now this is the line a lot of us if you grew up in here this other can sonship
grew up in here this other can sonship
grew up in here this other can sonship that is we would hear over over and over
that is we would hear over over and over
that is we would hear over over and over again if you are struggling with a
again if you are struggling with a
again if you are struggling with a certain piece of technology you probably
certain piece of technology you probably
certain piece of technology you probably would not have figured out that your TV
would not have figured out that your TV
would not have figured out that your TV remote control doesn’t have batteries in
remote control doesn’t have batteries in
remote control doesn’t have batteries in it oh maybe you just put a new stove and
it oh maybe you just put a new stove and
it oh maybe you just put a new stove and it works differently from the previous
it works differently from the previous
it works differently from the previous one that you had but they wouldn’t even
one that you had but they wouldn’t even
one that you had but they wouldn’t even bother to check what the problem is with
bother to check what the problem is with
bother to check what the problem is with the stove it would be a case of wave um
the stove it would be a case of wave um
the stove it would be a case of wave um this almost creates the notion that
this almost creates the notion that
this almost creates the notion that technology doesn’t belong to us and in
technology doesn’t belong to us and in
technology doesn’t belong to us and in this case a beluga would be um would it
this case a beluga would be um would it
this case a beluga would be um would it pretty much would mean you struggling
pretty much would mean you struggling
pretty much would mean you struggling with white people’s things and white
with white people’s things and white
with white people’s things and white people being a metaphor for things that
people being a metaphor for things that
people being a metaphor for things that came from the West things that are not
came from the West things that are not
came from the West things that are not powered things that are foreign to us
powered things that are foreign to us
powered things that are foreign to us and it’s almost as if we should be feel
and it’s almost as if we should be feel
and it’s almost as if we should be feel privileged to be using technology and if
privileged to be using technology and if
privileged to be using technology and if we should feel privileged to be using it
we should feel privileged to be using it
we should feel privileged to be using it therefore we can’t be using it to
therefore we can’t be using it to
therefore we can’t be using it to innovate we shouldn’t even think in that
innovate we shouldn’t even think in that
innovate we shouldn’t even think in that direction but maybe this is because a
direction but maybe this is because a
direction but maybe this is because a lot of technology that we use in our
lot of technology that we use in our
lot of technology that we use in our homes doesn’t come from the African
homes doesn’t come from the African
homes doesn’t come from the African continent you might think that of your
continent you might think that of your
continent you might think that of your let’s say LG appliance which comes from
let’s say LG appliance which comes from
let’s say LG appliance which comes from South Korea you’ll probably have used a
South Korea you’ll probably have used a
South Korea you’ll probably have used a huawei it comes from china panasonic for
huawei it comes from china panasonic for
huawei it comes from china panasonic for example comes from japan or once upon a
example comes from japan or once upon a
example comes from japan or once upon a time a lot of people had Nokia phones
time a lot of people had Nokia phones
time a lot of people had Nokia phones they come from Finland and none of this
they come from Finland and none of this
they come from Finland and none of this comes from the African continent and
comes from the African continent and
comes from the African continent and that’s why a lot of people would think
that’s why a lot of people would think
that’s why a lot of people would think then that technology is it was a balloon
then that technology is it was a balloon
then that technology is it was a balloon and we forget that a lot of us use
and we forget that a lot of us use
and we forget that a lot of us use technology in our environments my one
technology in our environments my one
technology in our environments my one growing up was a TV says there was in my
growing up was a TV says there was in my
growing up was a TV says there was in my bedroom my mother’s one growing up was
bedroom my mother’s one growing up was
bedroom my mother’s one growing up was his dogs because she loves and still
his dogs because she loves and still
his dogs because she loves and still loves cooking today and as you watch
loves cooking today and as you watch
loves cooking today and as you watch Android more was baking though because
Android more was baking though because
Android more was baking though because she would try out some new recipes and
she would try out some new recipes and
she would try out some new recipes and her sons were always a guinea pigs so
her sons were always a guinea pigs so
