Thinking, done in public.
Four strands. Written to be understood on the first reading, by people whose English is a second or third language, because that is most of this continent.
01 / The strands
Stories
Deep profiles of people making history. Not an introduction to somebody impressive. An examination of what they did, what it cost, and what failed on the way.
Essays
Arguments about Africa's future, institutions and possibility. Including arguments we may turn out to be wrong about, which is why they are published under a date.
Conversations
Long-form interviews, recorded and published close to whole. The edit is the article. The recording and the transcript enter the record.
Next
People who may shape Africa's future before anybody has recognised them. The strand that proves this institution is looking ahead rather than only recording success.
02 / Published
03 piecesWhat got Africa here will not get Africa there
The liberation generation solved the problem in front of them, and solved it well. The problem in front of this generation is different, and some of the qualities that were correct for the first task become damaging in the second.
People, not leaders
Why this institution refuses the word almost everybody else in the field uses, and what changes the moment you stop looking for leaders and start looking for people.
Why there is no list yet
Africa does not need another hundred most influential people. It needs somebody to do the work properly first. What would have to be true before a number is worth printing.
The first Stories and the first Conversations are being recorded now. They are not here yet because a profile written from a website is not a profile, and we would rather this page look short than look padded. If you know somebody who belongs in the record, nominate them.
The letter.
New writing, new records, and the moment the Fellowship opens. Sent when there is something worth sending and not before.