TEDGlobal 2017
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu: How Africa can use its traditional knowledge to make progress
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu: Namna Afrika inavyoweza kutumia maarifa ya kitamaduni kupiga hatua
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Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu anataka kuona Waafrika wakitumia ubunifu na uvumbuzi wao uliokandamizwa kwa kutambua umuhimu wa tamaduni zao, na maarifa yaliyo halisi. Katika hotuba hii yenye nguvu, anaelezea mifano inayohusu maarifa ya Kiafrika katika kilimo na utungaji sera, akiwaasa Waafrika kupiga hatua kwa kukubali na kuheshimu uhalisia wao.
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu - Indigenous knowledge expert
Working across disciplines, Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu explores homegrown and grassroots approaches to the sustainable advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa. Full bio
Working across disciplines, Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu explores homegrown and grassroots approaches to the sustainable advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:13
Some months back,
I was visiting this East African city,
I was visiting this East African city,
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Miezi kadhaa iliyopita, nilitembelea jiji moja lililopo Afrika Mashariki,
00:18
and we were stuck in traffic.
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na tulikuwa tumekwama kwenye msongamano wa magari.
00:21
And this vendor suddenly
approaches my window
approaches my window
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Na mchuuzi mmoja alikuja ghafla kwenye dirisha langu
00:24
with a half-opened alphabet sheet.
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na karatasi ya alfabeti iliyofunguka nusu.
00:28
I took a quick look at the alphabet sheet,
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Niliangalia kwa haraka ile karatasi ya alfabeti,
00:31
and I thought of my daughter,
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na nikamuwaza binti yangu,
00:32
how it would be nice
to spread it on the floor
to spread it on the floor
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ni namna gani ingekuwa vyema kuitandaza kwenye sakafu
00:35
and just play all over it with her
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na kucheza juu yake nikiwa nae
00:37
while getting her to learn the alphabet.
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wakati nikiwa ninamfundisha alfabeti.
00:39
So the traffic moved a bit,
and I quickly grabbed a copy,
and I quickly grabbed a copy,
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Msongamano ukasogea kidogo, na nikanunua ile nakala haraka,
00:42
and we moved on.
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na tukaendelea na safari.
00:46
When I had time to fully open
the alphabet sheet
the alphabet sheet
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Nilipopata muda wa kuifungua ile karatasi ya alfabeti
00:49
and take a more detailed look at it,
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na kuiangalia kwa makini,
00:51
I knew I was not going to use that
to teach my daughter.
to teach my daughter.
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Nilitambua ya kwamba sitaitumia kumfundishia binti yangu.
00:55
I regretted my purchase.
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Nilijutia ununuzi wangu.
00:58
Why so?
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Kwanini?
01:00
Looking at the alphabet sheet
reminded me of the fact
reminded me of the fact
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Kutazama karatasi ya alfabeti kunanikumbusha ukweli kwamba
01:03
that not much has changed
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mambo mengi hayajabadilika
01:05
in the education curricula in Africa.
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katika mtaala wa elimu barani Afrika.
01:08
Some decades back, I was taught
out of a similar alphabet sheet.
out of a similar alphabet sheet.
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Miongo kadhaa iliyopita, nilifundishwa kutoka katika karatasi hiyohiyo.
01:13
And because of that,
I struggled for years.
I struggled for years.
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Na kwa sababu ya hilo, nilitaabika kwa miaka.
01:16
I struggled to reconcile my reality
with the formal education I received
with the formal education I received
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Nilitaabika kuweza kukubali uhalisia wangu kutokana na elimu niliyokuwa nikipokea
01:20
in school, in the schools I attended.
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shuleni, katika shule nilizosoma.
01:24
I had identity crises.
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Nilikuwa na janga la utambulisho.
01:26
I looked down on my reality.
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Nikitazama kuangalia uhalisia wangu.
01:29
I looked at my ancestry,
I looked at my lineage with disrespect.
I looked at my lineage with disrespect.
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Niliangalia mababu zangu, nilitazama kizazi changu bila heshima.
01:34
I had very little patience
for what my life had to offer around me.
for what my life had to offer around me.
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Nilikuwa na subira kidogo kwa yale ambayo maisha yangeweza kunipa kutoka katika mazingira yangu.