her sons were always a guinea pigs so she would always come to us and make
she would always come to us and make
she would always come to us and make faced all these musics that she would be
faced all these musics that she would be
faced all these musics that she would be trying out and if it doesn’t taste right
trying out and if it doesn’t taste right
trying out and if it doesn’t taste right or if it didn’t come out just right
or if it didn’t come out just right
or if it didn’t come out just right should go back to that piece of
should go back to that piece of
should go back to that piece of technology and the check if the heats
technology and the check if the heats
technology and the check if the heats needs to go up or go down in order for
needs to go up or go down in order for
needs to go up or go down in order for it to come out just right and the reason
it to come out just right and the reason
it to come out just right and the reason the TV says that was in my bedroom was
the TV says that was in my bedroom was
the TV says that was in my bedroom was my favorite piece of technology is
my favorite piece of technology is
my favorite piece of technology is because it transported me to two new
because it transported me to two new
because it transported me to two new worlds I grew up in a home where knowing
worlds I grew up in a home where knowing
worlds I grew up in a home where knowing African history was important I would
African history was important I would
African history was important I would learn about Boutros boutros-ghali for
learn about Boutros boutros-ghali for
learn about Boutros boutros-ghali for example from my dad I would learn about
example from my dad I would learn about
example from my dad I would learn about Jomo Kenyatta I would learn about mobile
Jomo Kenyatta I would learn about mobile
Jomo Kenyatta I would learn about mobile success ever so I suppose then that the
success ever so I suppose then that the
success ever so I suppose then that the TV supplemented their knowledge through
TV supplemented their knowledge through
TV supplemented their knowledge through television I watched film from
television I watched film from
television I watched film from francophone Africa I was introduced to
francophone Africa I was introduced to
francophone Africa I was introduced to music by femi kuti by Katrin in etc etc
music by femi kuti by Katrin in etc etc
music by femi kuti by Katrin in etc etc I suppose it’s no wonder then that I
I suppose it’s no wonder then that I
I suppose it’s no wonder then that I decided to go and study journalism and I
decided to go and study journalism and I
decided to go and study journalism and I majored in online journalism what I
majored in online journalism what I
majored in online journalism what I later got an opportunity to lecture I
later got an opportunity to lecture I
later got an opportunity to lecture I started a blog with my first e students
started a blog with my first e students
started a blog with my first e students and a lot of them came from the rural
and a lot of them came from the rural
and a lot of them came from the rural areas and the townships of South Africa
areas and the townships of South Africa
areas and the townships of South Africa and a lot of them with high chain
and a lot of them with high chain
and a lot of them with high chain computers for the very first time at
computers for the very first time at
computers for the very first time at university they hadn’t touched computers
university they hadn’t touched computers
university they hadn’t touched computers before University so the blog helped
before University so the blog helped
before University so the blog helped them tell their stories to the rest of
them tell their stories to the rest of
them tell their stories to the rest of the world there were stories of
the world there were stories of
the world there were stories of happiness
happiness
happiness there were also stories of sorrow I
there were also stories of sorrow I
there were also stories of sorrow I remember a story of someone who was
remember a story of someone who was
remember a story of someone who was writing about being a teenage mother and
writing about being a teenage mother and
writing about being a teenage mother and somebody else wrote about being 19 years
somebody else wrote about being 19 years
somebody else wrote about being 19 years old and hiv-positive in a township in
old and hiv-positive in a township in
old and hiv-positive in a township in South Africa that blog was nominated in
South Africa that blog was nominated in
South Africa that blog was nominated in this South African block of the year was
this South African block of the year was
this South African block of the year was the year it was started because I guess
the year it was started because I guess
the year it was started because I guess people through their pieces of
people through their pieces of
people through their pieces of technology wanted to find out about the
technology wanted to find out about the
technology wanted to find out about the lives of these students and the students
lives of these students and the students
lives of these students and the students know that the computer that they were
know that the computer that they were
know that the computer that they were using for the very first time at
using for the very first time at
