PUBLIC SPEAKING BLOG || Kafui Dey

113 Kwame Nkrumah Quotes To Mark Birthday of Ghana's Founder

2022-09-20T23:21:00.001+00:00

September 21 marks the 113th birthday of Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's founding Prime Minister and first President.

Here are 113 quotes by the great man.

Enjoy!

1. "Besides, political independence, though worthwhile in itself, is still only a means to the fuller redemption and realization of a people.”

2. “When independence has been gained, positive action requires a new orientation away from the sheer destruction of colonialism and towards national reconstruction It is indeed in this address to national reconstruction that positive action faces its gravest dangers.”

3. The cajolement, the wheedlings, the seductions and the Trojan horses of neocolonialism must be stoutly resisted, for neocolonialism is a latter-day harpy, a monster which entices its victims with sweet music.”

4. “Without political unity, African states can never commit themselves to full economic integration, which is the only productive form of integration able to develop our great resources fully for the well-being of the African people as a whole.”

5. “Furthermore, the lack of political unity places inter-African economic institutions at the mercy of powerful, foreign commercial interests, and sooner or later these will use such institutions as funnels through which to pour money for the continued exploitation of Africa.”

6. “The struggle for African continental union and socialism may be hampered by the enemy WITHIN, - those who declare their support for the revolution and at the same time, by devious means, serve and promote the interests of imperialists and neo-colonialists.”

7. "Examination of recent events in our history, and of our present condition, reveals the urgent need for a new strategy to combat imperialist aggression, and this must be devised on a continental scale.”

8. "Either we concentrate our forces for a decisive armed struggle to achieve our objectives, or we will each fall one by one to the blows of imperialism in its present stage of open and desperate offensive."

9. "Psychological attacks are made through the agency of broadcasting stations like the BBC, Voice of Germany, and above all, Voice of America, which pursues its brainwashing mission through newsreels, interviews and other "informative" programmes at all hours of the day and night, on all wavelengths and in many languages, including special English.”

10. “The war of words is supplemented by written propaganda using a wide range of political devices such as embassy bulletins, pseudo revolutionary publications, studies on nationalism and on African socialism, the literature spread by the so-called independent and liberal publishers, cultural and civic education centres, and other imperialist subversive organisations.”

11. " When the target, a certain country or continent, is sufficiently softened, then the invasion of evangelist brigades begins, thus perpetuating the centuries old tactic whereby missionaries prepare the way for guns.”

12. "In the very early days of the Christian era, long before England had assumed any importance, long even before her people had united into a nation, our ancestors had attained a great empire, which lasted until the eleventh century, when it fell before the attacks of the Moors of the North.”

13. "By far the greatest wrong which the departing colonialists inflicted on us, and which we now continue to inflict on ourselves in our present state of disunity, was to leave us divided into economically unviable States which bear no possibility of real development....”

14. "...We must unite for economic viability, first of all, and then to recover our mineral wealth in Southern Africa, so that our vast resources and capacity for development will bring prosperity for us and additional benefits for the rest of the world.”

15. “Common territory, language and culture may in fact be present in a nation, but the existence of a nation does not necessarily imply the presence of all three.”

16. “The community of economic life is the major feature within a nation, and it is the economy which holds together the people living in a territory.”

17. "...I have often said, the party and the nation are one and the same, namely: the Convention People's Party is Ghana and is Ghana the Convention People's Party."

18. "A recent development in the psychological war is the campaign to convince us that we cannot govern ourselves, that we are unworthy of genuine independence, and that foreign tutelage is the only remedy for our wild, warlike and primitive ways.”

19. Imperialism has done its utmost to brainwash Africans into thinking that they need the strait-jackets of colonialism and neocolonialism if they are to be saved from their retrogressive instincts.”

20. "And now, the recent military coups engineered throughout Africa by foreign reactionaries are also being used to corroborate imperialism's pet theory that the Africans have shamelessly squandered the golden opportunities of independence, and that they have plunged their political kingdoms into blood and barbarism.”

21. "Everywhere, the more or less covert implication is: Africa needs to be recolonised.

22. “The fact that Africa has advanced politically more quickly than any other continent in the world is ignored.”

23. "Countrymen, the task ahead is great indeed, and heavy is the responsibility; and yet it is a noble and glorious challenge - a challenge which calls for the courage to dream, the courage to believe, the courage to dare, the courage to do, the courage to envision, the courage to fight, the courage to work, the courage to achieve - to achieve the highest excellence and the fullest greatness of man. Dare we ask for more in life?"

24. "What other countries have taken three hundred years or more to achieve, a once dependent territory must try to accomplish in a generation if it is to survive.”

25. "Something in the nature of an economic revolution is required.”

26. “Our development has been held back for too long by the colonial-type economy.”

27. “We need to reorganize entirely, so that each country can specialize in producing the goods and crops for which it is best suited."

