TEDxEuston: 26 November 2011

Saturday 26 November - save the date. TedxEuston will be taking place in London on that day. I am looking forward to seeing the programme, which I think will be available towards the end of August.  Here's a link that I posted in the run-up to the 2010 event. While I raised the issue of the cost of the event - well moaned about it really (sorry guys) - this year I am able to tell you that TEDx Euston is worth every single penny. The mix of contributors - from business, the charity/campaigning world, politics and my particular favourites, the writers and authors -  was an excellent one.  While the contributors were predominately from Nigeria, their presentations were mixed with TED video contributors from all over Africa. TEDx Euston is a really inspirational event, not only from the presenters, but also because of the friendliness of the other guests. I had a lovely day.

Here is an interview with the lead organiser of TEDxEuston: Chikwe Ihekwazu

All the videos from last November are now on the website at TEDxEuston and a couple my favourites are below.

Hannah Pool

Hannah held the audience spell bound with her beautiful story of discovery, rediscovery and self-discovery before, during and after a journey which took her back to her origins in Eritrea for the first time.

The quote above is the TEDxEuston video quote - it does not tell you the half of how this talk will make you feel. I just watched it again, and welled-up about all over again, just as I did on the day. I defy anyone not to feel emotional while watching the calm and collected way in which Hannah tells her story, and the reading from her book, My Fathers' Daughter, is particularly affecting.

Matthew Kukah

Father Mathew Kukah walked us through the travails of pursuing truth and reconciliation in Nigeria, and left us splitting our sides with laughter and saddened by the missed opportunities.

Unlike most of the audience I'd never heard of Matthew Kukah before, so I did not really get all of the jokes. Watching it again, I actually think some of the laughter is rather misplaced. Nonetheless, I think that this is an incredibly important contribution from a shrewd and inspiring operator.

This is the book that Matthew Kukah refers to in his presentation, I am sorry, but I could not find a link to purchase the book, it seems that only the promotional events and book reviews are online.