African Youths Must Fight For, Seize Power, Says Vusi Thembekwayo

Summary

Le discours passionnant d'un orateur africain souligne l'importance de la courage, de la détermination et de l'unité pour surmonter les défis et réaliser la grandeur pour l'Afrique. Il appelle à repenser la valeur de l'identité africaine, de la richesse et du legs pour les générations futures, et critique les barrières qui empêchent les Africains de voyager librement entre les pays. Il insiste sur la nécessité de construire des relations solides et de travailler ensemble pour un avenir meilleur, soulignant que la réussite de l'un est bénéfique pour tous.

Takeaways

• 🙏 L'importance de la prière et de la foi dans les moments critiques de discussion et de décision.
• 🌟 La nécessité pour les jeunes d'Afrique de faire preuve de courage et de détermination pour surmonter les critiques et les obstacles.
• 🏆 La reconnaissance que la réussite et la grandeur sont le résultat de choix et d'efforts personnels.
• 🔄 La fin de l'ère des démographiques et l'émergence d'une identité psychographique partagée par les Africains.
• 🌍 L'interconnexion des Africains et la possibilité de se trouver et de se construire ensemble grâce aux réseaux sociaux et à l'internet.
• 🛂 La critique des difficultés rencontrées pour les voyages entre les pays africains et l'appel à une meilleure compréhension et coopération régionales.
• 💡 L'idée que la valeur change et doit être reconnue et adaptée pour la prospérité future de l'Afrique.
• 📚 L'appel à la réflexion sur l'éducation et les compétences nécessaires pour les générations futures en Afrique.
• 🤝 La nécessité de travailler ensemble et de construire une Afrique unie pour surmonter les défis et saisir les opportunités.
• 👶 L'importance de la construction de jeunes générations fortes et bien éduquées pour assurer l'avenir de l'Afrique.

Q & A

Quel est le thème central du discours du transcript ?

Le thème central est l'importance de la courage, de la détermination et de l'unité pour les générations africaines afin de surmonter les défis et de réaliser leur potentiel.

Quel est le rôle de la plateforme mentionnée dans le discours ?

La plateforme est présentée comme un lieu de rassemblement des leaders dans divers domaines pour partager des idées et discuter de l'avenir de l'Afrique.

Pourquoi l'orateur souligne-t-il la nécessité de dépasser les différences tribales et nationales en Afrique ?

Il soutient que les différences tribales et nationales ont été utilisées pour diviser et affaiblir l'Afrique, et qu'une compréhension psychographique commune offre un moyen de se reconnecter et de construire ensemble.

Quels sont les facteurs clés identifiés par l'orateur pour la réussite des nations africaines ?

Selon l'orateur, au-delà de la stratégie, des informations et des politiques, le choix de la population de se vouloir grand est le facteur déterminant pour la réussite.

Comment l'orateur aborde-t-il la question de la jeunesse et de l'avenir de l'Afrique ?

Il insiste sur la nécessité de donner aux jeunes les compétences et les valeurs appropriées pour le monde d'aujourd'hui et de construire un avenir meilleur pour les générations futures.

Quelle est la signification de la prière d'ouverture du discours ?

La prière sert à invoquer la présence et la bénédiction divines pour guider la discussion, accorder la sagesse et la force à l'auditoire et préparer l'esprit pour les conversations à venir.

L'orateur mentionne-t-il des exemples concrets de réussite ou d'échec dans le développement de l'Afrique ?

Non, il ne cite pas de cas spécifiques de réussite ou d'échec, mais plutôt il se concentre sur des principes et des valeurs pour guider l'avenir du continent.

Quelle est la position de l'orateur sur l'emprunt de connaissances et de stratégies étrangères ?

Il reconnaît la valeur de l'expertise étrangère, mais met en garde contre la dépendance et l'importance de développer des solutions adaptées aux contextes africains.

L'orateur aborde-t-il la question de la critique et de la réputation publique ?

Oui, il aborde la question de la manière dont les individus en voie d'émergence peuvent gérer la critique publique et la pression de la reconnaissance, soulignant l'importance de ne pas se laisser décourager par les critiques.

