I have a friend her name is Kru rama and she recently went on an international
she recently went on an international
she recently went on an international from an Arts Festival in the United
from an Arts Festival in the United
from an Arts Festival in the United States she often tells us the story of
States she often tells us the story of
States she often tells us the story of how some of the other attendees ba once
how some of the other attendees ba once
how some of the other attendees ba once asked whether riding elephants to get to
asked whether riding elephants to get to
asked whether riding elephants to get to school was like our clinic and why was
school was like our clinic and why was
school was like our clinic and why was she was wearing normal clothes and not
she was wearing normal clothes and not
she was wearing normal clothes and not animal skin many of my friends and I had
animal skin many of my friends and I had
animal skin many of my friends and I had been asked several questions at least
been asked several questions at least
been asked several questions at least once in a lifetime where people asked us
once in a lifetime where people asked us
once in a lifetime where people asked us to speak the language African for them
to speak the language African for them
to speak the language African for them if we live in huh and how it is we even
if we live in huh and how it is we even
if we live in huh and how it is we even go to school
go to school
go to school I mean it’s Africa we often laughed
I mean it’s Africa we often laughed
I mean it’s Africa we often laughed ourselves as such remarks thinking okay
ourselves as such remarks thinking okay
ourselves as such remarks thinking okay so we’re so cool we never get traffic
so we’re so cool we never get traffic
so we’re so cool we never get traffic jams
jams
jams we have elephant jam but ladies and
we have elephant jam but ladies and
we have elephant jam but ladies and gentlemen the question that is of real
gentlemen the question that is of real
gentlemen the question that is of real importance here is actually about a
importance here is actually about a
importance here is actually about a perception because you see perceptions
perception because you see perceptions
perception because you see perceptions determine what we see and what we see
determine what we see and what we see
determine what we see and what we see determines what we believe and what we
determines what we believe and what we
determines what we believe and what we believe determines how we act my
believe determines how we act my
believe determines how we act my question for you all today is simple how
question for you all today is simple how
question for you all today is simple how do you really see my continent of Africa
do you really see my continent of Africa
do you really see my continent of Africa and to answer this question we’ll do a
and to answer this question we’ll do a
and to answer this question we’ll do a very very simple exercise I’m now like
very very simple exercise I’m now like
very very simple exercise I’m now like to take the time to request that you all
to take the time to request that you all
to take the time to request that you all close your eyes take a deep breath and
close your eyes take a deep breath and
close your eyes take a deep breath and think think about Africa think about all
think think about Africa think about all
think think about Africa think about all the images that are flashing past your
the images that are flashing past your
the images that are flashing past your mind what do you see maybe you see the
mind what do you see maybe you see the
mind what do you see maybe you see the outline of the continents with its
outline of the continents with its
outline of the continents with its rugged edges just as it look like in
rugged edges just as it look like in
rugged edges just as it look like in your geography textbook with South
your geography textbook with South
your geography textbook with South Africa a button with Congo right in the
Africa a button with Congo right in the
Africa a button with Congo right in the middle and with Egypt right at the top
middle and with Egypt right at the top
middle and with Egypt right at the top or maybe just maybe
or maybe just maybe
or maybe just maybe you can see something different you can
you can see something different you can
you can see something different you can see the children you can see the
see the children you can see the
see the children you can see the children Africa they all huddle together
children Africa they all huddle together
children Africa they all huddle together in a small classroom and they have
in a small classroom and they have
in a small classroom and they have hungry faces and tattered clothing and
hungry faces and tattered clothing and
hungry faces and tattered clothing and on top of that the teacher who barely
on top of that the teacher who barely
on top of that the teacher who barely has a public board to teach on it’s
has a public board to teach on it’s
has a public board to teach on it’s trying to do her best to do her job
trying to do her best to do her job
trying to do her best to do her job all of a sudden music starts playing in
all of a sudden music starts playing in
all of a sudden music starts playing in the background inspirational music and
the background inspirational music and
the background inspirational music and an ad pops up their names their names
an ad pops up their names their names
an ad pops up their names their names save a child in Africa or it just maybe
save a child in Africa or it just maybe
save a child in Africa or it just maybe I hope your eyes are still closed
I hope your eyes are still closed
