Hello Readers,
One week post-interview with Dr. John Campbell, The Liger nears 200 new subscribers, thanks to his support. Grateful to Dr. Campbell’s subscribers for their support, questions, and subscriptions, and to Dr. Campbell for generously helping Wefwafwa and I grow through a new medium. Welcome all from his channel!
Picture this: You’re sitting at home, sipping coffee from your favorite mug. There are a few small projects you’re working on around your house, and you probably need to tidy up. Overall, you’re relaxed and content with your home. The problems in your life are manageable, and you’ll get to them in your own time. You might even mutter under your breath, “I could use some help with this,”—suddenly, an entourage of people swarm your home with cameras dangling around their necks.
In a burst of rage, you barely put your mug down before your coffee table is switched out with a different one—in fact, everything but the kitchen sink is swapped out. The flashing of cameras and group photos is nauseating. They all talk in a language you don’t understand, and one says slowly, “We’re here to help!” in your own language.
Then, as quickly as they arrived—they left without a trace. Things are left unfinished with vague instructions to follow. New appliances are difficult to use and easier to break. If you tried, you couldn’t navigate your new home with the lights off. Everything feels different; your framed artwork is replaced with abstract pieces. After some time, you slowly adjust, but every sip of coffee tastes different. You feel like your old identity was stolen but never left your home. What is this feeling?
Let’s talk about it.
In the United States, silicon technology (silicon tech) calls attention to the culture surrounding its cutting-edge tech industry. The phrase grew from 'Silicon Valley,' located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Don Hoefler coined the term in the early 1970s in his article 'Silicon Valley U.S.A.' Technology companies were snowballing in this area during his time. The term became synonymous with the culture surrounding silicon-based semiconductor companies and startups.
The culture of silicon tech is not unique to the United States. For example, in Israel, a prominent technology hub in and around Tel Aviv is often called 'Silicon Wadi.' 'Silicon Wadi' is modeled after 'Silicon Valley,' with 'wadi' meaning 'valley' in Arabic. 'Silicon Wadi' refers to the broader tech industry across Israel and not only the hub in Tel Aviv. Silicon tech covers a wide range of silicon-based semiconductor devices and companies outside the United States.
Technology grows in different contexts and settings worldwide. Each country, community, and person has a different experience with technology. In some parts of the world, like in the United States, technology mainly refers to silicon tech. In other parts of the world, it denotes tools and systems designed to simplify life. Technology is not superior in some regions and inferior in others. Each country has different needs that require different technologies to meet those needs.
If you live in the United States, you're likely using phones, tablets, and computers to read this. Silicon tech is tied to our daily lives. It feels impossible to separate our social, work, and entertainment needs from it. There are still plenty of people who aren't using silicon tech. It is far from a shared universal experience. It isn't the accepted 'normal' or 'superior' form of technology. It is only necessary for people concerned with using it. Silicon tech is one form of technology worldwide. There are millions of forms of technology used in different contexts and settings. Technology is unique to the people and culture concerned with using it.
Technology in one culture is not superior to another. Each country, community, and person uses technology highly personally. It doesn't always translate across cultural borders directly. What works in the United States does not apply to a country like Uganda. United States silicon tech is highly intricate, driven by intense market competition, and rapidly advancing. Aspects of American culture like consumerism feed into the value of the tech market. Silicon Valley is critical in innovation, employment, and economic growth in the U.S.
Wefwafwa Andrew, a medical clinical officer in Uganda, runs the Buwanga Way to Health Foundation. It is a Ugandan government-recognized NGO. He produces content for his 12.5K YouTube subscribers on his channel, 'Wefwafwa Andrew's Medical Videos.' Most people in his community do not have smart phones or are unfamiliar with the iPhone. The iPhone costs millions in Uganda shillings. Rarely do stores sell them. People in Uganda who use phones utilize cash apps like Sendwave, MTN Mobile Money, WorldRemit, and others. Wefwafwa owns a $300 Android phone called the Tecno Camon 18. The day-to-day lifestyle of people in Wefwafwa's community doesn't use silicon tech.
Infrastructural technology in Uganda is more varied and nuanced. For instance, the Bujagali Hydroelectric Power Station is operated by Bujagali Energy Limited in Jinja, Uganda. It acts as a significant power producer in Uganda. It contributes to 31% of Uganda's energy capacity. The station is aimed to provide 50% of Uganda's total electric power demand, alleviating energy shortages and contributing to sustainable growth. The station provides power through above-ground lines to the Eastern regions of Uganda where Wefwafwa's community lives. When it rains, his community loses power. It also provides power to Western areas of Kenya.
Agricultural technology methods like intercropping, leguminous nitrogen fixation, and milling services offer advantages to local community needs for Wefwafwa's village.
One recent project Wefwafwa fundraised and built was a milling house. A building aimed at milling maize into flour for cooking. It provided jobs and offset high food prices for the community. Another project funded by Sean Roberti from the United Kingdom is the Skills Center. It provides employment and textile training to sell clothes and other cloth materials. It will also double as a venue for a local Ugandan artist to be employed as a full-time artisan.
Importing silicon tech is problematic. Communities and cultures are sensitive to foreign technology when they don’t appropriately meet their needs. This means bringing the iPhone to Uganda isn’t appropriate for their needs. Bringing agricultural techniques that improve the soil or take advantage of the landscape, like intercropping, does meet their needs. Differentiating between what is appropriate and inappropriate is not tricky. However, it is the most common mistake made by foreign aid efforts.
Intervening with imported solutions for local needs or problems should only be considered when local resources are unavailable or unfit to meet the demand. Importing foreign technology is rarely the answer. Local resources, experts, and professionals are usually enough to solve a problem. The mill house hired local mill workers. The machines were built and maintained by a local engineer. Intercropping is completed by local farmers. Wefwafwa is a regional medical clinical officer. Patients see Ugandan healthcare professionals.
Technology is culturally sensitive, and importing silicon tech is not a viable option. There are exceptions when silicon tech is essential. Typically, when local resources fail to meet a need. An example is when Wefwafwa’s community lacked a microscope. Medical-grade microscopes are imported. Our fundraiser and awareness event for World Malaria Day funded enough money to purchase a microscope for Wefwafwa’s community. This is an example of foreign financial contributions making a meaningful difference to the local culture. This wasn’t done arbitrarily. Wefwafwa requested the event’s funds go towards the microscope because his community needed to screen patients for malaria and other diseases.
Next time you’re sitting at home, remember that nobody is coming into your home and changing everything to help you. In the same way, we should respect other communities and their cultures by intervening only when asked and only when local resources aren’t sufficient to meet a need.
Explore engaging content by Wefwafwa Andrew, thoughtfully curated by Rex Soderlund, to ensure a rich and enlightening experience for our audience.
The Liger serves as a cultural bridge, connecting you with the insights of a trusted clinician in Uganda. We enhance this connection each week by sharing new content that brings you closer to his experiential perspective.
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