yes I’m honored to be here it’s good to be asked to be on this red carpet my
be asked to be on this red carpet my
be asked to be on this red carpet my topic today is context is freedom
topic today is context is freedom
topic today is context is freedom basically we’re gonna talk about how we
basically we’re gonna talk about how we
basically we’re gonna talk about how we frame ourselves as Africans how we see
frame ourselves as Africans how we see
frame ourselves as Africans how we see ourselves as Africans omastar was a Star
ourselves as Africans omastar was a Star
ourselves as Africans omastar was a Star Trek fan I grew up watching Captain
Trek fan I grew up watching Captain
Trek fan I grew up watching Captain jean-luc Picard boldly going where no
jean-luc Picard boldly going where no
jean-luc Picard boldly going where no one has gone before
one has gone before
one has gone before and it was nice to see the opportunity
and it was nice to see the opportunity
and it was nice to see the opportunity of maybe as human beings being able to
of maybe as human beings being able to
of maybe as human beings being able to discover other worlds and discover other
discover other worlds and discover other
discover other worlds and discover other people so even as I grew older I began
people so even as I grew older I began
people so even as I grew older I began downloading as every kenyan does or
downloading as every kenyan does or
downloading as every kenyan does or buying episodes of the oldest a trek the
buying episodes of the oldest a trek the
buying episodes of the oldest a trek the Spock and Kirk generation so I was
Spock and Kirk generation so I was
Spock and Kirk generation so I was really happy when Netflix decided to
really happy when Netflix decided to
really happy when Netflix decided to reboot it and they now have a Star Trek
reboot it and they now have a Star Trek
reboot it and they now have a Star Trek reboot 2017 reboot that’s going on right
reboot 2017 reboot that’s going on right
reboot 2017 reboot that’s going on right now I’m an avid fan but my favorite line
now I’m an avid fan but my favorite line
now I’m an avid fan but my favorite line in that reboot is you chose to do the
in that reboot is you chose to do the
in that reboot is you chose to do the right thing above what was sanctioned
right thing above what was sanctioned
right thing above what was sanctioned that’s the kind of thinking that wins
that’s the kind of thinking that wins
that’s the kind of thinking that wins was the kind of thinking that I need
was the kind of thinking that I need
was the kind of thinking that I need next to me because universal law is for
next to me because universal law is for
next to me because universal law is for Lackey’s context is for kings when I was
Lackey’s context is for kings when I was
Lackey’s context is for kings when I was thinking of what I wanted to say I was
thinking of what I wanted to say I was
thinking of what I wanted to say I was watching Star Trek and I realized that’s
watching Star Trek and I realized that’s
watching Star Trek and I realized that’s exactly where my heart lies in that how
exactly where my heart lies in that how
exactly where my heart lies in that how do we frame ourselves it is good that
do we frame ourselves it is good that
do we frame ourselves it is good that content is king but what about context
content is king but what about context
content is king but what about context in 2014 the IMF came up with a workshop
in 2014 the IMF came up with a workshop
in 2014 the IMF came up with a workshop that they called Africa rising and ever
that they called Africa rising and ever
that they called Africa rising and ever since then Africa has been raising in
since then Africa has been raising in
since then Africa has been raising in every sphere in tech in agriculture in
every sphere in tech in agriculture in
every sphere in tech in agriculture in media production which are mean
media production which are mean
media production which are mean everything is Africa rising Africa
everything is Africa rising Africa
everything is Africa rising Africa rising the Dark Continent Hazari nations
rising the Dark Continent Hazari nations
rising the Dark Continent Hazari nations finally there’s a light shining on us to
finally there’s a light shining on us to
finally there’s a light shining on us to show what we are doing rather than what
show what we are doing rather than what
show what we are doing rather than what we are known for which is mostly
we are known for which is mostly
we are known for which is mostly corruption being a war disease
corruption being a war disease
corruption being a war disease but then I still don’t know if people
but then I still don’t know if people
but then I still don’t know if people are really thinking about it in the same
are really thinking about it in the same
are really thinking about it in the same value of context as a documentary and co
value of context as a documentary and co
value of context as a documentary and co and conservation photographer the key
and conservation photographer the key
and conservation photographer the key thing that I focus on and the people I
thing that I focus on and the people I
thing that I focus on and the people I work with focus on is being able to
work with focus on is being able to
work with focus on is being able to marry the right moment in time within
marry the right moment in time within
marry the right moment in time within it’s the right context as a result we’ve
it’s the right context as a result we’ve
it’s the right context as a result we’ve been able to put out content out there
been able to put out content out there
been able to put out content out there where people are proud of when they see
where people are proud of when they see
where people are proud of when they see Kenya when they see Africa because right
Kenya when they see Africa because right
Kenya when they see Africa because right now we are not just showing Africa in
now we are not just showing Africa in
