Des Wilson

Through a meticulous exploration of oral traditions and community-based media practices, Unwana Samuel Akpan, Eddah Mutua, and the contributors of Indigenous African Communication and Media Systems in a Digitized Age explore the intricate interplay between traditional African communication methods and the modern digital terrain to unveil how these age-old systems are continuously evolving in response to globalization and digital advancements. From the rhythmic beats of the talking drum to the vibrant tapestry of oral histories, this book traces how Indigenous African societies have historically disseminated knowledge and preserved cultural identities. It examines the transformative impact of digital technologies on these practices to explore the rise of social media, mobile connectivity, and online storytelling platforms within African contexts. Akpan and Mutua challenge conventional narratives of media development by highlighting the resilience and relevance of African cultural expressions in an increasingly interconnected world. This book is essential reading for Afrocentric scholars and those interested in media studies, cultural anthropology, and the dynamic intersections of tradition and technology.

Dave "The Devilfish" Ulliott has taken the poker world by storm since beginning to play at the age of 16. A world-class player, he is one of the most feared players on the ever-burgeoning global poker circuit. The Devilfish is a working-class man from Hull who was a petty criminal at 16, a safe-breaker who spent his 21st birthday in prison, and then a pawnbroker in Hull who’s turned his gambling hobby into a hugely lucrative career. Dave Ulliott was the first British player to win a $500,000 poker event in the US, won the first Late Night Poker series on Channel 4, and is the face of Ultimatebet.com, one of the biggest online poker sites. This powerful and revealing book uncovers the amazing world of professional poker in Britain, and for the first time tells the extraordinary stories of the country’s top poker professionals. It is a must-read for anyone who is part of, or fascinated by, the growth of professional poker from yesterday’s illegal back-street card games to the cyberspace and television phenomenon of today.

Major companies are increasingly coming under fire as they try to pursue their private business on a public battleground - be it Shell & Brent Spar, Monsanto & GM foods or BAA & Heathrow Terminal 5. Private Business-Public Battlegound brings together two former opponents - Des Wilson, founder of Shelter and former Chairman of Friends of the Earth & John Egan, former Chief Executive and 'saviour' of Jaguar and now Chairman of Tomorrow's Company - to discuss the value of a stakeholder approach and show how it can help companies operating at the interface between private and public interest. Together they review recent cases and controversies and draw on their experience on the board of BAA to show how this approach can work in practice.