Ideas worth spreading

Telling stories from Africa

788,406 views | Chris Abani • TEDGlobal 2007

In this deeply personal talk, Nigerian writer Chris Abani says that "what we know about how to be who we are" comes from stories. He searches for the heart of Africa through its poems and narrative, including his own.

In this deeply personal talk, Nigerian writer Chris Abani says that "what we know about how to be who we are" comes from stories. He searches for the heart of Africa through its poems and narrative, including his own.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

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Imprisoned three times by the Nigerian government, Chris Abani turned his experience into poems that Harold Pinter called "the most naked, harrowing expression of prison life and political torture imaginable." His novels include GraceLand (2004) and The Virgin of Flames (2007).

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.