VOF Week 1: (DiD yOu KnOw ThAt… I kNoW tHat!)

Did you know that
In 10 years it is predicted the number 1 English speaking country in the world will be China.

I know that
In many languages including mine Akamba and Swahili, meaning is lost when ideas, expressions, cultures are translated into another language. There are some things that can only be said and expressed in the native language! So what information will we be communicating on the internet? will this information be less rich in ideas, expressions, culture. Web 2.0 does not discriminate it’s not an English only! it allows me to express myself in whatever language I am comfortable with.

Did you know that
It took 38 years for the newspaper to reach a market audience of 50 million people
" 13 years for the TV to reach a market audience of 50 million people
" 4 years for the internet to reach a market audience of 50 million people

I know that
I am one of the 50 million people Newspaper, Tv and the Internet have reached. But with what type of information how not to look fat! how to look beautiful with long blonde hair! Paris Hiltons dog died!.. how does this help me if I live in a country with weather and soil that can grow rich organic food so I don’t need to worry about looking fat! I am African and it is impossible for me to ever have long blonde hair! And the dog died! I really can relate with this information see…. Web 2.0 allows me to join groups and communities in an area of common interest where we share and support one another .For example I am a member of www.nappturality .com and natural hair group on facebook. These groups were created by women they are a movement seeking to encourage African women to accept their natural hair and not to conform to the “white lye” hair relaxers. Here’s an interesting article all African women should read this http://www.nappturality.com/modules/wfsection/index.php?articleid=55

Did you know that
There were more than 137 billion searches on Google last year
To whom were those questions directed to before Google?

I know that
Before G these questions were directed to elders & certain women and men of the village whose areas of specialty determined what questions were directed to them. I find it interesting that a lot of people learnt to speak their mother tongue in Africa, without reading a book or writing in this language. But they can effectively communicate in this language. The reason is that in African culture the medium of transmitting information was oral or through artistic expressions for example the patterns you find on beads they have meaning. Web 2.0 still allows me to capture this wisdom and share it to the world in video without loosing too much culture. And with the fiber optic cables set to reach my country by June this year I can download, and live stream video at ease.

Inspired by did you know that!

Join the African hair group Read Know and Pass this On!