Quels sont les changements de valeur que l'orateur identifie-t-il pour l'Afrique à l'avenir ?

Il identifie des changements de valeur autour de l'identité africaine, la richesse, le legs générationnel, l'unité et la compréhension mutuelle, et l'idée de la liberté dans les interactions et les partenariats.

Outlines

00:00

🙏 Introduction et prière pour la sagesse et la force

Le texte commence par une prière collective pour la sagesse et la force divines, afin de guider les participants à travers les discussions importantes et critiques qui ont lieu. L'orateur exprime sa gratitude à son frère Pastor P'ojū pour l'opportunité de prendre part à cet événement et partage son sentiment d'humblesse face à l'occasion. Il mentionne également un changement de tenue pour marquer le passage du temps et des précédentes interactions.

05:05

🌟 Le courage de nos ancêtres et la gestion de la critique

Dans ce paragraphe, l'orateur aborde la question du courage nécessaire à notre génération pour relever les défis actuels. Il partage une anecdote sur une jeune entrepreneuse qu'il mentore, qui commence à recevoir à la fois des éloges et des critiques. Il souligne que la critique peut être déstabilisante, surtout lorsqu'on est en ascension, et appelle à la résilience face à ces épreuves. Il insiste sur l'importance de ne pas se laisser ébranler par les opinions des autres et de poursuivre sa propre voie vers la grandeur, malgré les obstacles.

10:06

🌏 La nécessité de s'unir et de construire ensemble

L'orateur met en avant l'importance de la cohésion et de la coopération entre les Africains pour surmonter les divisions historiques et les obstacles actuels. Il critique les rivalités nationales, en particulier entre le Nigeria et l'Afrique du Sud, et appelle à la compréhension de la nécessité de travailler ensemble pour le bien commun du continent. Il propose que la plateforme Nigeria devienne une plateforme Africaine, rassemblant les leaders pour discuter et partager des idées sur l'avenir du continent.

15:08

📊 L'analyse des facteurs clés pour la réussite africaine

Dans ce paragraphe, l'orateur partage ses recherches sur les dix économies les plus grandes de l'Afrique entre 1956 et 1968, à la recherche des facteurs qui ont permis à ces nations d'atteindre leurs objectifs. Il conclut que, au-delà de la stratégie, de l'information et des politiques, le choix collectif de la grandeur est essentiel. Il souligne que le succès dépend de la décision des peuples d'aspirer et de travailler ensemble pour la réalisation de leur plein potentiel.

20:10

🌐 La fin de l'ère des démographiques et l'ère des psychographiques

L'orateur déclare la fin de l'ère des démographiques et l'arrivée de l'ère des psychographiques, où les gens sont connectés par la manière dont ils pensent et aspirent à des choses similaires. Il insiste sur la nécessité de reconnaître et de tirer parti de cette similarité pour construire un avenir meilleur pour l'Afrique. Il appelle également à la conscience des opportunités d'investissement et de développement au sein du continent.

25:11

🛂 Problèmes de visas et la nécessité de voyager et d'apprendre les uns des autres

Dans ce paragraphe, l'orateur critique les difficultés rencontrées pour voyager et échanger entre les pays africains en raison des restrictions de visa. Il partage son expérience personnelle de voyages complexes à travers l'Afrique et compare les facilités de voyager en Europe. Il appelle à une meilleure compréhension et à une coopération entre les pays africains pour faciliter les échanges culturels et les opportunités économiques.

30:13

🔄 Le changement de valeur et l'identité africaine

L'orateur explore les cinq façons dont la valeur est en train de changer en Afrique, en commençant par la perception de l'identité africaine. Il appelle à une prise de conscience de la richesse culturelle et des opportunités offertes par l'Afrique et à une revalorisation de l'héritage et des compétences locales. Il insiste sur l'importance de construire une identité collective qui permettrait à l'Afrique de s'élever ensemble.

35:13

🤔 L'importance de remettre en question les perspectives que nous avons sur le monde

Dans ce paragraphe, l'orateur encourage à remettre en question les perspectives que nous avons sur le monde, en particulier les perspectives du passé (hindsight), de l'apparent (plain sight), de l'insight et de la prevision (foresight). Il insiste sur la nécessité de regarder au-delà des apparences, de comprendre les leçons du passé et de planifier pour l'avenir, afin de construire une Afrique unie et prospère.

