KENE MKPARU asks us to “Consider what you hold in your hands” at TEDxEuston 2014

KENE MKPARU is Group MD/CEO of FilmOne Distribution Limited and Filmhouse Cinemas Nigeria, a dynamic cinema company with a combined management team experience of over 100 years, and a strategic plan to roll-out 25 cinemas over 6 years from December 2012 – currently with nine cinemas in operation. Prior to this, Mkapru was MD, Genesis Deluxe Cinemas (2008-2010) and CEO, FilmAFRICA UK (2005-2009). Mkparu has also produced three films. He won the 2013 Creative Entrepreneur Award: film Industry Category, the 2007 Best Producer Award at the Africa Films Awards, UK for his film, “The Successor” and several Odeon Cinemas Company Marketing awards between 1992 and 2007. Mkparu owned the stage and energized the audience at TEDxEuston 2014. His trajectory and enthusiasm for business opportunities in Africa was palpable. His words: “Consider what you hold in your hands…Africa needs your talent.” sums up his belief in the future of African business ventures.

Watch is talk HERE and get ready to move on with that business plan.

Education made the difference: SUNDAY OLISEH at TEDxEuston 2014

SUNDAY OLISEH’s football career started in Lagos with Julius Berger FC. He then moved to Europe to start an incredible professional career in the 1990’s, playing for Ajax, Borusia Dortmund and Juventus FC. From 1994, he was also part of the team that was crowned African champions against Zambia. In 1996 Oliseh was a key member of the Nigerian team that won the Olympic gold medal for football. He went on to captain Nigeria for many years including during the 2002 African Cup of Nations. Today, he is one of the most respected voices on football and appears on several TV programmes around the world. Africa’s football hero par excellence brought to TedxEuston 2014 his inspiring story and love for football, and his belief in education. In his words: “Education made the difference in my life!” Does this surprise you?

Find out why in his own words. Send this to every one that knows someone who loves football- thats everyone you know! :)

Even if you don't like football, have never done sports - watch this talk HERE. Thank us later.

Words for Worlds: Yvonne Owuor at TEDxEuston 2014

YVONNE OWUOR is a Kenyan writer, who was named "Woman of the Year" by Eve Magazine in Kenya in 2004 for her contribution to the country's literature and arts. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing for her story "Weight of Whispers", which explores the story of an aristocratic Rwandan refugee in Kenya. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications worldwide including Kwani and McSweeney’s, and her story "The Knife Grinder’s Tale" was made into a short film in 2005. Her novel "Dust", published in 2014 to widespread critical acclaim. Owuor’s talk at TEDxEuston was sheer poetry! She dropped many memorable lines, including this which takes a swipe at the “Bonoesque” brand of charity’: “We complete you “they” imply in songs that obliterated our voices”.  Watch.

Enjoy. Share....HERE.

FRANCES MENSAH asks "Where is home" at TEDxEuston 2014.

FRANCES MENSAH WILLIAMS is the Chief Executive of Interims for Development Ltd., an award-winning UK-based Human Resources, Careers and Training consultancy for Africa, and the Publisher and Managing Editor of ReConnect Africa.com, a careers and business website and online publication for African professionals in the Diaspora. With over 20 years’ experience in Human Resources Management and business consultancy in both the UK and Africa, Williams has chaired policy development committees and forums, and has spoken and written widely on skills development in Africa and harnessing the talents of the African Diaspora. Her inspiring talk at TEDxEuston 2014 shed light on the question of 'moving home', particularly for those who have spent most of their lives outside of the continent. She encouraged the audience with her story encapsulated in this quote: “Home isn’t a place where you just show up. It is a place where you are invested in.”

Watch her heart-warming talk here.