28. "We have the blessing of the wealth of our vast resources, the power of our talents and the potentialities of our people.”

29. Let us grasp now the opportunities before us and meet the challenge to our survival. "

30. "We shall measure our progress by the improvement in the health of our people; by the number of children in school, and by the quality of their education; by the availability of water and electricity in our towns and villages, and by the happiness which our people take in being able to manage their own affairs.”

31. “The welfare of our people is our chief pride, and it is by this that my Government will ask to be judged."

32. "The initiative of Ghanaian businessmen will not be cramped, but we must take steps to see that it is channeled towards desirable social ends and is not expended in the exploitation of the community.”

33. “The Government will encourage Ghanaian businessmen to join with each other in co-operative forms of organization.”

34. "We welcome foreign investment provided that there are no strings attached to it, and also provided that it fits in with our plans for national development and our socialist policy.”

35. “And we insist that foreign investment should not interfere or meddle with the political life of our country.”

36. "It is said, of course that we have no capital, no industrial skill, no communications, no internal markets, and that we cannot even agree among ourselves how best to utilize our resources for our own social needs. Yet all the stock exchanges in the world are pre-occupied with Africa's gold, diamonds, uranium, platinum, copper and iron ores.”

37. Our CAPITAL flows out in streams to irrigate the whole system of Western economy.”

38. “Fifty-two per cent of the gold in Fort Knox at this moment, where the USA stores its bullion, is believed to have originated from OUR shores.”

39. “Africa provides more than 60 per cent of the world's gold.”

40. “A great deal of the uranium for nuclear power, of copper for electronics, of titanium for supersonic projectiles, of iron and steel for heavy industries, of other minerals and raw materials for lighter industries - the basic economic might of the foreign Powers - comes from OUR continent.”

41. "Experts have estimated that the Congo Basin alone can produce enough food crops to satisfy the requirements of nearly HALF the population of the whole world and here we sit talking about regionalism, talking about gradualism, talking about step by step.”

42. “Are you afraid to tackle the bull by the horn?"

43. "No independent African State today by itself has a chance to follow an INDEPENDENT course of economic development, and many of us who have tried to do this have been almost ruined or have had to return to the fold of the former colonial rulers.”

44. “The first step towards our cohesive economy would be a unified monetary zone, with, initially, an agreed common parity for our currencies.”

45. “When we find that the arrangement of a fixed common parity is working successfully, there would seem to be NO reason for not instituting one common currency and a single bank of issue."

46. "While we are assuring our stability by a COMMON DEFENCE system, and our economy is being orientated beyond foreign control by a COMMON CURRENCY, MONETARY ZONE and CENTRAL BANK OF ISSUE, we can investigate the resources of our continent.”

47. We can begin to ascertain whether in reality we are the richest, and not, as we have been TAUGHT to BELIEVE, the poorest among the continents.

48. “We can determine whether we possess the largest potential in hydroelectric power, and whether we can harness it and other sources of energy to our OWN INDUSTRIES.”

49. We can proceed to PLAN our industrialization on a CONTINENTAL SCALE, and to build up a COMMON MARKET…”

50. "Common Continental Planning for the Industrial and Agricultural Development of Africa is a vital necessity."

51. "So many blessings flow from our unity, so many disasters must follow our continued disunity, that our failure today will not be attributed by posterity only to faulty reasoning and lack of courage, but to our CAPITULATION before the forces of neocolonialism and imperialism."

52. "The hour of history which has brought us to this assembly is a revolutionary hour. It is a hour of decision.

53. “For the first time, the economic imperialism which menaces us is itself challenged by THE IRRESISTIBLE WILL OF OUR PEOPLE."

54. "The masses of the people of Africa are crying for unity."

55. "It is this popular determination that must move us on to a Union of Independent African States."

56. "Africa cannot be validly treated merely as the space in which Europe swelled up.”

57. “If African history is interpreted in terms of the interests of European merchandise and capital, missionaries and administrators, it is no wonder that African nationalism is in the forms it takes regarded as a perversion and neo- colonialism as a virtue.”

58. "In the new African renaissance, we place great emphasis on the presentation of history.

59. “Our history needs to be written as the history of our society, not as the story of European adventures.”

60. “African society must be treated as enjoying its own integrity; its history must be a mirror of that society, and the European contact must find its place in this history only as an African experience, even if as a crucial one.”

61. “African history can come to guide and direct African action. African history can thus become a pointer at the ideology which should guide and direct African reconstruction.”

62. "In Africa where so many different kinds of political, social and economic conditions exist it is not an easy task to generalise on political and socio-economic patterns.”

63. “There is no part of the continent which has not known oppression and exploitation, and no part which remains outside the processes of the African Revolution."

64. "How much more effective would our efforts have been if we had spoken with the one voice of Africa's millions.”

65. “With all our minerals and waterpower and fertile lands, is it not a cause for shame that we remain poor and content to plead for aid from the very people who have robbed us of our riches in the past?”

