[Applause] this is not going to be a talk that will
this is not going to be a talk that will
this is not going to be a talk that will present a fantastic solution or a magic
present a fantastic solution or a magic
present a fantastic solution or a magic bullet to a pressing problem instead I
bullet to a pressing problem instead I
bullet to a pressing problem instead I will present a conundrum that I’ve been
will present a conundrum that I’ve been
will present a conundrum that I’ve been struggling with as a young African a
struggling with as a young African a
struggling with as a young African a conundrum that I believe many of you and
conundrum that I believe many of you and
conundrum that I believe many of you and many other Africans are also facing
many other Africans are also facing
many other Africans are also facing while I will offer areas of possible
while I will offer areas of possible
while I will offer areas of possible intervention I’m also hoping that those
intervention I’m also hoping that those
intervention I’m also hoping that those watching and listening across the world
watching and listening across the world
watching and listening across the world will be able to do the same with me I
will be able to do the same with me I
will be able to do the same with me I admit I am stuck and I need your help
admit I am stuck and I need your help
admit I am stuck and I need your help I am reaching out to invite you all in
I am reaching out to invite you all in
I am reaching out to invite you all in this significant moment in the lives of
this significant moment in the lives of
this significant moment in the lives of hundreds of millions of Africans to
hundreds of millions of Africans to
hundreds of millions of Africans to interrogate Africa’s past present and
interrogate Africa’s past present and
interrogate Africa’s past present and future and to interrogate how we’re
future and to interrogate how we’re
future and to interrogate how we’re going about building this Africa
going about building this Africa
going about building this Africa let me give you some context the early
let me give you some context the early
let me give you some context the early 2000s were of fantastic time in Nairobi
2000s were of fantastic time in Nairobi
2000s were of fantastic time in Nairobi very hopeful the one-party dictatorship
very hopeful the one-party dictatorship
very hopeful the one-party dictatorship of Daniel torie teacher of Moines who
of Daniel torie teacher of Moines who
of Daniel torie teacher of Moines who had been president since the 1970s came
had been president since the 1970s came
had been president since the 1970s came at the end of the Cold War and there was
at the end of the Cold War and there was
at the end of the Cold War and there was a return to multi-party politics in the
a return to multi-party politics in the
a return to multi-party politics in the 1990s and those an end to his
1990s and those an end to his
1990s and those an end to his dictatorship in 2002 there were limited
dictatorship in 2002 there were limited
dictatorship in 2002 there were limited returns to agricultural Goods due to the
returns to agricultural Goods due to the
returns to agricultural Goods due to the economic downturn of the 1970s and in
economic downturn of the 1970s and in
economic downturn of the 1970s and in the 1980s there were structural
the 1980s there were structural
the 1980s there were structural adjustment programs that followed
adjustment programs that followed
adjustment programs that followed however this was replaced by improving
however this was replaced by improving
however this was replaced by improving economic conditions and debt forgiveness
economic conditions and debt forgiveness
economic conditions and debt forgiveness this changing circumstances opened up
this changing circumstances opened up
this changing circumstances opened up opportunities for the elite for the
opportunities for the elite for the
opportunities for the elite for the elites and the middle class to grow but
elites and the middle class to grow but
elites and the middle class to grow but also created a population influx into
also created a population influx into
also created a population influx into the cities and a growing gap between the
the cities and a growing gap between the
the cities and a growing gap between the rich and the poor these political
rich and the poor these political
rich and the poor these political economic and social changes that Nairobi
economic and social changes that Nairobi
economic and social changes that Nairobi was going to were perfectly captured in
was going to were perfectly captured in
was going to were perfectly captured in a few moments as my family and I sat in
a few moments as my family and I sat in
a few moments as my family and I sat in our secondhand Toyota waiting for the
our secondhand Toyota waiting for the
our secondhand Toyota waiting for the light to change in the city center my
light to change in the city center my
light to change in the city center my mother was driving and I was sitting
mother was driving and I was sitting
mother was driving and I was sitting beside her my sister was in the backseat
beside her my sister was in the backseat
beside her my sister was in the backseat it was a hot afternoon so we had our
it was a hot afternoon so we had our
it was a hot afternoon so we had our windows down and my mother and I were
windows down and my mother and I were
