TEDGlobal 2007: Africa, the next chapter

The program of the first TED conference in Africa, TEDGlobal 2007, has been announced yesterday evening in New York (I produced TEDGlobal 2005 in Oxford, my colleague Emeka Okafor is producing this one). It will take place in Arusha, Tanzania, from June 4-7  and go under the theme "Africa: The Next Chapter".

Africa is at a tipping point. Its problems and challenges are well known, but across the continent tremendous change is happening; ingenious solutions are being applied to tackle some of the toughest problems; businesses are being launched that may transform the lives of millions; a new generation of Africans is refusing to be weighted down by the familiar litany of challenges and grievances and looks differently at the future.

The TEDGlobal 2007 speakers will include: Binyavanga Wainaina, award-winning author; Bola Olabisi, founder of the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network; Ken Ofori-Atta, CEO of Ghana's stock brokerage firm Databank; Simon Mwacharo, CEO of Craftskills, an innovative manufacturer of renewable modular energy systems based on solar and wind power; Carol Pineau, journalist and producer of the documentary “Africa Open for Business"; Chris Johns, editor-in-chief of National Geographic; Daniel Annerose, founder of cell-phone service provider Manobi; Dele Olojede, Pulitzer-winning journalist; the novelist Chris Abani; the surgeon Ernest Chijioke Madu; economist Eleni Gabre-Madhin; journalist and activist Andrew Mwenda; George Ayittey, author of "Africa Unchained"; Noah Samara, founder and CEO of satellite-radio provider Worldspace; H Chinery-Hesse, founder of Softtribe, developer of "tropically tolerant software"; the Acumen Fund's Jacqueline Novogratz; Kenyan writer and economist James Shikwati; Seyi Oyesola, physician and co-inventor of the "Hospital in a box", a portable operating theatre that runs on solar power; Florence Seriki, founder of computer manufacturer Omatek; Kwabena Boahen, researcher on neuromorphic processors; primatologist Jane Goodall; physician Leon Kintaudi; Ndidi Nwunell, founder of Leap Africa; Alieu Conteh, CEO of Vodacom Congo; Onesmo Ole MoiYoi, Tanzanian molecular biologist; Ory Okolloh, lawyer, activist, blogger and founder of watchblog Mzalendo; Patrick Awuah, co-founder of Ashesi University in Ghana; Russell Southwood, founder and publisher of Balancing Act; Moses Makayoto, a Kenyan scientist and inventor; Ted Kidane, co-founder of Feedelix, developer of non-latin script for Ethiopic, Hindi and Mandarin cell phone users; Ron Eglash, publisher of African Fractals; filmmaker Raoul Peck; geneticist and anthropologist Spencer Wells, author of "The Journey of a Man"; and Patti Stonesifer, CEO of the Gates Foundation.

A pretty powerful list, an invitation to see Africa through new lenses. Registrations are open on the TED website.