This video is on point. Doing business in Africa is very very tricky and you will get burned if you don’t spend time on the ground and learn the ways of the people. I’m doing business in Uganda and I plan to settle there in the near future. Even with all the headaches there’s a special feeling that I get when being in the motherland. My anxiety somehow disappears and love it.
A very informative video. I liked the way you gave the good, the bad, and the ugly about dealing with your experiences. You overcame and succeeded with your patience and being quick-witted with doing business in Africa.
Just partner with a local who is trustworthy and you should be fine. I met my business partner on you tube reached out to him on you tube and I have never regretted it. He is so honest its unbelievable. He is now managing my house build in Ghana and other things.
Jay, you sound like you are enjoying the challenge! You are a wonderful storyteller - you can talk about a traffic ticket and make it interesting! This is quite an eye-opener although I am not surprised.
Last night I was thinking about Jay and his storytelling talent. I am in Kenya right now and am setting up a bookshop but want someone to tell the children stories during coffee break hours. I thought to order Jays books but yet again desiring myself or the apointed reader to give justice to Darren and Destiny.
A lot of headaches but will be worth it in the end; Indians are the titans of industry in East Africa and the Lebanese run West Africa - we can still compete if we work together.
Indians in East Africa were brought in by the British in 1895 to build the Kenya Uganda railway and benefited off the segregation pyramid which favoured them and gave them more opportunities than blacks but they mostly only control manufacturing...most of retail, service, banking and real estate is majorly black dominated...like in Kenya where I live manufacturing accounts for about 15% of GDP and is the only sector dominated by indians successfully
And most indians in Kenya where I live consider themselves Kenyans many are in fourth or fifth generation and have never lived in India...same to the Arabs along the coast they speak Swahili as a first language and have been there for generations since the spread of Islam period and forming of Swahili culture when their ancestors moved to the Swahili coast from Oman... Africa is actually a multiracial continent with different groups of people migrating into Africa from mostly Asia and a bit of Europe at different times in history since the ancient Roman period and Greeks to the Muslim caliphate expansion from the Arabian peninsula that took over North Africa to the scramble for Africa being the most recent... African identity is very diverse white south Africans consider themselves natives of south Africa, same way Arabs from Oman in the Swahili coast consider themselves natives of the respective countries they live in or how Kenyan indians were officially recognized as a tribe in Kenya by the government
@@Brian-bo4bz west Africa is not run by Lebanese. Go to Nigeria Nigerians own their economy Lebanese are fighting for scraps there. Likewise Ghana. Ghanaian women own the Ghanian economy yes there are Lebanese there but only in few sectors.
@@Brian-bo4bz lots if Indians in East Africa have migrated to Europe US and Canada. They are now less than 1per cent of the population in Kenya because a lot of them do not like Africans
@@lilacer6841 who cares if they love africans or not...what value does their love add to Africans Africa has been inhabited by humans since the advent of humanity, what is the effects or of what significance is it if some Asians who moved to Africa as British labourers in the late 19th century not liking Africans on Africa... nothing at all we say good riddance
The customer care service will change over time. Jamaica at some point had some problems but nothing close to that. When you find a place with good customer service, you support them which forces others to change. I think asking for the manager and letting them know what's up will enhance change.
Tell me about it. My business partner and me lost almost 250,000 in Brazil. We realized too late that we can’t run a business based on our Canadian culture in totally different environment. We got burnt.
Agriculture business. This is big business to invest in place like Tanzania and connect the products to others country. And while or before starting the agriculture , you must have short term business to support the longtime business. For example, if have used tractors. You can rent them and get money daily. Or you can bring used electric generators and rent them. Ovacado are big business in southern Africa and Europe or america. So diaspora can connect business from the continent to america like what white people do.
My motto is if I can survive in the west I can survive in Africa. I can do business in Africa and can transfer so much knowledge and skills to business in Africa. Not easy but it's not easy anywhere.
Great video Bro, the trip with your team is the tops in all the places we've been. With street smarts you can go anywhere and know "I have to learn in order to survive" vs here in America you trust more in the government and the laws put in place to protect and instill fear in those who may try to do you wrong in business. This trust is what can make us more fearful when not in this environment as you said. In Ghana reminded me of DC Georgia Ave in the hood where you cant make it without street smarts which was learning something everyday. This is why schools miss it with so many youth, because the learning is more based on memory vs in the streets you learn and go do it. Once again Jay great video
Thank you so much for giving us the best lesson for anyone going into business and or how to use street sense ... ground work to get the best outcome. Thanks Jay.
