At the heart of Johannesburg’s stylish Melrose Arch, the Festival of Entrepreneurs gathered forward-thinkers, trailblazers, visionaries, financiers and entrepreneurs under one roof at the sleek and sophisticated Marriott Hotel. This annual gathering wasn’t just a networking event; it was a powerful forum where conversations carried weight and insight sparked action.
Among the standout voices from a panel discussion was Shawn Godfrey of LED Lighting whose reflections on China’s transformation and Africa’s potential brought a rare mix of realism, urgency, and hope. Their words cut through the usual noise, challenging the audience of entrepreneurs and funders to rethink how we approach energy, innovation, and self-reliance on this rich continent of Africa.
“One of the things that amazed me was when I was in China about five years ago. Just before COVID, I was in Shanghai and it was smoggy – it was dirty and quite a shock. I went back a month ago, and the city center was clean. There was no smoke, and I didn’t hear a single petrol or diesel car. What stood out to me was how much had changed in legislation. The advancement of using energy correctly was being controlled through progressive legislation.
You can see how, with the advancement of the Chinese economy, they’re on the brink of an energy crisis – unless they control what they already have first. But what I saw was proactive change, and it wasn’t just a gradual transition. Five years ago, it was a smoggy, diesel-fueled city. Now, we counted only four cars with engines as we moved through a city housing over 44 million people in the greater area.
The key takeaway is that their success started with fast, progressive legislation and the efficient use of existing resources. Instead of constantly trying to seek new answers externally, they used what they had as a foundation.
And that made me realize something else – we, as Africans, have become too obsessed with seeking solutions internationally. I don’t believe that’s necessary. We need to stand tall, stand proud, and recognize that we already have the answers internally. Too often, we go overseas to find out what others are doing, only to bring it back here, take 80% of what they’re doing, and brand it as our own.
But I think we should be doing the total opposite. We should be creating 80% of the solution here, and only learning 20% from what was done overseas.
If there’s one thing I want to advocate for, it’s finding proud solutions in Africa – and not being so obsessed with finding them elsewhere.” – Godfrey Paul Shawn, CEO at LED Lighting SA.
The Festival of Entrepreneurs offered a powerful reminder: Africa is not short on answers; we’re short on confidence in our own
The speaker’s reflections from the panel were more than a critique but a call to action. In a world where importing ideas often overshadows homegrown innovation, the Festival of Entrepreneurs offered a powerful reminder: Africa is not short on answers; we’re short on confidence in our own.
As the conversation around African solutions grows louder, platforms like this festival continue to elevate those bold enough to say, “We already have what we need.” The only thing left is to act on it.
