TEDxDar - Abdu Simba - Iconic Images and Identity
## Speaker Context - Role: Speaker (presenting a talk) - Setting: Event (implied, possibly a TEDx event given context) - Framing: Wants the audience to consider what emotions images evoke; focuses on how images tell stories and shape identity. ## People - Cassius Clay: Boxer; became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world in 1964 by defeating Mike Tyson of the era, Sunny Lisbon. - Mike Tyson: Boxer; defeated by Cassius Clay in 1964; fought James Buster Douglas and lost. - Sunny Lisbon: Boxer; lost to Cassius Clay. - Muhammad Ali: Boxer; Cassius Clay turned into this figure when meeting Sunny Lisbon again for the rematch. - John Lewis/Narrator (Implied): Someone who chose to use a specific photograph featuring the speaker for a speech at the Democratic convention. - Walter: Friend of the speaker; would appreciate the Eiffel Tower as a piece of engineering. - Adolf Hitler: Leader of Nazi Germany; believed his people were a master race destined to rule the world; built huge monuments. - Lenny Riefenstahl: Photographer; one of the foremost photographers of the 20th century; created a book called *Vanishing Africa*. - Obama (Implied): Referenced by the description of a young man writing his speech at the Democratic convention in 2004. - Nelson Mandela: Political figure; was about to be released from prison when pictures were staged. - Winnie (Mandela): Associated with Nelson Mandela in the photograph shown during the Mandela release narrative. - Emperor Caesar: Figure whose image is shown, who chose to crown himself. - Julius Nyerere: First president of an independent Tanganyika; associated with the positive sense of self/identity. - Fidel Castro: Political figure; present at the United Nations non-aligned south south corporate meeting with Lujas Nireira. - Jimmy Carter: Political figure; associated with the latter years of Tanzania's history. ## Organizations - United Nations non-aligned south south corporate: Group mentioned in relation to Tanzania's self-determination. - Daily News: Archive where the speaker found photographs from Tanzania. - National Museum: Archive where the speaker found photographs from Tanzania. - EAC (East African Corporation): Organization mentioned in connection with a photograph showing its early days. ## Places - Giza: Location of the Pyramids, burial places of pharaohs. - Sydney: Location of the Sydney Opera House. - Paris: Location featuring the Eiffel Tower; the tower defines the skyline of Paris. - Buckingham Palace: Location noted for being the rallying point for British people at a time of national crisis and rejoicing. - Nazi Germany: Setting where images were created around monuments, particularly in the 1930s. - Juba, Uganda: Location where Lenny Riefenstahl's book *Vanishing Africa* had photographs. - Rwanda: Location of genocide. - Uganda: Location where Lenny Riefenstahl's book *Vanishing Africa* had photographs. - Tanzania: Subject of the speaker's historical work/project; the location of early photos showing the Pan-Africanist movement, union with Zanzibar, and meeting with Castro. ## Tools, Tech & Products - Whiteboard: Surface that was behind the speaker when a photograph was placed on it (context of a staged photo). - Photography: Art form/medium; focus of the talk; mentioned as being all about storytelling. - Films/Cinema: Medium discussed in relation to storytelling. - Magazines (e.g., *Drum* magazine): Publication type that showed positive images of Africans. ## Concepts & Definitions - Iconic image: A photograph that tells a story and is believed to embody something significant. - Storytelling: The core concept linking images to human appeal. - Parables for life: Concept used to describe stories, containing elements like love, pain, loss, and horror. - National identity: Concept related to the buildings and monuments discussed (e.g., French identity, British identity). - Jingoism: Defined as extremism in another word; a thin line is drawn between national pride and jingoism. - Master race: Belief held by Adolf Hitler, suggesting his people were destined to rule the world. - Pan-Africanist movement: Movement associated with Tanzania's history. - Fun: Mentioned in the context of the "Oprah Hot Sunday" film, where the warm cuddly feeling was the take-away. ## Numbers & Data - 1964: Year Cassius Clay became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world. - 100: Number of dollars on the bill featuring the specific image. - 2004: Year a young man wrote his speech at the Democratic convention using the photograph. - Early 1970s: Approximate time the Sydney Opera House was completed. - Centenary: The 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, celebrated by the Eiffel Tower. - 1930s (early): Period when the buildings discussed would have had a very different effect. - Mid-1980s: Period of the famine in Ethiopia and the frenzy of visual narratives concerning Africa. - 1995: Year marking the end point of the early pictures of Tanzania in the archives. ## Claims & Theses - The preceding images with Maradona's hand of god and princess died are relevant points, but the photograph on the 100 bill is the point. - Images are very specific, and there is something about them that needs examination. - Cassius Clay became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world in 1964 by defeating Mike Tyson of the era, Sunny Lisbon. - Nobody thought Cassius Clay had a chance when he defeated Sunny Lisbon. - The story behind the photograph (Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston) is that a young man emerged with an impossible dream, faced conflict/confrontation, and triumphed against huge odds and a big evil. - Photographs tell us a story; the story behind the photograph makes it iconic. - Cinema is about storytelling, which is what moves us. - Photos can tell more than a thousand words. - Images can connect to our sense of identity. - The pyramids of Giza were once the tallest buildings to be found anywhere in the world. - The Eiffel Tower serves as a symbol of national identity of French identity. - Buckingham Palace is said to be the rallying point for British people at a time of national crisis and rejoicing. - There is a very thin line between national pride and jingoism. - Auschwitz shots can be seen as one of the justifications for the creation of the state of Israel and are part of their sense of identity/memory. - The photograph involving Mike Tyson and Nelson Mandela running together was a genius staging for the tabloids. - We should not be defined by images, and we are not defined by them. - We are defined by the teachings, workings, and images of one particular name. - The