66. How can Egypt, strategically situated as is it, combat the imperialism and neocolonialism and solve the pressing and urgent problems of the Middle East unless it has the backing of a Union Government of Africa?”

67. Only a Union Government can assist in the solution of the problems of the Middle East, including the Palestinian question."

68. "...the problem is how to obtain capital investment and still keep it under sufficient control to prevent exploitation; and how to preserve integrity and sovereignty without crippling economic or political ties to any country, bloc or system"

69. “Capitalism is but the gentlemen's method of slavery.”

70. "The foreign firms who exploit our resources long ago saw the strength to be gained from acting on a Pan-African scale.”

71. “By means of interlocking directorships, cross-shareholdings and other devices, groups of apparently different companies have formed, in fact, one enormous capitalist monopoly.”

72. “The only effective way to challenge this economic empire and to recover possession of our heritage, is for us also to act on a Pan-African basis, through a Union Government."

73. "In the modern world, the race struggle has become part of the class struggle. In other words, wherever there is a race problem it has become linked with the class struggle.”

74. “As time passed, it was thought necessary to justify the exploitation and oppression of African workers, the myth of racial inferiority was developed and spread.”

75. "For the vast majority of mankind the most urgent problem is not war, or communism, or the cost of living, or taxation. It is hunger.”

76. "In the era of neocolonialism, under-development is still attributed not to exploitation but to inferiority, and racial undertones remain closely interwoven with the class struggle.”

77. "It is only the ending of capitalism, colonialism, imperialism and neocolonialism and the attainment of world communism that can provide the conditions under which the RACE question can finally be abolished and eliminated.”

78. I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”

79. “We face neither East nor West; We face forward”

80. “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.”

81. “Action without thought is empty. Thought without action is blind.”

82. “All the fair brave words spoken about freedom that had been broadcast to the four corners of the earth took seed and grew where they had not been intended.”

83. “Colonialism and its attitudes die hard, like the attitudes of slavery, whose hangover still dominates behaviour in certain parts of the Western hemisphere.”

84. “Before slavery was practised in the New World, there was no special denigration of Africans.”

85. “Slavery was not born of racism, rather racism was the consequence of slavery.”

86. “Man is regarded in Africa as primarily a spiritual being, a being endowed originally with a certain inward dignity, integrity, and value.”

87. “For this end Africa needs a new type of citizen, a dedicated, modest, honest and informed man.”

88. “One has only to listen to the cheers of an African audience as Hollywood’s heroes slaughter red Indians or Asiatics to understand the effectiveness of this weapon.”

89. “If by their fruits we shall know them, they must first grow the fruits.”

90. “We face neither East nor West; We face forward”

91. “The People Of Africa Are Crying For Unity”

92. “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.”

93. “We must unite now or perish”

94. “Independence is only the prelude to a new and more involved struggle for the right to conduct our own economic and social affairs”

95. “I am in the knowledge that death can never extinguish the torch which I have lit in Ghana and Africa.”

96. “Long after I am dead and gone, the light will continue to burn and be borne aloft, giving light and guidance to all people.”

97. “Any meaningful humanism must begin from egalitarianism and must lead to objectively chosen policies for safeguarding and sustaining egalitarianism”

98. “Africa is one continent, one people, and one nation”

99. “It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity.”

100. “Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world.”

101. “Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved would do well to remember the depths from which we started.”

102. “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart.”

103. “Freedom is not something that one people can bestow on another as a gift.”

104. “Countrymen, the task ahead is great indeed, and heavy is the responsibility; and yet it is a noble and glorious challenge.”

105. “We all want a United Africa, United not only in our concept of what unity connotes, but united in our common desire to move forward together in dealing with all the problems that can best be solved only on a continental basis.”

106. “Let us all remember nothing in the world can be done unless it has the support of God.”

107. “Workers are workers, and nationality, race, tribe and religion are irrelevancies in the struggle to achieve socialism.”

108. “In Africa there should be no African “alien”. All are Africans.”

109. “Colonialism, imperialism and neocolonialism are expressions of capitalism and of bourgeois economic and political aspirations.”

110. “Imperialist aggression has expressed itself not only in coups d’état, but in the assassination of revolutionary leaders, and the setting up of new intelligence organisations.”

111. “As long as African States continue to be dependent in any degree for training, and for arms and supplies on capitalist sources, the African Revolution is in jeopardy.”

112. “Historically, professional armies of the capitalist world have a tradition of suppression of socialist and revolutionary movements.”

113. “There is little justification for the enormous sums of money spent on the armies of Africa.”

BONUS QUOTES

114. “The border disputes which exist between certain African States, most of them legacies from the colonial period, are all capable of peaceful resolution.”

115. “Inequality can only be ended by the abolition of classes.”

116. “Workers and peasants may be misled for a time, but as class consciousness develops the bogus socialists are exposed, and genuine socialist revolution is made possible.”

