Conservation: a love story | Elsaphan Njora

You're listening to Ted Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity

every day.

I'm your host, Elise Hugh.

Today we're taking you on a journey through the vast and beautiful landscape of Kenya.

To ask the question, what if the key to saving nature isn't about science or policy, but

about love?

From the crater in Silali to the spring's Atum Zema, the cool blue waters of Lake Chala

to the sandy beaches of Robinson Island, I am in awe of what this country has to offer.

Multi-hyphenate artist El-Safan Njora has been traveling across his native country for

years, witnessing ecosystems vanish from indigenous forests to sacred lakes.

But he's also seen communities breathing life back into the rivers, forests and coasts

in creative, unexpected ways.

In his talk and performance, supported by guitarist Menace Shalom and singer Kendi Nkonge,

he tells the story of the very real possibility of a world where conservation can flourish alongside

livelihoods.

Because for El-Safan, through love of the land, the people and the world we leave behind,

even the most threatened landscapes can be reborn.

So what is Tekkenasolong?

It's coming up right after a short break.

This podcast is supported in part by Bill, the intelligent finance platform that helps

businesses and accounting firms scale with proven results.

We often talk about the habits and systems that help people do their best work.

For many leaders, that might include building processes that reduce friction and create clarity.

That is exactly why so many finance leaders turn to Bill.

With AI-powered automation, Bill isn't just moving money.

They're simplifying financial operations for nearly half a million customers.

They're even trusted by over 90 of the top 100 US accounting firms to get it right.

That trust is built on scale.

Bill has securely processed over a trillion dollars in real transactions, supporting teams

and handling payables, receivables, and expenses.

When financial tasks are organized and visible, it can free up time and energy to focus on what

matters most.

Whether that's your team, your mission, or your community, visit bill.com slash proven

and get a $250 gift card as a thank you after speaking with a bill expert.

That's bill.com slash proven, terms and conditions apply, see offer page for details.

This episode is brought to you by duck.ai.

AI can be incredibly useful, but sometimes it gives me pause to think that my chats might

be saved somewhere forever.

Between work stuff and embarrassing personal questions, a lot of us share more with AI chat

bots than we realize, and information shouldn't come at the cost of your privacy.

That's why duck.go built duck.ai so you can chat privately with the same AI as you might

already be using like chat GBT or Claude and protect your data from hackers, scammers,

and data-hungry companies.

There's no account required, it's completely free, plus it's from duck.go known for protecting

your data, not collecting it.

So you can chat freely without worrying about your AI conversations getting stored or

exploited.

If you want to use AI without giving up your privacy, visit duck.ai slash talk today.

That's duck.ai slash talk, a private way to chat with AI from duck.go, where AI is

always optional and private.

This episode is brought to you by Bombas.

Lately I've been thinking about the small things that make a big difference in my day.

You know, those upgrades you don't realize you need it until you try them.

That's exactly what happened with Bombas.

I picked up their women's Pima cotton v-neck tea, which is what I own, and now I reach

for it constantly.

Whether I'm recording or just doing school pickup, it works.

Dress it up with a blazer, keep it casual with jeans.

It's that rare piece that adapts to whatever your day throws at you.

And their base layers, just game changing.

The underwear and teas are so soft and breathable, you'll wonder why you settled for anything

less.

Here's the best part.

Every purchase means an essential clothing item goes to someone experiencing housing insecurity.

One purchase equals one donated.

They've already given over 150 million items.

Ready to upgrade your basics?

Head over to bombas.com slash TTD and use code TTD for 20% off your first purchase.

It's B-O-M-B-A-S dot com slash TTD, code TTD, check out.

And now our TED talk of the day.

For the last three and a half years, I have traveled more than I have ever done in all

my years.

I have interacted with cultures, landscapes and legends across the land.

And I've been enriched by these vast experiences that I'm so fortunate to have.

So much so that some of my songs are starting to sound like travel journals.

His safari in Yama Penzi means this journey is of love.

From the crater in Silali to the spring's Atum Zima, the cool blue waters of Lake Chala

to the sandy beaches of Robinson Island.

The waterfalls are through Scebe to the island of Sumba.

The small elephants of Abadehas to the Giants in Ambocelli.

The sometimes feisty buffaloes of Mount Kilimanbogo to the Lilac breasted roller in the

plains.

The rivers, the valleys, the people.

I am in awe of what this country has to offer.

This wealth, this beauty is meant to be shared.

It is meant to be passed on.

After all, we too found it here.

And we are direct beneficiaries of their intentional or accidental conservation efforts of the past.

The question is, what shall we leave for

those who are coming after us?

Allow me to take you on a journey.

Let us start in a county called Nyahururu.

In a peculiar water body called Lake Olbollosat, which is both a salty and fresh water lake.

It is possible that one day we might not have it anymore.

Delaying to take measures to curb cultivation around riparian land near the lake will most

certainly lead to its destruction.

And in a few years' time, it might as well never have existed.

But a lake is not just a lake, Ayah.

Now let's go to Machako's county.

The land of the long-distance traders, the flat landscape of enchantment and the crescendo

music lovers.

The home of the great sea who prophesied the coming of the British.

And once home to a vast indigenous forest whose remnants can be found at Kei Makimoe, which

means one hill.

There, at the sacred hill of the Akamba, you'll see those evidence that this was a vast

forest.