using for the very first time at university would get them an award
university would get them an award
university would get them an award nomination I later
nomination I later
nomination I later got a scholarship to go and study in the
got a scholarship to go and study in the
got a scholarship to go and study in the United Kingdom I suppose this was
United Kingdom I suppose this was
United Kingdom I suppose this was because of the work I had done in the
because of the work I had done in the
because of the work I had done in the media space in South Africa and the work
media space in South Africa and the work
media space in South Africa and the work I was doing in the academic space in
I was doing in the academic space in
I was doing in the academic space in South Africa I did a master’s degree in
South Africa I did a master’s degree in
South Africa I did a master’s degree in media and cultural studies and I major
media and cultural studies and I major
media and cultural studies and I major the new developments in digital media in
the new developments in digital media in
the new developments in digital media in those classes we’re learning about the
those classes we’re learning about the
those classes we’re learning about the history of Apple we were learning about
history of Apple we were learning about
history of Apple we were learning about how CCTV cameras were helping reduce
how CCTV cameras were helping reduce
how CCTV cameras were helping reduce crime in the United Kingdom we’re also
crime in the United Kingdom we’re also
crime in the United Kingdom we’re also learning about internet pornography in
learning about internet pornography in
learning about internet pornography in Scandinavia we did papers on that as
Scandinavia we did papers on that as
Scandinavia we did papers on that as well
well
well but none of this was from the African
but none of this was from the African
but none of this was from the African continent almost creating an impression
continent almost creating an impression
continent almost creating an impression that technology is not ours
that technology is not ours
that technology is not ours it’s not for Africans and maybe the
it’s not for Africans and maybe the
it’s not for Africans and maybe the impression that nothing comes out of the
impression that nothing comes out of the
impression that nothing comes out of the African continent in the digital
African continent in the digital
African continent in the digital technology space that’s when I decided
technology space that’s when I decided
technology space that’s when I decided to sit down in my room in the residence
to sit down in my room in the residence
to sit down in my room in the residence at University and conceptualized a TV
at University and conceptualized a TV
at University and conceptualized a TV show I remember writing Network on the
show I remember writing Network on the
show I remember writing Network on the front cover the TV show was going to
front cover the TV show was going to
front cover the TV show was going to find out whether there was digital
find out whether there was digital
find out whether there was digital technologies there or digital
technologies there or digital
technologies there or digital technologies that are coming out of the
technologies that are coming out of the
technologies that are coming out of the African continent oh where the Africans
African continent oh where the Africans
African continent oh where the Africans are using tech in an innovative way in
are using tech in an innovative way in
are using tech in an innovative way in order for them to tell the narrative all
order for them to tell the narrative all
order for them to tell the narrative all are pretty much help themselves using
are pretty much help themselves using
are pretty much help themselves using technology I didn’t know if there was
technology I didn’t know if there was
technology I didn’t know if there was anything I’ve heard about something
anything I’ve heard about something
anything I’ve heard about something called empathy my favorite piece of
called empathy my favorite piece of
called empathy my favorite piece of technology right now I like outside
technology right now I like outside
technology right now I like outside m-pesa m-pesa was discovered in my
m-pesa m-pesa was discovered in my
m-pesa m-pesa was discovered in my country in Kenya whereby it’s a money
country in Kenya whereby it’s a money
country in Kenya whereby it’s a money transfer service welcome to your mobile
transfer service welcome to your mobile
transfer service welcome to your mobile I discover like all through like since
I discover like all through like since
I discover like all through like since the beginning of the year I’ve never had
the beginning of the year I’ve never had
the beginning of the year I’ve never had cash I realized oh my god is becoming
cash I realized oh my god is becoming
cash I realized oh my god is becoming cashless now that is impersonal in Kenya
cashless now that is impersonal in Kenya
cashless now that is impersonal in Kenya is used in the public transport system
is used in the public transport system
is used in the public transport system it’s becoming passionate as you are
it’s becoming passionate as you are
it’s becoming passionate as you are saying so instead of using cash you
saying so instead of using cash you
