TEDGlobal 2014
Boniface Mwangi: The day I stood up alone
Boniface Mwangi: O dia em que me ergui sozinho
Filmed:
Readability: 3.6
1,464,126 views
O fotógrafo Boniface Mwangi queria protestar contra a corrupção no seu país: o Quénia. Assim, elaborou um plano: ele e alguns amigos levantar-se-iam e gritariam durante um grande ajuntamento público. Mas quando chegou a altura... ele ergueu-se sozinho. O que aconteceu em seguida, diz ele, mostrou-lhe quem realmente era. Como ele diz: "Existem dois dias poderosos na nossa vida. O dia em que nascemos, e o dia em que descobrimos porquê". Imagens explícitas.
Boniface Mwangi -
Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning Kenyan photographer, artist and activist. He is a TED Fellow. Full bio
Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning Kenyan photographer, artist and activist. He is a TED Fellow. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
As pessoas no meu país
chamam-me inoportuno,
chamam-me inoportuno,
00:13
People back home call me a heckler,
0
1707
2889
00:16
a troublemaker, an irritant,
1
4596
2717
alguém que arranja sarilhos, irritante,
00:19
a rebel, an activist,
2
7313
2670
um rebelde, um ativista,
00:21
the voice of the people.
3
9983
1857
a voz do povo.
00:23
But that wasn't always me.
4
11840
2170
Mas nem sempre fui assim.
00:26
Growing up, I had a nickname.
5
14650
1532
Ao crescer, tinha uma alcunha.
00:28
They used to call me Softy,
6
16182
2320
Costumavam chamar-me "Softy",
00:30
meaning the soft, harmless boy.
7
18502
3253
o que queria dizer:
o rapaz pacato e inofensivo.
o rapaz pacato e inofensivo.
00:33
Like every other human being,
I avoided trouble.
I avoided trouble.
8
21755
2740
Tal como qualquer ser humano,
eu evitava os problemas.
eu evitava os problemas.
00:36
In my childhood, they taught me silence.
9
24495
2043
Na minha infância,
ensinaram-me o silêncio.
ensinaram-me o silêncio.
00:38
Don't argue, do as you're told.
10
26538
1802
"Não discutas, faz o que te mandam".
00:40
In Sunday school, they taught me
don't confront, don't argue,
don't confront, don't argue,
11
28340
3932
Na catequese, ensinaram-me
a não ter confrontos, a não discutir,
a não ter confrontos, a não discutir,
00:44
even if you're right,
turn the other cheek.
turn the other cheek.
12
32272
3313
mesmo tendo razão, a dar a outra face.
00:47
This was reinforced
by the political climate of the time.
by the political climate of the time.
13
35585
4597
Isso era reforçado
pelo ambiente político da altura.
pelo ambiente político da altura.
00:52
(Laughter)
14
40182
3601
(Risos)
00:55
Kenya is a country
where you are guilty
where you are guilty
15
43783
1809
O Quénia é um país onde se é culpado
00:57
until proven rich.
16
45592
2647
até prova de sermos ricos.
01:00
(Laughter)
17
48239
2745
(Risos)
01:02
Kenya's poor are five times more likely
18
50984
2742
Os pobres do Quénia,
têm cinco vezes mais probabilidade
têm cinco vezes mais probabilidade
01:05
to be shot dead by the police
who are meant to protect them
who are meant to protect them
19
53726
2924
de serem mortos
pela polícia que os devia proteger
pela polícia que os devia proteger
01:08
than by criminals.
20
56650
1648
do que por criminosos.
01:10
This was reinforced
by the political climate of the day.
by the political climate of the day.
21
58298
2647
Isso era reforçado
pelo clima político vigente.
pelo clima político vigente.
01:12
We had a president,
Moi, who was a dictator.
Moi, who was a dictator.
22
60945
2949
Tínhamos um presidente,
Moi, que era um ditador.
Moi, que era um ditador.
01:15
He ruled the country with an iron fist,
23
63894
2206
Ele governava o país
com um punho de ferro.
com um punho de ferro.
01:18
and anyone who dared
question his authority
question his authority
24
66100
2438
Quem se atrevesse
a desafiar a sua autoridade
a desafiar a sua autoridade
01:20
was arrested, tortured,
jailed or even killed.
jailed or even killed.
