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Bamboo is equivalent in strength to steel The guy Ghanaians reportedly call the bamboo man came to London in June to promote his handmade bamboo bikes to the UK market. Kwabena Danso is the founder and ceo of Booomers - a range of bikes made in Ghana and designed to provide the healthier ones among us with a novel way of getting around. These bikes are also hoped to tackle Ghana's youth unemployment problem, and promote green transportation.  Ok, so these bamboo bikes are not completely made of bamboo. The frames are, but not the wheels, handles or gears, and there is no bamboo helmet (yet?!). Nevertheless, the invention has been eagerly embraced by bike enthusiasts all over Europe, Canada, USA and Australia.  Even the UK's Minister for Foreign Affairs and the figure behind the sponsored London bikes Boris Johnson also had a go on one when he paid a recent visit to Ghana.  Danso hasn't stopped riding them since coming to London for the first time in early June and h

Buchi Emecheta was a prolific writer of fiction, non-fiction, drama and children's books I have been so enchanted by Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta OBE  and her books since my early teens and sorely regretted missing an opportunity to see her in my 20s. So, in my 30s – some months after she had passed on – I jumped at the opportunity to celebrate her life at a tribute event. This event included an audience with her son Sylvester Onwordi,  Diane Abbott - MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and Margaret Busby OBE  – Buchi's publisher who just happens to be the UK’s first Black female publisher. Greenwich Book Festival I was surprised that the event – organised by the Greenwich Book Festival and chaired by writer Ade Solanke – wasn’t filled to the rafters. I was even more surprised that I was one of the youngest people there. I had assumed that, like me, Buchi’s books had been staple reading material for most Black people growing up. Over 40 years on and her b

Morning All! I wanted to share with you my first podcast as an interviewee.  Motivational coach and podcaster  Abigale Otchere  interviewed me about this  MisBeee Writes  blog, understanding identity growing up as a British-Ghanaian and what motivates me.  She shares similar stories of inspiring people every Monday - so check her out - here !  All comments are welcome on this page. If you are having trouble posting on the Google+ page, please share your views via Facebook  here  or tweet @MisBeee Please be aware that you may not reproduce, republish, modify or commercially exploit this content without our prior written consent.