🙌 La gratitude et l'engagement pour l'avenir

En conclusion, l'orateur exprime sa gratitude envers l'audience et son hôte pour l'opportunité de prendre part à cet événement. Il partage son engagement à apprendre et à s'améliorer grâce aux expériences et aux leçons qu'il a reçues au cours de ses visites en Afrique. Il appelle à une prise de conscience collective et à une action pour construire un avenir meilleur pour l'ensemble du continent.

Keywords

💡Stratégie

La stratégie est l'art de planifier et de déterminer les moyens de réaliser les objectifs à long terme d'une organisation. Dans le script, l'orateur mentionne l'importance de l'expertise étrangère en matière de stratégie pour aider les organisations comme Metcash, ce qui illustre la notion de stratégie comme un outil clé pour la réussite et la croissance.

💡Leadership

Le leadership est la capacité à guider, à motiver et à inspirer les autres à atteindre des objectifs communs. L'orateur aborde le leadership en demandant si la génération actuelle possède le courage de ses ancêtres, ce qui souligne le rôle du leadership dans la réalisation de la grandeur personnelle et collective.

💡Culture organisationnelle

La culture organisationnelle fait réfé aux normes, valeurs et comportements partagés au sein d'une entreprise. Elle est mentionnée dans le contexte de l'expertise étrangère apportée aux organisations, indiquant que la culture est un élément clé dans la réussite et le développement d'une organisation.

💡Courage

Le courage est la force d'esprit qui permet de faire face aux difficultés et de persévérer malgré les obstacles. L'orateur pose la question de savoir si les jeunes Afriques ont le courage de leurs ancêtres et si ils sont prêts à relever les défis, ce qui met en lumière le courage comme un principe essentiel pour surmonter les critiques et les obstacles.

💡Critique

La critique est l'évaluation ou l'examen d'un sujet, souvent avec l'intention de trouver des points à améliorer. Dans le script, l'orateur mentionne les défis de gérer la critique, montrant comment cela peut affecter la confiance en soi et l'estime de soi des individus, surtout lorsqu'ils atteignent un certain niveau de succès.

💡Patrimoine générationnel

Le patrimoine générationnel se réfère aux biens, connaissances et valeurs transmis d'une génération à l'autre. L'orateur parle de la manière dont les jeunes peuvent construire un avenir meilleur, en se demandant si leur vie ne sera pas plus qu'une manifestation de l'opinion des autres, ce qui souligne l'importance de la construction d'un héritage durable pour les générations futures.

💡Unité

L'unité est l'état d'être uni ou de travailler ensemble vers un but commun. L'orateur insiste sur l'importance de l'unité pour la réussite de l'Afrique, en appelant à la coopération et à la compréhension mutuelle entre les différents peuples et nations du continent.

💡Identité africaine

L'identité africaine fait référence à la perception et à l'appartenance à la culture et à la communauté africaine. L'orateur aborde la question de l'identité en tant que facteur clé dans la valorisation de soi et dans la compréhension du rôle de l'Afrique dans le monde, en appelant à une prise de conscience de l'importance de l'identité pour la prospérité future.

💡Pouvoir

Le pouvoir est la capacité à influencer ou à contrôler les actions ou les décisions des autres. L'orateur cite Frederick Douglass pour souligner que le pouvoir ne se cède pas sans exiger, ce qui met en évidence le besoin pour les jeunes de revendiquer et de lutter pour le pouvoir politique et économique.

💡Valorisation

La valorisation est le processus d'accorder de la valeur ou de la signification à quelque chose. L'orateur parle de la façon dont la valeur change en Afrique, en abordant les cinq façons dont la valeur est en train de changer, ce qui montre l'importance de reconnaître et de construire la valeur pour l'Afrique et ses générations futures.

Highlights

Introduction of the speaker and the theme of embracing foreign expertise in strategy, leadership, and organizational culture by organizations like Metcash.

Invitation for participants to join the conversation online using the hashtag #platformNG2023.