01:41
Why?
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Kwanini?
01:43
"A is for apple."
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"A ni kwa ajili ya Apple."
01:46
"A is for apple."
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"A ni kwa ajili ya Apple."
01:49
"A is for apple" is for that child
in that part of the world
in that part of the world
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"A ni kwa ajili ya Apple" ni kwa ajili ya mtoto katika pande ya dunia
01:54
where apples grow out;
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ambayo wanalima Apple;
01:56
who has an apple in her lunch bag;
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nani aliye na Apple katika mfuko wake wa chakula cha mchana;
02:00
who goes to the grocery store
with her mom and sees red,
with her mom and sees red,
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nani ambaye huenda dukani na mama yake na kuona apple jekundu,
02:03
green, yellow -- apples
of all shapes and colors and sizes.
of all shapes and colors and sizes.
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kijani, njano katika kila umbo na rangi na ukubwa.
02:08
And so, introducing
education to this child
education to this child
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Kwa hiyo, kumpa elimu mtoto huyu
02:10
with an alphabet sheet like this
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ukitumia karatasi ya alfabeti kama hii
02:14
fulfills one of the major
functions of education,
functions of education,
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inatimiza moja ya kazi kuu katika elimu,
02:17
which is to introduce the learner
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ambayo ni kumkutanisha msomaji
02:20
to an appreciation
of the learner's environment
of the learner's environment
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kuridhika na mazingira ya msomaji
02:23
and a curiosity to explore more
in order to add value.
in order to add value.
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na udadisi wa kuweza kutafuta zaidi ili kuweza kuongeza thamani.
02:29
In my own case,
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Nikijiangalia mimi,
02:32
when and where I grew up in Africa,
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wakati na mahali nilipokulia Afrika,
02:35
apple was an exotic fruit.
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apple ni tunda hadimu.
02:38
Two or three times a year,
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Mara mbili au tatu kwa mwaka,
02:40
I could get some yellowish apples
with brown dots, you know,
with brown dots, you know,
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Nilikuwa napata apple za rangi ya njano zilizo na alama ndogo ndogo za rangi ya kahawia, unajua,
02:45
signifying thousands of miles traveled --
warehouses, sorting --
warehouses, sorting --
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ikiashiria maelfu ya maili yaliposafiri -- ghalani, katika upangaji
02:49
to get to me.
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kunifikia mimi.
02:51
I grew up in the city
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Nilikulia katika jiji
02:53
to very financially comfortable parents,
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kwa wazazi ambao wanajiweza kiuchumi,
02:56
so it was my dignified reality,
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kwa hiyo ulikuwa ni uhalisia wangu wa kuheshimika,
02:58
exactly the same way
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kama vile vile
03:00
cassava fufu or ugali
would not regularly feature
would not regularly feature
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mihogo au ugali kwa kawaida hautakuwepo
03:05
in an American, Chinese or Indian diet,
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katika mlo wa Kimarekani, Kichina au Kihindi,
03:08
apples didn't count as part of my reality.
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apple hazikuwa katika uhalisia wa maisha yangu.
03:12
So what this did to me,
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Kwa hiyo hii ilinifanya nini mimi,
03:15
introducing education to me
with "A is for apple,"
with "A is for apple,"
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kunipa elimu kwangu ya "A ni kwa ajili ya apple,"
03:18
made education an abstraction.
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imefanya elimu kuwa ngumu mno kuelewa.
03:21
It made it something out of my reach --
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Imefanya kitu ambacho kipo na upeo wangu --
03:24
a foreign concept,
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kitu cha nchi za nje,
03:26
a phenomenon for which I would have
to constantly and perpetually seek
to constantly and perpetually seek
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jambo ambalo ningekuwa nikilitafuta mara zote
03:30
the validation of those it belonged to
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uthibitisho wa yale yanayohusiana
03:32
for me to make progress
within it and with it.
within it and with it.
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kwa ajili yangu ili kupiga hatua ndani yake na pamoja yake.
03:36
That was tough for a child;
it would be tough for anyone.
it would be tough for anyone.
