by Hannah Woodard

I was listening recently to an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air with Walter Isaacson, the writer of Steve Jobs’ biography. Jobs was obsessive about excellent craftsmanship, inside and out. Even the screws in the curcuit board had to have the perfect curves, be the exact shade of the right color. Terry Gross asked Isaacson if this sort of thing drove his team crazy.

“It drove them crazy but they became very loyal….they realized that they were producing, with other A players, truly great products…” -WALTER ISAACSON ON STEVE JOBS

That was dignity that they were feeling.  Creating truly great products with excellent craftsmanship usually results in the creation of respect and dignity.

Africa’s artisans (many of whom have been practicing skills that are ingrained in their tribes’ cultures from centuries ago) have what it takes to create truly great products.

The rest of the world often doesn’t expect this of them. Many craftsmen are left making higher quantities of products and not utilizing their skills to their greatest extent. These products are sold at a low price and there is little dignity or fulfillment involved.

What if the world expected of countries in Africa what it expects of countries like Italy, France, the United States (among many others)?

Something as small as changing one’s mentality toward Africa and her people could create a world of difference. Not instant difference, of course; great things take time. But I ask you; keep this in mind and see what comes out of Africa in the coming years.