now we are not just showing Africa in the right lights but also showing it
the right lights but also showing it
the right lights but also showing it within the right context yes we have
within the right context yes we have
within the right context yes we have disease yes we have death yes we have
disease yes we have death yes we have
disease yes we have death yes we have corruption but I don’t think it makes us
corruption but I don’t think it makes us
corruption but I don’t think it makes us any less proud of who we are instead of
any less proud of who we are instead of
any less proud of who we are instead of it being the either/or of some of the
it being the either/or of some of the
it being the either/or of some of the speakers here have said it is the end
speakers here have said it is the end
speakers here have said it is the end and so the reason I speak about context
and so the reason I speak about context
and so the reason I speak about context is because context frames content you
is because context frames content you
is because context frames content you cannot produce content by itself and the
cannot produce content by itself and the
cannot produce content by itself and the worst of itself be divorced of context
worst of itself be divorced of context
worst of itself be divorced of context and expect people to be able to
and expect people to be able to
and expect people to be able to understand what it is you’re saying I
understand what it is you’re saying I
understand what it is you’re saying I came across this the first time in 2007
came across this the first time in 2007
came across this the first time in 2007 I was shooting in Kibera right before
I was shooting in Kibera right before
I was shooting in Kibera right before the election the famous election
the election the famous election
the election the famous election happened in Kenya and two rival
happened in Kenya and two rival
happened in Kenya and two rival communities had come together to build
communities had come together to build
communities had come together to build bio latrines to be able to enable the
bio latrines to be able to enable the
bio latrines to be able to enable the people within the communities to have a
people within the communities to have a
people within the communities to have a safe place to go and do their business
safe place to go and do their business
safe place to go and do their business yet at the same time be able to generate
yet at the same time be able to generate
yet at the same time be able to generate energy needed for cooking so I did this
energy needed for cooking so I did this
energy needed for cooking so I did this project for nearly two months and at one
project for nearly two months and at one
project for nearly two months and at one point I stopped to take a photo of a
point I stopped to take a photo of a
point I stopped to take a photo of a child who had sat down now this child
child who had sat down now this child
child who had sat down now this child was tired since the community didn’t
was tired since the community didn’t
was tired since the community didn’t have people to come and do the building
have people to come and do the building
have people to come and do the building they were building these latrines
they were building these latrines
they were building these latrines themselves so everybody chipped in the
themselves so everybody chipped in the
themselves so everybody chipped in the kids helped with clearing the sites the
kids helped with clearing the sites the
kids helped with clearing the sites the women helped bringing in the stones and
women helped bringing in the stones and
women helped bringing in the stones and the cement and the men put together
the cement and the men put together
the cement and the men put together everything and built the structure so
everything and built the structure so
everything and built the structure so this child was tired he had carried
this child was tired he had carried
this child was tired he had carried stones the whole morning he had cleared
stones the whole morning he had cleared
stones the whole morning he had cleared the place of sticks and of logs and he
the place of sticks and of logs and he
the place of sticks and of logs and he sat down and I took a photo of this
sat down and I took a photo of this
sat down and I took a photo of this child and
child and
child and laughter at some point I posted it
laughter at some point I posted it
laughter at some point I posted it somewhere and someone I knew came and
somewhere and someone I knew came and
somewhere and someone I knew came and said oh it’s the typical Kabira story a
said oh it’s the typical Kabira story a
said oh it’s the typical Kabira story a child looking sad sitting looking into
child looking sad sitting looking into
child looking sad sitting looking into the distance and I said no he’s not sad
the distance and I said no he’s not sad
the distance and I said no he’s not sad he’s tired but we kept going back and
he’s tired but we kept going back and
he’s tired but we kept going back and forth over what this child was doing is
forth over what this child was doing is
forth over what this child was doing is he sad is he tired and I took that home
he sad is he tired and I took that home
he sad is he tired and I took that home with me because I realized that I had
with me because I realized that I had
with me because I realized that I had misrepresented this child and so that
misrepresented this child and so that
misrepresented this child and so that things stuck in my mind for a long time
things stuck in my mind for a long time
things stuck in my mind for a long time because I kept asking myself how can I
because I kept asking myself how can I
because I kept asking myself how can I do this better how can I show our people
do this better how can I show our people
do this better how can I show our people one with dignity but to in a realistic
one with dignity but to in a realistic
one with dignity but to in a realistic way that’s when I learned about context
