Top TED Talks on Africa
TED talks are a global phenomenon producing powerful conferences on varying subjects. They have the power to educate, uplift and empower in such a short space of time and are accessible to all. With so many TED talks available online, here are AfricanPostmark’s top 10 TED Talks focusing on Africa that challenges the single story portrayal of poverty, corruption war and other negativity. Our top 10 TED talks will leave you inspired, motivated and engaged about the many great things happening on the continent.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: Want to help Africa? Do Business here
With many countries now coming to grips with companies and individuals secreting their wealth in places like Panama, long before this realisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlights how Africans fed up with corruption are successfully fighting back and showing that Africans have a will for economic reform, growth and increased business opportunity realised through market liberalisation.
Lumley Beach, Sierra Leone
Mallence Bart-Williams: Chances, Challenges, Changes Development 2015 and Beyond – The Richest Country in the World
An introduction to the riches of Sierra Leone including its greatest asset its people. Mallence Bart-Williams seeks creative solutions to common problems. Her collective “Folorunsho.net” has taken homeless young people off the streets and into school, developed a sneaker and clothing collection, published a book and documentary of their story, and has held fine art exhibitions.
Sangu Delle – In praise of Macro Finance – Yes Macro Finance in Africa
Sangue Delle dismantles the myth that every poor person in Africa is an entrepreneur he argues that what is required is adequate funding to allow local industrialists to become major players in business and help to create jobs. He says: my work has taught me that most people want jobs.” “We should invest on building Pan-African business titans.”
Juliana Rotich – Digital Revolution BRCK – Internet Access for Africa
Juliana Rotich, cofounder of the open-source software Ushahidi (Testimony in Swahili) in trying to find solutions for developing countries to overcome problems of connectivity and high costs redesigned the modem and created the BRCK.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The Danger of a Single Story
This TED talk, by renowned author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, focuses on the dangers of having a single story of Africa. Stories are defined by power, having the ability to tell the story of a person but also making the story the definitive story. Single stories are incomplete; it is just as important to talk about the issues but also about the great things happening in Africa. What if people knew the balanced stories Africa poses?
Diebo Francis Kere: How to build with Clay and Community
Diebo, discusses how architecture has helped change the life of his community and opened opportunities in his community Burkina Faso. Diebo used his education attained aboard to benefit his community around him. Strictly using clay and getting the community around him to build beautiful buildings such as schools and libraries.
Siyanda Mohutsiwa: How Young Africans Found their Voice on Twitter
If Africa was a bar what will it be drinking or doing? was a trending topic and made its way around the world. People used the trending topic to poke fun at their stereotypes, make light of geopolitical tensions, remind us some countries we do not know they exist and much more. Young people all over Africa connected through the internet which enabled Siyanda to realise Pan Africanism could work.
Toby Shapshak: You Don’t Need an App for that
“Pay as You Go” for mobile phones was innovated in Africa and is now used globally. Toby Shapshak discusses how African technology is leading the way in which mobile phones are used proving that necessity is still the mother of invention.
Ory Okolloh: The making of an African Activist
Africa is a complex continent full of contradictions, we’re not the only one. The media tends to focus on the negative, Ory is not trying to erase the reality of many Africans who really need help but uses her own story to encourage for a balanced narrative of Africa.
Saki Mafundika Ingenuity and elegance in Ancient African Alphabet
Ancient African writing
“Africa has had a long tradition of writing and this is not a well-known fact.” This Ted talk celebrates the many forms of written communication across the continent.
