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Ghana

2 mins read

Ghana’s 1-Year-Old Ace-Liam Paints His Way into the Guinness World Records

Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah isn’t your typical toddler. While other one-year-olds are busy exploring their world, Ace-Liam is making his mark on the art world, recently being recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male artist.

This artistic journey began early, at just six months old, when Ace-Liam’s mother, Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, a seasoned artist herself, noticed his fascination with paint. To keep him entertained while she worked, she laid down a canvas and dropped some paint on it. What followed was a messy masterpiece, aptly titled “The Crawl,” that sparked a passion for artistic expression in Ace-Liam.

Eghan, recognizing her son’s talent, nurtured it. By the time he was a year and 152 days old, Ace-Liam had created over 20 paintings. However, achieving Guinness World Record status required more than just artistic talent. To qualify, Ace-Liam needed to participate in a professional exhibition open to the public and have his work not only displayed but also sold.

This requirement was met when ten of Ace-Liam’s artworks were showcased and sold at the Soundout Premium Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana’s capital, Accra. This achievement cemented his place in the Guinness World Records as the world’s youngest male artist.

Eghan is incredibly proud of her son’s accomplishment and hopes it’s just the beginning of a remarkable artistic journey. “He already knows what colors complement each other,” Eghan told the BBC, expressing her belief that Ace-Liam has a bright future ahead in the art world.

Ace-Liam’s story is a heartwarming testament to the power of nurturing a child’s natural curiosity and fostering their talents. It’s a reminder that artistic expression can begin at any age, and with the right support, even the youngest individuals can create works that amaze and inspire.

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8 mins read

From Afrochella to AfroFuture: 4 Lessons in Navigating Trademark Law

To celebrate the New Year, I journeyed from New York to Accra, Ghana for “Detty December”, a pilgrimage of Black people from all over the world to celebrate all things Black and beautiful through cultural events, sightseeing, eating good food, and lots and lots of partying.

When I tell you everyone was in Ghana this past month, I mean EVERYONE.

My girls and I checked out a popular hotspot called, “FrontBack” where we ‘casually’ partied alongside some of the greats like Jidenna, Masego, and none other than Wizkid, himself. We also grabbed dinner where we spotted Chance the Rapper and the extremely talented Michaela Coel.

The energy was so exhilarating that I watched the sun come up on more than one occasion while dancing to Afrobeats. To say we had a time is an understatement!

While in Accra, I attended Afrochella – a 2-day festival celebrating Africa’s diverse culture and the vibrant work of African creatives and entrepreneurs. The people were beautiful and the vibes were unmatched. There’s nothing like hearing your favorite Afrobeats and Ampiano artists singing and dancing to your favorite songs along with thousands of other beautiful Black people!

Although I was having an amazing time on my vacation, it’s often hard for me to turn off the “lawyer” in me and I caught a few things that had me thinking.

First, I noticed that there was a huge banner at the festival that stated, “Afrochella is…AfroFuture.” Then shortly after Burna Boy’s electric closeout performance, one of the showrunners thanked the crowd for their support and stated, “This will be the last Afrochella you will attend,” which left everyone a bit puzzled.

afrofuture
Credit: Afrofuture(Twitter)

Then I remembered that Goldenvoice – the organizer of the Coachella Music Festival – filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in an attempt to block Afrochella from promoting its festival because it caused a “likelihood of confusion” with Coachella.

Upon hearing the news, I hoped that the parties would come to an amicable agreement that would allow Afrochella to continue the amazing work it has done for the African diaspora without going bankrupt with legal fees.

Thus, when I learned that Afrochella announced its official rebrand to “AfroFuture” and its commitment to continue producing amazing events in the name of African culture, I was relieved.

Though it is safe to say that Afrochella built an amazing brand in its own right, when the name of your brand can be considered “confusingly similar” to other brands that were in the marketplace before you, it is extremely risky business to proceed.

