[Music] my name is Nelly 1g I was born and
my name is Nelly 1g I was born and
my name is Nelly 1g I was born and raised in Cameroon and 14 years ago I
raised in Cameroon and 14 years ago I
raised in Cameroon and 14 years ago I moved to France I’ve been living in
moved to France I’ve been living in
moved to France I’ve been living in France and basically Paris for the last
France and basically Paris for the last
France and basically Paris for the last ten years I had an education in
ten years I had an education in
ten years I had an education in international trade and I was
international trade and I was
international trade and I was specialized in luxury management after
specialized in luxury management after
specialized in luxury management after my graduation I started working for an
my graduation I started working for an
my graduation I started working for an international cooperation with 18 brands
international cooperation with 18 brands
international cooperation with 18 brands from top luxury brands in watches and
from top luxury brands in watches and
from top luxury brands in watches and jewelry to access brand while working
jewelry to access brand while working
jewelry to access brand while working for this company
for this company
for this company I was also discovering the French
I was also discovering the French
I was also discovering the French culture
culture
culture the Swiss culture the French culture and
the Swiss culture the French culture and
the Swiss culture the French culture and most international brand in the watch
most international brand in the watch
most international brand in the watch industry culture as well and this is
industry culture as well and this is
industry culture as well and this is pretty much that was my environment I
pretty much that was my environment I
pretty much that was my environment I was diving between brands understanding
was diving between brands understanding
was diving between brands understanding the way of thinking of the Americans the
the way of thinking of the Americans the
the way of thinking of the Americans the way of thinking and the way of doing
way of thinking and the way of doing
way of thinking and the way of doing things from the German and it just
things from the German and it just
things from the German and it just happened to me to realize that in
happened to me to realize that in
happened to me to realize that in nowadays from when you wake up in the
nowadays from when you wake up in the
nowadays from when you wake up in the morning opting up to when you sleep
morning opting up to when you sleep
morning opting up to when you sleep you’re surrounded by brands and brand is
you’re surrounded by brands and brand is
you’re surrounded by brands and brand is your way of telling the world who you
your way of telling the world who you
your way of telling the world who you are what you believe and what is your
are what you believe and what is your
are what you believe and what is your core you otherwise you cannot really
core you otherwise you cannot really
core you otherwise you cannot really matter about by yourself when I realized
matter about by yourself when I realized
matter about by yourself when I realized this I also understood that most
this I also understood that most
this I also understood that most countries in the world have brands they
countries in the world have brands they
countries in the world have brands they have their brand their brand is the way
have their brand their brand is the way
have their brand their brand is the way of telling people who they are what they
of telling people who they are what they
of telling people who they are what they believe in what they know they know how
believe in what they know they know how
believe in what they know they know how and what is the heritage as well and I’m
and what is the heritage as well and I’m
and what is the heritage as well and I’m at some point in my career I find myself
at some point in my career I find myself
at some point in my career I find myself as a
as a
as a at a crossroad wondering who am I really
when I have to tell my story when I have
when I have to tell my story when I have to share my stories from my continent
to share my stories from my continent
to share my stories from my continent with people it’s not visual it’s not
with people it’s not visual it’s not
with people it’s not visual it’s not concrete they don’t quite understand
concrete they don’t quite understand
concrete they don’t quite understand what I mean
what I mean
what I mean but if you have a French friend coming
but if you have a French friend coming
but if you have a French friend coming from Paris
from Paris
from Paris you’ll probably bring your ladder a and
you’ll probably bring your ladder a and
you’ll probably bring your ladder a and next time you go to Paris you you will
next time you go to Paris you you will
next time you go to Paris you you will say okay I love this brand because
say okay I love this brand because
say okay I love this brand because because because because but when I tell
because because because but when I tell
because because because but when I tell my African story
my African story
my African story what can I share with people that think
what can I share with people that think
what can I share with people that think will actually fit connected to me in
will actually fit connected to me in
will actually fit connected to me in terms of value and that’s when I
terms of value and that’s when I
terms of value and that’s when I realized that when you take a country
realized that when you take a country
realized that when you take a country for example like let’s say Switzerland
for example like let’s say Switzerland
for example like let’s say Switzerland this brand kind of hit me 200 years more
this brand kind of hit me 200 years more
this brand kind of hit me 200 years more than 200 years consistently doing the
than 200 years consistently doing the
than 200 years consistently doing the same thing and telling the world that
same thing and telling the world that
same thing and telling the world that they are the best if I take my country
they are the best if I take my country
they are the best if I take my country my continent who did that so that was it
my continent who did that so that was it
my continent who did that so that was it that was that I had to do something
that was that I had to do something
that was that I had to do something about that because otherwise it’s just
about that because otherwise it’s just
