Homecoming, civic engagement, and journalism assemblies

Homecoming is an annual tradition my family has participated in for ages and usually, all roads lead to Africa as my siblings and mother’s siblings troop in from the United States and the UK during the course of the year. This 4th quarter, I have been blessed to come home to another family on the continent, in my other country affectionately called Mzansi — South Africa.

With Angel Jones (CEO of Homecoming Revolution/HomecomingEx) on our first reunion post-COVID; her senior executive’s recruitment company featured me for returning to Ghana during my hunt as YouTube country manager almost a decade ago in 2014.

Since 2014, Homecoming Revolution (rebranded to HomecomingEx) has been an amazing executive search and recruitment opportunity with the company’s CEO, Angel leading the charge to attract and retain Africa’s best and brightest for almost two decades now. It was a privilege to share my updated competencies as an innovation orchestrator, digital strategist, educator, and new media journalist.

Meeting Sally Cruickshanks, and her sister, and learning about the growth of the organization, corporate roles in South Africa to the world & the potential of hosting a Social Media for Professional series collaboration within our collective networks. #Socials4Professionals

Up next was the trio of phenomenal professional indabas (meeting) events #Jamfest #CTIF #AIJC Johannesburg, South Africa.

Our amazing host and acting director of The Wits Centre for Journalism Prof. Dinesh Balliah was the consummate host, Prof Herman Wasserman, Khadijah Patel, and Prof. Iginio Gagliardone with Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor on the panel.

Jamfest 2022, hosted by the University of Witwatersrand School of Journalism was a series of deep distinctive dialogues about the future of journalism by journalism professionals and journalism educators. From the month-long virtual engagement sessions to the culmination of intentional exchanges and my masterclass on Socials for Civic Engagement professionals, I left our sessions challenged about the future of free media and equitable news sharing, inspired by the brilliance of many who push the professional from academic institutions to corporates and civic organizations across Africa.

Socials for Civic Engagement Masterclass by Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor Innovation Orchestrator #Jamfest22 #Unplugged | #Socials4Professionals

In fast order was the Civic Tech Innovation Forum #CTIF22 sister conference hosted by the Civic Technology Innovation Network, also in Johannesburg the following week. After leaving Meta (Facebook) #MetaMates #MetaLayoffs, I shared with one of my lecturers, Dr. Geci at the Wits Business School during my time there for innovation in management program, that the next frontier battlefield for market-share in our industry would be influenced, embroiled in, or enabled by nuanced policy and that conversation led to the bread crumbs that became my participation with the Wits School of Governance’s Tayarisha, Center of Excellence in African Digital Governance.

Emmanuel Gamor, Sekoetlane Phamodi, Geci Kariru-Sebina, #CTIF22 Tshimologong Precinct, 

Emmanuel Gamor, Geci Kariru-Sebina, Sekoetlane Phamodi, Adenike Aloba, Stan Getui, Richard Gevers #CTIF22 Johannesburg, South Africa

The icing on the cake for me was during this year’s 18th African Investigative Journalism conference #AIJC and the final of my trio back-to-back-to-back events at Wits University in Jozi, South Africa. This was a special moment to connect with Ghana’s own Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the award-winning investigative journalist who spoke about the numerous personal and professional risks he and his team have to constantly evaluate when embarking on their much-needed investigative journalism work on the continent. It was eye-opening and the honest conversation of him using his own child as a decoy during a human trafficking incident was alarming, and revealing and spoke to his bravery in ethical dilemmas and personal sacrifice on behalf of his incredibly dangerous professional field.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, 🇬🇭 Under Cover Journalist — Tiger Eye at 18th African Investigative Journalism conference #AIJC Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa #Mzansi 🇿🇦

Anas Aremeyaw Anas & Emmanuel Agbeko Gamor, New Media Journalist, Unpacking Africa, at the 18th African Investigative Journalism conference #AIJC Johannesburg, South Africa 🇿🇦 #Mzansi

It’s been a blessing to have my tribe of avengers assemble in the South of the continent with love and learning from each other during this season.

Be well, be safe, and be loved.

p.s. To share the Unpacking Africa love and goodness newsletter updates with friends and loved ones kindly click on this link here 💕

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on November 23rd, 2022.

 Learning how to grieve, and spark joy amidst sadness

During the anniversary month of the death of my father - Emmanuel Francios Gamor - #GamorLegacy these past couple of weeks I have been pensive, reflective, and conscious of the tools I (may not) have in dealing with grief.