117. “In general, intellectuals with working class origins tend to be more radical than those from the privileged sectors of society.”

118. “The total liberation and the unification of Africa under an All-African socialist government must be the objective of all Black revolutionaries throughout the world.”

119. “The core of the Black Revolution is in Africa, and until Africa is united under a socialist government, the Black man throughout the world lacks a national home.”

120. “It is around the African peoples’ struggles for liberation and unification that African or Black culture will take shape and substance.”

Public Speaking Top 5 Tips with TJ Walker

2021-02-18T08:10:00.000+00:00

Public Speaking: The First Rule of Practice

2021-02-17T08:30:00.002+00:00

Public Speaking: The Rule of Simple

2021-02-17T08:29:00.002+00:00

Public Speaking: The Rule of 3

2021-02-17T08:28:00.000+00:00

Covid-19: The Emcees Network supports Ghana’s fight against disease spread

2021-01-19T20:41:00.000+00:00

The vibrant group of professional emcees have promised to play their part to help Government and Stakeholders in the events industry to fiercely fight against the deadly coronavirus and it’s spread through events

Accra, Ghana; January 19th, 2021: A vibrant group of Professional Masters of Ceremony (Emcees) called THE EMCEES NETWORK have today pledged their massive support to the Government and all stakeholders in the events space in Ghana’s fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic. This pledge comes amidst recent spikes in covid-19 cases and the declaration by His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana on Sunday 17th January , 2021 that many of the new cases can be traced to events such as weddings, parties and other social events.

“We have a collective responsibility as emcees to ensure that all guests, vendors and participants at our respective events are safe and protected against this deadly virus. As emcees we have to ensure the strict use of nose masks, sanitizers and hand wash stations at all times before and during the event. We also have a key responsibility to regularly announce and remind all present about the safety protocols that have to be strictly adhered to. Social distancing is mandatory and should be also strictly observed during all activities such as dancing, champagne popping, cake cutting etc. In effect, any other activity that hitherto demanded physical contact or removal of masks should be stopped ”. said Kafui Dey, Professional Emcee / Moderator

THE EMCEES NETWORK will collaborate with all Government / Health Institutions, Vendors and stakeholders in any way possible so as to ensure that everyone remains safe and the number of cases drastically reduce in the coming weeks.

According to Chrystal Kwame -Aryee, A Professional Female Emcee and Moderator, ‘’Although our jobs are often geared towards creating fun and indelible memories through activities, games and occasional dancing, we also understand that the health & safety of Ghanaians takes precedence over everything else. We will ensure that all protocols are strictly observed and that none of us does anything that will in any way or form catalyse the spread of this virus.’’

So far, there have been 352 deaths, over 58,000 total cases and about 2,000 active cases. This begs for everyone to actively get involved and contribute their quotas in ensuring that we put an end to this pandemic once and for all. Let’s Mask up, Sanitize, Wash our hands regularly, observe social distancing and above all stay safe.

About The Emcees Network

The Emcees Network is an active group of Professional Emcees and Moderators from Ghana. It was formed in 2016 after several years of individual operations by it’s members. The network aims to help members improve on creativity, craft, professionalism and to give them easy access to opportunities and business. The network also engages in career training workshops, Corporate Social Responsibilities among other services that benefit the events industry and the Nation at large.

Time to improve your speaking skills?

2021-01-18T11:36:00.000+00:00

Not confident about how you speak in front of an audience?

It's time to do something about it.

I run an 8-week coaching program for clients who want to improve their public speaking, presentation and moderation skills.

Emphasis is on "learning by doing". This means we dive into actual speaking, presenting and moderation in front of an audience from the very first session.

Practice sessions are recorded so clients can evaluate and critique their own performances.

Sessions are 30 or 60 minutes per week and are either in-person or virtual.

Fees are as follows:

8 x 30-minute weekly program: 1,200 Cedis
8 x 60-minute weekly program: 2,400 Cedis

I'm offering a 21% discount plus a payment plan for all bookings made this month.

I'd be happy to answer any more questions you may have.

Email training@kafuidey.com if you think it's time for you to become that confident speaker you've dreamed of!

Coaching Client Testimonial: Public Speaking & Presentation

2021-01-13T07:30:00.000+00:00

Meet another of my coaching clients who made me proud in 2020!.

She won her election to become Ghana's first ever female deputy general-secretary of Health Service Workers Union.

Kudos Patricia!

MEDIA TRAINING: Happy Client Testimonial

2021-01-08T12:05:00.000+00:00

"The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." – Bobby Knight

Sharing in the joy of my client Elisabeth Ofosu-Adjare! She had the will to prepare and she won her election to represent the people of Techiman North in Parliament.

KAFUI DEY 2020 REVIEW: Emcee, Fundraiser, Moderator, Speaker, Presenter, Trainer, Coach

2021-01-06T13:53:00.002+00:00

Time to look back at 2020 with gratitude.

