TEDxJohannesburg Salon: Voices of the Unheard

Art, research, cultural exploration, surrealism, spirituality, and thesearch for existence all open pathways into the theme “Voices of the Unheard.” We seek to question what is hidden, misunderstood, voiceless, or repressed, drawing on theoretical concepts and the aesthetics of negative emotions, as Sianne Ngai writes. Through these expressions, writers, researchers, professors, and artists uncover silenced truths and invite us tolook beyond convention.

This theme also speaks directly to Johannesburg: a city of layers and contradictions, where histories of displacement andstruggle sit alongside immense creative force. Its energy is both fractured and vibrant, demanding that we uncover, unearth, and rediscover the voices that shape it. In doing so, we return to something raw and deeply human.

The TEDxJohannesburg youth team invites you to spend the day with us where ideas, art, and theory converge. The program will unfold in separate sessions. Within each session, three to four speakers will share the stage with a performer—be it music, poetry, or another unexpected expression—each offering seven to fifteen minutes of curated insight or artistry. Between sessions, the space transforms into part of the experience, through immersive works that invite guests to wander, contemplate, and participate. The format is created to cultivate intimacy and resonance – drawing the audience nearer to the ideas, the art, and to one another through curated dialogues and shared explorations.