I’m pretty comfortable predicting that this summer’s theatrical movie season will be the weirdest summer movie season since last summer’s movie season. No, theaters won’t be closed worldwide while the few open indie multiplexes and drive-ins try to subsist on nostalgic re-releases and arthouse horror flicks. However, the theatrical offerings are a set of mostly B-level franchise entries amid a few A-level tentpoles. Even with the emphasis on franchises and IP, that makes this summer feel like a distinctly early 1990’s season.



Back in, say, 1995, there was&nbsp;Batman Forever, Pocahontas, Apollo 13&nbsp;and then everything else fighting it out amid a more merciful theatrical environment. Or, more recently,&nbsp;Avengers, Dark Knight Rises&nbsp;and&nbsp;Amazing Spider-Man&nbsp;vs. everything else in summer 2012.



There are quite a would-be summer 2020 biggies (Tenet, Wonder Woman 1984, Mulan, Soul,&nbsp;etc.) that have already been released. Meanwhile, a number of would-be summer 2020 flicks (Top Gun: Maverick, Minions: The Rise of Gru, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, etc.) have been further delayed. There are yet more would-be summer 2021 biggies (The Batman, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Jurassic World: Dominion,&nbsp;etc.) are set for release in late 2021 sometime in 2022. And let’s not forget films like&nbsp;Cinderella&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Tomorrow War&nbsp;which were sold off to streaming platforms.



Point being, the summer release slate is a hodgepodge of “was supposed to be in 2020” and “didn’t have to vacate 2021” titles, most of them smaller in scale and not aiming for blow-out status. The hope is for achieving normalcy, not notching milestones.



So, without further ado, thus continues this summer movie preview. There’s only a handful here that I might expect to outgross&nbsp;Godzilla Vs. Kong&nbsp;($425 million with Japan on the way) and even fewer that might hope to just match what&nbsp;Hi, Mom&nbsp;($825 million) or&nbsp;Detective Chinatown 3&nbsp;($700 million) earned in China alone earlier this year. Without further ado, the three “surefire” blockbusters and the four biggest “might break out” question marks.



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F9: The Fast Saga&nbsp;(Universal)



Universal is positioning the ninth&nbsp;Fast &amp; Furious&nbsp;movie as the “welcome back, blockbusters” event. Opening May 21 in China and much of the world and then on June 25 in North America, the Justin Lin-directed flick pits Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto against John Cena as his evil big brother. We already know that we’ll get car chases involving magnets, a trip to space and the return of Sung Kang&#8217;s Han Lue after his apparent fiery demise at the hands of Jason Statham’s (now-reformed) Deckard Shaw.&nbsp;F9&nbsp;will allegedly/possibly set up a two-part “Dominic Toretto and the Deathly Hallows”-type finale. Prior to the pandemic,&nbsp;F9&nbsp;was pegged to be 2020’s biggest global grosser. It’s now likely to be 2020’s biggest Hollywood-specific global grosser save for maybe&nbsp;Spider-Man: No Way Home&nbsp;(December 17).



Prior to all of this,&nbsp;F9&nbsp;was potentially going to be the first movie to top $1 billion worldwide without passing $200 million domestic. Now we’ll see if it can out-gross&nbsp;Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales&nbsp;($177 million domestic and $794 million worldwide in 2017) as the biggest-grossing Hollywood film to earn under $200 million domestic. Absence may indeed make the heart grow fonder, as it’s been four years between straight-up Dominic Toretto-specific sequels (starts singing “See You Again”). That’s especially if the movie is closer in quality to&nbsp;Fast Five&nbsp;than&nbsp;Fate of the Furious. I would be shocked if&nbsp;F9&nbsp;wasn’t the biggest movie of the summer, partially thanks to potentially huge business in China and halfway decent business in North America. The only question is “How big?”



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Black Widow&nbsp;(Walt Disney)



While I’d argue that&nbsp;Black Widow&nbsp;would have been a bigger deal had it opened in summer 2017 (between&nbsp;Civil War&nbsp;and&nbsp;Infinity War&nbsp;which is when it takes place) or before Natasha took a long walk off a short cliff in&nbsp;Endgame, it’s still a solo MCU superhero movie centered on one of the flagship Avengers. Scarlett Johansson is passing the metaphorical torch to Florence Pugh in this&nbsp;Bourne/Red Sparrow/Atomic Blonde-ish espionage actioner. Kate Shortland’s MCU prequel will arrive with the MCU machine back in full swing via Disney+ television shows and&nbsp;Black Widow&nbsp;looking even more like yesterday’s MCU business. The film will open in theaters and on Disney+ “Premier Access” on July 9. All of these factors will be why it’ll only make “much of the money” instead of “all the money.”



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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings&nbsp;(Walt Disney)



This is the second Marvel/Disney flick, but to be fair much of the competition (Universal’s&nbsp;Jurassic World 3,&nbsp;Paramount’s&nbsp;Top Gun 2, etc.) fled to safer waters. The Simu Liu/Awkwafina/Tony Leung/Michelle Yeoh “first Asian MCU superhero” movie could be our first unmitigated Labor Day blockbuster. There’s little reason not to expect the Daniel Destin Cretton-directed flick to break out on the level of (at least, give or take Covid variables)&nbsp;Doctor Strange&nbsp;($677 million in 2016) even if China reacts with a comparative shrug. It’s a demographically-specific event movie along with being Marvel playing in thus-far uncharted waters (the martial arts movie), and it’ll have three weeks before&nbsp;Venom: Let There Be Carnage. A summer unlike any other is hoping to end with the most conventional thing in the world: an MCU blockbuster.



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The burning questions…



Yes, if there were more “biggies” opening this summer, had the likes of&nbsp;Jurassic World: Dominion, Top Gun: Maverick&nbsp;and&nbsp;The Matrix 4&nbsp;not been pushed back, this might have been a closer competition. As it is, it’s really a three-way race between the MCU actioners (huge in North America, healthy in China, with strong fan-specific loyalty and goodwill) and the&nbsp;Fast Saga&nbsp;sequel (healthy in North America, huge in China, with strong fan-specific loyalty and goodwill). But what else is there? Well, aside from a handful of high-profile horror flicks (Spiral, Candyman, A Quiet Place part II, etc.) and some “just a movie” offerings like&nbsp;Free Guy&nbsp;and&nbsp;In the Heights, that’s mostly it. However, there are four other potential “biggies” opening in June, July and August which absolutely could break out, relatively speaking.



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Space Jam: A New Legacy&nbsp;(Warner Bros.)



Will LeBron James’&nbsp;Space Jam&nbsp;sequel play to generational nostalgia or be another unrequested sequel?



Opening July 16, this Malcom D. Lee-directed&nbsp;Space Jam&nbsp;sequelhas mostly been discussed in terms of fabricated controversies about Pepe Le Pew getting “canceled,” and whether making Lola Bunny (now voiced by Zendaya) a more well-rounded character plays into the “social justice warrior” crowd. Pepe’s barely in&nbsp;Looney Toons: Back in Action, and that 2003 romp includes Speedy Gonzalez and Porky Pig mourning their declining popularity due to changing times. The big question is whether the film will be another “this sequel exists because the studio and/or certain filmmakers wanted it” or whether this 25-years-later follow-up will play as an all-ages theatrical-worthy romp while capitalizing on decades of multi-generational nostalgia (and the original film’s place as a comparative touchtone for Black moviegoers). Presumably responsible (under-$100 million?) budgeting aside, this could go either way.



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Hotel Transylvania: Transformania&nbsp;(Sony)



Will the fourth “Drac Pac” movie thrive without Adam Sandler?



