Press Release: Event Communiqué

Outcomes of the East African Thought Leaders Brainstorming on African Indigenous Games of Strategy in Kampala, Uganda

Key Message: African Indigenous Games of Strategy offer a great opportunity to the continent to evolve organic solutions to her challenges 

Event: The 3rd IREN Think Tank Forum for Eastern Africa Thought Leaders

Where: Kampala, Uganda

Date: August 14 – 17, 2013

INTRODUCTION: Africa has been disrupted by so many elements for the last 600 years. The African Indigenous Games of Strategy offer the continent a great turning point. It is through such games that the continent can recover its lost sense of critical thinking and a sense of direction in the Global market place.

WE, the 17 East Africa thought leaders assembled in Kampala, Uganda, representing various organizations namely, academia, military, media houses, Non-Governmental Organizations, Think Tanks, Consultancy Firms and Foundations resolve that African Indigenous Games of Strategy offer a great opportunity to the continent to evolve solutions to her challenges.

HAVING identified African Indigenous Games of Strategy to include Egypt’s “SENET,” East Africa’s “BAO LA KISWAHILI,” South Africa’s “MORABARABA,” Madagascar’s “FANORONA” among others; we recommend to our fellow African leaders in government and private sector, the following course of action: -

•Protection of indigenous games of strategy through internationally recognized Intellectual Property Rights, Patents and Geographical Indication mechanisms

•Invest in popularizing the continent’s indigenous games

•Utilize the continent’s indigenous games to evolve organic solutions to the continent’s challenges

•Consider business opportunities offered in popularizing the continent’s indigenous games of strategy

The Objectives of the just concluded 3rd IREN Think Tank Forum for Eastern Africa Thought Leaders were:-

•To map out African Indigenous Games of Strategy

•To identify elements of strategy in African indigenous games

•To discuss application of strategic elements identified to business and development in Africa. 

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) initiated an Eastern Africa Thought Leaders forum in August 2011 to identify strategies that will enable East Africans to organically evolve their own socio-economic and political systems and to nurture futuristic thinkers. Previous forums focused on how East Africans can position themselves to benefit from the Cape to Cairo Free Trade Zone and essential elements for African leadership in the global jungle.

About IREN

The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) is a leading African think tank that promotes ideas and strategies geared towards improving living standards in Africa. Founded and registered in Kenya in July 2001 as a limited company, IREN’s key focus is to improve living standards of people in Africa through free enterprise by use of targeted events, trainings, research, consultancy, communication and its flagship magazine The African Executive.

For details, please contact:

Mr James Shikwati, Director, IREN or Zaina Shisia, Events Manager Tel. +254 20 2731497 or email zaina@irenkenya.com

Swahili Version

TAMKO KUHUSU MICHEZO YA KIMKAKATI YA KIJADI YA KIAFRIKA

Matokeo ya kikao cha jukwaa la viongozi wenye kutoa mwelekeo kuhusu michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi ya Kiafrika - Kampala, Uganda

Ujumbe maalumu: Michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi ya kiafrika inatoa fursa kubwa kwa Afrika kuibua ufumbuzi  utakaotatua changamoto zinazolikabili bara hili.

Tukio:    Jukwaa la Asasi ya Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) la viongozi wenye kutoa mwelekeo (Afrika mashariki)

Wapi:   Kampala, Uganda

Tarehe:  14 – 17.08. 2013

Utangulizi: Bara la Afrika limekuwa likivurugwa na mambo mengi sana kwa muda wa miaka zaidi ya mia sita (600) sasa. Michezo ya kijadi ya kimkakati inatoa nafasi nzuri kwa bara hili kubadili mwelekeo. Ni kwa kupitia michezo hii bara la Afrika linaweza kurejesha tena uwezo wake uliopotea wa kufikiri kwa kina na kupata mwelekeo katika soko la utandawazi la dunia.

SISI, viongozi 17 wenye kutoa mwelekeo - Afrika Mashariki, tuliokutana Kampala, Uganda, tukiwakilisha taasisi mbalimbali za kitaaluma, kijeshi, vyombo vya habari, Asasi za kiraia, Taasisi zenye kutoa ushauri wa kitaalamu na Asasi za kisiasa; tulikubaliana kwamba michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi inatoa fursa kubwa kwa bara la Afrika kuibua majibu mbadala katika kukabili changamoto zinazokabili bara hili.  

Baadhi ya michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi iliyojadiliwa ni pamoja na “SENET” kutoka Misri, BAO LA KISWAHILI maarufu katika Afrika ya Mashariki, “MORABARABA” wa Afrika Kusini na “FANOROMA” kutoka katika visiwa vya Madagascar. Hivyo basi, tunatoa wito kwa viongozi wenzetu wa Afrika na hasa wale wa Serikali, Taasisi na Asasi binafsi kufanya yafuatayo: 

•Kulinda michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi kwa mujibu wa kanuni na taratibu za kisheria za kimataifa za haki miliki, hataza na  viashiria vya kijiografia.

•Kuwekeza katika kuitangaza michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi ya bara hili.

•Kutumia michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi katika kupata ufumbuzi wa changamoto zinazolikabili bara la Afrika,

•Kutoa fursa za kibiashara za kutangaza na kueneza michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi ya bara hili

Madhumuni ya jukwaa hili la tatu la watafakuri la IREN kwa viongozi wenye kutoa mwelekeo (Afrika Mashariki) yalikuwa:-

•Kuitambua na kujadili michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi
•Kuchambua vipengele vya  michezo ya kimkakati ya kijadi ya Kiafrika
•Kujadili matumizi ya vipengele vya kimkakati  vilivyoibuliwa katika kutoa ufumbuzi wa ya changamoto za kiuchumi na kimaendeleo kwa Afrika.

Agosti 2011, asasi ya Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) ilianziasha jukwaa la viongozi wenye kutoa mwelekeo (Afrika mashariki) ili liweze kuainisha mikakati ambayo itawezesha Afrika Mashariki kuibua mifumo yao wenyewe ya kiuchumi, kijamii na kisiasa na kulea jopo la wachambuzi wa baadae. Vikao vilivyopita vililenga kuona ni kwa vipi Afrika Mashariki inaweza kujipanga ili kufaidika na eneo huru la biashara toka Cape hadi Cairo na vile vile kuangalia mambo yanayotakiwa kupewa kipaombele  na uongozi wa Afrika katika “msitu” wa kimataifa.

Kuhusu IREN

Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) ni asasi inayoongoza ya watafukuri ya kiafrika ambayo inakuza mawazo na mikakati inayolenga kuboresha viwango vya maisha katika Afrika. Ilianzishwa na kusajiliwa nchini Kenya Julai 2001 kama kampuni, ikiwa na lengo maalumu la kuboresha viwango vya maisha ya watu katika Afrika kupitia biashara huru kwa kulenga mafunzo, utafiti, ushauri elekezi, mawasiliano na pia kupitia gazeti lake la kila wiki The African Executive.

Kwa taarifa zaidi, tafadhali wasiliana na:

James Shikwati, Mkurugenzi, IREN au Zaina Shisia, Events Manager Simu namba. +254 20 2731497 au barua pepe- zaina@irenkenya.com