Here are a few lessons we can learn from the rebrand of Afrochella:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Clearance Search BEFORE Launching Your Brand

The very first thing I ask my clients when they tell me the name of their brand is if they’ve done a search to make sure no one else already has their name. Before investing all of your time, energy, and money, make sure there is no one else that can stake a claim to your brand. And I’m not talking about a simple Google search. This search is best left to an attorney who understands the way intellectual property protection works.

2. Consider Rebranding Sooner than Later

If you conduct a comprehensive clearance search and find that there is another brand already using the name you chose for similar goods, it would be wise to consider rebranding before you’ve made those hefty investments we talked about. An alternative to rebranding would be to reach out to the brand owner and see if you can buy the brand from them. If you have the means to do so, then it’s worth a try.

3. OWN Your Brand

It may come as a surprise, but you don’t legally own your brand until you have a registered trademark that says so. A trademark is anything that you use to associate your brand with your goods or services. So, a trademark can be a word, slogan, tagline, hashtag, or even a color or smell. Once you register your trademark, you will receive a certificate from the federal government that states you are the exclusive owner of your trademark.

4. ENFORCE your Rights

Having your registered trademark will not, on its own, stop others from using your trademark for their own purposes. This is why you must monitor the market and make sure that you reach out to those who are using your trademark without your permission. Some websites and social media platforms even allow you to file a takedown request but only if you can show that you have a registered trademark.

Though I learned so much about my people and was reminded of how amazing and resilient we are while in Ghana, it was made clear to me how important it is for us to ensure that we own and protect what we create. At the end of the day, we are the culture and the culture must be protected at all costs.

by Ashley Cloud Esq.

Ashley is the founder of The Cloud Law Firm, servicing creative entrepreneurs in all 50 states. You can visit thecloudlawfirm.com or follow @thecloudlawfirm and @yourfashionattorney on Instagram for more information.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only.  Information on this website may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information.  This website contains links to other third-party websites.  Such links are only for the convenience of the reader, user or browser; Ashley N. Cloud and The Cloud Law Firm PLLC do not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
2 mins read

Ghanaian E-Logistics Platform Jetstream Raises $13 Million for Expansion

Rapid urbanization and economic growth in Africa have contributed to a rise in e-commerce activity.

Simultaneously, the lack of developed transportation infrastructure and logistics networks in many African countries poses a significant challenge for businesses attempting to move goods across the continent.

This creates a significant market opportunity for e-logistics platforms that can assist businesses in overcoming logistical challenges.

Ghanaian e-logistics platform, Jetstream was founded in 2018 by Miishe Addy and Solomon Torgbor with the goal of giving African businesses greater visibility and control over their global supply chains.

Following a successful $3 million seed round, the company announced today that it has raised $13 million in a Series A round of funding.

Initially, Jetstream provided two services: logistics for cargo owners handling imports and exports, and financing for freight forwarders. Recently, however, they have consolidated these two services into a single one, focusing exclusively on cargo owners. According to CEO Miishe Addy, the pivot helped Jetstream in achieving product-market fit.

Since adopting this new strategy, Jetstream has experienced significant growth. The company estimates that its trade finance product has disbursed approximately $9 million in loans to date, up from $1 million at the middle of 2021. By the end of 2023, it intends to increase this by five times.

Additionally, in the past year, the company’s revenue has grown by 48% and its active customer base by 102%. Currently, 47% of the freight handled by Jetstream is transported via air, 44% via ocean, and 9% via ground.

Twelve of the 29 countries where the company currently operates are in Africa. The funds will be used to support Jetstream’s expansion into new countries and its ongoing technological platform development.

 

by Tony O. Lawson

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6 mins read

Nubuke Foundation: Fueling Ghana’s Art Ecosystem

Nubuke Foundation is a visual art and cultural institution based in Accra, Ghana. Founded in 2006, the Foundation serves as a nexus for the preservation, recording, and promotion of contemporary arts and culture through art exhibitions, book readings, art talks, film screenings, performances, seminars, and workshops.

Odile Tevie is the current director and a founding member of Nubuke Foundation. We caught up with her to learn more about the institution.