I am big on customer service. Africa would be very frustrating for me. I tip big when I go to Mexico and El Salvador because the service is great. I've been in hospitality for about 30 years and I love giving and receiving good service. African Americans do business like Africans. Great video!
Thanks Teddy. To be clear this is not in all part of Africa I have been in. Some parts have offered exceptional customer service and received large tips as a result.
@30:50 nearly every restaurant I went to had bad service. On more than 1 occasion I would order something and a whole different dish would come out. When I tell them I did not order the dish they brought they said 'oh we ran out of the item you ordered so we brought you something else' lol And for whatever reason, not 1 restaurant had jollof rice even though it was on the menu
If you intend to invest in Africa, best advice is to target the unexplored sectors in Africa like value addition of agricultural products, fishing and water resources, tourism, green energy solutions even the mining sector. Any of these and you will earn a lot in Nigeria in particular. But you need to be in the right circle
I wanted to criticise you for making your tours very touristic but on reflection you are covering a niche, which is probably needed for many to even get the courage or impetus to visit the motherland. But I would ask you to try to always use local native African staff and businesses if at all possible even if if you have to work with them to bring the standards and professionalism up. Let us keep our money circulating in black pockets as much as possible. Even the Obudu Ranch you could help them get the standards of the facilities up which you could pass on to your customer and or the management so that you still get a fair cut of the profits. What you say about paying upfront and deposits being non-refundable is very true and also the expectation you pay for their mistakes. From watching Wode Maya Somaliland are probably the country with the most honest people so it may be a less stessful place to do business, for people afraid of getting scammed.
Our people have serious MH issues, the Chinese and European can come to different countries in Africa and treat them like dirt in their own country. They scram people who look like them, it is sad.
Absolutely! It looks like all melanated beings across the world are under some curse. We always go against our kind but never against those who oppress us.
Jay as s mam of ethics why not a business symposium to teach people how to do business and good customer service skills because that's one areas in Africa that's lacking would be beneficial for the locals because you have a fair knowledge of Africa keep the good work going.
@@jaycameronofficial Bro ofcourse she's good at what she does but keep in mind at the end of the day she'll always side with her people - the arabs in outdoing us.
Well said, in the larger context business is business and has nothing to do with Africa, every region has it's own dynamics and as you think you are and your business is nothing more than a reflection of how you are in consciousness. You either operate on the competitive level, dog eat dog, or on the creative plane.
Seems like you have had a lot of corruption experiences in Naija and developed street smart lol. Nice one and Great content. Would like to know what happened at Obudu Cattle ranch though
Yes Jay, do share the Obundu experience. I saw Steve's Nwandu video on the wasteland Obundu has become and my heart sank. I couldn't believe that Nigerians would be so irresponsible( I really wanted to use much stronger language) managing such magnificent resources. I even thought that you could possibly form an investor consortium and bring it back to life. It still hurts just to think about it.
@@pearbear319 I couldn’t believe it. From the moment I pulled up, they were trying to hustle me but they ran into the wrong one. Lol I also hold the tour company that sent me into that mess Motley Tours. He later admitted that he knew of the issues they had but still allowed me to go there. Needless to say, I won’t be using his services.
😂😂😂😂😂. ok. one thing you said that really made me laugh is the issue of people speaking English and then suddenly switching to their local dialect. 😂😂😂 . that really made me laugh hard and I do understand but that happens mostly because Africans are passionate in their convictions and that really shows in all they do. I've come to realise that when that happens, it's not because they are trying to do something behind your back. it's because the discussion get passionate and in a normal setting (by normal I mean in a situation where there are the only ones at the table), English doesn't express those passionate opinions and then they switch to their native tongue and it's mostly kind of an automatic mind response thing and they forget that you can't speak the language. that's happens to me a lot when I'm in a discussion with my in-laws 😂😂😂. Suddenly you find that the discussion has been co-opted into something else and you are just sitting there 😂😂😂.
That implies a need for training in proper business etiquette, especially when ďealing with foreigners interested in investing in your country/business. Switching to your local language is never acceptable.
@Maria Pereira The investor might need to learn the language of the people in whose country he/she is investing. Many Asians have mastered that art, that's why they are able to move the way they do, heck, even Afrikaners in South Africa inspite of their racist past got to master the language first before they could operate their businesses.
@Maria Pereira Nothing breaks the ice quite like greeting in the language of the host and it is not about one not being trained in business etiquette, that's all I am saying. By the way, English is a very limited language in that some African words lose their essence when translated into it or the translation simply does not exist.