Each of the three&nbsp;Hotel Transylvania&nbsp;movies have out-grossed their predecessor worldwide, which each one has been leggier than the last in North America. With the biggest/best animated films (The Mitchells Vs. the Machines, Luca,&nbsp;etc.) mostly going to streaming, Sony Animation’s fourth “Drac Pack” flick is by default summer’s biggest animated film. The initial trilogy has earned $379 million, $469 million and $527 million in 2012, 2015 and 2018 on a combined budget of $230 million. However, Adam Sandler will not be reprising this time out, with Brian Hull (made famous via a YouTube video of him singing “Let It Go” as various animated characters) taking over. While kids won’t care about the actor swap when it opens on July 23, the demos that view&nbsp;Hotel Transylvania&nbsp;as a Sandler-and-friends animated franchise might (even with everyone else reprising).



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Jungle Cruise&nbsp;(Walt Disney)



Can this be Disney’s first true “new to cinemas” live-action franchise in nearly 17 years?



Delayed from last July, this action-comedy is loosely based on the popular theme park ride, one which ironically has undergone an allegedly “less cultural offensive” reworking over the last year. Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are headlining this Jaume Collet-Serra-directed romp which wants to remind you of Stephen Sommers’&nbsp;The Mummy. Hopes were high last year that it might become Disney’s first new-to-cinema live-action franchise (outside of the MCU) since&nbsp;Pirates of the Caribbean&nbsp;in 2003 and&nbsp;National Treasure&nbsp;in 2004. Johnson is a force with a viable IP, Blunt is an added value draw, and the film looks like quite a bit of fun. If Disney’s live-action departments want to be more than just Marvel,&nbsp;Star Wars&nbsp;and live-action remakes/revamps of their animated hits, well, this one (opening July 30) better break out.



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The Suicide Squad&nbsp;(Warner Bros.)



Can a&nbsp;Suicide Squad&nbsp;sequel still soar without Will Smith and the Joker?



This has all the ingredients of a “too late” sequel to a film that was a big hit ($745 million sans China) without being terribly well-liked. David Ayer’s (heavily compromised) ensemble supervillain flick boasted the first live-action appearance of Harley Quinn, a Will Smith star turn and cameos by Ben Affleck’s Batman and Jared Leto’s Joker. Margot Robbie is back as Harley, while James Gunn is in the director’s chair. That’s ironic since&nbsp;Guardians of the Galaxy&nbsp;is what Warner Bros. was aiming for even if Ayer was initially crafting something closer to&nbsp;The Fast &amp; the Furious. A crowdpleasing trailer, a marquee director and a rejuvenated DC Films may help compensate for the “just curious the first time” variable. Besides, in normal times, I’d have pegged&nbsp;Godzilla Vs. Kong&nbsp;as a whiff, so WB gets my benefit of the doubt.



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Epilogue



That’s a wrap for “part two.” Now is it possible that I’m wrong on these flicks? Sure,&nbsp;F9&nbsp;could underperform while&nbsp;Free Guy&nbsp;soars to infinity and beyond.&nbsp;Suicide Squad 2&nbsp;could be a classic “Tomb Raider Trap” while&nbsp;In the Heights&nbsp;pulls&nbsp;Greatest Showman-level grosses worldwide. Hell,&nbsp;Cruella&nbsp;could play closer to&nbsp;Cinderella&nbsp;($520 million in 2015)than&nbsp;Dumbo&nbsp;($350 million). But the vast majority of 2021 summer movie releases will be content with $100-$150 million worldwide (the horror movies) or thrilled with $300 million worldwide (the likes of&nbsp;Peter Rabbit: The Runaway, Free Guy&nbsp;or&nbsp;Cinderella). Theaters shouldn’t expect that many blow-out hits or record opening weekends. They can still hope that the consistent output offers a steady stream of halfway decent business from May 7 to Labor Day weekend. It’s a summer about survival, not superlative success.



By Scott Mendelson, Forbes Staff

Wuhan Reopens Cinemas After Months In Lockdown

Box Office: The Biggest Blockbusters And Riskiest Releases Of Summer 2021

TOPLINE As India continues to face a devastating second wave of the pandemic, the World Health Organisation on Monday classified the coronavirus variant first detected in the country–B.1.617—as a variant of concern following preliminary findings which suggest it could be more transmissible.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



The WHO’s new classification—which is an upgrade from “variant of interest”—adds the Indian variant to a list that also contains variants first detected in the U.K. (B.1.1.7), South Africa (B.1.351) and&nbsp; Brazil (P.1).



The global health body will publish a detailed report on the B.1.617 variant in its weekly epidemiological update on Tuesday, the WHO’s technical lead officer on Covid-19, Maria van Kerkhove said.



Kerkhove noted that some available information suggested that the variant showed “increased transmissibility,” and a non-peer-reviewed study on a limited number of patients also suggested that it may also be able to evade some key antibodies.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER</h3>



3,876. That’s the total number of Covid-19 deaths India&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/COVIDNewsByMIB/status/1391986229768376322" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, taking its official tally up to 249,992—which many experts suggest is a severe undercount. The country’s daily infection and fatalities have continued to remain high despite a drop in new infections in key cities like Mumbai and Delhi.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



The second wave of the pandemic has continued to rage across India pushing the country’s health care system past its breaking point. As the country reports more than 350,000 new infections and nearly 4,000 deaths from Covid-19 every day, the country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are under increasing pressure to impose a strict nationwide lockdown. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India’s main opposition party has written a letter to Modi which slams his government’s failures and notes that “another devastating national lockdown is almost inevitable.”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-lockdown-in-india-latest-news-may-8-pressure-mounts-on-pm-narendra-modi-to-impose-nationwide-lockdown-shutdown-coronavirus-latest-news-2889434" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Several others</a>, including medical experts, Supreme Court judges and other opposition leaders and even&nbsp;<a href="https://qz.com/india/2007013/anthony-fauci-and-indian-doctors-ask-modi-to-declare-a-lockdown/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Anthony Fauci</a>—the U.S.’s senior-most infectious disease official—have called for a national shut down to break the chain of transmission.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">FURTHER READING</h3>



<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-05-10/who-cites-concern-on-variant-from-india-seen-spreading-quickly?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&amp;utm_content=business&amp;cmpid=socialflow-twitter-business&amp;sref=CSMHWBLp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid Variant From India Triggers WHO Concern Over Fast Spread</a>&nbsp;(Bloomberg)



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/coronavirus/">Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus</a>



By Siladitya Ray, Forbes Staff

INDIA-HEALTH-VIRUS-VACCINES

WHO Classifies Indian Covid-19 Mutation As A ‘Variant Of Concern’

From Hollywood exports and Grammy artists to award-winning ideas that can save the world, Africa is not only diverse in its people but also in its industries and creativity. For FORBES AFRICA hundredth issue (since the magazine’s inception in 2011), we decided to curate a list celebrating these very ideas, inventions, and influential role models that have spelt Africa’s growth over the last decade.



As a former head of state and Nobel peace prize winner, Sirleaf has achieved more than most in her lifetime. She spoke to FORBES AFRICA on her experiences as president and what she thinks is needed to bridge the gender gap in Africa. In March, she also received the 2021 FORBES WOMAN AFRICA Lifetime Achievement Award. 



F: What was your experience like in becoming the first female head of state in Africa?



My life was forever transformed when I was given the privilege to serve the people of Liberia. It was an honor to become Africa’s first democratically elected woman president. It was a tough position to hold &#8211; not just because my success or failure would impact the prospects of women coming up behind me, but because of the immense challenges my country faced as it emerged from civil war.



When I left my inauguration after taking the oath of office, I got out of the car and walked along the streets. The crowds followed, walking with me &#8211; it was such a special moment. I knew I had the Liberian people behind me, and that gave me the strength and courage to take our country forward.



Coming into a position surrounded by men was difficult, of course. There was, and still is, a suspicion that a woman isn’t up to the job, and men often doubt you. I had to overcome this by being steadfast and standing up for the things I believe in.



I had to believe in my own potential and do everything I could to better the lives of other women. I wish I could have appointed an all-women cabinet, but at the time it wasn’t possible. So instead, I identified areas that are normally male-dominated, such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Commerce, and broke taboos by putting women in places where they were not normally found. We got women into leadership positions at different levels, pointing the way towards equity.



