School (LBS), which had Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo as a keynote speaker. The event took place at the Landmark Hotel in London.

“Every country has the leadership it deserves,” he said. “In Africa, our problems have been failed leadership but also citizens’ apathy. Only 10% of the population of Nigeria has a voting card. If you don’t vote, you make it easy for the people who are corrupt. We all have to play our role.”

The comments mark Banky W’s increased involvement in events combining politics with entertainment, after a turn as compere for the recent visit of French president Emmanuel Macron to popular Afrobeat venue New Afrika Shrine in Lagos.

An award scheme by the LBS Africa Club and the school’s alumni received attention at the event. The Accel Awards was set up to provide a platform for start-ups on the continent; founders will be provided mentorship and funding given to the best companies. The top three selected start-ups from more than 250 applicants had an opportunity to present their concepts during the summit.

While speakers at the summit agreed that “Africa is changing and so is its business landscape”, Akufo-Addo spoke about the specific case of his country’s drive for industrialisation and the ambition of its citizens. “There is a palpable can-do spirit in Ghana,” he said. “People want to make a success of their lives.”

Speaking about the opportunity for business owners on the continent, Banky W, whose record label EME recently transitioned into a “full-fledged media agency”, noted that there was a need for a better structure across the continent.

“We need to create a conducive environment for being entrepreneurial,” he said. “The oil sector can’t hire everyone. Nigeria has the most number of children out of school in the world. How do we talk about moving Africa forward if we’re not even educating our young ones? We need to focus on education and empowerment.”

This year’s summit was also attended by Rikki Stein, the manager of the late Afrobeat maestro Fela Kuti, as well as by Sony Music Entertainment’s general manager for West Africa, Michael Ugwu.