What does it mean to be African | Imad Mesdoua | TEDxEustonSalon
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
- Imad walks us through his formative experience in Algeria and Nigeria, reflecting on how the African continent has shaped him. He shares his perspective on how separate identities affect our relationships with ourselves, with Africans on the continent and within the diaspora; and how these experiences will shape the identity of what it is to be African for a new generation. Imad Mesdoua is the Senior Consultant for Control Risks' Africa analysis desk, where he leads on political risk consultancy engagements in sub-Saharan Africa. In this role, he works closely with an extensive team of country analysts, business intelligence consultants and security risk management experts to deliver complex consultancy engagements for clients across Africa. Imad has lived and travelled extensively on the continent, conducting regular research, consulting and business development trips. He is also a regular commentator on TV, radio and print media on political and security dynamics across Africa. Before joining Control Risks, Imad worked as a political risk analyst for a number of London-based risk consultancies, where he covered North Africa (the Maghreb) and West Africa. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx
had to pause and comment in order not to forget what I wanted to say. This is not to step on others toes; honestly he's the first north African I've ever seen to be so proud of being African. I once worked with an Egyptian who never saw himself as African and thought he was superior to sub Saharan African. My guy u b real man. Congrt.
Quintino Pinto his experience traveling through Africa is what has shaped his understanding of what it means to be African. I too have met some North Africans who do not consider themselves as Africans. Kudos to brother Imad Mesdoua.
@@joojo29 well,that is because they are not.they are descendents of the first arab settlers the chose to stay there.but in what concerns to african culture,traditions or even genetics,they have none
@Mustafa Yusuf Who made you in charge of handing out African identity certificates or taking it away? Wtf
@@binizmelekot2911 if I was born in Japan... would I then be Japanese/ Asian?
@Mustafa Yusuf Typical ENVIOUS backward cattle MENTALITY you have..... Why don't you just applaud him instead of being ENVIOUS OF A well done speech....Mtcheeww
I’m African and that’s the only nationality I have and know about. Yes I was born in The Gambia 🇬🇲 but Africa is everything to me!
We Africans are Unique!
Of course you are! So are we White people!
+Astraea Shaw . Afrika is raising
Nice one
@Fanta Graham Mankind originated in Africa.
@@timothymahon7836 I do agree all of mankind originated from Africa, but if you truly believed that was the purpose of your first comment?
I am Kenyan,my greatest African icon is Amilcar Cabral(Cape Verdean),my best musician Fela Kuti(Nigerian),My role model is Mandela(S.African),My African inspiration Ancient Egypt. So yeah,I am pan-Africa,every African should be....
Emmanuel Simiyu - I hope you don't think ancient people of Ta-Meri looked any different than you. The unity of the African continent is important but don't forsake the history of how certain people came into our motherland. The people who now live in North Africa are predominantly descendants of invaders - 629-641 AD.
you're indeed a pan-Africanist and i am very thankful for your comment.
thomas sonkara was far ahead , u got noo industrialists wake up
its a bigger mess now....u need white managers.
Emmanuel Simiyu
He is (not) African; he is an Arab.
I am Nigerian. Sending nothing but love, your way.
I would recommend this talk to all African especially South Africans who struggle to live together with our brothers and sisters in one accord.
I'm from Kenya and am immensely inspired by what my African brother Imad has said, absolutely great stuff. I will share this along. Let us focus on the mission of uniting our continent and rediscovering our shared mission and values.
Dont be gullible..this guy is not African he is a descendant of arab muslims who invaded Africa. Islam only respects Islam and considers all non muslims as infidels.
@Simple Styles that's an incomplete sentence dont get your point.
@@thefalseprophet3025 why is your username the false prophet? Just asking
Algeria is proud of u my brother we are all Africans and we are all together 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I'm Mozambican and I love being African, our strength, faith and perseverance despite all challenges we face
Sim.Fernando
Am proud Africans Ethiopian 🇪🇹 mother and father from South Sudan 🇸🇸 I will always be an Africans son, thank you bro for telling those who don’t know that they’re Africans but live in Africa continent like those in the north of Africa....brothers and sisters we are all Africans and let us united as one ☝🏿 proud Africans continent ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️✌️✌️🥰🥰🇸🇸🇪🇹
I united Africa ♥️♥️♥️
I am a Bahamian and I am a proud African.
Wonderful speech, inspiring.
The 7 people who disliked this video were impacted the most, he challenged their ideas about themselves and identities they hold dear.
Nefertiti Nefertiti Well said, I am really ready to talk about this even more if you have the time, but not here. Thanks.
Well said
we are so proud of you wlid bladi🇩🇿🥰❣I'm so️ proud to be Algerian🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿 and African
💙
This is very impressive, finally someone dared to speak those words.
Proud African.
Purely Nana and beautiful.
