Live from TEDGlobal 2017
Tradition is not a frozen thing: Notes from Session 7, Power up
Human potential is a double-edged sword; it can be turned to great good or great evil. This session is about the discovery, liberation and channeling of human potential in ways that make the world around us a better place. But first, Alsarah & the Nubatones introduce us to East African retro-pop. As Alsarah says from […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
Cities are great when they work: Notes from Session 6, Urban 3.0
Cities are a constellation of dreams — dreams that are constantly dying and being born. Cities are living things, with character and distinct personalities. Africa’s cities teem with these dreams. Who gets to decide which ones live, and which ones die? To become an architect, Christian Benimana had to go far away from home. There […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
Repatterning culture, identity, language: Visual thinking from Session 5
The speakers in this session are artists, designer-scientists and visionaries who are remaking the world around them. Their weapons are scope, shutter, paint, brush, font, code, blood and bone. And they are not afraid to use them. Who are they and what do they want? It’s time to find out. Self-styled “wild woman” Thandiswa Mazwai came […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
A hard look: Exploring tough truths in Session 4
TED is known for its inspiring talks. And all of the previous sessions before this have been inspiring, you have no idea. Humans, however, shall not live by endorphins alone. Sometimes, we need a stern lecture. Or a biting sermon. Sometimes, we need to reflect on a somber piece of art or music. Sometimes, we […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
One jump forward: Notes from Session 3 of TEDGlobal: Leapfrog
There are two things Africa-rising apologists are quick to cite as examples of the continent’s ability to leapfrog past its challenges and end up with solutions that are far ahead of the rest of the world: mobile phones and mobile money. But the frequency with which these two are wielded have also rendered them well-worn. […]
News
The complex challenges of life-work partnerships: News from TEDWomen speakers
When we started TEDWomen in 2010, we felt strongly that we wanted to include a talks that break the traditional TED Talk model and present pairs of speakers instead of solos. Our first “Duet” featured the married couple Beverly and Dereck Joubert. I wrote about them on this blog earlier this month. As National Geographic Explorers in […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
On a journey: The pathmakers of TEDGlobal Session 2
If yesterday evening’s talks were about asking what Africa’s future could look like, today’s talks and discussions zoom in on people who have already set out on their own journeys. A president. A chef. A film curator. A businesswoman. A money man. A scientist. A bird lover. They could be the members of a ship’s […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
To engage joyfully with the world: More bold ideas from the TED Fellows
“The politics of joy” is a phrase that resonates through this session of TED Fellows talks. These talks, by and large, come from people who’ve taken a hard look at the world and its problems and decided to engage joyfully, with creativity, fresh insight and heart. From a soccer project that empowers young refugees, to […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
New visions for the world we know: Notes from an early morning of TED Fellows talks
In this morning’s first session of short, sharp talks from the TED Fellows, an impressive lineup of world-changers share their ideas for seeing the world in new ways — like an AI that might help us see cancer symptoms, or a fresh view on how refugees really live, or a long-term study that’s detecting a […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
A new map: Deep history and the far future at TEDGlobal Session 1
The stage is set. The lights are on. The audience of more than 600 people who have traveled from all over the world to be inspired is ready. And ready or not, the speakers are thrust onto the stage, one by one. This is the first session of TEDGlobal 2017, themed “a new map,” a […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
Language heroes: Meet the TED Translators we invited to TEDGlobal 2017
At TED, speakers aren’t the only celebrities; some of the biggest heroes sit in the audience. Case in point: Our volunteer TED Translators, who donate their free time to translate TED Talks into their local languages, making the talks accessible to millions of people every day. Ahead of TEDGlobal 2017 in Tanzania, we invited these […]
Live from TEDGlobal 2017
It’s kicking off: TEDGlobal 2017 setup in photos
It’s almost midnight on the night before TEDGlobal 2017 kicks off in Arusha, Tanzania, and while people are gathering for pre-conference parties and dinners, the staff and crew are putting last touches on the theater where we’ll soon share four days of talks and performances. A few photos to set the stage: