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Africa is a sleeping giant — I’m trying to wake it up | Adeola Fayehun

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. “Africa is like a sleeping giant,” says journalist and satirist Adeola Fayehun at the beginning of this hilarious, incisive talk. “The truth is I am trying to wake up this giant. That’s why I air the dirty laundry of…

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“Africa is like a sleeping giant,” says journalist and satirist Adeola Fayehun at the beginning of this hilarious, incisive talk. “The truth is I am trying to wake up this giant. That’s why I air the dirty laundry of those in charge.” Follow along as she roasts corrupt African officials and shows why the continent already has all it needs to take its rightful place on the world stage — if only leaders would start taking responsibility.

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98 Comments

  1. Gigagagagamer

    July 27, 2020 at 9:25 pm

    Really refreshing and funny! For once no white guilt preacher but a confident and honest person 👍

  2. JETJOOBOY

    July 27, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    She LIVES IN THE US..

    SHUT UP THEN!

  3. Disruptive Times

    July 27, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    You want to wake up Africa? Stop taking all the “help” the west “offers” in form of food aid and other “help programs”, stop the brain drain and get rid of your witch doctors.

  4. Maury Pontiff

    July 27, 2020 at 9:28 pm

    Africa is not sleeping their starving.

    • Mo Getit

      July 27, 2020 at 10:42 pm

      Starving of great leadership

  5. McMakers

    July 27, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Nothing screams sleeping giant such as “Captain Buck Naked”

  6. Chris Pyle

    July 27, 2020 at 9:43 pm

    Why doesn’t she mention any of the post war and Cold War choices made all over Africa to get away from capitalism and instead choose alignment with the former Soviet Union and socialism? They aren’t asleep as much as they are stuck following failed economic political models of government. As socialism collapses in Africa, freedom and wealth are and have already been rising. Capitalism is already credited for being the reason why less than half of Africans are no longer living in extreme poverty but there’s too many countries still oppressing their people. The faster the African people are allowed to have free elections and free markets, the faster her dreams will be realized in my opinion.

  7. Red_Tuke _Guy

    July 27, 2020 at 10:21 pm

    I thought this was one of those crazy advertisements from Africa.

  8. Leonardo Baptista

    July 27, 2020 at 10:24 pm

    Welcome to Brazil!

  9. Shaolin DonkeyPunch

    July 27, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    They wuz kangz

  10. Luv2Luv

    July 27, 2020 at 10:32 pm

    Watch this woman change Africa!!

  11. Bob Frog

    July 27, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Africa is and always has been the “Special Needs” continent.

  12. Fulufhelo Khoza

    July 27, 2020 at 10:43 pm

    Humor and what she talking about don’t mix – An African’s Opinion

  13. David Isaac Russell

    July 27, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    Africa is like a sleeping giant. If farts and snores and scratches its balls and then falls back asleep.

  14. tpasi2020UG

    July 27, 2020 at 10:53 pm

    Great video. But Nigerian food taste like crap. Love the vide best TedTalk in 2020!!

  15. Ben Sim

    July 27, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    I seriously can’t understand why this video has so many dislikes

  16. Thaise Caires

    July 27, 2020 at 11:22 pm

    I loveeeeed this! I feel almost the same when it comes to Brazil. Unfortunately, all true!

    • The Donovan

      July 28, 2020 at 12:03 am

      The same applies to all of South (and central) America, unfortunately. I really wish things could be different, but until the people challenge their corrupt governments, nothing will change.

  17. Bryan T

    July 27, 2020 at 11:34 pm

    A comedian said Africa don’t need money from China and WB. Oh, that’s funny. After all , the comedian seems well-paid, forgetting the feeling of hungry.

  18. I Am Ia

    July 27, 2020 at 11:46 pm

    Hello ma’am, this is the exact thing I feel about my country, Philippines. Leaders here are incompetent and are wasting the potential that our country

    • The Donovan

      July 28, 2020 at 12:04 am

      Sounds like the people need to change things. Waiting around hoping for it to come won’t fix anything.

    • I Am Ia

      July 28, 2020 at 12:23 am

      @The Donovan do you really think someone like me, seeking for wisdom and thoughtful ideas on a ted channel don’t know what the real problem is in my country? Lol. It’s the incompetence of our government and how they fail to act on what should be done to alleviate the condition of our country and its fellowmen period

  19. Chris Fokjohn

    July 27, 2020 at 11:52 pm

    Africa is sleeping…

    That’s it

  20. J. Evan

    July 27, 2020 at 11:53 pm

    Lies

  21. Raymond Roy

    July 27, 2020 at 11:55 pm

    Briliant!!!