F: What were some of the main challenges you faced during your terms as president?



When I took office, Liberia had just emerged from 14 years of civil war. My priority was to sustain peace and help the country rebuild. The reconciliation process involved building the foundations of our democracy and rebuilding the economy almost from scratch. It was very complex and extremely difficult, but I am proud of the work we did to get Liberia back on the path of development. I am also proud that we restored our country’s reputation and creditworthiness.



We invested heavily in Liberia’s youth &#8211; helping them get educated and develop skills to give them access to more opportunities. Helping them see that there was a bright future ahead of them, that they had a common future, also helped to bridge some of the divisions in our society, further sustaining the peace we had worked so hard to attain.



Then the Ebola outbreak engulfed Liberia and West Africa, threatening the economy and hard-earned progress we had made on reducing child and maternal mortality, for example. Just like with COVID-19, schools were shut down and too many lives were lost. Seeing how the Ebola crisis affected my country was devastating, and it really showed me the importance of access to primary health care and importance of community endeavour.



F: What was it like being nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize and then being announced as the winner?



It was an honor and a truly humbling experience to be nominated and win the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize along with fellow Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. Winning the prize alongside these women showed the universality of our struggle, but the award really belongs to the people whose aspirations we had the privilege to represent, and whose rights we have the obligation to defend.



I would not have been in any position to receive that honor without the women of Liberia, Africa, and the world. I never forget that I owe my success to the women who, during the Liberian civil war, stood in the rain and fetched food for their children despite the bullets flying everywhere.



When I accepted the prize, I told the women of the world: “Find your voice! Raise our voices. Let yours be a voice for freedom!”



F: What has life been like since the end of your presidential term?



I had two grandmothers who were illiterate, who were marketeers and farmers. I saw them represented in too many of the women around me. That led to my own commitment: when I had the authority, I would do something to better the lives of other women that is why I focused on rural women and those in the informal sector.



But knew that my work would have to continue beyond the end of my presidency. I have always been committed to bettering the lives of other women, and that commitment did not end with my second presidential term. But I also knew that I must work for more women leaders who can protect and promote women.



I have thus continued to advocate for women’s political representation, education, and equitable access to healthcare. I am proud to be involved in many great organizations working towards these goals. Additionally, I have continued to work in conflict resolution and have contributed to pandemic response efforts around the world.



F: What does being an African icon mean to you?



I am humbled to be considered an African icon. I hope that it will inspire others to work towards causes they are passionate about. I hope that it will have a motivating effect for other women and young girls, encouraging their confidence to set goals and to stay on the path to achieve them.



F: Tell me about the EJS Center and some of the work it does?



The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center) was established to be a catalyst for change across Africa, by unleashing its most abundant untapped power — its women. Through our programming, advocacy, research, and exhibitions, the EJS Center works to advance women’s public leadership and development. Our goal is to shift the landscape for women, moving from a culture of tokenism to one that truly values women leaders.



The Amujae Initiative is the EJS Center’s flagship program. We launched it on International Women’s Day in March 2020. Derived from a phrase in Kru, a Liberian language, Amujae means ‘we are going up’. We help women who have already proven their dedication to their communities and to their fellow women, and who are aiming for the highest positions in public service. There are now two cohorts of Amujae Leaders with 30 in all, coming from 16 different countries across the continent. Among them are a county governor, current and former ministers, members of parliament, senior advisors, and activists. We are so proud of them all, of their impressive careers and their aspirations.



In addition to our work through the Amujae Initiative, we are also establishing a presidential library, which will house physical and virtual archives and serve as a convening space where African women leaders are able to strategize together and build strong networks of support.



F: Given the current gender disparities prevalent in African society, what do you think is needed for this gap to be closed and for women to be seen as equals to their male counterparts?



This is not just a problem in Africa &#8211; it is a global problem. There is a lot of work still to be done. We need more women to dare to contend for the highest positions of public leadership and to bring other women along with them. When I was President of Liberia, I made a point of putting women in positions of power so that young girls can see what is possible.



There is also much to be done in terms of ensuring girls’ access to education, ensuring that there is room for women in business and entrepreneurship, and improving healthcare access. Every step we take is a step towards progress, and I’m encouraged by the number of women stepping into leadership roles today.



F: What is a motto or mantra that you live by?



I always tell people &#8212; if your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough. But you must also have the wherewithal to achieve them, and you must not be afraid to use your voice.



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2021/04/01/the-100th-issue-100-innovations-inventions-icons-from-africa/">For more on the 100 Innovations, Inventions &amp; Icons From Africa (Forbes Africa)</a>

Icons 19

THE 100th ISSUE: Q&A With Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Topline England on Monday reported no new deaths from Covid-19 for the time since last March, a positive milestone that comes as the country continues to ease long-lasting lockdown restrictions.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



<a href="https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/deaths?areaType=nation&amp;areaName=England" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Data</a>&nbsp;released by Public Health England Monday afternoon added no new deaths to the country’s toll of 112,245.&nbsp;



Scotland and Northern Ireland also reported no new deaths for Sunday, a streak in the U.K. broken by Wales, which reported four more residents dead from Covid-19 in Monday’s update.&nbsp;



Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have reported zero coronavirus deaths prior to May 10, but this is the first time since March 7 England has hit such a milestone.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">BIG NUMBER&nbsp;</h3>



126,605. That’s how many people have died from Covid-19 in the U.K. since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND&nbsp;</h3>



England’s 14-month record low for Covid-19 deaths comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to announce Monday the latest round of lockdown easing. The U.K.’s alert level has been lowered from a four to a three, meaning the transmission of coronavirus is no longer deemed to be high or rising exponentially, though it’s still in general circulation. Johnson is expected to announce friends and families can hug and mix indoors starting next week, including in pubs and restaurants, while cinemas, museums and theaters can reopen.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-surprising-fact">SURPRISING FACT&nbsp;</h3>



After hitting a peak of 70,000 cases per day in January, the U.K. is now recording an average of less than 2,000 new daily infections. The bloc of countries have also benefited from one of the world’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most successful&nbsp;</a>vaccine rollouts, with over a quarter of residents fully vaccinated and more than half fully inoculated.



<a href="https://www.forbes.com/coronavirus/">Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus</a>



By Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff

Michael Nardone, who plays D.I Neil McKinven in the BBC

England Reports Zero New Coronavirus Deaths For First Time In 14 Months

From Hollywood exports and Grammy artists to award-winning ideas that can save the world, Africa is not only diverse in its people but also in its industries and creativity. For FORBES AFRICA hundredth issue (since the magazine’s inception in 2011), we decided to curate a list celebrating these very ideas, inventions, and influential role models that have spelled Africa’s growth over the last decade.



Having been in the film industry for over 30 years, award-winning South African actor Connie Ferguson is on the list for her impact as an actor, producer, and filmmaker. In 2018, she also graced the cover of FORBES WOMAN AFRICA. She talks to FORBES AFRICA about being included on the icons list.



Correct us if we are wrong but you have had almost 30 years in the acting industry and you have been hugely successful-what/who do you owe your success to?&nbsp; I’ve been in the industry for 31 years now and literally grew up in it and with it! I owe my success to simple perseverance, hard work and never taking anything for granted! Faith and prayer have also been a big part of it! And the people who have believed in me and cheered me on along the way, especially my family, are the reason I never gave up even when times were hard.



 What have been some of your highlights as both an actress and businesswoman?&nbsp; My highlights as an actress are definitely my time at Generations, a show that allowed me the opportunity to build my personal brand, my role as Mavis in Rockville, our debut show as executive producers, and my current role of Harriet Khoza on The Queen. Although the different awards received over the years are humbling and appreciated, the loyal fans and viewers that diligently follow and appreciate my work, are who make it all worthwhile.&nbsp; As a business woman, being the first SA TV personality to launch a perfume in 2008, and a body care range Connie Body Lotion and Connie Men in 2015. Winning the Shoprite Supplier Of The Year Award in 2015 was the cherry on top.&nbsp; Ferguson Films, a production company I own and run with my husband Shona, is also not only a highlight but the biggest blessing! We are able to create work for a hundred plus in a very tough economic climate. All our shows have performed exceedingly well, and we are truly grateful to the people who follow and enjoy our work. They inspire us to keep the creative juices flowing.



