Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Forbes, Billionaires

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 2, 2024

Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, And Jay-Z Among Top 5 On Forbes 2024 World’s Billionaires List

Forbes released its annual World's Billionaires List and Black Excellence dominated the top 14 celebrities who made the round up.

Forbes released its annual World’s Billionaires List and Black Excellence dominated the top 14 celebrities who made the roundup.

Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, and Jay-Z helped close the top five celebrity billionaires with the NBA legend coming in third place with a $3.1 billion net worth, behind Steven Spielberg ($4.8B) and George Lucas ($5.5B). Jordan earned his coveted spot on the list securing $1.8 billion from brand partnerships like his infamous Nike’s Jordan brand. On the sports side, his time owning the Charlotte Hornets earned him $3 billion when he sold the team in August 2023 after purchasing the franchise for $175 million in 2010.

Media mogul Winfrey came in right behind Jordan with a net worth of $2.8 billion acquired mostly in real estate and her own production company, while Jay-Z came in fifth with a $2.5 billion net worth. The hip-hop mogul earned his billions from smart business moves, including selling a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to luxury goods giant LVMH in 2021 for at least $300 million, and selling his majority stake in his cognac label D’Usse in 2023 for a reported $750 million to Bacardi. Jay-Z also owns stakes in thriving companies like Uber and Block.

Filmmaker and fellow media mogul Tyler Perry secured a top 10 spot with his $1.4 billion valuation which tied with pop star and entrepreneur Rihanna. Perry’s billions have accumulated from his film and television pursuits including creating and acting in several TV shows, movies, and stage plays. Meanwile, it’s no secret how much Rihanna’s net worth skyrocketed after launching her Fenty Beauty company she owns alongside luxury goods giant LVMH, along with her lingerie business Savage X Fenty.

Tiger Woods closed out the top 10 celebrity billionaires in 10th place with his $1.3 billion net worth. His earnings come primarily from his career earnings and endorsements. Woods’ Nike deal ended in January and he’s since gone on to launch his own clothing company Sun Day Red.

NBA star LeBron James came in right behind Woods with a $1.2 billion net worth acquired through his $1 billion made in and outside of the league throughout his 20-year career. Outside of the millions he makes in the NBA, James has made smart investments in real estate, food chains like Blaze Pizza, his SpringHill media company, and ownership stakes in sports teams like Fenway Sports Group, the MLB’s Boston Red Sox, soccer club Liverpool, and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.

NBA alum and entrepreneur Magic Johnson tied James with a $1.2 billion net worth that put him in 12th place. After acquiring fame and fortune playing for James’ current team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the 80s and 90s, Johnson stabilized his wealth through business pursuits. With most of his fortune coming from his stake in Iowa-based life insurance provider EquiTrust, Johnson also has ownership stakes in sports teams including the NFL’s Washington Commanders (with Justin Harris), the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers (with Todd Boehly), the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, and MLS’ LAFC.

by Daniel Johnson

April 2, 2024

Opinion: Christopher Rufo’s Fight Against Black Academics Is ‘A Political Hit Job’

Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor argued in an op-ed for The New Yorker that arguments from the right against DEI are largely centered on if Black people belong at institutions of prestige.

Conservative political activist Christopher Rufo first came to national prominence due to his crusade against critical race theory, but has recently expanded that fight to encompass another crusade: exposing what he believes constitutes plagiarism from Black academics. Some have referred to Rufo’s tactics as a political hit job.

Rufo has folded his concerns of plagiarism from Black academics into his larger fight against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Rufo, as he writes in his best-selling book, believes that those initiatives exemplify and coincide with a liberal takeover of higher education.

As Keeanga Yamahtta-Taylor argued in an op-ed for The New Yorker, the arguments from the right against DEI have centered on whether Black people belong at institutions of prestige, which carries a connotation of racial animus.

As Taylor writes, “The latest campaign against anti-racist programs is intended to cast aspersions, or, at the very least, doubt, upon the presence of any Black person in a position or place they are deemed not to belong.”

Kimberle Crenshaw, the scholar who coined the term critical race theory, told The New Yorker that the argument against CRT from conservatives, most clearly evidenced by Rufo’s assertions, was never made in good faith.

