Journey to Common Unity - S2 E1

The Road to AfroCarib Business Expos 2024

Common Unity, Common Knowledge and Common Wealth was the theme that I coined as a clarion call to those in West Africa for unifying around a set of mutually-beneficial goals, advancing towards those set of goals until they are realized; and once realized everyone involved would benefit. While I used this foundation to galvanize those I spoke to in a very convincing way, an opportunity was becoming clear to me on the periphery of my interactions; and I began to realize that my message was missing a very pronounced step … the people’s needs.

After many heartfelt conversations with the locals, poignant observations and candid debates with my conscience I saw that my original intent was not to be my initial focus, but I needed to address the needs first and then I could have an access to communicate on other levels. While this was not my original goal, I came to realize that focusing on the glaring needs was a far more honorable target that would open major avenues for personal, economic, spiritual and societal growth; than addressing needs that were already being met on a local level. 

After many years of reflection and planning, I started to make plans to pivot my focus to one that would have a more lasting impact in the here-and-now as well as in eternity. The primary intent of the AfroCaribbean Business and Trade Expos is to create a platform for business and entrepreneurs to connect to distribution channels, be introduced to larger markets, and engage forums of like-minded business persons and to communicate and grow in a business eco-system that encourages their quests. I guess you can view our pursuit as a social enterprise - a hybrid organization finding innovative ways to challenge the traditional thinking about nonprofit organizations (by focusing on economically sustainable models) and for-profit businesses (by focusing on solving social issues).

There is so much talent in Africa, and the African diaspora found in the Caribbean, Central & South America, and The Bahamas; but many of these talented people, businesses and entrepreneurs do not have access to distribution channels in order to showcase their products, services, inventions and ideas. Many are resigned to operate in their limited local jurisdictions without options for growth and expansion. This is where we intend to inject our effort to intercept these products, inventions, ideas and introduce them to a markets in search of new and innovative products and ideas. My team and I have started this quest by establishing the platform where these entities and entrepreneurs can be seen, where they can connect, and finally where they can earn through economic activity. 

This is Common Unity, Common Knowledge, and Common Wealth!