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Hiyo ilikuwa ngumu kwa mtoto;
03:40
As I grew up and I advanced academically,
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Nilipokuwa kiumri na kuelimika,
03:42
my reality was further separated
from my education.
from my education.
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uhalisia wangu uligawanyika zaidi na elimu yangu.
03:48
In history, I was taught
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Katika historia, nilifundishwa
03:50
that the Scottish explorer Mungo Park
discovered the Niger River.
discovered the Niger River.
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kwamba mtalii aliyeitwa Mungo Park aligundua mto wa Niger.
03:55
And so it bothered me.
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Na hili lilinikwaza.
03:57
My great-great-grandparents grew up
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Mababu wa mababu zangu walikulia
03:59
quite close to the edge
of the Niger River.
of the Niger River.
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karibu na kingo za mto wa Niger.
04:01
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:03
And it took someone to travel
thousands of miles from Europe
thousands of miles from Europe
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Na ilichukua mtu mwingine kusafiri maelfu ya maili kutoka Ulaya
04:10
to discover a river
right under their nose?
right under their nose?
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kuja kugundua mto ambao upo karibu nao kabisa?
04:12
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:15
No!
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Hapana!
04:16
(Applause and cheers)
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(Makofi na shangilio)
04:22
What did they do with their time?
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Walitumia vipi muda wao?
04:23
(Laughter)
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(Kicheko)
04:25
Playing board games, roasting fresh yams,
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Kucheza bao, kukaanga magimbi,
04:28
fighting tribal wars?
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kupigana vita vya ukabila?
04:30
I mean, I just knew my education
was preparing me to go somewhere else
was preparing me to go somewhere else
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Namaanisha, nilijua ya kwamba elimu yangu ilikuwa ikiniandaa kwenda sehemu nyingine
04:35
and practice and give to another
environment that it belonged to.
environment that it belonged to.
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na kuitumia na katika mazingira mengine ambayo inahusiana nayo.
04:39
It was not for my environment,
where and when I grew up.
where and when I grew up.
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Haikuwa kwa ajili ya mazingira yangu, mahali na muda nilipokua.
04:43
And this continued.
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Na hali hii iliendelea.
04:44
This philosophy undergirded my studies
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Na hii philosophia iliimarisha masomo yangu
04:46
all through the time I studied in Africa.
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muda wote nilipokuwa nikisoma barani Afrika.
04:48
It took a lot of experiences
and some studies
and some studies
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Ilihitaji uzoefu mwingi na baadhi ya mafunzo
04:52
for me to begin to have
a change of mindset.
a change of mindset.
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kwa mimi kuanza pata mabadiliko ya mtazamo wangu.
04:55
I will share a couple
of the remarkable ones with us.
of the remarkable ones with us.
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Nitawaambia baadhi ya mambo makubwa mazuri.
04:59
I was in the United States
in Washington, DC
in Washington, DC
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Nilikuwa nchini Marekani katika jimbo la Washington, DC
05:02
studying towards my doctorate,
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kusomea masomo yangu ya shahada ya uzamivu,
05:04
and I got this consultancy position
with the World Bank Africa Region.
with the World Bank Africa Region.
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nilipata nafasi ya kuwa mshauri katika Benki ya Dunia ukanda wa Afrika,
05:08
And so I remember one day,
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Kwa hiyo nakumbuka siku moja,
05:11
my boss -- we were having
a conversation on some project,
a conversation on some project,
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mkuu wangu wa kazi -- tulikuwa tukiongelea kuhusu mradi fulani,
05:16
and he mentioned a particular
World Bank project,
World Bank project,
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na alitaja mradi unaohusiana na Benki ya Dunia,
05:19
a large-scale irrigation project
that cost millions of dollars
that cost millions of dollars
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mradi mkubwa wa umwagiliaji unaogharimu mamilioni ya dola
05:24
in Niger Republic
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katika Jamhuri ya Niger
05:25
that was faltering sustainably.
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uliokuwa unasuasua uendelezaji wake.
05:28
He said this project
wasn't so sustainable,
wasn't so sustainable,
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Alisema mradi huu haupo imara,
05:31
and it bothered those
that instituted the whole package.
that instituted the whole package.
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na unawakera wale ambao waliupa mamlaka.
