Ozwald Boateng is guest editor of New African

The leading pan-African current affairs magazine, New African, has just published its May edition, guest edited by the internationally renowned Ghanaian designer Ozwald Boateng, a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and founder of the Made in Africa Foundation.

This bumper 180-page edition is packed with interviews and guest contributions, looking at a Future Made in Africa and a 60-page supplement celebrating the Organisation of African Unity's (now the AU's) golden jubilee, and featuring historic speeches by African leaders.


The new issue has a strong focus on infrastructure, which reflects the work of the Made in Africa foundation; a $400m fund to finance feasibility studies to fast-track infrastructure investment throughout Africa.


The issue features a stellar cast of writers and columnists. Editorial contributors include Tony Blair, President Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson, Tony Elumelu, Mo Ibrahim, David Adjaye, Jay Naidoo, Omar Bongo Ondimba, Minna Salami, Swaady Martin-Leke, and Kandeh Yumkella and Babatunde Fashola.


With exclusive interviews and strong editorial content, this month's issue combines a reflection on Africa's successes and failures over the past 50 years with an assessment of the African Union. It also debates 'what Africans can do in the next half century. In line with New African's visionary agenda the articles include: an expert panel discussion on Tullow Oil's initiative Invest In Africa; the role of women in Africa's future; 'Investing in infrastructure is key to Africa's growth'; '20 innovative trends taking Africa to the world stage'; brands in Africa; and Nollywood's next generation to watch.


In its "Trailblazers under 50” feature, New African presents its selection of 50 Africans under the age of 50, who are breaking ground and raising hopes for Africa's future. The list includes Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Alex Wek, Didier Drogba, Hadeel Ibrahim, David Rudisha, Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Juliana Totich, P-Square, Dambisa Moyo and its very own readers.

In recognition of the OAU's and AU's role in Africa's history from colonisation to independence the 60 page special contains an extensive timeline including commentary, speeches and analysis from notable players such as Ghana's first president Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Malcolm X.


In his introductory article "Why our future should be made in Africa”. Boateng insists "If the world is to get beyond boom and bust, it requires African creators, farmers, workers, industrialists and leaders to be given the tools and opportunities to play their part for the good of all”.


Omar Ben Yedder, publisher of New African magazine, commented: "Ozwald Boateng has done a fantastic job and this really is a collector's item - one which we hope will be read and studied in schools and universities across Africa. We feature some great interviews and viewpoints, putting forward solutions and new ideas, as well as looking back at some of the vision of our founding fathers. It was a true learning experience working on this issue”.


The May 2013 issue is available on newsstands and local vendors now.