way that’s when I learned about context
way that’s when I learned about context I realized that we cannot divorce our
I realized that we cannot divorce our
I realized that we cannot divorce our subs as content creators we cannot
subs as content creators we cannot
subs as content creators we cannot divorce our subject from his ecosystem
divorce our subject from his ecosystem
divorce our subject from his ecosystem we have to be able to find a way to
we have to be able to find a way to
we have to be able to find a way to include the two of them within the
include the two of them within the
include the two of them within the content we are producing therefore be
content we are producing therefore be
content we are producing therefore be able to have a realistic image of who
able to have a realistic image of who
able to have a realistic image of who hears our people now the people who have
hears our people now the people who have
hears our people now the people who have done this very well is the United States
done this very well is the United States
done this very well is the United States of America they produce content in a way
of America they produce content in a way
of America they produce content in a way that makes you want to go to America
that makes you want to go to America
that makes you want to go to America everybody here grew up at a time or was
everybody here grew up at a time or was
everybody here grew up at a time or was alive at a time when people are going to
alive at a time when people are going to
alive at a time when people are going to the States everybody is going to study
the States everybody is going to study
the States everybody is going to study or to look for a job to become a nanny
or to look for a job to become a nanny
or to look for a job to become a nanny to watch old people everyone was going
to watch old people everyone was going
to watch old people everyone was going to the States to do something and it was
to the States to do something and it was
to the States to do something and it was sad because I remember somebody telling
sad because I remember somebody telling
sad because I remember somebody telling me why are people going to the States
me why are people going to the States
me why are people going to the States when they have lives back here and I
when they have lives back here and I
when they have lives back here and I realize it’s because of the content that
realize it’s because of the content that
realize it’s because of the content that were producing we all saw how America
were producing we all saw how America
were producing we all saw how America was saving the world from an English or
was saving the world from an English or
was saving the world from an English or Asian or a Russian in some cinematic
Asian or a Russian in some cinematic
Asian or a Russian in some cinematic style being able to shoot all the thugs
style being able to shoot all the thugs
style being able to shoot all the thugs in one with one shot and save the world
in one with one shot and save the world
in one with one shot and save the world but that is how they show their country
but that is how they show their country
but that is how they show their country and therefore people are proud to be
and therefore people are proud to be
and therefore people are proud to be called Americans or want to be called
called Americans or want to be called
called Americans or want to be called Americans there’s a whole exodus of
Americans there’s a whole exodus of
Americans there’s a whole exodus of Africans from all over the continent
Africans from all over the continent
Africans from all over the continent going to America to try to live this
going to America to try to live this
going to America to try to live this American dream because we content
American dream because we content
American dream because we content creators or rather their content
creators or rather their content
creators or rather their content creators have shown America in a
creators have shown America in a
creators have shown America in a different light why are we not doing the
different light why are we not doing the
different light why are we not doing the same for us in Africa
same for us in Africa
same for us in Africa content makes people consume what it is
content makes people consume what it is
content makes people consume what it is that your context make people produce
that your context make people produce
that your context make people produce the con consume the content you’re
the con consume the content you’re
the con consume the content you’re producing in the way that you want them
producing in the way that you want them
producing in the way that you want them to see it but then in Africa what has
to see it but then in Africa what has
to see it but then in Africa what has happened is our politicians or our
happened is our politicians or our
happened is our politicians or our authoritarians have stifled the
authoritarians have stifled the
authoritarians have stifled the production of content and therefore been
production of content and therefore been
production of content and therefore been able to regulate even how we view
able to regulate even how we view
able to regulate even how we view ourselves and in the context that we
ourselves and in the context that we
ourselves and in the context that we view ourselves as a result we only
view ourselves as a result we only
view ourselves as a result we only believe ourselves through a single story
believe ourselves through a single story
believe ourselves through a single story or a single lens and we all know the
or a single lens and we all know the
or a single lens and we all know the dangers of a single story we either are
dangers of a single story we either are
dangers of a single story we either are this community or we had that community
this community or we had that community
this community or we had that community versus this community and there’s
versus this community and there’s
