George Ayittey: Cheetahs vs. Hippos for Africa's future

[lfrayser]

Great speaker. Good discussion.

[realshegot]

8 Hippo lovers and 128 Cheetah generation

[globbo100]

The very same article by Karen Kwiatkowski also brought me here.What Africa needs now more than ever is the absence of corrupt governments and their parasitical policies.Freedom without the State.

[RKAddict101]

An article by Karen Kwiatkowski brought me here. And I completely agree with her, this argument applies equally well to America. Government is taking away from free market efficiency to empower corporatism, the welfare state, and an overseas empire.

[MOSIBUDIRAT]

love this man and his charisma.. I am a Cheetah ! lets fix our Africa _ South Africa...Mobalization

[charbonelle]

Africans can redeem control over their land and resources by accumulating and ministering capital, organize industry catering to under-served [low -income i.e the global majority] markets by way of commercial enterprise in the form of :

Social Enterprise --(Social Programs that are turn into businesses)

Small and Medium Enterprise -- (Businesses that use a franchise model)

Co-operative Corporation -- ( Integrates: credit unions, worker co-op and R&D)

In this way Africans can be self-reliant.

[hiphoprepublican]

NICE....I LOVE IT...SPEAK TRUTH BROTHA...AND MAKE THE DEVIL WEEP

[fetewei83]

i saw the title and thought there is humor here ,,,,but the guy beat that ith endless data!!!

[motosana1]

Yeah like imposing the likes of Outtarra as President in Ivory Coast to serve their selfish interests and that is before they loot the oil in Libya. Shoot them Gaddaffi!

[TexasMotions]

"Benefit from the ROTTEN status quo" & "Vampire State"

.... awesome descriptive words.

Bureaucracy gone wild. Sound familiar America?

[RickW05]

@TexasMotions I like "Swiss bank socialists"!

[BrentGrace79]

This video is a couple of years old but its interesting to think of this in light of what's happening in Egypt. It's the Cheetah revolution.

[HuggumsMcgehee]

It's so awesome to hear all these African speakers talking about the failures of wealth redistribution and free markets and liberty. I hope it takes hold.

[DylanMoses]

crazy stuff. Im in a CP class and we recently read Herbst book on Africa. it had interesting points but what tough to get thru. this however was great to listen to. as an outsider it really opens your eyes to whats going on and why things are the way they are.

[semrete]

Absolutely LOVE this and its so, SO TRUE. Folks like George Ayittey should be the LEADERS in my Mother Africa. BLESS

Rajesh Semrete Selassie Aggarwal FRSA

[waffiki]

excellent speech, we know every G.A. said is correct.

the governments in africa are chosen by the imperialist-evils, so there is no way we will escape this evil, there is no way out.

the world bank, monetary fund, advisor's, media, secret services, all are working together to destroy the under developed world; now the globalization is destroying us very fast. we have to think fast and act.

[tindindunda]

Slowly but surely Africa is re-discovering herself.. and i'm proud to be riding the wave of that re-discovery!!

[NewBaldwin]

40% of Africa's annual revenue goes to imf/world bank. so much for foreign aid.

[elegance212]

RUN for president Mr. Ayittey for Ghana!! PLEASE DO! and yes i am a cheetah generation..

[WorldPower85]

The problem in Africa are AFRICANS ;] if they wont change nothing will.

[NewBaldwin]

@irvnz not really the French & British were more so, they just didn't have 24 news cycles of cynical agenda driven media. 58 African countries and people are ignorant enough to keep saying "African leaders." something does not add up.

[hasahnee]

TED talks are shockingly neo-liberal

[irvnz]

@hasahnee.. perhaps you are thinking that this exported ''wealth'' is the result of slavery or theft, when in fact the producers of that are simply exercising their property rights, and have no legal obligation to have it remain where there is nothing to buy: does Ayittey posit the corrupt governments should confiscate it and redistribute?

Not a bad way to guarantee it evaporating, and these producers seeking profit elsewhere..

[CrowdPleeza]

@hasahnee

What economic developement models do you recommend for African countries? Latin American countries like Brazil and Peru have adopted pro business policies that have improved their economies. African governments need to adopt similar policies for their countries.

[tigerone1970]

For every 1 dollar 'given' to Africa as 'donor aid', 4 dollars leave Africa in untaxed and unshared profits from raw material extraction.

That is not a leaking begging bowl, that is neocolonialism.

I wonder why George Ayitteh never points his finger at the West. Or why the other speakers don't addres that issue. In Zambia, in 2004:

Exports: $4 billion (copper, cobalt)

Mining Profits: $2.4 billion

Taxes received: $ 6 million

Donor Aid: $600 million

That is what we're talking about.