windows down and my mother and I were involved in some type of discussion out
involved in some type of discussion out
involved in some type of discussion out of nowhere a slightly to shoveled young
of nowhere a slightly to shoveled young
of nowhere a slightly to shoveled young boy who must have been about ten years
boy who must have been about ten years
boy who must have been about ten years old walked up to my mother’s window
old walked up to my mother’s window
old walked up to my mother’s window holding human feces and threatened to
holding human feces and threatened to
holding human feces and threatened to throw it at her unless she gave him
throw it at her unless she gave him
throw it at her unless she gave him money
money
money I don’t quite remember exactly what
I don’t quite remember exactly what
I don’t quite remember exactly what happened in those tense moments but I
happened in those tense moments but I
happened in those tense moments but I recall that my mother was calm and did
recall that my mother was calm and did
recall that my mother was calm and did not raise any alarm these incidents were
not raise any alarm these incidents were
not raise any alarm these incidents were common at the time the public toilets at
common at the time the public toilets at
common at the time the public toilets at the City Council had built were not
the City Council had built were not
the City Council had built were not regularly cleaned and nairobi ins had
regularly cleaned and nairobi ins had
regularly cleaned and nairobi ins had been extending stories in their living
been extending stories in their living
been extending stories in their living rooms about how to escape the situation
rooms about how to escape the situation
rooms about how to escape the situation unharmed in those tense moments I
unharmed in those tense moments I
unharmed in those tense moments I remember thinking that hmm how will we
remember thinking that hmm how will we
remember thinking that hmm how will we end up getting this that’s not off our
end up getting this that’s not off our
end up getting this that’s not off our clothes
clothes
clothes how will we end up cleaning our car
how will we end up cleaning our car
how will we end up cleaning our car perhaps we’ll have to get it
perhaps we’ll have to get it
perhaps we’ll have to get it professionally clean for some reason the
professionally clean for some reason the
professionally clean for some reason the possibility that my mother would
possibility that my mother would
possibility that my mother would actually hand over money did not occur
actually hand over money did not occur
actually hand over money did not occur to me
the next thing I knew my mother had
the next thing I knew my mother had accelerated and sped and sped off later
accelerated and sped and sped off later
accelerated and sped and sped off later I remember thinking that maybe the light
I remember thinking that maybe the light
I remember thinking that maybe the light must have changed as I was wandering and
must have changed as I was wandering and
must have changed as I was wandering and my mind wandered and even though I was
my mind wandered and even though I was
my mind wandered and even though I was full of fear I had somehow escaped
years later when I was older I wanted to
years later when I was older I wanted to share this shitty story with my friends
share this shitty story with my friends
share this shitty story with my friends with my friends but I hesitated by then
with my friends but I hesitated by then
with my friends but I hesitated by then I was in developed countries and I was
I was in developed countries and I was
I was in developed countries and I was outside the continent and I knew that
outside the continent and I knew that
outside the continent and I knew that telling this story would only make
telling this story would only make
telling this story would only make Africans look bad after all these are
Africans look bad after all these are
Africans look bad after all these are the same spaces were people in all
the same spaces were people in all
the same spaces were people in all seriousness asked me do you keep pets as
seriousness asked me do you keep pets as
seriousness asked me do you keep pets as wild animals do you live in trees and
wild animals do you live in trees and
wild animals do you live in trees and huts do you live in some kind of poverty
huts do you live in some kind of poverty
huts do you live in some kind of poverty that somehow makes you so weak it cannot
that somehow makes you so weak it cannot
that somehow makes you so weak it cannot swat off a fly from your lip this story
swat off a fly from your lip this story
swat off a fly from your lip this story would have only served to confirm
would have only served to confirm
would have only served to confirm problematic stereotypes even if I try to
problematic stereotypes even if I try to
problematic stereotypes even if I try to carefully couch it in some type of
carefully couch it in some type of
carefully couch it in some type of explanation some type of contextual
explanation some type of contextual
explanation some type of contextual understanding of the social political
understanding of the social political
understanding of the social political instances that led to what happened well
instances that led to what happened well
instances that led to what happened well at least that was the rational
at least that was the rational
