How African Representation Is Shaping the Future | Karl-Yann Assah | TEDxUofT
URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veUaRYCEWDU Video ID: veUaRYCEWDU ============================================================ What if I told you that one moment, one image, or one voice could change everything? For me, that moment came on October 19th, 2021. I want you to join me. I want you to close your eyes with me for a moment and picture this. You're standing in the middle of Time Square in New York, surrounded by towering screens, flashing vibrant campaigns. And every image that you see isn't just about you, but it's about all the people that make this world a special place. Now, open your eyes and step into this reality with me. You're stepping into a TTC subway in Toronto where strangers stop you and ask you for a third time that week. Young man, are you a model? Now, it's tempting to respond with no. But let's just say African moms don't mess around when it comes to presentation, right? The reality is though that this question touches on something deeper. It hints at a journey I've embraced as an international fashion model of African roots. It's about something bigger. It's about the transformative power of being seen. Today, allow me to take you on a journey. One where African representation isn't just changing perceptions. It's laying the foundation for a transformative global future. So, let me ask you, what does it mean to truly be seen in a world that often overlooks people like us? How can one moment, one image or one voice transform not just how we see ourselves but how the world sees us? Think about it for a moment. Think back to that time in Time Square. The images, the screens, the stories. Through my journey, I've realized that being seen in all our diversity can truly spark something powerful. It can spare countless others to dream of reaching heights they never imagined. When I began modeling in 2019, you could count the number of African faces in international campaigns on one hand. But today, we're seeing a shift. A shift that's as exciting as it is overdue. We see more faces like mine here gracing billboards, walking the prestigious runways of New York and Paris Fashion Week and even fronting global brands like Tom Brown, Javanchi and Prada. We see African icons like Burnab Boy selling out the Madison Square Garden in New York. We also see artists like Temps and Remma dominating the global music stage and performing at events like the NBA All-Star game in 2023. But we also see business magnets like Aliko Denote redefining African success as an industrialist. Now this exact shift in visibility isn't just symbolic, but it's reshaping the global perception of what Africans can achieve. The reality though is that these questions and these successes and these achievements are neither new nor novel. But perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough. Yes, today we dominate in music, entertainment, and slowly business as well. But that's only part of the story. Historically, the examples are countless. So, I'll give you one. Have you ever wondered where some of the world's most iconic architectural designs drew their inspiration from? Well, what if I told you that they echo the genius of African innovation, long overlooked but deeply influential? In my father's book called Lumino, also known as the bright side of Africa, he highlights the social cultural contributions of Africa to the world. Take for example the grung muske of Jenna in Mali or the University of Tingbuktu in Mali. Buildings whose architectural and academic principles echo in buildings like Manhattan skyline and the Westminster Palace in the UK. What if today's African architects knew of the grander of those who came before them? To illustrate the significance of narratives, let's consider the power of seeing yourself. Scientific research points to this truth. Representation changes lives. In a study called the power of TV conducted by Robert Jensen, researchers found that when young girls in India watched TV shows with strong, confident women, they were more likely to stay longer in school and delay marriage. Seeing these women on TV shaped and changed their perceptions of what women could achieve and inspired them to dream bigger. The changes were so big, it was like giving these girls extra years of schooling, opening doors to more opportunities, and giving them more time to make important life decisions. And that is how powerful media can be, especially for young minds. In fact, this study found that children as young as five would shape their dreams and aspirations based off of the images they see in media. And that is why representation matters. to the young girl in Congo, to the young boy in Lagos, and yes, to my younger self who once dreamed of walking the runways of New York Fashion Week. Now, [sighs] in the world of modeling, rejection is part of the journey. But before I before I go there, I want to emphasize one more point. When you think of the power of you see of seeing yourself ultimately it fuels ambition, it builds confidence and it drives change. Speaking of rejection, if you've experienced rejection and you think that it hurts, I want you to raise your hand. Now, be honest now. Have Have you ever held yourself back because you feared getting another no? probably right. If you've raised your hand, you know this best. Success demands more than talent. It requires resilience, and you will be tested. Being one of the few African faces in these high-profile places has taught me to persist, adapt, and excel. It requires an unshakable belief in my ability to leave a mark. Not just for myself, but for the countless others watching. Now, in theory, this sounds all great, but the reality though is that the rejection eats at you. You take a chance, you travel across the world, you scrap a few pennies together to make things happen, you go to castings, and sometimes you come BACK AND YOU HAVE NOTHING to show for it. So, what do you do when you have your back against the wall? When everything in you wants to quit? How do you dig deep, find strength, and show up in the face of adversity? See, the accomplishments that you've seen here, I've done them while working a corporate job, completing my education, playing collegiate sports, and building nonprofit organizations. And some people ask me, they ask me, "Where do you get the strength to make this happen?" Well, I'm going to be honest with you. This is where my talk gets very interesting. So, I need you to listen to me very closely. At the heart of my journey lies a key African philosophy. And to define it, I'll be quoting the late great Nelson Mandela. In Africa, there's a concept known as the spirit of Ubuntu. the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others. That