AWARDS HOSTED
Ghana Entrepreneur & Corporate Executive Awards (Kempinski Hotel)

AGI Industry Awards (Alisa Hotel)

Ghana Business Awards (Kempinski Hotel)

Ghana Mining Industry Awards (Mövenpick Hotel)

Ghana HR Innovation Awards (Mövenpick Hotel)

CORPORATE LAUNCHES
National Entrepreneurship Innovation Program (NEIP) Greenhouse Launch (Dawhenya)

For Better Business Together (4BBT) Launch (Kempinski Hotel)

National Health Insurance Week Launch (Accra International Conference Centre)

Fashion in the City Launch (Alisa Hotel)

Accra Psychiatric Hospital Special Ward Inauguration

New Passport Office Inauguration (Ringway)

Roche Ghana Anti MS Drug Launch (Mövenpick Hotel)

Roche Ghana Anti Breast Cancer Drug Launch (Mövenpick)

LAUNCHES + FUNDRAISERS
Coach Kwesi Appiah Book Launch "Leaders Dont Have To Yell" (Alisa Hotel)

Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament Book Launch
"Strengthening Democracy & Good Governance in Contemporary Ghana: Some Challenges" (Parliament House)

Prof Spencer Duncan Book Launch
"Emotional Intelligence" (Accra International Conference Centre)

Bishop Gabriel Donkor Book Launch
"The 21st Century Generals: Wilderness Born" (Virtual)

Apostle Dan Clad Album Launch
"Sounds of Rejoicing Volumes 1,2 & "3

Nobel Kumawu Book Launch
"Father of Organization Development" (Christ the King Hall)

Vanessa Bliss Nordzi Book Launch
"Shadow in the Dark" (Accra)

Petra Aba Asamoah Book Launch
"Jungle Dance" (Ghana Academy of Arts & Sciences)

Henry Djaba Foundation National Wheelchair Campaign Launch (Christ the King Hall)

Father Stephen Sakpaku Book Launch
"The Priest Father Campbell, SVD: A Missionary of Hope" (Christ the King Hall)

MEETINGS
Career Week Summit (University of Ghana)

Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) Breakfast Meeting (Holiday Inn Hotel)

Strengthening Families Conference (Latter Day Saints HQ)

National Vocation & Training Institute Graduation (NVTI HQ)

Jospong Group Annual Thanksgiving Service

POLITICAL EVENTS

Liberal Party Ghana Manifesto Launch and Unveiling of Running Mate (Marriots Hotel)

All People's Congress Delegates Congress (The Underbridge)

People's National Convention Delegates Congress (UDS Guest House)

All People's Congress Unveiling of Running Mate and Manifesto Launch (The Underbridge)

QUIZZES
National Juniors Challenge Season 2 (TV3)

Tek Smartest 2020 (KNUST)

CONCERTS
Creative Hope Concert (James Camp Prison)

Limitless Vibes (Mövenpick Hotel)

TV SHOWS
The Next MP (Diaspora Network Television)

Go Pro Challenge (GTV)

Random Questions (IG)

MEDIA APPEARANCES
"Sunrise" on 92.7 3FM
Easter Monday Special Edition

"Taxi Driver" with Blakk Rasta on Zylofon 102.1 FM

"The Mandate Index" with Noel Nutsugah on Zylofon 102.1 FM

"Xpressive" with Jackie & BlissKing on GHOne TV

"Because I Want To Be" with Michelle Attoh on TV3

"Sunrise" on 92.7 3FM
Christmas Day Special Edition

GUEST SPEAKER/PRESENTER
What I Wish I Knew 2020 (University of Cape Coast)

International Women's Day Event (Nestle Ghana)

"How to Become a Super Speaker" (Virtual)

"Locked Down Business Academy (Virtual)

Divine Provision School presentation on "Leadership Mentality" (Virtual)

"The New Normal" with Joyce Daniels, professional speaker (Virtual)

"Overcoming Stage Fright" (Virtual)

"How to Speak Effectively on Stage" (Virtual)

National Population Council Annual Retreat (Dodowa)

Zimmerman Memorial Child & Youth Development Centre presentation on "Personal Branding in Career Building" (Abokobi)

Central Leadership Program presentation on "Creating a Winning Presence" (Virtual)

De'Lish Meet Series (Okponglo)

Faith Baptist Child & Youth Development Center presentation on "Youth Mentorship" (Virtual)

Retorika 2020 (Alisa Hotel)

COACHING & TRAINING

7 new individual coaching clients gained for media training, public speaking and event hosting.