I hope your eyes are still closed I feel of open eyes or maybe just maybe
I feel of open eyes or maybe just maybe
I feel of open eyes or maybe just maybe the image has flashing through your mind
the image has flashing through your mind
the image has flashing through your mind is that of an Africa with vast
is that of an Africa with vast
is that of an Africa with vast grasslands with wild animals and you’ve
grasslands with wild animals and you’ve
grasslands with wild animals and you’ve just gone on a safari
just gone on a safari
just gone on a safari you’ve gone there there’s no work no
you’ve gone there there’s no work no
you’ve gone there there’s no work no stress just peace it’s beautiful
stress just peace it’s beautiful
stress just peace it’s beautiful you go outside the balcony of your lodge
you go outside the balcony of your lodge
you go outside the balcony of your lodge and there you see a liar
and there you see a liar
and there you see a liar rawr it rolls at you and you can feel
rawr it rolls at you and you can feel
rawr it rolls at you and you can feel the blood pumping inside your veil you
the blood pumping inside your veil you
the blood pumping inside your veil you may open your eyes on whatever you just
may open your eyes on whatever you just
may open your eyes on whatever you just saw in your mind is important but for
saw in your mind is important but for
saw in your mind is important but for tonight it is irrelevant because my
tonight it is irrelevant because my
tonight it is irrelevant because my purpose is to transform your perception
purpose is to transform your perception
purpose is to transform your perception of Africa from something that may have
of Africa from something that may have
of Africa from something that may have been bad to something that is good she
been bad to something that is good she
been bad to something that is good she shares the life apart the dark continent
shares the life apart the dark continent
shares the life apart the dark continent so let’s forget Africa 54 countries a
so let’s forget Africa 54 countries a
so let’s forget Africa 54 countries a continent that is rich in minimal earth
continent that is rich in minimal earth
continent that is rich in minimal earth and mineral resources natural resources
and mineral resources natural resources
and mineral resources natural resources and yet it is still around one of the
and yet it is still around one of the
and yet it is still around one of the poorest places in the world with four
poorest places in the world with four
poorest places in the world with four hundred and fourteen million people
hundred and fourteen million people
hundred and fourteen million people living in extreme poverty about
living in extreme poverty about
living in extreme poverty about one-third
one-third
one-third the consonants lacking clean water and
the consonants lacking clean water and
the consonants lacking clean water and over forty eight point five percent of
over forty eight point five percent of
over forty eight point five percent of the sub-saharan population living on
the sub-saharan population living on
the sub-saharan population living on less than a dollar 25 a day the fact
less than a dollar 25 a day the fact
less than a dollar 25 a day the fact they all they always seems to be some
they all they always seems to be some
they all they always seems to be some sort of reason for this tragic
sort of reason for this tragic
sort of reason for this tragic phenomenon reasons like pervasive
phenomenon reasons like pervasive
phenomenon reasons like pervasive corruption or dysfunctional democratic
corruption or dysfunctional democratic
corruption or dysfunctional democratic institutions or incompetent and
institutions or incompetent and
institutions or incompetent and ineffective aid agencies or greedy
ineffective aid agencies or greedy
ineffective aid agencies or greedy multinational corporates okay there’s a
multinational corporates okay there’s a
multinational corporates okay there’s a lot and with the lot wrong maybe it is
lot and with the lot wrong maybe it is
lot and with the lot wrong maybe it is justified that Nicole this continent
justified that Nicole this continent
justified that Nicole this continent this big continent a charity case for
this big continent a charity case for
this big continent a charity case for you see the largest amounts of AIDS in
you see the largest amounts of AIDS in
you see the largest amounts of AIDS in the world are transferred from rich
the world are transferred from rich
the world are transferred from rich countries to ask in countries like Egypt
countries to ask in countries like Egypt
countries to ask in countries like Egypt like it’s yo Pia like to Vanya but I
like it’s yo Pia like to Vanya but I
like it’s yo Pia like to Vanya but I often wondered to myself I’ll be really
often wondered to myself I’ll be really
often wondered to myself I’ll be really healthy because the facts are telling us
healthy because the facts are telling us
healthy because the facts are telling us a very very different story
a very very different story
a very very different story to be honest a part of me does not blame
to be honest a part of me does not blame
to be honest a part of me does not blame the world for thinking this way you see
the world for thinking this way you see
the world for thinking this way you see media often shows a picture a picture a
media often shows a picture a picture a
media often shows a picture a picture a picture that is not as accurate as it
picture that is not as accurate as it
picture that is not as accurate as it should be a picture of a terrible case
should be a picture of a terrible case
should be a picture of a terrible case but is that all there is to this