 In your opinion what do you think makes an icon?&nbsp; Someone that is not only aspirational but inspirational, that is memorable and leaves a mark wherever they go. 



Can you comment on us at FORBES AFRICA considering you an icon.  I appreciate the honor. I didn’t set out to become an icon. I let my work speak for itself and endeavor to empower and touch as many lives as I can positively. The titles and accolades that come with that are a bonus!



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2021/04/01/the-100th-issue-100-innovations-inventions-icons-from-africa/">For more on the 100 Innovations, Inventions &amp; Icons From Africa (Forbes Africa)</a>



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‘Success is a choice! Rise and grind!’- says Connie Ferguson

TOPLINE&nbsp;Tesla CEO Elon Musk revealed he has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2021/05/09/elon-musk-reveals-he-has-aspergers-on-saturday-night-live/?sh=6832e336f640">Asperger’s syndrome&nbsp;</a>during his opening monologue while hosting Saturday Night Live, but is far from the first billionaire businessman to divulge he is neurodivergent.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



Fellow billionaire and investment management firm founder Bill Gross revealed in 2019 he too had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2019-03-01/bill-gross-on-his-asperger-s-diagnosis-and-its-advantages-video?fbclid=IwAR1H-gbsnDylCQB2hPCnkaQt15MQqS71DtsQMBU2O_jHjpUWqm3HUX_xlLE&amp;sref=q1G25G4a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">diagnosed with Asperger’s</a>, telling Bloomberg he believes the condition makes him a better investor: “It allows you to focus on longer-term things without getting mixed up in the details,” Gross said.



Gross, estimated by&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;to be worth about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/bill-gross/?sh=6d33e30235b9">$1.5 billion</a>, also said the diagnosis likely explains his trouble maintaining eye contact and his almost obsessive interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-07/bond-guru-bill-gross-to-sell-42-2-million-stamp-collection" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">collecting stamps</a>.



Richard Branson, estimated by&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;to have a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-branson/?sh=5a09c9836ff5">$4.2 billion</a>&nbsp;fortune, opened up about being dyslexic in a 2018 blog post, writing that as a child he was labeled “<a href="https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/my-top-three-strategies-dyslexic-children" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lazy and dumb</a>” for struggling in school: “Dyslexia is just a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/my-top-three-strategies-dyslexic-children" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">different, creative way of thinking</a>,” Branson said, adding he thinks the condition makes him&nbsp;<a href="https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/dyslexia-and-imagination" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">more imaginative</a>.



Charles Schwab, who founded the nation’s largest brokerage firm and has an estimated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/charles-schwab/?sh=71652fdc2e4b">$11.4 billion</a>&nbsp;fortune, has also had lifelong troubles&nbsp;<a href="https://stanfordmag.org/contents/charles-schwab-s-secret-struggle" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reading and writing</a>&nbsp;because of dyslexia.



Late Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad, estimated by&nbsp;Forbes&nbsp;to be worth as much as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maxjedeurpalmgren/2018/01/28/ingvar-kamprad-founder-of-ikea-dead-at-91/?sh=6e3f452c4972">$28 billion</a>&nbsp;between 2005 and 2010, was dyslexic and even decided to give Ikea products their&nbsp;<a href="https://qz.com/1191091/ingvar-kamprad-and-his-ikea-empire-nine-intriguing-facts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">distinct Swedish names</a>&nbsp;because his diagnosis made working with typical inventory numbers difficult for him.



By Carlie Porterfield, Forbes Staff

Key Speakers At The Satellite 2020 Conference

It’s Not Just Elon Musk — These Billionaires Are Also Neurodivergent

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/bill-gates/?sh=7717ecda689f">Bill Gates</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/melinda-gates/?sh=3f63649f7c2b">Melinda French Gates</a>&nbsp;are already divvying up their massive fortune, and in the process, Melinda has become a billionaire on her own.



Bill’s investment vehicle, Cascade Investment, transferred nearly $2.4 billion in securities to Melinda on Monday, May 3, the same day the pair announced their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/melissaholzberg/2021/05/03/bill-and-melinda-gates-announce-divorce/?sh=4f23e9b94272">surprise divorce</a>, according to SEC filings. That makes Melinda worth at least $2.4 billion, while the stock transfer puts a slight dent in Bill’s net worth, which fell to an estimated $128.1 billion, from $130.4 billion on Tuesday. Even after the ten-figure transfer, the Microsoft cofounder remains the fourth richest person in the world.&nbsp;



Melinda received 2.94 million shares of AutoNation and 14.1 million shares of Canadian National Railway Co., which are worth $309 million and $1.5 billion respectively. (Bloomberg News first reported the transfer.) Bill also gave Melinda 25.8 million shares of Mexico-based Coca-Cola Femsa worth $120 million and 155.4 million shares of Mexican broadcaster Grupo Televisa SA, which are worth $386 million, according to SEC filings. The Wall Street Journal first reported the latter transfer.



Bill uses Cascade Investment, a holding company based in Kirkland, Washington, to manage his money, including the proceeds from selling Microsoft shares. Bill at one point owned a significant slice of Microsoft, but has given away (to the Gates Foundation) or sold most of his stake over the years and now holds less than 1%.



The stock transfer is almost certainly part of Bill and Melinda’s divorce settlement. While it’s unclear if they signed a prenup, according to their divorce filing Bill and Melinda&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2021/05/03/how-the-gates-split-could-stack-up-against-the-biggest-billionaire-divorces/?sh=12b9b62e2841">asked</a>&nbsp;a judge in Washington state to divide their assets based on the terms of a separation contract—a document that is typically signed when spouses are living apart but have not yet divorced. The terms of the contract weren’t disclosed. Bill may have also transferred other assets to Melinda in non-public transactions.&nbsp;MORE FOR YOU<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2021/04/22/vc-firm-of-moderna-chairman-dumped-14-billion-of-stock-in-two-months/">VC Firm Of Moderna Chairman Sold $1.4 Billion Of Stock In Two Months</a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkauflin/2021/04/07/plaids-134-billion-valuation-makes-its-founders-fintechs-newest-billionaires/">Plaid’s $13.4 Billion Valuation Makes Its Founders Fintech’s Newest Billionaires</a><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/dawnchmielewski/2021/04/29/endeavor-lands-elusive-ipo-with-emanuel-and-whitesell-controlling-nearly-1-billion-in-shares/">Endeavor Lands Elusive IPO, With Emanuel And Whitesell Controlling Nearly $1 Billion In Shares</a>



A spokesperson for Bill Gates did not reply to a request for comment.&nbsp;A spokesperson for Melinda did not immediately respond to a request for comment.



By Rachel Sandler, Forbes Staff

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Melinda French Gates Now A Billionaire After Stock Transfer From Bill Gates

From Hollywood exports and Grammy artists to award-winning ideas that can save the world, Africa is not only diverse in its people but also in its industries and creativity. For FORBES AFRICA hundredth issue (since the magazine’s inception in 2011), we decided to curate a list celebrating these very ideas, inventions, and influential role models that have spelled Africa’s growth over the last decade.