Nubuke Foundation
Odile Tevie, Co-Founder and Director of Nubuke Foundation

In what ways does Nubuke Foundation support artists?

Nubuke Foundation has a robust calendar programme within which artists are given opportunities to improve their artistic capabilities, showcase their work and build patronage with audiences.

There is a need for artists- budding, young, or mid-career and those contemplating art practice to be supported and given a platform not only to develop and showcase their works but to engage with art patrons.

The professional ecosystem that supports the career of artists is vital. Nubuke Foundation has provided the opportunity for many professionals to hone their skills-writers, curators, photographers etc.

Nubuke Foundation

What are your thoughts on the development of the art scene in Ghana?

I am extremely proud of where we are today. Nubuke Foundation had the foresight almost 20 years ago to lay the foundation for the artist’s career and future. However, so much more investment is needed to ensure more than 50% of artists graduating from art School continue into full-time practice.

The development needs to be holistic if it is to be sustainable. That means the entire ecosystem of the art scene should be invested in. The artists are ambitious, building on their talents and capabilities to compelling works.

This has brought worldwide interest to our art scene. We cannot ignore the role of other professionals who work with them to achieve this.

Nubuke Foundation

Which up-and-coming or established artists do you think we should know about?

There are several artists who are extremely talented and doing incredibly well with focus and drive. Several of the mid-career artists today would have had several opportunities in our exhibition programming in the last 16 years to strengthen and showcase their practice. 

I am extremely proud of the ones who have participated in our YGA programme in the last 8 years as well.

Na Chainkua Reindorf and Nana Opoku are showing in Ghana’s pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale. Eric Gyamfi is a beautiful photographer and Gideon Appah is also an artist to watch.

We are also very keen to promote artists whose works are priced affordably. This programme will be launched in November/ December 2022.

Nubuke Foundation

What needs to occur in order to develop the African art ecosystem?

It’s a very tall order! We need to intentionally focus and systematically build up the system by bringing more business and tech skills to the commercial side, engaging more philanthropy, patronage, and support to build career opportunities for artists, and strengthening the capacity of professionals.

Training is an essential first step. There is a need for criticality in academia and research, and to provide access to resources, libraries, etc. It should be noted that it was only in the last decade that the College of Art at KNUST started an MFA in Curating. In the same period, Ghanatta College, the school that Amoako Boafo attended in Accra closed.

Access to ongoing professional development, mentorship, institutional exchanges, and residencies is also important. We need to increase the number of professionals who shape and promote artists- curators, writers, and critics.

More platforms are needed (print media and online) to showcase and promote the incredible talent and work being done on the continent. Art institutions are important in recording history and providing access to resources and archival material. 

Lastly, there should be greater engagement with patrons, collectors, and buyers in the continent.

What does the future look like for the art scene in Ghana?

There is a lot of goodwill and keenness to see growth in the industry. This is a good thing for all of us. So far as we focus and invest in training, ongoing professional development, publishing, and creating more spaces within which we can showcase art.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjppfJzNTkN/

I am confident that we will develop into a sector that offers career opportunities for artists and the surrounding ecosystem, build sustainable livelihoods, and creates fulfilling experiences for our audiences.

-Tony O. Lawson

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4 mins read

Alitheia Raises $100 Million to Invest In Women Owned Businesses Across Africa

Alitheia IDF (AIF), Africa’s first women-led and women-focused private equity fund announced the final close of a $100 million fund in December of 2021. With this final close, Alitheia IDF becomes the largest woman-focused private equity fund by value in Africa.

Led by principal partners Polo Leteka and Tokunboh Ishmael, Alitheia IDF invests in growth-stage companies across six African countries: Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Zambia.

Alitheia
Polo Leteka co-Founder and Principal Partner – South Africa(Credit: Bridget Corke Photography)

The fund has a mandate to plug the over $42 billion investment gap between male and female entrepreneurs as a means of catalyzing the economic power of African women as producers, distributors, and consumers.

In 2021, the fund began implementing this mandate by leading investment rounds in five women-led businesses across essential sectors including agribusiness, education, manufacturing, housing, technology, and logistics.

