good evening I am a proud Algerian and I am a proud African what does it really
am a proud African what does it really
am a proud African what does it really mean to be African to me to all of you
mean to be African to me to all of you
mean to be African to me to all of you is it where we’re from geographically
is it where we’re from geographically
is it where we’re from geographically speaking or where we’re based is it what
speaking or where we’re based is it what
speaking or where we’re based is it what we wear what we eat is it the kind of
we wear what we eat is it the kind of
we wear what we eat is it the kind of music that we listen to is it based on
music that we listen to is it based on
music that we listen to is it based on the color of our skin for each and every
the color of our skin for each and every
the color of our skin for each and every one of us with any link to Africa
one of us with any link to Africa
one of us with any link to Africa identifying with the continent and
identifying with the continent and
identifying with the continent and identifying with our identity will be
identifying with our identity will be
identifying with our identity will be intimately linked to our own personal
intimately linked to our own personal
intimately linked to our own personal experiences that experience will be very
experiences that experience will be very
experiences that experience will be very nuanced very complex and by no means can
nuanced very complex and by no means can
nuanced very complex and by no means can we standardize today I want to share
we standardize today I want to share
we standardize today I want to share with all of you how I perceive my
with all of you how I perceive my
with all of you how I perceive my African identity it’s not very easy to
African identity it’s not very easy to
African identity it’s not very easy to do and I’d like to do it by sharing my
do and I’d like to do it by sharing my
do and I’d like to do it by sharing my personal life story something which is
personal life story something which is
personal life story something which is also not very easy to do I have had the
also not very easy to do I have had the
also not very easy to do I have had the incredible opportunity to grow up in
incredible opportunity to grow up in
incredible opportunity to grow up in West Africa as a North African my
West Africa as a North African my
West Africa as a North African my parents jobs meant that every few years
parents jobs meant that every few years
parents jobs meant that every few years we had to move around from country to
we had to move around from country to
we had to move around from country to country and I had to follow them I
country and I had to follow them I
country and I had to follow them I didn’t really have a choice before I go
didn’t really have a choice before I go
didn’t really have a choice before I go on let me check my privilege I know that
on let me check my privilege I know that
on let me check my privilege I know that my story is unique and I was born into a
my story is unique and I was born into a
my story is unique and I was born into a life of great opportunities
life of great opportunities
life of great opportunities privilege which not everybody gets to
privilege which not everybody gets to
privilege which not everybody gets to have and so everything I’m about to say
have and so everything I’m about to say
have and so everything I’m about to say I want to caveat it by saying it won’t
I want to caveat it by saying it won’t
I want to caveat it by saying it won’t necessarily speak to you or apply but I
necessarily speak to you or apply but I
necessarily speak to you or apply but I do think also that this upbringing that
do think also that this upbringing that
do think also that this upbringing that I had give me a unique and original
I had give me a unique and original
I had give me a unique and original vantage point on understanding what it
vantage point on understanding what it
vantage point on understanding what it really means to be African so picture
really means to be African so picture
really means to be African so picture this late 90s early 2000s a short skinny
this late 90s early 2000s a short skinny
this late 90s early 2000s a short skinny nerdy-looking Algerian kid shows up in
nerdy-looking Algerian kid shows up in
nerdy-looking Algerian kid shows up in Lagos Nigeria on his first day of school
Lagos Nigeria on his first day of school
Lagos Nigeria on his first day of school in Victoria Island if you can actually
in Victoria Island if you can actually
in Victoria Island if you can actually believe me I looked even geekier back
believe me I looked even geekier back
believe me I looked even geekier back then and I just remember at the time
then and I just remember at the time
then and I just remember at the time just being desperate to want to fit in
just being desperate to want to fit in
just being desperate to want to fit in to a new environment that I was coming
to a new environment that I was coming
to a new environment that I was coming into some of you have surely experienced
into some of you have surely experienced
into some of you have surely experienced that at that age secondary school but
