TEDxEustonSalon 2015 - Facing Forward: Harnessing Energy has arrived!
If you have not already purchased your ticket, it’s now too late as we are sold out!
The TEDxEuston Team, in collaboration with Shell, our principal partner, is incredibly excited to meet you all and look forward to continuing the conversations we started last year.
You will find us on the lower ground floor of the Crowne Plaza – City hotel, in Blackfriars in the Conference Centre.
Registration opens at 5.30pm, and if you’ve attended a TEDxEuston event before, you know you do not want to miss the start.
As always, there will be our trademark goodie bags provided courtesy of Shell filled with keepsakes.
In true TEDxEuston fashion, no event is complete without our networking AfterParty. After the talks make sure you take a moment to talk to like-minded TEDx-ers you have never met before and shake a leg to the tunes played by our DJ for the night - DJ Josiah, winner of 2014's International Music Conference, Best New Producer Award.
Our TEDxEustonSalon speakers – Andrew Hunt, Eunice Ball and Olasimbo Sojinrin are ready to share their stories and ideas with you. Richard ‘Rich BLK’ Mkoloma is ready to energise you. The TEDxEuston Team is ready to welcome you! We hope you’re prepared for what we promise will be an incredible evening.
Introducing Richard ‘Rich Blk’ Mkoloma: the creative polymath.
TEDxEustonSalon would not be complete without a dynamic, atmospheric performer. Spoken Word artist Rich Blk blends the energy in Hip Hop, Afro-Electronica and Poetry with a lyrical finesse that covers matters of today and ideas of ‘tomorrow’.
Rich’s poetry has been published in ‘Contemporary Black Writing’ anthologies by Peepal Press and Penguin. He has featured on SKY, OHTV, Channel 4 and BBC Radio 1Xtra as well as performed in numerous venues in London including Sadler’s Wells, Jazz Café, and the Africa Centre. We can’t wait for him to grace the TEDxEustonSalon stage on Saturday, and quite simply rhythmically blow you away.
Follow him on twitter @richblkthinks and our incredible speakers @MisterAduna, @africatbn and @Solar_Sister.
Our third and final speaker at TEDxEustonSalon next Saturday is a feminist, a citizen lobbyist, and an advocate for climate change progress and women’s rights in Africa. Olasimbo Sojinrin is passionate about women-focused renewable energy access and is ready to inspire you to be too!
Olasimbo has been working in the realm of climate change and renewable energy for over 10 years. She joined the British Council in 2004 as a Project Manager where she managed several partnerships that strove to educate secondary school students on the issue of climate change. From there she became the Capacity Development Manager to the UNDP’s Access to Renewable Energy Project in 2011 providing a strong voice in the drive to create climate change legislation.
Currently she is the Nigeria Country Manager for Solar Sister, a civil society organisation with a mission to eradicate energy poverty through women's economic empowerment. Olasimbo leads a network of women entrepreneurs who are bringing affordable clean energy solutions to their communities’ doorstep.
Join us next Saturday at TEDxEustonSalon as she explores harnessing the potential energy of the Continent and seeks to empower us all.
“I was ready to fight, I was ready to die”. That is the passion to which a previous TEDxEuston speaker has used to tell us her efforts to aid health improvement in Africa.
Health, unsurprisingly, has been an important issue on the TEDxEuston stage over the years. Ater all, good health is not only an outcome of, but also a foundation for, development. So why then do we find in so many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa that despite reasonable economic development, health improvement is poorer than expected?
I will give you a single fact just to put things into perspective: Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 49 per cent of maternal deaths, 50 per cent of under-five child deaths and 67 per cent of HIV/AIDS cases.
So here is some insight about what is crucial for the improvement of health outcomes in Africa:
Fadekemi Akinfaderin-Agarau identified social stigma and a lack of openness with sexual health as factors that contribute to the further spread of HIV/AIDS. She told us how she “Found her Calling” through a focus on empowering the youth to change policies, and challenge social norms.
To empower is to create an opportunity for health improvement. In a talk entitled “Empowered women will change our world”, Fatima B Muhammad shows us that gender inequalities form the pinnacle of poor maternal health outcomes in Northern Nigeria.
The provision of education through the distribution of health information, as well as enabling community support, allows access to essential care.
In a talk entitled “Our struggle is not over”, Vuyiseka Dubula identifies it is those that are poorest that face most difficulties in accessing essential care. She successfully challenged the World’s leading pharmaceutical companies to make life-saving HIV treatments more affordable.
"Our struggle is not over" - Vuyiseka Dubula
Following a personal experience with healthcare in Nigeria Toyin Saraki, the self-described “unlikely activist”, finds a lack of resources is an important limit to the provision of care, and inspired the creation of The Wellbeing Foundation in Nigeria, aiming to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
Challenging social ideas, improving education, reducing poverty, and the provision of resources will aid the improvement of health in Africa - if only it were that simple to implement these things!