No, he just an occupant not native.
Nefertiti Nefertiti word..... as far as I can tell they r no different than the whites
Nefertiti Nefertiti lol you sound a lot like an American and not an African😂
Match Accepted well you missed the whole point of the ted talk, we’re a mixed race and our location in Africa makes us light skinned. Oh and FYI, we do have dark skinned people in Algeria and they represent a big part of our culture. Try again.
let's be honest most North Africans like to realign themselves with UAE. I've met plenty who said they are not african....except Gadafi. if we could see most North Africans like our brother here accepting our identity as african that would be fantastic.
Vive l'Afrique 🇩🇿🇩🇿🇩🇿
Agreed!!
African and very proud too. Standing ovation. Our culture, our education, our unity...
Imad u r true African. I need to meet soon. M a Kenyan.
U r old than ua age,. B blessed Sir
I am glad that you sir as a North African consider yourself African. I have met some Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians, Egyptians and North Sudanese who do not see themselves as Africans. A co-worker once told me of an argument she had with a Tunisian Lady who did not consider herself African. This lady did not even know that Tunisia is in Africa.
jinny bikini same here I have met a lot of them they don’t consider themselves as african
That isn't because they don't believe they're African, but because they believe African = Bantu people
There is hate between Africans, does that make them less African?
@@lolnoob5015 They are not Africans. Different tribes. African is Bantu.
The North Africans don’t consider themselves Africans.... their are Arabs who exist in African continent
You are my African brother, I have no doubt about it. I am very proud of you.
:) If you are really like his brother, why didn't advised him to correctly write from now on, by letting a space after each of the punctuation sign, just as yourself are doing?
wt are u saying?
He is not African period
Because I am a citizen of the U.K I am not Europian
@@MatchAccepted He is African. His root's are in Africa
I am african and proud be south sudanese
Proud African Tanzanian 🇹🇿
Jambo
Habari Zenu
Sijambo nzuri , asante dada☺...Namimi nakupenda Africa . From South Africa😂
feeling African and being African should be the same thing but theres a discussion amongst us that is missing
Imad are so eloquent and versatile. I watched and listen to the video over and over again. For once I thought you to be a literary scholar until I read your profile. You reignited that fire of repositioning our continent. I saw and listened to your postcolonial thoughts reminding me of the uniqueness of our continent, Africa. Africa of our proud heritage. Africa of China Achebe, Wole Soyinka, Nelson Mandela, the Great Egyptian pyramid, Leopold Sedar Senghor, David Diop, Aime Cesaire, Leon Damas. Africa of which my grandmother spoke about. I am proud to be African. Thank you Imad.
Of all the talks I have listened to, this has been more revealing and unifying. Thanks Imad Mesdoua. Re-educating our selves about Africa as a whole is very necessary. Thanks. I am apologetically proud to be African.
Bright mind and kind heart. But I would say this; a lot of my friends went on to study in Maghreb countries and have been segregated and sometimes assaulted. Moreover, what happened in Libya... Anyways there's a dialogue that needs to be held between sub-Saharan African countries and Maghreb countries regarding those issues. In order to solve a problem, one needs to recognize that there is one.
I believe he recognises it. But yes it must be addressed.
In Summary:
let us fufil our generational mission..
1. Reclaiming our shared heritage.
2. Reviving our binding values.
3. Reshaping the narrative for ourselves.
Truly compelling
Thats a good one!!
Proud to be African and Congolese❤❤🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩🇨🇩
very powerful, very true in the perspective of the way mainstream ideologies are perceived!
You have expressed my heart - thank you!
Wow, I'm really proud of this fella. Good job, brother.
Why are you so proud of him?
Wow! Great talk! Proud South African.
I am a Zambian who misses ghadaffi.he had a vision for Africa.
Preach Brother.. A panafricanist here..from Togo
Wonderfully so!
Proud African Tanzanian 🇹🇿🇹🇿🇹🇿
Jambo
Habari Zenu
That was beautiful ! May God continue to bless you and keep you safe ! This the kind of leadership we need in Africa today!!!
You go over the boundaries ! Thank you man
So inspiring. Bravo! Stand up and unite, Africa!!!!
Proud African and Nigerian!
This guy reminds me a lot of Superman haha
That was my first thought as well 😂
@@toddie3910 😂
Clark kent
@@sudanwife7438 yep 🤣😂
I am somali and I am proud African and I would never change that In a Million life times
Great speech thank you for reminding us about our African identity
Imad Mesdoua-i have to congratulate you and at the same time , thank you very much for this Great speech delivered with defined presence and purposeful authory. I was invaded by Goose bumps and filled with pride overflowwing as i listened to you with undivided attention.
"Every Generation must in relative obscurity discover it's mission,fulfill that mission or Betray it" -. Franz Fannon
Pan Africanism is not against Europe or America, it's simply sustaining our identity as Africans and reshaping the narrative about us as we know it today!