25
68538
4969
era detido, torturado,
preso ou até morto.
preso ou até morto.
01:25
That meant that people were taught
to be smart cowards, stay out of trouble.
to be smart cowards, stay out of trouble.
26
73507
3924
Isso ensinava as pessoas a serem
cobardes espertos, a evitarem problemas.
cobardes espertos, a evitarem problemas.
01:29
Being a coward was not an insult.
27
77431
2043
Ser cobarde não era um insulto.
01:31
Being a coward was a compliment.
28
79474
1927
Ser cobarde era um elogio.
01:33
We used to be told that a coward
goes home to his mother.
goes home to his mother.
29
81401
3158
Dizíamos que um cobarde
volta para casa para junto da mãe.
volta para casa para junto da mãe.
01:36
What that meant: that if you stayed
out of trouble you're going to stay alive.
out of trouble you're going to stay alive.
30
84559
3761
Isso significava
que evitar problemas nos mantinha vivos.
que evitar problemas nos mantinha vivos.
01:40
I used to question this advice,
31
88320
1940
Eu questionava esse conselho.
01:42
and eight years ago
we had an election in Kenya,
we had an election in Kenya,
32
90260
2822
Há oito anos,
houve eleições no Quénia
houve eleições no Quénia
e os resultados
foram violentamente contestados.
foram violentamente contestados.
01:45
and the results were violently disputed.
33
93082
2483
01:47
What followed that election
was terrible violence, rape,
was terrible violence, rape,
34
95565
4737
O que se seguiu a essa eleição
foi uma terrível violência, violações
foi uma terrível violência, violações
01:52
and the killing of over 1,000 people.
35
100302
3937
e a morte de mais de mil pessoas.
O meu trabalho era documentar a violência.
01:56
My work was to document the violence.
36
104239
3121
01:59
As a photographer,
I took thousands of images,
I took thousands of images,
37
107360
2856
Como fotógrafo,
tirei milhares de fotografias.
tirei milhares de fotografias.
02:02
and after two months,
38
110216
2067
Dois meses depois,
02:04
the two politicians came together,
had a cup of tea,
had a cup of tea,
39
112283
4875
os dois políticos reuniram-se,
tomaram chá,
tomaram chá,
02:09
signed a peace agreement,
and the country moved on.
and the country moved on.
40
117158
3437
assinaram um tratado de paz,
e o país continuou.
e o país continuou.
Eu era um homem perturbado,
porque vi a violência com os meus olhos.
porque vi a violência com os meus olhos.
02:12
I was a very disturbed man
because I saw the violence firsthand.
because I saw the violence firsthand.
41
120595
3529
02:16
I saw the killings.
I saw the displacement.
I saw the displacement.
42
124124
3606
Vi as matanças.
Vi o desalojamento.
Vi o desalojamento.
Conheci mulheres violadas
e isso perturbou-me,
e isso perturbou-me,
02:19
I met women who had been raped,
and it disturbed me,
and it disturbed me,
43
127730
3081
02:22
but the country never spoke about it.
44
130811
2044
mas o país nunca falou sobre isso.
02:24
We pretended. We all became smart cowards.
45
132855
2484
Fingimos.
Tornámo-nos cobardes espertos.
Tornámo-nos cobardes espertos.
02:27
We decided to stay out of trouble
and not talk about it.
and not talk about it.
46
135339
3599
Decidimos evitar problemas
e não falar sobre o assunto.
e não falar sobre o assunto.
02:30
Ten months later, I quit my job.
I said I could not stand it anymore.
I said I could not stand it anymore.
47
138938
3297
Dez meses depois, despedi-me.
Disse que não aguentava mais.
Disse que não aguentava mais.
Depois de me despedir,
decidi juntar os meus amigos
decidi juntar os meus amigos
02:34
After quitting my job,
I decided to organize my friends
I decided to organize my friends
48
142235
2595
para falar sobre a violência no país
02:36
to speak about
the violence in the country,
the violence in the country,
49
144830
2020
e sobre o estado da nação.