Nigerian company, Flutterwave, is based on a financial application programming interface that makes it simpler to process payments across Africa. It is not just a useful tool for individuals, but also an enabling technology because it helps other businesses, including start-ups. And while Flutterwave is useful within countries, the unique nature of Africa makes it doubly useful across borders.&nbsp; Olugbenga GB Agboola, Founder and CEO of Flutterwave, speaks to FORBES AFRICA:&nbsp;



F. Please tell us more about the type of work that Flutterwave. 



Olugbenga GB Agboola: is a payments technology company making it easier for individuals and businesses to make and receive payments from anywhere in the world through an API. We have helped global brands like Uber execute a quick and strategic African expansion. We have products for solopreneurs, small-medium, and enterprise businesses. Some of our products include checkout which is integrated into the merchant website for processing online payments for said merchants. We have Payment Links and Online Stores for freelancers and small businesses to receive payments and list their products, respectively. We have Barter by Flutterwave; a remittance solution for sending money to friends and family from one country or continent to another. What makes us stand out is our ability to process international payments in over 150 currencies, with multiple payment modes on our payment page, including Cards, Mobile Money, Barter, Bank transfers, etc. Our payment infrastructure is available in over 33 countries, including UK, Rwanda, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda etc.



F. What contributions have you made to the company as an innovator.



AGBOOLA: My key contribution at Flutterwave is to listen to the experts we have hired as they offer their recommendations and support them while they implement such ideas to move the organization forward. As an innovator, the best thing you can do for the organization is to surround yourself with other innovators. The Flutterwave Store came about through this process. Some Wavers in our Product and Support team reached out with a continent-wide issue; small businesses were closing up as a result of the pandemic and lockdown. They proposed a product that would make it easier for such businesses to get online and start selling from anywhere. I listened, supported their idea and today we have the Flutterwave Store with over 20,000 businesses onboard.



F. What are some of the highlights and challenges Flutterwave has had as a company.



AGBOOLA: A challenge that came up during the early days of the pandemic and lockdown was navigating how to move a team of over two-hundred people fully remote. We had only tried remote work partially so it was a big test of how our remote policies will remain in effect after going 100% remote at such short notice. But we did, seamlessly. Our people now spend more time with family and friends, get to avoid the tedious commutes and more. We’re happy to have surmounted that challenge. For our highlight, we’d never seen how much our work impacted businesses until we launched a product to help small businesses keep the lights on during the pandemic. We received lots of testimonials on how the Flutterwave Store helped small businesses thrive at a difficult time. There was a poultry owner who sold more eggs than expected with the Flutterwave Store, a bag reseller who received 1000 orders in 3 days and a food vendor who received payments from Qatar for delivery to a friend in Nigeria.



F. Please comment on the importance of having more innovators originate from the African continent?



AGBOOLA: Africa needs more innovators and backers. It is crucial that Africa continues to produce home grown innovators. It is even more important that we create systems that back these innovators to grow, thrive and achieve their potentials. This does two things; multiplies wealth in the continent by ensuring that these innovators translate their ideas into viable economic activities, and encourages the future generation of innovators to come forward with their innovations and ideas. Africa needs more innovators and may I add that Africa already has an encouraging number of innovators with excellent heads on their shoulders. They need support in the form of accelerators, funding and a robust support system that can help them achieve their goals and grow the continent.



F. Please comment on Forbes Africa celebrating you in their 100th issue by putting Flutterwave on the Innovators list.



AGBOOLA: We are grateful for the recognition. Forbes Africa has been a great partner and supporter of innovation in the continent. When you celebrate innovation, the future generation is encouraged to continue putting in the work. Our belief is that in the next version of this list, more innovators who may have not been known by now will be discovered. Africa has the brightest people you can think of in the world. We built Flutterwave and other groundbreaking technologies. We can do more, all we need is the right level of support.



<a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/cover-story/2021/04/01/the-100th-issue-100-innovations-inventions-icons-from-africa/">For more on the 100 Innovations, Inventions &amp; Icons From Africa (Forbes Africa) </a>

Olugbenga-Agboola-CEO-1908×2048

THE 100th ISSUE: A Quick Chat With Flutterwave

The man Warren Buffett expects to succeed him at the helm of Berkshire Hathaway is worth an estimated $484 million thanks to a stake in its privately held energy subsidiary, despite owning very little of Berkshire’s publicly traded stock.



At Berkshire’s annual meeting on Saturday, Buffett’s longtime lieutenant Charles Munger made an off-handed comment that “Greg will keep the culture” as Berkshire grows more decentralized, suggesting that the company’s vice chairman, Greg Abel, will succeed Buffett as CEO. Buffett later confirmed to CNBC that Abel is the current choice to take over, saying, “The directors are in agreement that if something were to happen to me tonight, it would be Greg who’d take over tomorrow morning.”



Abel has been a leader at Berkshire since the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate bought MidAmerican Energy in 2000 when he was its president. He became CEO of the company now named Berkshire Hathaway Energy in 2008 and served in that role until becoming Berkshire’s vice chairman in 2018.



Abel owns a 1% stake in Berkshire Hathaway Energy, billionaire Walter Scott owns 7.9% and Berkshire Hathaway owns the remaining 91.1% of the company, according to BHE’s 2020 annual report. Berkshire repurchased $126 million worth of shares from Scott on March 5, 2020, according to its latest proxy statement, valuing BHE at $53.4 billion. That makes Abel’s stake worth an estimated $480 million (Forbes discounts ownership stakes in privately held companies).



Abel’s piece of BHE makes up the vast majority of his net worth, Forbes estimates. He owns only five Berkshire Hathaway Class A shares in a trust and 2,363 Class B shares as a custodian for members of his family, according to the proxy statement. With Class A shares worth more than $400,000 per share and Class B shares trading at $280 for share as of Monday’s market close, that stake is worth about $2.8 million.



Abel and Ajit Jain were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2018/01/10/warren-buffett-adds-energy-head-greg-abel-and-insurance-maestro-ajit-jain-to-berkshires-board/?sh=5355b5717c73">named vice chairmen</a>&nbsp;at the same time in 2018, prompting speculation that both were in contention to move into the top job. Jain, a 35-year Berkshire veteran, manages its insurance operations, and Abel oversees everything else. Jain owns $185 million worth of Berkshire Hathaway shares, some of which are held by a private foundation. Abel, 58, is 11 years younger than Jain, which Buffett reportedly cited as a contributing factor to the decision. “They’re both wonderful guys. The likelihood of someone having a 20-year runway though makes a real difference,” Buffett told CNBC.



Although he is among the youngest members of Berkshire’s board of directors, Abel’s stake in the public company still stands out as strikingly small. Buffett’s 248,734 Class A shares make up the bulk of the Oracle of Omaha’s $106 billion fortune. Munger’s shares are worth $1.9 billion, and early investor David Gottesman owns a $2.6 billion stake. All but two others on Berkshire’s 14-member board have stakes worth much more than Abel’s. A company spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.



But as an added bonus to his lucrative Berkshire Hathaway Energy stake, Abel is paid handsomely in his role as vice chairman. His base salary was $16 million in each of the last three years, according to Berkshire’s proxy statement, and he received $3 million bonuses in 2020 and 2019 and a $2 million bonus in 2018. Buffett and Munger’s base salaries are a mere $100,000 annually.



Abel also serves on the board of Kraft Heinz and owns 40,036 shares individually, worth about $1.7 million. Berkshire Hathaway orchestrated the 2015 megamerger of Kraft and Heinz after buying both food companies with Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital and is Kraft Heinz’s largest shareholder with a 26.6% stake.



By Hank Tucker, Forbes Staff

Inside The Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Annual General Meeting

Just How Rich Is Warren Buffett Successor Greg Abel?

Osayi Alile, the CEO of ACT Foundation, on the challenges of grant-making in Africa and the need to solve the continent’s problems, especially in a Covid environment.



The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered possibly one of the most catastrophic crisis across Africa in a decade. The unprecedented events of the marauding virus have led to a dramatic increase in inequalities for millions of Africans especially for those who have no access to healthcare or employment. Among those most impacted by this pandemic and its fallout are those in the informal sector, many of whom are women.



With the virus leading to increased vulnerabilities in several key sectors of economies, African governments have become inundated with many infrastructural challenges affecting their respective populations. In the wake of the widening gap, non-profit organizations are stepping in to ensure the most vulnerable in society do not get left behind, and they are doing this through grant-making.