about that because otherwise it’s just like I don’t exist if I cannot tell my
like I don’t exist if I cannot tell my
like I don’t exist if I cannot tell my story with consistency and something
story with consistency and something
story with consistency and something very strong it’s not going to stick it’s
very strong it’s not going to stick it’s
very strong it’s not going to stick it’s just like in this world of consumerism
just like in this world of consumerism
just like in this world of consumerism of capitalism I don’t exist I’m no way
of capitalism I don’t exist I’m no way
of capitalism I don’t exist I’m no way so I have to be some way so now like
so I have to be some way so now like
so I have to be some way so now like let’s make a little something together
let’s make a little something together
let’s make a little something together can you name a European brand
wow this is amazing I’m pretty impressed
wow this is amazing I’m pretty impressed it means some of us have been doing
it means some of us have been doing
it means some of us have been doing great work so when I realized that me
great work so when I realized that me
great work so when I realized that me myself I could name 100 brands from
myself I could name 100 brands from
myself I could name 100 brands from everywhere in the world but I couldn’t
everywhere in the world but I couldn’t
everywhere in the world but I couldn’t name ten brands from Africa
name ten brands from Africa
name ten brands from Africa I mean Africa is a continent 54
I mean Africa is a continent 54
I mean Africa is a continent 54 countries 1 billion people how come I
countries 1 billion people how come I
countries 1 billion people how come I cannot name one two three four five ten
cannot name one two three four five ten
cannot name one two three four five ten brands and basically that’s how I
brands and basically that’s how I
brands and basically that’s how I started I started looking for stories
started I started looking for stories
started I started looking for stories from the continent looking for people
from the continent looking for people
from the continent looking for people doing things looking for extraordinary
doing things looking for extraordinary
doing things looking for extraordinary things you know those emotion brand can
things you know those emotion brand can
things you know those emotion brand can give you those exceptional way of doing
give you those exceptional way of doing
give you those exceptional way of doing things
things
things those storytellers who actually can you
those storytellers who actually can you
those storytellers who actually can you know share a part of who they are
know share a part of who they are
know share a part of who they are through a little product through a way
through a little product through a way
through a little product through a way of seeing things through a new campaign
of seeing things through a new campaign
of seeing things through a new campaign those inspiring brand we can actually
those inspiring brand we can actually
those inspiring brand we can actually build up your mind about the way you see
build up your mind about the way you see
build up your mind about the way you see the world so basically that was it I
the world so basically that was it I
the world so basically that was it I started doing that so for the last four
started doing that so for the last four
started doing that so for the last four years I was doing that I was just doing
years I was doing that I was just doing
years I was doing that I was just doing that researching online getting
that researching online getting
that researching online getting traveling going to Accra that was my
traveling going to Accra that was my
traveling going to Accra that was my first stop then going to Lagos going to
first stop then going to Lagos going to
first stop then going to Lagos going to South Africa going to places and looking
South Africa going to places and looking
South Africa going to places and looking for those people who do things so now I
for those people who do things so now I
for those people who do things so now I can introduce to you a few of them so
can introduce to you a few of them so
can introduce to you a few of them so next time when you think about Africa
next time when you think about Africa
next time when you think about Africa you have to think about those people who
you have to think about those people who
you have to think about those people who do things and I have to fight harder to
do things and I have to fight harder to
do things and I have to fight harder to bring them to you as well
bring them to you as well
bring them to you as well because when you go out you can see
because when you go out you can see
because when you go out you can see Patek Phillipe so my challenge is to get
Patek Phillipe so my challenge is to get
Patek Phillipe so my challenge is to get you to know I said yan who has been
you to know I said yan who has been
you to know I said yan who has been working with the MS who have been
working with the MS who have been
working with the MS who have been working with Lou Bhutan as well but
working with Lou Bhutan as well but
working with Lou Bhutan as well but still she’s not that close to you that
still she’s not that close to you that
still she’s not that close to you that you can actually relate to Africa
you can actually relate to Africa
you can actually relate to Africa through her I can introduce you as well
through her I can introduce you as well
through her I can introduce you as well to echo SWA now she’s been around the
to echo SWA now she’s been around the
to echo SWA now she’s been around the world selling her little raffia bags
world selling her little raffia bags
world selling her little raffia bags she’s retail in ten countries around the
she’s retail in ten countries around the
she’s retail in ten countries around the globe
globe
globe on all the five continents I can
on all the five continents I can
on all the five continents I can introduce you
introduce you
introduce you Ladue ma who’s been doing great things
Ladue ma who’s been doing great things
Ladue ma who’s been doing great things with in South Africa I can introduce you
with in South Africa I can introduce you
with in South Africa I can introduce you as well to salir I began two years ago
as well to salir I began two years ago
as well to salir I began two years ago she actually got to dress Beyonce I mean
she actually got to dress Beyonce I mean