02:38
to speak about the state of the nation,
50
146850
1864
No dia 1 de junho de 2009
devíamos ir ao estádio
devíamos ir ao estádio
02:40
and June 1, 2009 was the day
that we were meant to go to the stadium
that we were meant to go to the stadium
51
148714
4116
e tentar chamar a atenção do presidente.
02:44
and try and get the president's attention.
52
152830
2059
É um feriado nacional,
02:46
It's a national holiday,
53
154889
1440
é transmitido para todo o país.
02:48
it's broadcast across the country,
54
156329
1649
02:49
and I showed up at the stadium.
55
157978
3408
Eu apareci no estádio.
02:53
My friends did not show up.
56
161386
2994
Os meus amigos não apareceram.
02:56
I found myself alone,
57
164380
3373
Dei por mim sozinho,
02:59
and I didn't know what to do.
58
167753
2527
não sabia o que fazer.
Estava assustado,
03:02
I was scared,
59
170280
1415
03:03
but I knew very well
that that particular day,
that that particular day,
60
171695
2170
mas sabia bem
que naquele preciso dia
que naquele preciso dia
teria de decidir.
03:05
I had to make a decision.
61
173865
1221
Seria capaz de viver como um cobarde,
como os outros,
como os outros,
03:07
Was I able to live as a coward,
like everyone else,
like everyone else,
62
175086
2423
ou ia tomar uma posição?
03:09
or was I going to make a stand?
63
177509
1598
03:11
And when the president stood up to speak,
64
179107
2206
Quando o presidente
se levantou para falar,
se levantou para falar,
03:13
I found myself on my feet
shouting at the president,
shouting at the president,
65
181313
4607
dei por mim em pé,
a gritar para o presidente,
a gritar para o presidente,
03:17
telling him to remember
the post-election violence victims,
the post-election violence victims,
66
185920
3194
a dizer-lhe que recordasse
as vítimas de violência após as eleições,
as vítimas de violência após as eleições,
03:21
to stop the corruption.
67
189114
2276
que parasse com a corrupção.
03:23
And suddenly, out of nowhere,
68
191390
2205
E, subitamente, do nada,
03:25
the police pounced on me
like hungry lions.
like hungry lions.
69
193595
3112
a polícia atacou-me como leões famintos.
03:28
They held my mouth
70
196707
1857
Taparam-me a boca
03:30
and dragged me out of the stadium,
71
198564
1927
e arrastaram-me para fora do estádio,
onde me bateram exaustivamente
e me levaram para a prisão.
e me levaram para a prisão.
03:32
where they thoroughly beat me up
and locked me up in jail.
and locked me up in jail.
72
200491
2971
03:37
I spent that night in
a cold cement floor in the jail,
a cold cement floor in the jail,
73
205112
6758
Passei essa noite
no frio chão de cimento da cela,
no frio chão de cimento da cela,
03:43
and that got me thinking.
74
211870
2648
e isso fez-me pensar.
03:46
What was making me feel this way?
75
214518
1871
O que me fazia sentir assim?
03:48
My friends and family thought
I was crazy because of what I did,
I was crazy because of what I did,
76
216389
3165
Os meus amigos e família pensavam
que eu era doido pelo que fizera.
que eu era doido pelo que fizera.
03:51
and the images that I took
were disturbing my life.
were disturbing my life.
77
219554
5014
As fotografias que tinha tirado
perturbavam a minha vida.
perturbavam a minha vida.
03:56
The images that I took
were just a number to many Kenyans.
were just a number to many Kenyans.
78
224568
2950
Essas fotos eram apenas um número
para muitos quenianos.
para muitos quenianos.
03:59
Most Kenyans did not see the violence.
79
227518
1947
Muitos quenianos não viram a violência.
04:01
It was a story to them.
80
229465
1695
Era uma história, para eles.
04:03
And so I decided to actually
start a street exhibition
start a street exhibition
81
231160
2787
Assim, decidi começar
uma exposição de rua
uma exposição de rua
04:05
to show the images of the violence
across the country
across the country
82
233947
2786
para mostrar as imagens
da violência pelo país fora
da violência pelo país fora
04:08
and get people talking about it.