These are just a few of the stories from those instrumental to healthcare improvements in the continent, and there are surely many more that are yet to grace the TEDxEuston stage – so watch this space!
In the meantime, please do listen to the passionate, thought-provoking talks mentioned above, as well as our many others. You will find more thought-provoking ideas and discussion at the TEDxEustonSalon later on this month and our main event in December. Hope to see you there!
- Zainab Sanusi is a Junior Doctor, currently working in Dartford, Kent. She is one of the newest members on the committee, having previously been a volunteer.
Africa's population of one billion plus is adopting technology at an unprecedented rate. Thus, harnessing energy
becomes the crux of the matter, propelling us to think broader and quickly. One of the
greatest gifts the continent has is an abundance of natural resources and more
importantly, the ability to harness our own skill-sets to solve our own
problems.
Our second Salon speaker, Eunice Baguma Ball understands this well and makes this her
business. Eunice is an
entrepreneur & technology business consultant who has worked in the technology sector in Africa for over 7 years. Currently based in the UK and as the founder/organiser of the Africa Technology Business Network, she advises tech
startups that are looking to expand into Africa or developing solutions
targeting the African market.
The ATBN gathers a community of entrepreneurs, innovators and technologists who
are interested, in not only in tapping into the opportunities in Africa, but also creating
social and economic impact.Through
organised events in London, the ATBN initiative provides insights into the
Africa technology industry and connects UK-based entrepreneurs & investors to
opportunities in the sector. Moreover, they support the budding local
tech communities across Africa by providing a plug into the UK tech ecosystem
and a platform to showcase African centred innovations to a global
audience.
We invite you to hear Eunice’s talk
at the next TEDxEuston Summer Salon on Saturday 13th June. Her
enthusiasm is infectious and will motivate you to reflect on Africa’s budding
tech scene, potential to develop exponentially and make a real impact on Africa’s
ability to face forward and harness their energy.
Emeka
Okafor challenges TEDxEuston to change the world.
At
TEDxEuston in 2013, leading African blogger and entrepreneur Emeka Okafor urged
Africans to challenge the status quo. In his TEDxEuston talk
entitled, ‘The Crazy Ones’ Emeka – creator of Timbuktu
Chronicles and Africa
Unchained alluded to the 1997 Apple “Think Differently” advertising
campaign, and reminded us that it is often the ‘misfits’ and the crazy ones who
are the people that change the world.
Emeka
Okafor shared with the audience how as director of TED Global in Arusha,
Tanzania in 2007, he noticed how everyone at that event had a new and unique
way of thinking for Africa. They all shared ‘the DNA of getting
things done’, he said. And he encouraged the TEDxEuston audience to
do the same.
Emeka
claims that the people who start tinkering are often the ones who soon develop
the prototypes. In ‘The Crazy Ones’ talk, at TEDxEuston’s Ripple
Effect-themed conference, Emeka alluded to one young boy who displayed at Maker Faire
Africa his own creation of taking discarded syringes and
created excavator toys. Here’s more about this young inventor’s
story here:
Emeka
encourages us all to be part of the ‘problem-solving society’. He
says that there needs to be a space, an environment where like-minded
innovators, doers and problem-solvers can come together and encourage one
another.
We
at TEDxEuston couldn’t agree more. So we want to encourage you to do
two things:
2) Join
us at TEDxEuston Salon on 13 June. More about it here and purchase a ticket here
You’ll
be sure to find like-minded creators, innovators and problem-solvers who are
determined to birth solutions, develop clear visions and create new concepts
which can only harness the strength and potency of Africa. In short – at
TEDxEuston Salon you’ll most likely find the crazy ones, the misfits, the ones
who are likely to change the world – for better!
Ever heard of superfood Baobab? If you attended our last event in December, perhaps you were lucky enough to find an energy bar made from African superfood Baobab in your gift bag. Whether you’ve heard of it or not, you’re in for a treat next month at TEDxEuston Salon. One of our speakers is Andrew Hunt – co-founder of Aduna, a company which makes an incredible energy-packed Baobab bar. Baobab – a fruit from trees found in Senegal and Gambia - looks set to take off as the next great superfoods, and for very good reason as it’s packed with incredible nutrients. Aduna is an African inspired health and beauty brand and social business that aims to create a demand for natural food products from involving small local communities in rural West Africa. Their superfoods Baobab sourced from the fruit of the "Tree of life" and Moringa are natural products sourced from Gambia and Senegal, are the top selling superfoods in Planet Organic, Holland & Barrett and Wholefoods stores. We invite you to hear Andrew talk about the potential and power of marketing natural superfoods as high end luxury products. Come and find out how he moved from having a successful advertising career in the UK to a Wolof speaking, African luxury food product enthusiast! Book your tickets here
If you’re serious about investment, it’s clear that the question is no longer whether you do business in Africa, rather how to start and what to consider.
