Kenya Stockholm Blog

The Africa Monetary Fund (AMF) is an Economic Association and a Trust Fund that was set up last year by a group of Africans and Swedes who are interested in arranging economic activities for the mutual benefit of members. AMF is run by a Board of Directors who are answerable to members and who are responsible for the Board’s activities.

AMF is registered in Sweden as an Economic Association and membership is open to individuals and organizations that abide by the statutes of the Fund.  A key business idea which propels AMF is the concept of Business to Business (B2B), which entails a network of global business activities among individuals and various economic entities.

A major component of AMF is a Trust Fund, known as the Hussein Ssembatya Memorial Fund. The Hussein Ssembatya Memorial Fund was set up in honor and memory of the late Hussein Ssembatya from Uganda (a brother and a great friend of many in Sweden and beyond) who died in Stockholm, on August 17, 2009.

The Ssembatya Memorial Fund is intended to serve as a source of emergency and relief funding for members as well as for other humanitarian activities. Money for the Fund is raised through AMF’s business activities and contributions from other organizations, companies and private individuals of good will. The Fund is managed by the Hussein Ssembatya Board of Directors, in close consultation with the Board of Directors of AMF Economic Association.

AMF also works closely with the Ritz Society, an Entertainment, Record and Promotion company whose agenda is to promote African musicians in Africa and in the Diaspora, expose these musicians to target audiences and assist with other related activities in the spirit of solidarity, brotherhood and sisterhood for a better Africa.

So far, the biggest business Project AMF is currently involved in entails collaboration with other partners in the setting up of Crown Airlines, a new Airline that will fly from Arlanda International Airport directly to Entebbe in Uganda from where travellers will be able to connect to other destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Rwanda and other environs. In other words, it will be possible for travellers to book flights to different African destinations with Entebbe acting as a transit point. Crown Airlines is scheduled to start operations on 1st November 2010 and promises to do business at very competitive rates. Further information about Crown Airlines will be released soon.

“The 2010 Africa-Stockholm Night Cruise”

Within the Entertainment industry, AMF (in conjunction with the Ritz Society and Crown Airlines) organized the highly successful tour of the Ugandan popular Artist, “The Big Bebe Cool” who toured Europe in May this year.  It was the first major Project of AMF and more projects are in the pipeline.

On Friday, July 9th 2010, AMF, in conjunction with the Ritz Society, will be throwing a huge Party that will feature “A Galaxy of African Stars”. The concert will be held at Alvik Medborgarhus and all fun lovers in Stockholm will have an opportunity to extend their summer enjoyment at the Party. AMF encourages all Africans and friends of Africa to attend this huge Party that will feature six African artists namely: Anette Nandujja, Ragga Dee, Toolman, Breeze, Sylvia and Rachel K. It will be a no-miss African extravaganza packed with action that will make your heart throb with African beats well into the early hours of the morning. But that will just be the beginning.

On Friday,  8th October 2010, AMF will stage one of the biggest events ever at the popular boat – Siljaline. The event, which could be dubbed “The 2010 Africa-Stockholm Night Cruise”, will be an all night cruise on the boat with the most popular African artists from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and West Africa right on board to perform LIVE and thrill lovers of African music as they enjoy the night across the gigantic Baltic sea. It will be the first time such an event will be staged in Siljaline and this will create an opportunity for fun lovers to participate in real-time history making in the high seas.

Then, comes “the icing on the cake” – a hot competition among the cream of African beauties to search for the “Miss Africa Crown” in Scandinavia! The historic event will mark the official inauguration of  an annual Miss Africa Crown beauty contest in Scandinavia. The contest will roll at “Galaxy” (Siljaline) between Friday October 8th to Saturday 9th 2010. Cute African girls in Scandinavia between the ages of 18-25 will be able to present their individual beauty, style, personalities, influence, feminine appeal and intelligence in a friendly atmosphere packed with ready admirers who shall have paid to enjoy every moment of the action.

Out of the applications received, only 25 aspirants will qualify to contest at the Siljaline Galaxy where Judges will include professionals in fashion design, make up, beauty,  business and celebrity industry. Scoring will be processed by a computerized system and the judges’ decision will be final. The Africa Crown contest is part of the Africa Monetary Fund/Ritz Society collaboration to promote and show-case pure African beauty, African fashion, National African costumes while at the same time promoting African beauties and exposing them to relevant industries for professional advancement and success.

Applicants will only be able to represent their country of birth while the dressing code will include a National dress, swimming suite (provided by sponsor), evening gown and business dress or costume. The winners will then walk away with several prizes. Further information about contest application, rules and regulations, terms and conditions, deadlines, contract signing together with prize categories will be released next week by the AMF.

Tickets will go on sale from 1st August and ticket sales will close when the number hits 400 because surely, not everybody goes to heaven anyway! Ticket price begins at 420 Kr and the price increases depending on your class of cabin choice. The interest has been huge within the African-Swedish communities who love African music, fashion and beauty. What is included in the ticket is the cruise itself (plus cabin) and an All-Night Guaranteed Live Entertainment including the Miss Africa Crown contest!

AMF team is working round the clock and soon, it will be possible to book directly online at Siljaline’s website so watch this space. Tickets will also be available through AMF. Names of the big artists and further information about the cruise will be released as soon as possible. You now know so spread the good news, round up your friends and get them ready for “compact fun-time cooked in Siljaline this time the African way”.  In the meantime, you can make yourself + friends a reservation by sending an SMS to: 0736533068 with your name as in the following example: “Reservation: Juddy Brainstorm for Africa Night Cruise”. You will be contacted by an official of AMF when the tickets hit the market!

The general motto of AMF is that members of the African community in Scandinavia and friends of Africa have to organize themselves in all spheres including the field of Entertainment and Business. With lots of possibilities, an open organization, transparency and accountability, we can all manage activities and other undertakings that matter within our community and which are aimed at improving our conditions through better coordination and networking. Come and join us in building a strong AMF that is currently ready to go and which sees the sky as the only limit.

Okoth Osewe
Secretary and Board Member,
Africa Monetary Fund