83
236733
1974
e levar as pessoas a falar sobre isso.
04:10
We traveled the country
and showed the images,
and showed the images,
84
238707
2809
Percorremos o país
e exibimos as fotografias.
e exibimos as fotografias.
04:13
and this was a journey that has started me
to the activist path,
to the activist path,
85
241516
3483
Foi uma viagem que me iniciou
no caminho do ativismo,
no caminho do ativismo,
04:16
where I decided to become silent no more,
86
244999
2717
em que decidi deixar de ficar em silêncio,
04:19
to talk about those things.
87
247716
2198
para falar destes assuntos.
04:21
We traveled, and our general site
from our street exhibit
from our street exhibit
88
249914
3650
Viajámos, e o local
em que fazíamos a exposição
em que fazíamos a exposição
04:25
became for political graffiti
about the situation in the country,
about the situation in the country,
89
253564
4798
tornava-se o "graffiti" político
da situação no país,
da situação no país,
04:30
talking about corruption, bad leadership.
90
258362
2758
em que se falava de corrupção,
da má liderança.
da má liderança.
04:33
We have even done symbolic burials.
91
261120
3780
Até fizemos enterros simbólicos.
04:36
We have delivered live pigs
to Kenya's parliament
to Kenya's parliament
92
264900
3982
Entregámos porcos vivos
no parlamento do Quénia,
no parlamento do Quénia,
04:40
as a symbol of our politicians' greed.
93
268882
1928
como símbolo da ganância dos políticos.
04:42
It has been done in Uganda
and other countries,
and other countries,
94
270810
2231
Já fora feito no Uganda
e noutros países.
e noutros países.
04:45
and what is most powerful is that
the images have been picked by the media
the images have been picked by the media
95
273041
3509
O mais poderoso é que as imagens
foram apanhadas pelos "media"
foram apanhadas pelos "media"
04:48
and amplified across the country,
across the continent.
across the continent.
96
276550
3036
e amplificadas pelo país,
através do continente.
através do continente.
04:51
Where I used to stand up alone
seven years ago,
seven years ago,
97
279586
2647
Onde costumava estar sozinho,
há sete anos,
há sete anos,
04:54
now I belong to a community
of many people who stand up with me.
of many people who stand up with me.
98
282233
3026
tenho agora uma comunidade
de muitos a erguerem-se comigo.
de muitos a erguerem-se comigo.
04:57
I am no longer alone when I stand up
to speak about these things.
to speak about these things.
99
285259
4328
Já não estou sozinho
quando me ergo para falar destes assuntos.
quando me ergo para falar destes assuntos.
05:02
I belong to a group of young people
who are passionate about the country,
who are passionate about the country,
100
290177
4173
Pertenço a um grupo de jovens
que são apaixonados pelo país
que são apaixonados pelo país
05:06
who want to bring about change,
101
294350
1850
e que querem fazer a mudança.
05:08
and they're no longer afraid,
and they're no longer smart cowards.
and they're no longer smart cowards.
102
296200
4414
Eles já não têm medo,
já não são cobardes espertos.
já não são cobardes espertos.
05:13
So that was my story.
103
301744
2728
Esta foi a minha história.
05:18
That day in the stadium,
104
306242
2598
Naquele dia, no estádio,
05:20
I stood up as a smart coward.
105
308840
2487
levantei-me como um cobarde esperto.
05:23
By that one action, I said goodbye
to the 24 years living as a coward.
to the 24 years living as a coward.
106
311327
5247
Com esse simples gesto, disse adeus
a 24 anos a viver como um cobarde.
a 24 anos a viver como um cobarde.
05:28
There are two most powerful
days in your life:
days in your life:
107
316574
3042
Existem dois dias muito
importantes na nossa vida:
importantes na nossa vida:
05:31
the day you're born,
and the day you discover why.
and the day you discover why.
108
319616
4546
o dia em que nascemos
e o dia em que descobrimos porquê.
e o dia em que descobrimos porquê.
05:36
That day standing up in that stadium
shouting at the President,
shouting at the President,
109
324771
3244
No dia em que me levantei no estádio,
a gritar para o presidente,
a gritar para o presidente,
05:40
I discovered why I was truly born,
110
328015
3280
descobri por que razão
tinha realmente nascido,
tinha realmente nascido,
05:43
that I would no longer be silent
in the face of injustice.
in the face of injustice.