that at that age secondary school but
that at that age secondary school but when I got into the school reality hit
when I got into the school reality hit
when I got into the school reality hit me really fast and really hard reality
me really fast and really hard reality
me really fast and really hard reality hits you quick the Western students in
hits you quick the Western students in
hits you quick the Western students in my school never really saw me as one of
my school never really saw me as one of
my school never really saw me as one of them I looked like them I was white but
them I looked like them I was white but
them I looked like them I was white but I never really fitted in I could never
I never really fitted in I could never
I never really fitted in I could never really fit in I’d get questions like how
really fit in I’d get questions like how
really fit in I’d get questions like how come you don’t eat pork why does your
come you don’t eat pork why does your
come you don’t eat pork why does your mom wear hijab does she wear hijab and
mom wear hijab does she wear hijab and
mom wear hijab does she wear hijab and that gap immediately became apparent we
that gap immediately became apparent we
that gap immediately became apparent we were from two completely different
were from two completely different
were from two completely different worlds first obstacle religion
worlds first obstacle religion
worlds first obstacle religion then same school there were a lot of
then same school there were a lot of
then same school there were a lot of Arab students and Lebanese students and
Arab students and Lebanese students and
Arab students and Lebanese students and I thought hey this will be my crowd and
I thought hey this will be my crowd and
I thought hey this will be my crowd and they weren’t my crowd they made fun of
they weren’t my crowd they made fun of
they weren’t my crowd they made fun of me and they made fun of the way I spoke
me and they made fun of the way I spoke
me and they made fun of the way I spoke sure we were Arabs linked somehow but my
sure we were Arabs linked somehow but my
sure we were Arabs linked somehow but my dialect of Arabic from North Africa
dialect of Arabic from North Africa
dialect of Arabic from North Africa dereje’s it’s called a language in its
dereje’s it’s called a language in its
dereje’s it’s called a language in its own right was mocked by them because it
own right was mocked by them because it
own right was mocked by them because it sounded very different to their way of
sounded very different to their way of
sounded very different to their way of speaking Arabic so I couldn’t really fit
speaking Arabic so I couldn’t really fit
speaking Arabic so I couldn’t really fit into this Middle Eastern or Arab mould
into this Middle Eastern or Arab mould
into this Middle Eastern or Arab mould second obstacle language and then there
second obstacle language and then there
second obstacle language and then there was this amazing crowd the majority the
was this amazing crowd the majority the
was this amazing crowd the majority the West Africans Nigerians ghanaians
West Africans Nigerians ghanaians
West Africans Nigerians ghanaians Senegalese Malians and of course we ever
Senegalese Malians and of course we ever
Senegalese Malians and of course we ever happy and rambunctious Ivorians I hope
happy and rambunctious Ivorians I hope
happy and rambunctious Ivorians I hope there are no audience in the room I
there are no audience in the room I
there are no audience in the room I actually do hope there are brains in the
actually do hope there are brains in the
actually do hope there are brains in the room this was the crowd I wanted to
room this was the crowd I wanted to
room this was the crowd I wanted to belong to they were funny they were fun
belong to they were funny they were fun
belong to they were funny they were fun they were genuine our interests
they were genuine our interests
they were genuine our interests overlapped I was desperate to be part of
overlapped I was desperate to be part of
overlapped I was desperate to be part of the West African crowd at my school this
the West African crowd at my school this
the West African crowd at my school this time I was accepted join you’re one of
time I was accepted join you’re one of
time I was accepted join you’re one of us but even then will you believe me
us but even then will you believe me
us but even then will you believe me when I tell you there was still
when I tell you there was still
when I tell you there was still something missing there was an obstacle
something missing there was an obstacle
something missing there was an obstacle and I was frequently reminded of it that
and I was frequently reminded of it that
and I was frequently reminded of it that obstacle was the colour of my skin I
obstacle was the colour of my skin I
obstacle was the colour of my skin I wasn’t black and if you’re not black you
wasn’t black and if you’re not black you
wasn’t black and if you’re not black you know African
the same was true of my summer trips
the same was true of my summer trips back home to Algeria and to other parts
back home to Algeria and to other parts
back home to Algeria and to other parts of North Africa you can imagine after
