tedtalk | TOSINGER'S BLOG

Eight years ago, I wrote a blog post on “Three Nigerian friends and their TEDx Talks worth sharing” little did I know that I will be gracing a TEDx stage myself under monumental circumstances. Monumental because this will be the first ever curated TEDx Women event in Atlanta. Usually for a TED or TEDx event, speakers and performers apply and go through a screening and selection process, so I consider it a divinely destined blessing because on the contrary, I was “discovered” through a social media post comment by TEDx Atlanta curator, Jacqui Chew (Thanks Mark Zuckerberg 🙂 ) and thankfully my brand presence and the work that I’d already put out (Consistency is key) contributed to a positive outcome.

So here I was, in a short time span, I was Jacqui’s answer to her last minute prayer. I joined a formidable and impressive speaker roster of 10, I became number 11, not as a Speaker or a Performing Speaker but as a Performer. Alongside these powerful group of female changemakers, I will inspire an audience through songs, to spread their wings to build a more inclusive and equitable world where girls and women can truly soar.

I chose a fan favorite , “Ile” (Home) and to inspire in line of the theme to “SOAR”, I would close out the event with a “grand finale” performance. I chose to specifically write a song for this purpose titled “Loke Loke” which means “Higher Higher” in my Yoruba language. The video is published here. Grateful to have the musical support of my ABiKE Music duo partner, legendary Bayo Bello on keys and steel pan, a unique addition. Here is our Ile (Home) Performance below, please like and drop a comment. My little intro speech that’s missing is here or scan the QR code below to listen

Thankful for the lovely women I met at this event, the very professional TEDx team and grateful and blessed to be part of making history.
TEDxAtlanta is coming back to the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. When: Friday, Mar 17, 2023
Theme: We, rise. More info here

I am inspired to present to you, my fellow Nigerians who are doing great things, expressing their talents and walking in their callings, in their different spheres of influence in the diaspora. They were recently recognized to give Ted Talks in their respective resident cities.

I have interacted with them over time and I am surely blessed to ‘know’ them. I call them my ‘social media comrades’ and hopefully I believe, Deo Volente, we shall cross paths in real life. Get acquainted, watch and be inspired.

Here’s presenting Yejide Kilanko, Ayokunle Falomo and Kafayat Quadri and their inspirational talks on TedX

Yejide Kilanko – Canada

Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, Yejide Kilanko is a writer of poetry, fiction and a therapist in children’s mental health. A mother and wife, she currently lives with her family in Chatham, Ontario.Yejide’s debut novel, Daughters Who Walk This Path, a national bestseller, was published by Penguin Canada, April 2012 and Pintail Books (Penguin USA) January 2013.

The novel has been translated into German and Thai.In 2012, Yejide was named one of the top five hottest up-and-comers on the Canadian writing scene by the Globe and Mail. Her next book, A Deep and Distant Shore, is forthcoming from Penguin Canada, winter 2015.

www.yejidekilanko.com

Ayokunle Falomo – Houston, Texas

writer. storyteller. dreamer. poet – whose pen is a metaphor for a shovel, to unearth those things that make us: human.

“So, what brought you here?”, or the more direct variant “Why are you here?”, is a question I’ve been asked quite a bit. I’ll attempt to answer that briefly but I’m sure there will be more to talk about. It started with a move here to the United States with my Dad, November of 2007 after the completion of my high school education in Nigeria.I graduated from the University of Houston in the Fall of 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology (minor in Medicine and Society) with the intention of pursuing Clinical Psychology. Life had different plans however. Close to the time of applying for Graduate School, I found out about & switched interests to School Psychology (which I currently pursue at Sam Houston State University). When I’m not doing any Psychology related stuff, I write & perform poems that attempt to answer yet another question “what makes us human?”

| Blog: #ofDreamsAndDeeds
about.me/AFalomo

Kafayat Quadri – Malaysia

Kafayat Quadri started playing guitar at the age of 13 years. Her father, a land surveyor introduced her to the guitar since she was 6 years old. He later bought her a mouth organ which he taught her how to play. He played tunes from Rex Lawson, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and Haruna Ishola on the guitar and mouth organ sometimes accompanied with the talking drum.
Kafayat’s first guitar performance was at her secondary school (FGGC, Shagamu) in 1996 at the school’s Annual Musical Concert…

Kafayat Quadri – Guitarist, Poet, Singer/Songwriter. Connect at https://www.facebook.com/KM.Quadri