“It should go without saying that what they are calling critical race theory is a whole range of things, most of which no one would sign on to, and many of the things in it are simply about racism.”

Crenshaw also said she believed much of the success of Rufo’s campaign could be attributed to a post-George Floyd backlash. “This is a post-George Floyd backlash. The reason why we’re having this conversation is that the line of scrimmage has moved.”

Rufo also told The New Yorker that his aim in challenging the merits of critical race theory was to “politicize the bureaucracy,” and Rufo has succeeded at helping to politicize a fight over higher education, which has, at times, featured bureaucrats.

Rufo is candid about both his motivations and his belief that he is owed some credit for the ouster of Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University, over concerns of plagiarism. Rufo told Politico in January that he was given a boost by platforms like The New York Times after he and other right-wing journalists covered the plagiarism accusations. Rufo then lambasted those to his left, antagonizing them to cover it.

Rufo also described his motives to the outlet, appearing to refer to DEI as a form of racialist ideology. “My primary objective is to eliminate the DEI bureaucracy in every institution in America and to restore truth rather than racialist ideology as the guiding principle of America.”

Though Rufo’s playbook was successful in generating the resignation of Gay, he has been so far unsuccessful in repeating the same success he had in his campaigns against Sherri Charleston and Shirley Greene, both Black women academics at Harvard University.

In his most recent accusation against another Black woman academic, Harvard sociologist Christina J. Cross, Rufo appears to have gone at it alone. His right-wing media allies did not publicize his claims, nor did the national media, and Cross’s colleagues have staunchly defended her from what they have termed false allegations.

Issac Kamola, director of the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom at the American Association of University Professors, told Inside Higher Ed that he sees the attacks on Black academics as a “coordinated attack” that is “fishing for misconduct.”

Kamola continued, “If it’s being done through an anonymous complaint process, then that indicates to me that it’s a political hit job. It’s a mockery of academic peer review.” Plagiarism, Kamola said, “needs to be evaluated outside of a right-wing ecosystem that is committed to destroying the careers of Black scholars.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 2, 2024

Kobe Bryant’s 2000 NBA Championship Ring Sold For $927K At Recent Auction

The $927,000 surpassed the $705,000 that was paid for Bill Russell's first championship ring from 1957.

Over the weekend, a championship ring won by the late Kobe Bryant was auctioned off for a record-breaking $927,200.

According to CBS Sports, the ring was the championship ring that Kobe won in 2000 with the Los Angeles Lakers. The ring was originally given to his father, former NBA player, Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, who consigned the ring in 2013 when it sold for $173,000. The ring was sold by Goldin Auction.

RECORD SALE FOR ANY NBA TITLE RING 🏀 💍

A 2000 Lakers Championship Players Ring, gifted by Kobe to his father Joe, has sold in our March Elite.

This is the same ring originally consigned to Goldin by the Bryant Family in 2013, & the new owner (NOT Joe Bryant) is our consignor. pic.twitter.com/ZaUD0PhRs4

— Goldin (@GoldinCo) March 31, 2024

The sale took place on Saturday, March 30 and it surpassed the $705,000 that was sold at an auction in 2021 for Bill Russell’s first championship ring from 1957. Kobe’s ring was the highest price that anyone has ever paid for an NBA championship ring.

The person who consigned the ring was the same one who bought it from the Goldin Auction when they purchased it for $173,000. The seller provided a letter of authenticity from the Bryant family to Goldin.

Goldin listed that the championship ring was embedded with 40 diamonds and encased in 14-karat gold. The size of the ring was 11 1/2 and weighs 59.6 grams.

Earlier this year in February, the Lakers honored Kobe by placing a statue of him alongside six other Lakers legends. The other players who had one built for them are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elgin Baylor, Chick Hearn, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Jerry West.

Bryant, who spent his entire career with the franchise, won the NBA championship five times, was a two-time Finals MVP, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player. During his career, he made the All-Star team 18 times and was the youngest player to reach 30,000 points. Bryant retired in 2016 and scored an NBA season-high 60 points in his final game. The 41-year-old basketball legend died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others on Jan. 26, 2020.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 2, 2024

Jeff Teague Calls Out ‘Weirdo’ NBA Referee Who Called His Mom And Sister A Derogatory Slur

Jeff Teague called out NBA referee Tony Brothers for "trying to be cool" by referring to his female family members as "hoes."