The speaker, Never Snow, initiates the session with a prayer for wisdom, discernment, and fortitude in their discussions.

Reflection on the courage of African forefathers and the question of whether the current generation possesses the same courage.

Discussion on the challenges of dealing with criticism and the importance of not dimming one's light despite external negativity.

The analogy of a marathon runner to illustrate the idea of focusing on one's path despite the noise from the sidelines.

Call to action for young Africans to seize power and demand a better life, referencing Frederick Douglass' quote on the necessity of demand for power.

The necessity for young people to fight for their place in leadership rather than waiting for the older generation to step aside.

The importance of unity among Africans and the need to build with each other beyond just finding each other.

The idea that the continent's progress should be measured by how well Africans work together, not just individual success.

The speaker's personal commitment to uniting with others for the purpose of doing what is right, not wrong.

The need for Africans to redefine their value and identity in a changing world, moving beyond traditional demographics to a psychographic understanding.

The speaker's analysis of Africa's largest economies between 1956 and 1968 to understand the factors contributing to greatness.

The conclusion that greatness is a choice and that the same factors leading to success in one nation do not guarantee the same success in another.

The call for a pan-African approach to building a stronger, unified continent that leverages the strengths of each nation.

The speaker's personal story of overcoming adversity and achieving success, highlighting the importance of opportunity and hard work.

The idea that the rise of one African nation benefits all, using the metaphor of rising tides lifting all ships.

The speaker's challenge to constantly question what is seen and heard, especially in regards to Africa's portrayal in the media.

The importance of fostering a new generation with the right values to build a better future for Africa.

The conclusion with a quote from Frederick Douglass emphasizing the importance of building strong children for a stronger future.

Transcripts

foreign

expertise in strategy leadership and

organizational culture to organizations

such as metcash please join me at

welcome once again to the platform

Nigeria

please join the conversation online as

well

using the hashtag the hashtag is the

platform NG 2023

thank you

thank you ma'am

good morning

let's try that again good morning

wow there's a lot going on around me

here thank you sir thank you

thank you

let me take you all in

I'm never snow

actually no I can't do this sometime

it's become tradition for me if you're

not a Believer you may excuse yourself

but to those of us that are can I ask

that we stand and pray

we can all close our eyes

father God as we

discuss Flex

move and extend our minds we ask that

you are present in this room

that you embed within us not only the

wisdom of these conversations but the

discernment of this moment

the critical nature of what it is we are

discussing here

most importantly father God the

fortitude to take forward

with your grace

and your will

for it is written father God that it is

not by much nor by power but by the

spirit saith the Lord

and so through your thoughts and Spirits

Lord Jesus

we ask that we engage here this morning

and Let the church say amen and amen

everybody have a seat everybody have a

seat

to my good brother Pastor poju thank you

so much for the opportunity to be here

again

every time we are together I feel

unaddressed

and I I do the best I can to to to to

bring it the last time my brother for

you and I were together I was in a suit

and and he was in a caftan so I thought

I would switch it up

oh

my God

thank you

I don't know

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

thank you

foreign

methodologies and philosophies and often

if not most of the time sometimes even

the interference of the large hand from

other parts of the world

and so it's not uncommon to find as

Africans who are capable and dexterous

who are talented and educated to move to

parts of the world where our talent can

truly be extracted exploited for us to

do better for our own selves in our own

generation

but I would like to think that there is

a different question for Our Generation

here today

and the question is this

do we have the courage of our

forefathers

I think that's the fundamental question

I was set in conversation about a week

ago

with a young lady that I mentor

and she's begun to get some acclaims she

runs a business and she's doing

exceptionally well

and she's beginning Pastor for Drew to

get some Acclaim she's being recognized

by people she's being invited to do

interviews

and one of the things that's happening

as she's getting the Acclaim is she's

also getting the criticism

now

there is no Preparatory School

for how to deal with criticism

there just isn't

and so often what happens is as you rise

to the natural place to which you have

been called

as the fire of criticism descends upon

you if you like me have any semblance of

self-introspection often you believe

that the criticism must be true must be

valid

must be must be well placed and then

therefore you internalize that and you

Dim your light

imagine the cowards we must be

to be born of forefathers who liberated

our continent from colonizers only for

you and I to be broken down by a tweet

[Applause]

