Saturday, December 19, 2009

My TEDxDar Nominations (6 of 6): Creators of Bongo: A Film & Web Series

TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session themes:

"What would Nyerere do?"

"Hadithi Zetu: Creating content to narrate our stories"

"The In-Between Spaces"

One group of people I nominated are the creators of Bongo: A Film & Web Series -- Film Makers Leah Nelson & Jay Grandin and Producer Leah Mallen.

Click on this link to learn more about Bongo, the film.

Also check out these links:

Giant Ant Media

Twofold Films

And visit Urban Project: opportunities through art. From their home page:

Playing it back

Safer housing

Danya

"Urban Project is a registered charity (No. 80611 9350 RR0001) dedicated to promoting employment, education and safer living opportunities for disadvantaged youth in urban locations throughout the world.

"As a vehicle for redistributing funds, our goal is to engage youth in artistic projects that fit with their current interests and passions.

"All funds raised are used to support a youth-focused project in a specific urban location.

"In 2008 we traveled to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to conduct a music and filmmaking project with a group of young men who live and work on the streets. We returned in 2009 to follow up with these youth and pay for another year of housing and school fees."

Day 8: Donald Trump and a Chinese Folktale

Donald Trump and a Chinese Folktale:
Work hard, have fun, fulfill your calling.

The story so far ~

Day 1...
Day 2...
Day 3...
Day 4...
Day 5...
Day 6...
Day 7…

Today ~ Day 8:

My angle:

The eldest son may be you or someone else in your life. Maybe he’s your own fears and your inner critic. Maybe he’s one of the nay-sayers you know—those people who tell you your dreams are impossible and to buckle down and get real.

Also— the eldest son didn’t “Tough It Out” and he didn’t “Do More; Always Do More” —two pieces of wise advice from Donald Trump (scroll down for more from Mr. Trump).

The mystical angle:


The eldest son traveled for more than a month. Finally, in a remote mountain pass, he came upon a fantastic Dragon Tower. Guarding the tower was a fierce protector spirit, and standing nearby was a stone horse.

“Where are you going?” demanded the guardian. “To find my mother’s tapestry,” replied the son. “That heavenly tapestry was whisked away by the fairies of Sun Mountain so that they could weave copies of it,” explained the guardian.

“You can get the tapestry back, but it will be very difficult. First you must knock out your two front teeth and place them in my horse’s mouth. He will come to life and eat these magic apples. If you dare, ride him to Sun Mountain.”

“First, you will have to pass through the Mountain of Fire. If you utter the slightest complaint, you will instantly be burned to ashes. Then you will have to cross the Sea of Ice, where, if you make the slightest shudder, you will be frozen into a crystal pillar!”

The eldest son’s face became as white as a ghost’s. The guardian studied him long and hard and then said, “Perhaps you would rather have a box of jewels!”

The guardian held out a box of fabulous jewels. The eldest son took the treasure and left without saying a word.

On his way home, the eldest son thought aloud, “Why should I share these with my family?”

So he didn’t go home. Instead, he went to the city and kept all the jewels for himself.

The Trump angle:


Donald Trump in Trump 101: The Way to Success: “I’ve been very lucky, and I’ve had many advantages like a great education and fabulous parents. I’m also tough, determined, and persistent, and there’s no way I would have become successful without these traits.

“Constantly try to top yourself. Begin by working with your internal processes; for example, how you greet each day. Before you get out of bed, take a few moments to welcome the day. Think of the reasons why today can be special or important for your future. Say aloud to yourself, 'What a great day!' …

“I thrive on challenges—on doing what others think cannot be done. I use challenges for self-motivation. To me, the best challenges are the ones I give myself…

“Never be satisfied. Don’t rest on your achievements. Do more, be more, and give more.”

My TEDxDar Nominations (5 of 6): Caroline Uliwa

TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session themes:
"What would Nyerere do?"
"Hadithi Zetu: Creating content to narrate our stories"
"The In-Between Spaces"

One of the people I nominated is Caroline Uliwa. Caroline is a journalist, poet, and singer. Her blog is Ketronique: "space for self-empowerment, artistic endeavors African or global, here is space to document humility and its strengths." She is also on Facebook.


Caroline Uliwa

Friday, December 18, 2009

My TEDxDar Nominations (4 of 6): Demere Kitunga


TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session themes:
"What would Nyerere do?"
"Hadithi Zetu: Creating content to narrate our stories"
"The In-Between Spaces"

One of the people I nominated is Demere Kitunga. Demere is director of Soma Book Cafe in Dar Es Salaam. She is a reading activist, publisher, and writer. Become a Fan of Soma Book Cafe on Facebook!




Thursday, December 17, 2009

My TEDxDar Nominations (3 of 6): Muhidin Issa Michuzi

TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session themes:
"What would Nyerere do?"
"Hadithi Zetu: Creating content to narrate our stories"
"The In-Between Spaces"

One of the people I nominated is Muhidin Issa Michuzi. Issa is an independent journalist, photographer, and blogger based in Dar Es Salaam. Click here to read his excellent blog.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

My TEDxDar Nominations (2 of 6): Young Kimaro


TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session theme: "What would Nyerere do?"

One of the people I nominated is Young Kimaro.

YOUNG KIMARO

Ms. Kimaro writes the weekly column, “Development with Commonsense” for Daily News of Dar Es Salaam

One of my recent favorites among her excellent weekly columns is

More on improving your child’s capacity to learn.


She and her husband now live in Moshi, where they have built a village library and are active in expanding its resources.



Young Kimaro.



Tuesday, December 15, 2009

My TEDxDar Nominations (1 of 6): Ndesanjo Macha

TEDxDar is happening in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on 22 May 2010. The organizers are asking us to nominate speakers we think will be relevant to the mission, in particular relating to the session theme: "What would Nyerere do?"

One of the people I nominated is Ndesanjo Macha.

NDESANJO MACHA is a Tanzanian blogger, journalist, lawyer, and digital activist. He is considered “the father of Wikipedia Swahili." Ndesanjo is the Sub-Saharan Africa editor at Global Voices Online. This is Ndesanjo on YouTube, in a 3-minute interview after he delivered the keynote at the Digital Citizen Indaba 2007 held at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa: