Olivia Umurerwa Rutazibwa is a PhD researcher at the Centre for EU Studies in Ghent University, where she works on the problematics of EU policies on human rights, democratisation and development in Africa and elswhere. In her research and teaching activities she links these issues with concepts of decolonisation and post-colonial theory, whiteness studies and critical race theories.

At the same time Olivia is a journalist at MO*, a monthly magazine that focuses on globalization, international politics and sustainable development. She is the Africa desk editor as well as being a specialist in the European Union and issues of diversity, racism and discrimination and the diaspora communities in Belgium and Europe.
Why listen to her?
With her call to ‘Decolonize the western minds’, Olivia will enrich the debate on diversity and development both in the West and the Global South. The minds of both the majority and the minority, influenced by decades of dominant western thought, need a profound transformation to cope pragmatically and inclusively with today’s globalization processes.
In response to the sentiments of fear and anger that globalization evokes for many, Olivia presents alternative and better fitting ideas for a society model in the globalized world. These ideas are based on her personal experiences as a second generation Rwandese in Flanders and her professional research activities on diversity and the post-colonial relations between Europe and Africa.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)