at least that was the rational explanation I gave myself well it was
explanation I gave myself well it was
explanation I gave myself well it was true it was only much more recent that I
true it was only much more recent that I
true it was only much more recent that I came to realize that there was a more
came to realize that there was a more
came to realize that there was a more nuanced reason for this hesitation I was
nuanced reason for this hesitation I was
nuanced reason for this hesitation I was unsure of myself not only because I was
unsure of myself not only because I was
unsure of myself not only because I was young but also because I did not know
young but also because I did not know
young but also because I did not know what was expected of a young African in
what was expected of a young African in
what was expected of a young African in the 21st century when I talk to my
the 21st century when I talk to my
the 21st century when I talk to my friends and my families and my
friends and my families and my
friends and my families and my colleagues and my students I realized
colleagues and my students I realized
colleagues and my students I realized that I’m not the only one undergoing
that I’m not the only one undergoing
that I’m not the only one undergoing this identity crisis where apparently
this identity crisis where apparently
this identity crisis where apparently involved in a debate on what we Africans
involved in a debate on what we Africans
involved in a debate on what we Africans need to be what we need to give up what
need to be what we need to give up what
need to be what we need to give up what we need to do for us to take our
we need to do for us to take our
we need to do for us to take our rightful place on the world stage what
rightful place on the world stage what
rightful place on the world stage what do we need to do to become McKinsey’s
do we need to do to become McKinsey’s
do we need to do to become McKinsey’s lions on the move or to realize the
lions on the move or to realize the
lions on the move or to realize the battlecry african solutions to african
battlecry african solutions to african
battlecry african solutions to african problems what does it mean for us to
problems what does it mean for us to
problems what does it mean for us to feel vindicated respected and no longer
feel vindicated respected and no longer
feel vindicated respected and no longer dependent and self-sufficient what does
dependent and self-sufficient what does
dependent and self-sufficient what does it mean for Africa to rise and what is
it mean for Africa to rise and what is
it mean for Africa to rise and what is my role in that so far it seems like we
my role in that so far it seems like we
my role in that so far it seems like we have two options
have two options
have two options on one hand we need to become modern
on one hand we need to become modern
on one hand we need to become modern developed and to achieve it we need to
developed and to achieve it we need to
developed and to achieve it we need to give up our backward traditional
give up our backward traditional
give up our backward traditional practices we need to become more formal
practices we need to become more formal
practices we need to become more formal we need to become more high-tech we need
we need to become more high-tech we need
we need to become more high-tech we need to celebrate the markers of development
to celebrate the markers of development
to celebrate the markers of development and progress the skyscrapers the
and progress the skyscrapers the
and progress the skyscrapers the highways the weaves the suits and the
highways the weaves the suits and the
highways the weaves the suits and the apps let’s not forget the apps
on the other hand we are told that we
on the other hand we are told that we have lost our way by seeking these
have lost our way by seeking these
have lost our way by seeking these markers of modernity and we need to go
markers of modernity and we need to go
markers of modernity and we need to go back to our roots we need to return to
back to our roots we need to return to
back to our roots we need to return to their traditional grains like sorghum
their traditional grains like sorghum
their traditional grains like sorghum and millet because all this modern food
and millet because all this modern food
and millet because all this modern food is making us sick we need to wake it
is making us sick we need to wake it
is making us sick we need to wake it hangar and the shiki’s made of kanga and
hangar and the shiki’s made of kanga and
hangar and the shiki’s made of kanga and let go of that relaxer and leave our
let go of that relaxer and leave our
let go of that relaxer and leave our natural hair out and proud the story of
natural hair out and proud the story of
natural hair out and proud the story of those moments at that Nairobi bustoff
those moments at that Nairobi bustoff
those moments at that Nairobi bustoff made it very clear that I was unsure of
made it very clear that I was unsure of
made it very clear that I was unsure of what narrative what caricature I was
what narrative what caricature I was
what narrative what caricature I was supposed to live up to in order to
supposed to live up to in order to
supposed to live up to in order to contribute to Africa’s promising reality
would I choose this version of modernity
would I choose this version of modernity the skyscrapers and such Oh would I