question I think for our moment and for

our season today is do you have the

courage to rise above a hashtag

will your life be nothing more than a

demonstration of somebody else's opinion

of you

now what is interesting is this

notice

the means of the enemy when he is well

aware that you are on the path to your

greatness he makes the noise to distract

you

I had a conversation with a brother in

Christ of mine Grace and I was sharing

this with him and he said you know

obviously it's something very

interesting but if you are a a runner an

athlete a marathon runner say and you're

running on the track and you're doing a

3000 meter eight laps around a 400 meter

track he says do you know what happens I

said what he said each and every single

one of the people in the grandstands has

something to say every time you come

around the grandstands

he says but of course they have the

breath to say something they're not

using their breath to physically exert

themselves to achieve things

and so for those of us then who are

quiet in the season we are quiet

on energy for the things which our

Energies

we just don't have the time

to do the things that don't matter

I think we're called on in the season as

young Africans to seize power

to truly seize it in the words of

Frederick Douglass power concedes

nothing without demand

and so therefore if we want a better

life for ourselves we must demand of

that power

I often hear young people today last

night I was invited by a friend of mine

who's from Ghana and he's in South

Africa as well so we went out for some

dinner spent some time with some young

people and I often hear young people

today say things like this

you know it's time for young people to

rise it's time for the old people to

move out of the way it's time it's time

it's time let me tell you young people

there is no old person going anywhere

if you want that seat in that office in

that boardroom in that chamber in that

Ministry you're gonna have to fight for

it because power isn't given it's taken

and so the question as our continent

Rises is will we be men and women of

Courage

will we be the generation in 50 years

time that our children reference and say

they they did it right

they had the template for how to truly

pull out of each other the ability to

work with each other and something

fascinating is happening today I must

tell you this this is the good news

the good news is that we're no longer

separated

the good news is that we find each other

the good news is that in this room there

are people who are following on

Instagram

I know I'm very good looking on

Instagram I must tell you I am very good

looking on Instagram

but the good news is that even I have

the privilege of following a

professional member's work

no matter where in the world I find

myself where there are Africans who are

speaking leading evangelizing and

growing others we now have the ability

to find each other

the true question is will we have the

ability to build with each other

you see to date our building strategies

all Center on these borders that were

drawn for us and not by us

and so it becomes the question of is

your nation thriving versus mine I had

this conversation with a friend of mine

who also works in capital markets like

me in South Africa I said I'm really

confused by this Feud we have with

Nigeria

I genuinely don't understand it

why do we constantly migrate to the

global North and South Africa tries to

punch posture against Nigeria and

Nigeria against South Africans who

what's the game here what's the Gambit

whom is it that we're trying to please

and against whom are we trying to please

them

because each time we find our leaders

playing that game the question perhaps

we should ask is who is the master

you're trying to please

in this moment and in this season I

think as a generation we are called to

truly understand what it's going to take

one and all to work with each other

but to build with each other

this is

I think the generational mission of the

platform

I said this to my brother Pastor pojo

the last time

and I will say it now here publicly

that what has started as the platform

Nigeria in my mind needs to be the

platform Africa

it needs to bring together leaders in

various spheres and various spaces who

are at the frontier of what it's going

to take to truly take our continent to

next whatever next might be

and have them in a single platform

sharing ideas about what next looks like

in my world I spend an awful lot of time

looking for investment Arbitrage

an awful lot of time looking for the

ability to buy eggs and sell it why in a

particular time period and make sure

that my risk what we would call and

finance your risks adjusted for the cost

of taking that risk make sure that you

earn a return that is commensurate to

what the investors are looking for

and often one of the things we do as

investment professionals is where we

might lack the opportunity to find a

true a meaningful Arbitrage is we will

invent it just by purely looking up the

various countries and citizens and the

natives of those countries and where

there might be an underweighting one

asset class of another

that is to say rather than meaningfully

creating and adding value

we're skimming off the top of the

cappuccino and milking the froth

and every time you do the investors are

simply asking the question is there

froth rather than have you made a fresh

cup of cappuccino

so in this moment then

and in the season

it's important that we Unite

that we truly

pull each other towards each other

I will say it here

I will Unite with any man and woman to

do right

I will Unite with nobody to do wrong

amongst our greatest naiveties I think

is that we presuppose