versus this community and there’s nothing else in between hence we are
nothing else in between hence we are
nothing else in between hence we are always at war we’re always fighting
always at war we’re always fighting
always at war we’re always fighting always killing each other because of a
always killing each other because of a
always killing each other because of a single narrative yet if we knew
single narrative yet if we knew
single narrative yet if we knew everything in context I think would be
everything in context I think would be
everything in context I think would be able to question why we’re actually
able to question why we’re actually
able to question why we’re actually doing what we’re doing but this is not
doing what we’re doing but this is not
doing what we’re doing but this is not their fault it’s actually who are taught
their fault it’s actually who are taught
their fault it’s actually who are taught this by the British the colonialists
this by the British the colonialists
this by the British the colonialists came and told us that we were meant for
came and told us that we were meant for
came and told us that we were meant for one thing to be subjects and we believed
one thing to be subjects and we believed
one thing to be subjects and we believed them but then the British also made two
them but then the British also made two
them but then the British also made two mistakes one is they made us go to war
mistakes one is they made us go to war
mistakes one is they made us go to war for them it is said of a hundred and
for them it is said of a hundred and
for them it is said of a hundred and sixty thousand Africans went to war for
sixty thousand Africans went to war for
sixty thousand Africans went to war for the British was they did not even
the British was they did not even
the British was they did not even understand my own grandfather went to
understand my own grandfather went to
understand my own grandfather went to Burma I don’t think he had been beyond
Burma I don’t think he had been beyond
Burma I don’t think he had been beyond his village before that and he
his village before that and he
his village before that and he fourteen-hour against an enemy he didn’t
fourteen-hour against an enemy he didn’t
fourteen-hour against an enemy he didn’t understand Japanese how do you take a
understand Japanese how do you take a
understand Japanese how do you take a lui a man to go and fight Japanese
lui a man to go and fight Japanese
lui a man to go and fight Japanese doesn’t make sense but then he came back
doesn’t make sense but then he came back
doesn’t make sense but then he came back and he came back with stories of how
and he came back with stories of how
and he came back with stories of how this white man is actually a weak man
this white man is actually a weak man
this white man is actually a weak man that he is afraid of the changes in
that he is afraid of the changes in
that he is afraid of the changes in weather
weather
weather he gets the Sun beats him so hard that
he gets the Sun beats him so hard that
he gets the Sun beats him so hard that he is unable to you know to hide to
he is unable to you know to hide to
he is unable to you know to hide to fight with every other person he runs to
fight with every other person he runs to
fight with every other person he runs to the back when he tells the other
the back when he tells the other
the back when he tells the other Africans to go and fight the changes in
Africans to go and fight the changes in
Africans to go and fight the changes in in climate also affect him very
in climate also affect him very
in climate also affect him very significantly than the other Africans
significantly than the other Africans
significantly than the other Africans because he’s not too used to a tropical
because he’s not too used to a tropical
because he’s not too used to a tropical climate therefore he is not always
climate therefore he is not always
climate therefore he is not always available so the Africans have to
available so the Africans have to
available so the Africans have to command themselves most of the time
command themselves most of the time
command themselves most of the time thirdly he is also very sensitive to
thirdly he is also very sensitive to
thirdly he is also very sensitive to changes in
changes in
changes in like the insect so in sickness he gets
like the insect so in sickness he gets
like the insect so in sickness he gets malaria very easily when we Africans had
malaria very easily when we Africans had
malaria very easily when we Africans had a bit of an advantage so they began
a bit of an advantage so they began
a bit of an advantage so they began demystifying this demigod that we had
demystifying this demigod that we had
demystifying this demigod that we had called the colonialist then in the 50s
called the colonialist then in the 50s
called the colonialist then in the 50s Africans again went to school they
Africans again went to school they
Africans again went to school they studied the land about things like
studied the land about things like
studied the land about things like freedom democracy they began knowing
freedom democracy they began knowing
freedom democracy they began knowing that they actually had they had the
that they actually had they had the
that they actually had they had the right to be a people Martin Luther
right to be a people Martin Luther
right to be a people Martin Luther actually said Martin Luther the third
actually said Martin Luther the third
actually said Martin Luther the third actually said that the Negro began
actually said that the Negro began
actually said that the Negro began knowing that he was somebody and that
knowing that he was somebody and that
knowing that he was somebody and that began planting the seeds in the seedbed
began planting the seeds in the seedbed
began planting the seeds in the seedbed of Independence and self-rule we began
of Independence and self-rule we began
of Independence and self-rule we began knowing that we as a people can actually