the skyscrapers and such Oh would I
the skyscrapers and such Oh would I choose a version of authenticity with my
choose a version of authenticity with my
choose a version of authenticity with my natural hair
now there many problems are come along
now there many problems are come along with this type of choice right first of
with this type of choice right first of
with this type of choice right first of all this is a lot of pressure I’m not
all this is a lot of pressure I’m not
all this is a lot of pressure I’m not only supposed to be the first person in
only supposed to be the first person in
only supposed to be the first person in my nuclear family to go to university
my nuclear family to go to university
my nuclear family to go to university but also apparently I’m supposed to
but also apparently I’m supposed to
but also apparently I’m supposed to represent 1.2 billion Africans um second
represent 1.2 billion Africans um second
represent 1.2 billion Africans um second of all some of you I’m sure were talking
of all some of you I’m sure were talking
of all some of you I’m sure were talking with me or listening to me you already
with me or listening to me you already
with me or listening to me you already realize that there is some form of a
realize that there is some form of a
realize that there is some form of a false dichotomy that I’ve created that
false dichotomy that I’ve created that
false dichotomy that I’ve created that the choice are presented is not quite as
the choice are presented is not quite as
the choice are presented is not quite as dire as it is while I understand this
dire as it is while I understand this
dire as it is while I understand this and will address it later we cannot deny
and will address it later we cannot deny
and will address it later we cannot deny that these caricatures and the
that these caricatures and the
that these caricatures and the assumptions that they’re based on create
assumptions that they’re based on create
assumptions that they’re based on create large parts of the reality that we live
large parts of the reality that we live
large parts of the reality that we live in everyday let me show you what I mean
from a young age my middle-class
from a young age my middle-class upbringing meant that I was on the path
upbringing meant that I was on the path
upbringing meant that I was on the path to university university was important
to university university was important
to university university was important because it meant I would be part of the
because it meant I would be part of the
because it meant I would be part of the twenty to forty percent of Africa’s
twenty to forty percent of Africa’s
twenty to forty percent of Africa’s labor force who end up in the formal
labor force who end up in the formal
labor force who end up in the formal sector as policymakers civil servants
sector as policymakers civil servants
sector as policymakers civil servants doctors nurses bankers and other
doctors nurses bankers and other
doctors nurses bankers and other professionals it’s not easy to become
professionals it’s not easy to become
professionals it’s not easy to become part of this group of professionals
part of this group of professionals
part of this group of professionals first you have to hope that you’re not
first you have to hope that you’re not
first you have to hope that you’re not part of the 20% of African children aged
part of the 20% of African children aged
part of the 20% of African children aged 6 to 11 who never have access to school
6 to 11 who never have access to school
6 to 11 who never have access to school then you have to find a way to make sure
then you have to find a way to make sure
then you have to find a way to make sure that you’re not part of the 33 percent
that you’re not part of the 33 percent
that you’re not part of the 33 percent of 12 to 14 year olds who either never
of 12 to 14 year olds who either never
of 12 to 14 year olds who either never complete primary school or do not end up
complete primary school or do not end up
complete primary school or do not end up joining second reason
if that’s not enough you also have to
if that’s not enough you also have to figure out how to not be part of the 60%
figure out how to not be part of the 60%
figure out how to not be part of the 60% of 15 to 17 year olds who never complete
of 15 to 17 year olds who never complete
of 15 to 17 year olds who never complete high school
high school
high school if all of that works out and you can
if all of that works out and you can
if all of that works out and you can afford it then you’ll be part of the 7%
afford it then you’ll be part of the 7%
afford it then you’ll be part of the 7% of Africans who are able to pursue
of Africans who are able to pursue
of Africans who are able to pursue higher education
and just when you thought you’re all set
and just when you thought you’re all set you realize that there’s actually a up
you realize that there’s actually a up
you realize that there’s actually a up to a 50% chance that you will not be
to a 50% chance that you will not be
to a 50% chance that you will not be able to get a job even if you go to
able to get a job even if you go to
able to get a job even if you go to university
university
university so you have to hope that you live in
so you have to hope that you live in
so you have to hope that you live in South Africa or Mauritius where you have
South Africa or Mauritius where you have
