"Our partnership with TED brings together creative energy and distinct aesthetic. In recent years, Cape Town has shifted its focus to making the city more sustainable, encouraging citizens to innovate while maintaining its rich heritage. Hosting our first TED Fellows Salon is an opportunity for us to spark intellectual conversations and inspire new perspectives for our guests," said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President Premium & Select Brands, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.
Steve Boyes who explores, protects and restores some of the most remote wildernesses in Africa recently established two of the largest protected areas in sub-Saharan Africa amounting to twice the size of England. A trained ornithologist, he is the executive director of the Wild Bird Trust and a Fellow at the National Geographic Society.
During Boyes’ address, he spoke on his experiences traversing the waters of the Okavango Delta, the relationships he had built with local inhabitants and his sometimes terrifying encounters with wildlife. He also highlighted the importance of conservation, insisting that the world is at a critical stage and compelling the audience to act against the further loss of wilderness.
Sharing the spotlight with Boyes was Kenyan producer and musician, TED fellow Bill "Blinky" Sellanga. Sellanga performed two live numbers for the audience, sharing the story of his career as a musician and insights from his experiences as a musician. He spoke about his love for South Africa, and how it compared to the culture of his home country.
The event was attended by thought leaders, innovators, members of the recently launched travel platform, Marriott Bonvoy and media.
The Cape Town edition is the third TED Fellows Salon to be held within Middle East and Africa with two previous ones being held at Cairo and Abu Dhabi.
