The biggest determinant in our lives is culture, where we are born, what the environment looks like. But the second biggest determinant is probably governance, good governance or a certain kind of governance makes a huge difference in our lives.

At the end, the key thing is you've got to live with yourself. That's the real test. Everything else is fleeting.

I felt I was owned by possessions.

I wish I was a great writer or a great journalist or a great scientist or a great artist; I'm not.

L.A. is very special to me, so far away from my world on the East Coast, Europe, Asia. It's a bit of an island for me - less intense, less busy; because of time difference and location, it has a calming effect. At least it used to be all that.

Most countries in Africa have the capacity to be great agricultural producers, but they do only subsistence production. So a family will produce for themselves and nothing more. Why? Because of the systems: The markets are not there to go beyond.

Everything I do now is about growing the pot to have more to give away.