South Africa or Mauritius where you have a six or eight perchance we only have a
a six or eight perchance we only have a
a six or eight perchance we only have a six or eight percent chance of not
six or eight percent chance of not
six or eight percent chance of not finding a job compared to let’s say
finding a job compared to let’s say
finding a job compared to let’s say Ghana in Tunisia where you have a 41 and
Ghana in Tunisia where you have a 41 and
Ghana in Tunisia where you have a 41 and 50 percent chance of not getting a job
50 percent chance of not getting a job
50 percent chance of not getting a job if you’re a university graduate
and so whether by luck by wealth by
and so whether by luck by wealth by hardwork or by some combination of all
hardwork or by some combination of all
hardwork or by some combination of all these things you end up in this select
these things you end up in this select
these things you end up in this select group of professionals in the formal
group of professionals in the formal
group of professionals in the formal sector
this however leaves us with the sixty to
this however leaves us with the sixty to eighty percent who end up in the
eighty percent who end up in the
eighty percent who end up in the informal sector these are the farmers
informal sector these are the farmers
informal sector these are the farmers the market women the day laborers the
the market women the day laborers the
the market women the day laborers the builders the metal workers these are the
builders the metal workers these are the
builders the metal workers these are the people who read professionals either
people who read professionals either
people who read professionals either pity because of the dire circumstances
pity because of the dire circumstances
pity because of the dire circumstances and suffering already ride for their
and suffering already ride for their
and suffering already ride for their failures
failures
failures we say things like that ethnicity is
we say things like that ethnicity is
we say things like that ethnicity is backward they don’t bind your education
backward they don’t bind your education
backward they don’t bind your education their parents didn’t have besides the
their parents didn’t have besides the
their parents didn’t have besides the importance of education so they chose to
importance of education so they chose to
importance of education so they chose to graze cattle or dig instead
they refused to work hard they failed
they refused to work hard they failed their exams they played around and they
their exams they played around and they
their exams they played around and they got pregnant
beyond these statements we go on to
beyond these statements we go on to praise the many truly gifted people and
praise the many truly gifted people and
praise the many truly gifted people and institutions that have come up with
institutions that have come up with
institutions that have come up with innovative solutions to help these poor
innovative solutions to help these poor
innovative solutions to help these poor informal people through their education
informal people through their education
informal people through their education journey so we come up with innovations
journey so we come up with innovations
journey so we come up with innovations like investments in schools and
like investments in schools and
like investments in schools and education infrastructure we make sure we
education infrastructure we make sure we
education infrastructure we make sure we add Career Training and secondary school
add Career Training and secondary school
add Career Training and secondary school education and university education we
education and university education we
education and university education we make sure that we encourage self
make sure that we encourage self
make sure that we encourage self employment and entrepreneurship by
employment and entrepreneurship by
employment and entrepreneurship by allotting funds to youth to women and
allotting funds to youth to women and
allotting funds to youth to women and other vulnerable people through these
other vulnerable people through these
other vulnerable people through these interventions these poor unfortunate
interventions these poor unfortunate
interventions these poor unfortunate ignorant lazy sixty to eighty percent
ignorant lazy sixty to eighty percent
ignorant lazy sixty to eighty percent can be uplifted can be civilized can be
can be uplifted can be civilized can be
can be uplifted can be civilized can be developed
now what does all this have to do with
now what does all this have to do with writing Africa’s future building it well
writing Africa’s future building it well
writing Africa’s future building it well whether by the laws that we pass or the
whether by the laws that we pass or the
whether by the laws that we pass or the policies that we enforce whether it is
policies that we enforce whether it is
policies that we enforce whether it is through the license and taxpaying
through the license and taxpaying
through the license and taxpaying Kannamma activities that we run through
Kannamma activities that we run through
Kannamma activities that we run through the curriculum that we write and teach
the curriculum that we write and teach
the curriculum that we write and teach or through the prescriptions that we
or through the prescriptions that we
or through the prescriptions that we give we the 20 to 40% of professionals
give we the 20 to 40% of professionals
