Earlier this month, I received an email from Chris Anderson, the curator of TED, following up on the conference in Tanzania. Several videos from the TEDGlobal conference I attended in Arusha a few months ago premièred online. My favourite is George Ayittey, who roused the audience, alternating from lacerating criticism of Africa’s “hippo generation” to…
Patrick Awuah left Microsoft to found Ashesi University. The question of transformation in Africa is a question of leadership. He gives a shocking example of two incidents at a hospital when they lost power. Learned about courage when stopped at age 16 and was taken by soldiers who wanted me to join some protesters. He…
Fred was invited onto the TED stage for another 3-minute slot…renaissance, steam revolution, information age: pc, mobile and Internet. President Thabo Mbeki proclaimed the African Renaissance. The African Leadership Academy was launched. The goal is to become more systematic and be proactive about bringing about peace and prosperity. Young people from all 54 countries in…
Session 11 was closed off by a speech by the President of Tanzania, the Honourable Mjue Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. He started out extending a warm welcome to all guests and visitors to Tanzania and Arusha. It’s the beginning of winter, but it’s not snowing yet. He referred to a conversation he had with U2’s Bono,…
Africa is a continent full of contradictions. You’re Harvard educated, and you’re coming here to tell us what to do? She told us about her experiences growing up. Although not in the slums, she grew up poor. She was sent to an expensive school and kept being thrown out. And once when she failed, she…