"Super PowerPoint Presentations" (Virtual)

"Healthy Public Speaking" (Virtual)

"How to Prepare for Media Interviews: 59 Quick Tips" (Virtual)

EPP Books Staff Training on Sales, Marketing and Communication

Nubuke Foundation Staff Training on Public Speaking and Interviewing Skills (In-person)

Super Emcee Training (Virtual & Christ the King Hall)

Super Speaker Training (Virtual & Christ the King Hall)

Public Speaking Training (Blue Crest College)

Talk Money Master Class: 9 Ways to Make Money with Your Voice (Virtual)

ACHIEVEMENTS
Developed coaching business from scratch

Recorded an online videos course on how to beat stage fright

Presentation coach for winners of National Science & Maths Quiz

Media and presentation coach for 2 clients elected to political and national office (parliamentarian and trade union deputy general-secretary)

Over 500,000 Cedis raised at various book launches.

Picture Credit: Paul the Shooter

Sunrise🌅6:40am, January 1 2021

2021-01-01T09:55:00.001+00:00

New day, new month, new year.

Wishing you peace, power, progress and prosperity.

One love❤

SPOKEN WORD: True Friends by Rhymesonny

2020-12-27T23:49:00.001+00:00

RETORIKA on Boxing Day was lit!

The last performer was Rhymesonny, organzer of this poetry, spoken word and music mashup.

This piece on friendship touched a lot of hot🔥 buttons.

What makes a true friend? And are you one?

#creativity #wordplay #rhyme #talent #poet #verse #artist #performer #ghana🇬🇭

MONDAY MORNING LEGACY!

2020-12-21T12:47:00.002+00:00

Just got off a Zoom meeting called The Legacy Conference with 30 teens and young adults based in Mafi Yingor (about 150km from Accra).

My presentation was on youth mentorship. And if you know me, I just couldn't resist using an acrostic to drive my points home😉

Sure enough, I left the participants with this one derived from the word LEGACY:

L - learn as much as you can from your mentor

E - engage your mentor with respect

G - gratitude: show appreciation for the opportunity to learn

A - audience: be a model audience of one: 2 ears👂👂 + 1 mouth 👄 = listen twice as much as you talk😁

C - confidence: practice what you learn in spite of the inevitable mistakes

Y - you are the only one who can put what you learn into practice

Marvelous Monday and a wonderful week to you!

Kafui Dey MC Testimonial/Review

2020-12-20T07:50:00.004+00:00

ALWAYS GET FEEDBACK after speaking in public. If it's positive you'll learn what to do more of!😃😃

Big thanks to Carol Opata Hogan, Country Manager of Instinct Wave Ghana for the glowing testimonial/review.

SOUNDCHECK: 3rd African HR Innovation Awards 2020

2020-12-18T22:12:00.001+00:00

6:15pm, 18 December 2020

Behind the scenes at the 3rd African HR Innovation Awards 2020.

If you arrive early you can test the microphone and speakers so the audience can hear you clearly when you start speaking.

Venue: Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra

Event planner: Instinct Wave

Videography: Paul the Shooter

Jacket: House of Nutsugah

PUBLIC SPEAKING: What's your struggle?

2020-12-18T11:13:00.005+00:00

"Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there."
>>> Marc and Angel Chernoff

What do you struggle with in public speaking?

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Singer-songwriter Six Strings on GHOne TV

2020-12-17T22:13:00.003+00:00

Don't you just love Throwback Thursday?

With Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond when we hosted singer-songwriter Six Strings back in 2016 on GHOne TV.

NSMQ: A Short Coaching Story

2020-12-16T11:27:00.003+00:00

Once upon a time in 2020, Odadee Etse Sikanku called me up and wanted to know if I could coach the Presec team for this year's National Science and Maths Quiz.

"No problem!" I said.

So I went down to the school (for the first time ever!) to observe the team during practice sessions.

My impressions?

They knew their science and maths alright. I also knew that often it's how you say what you know that gives you the edge.

So I held a couple of sessions with them.and shared some tips on public speaking and self-confidence such as:

• Hold the mic like an ice-cream cone🍦

• Smile🙂 even when you feel anxious

• Look into the eyes of the quiz mistress when answering a question

• Speak slowly and clearly

I wasn't surprised Presec won the competition. They were easily the best team and the public loved them. What I did not expect was an invitation to this year's speech and prize giving day. There they surprised me with a Certificate of Appreciation.

Thanks Odadee Etse, thanks Presec and congratulations to this year's NSMQ winners. I'm proud to have been part of the historic 6th win!

P.S. The raps on this certificate eh? 😃😃

PUBLIC SPEAKING: 10 tips to win over any audience

2020-12-15T10:13:00.000+00:00

DO THEY SCARE YOU? 😱😱😱

They shouldn't.

Do these 10 things and soon your audience will become friendlier. 🙂🙂🙂

Hey, one day they may even love you! 🤩🤩🤩

Now wouldn't you love that?

PUBLIC SPEAKING VIDEO: What to do if your mind goes blank!