As many of us are already aware, Africa presents an incredible opportunity if you are willing to invest in high-growth economies.
There are some key facts which haven driven the economic growth of the Continent in the last few decades. Here are some:
Over 1 billion people live in Africa. That is 15% of the world’s population.
More than 60%, 700 billion people, have a mobile phone, and the entire continent is undergoing connectivity leapfrogging.
Africa’s combined economy is over $2 trillion, with this forecast to more than double by 2025.
Economic growth is 2% above the global average, and has been since 2000, currently standing at 6-7%.
60% of the population are younger than 30 years old, creating the world’s largest labour force by 2035.
Nearly 50% of the population live in cities, with increasing amounts of urbanisation underway.
Over the years several African entrepreneurs and economists have given talks at TEDxEuston – providing salient advice and wise information about the continent’s business environment – food for thought for our TEDxEuston’ers who are considering returning, setting up anew, expanding their enterprises or bootstrapping their start-up for major growth, and even simply if you are looking at increasing your involvement by investment.
There are many ways to take advantage of the opportunities across the continent. Here are a few suggestions, of which certain themes emerge from our previous TEDxEuston speakers.
The continent beats to its own rhythm, with a distinct culture and way of operating which differs from Western markets. Appreciate and have a perspective, and respect the differences. As our speaker Frances Mensah Williamsdiscussed – allow everyone at home their own way of expression to you.
Focus on local dynamics as reflected by our TEDxEuston speaker Kene Mkparu. There is no single Africa strategy. Each market is unique – the continent comprises a rich tapestry of countries. Markets present opportunities in a different way, and business products and services should be offered according to these consumer requirements.
Commitment to long-term and to standards, as mentioned by Dolika Bandaat our Facing Forward event in December.
Planning – deciding your time period for growth, reviewing your sector, market and objectives for success, as well as planning our business activities, positioning, country launch selection, as well as creating a specific hub for business development.
Perseverance – a critical characteristic for all business, and remarked byJason Njoku, keep failing until you succeed, and understanding the reality of Africa may be, as stated by Ali A. Mufuruki, very different to the Africa Rising narrative.
Relationships and Partnerships – working with local, experienced management and partners, including government, community organisations and other players in your field, will yield long-term gains.
Local Talent and People – invest in your local team, and over the long-term, understand the role of training in broader society, mentioned inTutu Agyare’s talk. As the pace of commercial expansion will be significantly greater than the growth of formal education and training mechanisms.
While each country on the continent has its own set of laws, regulations, political system and cultures this ever-changing environment of systems and rules post the greatest challenge. Each market should be considered and adapted to accordingly. Africa’s complexity creates investment challenges and it is important to be adaptable and test traditional business models. The consumers within the Continent vary greatly from the new wealth, to rising middle class, and include the basic survivors, living on low or no income in urban slums or rural areas. Due to the connectivity explosion across the continent, this has enabled a range of other services to grow The TEDxEuston team is committed to inspiring ideas about Africa and being a catalyst for our community and those wishing to engage with the Continent. We’re actively seeking to connect members of our community to move forward. So please tweet us @tedxeuston, or me on@FeliciaTedx you want to stay in touch, or find out more. F elicia has been a key active organising team player for TedxEuston over the years. With a MBA from the esteemed London Business School, she holds a specialism in emerging markets. Currently a member of the foundation board, Felicia splits her time and career between Asia, Africa and UK.
Prepare to be blown away on Saturday 13th June 2015, as the latest instalment of TEDxEuston’s Salon takes centre stage. The Salon combines inspiring speakers, the trademark of all our events, in a more relaxed setting alongside drinks, food, friends, music and of course a dance floor! In order to deliver such a special experience, we have moved The Salon to the beautiful Crown Plaza London – The City, set within London’s iconic Square Mile. Here, conversations will be carried over from this year's 'Facing Forward' conference with a focus on 'Harnessing Energy’ - an increasingly hot topic in a continent as naturally abundant as Africa. Get set to be motivated by listening to speeches from people who have made a real difference, as they share their ideas and experiences by addressing some of the most pertinent issues facing the continent. Confirmed speakers include: - Andrew Hunt – the founder and MD of Aduna, a unique African-inspired health and beauty brand and social business. - Olasimbo Sojinrin – Nigerian Country Manager at Solar Sisters, a fantastic organisation that eradicates energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity. Cultivating an engaging environment to consume the ideas of astute thinkers and doers, it was important for us to find a location that would serve as a catalyst for motivation and inspiration, yet improve on last year’s successful conference at the British Museum. The Crown Plaza London has all the modern facilities for a great event as such, and with an extra little touch from the TEDxEuston team, it will be an energising hub of activity come the 13th June 2015. The proof is in the pudding they say, so we invite you to seize this opportunity to be part of this intimate event that aims to inspire a new generation of African leaders.
