31 July 2007

"The African spirit pushes through"

Guest blogger David McQueen was an enthusiastic reporter, photographer and networker at TEDGlobal 2007. He’s a speaker, writer, music executive and youth worker whose busy blog covers issues around Africa and general personal development — two interests that intersected at TEDGlobal, as he writes below.

Being very passionate about the continent of Africa, I love to put my money where my mouth is. I love to write about Africa, to meet people across the Diaspora, and to be engaged in discussions with people who have varied views on the beautiful continent. However, the one thing I was not able to do as frequently as I could was visit Africa, to get involved on the ground.

Earlier this year, however, a good stroke of fortune allowed me to be a fellow at the TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania. A place where young and old (am somewhere in between) movers and shakers for the next chapter of Africa could come to share ideas and thoughts. All of my friends were both happy and green with envy of the opportunity that came my way.

Having landed in the verdant country that was Tanzania, I got to meet a number of people who I had only ever spoken to online before. I met some celebrities like Bono and Larry Page (“Hi Larry, great software you have there!”), and was not too far from the president of Tanzani himself, and some scary-looking bodyguards. For those of us who attended, it was the opportunity of a lifetime. Amazing friendships were formed and continue on.

A number of weeks later, the conversation continues. Many of us have spoken on the phone, emailed, planned a potential reunion and collectively contribute online in our very own Google Group. The buzz continues. The videos will be released soon, and my wife knows that I will be back to the continent of my ancestors anytime soon.

Collectively, many of us dream of a brighter future. Of course, it won’t be the easiest passage readdressing the history, turmoil and the massive health problems we are facing, but heck the African spirit pushes through and will reclaim itself, even if in part as a result of the meeting of minds of those in that glorious conference organised by TED. Watch this space.

Watch for the first TEDTalks from this conference, premiering Wednesday, August 1, on TED.com.

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