NBA alum Jeff Teague is called out NBA referee Tony Brothers for the time he was “trying to be cool” and referred to Teague’s female family members as “hoes.”

Teague appeared on a recent episode of the “Club 250” podcast, where he recalled his time playing on the Atlanta Hawks and almost coming to blows with veteran NBA referee Brothers. The Indiana native hasn’t played in the NBA since 2021 but vividly remembers his heated exchange with the high-profile ref.

“So [Tony Brothers] was trying to be cool,” Teague recalled. “We playing at the Pacers, I’m on the Hawks. My momma and my aunt was sitting courtside, you know they’re cheering every time I came in the game.”

Noting how “young” he was at the time, Teague says Brothers looked at his mom and sister and assumed they were groupies cheering him on.

“I was young, I’m probably in my first or second year. He pulled me to the side, he was like, ‘Man, who them hoes?'” Teague shared.

why Jeff Teague destroy Tony Brothers like that? 😭

pic.twitter.com/hbPXiLx5lz
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) April 2, 2024

“I lost it. I went crazy and he was like apologizing and I was like ‘N***a that’s my momma…I’ma start going crazy and he like kept apologizing,” he continued.

“But if you know him he be trying to be like cool so he be like ‘Ah y’all muthaf*ckers ain’t doing nothing tonight,’ trying to be that person and then he’ll turn into a h*e in the middle of a game.”

Teague went on to call Brothers a “weirdo,” and threatened how he would “slap the sh*t” out of him if the incident happened more recently. The Wake Forest University alum played for five teams in the NBA between 2009 and 2021, including seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks.

Brothers has been a referee in the NBA since the 1994-95 season. Currently in his 29th year, the ref has officiated over 1,700 regular season games, 186 playoff games, and 16 NBA Finals games.

Small Business Administration, SBA, DMV, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Baltimore Bridge Collapse, EIDLs,

by Stacy Jackson

April 2, 2024

Small Business Administration Launches Loans For Small Businesses Amid Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Small businesses and private nonprofit organizations affected by the collapse are welcome to apply for SBA's federal EIDLs.

In the wake of the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse on March 26, 2024, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced on March 30 that impacted small businesses across the Mid-Atlantic region could apply for low-interest, long-term Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

According to the SBA, the loan availability comes in response to a disaster declaration request from Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on March 29, encompassing the entire state along with contiguous counties in the District of Columbia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses, and private nonprofit organizations are welcome to apply for federal EIDLs of up to $2 million to counteract temporary decreases in revenue due to the collapse. These loans, with interest rates of 4% for small businesses, 3.25% for private nonprofits, and terms up to 30 years, can cover operating expenses like fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other unpaid financial obligations due to the disruption.

“As Baltimore and the wider community mourn and start to rebuild, the SBA and the Biden-Harris Administration stand ready to help local small businesses get through the economic disruption caused by the bridge collapse,” Guzman said. As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed last week after a container ship crashed into a support column, reportedly causing seven cars to plummet into the Patapsco River.

Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the SBA’s Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience, stated: “The bridge collapse will impact small businesses who depend on the transportation and movement of goods from the Baltimore Harbor and along the Francis Scott Key Bridge for their economic livelihood.”

Loan eligibility hinges solely on the disaster’s financial impact, not property damage. Interest accrual and repayment begin 12 months after the first disbursement.

To further assist impacted businesses, the SBA opened a second Business Recovery Center at the CareFirst Engagement Center, 1501 South Clinton Street, in Baltimore, joining the existing Dundalk Renaissance Center, 11 Center Place, Suite 201, in Dundalk. Both provide on-site federal government support.

Applicants can apply online at sba.gov/disaster and access additional disaster assistance information through the website.

Beyoncé, iHeartRadio Music Awards, innovator, innovation, award, cowboy Carter

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 2, 2024

Beyoncé Calls Out The ‘Preconceived Notions’ From The Music Industry Amid Country Album

Beyoncé is calling out the "preconceived notions" plaguing innovative music artists who aren't afraid to break past genre conformity.

Beyoncé is calling out the “preconceived notions” plaguing innovative music artists like herself who aren’t afraid to break past genre conformity.

Just days after releasing her country debut album “Cowboy Carter,” the decorated Grammy winner graced the stage at the iHeartRadio Music Awards to accept the Innovator Award. Dressed in a black leather cowgirl-esque ensemble, Beyoncé took time to give flowers to Stevie Wonder who presented her with the esteemed award before sharing an impassioned speech about the challenges that come with being an innovator.

“Innovation starts with a dream. But then you have to execute that dream, and that road can be very bumpy. Being an innovator is seeing what everyone believes is impossible,” she said.

“Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength. Being an innovator is leaning on faith and trusting that God will catch you and guide you.

The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer wrapped up her speech with a call to action to the music industry who have aided in pigeonholding musicians into certain music genres. With Beyoncé releasing her first country music album featuring a single that made history as the first country song from a Black woman to top the Billboard 100, she wants to see less “preconceived notions” and more embracing of artistic expression.

“So, to all the record labels, every radio station, every award show, my hope is that we’re more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions,” she said.

“I want to dedicate this award to all the innovators who have dedicated their lives and their art to creating shifts. So thank you for your sacrifices, your powerful voices and your dauntless spirits.”

Beyoncé also made sure to thank her husband Jay-Z, their three children, and Black musicians she credits for serving as pioneers and inspiration in trying other genres of music.

“Thank you to Rosetta Tharpe. Miss Tracy Chapman, Linda Martell, Prince, Stevie Wonder, André 3000, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson and so many more who defied any label placed upon them,” she said. Thank you for executing your dream so we could all follow.”

by Daniel Johnson

April 2, 2024

Black People With Kidney Issues Face Barriers, Will Eliminating An Allegedly Racially-Biased Test Help?

Black people are four times as likely as whites to suffer from kidney failure, but the kidney function of many Black people have been overestimated by “race corrections” that were added to the GFR test that have been criticized as racially biased.

Between January 2023 and March 2024, over 14,000 Black people on the kidney transplant list had their positions on the list adjusted because algorithms used by the healthcare industry counted their race against them, something health equity scholars have criticized for decades.

Black people are four times as likely as whites to suffer from kidney failure, but the kidney function of many Black people has been overestimated by “race corrections” that were added to the GFR test and have been criticized as racially biased.

As The Associated Press reports, advocates like Dr. Michelle Morse, New York City’s Chief Medical Officer, see the adjustments to the kidney transplant list as a long overdue change.

Morse told The AP, “Health equity scholars have been raising alarm bells about the way race has been misused in clinical algorithms for decades. Lots of time when we see health inequities, we just assume there’s nothing we can do about it,” Morse said. “We can make changes to restore faith in the health system and to actually address the unfair and avoidable outcomes that Black people and other people of color face.”

To Morse’s point, approximately 30% of people on the waiting list for a new kidney are Black, and a complex mix of factors have affected their wait times for new kidneys, including a lack of Black transplant doctors and a lack of Black organ donors.

In 2021, Jewel Mullen, a medical doctor and the Associate Dean at the University of Texas at Austin’s Dell Medical School, wrote an op-ed for the AAMC. Mullen described the experience of a man she treated, using the pseudonym of Mr. Richardson.

In her conclusion, Mullen stated, “So many disparities in the transplantation system are unfair, avoidable, and unjust. None of us should succumb to a better-than-nothing mindset. Better than nothing is not good enough. Our patients deserve equity.”

Mullen also noted that she was concerned about Richardson’s overall kidney health and wondered if he was receiving proper care from his primary care physician. According to Yale Medicine, diabetes and high blood pressure, two ailments more prevalent in the Black community, can lead to chronic kidney disease.

Mullen was part of a committee that produced a report in 2022, Realizing the Promise of Equity in the Organ Transplanting System, for the National Academies of Science and Medicine. The report laid out how the path to equity, which Mullen called for, was full of problems for those in need of an organ transplant.

Following the release of the report, in 2023, the Board of Directors of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) approved an action to backdate waiting times for Black kidney transplant candidates. Board President Jerry McCauley said in a statement that the action was intended to emphasize OPTN’s desire for equity in the field.