further back in time (in Tanzania archives), the more poignant the pictures seem to be, suggesting value in photojournalism. - Nostalgia is always full of the most pleasant memories, and we hardly ever remember the bad things when we're having nostalgic thoughts. - One of the reasons for the enduring sense of love and affection for Tanzania is that it seems to belong to a time when we felt that we were something and in that sense, we are at our greatest hour. ## Mechanisms & Processes - Visual narrative: The process of creating stories through images, observed in African portrayals. - Composition: The attention paid to the arrangement of elements in a photograph, noted as being more apparent in early Tanzanian photos. ## Timeline & Events - 1964: Cassius Clay became the heavyweight champion by defeating Sunny Lisbon. - Little more than one year after the initial fight: Cassius Clay fought Sunny Lisbon again (the rematch). - 2004: Young man wrote his speech at the Democratic convention. - Turn of the 15th century: Period when the Pyramids of Giza were believed to be the tallest buildings. - 100th centenary of the French Revolution: Occasion for the Eiffel Tower's creation. - First World War: War that everyone at the time thought would end all wars, leading to Adolf Hitler's rise. - Second World War: Period following which Lenny Riefenstahl became famous. - Mid-1980s: Period of the famine in Ethiopia and the ensuing visual narrative in Africa. - Present day/Today: Period when the speaker is giving the talk. ## Examples & Cases - Maradona's hand of god and princess died: Preceding images shown to set context. - The picture on the 100 bill: Specific photograph used as a central example. - Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston (1964): Example of triumph against perceived impossible odds. - Cassius Clay vs. Sunny Liston (rematch): Example showcasing a clear beginning, middle, and end. - Young man giving speech at the Democratic convention (2004): Case where a photo was strategically used to convey belief in triumphing against adversity. - Pyramids of Giza: Example of ancient monumental architecture. - Great Zimbabwe: Example of ancient structure. - Sydney Opera House: Example of modern architecture (completed early 1970s). - Taj Mahal: Example considered the most wonderful testament to love. - Eiffel Tower: Example of structural art built for the 100th centenary of the French Revolution. - Buckingham Palace: Example noted for its role as a rallying point during national crisis (e.g., Princess Diana's passing). - Monuments built during Nazi Germany/post-WWI: Example of state-sponsored monumental building for perceived national greatness. - Lenny Riefenstahl's *Vanishing Africa* book: Example using photographs from Juba and Uganda. - Photograph of the Holocaust/Nazi Germany reality: Example used to show post-war reality vs. intent. - Photograph comparing Mike Tyson's gum shield retrieval with Nelson Mandela and Winnie exiting a venue: Example of media juxtaposition. - Picture of Emperor Caesar crowning himself: Example of self-glorification. - Images of genocide in Rwanda (mid-1980s): Example of tragedy and visual documentation. - Photos from the African liberation struggle in Tanzania: Specific archives and photos detailing the Pan-Africanist movement and Union with Zanzibar. - Photograph of Lujas Nireira with Fidel Castro at the UN: Example of political collaboration in the non-aligned world. ## Trade-offs & Alternatives - National Pride vs. Jingoism: The line drawn between the two, with jingoism being labeled as extremism. - Photojournalism Efforts: Earlier attempts (pre-1995 Tanzania archives) suggesting more effort in composition/meaning vs. later images. - Narrative Focus: Focusing on the positive, pleasant memories (nostalgia) vs. remembering the bad things. ## Counterarguments & Caveats - The talk notes that the photograph used at the Democratic convention is "a bit of a plant." - The speaker advises that one should not remember or forget the horrendous situation in genocide in Rwanda. - The speaker concedes that African tragedies or world tragedies "are all as bad as each other." - The speaker notes that the positive sense of identity found in films (like *Oprah Hot Sunday*) is "a little bit suspect" regarding production value but emotionally resonant. ## Methodology - Archival research: The speaker compiled a list from the archives of the Daily News and the National Museum regarding the African liberation struggle in Tanzania. - Image analysis: Examining the visual impact of photographs to draw conclusions about identity and history. ## References Cited - Wiki: Used to look up information about Buckingham Palace. - *Vanishing Africa*: Book by Lenny Riefenstahl. ## Conclusions & Recommendations - The speakers should not be defined by images, and they are not defined by them. - We should find magazines like *Drum* magazine or publications like the one Major was responsible for co-founding (Bang) that portray us as Africans in a relatable light. - The ability to derive a "positive sense of self / positive sense of identity" is conveyed by certain cultural outputs (like Nollywood or early Tanzanian photos). ## Implications & Consequences - If images are used to shape identity, then state actions (like building monuments) can mask problematic beliefs (like Nazi ideology). - The visual narrative of Africa often reinforces stereotypes (soldier king archetype). - A lack of critical analysis of images can lead to accepting narratives of grievance or pride that are historically skewed. ## Open Questions - Why is the enduring sense of love and gratitude for Julius Nyerere and Tanzania present? Is it because he was the first president? - Is the sense of love/gratitude for the era tied to witnessing acts like Colonel Niren going to the apex of Mount Kilimanjaro? - If the photographs are so powerful, what *is* the true source of our definition—the images, or something else? ## Verbatim Moments - "Storytelling and stories pictures as the old adage goes can tell more than a thousand words." - "Love and pain and loss and horror all of these things." - "It really doesn't make a difference [if the man is] benevolent or malevolent." - "We were going to be told what to do nobody bullied tanzania even if we were poor we told them what we wanted and eloquently as well with prominent kumar." - "I think I'd say that it's very hard to run away from the fact that one of the reasons why we have and continue to have this enduring sense of love and affection for their areas because it seems to belong to a time when we felt and continued to feel that we were something and in that sense he is us and we are he at our greatest hour."