However, Machako's today stands in contrast to what our ancestors once called home.

The 50 forest station has transformed a large section of it into a semi-arid expanse

where water is scarce.

Now the forests and the legends and the stories might as well never have existed.

But a forest is not just a forest.

These are ecosystems that support a great number of species from birds, land animals, fish,

insects, plants, some of which are endemic to the area and serve as nature's order in

the great equation of balance.

The very same balance that we are here to discuss.

But our farmers need land to till and we need wood, don't we?

But pause.

This is not a piece to patronize.

Instead, it's to paint a picture of perhaps what could be possible if we took action and

to bear the news of the efforts that have been taken so far.

The proverbial, what if, but now with a motive to reconsider, reconfigure and recruit?

What if there is another way to go about it?

What if there is another way to coexist with nature, make a living and leave an inheritance

for those who are coming after us?

Let us go to Kilific County, right next to the Indian Ocean, somewhere at the shores

of Watamut.

Stan's a testament of what could be if we re-imagined conservation.

A group called the Basel through research and collaboration began planting mangroves 20

years ago in an effort to conserve 20 years of insults and ridicule, doubts and second

thoughts, but now the shores breathe more life into the world and give better sanctuary

for sea life.

And an establishment called Krabshak Hotel stands as a tourist attraction, a pillar of

conservation and commerce, margin, nature, community and profit in an eco-friendly existence.

And back in Machakos, they are making better use of the land and they are repopulating

their indigenous seedlings.

With the efforts of the conservationist, we might just see the return of the trees of

old.

And at Lake Paul Bollosa, they are resettling the farmers and they are saving the lake.

It is no longer a thing of what if it's a possibility.

We can save our ecosystems, our species and our futures.

We can.

The evidence is clear across the world.

So what is taking us so long?

I've never understood why it takes so much effort to do what we know we need to do.

Maybe it is a human condition to procrastinate until it is too late in order to catch that

edge, that elusive high of uncertainty thinking we have some kind of control.

Only problem is there is no control.

However, I believe that if we such deep inside for something bigger, something bigger than

ourselves, then we light a fire that can take us all the way to a better world.

Now, I'm no expert, but I believe that the core of conservation is love.

Love for the land, love for the people of the land and most importantly, love for those

who will come after us.

And with this, I think we can find a way to work together in a manner that will benefit

nature and community in a manner that will give honor and dignity.

And so this journey has to be a journey of love.

And while that may take longer, the effects are profound and far reaching enough to keep

the world breathing.

Finally, let me complete this journey with imagination.

I will ask you to indulge me, close your eyes.

I want you to envision that place that you want transformed.

Do you have it?

You have it?

So I want us to take this journey together.

On the count of three, I want you to say it out loud.

One, two, three.

Here's my hand, take me now, don't resist, don't ask me how.

I'm on fire for you, I'm on fire, I'm on fire for you, I'm on fire, I'm on fire,

I'm on fire for you, I'm on fire.

That was El Safan Jorah with Monase Shalom and singer Kendi Kongay at the Ted Countdown

Summit in Nairobi, Kenya in 2025.

If you're curious about Ted's curation, find out more at Ted.com slash curation guidelines.

And that's it for today, Ted Talks Daily is part of the Ted Audio Collective.

This talk was fact checked by the Ted Research Team and produced and edited by our team,

Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Green, Lucy Little, and Tonsaka Sungmar Nivong.

This episode was mixed by Lucy Little, additional support from Emma Tobner and Danielle Balorezo.

I'm Elise Hugh, I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feet.

Thanks for listening.

This episode is brought to you by Bondwell B-Strow Bowls.

We often explore how to optimize our brains and our collective future, but we often neglect

the very fuel that gets us through the hour.

According to Bondwell's research, most people spend less than 25 minutes on their entire

lunch, including the stress of actually deciding what to eat.

And for the desk workers among us, over half rarely take a break at all, eating right

over our keyboards.

We want healthy options and high protein with zero prep, but finding that intersection

can feel like it's own full-time job.

That's where Bondwell B-Strow Bowls come in.

They are these chef-crafted plant-rich salad bowls designed to be a desk-friendly lunch

that actually tastes like a real break.

Repacked with fresh ingredients, craveable dressings, and crucially for those of us on

the go, they're ready to eat with a fork included.

It's a flexible, delicious way to fuel your momentum, no matter what the day's big idea

happens to be.

Find Bondwell B-Strow Bowls at your local retailer and learn more at bistrobowls.us.

Eat well?

Be well.

Bondwell.

With no fees or minimums on checking accounts, it's no wonder the Capital One Bank guy is

so passionate about banking with Capital One.

If he were here, he wouldn't just tell you about no fees or minimums.

He'd also talk about how most Capital One cafes are open seven days a week to assist

with your banking needs.

Yep.

Even on weekends, it's pretty much all he talks about.

In a good way.

What's in your wallet?

There's one place for the newest drops in wellness and performance and the biggest sale

of the year.

It's the drop by GNC, curating the best of what's new, handpicked by the pros who know what

works.

And right now, get it all by one, get 150% off during the semi-annual live-well sale.

From crushing workouts to leveling up to nutrition and everything in between, get the best deals

on the latest innovations.

All the newness is all on sale right now during the live-well sale on the drop by GNC.