  22. 쫀득한예영칩Vlog

    July 28, 2020 at 12:09 am

    ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ개웃겨

  23. Karlos Khaos

    July 28, 2020 at 12:26 am

    Africa will become a superpower in the future

  24. anh tung

    July 28, 2020 at 1:05 am

    바보

  25. Nails Chrysanthemum

    July 28, 2020 at 1:26 am

    she’s wonderful. when i was a kid i used to imagine a world were tvs were connected all over the world and i could watch tv from anywhere in the world. this is what i imagined — being able to watch what people think is funny in Japan or Africa.

  26. Paolo Pandolfi

    July 28, 2020 at 9:10 am

    What’s happening? Someone that is not blaming African poverty, famine and everything to the rest of the world (albeit that’s mostly right)? That’s the right way, lady. You will never kick foreign profiteers out of your continent without educating your people and advocating for internal solutions. You won’t save the last floor of a building from a earthquake if you don’t have stable foundations.

  27. Xlr8t

    July 28, 2020 at 10:22 am

    When I die, I really hope Africa becomes really successful.

    • Sam W

      July 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      I hope the world will

  28. Faith

    July 28, 2020 at 11:26 am

    yeah❤️

  29. Fenzy Couture

    July 28, 2020 at 11:32 am

    I love this❤️. Spreading my love here. Subbed, hope u hug back💕

    • Cleopatra Bell

      July 28, 2020 at 2:18 pm

      It all started when one of they own sold them as property …. Can’t blame the White men for everything

      Cut the CHECK Africa/Reparations from Africa

  30. Samuel Christian

    July 28, 2020 at 11:33 am

    Africa is truly a rich and diverse continent and her presentation is spot on, though some countries are still not tapping into its potential. Some countries have like Kenya, angola and Zimbabwe

  31. Mad Tad

    July 28, 2020 at 11:43 am

    I really want Africa to flurish. On their own. And I want them to learn from the mistakes we made.

  32. 파랑이이

    July 28, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    와 샌즈! (Wow sans!)

  33. NupeAtl

    July 28, 2020 at 1:30 pm

    ♦️👌🏾

  34. Itwaswritten804

    July 28, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    Just gorgeous, her mindset of course but I gotta face the fact that she physically beautiful as well! Excellent job

  35. Itwaswritten804

    July 28, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    God will fix it now wake GOD up the sleeping Giant 💡

  36. Sarah Coleman

    July 28, 2020 at 2:32 pm

    I want to believe that she mocked up her own “TED Talk” show and TED was like, “We’ll take it.”
    Forget Oprah, I want to see her on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah. They’ll just sit there like “African Leaders, am I right?”

  37. Egbert McFleisterheimer

    July 28, 2020 at 2:43 pm

    Africa is a continent…not a people…there are many nations in the land mass called Africa…I would suggest many of these countries are sleeping but not all…

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    July 28, 2020 at 3:18 pm

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  39. GOLEM

    July 28, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    napoleon said that about china … and we will understand very soon

  40. Rachel W

    July 28, 2020 at 4:52 pm

    She is adorable!

  41. Ari Lehtiniemi

    July 28, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    Well, the first thing is to hamper corruption otherwise everything else is futile.

  42. Kanyanta Mubanga

    July 28, 2020 at 5:43 pm

    4:28 Pierre Nkurunzinza 👀

  43. batlash1

    July 28, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Brain drain and too much religion. So how do you fix those problems?

  44. Sibylle Leon

    July 28, 2020 at 7:01 pm

    What a legend!

  45. Nomthi X.

    July 28, 2020 at 7:12 pm

    Without good leaders we are like an eagle that doesn’t know it can fly. Man😩👏🏾

  46. zxqwerxz

    July 28, 2020 at 7:18 pm

    It’s hard not to treat Africa as a country, even our presenter uses the shortcut with the best of intentions.

    Waking Africa the sleeping giant? Not all countries are at similar points of development and will each need specific plans. Read more African books? Many of these countries and tribes bear ancient grudges against each other and who you read matters as it’s akin to taking sides in that struggle.

    She even draws the comparison that Africa is as long as the Atlantic is wide, and each country is as different as USA is to France. Why then should it be waking Africa the sleeping giant and not just a couple countries?

    Why not pick a set of the most developed ones and focus the efforts there?

  47. Mark Kerwin

    July 28, 2020 at 7:25 pm

    Go go go Mother Africa – I am excited for the next 500 years of prosperity for all African nations

  48. agitus zweos

    July 28, 2020 at 8:25 pm

    Less government and watch the people rise

  49. Jan Pinteman

    July 28, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    Adeola Fayehun, you are simply amazing!

