Achenyo Idachaba: How I turned a deadly plant into a thriving business | TED

譯者: Ernie Hsieh 審譯者: Adrienne Lin

Welcome to Bayeku,

歡迎來到百耶庫，

a riverine community in Ikorodu, Lagos --

這個河岸社區位於 拉各斯州的伊科羅杜，

a vivid representation of several riverine communities across Nigeria,

是奈及利亞各地 眾多河岸社區的鮮明代表。

communities whose waterways have been infested

這些社區的水道

by an invasive aquatic weed;

被一種有侵略性的野生水草侵擾。

communities where economic livelihoods have been hampered:

這些社區的日常經濟活動都被干擾：

fishing, marine transportation

捕魚、海洋運輸

and trading;

以至貿易；

communities where fish yields have diminished;

這些社區的魚獲都已減少；

communities where schoolchildren are unable to go to school

這些社區的孩童不能上學，

for days, sometimes weeks, on end.

連續數天甚至數星期。

Who would have thought that this plant

有誰料到這樣的植物──

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

長著圓形葉子、飽滿的莖 和鮮豔淡紫色的花朵

would cause such havoc in these communities.

竟就會為這些社區帶來了禍害。

The plant is known as water hyacinth

這種植物是布袋蓮，

and its botanical name, Eichhornia crassipes.

其學名為鳳眼藍。

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

有趣的是，在奈及利亞， 這種植物亦有好幾種其他名號，

names associated with historical events,

有些與歷史事件有關，

as well as myths.

有些則是神話。

In some places, the plant is called Babangida.

在某些地方，這種植物稱為「巴班基達」，

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

聽到巴班基達這個名稱， 你會記起軍隊和軍事政變，

And you think: fear, restraint.

從而想到：害怕、限制。

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

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」。

When you hear Abiola, you remember annulled elections

聽到阿比奥拉這個名稱， 你會記起選舉無效，

and you think: dashed hopes.

從而想到：破碎的希望。

In the southwestern part of Nigeria,

在奈及利亞的西北部，

the plant is known as Gbe'borun.

這種植物另被稱為「貝布魯」，

Gbe'borun is a Yoruba phrase

「貝布魯」是約魯巴的詞彙，

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

意思是「流言蜚語」或「告密者」。

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

說到流言蜚語， 你會想起快速繁殖和破壞。

And in the Igala-speaking part of Nigeria,

在奈及利亞說伊加拉語的地區，

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

這種植物被稱為「阿匹耶波瑪」，

And when you hear that, you think of death.

聽到這個詞，你會想到死亡，

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

字面上直譯就是「母親和孩子之歿」。

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

我自己是在 2009 年遇上這植物的。

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

那時候我剛從美國搬回奈及利亞不久。

I'd quit my job in corporate America

我辭掉美國的工作，

and decided to take this big leap of faith,

決定實踐心中的一種信念，

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

那種信念源自心底

that there was a lot of work to do in Nigeria

確信在奈及利亞的永續發展方面，

in the area of sustainable development.

尚需很多努力。

And so here I was in the year 2009,

於是我在 2009 年，

actually, at the end of 2009,

更確切是在 2009 年底，

in Lagos on the Third Mainland Bridge.

在連接拉哥斯和兩邊大陸的 第三大陸橋。

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

我看到左邊有一幕引人注目的景象，

It was an image of fishing boats

那景象是捕魚的船

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

都被布袋蓮交織得動彈不得。

And I was really pained by what I saw

我看到這景象很痛心，

because I thought to myself,

因為我心想：

"These poor fisherfolk,

「這班可憐的漁夫，

how are they going to go about their daily activities

他們的生財工具被布袋蓮這樣子困著

with these restrictions."

該怎麼討生活。」

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

於是我想：「總是有更好的點子吧。」

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

總可以有一個雙贏的方案， 一方面保護環境，

by the weeds being cleared out of the way

移除這些水草開通了水路。

and then this being turned into an economic benefit

另一方面，借此又可以帶來經濟效用，

for the communities whose lives are impacted the most

裨益那些最受困於

by the infestation of the weed.

這類水草繁殖的社區。

That, I would say, was my spark moment.

我會說，那一刻我靈光一閃。

And so I did further research to find out more

所以我再加緊做功課，

希望從中發掘出這類水草的用處。

about the beneficial uses of this weed.

Out of the several, one struck me the most.