that in the world of Good and Evil it

exists a little bit like it does in the

superhero movies

it's how we approach the world there's a

bad scenario and superhero flies in and

saves things and then forever in a day

things will be better after that reality

does not mirror that expectation

in reality most people are complex

most societies are complex

the challenge for us is whether or not

we individually can be a force for good

a true Force for greatness

without prepping for this uh Pastor pojo

I did something interesting

I'm an analytical mind I work in the

world of Finance so in my world if you

want to prove something you put it in a

spreadsheet

and if it's in a spreadsheet you can put

it on a graph

and if it's on a graph it must be true

nobody debates a graph

so in preparation for this I opt my mind

back

and I looked at 10 of Africa's largest

economies

between the years

1956 and 1968.

and I looked at what it was that made up

those economies

I looked at that particular period

because that was the transitory period

in our continent

what I wanted to seek and find was to

answer a simple question

what does it take for Africans to be

great

it's a simple question

now because of the nature of my work I

went and looked for the actual thing

that I could prove here the scientific

thing that I could go statistically if

you do these things on a balance of

probabilities you will achieve whatever

greatness is defined as for you and here

is what I found

I found that at every instance where

there was a particular set of factors

that made a population group or a

citizenry or a nation achieve its goals

if you took those very same factors and

plugged them into a different citizenry

the numbers would not tally

that is to say the following

that Beyond strategy

Beyond information

Beyond policy formations and

conversations all of which by the way

are fundamental there is a single truism

that holds an ingredient without which

the coffee doesn't taste good and the

ingredient is this

choice

do the people of those countries

choose to be great

you know this is true by the way because

there are a lot of choices we make as

people that filter into just how we

think about ourselves when you say or

hear people say things like this is just

how we do things in Nigeria

that kind of statement is often

diminutive it reduces us to the basic

bare minimum and says accept this

because this is the standard

in other words even though we could

choose better

we choose what we just get

that greatness is truly a choice

if greatness is a choice last time

Pastor Porter shouted at me for not

having a presentation I've got one today

there are three things then

sit up in this moment and in this season

the first

I think the era of demographics is dead

I think the era of framing ourselves by

the tribe we come from the background we

come from the place we went to or how we

were raised is moved I think what we've

become today is not just a demographic

people what we have become today is a

psychographic people

we are connected in the way we think

about the world not just the way we

exist in the world

and so today we find more commonality

with each other because

psychographically we see the world in

similar ways

we Aspire for similar

in other words we are more alike than we

think

if therefore

we are truly to rise as a continent

then how we leverage this as a choice is

going to be important

side note

one of the things I think that's missing

in this season

it's my own humble opinion

that is to say I'm

might very well be incorrect although I

doubt it

one of the things in my mind that's

missing in this season

is a patriotic

flag bearing

strong group

not only of men and women but of

Nigerians

who understand in the African context

what Nigeria is

with the greatest of respect I think in

large part

the average

is

so distracted by internally what's going

on you're missing who you are in the

global context of your continent

you're too worried about what's being

said or who's Japan or who won the

elections or what's next without

thinking consciously

about what you could do as an economy if

Nigeria decided we're going to set the

path for the rest of the region

as a consequence of this absent of

leadership what happens

everything that we have been seeing

and so the question for this moment for

each and every single one of us is will

we be the courageous men and women who

recognize the season we are in

I'm not sure how many of us have

traveled to my country of South Africa

any of you here hands up

when you do

and I hope for all of you that you do

which by the way side note a

conversation we must have in uh brother

I don't know how we do this we need to

convene the leaders of this continent to

talk about this Visa story

this is a disaster

and let me just say the following let me

just say the following

I struggle to understand why I can land

in Paris get on a train and end up in

Brussels

but if I want to move from joburg to

haberoni I must produce a passport who's

the genius that came up with the scheme

you know the Europeans are so quick to

tell us that we can't bundle ourselves

into a single block but they've done it

when you publish this you must just

leave that part out because

because I'm busy raising money from them

you know

they're going to say he's too radical

and so even in my own native land of

South Africa the work as South Africans

we must do is to conscientize each other

about the continent

in my mind that I was listening to your

comments ma'am about the youth service

I'm I'm seized to understand and failing

to understand why we are not

deliberately sending young people into

other parts of the continent

experience the culture live with the

people

[Applause]