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“I found it really inspiring & it gave me food for thought.
Also had opportunity to network & met really great people”
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Pictures from last year’s event can be viewed here. Waste no time in securing your seat by purchasing a ticket here today! As many have come to expect, an enlightening evening awaits. TEDxEustonSalon is supported by our Principal Partner, Shell Global
As we gear up for our Summer Salon, we take a look back at one of our oldest (read wisest) speakers to take the TedxEuston stage - Pascal Dozie. Prolific for being a consistent visionary, Dozie's run of achievements include being the founder of Diamond Bank, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chairman of MTN Nigeria to name a few. A experienced executive with a wealth of experience, find out 5 more facts about Pascal Dozie.
1. Dozie celebrated his 74th birthday, 7th day of the 7th month birthday on the day of his TedxEuston talk 2. He retired in 2005 from his chief executive position in Diamond Bank, which he founded nearly 15 years prior. 3. Dozie has 5 sons, one of which Uzoma Dozie recently took over the helm of Diamond Bank as MD and another, Chiekezi Dozie opted out of the banking world and pursued the creative route by setting up a photography agency. 4. In 2013, Dozie received a Lifetime Achievement Award of the year at the All African Business Leaders Award in Nigeria. 5. He once said that when he set up Diamond Bank“The first customer was my wife”
A charmer, a seasoned business man, a family man and now a #ThrowbackThursday speaker - watch the talk below.
The atmosphere was wonderful, a lot of positive and energetic people. The talks were thought-provoking and inspiring. There was a good mixture: hilarious performances and challenging speeches. The two MCs did a great job in introducing the speakers. The location was beautiful. I also liked the goodies in the bag. TEDXEuston! Wow...
CHUDE JIDEONWO was articulate and inspiring. He told his story with so much conviction that you could picture yourself in his tale and journey. I was inspired by his story and vision for his country and Africa as a whole as well as his effort at engaging and empowering young people. I was really moved!!!
Dolika Banda: instilled in my mind the fact that you can lend a hand to someone, whoever it might be and that could make a whole lot of difference. Her story was one of nostalgia and serenity of the African continent amidst all the present chaos and uncertainty.
Ali Mufuruki challenged my impression of the "African rising" dialogue and motivated me to not settle for less. Zain Asher introduced a philosophy of creating as an alternative to competing. Interesting… Sunday Oliseh brought a simple, yet very different and inspiring perspective on life after sports Binyavanga Wainaina is the one who challenged my thinking the most. I realise it is okay not to agree on issues and to still work together.
Tutu Agyare referenced seminal authors I would want to read more about, inspired me to look into doing a PhD on the topic he raised Chi-gurl proved that Africans are not too shabby at standup comedy. It was very refreshing to laugh at the tragicomic issues that directly concern my environment and heritage.
Kene Mkparu shared his journey with us. He took a risk, a leap of faith and followed his dreams. Times got hard, but he perservered. I was moved by his story and it gave me the motivation to push towards my dream
The great choice of truly inspirational speakers and the slick coordination throughout the day.
PIUS ADESANMI is a Professor of English and African Studies at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. A widely cited commentator on African affairs, he has lectured widely in Universities in Africa, Europe, and North America. One of Nigeria’s contemporary leading public intellectuals and celebrated columnists. Adesanmi is also a writer. He is the internationally acclaimed winner of the inaugural Penguin Prize for African Writing (2010) in the non-fiction category with his book, You’re not a Country, Africa. His first book, The Wayfarer and Other Poems, won the Association of Nigerian Authors Poetry Prize in 2001.
Adesanmi, the last speaker of TEDxEuston 2014, did not disappoint and eloquently rallied the audience to consider this: “Africa is the forward that everyone else must face"
Be ready for a beautiful journey to the past and to the future. Watch it HERE.
PATRICK NDIMUBANZI was recently sworn in as Minister of State in the Ministry of Health in charge of Public Health and Primary Health Care in Rwanda. Ndimubanzi’s beautifully woven TEDxEuston 2014 talk shed a bright light on the immense progress Rwanda’s Health Ministry has made since 1994. The statistics are impressive with 90% of Rwandans covered by health insurance. Ndibumanzi’s showed that the determination of the Rwandan government to put people first is a real testament to the present government’s desire to move on the narrative from 1994.
But his talk was not really about data - but about the relativity of different narratives - which he summed up in this memorable quote: ‘beyond the numbers, beyond the statistics, we are improving people's lives.”
Thanks to TEDxChange, we were able to put this story of hope and progress on the TEDxEuston stage.
Watch his talk here and share this with everyone working in the health space in Africa.