05:36
But then he mentioned
a particular project,
a particular project,
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Lakini aliutaja mradi fulani,
05:39
a particular traditional irrigation method
that was hugely successful
that was hugely successful
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namna ya umwagiliaji wa kitamaduni ambao ulikuwa na mafanikio makubwa sana
05:44
in the same Niger Republic
where the World Bank project was failing.
where the World Bank project was failing.
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katika nchi hiyo hiyo ya Jamhuri ya Niger ambapo mradi wa Benki ya Dunia ulikuwa ukifeli.
05:48
And that got me thinking.
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Na ikanifanya kuwaza.
05:51
So I did further research,
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Kwa hiyo nikafanya utafiti zaidi,
05:53
and I found out about Tassa.
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na nikagundua kuhusu Tassa.
05:57
Tassa is a traditional irrigation method
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Tassa ni namna ya umwagiliaji wa kienyeji
06:01
where 20- to 30-centimeter-wide
and 20- to 30-centimeter-deep holes
and 20- to 30-centimeter-deep holes
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ambapo mashimo yenye upana wa kati ya sentimenta 20 hadi 30 na kina cha sentimeta 20 hadi 30
06:07
are dug across a field to be cultivated.
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huchimbwa katika shamba ambalo linaelekea kulimwa.
06:11
Then, a small dam is constructed
around the field,
around the field,
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Kisha, bwawa dogo hujengwa kuzunguka shamba
06:16
and then crops are planted
across the surface area.
across the surface area.
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na mazao hupandwa ardhini.
06:19
What happens is that when rain falls,
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Kinachotokea ni kwamba mvua itaponyesha,
06:23
the holes are able to store the water
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mashimo huwa na uwezo wa kutunza maji
06:26
and appropriate it to the extent
that the plant needs the water.
that the plant needs the water.
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na kupelekea kiasi kwamba mmea kuhitaji maji.
06:30
The plant can only assimilate
as much water as needed
as much water as needed
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Mmea unaweza pata maji mengi unavyohitaji
06:33
until harvest time.
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mpaka muda wa mavuno.
06:36
Niger is 75 percent scorched desert,
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Niger ni asilimia 75 jangwa,
06:40
so this is something
that is a life-or-death situation,
that is a life-or-death situation,
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na hii kitu cha maisha au kifo,
06:43
and it has been used for centuries.
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na imekuwa ikitumika kwa karne.
06:45
In an experiment that was conducted,
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Katika utafiti ambao ulifanyika,
06:48
two similar plots of land
were used in the experiment,
were used in the experiment,
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mashamba mawili yanayofanana yalitumika katika utafiti,
06:53
and one plot of land
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na shamba moja
06:56
did not have the Tassa technique on it.
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halikutumia njia ya Tassa.
06:58
Similar plots.
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Mashamba yanayofanana.
06:59
The other one had Tassa technique
constructed on it.
constructed on it.
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Lingine lilitumia njia ya Tassa.
07:03
Then similar grains of millet
also were planted on both plots.
also were planted on both plots.
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Kisha mbegu sawa za mtama zilipandwa katika mashamba yote mawili.
07:08
During harvest time,
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Wakati wa mavuno,
07:10
the plot of land without Tassa technique
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Shamba ambalo halikutumia njia ya Tassa
07:13
yielded 11 kilograms
of millet per hectare.
of millet per hectare.
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lilizalisha kilogramu 11 za mtama kwa hektari.
07:18
The plot of land with Tassa technique
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Shamba lililotumia njia ya Tassa
07:21
yielded 553 kilograms
of millet per hectare.
of millet per hectare.
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lilizalisha kilogramu 553 za mtama kwa hektari.
07:27
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
07:30
I looked at the research,
and I looked at myself.
and I looked at myself.
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Niliangalia ule utafiti na nikajitazama.
07:34
I said, "I studied
agriculture for 12 years,
agriculture for 12 years,
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Nilisema, "Nimesomea kilimo kwa miaka 12,
07:37
from primary to Senior Six,
as we say in East Africa,
as we say in East Africa,
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kuanzia elimu ya msingi mpaka kidato cha sita, kama tuitavyo kwa Afrika Mashariki,
07:40
SS3 in West Africa or 12th grade.
