Two things this week. A conversation happening on LinkedIN1 about Africa’s performance at the just concluded Paris Olympics in comparison to lesser populated individual countries and regions.
One comment stood out: Someone said we would perform better as a continent if the games included more ‘African Sports’. What is that even?
Second thing: the government coffee authority in Uganda is fast tracking registration of coffee farmers nationwide2. Why the hurry? The EU has a new anti-deforestation law that takes effect at the end of the year. If we haven’t got our ducks in a row, we shall be thrown out of this market.
There’s all sorts of issues, skepticisms, panic and conspiracy theories expressed in conversations around the law. Some calls for more time. But. The EU buys 60% of our coffee. We can’t ignore the region.
Economics is one way to make sense of these conversations. Demand and Supply.
If there is indeed such a thing as ‘African Sports’, it is clear that for now they are not heavily demanded on the world stage. Not enough people with money to pay for internet or buy televisions to watch them and create ad revenue audience.
The anti deforestation law thing. Not enough people drinking coffee in Uganda for the country to ignore the inconvenient law. Many many people in the EU with money and coffee love.
Other thing that’s happening this week: Premier League 2024/25 season starts at the weekend. Football loving Kampala is buzzing. And many people are putting together fantasy football teams. The concept of a fantasy team sounds like fun. You spot would-be winners and pack them all in the same team.
If Dennis on LinkedIN had his way, he could probably put together some weeks of fantasy olympics with enough ‘African Sports’ for us to win many medals. If Uganda had its way, the country would put together a fantasy coffee market that was less problematic.
Perhaps we could help with this.
With zero football knowledge, the services of an 11 y/o boy football encyclopedia were welcomed for this. No fact checking has been carried out.
Who is a good player that likes to play outside the rules: Luis Suarez. Diego Costa.
In my fantasy market we are not burdened by rules that keep all our best coffee away from the action. This is fantasy so yes, we are aware that rules keep people from getting hurt, trees being cut, etc. Still.
Which football club has more players from the country itself? Porto; more than 85% of their starting team is Portuguese. Liverpool (his team), Tottenham (my sort of team) are both less than 1%.
In this fantasy market, domestic consumption of Uganda’s coffee is up there in the 90% zone. Not the 4% that it currently is at.
Which football team’s style of play is immediately recognisable? Brazil. Spain.
In this fantasy market, Ugandans have greater taste for robusta. Because that is what is grown mostly. It is also what is better resistant to tough weather. No one is making us look for arabicas and pricing the arabicas so well that we actually bother to make it happen never mind that they don’t grow very well in many areas.
(Writing this point, the fantasy market is beginning to sound like communist country. Not good. The sort of place that inhibits progress to prove some socialist point. And forces robusta down our arabica-preferring guts). Still.
Who is a world class player that never played outside their country? Pele.
We don’t only get the remains of the coffee; the unpleasant stuff that no one will spend good dollars on, on the world market. The best stuff remains at home. To be enjoyed by the country.
This would also mean that we don’t burden ourselves on how to get around the so many trade barriers to getting coffee into certain countries.
Tell me a team that has a lot of money and also likes to spend a lot of money. Chelsea. Manchester City have money too but Chelsea are bigger spendthrifts.
In my fantasy market, the population has more money than they know what to do with. Apart from; just to drink, they will buy coffee for all sorts of other reasons; to try something new, to show off to their friends, in advance, on subscription. Anything.
At this point, 11 y/o says even fantasy football has a budget you must stick to. That you don’t always get what you want.
What’s fantasy about that!?
Uganda Coffee Farmer Nationwide Registration
Excellent, Susanna! You make very good points!
Thanks for the restack @Rhionah Ntongo Ssemakula