give we the 20 to 40% of professionals have so far been tasked with actively
have so far been tasked with actively
have so far been tasked with actively writing Africa’s future this future is
writing Africa’s future this future is
writing Africa’s future this future is bounded by the same narrow definitions
bounded by the same narrow definitions
bounded by the same narrow definitions that have created us these definitions
that have created us these definitions
that have created us these definitions are shaped by denying Biden it itemizing
are shaped by denying Biden it itemizing
are shaped by denying Biden it itemizing by demonizing certain aspects of the
by demonizing certain aspects of the
by demonizing certain aspects of the African reality those that we call
African reality those that we call
African reality those that we call informal but we do take the time to
informal but we do take the time to
informal but we do take the time to tokenize the few who are able to make
tokenize the few who are able to make
tokenize the few who are able to make that crossing from the informal to the
that crossing from the informal to the
that crossing from the informal to the form
form
form within these narrow definitions of
within these narrow definitions of
within these narrow definitions of modernity and development we see
modernity and development we see
modernity and development we see ourselves as heroes and civilizing signs
ourselves as heroes and civilizing signs
ourselves as heroes and civilizing signs of africa’s prosperous future
through our words and our actions we
through our words and our actions we make it clear to non professionals that
make it clear to non professionals that
make it clear to non professionals that they are not equipped to actively write
they are not equipped to actively write
they are not equipped to actively write Africa’s future they’re living a reality
Africa’s future they’re living a reality
Africa’s future they’re living a reality that must be changed they do not fit
that must be changed they do not fit
that must be changed they do not fit their collection of wants and needs they
their collection of wants and needs they
their collection of wants and needs they need to be empowered they need to be
need to be empowered they need to be
need to be empowered they need to be closed they need to be educated they
closed they need to be educated they
closed they need to be educated they need to be fed they need to be healed
need to be fed they need to be healed
need to be fed they need to be healed they need to be trained to become some
they need to be trained to become some
they need to be trained to become some version of professionals these beliefs
version of professionals these beliefs
version of professionals these beliefs are so internalized that parents tell
are so internalized that parents tell
are so internalized that parents tell their children not to be like there is
their children not to be like there is
their children not to be like there is no future in being like me there’s no
no future in being like me there’s no
no future in being like me there’s no future in being like us in following the
future in being like us in following the
future in being like us in following the ways that came before us
ways that came before us
ways that came before us so we accept the progress lies in
so we accept the progress lies in
so we accept the progress lies in changing to become this version of
changing to become this version of
changing to become this version of modernity he went to the city she went
modernity he went to the city she went
modernity he went to the city she went to America at best the modernity that we
to America at best the modernity that we
to America at best the modernity that we live that we champion was fashioned by a
live that we champion was fashioned by a
live that we champion was fashioned by a small group of elites who participated
small group of elites who participated
small group of elites who participated in creating these definitions
in creating these definitions
in creating these definitions at worst these definitions these modern
at worst these definitions these modern
at worst these definitions these modern standards we aspire to were created by
standards we aspire to were created by
standards we aspire to were created by others sometimes imposed in other times
others sometimes imposed in other times
others sometimes imposed in other times willingly adopted
as you can see and are no doubt aware
as you can see and are no doubt aware these are serious and complex issues
these are serious and complex issues
these are serious and complex issues that are occupying the hearts and minds
that are occupying the hearts and minds
that are occupying the hearts and minds and the visions and missions of
and the visions and missions of
and the visions and missions of political movements and institutions on
political movements and institutions on
political movements and institutions on the continent and across the globe but
the continent and across the globe but
the continent and across the globe but even as we acknowledge these initiatives
even as we acknowledge these initiatives
even as we acknowledge these initiatives it is clear that we have put a lot of
it is clear that we have put a lot of
it is clear that we have put a lot of eggs in this modernization basket and we
eggs in this modernization basket and we