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SS3 kwa Afrika Magharibi au darasa la 12.
07:43
No one ever taught me
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Hakuna aliyewahi kunifundisha
07:44
of any form of traditional
African knowledge of cultivation --
African knowledge of cultivation --
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namna yoyote ya maarifa ya Kiafrika katika ukulima --
07:48
of harvesting, of anything --
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katika mavuno, katika chochote --
07:50
that will work in modern times
and actually succeed,
and actually succeed,
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ambayo itafanya kazi katika nyakati za kisasa na hakika kufanikiwa,
07:54
where something imported from the West
would struggle to succeed.
would struggle to succeed.
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pale ambapo jambo fulani lillotolewa nchi za Magharibi limehangaika kufanikiwa.
07:59
That was when I knew the challenge,
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Hapo ndipo nilitambua changamoto,
08:02
the challenge of Africa's curricula,
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changamoto ya mtaala wa Kiafrika,
08:05
And I thus began my quest
to dedicate my life, concern my life work,
to dedicate my life, concern my life work,
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Na kisha nikaanza lengo langu la kujitolea maisha yangu, kujali maisha yangu ya kazi,
08:10
to studying, conducting research
on Africa's own knowledge system
on Africa's own knowledge system
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katika kusoma, kufanya tafiti kuhusu mfumo wa maarifa ya Kiafrika
08:14
and being able to advocate
for its mainstreaming
for its mainstreaming
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na kuweza kuyawakilisha katika njia kuu
08:17
in education, in research, policy
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katika elimu, katika tafiti, sera
08:20
across sectors and industries.
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katika sekta na viwanda.
08:23
Another conversation
and experience I had at the bank
and experience I had at the bank
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Maongezi mengine na uzoefu niliopata nikiwa Benki ya Dunia
08:27
I guess made me take that final decision
of where I was going to go,
of where I was going to go,
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Nahisi umenifanya nichukue uamuzi wa mwisho wa wapi nitaelekea,
08:32
even though it wasn't the most lucrative
research to go into,
research to go into,
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ingawa haikuwa tafiti yenye matunda makubwa ya kuielekea,
08:36
but it was just about what I believed in.
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lakini ilikuwa kuhusu jambo ambalo nililiamini.
08:38
And so one day, my boss said
that he likes to go to Africa
that he likes to go to Africa
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Kwa hiyo siku moja, mkuu wangu wa kazi alisema kwamba angependelea kwenda Afrika
08:43
to negotiate World Bank loans
and to work on World Bank projects.
and to work on World Bank projects.
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kwa ajili ya kujadiliana kuhusu mikopo ya Benki ya Dunia na kufanyia kazi miradi ya Benki hiyo.
08:48
And I was intrigued. I asked him why.
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Na nilihamasika, nikamuuliza kwanini.
08:50
He said, "Oh, when I go to Africa,
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Alisema, "Oh, nitapoenda Afrika,
08:53
it's so easy.
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ni rahisi.
08:55
I just write up my loan documents
and my project proposal in Washington, DC,
and my project proposal in Washington, DC,
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Ninaandika tu nyaraka za mkopo na dhumuni la mkopo nikiwa Washington, DC,
08:59
I go to Africa, and they all
just get signed.
just get signed.
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Ninakwenda Afrika, na kisha nyaraka zote zinasainiwa.
09:02
I get the best deal, and I'm back to base.
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Ninapata mpango mzuri kabisa, na kisha narudi ofisini.
09:06
My bosses are happy with me."
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Wakuu wangu wa kazi watanifurahia."
09:08
But then he said,
"I hate going to Asia or ..."
"I hate going to Asia or ..."
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Lakini kisha akasema, "sipendi kwenda Asia au ..."
09:12
and he mentioned a particular country,
Asia and some of these countries.
Asia and some of these countries.
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na alitaja nchi fulani, bara la Asia na nchi baadhi.
09:16
"They keep me for this, trying
to get the best deal for their countries.
to get the best deal for their countries.
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"Huwa wananifanya nikae kwa muda mrefu, wakijaribu kutafuta mipango bora kwa nchi zao.
09:20
They get the best deal.