if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others. In its essence, the principle stems from the Zulu tribe in South Africa. That means I am because we are. I want you to repeat after me. I am because we are. >> Fantastic. Ubuntu stresses and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people, the importance of community. I know that as I navigate this world, I do not move through it alone. I'm an ambassador not only for myself, but for the African community at large. So, it's not about me anymore. Every step I take, every success I achieve ripples through my community. But what does this mean for you? Every step you take, every success you achieve, you open doors for others who look like you. I know that when I walk down a runway or appear in a global campaign. I carry the aspirations of countless young men and women who dream of seeing themselves in the space as I now occupy. And it's this sense of collective identity that drives me to always strive for success because I know that my achievements are not just mine. They belong to my people. The whole idea is about moving more as a collective rather than an individual. Ubuntu encourages us to move as a unit to uplift one another and to resist the overpromotion of individualism that is anchored and glorified in modern society. When I do well, my people benefit. And it's this sense of collective identity of working towards the common good that I hope to inspire in others. Now, when we extend the spirit of Ubuntu, the belief that I am because we are beyond our immediate communities, we begin to unlock its full potential. Now, you may be wondering, how do we carry that responsibility onto the global stage? How do we embrace the interconnectedness of this world while staying true to where we really come from? That's a challenge, isn't it? But it's also an opportunity because when we go out into the world and we carry our identities, our values, our stories, we don't just represent ourselves, but we become bridges. Bridges that connect ideas, spark innovation, and open doors to possibilities that were once unimaginable. And this is where we morph into global citizens. As diasporans, we often move across borders for political or economic reasons. Sometimes feeling a sense of inadequacy in new environments. We grapple with questions about belonging. identity and sometimes even purpose as well. And let me tell you when I realized this, it was a late and rainy night in London. You know, it's the type of rain that makes the city feel heavy. And I was making my way back from Gatwick airports into the city. And my driver, Muhammad, looked at me through the rearview mirror, and he said something to me. He said something that would completely change my perception of how I should introduce myself. He asked, "What makes you unique?" I stumbled over my words unsure of how to respond. "What makes me unique?" I didn't want to ramble. I wanted to give him a straightforward, confident answer, but I couldn't. So, that question stayed with me. And later that night, as I make it to my hotel room, I jump onto my bed. I turn to the side and the first thing I do is I open chat GBT. And the question I ask, based off what you know about me, draw a picture of what you think my current life looks like. And the result was empowering. It reminded me of something I hadn't fully grasped. That our journeys, our identities are what make us unique. What many don't realize is that our migration, our global movement equips us with something extraordinary. It equips us with adaptability skills, deep cultural insights and the unique ability to see the world not just as it is but as it could be. This experiences morphs us and shapes us into leaders, innovators who can tackle worldclass challenges with a li with a limited amount of resources. I want to encourage and I want to inspire the next generation to embrace their global identity to understand that their cultural heritage, their values are not weaknesses. Their ability to adapt are is their greatest strength. As they navigate the world, they ought to paint the canvas of their lives with audacious strokes of purpose, passion, and relentless determination. Now, let's look towards the future. Africa stands on the brink of a transformation that can define this century. By 2050, one in four people in the world will be African. The continent will have the largest working age population with over a billion people under 25. The continent will have the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity in the world. And today, African music, art, and fashion are now billion-dollar industries, redefining global trends and influencing culture. These statistics that you see right here, they aren't just statistics. They're a call to action. It's about taking our place on the global stage and becoming engines of progress that shape the future. And speaking of the future, I'll share something with you. And I'll leave you with this. I want you to think great visionaries. Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, household names whose ideas have reshaped the world as we know it. But here's the question. What if the next Zuckerberg or Jobs wasn't a singular story of brilliance? What if it was an entire generation of African innovators, leaders, artists rewriting the rules of the game? This isn't a dream. It's within our reach. Yet, it requires us to embrace our culture, celebrate our uniqueness, and take our place boldly on the global stage. It's about showing the world that African excellence isn't an exception. It's the norm. And I'll let you in on something just because you came here today. Africa's rise isn't just for Africans. It's a global imperative because when we win, when we succeed, the world thrives because we bring something no one else can. We bring Ubuntu, the belief that I am because we are. And in a world that over prioritizes individualism, this philosophy has the power to transform how we lead, create, and connect. So, I'll turn it to you. What role will you play in this story? Will you be the one who shapes or the one who watches? Will you be the one who dares or the one who doubts? Because the truth is Africa isn't waiting for permission. We're already winning. We're already leading, building, innovating. The question is, will you join us? The world is evolving and so must we. After all, to tie it back to my modeling experience, the best advertisements aren't about people. The best advertisements aren't about products. They're about stories. And Africa's story is one of resilience, brilliance, and unyielding hope. It's a story the world needs to hear. So, let's take our place unapologetically as leaders of the future because together we're not just telling the story, we are the story. Thank you. >> [applause and cheering]