Emmanuel Gamor & Emmanuel Gamor

It hit me recently how silently my family chooses to grieve, after a Facebook post I shared of his funeral almost a decade ago that the loss of the three most important people: first my grandma Rebecca Quartey, my step-baby-brother Jacobus Vanderpuye.

In the case of my brother, not a word has been spoken about him in our family publicly - as if the burden of recollection and loss is our own to bear, individually. From what I have read, this happens especially with young children.

Dedication of my first photo book to my brother, circa 2008

I mention/type out my loved ones’ names in full for the first time publicly; and if you have any insights on dealing with loss and grief, especially after a global pandemic exacerbated by global economic recession do send them my way. I received an outpour of love from the post to which I am not able to express my full gratitude. Sending love and light to any of you experience also experiencing grief for a loved one(s).

—

Dad.

Grieving you has always been painful

Honoring you has been such a lonely journey

And for the heavy personal & professional price just to be with you during those final moments, it is still and always will be worth it.

What I won’t do is to hear you shout “Coco come over here” so I can enthusiastically hop on your lap; or on the latest Kawasaki motorbike (I’m still not telling my mom, or shotgun in one of your Jaguar coupes (the two-door was my fave)!

Remember when you came with the Jeep Wrangler (open top) to Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School so everyone could see you with your boy…

Just me and you. Against the whole wide ewiase (world) #GamorLegacy

Maybe one of these days you will come to visit again, just maybe…

We will talk about the million and one entrepreneurial ideas we have that should work to help other people. Ghana must work.

Uncle Emma, Efo Gamor, Emma Gamor, The Jaguar Man.

Missing you a lot lately. Rest In Peace, rest well. Until we meet again. #RIP

“We commit this body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust” - Book of Common Prayer

Emmanuel Francois Gamor 1947-2013

p.s. If you are a listener of the Unpacking Africa podcast, you would recognize my empathetic listening inspiration from popular Psychology Researcher, author, and Podcaster, Brené Brown.

In a recent interview for her new book, Atlas of the Heart, she shares how our emotions show up and influence our decisions and how long true grief lasts in the heart?: “ As long as it takes,” Brown replied. “We live in a culture where people need us to move through our grief for the sake of their own comfort and grief does not have a timeline. It takes as long as it takes.

p.p.s If any of this resonates with you, and you are especially on the African continent know that you are not alone. Let’s set up a digital coffee time to chat, here.

 

Africa. Heritage. Technology

At the intersection of culture and emerging tech Africa has a story to tell.

On the back of this exciting announcement, Mali Magic by Google’s SSA MD, Nitin Gajria my community of creatives at the Eliu Gift Hub could not be more elated!

Image courtesy: Google Arts & Culture

As we scrolled through the awe-inspiring website and digital repository in collaboration with the Timbuktu Rennaissance, UNESCO, The Zamani Project, 4D Africa, Instruments for Africa, and Google, we could not hide our excitement!

#SparkJoy Finally witnessing a thoughtful and validating use of tech to document, honor, celebrate, reclaim, digitize and make equitable and accessible African content. Be sure to check it out, it is definitely an impressive start to what I hope would be a much more nuanced digital representation of Africa’s ongoing rich heritage and history to and for the world.

Heritage Month convos on Twitter #SpacesWithGamor

March, particularly the celebratory 6th of March (Ghana’s Independence Day) ushers a month of reflection for nationalistic, pan-African & Afropolitan pride. Going through the annual motions, my Eliu Gift Hub team and I decided to open up our weekly Twitter conversations on Spaces, to spotlight:

• Ghanaian, African and by extension Global positionality: What is the Ghanaian Dream?
• Arts and Culture, Beyond the Year of Return and into our Future
• Women SHeroes, Holding Space in highlighting and spotlighting
• SHeroes II, engaging with sexuality with the Adventures From community

Sundays 7 pm GMT

If empathetic conversations moderated by yours truly is your jam then join us on Sundays at 7 pm GMT. Follow previous conversations with the tag #SpacesWithGamor

The impact and ubiquitousness of technology and access to information, thanks to mobile phones & social media/tech companies’ global reach, daily cannot be overstated. During the months when our heritage can and must be showcased, it is such a privilege to engage with phenomenal guests and partners. If you (or anyone you know wants to join in the conversations from the comfort of your couch; as you passively listen in your work-study; while taking a walk in the neighborhood; or with a Bluetooth device connected to your car stereo on a long drive, then kindly click here.