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Huwa wanapata mipango bora.
09:21
They tell me, 'Oh,
that clause will not work for us
that clause will not work for us
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Wananiambia, 'Oh, hicho kipengele hakitatufaa
09:24
in our environment.
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katika mazingira yetu.
09:25
It's not our reality.
It's just so Western.'
It's just so Western.'
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Si uhalisia wetu. Kimekaa katika mfumo wa Magharibi sana.'
09:28
And they tell me, 'Oh,
we have enough experts
we have enough experts
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Na wananiambia, 'Oh, tuna wataalamu wa kutosha
09:32
to take care of this.
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kwa ajili ya kushughulikia hili.
09:33
You don't have enough experts.
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Huna wataalamu wa kutosha.
09:34
We know our aim.'
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Tunafahamu lengo letu.'
09:36
And they just keep going
through all these things.
through all these things.
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Na wanaendelea kupitia haya mambo yote.
09:38
By the time they finish,
yes, they get the best deal,
yes, they get the best deal,
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Ikifika muda wa kumaliza, ndiyo, wanapata mpango bora,
09:41
but I'm so exhausted and I don't get
the best deal for the bank,
the best deal for the bank,
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lakini nakuwa nimechoka na sipati mpango mzuri kwa ajili ya benki,
09:44
and we're in business."
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na sisi tupo katika biashara."
09:45
"Really?" I thought in my head, "OK."
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"Kweli?" Niliwaza akilini, "Sawa."
09:47
I was privileged to sit in on
a loan negotiating session
a loan negotiating session
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Nilipata kipaumbele cha kupata nafasi ya kuwepo katika kikao cha kujadili kuhusu mkopo
09:51
in an African country.
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katika nchi ya Kiafrika.
09:53
So I would do these consultancy
positions during summer,
positions during summer,
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Kwa hivyo ningefanya kazi ya ushauri wakati wa kiangazi,
09:56
you know, since I was a doctoral student.
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unajua, ukizingatia mimi ni mwanafunzi wa shahada ya uzamivu.
09:58
And then I traveled with the team,
with the World Bank team,
with the World Bank team,
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Na nilisafiri na timu, na timu ya Benki ya Dunia,
10:03
as more like someone to help out
with organizational matters.
with organizational matters.
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kama mtu ambaye ningesaidia katika masuala ya upangaji wa majadiliano.
10:07
But I sat in during
the negotiating session.
the negotiating session.
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Lakini nilipokuwa wakati wa majadiliano.
10:11
I had mostly Euro-Americans, you know,
with me from Washington, DC.
with me from Washington, DC.
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Niliokuwa nao wengi ni toka Ulaya na Marekani, unajua, wakiwa na mimi kutoka Washington, DC.
10:16
And I looked across the table
at my African brothers and sisters.
at my African brothers and sisters.
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Na nilitazama katika meza nikiwaangalia kaka na dada zangu wa Kiafrika.
10:21
I could see intimidation on their faces.
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Niliona uoga katika nyuso zao.
10:24
They didn't believe
they had anything to offer
they had anything to offer
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Hawakuamini kama walikuwa na chochote cha kuwapa
10:27
the great-great-grandchildren
of Mungo Park --
of Mungo Park --
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vilembwe wa Mungo Park --
10:29
the owners of "apple" in "A is for apple."
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wamiliki wa "apple" katika "A is for Apple."
10:32
They just sat and watched:
"Oh, just give us, let us sign.
"Oh, just give us, let us sign.
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Walikaa na kutazama:"Oh, mtupatie, tuweze tia saini.
10:34
You own the knowledge. You know it all.
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Mnayo maarifa, mnafahamu yote.
10:36
Just, where do we sign?
Show us, let us sign."
Show us, let us sign."
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Wapi tunatakiwa kutia saini?Tuonyeshe, tutie saini."
10:38
They had no voice.
They didn't believe in themselves.
They didn't believe in themselves.
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Hawakuwa na sauti. Hawakujiamini.
10:46
Excuse me.
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Mniwie radhi.
10:48
And so,
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Na kwa hiyo,
10:51
I have been doing this for a decade.
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Nimekuwa nikifanya hivi kwa muongo.