of North Africa you can imagine after
of North Africa you can imagine after two three maybe six months in Nigeria I
two three maybe six months in Nigeria I
two three maybe six months in Nigeria I was already starting to walk talk and
was already starting to walk talk and
was already starting to walk talk and act like a real night job boy
act like a real night job boy
act like a real night job boy I’d greet people with how far now I do
but that was really strange for my
but that was really strange for my childhood friends who had left me to go
childhood friends who had left me to go
childhood friends who had left me to go to Nigeria all of a sudden I’d come back
to Nigeria all of a sudden I’d come back
to Nigeria all of a sudden I’d come back as an African as if they were not
as an African as if they were not
as an African as if they were not African themselves as if they were Swiss
African themselves as if they were Swiss
African themselves as if they were Swiss or Saudi or something you are African
what I’m trying to say through this life
what I’m trying to say through this life story to this childhood experience what
story to this childhood experience what
story to this childhood experience what I experienced there and then I’ve
I experienced there and then I’ve
I experienced there and then I’ve continued to face my entire life this
continued to face my entire life this
continued to face my entire life this tug between my North African identity
Maghreb identity and the wider African
Maghreb identity and the wider African identity everywhere I went it seemed as
identity everywhere I went it seemed as
identity everywhere I went it seemed as though people wanted to define what
though people wanted to define what
though people wanted to define what being African was for me they didn’t see
being African was for me they didn’t see
being African was for me they didn’t see me for who I was or what I wanted to be
me for who I was or what I wanted to be
me for who I was or what I wanted to be but how they perceived me and how they
but how they perceived me and how they
but how they perceived me and how they ultimately perceived each other to this
ultimately perceived each other to this
ultimately perceived each other to this day in my adult life in my professional
day in my adult life in my professional
day in my adult life in my professional life fellow Africans come up to me and
life fellow Africans come up to me and
life fellow Africans come up to me and every day I get a new label you’re Arab
every day I get a new label you’re Arab
every day I get a new label you’re Arab you made it Iranian you’re francophone
you made it Iranian you’re francophone
you made it Iranian you’re francophone you’re Muslim
you’re Muslim
you’re Muslim you’re evil
you’re evil
you’re evil that means wipe in in digit so what
that means wipe in in digit so what
that means wipe in in digit so what exactly can I do well as a kid it pushed
exactly can I do well as a kid it pushed
exactly can I do well as a kid it pushed me to read about my culture it pushed me
me to read about my culture it pushed me
me to read about my culture it pushed me to read about my heritage and to read
to read about my heritage and to read
to read about my heritage and to read about other people’s heritage because I
about other people’s heritage because I
about other people’s heritage because I had to relate to them I had to make
had to relate to them I had to make
had to relate to them I had to make myself interesting to them and this is
myself interesting to them and this is
myself interesting to them and this is what I found out and I want to share it
what I found out and I want to share it
what I found out and I want to share it with you today apologies if you already
with you today apologies if you already
with you today apologies if you already know it
know it
know it the dichotomy the opposition that is
the dichotomy the opposition that is
the dichotomy the opposition that is created between a supposedly Arab North
created between a supposedly Arab North
created between a supposedly Arab North Africa and a supposedly black
Africa and a supposedly black
Africa and a supposedly black sub-saharan Africa is a false one the
sub-saharan Africa is a false one the
sub-saharan Africa is a false one the linkages between us are too great too
linkages between us are too great too
linkages between us are too great too deep for us to simply brush them aside
deep for us to simply brush them aside
deep for us to simply brush them aside we are not defined as far as I see it by
we are not defined as far as I see it by
we are not defined as far as I see it by our respective religions our geographies
our respective religions our geographies
our respective religions our geographies language all these obstacles I mentioned
language all these obstacles I mentioned
language all these obstacles I mentioned earlier what I have found out is that we
earlier what I have found out is that we
earlier what I have found out is that we are defined collectively North Africa
are defined collectively North Africa
are defined collectively North Africa and the rest of the continent by three
and the rest of the continent by three
