Comments on: Tech Crunch Blogger Goes to Rwanda

By: jongos

jongos — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:24:31 +0000

I reached out to these guys directly, while I don't feel anything I wrote was cause for them to be upset, they were less than receptive. Oh well, I guess the original point was lost. I do apologize if they perceived this as a slight against them, clearly it's more about their role as champions of technology, except (apparently) for when it comes to Africa. Hopefully they get over it, just some honest feedback from their African readers. As a blogger, I encourage my audience to call me out when they feel I'm wrong as some of the comments in this thread reflect.

By: Nate Berkopec

Nate Berkopec — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:15:48 +0000

Awesome post Jon. After reading Erik's tweet…man. I need some ice for that burn

By: jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:13:29 +0000

@Trish I dunno, I guess it requires more research on my part. Last time I was there, I compared the cots of housing and internet and definitely decided it was be cheaper to live there than Kampala. Especially when you factor in quality of life (clean air, nice roads etc)

@Wayan I'm not bashing Kampala, Kigali just has some things going for it that Kampala doesn't. I do think Kampala is far friendlier, and easier to do business in. I said Kigali is a great place to do business, not necessarily more-so than Kampala. =)

@David I agree, it's a shame that of all the leading techblogs only ReadWriteWeb and GigaOM have ever done any real Africa coverage. I won't even get into MSM, they just can't seem to get it through their heads that there's more going on here than Safaris, Somalia, Darfur and DRC.

By: jongos

jongos — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:12:36 +0000

@Wayan I'm not bashing Kampala, Kigali just has some things going for it that Kampala doesn't. I do think Kampala is far friendlier, and far easier to live in. I said Kigali is a great place to do business, not necessarily more-so than Kampala. =)

By: David Kobia

David Kobia — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:05:45 +0000

Thanks for this post Jon, you definitely set the record straight. Clearly she meant well, but mostly echoed Africa's image as a "timeless land of passion and danger in need of penetration by white explorers." An inglorious (and sadly popular) new show on the History Channel, Expedition Africa (http://www.history.com/expedition/) only serves to amplify this message to the rest of the west. I can definitely understand the fact that world is tiring of Africa's ceaseless woes, but any wise person knows that this is a continent, 1 billion people strong, that thirsts for first class goods and services. African tech is quite progressive, and any commentary on it requires one to do a little more research and engage the community instead of taking safaris. I sincerely hope that what happened puts the media on notice (sort of) that the African diaspora will not stand for misconceived notions like they have before.

By: Wayan

Wayan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:41:40 +0000

I'm going to have to disagree with the Kampala bashing. I find Uganda so much nicer a place to work than Rwanda. For me the mzungu tax is lower, the people more open, and the experience richer. But for biz-tourists like Sarah, I can see how she might think Uganda not as good. I bet she'd compare Bourbon Café Internet and the Kigali airport road to Speke Cafe's dial-up speeds and the raceway to Entebbe. But I can see where she's weirded out by the dollar denominated donor economy of Kigali. Its an odd one for sure.

By: Trisha Olsson

Trisha Olsson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:33:34 +0000

I also completely agree that more attention needs to be paid to the people living and working in this part of the world who are actually DOING things. I get so frustrated when (on twitter for example) searches on Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya…anywhere in Africa really only return tweets about donating to a certain organization or someone's safari plans for the summer.

And I completely disagree with you about the cost of doing business in Rwanda. Kigali is one of the most expensive African cities I've been in. Cost of crap hotel room in Kampala: $15 Cost of equally crap hotel room in Kigali: $35. As for taxis…$20 will take you almost 50 km in Kampala, but only about 15 km here. Plus, since you can't buy your bananas from a woman walking down the street (as Kigali has banned anyone from selling anything without a store front) the cost of renting a store is worked in to your cost of banana…so I think it hits every level.

By: Brian Herbert

Brian Herbert — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:16:38 +0000

Great commentary on Sarah Lacy's trip so far. I echo your sentiments completely. Most people in the states (and I can assume most of the western world) see Africa as nothing but the desert and the Masai Mara. More attention needs to be placed on the technology and progress here while not ignoring the fact that there are some serious problems that need to be overcome (widespread corruption, pollution, etc). With the problems in mind, technical achievements on the continent more than just another achievement.