saying so instead of using cash you transfer money digitally using your
transfer money digitally using your
transfer money digitally using your mobile phone to a what they call a chill
mobile phone to a what they call a chill
mobile phone to a what they call a chill which is carried by the driver or the
which is carried by the driver or the
which is carried by the driver or the taxi conductor and then they get
taxi conductor and then they get
taxi conductor and then they get notification that some that the person
notification that some that the person
notification that some that the person in the corner over there has paid
in the corner over there has paid
in the corner over there has paid through that so it’s also used to buy
through that so it’s also used to buy
through that so it’s also used to buy ProSeries and it’s also still a money
ProSeries and it’s also still a money
ProSeries and it’s also still a money transfer system in the Democratic
transfer system in the Democratic
transfer system in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo m-pesa is used to pay salaries for some
m-pesa is used to pay salaries for some
m-pesa is used to pay salaries for some governments as for some government
governments as for some government
governments as for some government employees rather as a lot of people do
employees rather as a lot of people do
employees rather as a lot of people do not have bank accounts there are other
not have bank accounts there are other
not have bank accounts there are other solutions if we go to Ghana for example
solutions if we go to Ghana for example
solutions if we go to Ghana for example there is empirical now M pedigree in
there is empirical now M pedigree in
there is empirical now M pedigree in Ghana is helping a lot of people check
Ghana is helping a lot of people check
Ghana is helping a lot of people check the authenticity of the medication
the authenticity of the medication
the authenticity of the medication they’re using it could be malaria
they’re using it could be malaria
they’re using it could be malaria medication it could be TB medication and
medication it could be TB medication and
medication it could be TB medication and we set a new SSD code in order to verify
we set a new SSD code in order to verify
we set a new SSD code in order to verify that the medication you using is
that the medication you using is
that the medication you using is legitimate and it’s not fake medication
legitimate and it’s not fake medication
legitimate and it’s not fake medication and it’s saving lives in a space way
and it’s saving lives in a space way
and it’s saving lives in a space way there is a lot of fake medication during
there is a lot of fake medication during
there is a lot of fake medication during the rounds in the country then in South
the rounds in the country then in South
the rounds in the country then in South Africa there is mom connects mom connect
Africa there is mom connects mom connect
Africa there is mom connects mom connect helps expectant mothers know when their
helps expectant mothers know when their
helps expectant mothers know when their next appointment is in a public hospital
next appointment is in a public hospital
next appointment is in a public hospital oh if there’s any knowledge that they
oh if there’s any knowledge that they
oh if there’s any knowledge that they need to have about their pregnancy if
need to have about their pregnancy if
need to have about their pregnancy if there are complications etc etc it’s an
there are complications etc etc it’s an
there are complications etc etc it’s an app and they can get this information
app and they can get this information
app and they can get this information through that app also in South Africa
through that app also in South Africa
through that app also in South Africa repurpose school bags founded by women
repurpose school bags founded by women
repurpose school bags founded by women in the Rastenburg area in South Africa
in the Rastenburg area in South Africa
in the Rastenburg area in South Africa and it’s it’s they realized that a lot
and it’s it’s they realized that a lot
and it’s it’s they realized that a lot of kids do not have electricity in the
of kids do not have electricity in the
of kids do not have electricity in the so with repurpose school bags they I
so with repurpose school bags they I
so with repurpose school bags they I they have created a solar panel in the
they have created a solar panel in the
they have created a solar panel in the back so there’s a light that you can see
back so there’s a light that you can see
back so there’s a light that you can see you put the light through right at the
you put the light through right at the
you put the light through right at the back of the bag as a child and as you
back of the bag as a child and as you
back of the bag as a child and as you walk to school it charges the light when
walk to school it charges the light when
walk to school it charges the light when the child is doing their homework in the
the child is doing their homework in the
the child is doing their homework in the evening they can hand use LED lights to
evening they can hand use LED lights to
evening they can hand use LED lights to do to help them do their homework some
do to help them do their homework some
do to help them do their homework some people are using technology to tell