發掘出來的幾項， 其中有一項最令我傾倒。

It was the use of the plant for handicrafts.

那就是把這種植物化為手工藝品。

And I thought, "What a great idea."

我想：「那真是很棒的點子。」

Personally, I love handicrafts,

我自己很喜愛手工藝品，

especially handicrafts that are woven around a story.

尤其是蘊藏故事的手工藝品。

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

我再想：「其實很容易就可以 把這個想法落實在社區裡，

without the requirement of technical skills."

因為不需要特別的技巧。」

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

我又跟自己說： 「實踐這個宏大方案有三步。」

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

第一步：走到水道裡， 把水草都收割起來。

That way, you create access.

如此，就開通了水道。

Secondly, you dry the water hyacinth stems.

第二步，把水草莖晾乾。

And thirdly, you weave the water hyacinth into products.

第三步，把水草織成產品。

The third step was a challenge.

第三步滿是一個挑戰。

See, I'm a computer scientist by background

因為我其實是學電腦科學的，

and not someone in the creative arts.

並不是創意工藝的一員。

And so I began my quest

所以我展開了搜索之旅，

to find out how I can learn how to weave.

看看怎樣學會編織。

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

這趟的搜索之旅帶我來到 我住的伊巴丹地區中的社區：

called Sabo.

莎寶。

Sabo translates to "strangers' quarters."

莎寶譯出來是「陌生人的叢居」。

And the community is predominantly made up of people

這個社區主要的居民

from the northern part of the country.

來自這個國家的北部。

So I literally took my dried weeds in hand,

我是真的捧著這堆晾乾了的水草，

there were several more of them,

事實上有好幾束，

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

逐家逐戶地拜訪， 希望找到能教我

how to weave these water hyacinth stems into ropes.

把布袋蓮的莖編織成繩索的人。

And I was directed to the shed of Malam Yahaya.

有人要我到瑪蘭雅雅的邊棚，

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

問題是，瑪蘭雅雅不會說英語，

and neither did I speak Hausa.

而我也不會說豪撒語。

But some little kids came to the rescue

不過小孩們成了救星，

and helped translate.

幫忙翻譯。

And that began my journey of learning how to weave

我就是這樣開始了學習編織的旅程，

and transform these dried water hyacinth stems

學會將晾乾了的水草莖

into long ropes.

編織成為長長的繩索。

With my long ropes in hand,

手上握著長長的繩索，

I was now equipped to make products.

我就能夠將之化為產品。

And that was the beginning of partnerships.

從而展開了搭檔的方向。

Working with rattan basket makers to come up with products.

與藤籃的生產者搭檔研發產品。

So with this in hand, I felt confident

有這個在手，我有信心

that I would be able to take this knowledge

可以把這技能

back into the riverine communities

帶到社區裡，

and help them to transform their adversity into prosperity.

好幫助他們把逆境化為繁盛。

So taking these weeds and actually weaving them

於是我們把這些水草編織起來

into products that can be sold.

成為可以銷售的產品。

So we have pens, we have tableware,

可以看到我們有筆、餐具，

we have purses, we have tissue boxes.

我們有錢包、面紙盒。

Thereby, helping the communities

這樣一來，幫助了社區

to see water hyacinth in a different light.

從另一個角度去了解布袋蓮。

Seeing water hyacinth as being valuable,

了解到布袋蓮可以有價值，

being aesthetic, being durable, tough, resilient.

可以有美感、耐用、堅實而有韌力。

Changing names, changing livelihoods.

改變了名號，改變了生活。

From Gbe'borun, gossip,

從「貝布魯」：流言蜚語，

to Olusotan, storyteller.

變成了「歐魯蘇坦」：說故事者。

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

從「阿匹耶波瑪」：弒母子的殺手，

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

變成了「雅度節耶波瑪」：

"provider of food for mother and child."

餵養母子者。

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

最後，我想引用麥可．馬哥拉斯的 一句話作結。

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

他說：「如果你想學懂一種文化， 聆聽他們的故事。

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

如果你想改變一種文化， 就改變他們的故事。」

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

所以，從瑪科科社區， 到亞博畢瑞，到耶握依，

to Kolo, to Owahwa, Esaba,

再到柯洛、奧瓦瓦、艾沙巴社區，

we have changed the story.

我們都改變了故事。

Thank you for listening.

謝謝聆聽。

(Applause)

（掌聲）