Let's Go to South Africa...
...to Learn How Surfing and Bitcoin Are Changing Lives
ikigai (n.) — one’s reason for being, which in principle is the convergence of one’s personal passions, beliefs, values, and vocation: those who follow the concept of ikigai undertake the activities of their life with willingness and a satisfying sense of meaning
The term has roots in Japanese culture.
Source: Dictionary.com
This past Friday, I had the distinct honor of interviewing Luthando Ndabambi, the heart and soul of Bitcoin Ekasi and the Surfer Kids non-profit. Luthando — and these programs — are located in a township in Mossel Bay, South Africa, which meant there was a six hour time difference between us.
So, to make the interview happen, I woke up at 4:30am to prep for my 5:00am call with Luthando. Luthando had to take the call at 11:00am South Africa time because the country has been plagued by rolling blackouts and cuts electricity for upwards of six hours some days. The South African government shares when power will be available and when it won’t, and Luthando informed me that we’d be good at 11:00am his time. So, 11:00am it was.
When I awoke and opened up the video recording software on my computer, I was frightened at the sight of myself on my laptop screen. I immediately felt bad for all who’d watch this video, as I was looking fairly haggard. It was early, and I hadn’t slept much.
Soon enough, the interview started and almost immediately after commencing the conversation with Luthando, we started having technical difficulties. He was breaking up, and I couldn’t catch more than 50% of what he was saying. Given that this was happening prior to my having a cup of coffee, my patience was wearing thin.
We eventually remedied the issue and the final 70-80% of the interview recorded smoothly.
In this latter chunk of the interview, Luthando shared some beautiful stories of the change that both Bitcoin and surfing have catalyzed in both his life and in the lives of those in his community. I had goosebumps as he shared these stories.
BUT!
Once the interview concluded, the software that I used to record it informed me that not all of the video had downloaded. With this software, sometimes the remaining part of the video downloads in the subsequent hours and sometimes it doesn’t. (I know — “Use better software, Frank” (or at least “Use the software better”). I’m on it.) Knowing that maybe I’d lost some of this interview caused my stomach to turn. I was so tired and frustrated that I decided to simply close my laptop and go back to bed instead of dealing with this in the moment.
Luckily… MIRACULOUSLY… the rest of the video processed and downloaded while I was sleeping.
Now, all I had to do was edit it.
I won’t get into the boring details of that here, but it took hours to piece the interview together and to get it published.
So, why did I do all of this given that there was absolutely no immediate financial incentive for me to do so?
Ikigai. That’s why. (It rhymes.)
All I could think about while editing this video was “I just want to make this as beautiful as possible.” I felt a deep sense of purpose in bringing this video to life.
I wanted Luthando’s story to be told, because I believe that what he’s done will be a model for many around the world in years to come.
Also, what he said about how Bitcoin changed his life resonated deeply with me, as coming to understand the Bitcoin network and the asset, bitcoin (BTC), has catalyzed similar change in my own life.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not like Luthando just bestows you with pure enlightenment for the entirety of the 58-minute interview. During portions of it, he simply describes the details about how he got Bitcoin Ekasi started and how the Surfer Kids program is funded. But while he does this, he also has these moments where he shares how Bitcoin got him to stop drinking and to start taking on tasks that were formerly outside of his comfort zone. These were the truly profound segments of the interview.
The slogan for new renaissance capital is “Bitcoin and human flourishing.”
Luthando and the Bitcoin Ekasi movement are the embodiment of this slogan. They’re a representation of what’s possible when you don’t just view Bitcoin as a speculative asset, but more a network and a money that embodies a philosophy that encourages self-discipline and self-empowerment. They make me want to work harder in doing my part to help Bitcoin continue to succeed.
I hope you enjoy the interview.
(Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, as well.)
If you’d like to learn more about Bitcoin adoption in the “developing world”, I recommend checking out this piece recently published in Newsweek: “Cryptocurrency Has Its Uses — Just Not Where You Think”
Best,
Frank
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