people are using technology to tell
people are using technology to tell different narratives of the African
different narratives of the African
different narratives of the African continent the stories that you wouldn’t
continent the stories that you wouldn’t
continent the stories that you wouldn’t generally find but before we get there
generally find but before we get there
generally find but before we get there let’s get let’s go back to Kenya a woman
let’s get let’s go back to Kenya a woman
let’s get let’s go back to Kenya a woman by the name of dr. Charcot Quito
by the name of dr. Charcot Quito
by the name of dr. Charcot Quito she was doing her PhD in k-town when she
she was doing her PhD in k-town when she
she was doing her PhD in k-town when she spent a lot of time in the townships of
spent a lot of time in the townships of
spent a lot of time in the townships of Cape Town Khayelitsha lanka she realized
Cape Town Khayelitsha lanka she realized
Cape Town Khayelitsha lanka she realized that a lot of women didn’t think that
that a lot of women didn’t think that
that a lot of women didn’t think that they had the means to look for and find
they had the means to look for and find
they had the means to look for and find employment they didn’t realize that the
employment they didn’t realize that the
employment they didn’t realize that the mobile phones that they had who could
mobile phones that they had who could
mobile phones that they had who could help them do that
help them do that
help them do that and it was a conversation with one
and it was a conversation with one
and it was a conversation with one specific woman that may they come up
specific woman that may they come up
specific woman that may they come up with an idea of an app called Meili we
with an idea of an app called Meili we
with an idea of an app called Meili we typed the whole CV on her mobile phone a
typed the whole CV on her mobile phone a
typed the whole CV on her mobile phone a small QWERTY nokia phone it connects
small QWERTY nokia phone it connects
small QWERTY nokia phone it connects people to opportunities
people to opportunities
people to opportunities it’s not about connecting people to jobs
it’s not about connecting people to jobs
it’s not about connecting people to jobs and sorrow and struggle and the fact
and sorrow and struggle and the fact
and sorrow and struggle and the fact that they are waiting for a messiah who
that they are waiting for a messiah who
that they are waiting for a messiah who is going to come from elsewhere to help
is going to come from elsewhere to help
is going to come from elsewhere to help them solve their problems and that’s not
them solve their problems and that’s not
them solve their problems and that’s not the case the Jonas Latonya is was at
the case the Jonas Latonya is was at
the case the Jonas Latonya is was at University of Pretoria and he was forced
University of Pretoria and he was forced
University of Pretoria and he was forced to drop outs because he could not afford
to drop outs because he could not afford
to drop outs because he could not afford to study at the University of Pretoria
to study at the University of Pretoria
to study at the University of Pretoria he then used his technologies to teach
he then used his technologies to teach
he then used his technologies to teach themselves how to animate he created a
themselves how to animate he created a
themselves how to animate he created a you
you
you – page called Rams comics Rams comics
– page called Rams comics Rams comics
– page called Rams comics Rams comics has over 80,000 subscribers in South
has over 80,000 subscribers in South
has over 80,000 subscribers in South Africa he recently won a YouTube
Africa he recently won a YouTube
Africa he recently won a YouTube sub-saharan as sub-saharan Africa award
sub-saharan as sub-saharan Africa award
sub-saharan as sub-saharan Africa award for that page and people go to that page
for that page and people go to that page
for that page and people go to that page to pretty much laugh at themselves and
to pretty much laugh at themselves and
to pretty much laugh at themselves and laugh at the political situation in
laugh at the political situation in
laugh at the political situation in South Africa laugh at the social
South Africa laugh at the social
South Africa laugh at the social situation in South Africa because it’s
situation in South Africa because it’s
situation in South Africa because it’s not all doom and gloom really and and
not all doom and gloom really and and
not all doom and gloom really and and it’s in indigenous languages with
it’s in indigenous languages with
it’s in indigenous languages with subtitles in English so locals can then
subtitles in English so locals can then
subtitles in English so locals can then understand what what’s his comedy is all
understand what what’s his comedy is all
understand what what’s his comedy is all about if we go to God there is a very
about if we go to God there is a very
about if we go to God there is a very popular online series called an African
popular online series called an African
popular online series called an African city true women had just returned to
city true women had just returned to
city true women had just returned to Ghana from overseas where they were
Ghana from overseas where they were
