“Made in Africa” - The Power of Shifting Perceptions | Abai Schulze | TEDxNashville

Abai Schulze urges us to see and capture the economic potential of the continent of Africa through its entrepreneurs. Africa cannot be “saved” through charity. But we can partner with, inspire, co-create and liberate the beautiful patchwork of human creativity and ambition across the great continent. She shares her own inspiring journey of establishing a high-end lifestyle and fashion brand, ZAAF in Ethiopia. Abai Schulze is the Founder and Creative Director of ZAAF. Her life journey has taken her from an orphanage in Addis Ababa to the United States, all over the world, and back to Ethiopia. She is part of a new wave of creative entrepreneurs who are redefining “brand Ethiopia” with her company, ZAAF, which produces premium leather goods and accessories all handcrafted by highly skilled artisans in Ethiopia. ZAAF was conceived with the goal of creating new economic opportunities by leveraging local resources, and its creativity has been widely recognized, ranging from appearing on runways at New York Fashion Week, to being featured in international high fashion magazines. Abai Schulze was the recipient of the 2014 UNESCO Tremplin Prize for Entrepreneurship. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@michaelspitler]

Agreed, when we expect less from developing countries, we actually perpetuate poverty. Great talk!

[@theoisback]

Michael Spitler indeed

[@spadeysay6846]

It depends on what you mean by "LESS".

[@MrTHEMONEEMAKER]

So they lack confidence?

[@vincelobulu4681]

3:19 - 'There is no major difference in potential; only a difference in circumstances'.

[@GWOSAPAT]

Went to Ethiopia and fell in love with the place. I will be back

[@oktofio9690]

She is wonderful...

[@avigrett1484]

I tuned in because she was beautiful. I wasn’t disappointed. She has everything.

[@bnkakl]

i just saw the photoshoot video and this was next in line. was really amazing to hear your story and what you set out to achieve. its inspiring your journey. congratulations and wishing you the very best abai

[@vincelobulu4681]

Same here.

[@kingnarhmusic]

That docu was eye-opening

[@girmamogus9887]

So inspiring speech! You are the example of ask not what your Country can do for you but what you can do for your Country!!!

[@addisabeba2322]

I'm so proud of you abai I will buy your bags for my mom and older sisters

[@MyestriousGamerWastaken]

Yes, her life is a testimonial for the reality of tremendous potential in the youth population of developing nations despite the circumstances surrounding them.

[@jzk2020]

Bless her soul. We need 10000000000000x more people like her.

[@MariaLopez-gb5tg]

videos like this don't get enough views , only justin bieber's songs or ariana Grande's tour matter , how lame

[@noelngowitechnicalsolution]

True Maria Lopez we Africans like to get out of poverty but don't want to discuss serious issues

[@luzmairaparra3619]

Wow! What a great and inspirational talk. For anyone who wants to be a parent to consider adoption, for parents to let children dreams and for all of us to never stop thinking there are possibilities and how a shifting of actions can change the world

[@aliamede8218]

I appreciated your perception is changed in to great creative. your products are very important for you and your country Ethiopia for development. thanks with respectfully.

[@liseyassanchase4395]

What a beautiful and intelligent person. I am proud of you little sister.

[@octaviasithole3621]

I think of the Beautiful buildings in addis Ababa and the African Union headquarters. I think of the ancient history and civilization of Ethiopia. I think of the beautiful people, cultures and tribes. I think of the obelisk of Axum that was stolen by the Italians and now has been returned. I think of Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia 🇪🇹 defeated the Italians. I think of the news coverage of Ethiopia. I think of Ethiopian Somali war... i think of many things🇪🇹🇪🇹🇪🇹

[@o.haunaa]

This made me cry. What a beautiful way to describe our home land

[@mimika3465]

THANK YOU!!!

[@katlehomoloi6322]

In South Africa we call such women "Imbokodo" amandlaa✊✊💯

[@kennethwhite8045]

You South Africans need to stop name calling everyone.

[@Tosh2001]

@@kennethwhite8045 it's not an insult, it's just a name in the language. Do you even know what that means?

[@Tosh2001]

Awethu!!! ✊🏾

[@kedistayalew8843]

Great presentation! Great accomplishment Abai! I shared this video to family and friends.

[@yohannesmazeingia4266]

Good Job Abai. Very inspiring and true. I know the challenges of starting and running a business in Ethiopia. Bravo again. Wish you much success and Blessings.

[@ZAAFcollection2014]

Thank you!

[@ethio-sol8188]

Great speech & great products. Thank you Abai!

