TEDGlobal 2017 kicks off August 27–30, 2017, in Arusha, Tanzania. Ten years after the last TEDGlobal in Arusha, we’ll again gather a community from across the continent and around the world to explore ideas that may propel Africa’s next leap — in business, politics and justice, creativity and entrepreneurship, science and tech.
Today, we’re thrilled to announce our speaker lineup for TEDGlobal 2017! It’s a powerful list you can skim here — to dive into speaker bios and learn about the 8 themed sessions of TEDGlobal 2017, visit our full Program Guide.
OluTimehin Adegbeye, Writer and activist: Writing on gender justice, sexual and reproductive rights, urban poverty and media OluTimehin Adegbeye shares her (often very strong) opinions on Twitter and in long-form work. @OhTimehin
Oshiorenoya Agabi, Neurotechnology entrepreneur: Oshiorenoya Agabi is engineering neurons to express synthetic receptors which give them an unprecedented ability to become aware of surroundings. koniku.io
Nabila Alibhai, Place-maker: Nabila Alibhai leads inCOMMONS, a new organization focused on civic engagement, public spaces, and building collective responsibility for our shared places.@NabilaAlibhai
Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Publisher: Bibi Bakare-Yusuf is co-founder and publishing director of one of Africa’s leading publishing houses, Cassava Republic Press. cassavarepublic.biz
Christian Benimana, Architect: Christian Benimana is co-founder of the African Design Center, a training program for young architects. massdesigngroup.org
Gus Casely-Hayford, Cultural historian: Gus Casely-Hayford writes, lectures, curates and broadcasts widely about African culture.
Natsai Audrey Chieza, Designer: Natsai Audrey Chieza is a design researcher whose fascinating work crosses boundaries between technology, biology, design and cultural studies. @natsaiaudrey
Tania Douglas, Biomedical engineer: Tania Douglas imagines how biomedical engineering can help address some of Africa’s health challenges. @tania_douglas
Touria El Glaoui, Art fair curator: To showcase vital new art from African nations and the diaspora, Touria El Glaoui founded the powerhouse 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair. @154artfair
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu, Indigenous knowledge expert: Working across disciplines, Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu explores indigenous knowledge, homegrown and grassroots approaches to the sustainable advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa. chikaforafrica.com
Kamau Gachigi, Technologist: At Gearbox, Kamau Gachigi empowers Kenya’s next generation of creators to prototype and fabricate their visions. @kamaufablab
Ameenah Gurib-Fakim: President of Mauritius: Ameenah Gurib-Fakim is the 6th president of the island of Mauritius. As a biodiversity scientist as well, she explores the medical and nutrition secrets of her home. @aguribfakim
Leo Igwe, Human rights activist: Leo Igwe works to end a variety of human rights violations that are rooted in superstition, including witchcraft accusations, anti-gay hate, caste discrimination and ritual killing. @leoigwe
Joel Jackson, Transport entrepreneur: Joel Jackson is the founder and CEO of Mobius Motors, set to launch a durable, low-cost SUV made in Africa. mobiusmotors.com
Tunde Jegede, Composer, cellist, kora virtuoso: TED Fellow Tunde Jegede combines musical traditions to preserve classical forms and create new ones. tundejegede.com
Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda: As president of Rwanda, Paul Kagame has received recognition for his leadership in peace-building, development, good governance, promotion of human rights and women’s empowerment, and advancement of education and ICT. @PaulKagame
Zachariah Mampilly, Political scientist: Zachariah Mampilly is an expert on the politics of both violent and non-violent resistance. He is the author of “Rebel Rulers: Insurgent Governance and Civilian Life during War” and “Africa Uprising: Popular Protest and Political Change.” @Ras_Karya
Vivek Maru, Legal empowerment advocate: Vivek Maru is the founder of Namati, a movement for legal empowerment around the world powered by cadres of grassroots legal advocates. Global Legal Empowerment Network
Kola Masha, Agricultural leader: Kola Masha is the managing director of Babban Gona, an award-winning, high-impact, financially sustainable and highly scalable social enterprise, part-owned by the farmers they serve. @BabbanGona
Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga, MIT professor, grassroots thinker-doer, author: Clapperton Chakanetsa Mavhunga studies the history, theory, and practice of science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the international context, with a focus on Africa. sts-program.mit.edu/people/sts-faculty/c-clapperton-mavhunga/
Thandiswa Mazwai, Singer: Thandiswa is one of the most influential South African musicians of this generation. @thandiswamazwai