The investee companies are Jetstream Africa (Ghana), ReelFruit Ltd (Nigeria), SKLD (Nigeria), AV Light Steel (South Africa), and Chika’s Food (Nigeria).

“Globally, women have tremendous purchasing power as consumers and controllers of household economics. In the same vein, women entrepreneurs have a significant presence in Africa’s SME sector with African women making up 58% of the continent’s self-employed population.

Alitheia
Tokunboh Ishmael – co-Founder and Principal Partner – Nigeria

However, despite this economic power and presence, African women are underserved as consumers and producers.

This has had a huge impact on economic growth as the potential of more than half of the continent’s population remains untapped due to structural and systemic issues.

We are proactively working towards filling this gap with a clear mandate to support women-led businesses across the continent while raising awareness for gender-smart investment as a path towards inclusive economic growth,” said Principal Partner Tokunboh Ishmael in Nigeria.

African women have remained underserved by the financial sector even as the historical investment gap between men and women continues to widen.

Estimates show that African women receive less than 5% of all investment on the continent even though over 40% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa are women-led.

Reports by McKinsey point out that closing the investment gap will lead to 26% gross domestic product (GDP) growth ($28 trillion) by 2025.

By applying a gender-smart lens to investment, Alitheia IDF is setting the pace and providing a framework for gender-inclusive investments with the goal of enabling economic growth for African countries and, critically, African women.

Polo Leteka, Principal Partner in South Africa, explained that it is her hope that Alitheia IDF’s leading example will inspire other investors on the continent to invest in women, noting that women have an important role to play in unlocking the economic potential of Africa.

She further stated that “the historic inability to appropriately capture the economic potential of African women has affected Africa’s development. Alitheia IDF is on a mission to fill this gap by using a gender smart approach and financial capital to empower women as consumers and producers.”

Tony O. Lawson


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2 mins read

Jetstream Raises $3 Million to Improve African Cross-border Trade

Jetstream, a Ghanaian technology-driven logistics company, just landed $3 million in seed funding to solve one of Africa’s biggest problems: the lack of coordination at its ports.

“These are exactly the types of problems that technology solves,” said Miishe Addy, cofounder of Jetstream.

Addy founded the startup with Solomon Torgbor in 2018 to help African businesses by aggregating private sector logistics providers at the ports and borders of Africa and then bringing them online. This way, companies could have better visuals and control over their cross-border supply chains.

“We are different from a more siloed freight management system because we are leveraging financing…so that shipments can be tracked every step of the way. We are bringing many of the local providers online for the first time,” Addy mused.

Since Africa increased its share of international exports from 80% to 90% between 2000 and 2017, there’s been a growing demand for the continent to be less commodity-dependent and diversify its exports.

Africa needs to revitalize its notoriously slow and costly ports to create more opportunities and encourage intracontinental trade. For Ghanaian native Torgbor, Ghana is the perfect place to plant Jetstream’s roots. The West African country can be a thriving hub for intercontinental trade as it’s home to the largest container terminal in West and Central Africa, Port Tema.

Jetstream isn’t just making waves in the world of commerce, however. Data suggests that women-led startups in Africa attract as little as 15% of the total VC investments available in the continent. Addy hopes that Jetstream’s win will lead to more women leaders being funded.

Technology and data are at the forefront of Jetstream’s business model, and according to Addy, these two elements might bring the future that Jetstream envisions to life.

“We see a future where trade running on Jetstream’s digital rails has a powerful competitive edge on logistics. Jetstream is to cross-border logistics what Flutterwave is to fintech in Africa.”

by Tony O. Lawson

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1 min read

African and African American Entrepreneurs Collaborate to Build a Community in Ghana

Kofi Anku is a shareholder and board member of Ayi Mensah Park, a vibrant 200-unit townhouse community nestled at the foot of the Aburi Hills in Accra, Ghana.

This real estate development is the result of the collaboration between Black-owned businesses that operate in Ghana and in the U.S.

In this interview, we discuss:

1) The resources and opportunities available in Ghana

2) The importance and benefits of Black businesses collaborating.

3) Honoring the vision Malcolm X had for Black American and African unity.

African American Entrepreneurs

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Tony O. Lawson


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8 mins read

W. E. B. Du Bois and The Year of Return for African Diaspora

In the heart of Accra, Ghana’s capital, just a few meters from the United States embassy, lie the tombs of W. E. B. Du Bois, a great African-American civil rights leader, and his wife, Shirley.

The founder of the US-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People moved to Accra in 1961, settling in the city’s serene residential area of Labone and living there until his death in August 1963.

President Kwame Nkrumah along with WEB Dubois and Shirley Graham Dubois in Ghana, 1960.

Du Bois’s journey to Ghana may have signaled the emergence of a profound desire among Africans in the diaspora to retrace their roots and return to the continent. Ghana was a major hub for the transatlantic slave trade from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

The W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Center for Pan African Culture

In Washington, D.C., in September 2018, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo declared and formally launched the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” for Africans in the Diaspora, giving fresh impetus to the quest to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora.

At that event, President Akufo-Addo said, “We know of the extraordinary achievements and contributions they [Africans in the diaspora] made to the lives of the Americans, and it is important that this symbolic year—400 years later—we commemorate their existence and their sacrifices.”

W. E. B. Du Bois during the ceremony in which he received an honorary degree from the University of Ghana on his 95th birthday, February 23, 1963. Credit: Digital Commonwealth


200 years since the abolition of slavery

US Congress members Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, diplomats and leading figures from the African-American community, attended the event.

Representative Jackson Lee linked the Ghanaian government’s initiative with the passage in Congress in 2017 of the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act.

Provisions in the act include the setting up of a history commission to carry out and provide funding for activities marking the 400th anniversary of the “arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.”

Since independence in 1957, successive Ghanaian leaders have initiated policies to attract Africans abroad back to Ghana.

In his maiden independence address, then–Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah sought to frame Africa’s liberation around the concept of Africans all over the world coming back to Africa.

“Nkrumah saw the American Negro as the vanguard of the African people,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard, who first traveled to Ghana when he was 20 and fresh out of Harvard, afire with Nkrumah’s spirit.

“He wanted to be able to utilize the services and skills of African-Americans as Ghana made the transition from colonialism to independence.”

Ghana’s parliament passed a Citizenship Act in 2000 to make provision for dual citizenship, meaning that people of Ghanaian origin who have acquired citizenships abroad can take up Ghanaian citizenship if they so desire.

That same year the country enacted the Immigration Act, which provides for a “Right of Abode” for any “Person of African descent in the Diaspora” to travel to and from the country “without hindrance.”

Du Bois (center) at his 95th birthday party in 1963 in Ghana, with President of the Republic of Ghana Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (right) and First Lady Fathia Nkrumah.

The Joseph Project

In 2007, in its 50th year of independence, the government initiated the Joseph Project to commemorate 200 years since the abolition of slavery and to encourage Africans abroad to return.

Similar to Israel’s policy of reaching out to Jews across Europe and beyond following the Holocaust, the Joseph Project is named for the Biblical Joseph who was sold into slavery in Egypt but would later reunite with his family and rule Egypt.

The African-American community is excited about President Akufo-Addo’s latest initiative. In social media posts, many expressed interest in visiting Africa for the first time.

Among them is Amber Walker, a media practitioner who says that 2019 is the time to visit her ancestral home.

“The paradox of being an African-American is that we occupy spaces where we are not being considered as citizens. So I love the idea of Ghana taking the lead to kind of help African-Americans claim their ancestral space,” she told Africa Renewal. “It is a step in the right direction.

“It is definitely comforting because that kind of red carpet has not been rolled out by our oppressors in the Western world,” she added.

The W.E.B Du Bois Memorial Center for Pan African Culture

In making the announcement, President Akufo-Addo said: “Together on both sides of the Atlantic, we’ll work to make sure that never again will we allow a handful of people with superior technology to walk into Africa, seize their people and sell them into slavery. That must be our resolution, that never again, never again!”