[@haymanotnegeri4094]

You are super star Abaiiii

[@destinyhouse-tilda]

you are speaking my languge on the issues of productivity vis a vis- who or where it is produced- determines the value.

[@abrahamtesfai4941]

Self-reliance-&-Never-kneel-Down-should-be-the-key-to-success.-Charity-&-handouts-cripple-your-body-&-vitiate-your-mind.----Abai,-proud-of-you.-keep-up-the-good-work.-Friend-from-Asmara.

[@zeed7938]

thank you its an eye opener

[@user-or4jp4ot5t]

Wow Amazing Abai, very inspirational!!!

[@onedeenonly]

Powerful message and beautifully conveyed. A concept that can transform Africa from being the breadbasket for the rest of the world to being the breadbasket to the rest of the world. Turning to table!

[@DuckHomieChronicals]

Motivational u have inspired me thank you.

[@davidchappelle9023]

Great talk

[@Knowledgeably2023]

When I think of Ethiopia, I think of the only African country that was never colonised; a country filled with beautiful people; a country hosting world class athletes...

[@benjaminlamptey1867]

I hope Jabari of @FromNothingYT gets called for a TED talk soon, that guy is doing some amazing work.

[@wellbodisalone]

Such an inspirational video!

[@ugoernest3790]

❤❤❤

[@spadeysay6846]

The narrative that Africa is poor is one that the western colonisers of the past and the present perpetuate, ironically and in fact purposefully, to keep it poor. The African continent is endowed with enormous and almost unlimited natural and human resources. But it is the African peoples who are poor, not their countries. What their former colonisers has looted and what their current colonisers is continuing to plunder from their countries, both in natural and human resources, are what kept them poor. Were it not for the wealth that the west has sucked out of Africa and the rest of the colonised, it would be the west who would be the 3rd world countries. Not those of Africa, West Asia, Asia or those of Latin America.

[@kalkidanaklilu1804]

Very inspiring

[@Perfectl90l]

Abai i still do not no why people still address poverty wrongly If i were to speak about it i will say poverty came as a condition of inheritance It wasnt willing for poeple to be poor but unfortunately they were either born into it or led to it

[@luciantambo1911]

Well said

[@AbayMovies]

Well Done!

[@addisabeba2322]

Hey can you post the link i can get the bag

[@ashokkumar-ig1qw]

I am from Hyderabad India

[@ashokkumar-ig1qw]

Can I get a pass of your next show

[@aboubakarbalde8673]

Bonita Africana forca Africa

[@nnajimiller2506]

This is the same thin that's happening in Nigeria

[@ashokkumar-ig1qw]

Hey

[@BEst-tn4ir]

ashok kumar hey? You can go to the company website and email your business inquires.

[@francisaisagbonhi2860]

Still it is easy to blame the west....if Africa luxury product consumers will not value made in Africa products this trend will continue.... however let's not be deterred .

[@barcup4eva]

Yeah yeah yeah yakitty shmakitty. Fit bird though

[@yeabseratibebu5708]

I live in Ethiopia and I have a passion for designing (showing how beautiful my country is), hit me up if you can

[@tiibbo]

What a self serving talk. There is no link between your overpriced bags to support your lifestyle and poverty and aid. Aid is for those living in poverty. I understand the image of poverty in Ethiopia hurts your luxury brand. Unfortunately that is the reality for the country. Increasingly so now with businesses like you perpetuating the wealth gap. Spare us this lecture.

[@benjaminlamptey1867]

are you from Ethiopia? Or have you been there?How did you arrive at these conclusions?

[@tiibbo]

@@benjaminlamptey1867 born and raised

[@tiibbo]

@@Volcanic_Eruption what is your point?

[@TheBeccasol1]

I wonder what you are doing to contribute to improving what you seem to deem a doomed reality for Ethiopia? If you are doing something then thank you for your part- but why not show support for your fellow Ethiopian who has been gifted with the means to better what she is capable of bettering? If you aren’t actually doing something personally, then I urge you to take a step back and ask yourself why you have a need to spew negativity on someone else’s successful dream. Dream a little man. If you doom Ethiopia and its creative people in your mind, then so it is in your reality forever. you won’t get to enjoy the blessings and beauty that coexist on the other side of the wall you’ve built around you. I see this in a lot of our people who have many bitter opinions but zero ideas for solution. The whole point of this talk is to change perceptions. Here’s your opportunity. “Semāy lete’kema’ch k’irbu newu”.

[@avigrett1484]

I tuned in because she was beautiful. I wasn’t disappointed. She has everything.