Rewriting the African Story (#ThinkAgain)

Transcript

1. Rewriting the African Story (#ThinkAgain) Matt Adesanya @ ForLoop PH
2. Who am I?
3. (does it matter?) nothing
4. Disclaimer
5. The title notwithstanding, This presentation has no connotation of Racism OR BLM OR Favoritism OR Preference for one race over the other
6. Attention!
7. ‘African’ in the title is neither the continent, OR the group of people living on this land, it’s referring to ‘You!’ You are known as an African
8. Getting Started
9. In order to find YOU! We’ll tell our Story from the Continent’s Point of View
10. Where are we now?
11. Economic BackWater!
12. Always Catching Up with the Rest of the World
13. Pitied by others
14. TANSTAAFL (There ain't no such thing as a free lunch)
15. Our Current Problems
16. Little OR Nil Development
17. Unemployment
18. Trickling Youths involvement in Government
19. Dysfunctional Institutions
20. Corruption Like Cankerworm
21. Poverty
22. Blind, Hungry, Angry Youths
23. How did we get here?
24. Slave Trade
25. West Africa most affected by the Slave Trade
26. Betrayed by Fellow Africans
27. Colonization
28. Never Truly Independent
29. Our Parents didn’t help
30. Who do we blame?
31. The White Man
32. Our Leaders/Past Heroes
33. Our Institutions
34. Our Parents
35. God
36. What are we doing about it?
37. We talk
38. We joke and circulate memes
39. We insult authorities
40. We insult our leaders
41. We forget easily
42. We argue
43. We don’t listen
44. We are angry
45. We riot
46. We destroy
47. We divide
48. We label ourselves
49. We make simple things appear complex (Analysis Paralysis)
50. We are proud, cocky and puffed up
51. We protest
52. We entertain ourselves
53. We watch television
54. Our phone(s) become our closest companion
55. We peddle fake news
56. We fight and take it by Force
57. We Hustle to Survive
58. We look for favour at the expense of others
59. We cheat our way up.
60. We hate those better than us for no reason
61. We steal and hoard (money, knowledge) for the future we are not sure of
62. We hate the people we blame
63. We love our own more than others
64. We Flee
65. What if we think again?
66. What can we do differently?
67. Let’s start by thinking of Africans who are different? Our Favourite heroes
68. There are so many of them than we can list here…. (not in any particular order)
69. These are my favourite heroes, you can make your list as well.
70. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji (Co-founder - Andela)