“This action underscores our commitment to equity in access to transplantation for all candidates,” McCauley said. “We and many other organizations have now prohibited the use of a race-based calculation that has unfairly delayed care for many Black patients with kidney failure. Waiting time for a transplant is a major factor in the priority that kidney candidates receive. Thus, we are acting along with kidney transplant programs nationwide to ensure that any candidates known to have been disadvantaged by a race-inclusive GFR calculation will receive all the waiting time credit for which they qualify.”

Glenda V. Roberts, who works at the University of Washington’s Kidney Research Institute, wrote an op-ed for Stat News in 2021. Roberts, who wrote that she faced a barrier to the transplant system because she identified as Black, expected the elimination of the GFR’s racially biased elements for work in the benefit of Black patients who need transplants.

“Race is a social construct, not a biological one. The National Institute of Health’s Human Genome Project has demonstrated that there are no biological differences between races. Armed with this evidence and the new eGFR recommendation, I expect doctors to ensure that their Black patients with potential kidney disease get true readings of their kidneys’ health and the same level of care and consideration that non-Black patients have received since 1999.”

WNBA, Angel Reese, nickname, Chicago Sky

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 2, 2024

Angel Reese Joins Goldman Sachs ‘One Million Black Women’ To Combat Pay Disparity

Angel Reese's new NIL deal is aimed at combatting the pay disparity Black womenare facing in America.

Angel Reese’s new NIL deal is aimed at combatting the pay disparity Black women face in America.

The 2023 NCAA champion has teamed up with Goldman Sachs’s One Million Black Women (OMBW) campaign for a new ad that shows Reese and her mother sending a powerful message to Congress. Reese celebrates the influence she received from her mother, former college basketball player Angel Webb Reese while addressing how the racial wealth gap impacts Black women.

Clips show Reese playing her mom in a game of basketball, sitting on a throne where her mother places a crown on her head, and walking past a sign in the locker room showing a statistic about the 17% of Black women who feel their interests are being represented well by Washington policymakers.

“The racial wealth gap impacts Black women’s ability to leave a legacy behind,” Reese says. “Let’s use our voices and close the opportunity gap.”

The LSU star ends the 30-second spot with a crown on her head and a basketball in hand while telling Congress, “The ball is in your court.” Written, produced, and directed by Maura Chanz and Black women-owned management company ColorCreative, the ad aims to amplify the voices of Black women to policymakers in Washington.

It’s the first advocacy-focused NIL deal Reese has put her name behind. The commercial aired on ESPN and Connected TV during the Elite Eight and will also air during Final Four games.

“I owe so much to my mom. She instilled in me my confidence, work ethic, and my commitment to my community. It’s clear that from her generation to today, Black women are still facing challenges,” she said.

“But I believe change is possible. I’m proud to be teaming up with Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women to make sure the voices of Black women in my community and across the country are heard.”

The initiative was made in response to an OMBW survey that identified the challenges Black women face in pursuit of building generational wealth. Reese and her mother’s involvement follows Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center, and Hall of Fame Coach Dawn Staley as OMBW partners who have advocated for public policy change to help narrow the wealth gap for Black women.

“I’m proud to see Angel using her platform to level the playing field for Black women and talking about these important issues,” Angel Webb Reese says.

“My hope is that these statistics and the real-life experiences that they represent will be a wake-up call for Congress and other leaders to work with Black women to create a future where everyone has an opportunity to achieve their goals and leave a legacy,”

Black Americans, Inflation, Debt, Bills, Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, Kilgore

by Rafael Pena

April 2, 2024

Black Americans Show Resilience Amid Inflation And Debt

Despite facing financial stressors like inflation and debt, Black Americans exhibit remarkable optimism about their financial future.

Insurance News Net reports that despite facing financial stressors like inflation and debt, Black Americans exhibit remarkable optimism about their financial future, a recent survey by Achieve reveals.

The survey, aimed at understanding the financial challenges and aspirations of Black consumers, highlighted several key findings. According to Austin Kilgore, an analyst at the Achieve Center for Consumer Insights, a significant portion of Black respondents reported living paycheck-to-paycheck, with many struggling to make ends meet due to limited funds and rising costs of essential items.

“Financial advisors should work with these consumers to help understand their current financial goals, establish a budget, and explore opportunities to increase savings,” Kilgore emphasized.

Interestingly, despite their financial struggles, Black respondents demonstrated higher levels of optimism compared to other demographic groups. Kilgore attributed this optimism to several factors, including job stability, anticipated wage increases, and a positive outlook on income growth.