2020-12-15T07:36:00.004+00:00

PUBLIC SPEAKING: 112 A to Z Tips You Can Use Right Now

2020-12-14T21:28:00.009+00:00

AUDIENCE

1. Know who your audience is so that you use the right language when you speak.
2. Know what your audience does so you customize your message to suit their job title or profession.
3. Know why your audience is there so you can decide if your speech is meant to inform, educate, entertain, persuade or inspire.
4. Know how much time your audience has so you can prepare a message to fit the allocated time.
5. Smile at your audience when you get on the stage and before you begin speaking.
6. Ask your audience questions about topics that are relevant to them.
7. Look for feedback from the audience while you are speaking.
8. Thank your audience at the end of your speech and before the question and answer session begins.

BEGIN

9. Observe skilled public speakers and note the reactions they get from their audiences before you begin speaking in public.
10.To begin speaking in public, start by sitting in the front when you listen to others speak in public.
11.To begin speaking in public, be the first to ask questions when you listen to others speak in public.
12.Get rid of your notes when you become comfortable with asking questions.
13.Volunteer to speak when you begin learning how to speak in public.

CONFIDENCE

14.Get coaching if you want to develop confidence in public speaking.
15.Repeat positive affirmations if you want to develop confidence in public speaking.
16.Talk about what you know to develop confidence in public speaking.

DESIRE

17. See yourself succeeding on stage if you want to develop your desire for better public speaking.
18.Get training if you want to develop your desire for better public speaking.
19.Learn from the best public speakers if you want to develop your desire for better public speaking.
20.Volunteer to emcee events for your family and friends if you want to develop your desire for better public speaking.
21.Volunteer to emcee events at work if you want to develop your desire for better public speaking.

ENGAGE

22. Smile at your audience when you get on the stage to engage them.
23.Look at your audience while you are speaking so you can engage them.
24.Engage your audience by responding to feedback to make your communication a two-way affair.
25.End your speech early so you can engage audience members in the question and answer session.

FEAR

26. Acknowledge your fear of failure in public speaking – a lot more people than you think experience that same fear too.
27.Calm your mind by repeating affirmations to reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.
28.Calm your mind by praying to God to reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.
29.Drink room temperature water to hydrate your voice and reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.
30. Practice vocal exercises to relax your voice and reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.
31.Only speak about what you know to reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.
32. Practice often to control your fear of failure in public speaking.
33. Stay away from people who demotivate you to reduce your fear of failure in public speaking.

GRATITUDE

34.Be grateful that you have decided to develop your skill in public speaking.
35.Be grateful when you are given an opportunity to speak in public.
36.Express your gratitude briefly at the beginning of your speech.
37.Be grateful for the pauses in your speech.
38.End your speech by expressing gratitude to your audience before you take questions from them.

HITCHES

39. Stay calm when you experience a hitch like a power cut.
40. Poor sound is a major public speaking hitch – make sure you arrive early and test the microphone and public address system.
41.Hecklers can be a hitch – deal with them politely but firmly.

INTERACT

42.Get to the venue early so you can interact with audience members.
43.Look at your audience and smile to improve interaction.
44.Involve audience members to improve interaction with them.
45. Seek feedback from audience members to improve interaction.

JOKES

46.You don’t need jokes to be entertaining – a smile at the right time can achieve that effect.
47.A humorous observation that makes a relevant point in your speech will work better than a joke.
48.Beware of making jokes about politics, sex, religion and ethnicity.
49.If you must make a joke, poke fun at yourself and only to make a relevant point.

KINDNESS

50. Show kind to yourself by preparing in good time for your speech.
51.Be kind to yourself by rehearsing sufficiently for your speech.
52. Show kindness to your audience by speaking briefly if you are scheduled before or after a lunch break.
53.Be kind to yourself by not criticizing yourself excessively when you review your public speaking performances.

LEARN

54.Learn to become a better public speaker by watching online videos, reading articles and taking online courses.
55.Learn to become a better public speaker by observing great speakers, reading communication books, joining Toastmasters and getting trained by professional coaches.

MISTAKES

56.Don’t make the mistake of trying to memorize an entire speech – use notes to help you remember your points.
57.Don’t make the mistake of trying to memorize an entire speech – use stories to help you remember your points.
58.Don’t make the mistake of reading an entire speech without looking up - eye contact improves communication.
59.Don’t make the mistake of apologizing for a perceived error – the audience members may not even have noticed it.

NO

60. Say no to chilled water before speaking in public.
61. Say no to alcohol before speaking in public.
62. Say no to milk products before speaking in public.
63. Say no to a heavy meal before speaking in public.
64. Say no marijuana before speaking in public.
65. Say no to a boring speech.
66. Say no to speaking for longer than you have been scheduled.
67. Say no to a speech if you don’t know what you are talking about.

OVER-PREPARE

68.Over-prepare for your speech by finding out all you can about your audience.
69.Over-prepare for your speech by rehearsing your opening remarks until you can deliver them flawlessly.
70.Over-prepare for your speech by rehearsing your closing remarks until you can deliver them flawlessly.
71.Over-prepare by practicing your speech over and over, making sure you record it on your phone until you are happy with every bit of it.