and the rest of the continent by three things we are defined by a shared
things we are defined by a shared
things we are defined by a shared history we are defined by binding values
history we are defined by binding values
history we are defined by binding values we are defined by a common destiny they
we are defined by a common destiny they
we are defined by a common destiny they sound like lofty words I promise I’ll
sound like lofty words I promise I’ll
sound like lofty words I promise I’ll explain first let me say a few things
explain first let me say a few things
explain first let me say a few things about our common history and our shared
about our common history and our shared
about our common history and our shared our binding values our parents
our binding values our parents
our binding values our parents generations and our grandparents
generations and our grandparents
generations and our grandparents generations some of you will have
generations some of you will have
generations some of you will have realized this already
realized this already
realized this already it may not be news to you we’re far more
it may not be news to you we’re far more
it may not be news to you we’re far more United across borders then our
United across borders then our
United across borders then our generation is they had less technology
generation is they had less technology
generation is they had less technology available to them
available to them
available to them they weren’t as connected they didn’t
they weren’t as connected they didn’t
they weren’t as connected they didn’t tweet like us and yet they were more
tweet like us and yet they were more
tweet like us and yet they were more connected than we are more United than
connected than we are more United than
connected than we are more United than we are why is that the case well for one
we are why is that the case well for one
we are why is that the case well for one they were shaped by a common struggle
they were shaped by a common struggle
they were shaped by a common struggle and that struggle was anti colonial
and that struggle was anti colonial
and that struggle was anti colonial resistance that can unite people the
resistance that can unite people the
resistance that can unite people the second thing that United them were these
second thing that United them were these
second thing that United them were these binding values resistance solidarity
binding values resistance solidarity
binding values resistance solidarity sacrifice those are not empty words guys
sacrifice those are not empty words guys
sacrifice those are not empty words guys those unite generations they unite
those unite generations they unite
those unite generations they unite peoples across borders they still do
peoples across borders they still do
peoples across borders they still do today just not enough as an example
today just not enough as an example
today just not enough as an example during the independence and liberation
during the independence and liberation
during the independence and liberation movements in the 1950s and the 1960s
movements in the 1950s and the 1960s
movements in the 1950s and the 1960s giants of our continent people like
giants of our continent people like
giants of our continent people like Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela I’m your car Cobra fought alongside
I’m your car Cobra fought alongside
I’m your car Cobra fought alongside trained alongside the North African
trained alongside the North African
trained alongside the North African resistance movement in Algeria the FLN
resistance movement in Algeria the FLN
resistance movement in Algeria the FLN who were themselves hosted by sister
who were themselves hosted by sister
who were themselves hosted by sister nations Tunisia Morocco the ANC when it
nations Tunisia Morocco the ANC when it
nations Tunisia Morocco the ANC when it was fighting anti-apartheid received
was fighting anti-apartheid received
was fighting anti-apartheid received support from across the continent from
support from across the continent from
support from across the continent from Libya from Algeria from Morocco people
Libya from Algeria from Morocco people
Libya from Algeria from Morocco people poured money into these resistance
poured money into these resistance
poured money into these resistance movements not because it looked nice or
movements not because it looked nice or
movements not because it looked nice or it felt good because they were brothers
it felt good because they were brothers
it felt good because they were brothers and sisters in arms they were united by
and sisters in arms they were united by
and sisters in arms they were united by a common goal and in a common and common
a common goal and in a common and common
a common goal and in a common and common values when I go back to Algeria from
values when I go back to Algeria from
values when I go back to Algeria from time to time I still hear an older
time to time I still hear an older
time to time I still hear an older generation that thinks about the 1969
generation that thinks about the 1969
generation that thinks about the 1969 pan-african cultural festival if you
pan-african cultural festival if you
pan-african cultural festival if you don’t know about it you should