[tamaduni]

@tigerone1970 AFRICANS DONT LIKE TO BE LABELED ANTI WEST -----I HEARD THAT IF IT IS WHITE ITS ALWAYS RIGHT

[tigerone1970]

They "ask for foreign aid" because doing so is SAFE. Taxing western corporations in Africa might cost them their heads. Or at least their jobs.

[producerbigsouth]

A waist of time explaining the conditions of Afrikan poverty to those who benefit from it. And are against Africas independence.

[deporteeeee]

This guy is right. Something is wrong...

[abamieda2]

Everything that he is saying is true ,but what does he expect to achieve by making fun of Africans and shucking and jiving in front of these white folks

Some African govts have become dependent on aid and have refused to take on their responsibilities

Most money that is siphoned out of African countries go into European and U.S banks and build up interest

Africa needs fair trade not aid and Africans need to work together to develop their individual countries.Wrong Audience

[UsitukaneMkunga]

This guy is right. There is nothing to sugar coat. That is the right way to go-single out a problem,explain the detrimentals and provide a solution.

[abamieda2]

This discussion needed to take place in the midth of Africans not white folks

There is no point airing your dirty linen in public

It is only a bastard that uses his left hand to point out his father's house

[UsitukaneMkunga]

This is the best African Ted speaker. He hits the nail right on the head, pin points where a problem is and how it can be rectified.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

You KNow.... it's okay to for you and I to stop comment with one another.

Best To You.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

The part were he says the americans are on the I and the africans are on the we. Here he accidently compares the wealthy americans (all colors) and does a comparison to the poor african. This is an error because the poor african is not the same as the welathy americans. The wealthy americans are they to be compared with the corrupt welathy gov of africa? only the ones in the government system and or ppl that have influence over them.

[NkrumahsFootsteps]

We never get to see LEARNED AFRICANS

with this point of view in the mainstream western media why?

George Ayittey has some serious solutions to our serious problems. I would recommend that anyone who has african interests at heart to take him seriously..........CHEETAH REVOLUTION.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

Listen to what he is talking about. Forget all that caca. Heed his words... listen to him. Stop whining and doing the pity party you cannot be receptive to the meat of the mans words!!!

[NkrumahsFootsteps]

AFRICANS are you listening, it's time for us to become Cheetahs!.

Forget about these HIPPOS. Off with their heads. "THE MINERAL WEALTH OF AFRICA IS NOT BEING UTILIZED FOR THE BENEFIT OF AFRICANS". We should listen to our scholars and forget the so called politicians. "The next chapter", time to get our pens out and start writing.

[mchigubu]

Mr. George Ayittey: I enjoyed hearing some parts of your brilliant speech, however, I did not find part of your speech palatable. When you state that Mr. Mandela is Africa's hero, well that could be debated! I dont think so. Mr Mandela did VERY little to improve the poverty situation for the poor Black children of SOWETO. Further, he comes out of prison, and he divorces Mrs Winnie Mandela who waited for him for 29 years.

[mchigubu]

Well, we can demonize our African leaders abroad. However, there are SHARKS like World Bank who have contributed to the POVERTY and CORRUPTION in Africa.

[TetuaMaana]

Yes, this is true. African leaders are pretty powerless when you really look into it. However, I still believe that they can do more than what they do now.

If you look beyond Ayittey's disapproval, you will see that his ideas are about bypassing centrally-organised administration as much as possible.

A combination of microfinance combined with an end to intergovernmental aid (Check out Andrew Mwenda's lecture on this) will do more to empower from the grassroots up.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

No african leaders are not powerless. Aren't you listening to him. Am I missing something here or you?

[TetuaMaana]

Of course they are. 

Who in their right mind would choose the current plight for their people?

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

Tetua... That is the whole point of why he wants Cheetah.... Either the African leaders are not in their right minds and or they simply don't care. Narcassistic behavior it is what it is. These men made their chocies to go down that road. This man in the video is like this.... I'm not okay with this and I am going to speak out about it. Come likeminded ones. Join me. He has courage and integrity. The leaders do not. Their actions show this. I wish their were more men like him

[TetuaMaana]

Xinsight, if the stuff you just typed above is the most important thing you got from this video, you really need to take the time to read what I have taken the time to type below in my responses to you.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

I reread both our comments and listened to the video again. Yeah, I stand by my comments and as to if that is all I got from the video.. how can that be all I got? He said much but I'm not being tested here as in I have to turn in a report so I went for the meat of his talk. I went for the action part. You and I though we are both hunmans we do not have the same minds. That is why there is a diff in our comments and what we focused on in the video. And or hear the loudest.

