I just got an email from TED stating that TED Africa will be taking place in Cape Town, South Africa from September 29 to October 1, 2008. Great news for everyone in SA!
Here’s the email:
TEDAfrica will be held in Cape Town, South Africa on September 29-October 1, 2008 (save the date!), and will follow the format of this year’s event in Arusha, Tanzania.
The conference will be organized by a wonderful local team with whom we have just signed a license agreement. The four-person team includes TED Fellow Kelo Kubu and the conference will be operated out of a new South Africa-based non-profit organization devoted to promoting a better future for the continent, the “TED Africa Foundation”.
We will be supporting the foundation both financially and logistically to help ensure that the event maintains and builds on the quality and success of the Arusha event.
Initially we had intended that conference to be a one-off, but we received such enthusiastic feedback that we had to find a way to bring it back and in the summer we invited groups to apply for a license to host the conference. Kelo’s team were one of several who submitted bid and we were stunned by the quality of the proposals. The winning bid included several brilliant ideas to make TED Africa even better, and also featured a strong plan to ensure the event’s financial success and long-term sustainability. We therefore have enormous confidence that the next TED will every bit as exciting as Arusha was.
The organizers have already begun feverish preparations and when registration for the event formally opens, we will put out another note. Meanwhile, if you want to suggest a speaker, discuss sponsorship, or offer other help, you can write to contact@tedafrica.org. A new website promoting the conference will eventually be launched at www.tedafrica.org.
Kelo wanted us to forward the following note:
“It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of the TED Africa process . The team is naturally excited to be hosting TEDAfrica 2008, and we look forward to the challenge of generating the usual TED cocktail of inspiration and magic. The task is undoubtedly a daunting one but Africa provides the perfect platform, and Cape Town the ideal location for yet another memorable event.
We look forward to welcoming the world to the southern most tip of Africa to share, spread and nurture groundbreaking ideas that could open new possibilities to growth and prosperity on the continent.”
Our congratulations to her and her team. We hope to see you in Cape Town!
Very best,
Chris Anderson
Emeka Okafor
I hope to be there, let’s see what the next evolution of TED looks like in Africa!
November 26, 2007 at 5:58 pm
I wish I could be there! TED is awesome!
November 26, 2007 at 7:57 pm
Wow this is fantastic! I will be there for sure!! I almost asked “where can I register” but I know I’m probably jumping the gun here. 🙂
November 26, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Whoopeee! Great news!
November 26, 2007 at 9:52 pm
Wish I can be there, will try. Great news!
http://www.mountkenyamafia.com
November 27, 2007 at 6:21 am
Yippeeeeee!!
November 27, 2007 at 6:59 am
Can’t wait for all those cool videos to pop up on TED. So many interesting discussions and opinions and viewpoints.
November 29, 2007 at 12:59 am
Since i have become EXREMELY passionate about Africa…i will be at TED Africa 2008.
I’ll soon be sending you an email with a list of speakers…as well as my 2 cents on some ideas to make the conference an even greater success.
December 3, 2007 at 9:07 am
I will be there.
December 10, 2007 at 10:46 pm
wish I could be there, I’ve seen some clips on the TED site and it looks like it’s a really happening initiative.
December 17, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Me too. With my brand new MacBook Pro!!!