don’t know about it you should
don’t know about it you should definitely look it up the they speak to
definitely look it up the they speak to
definitely look it up the they speak to me of this amazing event with the kind
me of this amazing event with the kind
me of this amazing event with the kind of grandeur that really is very
of grandeur that really is very
of grandeur that really is very difficult to describe to you here today
difficult to describe to you here today
difficult to describe to you here today imagine actors singers thinkers
imagine actors singers thinkers
imagine actors singers thinkers philosophers all rushing to Algiers in
philosophers all rushing to Algiers in
philosophers all rushing to Algiers in 1969 share
1969 share
1969 share their culture eating with one another
their culture eating with one another
their culture eating with one another partying with one another a kind of
partying with one another a kind of
partying with one another a kind of pan-african effervescence that we have
pan-african effervescence that we have
pan-african effervescence that we have yet to see since so it when I hear about
yet to see since so it when I hear about
yet to see since so it when I hear about all these stories and when I read my own
all these stories and when I read my own
all these stories and when I read my own history as you should read yours it kind
history as you should read yours it kind
history as you should read yours it kind of feels sometimes like we all have a
of feels sometimes like we all have a
of feels sometimes like we all have a stake or we all live in this incredible
stake or we all live in this incredible
stake or we all live in this incredible African Museum where we have these
African Museum where we have these
African Museum where we have these shared memories shared thinkers shared
shared memories shared thinkers shared
shared memories shared thinkers shared culture this common history but each and
culture this common history but each and
culture this common history but each and every one of us decides well let me just
every one of us decides well let me just
every one of us decides well let me just stick to my section let me stick to West
stick to my section let me stick to West
stick to my section let me stick to West Africa section let me stick to East
Africa section let me stick to East
Africa section let me stick to East Africa section let me stick to the North
Africa section let me stick to the North
Africa section let me stick to the North Africa section don’t do that doesn’t
Africa section don’t do that doesn’t
Africa section don’t do that doesn’t make sense all this rich heritage that
make sense all this rich heritage that
make sense all this rich heritage that are at our disposal belongs to all of us
are at our disposal belongs to all of us
are at our disposal belongs to all of us so how can we rekindle that flame well
so how can we rekindle that flame well
so how can we rekindle that flame well this is what I think I think we need to
this is what I think I think we need to
this is what I think I think we need to reclaim that heritage by re-educating
reclaim that heritage by re-educating
reclaim that heritage by re-educating ourselves and re-educating those around
ourselves and re-educating those around
ourselves and re-educating those around us about that history Reid loophole said
us about that history Reid loophole said
us about that history Reid loophole said of Sango read negate my foes read cata
of Sango read negate my foes read cata
of Sango read negate my foes read cata be a scene listen to salif keita
be a scene listen to salif keita
be a scene listen to salif keita Jam to Fela Kuti they don’t belong to
Jam to Fela Kuti they don’t belong to
Jam to Fela Kuti they don’t belong to anybody they’re not Nigerian Kenyan
anybody they’re not Nigerian Kenyan
anybody they’re not Nigerian Kenyan Egyptian Algerian they belong to all of
Egyptian Algerian they belong to all of
Egyptian Algerian they belong to all of us so if you have that at your disposal
us so if you have that at your disposal
us so if you have that at your disposal why aren’t you making use of it why
why aren’t you making use of it why
why aren’t you making use of it why aren’t you sharing it I promise you if
aren’t you sharing it I promise you if
aren’t you sharing it I promise you if you actually reappropriation if you
you actually reappropriation if you
you actually reappropriation if you haven’t already done so and you don’t
haven’t already done so and you don’t
haven’t already done so and you don’t disseminate it in the way that I would
disseminate it in the way that I would
disseminate it in the way that I would hope we are all doing on an active basis
hope we are all doing on an active basis
hope we are all doing on an active basis how can we move forward
so I’m not gonna stick to the past now
so I’m not gonna stick to the past now I’m gonna talk to you about the future
I’m gonna talk to you about the future
I’m gonna talk to you about the future I mentioned shared history I mentioned
I mentioned shared history I mentioned
I mentioned shared history I mentioned my binding values I want to talk to you
my binding values I want to talk to you