she actually got to dress Beyonce I mean man she dressed Beyonce this is this is
man she dressed Beyonce this is this is
man she dressed Beyonce this is this is a real deal I can introduce you as well
a real deal I can introduce you as well
a real deal I can introduce you as well to swathi Martin she’s been travelling
to swathi Martin she’s been travelling
to swathi Martin she’s been travelling across the continent selecting refined
across the continent selecting refined
across the continent selecting refined tea from the continent all those brands
tea from the continent all those brands
tea from the continent all those brands are they helped me actually find a way
are they helped me actually find a way
are they helped me actually find a way through the call me barthélémy Togo is
through the call me barthélémy Togo is
through the call me barthélémy Togo is an artist and he’s an activist as well
an artist and he’s an activist as well
an artist and he’s an activist as well because he’s all about connecting the
because he’s all about connecting the
because he’s all about connecting the world to his story and through his art
world to his story and through his art
world to his story and through his art so when I discovered all those brand
so when I discovered all those brand
so when I discovered all those brand they were there but still they’re
they were there but still they’re
they were there but still they’re wearing out there you know doramin in
wearing out there you know doramin in
wearing out there you know doramin in Paris they’re wearing they’re not in him
Paris they’re wearing they’re not in him
Paris they’re wearing they’re not in him kong-kong so I was like okay am I gonna
kong-kong so I was like okay am I gonna
kong-kong so I was like okay am I gonna still working for this top international
still working for this top international
still working for this top international brand and selling this stuff around the
brand and selling this stuff around the
brand and selling this stuff around the world but do I have to start now
world but do I have to start now
world but do I have to start now building up other brands we can actually
building up other brands we can actually
building up other brands we can actually challenge the status quo you know bring
challenge the status quo you know bring
challenge the status quo you know bring you give you another perception of the
you give you another perception of the
you give you another perception of the world and share what they are with you
world and share what they are with you
world and share what they are with you so basically that’s it
so basically that’s it
so basically that’s it I started importing African stories
I started importing African stories
I started importing African stories African creatives African brands I
African creatives African brands I
African creatives African brands I started online because it was the
started online because it was the
started online because it was the easiest ways it way to start and after a
easiest ways it way to start and after a
easiest ways it way to start and after a few years online I realized I was only
few years online I realized I was only
few years online I realized I was only tapping into 10 percent of the potential
tapping into 10 percent of the potential
tapping into 10 percent of the potential and I was wandering in Paris going to an
and I was wandering in Paris going to an
and I was wandering in Paris going to an exhibition and I was working all that
exhibition and I was working all that
exhibition and I was working all that day on foot box Taunton away
day on foot box Taunton away
day on foot box Taunton away and I was like Ted you see all those
and I was like Ted you see all those
and I was like Ted you see all those international brands you know they all
international brands you know they all
international brands you know they all they’re all international auction houses
they’re all international auction houses
they’re all international auction houses and I’m like where are we I mean it’s
and I’m like where are we I mean it’s
and I’m like where are we I mean it’s like I mean I live here but I’m not seen
like I mean I live here but I’m not seen
like I mean I live here but I’m not seen so I started I called I don’t remember
so I started I called I don’t remember
so I started I called I don’t remember how you see i joined mobe year in
how you see i joined mobe year in
how you see i joined mobe year in english exactly a real estate agent and
english exactly a real estate agent and
english exactly a real estate agent and I started looking in Paris for places
I started looking in Paris for places
I started looking in Paris for places and I start
and I start
and I start to people I start talking to my bank and
to people I start talking to my bank and
to people I start talking to my bank and I say yeah we can make it happen so I
I say yeah we can make it happen so I
I say yeah we can make it happen so I found that address I’d open the gallery
found that address I’d open the gallery
found that address I’d open the gallery on focus on turn or a so if you don’t
on focus on turn or a so if you don’t
on focus on turn or a so if you don’t know the street maybe get them on a poly
know the street maybe get them on a poly
know the street maybe get them on a poly game you will notice right because the
game you will notice right because the
game you will notice right because the motor pulley game and the goal is there
motor pulley game and the goal is there
motor pulley game and the goal is there to put African creative on a global map
to put African creative on a global map
to put African creative on a global map because it’s not only about doing things
because it’s not only about doing things
because it’s not only about doing things in Africa is actually bridging the gap
in Africa is actually bridging the gap
in Africa is actually bridging the gap and bringing it everywhere for Africa to
and bringing it everywhere for Africa to
and bringing it everywhere for Africa to be part of the world you know so we
be part of the world you know so we
be part of the world you know so we create find the finest product and item
create find the finest product and item
create find the finest product and item and art from Africa and we showcase
and art from Africa and we showcase
and art from Africa and we showcase those designer in a very different way
those designer in a very different way
those designer in a very different way because the goal is not to kind of start
because the goal is not to kind of start