PAUSE

72. Pause before accepting to speak in public.
73. Pause before speaking when you get on the podium.
74. Pause when you ask rhetorical questions.
75. Pause when you finish making a point and you want to make a new point.
76. Pause before you answer questions.

QUESTIONS

77.Ask yourself five questions every speech must answer: how to inform, how to educate, how to entertain, how to persuade and how to
inspire?
78.To inform, your speech must include facts, figures and examples.
79.To educate, your speech must show audience members how to do something.
80.To entertain, your speech must make audience members smile and laugh.
81.To persuade, your speech must convince audience members to take a definite position.
82.To inspire, your speech must move audience members.

READ

83.To be a better public speaker, read yourself thoroughly – know your strengths and minimize your weaknesses.
84.To be a better public speaker, read your audience – gauge their mood and respond to their feedback.
85.To be a better public speaker, read good books carefully.

SPEED

86.Control your speaking speed by deciding to slow down.
87. Slow down by taking a deep breath before speaking.
88. Slow your speaking down when you are in a large venue.
89. Slow your speaking down when you are outdoors.
90. Serious speakers speak slowly.

TRAINING

91.Take control of your training by reading all you can on public speaking.
92.Take control of your training by learning from online videos on public speaking.
93.Take control of your training by signing up for a public speaking course.
94.Take control of your training by hiring for a coach.

UNDERESTIMATE

95.Don’t underestimate the preparation needed to make a short speech.
96.Don’t underestimate how much preparation you need to speak to young audiences.
97.Don’t underestimate how much preparation you need to address a small audience.

VOICE

98.Your genes largely decide the sound of your voice.
99.Be careful about comparing your voice with another person’s voice.
100. Your message is more important than your voice.

WORDS

101. Read good books carefully to increase the number of words you know.
102. Know how to express an idea using a variety of words.
103. Don’t use a big word when a small one will do.
104. Get rid of unnecessary words like “um” “er” and “ah”.

XEROSTOMIA

105. Xerostomia is the condition of having a dry mouth.
106. Avoid salted peanuts before speaking in public – you may get a dry mouth and that could affect the quality of your voice.

YOU

107. You don’t need to change your personality to become a better public speaker.
108. Use your unique knowledge to help you become a better public speaker.
109. Use your unique experiences to help you become a better public speaker.

ZONE

110. Affirmations and visualization can put your mind in the right zone for better public speaking.
111. The space you speak in is your zone – make sure you make full use of it by looking around when you make your speech.
112. Stay within your time zone when you speak in public – you don’t have to use up all of your time, or worse, speak for longer than
scheduled.

Need coaching to speak better in public? Email coaching@kafui-dey.com for information about my individual and group coaching programs.

TRAILER: Kafui Dey reveals 6 secrets about life, career at De'Lish Meet Series

2020-12-14T08:48:00.000+00:00

THE ACROSTIC: A Successful Speaker's Secret Sauce!

2020-12-13T20:49:00.001+00:00

"Acrostic? What's that?" you ask.

It's a form of communication in which the first

"Acrostic? What's that?" you ask.

It's a form of communication in which the first letter of each line spells out a word or message.

I use it all the time when I'm coaching or presenting because it helps my audience (and me!😁) remember my message.

Take last Friday.

I was the guest speaker at De'lish Restaurant. I talked to the patrons about my career as a professional master of ceremonies, public speaking coach and TV personality.

I based my presentation on an acrostic using the word DE'LISH. Here it is:

Desire: an important first step

Engage with industry people

Learning never stops

Interact: no-one is an island

Speed: focus on yours. Think marathon

Hitches: expect them

I guarantee you that if you base your talk on a relevant acrostic and support each point with a story, your audiences will never forget your message!

Which is what every speaker aims for right?

P.S. Expand the picture and read aloud the food quotes. Some cracked me up! 😆😆

Credits

Photo: Paul the Shooter

Clothing: Stallion Image Consult

IMPROMPTU PUBLIC SPEAKING: How to Become a Master

2020-06-17T09:00:00.001+00:00

Yesterday I showed participants in my free public speaking training on WhatsApp how to make impromptu speeches.

Here's the 5-step learning-by-doing, on-the-job-training formula for becoming a master at impromptu speaking:

1. Have someone give you a random speaking topic.

2. Spend a minute thinking about your introduction, your points and examples and your conclusion.

3. Then record your 2 minute impromptu speech.

4. Review your speech and ask yourself 2 questions:

• What did I like?
• What would I do differently next time?

5. Go back to Step 1 and repeat.

With practice, you can become skilled at impromptu speaking!

PUBLIC SPEAKING: How to beat stage fright in 5 easy steps

2020-05-28T06:53:00.003+00:00