[TetuaMaana]

(sigh) Say something of substance or don't bother responding to me; Stick to stand alone comments.

Based on what caught your attention in the video and statements like 'we are both humans... not the same mind' you remind me of 'liberal types'

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

well that goes to show what I wrote about we are diff.... I am so far from Liberal. I think I would have to go for the koolaid drink at that point.. Yeah and I ment that mind part as a fact not as an offense.

Peace bye

[TetuaMaana]

Basic two-way communication requires that you actually read/listen to what the other person has written/said.

This wasn't about you, this was a discussion about themes raised in the video. Get over yourself.

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

Gee Girl, why didn't you just tell me that you gotz to have the last word. I'm fine with dat... go ahead, let that inner anger spit out just a bit more so there's room for the rest of us to breath.. bye.. opps, my bad.. get that last word in girl.. get yours

[TetuaMaana]

There's a big wide world out there, it's not all about you.

Get over yourself

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

Tetamama Thats' It? You get the opportunity to get the last word in and all you can do is to continue to show your envy of me and those around you world wide. That is you monumental gift of gab to the world. it's not all about you? and you mean what? Get over yourself? and I said/did what again? Hey, R U TALKING CACA 2 BILLION YRS AGO CACA? darling, you don't hear the man in the vid do you. Go back to Farrahkan and Jessie Jackson

[XxXxINSIGHTxXxX]

Tetu yes but he IS talking of seperating from those who are his kin but don't do a thing about what is happening to their own kin and the politiciams are not as powerless as your making them sound to be. Are they really THAT powerless? If they cannot raise an arm to stop the slaughter they certainly can do many other things. But they don't, too busy enjoying their own weath and immediate relatives and plotting more corruption

[TetuaMaana]

They are reliant on foreign 'aid' to stay in power and run their governments.

Look at the budget of say the UK and see how much is earmarked as 'developmental aid' or 'foreign aid'. (As a sidenote, that country is in the middle of an economic recession but overseas aid money is still going to be ringfaced even though health/education and other sectors of their country are going to experience cuts.)

[TetuaMaana]

Then look at the recipient African nation and see how and where the money is being spent. A good example of this can be seen in Andrew Mwenda's vid (it's featured on my channel)

If a country is dependent on overseas intergovernmental aid, can it's leaders really be independent?

[TetuaMaana]

Another word for powerless is weak. If you are easily corruptible, you are easily controlled.

[TetuaMaana]

*ring-fenced

[RazakEkpoki]

there is an idea on how to stop our looting goverments all over africa...the time we spend crusifying them should be spent giving them awearness..it is difficult to let them see our pains while they sit on thier thrones,we all should stand up to make our awearness aweared,let us make it a mandatory thing to stand on there gates on daily basis to peacesfully send them the message of hope and hoping at the same time they will see our message..they are humans they have hearts,it can be reached..

[TetuaMaana]

That's a powerful act.

But you know that a lot of heads of state are surrounded by yes men who would just clear the crowds before the big man is sped away in his motorcade.

[RazakEkpoki]

you are right,just the same way you game me the right answer to what i gave as an idea to put through or message to our leader,i think with knowledge like mind and yours trying hard to find a solution,we will surely find one,one day.but i strongly think they have heart,even if they all have yes men all around them,then that is the first heart for us to reach,the yes men

[TetuaMaana]

To cover any bits where the sound dip, google

'TRANSCRIPT OF THE GEORGE AYITTEY TED LECTURE'

[TetuaMaana]

*dips

[semrete]

BLESSINGS TO GEORGE AYITTEY WHO SHOULD BE THE LEADER OF MAMA AFRICA ALONG WITH ALL THE CHEETAHS....WITH GODS LOVE

Rajesh Semrete Selassie Aggarwal

[TetuaMaana]

Please God, take all the hippos back

[sizzlenita]

Until we turn our leadership around. We int going nowhere. And the same goes for our mentality.

[qurwxbadaan]

Thanks he told the truth to Africans the ways to devolop to Africa but somalia has a cheif.

[qurwxbadaan]

This is agreat man well expreinced inside, and out of Africa, he told as word by ward to acheive to the land of Africa, the question is are we going to follow up his potentiall information that shared with as to make different!!

[LusoCMD]

This is the type of leader Africa needs, well informed and with the inside view of Africa not the outside view, but this type of leaders must exist in all levels from bottom up.