71. Mark Essien (Founder - hotels.ng)
72. Jason Njoku (Founder - irokotv)
73. Seny Sulyman (Country Director, Andela Nigeria)
74. Joshua Mwaniki (Country Director, Andela Kenya)
75. Wambui Kinya (Lead Strategist, Andela)
76. Kemi Adetiba (Movie producer)
77. Pastor ‘Poju Oyemade (Convener - The Platform)
78. Leke Alder (Founder - Alder Consulting)
79. Kunle Afolayan (Movie Producer)
80. Pastor Sam Adeyemi (Leadership Coach)
81. Moyinoluwa Adeyemi (Android Programmer)
82. John Adesanya (Animator)
83. Brice Nkengsa (Director of Engineering, Andela)
84. Nadayar Enegesi (Director of Learning, Andela)
85. Prosper Otemuyiwa (Developer Evangelist)
86. Temiloluwa Abikoye (Medical Doctor - LUTH)
87. Ridwan Olalere (Founder - forloop)
88. Chris Nwamba (Writer @ Scotch.io)
89. Ebun Omoni (Director of Products, Andela)
90. Bukunmi Adesanya (Auditor @ PWC)
91. Barrack Obama (44th POTUS)
92. Nathaniel Bassey (Singer & Songwriter)
93. Nengi Adoki (Singer & Actress)
94. Abiola Ibrahim (Top Go programmer)
95. Suliat Ogunlende (Director of Success, Andela Nigeria)
96. We end the list for now :)
97. What do all these heroes have in common?
98. Recall our list of what the African is doing about his/her problems?
99. Talk, blame, anger, labelling, argue, fight, protest, riot, divide, flee… You recall?
100. Heroes do the opposites of these
101. Instead of Talking... They DO and ACT
102. Instead of Blaming... They take responsibility
103. Instead of Arguing... They listen and have intellectual discourse
104. Instead of Ridiculing others... They correct in love
105. Instead of Labeling... They see each other as one
106. Instead of Surviving... They Thrive
107. Instead of Hoarding... They teach, give freely and share
108. Instead of hating... They forgive quickly and love.
109. Instead of competition... They collaborate.
110. Instead of cheating... They learn to fail and try to again.
111. Instead of protesting... They get to work
112. Instead of pride... They are humble. They see themselves as nothing
113. Heroes obey the authorities, even when the authorities hurt them.
114. Heroes don’t insult their leaders, they pray for them.
115. Heroes respect their parents and every elderly.
116. Heroes don’t chase the PAST, they invent the FUTURE, TODAY.
117. Instead of fleeing….
118. Heroes come home
119. Solution
120. Now, what is the solution to the African problem? How can everyone win together?
121. Shall we pause to think for a sec?
122. Sorry to burst your bubbles.
123. The problem is not the continent or the Land
124. The problem is not our leaders
125. The problem is not the white man
126. The problem is not your parents
127. The problem is not God
128. The problem is YOU!
129. Yes! YOU, YOU and YOU, and YOU going through the slides
130. Go back to the beginning of this presentation, thinking of yourself while you read.
131. Let’s take another short break to think.
132. There’s something to learn here.
133. Can you see it?
134. That you are the one in the Economic backwater,
135. You are the one chasing the rest of the world
136. You are the one being pitied by others
137. You are the one feeding on crumbs
138. Your current problems are….
139. Little or no development
140. You are unemployed
141. You are not interested in politics and servant leadership
142. You wallow in poverty
143. You are hustling to survive
144. You are blind, hungry and angry?
145. How did you get here?
146. You think like a slave
147. You refuse to accept that the past is read-only memory
148. You refuse to see in the NOW!
149. You are always stressed and worried?
150. You are afraid of failing
151. You talk
152. You joke and circulate memes
153. You insult authorities
154. You insult your leaders
155. You forget easily
156. You argue
157. You don’t listen
158. You are angry
159. You riot
160. You destroy
161. You divide
162. You label yourself
163. You make simple things appear complex
164. You are proud, cocky and puffed up
165. You protest
166. You entertain yourself
167. You watch television
168. Your phone(s) become your closest companion
169. You peddle fake news
170. You fight and take it by Force
171. You Hustle to Survive
172. You look for favour at the expense of others
173. You cheat our way up.
174. You hate those better than you for no reason
175. You steal and hoard (money, knowledge) for the future you are not sure of
176. You hate the people you blame
177. We love your own more than others
178. You Flee
179. You are afraid of failing
180. The Truth is ...
181. You stand alone in this world
182. Stop roping other people in
183. YOU are a NATION
184. YOU are AFRICA
185. YOU are the WORLD
186. NOT “WE are the WORLD”
187. What are you going to do about YOU?
188. Find yourself. Think Again
189. Consider these questions
190. Question 1: If someone agrees to pay your dream money every day, without working for them, what will you do with the rest of your life?
191. Question 2: If all your EVERY daily needs are met by someone, but you don’t work for them and you won’t need to hold as little as 1 cent in hand, will you be satisfied?
192. Question 3: What drives your life? What motivates you?
193. Think Again
194. If you can answer these questions, then you are ...
195. Getting Started again.
196. You must find your purpose and a platform.
197. Perhaps, we could have something better than democracy, starting in Africa
198. Perhaps, we can reform our institutions - medical, legal, education. Something that works for us
199. Perhaps, we can solve the African problems the African way - #Original
200. Perhaps, we can solve the African problems the African way - #Original
201. Here are other solutions I’ll suggest besides finding yourself
202. Learn how to Learn
203. Study
204. You cannot LEAD effectively if you don’t READ
205. Slow down on Videos and Audios, READ!
206. Serve first before Leading Consider this Dirty Talk going forward: “I don’t want to work for anybody” Swallow your pride. Serve.
207. When you lead, be a servant leader
208. Sit at the back and be humble - genuinely
209. Find a mentor
210. It’s way easier to learn when someone holds your hand, to lead you.
211. No amount of studying equates apprenticeship.
212. Enough of hearing and talking.
213. DO!
214. CAUTION!
215. On my list of heroes, I had really known people and others not as popular
216. On my list of heroes, I had really known people and others not as popular
217. That I know lead meaningfully everyday
218. That are honest and sincere, and add value to humanity
219. There’s the 44th POTUS, colleagues at work, pastors, movie directors, some are friends in the community, childhood friend, my younger brother and my wife.
220. A hero is not necessarily a far away person known everywhere.
221. A hero is someone who’s discovered themselves and are living it everyday.
222. Heroes are NOT concerned about HAVING and having, they are concerned about BEING - they live for the NOW!
223. Heroes are NOT selfless. They collaborate.
224. Heroes listen.
225. Ask a hero to be your mentor
226. If you certain you are a HERO, having the qualities described of heroes, kindly mentor someone today.
227. Dear Heroes, Carry your candle. Run to the darkness. Be our firelight.
229. Light your candle. Light up Africa Dear Sleeping Giants
230. That way, we can have more candles
231. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
232. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
233. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. .
234. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
235. If heroes head our politics, organisations and institutions. Africa will be better for it.
236. We are raising heroes at where I work as a Lead Software Engineer - Andela
237. 100,000 in 10 years
238. The largest percentage of the Heroes on my list, work with Andela.
239. We need more Andelas in Africa.
240. I enjoin everyone to find out how we are doing it @ www.andela.com
241. I enjoin everyone to find out how we are doing it.
242. Dear heroes, get started.
243. Start by mentoring only 3.
244. 3 will mentor 9. 9 will mentor 27. 27 will mentor 81.
245. This is how we will raise more heroes.
246. This is how we will rewrite YOUR story and my story - the African Story.
247. But I offer an ultimate way - in fact the right way and the only way
248. Follow the Son of God - Jesus!
249. Give up everything that you hold dear to you.
250. Stop looking inward, outward and downward, look upward. (John 3:14 - 16)
251. Give up religion, family, your money, everything.
252. REPENT, and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38)
253. You will have to do everything Jesus did - “Go ye into all the world, and ...
254. Preach the gospel to every creature
255. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned
256. These signs shall follow them that believe...
257. In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues
258. They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them
259. They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover
260. Leave Egypt, leave the world, leave everything, and follow the Son
261. RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!
262. Learn More https://medium.com/@mattade sanya
263. SHALOM!