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William Kamkwamba

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Malawian inventor and author

ScientistsBorn 1987 · age 39
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Fame55.4
MomentumNot measured
Languages25
In century#8,840

William Kamkwamba is a Malawian inventor, engineer, and author. He gained renown in his country in 2001 when he built a wind turbine to power multiple electrical appliances in his family's house in Wimbe, 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Kasungu, using blue gum trees, bicycle parts, and materials collected in a local...

Also inDeutsch

Photos 4

In their own words 10

William Kamkwamba
said
Own words

Thank you. Two years ago, I stood on the TED stage in Arusha, Tanzania. I spoke very briefly about one of my proudest creations. It was a simple machine that changed my life.

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

William Kamkwamba
said
Own words

Before that time, I had never been away from my home in Malawi. I had never used a computer. I had never seen an Internet. On the stage that day, I was so nervous.

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

William Kamkwamba
said
Own words

There was a story I wouldn't tell you then. But well, I'm feeling good right now. I would like to share that story today. We have seven children in my family.

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards 2

2010Corine Literature Prize
2010GO Ingenuity Award

Connected to William 6

About this person

William Kamkwamba is a Malawian inventor, engineer, and author. He gained renown in his country in 2001 when he built a wind turbine to power multiple electrical appliances in his family's house in Wimbe, 23 kilometres (14 mi) east of Kasungu, using blue gum trees, bicycle parts, and materials collected in a local scrapyard. Since then, he has built a solar-powered water pump that supplies the first drinking water in his village and two other wind turbines, the tallest standing at 12 meters (39 ft), and has built two more, including one in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.

Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
living
Dates
Born 1987 · age 39
Written about in
25 languages

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