TED Global 2007: Afterglow

Well my blog has never been so popular.
I must go away some more and write like nuts.
I have landed back in a somewhat mild but cloudy England after having spent seven hours last night in a humid Kenya National Airport waiting for my transfer to the UK. The plane food has left me a little queasy though, and I must say that next time I travel long distance I am going business class, my legs can’t handle economy no more.

As I sit here a number of fellows have already emailed me, energized and ready to continue the dialogue and the plans of action from where we left off. I have added all my contacts to my addressbook and will spend the best part of this weekend replying and doing the same.

On the agenda for the next year are possible trips to Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. (I will definitely be back in Tanzania soon as well). The vibrancy and expectations of so many contacts I have met show me that many African countries are on the tipping point of something great, and it is an honour and privilege to know that I will be part of this magnificent journey of change, teaching and learning with new formed partnerships.
I will be highlighting a number of the initiatives and people I have met on this conference on my blog (yeah I know I have a few) Simphani which focuses on stories of life, health and wealth from across the Diaspora.

OK much to my own amusement I have softened on Bono a bit. I admittedly gave him a hard time (and probably still will question some of his stuff. free speech and all that) but Ngozi taught me a few things about seeing things in perspective. My position still stands that I think more emphasis needs to be placed on trade, I think we all see that clearly from this conference. However Bono has a role to play and I think one should recognise that his influence within his sphere is part of the jigsaw. The conference showed me that he does not quite resonate with the likes of a George Attiyey in inspiring young Africans in either economic, social or spiritual thought, but that’s not his agenda. Many conversations in the week suggested that the likes of the One concerts, Red thingy (shudders) and his board on Data were so non African that it defeated the purpose, but I was heartened and others who I talked to when we noticed that his policy advisory board at Data had a fair representation of Africans on it. (I do hope they recruit more younger African thought leaders though!)

One more key point made my a group of us talking on Thursday was that all viewpoints are valid, if not neccesarily vital. One may not agree with the socioeconomic approaches of James Shiwati or George Attiyeh or Ngozi Okonjoi-Iweala, but they’re are still voices to be heard, just like Bono’s and other non Africans.

So forwards and onwards. We must look back not to be bitter, but to learn from our past and our mistakes, and for all of those who committed for change at this conference, and those who have picked up on the conversations for the next chapter for Africa elsewhere, here’s to a new future for the varied and rich tapestry that is the Motherland!!!

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