Mohamed's Excellent Mali Adventure

           In the course of making their social ventures successful, Sparkseed venture leaders have been known to go to great lengths. Mohamed Ali Niang is no exception.

            Mohamed is a proprietor of Malo Traders, an organization dedicated to helping small-scale rice farmers in Mali better process, store and market their product. It is Malo Traders’ hope that Malian rice will become more accessible on the world market, thus creating an industry in the West African country that will help to alleviate its citizens overwhelming poverty.

            While his brother, Salif Romano Niang, works in the U.S. building a board of advisors and corporate ID for Malo, Mohamed is spending his summer months in Mali gathering data and conducting feasibility studies. He took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions for Sparkseed about his time in the West African Country.

Sparkseed: What do you feel people should know about Mali?  

Mohamed: Timbuktu, Mali is the birthplace of the first university in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a French speaking country almost twice the size of Texas, with a population comparable to Illinois. It also shares borders with seven countries.   

Mali has the potential promise of becoming a modern hub if transportation and telecommunication infrastructure continue to develop.  The country has a diversity of raw materials and a wide array of landscape, with over 4 million acres of irrigable land waiting to be tapped. When it comes to politics and governance, Mali is politically open and has a stable business and investment climate. In fact, the Freedom House think tank classifies it as one of the few “free” countries in Africa.  

S:  What has been nice about being in Mali?  

M: It’s a pleasure to build Malo Traders with the support of loved ones here and in the U.S. Our, Salif and Mine’s, parents live in Mali and have a deep knowledge of its culture and history. They also possess an extensive network of friends and colleagues. It’s often joked that if a person from outside the country was to choose two Malians at random, they would find a family tie if given enough time. 

S: Have you had anytime readjusting to Mali after spending an advanced amount of time in the United States?

M: Being back in Mali has not really been a struggle because I only spent 8 months in the U.S. before returning to Mali. I imagine it would have been more difficult if it had been 5 years, but I am well accustomed to the Malian way of life. However, to be totally honest, things in Mali, like in most developing nations, can be unpredictable. Being prepared, patient and open-minded are key traits to making progress.

Sparkseed: How has it been for you to live amongst people who live below the poverty line? 

Mohamed: It is disheartening to see people live under the poverty line. Witnessing poverty continues to have a profound impact on our character and life goals at Malo Traders. The grievances of Malians, and especially the youth here, justify the need for social ventures such as Malo Traders. The company is seeking to address the most basic needs, which are food insecurity and malnutrition.

S:  Can you describe any difficulties you have faced this summer while trying to advance Malo Traders?

M: The major difficulty I am facing is the balancing act between school, family, and Malo. I have so much going on and so much to do. I continue to build and refine various aspects of Malo’s business plan with constituents based in the US, Europe and Africa. 

S: Have any rice farmers looked at you with suspicion due to your American links?

M: On the contrary. Malo in one of Mali’s main languages means rice. The American press coverage Malo Traders has received has only helped to reinforce its credibility and respect amongst farmers. Malian farmers are not hostile to Americans or foreigners as long as they have a sense that the foreigners understand their main concerns and treat them with respect. 

Furthermore, Mali is known for ‘’Djatiguiya,’’ which can be interpreted as hospitality and openness to foreigners or visitors. As long as Malo’s focus is on increasing farmers’ incomes and empowering them so that they can provide adequate quality nutrition to their families and community, it will be received with open arms. 

S: How has Sparkseed helped you personally and professionally this summer? How has your executive director helped you?

M: My venture champion, my executive coach and my consultant have truly been dedicated to assisting me in setting and meeting my objectives. The Sparkseed team has strived to get my venture's name out there and to build an online presence on relevant social entrepreneurship websites. More importantly, Sparkseed has gone out of its way to connect me with the right people to fulfill my social mission.  I am extremely grateful for their generosity and look forward to learning more from them.