a riverine community in Ikorodu, Lagos --

歡迎來到百耶庫，

a vivid representation of several riverine communities across Nigeria,

這個河岸社區位於 拉各斯州的伊科羅杜，

communities whose waterways have been infested

是奈及利亞各地 眾多河岸社區的鮮明代表。

by an invasive aquatic weed;

這些社區的水道

communities where economic livelihoods have been hampered:

被一種有侵略性的野生水草侵擾。

fishing, marine transportation

這些社區的日常經濟活動都被干擾：

and trading;

捕魚、海洋運輸

communities where fish yields have diminished;

以至貿易；

communities where schoolchildren are unable to go to school

這些社區的魚獲都已減少；

for days, sometimes weeks, on end.

這些社區的孩童不能上學，

Who would have thought that this plant

連續數天甚至數星期。

with round leaves, inflated stems, and showy, lavender flowers

有誰料到這樣的植物──

would cause such havoc in these communities.

長著圓形葉子、飽滿的莖 和鮮豔淡紫色的花朵

The plant is known as water hyacinth

竟就會為這些社區帶來了禍害。

and its botanical name, Eichhornia crassipes.

這種植物是布袋蓮，

Interestingly, in Nigeria, the plant is also known by other names,

其學名為鳳眼藍。

names associated with historical events,

有趣的是，在奈及利亞， 這種植物亦有好幾種其他名號，

as well as myths.

有些與歷史事件有關，

In some places, the plant is called Babangida.

有些則是神話。

When you hear Babangida, you remember the military and military coups.

在某些地方，這種植物稱為「巴班基達」，

And you think: fear, restraint.

聽到巴班基達這個名稱， 你會記起軍隊和軍事政變，

In parts of Nigeria in the Niger Delta, the plant is also known as Abiola.

從而想到：害怕、限制。

When you hear Abiola, you remember annulled elections

在奈及利亞的奈及利亞三角洲， 這種植物亦被稱為「阿比奥拉」。

and you think: dashed hopes.

聽到阿比奥拉這個名稱， 你會記起選舉無效，

In the southwestern part of Nigeria,

從而想到：破碎的希望。

the plant is known as Gbe'borun.

在奈及利亞的西北部，

Gbe'borun is a Yoruba phrase

這種植物另被稱為「貝布魯」，

which translates to "gossip," or "talebearer."

「貝布魯」是約魯巴的詞彙，

When you think of gossip, you think: rapid reproduction, destruction.

意思是「流言蜚語」或「告密者」。

And in the Igala-speaking part of Nigeria,

說到流言蜚語， 你會想起快速繁殖和破壞。

the plant is known as A Kp'iye Kp'oma,

在奈及利亞說伊加拉語的地區，

And when you hear that, you think of death.

這種植物被稱為「阿匹耶波瑪」，

It literally translates to "death to mother and child."

聽到這個詞，你會想到死亡，

I personally had my encounter with this plant in the year 2009.

字面上直譯就是「母親和孩子之歿」。

It was shortly after I had relocated from the US to Nigeria.

我自己是在 2009 年遇上這植物的。

I'd quit my job in corporate America

那時候我剛從美國搬回奈及利亞不久。

and decided to take this big leap of faith,

我辭掉美國的工作，

a leap of faith that came out of a deep sense of conviction

決定實踐心中的一種信念，

that there was a lot of work to do in Nigeria

那種信念源自心底

in the area of sustainable development.

確信在奈及利亞的永續發展方面，

And so here I was in the year 2009,

尚需很多努力。

actually, at the end of 2009,

於是我在 2009 年，

in Lagos on the Third Mainland Bridge.

更確切是在 2009 年底，

And I looked to my left and saw this very arresting image.

在連接拉哥斯和兩邊大陸的 第三大陸橋。

It was an image of fishing boats

我看到左邊有一幕引人注目的景象，

that had been hemmed in by dense mats of water hyacinth.

那景象是捕魚的船

And I was really pained by what I saw

都被布袋蓮交織得動彈不得。

because I thought to myself,

我看到這景象很痛心，

"These poor fisherfolk,

因為我心想：

how are they going to go about their daily activities

「這班可憐的漁夫，

with these restrictions."

他們的生財工具被布袋蓮這樣子困著

And then I thought, "There's got to be a better way."

該怎麼討生活。」

A win-win solution whereby the environment is taken care of

於是我想：「總是有更好的點子吧。」

by the weeds being cleared out of the way

總可以有一個雙贏的方案， 一方面保護環境，

and then this being turned into an economic benefit

移除這些水草開通了水路。

for the communities whose lives are impacted the most

另一方面，借此又可以帶來經濟效用，

by the infestation of the weed.

裨益那些最受困於

That, I would say, was my spark moment.

這類水草繁殖的社區。

And so I did further research to find out more

我會說，那一刻我靈光一閃。

about the beneficial uses of this weed.

所以我再加緊做功課，

Out of the several, one struck me the most.