10:53
I have been conducting research
on Africa's knowledge system,
on Africa's knowledge system,
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Nimekuwa nikifanyia utafiti kuhusu mfumo wa maarifa ya Kiafrika,
10:57
original, authentic,
traditional knowledge.
traditional knowledge.
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asilia, halisi, maarifa ya Kiafrika.
10:59
In the few cases where this
has been implemented in Africa,
has been implemented in Africa,
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Katika mambo machache ambapo hili suala limehusishwa,
11:02
there has been remarkable
successes recorded.
successes recorded.
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kumekuwa na mafanikio makubwa ya kusisimua yaliyorekodiwa.
11:05
I think of Gacaca.
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Nawaza kuhusu Gacaca.
11:07
Gacaca is Rwanda's traditional
judicial system
judicial system
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Gacaca ni mfumo wa kitamaduni wa korti wa nchini Rwanda
11:12
that was used after the genocide.
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ambao ulitumika baada ya mauaji ya kimbari.
11:14
In 1994, when the genocide ended,
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Mnamo 1994, mauaji yalipoisha,
11:18
Rwanda's national court system
was in shambles:
was in shambles:
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Mfumo wa mahakama wa taifa la Rwanda ulikuwa hafifu katika utendaji:
11:20
no judges, no lawyers to try
hundreds of thousands of genocide cases.
hundreds of thousands of genocide cases.
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hakuna majaji, hakuna mawakili kuweza fanyia kazi mamia ya maelfu ya kesi za mauaji ya kimbari.
11:26
So the government of Rwanda
came up with this idea
came up with this idea
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Kwa hiyo serikali ya Rwanda ilipata wazo hili
11:29
to resuscitate a traditional
judicial system known as Gacaca.
judicial system known as Gacaca.
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kufufua mfumo wa jadi wa korti unaofahamika kama Gacaca.
11:33
Gacaca is a community-based
judicial system,
judicial system,
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Gacaca ni mfumo wa jamii wa mahakama,
11:37
where community members come together
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ambapo wanajamii hukutana pamoja
11:40
to elect men and women of proven integrity
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kuchagua waume kwa wake walio na uadilifu
11:43
to try cases of crimes committed
within these communities.
within these communities.
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kusimamia kesi ya jinai zilizofanyika katika jamii yao.
11:49
So by the time Gacaca concluded
its trial of genocide cases in 2012,
its trial of genocide cases in 2012,
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Kwa wakati Gacaca ilipomaliza kutoa hukumu ya kesi za mauaji ya kimbari mnamo mwaka 2012,
11:55
12,000 community-based courts
had tried approximately 1.2 million cases.
had tried approximately 1.2 million cases.
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mahakama 12,000 za kijamii ziliweza simamia kesi takribani milioni 1.2.
12:03
That's a record.
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Hicho ni kiasi kikubwa.
12:05
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
12:10
Most importantly is that Gacaca emphasized
Rwanda's traditional philosophy
Rwanda's traditional philosophy
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Muhimu ni kwamba Gacaca ilihimiza philosophia ya kitamaduni ya Rwanda
12:16
of reconciliation and reintegration,
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na majadiliano ya amani na kuungana pamoja tena,
12:19
as against the whole
punitive and banishment idea
punitive and banishment idea
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kupingana na mawazo ya mateso na adhabu
12:23
that undergirds present-day Western style.
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ambayo yanatumika katika mifumo ya nchi za Magharibi hadi siku hizi.
12:27
And not to compare, but just to say
that it really emphasized
that it really emphasized
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Na sio kwa kulinganisha, lakini kwa kusema tu kwamba ilihamasisha sana
12:31
Rwanda's traditional method of philosophy.
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Mfumo wa jadi wa philosophia ya Rwanda.
12:35
And so it was Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,
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Na kama ilivyokuwa kwa Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,
12:37
former president of Tanzania --
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raisi wa kwanza wa nchi ya Tanzania --
12:39
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
12:41
who said that you cannot develop people.
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nani amesema huwezi kuwaendeleza watu.
12:44
People will have to develop themselves.
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Watu watatakiwa kujiendeleza wenyewe.
12:48
I agree with Mwalimu.
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Nakubaliana na Mwalimu.