Colonization did much to create self hatred, tribalism, and even racism. Children of Hamlicar we are your brothers and sisters. We are one family. Cultural ignorance plagues us. Let's be the change.
The Guy is smart, he is laveraging elegantly,and making himself heard,he hit the point home when he said,Speak for yourself,🇰🇪
Thank you Imad for your lecture. Young Africans must begin to learn their history, understand it and create a new vision for themselves. We the older generation we can support but it is the youth that normally drives the revolution. Thank you for sharing your story from the Northern African sub -sahara but your struggle (growing up) my young brother is every African's child struggle/story, so it is of the utmost importance more than ever, that the youth must also unite, take up their rightful position and use their gifts/talent show up & share with the world, then we can begin to talk about Africa rising! I am a proud South African! I salute you.
An inspiring piece. More Africans need to embrace the view of a shared heritage. Sadly however, the North African-Subsaharan divide is one that will persist if we do not look past the biases and unite over a common mission/destiny. Attempting to understand the biases from the receivers' end (empathy) would go a long way in bridging this gap a little more each time.
If they wanted us to be ONE take away "SUB" everything... Stop SLAVERY in Libya...
Well if the White Arabs would stop taking the Blacks as slaves, that would make a StaRT, then again, most of the North Africans ancestors came into the land as invaders, maybe if they would stop lording over the original people, the world would be a better place for everyone.
Just four minutes and highly engaged
Good to see this brother!
Great talk...it couldn't have been expressed better!
Thank you Imad for this talk, it was very inspiring. I agree that we have to change the narrative for Africa and reclaim our Unity. We have a long way to go and the continent can only develop when we recommit to shared goals and values. i attended the 50 years anniversary of the African Union and it was very clear that the youth want change, our leaders are currently still part of the old guard, still patting themselves on the back for political 'independence' and seem to have lost the steam on true economic liberation. Young Africans still are not free, shackled in the bonds of poverty, lack of opportunities and limited political freedom. At that 50 years celebration, the unity i saw among the young Africans from west, north, central, southern and east Africa gave me a glimmer of hope that African intellectualism and unity is still alive- we must not stop to fight for it, each one in our way.
Imad I was speechless when I listened to you. Africa needs more and more people like you that have the same vision. I believe that not long from now, Africa will become the greatest nation in the world. Thanks for this video.
you look like Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin of kingsmen ...
your right africa we need to know each other more and stop judging each other
proud african
Makes me consider my own identity and being American.
You're 100% African,I salute you my brother.
Nnanyelugo Anekwe would you salute an African American ?
Mike the Philosopher If he identifies with his true heritage.
Here is a man who has embraced his roots even more than the "negros" of the continent. Africa is a multi ethnic continent made of people with different races.
If we criticize him for being light skinned what will you tell the other light skinned west,east or south Africans who are not Arabs?
Nnanyelugo Anekwe what heritage is he embracing? He’s not embracing being Arab is he? Their are many things Arabs did to destroy the african continent. Not him personally but still. As an african American I am not embraced as an American. It just seems that people of a lighter hue came claim whatever they want and people of a darker hue can’t. If I claim to be African I already know Africans that have a problem with that yet embrace this guy and that doesn’t make sense to me.
Mike the Philosopher I think he’s aloud to claim it because he was born there and grew up in Africa..... I see your point tho, but an African America who wasn’t born in African nor his parent or grandparent can’t really say his African imo, like he actually can speak his native tongue n knows his culture
Bolu Fakayode Africa is in our DNA baba
The first north African to proudly say he is an African. Wowww
When he began speaking, I heard the Lagos, Nigerian accent in his voice. i wasn't quite sure. I was wondering. Isn't this a white man?. When he later stated that he did come and school in Lagos Nigeria.. that was it. That accent doesn't disappoint.
like he said in 16:40 "if you don't have a strong voice people will speak up for you" -- people, as in people like YOU! speaking about people like ME..aughh
Awesome you not African because you were born in Africa you're African because Africa is born in you. One love African before anything else. One land one people one goal make Africa great again!!!!
Why is this not on the top of the comment section.
I was born in USA but I’m African all the way to the bone.
I am impressed by this. It's very great that this is coming from an Algerian. I find it funny when while walking on the streets of Algeria,some Algerians shout-"AFRICAN"
I'm left to wonder where they actually belong😉😉
Great speech! Very relatable for many cultures around the world. Being a mixed cultured person who grew up in Japan myself, I can agree with what was said during this speech. Not the same continent, but the same could be said about sharing our identities and values as Japanese, or as Asians as a whole.
Well said! Be African, dress African
Glad you enjoy your time in Japan.
Funny thing is, it can be stated ,"We are ALL Asians."
