TONL x Microsoft: Cloud For Everyone, Africa

The Year of Return brought many Africans and people from the diaspora to Ghana to experience the culture and reconnect with their ancestral ties. Much of that discovery embodied connecting with the locals to seek understanding and in turn uncover what impact and connections can be made beyond the trip. TONL collaborated with Microsoft to tell the story from an important lens: the country’s most innovative movers and shakers who one way or another have had setbacks limiting their ability to scale fast. The stage was set through the Full Circle Festival which first took place in Accra in December 2018, led by Full Circle Festival, LLC partners Boris Kodjoe, Patrick Kodjoe, Bozoma Saint John – all of Ghanaian descent – and Nicole Ari Parker. The festival welcomed more than 120 business executives, influencers, and celebrities from the United States with a special focus on the first ever ESSENCE Global Black Economic Forum: Africa. The goal for the event was to discuss new opportunities for economic development and cultural exchange. A part of the event allowed local startups to pitch their business to attendees to gain mutual understanding of what will move the needle with the business platform. Connection to Ghana-born entrepreneurs like Eyram Tawia and Wesley Kirinya of Leti Arts or African American, Cheraé Robinson of Tastemakers and understanding their unique stories is what helps in the vision to support cultural ownership and economic collaboration among Africans on the continent and people of African descent in the diaspora. Tools like Microsoft Azure aid in bridging these gaps by offering a form of connection to these companies who have a passion for creating, making and solving through technology. Check back this week to learn from the founders of TROTRO Tractor Ltd, Leti Arts, BezoMoney, Nvoicia and Tastemakers on how they play a critical role in highlighting Ghana and the continent of Africa as the epicenter for ancestral, spiritual, cultural and commercial opportunities.

Read all the Narratives in this series: Cherae Robinson, Tastemakers Africa | Not All Superheroes Wear Capes | Local Visionaries | Women Taking the Lead