my binding values I want to talk to you guys now about the future as well
guys now about the future as well
guys now about the future as well slightly more difficult we live in a
slightly more difficult we live in a
slightly more difficult we live in a somewhat troubling time it has
somewhat troubling time it has
somewhat troubling time it has tremendous opportunities for us as
tremendous opportunities for us as
tremendous opportunities for us as Africans we can make incredible leaps
Africans we can make incredible leaps
Africans we can make incredible leaps forward but ultimately in the 21st
forward but ultimately in the 21st
forward but ultimately in the 21st centuries the challenges that we are all
centuries the challenges that we are all
centuries the challenges that we are all facing our challenges that don’t really
facing our challenges that don’t really
facing our challenges that don’t really respect borders terrorism climate change
respect borders terrorism climate change
respect borders terrorism climate change education technological improvements
education technological improvements
education technological improvements migration the list goes on and on and on
migration the list goes on and on and on
migration the list goes on and on and on do you really think that those problems
do you really think that those problems
do you really think that those problems see the Sahara as a wall they don’t they
see the Sahara as a wall they don’t they
see the Sahara as a wall they don’t they cut across borders they impact all of us
cut across borders they impact all of us
cut across borders they impact all of us young people in North Africa have pretty
young people in North Africa have pretty
young people in North Africa have pretty much the same issues that they face as
much the same issues that they face as
much the same issues that they face as people south of the Sahara and that’s
people south of the Sahara and that’s
people south of the Sahara and that’s problematic for us why and what can we
problematic for us why and what can we
problematic for us why and what can we do about it it’s problematic for us at
do about it it’s problematic for us at
do about it it’s problematic for us at the moment because we need to understand
the moment because we need to understand
the moment because we need to understand certainly I see this this way that as
certainly I see this this way that as
certainly I see this this way that as Africans on the global stage in the 21st
Africans on the global stage in the 21st
Africans on the global stage in the 21st century just by being Africans we are
century just by being Africans we are
century just by being Africans we are immediately put on the back foot
immediately put on the back foot
immediately put on the back foot immediately we have to justify ourselves
immediately we have to justify ourselves
immediately we have to justify ourselves we have to explain we have to describe
we have to explain we have to describe
we have to explain we have to describe we have to find a voice do you really
we have to find a voice do you really
we have to find a voice do you really think that this is something we can do
think that this is something we can do
think that this is something we can do each one in our corners trying to fend
each one in our corners trying to fend
each one in our corners trying to fend for a voice no unity matters and
for a voice no unity matters and
for a voice no unity matters and bringing down those walls those divides
bringing down those walls those divides
bringing down those walls those divides that I mentioned because this is how we
that I mentioned because this is how we
that I mentioned because this is how we will solve collective problems this is
will solve collective problems this is
will solve collective problems this is how we will make our voices heard every
how we will make our voices heard every
how we will make our voices heard every Africa conference I go to we used to be
Africa conference I go to we used to be
Africa conference I go to we used to be the hopeless continent
the hopeless continent
the hopeless continent now we’re Africa rising those narratives
now we’re Africa rising those narratives
now we’re Africa rising those narratives are in ours we didn’t come up with those
are in ours we didn’t come up with those
are in ours we didn’t come up with those we didn’t have a say in those so if you
we didn’t have a say in those so if you
we didn’t have a say in those so if you don’t have a voice a strong voice a
don’t have a voice a strong voice a
don’t have a voice a strong voice a united voice people will speak up for
united voice people will speak up for
united voice people will speak up for you and we find ourselves on the back
you and we find ourselves on the back
you and we find ourselves on the back foot having to explain having to justify
foot having to explain having to justify
foot having to explain having to justify having to correct how do we fix this
having to correct how do we fix this
having to correct how do we fix this in practical terms day to day in
in practical terms day to day in
in practical terms day to day in addition to what I mentioned earlier
addition to what I mentioned earlier