but is that all there is to this
but is that all there is to this beautiful continent
beautiful continent
beautiful continent ladies and gentlemen I believe the time
ladies and gentlemen I believe the time
ladies and gentlemen I believe the time has come for us to transform the world’s
has come for us to transform the world’s
has come for us to transform the world’s perception of Africa to align it to the
perception of Africa to align it to the
perception of Africa to align it to the fact and more importantly to align it
fact and more importantly to align it
fact and more importantly to align it with reality there is a lot wrong with
with reality there is a lot wrong with
with reality there is a lot wrong with aids and it’s a reason warrior who is a
aids and it’s a reason warrior who is a
aids and it’s a reason warrior who is a world renowned economist notes that the
world renowned economist notes that the
world renowned economist notes that the insidious aid culture is causing African
insidious aid culture is causing African
insidious aid culture is causing African countries to become more dead later
countries to become more dead later
countries to become more dead later where inflation throat more vulnerable
where inflation throat more vulnerable
where inflation throat more vulnerable to the vaguely volatility markets and
to the vaguely volatility markets and
to the vaguely volatility markets and more unattractive to high-quality
more unattractive to high-quality
more unattractive to high-quality investment you see
investment you see
investment you see over the past she offers that over the
over the past she offers that over the
over the past she offers that over the past six years one trillion dollars of
past six years one trillion dollars of
past six years one trillion dollars of development related AIDS has been
development related AIDS has been
development related AIDS has been transferred from rich countries to
transferred from rich countries to
transferred from rich countries to African countries yes real per capita
African countries yes real per capita
African countries yes real per capita income today in Africa is less than it
income today in Africa is less than it
income today in Africa is less than it was in the 1970s
was in the 1970s
was in the 1970s I wouldn’t even born been on top of that
I wouldn’t even born been on top of that
I wouldn’t even born been on top of that I think countries will pay close to 20
I think countries will pay close to 20
I think countries will pay close to 20 billion dollars in depth V payments per
billion dollars in depth V payments per
billion dollars in depth V payments per year how these governments can grow with
year how these governments can grow with
year how these governments can grow with such a large burden on their back is
such a large burden on their back is
such a large burden on their back is also beyond meaning reminding us that
also beyond meaning reminding us that
also beyond meaning reminding us that not all ages actually free I once went
not all ages actually free I once went
not all ages actually free I once went to a conference in my home country in
to a conference in my home country in
to a conference in my home country in Zimbabwe and we were all asked to go
Zimbabwe and we were all asked to go
Zimbabwe and we were all asked to go around the table and say one our current
around the table and say one our current
around the table and say one our current aspirations were some of the woman were
aspirations were some of the woman were
aspirations were some of the woman were quick to respond by saying well I want
quick to respond by saying well I want
quick to respond by saying well I want to open the charity or I want to open an
to open the charity or I want to open an
to open the charity or I want to open an NGO and love these aspirations are very
NGO and love these aspirations are very
NGO and love these aspirations are very very noble indeed I often wondered to
very noble indeed I often wondered to
very noble indeed I often wondered to myself if the only reason they are
myself if the only reason they are
myself if the only reason they are saying this is because that’s all they
saying this is because that’s all they
saying this is because that’s all they have been exposed to my point is this
have been exposed to my point is this
have been exposed to my point is this Aid is creating a beggar mentality among
Aid is creating a beggar mentality among
Aid is creating a beggar mentality among many African people as more and more
many African people as more and more
many African people as more and more people are aspiring to work for
people are aspiring to work for
people are aspiring to work for humanitarian organizations like the UN
humanitarian organizations like the UN
humanitarian organizations like the UN instead of aspiring for entrepreneurship
instead of aspiring for entrepreneurship
instead of aspiring for entrepreneurship and innovation and sustainable economic
and innovation and sustainable economic
and innovation and sustainable economic development the media proposed these
development the media proposed these
development the media proposed these pictures on and on and on and they are
pictures on and on and on and they are
pictures on and on and on and they are indeed here but I wonder are they
indeed here but I wonder are they
indeed here but I wonder are they sincerely flawed as well ask me what I
sincerely flawed as well ask me what I
sincerely flawed as well ask me what I see when I see my continent of Africa
see when I see my continent of Africa
see when I see my continent of Africa and my answer will be simple potential
and my answer will be simple potential