111
331295
3251
que não ia continuar em silêncio
perante a injustiça.
perante a injustiça.
05:47
Do you know why you were born?
112
335776
2804
E vocês, sabem por que motivo nasceram?
05:51
Thank you.
113
339700
1835
Obrigado.
05:53
(Applause)
114
341535
4919
(Aplausos)
06:00
Tom Rielly: It's an amazing story.
115
348524
2507
Tom Rielly: É uma história fantástica.
06:03
I just want to ask you
a couple quick questions.
a couple quick questions.
116
351031
2556
Quero apenas fazer
algumas perguntas rápidas.
algumas perguntas rápidas.
06:05
So PAWA254:
117
353587
2320
Então, PAWA254:
06:07
you've created a studio, a place
where young people can go
where young people can go
118
355907
4313
criaste um estúdio,
um sítio onde jovens podem ir
um sítio onde jovens podem ir
06:12
and harness the power of digital media
119
360220
1956
e aproveitar o poder dos meios digitais
06:14
to do some of this action.
120
362176
2511
para realizar algumas destas ações.
06:16
What's happening now with PAWA?
121
364687
1877
O que está a acontecer com o PAWA?
06:18
Boniface Mwangi: So we have
this community of filmmakers,
this community of filmmakers,
122
366564
2783
Boniface Mwangi: Temos
um grupo de realizadores,
um grupo de realizadores,
artistas de "graffiti", músicos,
e, se há um problema no país,
e, se há um problema no país,
06:21
graffiti artists, musicians,
and when there's an issue in the country,
and when there's an issue in the country,
123
369347
3363
juntamo-nos, partilhamos ideias,
e agimos sobre esse problema.
e agimos sobre esse problema.
06:24
we come together, we brainstorm,
and take up on that issue.
and take up on that issue.
124
372710
2801
06:27
So our most powerful tool is art,
125
375511
2056
A nossa arma mais poderosa é a arte,
06:29
because we live in a very busy world
where people are so busy in their life,
where people are so busy in their life,
126
377567
3831
porque vivemos num mundo atarefado,
onde as pessoas estão muito ocupadas
onde as pessoas estão muito ocupadas
06:33
and they don't have time to read.
127
381398
2067
e não têm tempo para ler.
06:35
So we package our activism
and we package our message in art.
and we package our message in art.
128
383465
4133
Então concentramos o nosso ativismo
e concentramos a nossa mensagem na arte.
e concentramos a nossa mensagem na arte.
06:39
So from the music, the graffiti,
the art, that's what we do.
the art, that's what we do.
129
387598
4979
Fazemos isso a partir da música,
do "graffiti", da arte.
do "graffiti", da arte.
06:45
Can I say one more thing?
130
393557
2028
Posso dizer mais uma coisa?
TR: Sim, claro. (Aplausos)
06:47
TR: Yeah, of course. (Applause)
131
395585
1881
BM: Apesar de ter sido preso,
agredido, ameaçado,
agredido, ameaçado,
06:49
BM: In spite of being arrested,
beaten up, threatened,
beaten up, threatened,
132
397466
2635
06:52
the moment I discovered my voice,
133
400101
1713
quando descobri a minha voz
e que podia erguer-me pelo que acreditava,
06:53
that I could actually stand up
for what I really believed in,
for what I really believed in,
134
401814
2896
deixei de ter medo.
06:56
I'm no longer afraid.
135
404710
1038
Costumavam chamar-me "Softy",
mas eu já não sou pacato,
mas eu já não sou pacato,
06:57
I used to be called softy,
but I'm no longer softy,
but I'm no longer softy,
136
405748
2742
porque descobri o que, na verdade, sou,
e o que quero fazer,
e o que quero fazer,
07:00
because I discovered who I really am,
as in, that's what I want to do,
as in, that's what I want to do,
137
408490
3401
e há tanta beleza em fazê-lo.
07:03
and there's such beauty in doing that.
