Diamonds Help the People of Africa

by Admin on January 16th, 2007

“ The diamond industry is vital to the Southern
African economy.” — Nelson Mandela

Diamonds and their revenues play a key role in helping to develop Africa. They have made—and continue to make—significant contributions towards development and prosperity in a number of countries in Africa and elsewhere in the world. As a natural resource, rough diamonds represent one of the main sources of revenue for many African diamond-producing countries and create livelihoods for millions of people. The revenues generated not only increase the overall standard of living, but also fund essential government services such as health, education and development programs.  More

Tags: diamonds, conflict diamonds, kimberly process, sierra leone, brian gavin

Brian Gavin on Conflict Diamonds

by Admin on January 15th, 2007

Brian Gavin on Africa: “DiCaprio acted it…I lived it.”

by Admin on December 11th, 2006

Brian Gavin is a diamontaire, born and family-trained in South Africa. While growing up he lived in and around the backdrop of Blood Diamond, the new Warner Bros movie with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Gavin has not yet seen the movie, but hopes it will raise awareness for the plight of people in Africa. His apprenticeship was served learning the legitimate diamond trade. “I was fortunate to grow up among tradesmen of good standing and we knew what areas to stay clear of” Gavin says. Yet as careful as they were even his family, five-generations deep in trading and cutting, was not immune to the influence of evil. “I was returning from a meeting with a legitimate trader in Angola when my vehicle was overtaken” he says. “A gun was placed at my head and I was told it would be in my best interest to begin trading with this new guy. I said yes sir. We will sir. They let us go and I never set foot in Angola again.” More

Download “Dreams of Africa” by Cedric Samson

by Admin on December 8th, 2006

The song was written and produced in Cape Town by two time Grammy nominee Cedric Samson. The African children’s choir had never sung in any professional capacity before.

The passion to help their brothers and sisters in Africa resulted in a truly inspirational track, rich with rhythm and the passion of Africa’s youth. More