and my answer will be simple potential much much potential the continent has
much much potential the continent has
much much potential the continent has one of the fastest growing populations
one of the fastest growing populations
one of the fastest growing populations in the entire world and with more people
in the entire world and with more people
in the entire world and with more people we are not going to need more aids but
we are not going to need more aids but
we are not going to need more aids but more
more
more economic so envision this it is the Year
economic so envision this it is the Year
economic so envision this it is the Year 24th 50 and instead of having seven
24th 50 and instead of having seven
24th 50 and instead of having seven billion people around the world to hang
billion people around the world to hang
billion people around the world to hang out with you actually have nine point
out with you actually have nine point
out with you actually have nine point six billion people why because well
six billion people why because well
six billion people why because well people have been having a lot of babies
people have been having a lot of babies
people have been having a lot of babies some of your very very serious concerns
some of your very very serious concerns
some of your very very serious concerns with this drastic increase in population
with this drastic increase in population
with this drastic increase in population might include your Wi-Fi connection you
might include your Wi-Fi connection you
might include your Wi-Fi connection you know going too slow or maybe even your
know going too slow or maybe even your
know going too slow or maybe even your mannequin challenge video more unwanted
mannequin challenge video more unwanted
mannequin challenge video more unwanted movements but this most serious one
movements but this most serious one
movements but this most serious one actually is that off your food you are
actually is that off your food you are
actually is that off your food you are hungry and you go to a truck and they
hungry and you go to a truck and they
hungry and you go to a truck and they tell you sorry we’re out of stock too
tell you sorry we’re out of stock too
tell you sorry we’re out of stock too many humans you probably should have
many humans you probably should have
many humans you probably should have come earlier because global food demand
come earlier because global food demand
come earlier because global food demand has increased by 69 percent yet well the
has increased by 69 percent yet well the
has increased by 69 percent yet well the food production hasn’t changed that much
food production hasn’t changed that much
food production hasn’t changed that much what are you gonna do this is really
what are you gonna do this is really
what are you gonna do this is really true in 2050 what are you gonna do well
true in 2050 what are you gonna do well
true in 2050 what are you gonna do well it just happens that Africa is in a
it just happens that Africa is in a
it just happens that Africa is in a unique position to solve your problems
unique position to solve your problems
unique position to solve your problems and profit from doing so process you see
and profit from doing so process you see
and profit from doing so process you see the continent has around 600 million
the continent has around 600 million
the continent has around 600 million hectares of the world’s arable land
hectares of the world’s arable land
hectares of the world’s arable land that’s about 60 percent of the global
that’s about 60 percent of the global
that’s about 60 percent of the global total that is the key to opportunities
total that is the key to opportunities
total that is the key to opportunities in agriculture and Africa is a focus on
in agriculture and Africa is a focus on
in agriculture and Africa is a focus on utilization instead of ownership with
utilization instead of ownership with
utilization instead of ownership with less governmental red tape that’s on us
less governmental red tape that’s on us
less governmental red tape that’s on us with more foreign direct investments
with more foreign direct investments
with more foreign direct investments that’s on you and the production of
that’s on you and the production of
that’s on you and the production of completed end-user goods we can make
completed end-user goods we can make
completed end-user goods we can make Africa the China of the food industry
Africa the China of the food industry
Africa the China of the food industry what else do I’ve seen you might be
what else do I’ve seen you might be
what else do I’ve seen you might be asking well I see an Africa whose
asking well I see an Africa whose
asking well I see an Africa whose leaders are learning to love and to lead
leaders are learning to love and to lead
leaders are learning to love and to lead through love not to cry
through love not to cry
through love not to cry for you see mr. Nelson Mandela one of
for you see mr. Nelson Mandela one of
for you see mr. Nelson Mandela one of the great political leaders of our time
the great political leaders of our time
the great political leaders of our time he came from Africa to show the world
he came from Africa to show the world
he came from Africa to show the world that African leaders are indeed capable
that African leaders are indeed capable
that African leaders are indeed capable of upright and just leadership now I
of upright and just leadership now I
of upright and just leadership now I know all of you are very very smart in
know all of you are very very smart in
know all of you are very very smart in this room and you’re probably thinking
this room and you’re probably thinking