Ghana from overseas where they were based and they wanted to tell stories
based and they wanted to tell stories
based and they wanted to tell stories that are positive about African women
that are positive about African women
that are positive about African women stories of women who have jobs they’re
stories of women who have jobs they’re
stories of women who have jobs they’re going about their daily lives daily
going about their daily lives daily
going about their daily lives daily struggles let’s say in dating finding
struggles let’s say in dating finding
struggles let’s say in dating finding the right restaurant in Accra and not a
the right restaurant in Accra and not a
the right restaurant in Accra and not a story of an African woman again who is
story of an African woman again who is
story of an African woman again who is in the village and is constantly
in the village and is constantly
in the village and is constantly struggling and they took that idea to
struggling and they took that idea to
struggling and they took that idea to broadcasters none of them wanted it they
broadcasters none of them wanted it they
broadcasters none of them wanted it they felt people don’t want to hear that
felt people don’t want to hear that
felt people don’t want to hear that particular story about an African woman
particular story about an African woman
particular story about an African woman and perhaps such an African woman
and perhaps such an African woman
and perhaps such an African woman doesn’t exist in their minds they put it
doesn’t exist in their minds they put it
doesn’t exist in their minds they put it up on YouTube they’ve now created their
up on YouTube they’ve now created their
up on YouTube they’ve now created their own channel online but they first put it
own channel online but they first put it
own channel online but they first put it up on YouTube and it was popular across
up on YouTube and it was popular across
up on YouTube and it was popular across the African continent it was popular in
the African continent it was popular in
the African continent it was popular in the Diaspora as well people wanted to
the Diaspora as well people wanted to
the Diaspora as well people wanted to know what these four women were getting
know what these four women were getting
know what these four women were getting up to next in a crime Ghana so perhaps
up to next in a crime Ghana so perhaps
up to next in a crime Ghana so perhaps we need to stop and think about this
we need to stop and think about this
we need to stop and think about this notion of Africans waiting for somebody
notion of Africans waiting for somebody
notion of Africans waiting for somebody else who is going to come from elsewhere
else who is going to come from elsewhere
else who is going to come from elsewhere in order for them to create a solution
in order for them to create a solution
in order for them to create a solution for Africans because Africans all over
for Africans because Africans all over
for Africans because Africans all over this continents are changing their
this continents are changing their
this continents are changing their stories they’re changing their
stories they’re changing their
stories they’re changing their narratives they use in technology and
narratives they use in technology and
narratives they use in technology and coming upwards with different kinds of
coming upwards with different kinds of
coming upwards with different kinds of solutions some of them might not seem
solutions some of them might not seem
solutions some of them might not seem like they are
like they are
like they are hi-tec also in the world but they are
hi-tec also in the world but they are
hi-tec also in the world but they are needed here in Africa you might think a
needed here in Africa you might think a
needed here in Africa you might think a USS decode that’s that’s all technology
USS decode that’s that’s all technology
USS decode that’s that’s all technology incarnate saving lives though you might
incarnate saving lives though you might
incarnate saving lives though you might you might have realized that recently
you might have realized that recently
you might have realized that recently Mark Zuckerberg was in Nigeria and in in
Mark Zuckerberg was in Nigeria and in in
Mark Zuckerberg was in Nigeria and in in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder of Facebook and when he was there Facebook
Facebook and when he was there Facebook
Facebook and when he was there Facebook has made attempts to buy a few startups
has made attempts to buy a few startups
has made attempts to buy a few startups in those areas that means what Africans
in those areas that means what Africans
in those areas that means what Africans are coming up with it’s the scene to be
are coming up with it’s the scene to be
are coming up with it’s the scene to be needed in the rest of the world as well
needed in the rest of the world as well
needed in the rest of the world as well m-pesa has been exported to parts of
m-pesa has been exported to parts of
m-pesa has been exported to parts of Europe it’s been exported to parts of
Europe it’s been exported to parts of
Europe it’s been exported to parts of Asia so maybe we need to pause and think
Asia so maybe we need to pause and think
Asia so maybe we need to pause and think again before we say we’re sure
”
Be First to Comment