This, however, presents several challenges. Even though the continent, with 54 countries, is blessed with natural resources and some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, the continent still needs more resources from several sectors to address grave issues plaguing the economy.



Areas like healthcare, social inequality, unemployment and terrorism, have left a number of countries in dire straits, with their governments ill-equipped to provide much-needed resources to fix these issues. As a result, there has been a strong reliance on global grant-making organizations who have the mandate of ensuring positive change in Africa, to help provide the financial resources to solve some of the issues that affect more than a billion people on the continent, across areas like agriculture, education, healthcare and human rights.



The Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation ranks as one of the largest contributors of grants in Africa. In 2016, the organization committed to invest $5 billion over five years in support of health and anti-poverty initiatives in Africa, according to Philanthropy News Digest. With the youngest population in the world, children and youth have become a key focus of grant-making organizations with the demographic receiving more than one in three grant dollars and one in four grants awarded by United States’ foundations for Africa, in 2012, according to a report by the Foundation Center.



Osayi Alile, the Chief Executive Officer of Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, is on a mission to become the leading indigenous grant-making organization across Africa, also tackling these challenges. Starting out as a consultant for Access Bank Plc on its CSR projects as well as being the former executive director of FATE Foundation, a private sector-led not-for-profit organization in Nigeria, Alile is on a mission to empower African NGOs through grants to help solve the pressing needs in their communities.



“Yes, a lot of help comes from abroad but we also need to solve our problems ourselves so that’s where ACT came into being. I came up with the structure and helped to put it in place then, moved on to working full time as CEO for the foundation. We knew there was a lack of funding needed to accomplish what a lot of NGOs wanted to do and we couldn’t wait for someone to solve these issues for us. We decided on the SDG goals like health, environment, leadership and enterprise,” says Alile.



Alile has over 20 years of non-profit experience in Africa and thus knows more than most about the challenges of grant-making in Africa.



“You get a lot of proposals and sometimes people are not as truthful as they should be. So, the challenge is going through proposals in our 30 states in Nigeria and making sure they are doing what they say they are doing. So, you have to make sure you are doing background checks and a lot of energy and a lot of time needs to be spent to make sure we are picking the right organization from the beginning to make the right impact.”



The organization is currently working with 70 organizations with the mission of adding 40 new organizations each year.



“70% of our funding goes to the ones that respond to our funding call each year. In the last four years, we have given over N1 billion ($2.6 million) to NGOs. Sometimes, they ask for N50 million ($131,500) and when I look at their proposal, you realize that’s not what they need. So, we work with them to streamline their organization so they are efficient.”



And in a Covid environment, the need for funding is now more pressing than ever.



“We did a lot last year because our problems were not going away with Covid. Domestic abuse does not change because of Covid. Cancer does not change because of Covid, maternal issues do not change. So, the local NGOs are the ones that had to stay back during Covid and work on a daily basis to solve these problems. With Covid, the number of cases like domestic violence went up by 46% and in some countries all the way to 100%,” says Alile.



As the organization turns five next year, Alile has shifted her focus to also recruit more philanthropists and entrepreneurs to join forces to solve Nigeria and Africa’s problems. They are currently working in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa with a goal to expand to even more countries on the continent.



“I knew we had a lot of NGOs and social enterprises that needed money but I didn’t know it was this much. When we did the first call we got so many people and it was very overwhelming. It is difficult because all the organizations are doing well and when you go to the field and you have to select which ones to give money to, you ask yourself who else is going to give money those who were not selected? So, you need to be able to put structures in place and make sure that every time you pick one organization over another, you are picking them for the right reasons,” says Alile.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="687" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210414-WA0009-1024x687.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-51032" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210414-WA0009-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210414-WA0009-300x201.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210414-WA0009-768x515.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/IMG-20210414-WA0009.jpg 1049w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



One of the lucky organizations that were picked by ACT Foundation is the Women At Risk International Foundation (WARIF), founded by Dr Kemi DaSilva-Ibru. They have been recipients of three grant cycles from ACT in their effort to fight gender-based violence in rural communities across Nigeria.



“The community-based initiative that the ACT Foundation supports is the Warif Gate Keepers project and it is essentially a community-based initiative where we go into rural communities and we encourage stakeholders in these communities to take ownership of gender-based violence, particularly rape and child sexual abuse. Based on our survey, 71% of women in these communities were aware of cases, however, none of them had ever been trained as first responders to cases of gender-based violence.”



ACT Foundations’ grant-enabled Warif to tackle the life-saving issues that comes with gender based violence and empower victims to speak up and seek justice.



“So, our project was to engage these traditional birth attendants who we refer to as gate-keepers where we train them as first responders of cases of gender-based violence and the impact was amazing. First, in terms of our outcomes. Now, we had an additional skill that they were able to offer and then they were also able to cascade the training in an apprenticeship like form. The second impact is as the result, we were able to not only improve on the knowledge but the behavioral change that comes with that knowledge and seek prosecution on behalf of victims,” says DaSilva-Ibru.



The impact her organization has made in the gender space would not have been without grant-making organizations like the ACT Foundation and their willingness to take on organizations with innovative ideas who are ready to implement them and help solve the many challenges facing the African continent.

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On A Mission To Empower African NGOs

Bill Gates, the co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, has announced on Twitter moments ago that he and his wife of 27 years, philanthropist and businesswoman Melinda Gates, have made a decision to end their marriage &#8220;after a great deal of thought and a lot of work&#8221; on their relationship.



In a combined statement, they added: &#8220;Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in the next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.&#8221;



The Gates&#8217; chair the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation, the world&#8217;s largest private charitable foundation. In mid-March 2020, Gates stepped down as a board member of Microsoft, the software firm he founded with Paul Allen (d. 2018) in 1975.



Among the world&#8217;s richest people, Bill Gates is ranked number 4 on Forbes world billionaires list with a real time net worth of $130.5 billion.

French President Receives Bill Gates, the co-Founder of the Microsoft Company At Elysee Palace

Bill And Melinda Gates End 27-Year Marriage

With the coronavirus checking in and work cultures shifting, a new type of migration has emerged – semigration. The argument: if you can work from anywhere, why live in the city?



THE INTERNET HAS TRANSFORMED our societies, economies and way of life. While industrialization saw people moving across towns, cities and provinces to be closer to the workplace, the coronavirus pandemic has shifted everything. Around the world, city dwellers are moving to suburbia, choosing more living space over gridlock and a sea view for Zoom meetings. 



“The reality of the Covid-19 pandemic and the limits and restrictions it has brought with it, many companies have had to change the way they do business. The interest rate on buying a home is at its lowest in 50 years,” says Marcél du Toit, CEO of Leadhome in South Africa. 



“As a result of this change, a new type of ‘migration’ has emerged: semigration.”



 According to Du Toit, semigration is when professionals, individuals or families move to different, more affordable parts of the country or back to their native homes. He adds that semigrating reaps untold benefits for the local economies. 



“Due to the increase in supply and demand, small businesses have the opportunity to serve a growing local community.” 



The World Economic Forum undertook a survey with Statista which showed how large numbers of people are leaving big American cities like Manhattan, San Francisco, and Houston. Europe last year experienced a unique phenomenon many are calling a reverse migration. 



According to a recent report, over one million Romanians returned to Romania and Lithuania saw more citizens arriving than leaving for the first time in years. 



“Estate agents are reporting better than expected interest in popular coastal areas such as northern KwaZulu-Natal and the southern Cape coast [in South Africa] which mirrors a trend in other countries,” says Yael Geffen, CEO of Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty. 



But it’s not only the pandemic reshaping our work landscape and as a result, changing where many are choosing to live. An essential component of pandemic migration and suburbanization is connectivity.



A DEMAND-DRIVEN NETWORK 



“Connectivity has been growing over the last couple of years, specifically in the second metros of South Africa. With the advent of greater national fiber infrastructure, the connectivity from those secondary towns into the primary metros has become more reliable and at a much higher speed,” says Prenesh Padayachee, SEACOM’s Group Chief Digital Officer.