Here is why, the Persian / Iran in the time of Ancient Greece called the World:
Asia.
The "Far West," Euro' pah." Europa to Europe.
Look at the root words for " Mediterranean Sea." Roman Empire Latin.
Medi= middle, teera/ Terra = earth/ Earth Mother/ Greek Gaia .
Middle Earth Sea or Sea in the middle of the Earth. Middle is also the center of an object. So it can be stated , The Sea in the Center of the World.
If you disregard Abrahamic Faith, " Judism , Christian , Islam."
And believe humans Evolve from Apes, Ethiopia Africa is the birth place of
humanity .
I'm from Uganda and this is a very moving speech.
You are bright my brother I saluted you on your vital reached. I am from West Africa your talk is valuable there is no difference between us but values. Thanks for this talk it is very open knowledgeable.
Sir you are wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
Truly incredible delivery
This guy is smart and cute 😊
Well said. God bless you for that and bless Africa continuesly 🍀❤️
I'm Algerian and I'm proud mediterranean.
Are you mostly Italian?
@@osiruskat you don't have to be Italian to be mediterranean.
@@CurtDz44 yeah I know...I'm messing with you however your from the largest country in Africa (Algeria)...do you have that same pride on being African?
@@osiruskat for sure I mean Africa was Tunisia and east Algeria before now the name is used to refer to the hole continent. Proud African
@@CurtDz44 Ifriqua yup of course...Europeans named the continent when many of the countries prior where divided by tribe or empires. I'm of African descent as well as Mediterranean also but more Sub Saharan, Cape Verdean, and multi ethnic.
Mesdoua waoo great voice for a great African future. Every genuine African should see this, let's discover and fulfill our mission and that of this great continent by thinking as one!!@mazing.
Well articulated, sometime we just have to be truthfull about our heritage background
Am proud of u bro we most unite love each other africa will be great one day
Indeed this is so special
I'm a Liberian, proud african, and I love learning about my history and the history of others. I appreciate what the message is in this Ted. Let's unite in our commonalities and embrace our differences. I love that the African continent is so rich in culture, heritage, natural resources, geography etc. Unity is power, and the western world knows that
Really enjoyed it, speaks to many of us. Very well done
Am African and am proud to be African
I am a Zimbabwean living in Algeria 🇩🇿 🇿🇼 love Bourmedes, Bodj bo arreridj, Algers, Bejaia and Jijel.
Thank you for sharing your viewpoint. Very encouraging. Entrepreneurs will be leaders for all African nations on a global scale. The government will set the parameters and the people will have free will to thrive. As part as the diaspora communication is a must.
Great story line brother ✊ proud African here.
La vie à toujours été une épreuve et nous africains sommes éveillés aujourd'hui... Allah bless you broh
Great presentation and a big thumps up to be proud of this great continent. But you should also admit that most Northern Africans (including some Algerians) don't see themselves as one. I have withnessed and to some of us who have studied or stayed outside Africa can also attest to the same fact.
Excellent talk!
Thank you Imad Mesdoua for your great speak. Africa unite ❤🗿, I'm proud to be african
High level
THE TEXT IN THE WIDER CONTEXT OF BEING AN AFRICAN....TRULY EXPRESSED....I ACCEPT NOT TO BE DEFINED BUT DEFINE MYSELF TO NONE AFRICAN... IDENTITY , HISTORY, AND VALUES THAT ARE COMMON WITH US ALL AS AFRICANS MUST BE REKINDLED....THANKS SO MUCH.....
Really enjoyed that ima came across quite passionate when describing his childhood 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Thank you for educating us on what being African is all about. I'm a Nigerian myself and I do know that African countries suffer the same Fate.whether you're from Eastern, Western northern or southern we are all the same, as you said we all have binding values and history.
Awesome talk
Proud African, Rwandan 🇷🇼
Rightly Said Brother...
Thank you Imad Africans needs to listen to this.
So True, during independence and liberation movement that story is very true.
Its soo interesting how so many people are have situations that put them in different boxes, and there are so many layers of confusion and mixing and this and that. so many layers!!
I love this Ted talk.
Impressive clarity of point of view!
The "how far naw"...hit meeee...guyyyy😹😹
Proud Ugandan
Great talk. I love his perspective. I once met an Algerian in turkey once. We felt so happy and connected cos of our being africans .but that was d only time I had a supposedly 'white-looking african" get so excited when we chat about being africans .I do love to see more people like him and u..
Love and blessings from uganda bro,
Phenomenal presentation!!!
Very interesting and IMPORTANT!
Great speech brother. Keep up the good work.
Your 1969 was our 1977....one love!
Being an African is not your skin colour, being African is a state of mind.
Some of the comments on this video are are so rude. Who are any of you to tell someone what they are and what they are not. How about you let others Define themselves.