to come here

to be here in this beautiful country

I had to go through Ethiopia

from Ethiopia I was in Zambia

so so I went South Africa Zambia

Ethiopia Nigeria

between now and December

I'm going to be in about eight different

African countries

in that same time it's going to be

easier for me

to do five different countries in Europe

then it will be to do two different

countries in Africa less layovers less

time I'm sorry can we just pause just

one moment pause the time who designed

this nonsense

who wrote the script

I have a theory

and here is my theory

you only lock the Vault where there is

money

[Applause]

and so maybe there's a reason you've

been kept out of that neighboring

country

maybe there's a reason you've been kept

out of that neighboring region maybe

there's a reason you can't travel to

that other place because if you were to

there is something you might do that

would help us build what we all know we

are capable of

so first keep them away from each other

second convince them that they're

enemies with each other and third

convince them that the other one is

better than the other one and before

you're done they will hate each other so

much you don't even need to pass policy

or law

and in the middle of all of this here we

sit as young people

fruitfully connected by the h8 https

and we're more worried about what's

trending and commenting on it rather

than how do we meaningfully build with

each other and do business

I came to tell you here today that I'm

only interested in meaningfully building

and doing business

I'm only interested in understanding how

do we take the platform and put it in

Johannesburg or put it in Cape Town

and how do we have not just this

conversation here but that conversation

there

because until and when Africa truly is

of a single mind

it will continue to be

the father and the meal for the rest of

the global average

I don't know about you

but I would like a world slightly

different for my children than the one I

grew up in

so we must recognize then

that our value to the world is cemented

and recognize beyond that that even that

very idea of what it is that is our

value

is changing

there are five fundamental ways value is

changing I'm going to spend a minute on

them

the first is value is changing around

how we think of our identity as Africans

the second how we think around what is

truly wealth as Africans

the Third how we think around what we're

building as the next generational Legacy

as Africans

the fourth this archetype of these

binary ideas we've always had they and

US recognizing that we operate as a

single block and in unison

if we don't understand and leverage each

of these value constructs we are missing

the fundamental layer that is layered

into our society today

just our identity alone

you know 20 years I've been a speaker

now 19 this year

I became a professional speaker at the

age of 19 years old

I'm 38 now

for half my life I've had the incredible

Grace by God's grace

of standing on platforms such as this

and looking into eyes

like yours

there is no part of my story

that should bring me here

I don't come from a family of oritis

I don't come from a family of means I

don't come from a family of wealth

one of the challenges we've struggled

with in South Africa post apartheid has

been crime I know this because my father

was murdered when I was 13 years old

eight times my father was shot

for a cell phone

to this day

twice the case has been opened both

times the docket has been lost

far be it for me as a proud South

African to travel the rest of my

continent and speak poorly about my

country but what it is I am trying to

help you understand is there is no part

written into my past that makes my

present possible

and so it is not only there but by the

grace of God but more importantly

because I was able to meet that Grace

with work and opportunity

that most of us in this room are simply

denied that work and that opportunity

what could we do when we truly come

together as a single block

a week ago I was in East Africa Kenya

Tanzania Uganda today I'm here I make it

my intention to travel the continent

because

and on this point I will end with this

you see it's easy for a politician to

lie to you about pan-africanism when

you've never traveled Africa

they can tell you their version of it

because they've never been there

they will tell you how Africans speak

even though they've never been there

which side note or why to Nigerians add

all to everything

I'm sat at dinner last night and this

young man I'm with said something so

profound I was like wow that's so good

he said please don't take my words oh

and a final way value is changing is

that value has introduced us to this

idea of free

that we can connect with each other

freely

share with each other freely

and most importantly build each other

freely

I recognize as a South African who loves

his country that the rise of Nigeria to

being the number one largest economy in

the continent is not a threat to mine

it's the rising tides that elevate All

Ships

so then

what do we do