this room and you’re probably thinking to yourself well to be honest Kimberly
to yourself well to be honest Kimberly
to yourself well to be honest Kimberly mr. Mandela was actually an exception he
mr. Mandela was actually an exception he
mr. Mandela was actually an exception he doesn’t use an anomaly other
doesn’t use an anomaly other
doesn’t use an anomaly other African leaders don’t actually do it
African leaders don’t actually do it
African leaders don’t actually do it this way to that I say no
this way to that I say no
this way to that I say no mr. Mandela was not an exception he was
mr. Mandela was not an exception he was
mr. Mandela was not an exception he was an example an example for the world to
an example an example for the world to
an example an example for the world to follow and an example that other African
follow and an example that other African
follow and an example that other African leaders are trying to replicate leaders
leaders are trying to replicate leaders
leaders are trying to replicate leaders like President Honda of Namibia and
like President Honda of Namibia and
like President Honda of Namibia and president Ohio of Botswana the key to
president Ohio of Botswana the key to
president Ohio of Botswana the key to reducing poverty and corruption in
reducing poverty and corruption in
reducing poverty and corruption in Africa is not to shy away from this from
Africa is not to shy away from this from
Africa is not to shy away from this from investing nor is it to give us eight but
investing nor is it to give us eight but
investing nor is it to give us eight but rather to believe that we want to see a
rather to believe that we want to see a
rather to believe that we want to see a change just as much as the world does
change just as much as the world does
change just as much as the world does and to help the middle class grow lastly
and to help the middle class grow lastly
and to help the middle class grow lastly what do I speak well I guess I can sum
what do I speak well I guess I can sum
what do I speak well I guess I can sum it all up by saying I see a place where
it all up by saying I see a place where
it all up by saying I see a place where you all can country and enjoy the
you all can country and enjoy the
you all can country and enjoy the beautiful scenery interacts with amazing
beautiful scenery interacts with amazing
beautiful scenery interacts with amazing and hardworking people and never ever
and hardworking people and never ever
and hardworking people and never ever ever again
ever again
ever again have to fear getting stuck in an illicit
have to fear getting stuck in an illicit
have to fear getting stuck in an illicit gem though I can’t guarantee from our
gem though I can’t guarantee from our
gem though I can’t guarantee from our traffic jams we also have that problem
traffic jams we also have that problem
traffic jams we also have that problem yes
yes
yes well I’m the first to admit that we are
well I’m the first to admit that we are
well I’m the first to admit that we are not perfect I’m also the first to stand
not perfect I’m also the first to stand
not perfect I’m also the first to stand up for the fact that we are getting
up for the fact that we are getting
up for the fact that we are getting there I hope you now all see a different
there I hope you now all see a different
there I hope you now all see a different picture of Africa I hope when you close
picture of Africa I hope when you close
picture of Africa I hope when you close your eyes either at night or just now
your eyes either at night or just now
your eyes either at night or just now when you close your eyes
when you close your eyes
when you close your eyes the images that flash past your minds
the images that flash past your minds
the images that flash past your minds are those of potential are those of
are those of potential are those of
are those of potential are those of agriculture of those and leadership all
agriculture of those and leadership all
agriculture of those and leadership all we think when you think of Africa I hope
we think when you think of Africa I hope
we think when you think of Africa I hope you see good do you now see the 54
you see good do you now see the 54
you see good do you now see the 54 countries all around the continent that
countries all around the continent that
countries all around the continent that are asking you also to rethink aids and
are asking you also to rethink aids and
are asking you also to rethink aids and reconsider investing because remember
reconsider investing because remember
reconsider investing because remember perceptions matter they determine what
perceptions matter they determine what
perceptions matter they determine what we see and what we see determines what
we see and what we see determines what
we see and what we see determines what we believe and what we believe
we believe and what we believe
we believe and what we believe determines how we act as an official
determines how we act as an official
determines how we act as an official brand ambassador of Africa I would now
brand ambassador of Africa I would now
brand ambassador of Africa I would now like to declare then my continent is no
like to declare then my continent is no
like to declare then my continent is no longer a charity case but the home of
longer a charity case but the home of
longer a charity case but the home of potential and that this idea this vision
potential and that this idea this vision
potential and that this idea this vision is not only one with reading but one or
is not only one with reading but one or
is not only one with reading but one or it’s doing
it’s doing
it’s doing [Applause]
”
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