Conversations with Baba: BINYAVANGA WAINAINA at TEDxEuston 2014

BINYAVANGA WAINAINA is a Kenyan author, publisher and cultural worker. For over eleven years Binyavanga has sought, worked with, published, mentored and promoted some of Africa’s most exciting new literary talent. He is the founding editor of one of Africa’s leading literary institutions Kwani. Wainana’s witty and satirical essay, “How to Write About Africa” continues to attract wide attention. His memoir, “One Day I Will Write About This Place” has been translated into several languages. In 2014, he came out publicly as gay. In the same year, he was named by Time magazine as one of 100 most influential people in the world.'' Binyavanga, storyteller extraordinaire, shared his personal journey and struggles at TEDxEuston 2014 with grace. His words resonated deeply with the audience and he got a standing ovation....watch his talk, and save it, and watch it again.

Trust your struggle: Zain Asher at TEDxEuston 2014

ZAIN ASHER was born and raised in London. She graduated from Oxford University where she studied French and Spanish. In 2006 she earned an MSc. from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she focused on business and financial news. She is currently a national business and personal finance correspondent for CNN. As the first speaker at TEDxEuston 2014, her talk “Trust your struggle” was a testament to her dedication and will to achieve her dreams. She reflected candidly on her journey to becoming a successful CNN Anchor. There are many lessons in this talk for us; and for Zain, you get the feeling that the best is yet to come....

Watch her talk here and remember where you first heard her speak! 

Beautiful Pictures of TEDxEuston 2014 - Enjoy and Share

We hope you you enjoyed TEDxEuston this past December and are looking forward to the next series of inspiring events from the TEDxEuston team. We will be tiding you over with video releases of our amazing speakers from 2014 but in the meantime you can relive the excitement by checking out the pictures from December 2014 on Facebook. Be sure to comment, like, and share with your friends. You can also find the pictures on Flickr. Fell free to share - but do give credit, and we look forward to hosting you again in 2015!

Pictures are all brought to you by the all-volunteer photography team of TEDxEuston....just for you! Enjoy!

Is Africa really "rising"? Ali Mufuruki's profound question at TEDxEuston 2014

ALI A. MUFURUKI is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Tanzania Central Bank, Member of the Board Directors Technoserve, Inc. of Washington, DC and Board Member of Nation Media Group of Kenya. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board Wananchi Group Holdings Kenya, Chairman of The CEOs’ Roundtable of Tanzania and the Trustee–Mandela Institute of Development Studies (MINDS), South Africa, and Chairman of The Africa Leadership Initiative (ALI) East Africa.
As an African business leader, Ali Mufuruki implored the TEDxEuston audience to scrutinise the 'Africa rising' narrative. In the words of young political commentator, Inez Sarkodee-Adoo , he took to the stage, boldly questioning why 6-7% GDP growth was considered impressive for African economies while 8% growth is dubbed a recession for China.  He asked why “60 years later Africa is still negotiating on a global scale for aid”.

These are hard questions, but questions that have to be asked on the TEDxEuston stage. Ali builds his argument in a way that will make you pause to think...and watch it again.

Watch this talk HERE.

Start your year with CHI-GUL at TEDxEuston 2014! - “Don’t be a waste”

CHIOMA OMERUAH aka c-flow, aka chi-gul is a comedian, singer and actress. She was born in Lagos where she lived until she moved to the US in 1994. She remained in the US for the next 12 years. While in the US, Chi-gul taught drama to kids (at boys’ and girls’ clubs), as well as in the high school where she worked as a French teacher. Chi-gul speaks 5 languages and can imitate 12 different accents. She is also a voice-over artist.
Nigeria’s favourite ‘Igbotic girl’, Chi-gul shared her powerful and personal story in her talk “Don’t be a waste” at TEDxEuston 2014. The audience was treated to a roller coaster of laughter and thought provoking reflections on Africa Facing Forward. Not surprisingly her talk concluded with a standing ovation from the TEDxEuston audience. Chi-gul is certainly not a “waste.”

Chioma's talk is a great way to start the year - filled with joy and laughter as well as hope and aspiration. Watch her talk HERE ....and bring some joy to your friend's lives by sharing.