  50. Xi Waan

    July 28, 2020 at 11:22 pm

    Great talk! When Africa wakes, the world will shake! I hope Africa can resist those that wish to keep her in her slumber, those that wish to control her people, to suppress girls and women and deny them an education, destroy her rich and diverse culture and to curtail the rights and freedoms of all people, regardless of group, gender, ethnicity or belief. If the African people can gain and defend their freedom, and elect leaders that aren’t corrupt and want to see the nations of Africa prosper, then with the resources of the continent and the energy and dynamism of the African people, Africa could well become one of the most prosperous regions on the planet. If the nations of Africa could harness all of that energy, creativity and determination that is flooding into Europe it would become an unstoppable force of change and prosperity that would alter the course of not only the continent but the entire human race. I hope in my lifetime to see this happen. With modern technology and the hard work and determination of the people of Africa it is entirely believable that within only a couple of decades all of the people of the continent could live in peace, prosperity and happiness.

  51. Steve Marsh

    July 29, 2020 at 5:14 am

    You are a gift. Thank you so much. Would you be my neighbor? Africa is an incredible place. Limitless potiontail. Just a little old white man here. But Africa is a special place. You give hope.

  52. 05thomaslj

    July 29, 2020 at 9:45 am

    Too africans too busy claiming their problems on other people and/or expecting others to solve those problems for them. Be that god, the west, or china etc.

    Africa needs more people like the president of Ghana.

  53. Ian Stretch

    July 29, 2020 at 10:17 am

    Stop Killing White Farmers might be a good Idea.
    Try growing your own Food.

  54. Jimeth Ota

    July 29, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Africa is not a sleeping giant, it never was a giant. For the entirety of human history all of that continent below the sahara has been a backwards, stupid, constantly at war shithole

  55. AthenaSaints

    July 29, 2020 at 12:29 pm

    Chinese Communists already sleeping with Africa.

  56. Gustavo Campillos

    July 29, 2020 at 1:36 pm

    👏👏👏

  57. William Rice

    July 29, 2020 at 3:37 pm

    Is she unfamiliar with the concept that leaders globally, historically, and without exception are simply presumptuous tyrants?

    Africa is mired in collectivism and religiousity, possibly more so than any other place. Fix that first.

  58. lemonlimelukey

    July 29, 2020 at 4:55 pm

    shes not an african. shes some westernized puke.

  59. Iche

    July 30, 2020 at 3:28 am

    Wakanda FOREVER!

  60. Angelos Drakon

    July 30, 2020 at 3:41 am

    TED, is this a joke? I would like to request a return to informed speakers who present *relevant* and *realizable* ideas in a comprehensible manner. Merging 54 independent nations made up of 3,000 different ethnicities into a continental country is, simply put, absurd; and especially so when presented in a half-baked manner such as this.

  61. NscUser 1

    July 30, 2020 at 5:07 am

    China just made Africa paralyzed with huge loans!!!Wrong move

  62. walperstyle

    July 30, 2020 at 6:41 am

    China funding Africa right now, they want Africa in debt to them.

  63. Musa Suma

    July 30, 2020 at 10:05 am

    You’re not funny

  64. Pinga Chen

    July 30, 2020 at 12:07 pm

    I do believe that God has the power to change the governments of an entire continent. However that doesn’t stop us from practically raising awareness .

  65. Beloved Of God Ministries

    July 30, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    You are so inspiring!

  66. Zoila Saavedra Maceda

    July 31, 2020 at 7:55 pm

    Necesito escuchar en spanish

  67. Patrick Isaac

    July 31, 2020 at 10:46 pm

    I’m so ready for Africa to step up its game! Please put out more content on Africa! There’s such a big gap in media representation for countries in the world and we need to hear and know more about African countries! How will we work with them in the future if we don’t even know them? More news on Africa!

  68. Mawuena Kodzo

    August 29, 2020 at 11:41 am

    When Adeola starts calling for water like this, i just cant hold tears of laughter. 😂

  69. We Need A United States of Africa

    August 29, 2020 at 4:25 pm

    Adeola we stand with you, The salvation of Africa rest on the shoulders of the youths like you Adeola, our leaders have failed us and it’s time to seize the private sector through creating businesses and seize the public sector through protesting for transparent and independent electoral systems so that they people can elect accountable leaders , Aluta Continua Until Africa is United under real leadership

  70. Olugbenga Jaiyesimi

    August 30, 2020 at 11:51 am

    If you don’t change the peoples you can’t change the leaders.

  71. Wairimu Ng'ang'a

    August 30, 2020 at 3:02 pm

    Yes gal tell them

  72. JACOB KEHINDE IDOWU

    August 31, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    Africa fell into coma many years ago after the western world injected a poison into her body system with the cooperation of our greedy African leaders.Hope the conspirators will not finally kill the continent.