eggs in this modernization basket and we need to make sure that we are over at
need to make sure that we are over at
need to make sure that we are over at least find that we have not put or
least find that we have not put or
least find that we have not put or gotten the resources that we wanted from
gotten the resources that we wanted from
gotten the resources that we wanted from that basket
that basket
that basket we listened when we were told that all
we listened when we were told that all
we listened when we were told that all the things needed to change for us to be
the things needed to change for us to be
the things needed to change for us to be modern and developed we built entire
modern and developed we built entire
modern and developed we built entire systems and economies invested millions
systems and economies invested millions
systems and economies invested millions if not billions of US dollars on their
if not billions of US dollars on their
if not billions of US dollars on their assumption and expectation that by
assumption and expectation that by
assumption and expectation that by creating these pathways our young people
creating these pathways our young people
creating these pathways our young people will end up as part of this group of
will end up as part of this group of
will end up as part of this group of professionals they will work in offices
professionals they will work in offices
professionals they will work in offices they will dress in suits they will drive
they will dress in suits they will drive
they will dress in suits they will drive cars they will live in three-bedroom
cars they will live in three-bedroom
cars they will live in three-bedroom houses with quarters in the back for the
houses with quarters in the back for the
houses with quarters in the back for the help they will have health insurance
help they will have health insurance
help they will have health insurance they will travel for their holidays they
they will travel for their holidays they
they will travel for their holidays they will enjoy all these perks of being
will enjoy all these perks of being
will enjoy all these perks of being modern some of us realized or came to
modern some of us realized or came to
modern some of us realized or came to the conclusion that this panacea of
the conclusion that this panacea of
the conclusion that this panacea of modernity was too good to be true not
modernity was too good to be true not
modernity was too good to be true not worth all the changes that were expected
worth all the changes that were expected
worth all the changes that were expected and so we chose to go to the so-called
and so we chose to go to the so-called
and so we chose to go to the so-called wisdom of those who came before us and
wisdom of those who came before us and
wisdom of those who came before us and so incorporate traditional architecture
so incorporate traditional architecture
so incorporate traditional architecture into our homes revert back to farming
into our homes revert back to farming
into our homes revert back to farming which ham P&R and natural hair secrets
which ham P&R and natural hair secrets
which ham P&R and natural hair secrets between these two caricatures is where
between these two caricatures is where
between these two caricatures is where most of us live constantly constantly
most of us live constantly constantly
most of us live constantly constantly negotiating our Africanist trying to
negotiating our Africanist trying to
negotiating our Africanist trying to live within these narrow definitions
live within these narrow definitions
live within these narrow definitions that are presented definitions are many
that are presented definitions are many
that are presented definitions are many of us live by but never have the time or
of us live by but never have the time or
of us live by but never have the time or the opportunity to interrogate
if we continue on this path that we are
if we continue on this path that we are most of the continents population will
most of the continents population will
most of the continents population will continue to be locked out of the process
continue to be locked out of the process
continue to be locked out of the process of being able to participate
of being able to participate
of being able to participate meaningfully in constructing these
meaningfully in constructing these
meaningfully in constructing these definitions because they are considered
definitions because they are considered
definitions because they are considered too needy or too ill-equipped to
too needy or too ill-equipped to
too needy or too ill-equipped to participate
participate
participate we also cannot go back to the past
we also cannot go back to the past
we also cannot go back to the past because very few people who are alive
because very few people who are alive
because very few people who are alive then are alive now
then are alive now
then are alive now and we cannot unlearn what we have
and we cannot unlearn what we have
and we cannot unlearn what we have learned or we have seen what we have
learned or we have seen what we have
learned or we have seen what we have heard what we have eaten all such an
heard what we have eaten all such an
heard what we have eaten all such an approach would do is create a
approach would do is create a
approach would do is create a restrictive fundamentalism that would
restrictive fundamentalism that would
restrictive fundamentalism that would create a painful and violent reality