12:50
I am convinced
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Nimekubaliana
12:51
that Africa's further transformation,
Africa's advancement,
Africa's advancement,
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kwamba mabadiliko zaidi ya Afrika, maendeleo ya Afrika,
12:55
rests simply in the acknowledgment,
validation and mainstreaming
validation and mainstreaming
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yapo katika utambuzi, uhalalishaji na kuweza njia kuu
13:00
of Africa's own traditional, authentic,
original, indigenous knowledge
original, indigenous knowledge
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tamaduni zetu wenyewe, uhalisi, asili ya maarifa
13:05
in education, in research,
in policy making and across sectors.
in policy making and across sectors.
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katika elimu, katika tafiti, katika utengenezaji sera katika sekta.
13:10
This is not going to be easy for Africa.
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Hii haiwezi kuwa rahisi kwa Afrika.
13:13
It is not going to be easy for a people
used to being told how to think,
used to being told how to think,
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Si rahisi kwa watu waliozoea kuambiwa namna ya kufikiri,
13:16
what to do, how to go about it,
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nini cha kufanya, jinsi ya kukifanya,
13:19
a people long subjected
to the intellectual guidance
to the intellectual guidance
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watu ambao kwa kipindi kirefu wamekuwa katika muongozo wa maarifa
13:22
and direction of others,
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na dira za wengine,
13:24
be they the colonial masters,
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wawe wakoloni,
13:25
aid industry or international news media.
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mashirika ya misaada au vyombo vya habari vya kimataifa.
13:28
But it is a task that we have to do
to make progress.
to make progress.
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Lakini ni jambo tunalotakiwa kufanya ili kupiga hatua.
13:32
I am strengthened by the words
of Joseph Shabalala,
of Joseph Shabalala,
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Ninaimarishwa na maneno ya Joseph Shabalala,
13:35
founder of the South African choral group
Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
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muanzilishi wa kundi la kwaya la Afrika Kusini liitwalo Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
13:38
He said that the task ahead of us
can never, ever be greater
can never, ever be greater
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Alisema kwamba kazi iliyopo mbele yetu haiwezi kamwe, kuwa kubwa
13:44
than the power within us.
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kuliko nguvu iliyopo ndani yetu.
13:46
We can do it.
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Tunaweza kufanya.
13:47
We can unlearn looking down on ourselves.
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Tunaweza kuacha kujidharau.
13:50
We can learn to place value
on our reality and our knowledge.
on our reality and our knowledge.
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Tunaweza kujifunza kuweka thamani katika uhalisia wetu na maarifa yetu.
13:54
Thank you.
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Asante.
13:55
(Swahili) Thank you very much.
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Asante sana.
13:57
(Applause)
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(Makofi)
13:58
Thank you. Thank you.
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Asante. Asante
14:00
(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu - Indigenous knowledge expertWorking across disciplines, Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu explores homegrown and grassroots approaches to the sustainable advancement of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Why you should listen
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu is convinced of the ability of Africans to transform the continent by acknowledging the significance of its indigenous knowledge in all fields of human endeavor. A researcher, fiction and non-fiction writer, public intellectual and teacher, Ezeanya-Esiobu has published several research papers on aspects of Africa's indigenous knowledge. She has also been commissioned to conduct indigenous knowledge-based research by the International Development Research Center Canada, United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research,(UNU-WIDER) United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) and The Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), among others.
Ezeanya-Esiobu is the author of the historical fiction book Before We Set Sail. In its manuscript form, Before We Set Sail was one of six shortlisted out of over 250 submissions, made to the Penguin Publishers Award for African Writing in 2010. Following her TEDGlobal 2017 talk, Ezeanya-Esiobu shared an alphabet book series she had written for her daughter: Dr. Chika's ABC for the African Child (2017).
Ezeanya-Esiobu has lived and worked in four countries across three continents, and through her travels she has learned to value integrity, dignity, respect for self and others ... to be open to knowledge, to be happy and to smile a lot with her heart. Her lifetime passion is to contribute to efforts that would see to the unleashing of the suppressed creative and innovative energies buried deep in the hearts and minds of all Africans. She blogs at chikaforafrica.com.
Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu | Speaker | TED.com