Today was a first. I laid down a drum track using the iPad, and sent it overseas to my dad in Kenya for him to overlay guitar and vocals.
I know musicians have been doing this for ages, but Covid19 is forcing us to use the tools at our disposal and pushing us out of our comfort zones. For me that means sticking to a blogging commitment and producing music with family overseas.
I just love the internet.
Happy Sunday chimps.
Today was the most perfect weather in Cape Town. High of 25 Celsius and not a breath of wind. The air is clear as crystal. Maybe it’s because of COVID19 slowing the pollution levels. Maybe it’s just a nice day.
I can see hawks circling the forest below the mountains from my garden. They must have some great views up there.
We made the most of it, swimming, working on the garden, playing with kids.
Even though there is always the thought of the big world out there on a lovely day like today, everything (even lockdown) is a little better with the sun shining. I hope there are more sunny days than not for the duration of the pandemic.
Happy Saturday chimps.
I think I’m on 25 days straight blogging, or something like that.
I have so far written some absolute rubbish and a couple of posts I am actually quite proud of.
This streak has helped me rearrange the menu on my blog website, now including a Kenya and South Africa section because I find the comparisons interesting to write about.
It hasn’t made it any easier to write well. If I write every single day it just removes some of the fear of writing badly.
I don’t care about a bad post because I know I’ll have another chance tomorrow.
Happy Friday chimps.
Day 20-something in a row and I nearly forgot to write a blog post!
I’ll get something substantial up tomorrow.
Happy Monday chimps.
Be well and take care out there.
It’s nearly the end of the day and I haven’t yet managed to write a blog post.
I’m on about 22 posts in my bid for 30 straight. I nearly laughed it off today, but I will be damned if I am going to let this very difficult day get in the way of a good writing streak!
That’s the thing about streaks, once they start you are less likely to quit.
This still counts, and the streak goes on!
Happy Friday night chimps.
It’s nearly the end of the day and I haven’t yet managed to write a blog post.
I’m on about 22 posts in my bid for 30 straight. I nearly laughed it off today, but I will be damned if I am going to let this very difficult day get in the way of a good writing streak!
That’s the thing about streaks, once they start you are less likely to quit.
This still counts, and the streak goes on!
Happy Friday night chimps.
In 1998 I was a 16 year old just starting to drink alcohol in Nairobi. I remember clearly the arrival of South African beers (Castle lager) in the bars as an alternative to Tusker, the king of Kenyan beer. Castle came in cans, and until then it had all been glass Tusker bottles. Tusker soon started to can their beer to keep up, which I always nostalgically thought was a pity.
What I didn’t understand was the turbulent backdrop to these shiny cans and bottles sitting on the shelves in all the pubs. A corporate war was started when SA Breweries landed in Nairobi and invested in a plant in Thika. SAB entered East Africa’s largest economy through a business partnership with local brewer East Africa Breweries Ltd, maker of Tusker.
Lucrative markets and very similar products meant that it was a race to the bottom for both parties to keep or gain market share. After much drama (accusations of sabotage, protectionism, underhanded tactics by both parties), a price war benefiting consumers and a huge influx of different brands of beer into the market, the deal soon fell apart, forcing SABMiller to shut down its Thika plant and exit Kenya in 2002.
So what? Why does this matter? To me this is an important example of the SA vs Kenya dynamic. Synergies and opportunities are spotted, but what could have been an opportunity for strengthened bonds and cultures turned into a one-on-one brawl. Perhaps this is due to the nature of the product itself. Highly commoditized, all that was left was grabbing market share by any means. Prices dropped, tactics by all accounts got dirtier.
If South Africa and Kenya are to trade successfully, then perhaps the product traded needs to contain a little more differentiation, a little more art. It must demonstrate clearly its addition and novelty to the local market. Ideally there is no local equivalent to protect, because neither country wants to let the other one in if they feel the market already exists. Both are proud of their status as African giants. As an example, South Africa won’t allow Tusker to be sold in SA. A trademark technicality has kept it out for decades.
Recently SABMiller is back in the Kenya market but is only importing beers into the market. A more cautious approach is probably wise considering the first foray.
If I was going to trade goods into Kenya, I would try to find something that is just not available yet, and introduce it carefully with local partners. This was done with cell phones, pay tv and many other goods which didn’t trigger a price war. I’m sure there will be more to come.
Anyways. Happy Sunday chimps!
I just received an email from my bank. It was an investment piece describing various scenarios they had researched for the effect of Coronavirus on the markets. Lots of volatility, mixed with under priced companies which will be good bets when the timing is right. (That’s a ridiculously simplistic summary by me, but you get the picture).
So when will the timing be right? When there are no more cases recorded? When the death rate slows? (For the best stats check out worldometer.info/coronavirus).
I just got off the phone from my folks in Nairobi and I think we’re in for a long haul in Kenya and in South Africa. I don’t have the spare cash or the inclination to be making any bets at this stage.
I’d like to thank my bank for thinking of my cash investment at such a time as this though. Its comforting to know some things don’t change.
Kenya has a positive story to tell potential investors: In the past 5 years Kenya has risen 80 places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, from 136th to 56th. 80 places??!!! That is a large chunk of the table right there. I would liken it to Usain Bolt taking the baton in the final leg of the school relay, blitzing the field from last place.
This is a clear demonstration of the Kenyan government’s commitment to attract and retain local and foreign investments in the country. It is also just a statistic which is a simplification of a far more complex reality.
Regular visits to the country in this period have shown me what this change means in real life – populations have boomed, infrastructure projects are going up all over the place, demographics are changing (Chinese takeaway anyone?) and general busy-ness (as opposed to business) and traffic in hubs such as Nairobi and Mombasa have become anything from manic to unbearable.
Contrast this to South Africa’s fortunes on the index – slipping from 43rd to 84th in the last five years. These years have been blighted by massive corruption scandals, theft, crime, strong and irrational unions, and macro economic factors conspiring against the growth in SA. Labelling as junk status was inevitable. Check the below charts for GDP per capita growth over the years in the 2 countries:
SA GDP / Capita
And here is Kenya’s:
You can see from the charts that South Africa is still a far richer place. In practice this means that life here is closer to a western standard of living. It is far less chaotic and ‘Jua Kali’ as it is in Kenya. Roads are smooth, phones and power lines are (largely) unbroken. Shops have everything you could desire. You could argue strongly that life is easier here.
Probably the biggest factor working against ease of doing business here in SA is government policy and the legacy of apartheid. It still looms so heavily over every government decision. Contrast this to Kenya where independence and colonial legacy is becoming less and less of an issue. Power lies with the local elites. Tribal politics trumps racial issues.
My note from yesterday refers. After ten days of writing every day, and with the family responsibilities dominating life on the virus lockdown – I am a little short on ideas for writing. The thrill is gone (as BB said) and the seven year itch has itched me good. I’m tempted by Netflix, video games, the day job, ANYTHING other than writing a blog post.
And yet – here is another post.
It is always the way – a post comes from the sheer act of writing. You need to start with writing to get the idea, not the other way around. Well…rarely the other way around. Stream of consciousness writing can be whittled away. We are lucky to live in the digital age where drafting is so very cheap.
When in doubt, do something. At least if your doubt is related to writing – if so, then just write.
Onwards to the next post tomorrow – hopefully more inspired and thought through than today.
okaythanksbye.
Chimpwithcans 