because the goal is not to kind of start up a new a new way of doing it’s also to
up a new a new way of doing it’s also to
up a new a new way of doing it’s also to show different product in an
show different product in an
show different product in an international environment so we have
international environment so we have
international environment so we have books so if you want to get inspiration
books so if you want to get inspiration
books so if you want to get inspiration we have boots we have shoes we have
we have boots we have shoes we have
we have boots we have shoes we have fashion design art and you know all this
fashion design art and you know all this
fashion design art and you know all this brand working and redefining a new I
brand working and redefining a new I
brand working and redefining a new I static of Africa I really challenged by
static of Africa I really challenged by
static of Africa I really challenged by also other international brands inspired
also other international brands inspired
also other international brands inspired by Africa but most of the time they just
by Africa but most of the time they just
by Africa but most of the time they just give you 1% of what it is actually
give you 1% of what it is actually
give you 1% of what it is actually sometimes it comes with stereotyping
sometimes it comes with stereotyping
sometimes it comes with stereotyping people and their heritage sometimes they
people and their heritage sometimes they
people and their heritage sometimes they get it wrong as well sometimes they
get it wrong as well sometimes they
get it wrong as well sometimes they don’t name who did it first so they
don’t name who did it first so they
don’t name who did it first so they appear to be the first one to do it but
appear to be the first one to do it but
appear to be the first one to do it but I think that it doesn’t even matter
I think that it doesn’t even matter
I think that it doesn’t even matter because I really believe that culture is
because I really believe that culture is
because I really believe that culture is meant to be shared if I have my culture
meant to be shared if I have my culture
meant to be shared if I have my culture you have your culture and if we do not
you have your culture and if we do not
you have your culture and if we do not interact it’s not possible you know
interact it’s not possible you know
interact it’s not possible you know we’re living on the same earth we’re
we’re living on the same earth we’re
we’re living on the same earth we’re gonna live on the same earth for a long
gonna live on the same earth for a long
gonna live on the same earth for a long time because now for but at this time we
time because now for but at this time we
time because now for but at this time we cannot yet live every anywhere else so
cannot yet live every anywhere else so
cannot yet live every anywhere else so we have to share this space so to share
we have to share this space so to share
we have to share this space so to share this space we have to connect to each
this space we have to connect to each
this space we have to connect to each other and share what we are and share
other and share what we are and share
other and share what we are and share what we believe in so for me Africans
what we believe in so for me Africans
what we believe in so for me Africans brands and creative already doing that
brands and creative already doing that
brands and creative already doing that you know they’re the real ambassador of
you know they’re the real ambassador of
you know they’re the real ambassador of what Africa really is and for you if
what Africa really is and for you if
what Africa really is and for you if you’re interested by my story by their
you’re interested by my story by their
you’re interested by my story by their story by going on the continent the best
story by going on the continent the best
story by going on the continent the best way to connect to the continent is true
way to connect to the continent is true
way to connect to the continent is true it’s people to those brands forget about
it’s people to those brands forget about
it’s people to those brands forget about what you see on TV forget about what the
what you see on TV forget about what the
what you see on TV forget about what the media is telling you because they’re not
media is telling you because they’re not
media is telling you because they’re not telling you the real story because if me
telling you the real story because if me
telling you the real story because if me I was to tell you the real story of
I was to tell you the real story of
I was to tell you the real story of Paris I’ll tell you my passion what I
Paris I’ll tell you my passion what I
Paris I’ll tell you my passion what I found in Paris discovering all these
found in Paris discovering all these
found in Paris discovering all these brands
brands
brands that’s what’s matter and anytime you
that’s what’s matter and anytime you
that’s what’s matter and anytime you come to Paris now you know you have me
come to Paris now you know you have me
come to Paris now you know you have me you can visit me you can visit me and
you can visit me you can visit me and
you can visit me you can visit me and discover all the created creativity I’ve
discover all the created creativity I’ve
discover all the created creativity I’ve been finding on the continent because at
been finding on the continent because at
been finding on the continent because at the end of the day what matters is to
the end of the day what matters is to
the end of the day what matters is to share her culture to be open to each
share her culture to be open to each
share her culture to be open to each other and to know that we’re all the
other and to know that we’re all the
other and to know that we’re all the same we value the finest thing we want
same we value the finest thing we want
same we value the finest thing we want the best for ourselves and for the
the best for ourselves and for the
the best for ourselves and for the people we care about so opening to each
people we care about so opening to each
people we care about so opening to each other through this for me is the chicest
other through this for me is the chicest
other through this for me is the chicest way to do it
way to do it
way to do it so let’s do it that way thank you very
so let’s do it that way thank you very
so let’s do it that way thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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