#42 - An insight into Okendo Lewis-Gayle, the man behind the steady success of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance

Today, as I'm preparing a blogpost for the Youth Hub Africa, I thought of no other person to inspire me than Mr Okendo Lewis-Gayle, President/Chairman of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance. I went back into my archived messages in my gmail, and found this treasure trove of empowering, challenging and uplifting messages written by Okendo, to the members of the alliance.As I was reinspired by his challenging words and call to action, I had the urge to share this insight into the man behind the steady success of the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, to the world wide web. Read 2 excerpts of Mr Lewis-Gayle's speeches: The one before the first ever Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium, and the one after the latest Fourth Annual Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium. The spirit of Harambe is ever present in both speeches, yet the message goes beyond our fellow Harambeans, it's a universal message, addressed to all who seek to have an impact in this world and to make a change. So read on, and be inspired to action!

Sent: (Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 6:27 PM)
Before the first Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium

Hello Harambe

The Roman author,Virgil, in his narration of the epic war between the Trojans and the Latins for control of Italy, the Aeneid, provided us with an insight into what seems to be a universal law of the human experience, ¨Audentes¨  he wrote ¨fortuna iuvat.¨

This hackneyed Latin quote is often translated into Fortune favors the bold, but as an alum of Julius Cesar High School, in Rome,  Italy and a scholar of the Ancient World, I am familiar with the relish for nuances that  both Greek and Roman authors had, and as such I must correct the record and state that a closer construction of Virgil´s words would be Fortune favors those who act boldly, those who dare.

A small yet significant difference. In my pursuit of the Harambe Trail, I have managed to meet many of you, and entertained revealing discussions about the reasons behind your decision to join such promising, hopeful yet uncertain Endeavor. In the process I have come to appreciate the diversity of our group, not only in the modern understanding of diversity, black, white, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, men and women, we have it all, but in terms of character. Some of you seem to meet the text book definition of leadership:  driven, determined and unafraid; others are quiet, unassuming and hesitant, others yet seem to straddle the slippery fence between audacity and undying caution.

All of us, the ones who have chosen to persevere because and in spite of the odds, the ones who have sacrificed time, opportunities and countless more, the ones who have chosen to believe in a brighter vision for Africa that is not yet here, all of us have acted boldly, all of us have dared.

As such we are the Audentes that Virgil speaks of, not because we were born bold, not because we think we are bold, but because we have acted boldly.

Prince, Taf, Brian, and I have lived by this law since the inception of our unlikely Endeavor. It is the law that enabled us to prove unfounded the remarks of those who said that no one would join our Endeavor, that no one would seriously commit, that the Mount Washington Resort would never agree to hosting our Symposium free of charge, that Dartmouth College would not welcome our group, that the African Union Ambassador would never endorse us, that the State Department would never open up the US Embassies and the list continues.

It  is my profound conviction, from both my experience and my historical review of the human experience that this same law will takes us on a ten country tour, will implement Harambe Incubators and will inspire our continent into action.

Yet I know that this will only occur if we continue to dare, continue to act boldly and continue to believe in our vision for a prosperous Africa. So while we may pause and recognize our accomplishments, we should not fall victims to the illusion that the job is done, for as I am fond of saying just like wisdom without courage and leadership without followers are futile exercises, so too  is courage or boldness without action.

All this to say thank you my fellow Audentes, and as we enter a critical stage in the implementation of the Harambe Incubators, let us not forget that we will be judged by the quality and success of our action, as such please continue to work closely with the Admin Team, your team mates and the incoming Harambe Fellows so that together we can prove unfounded all those who still say ¨it can´t be done.¨

Ad Maiora!!!

Okendo Lewis Gayle

President Harambe Endeavor

www.Hendeavor.org

HARAMBE BRETTON WOODS SYMPOSIUM
'Where Ideas and Action Meet'
April 18th-20th 2008

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Sent: (Thu, Mar 27, 2008 at 6:27 PM)
After the fourth Harambe Bretton Woods Symposium 

... my hope is that Harambe pragmatism has managed to convince you that where Africa stands 10 or 20 years from now largely depends on the choices we make and the actions we take today. 

While I am glad that many of you established new friendships and acquaintances during our time together, our gathering will have been a failure if you simply stopped at that. For a week ago, you chose to take responsibility for the continent's destiny, you chose to step out of the comfort and safety of the armchair and boldly declared your intention "to work together as one to unleash the potential of Africa’s people, pursue the social, political and economic development of our continent and fulfill the dream of our generation." (Harambe Bretton Woods Declaration)

Harambe has no legal recourse nor intention to enforce the principles of our Declaration. This is not an agreement between you and HEA but rather a personal pledge that you have made to Africa. Conscience not courts will enforce the moral dictates of last weekend's commitment.

If the promise of the future is not realized, if the riches of the land do not translate into lasting social, political and economic gains for its people, if yet another opportunity is squandered then we will have no one but ourselves to blame. Some may be able to single out poor leadership on the continent as the culprit. Others may accuse predatory and unscrupulous investors. Yet others may say "I did the best I could for myself and my family." 

But Harambeans, those of us who are "conscious of the painful lessons learned by preceding generations; aware of the toils and sacrifices of the few; cognizant of the daunting challenges that face a continent," (HBWD) will not be allowed to pass the buck, and kick the can down the road. Instead we will be haunted by regrets and introspection: "Did I do enough? Could I have prevented or fixed the problem? Was I too naive or selfish?"

This, my fellow-Harambeans, is what our time together was all about. Last Sunday did not mark the end of the Harambe experience, but the beginning of a collective journey. Neither Harambe or any Harambean will dictate which path you ought to take. We all trust that you are best positioned to determine your own trajectory. But we all expect you to find it and take it, and while you may choose your own vehicle and speed direct engagement, not lip service, is all that counts.

Please forgive me, if this is not the reassuring and upbeat message you would like to hear from me right now. But I hope you will see it as my effort to ensure that our time together is not perceived as an extravagant waste of time and money, but a transformative moment for each and everyone of us. 

(Inside the Bretton Woods Symposium photos :
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.565260691172.2068454.29103130)

Bold and immediate action is what is required of us. The time for procrastination and gradualism is over. Now we must act. 

For those of you who dare to act, those of you who heed the creed Fortuna Audentes Iuvat, please know that HEA will be a steady and reliable partner. Your local banks may deem you too risky. Your government may be skeptical and your family may think you are crazy. But to Harambe you are Africa's most valuable resource and we are committed to ensure that the Audentes among us, receive the support necessary to translate ideas into action. 

As you know Harambe is a work in progress, but if history is any guide, and I have my way, financial groups will step over each other to fund your initiatives. African presidents and governments will wine and dine you for your attention and your peers will celebrate you as role models of effective action and paragons of sacrifice and enlightened altruism.  

If it sounds bold and crazy, it is because I am. But this is my personal commitment to those of you who dare to act. One I am glad to be held accountable for. Think of it as Harambe Audentes Iuvat, an evergreen oasis of opportunity for young and enterprising Africans committed to the development of the continent. 

... I have attached to this note the signature page of the HBWD and our group picture. In the times of restless solitude and desparing disappointment that will surely come, please remember your commitment and the words of our declaration: "Yet, in the end, the Africa our generation desires can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it is ours." 

Thank you all for your time, best of luck with your initiatives and look forward to our continued work together. 

Hendeavor on!!!

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About Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance

The Fourth Annual Symposium