Africa is a continent. I am sure you know that. Whichever IN africa dis you go do business. I know countries that will act like that. So dear where did you go do business. You definitely didn't come.to my country. Never heard of you. But I am watching you always
The only advantage foreigners have in Africa over the locals and the diaspora is their strength of unity and organization. If only Africans and the African diaspora could be more organized, back each other up and keep a strict sense of doing business we could easily outdo and outperform them.
@@kabifest8897, USA is the number one scam country in the world. On a very large scale. Ghana does not come close. Trump, Oil companies, financial companies, WellsFargo, Kwame Kirkpatrick, Etc.
2:50 This is the best point in the video. Why should other people (Mzungus, Arabs, Chinese, etc)be able to invest and make hundreds of millions in Afreeca but not Afreecan Americans? What do they have more than Afreecans of the diaspora? It's the MINDSET!!! They know very well that Afreeca as a whole is the greatest treasure on earth. They have learnt how to deal with hurdles, with the culture and mentality, to overcome language barriers .... And guess what?. They are not only successful, but VERY SUCCESSFUL. Full stop. So it's time for the black diaspora to wake up and invest massively in Afreeca. Buy do much land as you can . It's still affordable!
@@chrisl8815 Look! The richest wealthiest Afreecans made it in Afreeca , not abroad. What does it mean? Despite all the hurdles it is possible. In 2022 it's even easier than 10 oder 20 years ago. I've been living a decent life in Germany for almost 25 years. I went Back home in Cameroon 🇨🇲 3 years ago . In 3 years I had the opportunity to start businesses (real estate, small shopping centers)that by 2023-2024 will give me more than what I've earned in Germany in 25 years! Yes ! this is Afreeca, the Afreecan Dream. Everything is to be set up, made, built. Opportunities are gigantic, and I mean for Afreecans as well Once again, AAs and Caribbean brothers, COME TO AFREECA AND INVEST MASSIVELY. DON'T FORGET TO BUY LAND!!!! PLEASE BUY LAND RIGHT NOW!!! (Of course only through people who are professionals and trustworthy)
AA on the continent are losing 100k use because no laws protect against scamming! they have invested & bought land to find out the party didn't own the party!!
This is what I'm talking about. JAY mindset is on a different level. The Chinese, Lebanese. Indians are all here making millions and you our brothers and Sisters are there complaining about why the Chinese are here making money here. You hear Ghanaian diasporains saying I'm not stepping my foot in GAHANA again because they heard something bad happened in Ghana. Be there and be complaining, before you come back to your own country all the wealth would have been taking.
Jay this your Temne brother here,one thing I wanted to point out is as far as rent the reason why land lord's charge a yearly rent is because tenant don't pay on a monthly basis at the end of each month they come up with an excuse not to pay,most times they are several months behind,then the land lord will have to go to court,it just easy to charge by year to avoid all that,the drawback on the landlord side is maintenance issues over the duration of your stay ,a good land lord meet your needs a bad landlord give excuses
That's indeed a problem in Africa. Lack of discipline and stability. Promises are not kept in business transactions as well. All these weaknesses are destroying our economies from decade to decade whilst the foreigners take advantage of it.
Ndeerai Sekeh Kotho. Topeh Muah? We went to Sierra Leone where we stayed in Freetown and Rutile. And lived amongst the Temne and Mende. What a marvelous trip to the land of our Ancestors.
I've seen some African American who are like well Africa is on us but Africa is not for us,so we are leaving. They came and did not plan well they were only focused on the night life cruising and enjoy all their hard earned money on such things when they realize all the money i mean resources are gone then they Start their hot tempered thing, well Africa is on us but Africa is not for us (temper tantrum)
The best way to do business in Africa is not to focus on the local economy, the best you can do is export things from Africa to the USA market, so you make dollars. African currencies are weak and the people have low purchasing power.
Value addition is key instead of exporting raw products. That way you are hitting 2 birds with one stone, focusing on and building the local economy while gaining maximum dollars and improving local purchasing power.
In Kumasi? Ashantis are the worst and the most corrupt tribe in Ghana. You have to stay in Ghana for sometime to figure them out. I understand why African- Americans are upset that they were sold by fellow Africans. Soon after the abolition of the slave trade, an Ashanti king wrote a protest letter to the king of England , requesting why the trade was abolished. They fought wars to capture people as slaves for sale until defeated by the Ga- Adangbes the minority tribe in Ghana from the coastal city and town , that is Accra and Ada . Not only the Ashantis but traders like Samori and Babatu were principal and potential traders .The Ewes, Hausas , Fantes are a bit honest.