According to Padayachee, South Africa is a bandwidth-hungry country so while SEACOM is historically an undersea cable company, they’re now looking at ways of getting landlocked countries into the data hubs of the world. 



“Africa at some stage will also become a data hub but not everything that everyone requires in Africa will sit in Africa. If you’re looking at bringing content closer to Africa, the undersea cables become important and then how do you connect those cable landing spots to the inland countries?” asks Padayachee. 



“What happens to a country like Lesotho or Botswana? How do they get access to the cables? If you look at the African market in totality there are many other socioeconomic factors that come into play rather than whether someone has a 100MB link at home or not.” 



Padayachee brings up Uganda as an example, a country where demand for data is high, yet little is connected. When people get access to more robust wireless technologies, their devices can move with them and SEACOM has seen similar relocation patterns throughout East Africa.



 In Kenya, people are relocating back to their hometowns (or different, smaller metros) from the four major economic hubs: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret. 



“With physical infrastructure it’s easy – you know how many endpoints you have and you cater for those endpoints. With Covid-19, people aren’t office-bound but they also aren’t bound to the large metros. We’re starting to work much more remotely and we need to be able to cater for that nomadic capability,” he explains.



LOXTON OR BUST 



Peter van der Merwe is an associate director at a Johannesburg-based PR agency. He moved from Vanderbijlpark to Loxton, a village of around 1,100 people in the Bo-Karoo region of South Africa’s Northern Cape province at the end of December 2020. 



“We started dreaming before the pandemic, but the pandemic was the catalyst. The ability to work remotely was the game-changer: if we were already working from home, why not the Karoo?” says Van der Merwe. 



“The drawcard of Loxton was the uniqueness and tranquility. Houses are cheap compared to the city, there’s zero traffic noise, we walk everywhere, and there’s less stress and almost no crime, apart from the occasional petty theft. It’s a simple, peaceful way of life.” Van der Merwe adds that his move to Loxton depended on having reliable internet access. 



They currently use wireless WiFi from a supplier in Beaufort West but the speeds are incomparable to fiber in the main metros. It’s also more expensive. 



“We don’t have fiber yet, but a fiber line is being installed between the towns of Carnarvon and Victoria West, which will run directly past our town. Until then, we make do with wireless WiFi and a strong mobile network,” he says. “Power outages happen over and above the normal load-shedding – and when that happens our mobile tower batteries die quickly too which leaves you literally uncontactable. The first thing we did was to install a UPS system, which keeps our WiFi router up and running, and keeps us connected to the outside world.” 



While the Karoo is becoming increasingly popular, Geffen adds that many small rural towns, especially in the Western Cape province in South Africa, have seen the number of permanent residents increase.



“The Winelands has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with those who seek a more sedate country lifestyle but still need easy access to the Central Business District and airport as well as families who are attracted by a better choice of good schools than many small towns,” says Geffen.



“The Cape’s West Coast is also attracting a lot of attention at the moment because villages like Langebaan and Yzerfontein offer the ‘quintessential seaside lifestyle’ whilst still being a fairly short commuter distance from Cape Town. For Gauteng buyers, wildlife estates in the bushveld areas of Hoedspruit and Modimolle in Limpopo [province] are becoming increasingly popular.” 



Those who no longer need to be city-based for work (and if you follow what technology giants like Twitter and Spotify are doing, the option of remote is now permanent) are opting for safer, more relaxing lifestyles in smaller towns or villages. 



“It’s a gloriously peaceful and simple way of life, while still being able to stay connected to our jobs in the Big Smoke. Funnily enough, we talk more often to our friends and family than we did when we lived around the corner from them, and when we visit, we spend more quality time. People also love coming to visit.”



By Tiana Cline

Young student  using laptop on a beach

The Semigration Trend: Fancy A Sea View For Your Zoom Meetings?

India’s Covid catastrophe and the lessons for governments around the world on preparing for the next wave.



I arrived in Delhi with my wife on 15th April 2021 as the Covid-19 pandemic had started to rage through our country. Our only motivation was to be with our respective mothers who live alone in Delhi. When we landed in Delhi, things were relatively normal, and on the surface, it was almost business as usual. The first telltale sign of the impending chaos was when we did not get our test reports from the PCR tests that were taken on arrival in Delhi. The word ‘normal’ is relative, as for most other countries in the world, 250,000 cases a day would have been catastrophic. In a matter of two weeks, and as I write this piece, the cases crossed 400,000 on 30th April 2021 with no end in sight. Our hindsight pundits say that the peak will signal approximately 500,000 cases a day or over 3.5 million cases a week. The scale of this problem is gigantic and as news has spread across the globe, people are shocked and the affected are incensed and outraged by the lack of preparedness.



There was no reason for a country like India to not be prepared. Just a few months back, we had proudly positioned ourselves as the vaccine capital of the world. How did we go from being the hunter to the hunted in three months? How did we ignore the words of the Director-General of the World Health Organization who categorically stated that the next wave was going to be deadly?



I have watched the news over the last few weeks and sadly seen that the finger-pointing does not stop even during times of calamity. With all the human suffering that we have witnessed, there is no one who has the moral courage and integrity to accept that he or she has made an error in judgement. Our judiciary at the highest level had to point out to the Election Commission of India that they failed the people of the country by continuing with elections in three regions. The only people that have stayed the course are the frontline workers who have remained resolute in their resolve to help save human lives. The poor as always face the brunt of any calamity and this has been no different in this case. However, for once, the rich have not been spared either. People with millions in their bank accounts have fallen prey to this pandemic as in the end all they needed was an extract from freely available air and yet it was in short supply. No amount of money could help people source oxygen or find a hospital bed. The current virus is far more contagious and spreading faster through the air. The catastrophe has seen no caste, creed or economic disparity; everyone has suffered. The agony and despair of the people of our country have been beyond any human suffering that I have witnessed during my life. And yet, we will get past even this; such is the tenacity of human beings.



The citizens of India have suffered as a consequence of serious and inexcusable omissions and negligence on the part of the national and state leadership; every one of them. However, the people of the country must take responsibility for their reckless conduct leading to this disaster that will set our country back from its path to recovery. Not adhering to social distancing and taking the vaccination drive seriously are two major errors of judgement by the people. When disaster struck, everyone wanted to be vaccinated at the same time causing a system overload. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the immediate actions that African and other governments must take on a war footing.



The biggest failure is stakeholder communications. The people of India were given to believe that the pandemic was over in February 2021. Politicians thumped their chests as they did their victory laps taking credit for beating the virus. This gave a false sense of security and people put their guards down and started behaving like it was business as usual. Clear communication from the government must continue indicating in no uncertain terms that the crisis is far from over.



Until a majority of the population has been vaccinated, all major events (of whatsoever nature including weddings, sports, religious or political campaigning) must be cancelled or held virtually. For everything else including office and other entertainment, dining and retail activities, all social distancing protocols must be followed meticulously. We have learned from 2020 that 100% lockdowns may not be necessary and to find the right balance, where needed, consider localized restrictions in infection zones. Lockdowns should be used as a measure of last resort as they are likely to do more damage than good.



Linked to vaccinations is the importance of testing. Governments must set up more labs for testing at reasonable costs and continue testing its constituents for the infection and also determine any variations or mutations to the virus until the vaccination drive is conclusively completed.