By the way we so called developed countries also need this type of clarity,"a lot".

I still believe that Africa will become a great Continent, with the help of us all "Cheetah´s"

[Shaft2009]

George Ayittey is an honest African, he is a very powerful economist and very knowlegeable historian. I have heard him speak in many occasions, he is very well informed, and he has the ability to inform others.

[redhotberbera]

George Ayittey is not telling us the whole truth....

[Fortozero]

This guy is brilliant.

[Lafjord]

JAMES SHIKWATI! Tribute to James Shikwati indeed...and to you, too, George Ayittey. So much love to you.

Love,

A fellow cheetah.

[bluecafe22]

140billion dollars in corruption, alone!!! How does this continue - Africa should be prosperous! People think that the continent is poor, and that Africans need pity and charity. This is so far from the truth.

Just think of what could be done with that money; from schools, to infrastructure and health care. African economies are being raped, and the west thinks what they need is charity. What they/we need is somebody to see that our wealth is maintained and invested in our countries.

[mkopbcgfd]

If Africa would still be made up of European colonys, life would be better for all.

[curvaciousakos]

@mkopbcgfd dumbass.

[SpeakYourVision]

He's amazing.

I'm currently taking a class with him right now, and he's just incredible.

At first, I was a little put off by him. He definitely only sees things his way. But he's an absolutely brilliant man and this speech is incredible.

[marvicbiz]

Selfish interests in Africa make it difficult for the cheetah generation, but it's not impossible. Small npo's, like Suni-Ridge Org ZA, work closely with rural communties, showing young leaders how to grow organic home gardens, rediscover traditional medicines, why biodiversity protection is important, as well as preserving their natural and cultural heritage. Change takes place at grass roots level & people empower themselves. "Alone we are a drop, together we are an ocean."

[MrFrankBullitt]

Africa is resource rich so they will stay poor. The U.S. will exploit them for oil and diamonds while backing dictators. There are forces at work too strong to fix with simple aid.

[MrFrankBullitt]

Sure. He wants to go back to a tribal system. Unfortunately, globalization will keep destroying Africa. There are forces at work that are much too powerful to stop.

[CrowdPleeza]

" Africa is resource rich so they will stay poor. The U.S. will exploit them for... "

If that's true then what's Botswana doing differently from other African countries rich in diamonds?

[ahjushi87]

botswana is just one country, and they do things differently than the other african countries.

[CrowdPleeza]

What Botswana did differently was that they didn't emphasize nationalization(Socialism),the­y used their traditional system called Kogtla to solve disputes and they don't squander their diamond wealth.

[bythewayof10]

"I am because we are" Simple brilliance that seems to escape most of us westerners.

[toreskog]

"Goerge Ayittey for president of Africa."

Clever comment, Africa is a continent...

It's like saying Chavez for president of America.

[curvaciousakos]

@toreskog agreed

[adikiny]

"One village at a time" to be taken back from the domination called government. Thanks Mr Ayittey, many people think like you do, so there is hope Africa will be saved from those ridiculous institutions, constitutions and governmental mass-slavery under tyrannical flags.

[seanankerr]

There's nothing glamorous about how the AU sits on its hands and lets Zimbabwe rot away into nothing.

[Mrmoc9]

Goerge Ayittey for president of Africa.

[wachawivu]

will refrain from commenting on the comments, obviously the view of those of the so called upper classes will be different from those at the ground level... All in all George has his finger on the true pulse..

[ngonea]

Much respect for the clear and powerful

description of the reality of the problems

faced in Afrika.

[rovrola]

to lordmetroid- indeed, there are various and complicated problems specific to certain areas. what he discusses has ramifications across the board.

[helenism]

Finally! Someone who talks about the free market sensibly, in a historical perspective. This was a refreshing speech...I wanted to go to the conference, but too expensive for students!

[lordmetroid]

Ruling elite live by the sword coercing people to sustain their lively hood by the means of monopoly of violence(Government). They also die by the sword when the people stand up for themself. But killing bureaucrats aren't the solution. Ignoring and stop believing in government power is what is the solution.

[kurtilein3]

most of what he says applies only to a very small percentage of africa. it only applies to a few states, a few areas, a few people. there are problems, and there are ideas for solutions, but the problems are more diverse and complicated, and the solutions have to be differentiated.

[CrowdPleeza]

Yes not all countries are in the same situation but much of what Ayittey advocates is good for most countries. He's for a free press and traditional influences on the political and economic systems of Africa.

[seanbedlam]

This is powerful.