create a painful and violent reality
create a painful and violent reality especially to those who are most
especially to those who are most
especially to those who are most vulnerable in society
so what do we do now that we find
so what do we do now that we find ourselves in this conundrum do we ride
ourselves in this conundrum do we ride
ourselves in this conundrum do we ride this modernity train and take it
this modernity train and take it
this modernity train and take it wherever it takes us or do we hop over
wherever it takes us or do we hop over
wherever it takes us or do we hop over to the one that takes us back to our
to the one that takes us back to our
to the one that takes us back to our roots or do we change the terms of the
roots or do we change the terms of the
roots or do we change the terms of the discussion altogether and rise above the
discussion altogether and rise above the
discussion altogether and rise above the dichotomy that is before us
you
you we pick the third one then one question
we pick the third one then one question
we pick the third one then one question we can ask ourselves is what does
we can ask ourselves is what does
we can ask ourselves is what does deliberate an inclusive discussion of
deliberate an inclusive discussion of
deliberate an inclusive discussion of Africa’s future and look like if they’re
Africa’s future and look like if they’re
Africa’s future and look like if they’re deliberate discussions happening already
deliberate discussions happening already
deliberate discussions happening already let us ask where are they happening in
let us ask where are they happening in
let us ask where are they happening in government offices in Parliament’s and
government offices in Parliament’s and
government offices in Parliament’s and cities at civil society conferences in
cities at civil society conferences in
cities at civil society conferences in academic journals in summits hosted in
academic journals in summits hosted in
academic journals in summits hosted in European cities in languages and
European cities in languages and
European cities in languages and vocabulary only understood by a select
vocabulary only understood by a select
vocabulary only understood by a select group of people is it an auditorium such
group of people is it an auditorium such
group of people is it an auditorium such as these where people pay for the
as these where people pay for the
as these where people pay for the opportunity to hear great thinkers and
opportunity to hear great thinkers and
opportunity to hear great thinkers and innovators tell us their big ideas
if so if we agree that perhaps they are
if so if we agree that perhaps they are deliberate but not inclusive then we
deliberate but not inclusive then we
deliberate but not inclusive then we should go on and ask what would it look
should go on and ask what would it look
should go on and ask what would it look like if you were more inclusive in this
like if you were more inclusive in this
like if you were more inclusive in this conversations what if agronomists told
conversations what if agronomists told
conversations what if agronomists told farmers that the wisdom of practices
farmers that the wisdom of practices
farmers that the wisdom of practices such as protection and mixed farming in
such as protection and mixed farming in
such as protection and mixed farming in seed exchanges actually correlated
seed exchanges actually correlated
seed exchanges actually correlated scientific findings and together come to
scientific findings and together come to
scientific findings and together come to address the issue of food security on
address the issue of food security on
address the issue of food security on the continent and across the globe
what if economists and manufacturers and
what if economists and manufacturers and lorry drivers and shopkeepers in market
lorry drivers and shopkeepers in market
lorry drivers and shopkeepers in market women came together on a regular basis
women came together on a regular basis
women came together on a regular basis to explore and understand economic
to explore and understand economic
to explore and understand economic behavior in a given community
what what are the discussions about the
what what are the discussions about the investments in human resources for
investments in human resources for
investments in human resources for health actually recognized and included
health actually recognized and included
health actually recognized and included the thousands of women and girls who
the thousands of women and girls who
the thousands of women and girls who every year sacrificed their labor for
every year sacrificed their labor for
every year sacrificed their labor for others in the home
lots of ideas worth spreading were
lots of ideas worth spreading were hosted in homes in local halls in
hosted in homes in local halls in
hosted in homes in local halls in football pitches in churches and mosques
football pitches in churches and mosques
football pitches in churches and mosques advertised on the radio through local
advertised on the radio through local
advertised on the radio through local leaders and influences and were led by
leaders and influences and were led by
leaders and influences and were led by your neighbors and your brothers and
your neighbors and your brothers and
your neighbors and your brothers and sisters
”
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