But Walker took issue with Akufo-Addo for appearing to downplay the actions of some Africans in the slave trade.

“In the president’s [Akufo-Addo’s] statement, he sounds like the entire blame is placed on white people coming in with weapons and taking black people away, but that’s not necessarily the history. So I think that needs to be acknowledged,” she said.

She suggested a form of reconciliation such as took place in post-apartheid South Africa—a truth and reconciliation process that will satisfy the millions of Africans whose forefathers were sold into slavery.

 

In 2013 the United Nations declared 2015–2024 the International Decade for People of African Descent to “promote respect, protection and fulfilment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of people of African descent.”

The theme for the ten-year celebration is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” will coincide with the biennial Pan African Historical Theatre Festival (Panafest), which is held in Cape Coast, home of Cape Coast Castle and neighbouring Elmina Castle—two notable edifices recognized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) as World Heritage Sites of the slave era.

 

Source: IPS News

Cover image: by Sarah Rogers/The Daily Beast
11 mins read

Two Sisters Created the Only Luxury Chocolate Brand Made in Africa

Although West African countries produce over seventy percent of the world’s cocoa, I’ll bet you can’t name one African chocolate brand. Why? Because most of the Continent’s cocoa is exported to foreign countries that produce their own brands.

Fortunately, there are now African chocolate makers getting into the game. Meet sisters, Priscilla and Kimberly Addison. They are the founders of 57 Chocolate, a Ghanaian made chocolate brand.

Priscilla and Kimberly Addison, Founders of 57 Chocolate

SB: What inspired you to start 57 Chocolate and what does the name mean?

57C: Having spent time living in Geneva, Switzerland, we thought it was strange that Switzerland is known for its chocolate but yet doesn’t grow cocoa, the core ingredient in chocolate. Meanwhile, Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa but produces very little chocolate itself. We saw a vast need for the manufacturing of chocolate in Ghana and across the continent of Africa.

In Ghana, the candy shelves of supermarkets and malls are overflowing with foreign chocolate bars, many undoubtedly made with Ghana’s very own cocoa. Having recognized all this, we were determined to use Ghanaian cocoa to create a Ghanaian brand of chocolate that is reputable locally and internationally. Chocolate really piqued our interest because it allows us a lot of creativity.

We get to experiment with different factors such as how dark to roast the beans, the percentage of cocoa to include, and creating different flavors and parings (e.g. sea salt, coconut shavings etc). We also love chocolate because it really is a healthy treat if you choose chocolate that is high in cocoa content.

The name ‘57 is short for 1957—the year of Ghana’s independence. 1957 was a revolutionary year for the country, not only because it was freed from colonial rule, but it is the year that gave birth to the nation’s “can do” spirit. The name ‘57 is meant to inspire a reawakening of Ghana’s 1957 “can do” spirit.

It is a call and reminder that sometimes in order to go forward, we need to look back at our foundation—our roots. ‘57 Chocolate aims to inspire the people of Ghana, especially the youth to create and develop made in Ghana high quality products.

SB: What has been the most challenging and the most fulfilling part of your entrepreneurial journey so far?

57C: A major challenge for us with starting the business was dumsor– a popular Ghanaian word used to describe the unpredictable power outages. Ghana has been undergoing a power crisis and our business requires a study supply of electricity in order to produce and store our chocolate, since it is made from the cocoa bean to the chocolate bar.

The most fulfilling part of our journey is seeing the joy our chocolate brings to our clients, and knowing that we are adding value to a resource right at home. Many people thought this would be impossible to achieve. Additionally, it’s the support and encouragement that we’ve received from near and far. We have received several inquiries about investments and whether we ship our chocolate abroad.  

 

SB: How important is it to you that African countries manufacture more products instead of importing?

57C: We believe manufacturing is crucial for the growth and survival of any economy. There is a vast need for manufacturing in Ghana and across the continent of Africa. Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa on the African continent but, very little value is added to the bean itself. We think it’s time to change this narrative.