138
411891
3036
07:06
There's nothing as powerful as that,
knowing that I'm meant to do this,
knowing that I'm meant to do this,
139
414927
3389
Não há nada tão poderoso,
como saber que o meu destino é fazer isto,
como saber que o meu destino é fazer isto,
07:10
because you don't get scared,
you just continue living your life.
you just continue living your life.
140
418316
3147
porque não temos medo,
continuamos só a viver a nossa vida.
continuamos só a viver a nossa vida.
Obrigado.
07:13
Thank you.
141
421463
2186
(Aplausos)
07:15
(Applause)
142
423649
3590
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Boniface Mwangi -Boniface Mwangi is an award-winning Kenyan photographer, artist and activist. He is a TED Fellow.
Why you should listen
For four years Boniface Mwangi held a staff photography position at The Standard, the second largest Kenyan newspaper, taking on various assignments of increasing responsibility in a number of countries. Mwangi became the eye of Kenyans during the 2007 post-election violence and showed courage and compassion to capture thousands of images, some so gory that they could not be published.
Following the political resolution to the election crisis, Boniface started to see himself as a visual artist, using photography as the vehicle for social change in Kenya. His focus was the fight against the impunity of politicians in the face of over 1000 dead and half a million people displaced as a result of the violence they caused.
"Boniface’s images are crucial for the healing of our nation; his ability to stay focused and inject a sense of artistry into his work is a testimony to the spirit of professional journalism," wrote Jackson Biko after Boniface was voted Kenya Photojournalist of the Year in 2008 by readers of Adam, a men’s magazine in the country.
Since then, Boniface has continued to work as a freelance photographer for Bloomberg, the AFP, Reuters, the Boston Globe, and other media outlets while building a movement for social change in Kenya through “Picha Mtaani” (Swahili for street exhibition). The photo exhibit aims to heal the scars of Kenyans and draw their attention to the dynamics of the violence to prevent a repeat during the upcoming elections of 2013.
Boniface founded Pawa254 as a collaborative hub where journalists, artists and activists could meet to find innovative ways of achieving social change. The hub has already had many functions, but two campaigns stand out. “Heal the Nation” is a very successful initiative to show a half-hour documentary about post-election violence to as many Kenyans as possible and facilitate discussions around the film. The campaign is accompanied by a more shadowy graffiti campaign that has evoked strong reactions and fired up the youth of Kenya and the world, as images of the clever graffiti grace the pages of the world’s newspapers.
In 2009 United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote a letter commending Boniface for his work during the post-election violence. She stated, "Your photography is absolutely stunning and tells an important and powerful story for the world to hear."
More profile about the speakerFollowing the political resolution to the election crisis, Boniface started to see himself as a visual artist, using photography as the vehicle for social change in Kenya. His focus was the fight against the impunity of politicians in the face of over 1000 dead and half a million people displaced as a result of the violence they caused.
"Boniface’s images are crucial for the healing of our nation; his ability to stay focused and inject a sense of artistry into his work is a testimony to the spirit of professional journalism," wrote Jackson Biko after Boniface was voted Kenya Photojournalist of the Year in 2008 by readers of Adam, a men’s magazine in the country.
Since then, Boniface has continued to work as a freelance photographer for Bloomberg, the AFP, Reuters, the Boston Globe, and other media outlets while building a movement for social change in Kenya through “Picha Mtaani” (Swahili for street exhibition). The photo exhibit aims to heal the scars of Kenyans and draw their attention to the dynamics of the violence to prevent a repeat during the upcoming elections of 2013.
Boniface founded Pawa254 as a collaborative hub where journalists, artists and activists could meet to find innovative ways of achieving social change. The hub has already had many functions, but two campaigns stand out. “Heal the Nation” is a very successful initiative to show a half-hour documentary about post-election violence to as many Kenyans as possible and facilitate discussions around the film. The campaign is accompanied by a more shadowy graffiti campaign that has evoked strong reactions and fired up the youth of Kenya and the world, as images of the clever graffiti grace the pages of the world’s newspapers.
In 2009 United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrote a letter commending Boniface for his work during the post-election violence. She stated, "Your photography is absolutely stunning and tells an important and powerful story for the world to hear."
Boniface Mwangi | Speaker | TED.com