Be well, be safe, be loved.

p.s. In December the number #1 Afribeats track Ameno by Ghanaian producer Nektunes had us jamming globally, and we channeled that Bamba during last month’s Spaces here.

Africa Heritage Technology: Bamba with Gamor Weekly on #SpacesWithGamor #Storytelling

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter's 15,000 + subscribers on March 12th, 2022.

#SpacesWithGamor curates conversations online and in-person that leverages tech, culture, and, connections from Africa to the rest of the world.

We had our intro session on 6th February and a discussion on Story Boarding with Akua Nyame-Mensah (@akua_nm)

Click the links below #SpacesWithGamor and join the conversation if you missed out!

---

This space has ended: 🎙 The Intro Show w/Akua Nyame-MENSAH #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 
 Emmanuel A. Gamor’s space · Where live audio conversations happen

⚡ Highlights

• There is no wrong or right idea. It just depends on the context it is created in

• Theme-setting is very essential

• Recognizing if anything that you are human and that they’re going to be peaks and there’s going to be valleys in that you’re not going to be in.

🎶Song of the day

DJ Neptune ft Mr. Eazi- Marry

Enjoy!!

For The Love Of Chocolate 🍫

This session had Kwadwo Agyekum (@aeagyekum) and Mabel (@chocolateshop_) dissect the issue on the fruit of the month… Cocoa!

If you missed out, you know what to do. (Click here)

This space has ended: For the Love ❤️ of Chocolate🍫 #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 

⚡ Highlights

• Chocolate is defined by its colour. It is defined by the ingredients.

• Quality chocolate has two main ingredients. The cocoa mass and the butter. If it is more milky, you have to question it.

• Chocolate is more than a sweet. The bitter, the better

🎶Song of the day

Kojo Antwi- Adiepenna

Enjoy!!!

For the Love of Innovation 🖥️

In the spirit of love, Isaac Newton Acquah (@isaacnewtonIII), Philip Ashon (@kofiashon), Allana Finley (@afosterfinley), and Michele Clarke- Ceres (@clarkeceres) took our community through the path of innovation.

Mind-blowing and eye-opening!

Click here to listen

This space has ended: The Love of Innovation ✨ #SpacesWithGamor — twitter.com 
 Emmanuel A. Gamor’s space · Where live audio conversations happen

⚡ Highlights

• The joy is in the doing

• Anybody can innovate and you don’t have to complicate it

• Innovation is making something ready at the right time for the right audience

• Innovation is about taking risks. If you are not taking risks, you cannot encourage others to do so

• We have been innovating in this space for a long time. Collaboration is key. Look to those who came before you

🎶Song of the day

M.anifest- Someway bi

🗣️Wanna speak?

#SpacesWithGamor is welcoming interested persons who want to join in the conversation. Just click the link below and let’s get talking!

✨SpacesWithGamor — docs.google.com 
 Digital platform conversations on monthly themes that foster collaboration in physical and meta-physical spaces. Join our community here: https://lu.ma/SpacesWithGamor | DM: @naa_orgle or @eagamor

🤝 Hey Partner!

We would love to partner with organizations within our space. Come let’s do amazing things together

✨SpacesWithGamor

 Digital platform conversations on monthly themes that foster collaboration in physical and metaphysical spaces. Join our community here: | DM @eagamor 

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter's 15,000 + subscribers on February 26th, 2022.

During the month of September, I shared a series of posts around Marie Kondo's philosophy of Sparking Joy, with my own special twist on sparking joy, collaboratively.

Besides celebrating my parents (even as my father has passed away), I used the opportunity to reflect and be grateful for some of the community collaborations I have been intentional about in the past, and the new partnerships I'm currently engaged with, that help build imagine the future ecosystems for me and mines.

Preamble: It has been a surreal & busy last 6 weeks, having the opportunity to live what I had imagined was a “future” aspiration, a decade ago, as an avid user of social media and early digital professional to sign on from a Florida Gators .edu account.

From day one, I didn’t hold back in sharing thanks with my personal board of advisors, here. I have been immensely appreciative to work with an impressive group of hardworking change-makers leveraging technology as an enabler, merging physical, digital, and metaphysical worlds in building community.

