SDH Captioned
Grades 7-12, College, Adults
Directed by Toni Kamau
Produced by On Screen Productions
DVD Purchase $195, Rent $65
US Release Date: 2013
Copyright Date: 2013
DVD ISBN: 1-93777-273-X
Subjects
African Studies
Agriculture
Anthropology
Developing World
Economics
Education
Geography
Global Issues
Globalization
Sociology
Sustainability
Technology
Silicon Savannah
(Kenya)
In Kenya can Muniu build a Life App to help William be as good a farmer as he can be?
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Muniu Kariuki is an app developer living in Nairobi. With friends, he runs Bityarn Consult, a small technology start-up. In this program, Muniu takes up the challenge of seeing if he can develop a "Life App" that can help small Kenyan farmer William, who runs a subsistence farm in rural Ugenya, 300 miles from Nairobi. William is an expert on cultivating traditional African vegetables, but would like his modest farm to be more productive and profitable.
In western Kenya, the Technology Adoption Through Research Organization (TATRO) has mobilized farmers into growing traditional indigenous vegetables, but the old physical problems of communication make it a tough challenge. Can Muniu come up with an app that can help William reach out for new business opportunities?
The other titles in the series are:
Favela Farm In Brazil can Pedro build a Life App to help the secret world of urban farms and gardens in Rio's shanty towns?
Mobile Harvest In India can Sachin build a Life App to help stem the tide of farmer suicides?
Once a Nomad In Namibia can Dalton and Lameck build a Life App to help the illiterate and isolated Himba people market their goods?
World of Apps Young people are writing apps to solve problems from reproductive health care in South Africa to helping young minority adults in London who are "stopped and searched."
Reviews
"Very satisfying and highly useable...Like all of its episodes, Silicon Savannah is not only a fine illustration of what technology can do for rural and traditional populations but of how ethnographic methods are appropriate beyond academic anthropology. The creators of the series should be proud of their accomplishment, and anthropologists should proudly promote the series as a portrayal of successful 'development' and the anthropological contribution to such projects. Suitable for high school classes and college courses in cultural anthropology, development anthropology, anthropology of technology, economic anthropology, and African studies, as well as for general audiences."
Jack David Eller, Anthropology Reviews Database
"A marvelous study of technology meeting 'tradition' and how the two can co-exist beneficially for the peoples of the world...A fascinating and fantastic anthropological experience. It could be used with tremendous success in the introductory anthropology classroom to illustrate for students what fieldwork is like (although the developers are not anthropologists), how technology is not restricted to the modern urban world, and how 'traditional' people are part of the modern world too. Level/Use: Suitable for high school classes and college courses in cultural anthropology, anthropology of development/globalization, anthropology of technology, and African studies, as well as for general audiences."
Jack David Eller, Anthropology Review Database
"Eye-opening, educational, and encourages viewers to think of ways to make the world a better place. Life Apps is highly recommended for public and school library DVD collections, as well as home viewing."
The Midwest Book Review
"Well-done, interesting, and highly informative...Would be useful in a variety of settings, from general audience home use to classroom supplementation in a variety of subject areas, particularly technology, social sciences, geography, and agriculture. The material presented would be most appropriate for adolescent through adult age groups."
Sharon Wenger, Lawrence Public Schools, Science Books and Films
"Captivating...Provides a unique international cross-section demonstrating ways low-cost technology can increase global equity. The series is highly recommended for school media centers as well as technology programs at the secondary and university levels."
Vincent Livoti, University of Maine, School Library Journal
"Recommended...For a number of reasons, this series is appropriate for high school to general adult audiences. One, this series definitely introduces places and cultures that may be unfamiliar to many. There is appropriate music from each culture playing in the background. Two, it breaks down the steps involved in a problem solving model, so viewers can clearly see what is being done and possibly replicate it within their lives. Three, it serves to inspire. Many of the global issues and problems mentioned are not going to be solved outright, but grass root campaigns can start the process of community and social awareness."
Linda Yau, Bronx Community College Library, Educational Media Reviews On