Trailblazers of Octant Episode 2 - SummitShare - Empowering Communities to Reclaim their Heritage with Blockchain
For episode two of the Trailblazers of Octant mini-series, we’re excited to welcome Thomas Gondwe, Founder of SummitShare. We explore the historical and ongoing challenges of artifact repatriation, how blockchain plays a critical role in creating digital repositories to monitor and verify artifacts, and the innovative Revenue Sharing Mesh that ensures the benefits of these efforts flow back to local communities. We also explore Octant’s recent Accelerator Program that Thomas took part in, and some of the biggest takeaways from that experience. Overall, it’s a fascinating chat where we dive into the intersection of culture, technology, and impact, showcasing innovative use cases and how SummitShare is redefining the meaning of repatriation in the 21st century.
Trailblazers of Octant, where we focus on the rapidly growing public goods funding movement in the Octant Ecosystem, and highlight the projects and builders who have brought this movement to life. We released the first episode a couple of weeks back, featuring James and Ben of Octant.
Key Takeaways
90% of Africa's material heritage is not in Africa, making repatriation essential. These artifacts are more than glimpses into the past—they are vital links to identity, culture, and community, embodying the stories and traditions of their origins. Repatriation is about more than correcting historical wrongs; it fosters pride, education, and sustainable development in the communities they belong to.
Blockchain's immutable ledger provides an unparalleled solution for tracking provenance, ensuring that the history and ownership of artifacts remain transparent, tamper-proof, and verifiable. This technology not only secures authenticity but also builds trust in the repatriation process, making it an ideal tool for preserving cultural heritage.
Web3 opens new doors for sharing and celebrating cultural artifacts through immersive digital experiences and decentralized platforms. By leveraging blockchain technology, it also creates innovative revenue streams, ensuring that the communities these artifacts belong to benefit directly from their cultural heritage, fostering both preservation and economic empowerment.
Follow Thomas and SummitShare
Thank you to Octant for their support in bringing this series to life! We are honored to have received a 2.5 ETH grant through the Octant Community Fund.
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Episode Time Stamps
04:30 - What would you say is the single biggest inspiration behind your journey into Web3?
07:25 - The repatriation of African cultural artifacts is a deeply complex and multi-generational issue. While there has been some progress, significant challenges remain. Can you provide an overview of the historical context of artifact repatriation, and the key obstacles that continue to impede these efforts?
13:00 - With that in mind, do you mind giving an introduction to the mission of SummitShare, and how you are addressing these challenges?
15:30 - How have you integrated blockchain into your platform? What are the benefits that blockchain brings?
18:45 - Can you tell me more about how artifacts are tokenized?
22:30 - What kind of metadata is stored with each project?
25:20 - Tell me more about how you share the artifacts with the community?
29:15 - Another important aspect of your work is providing value to communities from which artifacts originated. Tell me more about the Revenue Sharing Mesh.
37:15 - You recently took part in Octant’s new accelerator program – how was that experience?
41:25 - What was your biggest takeaway from the Accelerator?
44:55 - As we near the end of the conversation, I'd love to hear more about the artifacts in the repository. Are there any pieces that hold a special place in your heart or that you find particularly meaningful?
48:50 - What’s the best way for listeners to learn more, get involved, and support your work?
50:15 - To close our conversation, why do you see Ethereum as a powerful tool for driving social good? Are there any specific use cases or projects that particularly inspire you?
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While we may discuss specific web3 projects or cryptocurrencies on this podcast, please do not take any of this as investment advice, and please make sure to do your own research on potential investment opportunities, or any opportunity. We host a variety of guests on this podcast with the sole purpose of highlighting the social impact use cases of this technology. That being said, Crypto Altruism does not endorse any of these projects, and we recognize that, since this is an emerging sector, some may be operating in regulatory grey areas, and as such, we cannot confirm their legality in the jurisdictions in which they operate, especially as it pertains to decentralized finance protocols. So, before getting involved with any project, it’s important that you do your own research and confirm the legality of the project. More available HERE.