knowing that we as a people can actually
knowing that we as a people can actually rule ourselves so those two mystics led
rule ourselves so those two mystics led
rule ourselves so those two mystics led to us as a Commonwealth to start
to us as a Commonwealth to start
to us as a Commonwealth to start realizing that our narrative is
realizing that our narrative is
realizing that our narrative is different we are not subjects we are not
different we are not subjects we are not
different we are not subjects we are not meant to be under her majesty we
meant to be under her majesty we
meant to be under her majesty we actually kings we are meant to rule
actually kings we are meant to rule
actually kings we are meant to rule ourselves in that in the same manner now
ourselves in that in the same manner now
ourselves in that in the same manner now what is happening is because of this
what is happening is because of this
what is happening is because of this Africa rising and because of this
Africa rising and because of this
Africa rising and because of this African Renaissance we I yet still have
African Renaissance we I yet still have
African Renaissance we I yet still have this phenom phenomenal called fake news
this phenom phenomenal called fake news
this phenom phenomenal called fake news fake news basically is news without
fake news basically is news without
fake news basically is news without context because if every news channel
context because if every news channel
context because if every news channel provided context to every story that is
provided context to every story that is
provided context to every story that is ever told then would not be in a place
ever told then would not be in a place
ever told then would not be in a place of doubting ourselves fake news robs us
of doubting ourselves fake news robs us
of doubting ourselves fake news robs us of one thing our right to choose because
of one thing our right to choose because
of one thing our right to choose because we do not have the full context then we
we do not have the full context then we
we do not have the full context then we do not have our democratic right to be
do not have our democratic right to be
do not have our democratic right to be able to choose what it is that we are
able to choose what it is that we are
able to choose what it is that we are going to believe context in itself
going to believe context in itself
going to believe context in itself midwives truth from content therefore I
midwives truth from content therefore I
midwives truth from content therefore I want to ask you again is content king or
want to ask you again is content king or
want to ask you again is content king or is context king when it comes down to us
is context king when it comes down to us
is context king when it comes down to us as people now we are in what subgroups
as people now we are in what subgroups
as people now we are in what subgroups around Facebook we’re on Twitter every
around Facebook we’re on Twitter every
around Facebook we’re on Twitter every time somebody’s sending a message thugs
time somebody’s sending a message thugs
time somebody’s sending a message thugs are killing people on the road somewhere
are killing people on the road somewhere
are killing people on the road somewhere then you ask where did you find this for
then you ask where did you find this for
then you ask where did you find this for that has received
that has received
that has received why do we accept that as a standard for
why do we accept that as a standard for
why do we accept that as a standard for added as received we step away from the
added as received we step away from the
added as received we step away from the responsibility of finding out the
responsibility of finding out the
responsibility of finding out the context of this message and just put
context of this message and just put
context of this message and just put that one line for added as received I
that one line for added as received I
that one line for added as received I want to add you as people learn to add
want to add you as people learn to add
want to add you as people learn to add you as citizens and to address Africans
you as citizens and to address Africans
you as citizens and to address Africans not even as Kenyans but every message
not even as Kenyans but every message
not even as Kenyans but every message you find every message you receive every
you find every message you receive every
you find every message you receive every message you see someone posting on their
message you see someone posting on their
message you see someone posting on their Facebook or somewhere else and they have
Facebook or somewhere else and they have
Facebook or somewhere else and they have some war story happening or something to
some war story happening or something to
some war story happening or something to create some kind of panic please push
create some kind of panic please push
create some kind of panic please push them to give you more context push them
them to give you more context push them
them to give you more context push them to find out where their content is
to find out where their content is
to find out where their content is coming from make sure that they know
coming from make sure that they know
coming from make sure that they know what it is they’re sending out otherwise
what it is they’re sending out otherwise
what it is they’re sending out otherwise your ammo or you’re a war monger like
your ammo or you’re a war monger like
your ammo or you’re a war monger like them make sure that everybody provides
them make sure that everybody provides
them make sure that everybody provides you the basis to what you’re consuming
you the basis to what you’re consuming
you the basis to what you’re consuming if content is king then context is
if content is king then context is
if content is king then context is fucking’s
fucking’s
fucking’s thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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