My amazing Global Partnerships and Global Accelerator teams’ updates soon, a precursor here.

Being an advocate for collaborative success, a recently announced and surprising collaboration with one of my father’s favorite brands Ray-Bans and Facebook; gives me a window into what augmented reality, virtual reality, luxury tech, wearable tech, and seeing into the future of experiential learning at work and play may look like.

My proximity to this has me reflecting intentionally and albeit projecting more boldly on what the next decade may look like for engagement, storytelling, community building (locally and globally), knowledge share, and more compelling to some, privacy, data, and community ethics. Exciting times ahead…

Image: Facebook

To the meat of today’s matter, on my personal toolkit for the future: an incredibly exciting future-proof tool I’m taking with, is the keen sense of sparking joy, collaboratively. When engaging with clients the tidiness & decluttering guru Marie Kondo asks a simple and relevant question “When you touch (or engage with) this item or that (activity usually in my case), does it spark joy?” 

Image: Netflix

Besides being relevant for old clothing items or often neglected office supplies (seen in her Netflix shows), this framework is pretty relevant for relationships, partnerships, and collaborative projects in life.

My mantra of actively pursuing #CollaborativeSuccess has led me to partner with, invest in, and collaborate with a plethora of actors, young and old, tech-savvy and tech-averse, social impact, community leaders, investors, and promising politicians. With a variance of success and failures that temper our life’s journey aptly.

I’m delighted that community sparks joy for me, and collaboration with one of my long-time avengers in Accra’s brand Lift. also sparks joy. I’m grateful for empowering new voices and my podcasting colleagues Adrian and Pato ( KukuZa amplifiers) within the Africa Podfest ecosystem, spark joy.

Lift. x Eliu Gift x Gamor

Lastly, my childhood home, now the Eliu Gift innovation hub openly and consistently sparks my greatest joy, deliberately shedding away the endless list of others (connections and collaborations) that I happily fold, thank and pack away for good. Medaase.

Image: Eliu Gift Hub courtesy @Urithi Labs

As I celebrate the September birthdays of my closest loved ones this month, especially my parents; yup my mother and father, Emma Gamor Snr. (of blessed memory) born on September 17th and 19th respectively, I wish for you and your family’s joy to be endlessly sparked through each celebrated touchstone moment.

Be well, be safe, be loved.

p.s.

Kindly wish Rev. Muriel aka my momma Esi, a wonderful birthday on her Facebook page, I don’t take our bond (we color coordinate unintentionally, even when I successfully surprise her) and our yearly ritual of aligning on goals and a mantra for the year: flow for granted. More on this ahead of 2022.

Rev. Muriel x Gamor image credit: @Sylvester Darku, Team Black Image

 Reflections on Africa Day.

“We Are our ancestors’ wildest dreams, but we don’t know that unless we learn what our ancestors went through.” — Monita K. Bell

Leading up to Africa Day 2021, I had the once-in-a-lifetime joy of surprising my mother, Rev. Muriel on her return visit to Ghana after 25 years of being away. It has been incredibly emotional to experience my mom reconnect with her country of birth after making so many sacrifices for our family. For her, our college education in the United States was paramount. In spite of leaving the continent first with two young children, and then became four young kids she preserved and has also built a community ministry.

Muriel, Esaaba, Emmanuel Gamor Golden Tulip Hotel Accra, May 22nd, 2021.

Being the oldest, with three younger sisters the weight of the responsibilities and sacrifices by our parents and by extension, our ancestors has never been lost on me. Never shying away from the mantle to circle back in building a world that validates our experiences, from the African and especially, respected everywhere else in the world.

Every year, Muriel and I align on a shared mantra. This year, in spite of the challenges and trauma of the global pandemic, the mission is to be intentional in carrying on the torch and momentum of our forebearers had, to have the audacity to co-create these dreams.

I am incredibly blessed that I get to witness my mother relive, and share the dreams I was too young to fully understand; also to create new ones that exceed our wildest ones. Even as she takes the time to honor her own mother and father on her return journey.

Be well, be safe, be loved.

p.s.

My mother was one of the founding staff members of the Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra Ghana when it first opened about 30 years ago, joined some of the early staff members present who were gracious to n and take a few pictures with her.

image credit: Sylvester Darku, Team Black Image

Originally published to Unpacking Africa newsletter’s 15,000 + subscribers on May 26, 2021.