希望從中發掘出這類水草的用處。

It was the use of the plant for handicrafts.

發掘出來的幾項， 其中有一項最令我傾倒。

And I thought, "What a great idea."

那就是把這種植物化為手工藝品。

Personally, I love handicrafts,

我想：「那真是很棒的點子。」

especially handicrafts that are woven around a story.

我自己很喜愛手工藝品，

And so I thought, "This could be easily deployed within the communities

尤其是蘊藏故事的手工藝品。

without the requirement of technical skills."

我再想：「其實很容易就可以 把這個想法落實在社區裡，

And I thought to myself, "Three simple steps to a mega solution."

因為不需要特別的技巧。」

First step: Get out into the waterways and harvest the water hyacinth.

我又跟自己說： 「實踐這個宏大方案有三步。」

That way, you create access.

第一步：走到水道裡， 把水草都收割起來。

Secondly, you dry the water hyacinth stems.

如此，就開通了水道。

And thirdly, you weave the water hyacinth into products.

第二步，把水草莖晾乾。

The third step was a challenge.

第三步，把水草織成產品。

See, I'm a computer scientist by background

第三步滿是一個挑戰。

and not someone in the creative arts.

因為我其實是學電腦科學的，

And so I began my quest

並不是創意工藝的一員。

to find out how I can learn how to weave.

所以我展開了搜索之旅，

And this quest took me to a community in Ibadan, where I lived,

看看怎樣學會編織。

called Sabo.

這趟的搜索之旅帶我來到 我住的伊巴丹地區中的社區：

Sabo translates to "strangers' quarters."

莎寶。

And the community is predominantly made up of people

莎寶譯出來是「陌生人的叢居」。

from the northern part of the country.

這個社區主要的居民

So I literally took my dried weeds in hand,

來自這個國家的北部。

there were several more of them,

我是真的捧著這堆晾乾了的水草，

and went knocking from door to door to find out who could teach me

事實上有好幾束，

how to weave these water hyacinth stems into ropes.

逐家逐戶地拜訪， 希望找到能教我

And I was directed to the shed of Malam Yahaya.

把布袋蓮的莖編織成繩索的人。

The problem, though, is that Malam Yahaya doesn't speak English

有人要我到瑪蘭雅雅的邊棚，

and neither did I speak Hausa.

問題是，瑪蘭雅雅不會說英語，

But some little kids came to the rescue

而我也不會說豪撒語。

and helped translate.

不過小孩們成了救星，

And that began my journey of learning how to weave

幫忙翻譯。

and transform these dried water hyacinth stems

我就是這樣開始了學習編織的旅程，

into long ropes.

學會將晾乾了的水草莖

With my long ropes in hand,

編織成為長長的繩索。

I was now equipped to make products.

手上握著長長的繩索，

And that was the beginning of partnerships.

我就能夠將之化為產品。

Working with rattan basket makers to come up with products.

從而展開了搭檔的方向。

So with this in hand, I felt confident

與藤籃的生產者搭檔研發產品。

that I would be able to take this knowledge

有這個在手，我有信心

back into the riverine communities

可以把這技能

and help them to transform their adversity into prosperity.

帶到社區裡，

So taking these weeds and actually weaving them

好幫助他們把逆境化為繁盛。

into products that can be sold.

於是我們把這些水草編織起來

So we have pens, we have tableware,

成為可以銷售的產品。

we have purses, we have tissue boxes.

可以看到我們有筆、餐具，

Thereby, helping the communities

我們有錢包、面紙盒。

to see water hyacinth in a different light.

這樣一來，幫助了社區

Seeing water hyacinth as being valuable,

從另一個角度去了解布袋蓮。

being aesthetic, being durable, tough, resilient.

了解到布袋蓮可以有價值，

Changing names, changing livelihoods.

可以有美感、耐用、堅實而有韌力。

From Gbe'borun, gossip,

改變了名號，改變了生活。

to Olusotan, storyteller.

從「貝布魯」：流言蜚語，

And from A Kp'iye Kp'oma, which is "killer of mother and child,"

變成了「歐魯蘇坦」：說故事者。

to Ya du j'ewn w'Iye kp'Oma,

從「阿匹耶波瑪」：弒母子的殺手，

"provider of food for mother and child."

變成了「雅度節耶波瑪」：

And I'd like to end with a quote by Michael Margolis.

餵養母子者。

He said, "If you want to learn about a culture, listen to the stories.

最後，我想引用麥可．馬哥拉斯的 一句話作結。

And if you want to change a culture, change the stories."

他說：「如果你想學懂一種文化， 聆聽他們的故事。

And so, from Makoko community, to Abobiri, to Ewoi,

如果你想改變一種文化， 就改變他們的故事。」

to Kolo, to Owahwa, Esaba,

所以，從瑪科科社區， 到亞博畢瑞，到耶握依，

we have changed the story.

再到柯洛、奧瓦瓦、艾沙巴社區，

Thank you for listening.

我們都改變了故事。

(Applause)

謝謝聆聽。