All governments must revert back to March 2020 and begin ramping up their healthcare infrastructure. This is the time to build additional ICU capacity in hospitals and infrastructure at several temporary purpose-built facilities that can take on overflows from hospitals. Some facilities should be built beforehand and others must be stored in semi-knocked-down condition in warehouses should the need arise. All hospitals must have adequate ambulance services available to move people as necessary.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">“The pharmaceutical sector must be given incentives in Africa so that capacity to produce medicines is enhanced exponentially. Collaboration must be set up with international companies to enhance both patented and generic medicines so that developing countries are not treated with lower priority when it comes to healthcare; all human lives are equally valuable.”</blockquote>



Ramp up oxygen production capacity and ensure that the storage of 50% excess capacity than normal national utilization targets are kept in reserve. This has proven to be the lifeline for Covid patients. In the same vein, all other oxygen infrastructure should be ramped up, including concentrators and other devices that can be used at home by people. The experience in India has been that for this particular virus, home care has been far more effective for a majority of the cases. For that, freely available support systems for home use are invaluable.



The only cure to the pandemic is an aggressive vaccination policy. There is no cure other than getting vaccinated and governments must procure vaccinations and make them available at a reasonable cost (if not free) to the entire nation. Countries that are behind on the vaccination drive must ramp it up and carry out a campaign to educate people on the urgent need to get vaccinated. There is clear evidence of lower incidences in countries where the vaccination rates are high. For Africa, I believe that the DFIs must immediately look at setting up infrastructure to become self-reliant on vaccines for the future. This is not an option; if anything is to be learned, no time must be wasted on this. It’s not rocket science and immediate action must be taken to develop the pharma industry expeditiously.



The pharmaceutical sector must be given incentives in Africa so that capacity to produce medicines is enhanced exponentially. Collaboration must be set up with international companies to enhance both patented and generic medicines so that developing countries are not treated with lower priority when it comes to healthcare; all human lives are equally valuable. Capacity must also be built for other hygiene products including masks, sanitizers, PPEs and other essential items.



An area that needs attention is the training of healthcare workers. The pandemic is contagious and care-givers need to be trained to stay out of harm’s way. The only way this can be done is to improve the quality of training of all frontline workers.



My next comment is on the role of the media. Being a media owner myself, I understand the need for accurate and actionable news but there rests an enormous responsibility in finding a balance between highlighting negligence and fueling chaos. Remember one thing always, that no government or administration ever wants to harm its people; this must remain an intrinsic belief at all times. As a case study, in India, over the last two weeks, there has been a frenzy in the Indian media regarding lapses in the preparation and the state of affairs at hospitals. While on the one hand, it served the very important purpose of holding public servants accountable for the absolute mismanagement of this crisis, the media created unintended fear in the public. This fear resulted in people going to hospitals the minute they tested positive thus clogging the system; there was a run on oxygen cylinders and concentrators as people began hoarding them and finally, there was a run on pharmacies that ran out of essential medicines because even people who did not need medicines, as a precaution, began storing them. What then emerged was a black market that has preyed on the sick and despondent.



It is my request to all media businesses around the world to begin devoting more than a cursory mention to the awareness campaigns around the pandemic. More inventory needs to be devoted towards educating people on the actions to be taken when the next wave arrives, the importance of vaccination and most importantly, on responsible social behavior. The best cure still is wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing one’s hands regularly. If and when the next wave hits, the media must spend more time on educating people on taking precautions and symptoms management so that everyone does not run to hospital. If you can educate even a few people, you would have done your duty to humanity. Remember this is far from over and the lessons from India must be taken seriously by all governments around the world. Prepare for the next wave or history will repeat itself.



– The writer is the Founder and Publisher of FORBES AFRICA

Rakesh Wahi

From The Eye Of The Storm

During the abolitionist movement of the 19th century, journalists were among those leading the charge to eradicate slavery. Two centuries later, they’re continuing to inspire change, with leaders at the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research and the&nbsp;Boston Globe&nbsp;teaming up to apply the same pressure to ongoing racial injustice.&nbsp;



The result:&nbsp;The Emancipator, a platform cofounded by author, historian and Boston University Center for Antiracist Research director Ibram X. Kendi and&nbsp;Boston Globe&nbsp;editorial page editor Bina Venkataraman that will spotlight antiracism practices through the multimedia work of journalists, historians and scholars. Content will include written stories, research and interactive events like roundtables.&nbsp;



The idea for the initiative came to the cofounders in June, when, after discovering their shared interest in Boston-based, 19th-century antislavery publications, they started wondering, “Could we create a publication, a megaphone for leading thinkers, ideas and debates about bringing about a racially just society, in the same way that those abolitionists created a megaphone for thinkers who wanted to bring about the end of slavery?” says Venkataraman.



“In many ways, I have married scholarship and journalism in my own work, and what it’s allowed for is the ability to have the research techniques and methods and methodology combined with writing in a way that’s accessible for everyday people,” Kendi adds. “Putting both together under the same roof with [The Emancipator], I think it’s going to be quite effective. Quite impactful.”



Though the platform doesn’t officially launch until later this year, the cofounders are already establishing a team (they’re currently looking to hire two Boston-based co-editors-in-chief) and finalizing details. They’ve decided, for example, that all content will be free to the public. “We really believe that in order to move our society forward in this really ambitious way, we should be reaching as many people as possible,” says Venkataraman.&nbsp;



The team has also recruited an advisory board of journalists and scholars, including the&nbsp;New York Times&nbsp;Pulitzer Prize-winninginvestigative reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones, Harvard historian and author Annette Gordon-Reed, journalist and immigration rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas and The 19th CEO and editor-in-chief Emily Ramshaw. Members of the founding team also include Dr. Monica Wang, associate director of narrative for the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, and Kimberly Atkins,&nbsp;Boston Globe&nbsp;columnist and MSNBC contributor.



Joining the effort is a full-circle moment for Atkins, whose first journalism job was at the&nbsp;Boston Globe. Atkins will serve as&nbsp;The Emancipator’s lead columnist and will author its biweekly newsletter, Unbound.



“This will be something more than simply a news organization . . . it’s something bigger,” says Atkins. “I’ve been asked a lot over the last year, ‘What can I do? How can I help? How can I understand?’ And there&#8217;s no easy answer to that. . . . A lot of that understanding needs to be grounded in research; it needs to be grounded in study and analysis. I can direct people [to&nbsp;The Emancipator] and say, ‘If you want to understand more, this is a place to start.’”



Kendi hopes to grow&nbsp;The Emancipator&nbsp;into “the premiere vehicle for sort of data-driven, research-based, evidence-based journalism and scholarship and opinion on the most important racial issues of our time.”



“If we can get to a time in which we could say that we’ve abolished racism, people will look back on The Emancipator and see that this multimedia platform was critical in that work, just like when we reflect on the movement against slavery in the 19th century,” he says.



By Brianne Garrett, Forbes Staff

Celebrities Visit Build – March 10, 2020

‘It’s Something Bigger’: This New Platform Is Reimagining The Role Of News Media In Eradicating Racism

TOPLINE The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it would attempt to ban menthol cigarettes nationwide, renewing a proposal that has long been pushed for by anti-tobacco groups and civil rights advocates.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">KEY FACTS</h3>



The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-commits-evidence-based-actions-aimed-saving-lives-and-preventing-future-generations-smokers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">announcement</a>&nbsp;marked the launch of a federal rule-making process that could take years and face challenges from the tobacco industry.



For decades, the tobacco industry has aggressively&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/content/what_we_do/industry_watch/menthol-report/2021_02_tfk-menthol-report.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">marketed</a>&nbsp;menthol cigarettes to Black communities.&nbsp;



Nearly 85% of Black smokers smoke menthol cigarettes, according to the FDA.&nbsp;



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">CRUCIAL QUOTE</h3>



&nbsp;“For far too long, certain populations, including African Americans, have been targeted, and disproportionately impacted by tobacco use,” Mitch Zeller, the director of the Center for Tobacco Products at the FDA, said in a statement.&nbsp;“Despite the tremendous progress we’ve made in getting people to stop smoking over the past 55 years, that progress hasn’t been experienced by everyone equally.”



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">KEY BACKGROUND</h3>



A court had ordered the FDA to respond by Thursday to a 2013 lawsuit that called for a ban on menthol cigarettes. The move would also prohibit flavors in mass-produced cigars and cigarillos.



By Gina Heeb, Forbes Staff

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