It’s not blood diamonds, it’s diamonds for good :: Mmegi Online

In 2006 Leonardo de Caprio starred in the popular “blood diamonds” movie, igniting what would become an inflection point in the perception of natural diamonds. What was meant to tell a story of conflict and exploitation in some parts of Africa quickly morphed into a challenge that continues to weigh down the diamond industry, writes TIMOTHY LEWANIKA

The year is 2006, President Festus Mogae is dealing with two pandemics, one being the HIV/AIDS scourge the other being a pandemic yet to fully manifest; the narrative of Africa’s diamonds being blood diamonds.

Those who followed the matters closely will tell you that De Beers had to pump billions in advertising to correct the narrative, while at the same time Mogae took Botswana’s voice to the world stage, refusing to allow a single story to define an entire continent.

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