addition to what I mentioned earlier reclaiming that shared heritage that
reclaiming that shared heritage that
reclaiming that shared heritage that shared identity in addition to finding
shared identity in addition to finding
shared identity in addition to finding those binding values you all and me need
those binding values you all and me need
those binding values you all and me need to fight the misconceptions between
to fight the misconceptions between
to fight the misconceptions between ourselves and the misperceptions that
ourselves and the misperceptions that
ourselves and the misperceptions that others might have of us on a daily basis
others might have of us on a daily basis
others might have of us on a daily basis that means succeed be the best I promise
that means succeed be the best I promise
that means succeed be the best I promise you I’m not being a motivational speaker
you I’m not being a motivational speaker
you I’m not being a motivational speaker in saying that but it has its value if
in saying that but it has its value if
in saying that but it has its value if business is your thing be an
business is your thing be an
business is your thing be an entrepreneur if politics is your thing
entrepreneur if politics is your thing
entrepreneur if politics is your thing get involved don’t just sit there and
get involved don’t just sit there and
get involved don’t just sit there and complain if science is your thing
complain if science is your thing
complain if science is your thing innovate create and when people tell you
innovate create and when people tell you
innovate create and when people tell you you can’t because you are African
you can’t because you are African
you can’t because you are African challenge that challenge the narrative
challenge that challenge the narrative
challenge that challenge the narrative that’s presented of you and of your
that’s presented of you and of your
that’s presented of you and of your continent challenge it intelligently
continent challenge it intelligently
continent challenge it intelligently challenge it with strong values the
challenge it with strong values the
challenge it with strong values the values of resistance that I mentioned
values of resistance that I mentioned
values of resistance that I mentioned earlier that those who came before us
earlier that those who came before us
earlier that those who came before us leveraged so eloquently and which
leveraged so eloquently and which
leveraged so eloquently and which ultimately brought them success
don’t let others define you define us
don’t let others define you define us the way I was defined as a kid
the way I was defined as a kid
the way I was defined as a kid make yourselves heard so when we reclaim
make yourselves heard so when we reclaim
make yourselves heard so when we reclaim that shared heritage when we’ve
that shared heritage when we’ve
that shared heritage when we’ve hopefully revived those binding values
hopefully revived those binding values
hopefully revived those binding values and when we’ve started to reshape the
and when we’ve started to reshape the
and when we’ve started to reshape the narrative about ourselves we’ll start to
narrative about ourselves we’ll start to
narrative about ourselves we’ll start to make progress I don’t usually like
make progress I don’t usually like
make progress I don’t usually like inspirational quotes I don’t like mushy
inspirational quotes I don’t like mushy
inspirational quotes I don’t like mushy quotes from great thinkers but I want to
quotes from great thinkers but I want to
quotes from great thinkers but I want to leave you with this one because it’s a
leave you with this one because it’s a
leave you with this one because it’s a thinker and a quote which has deeply
thinker and a quote which has deeply
thinker and a quote which has deeply impacted how I see my country how I see
impacted how I see my country how I see
impacted how I see my country how I see my continent and this quote comes from
my continent and this quote comes from
my continent and this quote comes from the great afro-caribbean thinker Franz
the great afro-caribbean thinker Franz
the great afro-caribbean thinker Franz fanon
fanon
fanon some of you will know who that is
some of you will know who that is
some of you will know who that is Faneuil said every generation must in
Faneuil said every generation must in
Faneuil said every generation must in relative obscurity discover its mission
relative obscurity discover its mission
relative obscurity discover its mission fulfill that mission or betray it I’d
fulfill that mission or betray it I’d
fulfill that mission or betray it I’d like to leave you with the following
like to leave you with the following
like to leave you with the following please let us fulfill our mission of
reclaiming our shared heritage reviving
reclaiming our shared heritage reviving those binding values and reshaping the
those binding values and reshaping the
those binding values and reshaping the narrative for ourselves but also for
narrative for ourselves but also for
narrative for ourselves but also for those to come thank you very much
those to come thank you very much
those to come thank you very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
Be First to Comment