  73. B e t h a n y ۵

    September 1, 2020 at 7:00 pm

    Africa indeed is a sleeping Giant and that is honestly the nicest way to describe its intellectually and curiosity dull people (generally speaking) corrupt governments, and unstable and blood-thirsty tribal wars. They are too busy fighting and spilling the blood of their own men and women to have professed after the continent inherited its “independence” from oppression and colonialism.

    Africans are busy running away from Africa and migrating as far away from it to do anything about improving their own respective countries. Visionaries and entrepreneurs should recognized the beautiful potential of building new business in Africa and individual countries but their too blindsided by the west to care, too narrow minded to be concerned.

    My parents can’t even send loved ones gifts because it will NEVER be delivered without some “professional” stealing or potentially damaging their items! Are you joking? Africa has been under a curse. Call it what you intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, psychological.

  74. Gravitas

    September 4, 2020 at 3:37 am

    Wow. Adeola is here

  75. NDULUE EBERECHUKWU

    September 4, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Am proud of you, your bride price just increased 😁

  76. Waka Waka Abby

    September 5, 2020 at 3:09 am

    Iam from her village 🥰

  77. SKT In Focus

    September 5, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    The very reason I tip my hat 🎩 off for some friends I come across from different walks of life is what Miss Adeola stated at the end of her address. Just learn by watching African movies 🎥, reading African books and doing just a little search on google. Close mindedness is cancerous. Open up to new ideas 💡and innovations, learn about new cultures, respect people’s views, and finally know that the world 🌍 is a global village. We all work for a common good; to eradicate poverty and hunger, bring about peace and stability, resolve crisis together, build on quality of life for mankind ( mankind and not only select people and countries), recognize potentials and build a platform to parachute 🪂 peoples ideas 💡, encourage one another and find ourselves by learning and understanding who we are, where we are from, respecting our culture without compromising through false pretenses.
    SKT In Focus

  78. Lily

    September 6, 2020 at 12:39 am

    True speech.

  79. Watching the Hawks

    September 6, 2020 at 7:20 am

    Areola cannot wake up Africa because she is brainwashed with foreign religion.

  80. PAULNE UGBIYOBO

    September 6, 2020 at 9:31 pm

    Proud of you girl.

  81. Emmanuel Eugene

    September 7, 2020 at 7:10 am

    I don’t think we are tired. I mean, tired people don’t stay quiet and watch, tired people don’t celebrate this same people that are oppressing them. Anyway, I most recommend you. E GET WHY.

  82. Habeeb Hazeez

    September 7, 2020 at 11:58 am

    Orentation need to be change (Key )
    * post & proudness atitude in Nigeria .
    * New education in social activities will systematically stabilised a correct act. 101%.
    Keep on show young lady, genius eyes on your carrier, if you are not yet bn tosticate corrupt by iluminati media control. Watchout Deola I see abit hope on you.

  83. Homie Homie

    September 8, 2020 at 2:24 pm

    Africa can soar!!!

  84. Homie Homie

    September 8, 2020 at 2:25 pm

    Amazing video

  85. Homie Homie

    September 8, 2020 at 2:29 pm

    Africa is a she?

  86. Ktkt Ktk

    September 8, 2020 at 7:49 pm

    We need each other to build one nation under God. We must stop racial discrimination and stop waiting for God, it start with you first, peace out.

  87. Philip Ihongbe

    September 8, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    Adeola may God protect you.

  88. Oluwa Sunday Destiny

    September 8, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    I want you all to help me thank dr irosi for saving my life, i was diagnosed of HIV and at the same time i was 7 months pregnant, i was confused and i didn’t know what to do until i meant a friend on the Internet who directed me to dr irosi did not believe it until i contacted the good man who was able to help me out of the situation with his herbs, it only cost me some little amount of money to cure my HIV  through the help of dr irosi. So I will also advise anybody that needs help from him should contact him because i know you will also get cured of your disease. Thanks once again dr irosi. Anyone who needs help having the same disease or more should contact him on his email via: drirosisolutioncenter@gmail.com or call/whatsapp him via: +2348118829771

  89. lovelle sokan

    September 9, 2020 at 1:04 am

    Aaah,,Ghana jollof rice.

  90. Bright STAR

    September 10, 2020 at 10:39 am

    Well done

  91. Omolola Oguntade

    September 10, 2020 at 2:08 pm

    Well delivered 👏 👌 👍

  92. Hellen Ch

    September 12, 2020 at 4:05 pm

    Our generations will make it, I’m from Angola and we are waking up sis!

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