what is next

where do we go from here

there are three things I'd like to leave

you with

and I will preface those three things by

saying this

constantly question what you're seeing

constantly

question what it is that you're seeing

I'm fascinated when I watch the news

about how Africa is is betrayed the

story of Who We Are

fascinates me

because that story and that messaging

is used intentionally

to wire us to see each other a certain

way

when I was in Kenya last week I must

tell you

one of my dreams came true I was in

Kenya invited by a mutual brother in

Christ between myself and Pastor podu

Reverend Julian

and and uh rev Julian had our brother

Apostle Salman in the room

and and so he doesn't know that I'm a

big fan so he came in and said I've seen

you online I said yeah I've also seen

you online

Pastor there's something I feel in my

heart I must say to you which is this

I think the Lord our Lord and savior has

called upon you

as a merchant of the Kingdom

to build his kingdom

and I think In This Moment

the way you have built this platform

is amongst the ways our Lord and savior

is using you to evangelize not only the

gospel

but more importantly to let those of us

who can evangelize evangelize its same

and so it's not just the platform you

see

of conversation but it is a platform

that launches a generation

it's a platform to next

please

question what it is that you're seeing

there are four fundamental perspectives

you must always question

the first is the perspective of

hindsight

notice how many times when you're in

discussions

conversations

meetings people talk about the past

now the past is important because it

frames how we find ourselves in this

moment but what's even more important

than this is to ensure that we never

allow the past to keep us there

the second perspective is plain sight

Plain Sight

what is

barely in front of you you see it as it

appears

questioned that too because often as the

old Gaelic expression says reality is

merely an illusion albeit a very

persistent one

the third perspective is insight

seeing what we've seen from the past

observing what we observe in the current

day what does it mean about where we are

where we find ourselves now

and the fourth and final perspective

which I think is going to be the

challenge of Our Generation

is foresight

let's talk about tomorrow

let's talk about 2027

I would love to have a conversation

about what is education in 2027 look

like in Nigeria what does it look like

in South Africa

so that we stop as Africans producing

little laborers that we export to the

global North

and rather than say we're all going to

produce the same skills ask of ourselves

the question what are the skill sets

that your economy and your people might

produce to which we could be a

compliment and vice versa you see the

reason we're fighting with each other is

because we're trained in the same way to

fight for limited opportunities all of

us in the same environment it's not

until we build with each other that we

recognize the opportunity in Venture

Capital we do this well if you're

Outsourcing Tech Talent today in Africa

you're Outsourcing it typically to a

Nigerian outfit

no no where in the continent you find

yourself

if you're looking for somebody who's

worked in fintech somewhere in Africa

typically you'll find them in East

Africa

if you're looking for somebody who's

smart 6-2 Zulu well-spoken ladies love

him I mean

no I don't personally know anyone I'm

just saying

I begin with a quote I will end with one

the greatest orator of all time in my

opinion is Frederick Douglass

one of his greatest quotes he says

it's easier to build strong children

than it is to repair weak men

we need to build strong children

we need to truly protect our futures

by giving them the right set of values

for the world we are in today

and all of us

no matter where we find ourselves

in whatever crevice or corner to which

you have been called

to do the work that's required

to preserve for the Next Generation

I'm humbled my brother that you've

invited me back here I words cannot

express what it means for me to be back

here with you

last time I made a commitment which I

didn't honor I will honor it this time

which is that the next time we are

together I'm paying for coffee

they're not paying me to say this so let

me tell you this

you know the reason most Africans look

at Nigerians the way we look at Jews

because frankly we're just scared

you guys allowed

[Applause]

and you're big and you like to fight and

we don't know why

the number of years has been coming I

must tell you has mentored and taught me

it's matured me

even the way I approach business the way

I negotiate now

sometimes I find myself in the boardroom

and I think to myself switch to Nigerian

vusio

do the aggressive Nigerian thing fight

argue raise your voice

and it works

and so on behalf of me my firm and the

taxes I have not paid for what you have

taught me here

thank you so much for the opportunity to

be here once again thank you

[Applause]

challenge

[Music]

[Music]

thank you

I'm gonna be