“While women across all racial demographics expressed concerns about the economy, Black Americans showed resilience and optimism, possibly driven by expectations of improved job prospects and income growth,” Kilgore noted.

Achieve’s survey sheds light on the financial realities and outlook of Black consumers, revealing a mix of challenges and optimism. “Our research shows that while many Black Americans are optimistic about their income and earning potential in the year ahead, paying off debt and managing the impacts of inflation on household finances continue to be major financial concerns,” said Achieve Co-Founder and Co-CEO Brad Stroh.

The survey unveiled concerning statistics, with 76% of Black consumers living paycheck-to-paycheck and 43% struggling to make ends meet. However, it also highlighted a sense of hope, with 56% anticipating an increase in household income over the coming year.

Senegal’s Water, American Corporation, Senegal

by Rafael Pena

April 2, 2024

Senegal’s Water Is Allegedly Being Diverted For Profit By An American Corporation

An investment company is allegedly harnessing Senegal's only lake for water to irrigate crops destined for foreign shores.

Bloomberg reported that in the arid landscapes of West Africa, where water is as valuable as gold, a controversial venture is unfolding, drawing global attention to the ethical dilemmas of resource exploitation. As taps in coastal Dakar barely trickle, an investment company is harnessing Senegal’s only lake to irrigate crops destined for foreign shores, sparking concerns over the nation’s water security and the impact on local communities.

African Agriculture Inc., headquartered in New York City, has set its sights on cultivating 300 hectares of alfalfa within the Ndiael Special Wildlife Reserve near Saint-Louis. This ambitious project draws water from Lake Guiers, the primary freshwater reserve in Senegal. However, according to the outlet, this water source is already under strain, supplying half of Dakar’s water needs and leaving over a million residents desperate for access to running taps, especially at night.

CEO Alan Kessler defended the company’s actions, emphasizing the need for sustainable development and economic growth. “We sit at the end of the Senegal River. The alternative is the water goes out to the ocean,” he argued, pointing to plans for expansion and infrastructure development that could benefit the region. But critics, including locals and environmentalists, question the morality of exporting valuable resources while leaving communities struggling for basic necessities.

The controversy surrounding African Agriculture’s venture is not just local; it reflects broader global trends in the race for profits amid climate change challenges, according to the outlet. Large corporations are increasingly targeting African farmland, exacerbating competition for water resources between urban areas and agricultural interests. In Senegal, a World Bank report warned of a looming water crisis, with demand expected to outstrip supply in the coming decades.

“And for what? So a foreign company can sell alfalfa to feed cows and racehorses in Saudi Arabia?” asks Ousmane Aly Pame, an English literature professor at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University, according to Bloomberg. Ousmane Aly Pame runs an anti-desertification nonprofit he founded on the Senegal River. “Extracting resources and leaving Africans with no food and no future is exactly what happened in colonial times.”

The history of African Agriculture’s founder, Frank Timis, adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. With a track record spanning controversial resource deals across Africa, Timis’s involvement raises concerns about transparency. From oil exploration to mining ventures, his ventures have often been mired in allegations of corruption and environmental degradation.

Moreover, the manner in which African Agriculture acquired rights to operate within the Ndiael Reserve has raised eyebrows. Residents and government officials were caught off guard by the company’s presence, highlighting issues of land tenure and community consultation. Local herders, whose livelihoods depend on the reserve’s resources, now face displacement and restricted access to water and grazing lands.

The environmental impact of the alfalfa farm is another cause for concern. Lake Guiers, already plagued by pollution from nearby sugar cane plantations, now faces further degradation from agricultural runoff. With climate models predicting increased precipitation followed by prolonged droughts, the risk to the lake’s ecosystem and surrounding communities is heightened.

Despite these challenges, African Agriculture remains undeterred in its pursuit of profit. With plans to export alfalfa to lucrative markets in the Middle East, the company sees Senegal’s water as a strategic asset. But for those on the frontlines of the water crisis, like the residents of Dakar’s marginalized neighborhoods, access to clean water remains a daily struggle, highlighting the stark inequalities inherent in the global economy.

As the debate rages on, the fate of Senegal’s water resources hangs in the balance.