SB: What are some the different flavors that you produce that are unique to your brand? 

57C: Currently, we have 6 signature chocolates: dark (2 kinds including 88 percent baobab and 73 percent dark chocolate), milk, white, mocha latte (coffee flavor) and bissap (hibiscus flavor) chocolate. We pair our chocolates with various ingredients like coconut and sea salt.

Other services we provide include catering for events and chocolate pairings/tastings for groups (a minimum of 6 people). 

SB: How important is it that your branding was is on point from the design of the chocolate to the packaging?

57C: Branding from start to finish is incredibly important to us, given that we aim to challenge the status quo of luxury chocolate being only a product of Europe. What is most unique about our brand is that we produce chocolate that is a reflection and celebration of Ghanaian art and culture, particularly through our Adinkra bars.

These bite-sized bars are beautifully engraved with visual symbols created by the Ashanti of Ghana. We have a collection of 12 different Adinkra symbols, each representing a concept or a particular meaning such as leadership, beauty, humility, strength, and resourcefulness. We will be adding more concepts to our collection in the coming year.

SB: You’ve lived in multiple countries around the world. In what ways has this influence your brand?

57C: Our brand has certainly been influenced by the places we’ve been lucky to call home. Living in Switzerland—(one of the country’s most known for its chocolate) we had the opportunity to sample a lot of quality chocolate and so we wanted to create a brand that also exuded excellence.

Our return to Ghana was simply a re-awakening of the need to manufacture chocolate from bean to bar—right at home. The Adinkra chocolates we offer pay homage to our Ghanaian roots.’57 Chocolate is more than just chocolate. It’s about art and culture. This aspect is reflected in everything we do and our brand as a whole.

Living in multiple countries has also influenced our chocolate flavors. For example, having grown up in Dakar, Senegal we drank Bissap (a drink made from hibiscus leaves) often.  It was truly a treat for us and our three older siblings. It was always in our fridge and a fresh batch never lasted more than 3 days.

For years we watched our mom steep copious amounts of hibiscus leaves in hot water with cloves, sieve and mix in sugar, vanilla, homemade ginger and pineapple juice. We wanted to somehow recreate this tangy but fruity taste from our childhood and pay tribute to this drink that cherished around the world. Bissap is also enjoyed in Ghana, but it’s more popularly known as sobolo.

It is always eye-opening going into a local mall or grocery store here in Ghana and seeing that 99.9 percent of the goods sold are imported.  Foreign soaps, fruits, dog food, juices, chocolate, tomatoes, flour, sugar, and even toothpicks (to name a few) flood the aisles of Ghana’s supermarkets. The country imports goods that its people can either grow or manufacture.

It is known that Ghana primarily exports its resources in its rawest forms–the cocoa bean is a perfect example. We believe in adding value to our local resources by processing and manufacturing them into finished goods. We also believe in patronizing and purchasing other locally made goods and products when we can.  

When people manufacture or purchase locally made goods, we are helping Ghana’s economy grow. Our hope to one day walk into Ghana’s supermarkets and see high quality made in Ghana goods dominating the aisles.

SB: Where do you see your company in 5 years?

57C: We will continue to provide high-quality products that reflect Ghanaian art and culture to our customers. We also plan to continue to create gainful job opportunities as we expand our operations.

SB: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

57C: It is important to know and understand the factors that can either benefit or hurt the operations of your business. There is a saying that goes: knowing your customer is paramount for business success. While this is true, we also believe knowing the business climate—where you work is of equal importance.


Also, we believe it is a great time to be in Africa. Africans and Africans in the Diaspora are showing the world that the continent has an incredible amount of potential, worth, and creativity.

Entrepreneurs, change-makers, and bloggers are writing a positive narrative for the continent—contrary to how the global media normally portrays the continent (e.g. typical depictions of abject poverty and civil war). We encourage African youth to actively participate in contributing to this positive narrative.

For a complete list of 57 Chocolate products and to book a tasting, visit their website.  

 

-Tony Oluwatoyin Lawson