Yvonne Chioma Mbanefo, Digital learning advocate: After searching for an Igbo language learning tool for her kids, digital strategist Yvonne Mbanefo helped create the first illustrated Igbo dictionary for children. Now she’s working on Yoruba, Hausa, Gikuyu and more. @yvonnembanefo
Sara Menker, Technology entrepreneur: Sara Menker is founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence, a tech company that marries the application of machine learning with domain expertise and enables users to understand and predict global food and agriculture markets. @SaraMenker
Kingsley Moghalu, Political economist: Kingsley Moghalu is a global leader who has made contributions to the stability, progress and wealth of nations, societies and individuals across such domains as academia, economic policy, banking and finance, entrepreneurship, law and diplomacy. kingsleycmoghalu.com
Sethembile Msezane, Artist: Sethembile Msezane the act of public commemoration — how it creates myths, constructs histories, includes some and excludes others. @sthemse
Kisilu Musya, Farmer and filmmaker: For six years, Kisilu Musya has filmed his life on a small farm in South East Kenya, to make the documentary “Thank You for the Rain.” thankyoufortherain.com
Robert Neuwirth, Author: To research his book “Stealth of Nations,” Robert Neuwirth spent four years among street vendors, smugglers and “informal” import/export firms. @RobertNeuwirth
Kevin Njabo, Biodiversity scientist: Kevin Njabo is coordinating the development of UCLA’s newly established Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Alsarah and the Nubatones, East African retro-popsters: Inspired by both the golden age of Sudanese pop music of the ’70s and the New York effervescence, Alsarah & the Nubatones have built a repertoire where an exhilarating oud plays electric melodies on beautiful jazz-soul bass lines, and where sharp and modern percussions breathe new life to age-old rhythms. alsarah.com
Ndidi Nwuneli, Social innovation expert: Through her work in food and agriculture, and as a leadership development mentor, Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli commits to building economies in West Africa. @ndidiNwuneli
Dayo Ogunyemi, Cultural media builder: Dayo Ogunyemi is the founder of 234 Media, which makes principal investments in the media, entertainment and technology sectors. @AfricaMET
Nnedi Okorafor, Science fiction writer: Nnedi Okorafor weaves African cultures into the evocative settings and memorable characters of her science fiction work for kids and adults. @Nnedi
Fredros Okumu, Mosquito scientist: Fredros Okumu studies human-mosquito interactions, hoping to understand how to keep people from getting malaria. ihi.or.tz
Qudus Onikeku, Dancer, choreographer: With a background as an acrobat and dancer, Qudus Onikeku is one of the preeminent Nigerian choreographers working today. @qudusonikeku
DK Osseo-Asare, Designer: DK Osseo-Asare is a designer who makes buildings, landscapes, cities, objects and digital tools. @dkoa
Keller Rinaudo, Robotics entrepreneur: Keller Rinaudo is CEO and co-founder of Zipline, building drone delivery for global public health customers. @kellerrinaudo
Reeta Roy, President and CEO, The Mastercard Foundation: A thoughtful leader and an advocate for the world’s most vulnerable, Reeta Roy has worked tirelessly to build a foundation that is collaborative and known for its lasting impact. mastercardfdn.org
Chris Sheldrick, Co-founder & CEO, what3words: With what3words, Chris Sheldrick is providing a precise and simple way to talk about location, by dividing the world into a grid of 3m x 3m squares and assigning each one a unique 3 word address. what3words.com
George Steinmetz, Aerial photographer: Best known for his exploration photography, George Steinmetz has a restless curiosity for the unknown: remote deserts, obscure cultures, the mysteries of science and technology. georgesteinmetz.com
Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Historian and philosopher: Drawing on a rich cultural and personal history, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò studies philosophy of law, social and political philosophy, Marxism, and African and Africana philosophy. africana.cornell.edu/
Pierre Thiam, Chef: Pierre Thiam shares the cuisine of his home in Senegal through global restaurants and highly praised cookbooks. pierrethiam.com
Iké Udé, Artist: The work of Nigerian-born Iké Udé explores a world of dualities: photographer/performance artist, artist/spectator, African/postnationalist, mainstream/marginal, individual/everyman and fashion/art. ikeude.com
Washington Wachira, Wildlife ecologist and nature photographer: Birder and ecologist Washington Wachira started the Youth Conservation Awareness Programme (YCAP) to nurture young environmental enthusiasts in Kenya. washingtonwachira.com
Ghada Wali, Designer: A pioneering graphic designer in Egypt, Ghada Wali has designed fonts, brands and design-driven art projects. ghadawali.com